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 as i was WAKING UP ...UP a word came to me as though a song ...
and the song was a song of songs ...of many words without speaking ...
Yet the Word remained and the song of the Word remained ...
and the word was WINE ...
and scripture came back to remembrance ...
And God blessed Noe and his sons and said unto them: Increase and multiply and fill the earth. The fear also and dread of you be upon all beasts of the earth, and upon all fowls of the air, and upon all that creepeth on the earth, and upon all fishes of the sea, which are given unto your hands. And all that moveth upon the earth having life, shall be your meat: Even as the green herbs so give I you all things. Only the flesh with his life which is his blood, see that ye eat not.
For verily the blood of you wherein your lives are will I require: Even of the hand of all beasts will I require it, and of the hand of man and of the hand of every mans brother will I require the life of man: so that he which sheddeth mans blood, shall have his blood shed by man again: for God made man after his own likeness. See that ye increase, and wax, and be occupied upon the earth, and multiply therein.
Furthermore God spake unto Noe and to his sons with him, saying: See, I make my bond with you and your seed after you, and with all living things that is with you: both fowl and cattle, and all manner beasts of the earth that is with you, of all that cometh out of ark, what soever beast of the earth it be. I make my bond with you, that henceforth all flesh shall not be destroyed with the waters of any flood, and that henceforth there shall not be a flood to destroy the earth.
And God said: This is the token of my bond which I make between me and you, and between all living things that is with you for ever: I will set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the appointment made between me and the earth: so that when I bring in clouds upon the earth, the bow shall appear in the clouds. And then will I think upon my testament which I have made between me and you, and all that liveth whatsoever flesh it be. So that henceforth there shall be no more waters to make a flood to destroy all flesh.
The bow shall be in the clouds, and I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting testament between God and all that liveth upon the earth, whatsoever flesh it be. And God said unto Noe: This is the sign of the testament which I have made between me and all flesh that is on the earth.
The sons of Noe that came out of the ark were: Sem, Ham and Japheth. And Ham he is the father of Canaan. These are the three sons of Noe, and of these was all the world overspread.
And Noe being an husbandman, went forth and planted a vineyard, and drank of the wine and was drunk, and lay uncovered in the midst of his tent. And Ham the father of Canaan saw his fathers privities, and told his two brethren that were without. And Sem and Japheth took a mantle, and put it on both their shoulders and went backward, and covered their fathers secrets, but their faces were backward, so that they saw not their fathers nakedness.
As soon as Noe was awaked from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him, he said: Cursed be Canaan, and a servant of all servants be he to his brethren. And he said: Blessed be the Lord God of Sem, and Canaan be his servant. God increase Japheth that he may dwell in the tents of Sem. And Canaan be their servant.
And Noe lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years: So that all the days of Noe were nine hundred and fifty years, and then he diedThis is the blessing wherewith Moses Gods man blessed the children of Israel before his death saying: The Lord came from Sinai and showed his beams from Seir unto them, and appeared gloriously from mount Pharan, and he came with thousands of saints, and in his right hand a law of fire for them. How loved he the people? All his saints are in his hand. They joined themselves unto thy foot and received thy words. Moses gave us a law which is the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was in Israel king when he gathered the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel together.
Ruben shall live and shall not die: but his people shall be few in number. This is the blessing of Juda. And he said: hear Lord the voice of Juda and bring him unto his people: let his hands fight for him: but be thou his help against his enemies.
And unto Levi he said: thy perfectness and thy light be after thy merciful man whom thou tempted at Masa and with whom thou strived at the waters of strife. He that saith unto his father and mother: I saw him not, and unto his brethren I knew not, and to his son I knew not: for they have observed thy words and kept thy testament. They shall teach Jacob thy judgements and Israel thy laws. They shall put cense before thy nose and whole sacrifices upon thine altar. Bless Lord their power and accept the works of their hands: smite the backs of them that rise against them and of them that hate them: that they rise not again.
Unto BenJamin he said: The Lords darling shall dwell in safety by him and keep himself in the haven by him continually, and shall dwell between his shoulders.
And unto Joseph he said: blessed of the Lord is his land with the goodly fruits of heaven, with dew and with springs that lie beneath: and with fruits of the increase of the *son and with ripe fruit of the months, and with the tops of mountains that were from the beginning and with the dainties of hills that last ever, and with goodly fruit of the earth and of the fullness thereof.
And the goodwill of him that dwelleth in the bush shall come upon the head of Joseph and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from among his brethren, his beauty is as a first born ox and his horns as the horns of an unicorn. And with them he shall push the nations together, even unto the ends of the world. These are the many thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasse.
And unto Zabulon he said: Rejoice Zabulon in thy going out, and thou Isachar in thy tents. They shall call the people unto the hill, and there they shall offer offerings of righteousness. For they shall suck of the abundance of the sea and of treasure hid in the sand.
And unto Gad he said: blessed is the *roommaker Gad. He dwelleth as a lion and caught the arm and also the top of the head. He saw his beginning, that a part of the teacher was hid there and come with the heads of the people, and executed the righteousness of the Lord and his judgements with Israel.
And unto Dan he said: Dan is a lions whelp, he shall flow from Basan.
And unto Naphthali, he said: Naphthali he shall have abundance of pleasure and shall be filled with the blessing of the Lord and shall have his possessions in the southwest.
And of Asser he said: Asser shall be blessed with children: he shall be acceptable unto his brethren and shall dip his foot in oil: Iron and brass shall hang on thy shoes and thine age shall be as thy youth.
There is none like unto the God of Israel: he that sitteth upon heaven shall be thine help, whose glory is in the clouds, that is the dwelling place of God from the beginning and from under the arms of the world: he hath cast out thine enemies before thee and said: destroy. And Israel shall dwell in safety alone. And the eyes of Jacob shall look upon a land of corn and wine, moreover his heaven shall drop with dew. Happy art thou Israel, who is like unto thee? A people that art saved by the Lord thy shield and helper and sword of thy glory. And thine enemies shall hide themselves from thee, and thou shalt walk upon their high hills*son: this is exactly as it appears; in the original text.
And then Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together and lamented him, and buried him in his own house at Ramath.
And David arose and gat him to the wilderness of Pharan. And there was a man in Maon whose cattle was in Carmel, and the man was exceeding mighty, and had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail, and was a woman of good wisdom and beautiful. But the man was churlish and of shrewd conditions and was a Calebite. And when David heard in the wilderness, that Nabal share his sheep, he sent out ten of his young men, and said unto them: get you up to Carmel and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. And thus wise say unto my friend: peace be to thee, peace be to thine house and peace be unto all that thou hast. I have heard say that thou hast shearers. Now the shepherds were with us, and we did them no spite, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel: ask thy lads, and they will show thee. Wherefore let these young men find favour in thine eyes (for we come in a good season) and give I pray thee whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants and to thine son David.
And Davids young men came and told Nabal all those words in the name of David and then stopped. And Nabal answered Davids servants and said: What is David? and what is the son of Isai? there is plenty of servants now a days, that break away every man from his master. I should take my bread, my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it men which I know not *whence they be?
And Davids servants turned their way and went again, and came and told him according to all those sayings. Then David said unto his men: gird every man his sword about him. And they girded every man his sword on, and David thereto girded on his sword. And there followed David upon a four hundred men, and two hundred abode by the stuff.
But one of the lads told Abigail Nabals wife saying: see David sent messengers unto our master out of the wilderness to salute him, and he railed on them. And yet the men were very good unto us and did us no displeasure, neither missed we anything, as long as were conversant with them, when we were in the fields. But they were a wall of defense unto us both by night and also by day, all the while we were with them keeping sheep. Now take heed and see what thou hast to do, for it is concluded to do mischief unto our master and to all his household. And he is ungracious to speak to. Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two bottles of wine and five sheep ready dressed and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred bundles of raisins and two hundred *frails of figs, and laded them on asses, and said unto her young men: go before me, and see I come after you, and told her husband Nabal nothing thereof. And as she rode on her ass and was coming down in a *slade of the hill, David and his men came down against her, and she met them.
And David said: in vain have I kept all that this fellow had in the wilderness: so that nought was missed that pertained unto him, for he hath quit me with evil for good. So and so do God unto the enemies of David, as I will not leave of all that pertain to him, by the dawning of the day, ought that *pisseth against the wall.
When Abigail saw David, she hasted and lighted off her ass and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and fell at his feet and said: Let this unhappy deed be counted mine, my Lord, and let thine handmaid speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thy handmaid. Let not my Lord regard this unthrifty man Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him. But I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my Lord which thou sendest.
And now my Lord as sure as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood and from avenging thyself with thine own hand. Furthermore I pray God that thine enemies and they that intend to do my Lord evil, may be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought, let it be given unto the young men that follow my Lord.
Forgive the trespass of thine handmaid that the Lord may make my Lord a sure house, because my Lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and there could none evil be found in thee in all thy life. And if any man rise to persecute thee and to seek thy soul, the soul of my Lord be bound in a bundle of life with the Lord thy God. And the souls of thy enemies be slung in the middle of a sling. And moreover when the Lord shall have done to my Lord all the good that he hath promised thee, and shall have made thee ruler over Israel: then shall it be no grudge of conscience unto thee or discourage of heart unto my Lord, that thou sheddest blood causeless and didst avenge thyself.
And moreover when the Lord shall have dealt well with my Lord, then think on thine handmaid. Then said David to Abigail: blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me. And blessed be thy behavior, and blessed be thou which hath kept me this day from coming to shed blood and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed as sure as the Lord God of Israel liveth which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and met me, there had not been left Nabal by the dawning of the day, a pisser against the wall. And so David received of her hand that she brought him, and said to her: go in peace to thine house. And see I have obeyed thy voice and have received thee to grace.
And when Abigail came to Nabal: behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a King, and Nabals heart was merry within him, and he was drunk a good. Wherefore she told him nought neither little nor more, until the morrow day. But in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone, and upon a ten days after the Lord smote Nabal, that he died. And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said: Blessed be the Lord that hath judged the cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and hath turned the wickedness of Nabal again upon his own head. And David sent to commune with Abigail, to the intent to take her to his wife. And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her saying: David sent us unto thee, to take thee to his wife. And she arose and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said: Behold thy handmaid, to be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord. And Abigail hasted and arose and gat her up upon an Ass, with five damsels of hers that went at her feet, and went after the messengers of David and was his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezrahel, and they were both his wives. But Saul gave Michol his daughter Davids wife to Phalti the son of Lais of Gallin*whence (from where) *frails (reed baskets) *slade (side of, valley) *pisseth against the wall. *(meaning anything male)
And when David was a little past the top of the hill: behold Ziba the servant of Miphiboseth came against him with a couple of Asses saddled, and upon them two hundred leaves and one hundred bunches of *Resinges, and an hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba: what hast thou there? And Ziba said: Asses for the kings household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness. Then said the king: where is thy masters son? and Ziba said unto the king: behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said: this day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. Then said the king to Ziba: behold, thine are all that pertained to Miphiboseth. And Ziba answered: I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my Lord king.
And when king David came to Bahurim: behold, thence came out a man of the kindred of the house of Saul named Semei the son of Gera, and he came out cursing. And thereto he cast stones at David and at all the servants of king David, all the people and all the men of war going part on his right hand, and part on his left. And thus said this Semei as he cursed: come forth, come forth thou blood shedder and thou unthrifty man. The Lord hath brought upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and he hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son. And thou art wrapped about with thine own mischief, because thou art a blood shedder.
Then said Abisai the son of Zaruiah unto the king: why doth this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me go and take off the head of him. And the king said: what have I to do with you ye sons of Zaruiah: let him curse: for the Lord hath bid him curse David. And who dare presume to say wherefore doth he so? And David said to Abisai, and to all his servants: behold, my son which came out of mine own bowels seeketh my life. How much more may this son of Jemini do it? Suffer him therefore to curse, for the Lord hath bidden him: haply the Lord will look on my wretchedness, and do me good for his cursing this day. And thus as David and his men went by the way, Semei went along on the hills side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and cast dust. And the king and all that were with him came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
And Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel came to Jerusalem and Ahitophel with him. And as soon as he was come: Husai the Arachite went unto Absalom and said unto him: God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said again to Husai: is this the kindness thou owest to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with him? And Husai said unto Absalom: nay not so, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I dwell. And furthermore unto whom shall I do service but even to his son? And as I was servant before with thy father, even so shall I be with thee. Then spake Absalom to Ahitophel give counsel what is best for us to do. And Ahitophel said unto Absalom: get thee in unto thy fathers concubines which he hath left to keep the house. For when all Israel shall hear that thou hast made thy father to stink, then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. And so they pitched Absalom a tent upon the top of the house. And he went in unto his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel.
And the counsel of Ahitophel which he counselled in those days, was as a man had asked counsel of God: even so was all the counsel of Ahitophel, both unto David and also unto Absalom*Resinges (raisins), cap R
THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS Chpt 18
In the third year of Hosea son of Ela, king of Israel reigned Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Juda. Twenty five year old was he, when he began to reign, and reigned twenty nine year in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Abi the daughter of Zachariah, and he did that pleased the Lord in all things, like to David his father. He put away the hillaltars, and brake the images and cut down the groves, and all to brake the brazen serpent that Moses made. For unto those days the children of Israel did burn sacrifice to it, and called it Nehustan. He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him came none like him among all the Kings of Juda, neither among them that went before him. He clave to the Lord and departed not from him, but kept his commandments which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him. And whatsoever he took in hand he did it wisely. And he rebelled against the king of Assiria and served him not. He beat the Philistines even unto Azah and the coasts thereof, both in castles of garrisons and strong cities too.
And the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hosea son of Elah king of Israel, came Salmanasar king of Assiria upon Samaria and besieged it. And they took it at the end of three years, which was the sixth of Hezekiah: that is to say the ninth year of Hosea king of Israel, was Samaria won. And the king of Assiria did carry away Israel unto Assiria, and put them in Halah and in Habor on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God. But transgressed his appointment, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would neither hear nor do.
The fourteenth year of King Hezekiah came Sennaherib king of Assiria against all the strong cities of Juda and took them. Whereupon Hezekiah king of Juda sent to the king of Assiria to Lachis saying: I have offended. But depart from me, and what thou puttest on me that I will bear. And the king of Assiria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Juda three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and also the treasure of the kings house. And the said season Hezekiah rent off the doors of the temple of the Lord and the pillars, which the said Hezekiah king of Juda covered over, an gave them to the king of Assiria.
And the king of Assiria sent Tharthan and Rabsaris, and Rabsakeh from Lachis to king Hezekiah with a great Host to Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem, and went and stood by the conduit of the uppermost pool which is in the way to the fullers field, and called to the king. And there came out to them, Eliakim the son of Helkiah steward of household, and Sobnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder, And then Rabsakeh said unto them. Tell ye Hezekiah I pray you: Thus saith the great king, the king of Assiria, What confidence is this that thou hast? thou will haply speak a light word, that thou hast counsel and power to make war. On whom then dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? dost thou trust to the staff of this broken reed Egypt, on which if a man lean it will run into his hand and pierce it: For even so is Pharao king of Egypt unto all that trust on him. If ye say unto me, we trust in the Lord our God. Is not that he whose hillaltars and other altars too, Hezekiah hath put down, and hath said to Juda and Jerusalem, bow yourselves before this altar here in Jerusalem.
And now join thyself to my lord the king of Assiria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able to set riders upon them: (and if thou be not) how then art thou able to resist one of the least Dukes of my masters servants? or trustest thou to Egypt for chariots and horsemen? Moreover thinkest thou that I am come without the bidding of the Lord to this place to destroy it? nay: the Lord said to me: Go up to this land, and destroy it. Then said Eliakim the son of Helkiah and Sobnah and Joah, to Rabsakeh: speak we pray thee to thy servants in the Sirians language, for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews tongue, in the ears of the people that are on the walls. And Rabsakeh said unto them: hath my master sent me only to thy master and to thee, to speak these words, or rather to the men that keep on the walls, that they shall eat their own dirt, and drink their own piss with you.
And so Rabsakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews language, and spake saying: hear the saying of the great king, the king of Assiria. Thus saith the king: Let not Hezekiah beguile you, for he is not able to deliver you out of mine hand: neither let Hezekiah make you trust to the Lord saying: the Lord will surely rid us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hands of the king of Assiria. Hearken not unto Hezekiah, for thus saith the king of Assiria.
Deal kindly with me, and come out to me. And then eat every man of his own vine, and of his own fig tree, and drink every man of the water of his own well, till I come and fetch you to as good a land as yours is: a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees, of oil and of honey. And ye shall live and not die. And hearken not unto Hezekiah for he will beguile you, saying: the Lord shall deliver us. For have the Gods of the nations delivered any God his land, out of the hand of the king of Assiria? Where are the Gods of Hemath and of Arphad? where are the Gods of Sepharuaim of Ana and Auah? did they deliver Samaria out of mine hands? what God of any land hath delivered his land out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?
But the people held their peace and answered him not a word: for the king had commanded saying: answer him not. Then Eliakim the steward of household, and Sobnah the scribe and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes rent and told him the words of RabsakehTHE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 27
To speak of the children of Israel: in the number of them were ancient heads and captains of thousands and hundreds, and officers that served the king in all things according to the companies that came in or went out, month by month throughout all the months of the year. And every company had twenty four thousand. Over the first company in the first month, was Jasoboam the son of Zabdiel. And in his number twenty four thousand. And the chiefest of all the captains in the host of the first month was of the children of Pharez. Over the company of the second month Dodai an Ahohite, and in his host was Makeloth a ruler. And in his company were twenty four thousand. The chief captain of the third host in the third month, was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada the priest. And in his host twenty four thousand. This the Benaiah mighty among thirty and above thirty. And in his part was Amizabad his son.
