¶ Because that when thou goest to study in holy scripture, thou shouldest do it with reverence, therefore for thy instruction & loving admonition thereto, the Reverend father in god, Nicolas, bishop of Salisbury hath prescribed the this prayer following, taken out of the same. O Lord God almighty which long ago saidest by the mouth of james thine Apostle: jacob. ●. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask it of God which giveth it plenteously to all men, and casts no man in the teeth, and it shallbe given him. Hear my petition for this thy promise sake. Let my prayer ascend luckily in to thy sight like incense. Psal. 140. Psal. 129. Sa●. 9 Let thy● ear be attended unto my deep desire. give me wisdom which is eue● assistant about thy seat. And put me not out from among 〈…〉, for I am thy servant and the son of thy handmaid▪ 〈…〉 her (I mean thy godly wisdom) out of thine holy heavens, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight O learn me goodness, Psal. 118. nurture, and knowledge, for I believe thy commandments. Thou art good and gracious, instruct me in thine ordinances. Let mine hearty beseeching ascend in to thy presence. give me understanding according to thy word. O give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law, Ye I shall keep it with all mine heart. Psa●. 24. Show me thy ways oh Lord, & teach me thy patthes. Lead me in to thy truth and learn me, for thou art the God of my health. And on the do I depend always. Psal. 26. Hear now my voice O Lord with which I have cried unto the. Have mercy upon me, and graciously hear me for jesus Christ's sake our Lord, which liveth and reigneth with the his father & the holy ghost world without end. Amen. ¶ After the end of any Chapter (if thou wilt) thou mayest say these verses following. Psal. 118. Lead me (oh Lord) in thy way, and let me walk in thy truth. O let mine heart delight in fearing thy name. Ordre my goings after thy word, that no wickedness reign in me. Keep my steps within thy patthes, jest my feet turn in to any contrary way. Unto the most victorious Prince and our most gracious sovereign Lord, king Henry the king of england and of France, lord of ireland. &c. defender of the Faith, and under God the chief and suppreme head of the Church of england. ¶ The right & just administration of the laws that God gave unto Moses and unto josua: the testimony of faithfulness that God gave of David: the plenteous abundance of wisdom that God gave unto Solomon: the lucky and prosperous age with the multiplication of seed which God gave unto Abraham and Sara his wife, be given unto you most gracious Prince, with your dearest just wife, and most virtuous princess, Queen Anne, Amen. CAiphas being bishop of that year, like a blind prophet (not understanding what he said) prophesied, that it was better to put Christ unto death, then that all the people should perish: Io. 11. c he meaning, that Christ was an heretic, a deceiver of the people, & a destroyer of the law, and that it was better therefore to put Christ unto death, than to suffer him for to live, and to deceive the people. &c. where in very deed Christ was the true prophet, the true Messiah, and the only true Saviour of the world, sent of his heavenly father to suffer the most cruel, most shameful, and most necessary death for our redemption: according to the meaning of the prophecy truly understand. Even after the same manner the blind bishop of Rome, (that blind Baalam I say) not understanding what he did, gave unto your grace this title: defender of the faith, only because your highness suffered your bishops to burn God's word the rote of faith, and to persecute the lovers and ministers of the same. where in very deed the blind bishop (though he knew not what he did) prophesied, that by the righteous administration and continual diligence of your grace, the faith should so be defended, that God's word the mother of Faith with the fruits thereof, should have his free course thorough out all Christendom, but specially in your realm. If your highness now of your princely benignity will pardon me to compare these two bishops (I mean bishop Caiphas and the bishop of Rome) & their prophecies together, I doubt not but we shall find them agreed like brethren, though the one be a jew and the other a counterfayre Christian. first, Caiphas prophesied that it was better to put Christ unto death, then that the people should perish. The bishop of Rome also, not knowing what he prophesied, gave your grace this title: defender of the faith. The truth of both these prophecies is of the holy ghost (as was Baalams' prophecy) though they that spoke then, knew not what they said. The truth of Caiphas prophecy is, that it was necessary for man's salvation, that Christ by his death should overcome death, and redeem us. And the truth of our Baalams' prophecy is, Nume. 24. c. that your grace in very deed should defend the Faith, Ye even the true faith of Christ, no dreams, no fables, no heresy, no papistical inventions, but the uncorrupt faith of Gods most holy word, which to set forth (praised be the goodness of God, and increase your gracious purpose) your highness with your most honourable council, applieth all his study and endeavour. These two blind bysshopes now agreed in the understanding of their prophecies: for Caiphas taketh Christ for an heretic, Our Balaam taketh the word of Christ for heresy. Caiphas judgeth it to be a good deed to put Christ unto death, that he should not deceive the people. Our Balaam calleth defending of the faith, the suppressing, keeping secret, and burning of the word of faith: jest the light thereof should utter his darkness: jest his own Decretales & Decrees, his own laws and constitutions, his own statutes and inventions should come to none effect: jest his intolerable exactions and usurpations should loose their strength: jest it should be known what a thief and murderer he is in the cause of Christ, and how heinous a traitor to God and man in defrauding all Christian kings & princes of their due obedience: jest we your grace's subjects should have eyes in the word of God, at the last to spy out his crafty conveyance and iuglynges: and jest men should see, how sore he and his false Apostles have deceived all Christendom, specially your noble realm of england. Thus your grace saith how brotherly the jewish bishop and our Balaam agreed together, not only in mitre and outward appearance: but as the one persecuted the Lord jesus in his own person, so doth the other persecute his word and resisteth his holy ordinance in the authority of his anointed kings. For so moche now as the word of God is the only truth that driveth away all lies, and discloseth all juggling and deceit, therefore is our Balaam of Rome so loath that the scripture should be known in the mother tongue: jest if kings and princes (specially above all other) were exercised therein, they should reclaim and challenge again their due authority, which he falsely hath usurped so many years, and so 〈◊〉 tie him shorter: and jest the people being taught by the word of God, should fall from the false feigned obedience of him and his disguised Apostles, unto the true obedience commanded by Gods own mouth: as namely, to obey their prince, to obey father and mother. etc. and not to step over father and mothers belly to enter in to his painted religions, as his hypocrites teach: For he knoweth well enough, that if the clear Son of God's word come one's to the heat of the day, it shall drive away all the foul mist of his devilish doctrines. Therefore were it more to the maintenance of Antichrist's kingdom, that the world were still in ignorance and blindness, and that the scripture should never come to light. For the scripture (both in the old testament and in the new) declareth most aboū●dauntly that the office, authority and power given of God unto kings/ is in earth above all other powers: let them call themselves Popes, Cardynalles, or what so ever they will, Ro. 13 a the word of god declareth them (ye and commandeth them under pain of damnation) to be obedient unto the temporal sword: As in the old Testament all the Prophets, Math. 17. d, Tit. 3. a Exod. 22. d. Psal. 81. a. priests and Levites were. And in the new Testament Christ & his Apostles both were obedient themselves, and taught obedience of all men unto their princes and temporal rulers: which here unto us in the world present the person of God, and are called Gods in the scripture, because of the excellency of their office. And though there were no more authorities but the same, to prove the peminence of the temporal sword, Yet by this the scripture declareth plainly, that as there is nothing above God, so is there no man above the king in his realm but that he only under God is the chief head of all the congregation and church of the same. And in token that this is true, there hath been of old antiquity (and is yet unto this day) a loving ceremony used in your realm of england, that when your grace's subjects read your letters, or begin to talk or comen of your highness, they move their bonettes for a sign & token of reverence unto your grace, as to their most sovereign lord & head under God. which thing no man useth to do to any bishop. whereby (if our understanding were nat blinded) we might evidently perceive, that even very nature teacheth us the same, that scripture commandeth us: and that like as it is against God's word that a king should not be the chief head of his people, even so (I say) is it against kind that we should know any other head above him under God. And that no priest nor bishop is exempt (nor can be lawfully) from the obedience of his prince, the scripture is full both of straight commandments, & practices of the holiest men. ✚ Aaron was obedient unto Moses, and called him his lord, Nume. 12. b jos. 4 c 3 Reg. 1. c. 3. Reg. 18. b. levit. 18. b. Math. 14. a. though he was his own brother. Eleasar and Phin●as were under the obedience of josua. ✚ Nathan the prophet fallen down to the ground before king David, he had his Prince in such reverence (He made not the king for to kiss his foot as the bishop of Rome maketh Emperors to do) notwithstanding he spared not to rebuke him, and that right sharply when he fallen from the word of God to adultery and manslaughter. For he was not afraid to reprove him of his sins, no more than Helyas the prophet stood in fear to say unto king Achab: ✚ It is thou and thy father's house that trouble Israel, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and walk after Baal. And as johan baptist dared say unto King Herode: It is not lawful for the to take thy brother's wife. But to my purpose I pass over innumerable mother ensamples both of the old Testament and of the new, for fear jest I be to tedious unto your grace. Summa, in all godly regiments of old time the king and temporal judge was obeyed of every man, and was alway under God the chief and suppreme head of the whole congregation, and deposed even priests when he saw an urgent cause, as Solomon did unto Abiathar. 3. Reg. 2. d. who could than stand against the godly obedience of his prince (except he would be at defiance with God and all his holy ordinances) that were well acquainted with the holy scripture, which so earnestly commendeth unto every one of us the authority and power given of God unto kings and temporal rulers? Exod. 22. d. jerem. 29. b. Bar. 2 c Math. 17. d, Therefore doth Moses so strately forbid the Israelites to speak so moche as an evil word against the prince of the people, moche less than to disobey him, or to withstand him. Doth not jeremy the prophet and Baruc also exhort the people in captivity, to pray for the prosperous welfare of the king of Babylon, and to obey him, though he was an infidel? In the new Testament when our saviour Christ (being yet free & Lord of all kings & princes) showed his obedience in paying the tribute to our ensample, ✚ did he not a miracle there in putting the piece of money in the fishes mouth (that Peter might pay the customer therewith) and all to stablish the obedience due unto princes? ✚ Did not joseph and Mary the mother of our saviour Christ depart from Nazareth unto Bethleem, so far from home, to show their obedience in paying the tax to the prince? Lu. 2. a And would not our saviour be born in the same obedience? Ro. 13 a ✚ Doth not Paul pronounce him to resist God himself, that resisteth the authority of his prince? And (to be short) the Apostle Peter doth not only stablish the obedience unto princes and temporal rulers but affirmeth plainly the king (and no bishop) to be the chief head. Innumerable places more are there in scripture, 1. Petr. 2. b. which bind us to the obedience of our prince, and declare unto us, that no man is nor can be lawfully except from the same: but that all the ministers of God's word are under the temporal sword: & Princes only to own obedience unto God & his word. And where as Anthichrist unto your grace's time did thrust his head into the imperial crown of your highness (as he doth yet with other noble princes more) that learned he of Satan the author of pride, and therein doth he both against the doctrine & also against the ensample of Christ: which because his kingdom was not of this world, meddled with no temporal matters, as it is evident both by his words and practise: Luc. twelve. Math. xxvi. joh. vi. joh. xviii. where he that hath eyes to see, may see: & he that hath ears to hear, may hear, that Christ's administration was nothing temporal, but plain spiritual, as he himself affirmeth & proveth in the fourth chapter of saint Luke out of the prophet Esay: where all bishops and priests may see, how far their binding and lousing extendeth, and where in their office consists, namely in preaching the Gospel. &c. wherefore (most gracious prince) there is no tongue I think, that can fully express and declare the untolerable injuries, which have been done unto God, to all princes and to the comynalties of all christian realms, sense they which should be only the ministers of God's word, become lords of the world, and thrust the true and just princes out of their rooms. whose heart would not pity it (ye even with lamentation) to remember but only the untolerable wrong done by that Antychrist of Rome unto your grace's most noble predecessor king Iohn? I pass over his pestilent piking of Peter pens out of your realm: his stealing away of your money for pardons: benefices and bysshoprykes: his disceaving of your subjects souls with his devilish doctrines and sects of his false religions: his bloodshedding of so many of your grace's people, for books of the scripture▪ whose heart would not be grieved (ye and that out of measure) to call to remembrance, how obstinate and disobedient, how presumptuous & stubborn that Antychrist made the bishops of your realm against your graces noble predecessors in times past, as it is manifest in the Chronicles? I trust verily there be no such now within your realm▪ If there be, let them remember these words of scripture: presumptuousness goeth before destruction, Prove. 16▪ ● & after a proud stomach there followeth a fall. what is now the cause of all these untolerable and no more to be suffered abominations? Truly even the ignorance of the scripture of God. For how had it else been possible, that such blindness should have come in to the world, had not the light of God's word bene extinct? How could men (I say) have been so far from the true service of God, and from the due obedience of their prince, had not the law of God been clean shut up, depressed, cast aside, and put out of remembrance? As it was afore the time of that noble king josias, and as it hath been also among us unto your grace's time: by whose most righteous administration (thorough the merciful goodness of God) it is now found again, 4. Re. 22. b. 2. Par. 24. c. ✚ as it was in the days of that most virtuous king josias. And praised be the father, the son, and the holy ghost world without end, which so excellently hath endued your Princely heart with such ferventness to his honour, and to the wealth of your loving subjects, that I may ryghtuously (by just occasions in your person) compare your highness unto that noble and gracious king, that lantern of light among princes, that fervent protector and defender of the laws of God: which commanded straightly (as your grace doth) that the law of God should be red and taught unto all the people: set the priests to their office in the word of god: destroyed Idolatry and false idols: put down all evil customs and abusyons: set up the true honour of God: applied all his study and endeavour to the righteous administration of the most uncorrupt law of God. &c. O what felicity was among the people of jerusalem in his days? And what prosperous health both of soul & body followeth the like ministration in your highness, we begin now (praised be God) to have experience. jerem. 44. d Foras false doctrine is the origenall cause of all evil plagues and destruction, so is the true executing of the law of God and the preaching of the same, the mother of all godly prosperity. The only word of god (I say) is the cause of all felicity, Sapie. 7. b. it bringeth all goodness with it, it bringeth learning, it gendereth understanding, it causeth good works, it maketh children of obedience, briefly, it teacheth all estates their office and duty. saying then that the scripture of God teacheth us every thing sufficiently, both what we ought to do, and what we ought to leave undone: whom we are bound to obey, and whom we should not obey: therefore (I say) it causeth all prosperity, and setteth every thing in frame: and where it is taught and known, it lyghteneth all darknesses, comforteth all sorry hearts, leaveth no poor man unhelped, suffereth nothing amiss unamended, letteth no prince be disobeyed, permytteth no heresy to be preached: but refourmeth all things, amendeth that is amiss, and setteth every thing in order. And why? because it is given by the inspiration of God, therefore is it ever bringing profit and fruit, by teaching, by improving, by amending and reforming all them that will receive it, 2. Tim. 3. b. to make them perfect & meet unto all good works. Considering now (most gracious prince) the inestimable treasure, fruit & prosperity everlasting, that God giveth with his word, and trusting in his infinite goodness that he would bring my simple and rude labour herein to good effect, therefore as the holy ghost moved other men to do the cost hereof, so was I boldened in God, to labour in the same. Again, considering your Imperial majesty not only to be my natural sovereign liege Lord & chief head of the church of England, but also the true defender and maintainer of God's laws, I thought it my duty and to belong unto my allegiance, when I had translated this Bible, not only to dedicated this translation unto your highness, but wholly to commit it unto the same: to the intent that if any thing therein be translated amiss (for in many things we fail, even when we think so be sure) it may stand in your grace's hands, to correct it, to amend it, to improve it, ye & clean to reject it, if your godly wisdom shall think it necessary. And as I do with all humbleness submit mine understanding and my poor translation unto the spirit of truth in your grace, so make I this protestation (having God to record in my conscience) that I have neither wrested nor altered so much as one word for the maintenance of any manner of sect: but have with a clear conscience purely & faithfully translated this out of five sundry interpreters, having only the manifest truth of the scripture before mine eyes: Trusting in the goodness of God, that it shallbe unto his worship: quietness and tranquillity unto your highness: a perfect stablyshment of all God's ordinances within your grace's dominion: a general comfort to all Christian hearts, and a continual thankfulness both of old and young unto god, and to your grace, for being our Moses, and for bringing us out of this old egypt from the cruel hands of our spiritual Pharaoh For where were the jews (by ten thousand parts) so much bound unto King David, for subduing of great Goliath and all their enemies, 1. Reg. 17. g. as we are to your grace, for delivering us out of our old Babylonycall captivity? For that which deliverance and victory I beseek our only mediator jesus Christ, to make such means for us unto his heavenly father, that we never be unthankful unto him ner unto your grace: but that we ever increase in the fear of him, in obedience unto your highness, in love unfeigned unto our neighbours: and in all virtue that cometh of God. To whom for the defending of his blessed word (by your graces most rightful administration) be honour and thanks, glory and dominion, world without end, Amen. your graces humble subject and daily orator, Miles Coverdale. A prologue. Miles Coverdale Unto the Christian reader. Considering how excellent knowledge and learning an interpreter of scripture ought to have in the tongues, and pondering also mine own insufficiency therein, & how weak I am to perform the office of a translator, I was the more loath to meddle with this work notwithstanding when I considered how great pity it was that we should want it so long, & called to my remembrance the adversity of them, which were not only of ripe knowledge, but would also with all their hearts have performed that they began, if they had not had impediment: considering (I say) that by reason of their adversity it could not so soon have been brought to an end, as our most prosperous nation would fain have had it: these and other reasonable causes considered, I was the more bold to take it in hand. And to help me herein, I have had sundry translations, not only in latin, but also of the Dutch interpreters: whom (because of their singular gifts & special diligence in the Bible) I have been the more glad to follow for the most part, according as I was required. But to say the truth before God, it was neither my labour ner desire, to have this work put in my hand: nevertheless it grieved me the other nations should be more plenteously provided for with the scripture in their mother tongue, than we: therefore when I was instantly required, though I could not do so well as I would, I thought it yet my duty to do my best, and that with a good will. Where as some men think now that many translations make division in the faith and in the people of God, that is not so: for it was never better with the congregation of god, then when every church almost had the Bible of a sundry translation. Among the Greeks had not Origen a special translation? Had not Vulgarius one peculiar, & likewise Chrysostom? Beside the seventy interpreters, is there not the translation of Aquila, of Theodotio, of Symachus, and of sundry other? Again among the latin men, thou findest that every one almost used a special & sundry translation: for in so much as every bishop had the knowledge of the tongues, he gave his diligence to have the Bible of his own translation. The doctors, as Hireneus, Cyprianus, Tertullian, S. Iherome, S. Augustine, Hylarius & S. Ambrose upon diverse places of the scripture, read not the text all alike. Therefore ought it not to be taken as evil, that such men as have understanding now in our time, exercise themselves in the tongues, & give their diligence to translate out of one language in to another. Ye we aught rather to give god high thanks therefore, which thorough his spirit steereth up men's minds, so to exercise them selves therein. would god it had never been left of after the time of S. Augustine, then should we never have come in to such blindness & ignorance, in to such errors & delusyons. For as soon as the Bible was cast aside, & no more put in exercise, than began every one of his own head to write what so ever came in to his brain and that seemed to be good in his own eyes: and so grew the darkness of men's traditions And this same is the cause that we have had so many writers, which seldom made mention of the scripture of the Bible: & though they some time aleged it, yet was it done so far out of season & so wide from the purpose, that a man may well perceive, how that they never saw the original. saying then that this diligent exercise of translating doth so much good & edifyeth in other languages, why should it do evil in ours? Doubtless like as all nations in the diversity of speeches may know one God in the unity of faith, and be one in love: even so may diverse translations understand one another, & that in the head articles & ground of our most blessed faith, though they use sundry words. wherefore me think we have great occasion to give thanks unto God, that he hath opened unto his church the gift of interpretation & of printing, and that there are now at this time so many▪ which with such diligence and faithfulness interpret the scripture to the honour of god and edifying of his people, where as (like as when many are shuting together) every one doth his best to be nighest the mark. And though they can not all attain thereto, yet shuteth one nigher than another, and hytteth it better than another, ye one can do it better than another. who is now then so unreasonable, so despiteful, or envious, as to abhor him that doth all his diligence to hit the prick, and to shoot nighest it, though he miss & come not nighest the mark? Aught not such one rather to be commended, and to be helped forward, that he may exercise himself the more therein? For the which cause (according as I was desired) I took the more upon me to set forth this special translation, not as a chequer, not as a reprover, or despiser of other men's translations (for among many as yet I have found none without occasion of great thanksgiving unto god) but lowly & faithfully have I followed mine interpreters, & that under correction. And though I have failed any where (as there is noman but he mysseth in some thing) love shall constyrre all to the best without any perverse judgement. There is noman living that 'cause all things, neither hath god given any man to know every thing. One saith more clearly than another, one hath more understanding then another, one can utter a thing better than another, but noman aught to envy, or despise another. He that can do better than another, should not set him at nought that understandeth less: Ye he that hath the more understanding, aught to remember that the same gift is not his but Gods, and that God hath given it him to teach & inform the ignorant. If thou hast knowledge therefore to judge where any fault is made, I doubt not but thou will't help to amend it, if love be joined with thy knowledge. Howbeit wherein so ever I can perceive by myself, or by the information of other, that I have failed (as it is no wonder) I shall now by the help of God overlook it better & amend it. Now will I exhort thee (who so ever thou be the readest scripture) if thou find ought therein that thou understandest not, or that appeareth to be repugnant, give no temerarious ner haystye judgement thereof: but ascribe it to thine own ignorance, not to the scripture, think that thou understandest it not, or that it hath some other meaning, or that it is happily overseen of the interpreters, or wrong printed. Again, it shall greatly help that to understand scripture, if thou mark not only what is spoken or written, but of whom, & unto whom, with what words, at what time where, to what intent, with what circumstance, considering what goeth before, and what followeth after. For there be some things which are done & written, to the intent that we should do likewise: as when Abraham believeth God, is obedient unto his word, & defendeth Loath his kinsman from violent wrong. There be some things also which are written, to the intent that we should eschew such like. As when David lieth with Urias' wife, & causeth him to be slain. Therefore (I say) when thou readest scripture, be wise & circumspect: & when thou comest to such strange manners of speaking & dark sentences, to such parables & similitudes, to such dreams or vysions as are hid from thy understanding, commit them unto God or to the gift of his holy spirit in them that are better learned than thou. As for the commendation of God's holy scripture, I would fain magnify it as it is worthy, but I am far unsufficient thereto. & therefore I thought it better for me to hold my tongue, then with few words to praise or commend it: exhorting thee (most dear reader) so to love it, so to cleave unto it, & so to follow it in thy daily conversation, that other men saying thy good works & the fruits of the holy ghost in thee, may praise the father of heaven, & give his word a good report: for to live after the law of God, & to lead a virtuous conversation, is the greatest praise that thou canst give ●nto his doctrine. But as touching the evil report and dispraise that the good word of God hath by the corrupt and evil conversation of some, that daily hear it and profess it outwardly with their mouths, I exhort thee (most dear reader) let not that offend the ner withdraw thy mind from the love of the truth, neither move the to be partaker in like unthankfulness: but saying the light is come in to the world, love no more the works of darkness, receive not the grace of god in vain. Call to thy remembrance how loving & merciful God is unto thee, how kindly and fatherly he helpeth the in al● trouble, teacheth thine ignorance, heals the in all thy sickness, forgiveth the all thy sins, feedeth thee, giveth the drink, helpeth the out of preson, norysheth the in strange countries, careth for thee, & seyeth that thou want nothing. Call this to mind (I say) & that earnestly, and consider how thou hast received of god all these benefits (ye and many more than thou canst desire) how thou art bound likewise to show thyself unto thy neighbour as far as thou canst, to teach him if he be ignorant, to help him in all his trouble, to heal his sickness, to forgive him his offences, and that heartily, to feed him, to cherish him, to care for him, and to see that he want nothyng· And on this behalf I beseek thee (thou that haste the riches of this world, and lovest God with thy heart) to lift up thine eyes, and see how great a multitude of poor people run thorough every town: have pity on thine own flesh, help them with a good heart, and do with thy council all that ever thou canst, that this unshamefast begging may be put down, that these idle folks may be set to labour, & that such as are not able to get their living, may be provided for. At the least thou that art of council with such as are in authority, give them some occasion to cast their heads together, and to make provision for the poor. Put the in remembrance of those noble cities in other countries, that by the authority of their princes have so richly and well provided for their poor people, to the great shame & deshonestye of us, if we likewise receiving the word of God, show not such like fruits thereof. would God that those men (whose office is to maintain the common wealth) were as diligent in this cause as they are in other. Let us beware by times, for after unthankfulness there followeth ever a plague: the merciful hand of God be with us, & defend us that we be not partakers thereof. Go to now (most dear reader) & sit the down at the lords feet and read his words, & (as Moses teacheth the jews) take them in to their heart, & let thy talking & communication be of them when thou sittest in thine house, Deute. 6. a. or goest by the way, when thou liest down, & when thou riseth up. And above all things fashion thy life, & conversation according to the doctrine of the holy ghost therein, that thou mayest be partaker of the good promises of god in the Bible, & be heir of his blessing in Christ. In whom if thou put thy trust, & be an unfeigned reader or hearer of his word with thy heart, thou shalt find sweetness therein, & spy wondrous things, to thy understanding, to the avoiding of all seditious sects, to the abhorring of thy old sinful life, & to the stablishing of thy godly conversation. In the first book of Moses (called Genesis) thou mayest learn to know the almighty power of god in creating all of nought, his infinite wisdom in ordering the same, his righteousness in punishing the ungodly, his love & fatherly mercy in comforting the righteous with his promise. &c. In the second book (called Exodus) we see the mighty arm of god, in delivering his people from so great bondage out of egypt, and what provision he maketh for them in the wilderness, how he teacheth them with his wholesome word and how the Tabernacle was made and set up. In the third book (called Leviticus) is declared what sacrifices the priests & Levites used, and what their office & ministration was. In the fourth book (called Numerus) is declared how the people are numbered and mustered, how the captains are choose after the tribes & kindred's, how they went forth to the battle, how they pitched their tents, & how they broke up. The fifth book (called Deuteronomium) showeth how that Moses now being old, rehearseth the law of god unto the people, putteth them in remembrance again of all the wonders & benefices that god had showed for them, and exhorteth them earnestly to love the Lord their god, to cleave unto him, to put their trust in him and to hearken unto his voice. After the death of Moses doth joshua bring the people in to the land of promise where God doth wondrous things for his people by joshua, which distributeth the land unto them, unto every tribe their possession. But in their wealth they forgot the goodness of God, so that often times he gave them over in to the hand of their enemies. Nevertheless when so ever they called faithfully upon him, and converted, he delivered them again, as the book of judges declareth. In the books of the kings, is describe the regiment of good and evil princes, and how the decay of all nations cometh by evil kings. For in Jeroboam thou sayst what mischief, what idolatry & such like abomination followeth, when the king is a maintainer of false doctrine, and causeth the people to sin against God, which falling away from god's word, increased so sore among them, that it was the cause of all their sorrow and misery, & the very occasion why Israel first and then juda, were carried away in to captivity. Again, in josaphat, in Ezechias and in josias thou sayst the nature of a virtuous king. 2. Par. 17. b. He putteth down the houses of idolatry, saith that his priests teach nothing but the law of God, commandeth his lords to go with them, and to see that they teach the people. In these kings (I say) thou sayst the condition of a true defender of the faith, for he spareth neither cost ner labour, to maintain the laws of God, to seek the wealth & prosperity of his people, and to rote out the wicked. And where such a prince is, thou sayst again, how God defendeth him and his people, though he have never so many enemies. Thus went it with them in the old time, and even after the same manner goeth it now with us: God be praised therefore, and grant us of his fatherly mercy, that we be not unthankful: jest where he now giveth us a josaphat, an Ezechias, ye a very josias, he send us a Pharaoh, a Jeroboam, or an Achab. In the two first books of E●dras & in Hester thou sayst the deliverance of the people, which though they were but few, yet is it unto us all a special comfort, for so much as God is not forgetful of his promise, but bringeth them out of captivity, according as he had told them before. In the book of job we learn comfort and patience, in that God not only punysheth the wicked, but proveth & trieth the just and righteous (howbeit there is noman innocent in his sight) by diverse troubles in this life, declaring thereby, that they are not his bastards, but his dear sons, and that he loveth them. In the Psalms we learn how to resort only unto God in all our troubles, to seek help at him, to call only upon him, to satle our minds by patience, & how we aught in prosperity to be thankful unto him, The proverbs and the Preacher of Solomon teach us wisdom, to know God, our own selves, and the world, and how vain all things are, save only to cleave unto God. As for the doctrine of the Prophets, what is it else, but an earnest exhortation to eschew sin, & to turn unto God? a faithful promise of the mercy and pardon of God, unto all them that turn unto him, and a threatening of his wrath to the ungodly? saving that here and there they prophecy also manifestly of Christ, of the expulsion of the jews, and calling of the Heythen. Thus much thought I to speak of the old Testament, wherein almighty God openeth unto us his mighty power, his wisdom, his loving mercy & righteousness: for the which cause it ought of no man to be abhorred, despised, or lightly regarded, as though it were an old scripture that nothing belonged unto us, or that now were to be refused. For it is Gods true scripture & testimony, which the Lord jesus commandeth the jews to search. who so ever believeth not the scripture, Io. 5. d believeth not Christ, and who so refuseth it, refuseth God also. The New Testament or Gospel, is a manifest and clear testimony of Christ how God performeth his oath and promise made in the old Testament, how the New is declared and included in the Old, and the Old fulfilled and verified in the New. Now where as the most famous interpreters of all give sundry judgements of the text (so far as it is done by the spirit of knowledge in the holy ghost) me think noman should be offended there at, for they refer their doings in meekness to the spirit of truth in the congregation of god: & sure I am, that there cometh more knowledge and understanding of the scripture by their sundry translations, then by all the gloss of our sophistical doctors. For that one interpreteth something obscurely in one place, the same translateth another (or else he himself) more manifestly by a more plain vocable of the same meaning in another place. Be not thou offended therefore (good Reader) though one call a scribe, that another calleth a lawyer: or elders, that another calleth father & mother: or repentance, that another calleth penance or amendment. For if thou be not deceived by men's traditions, thou shalt find no more diversity between these terms then between four pens and a groat. And this manner have I used in my translation, calling it in some place penance, that in another place I call repentance, and that not only because the interpreters have done so before me, but that the adversaries of the truth may see, how that we abhor not this word penance (as they untruly report of us) no more than the interpreters of latin abhor penitere, when they read resipiscere. Only our hearts desire unto God, is, that his people be not blinded in their understanding, jest they believe penance to be aught save a very repentance, amendment, or conversion unto God, and to be an unfeigned new creature in Christ, and to live according to his law. For else shall they fall in to the old blasphemy of Christ's blood, and believe, that they themselves are able to make satisfaction unto God for their own sins, from the which error god of his mercy and plenteous goodness preserve all his. Now to conclude: for so much as all the scripture is written for thy doctrine & ensample, it shallbe necessary for thee, to take hold upon it, while it is offered thee, ye and with ten hands thankfully to receive it. And though it be not worthily ministered unto the in this translation (by reason of my rudeness) Yet if thou be fervent in thy prayer, God shall not only send it the in a better shape, by the ministration of other that began it afore, but shall also move the hearts of them, which as yet meddled not withal, to take it in hand, and to bestow the gift of their understanding thereon, as well in our language as other famous interpreters do in other languages. And I pray God, that thorough my poor ministration here in, I may give them that can do better, some occasion so to do: exhorting thee (most dear reader) in the mean while on God's behalf, if thou be a head, a judge, or ruler of the people, that thou let not the book of this law depart out of thy mouth, but exercise thyself therein both day and night, jos. 1. a Deute. 17. d and be ever reading in it as long as thou livest: that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God, & not to turn aside from the commandment, neither to the right hand ner to the left: left thou be a knower of personnes in judgement, and wrist the right of the stranger, of the fatherless or of the widow, duty. 24. Roma. 12. b. 1. Pet. 4. b. Actu. 20. d 1. Petr. 5. a. 1. Tim. 4. b. Ti. 2. a and so the curse to come upon the. But what office so ever thou hast wait upon it, and execute it, to the maintenance of peace, to the wealth of thy people, defending the laws of God, and the lovers thereof, and to the destruction of the wicked. If thou be a preacher, and hast the oversight of the flock of Christ, awake and feed Christ's sheep with a good heart, & spare no labour to do them good, seek not thyself, & beware of filthy lucre/ but be unto the flock an ensample, in the word, in conversation, in love, in ferventness of the spirit, and be ever reading, exhorting, & teaching in God's word, that the people of God run not unto other doctrines and jest thou thyself (when thou shouldest teach other) be found ignorant therein And rather than thou wouldest teach the people any other thing than God's word take the book in thine hand, & read the words even as they stand therein (for it is no shame so to do, it is more shame to make a lie) This I say for such, as are not yet expert in the scripture, for I reprove no preaching without the book as long as they say the truth. If thou be a man that hast wife and children, first love thy wife, Ephe. 5, c. according to the ensample of the love, wherewith Christ loved the congregation, and remember that so doing, thou lovest even thyself: if thou hate her, thou hatest thy own flesh: if thou cherish her and make much of her, thou cherisest & makest much of thyself for she is bone of thy bones, & flesh of thy flesh. And who so ever thou be that hast children, bring them up in the nurture and information of the Lord. Ephe. 6. a. And if thou be ignorant, or art otherwise occupied lawfully that thou canst not teach them thyself, then be even as diligent to seek a good master for thy children, as thou wast to seek a mother to bear them: for there lieth as great weight in the one as in the other. Ye better it were for than to be unborn, than not to fear God, or to be evil brought up. which thing (I mean bringing up well of children) if it be diligently looked to, it is the upholding of all common wealths: and the negligence of the same, the very decay of all realms. Finally, who so ever thou be, take these words of scripture in to thy heart, and be not only an outward hearer, but a doer thereafter, and practise thyself therein: that thou mayest feel in thy heart, the sweet promises thereof for thy consolation in all trouble, & for the sure stablyshinge of thy hope in Christ, and have ever an eye to the words of scripture, that if thou be a teacher of other thou mayest be within the bounds of the truth, or at the least though thou be but an hearer or reader of another man's doings, thou mayest yet have knowledge to judge all spretes, and be free from every error, to the utter destruction of all seditious sects & strange doctrines, that the holy scripture may have free passage, and be had in reputation, to the worship of the author thereof, which is even God himself: to whom for his most blessed word be glory & dominion now & ever. Amen. The books of the hole Bible▪ how they are named in English and latin/ how long they are written in the allegations, how many chapters every book hath, and in what leaf every one beginneth. ¶ The books of the first part. Abbreviation. Book. Chapters. leaf. Gen. Genesis, the first book of Moses. l. first. Exo. Exodus, the second book of Moses. xl. xxiiii. Levi. Leviticus, the third book of Moses. xxvii. xlii. Num. Numerus, the fourth book of Moses. xxxvi. lv. Deut. Deuteronomion, the fifth book of Moses. xxxiiii. lxxiiii. ¶ The books of the second part. Abbreviation. Book Chapters. leaf. jos. joshua, the book of josua. xxiiii. two. jud. judicum, the book of the judges. xxi. xiii. Ruth. Ruth, the book of Ruth. iiii. xxiiii. I Reg. Regum, the first book of the kings. xxxi. xxvi. II Reg. Regum, the second book of the kings. xxiiii. xl. III Reg. Regum, the third book of the kings. xxii. lii. four Reg. Regum, the fourth book of the kings. twenty-five. lxvi. I Par. Paralipomenon, the. I book of the Chronicles. thirty. lxxix. II Par. Paralipomenon, the. II book of the Chronicles. xxxvi. xci. I Esd. Esdre, the first book of Esdras. x. cvii two, Esd. Esdre, the second book of Esdras. xiii. cxi. Hester. Hester, the book of Hester. x. cxvii. ¶ The books of the third part. Abbreviation. book. Chapters. leaf. job. job, the book of job. xlii. first Psal. Psalterium, the Psalter. cl. twelve. Pro. Proverbia, the proverbs of Solomon. xxxi. xxxviii. Eccle. Ecclesiastes, the preacher of Solomon. twelve. xlvii. Cant. Cantica Canticorum, Salomons balettes. viii. l. ¶ The Prophets. Abbreviation. Book. Chapters. leaf. Esa. Esaias, Esay the prophet. lxvi. two. jere. jeremias, jeremy the prophet. lii. xxiiii. Tren. Trent, the lamentations of jeremy. u xlix. Bar. Baruc, Baruc the prophet. vi. li. Eze. Ezechiel, Ezechiel the prophet. xlviii. lv. Dan. Daniel, Daniel the prophet. twelve. lxxvii. Ose. Oseas, Oseas the prophet. xiiii. lxxxiiii. joel. joel, joel the prophet. iii lxxxvii. Amo. Amos, Amos the prophet. ix. lxxxviii Abd. Abdias, Abdy the prophet. i xc. jon. jonas, jonas the prophet. iiii. xci. Mich. Micheas, Micheas the prophet. seven. xcii. Na. Naum, Naum the prophet. iii xciiii. Aba. Abacuc, Abacuc the prophet▪ three, xcv. Soph. Sophonias, Sophony the prophet. iii xcvi. Agg. Aggeus, Aggeus the prophet. two. xcvii. Zacha. Zacharias, Zachary the prophet. xiiii. xcvii. Mal, Malachias, Malachy the prophet. iii ci. III Esdre. Esdre, the third book of Esdras. ix two. four Esdre. Esdre. the fourth book of Esdras. xuj. viii. Tob. Tobias. the book of Tobias. xiiii. xx. judith. judith. the book of judith. xuj. xxiiii. Certain chapters of Hester. vi. thirty. Sap. Sapientia. the book of wisdom. nineteeen. xxxii. Eccli. Ecclesiasticus, jesus Syrac. li. xxxix. Sus. Susanna, the story of Susanna. i lvii. Bel. Bel, the story of Bell. i lviii. I Mac. Machabeorum, the first book of the Mach. xuj. lix. II Mac. Machabeorun, The second book of the Mac. xv. lxxiii. The new Testament. Abreviation. Book. Chapters. Leafe· Math. Matthew the Evangelist. xxviii. ii· Mar. Mark the Euangelst xuj. xvi· Luc. Luke the Evangelist. xxiiiii. twenty-five. joh. John the Evangelist. xxi. xl. Act. The Acts of the Apostles xxviii. li. Rom. The Epistle to the Romans. xuj. lxvi. I Cor. The first epistle to the Corinthians. xuj. lxxii. II Cor. The second epistle to the Corinthians. xiii. lxxviii. Gal. The epistle to the Galathians. vi. lxxxii. Ephe. The Epistle to the Ephesians vi. lxxxiiii. Phil. The epistle to the Philippians. iiii. lxxxvi. Col. The epistle to the Collossians iiii. lxxxvii. I Tess. The first Epistle to the Tessalonians. u lxxxix. II Tess. The second Epistle to the Tessalonians. iii xc. I Timo. The first Epistle unto Timothy. vi. xci. II Tim. The second Epistle unto Timothy. iiii. xci●. Tit. The epistle unto Tytus iii xciiii. Phile. The epistle unto Philemon i xciiii. I Pet. The first epistle of S. Peter v. xcv. II Pet. The second epistle of S. Peter. iii xcvi. I joh. The first epistle of S. Ihon. u xcviii. II joh. The second epistle of S. John i xcix. III joh. The third epistle of S. John i xcix. Heb. The epistle unto the Hebrews xiii. c. jac. The epistle of S. james v. ciiii. jud. The epistle of S. jude. i cvi. Apo. The Revelation of S. Ihon. xxii. cvi. The first book of Moses/ called Genesis what this book containeth. Chap. i The creation of the world in six days/ and of man. Chap two. The rest of the seventh day. The tree of knowledge of good & evil is forbidden &c. Of the creation of Eua. Chap. three, The serpent deceiveth the woman: they transgress and are driven out of paradise. Chap. iiii. Abel's offering pleaseth God: therefore doth his brother Cayn hate him: murthureth him: & is cursed. Of the children of Cayn. Chap. u Of the generation, age & death of Adam: Seth and his sons unto Noe. Chap. vi. The occasion of the flood: and of the preparing of the ark. Chap. seven. No with his household is preserved in the ark: where as all the world perisheth thorough the flood. Chap. viii. The flood abateth. No goeth out of ark. &c. Chap. ix. God blesseth No and his sons: forbiddeth to eat the blood of beestes, and to shed man's blood: maketh a convenant (and giveth the rainbow for a token of the same) that he will destroy the world no more by water. No is drunken. Ham uncovereth him, and getteth his curse. Chap. x. The increase of man's generation by noah's three sons: which go abroad and begin to build. Chap. xi. The building of the tower of Babel is hindereth thorough the confusion of the tongues. The generation of Sem until Abram: which goeth with Loath unto Haran. Chap. twelve. Abram goeth with Loath into a strange land at the word of the Lord: which appeareth unto him in Canaan: and promises to give the same land unto his seed: afterward goeth Abram into egypt and feigneth Saray to be his sister. Chap. xiii. Abram and Loth depart again out of egypt: and have so many cattle that they can not devil together. Abram receiveth the blessing and promise. Chap. xiiii. Loth is taken prisoner: Abram delivereth him: Melchisedech feedeth Abram at his returning: Abram giveth him tithes of the spoils: and holdeth nothing of the king of Sodoms' goods. Chap. xv. God comforteth Abram and promiseth him seed: He believeth and is justified. Chap. xuj. Sarai giveth Abram leave to take her maid which beareth him Ishmael. Chap. xvii. The convenaunt of circumcision. &c. Chap. xviii. Three men appear unto Abraham to whom the destruction of Sodom is declared. Chap. nineteeen. Loth receiveth the two angels the: men of Sodom go about to abuse them: Loth is delivered Sodom is destroyed: Loathes wife is turned to a pillar of salt: and his daughters bear children unto him. Chap. xx. Abraham departeth as a stranger in to Gerar: and feigneth Sarai to be his sister: the king taketh her and giveth him her again. Chap. xxi. The birth of Isaac: Agar is put out with her son. Abraham and Abimelech are sworn friends. Chap. xxii. God trieth Abraham which at his word would offer his own son. The promise is confirmed unto him with an oath. Chap. xxiii. The death of Sara: for whom Abraham buyeth a piece of land to bury her in. Chap. xxiiii. Abraham will have his son to marry in his own kindred: the servant bringeth Rebecca: whom Isaac taketh to wife. Chap. twenty-five. Abraham begetteth more children by another wife: giveth his good unto Isaac and dieth. Isaac beginneth to grow: Esau selleth his birth right. Chap. xxvi Isaac goeth into Gerar: feigneth Rebecca to be his sister: increasseth in riches: The Philistines stop his wells. Abimelech & he are sworn friends. Chap. xxvii. jacob is blessed before Esau: and Esau threateneth him: but he flieth into Haram to Laba● his mother's brother. Chap. xxviii. Isaac sends jacob away to marry among Laban's daughters, jacob saith a vision, God confirmeth him the promise made unto Abraham: whereupon jacob maketh a vow. Chap. xxix. jacob giveth Laban's sheep to drinks serveth seven year for Rachel: Lea is given him: & yet serveth he seven year more for Rachel. Chap. thirty. Rachel giveth jacob her maiden and so doth Lea: they bear him children: his reward is appointed with a condition: whereby he is made rich. Chap. xxxi. jacob goeth home ward. Rachel stealet● her father's images. Laban overtaketh them and findeth not his images: they swear together: the angel meeteth jacob. Chap. xxxii. jacob sendeth presents unto Esau: Putteth God in remembrance of his promise: and wresteleth with the angel: which chaun●eth his name and blesseth him. Chap. xxxiii. jacob and Esau are agreed. &c. Chap. xxxiiii. Dyna jacob's daughter is forced by Sychem: whereof there cometh great blood shedding. Chap. xxxv. Rachel dieth at the birth of Benjamin. Reuben lieth with his father's concubine. Chap. xxxvi. Of the princes that came of Esau: and how Esau departeth from his brother. Chap. xxxvii. joseph is hated of his brethren: and sold in to egypt. Chap. xxxviii. juda lieth with his daughter in law which beareth him two sons. Chap. xxxix. joseph is beloved: & because he will not consent to the inordinate desire of his mistress, he is put in prison. Chap. xl. joseph expoundeth the dreams of the two presoners. Chap. xli. joseph declareth pharao's dream: and is made a Lord of egypt. The dearth beginneth. Chap. xlii. joseph's brethren come in to egypt to buy corn: and are troubled of him. Chap. xliii. They come again for corn: bring Beniamyn with them: and are put to more trouble. Chap. xliiii. As they go home he causeth them be brought again: and put to more fear. Chap. xlv. joseph uttereth himself to his brethren: and sendeth for his father. Chap. xlvi. jacob cometh in to egypt with all his people: joseph receiveth him. Chap. xlvii. Pharaoh giveth them the land of G●sen: the dearth is great in egypt. &c. Chap. xlviii. jacob is sick: & blesseth joseph's sons. Chap. xlix. jacob before his death telleth his sons what shall happen unto them, and dieth. Chap. l. joseph burieth his father: and charges his brethren concerning his bones: and dieth in egypt▪ lege of good and evil, shalt thou not eat. For look in what day so ever thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die the death. And the LORD God said: It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him an help, Some read▪ * 〈◊〉 be next by him. to bear him company. And when God the LORD had made of the earth all manner beasts of the field, & all manner fowls under the heaven, he brought them unto man, to see what he would call them: For as man called all manner of living souls, so are their names. And man gave names unto all manner cattles, & unto the fowls under the heaven, and unto all manner beasts of the field. But unto man there was found no help, to bear him company. Then the LORD God caused an herd sleep to fall upon man, and he slept. And he took out one of his rib, and (in stead thereof) he filled up the place with flesh. And the LORD God made a woman, ● Cor. 11. a of the rib that he took out of man, and brought her unto him. Then said man: This is once bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shallbe called woman, because she was taken of man. Matt. 19 a Mar 10. a ●phe. 5. ᶜ ● Cor. 6. c Gen. 3 b For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, & they two shallbe one flesh. Andrea they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. The III Chapter. But the serpent was sotyller then all Eccl● 25. d the beasts of the field (which the LORD God had made) and said unto the woman: Ye, hath God said indeed: 2. Cor. 11. a You shall not eat of all manner trees in the garden? Then said the woman unto the serpent: We eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden: But as for the fruit of the tree that is in the mids of the garden, God hath said: Eat not you of it, and touch it not, jest you die. Then said the serpent unto the woman: * jere. 14. b and 23. c Tush, you shall not die the death. For God doth know, that in what day so ever you eat of it, your eyes shallbe opened, and you shall be as God, and know both good and evil. And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat of, and lusty unto the eyes, and a pleasant tree Some read: * while it made wise. to make wise, and took of the fruit of it, and ate, and gave unto her husband also thereof, and he ate. Then were the eyes of them both opened, and they perceived that they were naked, and sowed fig leaves together, Gene. 2. d and made them apurns. And they heard the voice of the LORD God, which walked in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam hid himself with his wife, from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called Adam, and said unto him: Where art thou? And he said: I heard thy voice in the garden, and was afraid, because I am naked, and therefore I hid myself. And he said: who told thee, that thou art naked? Hast thou not eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, that thou shouldest not eat? Then said Adam: The woman which thou gavest me (to bear me company) gave me of the tree, and I ate. And the LORD God said unto the woman: wherefore hast thou done this? The woman said: the serpent deceived me so, that I ate. Apo. 12. c Then said the LORD God unto the serpent: Because thou hast done this, cursed be thou above all cattles and above all beasts of the field. Upon thy belly shalt thou go, & earth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I will put enmity between the and the woman, and between the sede and her seed. Matt. 4. a * Col. 2. b The same shall tread down thy head, and thou shalt tread him on the heel. And unto the woman he said: I will increase thy sorrow, when thou art with child: with pain shalt thou bear thy children, and Some read: * Thou shalt bow down thyself before thy husband. thy lust shall pertain unto the husband, and he shall rule the. And unto Adam he said: For so much as thou hast herkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee, saying: thou shalt not eat of it. Cursed be the earth for thy sake. With sorrow shalt thou eat thereof, all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shalt it bear unto thee, and thou shalt eat the herbs of the field. