And measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, how that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand year, and a thousand year as one day.
The Lord is not slack to fulfil his promise, as some men count slackness: but is patient to us ward, and would have no man lost, but would receive all men to repentance.
creteis@yahoo.com Behold in a dream during the dread nightmare of the dark season ...of the times and time ..of the season of man ...see son of man ...
and came to me words without speaking ...
"1000 ARROWS"
and i looked and the Word of God and Jesus was opened ...
and i went to go ...LOOK SEE.
When Balam saw that it pleased the Lord that he should bless Israel, he went not as he did twice before to fetch soothsaying, but set his face toward the wilderness, and lifted up his eyes and looked upon Israel as he lay with his tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable and said: Balam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eye is open hath said: he hath said which heareth the words of God and seeth the visions of the almighty, which falleth down and his eyes are opened.
How goodly are the tents of Jacob and thine habitations Israel, even as the broad valleys and as gardens by the rivers side, as the tents which the Lord hath pitched and as cypress trees upon the water. The water shall flow out of his bucket and his seed shall be many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag. And his kingdom shall be exalted. God that brought him out of Egypt is as the strength of an unicorn, and he shall eat the nations that are his enemies and break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows. He couched himself and lay down as a lion and as a lioness, who shall stir him up? blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.And Israel waxed fat and kicked. Thou wast fat, thick and smooth. And he let God go that made him and despised the rock that saved him. They angered him with strange Gods and with abominations provoked him. They offered unto field devils and not to God, and to Gods which they knew not and to new Gods that came newly up which their fathers feared not. Of the rock that begat thee thou art unmindful and hast forgot God that made thee. And when the Lord saw it, he was angry because of the provoking of his sons and daughters.
And he said: I will hide my face from them and will see what their end shall be. For they are a froward generation and children in whom is no faith. They have angered me with that which is no God, and provoked me with their vanities. And I again will anger them with them which are no people, and will provoke them with a foolish nation. For fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn unto the bottom of hell. And shall consume the earth with her increase, and set afire the bottoms of the mountains. I will heap mischiefs upon thee and will spend all mine arrows at them.Burnt with hunger and consumed with heat and with bitter pestilence. I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them and poison serpents. Without forth, the sword shall rob them of their children: and within in the chamber, fear: both young men and young women and the sucklings with the men of gray heads. I have determined to scatter them throughout the world, and to make away the remembrance of them from among men. Were it not that I feared the railing of their enemies, lest their adversaries would be proud and say: our high hand hath done all these works and not the Lord.
For it is a nation that hath an unhappy forecast, and hath no understanding in them: I would they were wise and understood this and would consider their latter end.
How it cometh that one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand of them to flight: except their rock had sold them, and because the Lord had delivered them.
For our rock is not as their rock, no though our enemies be judge. But their vines are of the vines of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorra. Their grapes are grapes of gall, and their clusters be bitter.
Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel gall of asps. Are not such things laid in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? Vengeance is mine and I will reward: their feet shall slide, when the time cometh. For the time of their destruction is at hand, and the time that shall come upon them maketh haste.
For the Lord will do justice unto his people, and have compassion on his servants. For it shall be seen that their power shall fail, and at the last they shall be prisoned and forsaken.
And it shall be said: where are their Gods and their rock wherein they trusted?
The fat of whose sacrifices they ate, and drank the wine of their drinkofferings, let them rise up and help you and be your protection.
See now how that I, I am he, and that there is no God but I. I can kill and make alive, and what I have smitten that I can heal: neither is there that can deliver any man out of my hand.
For I will lift up my hand to heaven, and will say: I live ever.
If I whet the lightning of my sword, and mine hand take in hand to do justice, I will shew vengeance on mine enemies and will reward them that hate me.
I will make mine arrows drunken with blood, and my sword shall eat flesh of the blood of the slain and of the captive and of the bare head of the enemy.
Praise ye heathen his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will avenge him of his adversaries, and will be merciful unto the land of his people.
And Moses went and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, both he and Josua the son of Nun. And when Moses had spoken all these words unto the end to all Israel, then he said unto them. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify unto you this day: that ye command them unto your children, to observe and do all the words of this law. For it is not a vain word unto you: but it is your life, and through this word ye shall prolong your days in the land whither ye go over Jordan to conquer it.
And the Lord spake unto Moses the self same day saying: get thee up into this mountain Abarim unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab over against Jericho. And behold the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of Israel to possess. And die in the mount which thou goest upon, and be gathered unto thy people: As Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor and was gathered unto his people. For ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of strife, at Cades in the wilderness of Zin: because ye sanctified me not among the children of Israel. Thou shalt see the land before thee, but shall not go thither unto the land which I give the children of IsraelAnd Jonathas said unto David: O' Lord God of Israel, when I have groped my fathers mind, one time or other within this three days, that it stand well with David: and I then send not unto thee and shew it thee, the Lord do so and so unto Jonathas. And in like manner, if evil to thee ward please my father, I will show thee and send thee away, that thou mayst go in peace. And the Lord be with thee as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt perform unto me the mercy of the Lord, not only while I live but even when I am dead pluck not thy mercy away from my house forever: No not when the Lord hath destroyed the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
And so Jonathas made a bond with the house of David, desiring that the Lord should seek out of the hands of Davids enemies their wickedness. And with other words Jonathas adjured David, because he loved him. For as his own soul he loved him.
Then said Jonathas to David: tomorrow shall be the first day of the moon. And thou shalt be missed, because the place shall appear empty. But this day three days come in any wise unto the place where thou shalt hide thy self, when it is workday: even by the stone Esell. And I will shoot three arrows by the one side thereof, as though I shot at a mark, and will send after a lad, and bid him go seek the arrows. If I say unto the lad: see the arrows are on this side thee, bring them: then come thou: for it is peace and nothing to do, as sure as the Lord liveth. But and if I say thus unto the young fellow, behold, the *arrows are beyond thee, then go, for the Lord hath sent thee away. And of this which thou and I have spoke: behold the Lord is witness between thee and me for ever. And so David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon was come, the king sat him down at meat, for to eat. And the king sat him down after the old manner, in his seat by the wall. And Jonathas arose, and Abner sat by Sauls side, and Davids place was empty. Nevertheless yet Saul said nothing at all that day. For he thought something had chanced him that he is not clean. But on the morrow which was the second day of the moon, when Davids place appeared empty, Saul said unto Jonathas his son: wherefore cometh not the son of Isai to meat, neither yesterday nor today? And Jonathas answered unto Saul, David asked license of me to go to Bethlehem saying: let me go I pray thee, for our kindred hold an offering in the city, and my brother hath sent for me. Now therefore if I have found favour in thine eyes let me go and see my brother. And therefore he cometh not unto the table of the King. Then was Saul angry with Jonathas and said unto him: O froward and rebellious, thinkest thou I know not how thou hast chosen the son of Isai unto thine own rebuke, and unto the rebuke and shame of thy mother. For as long as the son of Isai lieth upon the earth, thou shalt not be stablished, nor yet thy kingdom, wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he is the child of death.
But Jonathas answered Saul his father and said to him: wherefore should he die? what hath he done? Then Saul cast a spear at him to hit him, whereby Jonathas knew well, that it was utterly determined of his father, to slay David. And so Jonathas arose from the table in a great anger and did eat no meat the second day of the month, for he was sorry for David, because his father had done him shame. On the next morning Jonathas went out unto the field, at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto the boy: run and find out mine arrows which I shoot. And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place whither Jonathas had shot the arrow, Jonathas cried after him and said: the arrow is beyond thee. And he cried after the lad: haste, make speed and stand not still. And Jonathas lad gathered up the arrow and came to his master. But the lad knew nothing of the matter: Only Jonathas and David knew it. Then Jonathas gave his weapons unto the lad and said unto him: go and carry them to the town. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place that was toward the south and fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times. And they kissed either other and wept together, but David more abundantly. And Jonathas said to David: go in peace which we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord saying: the Lord be between thee and me, and between thy seed and mine for ever. And he rose and departed. And Jonathas went in to the town* Cap A as recorded
The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most high put out his voice. And he shot arrows and scattered them, and hurled lightning and turmoiled them. And the bottom of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were seen, by the reason of the rebuking of the Lord, and through the blasting of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on high and fetched me, and plucked me out of mighty waters.
He delivered me from my mighty enemy, and from them that hated me and were too strong for me. When they had compassed me in the day of my tribulation, the Lord stayed me up. And he brought me out into roomth, and delivered me, because he delighted in me.THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS Chpt 13
When Eliseus was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died, Joas king of Israel came to him and wept to him, and said: O father, father the chariot of Israel and the horsemen of the same. And Eliseus said unto him, bring bow and arrows. And he brought to him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel: put thine hand upon the bow, and when he had put his hand upon the bow, Eliseus put his hands upon the kings hands. Then he said, open a window eastward: and he opened. And Eliseus said: shoot, and he shot. And he said: the arrow of help of the Lord, and the arrow of help against the Sirians, for thou shalt beat the Sirians in Aphek till thou have consumed them.