The fourth captain in the fourth month was Asael the brother of Joab, and Zabadiah his son after him. And in his host were twenty four thousand. The fifth captain in the fifth month was: Samahut the Jezrahite: and in his host were twenty four thousand. The sixth captain in the sixth month was Ira the son of Akes a Thekuite: and in his host were twenty four thousand.
The seventh captain in the seventh month was Helei the Phalonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his host twenty four thousand. The eighth Captain in the eighth month was Sobocai an Husathite of the kin of Sarah. And in his host twenty four thousand. The ninth Captain in the ninth month was Abiezer an Anathothite of the sons of Jemini: and in his host twenty four thousand. The tenth captain in the tenth month, was Mahari the Netophathite of the Zarahites. And in his host twenty four thousand. The eleventh month, was Banaiah the Pharathonite of the children of Ephraim: and in his host twenty four thousand. The twelfth Captain in the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite of Othoniei, and in his host twenty four thousand. And the rulers over the tribes of Israel were these. Among the Rubenites, was Eliezer the son of Zechri. Among the Simeonites, was Saphariah the son of Maacah. Among the Levites: Hasabiah the son of Kamuel. Among the Haromites: Zadock. In Juda, Eliu of the brethren of David. In Isacar: Amri the son of Michael. In Zabulon: Jesmaiah the son of Abdiah. In Nephthalie: Jerimoth the son of Azriel. Among the children of Ephraim: Hosea the son of Ozaiah. In the half tribe of Manasseh: Joel the son of Phadaiah. Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Galaad: Jado the son of Zachariah. In Benjamin: Jaasiel the son of Abner. In Dan: Azariel the son of Jeroham. These are the Lords in the tribes of Israel.
But David took not the number of them under twenty years: for the Lord said he would increase Israel like unto the stars of the sky. And Joab the son of Zaruiah began to number. And though he finished it not, yet there fell wrath for that upon Israel. And therefore the number was not put in the chronicles of King David.
Over the kings treasure was Azmoth the son of Adiel. And over the treasure of the fields, in the cities, villages and castles, was Jehonathan, the son of Oziah. And over the workmen in the fields that tilled the ground, was Ezri the son of Chelub. And the oversight of the vineyards had Semeiah the Ramathite. Over the winecellars and treasure of wine was Sabdi the Saphonite. And over the olivetrees and mulberry trees that were in the valleys was Baal Hanan the Gadarite. And over the treasure of oil was Joas. And over the oxen that fed in Saron was Setari the Saronite. And over the oxen in the valleys was Saphat the son of Adlai. And over the camels Ubil the Ismaelite. And over the asses was Johadia the Merothite. And over the sheep was Jazis the Hagarite. All these were the rulers of the substance of king David. And Jehonathan Davids brothers son, a man of counsel, a man that taught wisdom, and a writer he and Jehiel the son of Hachamoni waited on the kings sons. And Ahitophel was of the kings counsel. And Husai the Arachite was the kings companion. And next to Ahitophel was Jehoiada the son of Banaiah, and Abiathar. And the captain of the kings war was JoabTHE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 32
After these deeds and truth, Sennaherib king of Assur came and entered into Juda and pitched against the strong cities and thought to draw them to him. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennaherib was come and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem: he took counsel with his captains and men of might, to stop the water of the fountains that were without the city: and they were content to help him. And so there gathered much people together and stopped all the wells and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, intending that the kings of Assur should not find much water when they came? And he went to lustily and built up the wall where it was broken, and made towers above upon, and yet another wall without, and repaired Mello the city of David, and made many darts and shields.
And he set Captains of war over the people and gathered them together unto the large street of the gate of the city and spake gently to them saying: Pluck up your hearts and be strong: Be not afraid or in any wise discouraged for dread of the king of Assur, and of the great multitude that is with him: for there is one greater with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh: But with us is the Lord our God for to help us and to fight our battles. And the people were well couraged with the words of Hezekiah king of Juda.
After that Sennaherib king of Assur sent of his servants to Jerusalem (he himself lying before Lachis, and all his kingdom with him) unto Hezekiah king of Juda and unto all Juda that were at Jerusalem saying. Thus saith Sennaherib king of Assur: wherein do ye trust, O ye that are besieged in Jerusalem? Hezekiah deceiveth you, to deliver you to death, hunger and thirst, saying: the Lord our God shall rid us out of the hand of the king of Assur. Is it not that Hezekiah that put down his hillaltars and his other altars, and commanded Juda and Jerusalem saying: before one altar ye shall bow yourselves and upon that offer also.
Moreover have ye not heard what I and my fathers have done unto the people of all lands? were the Gods of the people of other lands able to save their lands out of my hand? which of all the Gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed was it, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Wherefore now let not Hezekiah deceive you either persuade you of this fashion, nor yet believe him. For as no God among so many nations and kingdoms, was able to rid his people out of mine hand and the hands of my fathers: even so much less shall your God keep you out of mine hand. And yet more did his servants speak against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. And thereto he wrote a letter to rail on the Lord God of Israel and spake therein saying: as the Gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, no more shall the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the walls, to fear them and to dismay them, that they might have taken the city. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the Gods of the nations of the earth, which are the work of the hands of men.
But Hezekiah the king and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed concerning the thing and cried up to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel and destroyed all the men of war and the Lords and captains of the host of the king of Assur, that he turned his face with shame towards his own land. And when he was come into the house of his God, he was there overthrown with the sword even by them that issued out of his bowels. And so the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabiters at Jerusalem out of the hands of Sennaherib king of Assur and of all other, and maintained them on all sides. In so much that many brought presents unto the Lord to Jerusalem and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Juda: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
In those days Hezekiah was sick unto the death and besought the Lord: which answered him and showed him a wonderful miracle: But Hezekiah did not according to the courtesy showed him, for his heart arose: and therefore came there wrath upon him and upon Juda and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah meekened himself for the arising of his heart, both he and the inhabiters of Jerusalem. Wherefore the wrath of the Lord fell not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor. And he gathered him treasure of silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and of all manner pleasant Jewels: and made store houses for the fruits of corn, wine and oil: and stables for all manner of beasts, and folds for sheep. And he made him towns because he had cattle of sheep and oxen great abundance. For God had given him substance exceeding much. And the said Hezekiah stopped the upper water springs of Eihon and brought them down to the West side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. But when the ambassadors of the Lords of Babilon were sent to him to enquire of the wonder that chanced in the land, God left him: to tempt him that all that was in his heart might be known.
The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and his goodness are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz in the book of the kings of Juda and Israel. And then Hezekiah laid him to rest with his fathers, and they buried him in the highest sepulcher of the sons of David: and Juda and the inhabiters of Jerusalem did him worship at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his steadTHE FIRST BOOK OF EZDRAS Chpt 7
After these acts in the reign of Arthaxerses King of Persia, there went up from Babilon, Esdras the son of Saraiah, the son of Asariah, the son of Helkiah, the son of Sellum, the son of Zadoc, the son of Ahitob, the son of Amariah, the son of Asariah, the son of Maraioth, the son of Zaraiah, the son of *Dzi, the son of Boki, the son of Abisua, the son of Phinehes, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: This Esdras was a quick scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel did give. And the king gave him all that he required, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. And there went up certain of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and of the Levites, of the singers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Arthaxerses. And they came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, that is the seventh year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month devised he to go up from Babilon: and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Esdras prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the precept and judgement in Israel.
And this is the copy of the letter, that king Arthaxerses gave unto Esdras the priest, the scribe, which was a teacher in the words of the Lord and of his statutes over Israel. Unto Esdras the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, peace and salutation. I have commanded, that all they of the people of Israel, and of the priests and Levites in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, that they go with thee, being sent of the king and of the seven Lords of the counsel, to visit Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of God, which is in thy hand: And that thou shouldest take with thee, silver and gold, which the king and the Lords of his counsel give of their own good will unto the God of Israel (whose habitation is at Jerusalem) and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the country of Babilon: with it that the people and priests give of their own good will unto the house of God at Jerusalem.
Take thou the same, and buy diligently with the money, calves, lambs, goats, and meat offerings and drink offerings, to be offered upon the altar of the house of your God at Jerusalem. And look what it liketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnant of the money, ye do after the will of your God. And the vessels that are given thee for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliver thou before God at Jerusalem.
And whatsoever thing more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which is necessary for thee to spend, let the same be given out of the kings chamber. I king Arthaxerses have commanded all the treasurers beyond the water, that look whatsoever Esdras the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, requireth of you, that ye fulfill the same diligently, until an hundred talents of silver, until an hundred quarters of wheat, and until an hundred baths of wine, and till an hundred baths of oil, and salt without measure. Whatsoever belongeth to the law of the God of heaven, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, that there come no wrath upon the kings realm and his children.
And be it known unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God. But thou Esdras, ( after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand ) set thou judges and arbiters , to judge all the people that is beyond the Jordan, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that ye teach. And whosoever will not diligently fulfill the law of thy God, and the kings law, shall have his judgment for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in goods, or to be put in prison.
Praised be the Lord God of our fathers, which so hath inspired the kings heart, to garneth the house of God at Jerusalem: and hath inclined his mercy unto me in the presence of the king, and his counsellors, and before all the kings high estates. And I was comforted ( according to the hand of the Lord my God over me ) and so gathered I the heads of Israel together, that they might go up with me*Dzi (Uzi),
And what time as the book of Moses was read in the ears of the people there was found written therein, that the Ammonites and the Moabites should never come into the congregation of God, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, and hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: nevertheless our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now when they heard the Law, they separated from Israel everyone that had mixed himself therein. And before this had the Priest Eliasib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobiah: for he had made him a great chest, and there had they afore time layed the meatofferings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil ( according to the commandment given to the Levites, singers and porters ) and the heaveofferings of the priests.
*chapmen =from the root "cheap man" peddler, dealer.
But in all this was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Arthaxerses king of Babilon, came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I license of the king to come to Jerusalem. And I gat knowledge of the evil that Eliasib did unto Tobiah, in that he made him a chest in the court of the house of God, and it grieved me sore, and I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chest, and commanded them to cleanse the chest. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the meatoffering and the incense.
And I perceived, that the portions of the Levites were not given them, for the which cause the Levites and singers were fled, everyone to his land for to work. Then reproved I the rulers, and said: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Judah the tithes of corn and wine and oil unto the treasury. And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Selemiah the priest, and Zadoc the scribe, and of the Levites, Phedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zacur, the son of Mathaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Think upon me, O' my God here in, and wipe not out my mercy, that I have showed on the house of my God, and on the officers thereof.
At the same time saw I some treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in clusters, and asses ladened with wine, grapes, figs, and bringing all manner of burdens unto Jerusalem, upon the Sabbath day. And I rebuked them earnestly the same day that they sold the vitals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and Jerusalem. Then reproved I the rulers in Judah, and said unto them: What evil thing is this that ye do, and break the Sabbath day? Did not our fathers even thus, and our God brought all this plague upon us and upon this city? And ye make the wrath more yet upon Israel, in that ye break the Sabbath.
And it fortuned, that when the porters of Jerusalem made shadow before the Sabbath, I commanded to shut the gates, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. Then remained the *chapmen and the merchants once or twice over night without Jerusalem with all manner of wares. Then reproved I them sore, and said unto them: Why tarry ye all night about the wall? If ye do it once again, I will lay hands upon you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I said unto the Levites which were clean, to hallow the Sabbath day. Think upon me ( O' my God ) concerning this also, and spare me according to thy great of thy mercy.
And at the same time saw I Jews, that had married wives of Asdod, Ammon, and of Moab: and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews language, but by the tongue mighty a man perceive every people. And I reproved them, and cursed them, and smote certain men of them, and plucked them up, and took an oath of them by God: Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, neither shall ye take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Salomon the king of Israel sin therein? and yet among many Heathen was there no king like him, and he was dear unto his God, and God made him king over all Israel, and yet nevertheless outlandish women caused him to sin? And shall we then obey unto you, to do all this great evil, and to transgress against our God, and marry strange wives?
And one of the children of Jehoiada, the son of Eliasib the high priest, had made a contract with Sanabalat the Horonite: but I chased him from me. O' my God, think thou upon them that are quit of the priesthood, and have defiled the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all such as were outlandish, and appointed the courses of the priests and Levites, every one to his office, and to offer the wood at times appointed, and the firstfruits. Think thou upon me, ( O' my God ) for the bestAnd when the king and Haman came to banquet that queen Esther had prepared, the king said unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine: What is thy petition queen Esther, that it may be given thee? And what requesteth thou? Yee, ask even half of the empire, and it shall be done. Esther the queen answered and said: If I have found grace in thy sight, ( O king ) and if it please the king, then grant me my life at my desire and my people for my petitions sake: for we are sold, I and my people both to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold to be bondmen and bondwomen, then would I hold my tongue, so should not the enemy be so high to the kings harm. The king Ahasuerus spake and said unto queen Esther: What is he that? Or where is he that dare presume in his mind to do such a thing after that manner? Esther said: The enemy and *adversary is this wicked Haman.
As for Haman, he was exceedingly afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arose from the banquet and from the wine in his displeasure and went in to the palace garden. And Haman stood up, and besought queen Esther for his life: for he saw that there was a mischief prepared for him of the king already.
And when the king came again out of the palace garden into the parlor were they had eaten, Haman had layed him upon the bed that Esther sat upon. Then said the king, *Will he force the queen also beside me in the house? As soon as that word went out of the kings mouth, they *covered Hamans face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said: Behold, there standeth a gallows in Hamans house fifty cubits high, which he had made for Mardocheus, that spake good for the king. The king said: hang him theron. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had made for Mardocheus. Then was the kings wrath pacified.*adversary = note this word adversary and the nature of Haman,
*Will he force the queen; this is when someone would use a mans wife to try to get to him; using her to move her husband. *covered Hamans face; an act whereby that person is no more to be looked upon, worthy of death.So these three men would strive no more with Job, because he *held himself a righteous man. But Eliu the son of Barachell the Bussite of the kindred of Ram, was very sore displeased at Job, that he called him self just before God. And with Jobs three friends he was angry also, because they had found no reasonable answer to over come him. Now tarried Eliu till they had ended their communication with Job, for why they were elder than he. So when Eliu the son of Barachell the Bussite saw, that these three men were not able to make Job answer, he was miscontent: so that he gave answer himself, and said: Considering, that I am young, and ye be men of age, I was afraid, and durst not show forth my mind, for I thought thus within myself: It becometh old men to speak, and the aged to teach wisdom. Every man ( no doubt ) hath a mind, but it is the inspiration of the Almighty that giveth understanding. All men are not wise, neither doth every aged man understand the thing that is lawful. Therefore will I speak also ( in so far as I may be heard ) and will show you mine opinion. For when I had waited till ye made an end of your talking, and heard your wisdom, what arguments you made in your communication: Yee when I had diligently pondered what ye said, I found not one of you that made any good argument against Job, or that could directly make answer unto his words: Lest ye should praise yourselves, to have found out wisdom: because it is God that hath cast him out, and no man. Nevertheless, seeing that he hath not spoken unto me, therefore will I not answer him as ye have done ( for they where abashed that they could not make answer, nor speak one word ) but in so much as ye will not speak, standing still like dumb men, and making no answer: I have a good hope to snap him an answer, and to show him my meaning. For I am full of words, and the spirit that is within me, compelleth me.
Behold I am as the new wine, which hath no vent, and bursteth the new vessels asunder. Therefore will I speak, that I may have vent: I will open my lips, and make answer. I will regard no manner of person, no man will I spare for if I would go about to please men, I know not how soon my maker would take me away*held himself a righteous man. (kjv and other bibles of man =in his own eyes)
Then Job answered the Lord, and said: I know that you have power over all things, and that there is no thought hid unto you. For who can keep his own counsel so secret, but it shall be known? Therefore have I spoken unwisely, seeing these things that are so high, and passed mine understanding. O' hearken unto me also, and let me speak: answer unto the thing that I will ask you. I have given diligent ear unto you, and now I see you with mine eyes. Wherefore I give mine own self the blame, and take repentance in the dust and ashes.
Now when the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, he said unto Eliphas the Themanite: I am displeased with you and your two friends, for you have spoken the thing that is not right before me, like as my servant Job has done. Therefore take seven oxen and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, offer also for yourselves a burnt offering: and let my servant Job pray for you. Him will I accept, and not deal with you after your foolishness: in that you have not spoken the thing which is right, like as my servant Job has done.
So Eliphas the Themanite, Baldad the Suhite and Sophar the Naamathite went there way, and did according as the Lord commanded them. The Lord also accepted the person of Job, and the Lord turned him unto Job, when he prayed for his friends: Yes the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
And then came there unto him all his brethren, all his sisters, with all them that had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house, wondering at him, and comforting him over all the trouble, that the Lord had brought upon him. Every man gave him a sheep and a Jewel of gold.
And the Lord made Job richer than he was before: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand asses. He had children also, seven sons and three daughters. *The first called Day: the second called Poverty: the third called All plenteousness. In all the land were none found so fair, as the daughters of Job, and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this Job lived* forty years, so that he saw his children, his childrens children to the fourth generation, And so he died, being old and of a perfect agekjv and other bibles of man = name of the first, Jemima: and the name of the second, Kezia: and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years
Praise the Lord O' my soul: O' Lord my God, thou art become exceedingly glorious, thou art clothed with majesty and honor. Thou deckest thyself with light, as it were a garment, thou spreadest out the heavens like a curtain. Thou boltest it above with waters, thou makest the clouds thy chariot, and goest upon the wings of the wind.