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread, till thou be turned again unto earth, Eccl. 40. b job 34. b whence thou art taken: for earth thou art, and unto earth shalt thou be turned again. And Adam called his wife Hena, because she is the mother of all living. And the LORD God made Adam & his wife garments of skins, & those he put on them. And the LORD God said: lo, Adam is become as it were one of us, & knoweth good & evil. But now jest he stretch his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever. Then the LORD God put him out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth, whence he was taken. And he cast Adam out. And before the garden of Eden he set Cherubes, and a naked syrie sword, to keep the way unto the tree of life. The four Chapter. moreover Adam lay with Hena his wife, which conceived & bore Cain, and said, I have obtained the man of the LORD. And she proceeded forth, & bore his brother Abel. And Abel become a shepherd, but Cain become an husband man. And it fortuned after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the earth, an offering unto the LORD. And Abel brought also of the firstlinges of his sheep, and of the fat of them. Heb. 11. a And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and his offering he looked not. Then was Cain exceeding wroth, and his countenance changed. And the LORD said unto Cain: Why art thou angry? and why doth thy countenance change? Is it not so? that if thou do well, thou shalt receive it: but and if thou do evil, thy sin lieth open in the door? Some read: * Let it be subdued unto thee, & rule thou it. Shall he then be subdued unto thee? and will't thou rule him? And Cain talked with Abel his brother. But the LORD said thus unto him: Who so ever slayeth Cain, Gen. ● it shallbe avenged sevenfold. And the LORD put a mark upon Cain, that no man which found him, should kill him. So Cain went out from the face of the LORD, and dwelled in the land Noddle, upon the east side of Eden. And Cain lay with his wife, which conceived and bore Henoch. And he builded a cite, and called it after the name of his son Henoch. And Henoch begat Irad, Irad begat Mahuiael. Mahuiael begat Mathusael. Mathusael begat Lamech. And Lamech took him two wives: the one was called Ada, & the other Zilla. And Ada bore jabel, of whom came they that dwelled in tents and had cattles. And his brother's name was jubal: Of him came they that occupied haps & pipes. And Zilla she also bore Tubalcain, a worker in all cunning points of metal & iron. And Tubalcains sister was called Naema. And Lamech said unto his wives Ada and Zilla: Hear my voice (you wives of Lamech) and hearken unto my words: for I have slain a man, and wounded myself: and (have killed) a young man, and gotten myself stripes. Cain shallbe avenged seven times: but Lamech seven and seventy times. Adam lay yet with his wife again, & she bore a son, and called him Seth. For God (said she) hath appointed me another seed, for Abel, whom Cain slay. And Seth begat a son also, and called him Enos. At the same time began men to call upon the name of the LORD. The V Chapter. THis is the book of the generation of man, in the time when God created man, and made him after the similitude of God. Male and female made he them, and blessed than, & called their name's Man, in the time when they were created. And Adam was an hundredth and thirty year old, ●. Par. 1. a and begat a son, which was like his own image, and called his name Seth: & lived thereafter eight hundredth year, and begat sons and daughters. And his whole age was nine hundredth and thirty years, and so he died. Seth was an hundredth and five year old, and begat Enos: & lived thereafter eight hundredth and seven year, and begat sons and daughters. And his whole age was nyene hundredth and twelve years, and so he died. Enos was nyentie year old, and begat Kenan: and lived thereafter eight hundredth & fifteen year, and begat sons & daughters. And his whole age was nyene hundredth and five years, and so he died. Kenan was seventy year old, and begat Mahalaliel: and lived thereafter eight hundredth and forty year, and begat sons & daughters. And his whole age was nyene hundredth and ten years, and so he died. Mahalaliel was three score year old & five, and begat Jared: and lived thereafter eight hundredth and thirty year, and begat sons and daughters. And his whole age was eight hundredth, nyentie and five years, and so he died. Jared was an hundredth and two & sixty year old, and begat Henoch: & lived thereafter eight hundredth year, and begat sons & daughters. And his whole age was nyene hundredth and two and sixty year, and so he died. Eccli. 44. b lib. 11. a Henoch was five and three score year old, and begat Mathusalah: and led a godly conversation three hundredth years thereafter, and begat sons & daughters. And his whole age was three hundredth and five and three score years. Sap. 4. b 4. Re. 2. a And for so much as he lived a godly life, God took him away, & he was no more seen. Mathusalah was an unhdreth & seven and four score year old, & begat Lamech: and lived thereafter seven hundredth and two and four score year, and begat sons & daughters. And his whole age was nyene hundredth and nyene and trescore years, and so he died. Lamech was an hundredth and two and four score year old, and begat a son, & called him No, and said: This same shall comfort us in our works, and in the sorrow of our hands upon the earth, Gen. 3. d which the LORD hath cursed. After this he lived five hundredth and five & nyentie year, and begat sons and daughters. And his whole age was seven hundredth seven and seventy years, and so he died. No was five hundredth year old, and begat Sem, Ham and japhet. The VI Chapter. SO when men began to multiply upon the earth, and had begotten them daughters, the children of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and took unto them wives such as they liked. Then said the LORD: My spirit shall not allway strive with man, for he is but flesh also. 1. Pet. 3. c I will yet give him respite an hundredth and twenty years. There were giants also in the world at that tyme. For when the children of God had lyen with the daughters of men, and begotten them children, the same (children) become mighty in the world, and men of renown. But when the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was increased upon the earth, and that all the thought and imagination of their heart was but only evil continually, it repented him, 1. Re. 15. c that he had made man upon the earth, and he sorrowed in his heart, and said: I will destroy man kind which I have made, from the earth: both man, be'st, worm, and foul under the heaven: for it repenteth me, that I have made them. Esa. 42. c Nevertheless Noe found grace in the sight of the LORD. This is the generation of Noe. No was a righteous and perfect man, Eccl. 44. b and led a godly life in his time, and begat three sons: Sem, Ham and japhet. notwithstanding the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of mischief. Then God looked upon the earth: and lo, it was corrupt (for all flesh had corrupt his way upon the earth.) Then said God unto No: Then end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is full of mischief before them. And lo, I will destroy them with the earth. Make the an ark of Pine tree, and make chambers in it, and pitch it within and without with pitch and make it after this fashion: The length shall be three hundredth cubits, the breadth fifty cubits, and the height thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make above of a cubit great: but the door shalt thou set in the midst in the side of it: And the Ark shalt thou make with three lofts one above another. For ●o, I will bring a flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh (wherein the breath of life is) under the heaven: All that is upon earth, shall perish. But with the will I make a covenant, and thou shalt go in to the ark with thy sons, with thy wife, and with thy sons wives. And of all creatures what so ever flesh it be, thou shalt bring in to the ark, even a pair: the male and the female, that they may live with thee: Of fowls after their kind, of beasts after their kind, and of all manner worms of the earth after their kind. Of every one of these shall there a pair go in unto thee, that they may live. And thou shalt take unto the all manner of meat that may be eaten, and shalt say it up in store by thee, that it may be meat for the and them. And No did according to all that God commanded him. The VII. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto No: Go in to the ark thou & thy whole house: ●. Pet. 2. b for the have I seen righteous before me at this tyme. levit. 11. a Of all clean beasts take unto the seven and seven, the male and his female. And of unclean beasts a pair, the male and his female. Like wise of the fowls under the heaven, seven and seven, the male and his female, that there may besede left a live upon the whole earth. For yet after seven days, I will send rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and will destroy all manner of things that I have made, from of the face of the earth. And No did all that the LORD commanded him. Six hundredth year old was he, when the water flood came upon earth. And he went in to the ark, Matt. ● Luc. 1 with his sons, his wife, and his sons wives, for the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts and of unclean, of all feathered fowls, & of all that creepeth upon earth, went in unto him to the ark by pares, a male and a female, as the LORD commanded him. And when the seven days were passed, the water flood came upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of noah's age, upon the seventeen day of the second month, that same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened, and there came a rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights. Upon the self same day went No in to the ark, with Sem, Ham and japhet his sons, and with his wife, and the three wives of his sons, and all manner of beasts after their kind, all manner of cattles after their kind, all manner of creeping things (that creep upon the earth) after their kind, and all manner of fowls (what so ever could fly & what so ever had feathers) after their kind: These went all unto No in to the ark by couples, of all flesh in whom was the breath of life. And these were the male & the female of all manner of flesh, and went in, according as God commanded him. And the LORD shut (the door) upon him. Then came the water flood forty days upon the earth, and the water increased, Eccli▪ ● and bore up the ark, and lift it up over the earth. Thus the water prevailed, and increased sore upon the earth, so that the ark went upon the waters. Ye the waters prevailed and increased so sore upon earth, that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered. fifteen cubytes high prevailed the waters over the mountains, which were covered. Then all flesh that crept upon earth, perished, both fowls, cattles, beasts, and all that moved upon earth, and all men. What so ever had the breath of life upon the dry land, died. Thus was destroyed all that was upon the earth, both man and beast, Sap. ●● both worms and fowls under the heaven: all these were destroyed from the earth, Save No only remained, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth, an hundredth and fifty days. The VIII. Chapter. THen God remembered No and all the beasts, and all the cattles that were with him in the ark, and caused a wind to come upon the earth: and the waters ceased, and the fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain of heaven was forbidden, and the waters ran still away from the earth, and decreased after an hundredth and fifty days. Upon the seventeen day of the seventh month rested the ark upon the mountains of Ararat. And the waters went away and decreased until the tenth month: for the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains appeared. After forty days No opened the window of the ark which he had made▪ & sent forth a raven, which flew out, and 〈…〉 came again, until the waters were dried up upon the earth. Then sent he forth a dove from him, to weet, whether the waters were fallen upon the earth. But when the dove could find no resting place for her feet, she came again unto him in to the ark, for the waters were yet upon the face of all the earth. And he put out his hand, and took her to him in to the Ark. Then he abode yet seven days more, & sent out the dove again out of the Ark: & she returned unto him about the even tide: and behold, she had broken of a leaf of an olive tree, & bore it in her nebb. Then No perceived, that the waters were abated upon the earth. Nevertheless he tarried yet seven other days, and sent forth the dove, which came no more to him again. In the sixte hundredth and one year of noah's age, upon the first day of the first month, the waters were dried up upon the earth. Then No took of the hatches of the Ark, and saw that the face of the earth was dry. So upon the seven and twenty day of the second month the whole earth was dry. Then spoke God unto No, and said: Go out of the Ark, thou and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons wives with the. As for all the beasts that are with thee, what so ever flesh it be (both foul & cattles and all manner of worms that creep upon the earth) let them go out with thee, and be you occupied upon the earth, grow and multiply upon the earth. e'en. 1. d So No went out, with his sons, and with his wife, and with his sons wives. All the beasts also and all the worms, and all the fowls, and all that crept upon the earth, went out of the Ark, every one unto his like. And No builded an altar unto the LORD, Levi. 11. and took of all manner of clean beasts & of all manner of clean fowls, and offered brē● sacrifices upon the altar. And the LORD smelled the sweet savour, & said in his heart: I will hence forth curse the earth no more for man's sake, for the imagination of man's heart is evil, even from the very youth of him. Therefore from hence forth I will no more smite all that liveth, as I have done. neither shall sowing time and harvest, cold 〈◊〉 heat Summer and winter, day and 〈◊〉 cease so long as the earth endure●▪ The IX. Chapter. ANd God blessed No and his sons, and said unto them: increase & multiply, and fill the earth. The fear also and dread of you be upon all beasts of the earth, upon all fowls under the heaven, and upon all that creepeth on the earth, and all fishes of the see be given in to your hands. All that moveth and hath life, be your meat. Even as the green herb, Gen. 1. d so have I given you all. Levi. 7. c and 17. d Only eat not the flesh with the blood, wherein the soul is: For the blood of you wherein your soul is, will I require of the hand of all beasts: and the soul of man will I require of man's hand, Exo. 21. c ye● every man's soul of another's hand. He that sheds man's blood, Tren. 4. b Mat. 26. c Apo. 13. b his blood shall be shed by man again, for God made man after his own likeness. Asdrubal for you, be you fruitful, and increase, Gen. 1. ● and be occupied upon the earth, that you may multiply therein. furthermore, God said unto No and to his sons with him: Behold, Esa. 54. a I make my covenant with you, and with your seed after you, and with every living creature that is with you, both foul, cattles, and all beasts upon the earth with you, of all that is go out of the Ark, what so ever beast of the earth it be: And thus I make my covenant with you, ●cclesias●●ci. 44. b that hence forth all flesh shall not be destroyed with the waters of any flood, and from hence forth there shall come no flood to destroy the earth. Andrea God said: This is the token of my covenant which I have made between me and you, and all living creatures among you for evermore: My bow will I set in the clouds, and it shall be the token of my covenant between me and the earth: so that when I bring clouds upon the earth, the bow shall appear in the clouds. And then will I think upon my covenant betwixt me and you and all living creatures in all manner of flesh: so that from hence forth there shall no more come any flood of water to destroy all flesh. Therefore shall my bow be in the clouds, that I may look upon it, and remember the everlasting covenant, betwixt God and all living creatures in all flesh that is upon earth. God said also unto No: This is the token of the covenant, which I have made between me and all flesh upon earth. The sons of No which went out of the Ark, are these: Sem, Ham and japhet. As for Ham, he is the father of Canaan. These are noah's three sons, of whom all lands were overspread. No began to take heed unto the tyllinge of the ground, Esa. 5. a Matt. 21. a & planted a vyniarde. And drank of the wine, and was drunken, and lay uncovered in his tent. Now when Han the father of Canaan saw his father's previties', he told his two brethren without. Then took Sem and japhet a mantel and put it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered their father's secrets: & their faces were turned aside, that they should not see their father's privities. So when No awaked from his wine, and perceived what his younger son had done unto him, he said: Cursed be Canaan, and a servant of servants be he unto his brethren. He said moreover: Praised be the LORD God of Sem, and Canaan be his servant. God increase japhet, and let him devil in the tents of Sem, and Canaan be his servant. And No lived after the flood three hundredth & fifty year, so that his whole age was ix▪ hundredth and fifty year, and so he died. The X. Chapter. THis is the generation of the children of No, Sem, Ham, and japhet, & they begat children after the flood. The children of japhet are these: Gomer, Magog, Madai, javan, Tubal, 1. Pat▪ Mesech and Thyras. The children of Gomer are these: Ascenas, Riphat and Toga●ma. The children of javan are these: Elisa, Tharsis, Cithim and Dodanim: Of these are divided the Isles of the heathen in their countries, every one after his speech, kindred and people. The children of Ham are these: Chus, Misraim, Phut and Canaan. The children of Chus are these: Seba, Hevila Sabtha, Reyma and Sabthecha. The children of Reyma are these: Sheba and Dedan. Chus also begat Nemrod, which began to be mighty in the earth, and was a mighty hunter in the sight of the LORD. Thereof cometh the proverb: This is a mighty hunter before the LORD like as Nemrod. And the origenall of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Gene. ● Acad & Chalne in the land of Synear. Out of that land came Assur, and builded Ninive, and the streets of the cite, and Calah, and Ressen between Ninyve & Calah: This is a great cite. jonae ●● Mizraim begat Ludim, Enamim, Leabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim & Cas●uhim, from whence came the philistines and Capthorims. Canaan also begat Zidon his elder son, & Heth, jebusi, Emori, Girgosi, Hivi, Arki, Sini, Aruadi, Zemari & Hamati: from whence the kindred's of the Canaanites are dispersed abroad. And the Coasts of the Canaanites were from Sidon forth thorough Gerar unto Gasa, till thou comest unto Sodoma, Gomorra, Adama, Zeboim, & unto Lasa. These are the children of Ham in their kindred's, tongues, lands & people. And Sem which is the father of all the children of Eber, & the elder brother of japhet, begat children also. And these are his children: Elan, Assur, Arphachad, Lud & Aram. The children of Aram are these: Vz, Hul, Gether & Mas. And Arphachsad begat Sala, and Sala begat Eber. Eber begat two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because that in his time the world was divided, and his brother's name was jaketan, And jaketan begat Almodad, Saleph, Hazarmaphet, jarah, Hadoram, Vsal, Dikela, Obal, Abimael, Seba, Ophir, Hevila & jobab: All these are the children of jaketan. And their dwelling was from Mesa, till thou come unto Sephar a mountain of the east. These are the children of Sem in their generations, tongues, lands and people. This is now the generation of the children of No in their kynredes & people. Of these were the people upon earth spread a broad after the flood. The XI. Chapter. moreover all the world had one tongue & language. Now as they went ●ome ●ade: ●rom the 〈◊〉. toward the East, they found a plain in the land of Synear, & there they dwelled, & said one to another: Come on, let us make bryck & burn it. And they took bryck for stone, & slime for mortar, And said: Come, let us build a cite & a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, that we may make us a name, afore we be scattered abroad in all lands. Then came the LORD down, to se the cite & tower, that the children of men had builded. And the LORD said: Behold, the people is one, & have one manner of language among them all, & this have they begun to do, & will not leave of from all that they have purposed to do. Come on, let us go down, & confound their tongue even there, that one understand not what another saith. Deu. 32. a Thus the LORD scattered than from thence in all lands, so that they left of to build the cite. Therefore is it called Babel, because the LORD confounded there the language of all the world, and from thence scattered them abroad in to all lands. These are the generations of Sem. Sem was an hundredth year old, and begat Arphachsad two year after the flood, and lived thereafter five hundredth year, and begat sons and daughters. Arphachsad was five & thirty year old, and begat Salah, and lived thereafter four hundredth and three year, and begat sons & daughters. Salah was thirty year old, and begat Eber, & lived thereafter four hundredth & three year, & begat sons and daughters. Eber was four and thirty year old, & begat Peleg, and lived thereafter four hundredth and thirty year, and begat sons & daughters. Peleg was thirty year old, and begat Regu, and lived thereafter two hundredth and nyene year, and begat sons & daughters. Regu was two and thirty year old, and begat Serug, and lived thereafter two hundredth and seven year, and begat sons and daughters. Serug was thirty year old, and begat Nahor, and lived thereafter two hundredth year, and begat sons & daughters. Nahor was nyene and twenty year old, and begat Terah, and lived hereafter an hundredth and nyentene year, and begat sons and daughters. Terah was seventy year old, and begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. These are the generations of Terah: Te: rah begat Abram, Nahor and Haran. josu. 24. a 1. Pa●. 1. b And Haran begat Lot, but Haran died before Terah his father in the land where he was born, at Vr in Chaldea. Than Abram and Nahor took them wives. Abraham's wife was called Sarai, Gen. 20. c Gen. 22. d & Nahors wife Milca the daughter of Haran, which was father of Milca and jisca. But Sarai was barren, and had no child. Then took Terah Abram his son, josu. 24. a 2. Esd 9 b Iudi●. 5. b & Lot his son Harans son, & Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abraham's wife, & carried them with him from Vr in Chaldea, to go in to the land of Canaan. And they came to Haran, & dwelled there. And Terah was two hundredth & five year old, and died in Haran. The XII. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Abram: Get the out of thy country, Acto. ●. a and from thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, in to a land which I will show the. And I will make of the a mighty people, and will bless thee, and make the a great name, ye thou shalt be a very blessing. Gen. 27. ● Gene. 1●. Gen. 22. c Acto. 3. ● I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee: and in the shall all the generations of the earth be blessed. Then went Abram out, as the LORD commanded him, and Lot went with him. five & seventy year old was Abram, when he went out of Haran. So Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, with all their goods which they had got, and souls which they begat in Haran, and departed to go in to the land of Canaan. Gen. 14. ● And when they were come in to the same land, he went thorough, till he came unto the place of Sichem, and unto the oak-grove of Moore: Gen. 10. ● and 13. a for the Canaanites dwelled in the land at the same time. Then the LORD appeared unto Abram, & said: Gen. 17. a This land will I give unto the sede. And there he builded an altar unto the LORD, which appeared unto him. Then broke he up from thence, unto a mountain that lay on the east side of the cite of Bethel, & pitched his tent: so that he had Bethel on the west side, and Aye on the east side: & there builded he an altar also unto the LORD, & called upon the name of the LORD. afterward departed Abram farther, & took his journey southward. But there came a dearth in the land. Then went Abram down in to Egipte to keep himself there as a stranger, for the dearth was sore in the land. And when he was come nigh for to enter in to Egipte, he said unto Sarai his wife: Behold, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon. Now when the Egipcians see thee, Gen. 20. a and 26. a they will say: She is his wife, and so shall they slay me, and save the alive. Therefore (I pray thee) say thou art my sister, that I may far the better by reason of thee, and that my soul may live for thy sake. Now when he came in to Egipte, the Egipcians saw the woman, that she was very fair: & pharao's princes saw her also, & praised her before him. Then was she brought in to pharao's house, and Abram was well entreated for her sake: and he had sheep, oxen, and he Asses, servants, maidens, she Asses and Camels. But the LORD plagued Pharaoh & his house with great plagues, Esa. 43. a because of Sarai Abrans' wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram unto him, and said: Why hast thou dealt thus with me? Wherefore toldest thou not me at the first, that she was thy wife? Why saidest thou then, that she was the sister? Wherefore I took her to my wife. And now lo, there is the wife, take her, and go thy way. He gave his officers also a charge over him, to convey him out, and his wife, and all that he had. The XIII. Chapter. SO Abram departed out of Egipte, with his wife, & with all that he had, & Lot with him also, toward the south. Abram was very rich in cattles, silver & gold. And he went on forth from the south unto Bethel, unto the place where his tent was at the first, between Bethel and Aye: even unto the place where he had made the altar before, & where he called upon the name of the LORD Lot also which went with him, Gen. 12. b had sheep, great cattles & tents: so that the land was not able to receive them, that they might devil together: for the substance of their riches was so great, Gen. 36. a that they could not devil together. And there fallen a strife between the hirdmen of Abraham's cattles, 〈…〉 and the hirdmen of Lot's cattles. The Canaanites also and the Pheresites dwelled at that time in the land. Then said Abram unto Lot: O let there be no strife between me and thee, and between my hyrdmen and thy, for we are brethren. Is not all the whole land open before thee? 〈…〉 Depart fro me, I pray the. If thou will't go to the left hand, I will take the right: Or if thou will't go to the right hand, I will take the left. Then Lot lift up his eyes, and be held all the country round about jordan, that it was a plenteous country of water. For before the LORD destroyed Sodoma and Gomorra, it was round about Zoar, even as the pleasant garden of the LORD, and as the land of Egipte. Then Lot chose all the coasts of jordan, and took his journey toward the East. And so the one brother departed from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot in the cities of the same coasts, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked, 〈…〉 and sinned exceadingly against the LORD. Now when Lot was departed from Abram, the LORD said unto Abram: Lift up thy eyes, and look from the place where thou dwellest, northward, southward, eastward, and westward: for all the land that thou seist, Acts ●● will I give unto the and to thy seed for ever, and will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, he shall number thy seed also. Arise, and go thorough the land, in the length and breadth, for I will give it unto the. So Abram removed his tent, Gen. ● and went and dwelled in the Okegrove of Mamre, which is in Ebron, and builded there an altar unto the LORD. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd it chanced in the time of Amraphel the king of Synear, Arioch the king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer the king of Elam, & Thydeal the king of the heathen, That they made war with Bera the king of Sodom, and with Birsa the king of Gomorra, & with Sineab the king of Adama, & with Semeaber the king of Zeboim, and with the king of Bela, which is called Zoar. These came all together in to the broad valley, where now the salt see is: for twelve years were they subjects unto king Kedorlaomer, & in the thirteenth year they fallen from him. Therefore in the fourteenth year came Kedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, & smote the Giants in Astaroth Karnaim, & Susim at Ham, & Emim in the field of Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their own mount Seir unto the plain of Pharan, which bordreth upon the wilderness. And then they turned, & came to the well of judgement (which is Cades) & smote all the country of the Amalechites, and also the Amorites, that dwelled in Hazezon Thamar. Then went out the king of Sodom, & the king of Gomorra, & the king of Adama, and the king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela (called Zoar) & prepared themselves to fight in the broad valley with Kedorlaomer the king of Elam, & with Thideal the king of the heathen, & with Amraphel the king of Synear, & with Arioch the king of Ellasar: four kings with five. And that broad valley had many slime pits. But the king of Sodoma and Gomorra were put to flight, & fallen there, & the residue fled unto the mountains. Then took they all the goods at Sodoma and Gomorra, & all their vytales, & went their way. They took Lot also Abraham's brothers son, & his good (for he dwelled at Sodom) and departed. Then came one that had escaped, and told Abram the alient, Gen. 13. d which dwelled in the oak-grove of Mamre the Amoryte, which was the brother of Escol & Aner: for these were confederate with Abram. ●u. 10. b Re. 30. b 〈◊〉. 41 c Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken, he harnessed his bond servants born in his own house, three hundredth & eighteen, & followed after them until Dan, & divided them, & fallen upon them by night with his servants, and smote them, and chased them away unto Hoba, which lieth on the left hand of the cite of Damascos, 〈◊〉 39 b and brought again all the goods, and also his brother Lot, and his goods, the women also and the people. And as he came again from the slaughter of Kedorlaomer & of the kings that were with him, the king of Sodom went to meet him in to the plain field, Num. 31. b which is called kings dale. Butler Melchisedech the king of Salem brought forth bread and wine. And he being the priest of the most high God, Hebr. 7. a blessed him and said: Blessed be thou Abram unto the most high God possessor of heaven and earth. And praised be God the Hyest, which hath delivered thy enemies in to thy hands. And Abram gave him tithes of all. Then said the king of Sodom unto Abram: give me the souls, and take the goods unto thyself. But Abram said unto the king of Sodom: I lift up my hand unto the LORD the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take of all that is thine, so much as a thread or a shoe lachet, jest thou shouldest say: I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have spent, and the men Aner Escol and Mamre, that went with me, let them take their part. The XU. Chapter. IT happened after these acts, that the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, and said: Fear not Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. But Abram said: LORD LORD, what will't thou give me? I go childless, and the servant of my house (this Eleasar of Damascos) hath a son. And Abram said moreover: Behold, unto me hast thou given no seed: and lo, the son of my household shall be mine heir. And behold, the word of the LORD spoke unto him, and said: He shall not be thy heir, but one that shall come out of thy own body, he shall be thy heir. And he bade him go forth, and said: Look up unto heaven, Deu. 10. d Esa. 49 d jere. 33. d and tell the stars: Canst thou number them? And he said unto him: * Ro. 4. d Even so shall thy seed be. Abram believed the LORD, and that was counted unto him for righteousness. Psal. 105. d Rom. 4. a Gala. 3. a jaco. 2. c And he said unto him: I am the LORD, * Gen. 11. d that brought the from Vr out of Chaldea, to give the this land to possess it. But Abram said: LORD LORD, Whereby shall I know, that I shall possess it? And he said unto him: Take a cow of three year old, and a she goat of three year old, jere. 34. d and a ram of three year old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. And he took all these, and divided them in the mids, and laid the one part over against the other, but the fowls divided he not. And the fowls fallen upon the flesh, but Abram drove them away. Now when the Son began to go down, there fallen an heavy sleep upon Abram. And lo, fear and great darkness fallen upon him. And he said unto Abram: know this of a surety, Act. 7. a Exod. 12. f judit 5. b Gala. 3 c that thy seed shallbe a stranger, in a land that is not there's. Andrea they shall make bond men of them, and entreat them evil four hundredth years. But the people whom they shall serve, will I judge. afterward shall they go forth with great substance: Exo. 12. c and thou shalt depart unto thy fathers in peace, Gene. 25▪ a and shalt be buried in a good age. And after the fourth generation they shall come hither again, Deut. 20. c for the wickedness of the Amorites is not yet full. So when the Son was down, and it was waxed dark: Behold, there smoked a furnace, and a fire brand went between the parts. The same day made the LORD a covenant with Abram, Gen. 24. a 3. Re. 4. b and said: Unto thy seed will I give this land, from the water of Egipte, unto the great water Euphrates: the Kenytes, the Kenizites, the Kydmonites, the hittites, the Pherezites, the Giants, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gergesites, and the jebusites. The XVI. Chapter. SArai Abraham's wife bore him no children: but she had an handmaid an Egipcian, whose name was Agar, and said unto Abram: Behold, the LORD hath closed me, Isa. 66. b that I can not bear. God in (I pray thee) unto my maid: Gen. 30. a peradventure I shallbe multiplied by her, more than by myself. And Abram herkened unto the voice of Sarai. Than Sarai Abraham's wife took Agar her maid the Egipcian (after they had dwelled ten year in the land of Canaan) and gave her unto her husband Abram, to be his wife. And he went in unto Agar, and she conceived. Now when she saw that she had conceived, she despised her mistress. Then said Sarai unto Abram: I must suffer wrong for thy sake. I laid my maid by thee: but now because she saith, that she hath conceived, I must be despised in her sight: the LORD be judge between me and the. And Abram said unto Sarai: Behold, thy maid is under thy authority, do with her, as it pleaseth the. Now when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her. But the angel of the LORD found her beside a well of water in the wilderness (even by the well in the way to Sur) and said unto her: Agar Sarais maid, whence comest thou? & whither wilt thou go? She said: I i'll fro my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her: Return to thy mistress again, and submit thyself under her hand. And the angel of the LORD said unto her: Behold, I will so increase the sede, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said further unto her: Behold, thou art with child, 〈…〉 & shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael, because the LORD hath herd the trouble. He shall be a wild man. His hand against every man, and every man's hand against him: and he shall dwell over against all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spoke unto her: Thou art the God that seist me. For she said: Of a surety I have seen the back parts of him that saw me. Therefore called she the well: The well of the living that saw me. Which (well) is between Cades and Bared. And Agar bore Abram a son, Gal. ● and Abram called his sons name which Agar bore him, Ishmael. And Abram was four score year old and six, when Agar bore him Ishmael. The XVII. Chapter. NOw when Abram was nyentye year old and nyene, the LORD appeared unto him, & said unto him: 〈…〉 I am the almighty God, walk before me, & be uncorrupt. And I will make my covenant between me & thee, and will multiply the exceadyngly. Then fallen Abram upon his face. And God talked furthur with him, and said: Behold, It is I, and have my covenant with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many people. Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: Rom. ● For I have made the a father of many nations, & I will multiply the exceadingly, and will make people of thee, * Ma●▪ ● ye and kings also shall come out of the. moreover I will make my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after the thorough out their posterities, that it may be an everlasting covenant, so that I will be the God of thee, and of thy seed after the. And unto the and to thy seed after thee, will I give the land, wherein thou art a stranger: even all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and will be their God. And God said moreover unto Abraham: Keep my covenant then, 〈◊〉. 7. a thou and they seed after the. This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you, and thy seed after the thorough out their posterites. Every man-child that is among you, shallbe circumcyded: and you shall circumcyde the foreskin of your flesh. This same shallbe a token of the covenant between me and you. Every man-child when it is eight days old, 〈◊〉. 2. c 〈◊〉. 12. a 〈◊〉. 2● shallbe circumcyded thorough out your posterities: In like manner all houszholde folks born at home, or bought, or any other also that is a stranger and not of thy seed. Thus shall my covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And if there shallbe any man-child uncircumcided in the fore skin of his flesh, his soul shallbe rooted out from his people, because he hath broken my covenant. And God said unto Abraham: Sarai thy wife shall no more be called Sarai, but Sara shall be her name: for I will bless her, and give the a son of her. I will bless her, and people shall come of her, Matt. 1. a ye and kings of many people. Then fallen Abraham upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart: Shall a child be born unto me that am an hundredth year old? And shall Sara that is nyentie year old, bear? And Abraham said unto God: O that Israel might live in thy sight. ●en. 16. c 〈◊〉 13. b ●. R●. 13. a ●uc. 1. c Then said God: Ye even Sara thy wife shall bear the a son, and thou shalt call his name Isaac: for with him will I make my everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as concerning Ishmael also, I have heard thy request: Behold, I have blessed him, and will increase him, and multiply him exceadingly. ●en. 25. b twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make a great nation of him. But my covenant will I make with Isaac, whom Sara shall bear unto thee, even this time twelve month. And he left of talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. Than took Abraham his son Ishmael, and all the servants born in his house, and all that were bought, (as many as were men children in his house,) and circumcyded the foreskin of their flesh, even the same day, as God had said unto him. And Abraham was nyentie year old and nine, when he cut of the foreskin of his flesh. As for Ishmael, he was thirteen year old, when the foreskin of his flesh was circumcyded. Even upon one day were they all circumcyded: Abraham, and Ishmael his son, and all the men in his house, (whether they were born at home, bought, or any other stranger:) they were all circumcyded with him. The XVIII. Chapter. And the LORD appeared unto him in the oak-grove of Mamre, Gen. 19 a as he sat in his tent door in the heat of the day. And as he lift up his eyes, and looked, behold, there stood three men over against him. And when he saw them, he ran to meet them from his tent door, and bowed himself down upon the ground, and said: LORD, if I have found favour in thy sight, 1. Re. 28. c go not by the servant. There shallbe brought you a little water, & you shall wash your feet, & rest yourselves under the tree. judi. 19 b Psal. 103. b And I will fet you a morsel of bread, to comfort your hearts withal, and then shall you go your ways, for therefore are you come to your servant. They said: do even so as thou hast spoken: Abraham went a pace in to the tent to Sara, and said: Make haist, Matt. 13. c Luc. 13. b & mengle three pecks of fine meele, knead it, and bake cakes. Andrea he ran to the beasts, & fet a calf that was tender and good, and gave it unto a young man, which made it ready at once. And he took butter and milk and of the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them, stood himself by them under the tree, Tob. 12. b jud. 13 c & they ate. Then said they unto him: where is Sara thy wife? He answered: within in the tent. Then said he: about this time twelve month, Some read: As soo●e as the ●rute 〈◊〉. (if I live) I will come to the again, and Sara thy wife shall have a son. And Sara heard that out of the tent door, which was behind his back. And Abraham and Sara were both old, & well stricken in age: so that it went no more with Sara after the manner of women: therefore laughed she with in herself, and said: Now that I am old & my 1. Pet. 3. a ●cc●i. 25. a lord old also, shall I yet give myself to lust? Then said the LORD unto Abraham: Wherefore doth Sara laugh, and say: Is this true in deed, that I shall bear, and yet am old? Should any such thing be to hard for the LORD? ●. Re. 4. b Ro. 9 a About this time (if I live) I will come to the again, & Sara shall have a son. Then Sara denied it, and said: I laughed not, for she was afraid. But he said: It is not so, thou didst laugh. Then the men stood up from thence, and turned them toward Sodeme: and Abraham went with them, to bring them on their way. Then said the LORD: How can I hide f●om Abraham, the thing that I will do? saying he shall be a great and mighty people, and all the people upon earth shallbe blessed in him? For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, to keep the way of the LORD, and to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what he hath promised him. And the LORD said: There is a cry at Sodom and Gomorra, Eze. 16. ● which is great, & their sins are exceeding grievous: therefore will I go down & see, whether they have done all together, according to that cry, ●on. 1. a which is come before me, or not, that I may know. And the men turned their face, and went toward Sodom. But Abraham stood still before the LORD, and stepped unto him, and said: Will't thou then destroy the righteous with the ungodly? Peradventure there may be fifty righteous within the cite: will't thou destroy those, and not spare the place, for fifty righteous sake that are therein? That be far from thee, that thou shouldest do this, and to slay the righteous with the ungodly, and that the righteous should be as the ungodly. That be far from the. Should not the judge of all the world do according to right? And the LORD said: If I find fifty righteous at Sodom in the cite, I will spare all the place for their sakes. Abraham answered, and said: O se, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, Gen. 2 b howbeit I am but dust and aszshes. Peradventure there may be five less than fifty righteous therein: Will't thou then des●troye the whole cite because of those five? He said: if I find five and forty therein, I will not destroy them? And he proceeded further to speak unto him, and said: Peradventure there might be forty found therein. And he said: I will do nothing unto them for those fourtyes sake. Abraham said: O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak yet more. Peradventure there might be thirty found therein. And he said: If I find thirty therein, I will do nothing unto them. And he said: O se, I have taken upon me to speak unto my LORD. Peradventure there might be twenty found therein. He answered: I will not destroy them for those twentyes' sake. And said: O let not my LORD be angry, that I speak yet once more. Peradventure there might be ten found therein. He said: I will not destroy them for those ten sake. And the LORD went his way, when he had left talking with Abraham. And Abraham returned unto his place. The XIX. Chapter. IN the evening came the two angels unto Sodom. And Lot sat under the gate of the cite. And when he saw them, he rose up for to meet them, and bowed himself down to the ground upon his face, & said: See lords, turn in (I pray you) in to your servants house, and tarry all night: let your feet be waszshen, so may you rise tomorrow by times, and go your way. Nevertheless they said: Nay, but we will bide in the streets all night. 〈…〉 Then compelled he them sore: and they turned in unto him, and came in to his house. And he made them a feast, and baked sweet cakes, and * they ate. But before they went to rest, the men of the cite of Sodom came and compassed the house round about, young and old, all the people from all quarters, and called Lot, and said unto him: Where are the men that came unto the to night? Bring them out here unto us, * that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said: 〈…〉 O brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters, which yet have known no man: them will I bring out unto you, do with them as it liketh you. Only do nothing unto these men of God, for therefore are they come under the shadow of my roof. But they said: Come thou hither. Then said they: Camest not thou only herein as a stranger, ●●o. ●. b and will't thou now be a judge? Well, we will deal worse with the than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man Lot. And when they ran to, Pet. 2. b and would have broken up the door, the men put out their hands, and pulled Lot unto them in to the house, ● Re▪ 6. d ●p. 19 d and shut to the door. And the m●n at the door of the house were smitten with blindness both small and great, so that they could not find the door. And the men said unto Lot: Hast thou yet here any son in law, or sons or daughters? Who so ever belongeth unto the in the cite, bring him out of this place: for we must destroy this place, because the cry of them is great before the LORD, which hath sent us to destroy them. Then went Lot forth, and spoke to his sons in law, which should have married his daughters, and said: O stand up, and get you out of this place, for the LORD will destroy this cite. Nevertheless they took it but for a sport. Now when the morning arose, the angels caused Lot to speed him, and said: stand up, Cap. 10. b take thy wife & thy two daughters which are at hand, that thou also per●she not in the sin of this cite. But while he prolonged the time, the men caught him and his wife, and his two daughters by the hand (because the LORD was merciful unto him,) and brought him forth, & set him without the cite. And when they had brought him out, they said: Save thy soul, and look not behind thee, neither stand thou in all this country: Save thyself upon the mountain, that thou perish not. Then said Lot unto them: O not my LORD, behold, in as much ●s thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, now make the mercy great, which thou hast showed unto me, in that thou savest my soul alive. I can not save myself upon the mountain. There might some misfortune fall upon me, that I should die. Behold, here is a cite by, that I may fly unto, and it is a little one: let me save myself there in. Is it not a little one, that my soul may live? Then said he unto him: Behold, I have looked upon the in this point also, that I will not overthrow the cite, whereof thou hast spoken. Haist thee, and save thyself there: for I can do nothing till thou be come thither. Therefore is the cite called Zoar. And the Son was up upon the earth, when Lot came in to Zoar. Then the LORD caused brimstone and fire to rain down from the LORD out of heaven upon Sodoma and Gomorra, and overthrew those cities, Esa. 13. d jere. 50. g Ose. 11. b Amos 4. the whole region, and all that dwelled in the cities, and that that grew upon the earth. Lu. 17. d Sap. 10. b And his wife looked behind her, and was turned into a pillar of salt. Abraham rose up early in the morning, and got him unto the place, Gen. 18. where he had stand before the LORD, and turned his face toward Sodoma and Gomorra, and all the land of that country, and looked. And behold, there rose up a smoke from the country, as it had been the smoke of a furnace. For when God destroyed the cities of the region, he thought upon Abraham, and conveyed Lot out of the cities which he overthrew, wherein Lot dwelled. And Lot departed out of Zoar, and dwelled in the mountains with both his daughters (for he was afraid to tarry at Zoar) and so remained he in a cave with both his daughters. Then said the elder unto the younger: Our father is old, and there is not a man more upon earth, that can come in unto us after the manner of all the world. Come therefore, let us give our father wine to drink, and lie with him, that we may save seed of our father. So they gave their father wine to drink that same night. And the elder daughter went in, Levi. 18. a and lay with her father: and he perceived it not, neither when she lay down, ner when she rose up. On the morrow the elder said unto the younger: Behold, yesternight lay I with my father: let us give him wine to drink this night also: that thou mayest go in and lie with him, that we may save seed of our father. So they gave their father wine to drink that night also: And the younger arose like wise, and lay with him: & he perceived it not, neither when she lay down, ner when she rose up. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the elder bore a son, and called him Moab, of whom come the Moabytes unto this day. And the younger bore a son also, and called him the son Ammi, of whom come the children of Ammon unto this day. The XX. Chapter. AS for Abraham, he departed thence, in to the south country, and dwelled betwixt Cades and Sur, and was a stranger at Gerar, and said of Sara his wife: Gen. 12. c ●nd. 26. a She is my sister. Then Abimelech the king of Gerar sent for her, and caused her be fett away. But God came to Abimelech by night in a dream, & said unto him: Behold, thou art but a deed man, for the woman's sake which thou hast taken, for she is a man's wife. Nevertheless Abimelech had not yet touched her, and said: LORD, will't thou slay a righteous people? Said not he unto me: she is my sister? Ye and said not she herself also: he is my brother? With a pure heart & with innocent hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream: I know that thou didst it with a pure heart, and therefore I kept thee, that thou shouldest not sin against me, neither have I suffered the to touch her. Now therefore deliver the man his wife again, for he is a prophet: and let him pray for thee, and thou shalt live. But and if thou deliver her not again, be sure, that thou shalt die the death, and all that is thy. Then Abimelech rose up by times in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears, and the men were sore afraid, and Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him: Wherefore hast thou done this unto us? And what have I offended thee, that thou shouldest bring on me and on my kingdom so great a sin? Thou hast not dealt with us, as a man should deal. And Abimelech said moreover unto Abraham: What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Abraham said: I thought: Peradventure there is no fear of God in this place, & they shall slay me for my wife's sake, And of a truth she is my sister, for she is my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter, and is become my wife. So when God charged me to wander out of my father's house, I said unto her: Show this kindness upon me, that, where so ever we come, Gen. 1●. thou say of me, that I am thy brother. Then took Abimelech sheep and oxen, servants and maidens, and gave them unto Abraham, and delivered him Sara his wife again, and said: Behold, my land standeth open before thee, devil where it liketh the. And unto Sara he said: Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand silver pens: lo, he shallbe unto the a covering of the eyes, for all that are with thee, and every where, and a sure excuse. As for Abraham, he prayed unto God: Then God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidens, so that they bore children. For afore the LORD had closed all the matrices of Abimelechs' house, because of Sara Abraham's wife. The XXI. Chapter. THe LORD also vysited Sara, according * Gen.