Then he said: take arrows: and he took. Then he said to the king of Israel, smite the ground: and he smote thrice and ceased. And the man of God was angry with him and said: thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, and then thou hadst smitten the Sirians till thou hadst consumed them: where now thou shalt beat them but thrice.
When Eliseus was dead and buried the soldiers of the Moabites came into the land, the year following. And it chanced as they were burying a man, that they spied the Soldiers, and therefore cast the man into the sepulcher of Eliseus. And as soon as the man came and touched the bones of Eliseus, he revived and stood up on his feet.
And Hazael oppressed Israel, all the days of Jehoahaz. But the Lord had mercy on them and pitied them and turned to them because of his appointment made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and would not destroy them, either cast them from him as yet. And when Hazael king of Siria was dead, Benhadad his son reigned in his stead. And then Joas the son of Jehoahaz went again and took out of the hand of Benhadad son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken away out of the hands of Jehoahaz his father, with war. And three times did Joas beat him and brought the cities of Israel againTHE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 12
And these following came to David to Zikelag, while he yet kept himself close for fear of Saul the son of Cis: and they were of the men that succoured the battle, weaponed with bows, and could handle stones, arrows and bow as well with the left hand as with the right, and were of Sauls brethren, even of the tribe of Benjamin. The chiefest were Ahiezer and Joas the sons of Samaah a Gobaonite, and Jaziel a Phalite, the sons of Azmoth. Baracah and Jehu of Anathoth. And Isamaiah a Gabaonite as mighty as any of thirty and more mighty too. And Jeremiah, Jehaziel, Johanan and Josabad of Gedor. Eluesai, Jerimoth, Baaliah, Samariah and Saphatiah: Haraphites, Elcanah, Jesia, Azrael, Joezer, Joseboam of Karehim. And Joelah and Zabadiah the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 26
And Oziah had an host of fighting men that went out to war in the army and were told and numbered by Jeiel the scribe and Maasiah an officer, under the hand of Hananiah one of the kings Lords. And the whole number of the ancient heads of the men of might were two thousand and six hundred and under the hands of them was the army of the host, three hundred and seven thousand, and five hundred that made war with might and strength, to help the king against his enemies. And Oziah provided them throughout all the host, shields, spears, helmets, habergeons, bows and slings for stones. And he made engines in Jerusalem by the craft of artificers to be on the towers and corners, to shoot arrows and great stones with all. And his name spread far abroad, for he was wonderfully help, until he was become mighty.
And in his greatness his heart arose, that he was marred: and transgressed against the Lord his God. For he went into the temple of the Lord to burn cense upon the altar of incense. But Asariah the priest went in after him with four score priests of the Lord that were bold men. And they stepped to Oziah the king and said to him: it pertaineth not to thee Oziah to burn cense unto the Lord, but to the priests the children of Aaron that are consecrate for to burn incense. Come out of the sanctuary, for thou hast trespassed, and it shall be no worship to thee before the Lord God.
And Oziah was wroth and had cense in his hand to offer, and in his indignation against the priest, the leprosy sprang in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, even beside the incense altar. And Asariah the chief priest with all the other priests looked upon him: and behold he was a leper in his forehead, and they vexed him thence. And thereto he was fain to go out, because the Lord had plagued him. And Oziah the king continued a leper unto the day of his death and dwelt in an house at liberty: how be it, he was cast out of the house of the Lord. And Joatham his son had the governance of the kings house and judged the people of the land. The rest of the acts of Oziah both first and last, did Isaiah the prophet the son of Amos write. And when Oziah was laid to rest with his fathers, they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial of the kings. For they said: he is a leper. And Joatham his son reigned in his steadJob answered, and said: Oh that my misery were weighed, and my punishment weighed in the balances: For then should it be heavier, than the sand of the sea. This is the cause, that my words are so sorrowful.
For the arrows of the allmighty are in me, whose indignation hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against me. Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, when he hath fodder enough? That which is unsavory, shalt it be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg? The things that some time I might not away withal, are now my meat for very sorrow. O' that I might have my desire: O' that God would grant me the thing, that I long for: That he would begin and smite me: that he would let his hand go, and hew me down. Then should I have some comfort: yee, I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one.
What power have I to endure? Or, what is mine end, that my soul might be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of brass? Is it not so that there is in me no help? that my substance is taken from me. He that is in tribulation ought to be comforted of his neighbor: but the fear of the Lord is clean away: Mine own brethren pass over by me as the water broke, that hastily runneth through the valleys. But they that fear the hoarfrost, the snow shall fall upon them.
When their time cometh, they shall be destroyed and perish: and when they be set on fire, they shall be removed out of their place, for the paths that they go in, are crooked: they haste after vain things, and shall perish. Consider the paths of Theman, and the ways of Saba, wherein they have put their trust. Confounded are they, that put any confidence in them: For when they came to obtain the things they looked for, they were brought to confusion.
Even so are ye also come unto me: but now that ye see my misery, ye are afraid. Did I desire you, to come hither? Or, to give me any of your substance? To deliver me from the enemies hand, or to save me from the power of the mighty? Teach me and I will hold my tongue: and if I do error, show me wherein.
Wherefore blame ye the words, that are well and truly spoken? which of you can reprove them? Saving only that ye are subtle to check mens sayings, and can speak many words in the wind. Ye fall upon the fatherless, and go about to overthrow your own friend. Wherefore look not only upon me, but upon yourselves: whether I lie, or no. Turn into your own selves ( I pray you ) be indifferent judges, and consider mine unguiltiness: whether there be any unrighteousness in my tongue, or vain words in my mouthLord my God, in thee do I trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Lest he *hantche up my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help.
O' Lord my God, if I have done any such thing, if there be any unrighteousness in my hands: If I have rewarded evil unto them that dealt friendly with me, or hurt them that without any cause are mine enemies: Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and take me: yee, let him tread my life down in the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust. Selah.
Stand up ( O' Lord ) in thy wrath, lift up thyself over the furious indignation of mine enemies: arise up ( for me ) in the vengeance that thou hast promised.
That the congregation of the people may come about thee, for their sakes therefore lift up thyself again.
The Lord is judge over the people: avenge me then (O' Lord) according to my righteousness and innocence.
Oh let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end: but maintain the just, thou righteous God, that triest the very hearts and reins.
My help cometh of God, which preserveth them that are true of heart.
God is a righteous judge, and God is ever threatening.
If men will not turn, he hath wet his sword: he hath bent his bow and made it ready. He hath prepared him the weapons of death, and ordained his arrows to destroy.
Behold, he travaileth with mischief, he hath conceived unhappiness, and brought forth a lie. He hath graven and digged up a pit, but he shall fall himself into the pit that he made. For his unhappiness shall fall upon his own head, and his wickedness shall fall upon his own *pate.
As for me, I will give thanks unto the Lord for his righteousness sake, and will praise the name of the Lord most highest*hantche = as food: thigh, as Abraham had hand put to his thigh (1st Moses 24), Jacob wrestled with God (1 Moses 34)
*pate = ones own thinking, that is to say; these will believe totally in their own thinking. intellect RNIn the Lord put I my trust: how will ye then say to my soul: that she should flee as a bird upon your hill?
For, lo, the ungodly have bend their bow, and made ready their arrows in the quiver, that they may privily shoot at them, which are true of heart. The very foundations have they cast down, what can the righteous then do with all?
But the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lords seat is in heaven: he considereth with his eyes, his eyelids behold the children of men. The Lord seeth both the righteous and ungodly, but who so delighteth in wickedness, him his soul abhoreth.Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire, brimstone, storm and tempest: this reward shall they have to drink.
For the Lord is righteous, and he loveth righteousness: his countenance beholdeth the thing that is justAt the brightness of his presence the clouds removed, with hail stones and coals of fire.
The Lord also thundered out of the heaven, and the height gave his thunder with hail stones and coals of fire.
He sent out his arrows and scattered them, he cast sore lightnings, and destroyed them.Lord, how joyful is the king in thy strength? O' how exceedingly glad is he of thy saving health? Thou hast given him his hearts desire, and hast not put him from the request of his lips. Selah.
For thou hast prevented him with liberal blessings, and set a crown of gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life, even for ever and ever. His honor is great in thy saving health, glory and great worship shalt thou lay upon him.
For thou shalt give him everlasting *felicite, and make him glad with the joy of thy countenance. And why? because the king putteth his trust in the Lord, and in the mercy of the most highest he shall not miscarry.
Let all thine enemies feel thy hand: let thy right hand find out those that hate thee.