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers flames of fire.
Thou hast laid the earth upon her foundation, that it never moveth at any time.
Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment, so that the waters stand above the hills.
But at thy rebuke they flee, at the voice of thy thunder they are afraid.
( Then are the hills seen aloft, and the valleys beneath in their place which thou hast appointed for them) Thou hast set them their bounds, which they may not pass, that they turn not again to cover the earth. Thou causest the wells to spring up among the valleys, and the waters to run among the hills.
That all the beasts of the field may have drink, and the wild asses may quench their thirst.
Above upon the hills have the fowls of the air their habitation, and sing among the branches. Thou waterest the hills from above, the earth is filled with the fruits of thy works.
Thou bringest forth grass for the cattle, and green herbs for the service of men.
Thou bringest food out of the earth: wine to make glad the heart of man, oil to make him a cheerful countenance and bread to strengthen mans heart.
The trees of the Lord are full of sap, even the trees of Lebanus which he hath planted. There make the birds their nests, and the fair hills are the dwelling place for the stork. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats, and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
Thou hast appointed the Moon for certain seasons, the Sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest the darkness, that it may be night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.
Yee the young lions which roar after their prey, and seek their meat at God.
But when the sun ariseth, they get them away together, and lay down in their dens.
Then goeth forth man to his work, and to till his land until the evening.
O' Lord, how manifold are thy works, right wisely hast thou made them all: yee the earth is full of thy riches.
So is this great wide sea also, wherein are things creeping and innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships over, and there is that Leviathan, whom thou hast made, to take his pastime therein.
They wait all upon thee, that thou mayest give them meat in due season.
When thou givest it them, they gather it: when thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
But when thou hidest thy face, they are sorrowful: if thou takest away their breath, they die, and turned again to their dust. Again, when thou lettest thy breath go forth, they are made, and so thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glorious majesty of the Lord endureth for ever, and the Lord rejoiceth in his works. The earth trembleth at the look of him, he doth but touch the hills and they smoke.
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live, I will praise my God while I have my being.
O' that my words might please him, for my joy is in the Lord.
As for the sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end: but praise thou the Lord, O' my soul.
Praise thee everlastingThe words of King Lemuel,
and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.
My son, thou son of my body: O' my dear beloved son, give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of Kings. O' Lamuel. give Kings no wine, give Kings and Princes no strong drink: Lest they being drunk forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity. Be thou an advocate and stand in judgement thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb and socourless. With thy mouth defend the thing that is right, and the cause of the poor and helpless.
Aleph
Who so findeth an honest faithful woman, she is much more worth then pearls.
Beth
The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoils.
Gimel
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Daleth
She occupieth wool and flax, and laboreth gladly with her hands.
He
She is like the merchants ship, that bringeth her vitailes from afar.
Vav
She is up in the night season, to provide meat for her household, and food for her maidens.
Zain
She considereth land, and buyeth it, with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Heth
She girdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms.
Teth
And if she perceiveth that her housewifery dooth good, her candle goeth not out by night.
Yod
She layeth her fingers to the spindle, and her hand taketh hold of the rock.
Caph
She openeth her hand to the poor, yee she stretcheth forth her hands to such as have need.
Lamed
She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed. kjv has: clothed with scarlet.
Mem
She maketh herself fair ornaments, her clothing is white silk and purple.
Nun
Her husband is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the land.
Samech
She maketh cloth of silk and selleth it, and delivereth a girdle unto the merchant.
Ain
Strength and honor is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall rejoice.
Phe
She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of grace.
Zade
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not her bread with idleness.
Koph
Her children arise, and call her blessed: and her husband maketh much of her.
Res
Many daughters there be that gather riches together, but thou goest above them all.
Sin
As for favor, it is deceitful, and beauty is vain thing: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she is worthy to be praised.
Thau
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gatesTHE BOOK OF THE PREACHER Chpt 10
Dead flies that corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink, are something more worth then the wisdom and honor of a fool. A wise mans heart is upon the right hand, but a fools heart is upon the left. A doting fool thinketh, that every man doth as foolishly as himself. If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine. Another plague there is, which I have seen under the *son: namely, the ignorance that is commonly among princes: in that a fool setteth in great dignity, and the rich sit down beneath: I see servants ride upon horses, and princes going upon their feet as it were servants. But he that diggeth up a pit, shall fall therin himself: and whoso breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Whoso removeth stones shall have travail withal: and he that heweth wood shall be hurt therewith.
When an iron is blunt, and the point not sharpened, it must be whet again, and that with might: Even so doth wisdom follow diligence. A babbler of his tongue is no better than a serpent that stingeth without hissing. The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will destroy himself. The beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the last word of his mouth is great madness. A fool is so full of words, that a man cannot tell what end he shall make: who will then warn him to make a conclusion? The labor of the foolish is grievous unto them, while they know not how to go in to the city.
Woe be unto thee, ( O' thou realm and land ) whos king is but a child, and whose princes are early at their banquettes. But well is the ( O' thou realm and land ) whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust. Through slothfulness the *balcks fall down, and through idle hands it raineth at the house. Meat maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merry: but unto money all things are obedient. Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber: for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words*son is son as recorded from original.
*balcks = balks; a wooden beam or rafter. RNTHE BALLET OF BALLETS OF SOLOMON Chpt 8
O' that I might find thee without, and kiss thee, whom I love as my brother which suck my mothers breasts: and that thou wouldest not be offended, if I took thee, and brought thee in to my mothers house: that thou mightest teach me, and that I might give thee drink of spiced wine and of the sweet sap of my pomegranates. His left hand layeth under my head and his right hand embraceth me.
I charge you, O' daughters of Jerusalem, that ye wake not up my love, nor touch her, till she be content herself.
What is she this, that cometh up from the wilderness, and leaneth upon her loved?
I am the same that waketh thee up among the apple trees, where thy mother bare thee, where thy mother brought thee in to the world.
O' set me as a seal upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm: for love is mighty as the death, and jealousy as the hell. Her coals are of fire, and a very flame of the Lord: so that many waters are not able to quench love, neither may the streams drown it. Yee if a man would give all the good of his house for love, he should count it nothing.
When our love is told our young sister, whos breasts are not yet grown, what shall we do unto her?
If she be a wall, we shall build a silver bulwark there upon: if she be a tower, we shall fasten her with borders of Cedar tree.
If I be a wall, and my breasts like towers, then am I as one that hath found favor in his sight.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon, this vineyard delivered he unto the keepers: that every one for the fruit thereof should give him a thousand pieces of silver.
But my vineyard, O' Solomon, giveth thee a thousand, and two hundred to the keepers of the fruit. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O' let me hear thy voice, that my companions may harken to the same.
O' get thee away, my love, as a roe or
a young hart unto sweet smelling mountainsWhat is he this, that cometh from *Edom, with stained red clothes of *Bosra: ( which is so costly cloth ) and cometh in so nimbly with all his strength: I am he that teacheth righteousness, and am of power to help. Wherefore then is thy clothing red, and thy raiment like his that treadeth the winepress? I have trodden the press myself alone, and of all people, there was not one with me. Thus have I trodden down mine enemies in my wrath, and set my feet upon them in my indignation: And their blood sprang upon my clothes, and so have I stained all my raiment. For that day of vengeance that I have taken in hand, and the year of my deliverance is come. I looked about me, and there was no man to show me any help, I fell down, and no man held me up. Then I held me by mine own arm, and my ferventness sustained me. And thus have I trodden down the people in my wrath, and bathed them in my displeasure: In so much that I have shed their blood upon the earth.
I will declare the goodness of the Lord, ye and the praise of the Lord for all that he hath given us, for the great good that he hath done for Israel: which he hath given them of his own favor, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said: These no doubt will be my people, and no shrinking children, and so he was their Saviour. In their troubles he forsook them not, but the angel that went forth from his presence delivered them: Of very love and kindness that he had unto them, redeemed he them: He hath born them, and carried them up ever, since the world began. But after they provoked him to wrath and vexed his holy mind, he was their enemy, and fought against them himself. Yet remembered he the old time of Moses and his people: How he had brought them from the water of the sea, as a shepherd doeth with his sheep: how he had given his holy spirit among them: how he had led Moses by the right hand with his glorious arm: how he had divided the water before them ( whereby he gat himself an everlasting name ) how he led them in the deep, as an horse is led in the plain, that they should not stumble. The spirit of the Lord led them as a tame beast goeth in the field.
Thus ( O' God ) hast thou led thy people, to make thyself a glorious name withal. Look down then from heaven, and behold the dwelling place of thy Sanctuary and thy glory. How is it, that thy jealousy, thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies and thy loving kindness, will not be entreated us. Yet art thou our father: For Abraham knoweth us not, neither is Israel acquainted with us. But thou Lord art our father and redeemer, and thy name is everlasting. O' Lord wherefore hast thou led us out of thy way? Wherefore hast thou hardened our hearts, that we fear thee not ? Be at one with us again, for thy servants sake that are the generation of thine heritage. Thy people hath had but little of thy Sanctuary in possession, for our enemies have taken it in: And we are become even as we were from the beginning: but thou art not their Lord, for they have not called upon thy name*Edom..is a name given to Esau as well as to the nation descending from him.
*Bosra ...is modern day IraqThus 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 1
Aleph
Alas, how sits the city so desolate, that once was so full of people? Now she has become like a widow! she was the lady of all nations; Now is she brought under tribute, that ruled all lands.
Beth
She weepeth sore in the night, so that the tears run down her cheeks: for among all her lovers, there is none that give her any comfort: yea her next friends abhor her, and are become her enemies.
Gimel
Judah is taken prisoner, because she was defiled: and for serving so many strange gods, she dwelleth now among the heathen. She findeth no rest: all that persecute her, took her, and so she dwelleth among her enemies.
Daleth
The streets of Zion mourn, because no man comes to the solemn feasts. All her gates are desolate, her priests make lamentations, her maidens are careful , and she herself is in great heaviness.
He
Her enemies are fallen upon her head, and have put her to shame: because the Lord has chastened her for her great wickedness: her children are lead away captive before their enemy.
Uau
All the beauty of the daughter of Zion is away, her princes have become like *wethers that find no pasture. They are driven away before their enemy, for they have no power.
Zain
Now does Jerusalem remember the time of her misery and disobedience, yes the joy and pleasure that she had in the times past: seeing her people brought down through the power of their enemy, and there is no man for to help her: her enemies stand looking at her and laughing her Sabbath days to scorn.
Heth
Jerusalem sinned ever more and more, therefore she has come into decay. All they that had her in honor, despise her: for they have seen her filthiness. Yes she sigheth, and is shamed of herself.
Teth
Her skirts are defiled, she remembereth not what would follow: therefore is her fall so great, and there is no man to comfort her. O' Lord, consider my trouble, for my enemy has the upper hand.
Fod
The enemy hath put his hand to all the precious things that she had, Yes even before her eyes came the heathen in and out of the sanctuary: whom thou never the less hast forbidden to come within your congregation.
Caph
All her people seek their bread with heavens, and look what precious things every man hath, that he gives for meat, to save his life. Consider, O' Lord, and see, how vile I am became.
Lamed
O you all that go by, behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto mine, where with the Lord hath troubled me, in the day of his fearful wrath.
Mem
From above hath he sent down a fire into my bones, and chastened me: he hath laid a net for my feet, and thrown me wide open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must be ever mourning.
Nun
The pock of my transgressions is come at last, with his hand he hath taken it up and put it about my neck. My strength is gone: the Lord hath delivered me into those hands, where from I can not quite my self.
Samech
The Lord hath destroyed all the mighty men, that were in me. He hath declared a feast , to slaughter all my best men. The Lord hath trod down the daughter of Juda, like as it were a wine press.
Ain
Therefore do I weep, mine eyes gush out of water: for the comforter that should quicken me, is far from me. My children are driven away, for why? the enemy has gotten the overhand.
Phe
Zion casteth out her hands, and there is no man to comfort her. The Lord hath laid the enemies round about Jacob, and Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman in the middle of them.
Zade
The Lord is righteous; for I provoked his countenance into anger. O take heed all you people, and consider my heaviness: My maidens and my young men are lead away to captivity.
Koph
I called for my lovers (but they beguiled me) for my Priests and counselors, but they perished: even while they sought for meat, to have their lives.
Res
Consider (O' Lord) how I am troubled, my womb is disquieted, my heart turneth about in me, and I am full of heaviness. The sword hurteth me without, and within I am like unto death.
Sin
They hear my mourning, but there is none that will comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble, and are glad thereof, because thou hast done it. But thou shalt bring forth the time, when they also shall be like unto me.
Thau
From thee shall come all their adversity: thou shalt pluck them away even as thou has plucked me because of all my wickedness. For my sorrow is very great, and my heart is heavy*wethers (a castrated male sheep)
After this, he brought me again to the outward door of the Sanctuary on the East side, and that was shut. Then said the Lord unto me: This door shall be still shut, and not opened for any man to go through it, but only for the Lord God of Israel: Yee he shall go through it, else shall it be shut still. The prince himself shall come through it, that he may eat bread before the Lord. At the porch shall he come in, and there shall he go out again. Then brought he me to the door, upon the North side of the house. And as I looked about me, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house: and I fell down upon my face. So the Lord spoke unto me: O thou son of man, fasten this to thine heart, behold, and take diligent heed to all that I will say unto thee, concerning all the ordinances of the Lord and all his laws: ponder well with thine heart the coming in of the house and the going forth of the Sanctuary: And tell that obstinate household of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: O house of Israel: yee have now done enough with all your abominations, seeing that ye have brought into my Sanctuary strangers, having uncircumcised hearts, and flesh, where through my Sanctuary is defiled, when ye offer me bread, fat, and blood.
Thus with all your abominations ye have broken my covenant, and not kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary, even after your own mind. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Of all the strangers that dwell among the children of Israel, no stranger,( whos heart and flesh is not circumcised ) shall come within my Sanctuary: No nor the Levites that are gone back from me, and have deceived the people of Israel with all errors, going after their idols: therefore they shall bear their own wickedness. Should they be set and ordained to minister under the doors of the house of my Sanctuary? And to do service in the house: to slay burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people: to stand before them, and to serve them: seeing the service that do them, is before their Idols, and cause the house of Israel to stumble through the wickednesses? For the which cause I have plucked out mine hand over them, ( saith the Lord God ) so that now they must bear their own iniquity, and not come near me, to serve me with their priesthood, in my Sanctuary, and most holiest of all: that they may bear their own shame and abominations, which they have done. Should I use them to be porters of the house, and to all the service that is done therein? But the Priests the Levites sons of Sadoch, that kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary, when the children of Israel were gone from me: shall come to me, to do me service, to stand before me, and to offer me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God.
They shall go into my Sanctuary, and tread down before my table, to do me service, and wait upon my ordinances. Now when they go in at the doors of the innermost court: they shall put on linen clothes, so that no woolen come upon them, while they do service under the doors of the inner court, and within. They shall have fair linen bonnets upon their heads, and linen breeches upon their loins, which in their labor they shall not put about them: And when they go forth to the people in to the outward court, they shall put off their clothes, wherein they ministered, and lay them in the habitation of the Sanctuary, and put on other apparel, least they unhallow the people with their clothes.
They shall not shave their heads, nor nourish the bush of their hair, but round their heads only. All the priests that go in to the inmost court, shall drink no wine. They shall marry no widow, neither one that is put from her husband: but a maiden of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow, that hath had a priest before.
They shall show my people the difference between the holy and unholy, between the clean and unclean. If any discord arise, they shall discern it, and give sentence after my judgements. My solemn feasts, my laws and ordinances shall they keep, and hallow my Sabbaths. They shall come at no dead person, to defile themselves ( except it be father or mother, son or daughter, brother or sister that hath had yet no husband ) in such they may be defiled.
And when he is cleansed, there shall be reckoned unto him seven days: and if he go in to the Sanctuary again to do service, he shall bring a sin offering, saith the Lord God. They shall have an heritage, yee I myself will be their heritage: else shall ye give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. The meat offering, sin offering, and trespass offering shall they eat, and every dedicate thing in Israel, shall be theirs. The firstlings of all the firstfruits, and all the free will offerings shall be the priests.
Ye shall give unto the priest also the firstlings of your dough, that God may prosper the residue. But no dead carrion shall the priest eat, nor such as is devoured of wild beasts, fouls or cattleIn the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, there was showed unto Daniel ( otherwise called Balthasar ) a matter, yee a true matter, but it is yet along time unto it. He understood the matter well, and perceived what the vision was. At the same time, I Daniel mourned for the space of three weeks, so that I had no lust to eat bread: as for flesh and wine there came none within my mouth: No, I did not once anoint myself, till the whole three weeks were out.
Upon the twenty fourth day of the first month, I was by the great flood called Tigris: I lift up mine eyes, and looked: and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Araby: His body was like the Chrisolite stone, his face ( to look upon ) was like lightning, his eyes as the flame of fire, his arms and feet were like fair glittering metal, but the voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.
I Daniel alone saw this vision, the men that were with me, saw it not: but a great fearfulness fell upon them, so that they fled away, and hid themselves. I was left there myself alone, and saw this great vision, so long till there remained no more strength within me: yee I lost my color clean, I wasted away, and my strength was gone. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and as soon as I heard it, faintness came upon me, and I fell down flat to the ground upon my face. And behold an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands, saying unto me: O Daniel, thou well beloved man: take good heed of the words, that I shall say unto thee, and stand right up, for unto thee am I now sent.