▪ ● as he had promised: & dealt with her, even as he had said. Heb. ● And Sara was with child, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, even in the time appointed, like as God had spoken unto him afore. And Abraham called his son which was born unto him (whom Sara bore him) Isaac, and circumcided him the eight day, * Gen.▪ ● like as God commanded him. Matt▪ ● josu. ● An hundredth year old was Abraham, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sara said: God hath prepared a joy for me, for who so ever heareth of it, will rejoice with me. She said moreover: Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sara should give children suck, and bear him a son in his old age? And the child grew, and was weened. And Abraham made a great feast, in the day when Isaac was weened. And Sara saw the son of Agar the Egipcian (whom she had born unto Abraham) that he was a mocker, and said unto Abraham: Iudi●. ● Galat. ● Cast out this bond maiden and her son, for this bond maidens son shall not be heir with my son Isaac. This word displeased Abraham sore, because of his son. Nevertheless God said unto him: let it not displease the because of the child and the hand maid: What so ever Sara hath said unto thee, follow it, Rom. ● for in Isaac shall the seed be called unto the. As for the hand maidens son, ●en. 17. c I will make a people of him also, because he is of thy seed. Then Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle with water, and put it upon Agars' shoulders, and gave her the child, and sent her away. Then departed she, and wandered out of the way in the wilderness beside Berseba. Now when the water in the bottle was out, she laid the child under a bush, and went, and sat her down over on the other side, a bow shoot of. For she said: I can not see the child die. And she sat her down over on the other side, and lift up her voice, and wept. Then God heard the voice of the child, and the angel of God called unto Agar out of heaven, and said unto her: What aileth thee, Agar? Fear not, for God hath herd the voice of the child, where he lieth. Arise and take the child, and hold him by the hand, 〈◊〉. 17. c for I will make a great people of him. 〈◊〉. ●1. c Andrea God opened her eyes, that she saw a well of water. Then went she and filled the bottle with water, and gave the child drink. And God was with the child, which grew up, and dwelled in the wilderness, and become a cunning archer, and dwelled in the wilderness of Pharan, and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egipte. Gen. 2●. d At the same time talked Abimelech and Phicol his chief captain with Abraham, and said: God is with the in all that thou dost. Therefore swear now unto me by God, that thou will't not hurt me, ner my children, ner my childer's children: but that thou shalt show unto me (and to the land wherein thou art a stranger) the same kindness that I have done unto the. Gen. 20. d Then said Abraham: I will swear. And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for the well of water, Gen. 26. b which Abimelechs' servants had taken away by violence. Then answered Abimelech: I knew not who did it, neither didst thou tell me, and I have not herd of it but this day. Then took Abraham sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech, and they both made a bond together. And Abraham set seven lambs by themselves. Then said Abimelech unto Abraham: What mean those seven lambs, which thou hast set by themselves? He answered: seven lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be witness unto me, that I have digged this well. Therefore is the place called Berseba, because they swore there both together. And so they made the bond at Berseba. Then rose Abimelech and Phicol his chief captain, and departed again in to the land of the philistines. And Abraham planted trees at Berseba, and called upon the name of the LORD the everlasting God, and was a stranger in the land of the Philistynes a long season. The XXII. Chapter. AFter these acts God tempted Abraham, and said unto him: Abraham. judit. 8. Eccl. 44. Heb. 11. d And he answered: I am here. And he said: Take the son, this only son of thy, even Isaac whom thou lovest, and go thy way in to the land of Moria, & offer him there for a burned offering, upon a mountain that I shall show the. Then Abraham stood up by times in the morning, and sad led his Ass, and took with him two young men, and his son Isaac, and clove wood for the brent offering, got him up, and went on unto the place, whereof the LORD had said unto him. Upon the third day Abraham lift up his eyes, and saw the place a far of, and said unto his young men: Tarry you here with the Ass: as for me and the child, we will go yonder: and when we have worshipped, we will come to you again. And Abraham took the wood to the brent offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son. As for himself, he took the fire and a knife in his hand, and went on both together. Then said Isaac unto his father Abraham: My father. Abraham answered: here I am, my son. And he said: lo, here is fire and wood, but where is the sheep for the brent offering? Abraham answered: My son, God shall provide him a sheep for the brent offering. And they went both together. And when they came to the place which God showed him, Abraham builded there an altar, and laid the wood upon it, and band his son Isaac, laid him on the altar, above upon the wood, and stretched out his hand, and took the knife, to have slain his son. Then the angel of the LORD called from heaven unto him, and said: Abraham Abraham. He answered: here am I He said: Say not thy hands upon the child, & do nothing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, and hast not Mac. 2 f Ro. 8. d spared thy only son for my sake. Then Abraham lift up his eyes, and saw behind him a ram, held fast by the horns in the breres, and went, and took the ram, and offered him for a brent sacrifice, in stead of his son. And Abraham called the place. The LORD shall provide. Therefore it is a common saying yet this day: Upon the mountain shall the LORD provide. And the angel of the LORD cried unto Abraham from heaven the second tymy, ●eb. 6. b ●cclesias●● 44. c and said: I have sworen by mine own self (sayeth the LORD) that for so much as thou hast done this, and hast not spared thy only son, I will prosper and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand upon the see shore. ●en. 24. g Andrea thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies: and Gen. 12. a ●alat. 3. b ●ct. 3. d in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast herkened unto my voice. So Abraham turned again to the young men, and they got up, and went together unto Berseba, and dwelled there. After these acts it fortuned, that it was told Abraham: Behold, Milca hath born children also unto thy brother Nahor: namely, job 1. ● Hus the elder, and job 32. a Bus his brother, and Kemnel, of whom came the Syrians: and Cesed, and Haso, and Pildas, and jedlaph and Bethuel. And Bethuel begat Rebecca. These eight did Milca bear unto Nahor Abraham's brother. And his concubine called Rehuma, bore also: namely, Thebes, Sahan, Thahas, and Maacha. The XXIII. Chapter. SAra was an hundredth and senem and twenty year old: so long lived she, and died in the head cite which is called Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Then went Abraham, Act. 8. a to mourn and weep for her. afterward he stood up from his coarse, and talked with the hittites, & said: I am a stranger and an indweller among you, give me a possession to bury in with you, that I may bury Some read▪ * my c●●arse 〈◊〉 lieth before 〈◊〉 my coarse by me. Then the hittites answered Abraham, and said unto him: O hear lord, thou art a prince of God among us: bury thy dead in the best of our sepulchres, there shall none of us forbid thee, that thou shouldest not bury thy deed in his sepulchre. Then Abraham stood up, and thanked the people of the land: namely the hittites. And he talked with them, and said: If it be your will that I bury my coarse by me, hear me them, & speak for me to Ephron the son of Zoar, that he may give me the double cave, which he hath in the end of his field. For a reasonable money let him give it me, for a possession to bury in among you. For Ephron dwelled among the hittites. Then answered Ephron the Hethire unto Abraham, that the hittites might hear, before all that went out and in at the gates of his cite, and said: Not my lord, but hear me: As for the field, and the cave also that is therein, I give it thee: and in the sight of my people I give it thee, to bury thy de●●●n. ●●en Abraham thanked the people of the land, and talked with Ephron, that the people of the land might hear, and said: Hear me then, Receive of me the money that I give the for the field, and so will I bury my deed there. Ephron answered Abraham, and said unto him: Hear me my lord: The field is worth four hundredth Sycles of silver: but what is that betwixt me and thee? Bury thy deed. Abraham herkened unto Ephron, and weighed him the money which he had said, that the hittites might hear: namely four hundredth silver sycles of currant money among merchants. Thus Ephrons' field (where in the double cave is) which lieth over before Mamre, even the field and the cave, was made sure for Abraham's own good, with all the trees of the field also round about, in the sight of the hittites, and of all that go out and in at the gates of his cite. Then Abraham buried Sara his wife in the double cave of the field, that lieth over before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave therein was made sure of the hittites unto Abraham, for a possession to bury in. The XXIIII. Chapter. ABraham was old and well strike in age, and the LORD had blessed him in all things. And he said unto his elder servant of his house, which had the rule of all his goods: 〈◊〉. 47. g Say thy hand under my thy, that I may make the swear by the LORD the God of heaven and earth, that thou take no wife unto my son among the daughters of the Canaanites, 〈◊〉. 2●. a 〈◊〉. 7. a (among whom I devil) but that thou go in to my country? and Gen. 11. d to mine own kindred, and bring my son Isaac a wife. The servant said: What and the woman will not follow me in to this country? shall I then carry thy son again in to yonder land, where thou camest out of? Abraham said unto him: Beware of that, that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD, the God of heaven, which took me fro my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and that talked with me, and swore also unto me, Gen. 15. d and said: Unto the sede will I give this land: Even he shall send his angel before thee, that thou mayest bring my son a wife from thence. But if the woman will not follow thee, thou art discharged of this oath: only bring not my son thither again. Then the servant laid his hand under his master Abrahams thy, and swore the same unto him. So the servant took ten Camels of the Camels of his master and departed, and had with him of all manner of goods of his master, and got him up, and departed unto Mesopotamia, to the cite of Nahor. Then let he the Camels lie down without before the cite beside a well of water in the evening, about the time that the women used to go forth, and to draw water. And he said: O LORD, thou God of my master Abraham, meet me to day, and show mercy unto my master Abraham. Lo, I stand here beside the well of water, & the men's daughters of this cite will come forth to draw water: Now if there come a damsel, to whom I say: bow down thy pitcher, & let me drink, and if she say: drink, and I will give the Camels drink also: That the same be she, whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: & that I may know by the same that thou hast showed mercy upon my master. And or ever he had left of speaking, behold, Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel (which was the son of Milca, that was the wife of Nahor Abraham's brother) came forth, and bore a pitcher upon her shoulder, and she was a very fair damsel of face, and yet a virgin, and unknown of any man: She went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up again. Then ran the servant to meet her, and said: Let me drink a little water out of the pitcher. And she said: drink sir. And haistely let she down the pitcher in her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had given him drink, she said: I will draw for thy Camels also, till they have drunk enough. And she made haist, and poured out her pitcher in to the trough, and ran again to the well to draw, and drawn for all his Camels. The man marveled at her, and held his tongue, till he knew whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not. Now when the Camels had all drunken, he took a golden earring of half a Sycle weight, and two bracelets for her hands, weing ten Sycles of gold, and said: Daughter, whose art thou? tell me. Is there room for us in thy father's house to lodge in? She said unto him: I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Mylca, whom she bore unto Nahor. Gen. 22. d And said moreover unto him: We have plenty of litter and provender, and room enough to lodge in. Then the man bowed himself, and thanked the LORD, and said: Praised be the LORD the God of my master Abraham, which hath not withdrawn his mercy and his truth fro my master, for the LORD hath brought me the way to my master's brother's house. And the damsel ran and told all this in her mother's house. And Rebecca had a brother called Laban. And Laban ran to the man without by the well side: and that came by the reason that he saw the earynges, and the bracelets upon his sister's hands, and heard the words of Rebecca his sister, that she said: thus spoke the man unto me. And when he came to the man, behold, he stood by the Camels at the well side. And he said: Come in Some read * thou be loved. thou blessed of the LORD, wherefore stondest thou without? I have dressed the house, and made room for the Camels. So he brought the man in to the house, and unbridled the Camels, and gave them litter and provender, and water to wash his feet, and the men's that were with him, and set meat before him. Nevertheless he said: I will not eat, till I have first told mine earande. 1. Re. 16. ● They answered: Tell on. He said: I am Abraham's servant, and the LORD hath prospered my master richly, so that he is become great: and he hath given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, servants and maidens, Camels and Asses: ye and Sara my master's wife hath born my master a son in her old age: ●en. 21. a unto him hath he given all that he hath. And my master hath taken an oath of me and said: Thou shalt not take a wife for my son among the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I devil, but go the way to my father's house and to mine own kindred, and there take a wife for my son. But I said unto my master: What and the woman will not follow me? Then said he unto me: The LORD (before whom I walk) shall send his angel with thee, and prosper thy journey, that thou mayest take a wife for my son of mine own kindred, and of my father's house. And so when thou comest to my kindred, if they give her not unto thee, thou shalt be discharged of mine oath. So I came this day unto the well of water, and said: O LORD thou God of my master Abraham, If thou hast prospered my journey that I go: Behold, I stand here by the well of water: Now if there come forth a virgin to draw water, and I say unto her: g●ue me a little water to drink out of thy pitcher, and she say unto me: Drink thou, and I will draw water for thy Camels also: that the same be the woman, which the LORD hath provided for my master's son. Now or ever I had spoken out these words in my heart, behold, Rebecca cometh forth with a pitcher upon her shoulder, and goeth down to the well, and draweth. Then said I: give me a drink. And immediately she took down the pitcher from her shoulder, and said: drink, and I will give thy Camels drink also. So I drank, and she gave the Camels also to drink. And I axed her, and said: Daughter, whose art thou? She answered: I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milca bore unto him. Then laid I the earinge upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands, and bowed myself, and thanked the LORD, and praised the God of my master Abraham, which had brought me the right way, to take my master's brothers daughters unto his son. If you be they then that show mercy and faithfulness unto my master, tell me: If not, yet tell me, that I may turn me to the right hand or to the left. Then answered Laban and Bethuel, and said: This is come of the LORD, therefore can we say nothing against thee, neither evil ner good. There is Rebecca before thee, take her, and go thy way, that she may be thy master's sons wife, as the LORD hath said. When Abraham's servant heard these words, he bowed himself unto the LORD flat upon the earth, and took forth jewels of silver and gold, and raiment, and gave them unto Rebecca. But unto her brethren and the mother, he gave spices. Then he ate and drunk, and the men also that were with him, and tarried there all night. But in the morning he arose, and said: Let me depart unto my master. Nevertheless her brother and her mother said: Let the damsel tarry with us at the least ten days, and then shall she go. Then said he unto them: hold me not, for the LORD hath prospered my journey: let me go, that I may depart unto my master. Then said they: let us call the damsel, and axe her, what she sayeth thereto. And they called Rebecca, and said unto her: Will't thou go with this man? And she answered: Ye I will go with him. So they let Rebecca their sister go with her norse and Abraham's servant, and his men. And they blessed Rebecca, and said unto her: Thou art our sister, grow in to many thousand times thousands, Gen ● and thy seed possess the gates of his enemies. So Rebecca got her up with her damsels, and sat them upon the Camels, and went their way after the man. And the servant took Rebecca, and departed. As for Isaac, he was coming from * the well of the living & saying, for he dwelled in the south country, and was go forth to his meditations in the field about the even tide. And he lift up his eyes, and saw, that there were Camels coming. And Rebecca lift up her eyes, and saw Isaac. Then lighted she of the Camel, and said unto the servant: What man is this, that cometh against us in the field? The servant said: The same is my master. Then took she her cloak, and put it about her. And the servant told Isaac all the earande that he had done. Then Isaac brought her in to his mother Saras tent, and took Rebecca, and she become his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted over his mother. The XXV. Chapter. ABraham took another wife called Ketura, 〈…〉 which bore him Simram & jaksan, Medan & Midian, jeszbak and Suah. jaksan begat Seba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were Assurim, Latusim, and Leumim. The children of Midian were Epha, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaa. All these are the children of Ketura. And Abraham gave all his goods unto Isaac: As for the children that he had of the concubines, he gave them gifts, and (while he yet lived) he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward in to the east country. This is the age of Abraham which he lived: even an hundredth and five and seventy year, and fallen sick and died in a good age, 〈◊〉. 15. c when he was old, & had lived enough and was gathered unto his people. Andrea his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the double cave in the field of Ephron the son of Zoar the Hittite, which lieth over before Mamre, 〈◊〉. 32. c in the field that Abraham bought of the hittites. There was Abraham buried with Sara his wife. And after the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And he dwelled by the well of the living and saying. This is the generation of Ishmael Abraham's son, whom Agar Saras maid the Egipcian bore unto him. And these are the names of Ismaels' children, of whom their kynredes are named. The elder son of Ishmael, Nebaioth, Cedar, Abdeel, Mibsan, Misma, Duma, Masa, Hadar, Thema, jethur, Naphis and Kedma. These are the children of Ishmael with their names in their courts and cities 〈◊〉. 17. c twelve londeprynces. And this is the age of Ishmael, even an hundredth and seven and thirty year, and he fallen sick and died, and was gathered unto his people. He dwelled from Hevila unto Sur toward Egipte, as men go to the Assyrians And he died in the presence of all his brethren. This is the generation of Isaac the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac was forty year old, when he took to wife Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia, & Sister of Laban the Syrian. Isaac besought the LORD for his wife (because she was barren) and the LORD was entreated, and Rebecca his wife conceived. And the children strove to-together in her womb. Then said she: If it should go so with me, why am I then with child? And she went for to axe the LORD. And the LORD said unto her: Two manner of folk are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be divided out of thy body, and the one nation shall overcome the other, 2. Re 8. c Rom. 9 b and the greater shall serve the less. Now when the time came that she should be delivered, behold, josu. 24. a there were two twins in her womb. The first that came forth, was reed, all rough as an hide, and they called him Esau. Anon thereafter came his brother forth, which held the heel of Esau with his hand, Ose. 12. a and they called him jacob. Three score year old was Isaac, when they were born. And when the boys were grown up, Esau become an hunter, & an husband man. As for jacob, he was a simple man, and dwelled in the tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his venison. But Rebecca loved jacob. And jacob dight a meace of meat. Then came Esau from the field, and was weighed, and said unto jacob: Let me prove of that reed meace of meat, for I am fayntie (therefore is he called Edom.) But jacob said: Cell me this day thy birthright. Esau answered: Lo, I must die nevertheless, what good then shall my birthright do me? jacob said: Then swear unto me even this same day. And he swore unto him, and so he sold his birthright unto jacob. Then jacob gave him bread and that meace of rise. And he ate and drunk, and stood up, Heb. 12. c and went his way. And so Esau regarded not his birthright. The XXVI. Chapter. THere came a dearth in the land, passing the other that was in Abrahams tyme. Gen. 12. c And Isaac went to Gerar, unto Abimelech the king of the philistines. Than the LORD appeared unto him, and said: Go not down in to Egipte, but tarry in the land that I shall say unto the. Be thou a stranger in this land, Ecclesiastici 44. d and I will be with the and bless the. For unto the and thy seed will I give all this land, and will perform mine oath that I swore to thy father Abraham. And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, Gen. 15. c and 22. c and unto thy seed will I give all this land, and thorough thy seed shall all nations be blessed, because Abraham was obedient unto my voice, and kept mine ordinances, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. So Isaac dwelled at Gerar. And when the men of the same place axed him of his wife, Gen. 12. c and 20. a he said: she is my sister. For he was afraid to say: she is my wife, (thinking thus:) they might slay me for Rebeccas' sake, for she was beautiful to look unto. Now when he had been there a long season, Abimelech the king of the Phylistynes looked out at a window, and saw Isaac sporting with Rebecca his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac, and said: Behold, she is thy wife, why saidest thou then: She is my sister? Isaac answered him: I thought, I might peradventure ha-he died because of her. Abimelech said: Why hast thou then done this unto us? It could lightly have come to pass, that some of the people might have lyen with thy wife, and so hadst thou brought sin upon us. Then Abimelech commanded all the people, and said: Who so toucheth this man or his wife, shall die the death. And Isaac sowed in that land, and found the same year an hundredth buszshels, for the LORD blessed him. And he become a great man, went forth, and grew, till he was exceeding great, so that he had much good in sheep and great cattles, and a great household. Therefore had the philistines envy at him, Gen. 21. c and stopped all the wells, that his father's servants had digged in the time of Abraham his father, and filled them with earth, In so much that Abimelech also himself said unto him: Depart from us, for thou art far mightier than we. Then departed Isaac from thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelled there. And when he was satled, he caused to dig up the wells again, that they had digged up in his father Abraham's time, which the philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham, and he called them after the same names that his father had named them withal. Isaac's servants also digged in the valley, and there they found a well of living water. But the hyrdmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's hyrdmen, Gen. 1●. a and said: The water is ours. Then called he the well Eseck, because they had done him wrong. Then digged they another well, and strove for that also: therefore called he it Sytena. So he got him from thence, and digged another well, for the which they strove not: therefore he called it Rehoboth, and said▪ Now hath the LORD made us room, and let us grow in the land. afterward he departed thence unto Berseba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said: I am the God of thy father Abraham, fear thou not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. Then builded he an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there, and there his servants digged a well. 〈…〉 And Abimelech went unto him from Gerar, and Ahusath his friend, and Phicolhis chief captain. 〈…〉 But Isaac said unto them: Wherefore come you to me? saying you hate me, and have put me away from you? They said: We see with open eyes, that the LORD is with thee, therefore we devised that there should be an oath betwixt us and thee, and that we would make a bond with thee, that thou do us no harm, like as we have not hurt thee, and as we have done nothing unto thee, but all good, and let the depart in peace. As for thee, thou art the blessed of the LORD. Then Isaac made them a feast, and they ate and drunk. And on the morrow they arose, and swore one to the other. And Isaac let them go, and they departed from him in peace. The same day came Isaac's servants, and told him of the well that they had digged, and said unto him: We have found water. And he called it Saba. Therefore is the cite called Bersaba unto this day. The XXVII. Chapter. When Esau was forty year old, he took wives: judith the daughter of Beri the Hittite, and Basmath the daughter of Elon the Hittite▪ both these were dishobedient unto the spirit of Isaac and Rebecca. And it came to pass when Isaac was old, his eyes waxed dim of sight, and he called Esau his greater son, and said unto him: My son. He answered him: Here am I And he said: Behold, I am old, and know not when I shall die. Now therefore take thy gear, thy quiver and thy bow, and get the forth to the field, and take me some venison, and make me meat (soch as I love) and bring it me herein, that I may eat, that my soul may bless thee, before I die. But Rebecca heard these words, that Isaac said unto his son. And Esau went his way in to the field, to hunt venison, and to bring it home. Then said Rebecca unto jacob her son: behold, I have heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying: Bring me venison, and make me meat, that I may eat, and bless the before the LORD, year I die, Now therefore my son, hear my voice, what I command thee: Go thy way to the flock, and fetch me two good kyddes, that I may make meat of them for thy father, such as he loveth: this shalt thou bring in unto thy father, that he may eat, that he may bless the before his death. Nevertheless jacob said unto Rebecca his mother: Behold, my brother Esau is rough, and I am smooth: then might my father peradventure feel me, and I should seem unto him as though I beguiled him, and so bring a curse upon me and not a blessing. Then said his mother unto him: That curse be upon me my son, follow thou my voice: go thy way and fetch it me. So he went his way, and fetched it, and brought it unto his mother. Then his mother made meat, according as his father loved, and took Esau's her elder sons costly raiment (which she had with her in the house) and put them upon jacob her younger son. But the kyddes skins put she about his hands, and where he was smooth about the neck: and so she put the meat with bread (as she had made it) in her son jacob's hand. And he brought it in unto his father, and said: My father. He answered: here am I, who art thou my son? jacob said: I am Esau thy firstborn son, I have done as thou saidest unto me: arise, sit up, and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. But Isaac said unto his son? My son, how hast thou found it so soon? He answered: The LORD the God brought it to my hand. Then said Isaac unto jacob: Come near my son, that I may feel thee, whether thou be my son Esau or not. So jacob went unto Isaac his father. And when he had felt him, he said: The voice is jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. And he known him not, for his hands were rough like as the hands of his brother Esau. And he blessed him. And he said unto him: art thou my sonsonne Esau? He answered: Ye I am. Then said he: Bring me here then to eat of thy venison my son, * that my heart may wish the good. that my soul may bless the. Then he brought it him, and he ate: and he brought him wine also, and he drank. And Isaac his father said unto him: Come nigh, and kiss me my son. So he came nigh, and he kissed him. Then smelled he the savour of his clotheses, and blessed him, and said: Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of the field, which the LORD hath blessed. Heb. 11. d Eccli. 3. b God give the of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenteousness of corn and wine. Nations be thy servants, and people fall down at the foot. Be thou lord over thy brethren, and thy mother's children fall down at thy foot. Cursed be he, Gen 12. a that curseth thee: and blessed be he, that blesseth the. Now when Isaac had made an end of blessing, and jacob was scace go out from his father Isaac, his brother Esau came from his hunting, and made meat also, and brought it unto his father, and said unto him: Arise my father, and eat of the sons venison, that thy soul may bless me. Then answered him Isaac his father: Who art thou? He said: I am Esau thy firstborn son. Then was Isaac exceadingly amazed above measure, and said: Who? Where is then the hunter that brought me, and I have eaten of all afore thou camest, and have blessed him? And he shall be blessed still. When Esau heard these words of his father, he cried loud, and was exceeding sorry, and said unto his father: O bless me also my father. But he said: Thy brother came with sotyltie, and hath taken thy blessing away. Then said he: He may well be called jacob, for he hath undermined me now two times. My birth right hath he away, and behold, now taketh he away my blessing also. And he said: Hast thou not kept one blessing for me? Isaac answered, and said unto him: I have made him lord over thee, and all his brethren have I made his servants. With corn & wine have I provided him. What shall I do unto the now my son? Esau said unto his father? Hast thou not one blessing more my father? O bless me also my father. And he lift up his voice, & wept. Heb. 12. c Then Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt have a fat dwelling upon earth, Heb. 11. d & of the dew of heaven from above: with thy sword shalt thou get thy living, and shalt serve thy brother. And it shall come to pass, that thou shalt put of his yock, * 4. Re. 8. c and pluck it from thy neck. Andrea Esau bore evil will unto jacob, because of the blessing that his father had blessed him withal, Abd. 1. a and said in his heart: The time will come shortly, that my father shall mourn, for I will slay my brother jacob. Then was it told Rebecca of these words of her elder son, and she sent, and bad call for jacob her younger son, and said unto him: Behold, thy brother Esau threateneth thee, that he will slay the. And now my son hear my voice: Get the up, and fly unto my brother Laban in Haran, and tarry there with him a while, * Gen. 33. a till the furiousness of thy brother be suaged, and till his wrath against that be turned from thee, and he forget what thou hast done unto him. So will I then send for thee, and 'cause the be fetched from thence. Why should I be rob of you both in one day? And Rebecca said unto Isaac: I am weighed of my life, because of the daughters of Heth: If jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, * Gen. 10. c which are as the daughters of this land, what shall this life then profit me? The XXVIII. Chapter. THen called Isaac his son jacob and Some read: * talked lovingly with him. blessed him, and charged him, & said unto him: Take not a wife of the daughters of Canaan, but get the up, and go in to Mesopotamia unto the house of Bethuel thy mother's father, and take that there a wife of the daughters of Laban the mothers brother. And the almighty God bless thee, and make the fruitful, and multiply thee, (that thou mayest be a multitude of people) and give the the blessing of Abraham unto the & thy seed with thee, that thou mayest possess the land, wherein thou art a stranger, * Gen. 15. d and 24. a which God gave unto Abraham. So Isaac let jacob depart, that he might go in to Mesopotamia unto Laban the son of Bethuel of Syria, the brother of Rebecca, his and Esau's mother. Now when Esau saw that Isaac had blessed jacob, and let him depart in to Mesopotamia, that he might take a wife there: and that, as he blessed him, he charged him, & said: Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan, and that jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was go unto Mesopotamia: saying also that Isaac his father looked not gladly upon the daughters of Canaan, he went his way unto Ishmael, and beside the wives that he had afore, 〈…〉 he took Mahaloth the daughter of Ishmael (Abraham's son) the sister of Nebaioth, to wife. As for jacob, he departed from Bersaba, and went unto Haran and came to a place, where he tarried all night: for the Son was down. And he took a stone of the place, & put it under his head, and laid him down in the same place to sleep. And he dreamt, and behold, there stood upon the earth, a ladder, whose top reached unto the heaven. And behold, 〈…〉 the angels of God went up and down upon it, and the LORD stood upon it, and said: I am the LORD God of thy father Abraham, and the God of Isaac: 〈…〉 The land that thou liest upon, will I give unto thee, 〈…〉 and to thy seed: and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth. And thou shalt spread forth toward the west, east, north, and south: 〈…〉 and thorough the and thy seed shall all the kindred's upon earth be blessed. And behold, I am with thee, and will keep the where so ever thou goest, & will bring the hither again in to this land: for I will not leave thee, till I have made good, all that I have promised the. Now when jacob awaked from his sleep, he said: Surely the LORD is in this place, and I known not. And he was afraid, and said: How fearful is this place? here is nothing else but an house of God, & a gate unto heaven. And jacob arose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had laid under his head, and set it up, 〈…〉 and poured oil upon it. And he called the place Bethel, but afore the cite was called Lus And jacob made a vow, and said: If God will be with me, 〈…〉 and keep me in this journey that I go & give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, and bring me peaceably home again unto my father: Then shall the LORD be my God, and this stone that I have set up, shall be an house of God: and all that thou givest me, I will give the the tenth thereof. The XXIX. Chapter. THen jacob got him up upon his feet; and went in to the east country, & looked about him, and behold, there was a well in the field, and the flocks of sheep thereby, for the flocks drank of the well. And there lay a great stone at the wells mouth, and thither they used to bring the flocks, and to roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and to give the sheep drink, & so they put the stone again upon the wells mouth in to his place. And jacob said unto them: Brethren, whence be you? They answered: we are of Haran. He said unto them: Know you Laban the son of Nahor? They answered: We know him well. 〈◊〉. 4●. c He said: Is he in good health? They answered: he is in good health. And lo, there cometh his daughter Rachel with the sheep. He said: It is yet high day, & is not yet time to drive in the cattles: give the sheep to drink, & go your way, & feed them. They answered: We can not, till all the flocks be brought together, and till we roll the stone from the wells mouth, & so give the sheep drink. While he yet talked with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept the sheep. When jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, he went, & rolled the stone from the wells mouth, and gave his mother's brother sheep to drink, and kissed Rachel, lift up his voice, and wept, and told her, that he was her father's brother, and the son of Rebecca. Then ran she, and told her father. When Laban heard of jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him in to his house. And so he told him all this matter. Then said Laban unto him: Well, thou art my bone and my flesh. Abide with me a month long. But after that said he unto jacob: Because thou art my brother, shalt thou therefore serve me for naught? Tell me, what shall thy wages be. Laban had two daughters, the elder was called Lea, & the youngest Rachel. And Lea was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful & well favoured of face, and jacob loved her well, and said: I will serve the seven year, for Rachel thy youngest daughter. Laban answered: It is better that I give her thee, then unto another: tarry thou with me. So jacob served seven year for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but few days, he loved her so well. And jacob said unto Laban: give me my wife, for the time is come that I should lie with her. Then Laban bade all the people of that place, and made a marriage. But at even he took his daughter Lea, and brought her in unto him, and he lay with her. And Laban gave Zilpa his maid unto his daughter Lea to be her maid. But on the morrow, behold, it was Lea. And he said unto Laban: Why hast thou done this unto me? Have not I served the for Rachel? Why hast thou then beguiled me? Laban answered: It is not the manner in our country, to marry the youngest before the elder. Hold out this week, & I will give the this also, for the service that thou shalt do me yet seven years more. jacob did so, & held out that week. Then gave he him Rachel his daughter to wife. And Laban gave Bilha his maiden unto Rachel his daughter to be her maiden. So he lay with Rachel also, & loved Rachel more than Lea, and served him yet seven years more. But when the LORD saw, that Lea was nothing regarded, he made her fruitful, and Rachel barren. And Lea conceived, and bore a son, whom she called Reuben, 1. Par. 2. a and said: The LORD hath looked upon my adversity. Now will my husband love me. And she conceived again, and bore a son, and said: The LORD hath herd that I am despised, and hath given me this also, and she called him simeon. She conceived yet again, and bore a son, and said: Now will my husband keep me company again, for I have born him three sons, therefore called she his name Levi. She conceived the fourth time, and bore a son, and said: Now will I give thanks unto the LORD, therefore called she him juda, and left bearing. The XXX. Chapter. WHen Rachel saw that she bore no children unto jacob, she had envy at her sister, & said unto jacob: give me children also, or else I am but deed. But jacob was very wroth at Rachel, & said: Am I then in God's stead, which keepeth the fruit of the womb from thee? Nevertheless she said: Behold, there is Bilha my maiden, lie with her, that she may bear upon my lap, & that I may be increased by her. And so she gave him Bilha her maiden to wife. And jacob lay with her. So Bilha conceived, and bore jacob a son. Then said Rachel: God hath given sentence on my side, and heard my voice, and given me a son, therefore called she him Dan. Bilha Rachel's maid conceived again, and bore another son unto jacob. Then said Rachel: God hath turned it with me, and my sister, and I have gotten the upperhand. And she called him Nephthali. Now when Lea saw that she had left bearing, she took Silpa her maid, and gave her unto jacob to wife. So Silpa Leas maid bore jacob a son. Then said Lea: This is good luck, & she called him Gad. After this Silpa Leas maid bore jacob another son. Then said Lea: Well is me, for the daughters will call me blessed, and she called him Asser. Reuben went out in the time of the wheat harvest, and found Mandragoras in the field, and brought them home unto his mother Lea. Then said Rachel unto Lea: give me some of the sons Mandragoras. She answered: Hast thou not enough that thou hast taken away my husband, but will't take away my sons Mandragoras also? Rachel said: Well, let him lie with the this night for thy sons Mandragoras. Now when jacob came home at even from the field, Lea went forth to meet him, and said: Thou shalt lie with me, for I have bought the for my sons Mandragoras. And he slept with her that night. And God heard Lea, and she conceived, and bore jacob the fifth son, & said: God hath rewarded me, because I gave my maiden unto my husband, and she called him Isachar. Lea conceived yet again, and bore jacob the sixte son, and said: God hath endued me with a good dowry. Now will my husband devil with me again, for I have born him six sons, & she called him Zabulon. After that she bore a daughter, whom she called * Goe 34. a Dina. Nevertheless God thought upon Rachel, and heard her, and made her fruitful. Then she conceived, and bore a son, and said: God hath taken away my rebuke, and she called him joseph, 1. Par. 2. a and said: God give me yet another son. Now when Rachel had born joseph, jacob said unto Laban: ●. Re. 11. d Let me go, & depart in to my place and unto mine own land: give me my wives and my children, (for the which I have served thee) that I may go: for thou knowest, what service I have done the. Laban said unto him: Can I not find favour in thy sight? I perceive, that God hath blessed me for thy sake. Gen. ● appoint thou the reward, that I shall give the. But he said unto him: Thou knowest how I have served thee, and what manner of cattles thou hast under me. Thou hadst but little afore I came hither, but now is it grown into a multitude, and the LORD hath blessed that for my sake. And now when shall I look to mine own house also? He said: What shall I then give thee? jacob said: Thou shalt give me nothing at all, but if thou will't do this for me that I say, then will I feed and keep thy sheep again. I will go thorough all thy flocks to day, and separate thou from among them all the sheep that be spotted and party coloured, and all black sheep among the lambs. Now look what shallbe party coloured and spotted among the kyddes, the same shall be my reward: so shall my righteousness testify with me to day or tomorrow, when it cometh unto my reward before thee, so that, what so ever is not spotted and party coloured among the kyddes, and black among the lambs, let that be theft with me. Then said Laban: Behold, let it be so as thou hast said. And that same day he sundered out the speckled and party coloured goats, and all the spotted and party coloured kyddes (where there was any white upon them) and all that was black among the lambs, and put them under the hand of his children, and made room of three days journey wide betwixt him and jacob. So jacob kept the residue of Laban's flock. But jacob took staves of green wyllies, hazel and of chestnottrees, and pilled white strekes in them, and laid the staves that he had pilled, in the drinking troughs before the flock, which came there to drink, that they should conceive, when they came to drink. So the flocks conceived over the staves, and brought forth speckelde, spotted and party coloured. Then jacob parted the lambs, and put them to the flock unto the spotted: and all that was black in Laban's flock, that put he unto the spotted. And he made him a flock of his own, which he put not unto Laban's flock. Nevertheless in the first bucking time of the flocks, he laid the staves in the drinking troughs before the eyes of the flocks, that they should conceive over the staves. But in the latter bucking time he laid them not in. So the later were Laban's, but the firstlinges were jacob's. Thus the man become exceeding rich, so that he had many sheep, maidens & servants, Camels and Asses. The XXXI. Chapter. HE heard also of the words of Laban's children, that they said: jacob hath brought all our fathers good unto himself, & of our father's good hath he got these riches. And jacob beheld Laban's countenance, & behold, it was not toward him as yesterday and yeryesterdaye. And the LORD said unto him: Gen. ●2. b Depart again to thy fatherlande, and to thy kindred, I will be with the. Then sent jacob and bad call Rachel and Lea in to the field to his flocks, and said unto them: I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me like as yesterday and yeryesterdaye: but the God of my father hath been with me. And you know, that I have served your father with all my power. And he hath deceived me, and changed my wages now ten times. But God hath not suffered him, to do me harm. If he said: The party coloured shallbe thy reward, than the whole flock bore party coloured. If he said: The speckelde shallbe thy reward, them the whole flock bore speckelde. Thus hath God with drawn your father's goods from him, and given them unto me. For when the bucking time came, I lift up mine eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams leapt upon the flock that was speckelde, spotted, & party coloured. And the angel of God said unto me in a dream: jacob. And I answered: here am I He said: lift up thy eyes, and behold, the rams leap upon the speckelde, spotted, and party coloured flock: for I have seen all that Laban doth unto the. I am the God at Bethel, Gen. 28. d where thou didst anoint the stone, & maydest a vow there unto me. Get the up now, & depart out of this land, & go again in to the land of thy kindred. Then answered Rachel and Lea, and said unto him: As for us, we have no porcionner inheritance more in our father's house, & he hath counted us as strangers, for he hath sold us, & spent up our wages. Therefore hath God withdrawn our fathers riches from him unto us & our children. What so ever now God hath said unto thee, that do. So jacob got up, and set his children and wives upon Camels, and carried away all his cattles and all his substance, that he had got at Mesopotamia, that he might come unto Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. Gen. 38. ● 2. Re. 13. ● Laban was go to clip his flock, and Rachel stolen her father's * Gen. 35. ● images. Thus did jacob steal away the heart of Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. So he fled, & all that was his, got up, and passed over the water, & went strait toward the mount Gilead. Upon the third day it was told Laban, that jacob fled. And he took his brethren unto him, and followed after him seven days journey, and overtook him upon the mount Gilead. But God came unto Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, & said unto him: beware, that thou speak nothing to jacob but good. And Laban drawn nigh unto jacob. As for jacob, he had pytched his tent upon the mount. And Laban with his brethren pitched his tent also upon the same mount Gilead. Then said Laban unto jacob: What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away my heart, and carried away my daughters, as though they had been taken captive with the sword? Wherefore keptest thou that secret, that thou wouldest fly, and hast stolen away fro me, and toldest me not, that I might have brought the on the way with mirth, with synginge, with tabrettes and haps? and hast not suffered me to kiss my children and daughters? Thou hast done foolishly, and so much might I have made, that I could have done you evil: but your father's God said yesterday unto me: beware, that thou speak nothing unto jacob but good. And for so much then as thou wouldest needs depart, and longedest sore after the fathers house, why hast thou stolen away my gods? jacob answered and said unto Laban: I was afraid, that thou shouldest have taken away thy daughters fro me: but look by whom thou findest thy gods, let the same die here before our brethren. Seek that thy is by me, and take it away. (But he known not, that Rachel had stolen them.) Then went Laban in to jacob's tent and in to Leas tent, and in to both the maidens tents, and found nothing: and out of Leas tent he went in to Rachel's tent. Then took Rachel the images, and laid them under the Camel's straw, and sat down upon them. But Laban searched the whole tent, and found nothing. Then said she unto her father: Be not angry my lord, that I can not rise up unto thee: for it goeth with me after the manner of women. So he sought, and found not the images. And jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban, answered & said unto him: What have I trespased or offended, that thou art so hot upon me? Thou hast searched all my household stuff, & what hast thou found of thy household stuff? Say it here before my brethren & thine, that they may judge between us both. Twenty year have I been with thee: thy sheep & goats have not been unfruitful, the rams of thy flock have I not eaten: Look what was Ex. 22. b torn of beasts, I brought it not unto that, I was fain to pay it myself: thou requyredest it of my hand●, whether it were stolen fro me by day or by night. On the day time the heat consumed me, and the frost on the night, and my sleep departed fro mine eyes. Thus have I served twenty year in thy house, fourteen years for thy daughters, & six for thy flock, and ten times hast thou changed my reward: & if the God of my father the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac had not been on my side, thou hadst latten me go away empty. But God hath looked upon mine adversity and labour, and rebuked the yesterday. Laban answered and said: The daughters are my daughters, & the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, & all that thou seist is mine. What can I do this day unto these my daughters, or to their children whom they have born? Now therefore come on, let us make a covenant (I & thou) which may be a witness between me and the. Then took jacob a stone, & set it up (for a piler or markstone) and said unto his brethren: Gather stones. And they took the stones, and made an heap, & ate upon the same heap. And Laban called it jegar Sahadutha, but jacob called it Gilead: (either of them after the property of his language.) Then said Laban: Hosu. 22. ᶠ ● 24. f This heap be witness between me and the this day (therefore is it called Gilead) and a testimony, for he said: The LORD look between me and thee, when we are departed the one from the other: if thou vex my daughters, or take other wives unto them. There is no man with us, but lo, God is the witness between me and the. And Laban said moreover unto jacob: Behold, this is the heap, and this is the marckstone that I have set up betwixt me and thee: the same heap be witness, and the same marckstone also be witness, if I pass over unto thee, or if thou pass over this heap & marckstone unto me, to do any harm. The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, and the God of their fathers, be judge between us. And jacob swore unto him by the fear of his father Isaac. And jacob offered an offering upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread. And when they had eaten, they tarried upon the mount all night. But upon the morrow Laban rose up early, kissed his children & daughters, & blessed than, & departed, and came again unto his place. As for jacob, he went on his journey, & the angels of God met him. And when he saw them, he said: It is God's host, & called the same place Mahanaim. The XXXII. Chapter. Jacob sent messaungers before him to his brother Esau * Ios● ● in to the land of Seir, of the field of Edom, & commanded them, & said: Say thus unto my lord Esau: Thy servant jacob sendeth the this word: I have been out with Laban, & have been hither to among strangers, & have oxen & Asses, sheep, servants & maidens, & have sent forth to show it the my lord, that I might find favour in thy sight. The messaungers came again unto jacob, and said: We came unto thy brother Esau, & he cometh forth also against the with four hundredth men. Then was jacob sore afraid, and wist not what way to turn himself, & divided the people that was with him, and the sheep, and the oxen, & the Camels in to two droves, & said: If Esau come upon the one drove, and smite it, the other shall escape. jacob said moreover: O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD thou that saidest unto me: * Ge● ● Depart again to thy own land and to thy kindred, and I will do the good: I am to little for all the mercies and all the truth that thou hast showed unto thy servant (for I had no more but this staff when I went over this jordan, and now am I become two droves) deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him, jest he come and smite me the mother with the children. Thou saidest: I will do the good, and will make thy seed as the sand of the see, which can not be numbered for multitude. And there he tarried that night, and took of such as came to hand, a present unto his brother Esau, two hundredth she goats, 1. Re. ● twenty he goats, two hundredth sheep, twenty rams and thirty milk camels with their foals, forty kine, ten bullocks, twenty she Asses with ten foals, and put them in the hands of his servants, every flock by themselves, & said unto them: Go you forth before me, & put a space betwixt one flock after the other, and commanded the first and said: When my brother Esau meeteth thee, and axeth thee: Whose art thou? & whither goest thou? and whose are these that thou dryvest before thee? Thou shalt say: They be thy servant jacob's, which sendeth a present unto his lord Esau, and cometh behind us himself. Thus commanded he the second also, and the third, and all them that followed the flocks, and said: Like as I have told you, so speak you unto Esau, when you meet him, and say unto him also: Behold, that servant jacob is behind us. For he thought: I will reconcile him with the present that goeth before me, after ward will I see him myself, peradventure he shall receive me to grace. So the present went before him, but he tarried in the tent the same night, and rose up in the night, and took his two wives and the two maidens and his eleven sons, and went unto the ford of jacob, took them and carried them over the water, so that all that he had came over, and tarried himself alone on this side. Ose. 12. a Then wrestled there a man with him until the break of the day. And when he saw that he might not overcome him, he touched the senowe of his thy, and the senowe of his thy shrancke in wrestling with him. And he said: Let me go, for the day breaketh on. But he answered: I will not let that go, except thou bless me. He said: What is thy name? Gen. 35. ᵇ ●. Re. 18. d He answered: jacob. He said: Thou shalt no more be called jacob, but Israel, for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And jacob axed him, & said: Tell me, what is the name? But he said: Iudi●. 