Thou shalt make them like a fire oven in the time of thy wrath: the Lord shall destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume them. Their fruit shalt thou root out of the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended mischief against thee, and imagined such devises, as they were not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou put them to flight, and with thy strings thou shalt make ready thine arrows against the faces of them.
Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength, so will we sing and praise thy power*felicite = felicity: great happiness, good fortune
Put me not to rebuke ( O' Lord) in thy anger: Oh chasten me not in thy heavy displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no whole part in my body, because of thy displeasure: there is no rest in my bones, by reason of my sins. For mine wickednesses are gone over mine head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. My wounds stink and are corrupt, through my foolishness. I am brought into so great trouble and misery, that I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are clean dried up, and there is no whole part in my body. I am feeble and sore smitten, I roar for the very disquietness of my heart.
Lord, thou knowest all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from thee. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, and the light of mine eyes is gone from me. My lovers and friends stand looking upon my trouble, and my kinsmen are gone afar off. They that sought after my life, and to do me evil, speak of lies and imagine deceit all the day long.
As for me, I was like a deaf man and heard not: as one that were dumb, not opening his mouth.
I am become as a man that heareth not: and that can make no resistance with his mouth.
For in thee, O' Lord, is my trust, thou shalt hear me, O' Lord my God.
My desire is, that mine enemies triumph not over me: for if my foot slip, they rejoice greatly against me. I am ready to suffer trouble, and my heaviness is ever in my sight. For I confess my wickedness, and my sin grieveth me.
But mine enemies live, and are mighty: and they that hate me without cause, are many in number. They that reward me evil for good, speak evil of me, because I follow the thing that is good.
Forsake me not ( O' Lord my God ) O' go not far from me.
Hasten thee to help me, O' Lord my *succoure*succor = assistance in time of distress; security. RN
My heart is *inditing a good matter, I speak of that, which I have made of the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Thou art the fairest among the children of men, full of grace is thy lips, therefore God blesseth thee for ever.
Gird thee with thy sword upon thy thigh, ( O' thou mighty ) with worship and renown. Good luck have thou with thine honor, ride on with the truth, meekness and righteousness: and thy right hand shall teach thee wonderful things. Thine arrows are sharp, the people shall be subdued unto thee, even in the middle among the kings enemies.Be merciful unto me, O' God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee: and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until wickedness be overpast.
I call unto God the most highest, even to the God that shall help me up again. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me up. Selah.
This shall God send, for his mercy and faithfulness sake.
I lay with my soul among the cruel lions: even among the children of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Set up thyself, O' God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul: they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into it themselves. Selah.
My heart is ready, O' God, my heart is ready to sing and give praise.
Awake, O' my glory, awake lute and harp, I myself will awake right early.
I will give thanks unto thee, O' Lord, among the people, I will sing praises unto thee among the Heathen. For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.
Set up thyself, O' God, above the heavens, and thy glory be above all the earthIf your minds be upon righteousness in deed, then judge the thing that is right, O' ye sons of men.
But ye imagine mischief in your hearts, and your hands deal with wickedness. The ungodly are *froward, even from their mothers womb: as soon as they be born, they go and stray and speak lies. They are as furious as the serpent, even like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ears. That she should not hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely.
Break their teeth ( O' God ) in their mouths, smite the *chaft bones of the lions whelps in sonder, O' Lord. That they may fall away, like water that runneth a pace: and that when they shoot their arrows, they may be broken. Let them consume away like a snail, and like the untimely fruit of a woman, and let them not see the *sunne.
Or ever your thorns be sharp, that wrath shall take them quick, like a stormy wind.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, and shall wash his feet in the blood of the ungodly.
So that a men shall say, verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless, there is a God that judgeth in the earth*froward = stubbornly contrary, disobedient, obstinate.
*chaft =is exactly as it appears in the original text, no spelling root or modern English alternative was found, could be; cheek or chest. *Here is the middle English word for "sun": as it appears exactly. note in other cases the word son : sonne, RNHear my voice, O' God, in my complaint, preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the gathering together of the froward, from the heap of wicked doers. Which wet their tongues like a sword, and shoot with venomous words like as with arrows.That they may privy hurt the innocent, and suddenly hit him without any fear.
They have devised mischief, and communed among themselves, how they may lay snares: tush ( they say ) Who shall see them? They imagine wickedness, and keep it secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart.
But God shall suddenly shoot with an arrow, that they shall be wounded.
Yee their own tongues shall make them fall, in so much that who so seeth them, shall laugh them to scorn. And all men that see it, shall say: this hath God done, for they shall perceive that it is his work.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trust in him: and all they that are true of heartIn Judah is God known, his name is great in Israel.
At Salem is his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion. There breaketh he the arrows of the bow, the shield, the sword, and the whole battle. Selah.
Thou art of more honor and might than the hills of robbers.
The proud shall be robbed and sleep their sleep, and the mighty shall be able to do nothing with their hands. When thou rebukest them, O' God of Jacob, both the chariots and horsemen shall fall on sleep.
Thou art fearful, for who may abide in thy sight, when thou art angry? When thou lettest thy judgment be heard from heaven, the earth trembled and is still.
Yee when God ariseth to give judgment, and to help all them that be in adversity on earth. Selah.
When thou punisheth one man, he must knowledge that thou art ready to punish other more.
Look what yee promise unto the Lord your God, see that yee keep it, all yee that be round about him: bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. Which taketh away the breath of Princes, and is wonderful among the Kings of the earthI cried unto God with my voice, yee unto God cried I with my voice, and he heard me.
In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord, I held up mine hands to him in the night season, for my soul refused all other comfort. When I was in heaviness, I thought upon God: when my heart was vexed, then did I speak. Selah.
Thou heldest mine eyes waking, I was so feeble, that I could not speak.
Then remember I the times of old, and the years that were past.
I called to remembrance my song in the night, I communed with mine own heart, and sought out my spirit.
Will the Lord cast out forever?
Will he be no more entreated?
Is his mercy clean gone?
Is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
Hath The Lord forgotten to be gracious?
Or, hath he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure? Selah.
At the last, I came to this point, that I thought: O why art thou so foolish? the right hand of the most high can change all. Therefore will I remember the works of the Lord, and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
I will speak of all thy works, and my talk shall be of thy doings.
Thy way, O' God, is holy: who is so great and mighty as God?
Thou art the God that doth wonders, thou hast declared thy power among the people. Thou with thine own arm hast delivered thy people, even the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
The waters saw thee, O' God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid, the depths were moved. The thick clouds poured out water, the clouds thundered, and thine arrows went abroad. Thy thunder was heard round about, the lightnings shone upon the ground, the earth was moved and shook with all. Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, yet could no man know thy footsteps.
Thou leadest thy people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron*Iduthun: song and instruments at the coming of the Ark of appointment; 2 Chron Chp5
When I am in trouble, I call upon the Lord, and he answereth me.
Deliver my soul, O' Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.
Wo is me, that my banishment endureth so long: I dwell in the tabernacles of the sorrowful. My soul hath long dwelt among them, that be enemies unto peace.
I labored for peace, but when I spake thereof, they made them to battleThe song of the stairs.
Except the Lord build the house, the labor is but lost that build it.
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
It is but lost labor that yee rise up early, and take no rest, but eat the bread of carefulness: for look to whom it pleaseth him, he giveth it in sleep.
Lo, children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage and gift, that cometh of the Lord: Like as arrows in the hand of a giant, even so are the young children.
Happy is the man, that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gateBlessed be the Lord my refuge, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. My hope and my castle, my defense and my deliverer, my shield in whom I trust, *which governeth the people that is under me.
*KJV = subdueth my people under me
Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him? Or the son of man, that thou so regardest him? Man is like a thing of naught, his time passeth away like a shadow.
Bow thy heavens, O' Lord, and come down, touch the mountains, that they may smoke withal. Send forth lightning, and scatter them, shoot out thine arrows, and consume them. Send down thine hand from above, deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children. Whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
That I may sing a new song unto thee, O' God, and sing praises unto thee upon a ten stringed lute. Thou that givest victory unto Kings, and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.
Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth talketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
That our sons may grow up as the young plants, and that our daughters may be as the polished cornerstones of the temple. That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and hundredth thousands in our villages. That our oxen may be strong to labor, that there be no mischance, no decay, and no complaining in the streets.
Happy are the people that be in such a case: yee blessed are the people, which have the Lord for their God
Like as one that shooteth arrows and darts out of a privy place, even so doth a dissembler with his neighbor.
And then sayeth he: I did it in sport.Now will then, I will sing my beloved friend a song of his vineyard. My beloved friend hath a vineyard in a very fruitful plenteous ground. This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therin. And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns. I show you now my cause ( O ye Citizens of Jerusalem and whole of Juda ) : Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore hath it given thorns, where I looked to have grapes of it?