And when he had said these words, I stood up trembling. Then said he unto me: fear not, Daniel: for why since the first day that thou set thine heart to understand, and didest chasten thyself before thy God: thy words have been heard. And I had come unto thee, when thou beganest to speak had not the prince over the kingdom of the Perses withstand me twenty one days. But lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, him have I left by the king of Persia, and am come to show thee, what shall happen unto thy people in the latter days: For it will be long yet or the vision be fulfilled.
Now when he had spoken these words unto me, I cast down my head to the ground and held my tongue. Behold, there touched my lips one very like unto a man. Then opened I my mouth, and said unto him, that stood before me: O my Lord, my joints are loosed in the vision, and there is no more strength within me: Now may my Lords servant then talk with my Lord? seeing there is no strength in me, so that I can not take my breath? Upon this there touched me again, one much like a man, and comforted me, saying: O thou man so well beloved, fear not: be content, take a good heart unto thee, and be strong. So when he had spoken unto me, I recovered, and said: Speak on my Lord, for thou hast refreshed me. Then said he: knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? now will I go again to fight with the prince of Perses: As soon as I go forth, lo, the prince of *Greklande shall come. Nevertheless, I will show thee the thing, that is fast noted in the scripture of truth. And as for all yonder matters, there is none that helpeth me in them, but Michael your prince*Greklande (Greek land).
O Israel, turn thee now, unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast taken a great fall through thy wickedness. Take these words with you, when yee turn to the Lord, and say unto him: O forgive us all our sins, receive us graciously, and then will we offer thee bullocks of our lips unto thee. Assur shall be no more our helper, neither will we ride upon horses any more. As for the works of our hands, we will no more call upon them: for it is thou that art our God, thou showest ever mercy unto the fatherless.
O ( if they would do this ) I should heal their sores: yee with all my heart would I love them: so that my wrath should clean be turned away from them: Yee I would be unto Israel as the dew, and he should grow as the lily, and his root should break out as Libanus. His branches should spread out abroad, and be as fair as the olive tree, and smell as Libanus. They that dwell under his shadow, should come again, and grow up as the corn, and flourish as the vine: he should have as good a name, as the wine Libanus.
O Ephraim what have I to do with Idols any more? I will graciously hear him, and lead him forth. I will be unto thee as a green fir tree, upon me shalt thou find thy fruit Who so is wise, shall understand this: and he that is right instructed , will regard it. For the ways of the Lord are righteous, such as be Godly will walk in them: As for the wicked, they will stumble thereinFor take heed: in those days and at the same time, when I turn again the captivity of Juda and Jerusalem: I shall gather all people together, and bring them in the valley of Josaphat: and there will I reason with them: because of my people and heritage of Israel: whom they have scattered about in the nations, and parted my land: yee they have cast lots for my people, the young men have they set in the bordel house, and sold the damsels for wine, that they might have to drink. Thou Tirus and Sidon and all the borders of the Philistines: what have yee to do with me? Will ye defy me? well, if ye will needs defy me, I shall recompense you, even upon your head, and that right shortly: for ye have taken away my silver and gold, my fair and goodly jewels, and brought them on to your gods houses. The children also of Juda and Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Greeks, that ye might bring them far from the borders of their own countries.
Behold therefore, I will raise them out of the place, where ye have sold them, and will reward you even upon your head. Your sons and your daughters will I sell through the hands of the children of Juda, and so they shall give them forth to sell, unto them of Saba, a people of a far country: for the Lord himself has said it. Cry out these things among the Gentiles, proclaim war, wake up the giants, let them draw nye, let them come up all the lusty warriors of them. Make you swords of your plowshares, and spears of your sickles and scythes. Let the meek man say: I am strong. Muster you, and come, all ye Heathen round about: gather you together, there shall the Lord lay all thy giants to the ground. Let the people arise, get them to the valley of Josaphat: for there will I sit, and judge all the Heathen round about. Lay to your scythes, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down: the wine press is full, yee the wine press run over, for their wickedness is waxen great.
In the valley appointed, there shall be many, many people: for the day of the Lord is nye in the valley appointed. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their light. The Lord shall roar out of Sion, a cry out of Jerusalem, that the Heavens and earth shall quake withal. But the Lord shall be a defense to his own people, and an refuge for the children of Israel. Thus ye shall know, that I the Lord your God dwell upon my holy mount Sion. Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers go through her any more. Then shall the mountains drop sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk. All the rivers of Juda shall have water enough, and out of the Lords house, there shall flow a spring, to water the broke of Sitim: but Egypt shall be laid waste, and Edom shall be desolate: because they have dealt so cruelly with the children of Juda, and shed innocent blood in their land. Again, Juda shall be inhabited for evermore, and Jerusalem from generation to generation: for I will not leave their blood unavenged. And the Lord shall dwell in SionI saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said: smite the door check, that the posts may ye shake withal. For their covetousness shall fall upon all their heads, and their posterity shall be slain with the sword. They shall not flee away, there shall not one of them escape, nor be delivered. Though they were buried in hell, my hand shall fetch them from thence: though they climb up to heaven, yet shall I cast them down: though they hide themselves upon the top of Carmel, yet shall I seek them out, and bring them from thence: Though they creep down from my sight in to the deep of the sea, I shall command the serpent, even there to bite them. If they go away before their enemies in to captivity, then shall I command the sword, there to slay them.
Thus will I set mine eyes upon them, for their harm and not for their wealth. For when the Lord God of the hosts toucheth a land, it consumeth away, and all they that dwell therin, must needs mourn: And why? their destruction shall arise as every stream and run over them, as the flood of Egypt. He that hath his dwelling in Heaven, and groundeth his tabernacle in the earth: He that calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the plain ground: his name is the Lord. O ye children of Israel, are ye not unto me, even as the Morians, sayeth the lord: have not I brought Israel out of the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon the realm that sinneth, to root it clean out of the earth: Nevertheless I will not destroy the house of Jacob, sayeth the Lord.
For lo, this I promise: though I sift the house of Israel among all the nations (like as they use to sift in a sieve ) yet shall not the smallest gravel stone fall upon the earth: But all the wicked doers of my people, that say: Tush, the plague is not so nigh, to come so hastily upon us: those shall perish with the sword. At that time I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and hedge up his gaps: and look what is broken, I shall repair it: Yee I shall build it again, as it was afore time, that they may possess the remnant of Edom, yee and all such people as call upon my name with them, sayeth the Lord, which doeth these things.
Behold, the time cometh ( sayeth the Lord ) that the plowman shall over take the mower, and the treader of grapes, him that soweth seed. The mountains shall drop sweet wine, and the hills shall be fruitful, and I will turn the captivity of my people of Israel: they shall repair the waste cities, and have them in possession: they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof: they shall make gardens, and enjoy the fruits of them. And I will plant them upon their own ground, so that I will never root them out again from their land which I have given them sayeth the Lord thy GodHarken now what the Lord sayeth: Up, reprove the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. O hear the punishment of the Lord, ye mountains, and yee mighty foundations of the earth: for the Lord will reprove his people, and reason with Israel: O my people, what have I done unto thee? or wherein have I hurt thee? give me answer. Because I brought thee from the land of Egypt, and delivered thee out of the house of bondage? Because I made Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead thee? Remember ( O my people ) what Balach the king of Moab had imagined against thee, and what answer that Balaam the son of Beor gave him, from Sethim unto Galgal, that ye may know the loving kindness of the Lord.
What acceptable thing shall I offer unto the Lord? shall I bow on my knee to the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, and calves of a year old? Hath the Lord a pleasure in many thousand rams, or innumerable streams of oil? Or shall I give my first born for my offenses, and the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? I will show thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: Namely, to do right, to have pleasure in loving kindness, to be lowly, and to walk with thy God: that thou mayest be called a city of the Lord, and that thy name may be righteousness. Hear ( O ye tribes ) who would else give you such warning? Should I not be displeased, for the unrighteous good in the houses of the wicked and because the measure he is minished? Or should I justify the false balances and the bag of deceitful weights, among those that be full of riches ungraciously gotten: where the city signs deal with falsehood, speak lies, and have deceitful tongues in their mouths?
Therefore I will take in hand to punish thee, and to make thee desolate because of thy sins. Thou shalt eat, and not have enough: yee thou shall bring thyself down. Thou shalt flee but not escape: and those that thou wouldest save, will I deliver to the sword. Thou shalt sow but not reap: thou shalt press out olives, but oil thou shall not have, to anoint thyself withal: thou shalt tread out sweet must, but shall drink no wine. Ye keep the ordinances of Amri, and all the customs of the house of Ahab: Ye follow their pleasures, therefore will I make thee waste, and cause thy inhabitors to be abhorred, O my people: and thus shalt thou bare thine own shameBehold, upon the mountains come the feet of him, that bringeth good tidings, and preacheth peace. O Judah, keep thy holy days, perform thy promises: for Belial shall come no more in thee, he is utterly rooted out.
The scatterer shall come up against thee, and lay siege to the castle. Look thou well to the streets, make thy loins strong, arm thyself with all thy might: for the Lord will restore again the glory of Jacob, like as the glory of Israel. The destroyers have broken them down, and marred the wine branches. The shield of his giants glittereth, his men of war are clothed in purple. His chariots are as fire, when he maketh him forward, his archers are well decked and trimmed. The chariots roll upon the streets, and *welter in the highways. They are to look upon like *cressettes of fire, and go swiftly, as the lighting. When he doth but warn his giants, they all in their array, and hastily climb up the walls: yee the engines of the war are prepared already. The water ports shall be opened, and the kings palace shall fall. The queen herself shall be led away captive, and her gentlemen shall mourn as doves, and groan within their hearts. Ninive is like a pool full of water, but then shall they be ready and willing to flee. Stand, stand, ( they shall cry ) and there shall not one turn back. Away with the silver, away with the gold: for here there is no end of treasure. There shall be a multitude of all manner costly ornaments. Thus must she be spoiled, emptied and clean stripped out: that their hearts may be melted away, their knees tremble, all their lions be weak, and their faces black as a pot.
Where there is now the dwelling of the lions, and the pasture of the lions whelps? where the lion and lioness went with the whelps, and no man scared them away? But the lion spoiled enough for his young ones, and devoured for his lioness: he filled his dens with his prey, and his dwelling place with that he had ravished. Behold, I will upon thee, sayeth the Lord of hosts, and will set fire upon thy chariots that they shall smoke with all, and the sword shall devour the young lions. I will make an end of thy spoiling from out of the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard*welter= confused mass; a jumble: To wallow, roll, or toss about, as in mud or high seas. lie soaked in a liquid. To roll and surge, as the sea. *cressettes= A metal cup, often suspended on a pole, containing burning oil or pitch and used as a torch.
I stood upon my watch, and set me upon my bulwark, to look and see what he would say unto me, and what answer I should give him that reproveth me. But the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision plainly upon thy tables, that who so cometh by, may read it: for the vision is yet far off for a time, but at the last it shall come to pass, and not fail. And though he tarry, yet wait thou for him, for in very deed he will come, and not be slack. Behold, who so will not believe, his soul shall not prosper: but the just shall live by his faith. Like as the wine decieveth the drunkard, even so the proud shall fail and not endure. He openeth his desire wide up as hell, and is as unsatiable as death. All Heathen gathereth he to him, and heapeth unto him all people.
But shall not all these take up a proverb against him, and mock him with and by word, and say: Woe unto him that heapeth up other mens goods? How long will he laden him self with thick clay? O how suddenly will they stand up, that bite, and awake, that shall tear into pieces? yee thou shalt be their prey. Seeing thou hast spoiled many Heathen, therefore shall the remnant of the people spoil thee: because of mens blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city and unto all them that dwell therein.
Woe unto him, that covetously gathereth evil gotten goods into his house: that he may set his nest on high, to escape the power of misfortune. Thou hast devised the shame of thy own house, for thou hast slain so much people, and hast willfully offended: so that the very stones of that wall will cry out of it., and the timber that layeth betwixt the joints of the building shall answer. Woe unto him, that buildeth the town with blood, and maintaineth the city with unrighteousness. Shall not the Lord of hosts bring this to pass, that the laborers of the people be burnt with a great fire, and that the thing where upon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost? For the earth shall be full of knowledge of the Lords honor, like as the waters that cover the sea.
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, to get him wrothfull displeasure for his drunkenness: that he may see his *prevites. Therefore with shame thou shalt be filled, in stead of honor. Drink thou also, till thou slumber with all: for the cup of the Lords right hand shall compass thee about, and shameful spewing instead of worship. For the wrong thou hast done in Libanus, shall overwhelm thee, and the wild beasts shall make thee afraid: because of mens blood, and for the wrong done in the land, in the city, and to all such as dwell therein.
What then will the Image do, whom the workman hath fashioned? Or the vain cast Image, wherein because the craftsmen putteth his trust, therefore maketh he dumb Idols? Woe unto him, that sayeth unto a piece of wood: arise, and to a dumb stone: stand up. For what instruction may such one give? Behold it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath in it. But the Lord in his holy temple is he, whom all the world should fear*prevites=expose things held private, betrayal of confidentiality.
This is the word of the Lord, which came unto Sophony the son of Chusi, the son of Gedoliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezkiah, in the time of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah. I will gather up all things in the land ( saith the Lord ) I will gather up man and beast: I will gather up the fowls in the air and the fish in the sea ( to the great decay of the wicked ) and will utterly destroy the men out of the land, saith the Lord. I will stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all such as dwell in Jerusalem. Thus I will root out the remnant of Baal from this place, and the names of the *Remurins and priests: yee and such as upon their house tops worship and bow themselves unto the host of heaven: which swear by the lord, and by their Malcolom also: which start back from the Lord, and neither seek after the Lord, nor regard him.
Be still at the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand: yee the Lord hath prepared a slain offering, and called his guests thereto. And thus shall it happen in the day of the Lords a slain offering: I will visit the princes, the kings children, and all such as wear strange clothing. In the same day also will I visit all those, that tread over the threshold so proudly, which fill their Lords house with robbery and falsehood. At the same time ( sayeth the Lord ) there shall be a great cry from the fish port and an howling from the other port, and a great murder from the hills. Howl ye that dwell in the mill, for all the merchant people are gone, and all they that are laden with silver are rooted out.
At the same time I will seek through Jerusalem with lanterns, and visit them that continue in their dregs, and say in their hearts: Tush, the Lord will do neither good nor evil. Their goods shall be spoiled, and their houses laid waste: they shall build houses, and not dwell in them: they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine, thereof. For the great day of the Lord is at hand, it is heard by, and cometh on a pace. Horrible is the tidings of the Lords day then shall the giant cry out: for that day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and heaviness, a day of utter destruction and misery, a dark and gloomy day, a cloudy and stormy day, a day of the noise of trumpets and *shawmes, against the strong cities and high towers. I will bring the people to such *veracion, that they shall go about like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood shall be shed as dust, and their bodies as the mire. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the wrothful day of the Lord, but the whole land shall be consumed through the fire of his jealousy: for he shall soon make clean riddance of all them that dwell in the land*Remurins (Chemarims in kjv and other bibles of man) *shawmes=double reed wind instrument *veracion=veracious; honesty truthfulness
Upon the twenty fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of king Darius, the twenty first day of the seventh month, came the word of the Lord by the Prophet Aggeus, saying: speak to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel prince of Juda, and to Jesua the son of Josedech the high priest, and to the residue of the people, and say: Who is left among you, that saw this house in her first beauty? But what think ye now by it? Is it not in your eyes, even as though it were nothing? Nevertheless be of good cheer O Zorobabel ( sayeth the Lord ) be of good comfort, O Jesua thou son of Josedech high priest: take good hearts unto you also, all ye people of the land, sayeth the Lord of hosts and do according to the word ( for I am with you, sayeth the Lord of hosts ) like as I agreed with you, when ye came out of the land of Egypt: and my spirit shall be among you, fear ye not.
For thus sayeth the Lord of hosts: yet once more will I shake heaven and earth, the sea, and the dry land yee I will move all Heathen, and the comfort of all Heathen shall come, and so I will fill this house with honor, sayeth the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, the gold is mine, sayeth the Lord of hosts. Thus the glory of the last house shall be greater than the first, sayeth the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, sayeth the Lord of hosts.
The twenty fourth day of the ninth month in the second year of king Darius, came the word of the Lord unto the Prophet Aggeus, saying: Ask the priests concerning the law, and say: if one bear holy flesh in his coat lape, and with his lappe do touch the bread, potage, wine, oil or any other meat: shall he be holy also? The priests answered and said: No. Then said Aggeus: Now if one being defiled with a dead carcass, touch any of these: shall it also be unclean? The Priests gave answer and said: yee, it shall be unclean. Then Aggeus answered and said: even so is this people and this nation before me, sayeth the Lord: and so are all the works of their hands, yee and all that they offer is unclean.
And now ( I pray you ) consider from this day forth, and how it hath gone with you afore: or ever there was layed one stone upon another in the temple of the Lord: that when ye came to a corn heap of twenty bushels, there were scarce ten: and that when ye came to the wine press for to pour out fifty pots of wine, there were scarce twenty. For I smote you with heat, blasting and hailstones in all the labors of your hands: yet was there none of you, that would turn unto me, sayeth the Lord. Consider then from this day forth and afore, namely, from the twenty fourth day of the ninth month, unto the day that the foundation of the Lords temple was layed: mark it well, is not the seed yet in the barn? have not the vines, the fig trees, the pomegranates and the olive trees been unfruitful? but from this day forth, I shall make them to prosper.