13. c Why axest thou what my name is? Andrea he blessed him there. And jacob called the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face, & my soul is recovered. And as he came over from Peniel, the Son rose upon him, & he halted upon his thy. Therefore eat the children of Israel no vane upon the senow of the thy unto this day, because the vane upon the senow of jacob's thy was touched. The XXXIII. Chapter. Jacob lift up his eyes, & saw his brother Esau coming with four hundredth men: and he divided his children unto Lea unto Rachel, and to both the maidens, and set the maidens with their children before, and Lea with her children after, and Rachel with joseph hinder most. And he went before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, till he came to his brother. * Goe 27. g But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fallen about his neck, & kissed him, and wept, and lift up his eyes, and saw the wives with the children, and said: What are these with thee? He answered: They are the children, which God hath given unto thy servant. And the maidens came forth with their children, and did their obeisance unto him. Lea came forth also with her children, and kneeled unto him. afterward came joseph and Rachel forth, and kneeled unto him like wise. And he said: What meanest thou with all the drove that I met? He answered: that I might find grace in the sight of my lord, Esau said: I have enough my brother, keep that thou hast. jacob answered: O nay, but if I have found grace in the sight, receive my present of my hand (for I saw thy face, 2. Re. 19 c Hest. 15. b as though I had seen the face of God) and be at one with me. Take this present in good worth, that I have brought thee, for God hath given it me, & I have enough of all things. So he compelled him to take it. And he said: Let us go on and take our journey, I will go in thy company. But he said unto him: My lord, thou knowest that I have tender children by me, and small and great cattles also, which are yet but young: if they should be driven over in one day, the whole flock would die. Let my lord go on before his servant. I will drive after fair and softly, (there after as the cattles & the children can go,) till I come to my lord in Seir. Esau said: Yet will I leave some of my people with the. He answered: What need is it? Let me but only find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau departed again the same day toward Seir, and jacob took his journey toward Sucoth, and builded him an house, and made tents for his cattles. Therefore is the place called Sucoth. afterward came jacob peaceably unto the cite of Sichem, which lieth in the land of Canaan, Gen. 28. ● after that he was come again out of Mesopotamia, and pitched before the cite, josu. 24. ● and bought a piece of land of the children of Hemor the father of Sichem for Some read: * an hundredth lambs. an hundredth pens. There pitched he his tent, and there he set up an altar, and called upon the name of the mighty God of Israel. The XXXIIII. Chapter. DIna the daughter of Lea, which she bore unto jacob, went out to behold the daughters of the land. When Sichem the son of Hemor the Henite (which was lord of the land) saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and forced her, and his heart hanged upon her, and he loved the damsel, and talked lovingly with her, and spoke to his father Hemor: Get me this maiden to wife. And jacob understood, that Dina his daughter was defiled, and his sons were with the cattles in the field, and jacob held his tongue till they came. Then Hemor the father of Sichem went forth unto jacob to comen with him. In the mean season came jacob's sons from the field. And when they heard it, it grieved the men, and they were very wroth, that he had wrought folly in Israel, and lyen with jacob's daughter: for so was not the use to do. Then comened Hemor with them, and said: My son Sichems' heart longeth for your daughter, O ge●e her him to wife: make friendship with us, give us your daughters, and take you our daughters, and devil with us, the land shall be open unto you, devil and occupy, and have your possessions therein. And Sichem said unto her father and brethren: Let me find grace with you: look what you appoint me, I will give it: require the dowry and gift of me hardly, I will give it according as you will axe, only give me the damsel to wife. Then jacob's sons answered Sichem and Hemor his father (and spoke disceatfully, because their sister Dina was defiled) & said unto them: That can we not do, to give our sister to an uncircumcided man: for that were a shame unto us. Nevertheless we will consent unto you, if you willbe like unto us, and be circumcided as many as are males among you: then will we give you our daughters, and take your daughters unto us, and devil with you, and be one people. But if you will not hearken unto us, to be circumcided, then will we take our daughter, and go our way. These words pleased Hemor and his son well, and the young man defe●de not to do the same, for he had lust to jacob's daughter: and he was held in honour above all in his father's house. Then came Hemor and Sichem his son under the gate of cite, and comened with the citizens of the cite, and said: These men are peaceable with us, and will devil in the land and occupy: now is the land broad of both the sides, we will take their daughters unto us, and give them our daughters. But then will they consent unto us, to devil by us, and to be one people with us, if we circumcise all the men children among us, like as they are circumcised: their cattles and goods, and all that they have, shall be ours, if we consent unto them, that they may dwell with us. And they herkened unto Hemor and Sichem his son, as many as went out and in at the gate of his cite, and circumcided all the males, that went out and in at his cite. And upon the third day (when it was painful to them) the two sons of jacob Simeon and Levi Dinas brethren, Iud● ● took every man his sword, and went boldly in to the cite, * Ge.▪ ● and slay all the males, and slay Hemor also and Sichem his son with the edge of the sword, and took their sister Dina out of Sichems' house, and went their way. Then came jacob's sons over the slain, and spoiled the cite (because they had defiled their sister) and took their sheep, oxen, Asses, and what so ever was in the cite and in the land, and all manner of goods: All their children and wives took they captive, and spoiled all that was in the houses. And jacob said unto simeon and Levi: You have brought it so to pass, that I stink before the inhabiters of this land, the Canaanites and Pheresites, & I am but a small number: If they gather themselves now together against me, they shall slay me, so shall I be destroyed with my house. But they answered: Should they then deal with our sister as with an whore? The XXXV. Chapter. ANd God said unto jacob: Get the up, and go unto Bethel, & devil there, and make there an altar unto the God, that appared unto thee, * Goe ● when thou fleddest from thy brother Esau. Then said jacob unto his household and to all that were with him: Put away from you the strange * Ge ● gods, that are among you, and cleanse yourselves, and change your clotheses, and let us get up, and go unto Bethel, that I may there make an altar unto the God, which heard me in the time of my trouble, 〈◊〉 28. ● and hath been with me in the way that I have go. Then gave they him all the strange gods that were under their hands, and their earynges, and he buried them under an Oak that stood beside Sichem, & departed. And there came a fear of God upon the cities that lay round about, so that they followed not after the sons of jacob. So came jacob unto Lus in the land of Canaan (which is called Bethel) and all the people that were with him, and there he builded an altar, and called the place Bethel, because the LORD appeared unto him there, when he fled from his brother. Then died 〈◊〉 24. g Deborah Rebeccas' norse, and was buried beneath Bethel under the Oak, and it was called the Oak of lamentation. 〈◊〉 12. a Andrea God appeared again unto jacob, after that he was come out of Mesopotamia, and blessed him, & said unto him: Thou art called jacob, 〈◊〉. 12. ᵉ ● c. 18. d nevertheless thou shalt no more be called jacob, but Israel shall be the name. And so was he called Israel. And God said unto him: Goe 17. a I am the almighty God, be fruitful and multiply: people and a multitude of people shall come of thee, and Mat. 1. a kings shall come out of thy loins: and the land that I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, will I give unto thee, & will give it unto thy seed after the. So God departed from him, from the place where he talked with him. Andrea jacob set up a piler of stone, in the place where he talked with him, & poured drink offerings thereon, and poured oil upon it. And jacob called the place where God talked with him, Bethel. And he departed from Bethel: and when he was yet a field broad from Ephrath, Rachel travailed, & the birth came hard upon her. But when she had such pain in traveling, ●. Re. 4. d the mid wife said unto her: fear not, for thou shalt have this son also. But as her soul was departing, that she must die, she called him Ben Oni: nevertheless his father called him Ben jamin. Gen. 4●. b So Rachel died, & was buried in the way toward Ephrath, which now is called Bethlehem. Andrea jacob set up a pillar upon her grave, there is Rachel's grave-stone unto this day. And Israel departed, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of ●ich. 4. b Eder. And it chanced▪ that when Israel dwelled in that land, Reuben went Goe 49. a and lay with Bilha his father's concubine, and that came to Israel's ears. And jacob had twelve sons. The sons of Lea were these: Reuben jacob's first born son, Simeon, Levi, juda, Isachar, & Zabulon. The sons of Rachel, were joseph and Ben jamin. The sons of Bilha Raches maid: Dan, and Nepthali. The sons of Silpa Leas maid: Gad and Aser. These are the sons of jacob, which were born unto him in Mesopotamia. And he came to his father Isaac to Mamre in to the head cite which is called Hebron, where in Abraham & Isaac were strangers. And Isaac was an hundredth & four score year old, & fallen sick, and died, & was gathered unto his people, when he was old, & had lived enough: and his sons Esau & jacob buried him. The XXXVI. Chapter. THis is the generation of Esau, which is called Edom. Esau took wives of the daughters of Canaan. * Goe 27. a Ada the daughter of Elon the Hittite: & Ahalibama the daughter of Ana, the child's child of Zibeon the Hevite: And Basmath * Goe 28. b Ismaels' daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. Andrea Adabare Eliphas unto Esau. Basmath bore Reguel. Ahalibama bore Ie●s, jaelam, & Korah. These are the children of Esau, that were born unto him in the land of Canaan. And Esau took his wives sons & daughters, and all the souls of his house, his substance, and all the cattles with all the goods that he had got in the land of Canaan, and went in to a country away from his brother jacob: for their substance was so great, that they could not devil together: and the land wherein they were strangers, might not hold them because of their goods. So Esau dwelled upon mount Seir. And Esau is Edom. This is the generation of Esau, of whom are come the Edomites upon the mount Seir. And these are the names of the children of Esau: Eliphas the son of Ada Esau's wife: Reguel the son of Basmath Esau's wife: The sons of Eliphas were these: Theman, Omar, Zepho, Gaetham & Kenas. And * Goe 36. d Thimna was a concubine of Elyphas the son of Esau, and bore him Amaleck. These are the children of Ada Esau's wife. The children of Reguel are these: Nahath Serah, Samma, Misa. These are the children of Basmath Esau's wife. The children of Ahalibama Esau's wife, the daughter of Ana, that was the child's child of Zibeon (which she bore unto Esau) are these: jeus, jaelam and Korah. These are the princes among the children of Esau. The children of Eliphas the first son of Esau, were these: The prince Theman, the prince Omar, the prince Zepho, the prince Kenas, the prince Korah, the prince Gaethan, the prince Amaleck. These are the princes of Eliphas in the land of Edom, and are the children of Ada. And these are the children of Roguel Esau's son: the prince Nahath, the prince Serah, the prince Samma, the prince Misa. These are the princes of Reguel in the land of the Edomites, & they are the children of Basmath Esau's wife. These are the children of Ahalibama Esau's wife: The prince Icus, the prince jaelam, the prince Korah. These are the princes of Ahalibama, the daughter of Ana Esau's wife. These are the children of Esau and their princes. He is Edom. The children of Seir the Horite that dwelled in the land, are these: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Ezer & Disan. These are the princes of the Horites, all children of Seir in the land of Idumea. But the children of Lothan were these: Hori, & Heman, & Lothans' sister was called * Goe 36. b Thimna. The children of Sobal were these: Aluam, Manahat, Ebal, Sepho & Onan. The children of Zibeon were: Aia & Ana. This is the same Ana that found * Leu. 19 c Mules in the wilderness, when he kept his father's Zibeons Asses. The children of Ana were: Dison: & Ahalibama, that is the daughter of Ana. The children of Dison were: Hemdan, Eszban, jethran & Charan. The children of Ezer were: Bilhan, Seavam, & Ackan. The children of Disan were: Vz & Aran. These are the princes of the Horites: The prince Lothan, the prince Sobal, the prince Zibeon, the prince Ana, the prince Dison, the prince Ezer, the prince Disan. These are the princes of the Horites, which ruled in the land of Seir. The kings that reigned in the land of Edumea (before the children of Israel had any king) are these: 1. Pa●. 1. d Bela the son of Beor was king in Edumea, & the name of his cite was Dinhaba. And when Bela died, jobab the son of Serah of Bosra was king in his stead. When jobab died, Husam out of the land of the Themanites was king in his stead. When Husam died, Hadad the son of Bedad) which slew the Madianites in the Moabites field) was king in his stead, & the name of his cite was Auith. When Hadad died, Samla of Masreck was king in his stead. When Samla died, Saul of Rehoboth by the water side, was king in his stead. When Saul died, Baal Hanan the son of Achbor was king in his stead. When Baal Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadad was king in his stead, & the name of his cite was Pagu, & his wife's name was Meher Abeel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mesahab. Thus are the princes of Esau called in their kindred's, places & names: The prince Thymna, the prince Alva, the prince jetheth, the prince Ahalibama, the prince Ela, the prince Pynon, the prince Kenas, the prince Theman, the prince Mibzar, the prince Magdiel, the prince Iran. These are the princes in Edumea, like as they dwelled in the land of their possessions. And Esau is the father of the Edomites. The XXXVII. Chapter. Jacob dwelled in the land, wherein his father was a stranger, namely in the land of Canaan. And these are the generations of jacob. joseph was seventeen year old, when he become a keeper of the cattles with his brethren, & the lad was with the children of Bilha & Silpa his father's wives, and told their father of the evil report that was of them. Israel loved joseph more than all his children because he had begotten him in his old age, and he made him a cote of many colours. Now when his brethren saw, that his father loved him more than all his brethren, they had evil will at him, & could not speak a friendly word unto him. * joseph also had once a dream, and told his brethren thereof. Then hate● they him the more, for he said: Hear I pray you what I dreamt. Me thought we were binding sheaves upon the field, & my sheaf arose, and stood up, and your sheaves round about made obeisance unto my sheaf. Then said his brethren unto him: Shalt thou be our king, and have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more, because of his dream, & his words. And he had yet another dream, which he told his brethren, & said: Behold, I had yet another dream: Me thought the Son & the Moon & eleven stars made obeisance to me. And when this was told his father and his brethren, his father reproved him, & said unto him: What manner of dream is this, that thou hast dreamt? Shall I & thy mother, & thy brethren come & fall before the upon the ground? And his brethren had envy at him. But his father marcked this saying. Now when his brethren were go forth to keep their father's cattles in Sichem, Israel said unto joseph: Do not the brethren keep the cattles in Sichem? Come, I will send the unto them. He answered: * Here am I And he said: Go thy way, and look whether it be well with thy brethren and with the cattles, and bring me word again how it is. And he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, to go unto Sichem. Then a certain man found him, wandering out of his way in the field, which axed him, and said: Whom seekest thou? He answered: I seek my brethren: tell me I pray the where they keep. The man said: They are go from hence, for I heard them say: let us go unto Dothan. Then followed joseph after his brethren, and found them at Dothan. Now when they saw him a far of, afore he came at them, they devised to slay him, and said one to another: Lo, there cometh the dreamer, 〈…〉 come on, and let us slay him, & cast him in a pit, and say: a wicked beast hath devoured him: them shall it be seen, what his dreams are. When Reuben heard that, he would have delivered him out of their hands, & said: 〈◊〉 42. c O let us not slay a soul. Reuben said moreover unto him: Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, & lay you no hands upon him. (He would have delivered him out of their hands, that he might have brought him again unto his father.) When joseph now came to his brethren, they stryped him out of his cote, that party coloured cote which he had upon him, & took him and cast him in to a pit. But the same pit was empty, and no water in it, & they sat them down to eat. In the mean season they lift up their eyes, and saw a company of Ismaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels, which barespyces, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egipte. Then said juda unto his brethren: what helpeth it us, that we slay our brother, and hide his blood? Come, let us cell him unto the Ismaelites, that our hands be not defiled upon him, for he is our brother, our flesh and blood. And they herkened unto him. And as the Madianites merchant men went by, they drawn joseph out of the pit, and sold him unto the Ismaelites (for twenty silver pens) which brought him in to Egipte. Act. 7. b Now when Reuben came again unto the pit, & found not joseph therein, he rend his clotheses, and came again to his brethren and said: The lad is not yonder, whither shall I go? Then took they joseph's cote & slew a goat, and dypped the cote in the blood, and sent away that party coloured cote, and caused it be brought unto their father and said: This have we found, look, whether it be thy sons coat, or no. But he knew it, and said: It is my sons coat, * Goe 44 d a wicked beast hath devoured him, a ravishing beast hath ravished joseph. And jacob rent his clotheses, and put a sackcloth about his loins, & mourned for his son a long season. And all his sons & daughters came unto him to comfort him. But he would not be comforted, & said: With sorrow will I go down in to the grave unto my son. And his father wept for him. But the Madianites sold him in Egipte unto Potiphar pharao's chief Marshal. Psa. 104. c The XXXVIII. Chapter. IT fortuned at the same time, that juda went down from his brethren, & got him to a man called Hyra at Odollam. And there juda saw a man of Canaan's daughter called Sua, and took her. And when he had lyen with her, she conceived and bore a son, whom she called Er. And she conceived again, & bore a son- whom she called Onan. She proceeded yet further, & bore a son, whom she called Sela. And when she had born him, she left of bearing. And juda gave his first son Er a wife, whose name was Thamar. But he was wicked before the LORD, therefore the LORD slay him. Then said juda unto his son Onan: Go lie with thy brother's wife, and mary thyself with her, that thou mayest raise up seed unto thy brother. But when Onan knew that the seed should not be his own, when he lay with his brother's wife, Deut. 25. ● he let it fall upon the earth and destroyed it, that he should not give seed unto his brother. This thing that he did displeased the LORD sore, and he slew him also. Then said judas unto Thamar his sons wife. Remain a widow in thy father's house, till my son Sela be grown: for he thought: peradventure he might die also like as his brethren. So Thamar went her way, and remained in her father's house. Now when many days were passed, the daughter of Sua judas wife died. And when juda had left mourning, he went up unto Thimnath * Goe 31. c 2. Re. 1●. c to clip his sheep with his shepherd Hyra of Odollam. Then was it told Thamar: behold, thy father in law goeth up unto Thimnath, to clip his sheep. Then put she of the widow's garments that she had upon her, covered and dysgysed herself, & sat her down without the port by the way side toward Thymnath. For she saw that Sela was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. Now when juda saw her, he thought it had been an whore, for she had covered her face: and he got him to her in the way, and said: I pray the let me lie with thee, for he knew not that it was his daughter in law. She answered: What will't thou give me, that thou mayest lie with me? He said: I will send the a kid from the flock. She answered: give me a pledge then, till thou send it me. He said: What pledge will't thou that I give thee? She answered: Thy signet, and thy bracelet, and thy staff that thou hast in thy hand. Then he gave it her, and lay with her, and she was with child of him. And she got her up, and went her way, and laid of her cloak, and put on her widow's garments again. juda sent the kid by his shepherd of Odolla, to fetch the pledge again from the woman, and he found her not. Then axed he the men of the same place, & said: Where is the whore that sat without in the way? They answered: There hath no whore been here. And he came again unto juda, and said: I have not found her, moreover the men of the same place said: that there hath no whore been there. juda said: Let her take it unto her, jest we haply be shamed, for I have sent the kid, and thou hast not found her. After three months it was told juda: Thamar thy daughter in law hath played the whore: and behold, by whoredom is she got with child. juda said: bring her forth, that she may be brent. And when she was brought forth, she sent unto her father in law, and said: By the man that oweth these, am I with child. And she said: Knowest thou whose is this signet, this bracelet & this staff? juda knew them, & said: She is more righteous than I, for I gave her not my son Sela: But he lay no more with her. When the time came that she should be delivered, there were two twins found in her womb. And as she was now in traveling, the one put out his hand. Then the midwife took and bound a reed thread about it, and said: This shall come out first. But when he pluck in his hand again, his brother came forth. And she said: Wherefore is there a rend maid for thy sake? And he was called * Phares. afterward came his brother forth, which had the reed thread about his hand, and he was called Zarah. The XXXIX. Chapter. joseph was brought down in to Egipte, 〈…〉 & Potiphar an Egipcian pharao's chief marshal bought him of the Ismaelites, that brought him down. And the LORD was with joseph, in so much that he become a lucky man, & was in his master the Egipcians house. And his master saw that the LORD was with him: for what so ever he did, the LORD made it to prosper in his hand: so that he found favour in his master's sight, & was his servant. He made him ruler of his house, and put all that he had, under his hand. And from the time forth that he had made him ruler of his house and all his goods, the LORD blessed the Egipcians house for joseph's sake: and there was nothing but the very blessing of the LORD in all that he had in the house & in the field, therefore left he all that he had, in joseph's hand. And meddled with nothing himself, save only the bread that he ate. And joseph was fair of beauty, and well favoured offace. And it fortuned after these acts, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon joseph, and said: sleep with me. But he denied, and said unto her: Behold, my master knoweth not what is in the house, and all that he hath, that hath he put under my hand. And there is no man so great in the house as I, and he hath kept nothing fro me, except thee: for thou art his wife. How should I then do so great evil, and sin against God? But she spoke such words unto joseph daily. Nevertheless he herkened not unto her, to sleep by her, or to be in her company. It fortuned upon a time, that joseph went in to the house to do his business, and there was none of the folks of the house thereby. And she caught him by his garment, & said: sleep with me. But he left the garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out of the house. Now when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and fled out, she called the folks in the house, and said unto them: Lo, he hath brought us in the Hebrew, to do us shame. He came in here unto me, to sleep by me: but I cried with loud voice. And when he heard that I made a noise & cried, he left his garment here by me, and fled, and ran out. And she laid up his garment by her, till his master came home, and told him even the same words, and said: The Hebrew servant whom thou broughtest here unto us, came in here to me, for to do me shame. But when I made a noise and cried, he left his garment here by me, and fled out. When his master heard the words of his wife which she told him, and said: Thus hath the Hebrew servant done unto me, he was very wroth. Then his master took him, and put him in the preson, 〈◊〉 4. c wherein the kings presoners lay. And there he lay in preson. But the LORD was with him, and had mercy upon him, & caused him to find favour in the sight of the officer of the preson, so that he committed all the presoners of the preson unto his hands: that what so ever were done, might be done by him. For the officer of the preson saw, that the LORD was with him in all that was under his hands, and that what so ever he did, the LORD made it to come prosperously to pass. The XL. Chapter. ANd it fortuned after this, that the king of Egiptes' chief butler and the chief baker offended their lord the king of Egipte. And Pharaoh was angry with them, & caused them be put in preson in the chief marshal's house, where joseph lay prisoner. And the chief marshal put joseph unto them, that he might serve them. And so they were in preson for a season. And they dreamt, both the butler & the baker in one night, every man his own dream, and every dream had his interpretation. Now in the morning when joseph came in unto them, and saw that they looked sadly, he axed them and said: Why look you so sadly to day? They answered: We have dreamt, and have no man to declare it unto us. joseph said: interpreting belongeth unto God, but tell it me yet. Then the chief butler told joseph his dream, and said unto him: I dreamt that there was a vine before me, which had three branches, and it budded, grew and bore blossoms, and the grapes thereof were ripe. And I had pharao's cup in my hand, & took (the grapes) and wrong them in to the cup, and gave Pharaoh the cup in his hand. joseph said: This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days, and over three days shall Pharaoh take thee, and put the in thy office again, that thou mayest give him the cup in his hand after the old manner, when thou wast his butler. But when thou art in thy prosperity, think upon me, and show me kindness, that thou mayest certify Pharaoh of me, that he may bring me out of this house: for I was privily carried out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing, that they should have put me in this dungeon. When the chief baker saw, that the interpretation was good, he said unto joseph: I dreamt, that I bore three wyker baskets upon my head, and in the uppermost baszket all manner of baken meats unto Pharaoh, and the fowls ate out of the baszket upon my head. joseph answered, and said: This is the interpretation: The three baszkettes are three days, and after three days shall Pharaoh take thee, and hang the upon the gallow, and the fowls shall eat thy flesh from of ye.. And upon the third day it came to pass, that Pharaoh held his * Mat. 14 a birth day, and made a feast unto all his servants, and took the chief butler and the chief baker before all his servants, and restored the chief butler to his butlarshipe again, so that he reached the cup in to pharao's hand. As for the chief baker, he caused him be hanged like as joseph had interpretated unto him. Nevertheless the chief butler thought not on joseph, but forgot him. The XLI. Chapter. ANd after two years Pharaoh had a dream, how that he stood by a water side: and behold, out of the water there came seven goodly kine, and fatfleshed, and went feeding in the meadow. After these he saw other seven kine come out of the water, which were evil favoured and lean fleshed, and went by the kine upon the water side: and the evil favoured lean kine ate up the seven goodly and fat kine. Then Pharaoh awaked. And he slept again, and dreamt the second tyme. And he saw that seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk, full and good. afterward he saw seven thin and blasted ears come up, and the seven thin ears devoured the seven great and full ears. Then Pharaoh awaked, and saw that it was a dream. And when it was day, his spirit was troubled, and he sent out, & caused to call all the soythsayers in Egipte & all the wise men, and told them his dream. But there was none, that could tell Pharaoh the interpretation of it. Then spoke the chief butler unto Pharaoh, and said: This day do I remember my fault. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in preson with the chief baker in the chief marshals house, we dreamt both in one night every man his dream, having his own interpretation. Then was there with us a young man an Hebrew, the chief marshal's servant, unto whom we told it, and he declared our dreams unto us, unto every man according to his dream. And as he declared it unto us, so came it to pass. For I was restored unto mine office, and he was hanged. Then Pharaoh sent and called for joseph and they let him out of the dungeon. And he let himself be shaven, and changed his clotheses, and came in unto Pharaoh. Then said Pharaoh unto him: I have dreamt a dream, and there is no man that can interpret it: but I have herd tell of thee, that when thou hearest a dream, thou declarest it. joseph answered Pharaoh, and said: God shall give Pharaoh a prosperous answer, ye well without me. Pharaoh said unto joseph: I dreamt that I stood by a water side, and behold, out of the water there came seven kine, fatfleshed and goodly, and went feeding in the meadow. And after them I saw other seven kine come out, thin, evil favoured, and leenfleshed. So evil favoured saw I never in all the land of Egipte. And the seven lean and evil favoured kine, ate up the seven first fat kine. And when they had eaten them up, a man conde not perceive that they had eaten them, & were as evil favoured as they were afore. Then I awaked. And I saw again in my dream seven ears of corn, growing upon one stalk, full and good. afterward there sprung up seven withered ears, thin and blasted, and the seven thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I have showed it unto my soithsayers, but they can tell me nothing thereof. joseph answered Pharaoh: Both pharao's dreams are one. God showeth Pharaoh what he will do. The seven good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years also. It is one dream. The seven lean and evil favoured kine, that came up after them, are seven years. And the seven thin and blasted ears, shallbe seven years of dearth. This is now the thing which I told Pharaoh, that God showeth Pharaoh, what he will do. Behold, there shall come seven years with great plenteousness in the whole land of Egipte, and after the same there shall come seven years of dearth, so that all this plenteousness shallbe forgotten in the land of Egipte: and the dearth shall consume the land, so that the plenteousness shall not be perceived in the land, because of the dearth that cometh thereafter, for it shall be very great. Where as Pharaoh dreamt the second time, it signifieth that this thing is surely prepared of God, and that God will shortly bring the same to pass. Let Pharaoh now provide for a man of understanding & wisdom, whom he may set over the land of Egipte, and see that he ordene officers in the land, and take the fifth (part) of the land of Egipte in the seven plenteous years, and gather all the food that shall come of the plenteous years, that they may say up corn under pharao's power for sustenance in the cities, and keep it, that there may be food found prepared for the land in the seven dear years, which shall come upon the land of Egipte, that the land be not destroyed of hunger. The saying pleased Pharaoh well and all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants? How might we find such a man, in whom is the spirit of God? And said unto josep: For so much as God hath showed the all this, there is none of such understanding & wisdom as thou. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people obey: 〈…〉 only in the kings seat will I be more than thou. And he said: Behold, I have set the over the whole land of Egipte. And he took of his ring from his hand, and gave it joseph in his hand, and clothed him with white silk, and hung a chain of golge about his neck, and made him ride upon the second chariot: and caused it be proclaimed before him, that men should bow their knees unto him, as to him whom Pharaoh had set over the whole land of Egipte. And Pharaoh said unto joseph: I am Pharaoh: without thy will shall no man move his hand or his foot in all the land Egipte. And he called him 〈◊〉 Zaph●●●h Pae●● that is ●●aye: 〈◊〉 expound of se●●te thin 〈◊〉, or a 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 secre●●hīges 〈◊〉 ope●●. Zaphnath Paena, & gave him a wife, even Asnath the daughter of Potiphar the priest of On. So joseph went out, for to visit the land of Egipte. (And he was thirty year old, when he stood before Pharaoh.) And he departed from Pharaoh, and went thorough all the land of Egipte. And the land did so those seven plenteous years, and they gathered all the food of the seven years that were in the land of Egipte, & laid it in the cities. Look what food grew in the field round about every cite, they put it therein. So joseph laid up the corn in store, and that much above measure, as the sand of the see: in so much that he left of numbering of it, for it could not be numbered. And unto joseph there were born two sons (before the dearth came) whom Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On bore unto him. ●en. 46. c And the first called he Manasses: for God (said he) hath caused me to forget all my labour, and all my father's house. The second called he Ephraim: for God (said he) hath caused me to grow in the land of my trouble. Now when the seven plenteous years were ended in Egipte, then began the seven dear years to come, Act. 7. b whereof joseph had said. And there was dearth in all lands, but in all the land of Egipte there was food. Now when the land of Egipte began to suffer hunger also, the people cried unto Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh said unto all the Egipcians: Go unto joseph, what he sayeth unto you, that do. So when there was dearth in all the land, joseph opened all that was by him, & sold unto the Egipcians. Thus the dearth prevailed in the land, & all countries came to Egipte to buy at joseph: for the dearth was mighty in all lands. The XLII. Chapter. When jacob saw that there was much corn in Egipte, he said unto his sons: Why gape you? Behold, I hear that there is much come in Egipte, go down & buy us corn, that we may live, & not die. So joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egipte. As for Ben jamyn joseph's brother, jacob would not let him go with his brethren, for he said: Some misfortune might happen unto him. So the children of Israel came to buy corn, among other that came with them: for there was dearth also in the land of Canaan. But joseph was governor in the land, and sold corn unto all the people in the land. Now when his brethren came to him, they fallen down to the ground before him upon their faces. And he saw them, & knew them, and held himself strange toward them, and talked roughly with them, and said unto them: Whence come you? They said: Out of the land of Canaan to buy victual. Nevertheless though he knew them, yet knew they not him. And joseph thought upon the dreams that he had dreamt of them, Gen. 37. a and said unto them: You are spies, and are come to see where the land is open. They answered him: Not my lord, thy servants are come to buy victual: we are all one man's sons, we are unfeigned, and thy servants were never spies. He said unto them: Not, but you are come to see where the land is open. They answered him: We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and the youngest is with our father: as for one, he is away. joseph said unto them: This is it that I said unto you: spies are you. Here by will I prove you: By the life of Pharaoh you shall not yet hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Send away one of you to fetch your brother, but you shallbe in preson. Thus will I try out your words, whether you go about with truth or not: for else, by the life of Pharaoh you are spies. And he put them together in ward three days long. Upon the third day he said unto them: If you will live, them do thus, for I fear God: If you be unfeigned, let one of your brethren lie bound in your preson: but go you your way, and carry home the necessary food, & bring me your youngest brother, so will I believe your words, that you shall not die. And so they did. And they said one to another: This have we deserved against our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear him: therefore cometh now this trouble upon us. Reuben answered them, and said: Told not I you the same, when I said: * Goe 37. d O sin not against the lad, but you would not hear. Now is his blood required. But they known not that joseph understood it, for he spoke unto them by an interpreter. And he turned him from them, and wept. Now when he had turned him to them again, and talked with them, he took Simon from among them, & bound him before their eyes, and commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to put every man's money in his sack, and to give every one his expenses by the way. And so was it done unto them. And they jaded their corn upon their Asses, and departed thence. But when one opened his sack to give his Ass provender in the Inn, he spied his money in his sack mouth, and said unto his brethren: My money is restored me again: lo, it is in my sack. Then their hearts failed them, and they were afraid among themselves, and said: Wherefore hath God done this unto us? Now when they came home to jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened unto them, & said: The man that is lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. And when we answered: we are unfeigned, & were never spies, but are twelve brethren the sons of our father: one is away, and the youngest is yet this day with our father in the land of Canaan, He said: Hereby will I mark, that you are unfeigned: Leave one of your brethren with me, & take food necessary for your houses, & go your way, and bring your youngest brother unto me: so shall I know that you are no spies, but unfeigned: them shall I deliver you your brother also, and you may occupy in the land. And when they opened their sacks, every man found his boundell of money in his sack. And when they and their father saw, that it was the bundles of their money, they were afraid. Then said jacob their father: You have rob me of my children. joseph is away, Simeon is away, and you will take Ben jamin away: It goeth all over me. Reuben answered his father & said: If I bring him not to the again, then slay my two sons: deliver him but in to my hand, I will bring him again unto the. He said: my son shall not go down with you: for his brother is deed, and he is left alone. If any misfortune should happen unto him by the way that you go, you should bring my grey hair with sorrow down unto the grave. The XLIII. Chapter. But the dearth oppressed the land. And when all the vytales that they had brought out of Egipte were spent, jacob their father said unto them: Go again, and buy us a little food. Then juda answered him, and said: The man swore unto us, and said: you shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. If so be now that thou will't send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy the food. But if thou will't not send him, we will not go down. For the man said unto us: You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Israel said: Wherefore have you done this evil unto me, to tell the man, that you had yet a brother? They answered: The man enquered so strately of us and of our kindred, & said: Is your father yet a live? Have you yet a brother? Then told we him, as he axed us. How could we know, that he would say: bring your brother down with you? Then said juda unto Israel his father: Let the lad go with me, that we may get us up and take our journey, and live, and not die, both we and thou, and our children. * I will be surety for him, of my hands shalt thou require him. If I bring him not unto the again, & set him before thy eyes, I will bear the blame my life long. For if we had not made this tarrying, we had now been come again twice. Then said Israel their father unto them: If it must needs be so, then do this: take of the best fruits of the land in your sacks, and bring the man a present: a courtesy balm, and honey, and spices, and myrrh, and dates, and almonds. Take other money with you also, and the money that was brought again in your sack mouths, carry it again with you: peradventure it was an oversight. And take your brother, get you up, & go again unto the man. The almighty God give you mercy in the sight of the man, that he may let you have your other brother, and Ben jamin. As form, I must be as one, that is rob of his children. Then they took the present, and other money with them, and Ben jamin, got them up, and went in to Egipte, and stood before joseph. Then joseph beheld them with Ben jamin, and said unto the ruler of his house: Bring these men in, and slay, & make ready, for they shall dine with me at no one. And the man did as joseph bade him, & brought the men in to joseph's house. When they were brought in to joseph's house, they were afraid, and said: We are brought hither because of the money, that came again in our sacks at the first, to pike a quarrel with us, and to say something to our charge, and to take us for bond servants with our Asses. Therefore came they to the man, that was ruler of joseph's house, and talked with him at the door, and said: Sir, ●en. 4●. c we came down at the first to buy food, and when we came in the Inn, and opened our sacks, behold, every man's money was in his sack mouth with full weight: therefore have we brought it with us again, & have brought other money with us also, to buy food: but we can not tell, who put our money in our sacks. He said: Be content, fear you not, your God even the God of your fathers hath given you that treasure in your sacks, I had your money. And he brought forth Simeon unto them, and led them in to joseph's house, and gave them water to wash their feet, & gave their Asses provender. And they made ready the present, against joseph came at no one: for they heard, that they should dine there. Now when joseph went in to the house, they brought him home the present that they had, and fallen down to the ground before him. But he welcomed them courteously, and said: Is your father, (that old man which you told me of) in good health? Is he yet alive? They answered: Thy servant our father is in good health, and is yet alive. And they bowed them selves, and fallen down before him. And he lift up his eyes, and saw his brother Ben jamin his mother's son, and said: Gen. 42. b Is this your youngest brother, that you told me of? Andrea he said moreover: God be merciful unto the my son. And joseph made haist (for the ground of his heart was kindled toward his brother) and sought how he might weep, ●. Re. 3. d & went in to his chamber, and wept there. And when he had washed his face, he went out, and refrained himself, and said: set bread (on the table.) And they brought unto him by himself, and unto them by themselves, and to the Egipcians also that ate with them, by themselves. (For the Egipcians dare not eat bread with the Ebrues, that is an abomination unto them.) And they were set over against him, the first born according to his first birth, and the youngest after his youth. They marveled at it among themselves, and there were brought them sundry meats from his table. But Ben jamins part was five times more than the other. And they drunk, and were merry with him. The XLIIII. Chapter. ANd joseph commanded the ruler of his house, and said: Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they may carry, and put every man's money in his sack mouth, & put my silver cup in the sack mouth of the youngest with the money for the vytayles. He did as joseph had said. And on the morrow when it was day, they let the men go with their Asses. But when they were out of the cite, and not come far, joseph said to the ruler of his house: Up, and follow after the men, and when thou overtakest them, say unto them: Wherefore have you rewarded evil for good? Is not that it, that my lord drinketh out of? and that he prophesieth withal? It is evil done of you, that you have done. And when he had overtaken them, he said the same words unto them. They answered him: Wherefore saith my lord such words▪ God forbid, that thy servants should do any such thing? Behold, the money that we found in our sacks mouths, that brought we unto the again, out of the land of Canaan: how should we then have stolen either silver or gold out of thy lords house? Look by whom it shall be found among thy servants, let him die: ye and we also will be my lords bondmen. He said: let it so be, as you have spoken. Look by whom it shall be found, let him be my servant, but you shallbe harmless. And they made haist, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and every man opened his sack: And he searched & began at the greatest unto the youngest, and the cup was found in Ben jamins sack. Then rent they their clotheses, and every man lad the burden upon his Ass, & went again unto the cite. And juda went with his brethren unto joseph's house (for he was there yet) and they fallen before him on the ground. joseph said unto them: What manner of deed is this, that you have done? knew you not, that such a man as I am, can prophesy? juda said: What shall we say unto my lord? or how shall we speak? and what excuse shall we make? God hath found out the wickedness of thy servants. Behold, we and he, by whom the cup is found, are my lords servants. But he said: God forbid that I should do so. The man by whom the cup is found, shall by my servant, but go you up in peace unto your father. Then stepped juda unto him, and said: My lord, let thy servant speak one word in thy ears my lord, be not displeased at the servant also, for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord axed his servants, and said: Have you yet a father or brother? Then answered we; We have a father, which is old, and a young lad begotten in his age, and his brother is deed, & he is left alone of his mother, and his father loveth him. Then saidest thou: Bring him down unto me, and I will see him. But we answered my lord: The lad can not come from his father, if he should come from him, he were but a deed man. Then saidest thou unto thy servants: Gen. 43. a If your youngest brother come not hither with you, you shall see my face no more. Then went we up unto thy servant my father, and told him my lords words. Then said our father: Go your way again, and buy us a little food. But we said: We can not go down, except our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we dare not look the man in the face, if our youngest brother be not with us. Then said thy servant my father unto us: You know that my wife bore me two sons, one went out fro me, and I said: he is torn in pieces. Gen. ●7. f If you take this fro me also, and any misfortune hap him, then shall you bring my grey here with sorrow down unto the grave. Gen. 42. e If I now come home unto my father, & the lad be not with me (saying his soul hangs by the soul of this) then shall it come to pass, that if he see not the lad there, he shall die. So shall we thy servants bring the grey here of thy servant our father with sorrow down to the grave. For I thy servant become surety for the lad unto my father, Gen. 43. b and said: if I bring him not again, I will bear the blame all my life long. Therefore let thy servant bide here in stead of the lad, to be my lords bond man, and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how can I go up unto my father, if the lad be not with me? Then should I see the misery that should happen unto my father. The XLV. Chapter. THen could not joseph refrain himself before all them that stood about him: and he commanded every man to go out from him, and there stood no man by him, when joseph uttered himself unto his brethren. And he wept loud, so that the Egipcians and pharao's household heard it. Act. 7. b And he said unto his brethren: I am joseph, is my father yet alive? Andrea his brethren could not answer him, they were so abashed before his face. But he said: Come nigh unto me. And they came nigh. And he said: I am joseph your brother. * Ge●. ● whom you sold in to Egipte. And now vex not your selves, & think not that there is any wrath, because you sold me hither. * Ge●. ● For God sent me hither before you, for your lives sake. For these are now two years, that the dearth hath been in the land, and there are yet five years behind, wherein there shallbe no plowing ner harvest. But God sent me hither before you, that he might let you remain upon earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. And now, it was not you then that sent me hither, but God which hath made me a father unto Pharaoh, & lord over all his house, and a prince in the whole land of Egipte. Haist you therefore, and go up unto my father, and say unto him: Thy son joseph sendeth the this word: God hath made me lord in all Egipte, come down unto me, tarry not, thou shalt dwell in the land of Gosen, and be with me: thou and thy children, and thy childers children, thy small and great cattles, and all that thou hast. There will I make provision for thee (for there are yet fine years of dearth) that thou perish not with thy house, and all that is thine. Behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Ben jamin see, that I mine own self speak unto you by mouth. Show my father all my worship in Egipte, and all that you have seen: haist you, and come down hither with my father. And he fallen about his brother Ben jamyns' neck, and wept, and Ben jamin wept upon his neck also. And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them. And afterward talked his brethren with him. And this tidings came in to pharao's house: joseph's brethren are come, which pleased Pharaoh well, and all his servants. And Pharaoh spoke unto joseph: Say unto thy brethren: Do thus, lad your beasts, go your way, and when you come in to the land of Canaan, take your father and your households, and come unto me, I will give you of the goods in the land of Egipte, so that you shall eat the fat in the land. And he commanded them, Do thus, Take you charettes out of the land of Egipte for your children and wives, and bring your father, and come, and regard not your household stuff: for the goods of all the land of Egipte shallbe yours. The children of Israel did so, and joseph gave them charettes according to pharao's commandment, and expenses by the way, and gave them all, unto every one a change of raiment: but unto Ben jamin he gave three hundredth silver pens, and five change of raiment. As for his father, he sent him ten Asses laden with goods out of Egipte, and