Well, I shall tell you how I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and break down the wall, that it may be trodden under foot. I will lay it waste, that it shall neither be twisted nor cut, but bear thorns and briers. I will also forbid the clouds, that they shall not rain upon it. As for the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts it is the house of Israel, and whole Juda his fair planting. Of these he looked for equity, but see there is wrong: for righteousness, lo, It is but misery.
Woe unto you that join one house to another, and bring one land so nigh unto another, till ye can get no more ground. Will ye dwell upon the earth alone? The Lord of Hosts roundeth me thus in mine ear: shall not many greater and more gorgeous houses be so waste, that no man shall dwell in them? And ten acres of vines shall give but a Quart, and thirty bushels of feed shall give but three.
Woe unto them that rise up early to use themselves in drunkenness, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine. In those companies are harps and lutes, tabrets and pipes, and wine. But they regard not the work of the Lord, and consider not the operation of his hands. Therefore cometh my folk also in captivity, because they have no understanding. Their glory shall be mixed with hunger, and their pride shall be marred for thirst. Therefore gapeth hell, and openeth her mouth marvelous wide: that pride boasting and wisdom, with such as rejoice therin, may descend into it.
Thus shall man have a fall, he shall be brought low, and the high looks of the proud layed down. But the Lord of Hosts, that holy God: shall be exalted and untouched, when he shall declare his equity and righteousness after this manner: Then shall the lambs eat their appointed fodder, and shall feed plentiously in the mountains. Woe be unto vain persons, that draw wickedness unto them, as it were with a cord: and sin, as it were with a cart rope. Which use to speak on this manner: Let him make hast now, and go forth with his work, that we may see it. Let that counsel of the holy one of Israel come, and draw nye, that we may know it.
Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil: which make darkness light, and light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sour. Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding. Woe be unto them that are conning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness. These give sentence with the ungodly for rewards, but condemn the just cause of the righteous.
Therefore like as the fire licketh up the straw, as the flame consumeth the stubble: Even so ( when their root is full ) their blossom shall vanish away as dust or smoke: for they despise the law of the Lord of Hosts, and blaspheme the word of the holy maker of Israel.
Therefore is the wrath of the Lord kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: yee he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcasses shall lie in the open streets, like mire. After all this, the wrath of God shall not cease, but he shall stretch his hand wider. And he shall give a token unto a strange people, and call unto them in a far country: and behold, they shall come hastily with speed. There is not one faint or feeble among them, no not a sluggish or slippery person. There shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, *ner loose the latchet of their shoe. Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent. Their horses hoofs are like flint, and their cart wheels like a stormy wind. Their cry is as it were of a lion, and the roaring of them like lions whelps. They shall roar, and haunch up the prey, and no man shall recover it or get it from them. In that day they shall be fierce upon them, as the sea. And if we look unto the land, behold, it shall be all darkness and sorrow. If we look to heaven: behold, it shall be dark with careful desperationThere shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, Ephes 6:14 RN) *ner loose the latchet of their shoe
The Lord also shall send a time upon thee, upon thy people, and upon thy fathers house, ( such as never came since the time that Ephraim departed from Juda ) through the king of the Assyrians. For at the same time shall the Lord *whistle for the flys that are about the water of Egypt, and for the *Bees in the Assirian land. These shall come, and shall light all in the valleys, and in the vaults of stone, upon all green things, and in all corners.
At the same time shall the Lord shave the hair of the head and feet and the beard clean off, with the razor that he shall pay them withal beyond the water: namely, with the King of the Assirians. At that time a man shall live with a cow, and two sheep. Then because of the abundance of milk, he shall make butter and eat it. So that every one that remaineth in the land, shall eat butter and honey. At the same time all vineyards ( though there be a thousand vines in one, and were sold for a thousand silverlings ) shall be turned to briers and thorns. Like as they shall come into the land with arrows and with bows, so shall all the land become briers and thorns. And as for all hills that are now hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of briers and thorns. But the cattle shall be driven thither, and the sheep shall feed therethat he may know *the evil. (kjv and other bibles of man = to refuse the evil)
*whistle (kjv and other bibles of man = hiss !!!) *Bees ;cap B as recordedLook through Jerusalem, behold and see: Seek through her streets also within, if ye can find one man, that doeth equal and right, or that laboreth to be faithful: and I shall spare him ( sayeth the Lord ) For though they can say: the Lord liveth, yet do they swear to deceive: Where as thou ( O' Lord ) lookest only upon faith and truth.
Thou hast scourged them, but they took no repentance: thou hast corrected them for amendment, but they refused thy correction. They made their faces harder than stone, and would not amend.
Therefore thought I in myself: *peradventure they are so simple and foolish, that they know nothing of the Lords way, and judgments of our God. Therefore will I go unto their heads and rulers, and talk with them: if they know the way of the Lord, and the judgments of our God. But these ( in like manner ) have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds in sunder.
Wherefore a lion out of the wood shall hurt them, and a wolf in the evening shall destroy them. The cat of the mountain shall lie lurking by their cities, to tare in pieces all of them, that come thereout. For their offenses are many, and their departing way is great. Should I then for all this have mercy upon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. And albeit (even if, even though) they were bound to me in marriage, yet they fell to *advoutry, and hunted harlots houses.
In the desire of uncleanly lust they are become like the stoned horse, every man neighed at his neighbors wife: Should I not correct this? saith the Lord.
Should I not be avenged of every people, that is like unto this? Climb up upon their walls and beat them down, but destroy them not utterly. Cut off their branches because they are not the Lords. For unfaithfully hath the house of Israel and Judah forsaken me, saith the Lord. They have denied the Lord, and said: it is not he. Tush, there shall no misfortune come upon us, we shall see neither sword nor hunger. As for the warning of the Prophets, they take it but for wind, yee there is none of these, which will tell them, that such things shall happen unto them.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of Hosts: Because ye speak such words, behold: The words that are in thy mouth will I turn to fire, and make the people to be wood, that it may consume them.
Lo, I will bring a people upon you from far, O house of Israel,( saith the Lord ) a mighty people, an old people, a people whos speech thou knowest not, neither understandeth what they say. Their arrows are sudden death, yee they themselves be very giants. This people shall eat up thy fruit and thy meat, yee they shall devour thy sons and thy daughters, thy sheep and thy bullocks.
They shall eat up thy grapes and figs. As for thy strong and well fenced cities, wherein thou didest trust, they shall destroy them with the sword. Nevertheless I will not then have done with you, saith the Lord. But if they say: wherefore doth the Lord our God all this unto us?
Then answer them: because, that like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, even so shall ye serve other gods also in a strange land. Preach this unto the house of Jacob, and cry it out in Judah, and say thus: Hear this ( thou foolish and undiscrete people ) ye have eyes, but ye see not: ears have ye, but hear not.
Fear ye not me, saith the Lord? Are ye not ashamed, to look me in the face? which bind the sea with the sand, so that it can not pass its bounds: for thou it rage, yet it can do nothing, and though the waves thereof do swell, yet may they not go over.
But this people hath a false and *obstinate heart, they are departed and gone away from me. They think not in their hearts: O let us fear the Lord our God, that giveth us rain, early and late, when need is: which keepeth ever still the harvest for us yearly.
Nevertheless your misdeeds have turned these from you, and your sins have robbed you hereof. For among my people are found wicked persons, that privately lay snares and wait for men, to take them and destroy them. And like as a net is full of birds, so are their houses full of that which they have gotten with falsehood and deceit. Hereof cometh their great substance and riches, hereof they are fat and wealthy, and are run away from me with shameful blasphemies. They minister not the law, they make no end of the fatherless cause, they judge not the poor according to equity.
Should I not punish these things, saith the Lord? should I not be avenged of all such people, as these be? Horrible and grievous things are done in the land.
The Prophets teach falsely, and the priests follow them, and my people hath pleasure therin. What will come thereof at the last*peradventure (perhaps, perchance)
*advouterer: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to our living God, our father, mended of heart by Jesus; Yet here such are devoted to the flesh and houses of whoreship. see James 2 for adultery
*obstinate= Stubbornly adhering to an attitude, an opinion, or a course of action;O Who will give my head water enough, and a well of tears for mine eyes: that I might weep night and day, for the slaughter of my people? Would God that I had a cottage some where far from folk, that I might leave my people, and go from them: for they be all *advoutrers and a shrinking sort. They bend their tongues like bows, to shoot out lies: As for the truth, they may nothing away with all in the world. For they go from one wickedness to another, and hold nothing of me, sayeth the Lord.
Yee one must keep himself from another, no man may safely trust his own brother: for one brother undermineth another, and one neighbor begileth another. Yee one dissesembleth with another, and they deal with no truth. They have practiced their tongues to lie, and taken great pains to do mischief. They have set their stole in the midest of deceit, and for very disassembling falsehood they will not know me, sayeth the Lord.
Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts: behold, I will melt them, and try them, for what should I do else to my people? Their tongues are like sharp arrows, to speak deceit. With their mouth they speak peaceably to their neighbor, but privately they lay wait for him. Should I not punish them for these things, sayeth the Lord? Or should I not be avenged of any such people as this? Upon the mountains will I take up a lamentation and sorrowful cry, and a mourning upon the fair plains of the wilderness: Namely, how they are so burnt up, that no man goeth there any more: Yee a man shall not hear one beast cry there.
Birds and cattle are all gone from thence. I will make Jerusalem also an heap of stones, and a den of venomous worms. And I will make the cities of Judah so waste, that no man shall dwell therin. What man is so wise, as to understand this? Or to whom hath the Lord spoken by mouth, that he may show this, and say: O thou land, why perisheth thou so? Wherefore art thou burnt up, and like a wilderness, that no man goeth through? Yee the Lord himself told the same unto them, that forsook his law, and kept not the thing that he had given them in the commandment, neither lived thereafter: but followed the wickedness of their own hearts, and served strange gods, as their fathers had taught them.
Therefore, thus sayeth the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with worm wood, and give them gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they ner their fathers have known: and I will send a sword among them, to persecute them, until I bring them to naught. Moreover, thus saith the Lord of Hosts: look that ye call for mourning wives, and send for wise women: that they come shortly, and sing a mourning song of you: that the tears may fall out of our eyes, and that our eye lids may gush out of water.
For there is a lamentable noise heard of Sion: O how are we so sore destroyed? O how are we so piteously confounded? We must forsake our own natural country, and we are shot out of our own lodgings. Yet hear the word of the Lord ( O ye women ) and let your ears regard the words of his mouth: that ye may learn your daughters to mourn, and that every one may teach her neighbouress, to make lamentation. Namely thus: Death is climbing up in at our windows, he is come into our houses, to destroy the child before the door, and the young man in the street.
But tell thou plainly, thus saith the Lord: The dead bodies of them shall lay upon the ground, as the dung upon the field, and as the hay after the mower, and there shall be no man to take them up. Moreover, thus saith the Lord: Let not the wise man rejoice in his wisdom, ner the strong man in his strength, neither the rich man in his riches: But who so will rejoice, let him rejoice in this, that he understandeth, and knoweth me: for I am the Lord, which do mercy, equity and righteousness upon the earth. Therefore have I pleasure in such things, saith the Lord. Behold, the time cometh, ( saith the Lord ) that I will visit all them, whose foreskin is uncircumcised. The Egyptians, the Jews, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the shaven Madianites, that dwell in the wilderness. For all the Gentiles are uncircumcised in the flesh, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart*advouterer: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God see James 2 for adultery
The words that the Lord spake unto the prophet Jeremy, concerning Babylon, and the land of the Caldees: preach among the Gentiles, let your voice be heard, make a token: cry out, keep no silence, but say Babylon shall be won, Bel shall be confounded, and Merodach shall be over come.
Yee their gods shall be brought to shame and their images shall stand in fear. For out of the north there come a people against her, which shall make her land so waste, that no body shall dwell therin: neither man ner beast. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah, weeping and making haste, and shall seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Sion, thither shall they turn their faces, and come and hang upon thee, in a covenant that never shall be broken.
My people hath been a lost flock, my shepherds have deceived them, and have made them go astray upon the hills. They have gone from the mountains to the little hill, and forgotten their fold. All they that came upon them, have devoured them: and their enemies said: We have made no fault against them, for they have displeased the Lord, yee even the Lord which is the beauty of their righteousness, and that defended their fathers. Yet shall ye flee from Babylon, and depart out of the land of the Caldees, and ye shall be as the rams that go before the flock. For lo, I will make up an host of people from the northern land, and bring them upon Babylon: these shall lay siege to it, and win it: Their arrows shall not miss, like as a cunning archer shuteth not wrong. And the Chaldees shall be spoiled, and all they that spoil them, shall be satisfied, saith the Lord. because ye were so cheerful and glad, to tread down mine heritage, and fulfill your pleasures, as the calves in the grass: And triumphed over them like the bulls, when ye had gotten the victory. Your mothers shall be sore confounded, and they that bare you, shall come to shame. She shall be the least set by among the nations, void, waste, and dried up. No man shall be able to dwell there, for the fear of the Lord, but she shall be whole desolate. All they that go by Babylon, shall stand still, and be abashed, and shall wonder at all her plagues.
Go forth in your array against Babylon round about, all ye that can handle bows: shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord. Cry out: upon her, upon her, against her round about: she shall yield herself, her foundations shall fall, and her walls shall come down, for it shall be the vengeance of the Lord. Yee vengeance shall be taken of her, and as she hath done, so shall she be dealt withal. They shall root out the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in Harvest. For fear of the sword of the enemy, every man shall get him to his own people, and every man shall flee to his own land. Israel is a scattered flock, the Lions have dispersed them. First the king of the Assyrians devoured them, last of all this Nabuchodonosor King of Babylon hath bruised all their bones.
Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will visit the King of Babylon and his kingdom, as I have visited the King of Assyrians. and I will bring Israel again to his pleasant pasture, that he may feed upon Carmel and Bashan, and be satisfied upon the mount of Ephraim and Gilaad. In those days and at the same time ( saith the Lord ) if the offense of Israel be sought for, there shall be none found: If men enquire for the sin of Judah, there shall be none: for I will be merciful unto them, whom I suffer to remain over.
Go down ( O thou avenger ) in to the enemies land, and visit them that dwell therin: down with them, and smite them upon the backs, sayeth the Lord: do according to all, that I have commanded thee. There is gone about the land a cry of the slaughter and great murder, namely on this manner: How happeneth it, that the hammer of the whole world is thus broken and bruised insunder? How chanced it, that Babylon is become a wilderness among the Heathen on this manner? I myself have layed wait for thee, and thou art taken: unawares art thou trapped and snared: for why, thou hast provoked the Lord unto anger: The Lord hath opened his house of ordinance, and brought forth weapons of his wrath. For the thing that is done in the land of the Caldees, it is the Lord of hosts work.
These things shall come upon her at the last, they shall break into her privy chambers, they shall leave her as bare as stones, that be layed together upon heaps. They shall so destroy her, that nothing shall be left. They shall slay all her mighty soldiers, and put them to death. Woe be unto them, for the day and the time of their visitation is at hand. Me think I hear all ready a cry, of them that be fled and escaped out of the land of Babylon, which show Sion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance of his temple: yee a voice of them, that cry against Babylon: Call up all the archers against Babylon, pitch your tents round about her, that none escape. Recompense her, as she hath deserved: and according as she hath done, so deal with her again: for she hath set up herself against the Lord, against the holy one of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall down in the streets, and all her men of war shall be rooted out in that day, saith the Lord. Behold, I speak unto thee ( O thou proud ) saith the Lord God of Hosts: for thy day shall come, even the time of thy visitation. And the proud shall stumble and fall, and no man shall help him up. I will burn up his cities with fire, and it shall consume all that is round about him.
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: The children of Israel and Judah suffer violence together. All they that have them in captivity, keep them fast, and will not let them go: but their avenger and redeemer is mighty, whose name is the Lord of Hosts: he shall maintain their cause, he shall make the land shake, and judge them that dwell therin, one with another. The sword shall come upon the Caldees, saith the Lord, upon them that dwell in Babylon, upon their princes, and upon their wise men: The sword upon their soothsayers, as for those ( they shall become fools ) The sword upon their worthies, so that they shall stand in fear: The sword upon their horsemen and chariots, and upon all the common people that dwell under them: so that they shall all become like women: The sword upon their treasure, so that it shall be stolen away: The sword upon their waters, so that they shall be dried up: For the land worshipeth images, and delighteth in strange wonderful things. Therefore shall wild beasts, Apes, and Ostriches dwell therin: for there shall never man dwell there, neither shall any man have his habitation there for evermore. Like as God destroyed Sodome and Gomorre, with the cities that lay there about, saith the Lord: So shall no man dwell there also, neither shall any man have there his habitation. Behold, there shall come a people from the North, with a great bound of men, and many Kings shall stand up from the ends of the earth: They bear bows and bucklers, cruel are they and unmerciful.