Moreover the twenty fourth day of the month came the word of the Lord unto Aggeus again saying: Speak to Zorobabel the prince of Juda, and say: I will shake both heaven and earth, and over through the seat of the kingdoms, yee and destroy the mighty kingdom of the Heathen. I will overthrow the chariots, and those that sit upon them, so that both horse and man shall fall down, every man through his neighbors sword. And as for thee, O Zorobabel ( sayeth the Lord of hosts ) thou son of Salathiel my servant: I will take thee ( sayeth the Lord ) at the same time, and make thee as a seal, for I have chosen thee, sayeth the Lord of hostsBehold, the day of the Lord cometh, that thou shalt be spoiled and robbed: For I will gather together all the Heathen, to fight against Jerusalem: so that the city shall be won, the houses spoiled, and the women defiled. The half of the city shall go away into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be carried out of the city. After that shall the Lord go forth, to fight against those Heathen, as men used to fight in the day of battle. Then shall his feet shall stand upon the mount olivete, that layeth upon the east side of Jerusalem. And the mount olivete shall cleave in two, eastward and westward, so that there shall be a great valley: and the half mount shall remove toward the north, and the other toward the south. And ye shall flee into the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asia. Yee flee shall ye, like as ye fled for the earthquake in the days of Osiah king of Juda. And the Lord my God shall come, and all saints with him. In that day it shall not be light, but cold and frost. This shall be that special day which is known unto the Lord: neither day nor night, but about the evening time it shall be light. In that time shall there *waters of life run out from Jerusalem: the half part of them* toward the east sea, and the other half toward the uttermost sea, and shall continue both summer and winter. And the Lord himself shall be king over all the earth.
At the time shall there be one Lord only, and his name shall be but one. Men shall go about the whole earth, as upon a field: from Gibea to Remmon, and from the south to Jerusalem. She shall be set up, and inhabited in her place: from Ben Jamins port, unto the place of the first port, and unto the corner port: and from the tower of Dananeel, unto the kings wine presses. There shall men dwell, and there shall be no more cursing, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. This shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite all the people, that have fought against Jerusalem: Namely, their flesh shall consume away, though they stand upon their feet: their eyes shall be corrupt in their holes, and their tongue shall consume in their mouth.
In that day shall the Lord make a great sedition among them, so that one man shall take another by the hand, and lay his hands upon the hands of his neighbor. Juda shall fight also against Jerusalem, and the goods of all the Heathen shall be gathered together round about: gold and silver and a very great multitude of clothes. And so shall this plague go over horses, mules, camels, asses, and all the beasts that shall be in the host, like as yonder plague was. Every one that remaineth then of all the people, which came against Jerusalem, shall go up yearly, to worship the king ( even the Lord of hosts ) and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And look what generation upon the earth goeth not up to Jerusalem, for to worship the king ( even the Lord of hosts ) upon the same shall come no rain. If the kindred of Egypt go not up, and come not, it shall not rain upon them neither.
This shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all Heathen, that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles: yee this shall be the sin plague of Egypt and the sin plague of all people, that go not up to keep the feast of the tabernacles.
At that time shall the riding gear of the horses be holy unto the Lord, and the kettles in the Lords house shall be like the basins before the altar: yee all the kettles in Jerusalem and Juda, shall be holy unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that slay offerings, shall come take of them, and *dight them therein. And at that time there shall be no more Cananities in the house of the Lord.*waters= that is the understanding of the word of God. MN *dight= boil
THE THIRD BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 8
And after him, when Artaxerses the king of the Persians reigned, there went unto him Esdras the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchiah, the son of Sallum, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amarias, the son of Azarias, the son of Boccus, the son of Abisu, the son of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the first priest. This Esdras went up from Babylon, for he had good understanding in the law of Moses, that was given of the Lord God of Israel, to be taught and done and deed. And the king favored him, and did him great worship and honour, after all his devises. There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priests, of the Levites, of the singers, porters and ministers of the temple at Jerusalem.
In the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerses, in the fifth month, this is in the seventh year of the reign, they went from Babylon in the new moon of the fifth month, and came the high way to Jerusalem after his commandment, like as the Lord had prospered their journey. For in these Esdras got instruction that he should leave none of the things behind, which are in the law and commandments of God. And he taught whole Israel all righteousness and judgment.
Then came the Secretaries of king Artaxerses, and deliver the writings that were come from Artaxerses the king, to Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord: And this is the copy of the letter. King Artaxerses sendeth his greeting unto Esdras the priest and reader of the law of the Lord: Of friendship and good will I have ordained and charged, if there be any of the Jews, of the priests and Levites in my realm, which desireth and is content to go with thee unto Jerusalem, that he may do it. Therefore if any be minded to bear the company, let them come together, and go with thee ( like as I am content and my seven friends my counselors: ) to see what they do in Jerusalem and in Jewry, and keep the things according as thou hast in the law of the Lord and to bring the gifts unto God the Lord of Israel, that I and my friends have promised to Jerusalem, and all the gold and silver that is in the country of Babylon, unto the Lord to Jerusalem, with the thing that is given for the people in the Lords temple at Jerusalem: Yee that the same silver and gold may be gathered, and oxen, rams, sheep and goats and other that belong to these things: and that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord, upon the altar of their Lord, which is at Jerusalem.
And whatsoever thou and thy brethren will do with the silver and gold, that do, after thy mind, and after the commandment of the Lord thy God: and like wise with all the holy vessels, that are given thee for the service of the house of the Lord thy God: and other things whatsoever is necessary for thee to do the work of the temple, that shall be given thee of the kings treasure: and look what thou with thy brethren wilt do with the gold and silver, that do after the will of the Lord. And I king Artaxerses have commanded the keepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenices, that whatsoever Esdras the priest and the reader of the law of the Lord doth write, it shall be given him: till an hundred talents of silver, and of gold in like manner: Of corn also an hundred measures, and till an hundred vessels of wine, and other plenteous things without number. Let all things be done after the law of the highest God, that the wrath of God arise not in the realm of the king and of his sons. I command you also, that ye require no tax, ner tribute of the priests, Levites, singers, and ministers of the temple, ner of the writers: and that no man have authority to meddle anything against them. As for thee ( O' Esdras ) set thou judges and arbitrators in the whole land of Syria and Phenices, after the wisdom of God: and learn all such as are ignorant in the Law of God thy Lord, and let all them that offend against the law, be punished: whether it be with death, with pain, to be condemned in money, or to be banished.
Then said Esdras the writer. Blessed be the God of our fathers, that hath given so good a mind and will in to the heart of the king, to magnify his house that is at Jerusalem, and hath made me to be accepted in the sight of the king, of his counsel, of his friends and of his nobles. And so I was steadfast in my mind, according as the Lord my God helped me, and I choose out men of Israel to go up with me. And these are the heads ( after their kindreds and houses of their fathers ) that went up with me from Babylon, out of the kingdom of Artaxerses:
Of the sons of Phares, Gersonius.
Of the sons of Siemarith, Amenus.
Of the sons of David, Accus, the son of Cecilia.
Of the sons of Phares, Zachary:
and with him there turned again an hundred and fifty men.
Of the sons of the captain of Moabilon, Zaraei,
and with him two hundred men and fifty men.
Of the sons of Zachnes, Jechonias Zecholy,
and with him two hundred and fifty men.
Of the sons of Salamaasias, Gotholie,
and seventy with him.
Of the sons of Zaphacia. Zarias Miheli,
and with him eighty.
Of the sons of Job, Abdias Jeheli,
and with him two hundred and twelve men
Of the sons of Bania, Salimoth the son of Josaphia,
and with him an hundred and sixty men.
Of the sons of Beer, Zachari Bebei,
and with him two hundred and eight men.
Of the sons of Esead, Johannes Ezechan, and with him one hundred and ten men.
Of the sons of Adonicam those that were the last, and these are their names: Eliphalam the son of Gebel and Semeias, and with him seventy men, all these I called together by the water of Thia, where we pitched our tents three days, and there I mustered them.
As for the sons of the priests and Levites, I found none there. Then sent I unto Eleazar, and Eccelom, and Masman, and Malobam, and Enaathan, and Samea, and Joribimathan, Eunagan, Zachary, Mosollamun, ( these were the leaders and men of experience ) and I sent them word, that they should come unto Loddeus, which was by the place of the treasury, and commanded them that they should speak unto Loddeus, and to his brethren and to those that were in the treasury, to send us such men, as might execute the priests office in the house of the Lord our God. And with the mighty hand of our Lord God, they brought unto us men of good experience, from among the sons of Molius, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Sebebeiam and the sons and his brethren Asbin and Anin, of whom there were eighteen. From among the children and sons of Cananeus, and their sons were twenty men. And of them that served in the temple, whom David had ordained, and the principal men that ministered for the work unto the Levites in the temple, two hundred and twenty men, whose names are all tokened up in writing.
Then commanded I a fasting unto the young men before our Lord, that I might desire of him a prosperous journey and a good way for us, yee for us, for our children and for the cattle, because of the layings in wait, and I durst not require of the king men of horse and foot, to convey us safely against our enemies, for we had said unto the king, that the power of the lord our God should be with them, that seek him with their whole heart. And therefore we besought God our Lord earnestly because of these things, and he was merciful unto us, and heard our prayer. And I separated from among the rulers of the people, and from the Priests of the temple, twelve men, and Sebeia and Asania, and ten men of their brethren with them. And I weighed them the gold and the silver and all the Priestly ornaments of the house of our God, which the king, and his council, and his Princes, and whole Israel had given. And when I had weighed it, I gave them an hundred and fifty talents in silver, an hundred talents of silver vessel, an hundred talents of gold, and of golden vessel seven times twenty, and vessels of other metal ( yee of good metal ) twelve *glistering as the gold, and I said unto them: ye also are holy unto the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the gold and the silver is promised unto the Lord God of our fathers. Be diligent now and keep it, until the time that ye deliver it to the rulers of the people, to the Priests, to the Levites, and to the principal men of the cities of Israel in Jerusalem, and in the chamber of the house of our God.
So the Priests and the Levites which received of me the gold, the silver and the vessel, brought it to Jerusalem into the temple of the Lord. And from Thia we break up the twelfth day of the first month, till we came to Jerusalem. And when the third day was past, the weighed gold and silver was delivered in the house of the Lord the fourth day unto Marimoth the son of Jor the Priest, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phineas, and with them were Josabdus the son of Jesnet, Medias and the son of Banus, and certain of the Levites to the number and to the weight: and the weight of them was written up the same time. As for those that were come out of the captivity, they offered sacrifice unto the Lord the God of Israel: even twelve oxen for all Israel eighty six rams, seventy two sheep, twelve goats, for sin. Twelve *kine for a thanksoffering, all to the sacrifice of the Lord. And the Kings commission delivered they unto the stewards and *deites of the King, and to the undershreves in Celosyria and Phenices.
Now when these things were done, the rulers came unto me, and said: The generation of Israel, the Princes, the Priests and Levites, the strange people and indwellers of the land, have not put away their uncleanness, from the Canaanites, Hethites, Pheresites, from the Moabites, Egyptians, and Edomites. For both they and their sons have mingled themselves with the daughters of them, and the holy seed is mixed with the outlandish Heathen, and since the beginning of their reign have the rulers and heads been partakers of their wickedness,
And as soon as I had heard these things, immediately I rent my holy garments, and pulled out the hair of my head and beard, and sat me down sorrowful and heavy. So all they that were moved through the word of the God of Israel, came unto me: and I sat still full of heaviness until the evening sacrifice. Then stood I up from fasting, having rent clothes and the holy garment, kneeled down upon my knees, held out my hands unto the Lord, and said: O' Lord, I am confounded and ashamed before thy face, for our sins are become many upon our heads, and our wickednesses are exalted unto heaven: For since the time of our fathers, we with our brethren and with our Priests have been delivered unto the Kings of the earth, in to the sword, and into captivity, and become a spoil with confusion and shame unto this day. And now O' Lord God how great is the mercy that we have gotten of thee in that thou hast left us a root and name in the place of thy Sanctuary, to discover our light in the house of the Lord our God, and given us meat at all times of our ministration. And when we were in captivity, we were not forsaken of the Lord our God: but he made the kings of Persia gracious and favorable unto us, so that they gave us vitals and meat, yee and leave to build up the temple of our Lord God again, to repair the wasted places of Sion, and to dwell in Jewry and Jerusalem. And now O' Lord what shall we say having all these things in possession? For we have broken thy commandments which thou gavest unto us by the hands of thy servants the prophets, saying: The land that ye go to unto, and that is given you for an heritage to have in possession, is defiled with the uncleanness and filthiness of Heathen, and with their abominations have they polluted it all together. Therefore shall ye not join your daughters unto their sons, ner marry your sons unto their daughters: Moreover, ye shall never seek to make peace with them that ye may increase and eat the best in the land, and that ye may divide the inheritance of the land unto your children for evermore. As for the thing that now happeneth unto us, it cometh all for our wicked works, and great sins, yet hast thou given us such a root, that we are come again into our own land: and we are so wicked that we have broken thy statutes and commandments again, and mingled our selves with the uncleanness of the outlandish Heathen. O' Lord art thou angry with us? wilt thou root us clean out that our root and name remain no more? O' Lord God of Israel thou art true, for our root endureth yet unto this present day, And behold, now are we before thee in our sins, now can we not stand before thee in them.
And when Esdras with this prayer had knowledged the sin, weeping, and laying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from Jerusalem a great multitude of men and women, of young men and maidens, for there was a very great weeping and mourning in the congregation. So when Jechonias the son of Jehelt one of the children of Israel cried, he said unto Esdras: we have sinned against the Lord, because we have married outlandish women of the Heathen. Now art thou over all Israel. We will swear an oath therefore unto the Lord, that we shall put away all our wives, which we have taken of the Heathen, with their children: like as it is appointed thee by our fore elders. Stand up then, open thou it, and declare it plainly unto us, according to the law of the Lord: for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we will help thee, quiet thyself manly. So Esdras arose, and took an oath of the rulers, of the Priests, and of the Levites, and of Israel, to do after these things: and they sware*glistering (glittering) *kine (cow or deer) *deites (deities or deputies)
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 9
He answered me then and said: Measure thou the time diligently in it self, when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to pass, which I have told thee before: so shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world, which he made. And when there shall be seen earthquake and uproar of the people in the world, then shalt thou well understand, that the most Highest spoke of these things, from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
For like as all that is made in the world, hath a beginning and end, and the end is manifest: Even so the times also of the Highest have plain beginnings in wonders and signs, and the end in working and in tokens. And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his works and by faith, wherein ye have believed, shall be preserved from the said perils, and shall see my favor in my land and within my borders, for I have hallowed me from the world. Then shall they be in carefulness, which now have abused my ways: and they that have cast them out despitefully, shall dwell in pains.
For such as in their life have received benefits and have not known me, and they that have abhorred my law, while they had yet freedom, and when they had yet open room of amendment and consideration, and understood not, but despised it: that same must know it after death is pain. And therefore be thou no more careful, how the ungodly shall be punished, and how the righteous shall be saved, and whose the world is, and for whom the world, and when it is. Then answered I and said: I have talked before and now I speak, and will speak also here after, that there be many more of them which perish, then shall be saved, like as the flood is greater then the drops.
And he answered me, saying: as the field is, so is also the seed: as the flowers be, so are the colors also: such as the workman is, such is also the work: and as the husband man is himself, so is his husbandry also, for it was the time of the world. And when I prepared for them that are now, or ever the world was made, wherein they should dwell, then was there no man that withstood me. Now when every one was , and the maker also in the world which is now prepared, and the month that ceased not, and the law which is unsearchable, their manners were corrupt. So I considered the world, and behold there was peril, because of the thoughts that were come into it. And I saw, and spared them greatly, and have kept me a wineberry of the grapes, and a plant from among many generations. Let the multitude perish then, which are grown up in vain, and let my grape and wineberry be kept: even my plant: for with great labor I have made it up.
Nevertheless if thou wilt take upon thee yet seven days more ( but thou shall not fast in them ) go thy way then into the field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only of the flowers of the field, taste not flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only. Pray unto the Highest continually, so will I come, and talk with thee.
So I went my way and came in to the field which is called *Ardath ( like as he commanded me ) and there I sat among the flowers, and ate of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me. After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me like afore: and I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Highest, and said: O' Lord, thou that showest thy self to us, thou hast declared and opened thy self unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt, and thou speakest saying: Hear me O Israel, and mark my words thou seed of Jacob. Behold, I saw my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and yee shall be honored in it forever. For our fathers which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances and statutes, and the fruit of thy law was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was thine. For they that received it, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
It is a custom when the ground receiveth seed, or the sea a ship, or a vessel meat and drink, that when it perisheth or is broken wherein a thing is sown, or where any thing is put: the things also perish and are broken, which are sown or put therein. But unto us it hath not happened so: for we that have received the law, perish in sin, and sure heart which also received the law: not withstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his labor.
And when I considered these things in my heart after this manner, I looked about me with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, which mourned sore, made great lamentation, and wept with loud voice: her clothes were rent in pieces, and she had ashes on her head.