ten Asses with corn and bread, and vytayles for his father by the way. So he sent away his brethren, and said unto them: strive not by the way. Thus they departed out of Egipte, and came to the land of Canaan unto jacob their father, and told him, and said: Thy son joseph is yet alive, and is a lord in all the land of Egipte. But his heart wavered, for he believed them not. Then told they him all the words of joseph, which he had said unto them. And when he saw the charettes that joseph had sent to fetch him, his spirit revived, & he said: I have enough, that my son joseph is yet a live I will go, and see him, before I die. The XLVI. Chapter. ISrael took his journey with all that he had. josu. 24. a Act. 7. b And when he came to Berseba, he offered offerings unto the God of his father Isaac. Andrea God spoke unto him in a vision by night: jacob jacob. He said: here am I And he said: I am the mighty God of thy father, be not afraid to go in to Egipte, for there will I make a great people of the. I will go down with thee, & will bring the up also. And joseph shall say his hand upon thy eyes. Then jacob got him up from Berseba, and the children of Israel carried jacob their father with their children and wives upon the charettes that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattles & substance which they had got in the land of Canaan, and so came in to Egipte: * Esa. 52. a jacob & all his seed with him, his children & his childers children with him, his daughters, and the daughters of his children, & all his seed. These are the names of the children of Israel, which came in to Egipte, jacob & his sons. * Nu. 26. a The first born son of jacob: Reuben. The children of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, ●. Pat. ●. a Hezron and Charmi. The children of Simeon: jemuel, jamin, Ohad, jachim, Zohar and Saul the son of the Cananitish woman. The children of Levi: Gerson, Cahath & Merari. The children of juda: Er, Onan, Sela, Phares & Serah. But Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The children of Phares: Hesron and Hamul. The children of Isachar: 1. Pat. 8. a Thola, Phua, job & Semron. The children of Zabulon: Sered, Elon and jahleel. These are the children of Lea, which she bore unto jacob in Mesopotamia with his daughter Dina. These all together with sons & daughters make three & thirty souls. The children of Gad: Zipheon, Haggi, Suni, E●bon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. The children of Asser: jemna, jesua, jesui, Bria & Sera their sister. The children of Bria: Heber and Malchiel. These are the children of Silpa, * Goe 29. d whom Laban gave unto Lea his daughter, and she bore unto jacob these sixteen souls. The children of Rachel jacob's wife: joseph and Ben jamin. And unto joseph in the land of Egipte * Goe 41. g were born Manasses and Ephraim, whom Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On bore unto him. The children of Ben jamin: Bela, Becher, Asber, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Ros, Mupim, Hupim and Ard. These are the children of Rachel, which were born unto jacob, fourteen souls altogether. The children of Dan: Husim. The children of Nephtali: jahzeel, Guni, jezer, Sillem. These are the children of Bilha, whom Laban gave unto his daughter Rachel, & she bore jacob these seven souls. All the souls that came with jacob in to Egipte, Deut. 10. ● which proceeded out of his loins (beside the wives of his children) are altogether six & sixty souls. And joseph's children which were born unto him in Egipte, were two souls: so that all the souls of the house of jacob which came into Egipte, were seventy. And he sent juda before him unto joseph, to show him the way to Gosen, & they came in to the land of Gosen. Then joseph bended his charet fast, and went up to meet Israel his father unto Gosen. And when he saw him, he fallen about his neck, & wept sore upon his neck. Then said Israel unto joseph: Now am I content to die, for so much as I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive. joseph said unto his brethren, & to his father's house: I will go up, & tell Pharaoh, & say unto him: My brethren and my father's house are come unto me out of the land of Canaan, and are keepers of cattles (for they are men that deal with cattles:) their small & great cattles, and all that they have, have they brought with them. Now if Pharaoh call you, and say: what is your occupation? then you shall say: Thy servants are men that have dealt with cattles from our youth up hitherto, both we & our fathers, that you may devil in the land of Gosen: for the Egipcians abhor all keepers of cattles. The XLVII. Chapter. THen came joseph, and told Pharaoh & said: My father and my brethren, their small & great cattles, & all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan: & behold, they are in the land of Gosen. And he took five of his brethren, & presented them unto Pharaoh. Then said Pharaoh unto his brethren: What is your occupation? They answered: Thy servants are keepers of cattles, we and our fathers also. And they said moreover unto Pharaoh: We are come to devil with you in the land, for the servants have no pasture for their cattles, so sore doth the dearth oppress the land of Canaan. Now therefore let the servants devil in the land of Gosen. Pharaoh said unto joseph: Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: the land of Egipte is open before thee, let them devil in the best place of the land, & see that they devil even in the land of Gosen. And if thou knowest that there be men of activyte among them, make them rulers of my cattles. joseph brought in jacob his father also, & set him before Pharaoh. And jacob thanked Pharaoh. But Pharaoh axed jacob: How old art thou? jacob said: The time of my job 14. c Psal. 118. c pilgrimage is an hundredth and thirty years: little and evil is the time of my pilgrimage, and attaineth not unto the time of my fathers in their pylgremages. Andrea jacob thanked Pharaoh, and went out from him. So joseph prepared dwellings for his father and his brethren, & gave them a possession in the land of Egipte, even in the best place of the land, namely, in the land of Raemses, as Pharaoh commanded. And he made provision for his father and his brethren, and all his father's house with bread, even as young children. There was no bread in all the land, for the dearth was very sore: so that the land of Egipte & the land of Canaan were fameshed by the reason of the dearth. And joseph brought together all the money that was found in Egipte and Canaan, for the corn that they bought. And he laid up all the money in pharao's house. Now when money failed in the land of Egipte and Canaan, all the Egipcians came unto joseph, & said: give us bread. Why sufferest thou us to die before that, because wear without money? joseph said: Bring hither your cattles, so will I give you for your cattles, saying you are without money. Then brought they their cattles unto joseph. And he gave them bread for their horses, sheep, oxen and Asses. So he fed them with bred that year, for all their cattles. When that year was ended, they came unto him the next year, & said unto him: We will not hide it from our lord, that not only the money, but all the cattles also is spent unto our lord: & there is nothing left more for our lord, but only our body & our land. Wherefore sufferest thou both us to die, and our land? Take us and our land for bread, that we and our land may be bond unto Pharaoh: give us seed, that we may live and not die, & that the land become not a wilderness. So joseph took all the land of Egipte in for Pharaoh: for the Egipcians sold every man his land, because the dearth was so mighty upon them: and so the land become pharao's, with the people that went● out and in at his cities, from one side of Egipte unto the other, except the priests land, that took he not in: For it was ordained of Pharaoh for the priests, that they should eat that which was appointed them, which he gave them, therefore they needed not to cell their lands. Then said joseph unto the people: Behold, I have taken possession of you and your land this day for Pharaoh, Behold, there have you seed, sow the land, and of the corn you shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh: four parts shallbe yours, to sow the land for your sustenance, and for your houses and children. They said: Let us but live, & find grace before the our lord, we will gladly be pharao's servants: So joseph made them a law unto this day over the Egipcians land, to give Pharaoh the fifth part, except the priests land, which was not bond unto Pharaoh. So Israel dwelled in Egipte in the land of Gosen, and had it in possession, and grew and multiplied exceadingly. And jacob lived seventeen year in the land of Egipte, so that his whole age was an hundredth and seven and forty years. Now when the time came that Israel should die, he called joseph his son, and said unto him: If I have found grace in thy sight, ●e. 24. a than lay thy hand under my ●hye, that thou shalt show mercy and faithfulness upon me, and not bury me in Egipte, but I will lie by my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egipte, & bury me in their burial. He said: I will do as thou hast said. But he said: ●e. 25. d Then swear unto me. And he swore unto him. Then Israel bowed himself toward the bed head. The XLVIII. Chapter. AFter this it was told joseph▪ Behold, thy father is sick. And he took with him his two sons Manasses and Ephraim. Then was it told jacob: behold, thy son joseph cometh unto ye. And Israel took a courage unto him, & sat up upon the bed, & said unto joseph: The almighty God appeared unto me * Goe 28. c at Lus in the land of Canaan, & blessed me, & said unto me: Behold, I will 'cause the to grow & increase & will make a multitude of people of thee, & will give this land unto the sede after the for an everlasting possession. Therefore shall now thy two sons Manasses & Ephraim (which were born unto the in Egipte, Gen. 41. g before I came hither unto thee) be mine, like as Reuben & Simeon. Asdrubal for those that thou begettest after them, they shall be thy own. But these shallbe named with the names of their brethren in their inheritance. And when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan, Gen. 25. d by the way, when there was yet but a fields breed unto Eprath: and I buried her in the way toward Ephrath, which now is called Bethleem. And Israel looked upon joseph's sons, & said: What are these? joseph answered: They are my sons, which God hath given me here. He said: Bring them hither to me, that I may bless them. (For Israel's eyes were heavy for age, & he could not well se.) And he brought them unto him. So he kissed them, & embraced them, & said unto joseph: Behold, I have seen the face, which I thought not: & lo, God hath caused me to see the sede also. And joseph took them from his lap, and they fallen down to the ground upon their face. Then joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasses in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, & brought them unto him. But Israel stretched out his right hand, & laid it upon the head of Ephraim the youngest & his left hand upon Manasses head, & did so wyttingly with his hands, josu. 1●. a for Manasses was the firstborn. And * Heb. 11. d he blessed joseph, & said: The God before whom my father's Abraham & Isaac have walked: the God that hath fed me my life long unto this day: the angel which hath delivered me from all evil, bless these lads, that they may be called after my name, & after the name of my father's Abraham & Isaac, that they may grow & multiply upon earth. But when joseph saw that his father laid the right hand upon Ephraim's head, it displeased him, & he lif● up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto the head of Manasses, & said unto him: Not so my father, this is the firstborn, lay the right hand upon his head. Nevertheless his father would not, & said: I know it well my son, I know it well, this shall be a people also, & shallbe great: but his younger brother shall be greater than he, & his seed shall be full of people. So he blessed them the same day & said: In y● shall Israel bless, so that it shall be said: God set the as Ephraim & Manasses. And so he set Ephraim above Manasses. jere. ●1. b And Israel said unto joseph: Behold, I die, & God shall be with you, & bring you again in to the land of your fathers▪ * joh. 4. a I have given the a piece of land, without the brethren, which I got with my sword and my bow out of the hand of the Amorites. The XLIX. Chapter. ANd jacob called his sons, & said: Gather you, that I may tell you, what shall happen unto you in the last times: Come together, and hear you children of jacob: hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben my first son, Gen. 29. f thou art my power and the beginning of my strength, chief * Deu. 21. c in governance, & chief in authority. Thou passest forth swiftly as the water. Thou shalt not be the chiefest: For * Gen. 35. c 1. Par. 6. c thou hast clymmed up upon thy father's bed, even than defyledest thou my couch with going up. simeon and Levi brethren, their deadly weapens are perilous instruments. In to their secrets come not my soul, and my worship be not joined with their congregation: Gen. ●4. d for in their wrath they slay a man, and in their self-will they houghed an ox. Cursed be their wrath, because it is so fierce: and their indignation, because it is so rigorous. I will divide them in jacob, and s●ater them in Israel▪ 1. Pa. 6. a juda, thou art he. Thy brethren shall praise thee: for thy hand shall be in thy enemy's neck: thy father's children shall stoop unto the. Mich. 5 b juda is a young lion, thou art come up high my son, from the spoil. Nu. 23. d He kneeled down and couched himself as a lion & as a lioness: who will raise him up? The sceptre shall not be removed from juda, ner a master from his feet, till the Worthy come, and unto him shall the people fall. He shall bind his foal unto the vine, and his Asses colt to the noble branch. He shall wash his garment in wine, and his mantel in the blood of grapes. His eyes are roudier than wine, and his teeth whiter then milk. Zabulon shall devil in the haven of the see, and in the port of ships, ●os. 19 ● and shall border upon Sydon. Isachar shall be a strong Ass, & lay him down betwixt the borders. And he see rest, that it was good, and the land, that it was pleasant. And bowed down his shoulder to bear, and become a servant unto tribute. ●ud. 13.14. ●5. 16.17.18 Dan shall be judge in his people, as well as a tribe in Israel. Dan shallbe a serpent in the way, and an edder in the path, and bite the horse in the heel's, that his rider may fall backward. LORD I look for thy salvation. As for Gad, a wapened host of men shall fall violently upon him, but he shall hurt them in the heel. Of Asser cometh his fat bread, and he shall give delicates unto kings. 〈◊〉. 4.5 Nepthali is a swift hind, and giveth goodly words. The fruitful son joseph, that flourishing son to look upon, the daughters go upon the brickwall. And though the shoters angered him, stro●e with him, and hated him, yet his bow bode fast, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty in jacob. Of him are come herdsmen & stones in Israel. Of the father's God art thou helped, & of the almighty art thou blessed, with blessings of heaven from above, with blessings of the deep that lieth under, with blessings of breasts & wombs. The bless●nges promised unto thy father and my fore elders go mightily, after the desire of the highest in the world: these shall light on joseph's head, and on the top of his head, that was separate from his brethren. Ben jamin, a ravishing wolf. In the morning shall he devour the pray, but in the evening he shall divide the spoil. All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spoke unto them, when he blessed them, every one with a sundry blessing. And he commanded them, and said unto them: I shall be gathered unto my people, * bury me with my fathers in the cave which is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the double cave that lieth over against Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field, of Ephron the Hittite for a possession to bury in. 〈…〉 There buried they Abraham & Sara his wife, there buried they Isaac also & Rebecca his wife: & their buried I Lea, in the good of the field & of the cave therein, which was bought of the hittites. And when jacob had ended this commandment unto his children, Act▪ ● he pluck his feet together upon the bed, and died, and was gathered unto his people. Then fallen joseph upon his father's face, and wept, and kissed him. The L. Chapter. ANd joseph commanded his servants the Physicians, to embawme his father. And the physicians embawmed Israel, till forty days were ended (for so long endured the days of embawminge) & the Egipcians bewailed him seventy days. Now when the mourning days were ended, joseph spoke unto pharao's household, & said: If I have found favour in your sight, them speak unto Pharaoh and say: My father hath taken an oath of me, & said: Behold, I die, bury me in mine own grave, Gen ● which I digged for myself in the land of Canaan. Therefore will I now go up, and bury my father, and come again. Pharaoh said: Go thy way up, and bury thy father, according as thou hast sworn unto him. So joseph went up, to bury his father. And there went with him all pharao's servants that were the elders of his court, and all the elders of the land of Egipte, & all joseph's household, and his brethren, and his father's household. Only their children, sheep & oxen left they in the land of Gosen, & took their journey up with him, upon charettes and horses, and the company was exceeding great. Now when these came to the plain of Atad that lieth beyond jordane, they made there a very great and bitter lamentation, & * Eccle ● he mourned for his father seven days. And when the people in the land (the Canaanites) saw the mourning in the plain of Atad, they said: The Egyptians make there great lamentation. Therefore is the place called: The lamentation of the Egipcians, which lieth beyond jordane. 〈…〉 And his children did as he had commanded them, and carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the double cave, that Abraham bought with the field for a possession to bury in, 〈◊〉 23. c of Ephron the Hittite over against Mamre. So joseph took his journey again in to Egipte with his brethren, and with all those that went up with him to bury his father, when they had buried him. But joseph's brethren were afraid, when their father was deed, and said: joseph might haply have indignation at us, and recompense us all the evil that we did unto him, 〈◊〉 37. d therefore let they say unto him: Thy father commanded before his death, and said: Thus shall you say unto joseph: O for give thy brethren the offence and their sin, that they did so evil unto the. O forgive now this trespass of us the servants of thy fathers God. But joseph wept, when they spoke so unto him. And his brethren went, and fallen down before him, and said: Behold, here are we thy servants. joseph said unto them: Fear you not, for I am under God. You thought evil over me, but God hath turned it unto good, to do as it is come to pass this day, for the saving of much people. Therefore be not you now afraid, I will care for you and your children. And he comforted them, and spoke lovingly unto them. Thus dwelled joseph in Egipte with his father's house, and lived an hundredth and ten year, and saw Ephrayms' children, Tob. 14. a job 42. c Psal. 127. a unto the third generation: In like manner the children of Machir the son of Manasses, begat children also upon joseph's lap. And joseph said unto his brethren: Hebr. 11. d I die, and God will visit you, and bring you out of this land, to the land that he swore unto Abraham, Isaac and jacob. Therefore took he an oath of the children of Israel, and said: When God shall visit you, * Exo. 13. d josu. 24. f them carry my bones from hence. So joseph died, when he was an hundredth and ten year old, and they embawmed him, & laid him in a chest in Egipte. The end of the first book of Moses, called Genesis. The second book of Moses, called, Exodus. What this book containeth. Chap. I The children of Israel increase in Egipte. The king commandeth to slay them, and to drown them. Chap. II The birth of Moses, which is laid upon the water. pharao's daughter taketh him and bringeth him up. He slayeth one of the Egipcians, and flieth his way in to Madian, where he marrieth. The children of Israel cry unto the LORD. Chap. III God appeareth unto Moses in the bush, and sendeth him unto the king and the people. Chap. four Moses is loath to go, & excuseth himself. But the LORD enfourmeth him, maketh him strong, and comforteth him. Moses taketh leave of his father in law, to go unto his people. Chap. V Moses and Aaron go unto the king, which oppresseth the people the more. Chap. VI God giveth Moses more instruction and sendeth him unto the people. The tribes are numbered. Chap. VII. Moses and Aaron go unto the king, and show tokens before him: but the king waxeth hard hearted. Chap. VIII. After many tokens Pharaoh granteth to let the people go: but assoon as the plague ceaseth, he is as ungodly as afore. Chap. IX. There cometh a death among all the cattles: them cometh the sores, blaynes, and the hail. Chap. X. The greshoppers and darkness in Egipte. Pharaoh forbiddeth Moses to come any more in his sight. Chap. XI. The LORD promises to bring yet another plague upon Egipte, and commandeth the Israelites to borrow jewels of silver and gold of the Egipcians. Chap. XII. The use of the easterlamb. God slayeth all the firstborn. Pharaoh driveth all the people out of the land. Chap. XIII. God commandeth to sanctify all the firstborn unto him, and carrieth them toward the land of promise, not the next way but thorough the wilderness, by a cloud in the day time, and a pillar of fire in the night. Chap. XIIII. Pharaoh followeth upon the people of God, which delivereth his own, carrieth them thorough the reed see, & drowneth the enemies therein. Chap. XU. Moses and the people sing a song of thanksgiving unto the LORD, and come to Marath, where the bitter water is made sweet. Chap. XVI. The LORD sendeth quails and the Manna to the unpatient people. Chap. XVII. Water cometh out of the stony rock. They fight against Amaleck. Chap. XVIII. jethro bringeth Moses his wife and children, and giveth him a good council. Chap. XIX. The LORD appeareth unto Moses upon mount Sinai Moses showeth the people. Chap. XX. The LORD giveth Moses the two tables of the commandments unto the people. Chap. XXI. Laws and statutes concerning bodily things. Of murder, theft and other more. Chap. XXII. Of theft. Of hurt that is done with will or unawares. Of things given to keep. Of borrowing and pledges. Chap. XXIII. Many diverse laws & statutes. Chap. XXIIII. Of the book and blood of the covenant. Chap. XXV. XXVI. The LORD commandeth Moses to make the Sanctuary, and the things belonging thereto. Chap. XXVII. Of the altar and the apparel thereof. Of the court of the habitation. Of the oil and lamps. Chap. XXVIII. How the priests were arrayed and consecrated. Chap. XXIX. The consecrating of Aaron, of his sons, and of the altar. Chap. XXX. Of the altar of incense, and the brazen laver, the anointing oil and incense. Chap. XXXI. The workmen are called. The keeping of the Sabbath. The two tables of witness are given Moses. Chap. XXXII. They make the golden calf, Moses in his displeasure breaketh the tables, and punysheth the transgressors. Chap. XXXIII. The people mourn. Moses pitcheth the tabernacle, and the LORD talketh with him. Chap. XXXIIII. Moses receiveth other tables of the LORD with certain laws. The people are afraid at the brightness of his face. Chap. XXXV. Certain statutes concerning th● Tabernacle. The workmen are appointed. Chap. XXXVI. What the things be that they made. Chap. XXXVII. The tabernacle of witness with the staves, Cherubins, the table, candlestick. Chap. XXXVIII. The altar of brent offerings with the things belonging thereto. Chap. XXXIX. Of the priests garments. Chap. XL. The LORD commandeth Moses to set up the tabernacle, & to order the apparel thereof. The first Chapter. THese are the names of the children of Israel, that came with jacob in to Egipte: 〈…〉 every one came in with his house, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, juda, Isachar, Zabulon, Ben jamin, Dan, Nephtali, Gad and Aser. And of all the souls that came out of the loins of jacob, there were seventy. As for joseph, he was in Egipte all ready. Now when joseph was deed, and all his brethren, and all they that lived at that time, 〈…〉 the children of Israel grew, and increased, and multiplied, and become exceeding mighty, so that the land was full of them. Then came there a new king over Egipte, which knew nothing of joseph, and said unto his people: Behold, the people of the children of Israel are many, & mightier than we: Up, let us deal wisely with them, that there be not so many of them. For if there should rise up any war against us, they might join themselves also unto our enemies, and overcome us, & so get them out of the land. And he set work masters over them, to keep them under with burdens. (For they builded the cities Phiton and Raemses, for treasuries unto Pharaoh.) But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grew. Therefore had they indignation at the children of Israel, and the Egipcians compelled the children of Israel without mercy to do service, and made their lives bitter unto them with grievous labour in clay and brick, and with all manner of bondage in the field, and with all manner of labour, which they laid upon them without mercy. And the king of Egipte said unto the midwives' of the Hebrueswemen. (Of the which one was called Siphra, and the other Pua:) When you help the women of the Hebrews, and see upon the stole, that it is a son, then slay him: but if it be a daughter, let her live. Nevertheless the midwives' feared God, & did not as the king of Egipte commanded them, but let the children live. Then the king of Egipte called the midwives', and said unto them: Wherefore do you this, that you let the children live? The midwives' answered Pharaoh: The women of the Hebrews are not as the women of Egipte, for they are sturdy women: or ever the midwives' come at them, they are delivered. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives'. And the people multiplied, and become exceeding mighty. And for so much as the midwives' feared God, * Psalmo 126. a he made them houses. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people and said: All the sons that are born, cast in to the water, but let all the daughters live. The II Chapter. ANd there went forth a man of the house of Levi, Exod. 6. c and took a daughter of Levi. * Act. 7. c Heb. 11. d And the wife conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that it was a proper child, she hid him three months. And when she could hide him no longer, she took an Ark of reeds, and daubed it over with slime and pitch, and laid the child therein, and set it among the reeds by the waters brink. But his sister stood a far of, to weet what would come of him. And pharao's daughter came down, to wash herself in the water: And her maidens walked by the water side: and when she saw the Ark among the reeds, she sent one of her maidens, and caused it to be fett. And when she opened it, she saw the child: and behold the babe wept. Then had she pity upon it, and said: It is one of the Hebrews children. Then said his sister unto pharao's daughter: Shall I go, and call the a nurse of the Hebrews women, to nurse the the child? pharao's daughter said unto her: Go thy way. The maid went, and called the child's mother. Then said pharao's daughter unto her: Take this child, and nurse it for me, I will give the thy reward. The woman took the child, and nursed it. And when the child was grown, she brought it unto pharao's daughter, and it become her son, and she called him Moses. For she said: I took him out of the water. Upon a time when Moses was great, he went forth unto his brethren, and looked upon their burdens, and saw, that an Egipcian smote one of his brethren the hebrews. And he looked round about him: and when he saw that there was no man, he slay the Egipcian, and buried him in the sonde. The next day he went forth also, and saw two men of the Hebrews striving together, and said to the ungodly: Wherefore smytest thou thy neighbour? But he said: * Goe 19 b Mat. 21. c Act. 7. c Who made the a ruler or judge over us? Wilt thou slay me also, as thou slewest the Egipcian? Then was Moses afraid, and said: How is this known? And Pharaoh heard of it, and sought for Moses, to slay him. But Moses fled from Pharaoh, and kept him in the land of Madian, and sat him down by a wells side. The priest Madian had seven daughters, which came to draw water, and filled the troughs, to give their father's sheep to drink. Then came the shepherds, and drove them away. But Moses got him up, and helped them, and gave their sheep to drink. And when they came to Reguel their father, he said: How came you so soon to day? They said: A man of Egipte delivered us from the shepherds, and drawn unto us, and gave the sheep to drink. He said unto his daughters. Where is he? Wherefore let you the man go, that you called him not to eat with us? And Moses was content to devil with the man. Nu. 12. a And he gave Moses his daughter Zipora, which bore him a son, and he * Exo 18. a called him Gerson, for he said: I am become a stranger in a strange land. And she bore him yet a son, whom he called Elieser, and said: The God of my father is my helper, and hath delivered me from pharao's hand. But after this in process of time, the king of Egipte died. And the children of Israel sighed over their labour, and cried. And their cry over their labor, came before God. And God heard their complaint, & remembered his covenant judic. 2. c Gen. 15. c with Abraham Isaac and jacob. Andrea God looked upon the children of Israel, and God known it. The III Chapter. MOses kept the sheep of jethro his father in law priest of Madian, & drove the sheep on the backside of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, 4. Es. 14. a Act. 7. d Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the bush. And he saw that the bush brent with fire, and yet was not consumed, and said: I will go hence, and see this great sight, why the bush is not brent. When the LORD saw, that he went his way to see, God called unto him out of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses. He answered: Here am I He said: Come not hither, put thy shues of thy feet, for the place where upon thou stondest, josu. 5. d is an wholly ground. And he said moreover: 〈…〉 I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of jacob. And Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said: I have seen the trouble of my people in Egipte 〈…〉 & have herd their cry over those that oppress them. I know their sorrow, and am come down to deliver them from the power of the Egipcians, and to carry them out of that land, in to a good and wide land, even in to a land that floweth with milk and honey: namely, unto the place of the Canaanites, hittites, Amorites, Pheresites, Hevites & jebusites. For so much now as the complaint of the children of Israel is come before me, & I have seen their oppression wherewith the Egipcians oppress them: Go now the way therefore, I will send the unto Pharaoh, 〈…〉 that thou mayest bring my people the children of Israel out of Egipte. Moses said unto God: Who am I, 〈…〉 that I should go unto Pharaoh, and bring the children of Israel out of Egipte? He said: I will be with thee: & this shall be the token, that I have sent the. When thou hast brought my people out of Egipte, you shall serve God upon this mountain. Moses said unto God: Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and say unto them: The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, & they say unto me: What is his name? what shall I say unto them? God said unto Moses: I will be what I will be. And he said: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: * I will be hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: The LORD God of your fathers, 〈…〉 the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of jacob hath sent me unto you, this is my name for ever, and my memorial from child to child's child. Go thy way therefore, and gather the elders of Israel other, and say unto them: The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of jacob hath appeared unto me, and said: I have vysited you, and seen what is done unto you in Egipte, and have said: I will bring you out of the trouble of Egipte, in to the land of the Canaanites, hittites, Amorites, Pheresites, Hevites & jebusites: in to a land that floweth with milk and honey. And if they hear the voice, then shalt thou and the elders of Israel go in to the king of Egipte, and say unto him: 〈…〉 The LORD God of the hebrews hath called us. Let us go now therefore three days journey in the wilderness, that we may do sacrifice unto the LORD our God. But I know, that the king of Egipte will not let you go, but thorough a mighty hand. For I will stretch out mine hand, & smite Egipte with all manner of wonders which I will do therein: after that shall he let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egipcians: 〈…〉 so that when you go forth, you shall not go forth empty: but every wife shall borrow of her neghbouresse & of her that so geourneth in her house, jewels of silver and gold and raiment: those shall you put upon your sons and daughters, and spoil the Egipcians. The four Chapter. MOses answered, & said: Behold, they shall not believe me, ner hear my voice, but shall say: The LORD hath not appeared unto the. The LORD said unto him: What is that, that thou hast in thy hand? He said a staff. He said: Cast it from the upon the ground. And he cast it from him: then was it turned to a serpent. And Moses fled from it. But the LORD said unto him: Stretch forth thy hand, & take it by the tail. Then stretched he forth his hand, and took it, and it become a staff again in his hand. Therefore shall they believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac the God of jacob hath appeared unto the. And the LORD said furthermore unto him: Thrust thy hand in to the bosom. And he thrust it in to his bosom, & took it out: behold, them was it leper like snow. And he said: Put it in to the bosom again. And he put it again in to his bosom, & took it out: behold, them was it turned again as his flesh. If they will not believe thee, ner hear the voice of the first token, yet shall they believe the voice of the second token. But if they will not believe these two tokens ner hear thy voice, then take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: so shall the same water that thou hast taken out of the river, be turned unto blood upon the dry land. But Moses said unto the LORD: O my LORD, ●●re. 1. a ●●to. 8. b I am a man that is not eloquent, from yesterday & yeryesterdaye, & sense the time that thou hast spo●●▪ unto thy servant: for I have a slow speech, & a slow tongue. The LORD said unto him: Who hath made the mouth of man? Or who hath made the dumb, or the deaf, or the saying or the blind? Have not I the LORD done it? Go now thy way therefore, I will be with thy mouth, & teach the what thou shalt say. But Moses said▪ My LORD, send whom thou will't send. Then was the LORD very angry at Moses, and said: Do not I know then, that thy brother Aaron the Levite is well spoken? And behold, he shall go forth to meet thee: & when he saith thee, Exod. 4. c he shall rejoice from his heart. Thou shalt speak unto him, & put the words in his mouth: & I will be with thy mouth & his, and teach you what you shall do: & he shall speak unto the people for thee▪ He shall be thy mouth, & thou shalt be his God. And take in thy hand this staff, wherewith thou shalt do tokens. Moses went, and came again unto jethro his father in law, and said unto him: Let me go (I pray thee) that I may turn again unto my brethren, which are in Egipte, and see whether they be yet alive. jethro said unto him: Go thy way in peace. The LORD said also unto him in Madian: Go thy way, turn again in to Egipte, for the men are deed, that sought after thy life. So Moses took his wife, and his sons, and carried them upon an Ass, & went again in to the land of Egipte, & took the staff of God in his hand. And the LORD said unto Moses: When thou comest again in to Egipte, see that thou do all the wonders (before Pharaoh) which I have put in the hand. Exod. 7. a But I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh: Thus sayeth the LORD: Israel is my firstborn son, & I say unto thee: Let my son go, that he may serve me: If thou will't not let him go, then will I slay thy firstborn son. Exod. 12. c And as he was by the way in the Inn, the LORD met him, and would have slain him. Then took Zipora * josu. 5. a a stone, and circumcyded the foreskin of her son, and touched his feet, and said: A bloody bridegroom art thou unto me. Then let he him go. But she said: A bloody bridegroom, because of the circumcision. And the LORD said unto Aaron: Go meet Moses in the wilderness. And he went, & met him on the mount of God, and kissed him. And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD, which had sent him: & all the tokens that he had charged him withal. And they went, & gathered all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron told all the words, that the LORD had spoken unto Moses: & did the tokens before the people, & the people believed. And when they heard that the LORD vysited the children of Israel, and looked upon their trouble, they bowed themselves, and worshipped. The V Chapter. afterward went Moses & Aaron, & spoke unto Pharaoh: Thus sayeth the LORD the God of Israel: let my people go, that they may keep holy day unto me in the wilderness. Pharaoh answered: * job 2●. b What fellow is the LORD, that I must hear his voice, and let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. They said: The God of the Hebrews hath called us. Let us go now therefore three days journey in the wilderness, & do sacrifice unto the LORD our God, that there happen not unto us pestilence or sword. Then said the king of Egipte unto them: Why make you the people (thou Moses & Aaron) to leave their work? Get you hence to your labour. Pharaoh said moreover: Behold, the people are to many in the land, and yet will you bid them cease from their labour. The same day therefore did Pharaoh command the workmasters of the people, and their officers, and said: You shall not gather and give the people any more straw, to burn bryck, as yesterday and yeryesterdaye. Let them go, and gather them straw themselves. And the number of the brick which they made yesterday & yeryesterdaye, shall you say upon them nevertheless, and minish nothing thereof: for they are idle. Therefore cry they and say: We will go, and do sacrifice unto our God. Let the men be kept down with labour, that they may have to do, & not to turn themselves to false words. Then went the workmasters of the people & their officers out, & spoke unto the people: Thus sayeth Pharaoh: There shall no straw be given you, go your way yourselves, and get you straw, where you can find it. But of your labor there shall nothing be mynished. Then were the people scattered in all the land of Egipte, to gather stubble, that they might have straw. And the workmasters haistied them forward, & said: Fulfil your day work, like as when you had straw. And the officers of the children of Israel, whom pharao's worckmasters had set over them, were beaten, & it was said unto them: Wherefore have you not fulfilled your appointed day work to day and yesterday, like as in times past? Than went the officers of the children of Israel, & complained unto Pharaoh: Wherefore will't thou deal thus with thy servants? Thy servants have no straw given them, & yet must we make the brick that are appointed us. And behold, thy servants are beaten, & thy people are evil entreated. Pharaoh said: You are idle, idle are you, therefore say you: we will go, and do sacrifice unto the LORD. Go now your way therefore, & work: there shall no straw be given you, but the number of brick shall you deliver. Then saw the officers of the children of Israel, that it was not amended, for it was said: you shall minish nothing of the day work of the brick. And when Moses & Aaron went from Pharaoh, they came forth to meet them, & said unto them: The LORD look upon you, & judge it, for you have made the savour of us to stink before Pharaoh and his servants, and have given them a sword in their hands, to slay us. But Moses came again unto the LORD, and said: LORD, wherefore dealest thou so evil with this people? Wherefore hast thou sent me? For sense the time that I went in unto Pharaoh, to speak unto him in thy name, he hath dealt evil with this people, and thou hast not delivered the people. The LORD said unto Moses: Now shalt thou see, what I will do unto Pharaoh, for thorough a mighty hand must he let them go, thorough a mighty hand must he drive them from him out of his land. 〈…〉 The VI Chapter. ANd God spoke unto Moses, & said unto him: I am the LORD, & I appeared unto Abraham, Isaac & jacob, an almighty God: but * my name, LORD, have I not showed unto them: My covenant also have I made with them, 〈…〉 that I will give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they have been strangers. moreover I have heard the complaint of the children of Israel, whom the Egipcians oppress with labour, and have remembered my covenant. Therefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, & will bring you out from your burdens in Egipte, & will rydd you from your labour, and will deliver you thorough a stretched out arm & great judgements, and will receive you for my people, & will be your God: so that you shall know, that I the LORD am your God, which bring you out from the burden of Egipte, and will bring you in to the land, over the which I have lift up my hand, to give it unto Abraham, Isaac and jacob, the same will I give unto you for a possession. I the LORD. Moses told this unto the children of Israel. But they herkened not unto him, for very anguish of spirit, & for sore labour. Then spoke the LORD unto Moses, & said: Go thy way, & speak unto Pharaoh the king of egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. But Moses spoke before the LORD, & said: Behold, the children of Israel hearken not unto me, how should Pharaoh then hear me? 〈◊〉. 4. c And I am also of uncircumcised lips. So the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron, & gave them a commandment unto the children of Israel, & unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte, that they should bring the children of Israel out of Egipte. 〈◊〉. 6. b 〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉. 6. a These are the heads of the house of their fathers. The children of Reuben the first son of Israel, are these: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Charmi: These are the generations of Reuben. The children of Simeon are these: jemuel, jamin, Ohad, jachin, Zophar, and Saul the son of the Cananitish woman: These are the generations of simeon. These are the names of the children of Levi in their generations: ●um. 3. c Gerson, Kahath and Merari: Levi was an hundredth and seven & thirty year old. The children of Gerson are these: Libni and Semei in their generations. The children of Kahath are these: Amram, ●ar. 24. b jezear, Hebron, Vsiel. Kahath was an hundredth & three & thirty year old. The children of Merari are these: Maheli and Musi. These are the generations of Levi in their kindred's. And Amram took his uncles daughter 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉. 26. g jochebed to wife, which bore him Aaron & Moses. Amram was an C. & seven. & thirty year old. The children of jezear are these: Korah, Nepheg, Sichri. The children of Vsiel are these: Misael, Elzaphan, Sithri. Aaron took Elizaba the daughter of Aminadab Nahassons sisters to wife, which bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar, Ithamar. The children of Korah are these: Assir, Elkana, & Abiassaph. These are the generations of the Korahites. Eleasar Aaron's son took one of the daughters of Putiel to wife, which bore him Phineas. These are the heads among the fathers of the generations of the Levites. This is that Aaron & Moses, unto whom the LORD said: Bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte with their armies. It is they (namely Moses & Aaron) that spoke unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte, that they might bring the children of Israel out of Egipte. The same day spoke the LORD unto Moses in the land of Egipte, & said: I am the LORD, speak thou unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte, all that I say unto ye. And he answered before the LORD: Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, Exod. 6. b how shall Pharaoh then hear me? The VII. Chapter. THe LORD said unto Moses: Behold, I have made the a God over Pharaoh, & Aaron the brother shall be the prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: but Aaron the brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he may let the children of Israel go out of his land. Exo. 4. d Nevertheless I will harden pharao's heart, that I may multiply my tokens & wonders in the land of Egipte. And Pharaoh shall not hear you, that I may show my hand in Egipte, & bring mine armies, even my people the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte, by great judgements. And the Egipcians shall know, that I am the LORD, when I shall stretch out my hand upon Egipte, and bring the children of of Israel out from among them. Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them. And Moses was fourscore year old, & Aaron three & four score year old, when they spoke unto Pharaoh. And the LORD said unto Moses & Aaron: When Pharaoh sayeth unto you: Show your wonders, then shalt thou say unto Aaron: Take thy staff, and cast it before Pharaoh, & it shall turn to a serpent. Then went Moses & Aaron in unto Pharaoh, & did as the LORD commanded them. And Aaron cast his staff before Pharaoh & before his servants, & it turned to a serpent. Then Pharaoh called for the wise men & Sorcerers. And the Sorcerers of Egipte also did like wise with their Sorceries, and every one cast his staff before him, & they turned unto serpents. But Aaron's staff devoured their staves. So pharao's heart was hardened, and he herkened not unto them, even as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses: The heart of Pharaoh is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. Get the unto Pharaoh in the morning, he hold, he shall come unto the water, meet thou him upon the waters brink, & take the staff which turned to a serpent, in thy hand, & say unto him: The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, & sendeth the word: Let my people go, Exod. ●. ● that they may serve me in the wilderness: but hither to thou wouldest not hear. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Hereby shalt thou know, that I am the LORD. Behold, with the staff that I have in my hand, will I smite the water which is in the river, & it shall be turned in to blood: so that the fish in the river shall die, & the river shall stink: & it shall grieve the Egipcians to drink of the water of the river. And the LORD spoke unto Moses: Say unto Aaron: Take the staff, & stretchout thy hand over the waters of Egipte, over their rivers & brokes & ponds, & over all water poles, that they may be turned to blood, & that there may be blood in all the land of Egipte, both in vessels of wood and stone. Psal. 77. c Moses & Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, & lift up the staff, & smote the water that was in the river, before Pharaoh & his servants, & all the water in the river was turned in to blood, & the fish in the river died, & the river stank, so that the Egipcians could not drink of the water of the river, & there was blood in all the land of Egipte. And the Sorcerers also of Egipte, did likewise with their Sorceries. But pharao's heart was hardened, & he herkened not unto them, * like as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned himself, & went home, & set not his heart there on. All the Egyptians digged round about the river, for water to drink: for they could not drink of the water out of the river. And this endured seven days long, that the LORD smote the river. The VIII. Chapter. THe LORD said unto Moses: Go the way to Pharaoh, & speak unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Let my people go, that they may serve me: If thou will't not let them go, behold, I will smite all the borders of the land with frogs, so that the river shall scraule with frogs: these shall climb up, & come in to thy house, in to thy chamber, where thou sleepest, upon thy bed, and in to the houses of thy servants, among thy people, in to thy ovens, and upon thy dough: and the frogs shall come up upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. And the LORD spoke unto Moses: Say unto Aaron: Psal. 77. c and 104. d Stretch forth thy hand with thy staff over the streams, & rivers, & ponds, and let frogs come upon the land of Egipte. And Aaron stretched his hand over the waters in Egipte, & there came up frogs, so that the ●onde of Egipte was covered. The Sorcerers also did likewise, with their Sorcerirs, & caused frogs to come upon the land of Egipte. Then called Pharaoh for Moses & Aaron, & said: * Pray the LORD for me, that he may take away the frogs fro me & fro my people, & I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. Moses said: Have thou the honor before me, & appoint me, when I shall pray for thee, for the servants and for thy people: that the frogs may be driven away from the & from thy house, & remain only in the river. He said: Tomorrow. He said: Even as thou hast said, that thou mayest know, that there is none like unto the LORD our God: And the frogs shall be taken from thee, & from thy house, from thy servants, & from thy people, & remain only in the river. So Moses & Aaron went from Pharaoh, & Moses cried unto the LORD for the appointment over the frogs, which he had promised unto Pharaoh. And the LORD did as Moses said. And the frogs died in the houses, in the courts, & upon the field: & they gathered them together, here an heap, & there an heap, & the land stank of them. But when Pharaoh saw that he had got breath, his heart was hardened, and he herkened not unto them, even as the LORD had said. And the LORD spoke unto Moses: Say unto Aaron: Stretch out thy staff, & smite the dust upon the earth; that there may be life in the whole land of Egipte. They did so. And Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff, & smote the dust upon the earth, & there were lice upon men and upon cattles: All the dust of the land was turned unto lice in all the land of Egipte. The Sorcerers also assayed likewise with their Sorcerirs that they might bring forth lice, but they could not. And the lice were upon men & cattles. Then said the Sorcerers unto Pharaoh: It is the finger of God. But pharao's heart was hardened, & he herkened not unto them, even as the LORD had said. And the LORD said unto Moses: Get the up tomorrow by times, & stand before Pharaoh: behold, he will go unto the water, & speak thou unto him: Thus saith the LORD: let my people go, that they may serve me: if not, behold, I will 'cause cruel worms (or flies) to come upon thee, thy servants, the people, & thy house, so that all the Egipcians houses, & the field, and what thereon is shall be full of cruel worms: & the same day will I separate the land of * Gosen, wherein my people are, so that no cruel worm shallbe there, that thou mayest know, that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. And I will set a deliverance between my people and thine. tomorrow shall this token come to pass. And the LORD did so. And there came perilous cruel worms in to pharao's house, in to his servants houses, & upon all the land of Egipte: and the land was marred with noisome worms. Then called Pharaoh for Moses & Aaron, & said: Go your way, & do sacrifice unto your God in the land. Moses said: It is not meet, that we should so do, so should we offer the abomination of the Egipcians unto the LORD our God. Behold, if we should offer the abomination of the Egipcians before their eyes, should they not stone us? Three days journey will we go in the wilderness, and do sacrifice unto the LORD our God exod 3. c like as he hath said unto us. Pharaoh said: I will let you go, that you may do sacrifice unto the LORD your God in the wilderness (only that you go no farther) & pray for me. Moses said: Behold, when I am come forth from thee, I will pray unto the LORD, that the cruel worms may be taken from Pharaoh, & from his servants, & from his people, even tomorrow: only deceive me no more, that thou wouldest not let the people go to do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD did as Moses said, & took away the cruel worms from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, so that there remained not one. But Pharaoh hardened his heart even then also, and let not the people go. The IX. Chapter. THe LORD said unto Moses: Go in to Pharaoh, and speak unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD God of the hebrews: let my people go, that they may serve me. If thou will't not, but hold them longer, behold, the hand of the LORD shall be upon thy cattles in the field, upon horses, upon Asses, upon Camels, upon oxen, upon sheep with a very sore pestilence. And the LORD shall make a division between the cattles of the Israelites & the Egipcians, so that there shall nothing die of all that the children of Israel have. And the LORD appointed a time, and said: Tomorrow shall the LORD do this upon earth. And the LORD did the same on the morrow. And there died of all manner of cattles of the Egipcians: but of the cattles of the children of Israel there died not one. And Pharaoh sent thither, & behold, there was not one of the cattles of Israel deed. But pharao's heart was hardened, so that he let not the people go. Then said the LORD unto Moses & Aaron: Take your hands full of aszshes out of the furnace, & let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven before Pharaoh, that it may be dust in all the land of Egipte, & that there may be sores & blaynes upon men & upon cattles in all the land of Egipte. And they took aszshes out of the furnace, & stood before Pharaoh, & Moses sprenkled it toward heaven. Then were there sores and blaynes upon men & upon cattles, so that the Sorcerers might not stand before Moses by reason of the sores. For there were sores upon the Sorcerers as well as upon all the Egipcians. But the LORD hardened pharao's heart, so that he herkened not unto them, even as the LORD had said unto Moses. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Get the up tomorrow by times, & stand before Pharaoh, & speak unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: let my people go, that they may serve me, else will I at this time send all my plagues in to thy heart, & upon thy servants & upon thy people: that thou mayest know, that there is none like me in all lands. For I will now stretch out my hand, & smite the & thy people with pestilence, so that thou shalt be rooted out from the earth. Yet have I Some read: * I have held the up. stirred the up for this cause, even to show my power upon thee, and that my name might be declared in all lands. Thou holdest my people yet, & will't not let them go, behold, tomorrow about this time will I 'cause a mighty great hail to rain, such as hath not been in the land of Egipte, sense the time that it was grounded, hither to. And now send thou, & save thy cattles, & all that thou hast in the field: for all men & cattles that shallbe found in the field, & not brought in to the houses, if the hail fall upon them, they shall die. Now who so feared the word of the LORD among pharao's servants, caused his servants & cattles to fly in to the houses: but look whose hearts regarded not the word of the LORD, left their servants and cattles in the field. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that it may hail upon all the land of Egipte, upon men, upon cattles, & upon all herbs of the field in the land of Egipte. So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, Psal. 77. c & 104. d and the LORD caused it to thunder & hail, so that the fire ran along upon the earth. Thus the LORD hailed & rained upon the land of Egipte, so that the hail & fire went so horrybly together, as never was in all the land of Egipte, since the time that there were people therein. And the hail smote the whole land of Egipte, all that was upon the field, both men & cattles, & smote all the herbs upon the field, & broke all the trees upon the field, save only in the land of Gosen, where the children of Israel were, there it hailed not. Then sent Pharaoh & called for Moses & Aaron, & said unto them: Now have I sinned, the LORD is righteous, but I & my people are ungodly. Yet pray you unto the LORD, that the thunder & hail of God may cease, then will I let you go, that you shall tarry here no longer. Moses said unto him: When I am come out of the cite, I will stretch out mine hands unto the LORD, so shall the thunder cease, & there shall be no more hail: that thou mayest know, that the earth is the LORDS. But I know, that both thou & thy servants fear not yet the LORD God. Thus the flax and the barley were smitten: for the barley was shot up, & the flax was boulled: but the wheat and the r●e were not smitten, for they were late sown. So Moses went from Pharaoh out of the cite, & stretched out his hands unto the LORD. And the thunder & the hail ceased, & the rain dropped not upon the earth. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain & thunder & hail ceased, he sinned again, and herdened his heart, he & his servants. So pharao's heart was hardened, that he let not the children of Israel go, even as the LORD had said by Moses. The X. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Moses: Go in unto Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart & the hearts of his servants, that I might do these my tokens among them, & that thou mightest show it in the ears of thy children & of thy childers children, what I have done in Egipte, and how I have showed my tokens among them, that you may know, how that I am the LORD. So Moses & Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, & spoke unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD God of the Hebrews: How long refusest thou to submit thyself unto me, to let my people go, that they may serve me? If thou will't not let my people go, behold, tomorrow will I 'cause greshoppers to come upon all places, that they may cover the land, so that the land can not be seen, & they shall eat up that is left you & was delivered from the hail: & shall eat up all your green trees upon the field, & shall fill thy house, all the servants houses, & all the Egipcians houses: such as the fathers & the father's fathers have not seen, since the time that they were upon earth unto this day. And he turned him, & went out from Pharaoh. Then said pharao's servants unto him: How long shall we be snared after this manner? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God. Knowest thou not yet, that Egipte is destroyed? Moses & Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, which said unto them: Go your way, & serve the LORD your God. But who are they that shall go? Moses said: We will go with young & old, with sons and daughters, with sheep and oxen▪ for we have a feast of the LORD. He said unto them: Let it be so, the LORD be with you: Should I let you go & your children also? look that you have not some mischief in hand. Not so, but go you that are men, and serve the LORD, for that was your desire. And they thrust them out from Pharaoh. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Stretch out thy hand over the land of Egipte, for the * Psa▪ Sap. ●● joel▪ ●● Apo▪ ● greshoppers, that they may come upon the land of Egipte, & eat up all the herbs in the land, with all that escaped the hail. Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egipte, & the LORD brought an east wind in to the land all that day & all that night, & in the morning, the east wind brought the greshoppers. And they came over the whole land of Egipte, and lighted in all places of Egipte, so exceeding many, that before time there were never such, neither shallbe here after: for they covered the land, and made it dark. And they ate up all the herbs in the land, & all the fruits upon the trees which remained from the hail, & left no green thing behind in the trees & herbs upon the field in all the land of Egipte. Then Pharaoh called for Moses & Aaron in all the haist, & said: I have sinned against the LORD your God, & against you: forgive me my sin this once also, & pray the LORD your God, that he may take away fro me this death only. And he went out from Pharaoh, & prayed unto the LORD. Then the LORD turned a marvelous strong west wind, and took up the greshoppers, & ca●● them in to the reed see, so that there was not one left in all the quarters of Egipte. But the LORD hardened pharao's heart, that he let not the children of Israel go. The LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that it be so dark in the land of Egipte, that it may be felt. And Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, them was there a thick darkness in all the land of Egipte three days, Sap. ● so that in three days no man saw another, nor rose up from the place where he was. But with the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings. Then Pharaoh called for Moses, & said: Go your way & serve the LORD: only leave your sheep & your oxen here: let your children go with you also. Moses said: Thou must give us offerings and brent offerings, that we may do sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattles shall go with us, and there shall not one hooffe be left behind: for we must take thereof for the service of the LORD our God. moreover we know not wherewithal we shall serve the LORD, till we come thither. But the LORD hardened pharao's heart, that he would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him: Get the hence fro me, & beware, that thou come no more in my sight: For look what day so ever thou comest in my sight, thou shalt die. Moses answered: Even as thou hast said, I will come no more in thy sight. The XI. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Moses: I will yet bring a plague upon Pharaoh and Egipte: after that shall he let you go from hence, & shall not only let all go, but also drive you hence. Therefore say now unto the people, that every man borrow of his neighbour, & every woman of his neghbouresse, jewels of silver & gold: ●o. 3. ● ●ud 12. ● for the LORD shall give the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. ●ccli. 45. a And Moses was a very great man in the land of Egipte, in the sight of pharao's servants, & in the sight of the people. And Moses said: Thus sayeth the LORD: At midnight will I go out in the land of Egipte, & all the first born in the land of Egipte shall die: from pharao's first son (that sitteth upon his seat) unto the first son of the maid servant which is behind the mill: & all the first born among the cattles: & there shallbe a great cry in all the land of Egipte, such as never was, ner shallbe. But among all the children of Israel there shall not a dog quatch with his tongue, fro men unto cattles, that you may know, how that the LORD hath put a difference betwixt Egipte & Israel. Then shall all these thy servants come down unto me, & fall at my foot, & say: Get the out, thou & all the people that are under the. After that will I depart. And he went from Pharaoh with a wroth full displeasure. The LORD said unto Moses: Pharaoh herkeneth not unto you, that many wonders may be done in the land of Egipte. And Moses & Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: but the LORD hardened his heart, that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. The XII. Chapter. THe LORD said unto Moses & Aaron in the land of Egipte: This month shall be with you the first month & at it you shall begin the months of the year. Speak you unto all the congregation of Israel, & say: Upon the tenth day of this month let every one take a * joh. 1. d lamb (or a kydd) where a householder is, to every house a lamb. But if the household be to few for a lamb, them let him & his neghbor that is next unto his house, take it according to the number of the souls, and count to the lamb, what every man may eat. But it shall be a lamb with out blemish, a male, & of a year old. From among the lambs & goats shall you take it. And you shall keep it unto the fourteen day of the month. And every man of the congregation of Israel shall slay it about the evening. And they shall take of his blood, Eze. 9 a and strike it on both the side posts of the door, and on the upperdore post of the house, that they eat it in. And so shall they eat flesh the same night, roasted at the fire, & unleavened bread, and shall eat it with sour sauce. You shall not eat it raw, ner sodden with water, but only roasted at the fire, his head with his feet and pertenaunce. And you shall leave nothing of it over until the morning: but if any thing be left over until the morning, you shall burn it with fire. Of this manner shall you eat it: You shall be girded about your loins, and have your shues upon your feet, and staves in your hands, and you shall eat it with haist: for it is the LORDS Passeover. * Psa. 135. a For in the same night will I go thorough the land of Egipte, & smite all the firstborn in the land of Egipte, from men unto cattles, & upon all the gods of Egipte will I do execution. Even I the LORD. And the blood shall be your token, upon the houses wherein you are: Heb. 11. ● that when I see the blood, I may pass over, and that the plague happen not unto you, to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egipte. And this day shall you have for a remembrance, and you shall keep it holy for a feast unto the LORD, you & all your posterities, for a perpetual custom. Exo. 23. b and▪ 34. c Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread: namely, upon the first day shall you leave of with leavended bread in your houses. Who so ever eateth levended bread from the first day unto the seventh that soul shall be rooted out from Israel. The first day shall be called holy among you, and the seventh also. No manner of work shall you do therein, save what belongeth to the meat for all manner of souls, that only may you do for you. And keep you to leavended bread. For even upon that same day will I bring your armies out of the land of Egipte, therefore shall you and all your posterities keep this day for a perpetual custom. Upon the fourteen day of the first month, Levi. 23. a Nu. 28. c at even, shall you eat unleavened bread, unto the one and twenty day of the month, at even: so that there be no levended bread found in your houses seven days. For who so ever eateth levended bread, that soul shall be rooted out from the congregation of Israel, whether it be a stranger or born in the land. Therefore eat no levended bread, but only unleavened bread in all your dwellynges. And Moses called all the Elders of Israel, and said unto them: Chose out, and take to every household a sheep, and kill Passeover unto the LORD: and take a bunch of ysope, and dip it in the blood in the basin, and strike it upon the upperposte and upon the two side posts, and none of you go out at the door of his house until the morning, for the LORD will go about and plague the Egipcians. And when he saith the blood upon the upperposte, and upon the two side posts, he will pass over by the door, and not suffer the destroyer to come in to your houses to plague. Therefore keep this custom for the and thy children for ever. And when you be come in to the land that the LORD shall give you, (as he hath said) then keep this service. * jos. 4. d And when your children say unto you: What service is this, that you have? You shall say: It is the sacrifice of the LORDS Passeover, which passed over by the children of Israel in Egipte, when he plagued the Egipcians, and saved our houses. Then the people bowed themselves, and worshipped. And the children of Israel went and did, as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. And at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egipte: 〈…〉 from pharao's first son (which sat upon his seat) until the first son of the prisoner that was in the preson, and all the firstborn of the cattles. Then Pharaoh arose the same night, and all his servants, and all the Egipcians, & there was a great cry in Egipte: for there was no house wherein there was not one deed. And he called for Moses and Aaron in the night, and said: Get you up, 〈…〉 and depart out fro my people, you and the children of Israel: go your way, and serve the LORD, as you have said: and take your sheep and your oxen with you, * as you have said, and depart, and bless me also. And the Egipcians were fierce upon the people, to drive them haistely out of the land, for they said: we are all but deed. And the people took the raw dough, before it was levended (for their food) bound in their clotheses upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel had done * as Moses said, and borrowed jewels of silver and gold, and clotheses of the Egipcians: the LORD also had given the people favour in the sight of the Egipcians, that they lent them, and so they spoiled the Egipcians. Thus the children of Israel took their journey from Raemses to Suchoth, 〈…〉 * six hundredth thousand men of foot, beside children. There went with them also much common people, and sheep, and oxen, and exceeding many cattles. And of the raw dough that they brought out of Egipte, they baked unleavened cakes: for it was not levended, in so much as they were thrust out of Egipte, and could not tarry: neither had they prepared them any other meat. The time that the children of Israel dwelled in Egipte, is four hundreth and thirty years. When the same were ended, the whole host of the LORD went out of the land of Egipte in one day. Therefore shall this night be kept unto the LORD, because he brought them out of the land of Egipte: And the children of Israel shall keep it unto the LORD, they and their posterities. And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: This is the manner of the keeping of Passeover: There shall no stranger eat of it. But who so is a bought servant let him be circumcised, & then eat thereof. A stranger and an hired servant shall not eat of it. In one house shall it be eaten. You shall carry none of his flesh out of the house, and 〈◊〉. 9 b 〈◊〉 9 d you shall not break a bone of him. The whole congregation of Israel shall do it. But if there dwell a stranger with thee, & will hold Passeover unto the LORD, let him circumcise every one that is male, and then let him first come, and do it, and be as one that is born in the land: for there shall no uncircumcised eat thereof. One manner of law be unto him that is born in the land, & unto the stranger that dwelleth among you. And all the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses & Aaron. So upon one day the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte with their armies. The XIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: 〈◊〉. 22. d 〈◊〉▪ ●4. c 〈◊〉. ●. c 〈◊〉. 1. d 〈◊〉. ●. d Sanctify unto me every firstborn, that breaketh all manner of Matrices among the children of Israel, both of men & cattles: for they are mine. Then said Moses unto the people: Think upon this day, in the which you are go out of Egipte from the house of bondage, how that the LORD brought you out from thence with a mighty hand. Therefore shall you eat no sour dough. This day are you go out, even in the month of Abib. ●xo. 2● c 〈◊〉. 33. a Now when the LORD hath brought the in to the land of the Canaanites, hittites, Amorites, Hevites & jebusites, which 〈◊〉. 15. d ●●od. 3. d he swore unto thy fathers to give thee (even a land that floweth with milk & honey) then shalt thou keep this service in this month. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, & upon the seventh day is the lords feast: therefore shalt thou eat unleavened bread seven days, that there be no sour dough, ner soured bread seen in all thy quarters. And thou shalt tell thy son at the same time, & say: Because of that, which the LORD did for me, when I departed out of Egipte. Therefore shalt it be a sign unto the in thy hand, and a token of remembrance before thy eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth, how that the LORD brought the out of Egipte with a mighty hand: Therefore keep this manner yearly in his tyme. When the LORD now hath brought the in to the land of the Canaanites (as he hath sworn unto the and thy fathers) and hath given it thee, ●en. 15. d then shalt thou sunder out unto the LORD all that breaketh the Matrice, and firstborn among thy cattles, such as is male. The firstborn of the Ass shalt thou buy out with a sheep: but if thou redeem it not, then break his neck. All the firstborn of men among thy children shalt thou redeem. And when thy child axeth the to day or tomorrow: What is this? Thou shalt say unto him: The LORD brought us out of Egipte from the house of bondage with a mighty hand: for when Pharaoh was loath to let us go, the LORD slay all the firstborn in the land of Egipte, from the firstborn of men unto the firstborn of the cattles: therefore offer I unto the LORD all that breaketh the Matrice, being a male, and the firstborn of my children I redeem. And this shall be a sign unto the in thy hand, and a token to think upon before thy eyes, how that the LORD brought us out of Egipte with a mighty hand. Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God led them not the way thorough the land of the philistines, which was the next: for he thought: The people might repent, when they see war, and so turn in again in to Egipte. Therefore led he the people about, even the way thorough the wilderness by the reed see. And the children of Israel went harnessed out of the land of Egipte. And Moses took joseph's bones with him, * Goe 50. d josu. 24. f for he took an oath of the children of Israel, and said: God will surely visit you, therefore carry away my bones with you from hence. So they took their journey from Suchoth, & pitched their tents in Ethan in the edge of the wilderness. Nu. 14. b Neem. 9 ● 1. Cor. 10. a Esaiae 4. b And the LORD went before them by day in a piler of a cloud, to lead them the right way: and by night in a piler of fire, that he might show them light to walk both by day and night. The piler of the cloud departed never from the people by day, and the pillar of fire departed not from them by night. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they turn about, Num. ●●. b & pitch their tents before the valley of Hyroth, betwixt Migdol & the see toward Baal Zephon, and there pitch the tents right over by the see. For Pharaoh shall say of the children of Israel: They can not tell how to get▪ out of the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. And I will harden his heart, that he shall follow after them, & I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his power. And the Egyptians shall know, that I am the LORD. And they did so. And when it was told the king of Egipte, that the people fled, his heart & his servants were turned against the people, & said: Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go, that they should not serve us? And he bound his charettes fast, and took his people with him, and took six hundredth choose charettes, and the other charettes beside that were in Egipte, and the captains over all his: for the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egipte, that he followed after the children of Israel. And the children of Israel went out with an high hand. And the Egipcians followed after them, & overtook them (where they had pitched by the see) with horses and charettes, and horsemen, and with his power, in the valley of Hyrath toward Baal Zephon. And when Pharaoh came nigh them, ●●su. 24. b the children of Israel lift up their eyes, and behold, the Egipcians went behind them, and they were sore afraid, and cried unto the LORD. And said unto Moses: Were there no graves in Egipte, that thou hast brought us away to die in the wilderness? ●sal. 103. a Wherefore hast thou done this unto us, that thou hast carried us out of Egipte? Is not this it, that we said unto the in Egipte? Leave of, & let us serve the Egipcians: for it were better for us to serve the Egipcians, then to die in the wilderness? Moses said unto the people: ●. Pa. 20. c ●sa. 30. c Fear you not, stand still, and behold, what a salvation the LORD shall show upon you this day: Deu. 2● g for these Egipcians whom you see this day, shall you never see more for ever: the LORD shall fight for you, only quiet yourselves. The LORD said unto Moses: Wherfofore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. But lift thou up thy staff, & stretch out thy hand over the see, ●ap. 14. a & part it asunder, that the children of Israel may go in thorough the midst of it upon the dry ground. Behold, I will harden the heart of the Egipcians, that they shall follow after you. Thus will I get me honour upon Pharaoh, & upon all his power, upon his charettes and horsemen: and the Egipcians shall know, that I am the LORD, when I have got me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his charettes, and upon his horsemen. Then the angel of God that went before the armies of Israel, Psal. 104. c removed, and got him behind them: and the cloudy piler removed also from before them, and stood behind them and came betwixt the armies of the Egipcians and the armies of Israel. It was a dark cloud, and gave light that night, so that all the night long these and they could not come together. When Moses now stretched forth his hand over the see, 〈…〉 the LORD caused it to pass away thorough a mighty eastwind all that night, and made the see dry, Ios●▪ 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Iud●● 〈◊〉 Psal▪ and the water divided itself asunder. And the children of Israel went in thorough the midst of the see upon the dry ground: and the water was unto them as a brickwall, upon their right hand & upon their left. And the Egipcians followed, & went in after them, all pharao's horses, & charettes, & horsemen, even in to the midst of the see. Now when the morning watch came, the LORD looked upon the armies of the Egipcians out the piler of fire and the cloud, 〈…〉 & troubled their armies, and smote the wheels from their charettes, & overthrew them with a storm. Then said the Egipcians: * Let us fly from Israel, the LORD fighteth for them against the Egipcians. But the LORD said unto Moses: Stretch out thine hand over the see, that the water may come again upon the Egipcians, upon their charettes, and horsemen. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the see, and the see came again before day in his course and strength, and the Egipcians fled against it. Thus the LORD overthrew them in the midst of the see, 〈…〉 so that the water came again, and covered the charettes and horsemen, and all pharao's power which followed after them in to the see, so that there remained not one of them. But the children of Israel went dry thorough the midst of the see, Esa. ● and the water was unto them as a brickwall upon their right hand and upon their left. Thus the LORD delivered Israel in that day from the hand of the Egipcians. 〈…〉 And they saw the Egipcians deed upon the see side, and the great hand that the LORD had showed upon the Egipcians. And the people feared the LORD, and believed him, and his servant Moses. The XU. Chapter. THen sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and said: 〈◊〉. 15. c I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath done gloriously, horse & chariot hath he over thrown in the see. 〈◊〉. 117. b 〈◊〉. 12. a The LORD is my strength, and my song, and is become my salvation. This is my God, I will magnify him: He is my father's God, I will exalt him. The LORD is the right man of war, LORD is his name. The charettes of Pharaoh & his power, hath he cast in to the see. His choose captains are drowned in the reed see, the deep hath covered them: they fallen to the ground as a stone. Thy right hand (O LORD) is glorious in power: thy right hand (O LORD) hath smitten the enemies. And with thy great glory thou hast destroyed thy adversaries: thou sentestout the wrath, & it consumed them, even as stobble. In the breath of thy wrath the waters fallen together, the floods went upon a heap: The deeps plomped together in the midst of the see. The enemy thought: I will follow upon them, and overtake them, and divide the spoil, and cool my mind upon them. I will draw out my sword, and my hand shall destroy them. Thou blewest with thy wind, the see covered them, and they sank down as lead in the mighty waters. LORD, who is like unto the among the gods? Who is so glorious in holiness, fear full, laudable, and doing wonders? When thou stretchedest out the right hand, the earth swallowed them up. Thou of the very mercy hast led this people, whom thou hast delivered, and with the strength thou hast brought them unto the dwelling of thy Sanctuary. When the nations heard this, they raged, sorrow came upon the philistines. Then were the princes of Edom afraid, trembling come upon the mighty of Moab, all the indwellers of Canaan waxed faint hearted. Let fear and dread fall upon them thorough thy great arm, that they may be as still as a stone, till thy people (O LORD) be go thorough, till thy people whom thou hast got, be go thorough. Bring them in, and plant them upon the mountain of thy inheritance, unto the place that thou hast made for thine own dwelling: even to the temple (O LORD) which thy hands have prepared. The LORD shall be king for ever & ever. For Pharaoh went in to the see with horses, and charettes, and horsemen, and the LORD made the see fall again upon them. But the children of Israel went dry thorough the midst of the see. And Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed out after her with timbrels in a dance. And Miriam sang before them: O let us sing unto the LORD, for he hath done gloriously, Exo. 1●. ● man and horse hath he over thrown in the see. Moses caused the children of Israel to depart out from the reed see, Num. ●●. b unto the wilderness of Sur, & they went three days in the wilderness, that they found no water. Then came they to Marath, but they could not drink the water for bitterness, for it was very bitter. Therefore was it called Marah, (that is bitterness.) Then the people murmured against Moses, & said: What shall we drink? judith. 5. d Ecclin. 3●. ● 4. R●. ●4. f And Moses cried unto the LORD, which showed him a tree: this he put in the water, them was it sweet. There he made them a statute, and a law, and tempted them, and said: If thou wyl● hearken unto the voice of the LORD the God, & do that which is right in his sight, and give ear unto his commandments, Deut. 2●. ● & keep all his statutes, then will I say upon the none of the sicknesses, that I laid upon Egipte, for I am the LORD thy surgione. The XVI. Chapter. ANd they came unto Elim, where there were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, and there they pitched by the water side. From Elim they took their journey, and the whole congregation of the children of Israel came in to the wilderness of Sin (which lieth between Elim and Sinai) upon the fifteen day of the second month, after that they were departed out of the land of Egipte. And the whole multitude of the children of Israel * Nu. 11. a murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said unto them: Would God we had died in the land of Egipte by the hand of the LORD, when we sat by the flesh pots, and had bread enough to eat: for you have brought us out in to this wilderness, to 'cause this whole multitude die of hunger. Then said the LORD unto Moses: behold I will rain you bread from heaven, and let the people go out, and gather daily, what they need, that I may prove whether they walk in my law or not. But upon the sixte day they shall prepare themselves, that they may bring in twice as much as they gather daily. Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel: At even you shall know, that the LORD hath brought you out of the land of Egipte, and in the morning shall you see the glory of the LORD: for he hath heard your grudginges against the LORD. For what are we, that you grudge against us? Num. 11. d Moses said moreover: At even shall the LORD give you flesh to eat, and in the morning bred enough: because the LORD hath heard your grudginges, that you have grudged against him. For what are we? your murmuring is not against us, but against the LORD. And Moses said unto Aaron: Speak unto the whole multitude of the children of Israel: Come forth before the LORD, for he hath heard your murmurings. And while Aaron spoke thus unto the whole congegation of the children of Israel, they turned them toward the wilderness: and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in a cloud, and the LORD said unto Moses: I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel. Tell them: At even shall you have flesh to eat, and in the morning shall you be filled with bread, & you shall know, that I am the LORD your God. And at even the quails came up, and covered the tents: and in the morning the dew lay round about the tents. And when the dew was fallen, behold, there lay a thing in the wilderness, thin and small, as the horefrost upon the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another: Some read: * What is this? This is Man. For they wist not what it was. But Moses said unto them: It is the bread that the LORD hath given you to eat. This is it that the LORD hath commanded: Every one gather for himself as much as he eateth, and take a Gomor for every head, according to the number of the souls in his tent. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less. But when it was measured out with the Gomor, he that gathered much, had not the more: 〈…〉 and he that gathered little, wanted nothing, but every one gathered for himself, as much as he ate. And Moses said unto them: Let no man leave aught thereof until the morning. But they hearkened not unto Moses. And some left of it until the morning. Then waxed it full of worms and stank. And Moses was angry at them. And every morning they gathered for themselves, as much as every one ate: but as soon as it was hot of the Son, it melted away. And upon the sixte day they gathered twice as much of bread, two Gomors for one. And all the rulers of the congregation came in, and told Moses. And he said unto them: This is it, that the LORD hath said: Tomorrow is the Sabbath of the holy rest of the LORD: look what you will bake, that bake: and what you will seethe, that seethe and that remaineth over, let it remain, that it may be kept until the morning. And they let it remain till the morrow, as Moses commanded. Then stank it not, neither was there any worm therein. Then said Moses: Eat that to day, for to day is the Sabbath of the LORD, to day shall you find none in the field. Six days shall you gather it, but the seventh day is the Sabbath, wherein there shall be none. But upon the seventh day there went out some of the people to gather, and found nothing. Then said the LORD unto Moses: 〈…〉 How long refuse you to keep my commandments and laws? Behold, the LORD hath given you the Sabbath, therefore upon the sixte day he giveth you bread for two days: therefore let every man now bide at home, and no man go forth of his place upon the seventh day. So the people rested upon the seventh day. And the house of Israel called it Man, and it was like Coriander sede, and white, 〈…〉 & had a taist like symnels with honey. And Moses said: This is it that the LORD hath commanded: Fill a Gomor thereof to be kept for your posterities, that they may see the bread, wherewith I fed you, when I brought you out of the land of Egipte. And Moses said unto Aaron: Take a cruse, and put a Gomor full of Man therein, 〈…〉 and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your posterities, as the LORD commanded Moses. So Aaron laid it up there for a testimony to be kept. 〈◊〉. 5. d 〈◊〉. 9 d 〈…〉. c And the children of Israel ate man forty years, till they came unto a land, where people dwelled: even until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan ate they Man. A Gomor is the tenth part of an Epha. The XVII. Chapter. ANd the whole multitude of the children of Israel went on their journeys out of the wilderness of Sin (as the LORD commanded them) & pitched in Raphidim. 〈…〉 Then had the people no water to drink. And they chode with Moses, & said: give us water, that we may drink. Moses said unto them: Why chide you with me? Wherefore tempt you the LORD? But when the people thyrsted there for water, they murmured against Moses, 〈◊〉 ●0. a 〈◊〉. 7. d & said: Wherefore hast thou caused us to come out of Egipte? to let us, our children, and our cattles die of hunger? Moses cried unto the LORD, and said: What shall I do with this people? They are all most ready to stone me. The LORD said unto him: Go before the people, & take some of the elders of Israel with thee, and take in thy hand thy staff, wherewith thou smotest the water, and go thy way: Behold, I will stand there before the upon a rock in Horeb, 〈◊〉. 77. b 〈◊〉. 10. a there shalt thou smite the rock, so shall there water run out, that the people may drink. Moses did so before the elders of Israel. 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉. 9 d Then was that place called Massa Meriba, because of the chydinge of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, and said: Is the LORD among us, or not? Then came Ameleck, & fought against Israel in Raphidim. And Moses said unto josua: Chose us out men, go out, & fight against Amaleck, tomorrow will I stand upon the top of the hill, & have the staff of God in my hand. And josua did as Moses bade him, & fought against Amalek. Moses & Aaron & Her went up to the top of the hill. And when Moses held up his hand, Israel had the victory: judit. 4. c but when he let down his hand, Amalek had the victory. Butler Moses hands were heavy, therefore took they a stone, & laid it under him, that he might sit upon it. And Aaron & Her stayed up his hands, the one upon the one side, and the other upon the other side. So his hands were steadfast unto the Son went down. And josua discomfited Amalek, & his people thorough the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses: Write this for a remembrance in a book, & commit it unto the ears of josua: * Nu●▪ 4. d 1. Re. 15. a for I will rote out Amalek from under heaven, so that he shall no more be remembered. And Moses builded an altar unto the LORD, and called it: * that is: The LORD is he that lifteth me up. The LORD Nissi, for he said: The battle of the LORD shallbe against Amalek thorough an hand under the defence of God from child to child's child. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd when jethro the priest in Madian Moses father in law heard of all that God had done with Moses & his people of Israel, how that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egipte, he took Zipora Moses wife, whom he had sent back, with her two sons. The one was called Gerson, for he said: Exod. 2. d I am become a stranger in a strange land. And the other was called Eliaser, for he said: The God of my fathers hath been my help, and hath delivered me from pharao's sword. Now when jethro Moses father in law, and his sons and his wife came unto him in the wilderness by the mount of God, where he had pitched his tent, he sent word unto Moses: I jethro thy father in law am come unto thee, and thy wife and both her children with her. Then went Moses forth to meet him, and did obeisance unto him, and kissed him. And when they had saluted each other, they went in to the tent. Then Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and the Egipcians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had happened them by the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. jethro rejoiced over all the good that the LORD had done for Israel, that he had delivered them from the hand of the Egipcians. And jethro said: Praised be the LORD, which hath delivered you from the hand of the Egipcians and of Pharaoh, (and) that knoweth how to deliver his people from the Egipcians hand. Now I know, that the LORD is greater than all gods, because they dealt proudly with them. And jethro took brent offerings, and offered unto God. Then came Aaron and all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses father in law before God. On the next morrow sat Moses to judge the people, and the people stood round about Moses from the moming until the even. But when his father in law saw all that he did with the people, he said: What is this, that thou dost with the people? Wherefore sittest thou alone, and all the people stand round about from the morning until the even? Moses answered him: The people come to me, & axe council at God: for when they have any thing to do, they come unto me, that I may judge betwixt every one & his neighbour, and show them the statutes of God, and his laws. His father in law said unto him: It is not well that thou dost. Thou weeriest thyself, and the people that is with the. This business is to sore for thee, thou canst not perform it alone. But hearken unto my voice, I will give the council, and God shall be with the. Be thou unto the people to God ward, and bring the causes before God, and provide them with statutes and laws, that thou mayest show them the way wherein they should walk, and the works that they should do. But look out among all the people, for honest men, that fear God, such as are true, & hate covetousness: make these rulers over them, some over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten, that they may allway judge the people. But where there is any great matter, Deut. 1 c that they bring the same unto thee, and judge the small causes themselves: so shall it be lighter for thee, if they bear the burden with the. If thou shalt do this, then mayest thou endure the thing that God charges the withal, and all this people may go peaceably unto their place. Num. 11. d Moses herkened unto the voice of his father in law, and did all that he said. And he chose honest men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, some over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ten, that they might allway judge the people. As for such causes as were herd, they brought them unto Moses, and judged the small matters themselves. So Moses let his father in law depart in to his own land. The XIX. Chapter. IN the third month after that the children of Israel were go out of the land of Egipte, they came the same day in to the wilderness of Sinai (for they were departed from Raphidim, and would in to the wilderness of Sinai) and there they pitched in the wilderness over against the mount. 〈…〉 And Moses went up unto God. And the LORD called unto him out of the mount, and said: 〈…〉 Thus shalt thou say unto the house of jacob, and tell the children of Israel: You have seen what I have done unto the Egipcians, and how I have born you upon eagle's wings, & brought you unto myself. 〈…〉 If you will hearken now unto my voice, and keep my covenant, you shall be mine own before all people: for the whole earth is mine: and you shall be unto me * a presterly kingdom, and an holy people. These are the words that thou shalt say unto the children of Israel. Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words, that the LORD had commanded. And all the people answered together, and said: * All that the LORD hath said, will we do. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD again. And the LORD said unto Moses: Behold, I will come unto the in a thick cloud, that the people may hear my words, which I speak unto thee, and believe the for ever. And Moses showed the words of the people unto the LORD. The LORD said unto Moses: Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and tomorrow, that they may wash their clotheses, and be ready against the third day: for upon the third day shall the LORD come down upon mount Sinai before all the people. And set marks round about the people, and say unto them: beware, that you go not up in to the mount, ner touch the border of it. * For who so ever toucheth the mount, shall die the death. There shall no hand touch it, but he shall either be stoned, or shot thorough: whether it be be'st or man, it shall not live. When the horn bloweth, then shall they come up unto the mount. Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified them. And they waszshed their clotheses. And he said unto them: Be ready against the third day, and no man come at his wife. Now when the third day came (and it was early) it began to thunder and lighten, and there was a thick cloud upon the mount, and a noise of a trumpet exceeding mighty. And the people that were in the tents, 〈◊〉. 4. b were afraid. Andrea Moses brought the people out of the tents to meet with God, and they stood under the mount. But all mount Sinai smoked, because the LORD came down upon it with fire. And the smoke thereof went up as the smoke of a furnace, so that the whole mount was exceeding terrible. And the noise of the trumpet went out, and was mighty. Moses spoke, & God answered him loud. Now when the LORD was come down upon mount Sinai, even upon the top of it, he called Moses up unto the top of the mount. And Moses went up. Then said the LORD unto him: Go down, and charge the people, that they press not unto the LORD to see him, and so many of them perish. The rulers also that come nigh unto the LORD, shall sanctify themselves, jest the LORD smite them. But Moses said unto the LORD: The people can not come up upon mount Sinai, for thou hast charged us, & said: Set marks about the mount, and sanctify it. The LORD said unto him: Go thy way, get the down. Thou and Aaron with the shalt come up: but the rulers and the people shall not press to come up unto the LORD, jest he smite them. And Moses went down to the people, and told them. The XX. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke all these words, ●eut. 5. a and said: I am the LORD thy God, which * Exo. 14. c have brought the out of the land of Egipte from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other Gods in my sight. * Deu. 4. c and 27. b Thou shalt make the no graven image ner any similitude, neither of it that is above in heaven, ner of it that is beneath upon earth, ner of it that is in the water under the earth. worship them not, and serve them not: for I the LORD thy God am a * Naun. 1. a Exo. 34. a Deu. 7. b jealous God, vysitinge the sin of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation, of them that hate me: And do mercy upon many thousands, that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. Levi. 19 c Ecclin. 23. b * Le. 24. b For the LORD shall not hold him ●ngiltie, that taketh his name in vain. Remembre the Sabbath day, that thou sanctify it. Exo. 23. b 34. c. 35. a Eze. 20. b Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work: But upon the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no manner work in it, neither thou, ner thy son, ner thy daughter, ner thy servant, ner thy maid, ner thy cattles, ner thy stranger that is within thy gates. Gene. 2. a For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and the see, and all that therein is, and rested upon the seventh day: therefore the LORD blessed the seventh day, & hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother, Matt. 1●. a Ephe. 6. a that thou mayest live long in the land, which the LORD thy God shall give the. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not break wedlock. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt bear no false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not * Ro. 7. b and. ●3. b lust after the neighbours house. Thou shalt not lust after thy neighbours wife, ner his servant, ner his maid, ner his ox, ner his Ass, ner all that thy neighbour hath And all the people saw the thunder and the lightning, and the noise of the trumpet, and how that the mountain smoked, and were afraid, and stackerds, & stood a far of, and said unto Moses: * Deu. 1●. c Heb. 12. c Talk thou with us, we will hear: and let not God talk with us, we might else die. Andrea Moses said unto the people: Be not afraid, for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your eyes, that you sin not. And the people stood afar of. But Moses got him in to the dark cloud, where in God was. And the LORD spoke unto him: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: You have seen, that I have talked with you from heaven: therefore shall you make nothing with me: gods of silver and gold shall you not make you. Make me an altar of earth, where upon thou mayest offer the burned offerings, & peace offerings, thy sheep and thy oxen. For look in what place so ever I make the remembrance of my name, there will I come unto thee, and bless the. Deu 27. a josu. ● g 1. Mac. 4. f And if thou will't make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not make it of hewn stone: For if thou lift up thy toll upon it, thou shalt unhallow it. moreover thou shalt not go up upon steps unto mine altar, that thy shame be not discovered before it. The XXI. Chapter. THese are the laws, that thou shalt say before them. levit. 25. f Deu. ●5 b jere. 34. b If thou buy a servant that is an Hebrew, he shall serve the six years, in the seventh year shall he go out free and louse. If he came alone, then shall he go out alone also: but if he came married, then shall his wife go out with him. If his master have given him a wife, & she have born him sons or daughters, them shall the wife and the children be the masters, but he shall go out alone. Nevertheless * Deu. 15. c if the servant say: I love my master, and my wife and children, I will not go out free: then let his master bring him before the Gods, and hold him to the door or post, and bore him thorough the ear with a botkin, and let him be his servant for ever. If a man cell his daughter to be an hand maid, then shall she not go out as the men servants. But if she please not her master, and he have not married her, then shall he let her go free: but to cell her unto a strange people he hath no authority, for so much as he hath despised her. If he promise her unto his son, then shall he do unto her after the law of daughters. But if he give him another wife, then shall he minish nothing of her food, raiment, and duty of marriage. If he do not these three, then shall she go out free, and pay nothing. He that smiteth a man that he die, shall die the death. Leu. 14. d Matth. 5. c * Nu. 35. b Deut. 19 a If he have not laid wait for him, but God let him fall in his hand unawares, then will I appoint the a place, where he shall fly unto. Butt if a man presume upon his neighbour, and slay him with deceit, * ●. Re. 1. g then shalt thou take the same fro mine altar, that he may be slain▪ Who so smiteth his father or mother, shall die the death. He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, 〈…〉 so that he be found by him, the same shall die the death. * Who so curseth father and mother, shall die the death. If men strive together and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, so that he die not, but lieth in bed: If he rise, and go forth upon his staff, them shall he that smote him, be unguilty: save that he shall pay the loss of his time, and give the money for healing him. He that smiteth his servant or maid with a staff, that he die under his hands, the same shall suffer vengeance therefore. But if he endure a day or two, then shall he suffer no vengeance therefore, for it is his money. If men strive, and hit a woman with child, so that the fruit depart from her, and no harm happen unto her, then shall he be punished for money, as much as the woman's husband layeth to his charge, and he shall give it, according to the appointment of the days men. But if there come harm unto her there thorough, * then shall he pay soul for soul, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. If a man smite his servant or his maid in the eye, and destroy it, he shall let them go free and louse for the eye sake. In like manner if he smite out a tooth of his servant or maid, he shall let them go free and louse for the tothes sake. * If an ox gorre a man or a woman, that he die, then shall that ox be stoned, and his flesh not eaten: so is the master of the ox unguilty. But if the ox have been used to push in times past, & it hath been told his master, and he hath not kept him, and besides that slayeth a man or a woman, then shall the ox be stoned, and his master shall die. But if there be money set upon him, then, look what is put upon him, that shall he give, to deliver his soul. Likewise shall he be dealt withal, if he gorre a son or a daughter. But if he gorre a servant or a maid, then shall he give their master thirty silver Sycles: and the ox shallbe stoned. If a man open a well, or dig a pit, and cover it not, and there fall an ox or Ass therein, then shall the owner of the pit make it good with money, and restore it unto his master: but the deed carcase shallbe his own. If one man's ox gorre another, that he die, then shall they cell the living ox, and divide the money, and the deed carcase shall they divide also. But if it be known, that the ox have been used to gorre afore, then shall he pay his ox for the other, & the deed carcase shall be his own. The XXII. Chapter. IF a man steal an ox or sheep, and slay it, or cell it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and 〈…〉 four sheep for a sheep. If a thief be taken breaking in, & upon that be smitten that he die, then shall not he that smote him, be guilty of his blood. But if the son be go up upon him, then hath he committed manslaughter, and he shall die. A thief shall make restitution. If he have nothing, them let him be sold for his theft. But if the theft be found by him alive (from the ox unto the Ass or sheep) then shall he restore double. If a man hurt a field or vineyard, so that he let his cattles do harm in another man's field, the same shall make restitution even of the best of his own field and vineyard. 〈◊〉. 14. c If a fire come out, and take hold of the thorns, so that the sheaves be consumed, or the corn that standeth yet upon the field, he that kindled the fire shall make restitution. Mac. 3. c If a man deliver his neighbour money or vessels to keep, and it be stolen from him out of his house: if the thief be found, he shall restore double. Butler if the thief be not found, then shall the good man of the house be brought before the ●sal. 81. a 〈◊〉. 10. d Gods (and shall swear) that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbours good. If one accuse another in any manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, or Ass, or sheep, or raiment, what so ever it be that is lost: then shall both their causes come before the Gods: Look whom the Gods condemn, the same shall restore double vibe to his neighbour. If a man deliver unto his neighbour an Ass, or ox or sheep, or any manner of cattles to keep, and it die, or be hurt, or driven away that no man see it, then shall there an ●oth of the LORD go between them, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbours good: and the owner of the good shall accept it, so that the other shall not make it good. If a thief steal it from him, then shall he make restitution unto the owner thereof. But if it be ravished (of beasts) then shall he bring record thereof, and not make it good. If a man borowe aught of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, so that the owner thereof be not by, then shall he make it good. But if the owner thereof be by, then shall he not make it good, if he hired it for his money. If a man beguile a maid, Gen. 34. a Deu. 22. d that is not yet spoused, and lie with her, the same shall give her her dowry, and take her to his wife. But if her father refuse to give her unto him, them shall he we you there the money, according to the dowry of virgins. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 1. Re. 28. a * Deu. 27. ● Who so lieth with a be'st, shall die the death. Who so offereth to any gods, save unto the LORD only, let him die without redemption. Thou shalt not vex ner oppress a stranger, Levi. 19 g Zach. 7. b for you yourselves were strangers also in the land of Egipte. You shall truble no widow ner fatherless child. If thou shalt trouble them, job 24. a they shall cry unto me, and I shall hear their cry: then shall my wrath wax hot, so that I shall slay you with the sword, and your wives shallbe wedowes, and your children fatherless, * Leu. 2●. ● Deut. 23. ● Eze. 23. b If thou lend money unto my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not behave thyself as an usurer unto him, neither shalt thou oppress him with usury. If thou take a garment of thy neighbour to pledge, thou shalt give it him again before the Son go down: Deu. 24▪ b for his raiment is his only covering of his skin: wherein he sleepeth. But if he shall cry unto me, I will hear him: for I am merciful. Thou shalt not speak evil of the Gods, 2. Re. 1●. b * Act. 23. ● and the ruler of thy people shall thou not blaspheme. Thy dry and moist fruits shalt thou not keep back. Thy first son shalt thou give unto me. So shalt thou do also with thy oxen and sheep. Seven days let it be with the dame: Upon the eight day shalt thou give it unto me. You shallbe holy people before me. Therefore shall you eat no flesh, that is torn of beestes in the field, Levi. 22. a Ez●. 