Their voice roareth like the raging sea, they ride upon horses, and come weaponed to fight against thee: O Babylon. As soon as the king of Babylon heareth tell of them, his hands shall wax feeble: Sorrow and heaviness shall come upon him, as of a woman in travailing with child. Behold, Like as the Lion cometh up from the pleasant meadows of Jordan unto the green pastures of Ethan, so will I drive them forth, and make them run against her. But whom shall I choose out, and ordain to such a thing? For who is like me, or who will strive with me? or what shepherd may stand against me? Therefore hear the counsel that the Lord hath given upon Babylon, and the devise that he hath taken upon the land of the Caldees. The least among the people shall tear them in pieces, and look what pleasant thing they have: they shall lay it waste. The noise at the winning of Babylon shall move the earth, and the cry shall be heard among the GentilesThus hath the Lord said: Behold, I will raise up a perilous wind against Babylon and her citizens, that bear evil will against me. I will send also into Babylon fanners, to fan her out, and destroy her land: for in the day of her trouble they shall be about her on every side: Moreover, the Lord hath said unto the bow men, and to them that climb over the walls in breast plates: He shall not spare her young men, kill down all her host. Thus the slain shall fall down in the land of the Caldees, and the wounded in the streets. As for Israel and Juda, they shall not be forsaken of their God, of the Lord of Hosts, of the holy one of Israel: no, though they have filled all their land full of sin. Fly away from Babylon, every man save his life. Let no man hold his tongue to her wickedness, for the time of the Lords vengeance is come, yee he shall reward her again. Babylon hath been in the Lords hand a golden cup, that maketh all lands drunken. Of her wine have all people drunken, therefore are they out of their wits. But suddenly is Babylon fallen and destroyed. Mourn for her, bring plasters for her wounds, if she may peradventure be healed again. We would have made Babylon whole ( sayeth they ) but she is not recovered. Therefore will we let her alone, and go every man into his own country. For her judgment is come in to heaven, and is gone up to the clouds. And therefore come on, we will show Sion the work of the Lord our God.
Make sharp arrows, and fill the quivers: for the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the king of the Meedes, which hath already a desire to destroy Babylon. This shall be the vengeance of the Lords, and the vengeance of his temple.
Set up tokens upon the walls of Babylon, make your watch strong, set your watchmen in array, yee hold private watches: and yet for all that shall the Lord go forth with the devise, which he hath taken upon them that dwell in Babylon.
O thou that dwellest by the great waters, O thou that hast so great treasure and riches, thine end is come: and the raking of thy winnings. The Lord of Hosts hath sworn by himself, that he will over whelm thee with men like grasshoppers in number, which with courage shall cry Alarm, Alarm against thee. Yee even the Lord of Hosts, that with his power made the earth, with his wisdom prepared the round world, and with his discretion spied out the heavens. As soon as he letteth his voice be heard, the waters in the air wax fierce: He draweth up the clouds from the ends of the earth. He turneth the lightnings to rain, he bringeth the winds out of their secret places. By the reason of wisdom, all men are become fools. Confounded are all the casters of images: for the thing that they make is but deceit, and hath no breath. Vain is it and worthy to be laughed at: and in the time of visitation it shall perish.
Nevertheless, the portion of Jacob is none such: but he that made all things, whose name is the Lord of Hosts, he is the rod of his inheritance. Thou breakest my weapons of war, and yet through thee I have scattered the nations and kingdoms: Through thee have I scattered horse and horse man, yee the chariots, and such as sat upon them: through thee I have scattered man and woman, old and young, bachelor and maiden. Through thee I have scattered the shepherd and his flock, the husband man and his cattle, the princes and rulers. Therefore will I reward the city of Babylon and all her citizens the Caldees, with all the evil which they have done unto Sion: yee that ye yourselves shall see it, sayeth the Lord. Behold, I come upon thee ( thou noisesome hill ) sayeth the Lord, thou that destroyest all lands. I will stretch out my hand over thee, and cast down from the stoney rocks: and will make thee a brunt hill, so that neither corner stones, ner pinnacles, ner foundation stones shall be taken any more out of thee, but waste and desolate shalt thou lie for evermore, sayeth the Lord.
Set up a token in the land, blow the trumpets among the Heathen, provoke the nations against her, call the kingdoms of Ararat, Menni, and Ascanes against her: number out Taphsar against her, bring as great a sort of horses against her, as if they were grasshoppers. Prepare against them the people of the Meedes with their kings princes and all their chief rulers, yee and the whole land that is under them.
The land also shall shake and be afraid, when the devise of the Lord shall come forth against Babylon: to make the land of Babylon so waste, that no man shall dwell any more therin. The Worthies of Babylon shall leave the battle, and keep themselves in strongholds, their strength hath failed them, they shall be like women. Their dwelling places shall be burnt up, their bars shall be broken. One pursuant shall meet another, yee one post shall come by another, to bring the king of Babylon tidings: that his city is taken in on every side, the *foordes occupied, the fences brunt up, and the soldiers sore afraid.
For thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon hath been in her time like as a threshing floor but shortly shall her harvest come. Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon hath devoured and destroyed me, he hath made me an empty vessel. He swallowed me up like a dragon, and filled his belly with my delicates: he hath cast me out. he hath taken my substance away and the thing that was left me hath he carried unto Babylon, sayeth the daughter that dwelleth in Sion: yee and my blood also unto the Caldees, sayeth Jerusalem. Therefore thus sayeth the Lord: Behold, I will drink up her see, and dry up her water springs.
Babylon shall become an heap of stones a dwelling place for dragons, a fearfulness and wondering, because no man dwelleth there. They shall roar together like lions, and as young lions when they be angry, so shall they bend them selves. In their heat I shall set drink before them, and they shall be drunken for joy: Then shall they sleep an everlasting sleep, and never wake, sayeth the Lord. I shall carry them down to be slain like sheep, like whethers and goats. O how was Sesach won? O, how was the glory of the whole land taken? how happeneth it, that Babylon is so wondered at among the Heathen? The sea is risen over Babylon, and hath covered her with his great waves. Her cities are layed waste, the land lieth unbuilded and void: it is a land where no man dwelleth, and where no man traveleth through. Moreover, I will visit Bel at Babylon: and the thing that he hath swallowed up, that same shall I pluck out of his mouth. The Gentiles also shall run no more unto him, yee and the walls of Babylon shall fall.
O My people, come out of Babylon, that every man may save his life, from the fearful wrath of the Lord. Be not faint hearted, and fear not at every rumor that shall be heard in the land: for every year bringeth new tidings, yee strange wickedness and lordship. And lo, the time cometh that I will visit the images of Babylon, and the whole land shall be confounded, yee and her slain shall lie in the midst of her. Heaven and earth with all that is therin, shall rejoice over Babylon, when the destroyers shall come upon her from the North, sayeth the Lord.
Like as Babylon hath beaten down and the slain many out of Israel, so shall there fall many, and be slain in all her kingdom. Ye that have escaped the sword, haste you, stand not still, remember the Lord afar off: and think upon Jerusalem, for we were ashamed to hear the blasphemes: our faces were covered with shame, because the strange aliens came into the Sanctuary of the Lord. Wherefore, behold, ( sayeth the Lord ) the time cometh, that I will visit the images of Babylon, and through the whole land they shall mourn and fall. Though Babylon climbeth up into heaven, and keep her power an high: yet shall I send her destroyers, saith the Lord.
A piteous cry shall be heard from Babylon, and a great misery from the land of the Caldees: when the Lord destroyeth them, and when he driveth out the high stomach and proud boasting, wherewith they have been as furious as the waves of great water floods, and made great cracks with their words. For the destroyers shall come upon her ( even upon Babylon ) which shall take her worthies, and break their bows : for God is disposed to avenge himself upon them, and sufficiently to recompense them. Yee ( sayeth the Lord ) I will make their Princes, their wise men, their chief rulers and all their worthies, drunken: so that they shall sleep an everlasting sleep, and never wake: Thus sayeth the King, whose name is the Lord of Hosts.
Moreover, Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: The thick wall of Babylon shall be broken, and her proud gates shall be burnt up. And the thing that the Gentiles and the people have wrought with great travail and labor, shall come to naught and be consumed with fire.
This is the charge that Jeremy gave unto Saraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maasiah, when he went toward Babylon with Zedekiah the King of Judah, in the fourth year of his reign. Now this Saraiah was a peaceable Prince. Jeremy wrote in a book all the misery that should come upon Babylon, yee and all these sermons that be written against Babylon, and gave Saraiah this charge: When thou comest unto Babylon, see that you read all these words, and say: O' Lord, thou art determined to root out this place, so that neither people ner cattle shall dwell there any more, but to lie waste for ever: and when thou hast read out the book, bind a stone to it, and cast it in the midst of Euphrates, and say: Even thus shall Babylon sink, and be thrust down with the burden of trouble, that I will bring upon her: so that she shall never come up again. Thus far are the preachings of Jeremy*foordes = shallow area were a crossing can be made through water, perhaps like a moat.
THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH Chpt 3
Ne
The arrows of his quiver hath he shot, even into my reins.
I am laughed to scorn of all my people, they make songs upon me all the day long.
He hath filled me with bitterness, and given me wormwood to drink.
The word of the Lord came to me, saying: Thou son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, speak against the Sanctuary, and prophesy against the land of Israel, say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will upon thee, and will draw my sword out of the sheath, and root out of thee the righteous and the wicked, Seeing then that I will root out of thee both the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of his sheath against all flesh from the north to the south: that all flesh may know, how that I the Lord, have drawn my sword out of the sheath, and it shall not be put in again.