Then let I my thoughts go, that I was in, and turned me unto her, and said: wherefore weepiest thou? why art thou so sorry and discomforted? And she said unto me: Sir, let me bewail myself and take yet more sorrow: for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low. And I said unto her: what aileth thee? Or who hath done anything to thee? tell me. She said: I have been unfruitful and barren, and have had a husband thirty years. And these thirty years I do nothing else day and night and all hours, but make my prayer to the Highest. After thirty years God heard me thy handmaiden, looked upon my misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son, and I was glad of him, so was my husband also and all my neighbors, and we gave great honor unto the Mighty. And I nourished him with great travail. So when he grew up, and came to the time, that he should have a wife, I made a feast* Ard = "I shall subdue" & ah= ah!, alas!,
So when Tobiah thought his prayer to be heard, that he might die, he called unto him his son Tobiah, and said unto him: My son, hear the words of my mouth, and lay them in thy heart as a foundation. When God taketh away my soul, bury thou my body, and hold thy mother in honor all the days of her life. For thou oughtest to remember, what and how great perils she suffered for thee in her womb. And when she also hath fulfilled the time of her life, bury her beside me. Have God in thy thought all the days of thy life, and beware, lest anytime thou consent unto sin, and lest thou let slip the commandments of the Lord our God.
Give alms of thy goods, and turn never thy face from the poor: and so it shall come to pass, that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee. Be merciful after thy power. If thou hast much, give plentiously: if thou hast little, do thy diligence, gladly to give of that little. For so thou gatherest thou thy self a good reward in the day of necessity. For alms delivereth from death, and suffereth not the soul to come into darkness. And great comfort is alms before the high God, unto all them that do it.
My son, keep thee well from all whoredom, and ( beside thy wife ) see that no fault be known of thee. Let never pride have rule in thy mind ner in thy word, for in pride began all destruction.
Whosoever worketh anything for thee, immediately give him his hire, and look that thy hired servant wages remain not by thee overnight. Look that thou never do unto another man, the thing that thou wouldest not another man should do unto thee. Eat thy bread with the hungry and poor, and cover the naked with thy clothes. Set thy bread and wine upon the burial of the righteous, and do not thou eat and drink thereof with the sinners. Ask ever the counsel at the wise.
Be alway thankful to God, and beseech him, that he will order thy ways, and that whatsoever thou devisest or takest in hand, it may remain in him. I certify thee also my son, that ( when thou wast yet but a babe ) I delivered ten talents of silver unto Gabelus, at Rages a city of the Medes, and his handwriting have I by me. And therefore seek some means, how thou mayest come by him, and receive of him that said weight of silver, and give him his handwriting again.
My son, be not afraid: truth it is, we lead here a poor life: but great good shall we have, if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do well.Now when it was late in the night his servants made haste every man to his lodging. And Uagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way, for they were all over laden with wine. So was Judith alone in the chamber. As for Holofernes he lay upon the bed all drunken, and of very drunkenness fell asleep.
Then commanded Judith her maiden, to stand without before the door, and to wait. And Judith stood before the bed, making her prayer with tears, and moved her lips secretly, and said: Strengthen me O' Lord God of Israel, and have respect unto the works of my hands in this hour, that thou mayest set up thy city of Jerusalem, like as thou hast promised: O' grant that by thee I may perform the thing, which I have devised through the believe that I have in thee.
And when she had spoken this, she went to the bedstead, and loosen the sword that hanged upon it, and drew it out. Then she took hold of the hairy locks of his head, and said: Strengthen me O' Lord God in this hour: and with that she gave him two strokes upon the neck, and smote off his head. Then took she the canopy away, and rolled the dead body aside. Immediately she gat her forth, and delivered the head of Holofernes unto her maiden, and bade her to put it in her wallet.
And so these two went forth together after their custom, as though they would pray, and so passed by the Host, and came through the valley unto the port of the city. And Judith cried afar off unto the watchmen upon the walls: Open the gates ( said she ) for God is with us, which hath showed his power in Israel. And when they heard her voice, they called the elders of the city together. And they came all to meet her, little and great, young and old, for they thought not that she should have come so soon. So they lighted candles, and gathered around her every each one: but she went up into an high place, and caused silence to be proclaimed.
When every man now held his tongue, Judith said: O' praise the Lord our God, for he hath not despised, nor forsaken them, that put their trust in him: and in me his handmaiden he hath performed his mercy, which he promised unto the house of Israel: yee in my hand this same night hath he slayen the enemy of his people.
And with that she took forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, and showed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the Captain of the Assyrians, and this is the canopy, where he layed in his drunkenness : where the Lord our God hath slayen him by the hand of a woman.
But truly as the Lord liveth, his Angel hath kept me, going hither remaining there, and coming hither again from thence. And the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaiden to be defiled, but without any filthiness of sin hath he brought me again unto you: and that with great victory, so that I am escaped, and ye delivered. O' give thanks unto him every each one, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth forever.
So they praised the Lord altogether, and gave thanks unto him. And to her they said: The Lord hath blessed thee in his power, for through thee he hath brought our enemies to naught. And Osias the chief ruler of the people of Israel, said unto her: Blessed art thou of the Lord the high God, above all women on earth.
Blessed be the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, which hath guided thee aright to wound and to smite off the head of the Captain of our enemies. For this day he hath made thy name so honorable, that thy praise shall never come out of the mouth of men, which shall alway remember the power of the Lord: seeing that thou hast not spared thy own self, but put thee in jeopardy, considering the anguish and trouble of thy people, and so hast helped their fall before God our Lord. And all the people said: Amen, Amen.
Achior also was called, and he came. Then said Judith unto him: The God of Israel unto whom thou gavest witness, that he would be avenged of his enemies, even he hath this night through my hand smitten off the head of all the unfaithful. And that thou mayest see that it so is, behold this is the head of Holofernes, which in his presumptuous pride despised the God of the people of Israel, and threatened thee with destruction, saying: when the people of Israel is taken, I shall also cause thee to be sticked with the sword. When Achior saw Holofernes head he fell down upon his face to the ground for very anguish and fear, so that he swooned withal. But after that he was come again to himself, he fell down before her, and praised her, saying: Blessed art thou of thy God in all the tabernacles of Jacob: for all the people that hear of thy name, shall praise the God of Israel because of theeFor the ungodly talk and imagine thus among themselves ( but not right: ) The time of our life is but short and tedious, and when a man is once gone, he hath no more joy ner pleasure, neither know we any man that turneth again from death: for we are born of naught and we shall be here after as though we had never been. For our breath is as a smoke in our nostrils, and the words as a spark to move our heart. As for our body, it shall be very ashes that are quenched, and our soul shall vanish as the soft air. Our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and come to nought as the mist that is driven away with the beams of the *Son, and put down with the heat thereof. Our name shall be forgotten by little and little, and no man shall have our works in remembrance.
For our time is a very shadow that passeth away, and after our end there is no returning, for it is fast sealed, so that no man cometh again. Come on therefore, let us enjoy the pleasures that there are, and let us soon use the creature like as in youth. We will fill ourselves with good wine and ointment, and there shall no flower of the time go by us. We will crown ourselves with rose afore they be withered. There shall be no fair meadow, but our lust shall go through it. Let everyone of you be partaker of our *voluptuousness. Let us leave some token of our pleasure in every place, for this is our portion, else we get nothing. Let us oppress the poor righteous, let us not spare the widow, ner old man, let us not regard the heads that are gray for age. Let the law of unrighteousness be our authority, for the thing that is feeble is nothing worth. Therefore let us *defraud the righteous; And why? He is not for our profit, yee he is clean contrary to our doings. He checketh us for offending against the law, and sclander us as transgressors of all nurture. He maketh his boast to have the knowledge of God, yee he calleth himself Gods son. He is the betrayer of our thoughts: It grieveth us also to look upon him, for his life is not like other mens, his ways are of another fashion. He counteth us as but vain persons, he withdraweth himself from our ways as from filthiness: he commendeth greatly the latter end of the just, and maketh his boast that God is his father. Let us see if his words be true, let us prove what shall come upon him: so we will know what end he shall have. For if he be the true son of God, he will receive him and deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine him with despiteful rebuke and tormenting, that we may know his dignity and prove his patience. Let us condemn him with the most shameful death: for like as he hath spoken, so shall he be rewarded.
Such things do the ungodly imagine, and go astray, for their own wickedness hath blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they understand them not: they neither hope for the reward of righteousness, ner regard the worship that holy souls shall have. For God created man to be undestroyed, yee after the image of his own likeness made he him. Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world, and they that do hold his side, do as he doeth*Son: cap S and exactly as found in the text, and they did spell son: sonne and sun: sunne different. *voluptuousness. (sensory wantonness) *defraud (cheat by deceiption)
THE GOSPELL OF ST. MATTHEW Chpt 9
Then he entered into a ship and passed over and came into his own city. And lo, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying in his bed. And when Jesus saw the faith of them, he said to the sick of the palsy: son be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. And behold certain of the Scribes said in themselves, this man blasphemeth. And when Jesus saw their thoughts, he said: wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say: arise and walk? That ye may know that the son of man hath power to forgive sins in earth, then said he unto the sick of the palsy: arise, take up thy bed, and go home to thine house. And he arose and departed to his own house. And when the people saw it, they marvelled and glorified God which had given such power to men.
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man sit a receiving of custom, named Matthew, and said to him: follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass as he sat at meat in the house: behold many Publicans and sinners came and sat down also with Jesus and his Disciples.
When the Pharisees saw that, they said to his Disciples: why eateth your master with Publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard that, he said unto them: The whole need not the Physician, but they that are sick. Go and learn, what that meaneth: I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering. For I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.
Then came the Disciples of John to him saying: why do we and the Pharisees fast oft: but thy Disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them: Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man pieceth an old garment with a piece of new cloth. For then taketh he away the piece again from the garment, and the rent is made greater. Neither do men put new wine into old vessels, for then the vessels break, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels perish. But they pour new wine into new vessels, and so are both saved together.
While he thus spake unto them, behold there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying: my daughter is even now deceased, but come and lay thy hand on her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose and followed him with his disciples. And behold a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him and touched the hem of his vesture. For she said in herself: if I may touch but even his vesture only, I shall be safe. Then Jesus turned him about, and beheld her saying: Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made thee safe. And she was made whole even that same hour.
And when Jesus came into the rulers house, and saw the minstrels and the people raging, he said unto them: Get you hence, for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. As soon as the people were put forth, he went in and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And this was noised throughout all that land.
And as Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him crying and saying: O thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come home, the blind came to him. And Jesus said unto them: Believe ye that I am able to do this? And they said unto him: ye Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying: according to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus charged them saying. See that no man know of it. But they, as soon as they were departed, spread abroad his name throughout all the land.
As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed of a devil. And as soon as the devil was cast out, the dumb spake. And the people marvelled, saying: it was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said: he casteth out devils, by the power of the chief devil.
And Jesus went about all cities and towns, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom, and healing all manner sickness and disease among the people. But when he saw the people, he had compassion on them, because they were pined away, and scattered abroad, even as sheep having no shepherd.
Then said he to his disciples: the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Wherefore pray the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers into his harvestTHE GOSPELL OF ST. MATTHEW Chpt 11
And it came to pass when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, that he departed thence, to teach and to preach in their cities.
When John being in prison heard the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said unto him. Art thou he that shall come: or shall we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them. Go and show John what ye have heard and seen. The blind see, the halt go, the lepers are cleansed: the deaf hear, the dead rise again, and the glad tidings is preached to the poor. And happy is he that is not offended by me.
And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the people of John. To see what, went ye out into the wilderness? Went ye out to see a reed shaken with the wind? other went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing, are in kings houses. But what went ye out for to see? A Prophet? Ye I say to you and more than a Prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verily I say unto you, among the children of women arose there not a greater than John the Baptist. Notwithstanding he that is less in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. From the time of John Baptist hitherto the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and they that go to it with violence pluck it unto them. For all the Prophets and the law prophesied unto the time of John. And also if ye will receive it, this is Elias which should come. He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children which sit in the market and call unto their fellows, and say: we have piped unto you, and ye have not danced? We have mourned unto you, and ye have not sorrowed. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he hath the devil. The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, behold a glutton and drinker of wine, and a friend unto publicans and sinners. Neverthelater wisdom is justified of her children.
Then began he to upbraid the cities, in which most of his miracles were done, because they mended not. Woe be to thee Chorasin. Woe be to thee Bethsaida: for if the miracles which were showed in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they had repented long agone in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you: it shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgement, than for you. And thou Capernaum which art lift up unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell. For if the miracles which have been done in thee, had been showed in Sodom: they had remained to this day. Nevertheless I say unto you: it shall be easier for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, than for thee.
At that time Jesus answered and said: I praise thee O' father Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them unto babes: even so father, for so it pleased thee. All things are given unto me of my father. And no man knoweth the son but thy father: neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whom the son will open him.
Come unto me all ye that labor and are laden, and I will ease you. Take my yoke on you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is lightTHE GOSPELL OF ST. MATTHEW Chpt 21
When they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto mount Olivet: then sent Jesus two of his disciples, saying to them: Go into the town that lieth over against you, and *anon ye shall find an ass bound, and her colt with her: loose them and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, say ye that the Lord hath need of them: and straight way he will let them go. All this was done, to fulfil that which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell ye the daughter of Sion: behold thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass and a colt, the foal of an ass used to the yoke. The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and set him thereon. And many of the people spread their garments in the way. Other cut down branches from the trees, and *strawed them in the way. Moreover the people that went before, and they also that came after, cried saying: Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved saying: who is this? And the people said: this is Jesus the Prophet of Nazareth a city of Galilee. And Jesus went in to the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said to them: It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer. But ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the halt came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
When the chief Priests and Scribes saw the marvels that he did, and the children crying in the temple and saying: Hosanna to the son of David, they disdained, and said unto him: hearest thou what these say? Jesus said unto them yee: have ye never read, of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained praise? And he left them, and went out of the city unto Bethany, and had his abiding there.
In the morning as he returned into the city again, he hungered, and spied a fig tree in the way, and came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said to it, never fruit grow on thee hence forward. And *anon the fig tree withered away. And when his disciples saw that, they marvelled saying. How soon is the fig tree withered away? Jesus answered, and said unto them: Verily I say unto you, if ye shall have faith and shall not doubt, ye shall not only do that which I have done to the fig tree: but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, take thyself away, and cast thyself into the sea, it shall be done. And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer (if ye believe) ye shall receive it.
And when he was come in to the temple, the chief Priests and the elders of the people, came unto him as he was teaching, and said by what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this power? Jesus answered, and said unto them: I also will ask of you a certain question, which if ye *assoil me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The *baptime of John: whence was it? from heaven or of men? Then they reasoned among themselves saying: if we shall say from heaven, he will say unto us: why did ye not then believe him? But and if we shall say of men, then fear we the people. For all men held John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus and said: we cannot tell. And he likewise said unto them: neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. What say ye to this? A certain man had two sons, and came to the elder and said: son go and work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward repented and went. Then came he to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said: I will sir: yet went not. Whether of them *twain did the will of the father? And they said unto him: the first. Jesus said unto them: verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots shall come into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And yet ye (though ye saw it) were not yet moved with repentance, that ye might afterward have believed him.
Hearken another similitude. There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and made a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went in to a strange country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen caught his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first: and they served them likewise. But last of all, he sent unto them his own son saying: they will fear my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves. This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and let us take his inheritance to ourselves. And they caught him and thrust him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the Lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do with those husbandmen? They said unto him: he will cruelly destroy those evil persons, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall deliver him the fruit at times convenient. Jesus said unto them: did ye never read in the scriptures? The stone which the builders refused the same is set in the principal part of the corner: this was the Lords doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to the Gentiles, which shall bring forth the fruits of it. And whosoever shall fall on this stone, he shall be broken, but on whosoever it shall fall upon, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief Priests and Pharisees heard these similitudes, they perceived that he spake of them. And they went about to lay hands on him, but they feared the people, because they took him as a Prophet*anon (in a short time) *strawed (strewed over the way )
*assoil (pardon, atone, absolve) *baptime (baptism) *twain (two)THE GOSPELL OF ST. MARK Chpt 2
After a few days, he entered into Capernaum again, and it was noised that he was in a house. And *anon many gathered together, in so much that now there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door. And he preached the word unto them. And there came unto him that brought one sick of the palsy borne of four men. And because they could not come nigh unto him for press, they uncovered the roof of the house where he was. And when they had broken it open, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, son thy sins are forgiven thee.
And there were certain of the Scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts: how doth this fellow so blaspheme? Who can forgive sins, but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned in themselves, he said unto them: why think ye such things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, thy sins are forgiven thee: or to say, arise take up thy bed, and walk? That ye may know that the son of man hath power in earth to forgive sins, he spake unto the sick of the palsy: I say unto thee, arise and take up thy bed, and get thee hence into thine own house. And by and by he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all: in so much that they were all amazed, and glorified God saying: we never saw it on this fashion.
And he went again unto the sea, and all the people resorted unto him, and he taught them. And as Jesus passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphey sit at the receipt of custom and said unto him: follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat at meat also with Jesus and his disciples. For there were many that followed him. And when the Scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples: how is it, that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard that, he said unto them. The whole have no need of the Physician, but the sick. I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.
And the disciples of John and the Pharisees did fast: and therefore came and said unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them: can the children of a wedding fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast in those days.
Also no man soweth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for then taketh he away the new piece from the old, and so is the rent worse. In like wise, no man poureth new wine into old vessels: for if he do, the new wine breaketh the vessels, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels are marred. But new wine must be poured into new vessels.