Mourn therefore ( O thou son of man ) that thy loins crack withal, yee mourn bitterly for them: And if they say, wherefore mournest thou? Then tell them: for the tidings that cometh, at the which all hearts shall melt, all hands shall be letten down, all stomachs shall faint, and all knees shall wax feeble. Behold, it cometh, and shall be fulfilled, saith the Lord God.
Again, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord God: speak, the sword is sharpened and well scoured. Sharpened is it for slaughter, and scoured that it may be bright. *O, the destroying staff of my son, shall bring down all wood. He hath put his sword to the *dighting, that good hold may be taken of it. This sword is sharpened and *dight, that it may be given into the hand of the man slayer.
Cry ( O thou son of man ) and howl, for this sword shall smite my people, and all the rulers of Israel, which with my people shall be slain down to the ground through his sword. Smite thou upon thy thigh, For wherefor should not the plague and staff of judgement come? Prophesy thou son of man, and smite thine hands together: make the sword two edged, yee make it three edged, the manslayers sword, that sword of great slaughter, which shall smite them, even in their privy chambers: to make them abashed and faint at the hearts, and in all gates to make some of them fall. O how bright and sharp it is, how well dight and meat for the slaughter. Get thee to some place alone, either upon the right hand or the left, wither so ever thy face turneth. I will smite my hands together also and satisfy my wrothfull indignation: Even I the Lord hath said it.
The word of the Lord came yet unto me again saying: Thou son of man, make thee two streets, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. Both these streets shall go out of one land. He shall set him up a place, at the head of the street shall he choose him out a corner. Make that a street, that the sword may come toward Kabbath of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem. For the king of Babylon shall stand in the turning of the way, at the head of the two trees: to ask counsel of the soothsayers, casting the lots with his arrows, to ask counsel at the Idols, and to look in the liver. But the soothsaying shall point to the right side upon Jerusalem, that he may set men of war, to smite it with a great noise, to cry out Alarm, to set battle rams against the gates, to grave up ditches, and to make bulwarks.
Nevertheless, as for the soothsaying, they shall hold it but for vanity, even as though a jest were told them: yee and they themselves remember their wickedness, so that by right they must be taken and *womne.Therefore saith the Lord God: for as much as ye yourselves show your offense, and have opened your wickedness, so that in all your works men may see your sins: yee in so much ( I say ) that ye yourselves have made mention thereof ye shall be taken by violence.
O thou shameful wicked guide of Israel whose day is come: even the time when wickedness shall have an end: Thus saith the Lord God: take away the miser, and put off the crown, and so is it away: the humble is exalted, and the proud brought low. Punish, punish, yee punish them will I, and destroy them: and that shall not be fulfilled till he come, to whom the judgement belongeth, and to whom I have given it. And thou ( O son of man ) prophecy, and speak: Thus saith the Lord God to the children of Ammon, and to their blaspheme, speak thou: The sword, the sword is drawn forth already to slaughter, and scoured that it glittereth ( because thou hast looked out vanities, and prophesied lies ) that it may come upon thy neck, like as upon the other ungodly, which be slain: whose day came, when their wickedness was full.
Though it were put up again into the sheath, yet will I punish thee, in the land where thou wast nourished and born, and pour my indignation upon thee and will blow upon thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee unto evil people, which are learned to destroy. Thou shalt feed the fire and thy blood shall be shed in the land, that thou mayest be put out of remembrance. Even I the Lord have spoken it*dighting=prepared, dressed, made ready. *womne (won
Therefore O thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and speak: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, O Gog: thou chief prince at Mesech and Tubal, I will upon thee, and turn thee about, and carry thee forth, and lead thee from the north parts, and bring thee up to the mountains of Israel. As for thy bow, I will smite it out of thy left hand, and cast thine arrows out of thy right hand. Thou with all thine heap, and all the people that is with thee, must fall upon the mountains of Israell. Then will I give thee unto the fouls and wild beasts of the field, to be devoured: there must thou lie upon the field: for even I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord God.
Into Magog, and among those that sit carelessly in the isles: will I send a fire, and they shall know, that I am the Lord. I will make also the name of my holiness to be known among my people of Israel: and I will not let my holy name be evil spoken of any more: but the very Heathen also shall know, that I am the Lord, the holy one in Israel. Behold, it cometh, and shall be fulfilled in deed, saith the Lord God. This is the day whereof I have spoken: They that dwell in the cities of Israel, shall go forth and set fire upon the weapons, and burn them: shields and spears, bows and arrows, bills and clubs: handstaves, seven years shall they be burning thereof, so that they shall else bring no sticks from the field, neither have need to hew down any out of the wood: For they shall have weapons now to burn. They shall rob those that robbed them, and spoil those that spoiled them, saith the Lord God.
At the same time I will give unto Gog, a place to be buried in, in Israel: even the valley, where through men go from the east to the seaward: Those that travel thereby, shall abhor it. There shall Gog and all his people be buried: and it shall be called The valley of the people of Gog. Seven months long shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land. Yee, all the people of the land shall bury them. O it shall be a glorious day, when I get me that honor, saith the Lord God. They shall ordain men also to be dead buryers, ever going through the land, and appoint them certain places to bury those in, which remain upon the field, that the land may be cleansed. From end to end shall they seek, and that seven months long. Now those that go through the land, where they see a mans bone, they shall set up a token by it, till the dead buryers have buried it also, in the valley of the people of Gog. And the name of the city shall be called, Hamonah. Thus shall they make the land clean.
And, thou son of man: thus saith the Lord God: Speak unto all the fouls and every bird, yee and to all the wild beasts of the field: heap you together and come, gather you round about upon my slaughter, that I have slain for you: even a great slaughter upon the mountains of Israel: eat flesh and drink blood. Ye shall eat the flesh of the worthies, and drink the blood of the princes of the land: of the wethers, of lambs, of goats, and of the oxen that all be slain at Bashan. Eat the fat your belly full, and drink blood till ye be drunken of the slaughter, which I have slain unto you. Fill you at my table, with horses and strong horsemen: with captains and all men of war, saith the Lord God.
I will bring my glory also among the Gentiles, that all the Heathen may see my judgment, that I have kept, and my hand which I have laid upon them: that the house of Israel may know, how that I am the Lord their God, from that day forth. And the Heathen shall know, that where as the house of Israel were led into captivity: was for their wickedness sake, because they offended me.
For which cause I hid my face from them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, that they might all be slain with the sword. According to their uncleanness and unfaithful dealings, so have I entreated them, and hid my face from them. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Now will I bring again the captives of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy names sake. All their confusion and offense that they have done against me, shall be taken away: and so safely shall they dwell in their land, that no man shall make them afraid. And when I have brought them again from among the people, when I have gathered them together out of their enemies lands, and am praised in them before many Heathen: then shall they know, that I am the Lord their God, which suffered them to be led into captivity among the Heathen, but have brought them again into their own land, and not left one of them in yonder.
After that, will I hide my face no more from them, but will pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GodThou didest divide the waters of the earth. When the mountains saw thee, they were afraid, the water stream went away: the deep made a noise at the lifting up of thy hand. The Sun and the Moon remained still in their habitation. Thine arrows went out glittering, and thy spears as that shine of lighting. Thou trodest down the land in thy anger, and didest *throshe the Heathen in thy displeasure. Thou camest forth to help thy people, to help thine anointed. Thou smotest down the head of the house of the ungodly, and discoveredest his foundations, even unto the neck of him. Selah
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 16
Woe be unto thee Babylon and Asia, woe be unto thee Egypt and Syria: gird yourselves with clothes of sack and hear, and mourn for your children, be sorry, for your destruction is at hand. A sword is sent upon you, and who will turn it back? A fire is kindled among you, and who will quench it: Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that will drive them away? May any man drive away an hungry lion in the woods? Or may any man quench the fire in the stubble, when it hath gone to burn? May one turn again the arrow, that is shot of a strong archer? The mighty Lord sendeth the plagues, and what is he that will drive them away? The fire is kindled and gone forth in his wrath, and what is he that will quench it? He shall cast lightings, and who shall not fear? He shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid: The Lord shall threaten and who shall not utterly be beaten to powder at his presence? The earth quaketh, and the foundations thereof: the sea ariseth up with waves from the deep, and the floods of it are unquiet and the fishes thereof also before the Lord, and before the glory of his power. For strong is his right hand that holdeth the bow, his arrows that he shooteth, are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot to the ends of the world.
Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not turn again, till they come upon the earth. The fire is kindled, and shall not be put out, till it consume the foundations of the earth. Like as an arrow shot of a mighty archer, returneth not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon the earth, shall not turn again. Woe is me, woe is me, who will deliver me in those days? The beginning of sorrows and great mourning: the beginning of *darth and great death: the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear: the beginning of evils, and they shall tremble everyone. What shall I do in these things, when the plagues come? Behold, hunger, and plague, trouble and anguish are sent, as scourging for amendment. But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourging.