And it chanced that he went through the corn fields on the Sabboth day: and his disciples as they went in their way, began to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him: behold, why do they on the Sabboth days that which is not lawful? And he said to them: have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungered both he and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high Priest, and did eat the hallowed loaves, which is not lawful to eat, but for the Priests only: and gave also to them which were with him? And he said to them the Sabboth day was made for man, and not man for the Saboth. Wherefore the son of man is Lord even of the Sabboth day*anon (soon)
THE GOSPELL OF ST. MARK Chpt 12
And he began to speak unto them in similitudes. A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and ordained a wine press, and built a tower in it. And let it out to hire unto husbandmen, and went into a strange country. And when the time was come, he sent to the tenants a servant, that he might receive of the tenants of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him and beat him, and sent him again empty. And moreover he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones and brake his head, and sent him again all to reviled. And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many other, beating some, and killing some.
Yet had he one son whom he loved tenderly, him also he sent at the last unto them saying they will fear my son. But the tenants said amongst themselves: this is the heir: come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to other. Have ye not read this scripture? The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the chief stone in the corner: this was done of the Lord, and is marvellous in our eyes. And they went about to take him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spake that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.
And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees with Herodes servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come they said unto him: master we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not? Ought we to give, or ought we not to give? He understood their simulation and said unto them: Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought. And he said unto them: Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesars. And Jesus answered and said unto them: Then give to Cesar that which belongeth to Cesar: and to God, that which pertaineth to God. And they marvelled at him.
Then came the Saduces unto him, which say, there is no resurrection. And they asked him saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us if any mans brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children: that then his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and when he died left no seed behind him. And the second took her, and died: neither left any seed. And the third likewise. And seven had her and left no seed behind them. Last of all the wife died also. In the resurrection then when they shall rise again: whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife. Jesus answered and said unto them: Are ye not therefore deceived and understand not the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise again from death, they neither marry, nor are married: but are as the angels which are in heaven. As touching the dead, that they shall rise again: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him saying: I am the God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Ye are therefore greatly deceived.
And there came one of the Scribes that had heard them disputing together, and perceived that he had answered them well, and asked him: Which is the first of all the commandments? Jesus answered him: the first of all the commandments is: Hear Israel: The Lord God, is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like unto this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the Scribe said unto him: well master, thou hast said the truth, that there is one God, and that there is none but he. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the mind, and with all the soul, and with all the strength: and to love a mans neighbor as himself, is a greater thing than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that, durst ask him any question.
And Jesus answered and said, teaching in the temple: how say the Scribes that Christ is the son of David? for David himself inspired with the holy ghost, said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. Then David himself calleth him Lord: and by what means is he then his son? And much people heard him gladly.
And he said unto them in his doctrine: beware of the Scribes which love to go in long clothing: and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and to sit in the uppermost rooms at feasts, and devour widows houses, and that under colour of long praying. These shall receive greater damnation.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people put money into the treasury. And many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples and said unto them: Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For they all did cast in of their *superfluity: but she of her poverty, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
*superfluity: excess, overabundance.THE GOSPELL OF ST. MARK Chpt 15
And *anon in the dawning the high Priests held council with the elders and the Scribes, and the whole congregation and bound Jesus and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him: art thou the king of the Jews? And he answered and said unto him: thou sayest it. And the high priests accused him of many things. Wherefore Pilate asked him again saying: Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they lay unto thy charge. Jesus yet answered never a word, so that Pilate marvelled.
At that feast Pilate was wont to deliver at their pleasure a prisoner: whomsoever they would desire. And there was one named Barabas, which lay bound with them that made insurrection, and in the insurrection committed murder. And the people called unto him, and began to desire according as he had ever done unto them. Pilate answered them and said: Will ye that I loose unto you the king of the Jews? For he knew that the high Priests had delivered him of envy. But the high priests had moved the people that he should rather deliver Barabas unto them.
And Pilate answered again, and said unto them: What will ye then that I do with him whom ye call the king of the Jews? And they cried again: crucify him. Pilate said unto them: What evil hath he done? And they cried the more fervently: Crucify him. And so Pilate willing to content the people, loosed them Barabas, and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him, for to be crucified.
And the soldiers led him away into the common hall, and called together the whole multitude, and they clothed him with purple, and they plaited a crown of thorns and crowned him with all, and began to salute him: Hail king of the Jewes. And they smote him on the head with a reed, and spat upon him, and worshipped him.
And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own clothes on him and led him out, to crucify him. And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyrene (which came out of the field, and was father of Alexander and Rufus) to bear his cross. And they brought him to a place named Golgotha (which is by interpretation, the place of dead mens skulls) and they gave him to drink, wine mingled with myrrh, but he received it not.
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots for them, what every man should have. And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him. And the title of his cause was written: The king of the Jews. And they crucified with him two thieves: the one on the right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled which sayeth: he was counted among the wicked.
And they that went by railed on him: wagging their heads and saying: A wretch, that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days: save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also mocked him the high Priests among themselves with the Scribes and said, he saved other men, himself he cannot save. Let Christ the king of Israel now descend from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him, checked him also.
And when the sixth hour was come, darkness arose over all the earth, until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamaasabathani, which is if it be interpreted: my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard that, said: behold he calleth for *Helias. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying: let him alone, let us see whether *Helias will come and take him down.
But Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the Ghost. And the veil of the temple did rent in two pieces, from the top to the bottom. And when the Centurion which stood before him, saw that he so cried and gave up the ghost, he said: truly this man was the son of God. There were also women a good way off beholding him: among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the little, and of Joses, and Mary Salome: which also when he was in Galile, followed him and ministered unto him, and many other women which came up with him to Jerusalem.
And now when night was come (because it was the even that goeth before the saboth) Joseph of Arimathia a noble Councillor which also looked for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesu. And Pilate marvelled that he was already dead, and called unto him the Centurion, and asked of him, whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew the truth of the Centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen cloth, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn out of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary Joses beheld where he was laid*anon (shortly, early) *Helias (Elias)
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 1
There was in the days of Herode the King of *Jurie a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron: And her name was Elizabeth. Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren and both were well stricken in age.
And it came to pass, as he executed the Priests office before God, as his course came (according to the custom of the Priests office) his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord, and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer while the incense was a burning. And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was abashed, and fear came on him.
And the Angel said unto him: fear not Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: And thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John, and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the holy ghost, even in his mothers womb: and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of *Helias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just men: to make the people ready for the Lord.
And Zacharias said unto the angel: whereby shall I know this? seeing that I am old and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answered and said unto him. I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee: and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them. Whereby they perceived that he had seen some vision in the temple. And he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
And it fortuned, as soon as the time of his office was out, he departed home into his own house. And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months saying: This wise hath God dealt with me in the days when he looked on me, to take from me the rebuke that I suffered among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galile, named Nazareth, to a virgin spoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary. And the angel went in unto her, and said: Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
When she saw him, she was abashed at his saying: and cast in her mind what manner of salutation that should be. And the angel said unto her: fear not Mary: for thou hast found grace with God. Lo, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the seat of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her: The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her age. And this is her sixth month, though she be called barren: for with God can nothing be unpossible. And Mary said: behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it unto me even as thou hast said. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the mountains with haste, into a city of *Jurie and entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it fortuned, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among the women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence happeneth this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy. And blessed art thou that believedst: for those things shall be performed which were told thee from the Lord. And Mary said:
My soul magnifieth the Lord. And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour. For he hath looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold now from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He showeth strength with his arm, he scattereth them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts. He putteth down the mighty from their seats, and exalteth them of low degree. He filleth the hungry with good things: and sendeth away the rich empty. He remembereth mercy: and helpeth his servant Israel.
Even as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about a three months, and returned again to her own house.
Elizabeths time was come that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
And it fortuned the eighth day: they came to circumcise the child: and called his name Zacharias, after the name of his father. How be it his mother answered and said: not so, but he shall be called John. And they said unto her: There is none of thy kin, that is named with this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables and wrote saying: his name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spake lauding God. And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh unto them. And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of *Jurie and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts saying: What manner child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied saying.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people.
And hath raised up an horn of salvation unto us in the house of his servant David.
Even as he promised by the mouth of his holy Prophets which were since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us.
To fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.
And to perform the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give us.
That we delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him. And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways: And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of sins. Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us.
To give light to them that sat in darkness and in shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in wilderness, till the day came when he should show himself unto the Israelites*Jurie (Jewry) *Helias (Elias)
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 5
It came to pass as the people pressed upon him, to hear the word of God, that he stood by the lake of Gennezareth: and saw two ships stand by the lake side, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which pertained to Simon, and prayed him, that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship. When he had left speaking, he said unto Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let slip your nets to make a draught. And Simon answered and said to him: Master, we have laboured all night, and have taken nothing. Neverthelater at thy word I will loose forth the net. And when they had so done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net brake: but they made signs to their fellows which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came: and filled both the ships that they sunk again. When Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus knees saying: Lord go from me, for I am a sinful man. For he was utterly astonied and all that were with him, at the draught of fish which they took: and so was also James and John the sons of Zebede which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon: fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And they brought the ships to land, and forsook all, and followed him.
And it fortuned as he was in a certain city: behold, there was a man full of leprosy: and when he had spied Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched forth the hand, and touched him saying: I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he warned him, that he should tell no man: but that he should go and show himself to the Priest, and offer for his cleansing according as Moses commandment was, for a witness unto them.
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him, and much people came together to hear, and to be healed of him, of their infirmities. And he kept himself apart in the wildernesses, and gave himself to prayer.
And it happened on a certain day, that he taught: and there sat the Pharisees: and doctors of law, which were come out of all the towns of Galile, *Jurie, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was to heal them. And behold, men brought a man lying in his bed which was taken with a palsy: and sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the press, they went up on the top of the house, and let him down through the tiling, bed and all, in the midst before Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said unto him: man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the Scribes and the Pharisees began to think saying: What fellow is this which speaketh blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God only?
When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered and said unto them: What think ye in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say: rise and walk? But that ye may know that the son of man hath power to forgive sins on earth, he said unto the sick of the palsy: I say to thee, arise, take up thy bed and go home to thy house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up his bed where on he lay, and departed to his own house praising God. And they were all amazed and they lauded God, and were filled with fear saying: We have seen strange things today.
And after that he went forth and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him: follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And that same Levi made him a great feast at home in his own house. And there was a great company of publicans and of other that sat at meat with him. And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples saying: Why eat ye and drink ye with publicans and sinners? Jesus answered and said unto them: They that are whole need not of the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Then they said unto him: Why do the disciples of John fast often and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also: and thine eat and drink? And he said unto them: Can ye make the children of the wedding fast, as long as the bridegroom is present with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days.
Then he spake unto them in a similitude: No man putteth a piece of a new garment, into an old vesture: for if he do: then breaketh he the new, and the piece that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old. Also, no man poureth new wine into old vessels. For if he do, the new wine breaketh the vessels, and runneth out it self, and the vessels perish: But new wine must be poured into new vessels, and both are preserved. Also, no man that drinketh old wine, straight way can away with new, for he sayeth the old is pleasanter*Jurie (Jewry),
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 7
When he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain Centurions servant was sick and ready to die, whom he made much of. And when he heard of Jesu, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And they came to Jesus and besought him instantly saying: He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him. For he loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue. And Jesus went with them.
And when he was not far from the house, the Centurion sent friends to him: saying unto him Lord trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof. Wherefore I thought not myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be whole. For I likewise am a man under power, and have under me soldiers, and I say unto one: go, and he goeth. And to another, come: and he cometh. And to my servant, do this: and he doeth it. When Jesus heard this, he marvelled at him, and turned him about and said to the people that followed him: I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, turned back home again, and found the servant that was sick, whole.
And it fortuned after that, that he went into a city called Naim, and many of his disciples went with him and much people. When he came nigh to the gate of the city: behold, there was a dead man carried out which was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her: weep not. And he went and touched the coffin, and they that bare him, stood still. And he said: Young man, I say unto thee, arise. And the dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all. And they glorified God saying: a great Prophet is risen among us, and God hath visited his people. And this rumor of him went forth throughout all *Jurie, and through out all the regions which lie round about.
And the disciples of John showed him of all these things. And John called unto him two of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus saying: Art thou he that shall come: or shall we look for another? When the men were come unto him they said: John Baptist sent us unto thee saying: Art thou he that shall come: or shall we wait for another? And at the same time he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto many that were blind he gave sight. And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Go your ways and show John what things ye have seen and heard, how that the blind see, the halt go, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead arise, to the poor is the glad tidings preached, and happy is he, that is not offended by me.
When the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people of John. What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? Went ye to see a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings courts. But what went ye forth to see? A Prophet? Yea I say to you, and more than a Prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my messenger before thy face, to prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you: a greater Prophet than John among womens children is there none. Nevertheless one that is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he. And all the people that heard, and the publicans, justified God, and were baptised with the baptism of John. But the Pharises and Scribes despised the counsel of God against themselves, and were not baptised of him.
And the Lord said: Whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation, and what thing are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and crying one to another, and saying: We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say: he hath the devil. The son of man is come and eateth and drinketh, and ye say: behold a man which is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. Yet is wisdom justified of all her children.
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharises house, and sat down to meat. And behold a woman in that city, which was a sinner, as soon as she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharises house, she brought an alabaster box of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.
When the Pharise which bade him, saw that, he spake within himself, saying: If this man were a prophet, he would surely have known who and what manner woman this is which toucheth him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answered and said unto him: Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he said, master say on. There was a certain lender which had two debtors, the one ought five hundred pence and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them tell me, will love him most? Simon answered and said: I suppose, that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him: Thou hast truly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon: Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, and thou gavest me no water to my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee: many sins are forgiven her: for she loved much. To whom less is forgiven, the same doth less love. And he said unto her, thy sins are forgiven thee. And they that sat at meat with him, began to say within themselves: Who is this which forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath saved thee, Go in peace*Jurie (Jewry),
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 10
After these things, the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before him into every city and place, whither he himself would come. And he said unto them, the harvest is great but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Bear no wallet, neither scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: if not, it shall return to you again. And in the same house tarry still, eating and drinking such as they have. For the laborer is worthy of his reward.
Go not from house to house: and into whatsoever city ye enter, if they receive you, eat such things as are set before you, and heal the sick that are there, and say unto them: the kingdom of God is come nigh upon you. But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, if they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same and say: even the very dust, which cleaveth on us of your city, we wipe off against you: Notwithstanding, mark this that the kingdom of God was come nigh upon you. Yea and I say unto you, that it shall be easier in that day for *Zodome than for that city.
Woe be to thee, Chorazin: woe be to thee, Bethsaida. For if the miracles had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented sitting in hair and ashes. Nevertheless it shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon, at the judgement, than for you. And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that despiseth you, despiseth me: and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying: Lord even the very devils are subdued to us through thy name. And he said unto them: I saw Satan, as it had been lightning, fall down from heaven. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all manner power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are under your power: but rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
That same time rejoiced Jesus in the spirit, and said: I confess unto thee father: Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them to the babes. Even so father, for so pleased it thee. All things are given me of my father. And no man knoweth who the son is, but the father: neither who the father is, save the son, and he to whom the son will show him.
And he turned to his disciples, and said secretly: Happy are the eyes, which see that ye see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them: and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
And behold a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying: Master what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him:: What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answered and said: Love thy Lord God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him: Thou hast answered right. This do and thou shalt live. He willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus: Who is then my neighbor?
Jesus answered and said: A certain man descended from *Herusalem into *Herico, and fell into the hands of thieves, which robbed him of his raiment and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead. And by chance there came a certain Priest that same way, and when he saw him, he passed by. And likewise a Levite, when he was come nigh to the place, went and looked on him, and passed by. Then a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came nigh unto him and when he saw him, had compassion on him, and went to and bound up his wounds, and poured in oil and wine, and put him on his own beast, and brought him to a common inn, and made provision for him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host, and said unto him: Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will recompense thee. Which now of these three thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell into the thieves hands? And he said: he that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him: Go and do thou likewise.
It fortuned as they went, that he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman named Martha, received him into her house. And this woman had a sister called Mary, which sat at Jesus feet, and heard his preaching. And Martha was cumbered about much serving, and stood and said: master, dost thou not care, that my sister hath left me to minister alone? Bid her therefore, that she help me. And Jesus answered, and said unto her: Martha, Martha, thou carest, and art troubled about many things: verily one is needful. Mary hath chosen her that good part, which shall not be taken away from her*Zodome (Sodom) *Herusalem (Jerusalem) *Herico (Jericho)
THE GOSPELL OF ST. JOHN Chpt 2
And the third day, was there a marriage in Cana a city of Galile: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus was called also and his disciples unto the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said unto him: they have no wine. Jesus said unto her: woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother said unto the ministers: whatsoever he sayeth unto you, do it. And there were standing there, six waterpots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jewes, containing two or three *firkins apiece.
And Jesus said unto them: fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said unto them: draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was turned unto wine, and knew not whence it was (but the ministers which drew the water knew). He called the bridegroom, and said unto him: all men at the beginning set forth good wine, and when men be drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept back the good wine, until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galile, and showed his glory and his disciples believed on him. After that he descended into Capernaum, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: but continued not many days there.
And the Jewes *ester was even at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found sitting in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and changers of money. And he made a scourge of small cords, and drave them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen, and poured out the changers money, and overthrew the tables, and said unto them that sold doves: Have these things hence, and make not my fathers house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered, how that it was written: the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me.
Then answered the Jewes and said unto him: what token showest thou unto us, seeing that thou dost these things? Jesus answered and said unto them: destroy this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again. Then said the Jewes: forty six years was this temple a building: and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. As soon therefore as he was risen from death again, his disciples remembered that he thus said. And they believed the scripture, and the words which Jesus had said.
When he was at Jerusalem at ester in the feast, many believed on his name, when they saw his miracles which he did. But Jesus put not himself in their hands, because he knew all men, and needed not, that any man should testify of him. For he knew what was in man*firkins (small barrel) *exact spelling ester
THE GOSPELL OF ST. JOHN Chpt 4
As soon as the Lord had knowledge, how the Pharisees had heard, that Jesus made and baptised more disciples then John (though that Jesus him self baptised not: but his disciples) he left Jewry, and departed again in to Galile. And it was so that he must needs go through Samaria. Then came he to a city of Samaria called Sichar, besides the possession that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. And there was Jacobs well. Jesus then wearied in his journey, sat thus on the well. And it was about the sixth hour: and there came a woman of Samaria to draw water. And Jesus said unto her: give me drink. For his disciples were gone away unto the town to buy meat. Then said the woman of Samaria unto him: how is it, that thou being a Jewe, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan? for the Jewes meddle not with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her: if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that sayeth to thee give me drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee water of life. The woman said unto him. Sir thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that water of life? Art thou greater then our father Jacob which gave us the well, and he himself drank thereof, and his children, and his cattle?
Jesus answered and said unto her: whosoever drinketh of this water, shall thirst again. But whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him, shall never be more a thirst: but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. The woman said unto him: Sir give me of that water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus said unto her. Go and call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said to him: I have no husband. Jesus said to her: Thou hast well said, I have no husband. For thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband. That saidst thou truly.
The woman said unto him: Sir I perceive that thou art a Prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain: and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said unto her: woman believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the father. Ye worship ye *wot not what: we know what we worship. For salvation cometh of the Jewes. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit, and in truth. For verily such the father requireth to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him, in spirit and truth.
The woman said unto him: I *wot well Messias shall come, which is called Christ. When he is come, he will tell us all things: Jesus said unto her: I that speak unto thee am he. And even at that point came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman. Yet no man said unto him: what meanest thou, or why talkest thou with her? The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and said to the men. Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did. Is not he Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
And in the mean while his disciples prayed him saying: Master, eat. He said unto them: I have meat to eat, that ye know not of. Then said the disciples between themselves: hath any man brought him meat? Jesus said unto them: my meat is to do the will of him that sent me. And to finish his work. Say not ye: there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the regions: for they are white already unto harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth reward, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth might rejoice together. And herein is the saying true, that one soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor. Other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labors.
Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him, for the saying of the woman, which testified: he told me all things that ever I did. Then when the Samaritans were come unto him they besought him, that he would tarry with them. And he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own words, and said unto the woman: Now we believe not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is even indeed Christ the saviour of the world.
After two days he departed thence, and went away into Galile. And Jesus himself testified, that a Prophet hath none honour in his own country. Then as soon as he was come into Galile, the Galileans received him which had seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast. For they went also unto the feast day. And Jesus came again into Cana of Galile, where he turned water into wine.
And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capernaum. As soon as the same heard that Jesus was come out of Jewry into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him, that he would descend, and heal his son: For he was even ready to die. Then said Jesus unto him: except ye see signs and wonders, ye cannot believe. The ruler said unto him: Sir come away or ever that my child die. Jesus said unto him: Go thy way, thy son liveth. And the man believed the words that Jesus had spoken unto him, and went his way. And *anon as he went on his way, his servants met him, and told him saying: thy child liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him: Yesterday the seventh hour, the fever left him. And the father knew that it was the same hour in which Jesus said unto him: Thy son liveth. And he believed, and all his household. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, after he was come out of Jewry into Galilee*wot (know) *anon (shortly)
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Chpt 2
When the fiftieth day was come, they were all with one accord together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as it had been the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as they had been fire, and it sat upon each of them: and they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, even as the spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, which were of all nations under heaven. When this was noised about the multitude came together and were astonied, because that every man heard them speak his own tongue. They wondered all and marvelled saying among themselves: Behold, are not all these which speak, of Galile? And how hear we every man his own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jury, and of Capadocia, of Ponthus and Asia, Phrigia, Pamphylia, and of Egypt, and of the parts of Lybia which is beside Syrene, and strangers of Rome, Jewes and converts, Greeks and Arabians: we have heard them speak with our own tongues the great works of God.
They were all amazed, and wondered saying one to another what meaneth this? Other mocked them saying: they are full of new wine.
But Peter stepped forth with the eleven, and lift up his voice, and said unto them: Ye men of Jewry, and all ye that inhabit Jerusalem: be this known unto you and with your ears hear my words. These are not drunken, as ye suppose: for it is yet but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel: It shall be in the last days saith God: of my spirit I will pour out upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come. And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you with miracles, wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know: him have ye taken by the hands of unrighteous persons, after he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up and loosed the sorrows of death, because it was impossible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh of him. Afore hand I saw God always before me: For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt suffer thine holy, to see corruption. Thou hast showed me the ways of life, and shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David. For he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remaineth with us unto his day. Therefore seeing he was a Prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him, that the fruit of his loins should sit on his seat (in that Christ should rise again in the flesh) he saw before: and spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul should not be left in hell: neither his flesh should see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Since now that he by the right hand of God exalted is, and hath received of the father the promise of the holy Ghost, he hath shed forth that which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into heaven: but he said, The Lord said to my Lord sit on my right hand until I make thy foes thy foot stool. So therefore let all the house of Israel know for a surety, that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified, Lord and Christ.
When they heard this they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and unto the other Apostles: Ye men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter said unto them: repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. For the promise was made unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words bare he witness and exhorted them saying: Save yourselves from this *untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his preaching, were baptised: and the same day, there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. And fear came over every soul. And many wonders and signs were showed by the Apostles. And all that believed kept them selves together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and departed them to all men, as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and brake bread in every house, and did eat their meat together, with gladness and singleness of heart praising God, and had favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the congregation daily such as should be saved* untoward: unfavorable, contrary
ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS Chpt 14
Him that is weak in the faith, receive unto you, not in disputing and troubling his conscience. One believeth that he may eat all things. Another which is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth, despise him that eateth not. And let not him which eateth not, judge him that eateth. For God hath received him. What art thou that judgest another mans servant? Whether he stand or fall, that pertaineth unto his master: ye, he shall stand. For God is able to make him stand.
This man putteth difference between day and day. Another man counteth all days alike. See that no man waver in his own meaning. He that observeth one day more than another, doth it for the Lords pleasure. And he that observeth not one day more than another, doth it to please the lord also. He that eateth, doth it to please the lord, for he giveth God thanks. And he that eateth not, eateth not, to please the Lord with all, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth his own servant: neither doth any of us die his own servant. If we live, we live to be at the Lords will. And if we die we die at the Lords will. Whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords. For Christ therefore died and rose again, and revived that he might be Lord both of dead and quick.
But why dost thou then judge thy brother? Other why dost thou despise thy brother? We shall all be brought before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written: as truly as I live saith the Lord, all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall give a knowledge to God. So shall every one of us give accounts of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more.
But judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brothers way. For I know and am full certified in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing common of itself: but unto him that judgeth it to be common: to him it is common. If thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Cause not your treasure to be evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost. For whosoever in these things serveth Christ pleaseth well God, and is commended of men.
Let us follow those things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Destroy not the work of God for a little meats sake. All things are pure: but it is evil for that man, which eateth with hurt of his conscience. It is good neither to eat flesh, neither to drink wine, neither any thing, whereby thy brother stumbleth, either falleth, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it with thy self before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. For he that maketh conscience, is damned if he eat: because he doth it not of faith. For whatsoever is not of faith, that same is sinBe ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love even as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God. So that fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness be not once named among you as it becometh saints: neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jestings which are not *comely: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words. For through such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief. Be not therefore companions with them. Ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light. For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth. Accept that which is pleasing to the Lord: and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather rebuke them. For it is shame even to name those things which are done of them in secret: but all things, when they are rebuked of the light, are manifest. For whatsoever is manifest, that same is light. Wherefore he saith: awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from death, and Christ shall give thee light.
Take heed therefore that ye walk *circumspectly: not as fools: but as wise redeeming the time: for the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is, and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess: but be fulfilled with the spirit, speaking unto your selves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks all ways for all things unto God the father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Women submit your selves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the wifes head even as Christ is the head of the congregation, and the same is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the congregation is in subjection to Christ, likewise let the wives be in subjection to their husbands in all things. Husbands love your wives even as Christ loved the congregation, and gave himself for it, to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word, to make it unto himself, a glorious congregation without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blame. So ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh: but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord doth the congregation. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall continue with his wife, and two shall be made one flesh. This is a great secret, but I speak between Christ and the congregation. Nevertheless do ye so that every one of you love his wife truly even as himself. And let the wife see that she fear her husband*comely (worthy) *circumspectly (full of care in all things)
Rebuke not an elder: but exhort him as a father, and the younger men as brethren, the elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all pureness. Honour widows which are true widows. If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to rule their own houses godly, and to recompense their elders. For that is good and acceptable before God. She that is a very widow and friendless, putteth her trust in God, and continueth in supplication and prayer night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead even yet alive. And these things command, that they may be without fault, If there be any that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, the same denieth the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Let no widow be chosen under threescore(60) year old, and such a one as was the wife of one man, and well reported of in good works: if she have nourished children, if she have been liberal to strangers, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto all manner good works. The younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton, to the dishonour of Christ, then will they marry, having damnation, because they have broken their first faith. And also they learn to go from house to house idle: yee not idle only, but also trifling and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely.
I will therefore that the younger women marry and bear children, and guide the house, and give none occasion to the adversary to speak evil. For many of them are already turned back, and are gone after Satan. And if any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them minister unto them, and let not the congregation be charged: that ye may have sufficient for them that are widows indeed.
The elders that rule well, are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching. For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. And the laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive none accusation: but under two or three witnesses. Them that sin, rebuke openly, that other may fear.
I testify before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without hasty judgment, and do nothing partially. Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partaker of other mens sins: keep thyself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomachs sake and thine often diseases.
Some mens sins are open beforehand and go before unto judgement: some mens sins follow after. Likewise also good works are manifest before hand and they that are otherwise, cannot be hidTHE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 6
And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four beasts say, as it were the noise of thunder, come and see. And I saw. And behold there was a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering and for to overcome. And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say: come and see. And there went out another horse that was red, and power was given to him that sat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. And there was given unto him a great sword.
And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say: come and see. And I beheld, and lo, a black horse: and he that sat on him, had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say: a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny: and oil and wine see thou hurt not. And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say: come and see. And I looked. And behold a green horse, and his name that sat on him, was death, and hell followed after him, and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, that cometh of vermin of the earth.
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar, the souls of them that were killed for the word of God, and for the testimony which they had, and they cried with a loud voice saying: How long tarriest thou Lord holy and true, to judge and to avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And long white garments were given unto every one of them. And it was said unto them that they should rest for a little season until the number of their fellows, and brethren, and of them that should be killed as they were, were fulfilled.
And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal, and lo there was a great earthquake and the *sun was as black as sack cloth made of hair. And the moon waxed even as blood: and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a fig tree casteth from her, her figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And heaven vanished away, as a scroll when it is rolled together. And all mountains and isles, were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in dens, and in rocks of the hills: and said to the hills and rocks: fall on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sitteth on the seat, and from the wrath of the lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come, and who can endure it.*sun: this is sun, spelled originally sunne
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 14
And I looked, and lo a lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred and forty four thousand having his fathers name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps. And they sang as it were a new song, before the seat, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and forty four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from men being the first fruits unto God and to the lamb, and in their mouths was found no guile. For they are with out spot before the throne of God.
And I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven having an everlasting gospel, to preach unto them that sit and dwell on the earth, and to all nations, kindreds, and tongues and people, saying with a loud voice: Fear God and give honour to him, for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him, that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and fountains of water. And there followed another angel, saying: Babylon is fallen is fallen that great city, for she made all nations drink of the wine of her fornication.
And the third angel followed them saying with a loud voice: If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or on his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured in the cup of his wrath. And he shall be punished in fire and brimstone, before the holy angels, and before the lamb.
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up evermore. And they have no rest day nor night, which worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the print of his name. Heare is the patience of saints. Heare are they that keep the commandments and the faith of *Jesu.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me: write: Blessed are the dead, which here after die in the Lord, even so saith the spirit: that they may rest from their labors, but their works shall follow them. And I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sitting like unto the son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another Angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle and reap for the time is come to reap, for the corn of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
And another Angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, having also a sharp sickle. And another Angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, and said: thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the earth, for her grapes are ripe. And the Angel thrust in his sickle on the earth: and cut down the grapes of the vineyard of the earth: and cast them into the great *winefat of the wrath of God, and the winefat was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the *fat, even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongsJesu: Hebrew for Jesus *winefat, *fat; exact spelling, fat can mean from the best part of something or worse; in this case the best ( perfect ) of God’s wrath
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 16
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven Angels: go your ways, pour out your vials of wrath upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a noisome and a sore botch upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. And the second Angel shed out his vial upon the sea, and it turned as it were into the blood of a dead man: and every living thing died in the sea. And the third Angel shed out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters, and they turned to blood. And I heard an Angel say: Lord which art and wast, thou art righteous and holy, because thou hast given such judgements for they shed out the blood of saints, and Prophets, and therefore hast thou given them blood to drink: for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say: even so Lord God almighty true and righteous are thy judgements.
And the fourth Angel poured out his vial on the sun, and power was given unto him to vex men with heat of fire. And the men raged in great heat, and spake evil of the name of God which hath power over those plagues, and they repented not, to give him glory. And the fifth Angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom waxed dark, and they gnawed their tongues for sorrow, and blasphemed the God of heaven for sorrow and pain of their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
And the sixth Angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water dried up that the ways of the kings of the east should be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false Prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, to go out unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God almighty. Behold I come as a thief. Happy is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he be found naked, and men see his filthiness. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armagedon.
And the seventh Angel poured out his vial into the air. And there came a voice out of heaven from the seat, saying: it is done. And there followed voices thunderings, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, And the cities of nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Every isle fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell a great hail, as it had been talents, out of heaven upon the men, and the men blasphemed God: because of the plague of the hail, for it was great and the plague of it soreTHE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 17
And there came one of the seven Angels, which had the seven vials: and talked with me, saying unto me: come I will show thee the judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters, with whom have committed fornication the kings of the earth, so that the inhabiters of the earth, are drunken with the wine of her fornication. And he carried me away into the wilderness in the spirit. And I saw a woman sit upon a rose colored beast full of names of blasphemy which had ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and rose colour and decked with gold, precious stone, and pearls, and had a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. And in her forehead was a name written, a mystery, great Babylon the mother of whoredom and abominations of the earth. And I saw the wife drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of *Jesu. And when I saw her: I wondered with great marvel.
And the Angel said unto me: wherefore marvellest thou? I will show thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that beareth her, which hath seven heads, and ten horns. The beast that thou seest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and shall go into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder (whose names are not written in the book of life from the beginning of the world) when they behold the beast that was and is not. And here is a mind that hath wisdom.
The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: they are also seven kings. Five are fallen, and one is, and another is not yet come. When he cometh he must continue a space. And the beast that was, and is not, is even the eighth, and is one of the seven, and shall go into destruction. And the ten horns which thou seest, are ten kings, which have received no kingdom, but shall receive power as kings at one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall fight with the lamb, and the lamb shall overcome them: For he is Lord of lords, and king of kings and they that are on his side, are called, and chosen and faithful.
And he said unto me: the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are people, and folk, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns, which thou sawest upon the beast, are they that shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts, to fulfil his will, and to do with one consent, for to give her kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest, is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth*Jesu: Hebrew for Jesus.
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 18
And after that, I saw another Angel come from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his brightness. And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying: Great Babylon is fallen, is fallen: and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of all foul spirits, and a cage of all unclean and hateful birds for all nations have drunken of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and her merchants are waxed rich of the abundance of her pleasures.
And I heard another voice from heaven, say: come away from her my people, that ye be not partakers in her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins are gone up to heaven, and God hath remembered her wickedness. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and give her double according to her works. And pour in double to her in the same cup which she filled unto you. And as much as she glorified herself and lived wantonly so much pour ye in for her of punishment and sorrow, for she said in her heart: I sit being a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come at one day, death, and sorrow, and hunger, and she shall be burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God which judgeth her.
And the kings of the earth shall beweep her and wail over her, which have committed fornication with her, and have lived wantonly with her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, and shall stand afar off, for fear of her punishment, saying . Alas, Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city: for at one hour is her judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and wail in themselves, for no man will buy their ware any more, the ware of gold and silver, and precious stones, neither of pearl, and raynes and purple, and scarlet, and all thine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass and of iron, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.
And the apples that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee. And all things which were dainty, and had in price are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more. The merchants of these things which were waxed rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of the punishment of her, weeping and wailing, and saying: Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in raynes, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearls: for at one hour so great riches is come to nought.
And every ship governor, and all they that occupied ships, and shipmen which work in the sea, stood afar off, and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying: what city is like unto this great city? And they cast dust on their heads, and cried weeping, and wailing, and said: Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by the reason of her costliness, for at one hour is she made desolate.
Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holy Apostles and Prophets: for God hath given your judgement on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: with such violence shall that great city Babylon be cast, and shall be found no more. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more in thee: and no crafts man, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee. And the sound of a mill shall be heard no more in thee, and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride, shall be heard no more in thee, for thy merchants were the great men of the earth. And with thine enchantment were deceived all nations: and in her was found the blood of the Prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth
Back to Dreams & Visions Page