Behold, vitals shall be so good cheap upon the earth, that they shall think them selves to be in good case? And even then shall mischief grow up upon the earth, wars, darth and great disquietness. For many of them that dwell upon the earth shall perish of hunger, and the other that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy: And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and there should be no man to comfort them. For the earth shall be wasted, and the cities shall be cast down: there shall be no man left to till the earth and to sew it. The trees shall give fruit, and who shall pluck them of and gather them? The grapes shall be ripe, and who shall tread them: for all the places shall be desolate of men, so that one man shall desire to see another, or to hear his voice. For of one whole city there shall be ten left, and two in the field, which shall hide themselves in the thick bushes, and in the cliffs of stones: like as when there remain three or four olives upon the tree, or as when a vineyard is gathered there are left some grapes, of them that diligently sought through the vineyard.
Even so, in those days there shall be three or four left, for them that search their houses with the sword. And the earth shall be left waste, and the fields thereof shall wear old: and her ways and her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel there through. The daughters shall mourn, having no bridegrooms: the women shall make lamentation, having no husbands, their daughters shall mourn, having no help of their bride groom. In the wars shall they be destroyed, and their husbands shall perish of hunger. O' ye servants of the Lord, hear these things, and mark them. Behold, the word of the Lord, O' receive it: behold the plagues draw near, and are not slack in tarrying. Like as a travailing woman, which after nine months bringeth forth a son, when the hour of the birth is come, an hour two or three afore that the pains come upon her body, and when the child cometh to the birth, they tarry not the twinkling of an lie: Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come upon it on every side.
O' my people, hear my word, make you ready to the battle: and in all evil be as pilgrims upon the earth He that selleth, let him be as he that flyeth his way: and he that buyeth, as one that will lease. Who so occupieth merchandise, as he that winneth not: and he that buildeth, as he that shall not dwell therin: he that soweth, as one that shall not reap: he that twisteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes: they that marry, as they that shall get no children: and they that marry not, as the widows: and therefore they that labor, labor in vain. For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in captivity and hunger shall they get children. And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, how long deck they their cities, their houses, their possessions, their persons? the more will I punish them for their sins, sayeth the Lord. Like as an whore envieth an honest woman, so shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that defendeth, which shall make inquisition for all sin upon the earth. And therefore be not ye like thereunto, near to the works thereof: for or ever it be long, iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you.
Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coals of fire shall burn upon his head, which sayeth before the Lord God and his glory: I have not sinned. Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts and their hearts. For he spoke but the word: let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heaven be made, and it was made. In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them. He searcheth the ground of the deep, and the treasures thereof: he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth. He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters. He spreadeth out the heaven like a *vawte, upon the waters hath he founded it. In the desert a dry wilderness hath he made springs of water, and poles upon the tops of mountains, that the floods might pour down from the stony rocks to water the earth. He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life and understanding, yee and the spirit of the Almighty God, which made all things, and hath searched the ground of all the secrets of the earth.
He knoweth your imaginations and inventions, and what ye think when ye sin, and would hide your sins. Therefore hath the Lord searched and sought out all your works, and he shall *bewray you all. And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day. What will ye do? Or how will ye hide your sins before God and his Angels? Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him, leave off from your sins, and forget your unrighteousness, and meddle no more with them: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble. For behold, the heat of the great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idle with Idols: and they that consent unto them, shall be had in *derision, laughed to scorn, and trodden under foot.
For unto the places there shall be a place, and in the next cities a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord. They shall be like madmen, they shall spare no man: they shall spoil and waste such as fear the Lord, their goods shall they take from them, and shut them out of their houses. Then shalt it be known who are my chosen, and they shall be tried as the gold in the fire. Hear O' ye my beloved, sayeth the Lord: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same. Be not afraid, despair not, for God is your captain.
Who so keepeth my commandments and precepts ( sayeth the Lord God ) let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your unrighteousness be lift up. Woe be unto to those that are subdued unto their own sins, and tangled in their wickednesses: like as a field is hedged in with bushes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through: and so is he taken, and cast in the fire, and burnt*darth=famine, lack. *vawte, ( vault ; from Mid Eng vaute: meaning an arched overhead covering). *bewray (disclose, reveal, uncover). *derision; laughed to scorn, and trod under foot contempt.
Now when they were gone their way, Judith went into her *oratory, put on an hairy smock, strewed ashes upon her head, fell down before the Lord, and cried unto him, saying O' Lord God of my father Simeon, which gavest him a sword for a defense against the enemies, that used violence and willfulness and that ravished the virgin and put her to dishonesty. Thou that gavest their wives into prey, and their daughters into captivity, and all their prey for a spoil unto thy servants, which bare a zeal unto thee, help me widow, O' Lord my God, I beseech thee For thou hast done all things from the beginning, and look what thou hast taken in hand and devised, it came ever to pass. For all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgements are done in thy everlasting for knowledge. O' look now upon the armies of the Assyrians, like as it was thy pleasure sometime to look upon the host of the Egyptians, when they being weaponed, persecuted thy servants, and put their trust in their chariots, horsemen, and in the multitude of their men of war. But thou lookest upon their host casting a thick darkness before them: and when they came into the deep, the waters overwhelmed them.
Even so Lord let it go with these, that trust in the power and multitude of their men of war, in their chariots, arrows and spears, and know not, that thou only art our God, which destroyest wars from the beginning, and that thou art the Lord. O' lift up thine arm now like as ever from the beginning, and in thy power bring their power to naught, cause their might to fall in thy wrath. They make their boast, that they will unhallow and defile thy Sanctuary, and to waste the tabernacle of thy name and to cast down the horn of thine altar with their sword. Bring to pass ( O' Lord) that the pride of the enemy may be cut down with his own sword that he may be taken with the snare of his eyes in me and that thou mayest smite him with the lips of my love. O' give me a steadfast mind, that I may despise him and his strength, and that I may destroy him.
This shall I bring thy name an everlasting remembrance, if the hand of a woman overthrow him. For thy power ( O' Lord ) standeth not in the power of men, neither hast thou any pleasure in the strength of horses. There was never proud person that pleaseth thee, but in the prayer of the humble and meek hath thy pleasure been evermore.
O' thou God of the heavens, thou maker of the waters, and Lord of all creatures, hear me poor woman, calling upon thee, and putting my trust in thy mercy. Remember thy covenant O' Lord, and minister words in my mouth, and *stablish this devise in my heart, that thy house may continue still in holiness, and that all the Heathen may know and understand, that thou art God, and that there is none other but thou*oratory, (place speaking; in this case of prayer) *stablish (establish)
THE FIRST OF THE MACHABEES Chpt 6
Wherefore he ran with courage unto the Elephant in the midst of the host, smiting them down of both the sides, and slew many about him. So went he to the Elephants feet, and gat him under him, and slew him: then fell the Elephant down upon him, and there he died. Judas also and his men seeing the power of the king and the mighty violence of his host, departed from them. And the kings army went up against them toward Jerusalem, and pitched their tents in Jewry beside mount Sion. Moreover, the king took truce with them that were in Bethsura.
But when they came out of the city, ( because they had no victuals within, and the land lay untilled ) the king took Bethsura, and set men to keep it, and turned his host to the place of the Sanctuary, and layed siege to it a great while. Where he made all manner of ordinance: handbows, fiery darts, rackets to cast stones, scorpions to shoot arrows, and slings. The Jews also made ordinance against theirs, and fought a long season.
But in the city there were no victuals, for it was the seventh year of the wars, and those Heathen that remained in Jewry had eaten up all their store. And in the Sanctuary were very few men left, for the hunger came so upon them, that they were scattered abroad every man to his own place.
So when Lysias heard that Philippe ( whom Antiochus the king while he was yet living, had ordered to bring up Antiochus his son, that he might be king ) was come again out of Persia and Medea with the kings host, and thought to obtain the kingdom: He gat him to the king in all haste, and to the captains of the host, and said: we decrease daily, and our vitals are but small: Again, the place that we lay siege unto, is very strong, and it were our part to see for the realm. Let us agree with these men and take truce with them, and with all their people, and grant them to live after their law, as they did afore. For they be grieved a do all these things against us, because we have despised their law. So the king and the princes were content, and sent unto them to make peace, and they received it. Now when the king and the princes had made an oath unto them, they came out of the castle, and the king went up to mount Sion. But when he saw that the place was well fenced, he break the oath that he had made, and commanded to destroy the wall round about. Then departed he in all haste, and returned unto Antioche, where he found Philippe having dominion over the city. So he fought against him, and took the city again in to his hands*cressettes (torches) *Inde (India)
and others of a similitude ...
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