44. d but cast it unto the dogs. The XXIII. Chapter. THou shalt not accept a vain tale, that thou wouldest maintain the ungodly, and be a false witness. Thou shalt not follow the multitude unto evil, ner answer at the law that thou wouldest (to follow the multitude) turn a side from the right. Thou shalt not paint a poor man's cause. Deu. 22. a If thou meet thy enemy's ox or Ass, going astray, thou shalt bring the same unto him again. Deu. 22. a Luc. 14. a If thou see the Ass of him that hateth thee, lie under his burden, thou shalt not let him lie, but shalt help him up. Thou shalt not wraist the right of thy poor in his cause. Keep the far from false matters. Susan. g The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay, for jiustifie not the ungodly. Deu. 17. a Eccl. 20. d Thou shalt not take gifts: for gifts blind even them that are sharp of sight, & wraist the righteous causes. You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of strangers, * Goe 46. a for so much as you yourselves also have been strangers in the land of Egipte. Six years shalt thou sow thy land, and gather in the fruit thereof: Levi. 25. a In the seventh year shalt thou let it rest and lie still, that the poor among thy people may eat thereof: and look what remaineth over, let the beestes of the field eat it. Thus shalt thou do also with thy vineyard and olive trees. Exo. 20. ᵇ ●4. c 35. a Deut. 5. b Six days shalt thou do thy work, but upon the seventh day thou shalt keep holy day, that thy ox and Ass may rest, and that the son of thy handmaiden and the stranger may refresh themselves. All that I have said unto you, that keep. And as for the names of other gods, you shall not remember them, and out of your mouths shall they not be herd. Three times in the year shalt thou keep feast unto me: namely the feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep, that thou eat unleavened bread seven days ( * Exo. 12. a like as I commanded thee) in the time of the month Abib, for in the same wentest thou out of Egipte. Butt appear not empty before me.) And the feast when thou first reapest thy labours, Deu. 16. b that thou hast sown upon the field. And the feast of ingathering in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. Deu. 16. c Three times in the year shall every male that thou hast, appear before the LORD the governor. Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with sour dough, and the fat of my feast shall not remain till the morning. The first of the first fruits of thy field shalt thou bring in to the house of the LORD thy God. 〈…〉 And shalt not seethe a kid, while it is in his mother's milk. Behold, I send an angel before thee, 〈…〉 to keep the in the way, and to bring the unto the place, that I have prepared. Therefore be war of his face, and hearken unto his voice, and anger him not, for he shall not spare your myszdedes, & my name is in him. But if thou shalt hearken unto his voice, 〈…〉 and do all that I shall tell thee, then will I be enemy unto thy enemies, and adversary unto thy adversaries. Now when mine angel goeth before thee, & bringeth the unto the Amorites, hittites, Pheresites, Canaanites, Hevites & jebusites, & I shall have destroyed them: then * shalt thou not worship their gods, ner serve them, neither shalt thou do as they do, but shalt overthrow their gods, & break them down. 〈…〉 But the LORD your God shall you serve, so shall he bless thy bread & thy water, and I will remove all sickness from the. There shallbe nothing baren ner unfruitful in thy land, and I will fulfil the number of thy days. I will send my fear before thee, and slay all the people where thou comest, & will make all thy enemies to turn their backs upon the. 〈…〉 I will send hornettes before thee, and drive out the Hevites, Canaanites and Hethytes before thee▪ In one year will I not cast them out before thee, that the land become not waist, & wild beasts multiply against that: By little & little will I drive them out before thee, till thou grow, & have the land in possession. 〈…〉 And I will set the borders of thy land, even from the reed see unto the see of the philistines, & from the wilderness unto the * water. For I will deliver the indwellers of the land in to thy hand, that thou shalt drive them out before the. 〈…〉 Thou shalt make no covenant with them ner with their gods, but let them not devil in thy land, that they make the not sin against me. * For if thou serve their gods, it will surely be thy decay. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd he said unto Moses: Come up unto the LORD thou & Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel, & worship afar of. But let Moses only come nigh unto the LORD, and let not them come nigh, and let not the people also come up with him. Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, & all the laws. Then answered all the people with one voice, and said: 〈◊〉▪ 19 b All the words that the LORD hath said, will we do. Then written Moses all the words of the LORD, & got him up bytymes in the morning, * & builded an altar under the mount with twelve pilers, according to the twelve tribes of Israel: & sent twelve young men of the children of Israel, to offer burned offerings, and peace offerings thereon of bullocks unto the LORD. And Moses took the half part of the blood, and put it in a basin, the other half sprenkled he upon the altar: & took the book of the covenant, & cried in the ears of the people. And when they had said: All that the LORD hath said, will we do, & hearken unto him: Pet. 1. a 〈◊〉. 9 c 〈◊〉 10. c Moses took the blood, & sprenkled it upon the people, & said: Behold, this is the blood of the covenant that the LORD maketh with you upon all these words. Then went Moses & Aaron, Nadab & Abihu, 〈◊〉. 19 d & the seventy elders of Israel up, & saw the God of Israel. Under his feet it was like a stone work of Sapphire, & as the fashion of heaven, when it is clear, & he put not his hand upon the principal of Israel. And when they had seen God, they ate & drunk. Exo. 31. d 〈◊〉 32. d And the LORD said unto Moses: Come up unto me upon the mount, & remain there, that I may give the tables of stone, & the law & commandments that I have written which thou shalt teach them. Then Moses got him up & his minister josua, & went up in to the mount of God, & said unto the elders: Tarry you here, till we come to you again: behold, Aaron and Her are with you, if any man have a matter to do, let him bring it unto them. Now when Moses came up in to the mount, a cloud covered the mount: & the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, & covered it with the cloud six days, & upon the seventh day he called Moses out of the cloud. And the fashion of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire upon the top of the mount in the sight of the children of Israel. And Moses went in to the midst of the cloud, and ascended up in to the mount, and abode upon the mount forty days & forty nights. ●xo. 34. d The XXV. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses & aid: ●xo. 35. a Speak unto the children of Israel, that they give me an Have offering, & take the some of every man, that hath a frewylling heart thereto. And this is the Heve-offering that you shall take of them: Gold, silver, brass, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, white twined silk, goats hair, reed skins of rams, do skins, fir tree, oil for lamps, spices for the anointing oil, and for sweet incense. Onyx stones and set stones for the overbody cote and for the breastlap. And they shall make me a Sanctuary, that I may devil among them. Like as I shall show the a patron of the Habitation, and of all the ornaments thereof, so shall you make it. Make an Ark of fir tree two cubytes & a half long, a cubit & a half broad, Exo. 37. ● and a cubit & an half high: this shalt thou overleye with pure gold within and without, & make an high upon it a crown of gold round about, and cast four rings of gold, & put them in the four corners of it, so that two rings be upon the one side, and two upon the other side. And make staves of fir tree, and overlay them with gold, and put them in the rings along by the sides of the Ark, to bear it withal: and they shall abide still in the rings, & not be taken out. And in the Ark thou shalt say the witness, that I will give the. Thou shalt make a mercyseat also of pure gold, two cubytes and a half long, and a cubit & a half broad. And thou shalt make two Cherubyns of beaten gold upon both the ends of the mercyseat, that the one Cherub may be upon the one end, & the other upon the other end, & so to be two Cherubyns upon the ends of the mercyseat. And the Cherubyns shall spread out their wings over an high, that they may cover the mercyseat with their wings: & that either of their faces may be right over one against another, and their faces shall look unto the mercyseat. And thou shalt set the mercyseat above upon the Ark. And in the Ark thou shalt say the witness, that I shall give the. Num. 7. l From that place will I testify unto thee, and talk with thee, namely, from the * Ro. 3. c Heb. 5. a mercyseat (betwixt the two Cherubyns) which is upon the Ark of witness, of all that I will command the unto the children of Israel. Thou shalt make a table also of fir tree, two cubits long, and one cubit broad, Exo. 37. b and a cubit and a half high, and overlay it with pure gold, and make a crown of gold round about it, and a whope of an hand breed high, and a crown of gold unto the whope round about. And unto it thou shalt make four rings of gold, on the four comers in the four feet of it: hard under the whope shall the rings be, to put in staves and to bear the table with all: and thou shalt make the staves of fir tree, & overlay them with gold, that the table may be born therewith. Thou shalt make also his diszshes, spoons, pots, and flat pieces of pure gold, to pour out and in. Leu. 24. b And upon the table thou shalt allway set shewbred before me. moreover thou shalt make a candlestick of fine beaten gold, Exo. 37. c Num. 8. a where upon shall be the shaft with branches, cups, knoppes, and flowers. Six branches shall proceed out of the sides of the candlestick, out of every side three branches. Every branch shall have three cups, (like allmondes) three knoppes, and three flowers. These shallbe the six branches of the candlestick. But the shaft of the candilsticke itself shall have four cups, knoppes and flowers, and always a knop under two branches, of the six that proceed out of the candlestick. For both the knoppes and branches shall proceed out of the shaft, all one piece of fine beaten gold. And thou shalt make seven lamps above there on, that they may give light one over against another, and snoffers and out quenchers of pure gold. Out of an hundredth pound weight of pure gold shalt thou make it, with all this apparel. * Heb. 8 a Acto. 7. f And see that thou make it after the patron that thou hast seen in the mount. The XXVI. Chapter. THe habitation shalt thou make of ten curtains, of white twined silk, of yellow silk, of scarlet and purple. Cherubyms shalt thou make thereon of broderd work. The length of one curtain shallbe eight and twenty cubytes the breadth four cubytes: and all the ten shallbe like, and shallbe coupled five and five together, one unto the other. And thou shalt make loupes of yellow silk by the edge of every curtain, where they shallbe coupled together, that there may be ever two and two fastened together upon their edges: fifty loupes upon every curtain, that one may fasten the other together. And thou shalt make fifty buttons of gold, wherewith the curtains may be coupled together, one to the other, that it may be one covering. Thou shalt make a covering also of goats heyer for a tent over the habitation, Exo. 36. c of eleven curtains. The length of one curtain shallbe thirty cubytes, the breadth four cubytes. And all the eleven shallbe alike great: five shalt thou couple together by them selves, & six also by themselves, that thou mayest double the sixte curtain in the fore front of the Tabernacle. And upon every curtain thou shalt make fifty loupes upon the edges of them, that they may be coupled together by the edges. And fifty buttons of brass shalt thou make, and put the buttons in to the loupes, that the tent may be coupled together, and be one covering. As for the remnant of the curteynes of the tent, thou shalt let the half part hang over behind the tent, upon both the sides a cubit long, that the residue may be upon the sides of the Tabernacle, & cover it upon both the sides. Besides this covering thou shalt make a covering of reed skins of rams. And above this a covering of do skins. Thou shalt make boards also for the habitation, of fir tree, which shall stand: one board shallbe ten cubytes long, & a cubit & a half broad. Two feet shall one board have, that one may be set by the other. Thus shalt thou make all the boards for the Tabernacle: Twenty of them shall stand toward the south, which shall have forty sokettes of silver under them, two sokettes under every board for his two feet. Likewise upon the other side toward the north there shall stand twenty boards also, and forty sokettes of silver, two sokettes under every board. But behind the habitation toward the west thou shalt make six boards, and two boards mother for the two corners of the habitation, that every one of them both may be coupled from under up with his corner board, and above upon the head to come even together with a clampe: so that there be eight boards with their silver sokettes, whereof there shallbe sixteen, two under every board. And thou shalt make bars of fir tree, five for the boards upon the one side of the Tabernacle, and five for the boards upon the other side of the Tabernacle, and five for the boards behind the Tabernacle toward the west. And the bars shalt thou shoot thorough the midst of the boards, and fasten altogether from the one corner to the other. And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold, that the bars may be put therein. And the bar●●● shalt thou overlay with gold, and so shalt thou set up the Tabernacle, according to the fashion a● thou hast seen upon the mount. And thou shalt make a veil of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, white twined silk. And Cherubyns shalt thou make thereon of broderd work, and shalt hang it upon four pilers of fir tree which are overlayed with gold, having knoppes of gold, and four sokettes of silver. And the veil shalt thou festen with buttons, and set the Ark of witness within the veil, that it may be unto you a difference betwixt the holy and the Most holy. And thou shalt set the Mercy seat upon the Ark of witness in the Most holy. But set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table upon the south side of the Tabernacle, that the table may stand on the north side. And in the door of the Tabernacle thou shalt make an hanging, of yellow silk, purple, scarlet and white twined silk. And for the same hanging thou shalt make five pilers of fir tree, overlayed with gold, with knoppes of gold. And shalt cast five sokettes of brass for them. The XXVII. Chapter. ANd thou shalt make an altar of Fir tree, 〈◊〉. 38. a 〈◊〉. 43. d five cubytes long & broad, that it may be four square, & three cubytes high: thou shalt make horns upon the four corners of it, & shalt over say it with brass. Make ashpamnes, shovels, basins, fleshokes, coal pans. All the apparel thereof shalt thou make of brass. Thou shalt make a gridiron also like a net, of brace, & four brazen rings upon the four corners of it: from under up about the altar shalt thou make it, so that the gredyron reach unto the midst of the altar. Thou shalt make staves also for the altar, of fir tree, over laid with gold, and shalt put the staves in the rings, that the staves may be on both the sides of the altar, to bear it withal. And hollow with boards shalt thou make it, like as it is showed the in the mount. And to the habitation thou shalt make a court, an hanging of white twined silk: upon the one side an HUNDRED cubytes long toward the south, & xx. pilers upon xx. brazen sokettes, & the knoppes with their whopes of silver. Likewise upon the north side there shall be an hanging of an HUNDRED cubytes long, twenty pilers upon twenty brazen sokettes, and their knoppes with their whopes of silver. But upon the west side the breadth of the court shall have an hanging of fifty cubits long, & ten pilers upon ten sokettes. Upon the east side also shall the breadth of the court have fifty cubytes, so that the hanging have upon one side fifteen cubits, and three pilers upon three sokettes: And upon the other side fifteen cubytes also, and three pilers upon three sokettes. And in the court gate there shallbe an hanging twenty cubytes broad, of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, and white twined silk, wrought with needle work, and four pilers upon their four sokettes. All the pilers round about the court shall have silver whopes, & silver knoppes, & sokettes of brass. And the length of the court shall be an hundredth cubytes, the breadth fifty cubytes, the height five cubytes, of white twined silk and the sokettes thereof shallbe of brass. All the vessels also of the habitation to all manner service, and all the nails of it, and all the nails of the court shallbe of brass. Command the children of Israel, Leu. 24. a that they bring unto the the most clear & pure oil olive beaten, to give light, that it may allway be put in the lamps in the Tabernacle of witness without the veil, that hangs before the witness. And Aaron and his sons shall dress it from the evening until the morning before the LORD. This shallbe unto you a perpetual custom for your posterities among the children of Israel. The XXVIII. Chapter. ANd thou shalt take unto the Aaron thy brother and his sons from among the children of Israel, that he may be my priest: namely Aaron & his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar: & thou shalt make holy clotheses for Aaron thy brother, honourable and glorious, & shalt speak unto all them that are wise of heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make garments to Aaron for his consecration, that he may be my priest. These are the garments which they shall make: a breastlap, an overbody cote, a tunicle, an albe, a mitre and a girdle. Thus shall they make holy garments for the brother Aaron and his sons, that he may be my priest. They shall take thereto gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, and white silk. The overbody cote shall they make of gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk of b●oderd work, that it may be festened together upon both the sides by the edges thereof. And his girdle upon it shall be of the same wo●māshippe & stuff, even of gold yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk. And thou shalt take two Onyx stones, and grave in them the names of the children of Israel. Syxe names upon the one stone, and the six other names upon the other stone according to the order of their age. This shalt thou do by the stonegravers that grave signettes, so that the stones with the names of the children of Israel to be set round about with gold: and thou shalt put them upon the two shoulders of the over body cote, that that they may be stones of remembrance for the children of Israel, that Aaron may bear their names upon both his shoulders before the LORD for a remembrance. Thou shalt make hokes of gold also, and two wreathen chains of pure gold, and shalt fasten them unto the hokes. The breastlap of judgement shalt thou make of broderd work, even after the work of the overbody cote: of gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, and white twined silk. Four square shall it be and double, an hand breadth long, and an handebredth broad. And thou shalt fill it with four rows full of stones. Let the first row be a Sardis, a Topas, and a smaragd. The second: a Ruby, a Sapphire, and a diamond. The third: a Ligurios, an Achatt, and an Ametyst. The fourth: a Turcas, an Onyx, and a jaspis. In gold shall they be set in all the rows, and shall stand according to the twelve names of the children of Israel, graven of the stonegravers, every one with his name according to the twelve tribes. And upon the breastlap thou shalt make wreathen chains by the corners of pure gold, and two gold rings, so, that thou fasten the same two rings unto two edges of the breastlap, and put the two wreathen chains of gold in the same two rings, that are in two edges of the breastlap. But the two ends of the two wreathen chains shalt thou fasten in the two hokes upon the overbody cote one over against another. And thou shalt make two other rings of gold, and fasten them unto the other two edges of the breastlap, namely to the borders thereof, wherewith it may hang on the ynsyde upon the overbody cote. And yet shalt thou make two rings of gold, and fasten them upon the two edges beneath to the overbody cote, upon the outside one over against anothe, where the overbody cote joineth together. And the breastlap shall be fastened by his rings unto the rings of the overbody cote with a yellow lace, that is may lie close upon the overbody cote, and that the breastlap be not loosed from the overbody cote. Thus shall Aaron bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastlap of judgement upon his heart, when he goeth into the Sanctuary, for a remembrance before the LORD allway. And in the breastlap of judgement thou shalt put * light and perfectness, that they be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD, and that he may bear the judgement of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD allway. Thou shalt make the tunykle also to the overbody coat all of yellow silk, and above in the midst there shall be an hole, and a bond folden together round about the hole, that it rent not. And beneath upon the hem thou shalt make pomegranates of yellow silk, scarlet, purple round about, and bells of gold betwixt the same round about: that there be ever a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate round about the hem of the same tunicle. 〈…〉 And Aaron shall have it upon him when he mynistreth, that the sound there of may be herd, when he goeth out and in at the Sanctuary before the LORD, that he die not. Thou shalt make a forehead plate also of pure gold, and grave therein (after the workmanship of the stone graver): the holiness of the LORD, & with a yellow lace shalt thou fasten it unto the fore front of the mitre upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may so bear the sin of the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow in all their gifts and Sanctuary. And it shall be allway upon his fore head, that he may reconcile them before the LORD. Thou shalt make an albe also of white silk, and a mitre of white silk, and a girdle of needle work. And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, girdles and bonetes, honourable and glorious, and shalt put them upon thy brother Aaron and his sons, and shalt anoint them, and fill their hands, and consecrated them, that they may be my priests. And thou shalt make them linen breeches, to cover the flesh of their previties', from the loins unto the thighs. And Aaron and his sons shall have them on, when they go in to the Tabernacle of witness, or go unto the altar to minister in the Holy, that they bear not their sin, and die. This shallbe a perpetual custom for him, and his seed after him. The XXIX. Chapter. THis is it also, that thou shalt do unto them, that they may be consecrated priests unto me. Take a young bullock, 〈…〉 and two rams without blemish, unleavened bread, & unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and wafers of sweet bred tempered with oil: Of wheat flower shalt thou make them all, and put them in a mand, & bring them in the mand, with the bullock & two rams. And thou shalt bring Aaron & his sons unto the door of the Tabernacle of witness, & wash th●m with water, & take the garments, and put upon Aaron the albe and the tunicle, & the over body cote, & the breastlap to the over body cote, & shalt gird him on the out side upon the over body cote, and set the mitre upon his head, and the holy crown upon the mitre: and shalt take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him. Thou shalt bring forth his sons also, & put the albes upon them, and gird both Aaron & them with girdles, & set the bonettes upon their heads, that they may have the priesthood for a perpetual custom. And thou shalt fill the hands of Aaron and his sons, and bring forth the bullock before the Tabernacle of witness. levit. ●. a And Aaron and his sons shall say their hands upon the head of the bullock, and thou shalt slay the bullock before the LORD, at the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and shalt take of his blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the other blood upon the bottom of the altar. ●●uit. ●. a And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the bowels and the net upon the liver, and the two kydneys with the fat that is about them, and burn them upon the altar. But the bullocks flesh, skin and dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the host: for it is a sin offering. The one ram shalt thou take also, and Aaron with his sons shall say their hands upon his head. Then shalt thou slay him, and take of his blood, and sprenkle it upon the altar round about. But the ram shalt thou divide in pieces, and wash his bowels and his legs, and lay them upon the pieces and the head, and burn the whole ram upon the altar: for it is a burned offering, and a sweet savour of the sacrifice unto the LORD. As for the other ram, Leuiti. ●. ● thou shalt take him, and Aaron with his sons shall say their hands upon his head, and thou shalt slay him, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron and his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hands, and upon the great too of their right feet, and thou shalt sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about, and shalt take of the blood upon the altar and the anointing oil, and sprenckle it upon Aaron and his vestymentes, upon his sons and their vestymentes. So shall he and his clotheses, his sons and their clotheses be consecrated. Then shalt thou take the fat of the ram, the rump, Leu. 8. e and the fat that covereth the bowels, the net upon the liver, and the two kydneys with the fat that is about them, and the right shoulder (for it is a ram of consecration) and a symnel of bread, and an oiled cake, and a wafer out of the mand of the unleavened bread * Exo. 25. c that standeth before the LORD, and put all in to the hands of Aaron and of his sons, and wave it unto the LORD. Then take it out of their hands, and burn it upon the altar for a burned offering, to be a sweet savour unto the LORD. For it is the lords sacrifice. And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, Levi. ● f & shalt wave it before the LORD, that shall be his part. And thus shalt thou hallow the Wavebrest & the Heveshulder (that are waved & heaved) of the ram of the consecration of Aaron & his sons: And it shallbe a perpetual custom for Aaron and his sons of the children of Israel: for it is an Have offering, and the Have offering shallbe the LORDS duty of the children of Israel, in their * Some call them peace offerings dead offerings and Have offerings which they do unto the LORD. And the holy garments of Aaron shall his sons have after him, that they may be anointed therein, & that their hands may be filled. Nu. 20. d Look which of his sons shallbe priest in his stead, the same shall put them on seven days, that he may go in to the Tabernacle of witness, to minister in the Sanctuary. But the ram of consecration shalt thou take, Levi. ●▪ ● and seethe his flesh in an holy place. And Aaron with his sons shall eat the flesh of the s●me ram with the bread in the mand, at the do●● of the Tabernacle of witness: for there is an atonement made therewith, to fill their hands, that they may be consecrated. A stranger shall not eat thereof, for it is holy. But if any of the flesh of the consecration, and of the bred remain until the morning, thou shalt burn it with fire, and not let it be eaten, for it is holy. And thus shalt thou do with Aaron and his sons all that I have commanded ye. Seven days shalt thou fill their hands, and offer a bullock daily for a sin offering, because of them that shallbe reconciled. And thou shalt hallow the altar, when thou reconcylest it: & shalt anoint it, that it may be consecrated. Seven days shalt thou reconcile the altar, & consecrated it, that it may be an altar of the Most holy. Who so will touch the altar, must be consecrated. And this shalt thou do with the altar: Two lambs of one year old shalt thou offer every day upon it: Nu▪ 28. a 1. Par. 17. e the one lamb in the morning, and the other at even. And to one lamb a tenth deal of wheat flower, mingled with the forth part of an Hin of beaten oil, and the forth part of an Hin of wine for a drink offering With the other lamb at even shalt thou do like as with the meat offering and drink offering in the morning, for a sweet savour of sacrifice unto the LORD. This is the daily burned offering among your posterities, at the door of the Tabernacle of witness before the LORD, * Levi. 1. a Num. 12. a where I will protest unto you, and talk with the. There will I protest unto the children of Israel, and be sanctified in my glory, and will hallow the Tabernacle of witness and the altar, and consecrated Aaron and his sons, Leu 26. b 2. Cor. 6. b to be my priests. Andrea I will devil among the children of Israel, & will be their God: so that they shall know, how that I am the LORD their God, which brought them out of the land of Egipte, that I might devil among them, even I the LORD their God. The XXX. Chapter. THou shalt make also an incense altar to burn incense, of fir tree, a cubit long & broad, even four squared, and two cubytes high with his horns, & shalt overlay it with pure gold, the roof & the walls of it round about, and the horns thereof, & a crown of gold shalt thou make round about it, and two gold rings on either side under the crown, that there may be staves put therein, to bear it with all. The staves shalt thou make of fir tree also, and overlay them with gold: and shalt set it before the veil, that hangs before the Ark of witness, and before the Mercy seat that is upon the witness, from whence I will protest unto the. And Aaron shall burn sweet incense thereon every morning, when he dresseth the lamps. In like manner when he lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn such incense also. This shall be the daily incense before the LORD among your posterities. You shall put no strange incense therein, & offer no burned offering, ner meat offering, 〈…〉 neither drink offering thereon. And * upon the horns of it shall Aaron reconcile once in a year, with the blood of the sin offering, which they shall offer that are reconciled. This shall be done among your posterities for this is the most holy unto the LORD. And the LORD Espake unto Moses, 〈…〉 and said: When thou nombrest the heads of the children of Israel, then shall every one give unto the LORD the reconciling of his soul, that there hap not a plague unto them, when they are numbered. Every one that is told in the number, shall give half a Sycle, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: * one Sycle is worth twenty Geras. This half Sycle shall be the LORDS Have offering. Who so is in the number from twenty year and above, shall give this Have offering unto the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less in the half Sycle, which is given unto the LORD to be an Have offering for the reconciling of their souls. And this money of reconcilinge shalt thou take of the children of Israel, & put it to the God's service of the Tabernacle of witness, that it may be a remembrance unto the children of Israel before the LORD, that he may let himself be reconciled over their souls. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: 〈…〉 Thou shalt make a brazen laver also with a foot of brass to wash, and shalt set it betwixt the Tabernacle of witness and the altar, and put water therein, that Aaron and his sons may wash their hands and feet thereout, when they go in to the Tabernacle of witness, or to the altar, to minister unto the LORD with offering incense, that they die not. This shallbe a perpetual custom for him and his seed among their posterities. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Take unto the spices of the best, 〈…〉 five hundredth Sycles of Myrrh, and of Cinnamon half so much, even two hundredth and fifty, and of Kalmus two hundredth and fifty, and of Cassia five hundredth (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) & an Hin of oil olive, and make an holy anointing oil, after the craft of the apothecary. And there with shalt thou anoint the Tabernacle of witness, 〈◊〉. 8. b & the Ark of witness, the table with all his apparel, the candlestick with his apparel, the altar of incense, the altar of burned offerings with all his apparel, & the laver with his foot: and thus shalt thou consecrated them, that they may be most holy: for who so will touch them, must be consecrated. Thou shalt anoint Aaron also, and his sons, and consecrated them to be my priests. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, and say: This oil shallbe an holy ointment unto me among your posterities: It shall not be poured upon man's body, neither shalt thou make any such like it, for it is holy: therefore shall it be holy unto you. Who so maketh any such like, or giveth a stranger thereof, the same shallbe rooted out from among his people. And the LORD said unto Moses: Take unto the spices: Balm, Stacte, Galban, and pure franckencense, of one as much as of another, and make incense thereof (after the craft of the apothecary) mingled together, that it may be pure & holy. And thou shalt beat it to powder, and shalt put of the same before the witness in the Tabernacle of witness, from when●e I will protest unto thee, but it shallbe holy unto the for the LORD. Who so maketh such to cense therewith, shallbe rooted out from among his people. The XXXI. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: 〈◊〉▪ 35. d 〈◊〉. 2. b I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Vri the son of Her, of the tribe of juda, Re. 7. b and have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom and understanding and knowledge, and to work with all manner of cunning work, in gold, silver, brass, to grave stones connyngly, and to set them, to carve well in timber, and to make all manner work. Andrea behold, I have given him Ahaliab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to be his companion, and have given wisdom in to the hearts of all that are wise, that they shall make all that I have commanded thee: the Tabernacle of witness, 〈◊〉▪ 25.26. ●●. 30. the Ark of witness, the mercyseat thereon, and all the ornaments of the Tabernacle: the table and his apparel, the candlestick and all his apparel, the altar of incense, the altar of burned offerings with all his apparel, the laver with his foot, the ministering vestiments of Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons to serve like priests, the anointing oil, and the incense of spices for the Sanctuary. All that I have commanded thee, shall they make. And the LORD talked unto Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say: Keep my Sabbath, Exo. 20. ●. for it is a token between me and you, and your posterities, that you may know, how that I am the LORD which halloweth you: therefore keep my Sabbath, for it shallbe holy unto you. * Nu. 1●. ● Who so unhalloweth it, shall die the death: For who so doth any work therein, shallbe rooted out from among his people. Six days shall men work, but upon the seventh day is the Sabbath Gene. ●. a the holy rest of the LORD. Who so doth any work upon the Sabbath day, shall die the death. Therefore shall the children of Israel keep the Sabbath, that they may keep it also among their posterities for an everlasting covenant. An everlasting token is it betwixt me and the children of Israel. For in six days made the LORD heaven & earth, but upon the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And when the LORD had made an end of talking with Moses upon the mount Sinai, he gave him two tables of witness, Exo. 24. c and 32. d Deut. 5. c and 9 b which were of stone, and written with the finger of God. The XXXII. Chapter. But when the people saw that Moses made long tarrying to come down from the mount, they gathered them together against Aaron, & said unto him: Up, and make us gods, to go before us, Acto. 7. c for we can not tell what is become of this man Moses, that brought us out of Egipte. Aaron said unto them: judic. 8. c Pluck of the golden earynges from the ears of your wines, of your sons, & of your daughters, & bring them unto me. Than all the people pluck of their golden earynges from their ears, & brought them unto Aaron. And he took them of their hands, & fashioned it with a graver. ●●al. 105. c And they made a molten calf, and said: These are thy gods (O Israel) that brought the out of the land of Egipte. When Aaron saw that, he builded an altar before him, and caused it be proclaimed, and said: Tomorrow is the lords feast. And they arose up early in the morning, and offered burned offerings, and brought dead offerings also: cor. 10. a Then the people sat them down to eat and drink, & rose up to play. ●eut. 9 c But the LORD said unto Moses: Go get the down, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egipte, have marred all: they are soon go out of the way, which I commanded them. They have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, & offered unto it, & said: ●. Reg. ●. e These are thy gods (O Israel) that brought the out of the land of Egipte. And the LORD said unto Moses: I see, ●xo. 33. a Iu. 14. b that it is a stiffnecked people, and now suffer me, that my wrath may wax hot over them, & that I may consume them, so will I make a great people of the. Butler Moses be sought the LORD his God, & said: O LORD, wherefore will thy wrath wax hot over thy people, whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egipte with great power & a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egipcians speak, & say: He hath brought them for their mischief, to slay them in the mountains, and to destroy them utterly from the earth? O turn the from the fierceness of the wrath, & be gracious over the wickedness of thy people. Remember thy servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, unto whom Goe ●2. c thou sworest by thine own self, and saidest: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all the land that I have promised you, will I give unto your seed, & they shall inherit it for ever. Thus the LORD repent of the evil, which he said he would do unto his people. Moses turned him, & went down from the mount, and in his hand he had the two tables of witness, which were written upon both the sides, and were God's work, & the writing was the writing of God therein. Now when josua heard the noise of the people, as they shouted, he said unto Moses: This is a noise of war in the host. He answered: It is not a noise of them that have the victory, and of them that have the worse, but I hear a noise of synginge at a dance. When he came nigh unto the host, and saw the calf, and the dancing, 〈…〉 he was moved with wrath, and cast the ●ables out of his hand, and broke them beneath the mount. 〈…〉 And he took the calf that they had made, and brent it with fire, and stamped it unto powder, and strewed it in the water, & gave it unto the children of Israel to drink, & said unto Aaron: What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? Aaron said: Let not the wrath of my lord wax fierce: thou knowest, that this is a wicked people. They said unto me: Make us gods to go before us, for we can not tell what is become of this man Moses, that brought us out of the land of Egipte. I said unto them: Who so hath gold, let him pluck it of, and give it me: and I cast it in the fire, thereof came this calf. Now when Moses saw, that the people were naked (for Aaron, when he set them up, made them naked to their shame) he went in to the gate of the host, and said: who so belongeth unto the LORD, let him come hither unto me. Then all the children of Levi gathered themselves unto him, and he said unto them: Thus sayeth the LORD the God of Israel: Every man put his sword by his side, and go thorough in and out from one gate to another in the host, and slay every man his brother, friend, & neighbour. The children of Levi did, as Moses said unto them. And there fallen of the people the same day three thousand men. Then said Moses: Consecrated your hands this day unto the LORD, every man upon his son and brother, that the praise may be given over you this day. On the morrow Moses said unto the people: You have done a great synnne. Now I will go up unto the LORD, if peradventure I may make an atonement for your sins. Now when Moses came again unto the LORD, he said: O this people have done a great sin, & have made them gods of gold. * Now for give them their sin: if not, them wipe me out of the book, that thou hast written. The LORD said unto Moses: What? Him that sinneth against me, will I wipe out of my * book. Go thou the way therefore, and bring the people thither as I have said unto thee, 〈◊〉. 13. a 〈◊〉▪ ●3. c Behold, mine angel shall go before the. But in the day of my visitation I will visit their sins upon them. So the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf which Aaron made. The XXXIII. Chapter. THe LORD said unto Moses: Go, depart hence, thou and the people, whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egipte, unto the land that I swore unto Abraham, Isaac and jacob, and said: unto the sede will I give it, 〈◊〉 ●punc; 22. c 〈◊〉 ●punc; 23. d 〈◊〉. 7. d 〈◊〉 ●punc; 24. c and I will send an angel before thee (and cast out the Canaanites, Amorites, hittites, Pheresites, Hevites and jebusites) in to the land that floweth with milk and honey, for I will not go up with thee: 〈◊〉. 32. c for thou art an hardnecked people, I might consume the by the way. When the people heard this evil tidings, they sorrowed, and no man put on his best raiment. And the LORD said unto Moses: Speak unto the children of Israel: You are a stiffnecked people, I must once come suddenly upon thee, and make an end of the. And now put of thy goodly array from thee, that I may know what to do unto the. So the children of Israel laid their goodly array from them, even before the mount Horeb. Moses took the Tabernacle, & pitched it without afar of from the host, and called it the Tabernacle of witness. And who so ever would axe any question at the LORD, went out unto the Tabernacle of witness before the host. And when Moses went out unto the Tabernacle, all the people rose up, and stood every one in his tent door, and looked after Moses, till he was go in to the Tabernacle. 〈◊〉. 31▪ d And when Moses entered in to the Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar came down, and stood in the door of the Tabernacle, and he talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy piler stand in the door of the Tabernacle, and rose up, and worshipped, every one in his tent door. And the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, 〈◊〉. 1●. a as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when he turned again to the host, the young man josua the son of Nun his minister, Pa●. ●. c departed not out of the Tabernacle. Andrea Moses said unto the LORD: Behold, thou saidest unto me: Bring the people up, and lettest me not know, whom thou will't send with me, & yet hast thou said: I know the by name, and thou hast found grace in my sight. Let me know thy way therefore, whereby I may be certified, that I find grace in thy sight: And consider yet, that this people is thy people. He said: My presence shall go before thee, there with will I lead the. But he said unto him: If thy presence go not, then carry us not up from hence: for whereby shall it be known, that I and thy people have found favour in thy sight, but in that thou goest with us? that I & thy people may have some pre-eminence before all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD said unto Moses: I will do this also that thou hast said, for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know the by name. He said: O let me then see thy glory. And he said: I will 'cause all my good go over before thy face, and will let the name of the LORD be called upon before the. Ro. 9 b And I show mercy, to whom I show mercy: and have compassion, on whom I have compassion. Andrea he said moreover: Thou mayest not see my face, * Deu. 4. b judic. 6. c and 13. d joh. 1. b for there shall no man live, that saith me. Andrea the LORD said furthermore: behold, there is a place by me, there shalt thou stand upon the rock. Now when my glory goeth forth, I will put the in a cleft of the rock, & my hand shall hold still upon thee, till I be passed by. And when I take away mine hand from thee, thou shalt see my back parts, but my face shall not be seen. The XXXIIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Moses: Hue the two tables of stone, Deu. 10. ● like as the first were, that I may write in them the words, that were in the first tables, which thou brakest▪ and be ready in the morning, that thou mayest come up early unto mount Sinai, and stand me upon the top of the mount. And let no man come up with thee, that there be no man seen thorough out all the mount: and let neither sheep ner oxen feed before the mount. And Moses hewed two tables of stone, like as the first were, & arose early in the morning, & went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD commanded him, & took the two tables of stone in his hand. Then came the LORD down in a cloud. And there he stepped unto him, & called upon the name of the LORD. And when the LORD passed by before his face, he cried: LORD LORD, God, merciful & gracious, & long suffering, Psal. 8●. c and ●02. a Deut. 5. b I●re. 32. c and 30. b Nau● 1 a and of great mercy and truth, thou that keepest mercy in store for thousands, and forgevest wickedness, trespass and sin (before whom there is no man innocent) ●xo 20. a ●●ut. 7. b thou that visitest the wickedness of the fathers upon the children and childers children, unto the third and fourth generation. Andrea Moses bowed himself down unto the earth, and worshipped him, and said: LORD, if I have found grace in thy sight, them let the LORD go with us (for it is an hard necked people) that thou mayest have mercy upon our wickednesses and sins, and let us be thine inheritance. And he said: Behold, I make a covenant before all thy people, & will do wonders, such as have not been done in all lands, and among all people. And all the people among whom thou art, shall see the work of the LORD, for a terrible thing shall it be, that I will do with the. Keep that I command the this day. Behold, I will cast out before thee: the Amorites, Canaanites, hittites, Pheresites, Hevites and jebusites. Exo. 23. d ●eut. 7. a ● Re. 11. a beware, that thou make no covenant with the indwellers of the land that thou comest in to, jest they be cause of thy ruin in the midst of thee: but their altars shalt thou overthrow, & break down their gods, and rote out their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god. For the LORD is called jealous, because he is a jealous God: jest (if thou make any agreement with the indwellers of the land, and when they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods) they Nu. 25. a call thee, and thou eat of their sacrifice, and jest thou take of their daughters unto thy sons to wives, and the same go a whoring after their gods, & make thy sons go a whoring after their gods also. Thou shalt make the no gods of metal. Exo. 12. c ●nd 23. b The feast of sweet bread shalt thou keep. Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, like as I commanded the in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou wentest out of Egipte. * All that first breaketh the Matrix, is mine, such as shallbe male among the cattles, that breaketh the Matrix, whether it be ox or sheep. But the first of thine Ass shalt thou buy out with a sheep: if thou redeem it not, then break his neck. All the first born of thy children shalt thou redeem. ●ccli. 35. a And see that no man appear before me ●mp●ye. * Ex. 20. ●●3. b. 35. a Six days shalt thou labor, upon the se●enth day shalt thou rest both from plowing and reaping. The feast of weeks shalt thou keep with the firstlinges of the wheat harvest: and the feast of yngadering at the years end. Thrice in a year shall all your men children appear before the Sovernoure, even the LORD and God of Israel. When I shall cast out the heathen before thee, & enlarge the borders, there shall no man desire thy land: for so much as thou goest up three times in the year, to appear before the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavended bread. And the offering of the Easter feast shall not remain over night until the morning. The firstlinges of the first fruits of thy land shalt thou bring in to the house of the LORD thy God. * Thou shalt not seith a kid, 〈…〉 while it is yet in his mother's milk. And the LORD said unto Moses: write these words, for because of these words have I made a covenant with the & with Israel. 〈…〉 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights, and ate no bread, and drank no water. And * he written in the tables the words of the covenant, even ten verses. Now when Moses came down fro mount Sinai, he had the two tables of witness in his hand, & wist not that the skin of his face shined, because he had talked with him. And when Aaron & all the children of Israel saw that the skin of his face shined, they were afraid to come nigh him. Then Moses called them. And they returned unto him, both Aaron & all the chiefest of the congregation. And he talked with them. afterward came all the children of Israel unto him. And he commanded them, all that the LORD had said unto him upon the mount Sinai. Now when he had made an end of talking with them, * he put a covering upon his face. And when he went in before the LORD to talk with him, he took the covering off, till he went out again. And when he came forth & spoke with the children of Israel what was commanded him, then the children of Israel saw his face, how that the skin of his face shined: so he put the covering upon his face again, till he went in again to talk with him. The XXXV. Chapter. ANd Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them: This is it, that the LORD hath commanded you to do: 〈…〉 Six days shall you work, but the seventh day shall you keep holy: a Sabbath of the LORLES' rest. Who so ever doth any work therein, shall die. You shall kindle no fire upon the Sabbath day in all your dwellynges. And Moses said unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel: This is it, that the LORD hath commanded: give from among you Have offerings unto the LORD, 〈◊〉. 25. a so that every one bring the lords Have offering with a free heart: gold, silver, brass, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, white silk, and goats hair, reed skins of rams, do skins, and Fyrre tree, oil for the lamps, and spices for the anointing oil and for sweet incense. Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the overbody cote, and for the breastlap. And who so is wise of heart among you, let him come, & make what the LORD hath commanded: namely, the Habitation with the tent & covering thereof, the rings, boards, bars, pilers & sokettes: The Ark with the staves thereof, the Mercy seat & the veil: the table with his staves & all his apparel: & the shewbred: The candilsticke of light and his apparel, and his lamps, & the oil for the lights: The altar of incense with his staves: The anointing oil and spices for incense: The hanging before the Tabernacle door: The altar of burned offerings with his brazen gridiron, staves and all his apparel: The laver with his foot: The hangings of the court, with the pilers and sokettes thereof, & the hanging of the court door: The nails of the habitation and of the court with their cords: The ministering garments for the service in the Holy, the holy vestiments of Aaron the priest with the vestiments of his sons for the priests office. Then went all the congregation of the children of Israel out fro Moses, & every one brought the gift of his heart: & all that they would of free will, the same brought they for an Have offering unto the LORD for the work of the Tabernacle of witness, & for all the service thereof, & for the holy vestiments. Both men & women that were of a willing heart, brought bracelets, earynges, rings & gyrdels, and all manner jewels of gold: Every man also brought gold for Wave offerings unto the LORD. And who so ever found by him yellow silk, scarlet, purple, white silk, goats hair, reed skins of rams, and Do skins, brought it. And who so ever hove up silver & brass, brought it for the Have offering unto the LORD. And who so ever found Fyrre tree by him, brought it for all manner of work of the God's service. And such women as were wise hearted, span with their hands, and brought their spun work of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, and white silk. And such women as had high understanding in wisdom, span goats hair. As for the princes, they brought Onyx stones, and set stones, for the overbody coat, and for the breastlap, and spices, and oil for the lights, and for the anointing oil, and for sweet incense. Thus the children of Israel brought free willing offerings, both man and women, for all manner of work, that the LORD had commanded by Moses, to be made. And Moses said unto the children of Israel: Behold, Exo. 31. a the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Vri, the son of Her of the tribe of juda, & hath filled him with the spirit of God, that he may have wisdom, understanding, & knowledge for all manner of work, to work connyngly in gold, silver & brass, to grave precious stones & to set them, to carve in wood, to make all manner of cunning works, and hath given instruction in his heart, both him and Ahaliab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. These hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to make all manner of work, to carve, to brother, to work with needle work, with yellow silk, scarlet, purple and white silk, and with wee●ynge to make all manner of work, and to devise cunning works. The XXXVI. Chapter. THen wrought Bezaleel & Ahaliab & all the wise hearted men, unto whom the LORD had given wisdom & understanding to know, how they should make all manner work for the service of the Sanctuary, according unto all that the LORD commanded. And Moses called for Bezaleel & Ahaliab, & all the wise hearted men, unto whom the LORD had given wisdom in their hearts, namely, all such as willingly offered themselves there, & came to labour in the work. And they received of Moses all the Have offerings, that the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the Sanctuary, that it might be made: & every morning brought they their willing offerings unto him. Then came all the wise men that wrought in the work of the Sanctuary, every one from his work that he made, & said unto Moses: The people bringeth to much, more than need is for the work of this service, which the LORD hath commanded to make. Then commanded Moses, that it should be proclaimed thorough out the host: No man bring more to the Have offering of the Sanctuary. Then were the people forbidden to bring: for there was stuff enough for all manner of work, that was to be made, and to much. So all the wise hearted men among them that wrought in the work of the Habitation, Exo. 26. a made ten curtains of white twined silk, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, with Cherubyns of broderd work. The length of one curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth four cubits, & were all of one measure: & he coupled the curtains five & five together one to the other. And made yellow loupes a long by the edge of every curtain, where they should be coupled together: fifty loupes upon every curtain, whereby one might be coupled to another. And made fifty buttons of gold, and with the buttons he coupled the curtains together one to the other, that it might be one covering. Exo. 26. b And he made xj. curtains of goats hair (for the tent over the habitation) of thirty cubytes long, & four cubytes broad, all of one measure, & coupled five together by themselves, and six by themselves, & made fifty loupes a long by the edge of every curtain, whereby they might be coupled together, & made fifty buttons of brass, to couple the tent together withal. And made over the tent a covering of reed skins of rams, and over that a covering of Doo skins. And made standing boards for the Habitation, Exo. 26. c of fir tree, every one ten cubytes long, and a cubit and a half broad, & two feet unto every one, whereby one might be joined to another: that on the south side there stood twenty of the same boards: and made forty silver sokettes there under, under every board two sokettes for his two feet. In like manner for the other side of the Habitation toward the north, he made twenty boards also with forty silver sokettes, under every board two sokettes: But behind the Habitation upon the west side, he made six boards, and two other for the corners of the Habitation behind, that either of them both might be joined with his corner board from under up, and above upon the head to come together with a clampe: so that there were eight boards, and sixteen sokettes of silver, under every one two sokettes. And he made bars of fir tree, five for the boards upon the one side of the Habitation, and five upon the other side, and five behind toward the west: and made the bars to shoot thorough the boards, from the one end to the other, and everlayde the boards with gold. But their rings made he of gold for the bars, and overlayed the bars with gold. And made Cherubyns upon the hanging with broderd work, of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk. And made for the same, four pilers of fir tree▪ and overlayed them with gold, and their knoppes of gold, and cast four sokettes of silver for them. And made an hanging in the Tabernacle door, of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, and white twined silk, of needle work, and five pilers thereto with their knoppes (& overlayed their knoppes and whopes with gold) and five sokettes of brass thereto. The XXXVII. Chapter. ANd Bezaleel made the Ark of fir tree, two cubits and a half long, 〈…〉 a cubit and a half broad, and a cubit & a half high, and overlayed it with fine gold within and without, and made a crown of gold unto it round about, and cast for it four rings of gold to the four corners of it, upon every side two. And made staves of fir tree, and overlayed them with gold, and put them in the rings a long by the sides of the Ark, to bear it withal. And he made the mercyseat of pure gold two cubytes and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, & made two Cherubyns of fine beaten gold upon the two ends of the mercyseat: One Cherub upon the one end, and the other Cherub upon the other end: and the Cherubyns spread out their wings above an high, and covered the mercyseat therewith: and their faces stood one over against the other, and looked unto the mercyseat. And he made the table, of fir tree, two cubytes long, a cubit broad, 〈…〉 and a cubit & a half high, and overlayed it with fine gold, and made thereto a crown of gold round about, and made unto it an whoop of an hand breadth high, and made a crown of gold round about the whoop. And for it he cast four gold rings, & put them in the four corners by the feet hard by the whoop, that the staves might be therein, to bear the table withal: & made the staves of fir tree, and overlayed them with gold, to bear the staves withal. And the vessels upon the table made he also of fine gold: the dishes, spoons, flat pieces and pots, to pour in and out withal. And he made the candlestick of fine beaten gold, 〈◊〉. 25. a where upon was the shaft with branches, cups, knoppes, & flowers. Six branches proceeded out of the sides thereof, upon either side three branches: upon every branch were three cups like allmondes, with knoppes and flowers. Upon the candlestick self were four cups with knoppes and flowers, under every two branches a knop. The knoppes & branches thereof proceeded out of it, and were all one piece of fine beaten gold. And he made the seven lamps with their snoffers & outquenchers of pure gold. Of an hundredth weight of gold made he it, and all the apparel thereof. He made also the altar of incense, of fir tree, a cubit long and broad, ●auen four squared, and two cubytes high with the horns of it, and overlayed it with fine gold, the top and the sides of it round about, and the horns thereof, and made a crown unto it round about of pure gold, & two gold rings under the crown on both the sides, to put the staves therein, and to bear it withal: but the staves made he of fir tree, and overlayed them with gold. And he made the holy anointing oil, & the incense of pure spices, after the craft of the apothecary. The XXXVIII. Chapter. ANd the altar of burned offerings made he of fir tree, ●xo. 27. a ●. Pat. 1. a five cubytes long & broad, even four squared, & three cubits high. And made four horns, which proceeded out of the four corners thereof, and overlaid it with brass. And he made all manner of vessels for the altar, cauldrons, shovels, basins, fleshokes, and colepannes all of brass. And unto the altar he made a brazen gridiron of net work round about, from under up unto the midst of the altar, & cast four rings in the four corners of the brazen gridiron, for the staves: which he made of fir tree, and overlayed them with brass, and put them in the rings by the sides of the altar, to bear it withal, and made it hollow with boards. And he made the Laver of brass, & his foot also of brass upon the place of the host, that lay before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And he made the court on the south side: hangings an hundredth cubytes long, of white twined silk, with the twenty pilers thereof, and twenty sokettes of brass: but the knoppes and whopes of silver. In like manner upon the north side an hundredth cubytes with twenty pilers, and twenty sokettes of brass, but their knoppes & whoops of silver. Upon the west side fifty cubytes with ten pilers and ten sokettes, but their knoppes and whoops of silver. Upon the East side fifty cubytes. Fifteen cubytes upon either side of the court door, with three pilers and three sokettes: So that all the hangings of the court were of white twined silk, and the sokettes of the pilers were of brass, & their knoppes and whoops of silver: their heads were overlayed with silver, & all the pilers of the court were whooped about with silver. And the hanging in the court gate made he with needle work, of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk, twenty cubytes long, & five cubytes high, after the measure of the hangings of the court: four pilers also thereto, & four sokettes of brass, and their knoppes of silver, and their heads overlayed, and their whoops of silver. And all the nails of the Habitation and of the court round about, were of brass. This is now the sum of the Habitation of witness (which was counted at the commandment of Moses to the Gods service of the Levites under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest) which Bezaleel the son of Vri, the son of Her of the tribe of juda made, all as the LORD commanded Moses. And with him Ahaliab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, a cunning graver, to work needle work, with yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white silk. All the gold that was wrought in all this work of the Sanctuary (which was given to the Wave offering) is nine & twenty hundredth weight, seven hundredth & thirty Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary. Exo. ●●. b The silver that came of the congregation, was five score hundredth weight, a thousand, seven hundredth, five and seventy Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: so many heads so many half Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, of all that were numbered from twenty year old and above, even six hundredth thousand, three thousand, five hundredth and fifty. Of the five score hundredth weight of silver, were cast the sokettes of the Sanctuary, and the sokettes of the veil, an hundredth sokettes of the five score hundredth weight, an hundredth weight to every sokett. Of the thousand, seven hundredth and five and seventy Sycles were made the knoppes of the pilers (and their heads overlayed) and their whoops. As for the Wave offering of brass, it was seventy hundredth weight, two thousand and four hundredth Sycles: Whereof were made the sokettes in the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and the brazen altar, and the brazen gridiron thereto, and all the vessels of the altar, and the sokettes of the court round about, and the sokettes of the court gate, all the nails of the Habitation, & all the nails of the court round about. The XXXIX. Chapter. OF the yellow silk, scarlet, & purple, they made Aaron's ministering vestiments, Exo▪ 28▪ a to do service in the Sanctuary, as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the over body cote, of gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk, and bet the gold in to thin plates, and cut it in to wires, that it might be wrought among the yellow silk, scarlet, purple and white silk, & made it so, that the overbody cote came together by the edges on both the sides. And his girdle was after the same craft & work: even of gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple and white twined silk, as the LORD commanded Moses. And they wrought two Onyx stones, set round about with gold, graven by the stone graver with the names of the children of Israel: and fastened them upon the shoulders of the overbody cote, that they might be stones of remembrance unto the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses. And they made the breastlap after the craft & work of the overbody cote: of gold, yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk, so that it was four square & double, an hand breadth long and broad, and filled it with four rows of stones. The first row was: a Sardis, a Topas, and a smaragd. The second: a Ruby, a Sapphire, 〈◊〉 a diamond. The third: a Ligurios, 〈◊〉 Achat, and an Amethyst. The fourth: a Turcas, an Onyx & a jaspis: closed round about with gold in all the rows. And the stones stood after the twelve names of the children of Israel, graven by the stone graver, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. And upon the breastlap they made writhen chains of pure gold, and two hokes of gold, & two gold rings, and fastened the two rings upon the two edges of the breastlap: and the two writhen chains put they in the two rings upon the corners of the breastlap. But the too ends of the wreathen chains put they to the two hokes, & fastened them upon the corners of the over body cote, one over against another. And they made two other rings of gold, & fastened them to the other two corners of the breastlap by the edge of it, that it might hang upon the out side of the overbody cote. And they made yet two other gold rings, which they put beneath upon the two corners of the overbody cote, one over against another, where the overbody cote joineth together, that the breastlap might be festened by his rings unto the rings of the overbody cote with a yellow lace, that it might lie close upon the overbody cote, and not be loosed from the overbody cote, as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the tunicle unto the overbody cote, wrought all of yellow silk, & the hole thereof above in the midst, & a bond folden together round about the hole, that it should not rent. And beneath upon the hem of it, they made pomegranates of yellow silk, scarlet, purple, & white twined silk: & they made bells of pure gold, which they put betwixt the pomegranates round about upon the hem of the tunicle, a bell & a pomegranate, a bell & a pomegranate round about, to do service in, as the LORD commanded Moses. And they made albes also wrought of white silk for Aaron & his sons, & the mitre of white silk, and the goodly bonettes of white silk, and breeches of twined white linen, and the girdle of needle work even of white twined silk, yellow silk, scarlet, and purple, as the LORD commanded Moses. They made the fore head plate also to the holy crown, of pure gold, and written therein with graven work: the holiness of the LORD, and festened a yellow lace thereon, to tie 〈◊〉 unto the mitre above, as the LORD commanded Moses. Thus the whole work of the Habitation of the Tabernacle of witness, was finished. And the children of Israel did all that the LORD commanded Moses, & brought the Habitation unto Moses: the Tabernacle & all the apparel thereof, the buttons, boards, bars, pilers, sokettes, the covering of reed slrynnes of rams, the covering of do slrynnes, & the veil, the Ark of witness with the staves thereof, the mercyseat, the table & all his apparel, & the shewbred, the candlestick, with the lamps prepared, and all his apparel, & oil for the lights, the golden altar, the anointing oil & incense, the hanging in the Tabernacle door, the brazen altar, & his brazen gridiron with his staves▪ & all his apparel, the laver with his foot, the hangynges of the court with the pilers & sokettes thereof, the hanging in the court gate with his pilers & nails, & all the ordinance fo● the service of the Habitation of the Tabernacle of witness, the ministering vestiments of Aaron the priest, to do service in the Sanctuary, & the garments of his sons, that they might execute the priests office. according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, even so did the children of Israel in all this service. And Moses saw all the work, that they did it even as the LORD had commanded, and he blessed them. The XL. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: In the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the Habitation of the Tabernacle of witness, and shall put the Ark of witness therein, and hang the veil before the Ark. And thou shalt bring in the table, and garnish it, and bring in the candilsticke, and put the lamps thereon. And the golden altar of incense shalt thou set before the Ark of witness, & hang up the hanging in the door of the Habitation. But the altar of burned offerings shalt thou set before the door of the Habitation of the Tabernacle of witness: & the laver betwixt the Tabernacle of witness and the altar, and put water therein, & set the court round about, and hang up the hanging in the court gate. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the Habitation and all that is there in, * Exo ●0. c and shalt consecrated it, and all the apparel thereof, that it may be holy. Andrea thou shalt anoint the altar of burned offerings and all his vessels, and consecrated it, that it may be most holy. The laver also & his foot shalt thou anoint & consecrated. Exo. 29. a And thou shalt bring Aaron & his sons unto the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and wash them with water, & put the holy vestiments upon Aaron, and anoint him, and consecrated him, that he may be my priest. And thou shalt bring his sons also, and put the albes upon them, and anoint them, as thou hast anointed their father, that they may be my priests. And this anointing shall they have for an everlasting priesthood among their posterities. * Nu. 7. a And Moses did all as the LORD commanded him. Thus was the Tabernacle set up in the second year upon the first day of the first month. Num. 9 c And when Moses reared it up, he fastened the sokettes and the boards, and bars, and set up the pilers, and spread out the tent over the Habitation, and put the covering of the tent above an high, as the LORD commanded him. Andrea he took the witness, and laid it in the Ark, and put the staves in the Ark, and set the mercyseat above upon the Ark, and brought the Ark in to the Habitation, and hanged the veil before the Ark of witness, as the LORD commanded him. And he set the table in the Tabernacle of witness, in the corner of the Habitation upon the north side without the veil, and prepared bread thereon before the LORD * Exo. 2●. c as the LORD commanded him. Andrea he set in the candlestick also, even over against the table, in the corner of the Habitation upon the south side, and put the lamps thereon before the LORD, as the LORD commanded him. And the golden altar set he in also before the veil, and brent sweet incense thereon, as the LORD commanded him. And hanged up the hanging in the Tabernacle door. As for the altar of burned offerings, he set it before the door of the Habitation of the Tabernacle of witness, and offered burned offerings and meat offerings thereon, as the LORD commanded him. And the Laver set he betwixt the Tabernacle of witness and the altar, 〈…〉 and put water therein to wash withal. And Moses, Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet there at: for they aught to wash them, when they went in to the Tabernacle of witness, or when they went unto the altar, as the LORD commanded him. And he set up the court round about the Habitation and the altar, and hanged up the hanging in the court gate. Thus Moses finished the whole work. Then a cloud covered the Tabernacle of witness, and the glory of the LORD filled the Habitation. And Moses could not go in to the Tabernacle of witness, while the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the Habitation. And when the cloud removed from the Habitation, than went the children of Israel forth, as often as they took their journey. But if the cloud removed not, then took not they their journey, till the day that it removed: for in the day time was the cloud of the LORD upon the Habitation, & in the night season was fire therein, in the sight of all the house of Israel, in all their journeys. The end of the second book of Moses, called Exodus. The third book of Moses, called Leviticus. What this book containeth. Chap. I The order and use of burned offerings, whether it be of small or great cattles, or of fowls. Chap. II Of meat offerings with fine flower, &c. Chap. III Of deed offerings, otherwise called health offerings, peace offerings, or thankofferynges, and of the fat. Chap. four The offering for the sin of a priest, of the whole congregation, of the ruler, or of any other mean man. Chap. V The offering for swearing, for an error or ignorance. Chap. VI Of daily burned offerings & other oblations: The offering of the priest in the day of his anointing. Chap. VII. Of thank offerings. Of the fat & blood, and of the anointing of the priests. Chap. VIII. Of the anointing and consecrating of Aaron and of his sons. Chap. IX. How Aaron and his sons offered for sin, & how the fire of God consumed the burned offering. Chap. X. The death of Nadab & Abihu. The priests were forbidden to drink wine, and their portion of the offerings appointed them. Chap. XI. Of clean and unclean beasts & fowls. Chap. XII. Of the uncleanness of a woman in child bed, of her cleansing or purification & of her offering. Chap. XIII. Of Leprosy or Mesel. Chap. XIIII. The cleansing of lepers, and of their offering. Chap. XU. Of all manner of unclean fluxes or issues, both of men and women. Chap. XVI. Aaron might not always go in to the Sanctuary. Of the two goats. Of fasting in the seventh month. Chap. XVII. All offerings were first brought to the Tabernacle door. No blood ner deed carrion was to be eaten. Chap. XVIII. The degrees of consanguynite and affinity: And what women men aught not to mary. Chap. XIX. diverse and many commandments and statutes. Chap. XX. To give seed unto Moloch, & other unlawful things are forbidden. Chap. XXI. How clean and undefiled the priests aught to live. Chap. XXII. How the priests and their households aught to be: & how the offerings aught to be used. Chap. XXIII. Of the holy days and high feasts: namely, the Sabbath, Easter, Whit sunday (otherwise called the feast of weeks) the feast of Tabernacles, &c. Chap. XXIIII. Of the oil for the lamps and lights Of the shewbred. punishment for cursing and blasphemy. Chap. XXV. Of the rest of the seventh year, & liberty of the Fiftieth year, otherwise called the year of jubylie, the year of horns blowing, or the trumpet year. Chap. XXVI. Sweet & loving promises of God for all such as will kep● his commandments: Again, marvelous sore plagues are threatened unto them, that will not hearken to his word. Chap. XXVII. Of vows, and of the free year. Of redeeming or lousing out again of cattles or land, that a man promiseth, voweth or dedicateth unto the LORD. The first Chapter. ANd the LORD called Moses, Exo. 29. g and spoke unto him out of the Tabernacle of witness, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, & say unto them: Who so ever among you will bring an offering unto the LORD, let him bring it of the cattles, even of the oxen, & of the sheep. If he will bring a burned offering of the oxen (or great cattles) then let him offer a male without blemish, before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, to reconcile himself before the LORD, Exo. 29. b Levi. 3. a let him say his hand upon the head of the burned offering, then shall he be reconciled, so that God shallbe merciful unto him. And he shall kill the young ox before the LORD: and the priests Aaron's sons shall bring the blood, and sprenkle it round about upon the altar, that is before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the slrynne shallbe slain from of the burned offering, and it shallbe hewn in pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall make a fire upon the altar, and lay would above there on: and the pieces, the head, and the fat shall they say upon the wood that lieth upon the fire on the altar. But the bowels & legs shall be waszshen with water, and the priest shall burn altogether upon the altar for a burnt-sacrifice: this is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. If he will offer a burnt-sacrifice of the small cattles, that is, of the lambs or goats, then let him offer a male without a blemish. And he shall kill it before the LORD, even at the corner of the altar on the north side before the LORD. And (the priests) Aaron's sons shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar, and it shall be hewn in pieces. And the priest shall say them with the head and the fat, upon the wood that lieth upon the fire on the altar. But the bowels and the legs shall be waszshen with water. And the priest shall offer it altogether, and burn it upon the altar for a burnt-sacrifice. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. But if he will offer a burnt-sacrifice of the fowls unto the LORD, then let him offer it of the turtle doves or of the young pigeons. And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring the neck of it asunder, that it may be burned upon the altar, and let the blood of it run out upon the sides of the altar, and the crop of it with the feathers shallbe cast upon the heap of aszshes beside the altar toward the east, and he shall divide the wings of it, but not break them clean of. And thus shall the priest burn it upon the altar, even upon the wood that lieth upon the fire, for a burnt-sacrifice. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. The II Chapter. When a soul will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, * Levi. 6. b and 9 c Nu. 15. a then shall it be of fine flower, and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon, & so bring it unto Aaron's sons the priests. Then shall one of them take his handful of the same flower, and oil with all the frankincense, and burn it for a remembrance upon the altar. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Levi. 10. d As for the remnant of the meat offering, it shallbe Aaron's and his sons. This shallbe the most holy of the offerings of the LORD. But if he will bring a meat offering of that which is baken in the oven, then let him take sweet cakes of wheat, mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. Nevertheless if thy meat offering be enythinge of that which is fried in the pan, then shall it be of fine sweet flower mixed with oil: And thou shalt cut it in pieces, & pour oil thereon: so is it a meat offering. But if thy meat offering be aught broiled on the gridiron, then shalt thou make it of fine flower with oil. And the meat offering that thou will't make of such things for the LORD, shalt thou bring unto the priest, which shall bring it unto the altar, & shall Have up the same meat offering for a remembrance, and burn it upon the altar. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. As for the remnant, it shall be Aaron's and his sons. This shall be the most holy of the offerings of the LORD. All the meat offerings that you will offer unto the LORD, shall you make without leaven. For there shall no leaven nor honey be burned for an offering unto the LORD. But for the offering of the firstlinges shall you offer them unto the LORD. Nevertheless they shall come upon no altar for a sweet savour. All thy meat offerings shalt thou 〈…〉 salt. And thy meat offering shall never be with out the salt of the covenant of thy God: for in all thy offerings shalt thou offer salt. But if thou will't offer a meat offering of the first fruits unto the LORD, then shalt thou dry that which is green, by the fire, & beat it small, and so offer the meat offering of thy first fruits. And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon, so is it a meat offering. And then shall the priest beat it, and burn of the oil with all the frankincense for a remembrance. This is an offering unto the LORD. The III Chapter. But if his offering be a deed offering of great cattles (whether it be ox or cow) then shall he offer such as is without blemish before the LORD, & shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the priests Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar, and shall offer of the dead offering unto the LORD: namely, all the fat that is within, and the two kidneys with the fat that is thereon upon the loins, and the net on the liver upon the kidneys also. And Aaron's sons shall burn it upon the altar for a burned offering, even upon the wood that lieth on the fire. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. If his dead offering be of small cattles, whether it be male or female, it shall be with out blemish: If it be a lamb, then shall he bring it before the LORD, & shall say his hand upon the head of it, and slay it before the Tabernacle of witness. And Aaron's sons shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar, and so offer of the dead-offering unto the LORD: namely, the fa● of it, all the rump with the back, and the fat that covereth the bowels, with all the fat that is within, and the two kydneys with the fat that is thereon upon the loins, & the net on the liver upon the kydneys also. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar, for the meat of the offering unto the LORD. But if his offering be a goat, and bringeth it before the LORD, he shall say his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the Tabernacle of witness. And Aaron's sons shall sprenkle the blood round about upon the altar, & shall offer thereof a sacrifice unto the LORD: namely, the fat that covereth the bowels, and all the fat that is within, the two kydneys with the fat that is thereon upon the loins, & the net on the liver upon the kydneys. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar, for the meat of the sacrifice to a sweet savour. ●●it. 7. c All the fat is the LORDS. Letoy this be a perpetual law among your posterities in all your dwellynges, that you eat no fat, 〈◊〉. 9 a 〈◊〉. 17. d 〈◊〉 19 f ner blood. The four Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say: When a soul sinneth thorough ignorance in any commandment of the LORD, which he aught not to do: As namely, if a priest which is anointed, sin, that he make the people do amiss, he shall bring for the sin that he hath done, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. ●euit. 9 b And the bullock shall he bring to the door of the Tabernacle of witness before the LORD, & lay his hand upon his head, & kill him before the LORD. Andrea the priest that is anointed, Levi. 16. c shall take of his blood, & bring it in to the Tabernacle of witness. Andrea he shall dip his finger in to the blood, & sprinkle therewith seven times before the LORD, toward the veil of the Holy. And he shall put of the same blood upon the horns of the altar of incense, that standeth before the LORD in the Tabernacle of witness: & all the blood of the bullock shall he pour upon the bottom of the altar of burned offerings, that standeth at the entering in of the Tabernacle of witness. And all the fat of the sin offering shall he Have up: namely, the fat that covereth the bowels, & all the fat that is within, the two kydneys with the fat that is thereon upon the loins, and the net on the liver upon the kydneys also (like as he heaveth it from the ox in the dead offering) and shall burn it upon the altar of burned offerings. But the skin of the bullock, ●xo. 29. b Nu. 19 a and all the flesh, with the head & legs, & the bowels and the dung, shall he carry altogether out of the host, in to a clean place, where the aszshes are poured out, & shall burn it upon wood with fire. When the whole congregation of Israel sinneth thorough ignorance, & the deed be hid from their eyes, so that they do aught against any of the commandments of the LORD, which they should not do, & come afterward to the knowledge of the sin that they have done, they shall bring ● young bullock for a sin offering, and set him before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the Elders of the congregation shall say their hands upon his head before the LORD, & kill the bullock before the LORD. And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullocks blood in to the Tabernacle of witness, & dip there in with his finger, and sprinkle there with seven times before the LORD, even before the veil of the Holy. And shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar, that standeth before the LORD in the Tabernacle of witness: & all the other blood shall he pour upon the bottom of the altar of burntofferynges, that standeth before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. But all his fat shall he Have up, & burn it upon the altar: & shall do with this bullock, as he did with the bullock of the sin offering: Thus the priest shall make an atonement for them, & it shall be forgiven them. And the bullock shall he bring without the host, and burn him, as he brent the first bullock. This shallbe the synoffering of the congregation. When a prince sinneth, & doth against the commandment of the LORD his God, that he aught not to do, & offendeth ignorantly, & cometh to the knowledge of his sin that he hath done, he shall bring for his offering an he goat without blemish, & lay his hand upon the goats head, & slay him in the place where the burned offerings are slain before the LORD. Then shall the priest take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the altar of burned offerings, & pour the other blood upon the bottom of the altar of burned offerings. But all the fat of it shall he burn upon the altar, like as the fat of the health offering. And so the priest shall make an atonement for his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. When a soul of the common people sinneth ignorantly, doing any thing against the commandment of the LORD, that he aught not to do, & so offendeth, & cometh to the knowledge of the sin that he hath done, he shall bring for his offering a she goat without blemish, for the sin that he hath done, and shall say his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, & slay it in the place of the burntofferynges. And the priest shall take of the blood with his finger, & put it upon the horns of the altar of burned offerings, & pour all the blood upon the bottom of the altar. But all the fat of it shall he take away, like as he taketh away the fat of the dead-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD. And so shall the priest make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. But if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, then let him bring a female without blemish, and lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, & kill it for a sin offering, in the place where the burned offerings are slain. And the priest shall take of the blood with his finger, & put it upon the horns of the altar of burned offerings, & pour all the blood upon the bottom of the altar. But all the fat thereof shall he take from it, like as he did the fat of the lamb of the health offering, & shall burn it upon the altar for the lords sacrifice. And so the priest shall make an atonement for the sin that he hath done, and it shallbe forgiven him. The V Chapter. When a soul sinneth, that he hear a oursing, ●eui 24. c and is witness thereof, or hath seen it, Agg. ●▪ b or known it, & telleth it not, he is guilty of a trespass. Or when a soul 2. cor. 6. c toucheth any unclean thing, whether it be the carrion of an unclean beast, or cattles, or worm, & was not aware of it, he is unclean, and hath offended. Or when he toucheth an unclean man (what uncleanness so ever a man is defiled withal) & was not aware of it, & afterward cometh to the knowledge thereof, the same hath offended. Or when a soul sweareth, so that he pronounceth with his mouth to do evil or good (what so ever it be that a man pronounceth with an oath) & was not aware of it, & afterward cometh to the knowledge thereof, he hath offended in one of these. Now when it so is, that he hath offended in one of these, & is informed thereof, what he hath sinned, he shall bring unto the LORD for his trespass of this his sin that he hath done, a female from the flock, either a yew or a she goat for a sin offering: so shall the priest make an atonement for him concerning his sin. Levi. 12. d But if he be not able to bring a sheep, then let him bring unto the LORD for his offence that he hath done, two turtle doves or two young pigeons: one for a sin offering, the other for a burned offering, and bring them to the priest: Which shall make the first a sin offering, and first wring the neck of it, so that he pluck it not clean of, and sprenkle with the blood upon the sides of the altar, and let the residue of the blood bleed out upon the bottom of the altar: This is the sin offering. As for the other, he shall make it a burned offering, after the manner thereof. And thus shall the priest make an atonement for him concerning the sin that he hath done, & it shallbe forgiven him. But if he be not able to bring two turtle doves or two young pigeons, then let him bring his offering for his sin, a tenth deal of an Epha of fine flower for a sin offering. But he shall put no oil thereon, ner lay frankincense upon it, for it is a sin offering. And he shall bring it unto the priest, & the priest shall take his hand full of it for a remembrance, and burn it upon the altar for an offering unto the LORD. This is a sin offering. And so shall the priest make an attoment for him, concerning his sin that he hath done, & it shallbe forgiven him. And the remnant shall be the priests, like a meat offering. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: If a soul trespass, so that thorough ignorance he offendeth in any thing that is hallowed unto the LORD, he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, even a ram from the flock without blemish, worth two Sycles of silver, 〈…〉 after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, for a trespass offering: and look what he hath offended in the hallowed thing, he shall make restitution, & give the fifth part more thereto. And he shall deliver it unto the priest, which shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, & it shallbe forgiven him. When a soul sinneth, and doth aught against any commandment of the LORD, that he should not do, & is informed thereof, he hath trespased, & is guilty of the sin. And he shall bring from the flock a ram with out blemish (that is worth a trespass offering) unto the priest, which shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance which he did, and was not aware, and it shallbe forgiven him. This is the trespace-offering, because he trespassed against the LORD. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: When a soul sinneth, & trespaceth against the LORD, so that he denieth unto his neighbour that which he gave him to keep, or that was put under his hand, or that he hath violently taken away, or got unrighteously, or found that was lost, and denieth it with a false ●oth, what so ever it be, wherein a man sinneth against his neighbour. Now when it cometh so to pass, 〈◊〉. 5. a that he sinneth after this manner, & trespaceth, he shall restore again that he took violently away, or got wrongeously, or that was given him to keep, or that he hath found, or what so ever it be about the which he hath sworn falsely, he shall restore it again whole altogether, and give the fifth part more thereto, even to him that it belonged unto, the same day that he giveth his trespass offering. Butt for his trespass he shall bring for the LORD (even unto the priest) a ram from the flock without blemish, that is worth a trespass offering. Then shall the priest make an atonement for him before the LORD, and all that he hath sinned in, shallbe forgiven him. The VI Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Command Aaron and his sons, and say: This is the law of the burned offering. The burned offering shall burn upon the altar all night until the morning. But the fire of the altar only shall burn thereon. 〈◊〉. 28. g And the priest shall put on his linen albe, and his lyven breeches upon his flesh, and shall take up the aszshes, that the fire of the burned offering upon the altar hath made, and shall pour them beside the altar. Then shall he put of his raiment, and put on other raiment, and carry out the aszshes without the host, into a clean place. The fire upon the altar shall burn, and never go out. The priest shall kindle wood thereon every morning, and dress the burned offering upon it, and burn the fat of the deed offerings thereon. The fire shall ever burn upon the altar, and never go out. And this is the law of the meat offering, ●um. 15. a ●eui. 2. a which Aaron's sons shall offer before the LORD upon the altar. One of them shall Have his handful of fine flower of the meat offering, and of the oil, and all the frankincense that lieth upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour a remembrance unto the LORD. As for the remnant, Aaron and his sons shall eat it, and unleavened shall they eat it in the holy place, namely, in the court of the Tabernacle of witness. With leaven shall they not bake their portion, which I have given them of my offerings. It shallbe unto them most holy, as the sin offering and trespass offering. All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. Let this be a perpetual law for your posterities in the sacrifices of the LORD. No man shall touch it, except he be consecrated. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: This shallbe the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day of their anointing. The tenth part of an Epha of fine flower for a meat offering daily, the one half part in the morning, the other half part at even. In the pan with oil shall thou make it, and bring it fried, and in pieces shalt thou offer it for the sweet savour of the LORD. And the priest which among his sons shallbe anointed in his stead, shall do this. This is a perpetual duty unto the LORD. It shall be burned altogether: for all the meat offerings of the priest shallbe consumed with the fire, and not be eaten. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto Aaron and his sons, and say: This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where thou slayest the bunrt offering, shalt thou slay the sin offering also before the LORD. This is most holy. Ose 4. b The priest that offereth the sin offering, shall eat it in the holy place, in the court of the Tabernacle of witness. No man shall touch the flesh thereof, except he be hallowed. And if any garment be sprenkled with the blood of it, it shallbe washen in the holy place. And Levi. 11. e and 15. b the earthen pot that it is sodden in, shallbe broken. But if it be a brazen pot, it shallbe scoured, and rensed with water. All the males among the priests shall eat thereof, for it is most holy. notwithstanding all the sin offering whose blood is brought in to the Tabernacle of witness to make an atonement, shall not be eaten, but burned with fire. The VII. Chapter. ANd this is the law of the trespace-offering, and it shall be most holy. In the place where the burned offering is slain, shall the trespass offering be slain also, & there shall of his blood be sprenkled round about upon the altar. And all his fat shallbe offered: the rump and the fat that covereth the bowels, the two kydneys with the fat that is thereon upon the loins, and the net on the liver upon the kydneys also. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar for an offering unto the LORD. This is a trespass offering. All the males among the priests shall eat it in the holy place, for it is most holy: even as the sin offering, so shall the trespass offering be also, they shall both have one law: and it shall be the priests, that reconcileth therewith. Look which priest offereth any man's burned offoring, the skin of the same burned offering that he hath offered, shall be his. And every meat offering that is baken in the oven, roasted upon the gridiron, or fried in the pan, shall be the priests that offereth it. And every meat offering that is mingled with oil, or dry, shall belong unto all Aaron sons, unto one as well as another. And this is the law of the health offering, that is offered unto the LORD, Psal. 115. a If they will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, then shall they offer unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and sweet wafers streaked over with oil, and fried cakes of fine flower mingled with oil. This offering also shall they bring upon a cake of leavening bread, to the thank offering of his health-offering: and of them all he shall offer one for an Have offering unto the LORD. And it shallbe the priests, that sprenkleth the blood of the health offering. And the flesh of the thank offering in his healthofferynges, shallbe eaten the same day that it is offered, and there shall nothing be left over until the morning. Levi. 19 b And whether it be a vow or a free wyl-offering, ●it shallbe eaten the same day that it is offered: if aught be left over until the morning, yet may it be eaten. Butler look what remaineth unto the third day of the flesh that is offered, it shallbe brent with the fire. And if any man upon the third day eat of the offered flesh of his health offering, he shall not be accepted that offered it. neither shall it be reckoned unto him, but it shallbe refused. And look which soul eateth thereof, the same is guilty of a misdeed. And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing, shall not be eaten, but burned with the fire. But who so ever is clean of body, shall eat of the flesh: and the soul that eateth of the flesh of the health offering which belongeth unto the LORD, his uncleanness be upon him, and he shallbe rooted out from among his people. And when a soul toucheth any unclean thing, whether it be an unclean man, cattles, or any other abomination that is, and eateth of the flesh of the burned offering, that belongeth unto the LORD, the same shallbe rooted out from among his people. And the LORD talketh with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, & say: You shall eat no fat of oxen, 〈…〉 lambs, and goats: nevertheless the fat of it that dieth alone, and of such as is torn of wild beasts, that may you occupy to all manner of uses, but you shall not eat it. For who so ever eateth the fat of the be'st that is given unto the LORD for an offering, the same soul shallbe rooted out from his people. moreover, 〈…〉 you shall eat no blood, neither of cattles, ner of fowls, where so ever you devil. What soul eateth any blood, the same shall be rooted out from his people. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say: Who so will offer his health-offering unto the LORD, the same shall also bring with all, that belongeth unto the health offering for the LORD. But he shall bring it with his hand for the offering of the LORD: namely the fat upon the breast shall he bring, with the breast, to be a Wave offering before the LORD. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar, and the breast shallbe Aaron's and his sons. And the right shoulder shall they give unto the priest for a gift of their health offerings. And look which of Aaron's sons offereth the blood of the health offerings, and the fat, the same shall have the right shoulder for his part. 〈…〉 For the wavebreast and the heave-shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel, and of their health offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons for a perpetual duty. This is the anointing of Aaron and of his sons, of the offerings of the LORD, in the day when Moses presented them to be priests unto the LORD, what time as the LORD commanded (in the day when he anointed them) to be given them of the children of Israel for a perpetual duty, and unto all their posterities. And this is the law of the burned offering, of the meat offering, of the sin offering, of the trespass offering, of the offering of consecration, and of the health offerings, which the LORD commanded Moses upon mount Sinai, in the day when he gave him in commandment unto the children of Israel, to offer their offerings unto the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai. The VIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Take Aaron and his sons with him, & their vestiments, & the anointing oil, ●●o. 29. a and a bullock for a sin offering, two rams, and a mand with unleavened bread, and call the whole congregation together, before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and gathered the congregation together unto the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and said unto them: This is it, that the LORD hath commanded to do. And he took Aaron and his sons, and waszshed them with water, and put the albe upon him, and gird him with the girdle, and put upon him the yellow tunicle, and put the overbody cote upon him, and gird him upon the overbody cote, & put the breast lappetheron, and in the breastlap light and perfectness: And set the mitre upon his head. And upon the mitre even above his forehead, put he a plate of gold on the holy crown: as the LORD commanded Moses. And Moses took the ●xo. 30. d anointing oil, & anointed the Habitation, and all that was therein, and consecrated it, and sprenkled there with seven times upon the altar, and anointed the altar with all his vessels, the laver with his foot, that it might be consecrated: 〈◊〉. 132. a and poured the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, that he might be consecrated. And he brought Aaron's sons, and put albes upon them, and gird them with the girdle, and put bonettes upon their heads, as the LORD commanded him. And he caused bring a bullock for a sin offering. And Aaron with his sons laid their hands upon his head, and then was he slain. And Moses took of the blood, & put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood upon the bottom of the altar, and consecrated it, that he might reconcile it. And took all the fat upon the bowels, the net upon the liver, and the two kydneys with the fat thereon, and burned it upon the altar. But the bullock with his skin, flesh, & dung, burned he with fire without the host, Exo. 29. ● as the LORD commanded him. And he brought a ram for a burned offering. And Aaron with his sons laid their hands upon his head, & then was he slain. And Moses sprenkled of the blood upon the altar round about, hewed the ram in pieces, and burned the head, the pieces, and the fat. And waszshed the bowels and the legs with water, and so burned the whole ram upon the altar. This was a brunt offering for a sweet savour, even a sacrifice unto the LORD, Exo. 29. ● as the LORD commanded him. He brought also the other ram of the offering of the consecration. And Aaron with his sons laid their hands upon his head, and then was it slain. And Moses took of his blood, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great too of his right foot. And he brought Aaron's sons, and put of the blood upon the tip of the right ear of them, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet, and poured the residue of the blood upon the altar round about. And he took the fat and the rump, Exo. 29. ● and all the fat upon the bowels, and the net upon the liver, the two kydneys with the fat thereon, and the right shoulder. And out of the mand of unleavened bread before the LORD, he took an unlevended cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and a wafer, and laid them upon the fat, and upon the right shoulder, and put altogether upon the hands of Aaron and of his sons, and waved it for a Wave offering before the LORD. And afterward took he all again from their hands, and burned them on the altar, even upon the burned offering: for it is an offering of consecration for a sweet savour, even a sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses took the breast, Exo. ●9. and waved it a Wave offering before the LORD, of the ram of the offering of consecration: the same was Moses part, as the LORD commanded Moses. And Moses took of the anointing oil, & of the blood upon the altar, & sprenkled it upon Aaron & his vestiments, upon his sons & upon their vestiments, and so consecrated Aaron & his vestiments, his sons and their vestiments with him. And he said unto Aaron & his sons: Seeth the flesh before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, & there eat it, & the bread in the mand of the consecration offerings, as it is commanded me, & said: Aaron & his sons shall eat it. As for that which remaineth of the flesh & bread, you shall burn it with fire. And in seven days shall you not depart from the door of the Tabernacle of witness, until the day, that the days of your consecration offerings be at an end: for seven days must your hands be consecrated, as it is come to pass this day: The LORD hath commanded to do it, that you might be reconciled. And you shall tarry before the Tabernacle of witness day and night seven days long, & shall keep the watch of the LORD, that you die not, for thus am I commanded. And Aaron with his sons did all, that the LORD commanded by Moses. The IX. Chapter. ANd upon the eight day Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the Elders in Israel, and said unto Aaron: Take unto the a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burned offering, both without blemish, and bring them before the LORD, and speak unto the children of Israel, and say: Take an he goat for a synoffering: and a calf, and a sheep, both of a year old, and without blemish for a burned offering: and an ox and a ram for an health offering, that we may offer before the LORD: and a meat offering mingled with oil. For to day shall the LORD appear unto you. And they took what Moses commanded before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and the whole congregation came nigh, and stood before the LORD. Then said Moses: This is it, which the LORD commanded that you should do, and then shall the glory of the LORD appear unto you. And Moses said unto Aaron: Go unto the altar, and Heb. 5. b and 7. d offer thy sin offering and thy burned offering, and make an atonement for the and for the people. Then offer the people's offering, and reconcile them also, as the LORD hath commanded. Levi. 4. a And Aaron went unto the altar, and slew the calf for his sin offering, & his sons brought the blood unto him. And he dypte his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured the blood upon the bottom of the altar. As for the fat and the kydneys & the net upon the liver of the sin offering, he burned them upon the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses. The flesh also and the hide burned he with fire without the host. afterward he slew the burned offering, and Aaron's sons brought the blood unto him, & he sprenkled it round about upon the altar. And they brought him the burned offering in pieces, & the head: & he burned it upon the altar. And he washed the bowels and the legs, and burned them above upon the burned offering on the altar. Then brought he the offering of the people, and took the goat, 〈…〉 that sin offering of the people, and slew it, and made a sin offering thereof, as of the first. And brought the burned offering, and did as the law is: and brought the meat offering, and took his handful, 〈…〉 and burned it upon the altar, beside the burned offering of the morning. afterward slew he the ox and the ram for the health offering of the people. And his sons brought him the blood, which he sprenkled upon the altar round about. But the fat of the ox & of the ram, the rump, and the fat that covereth the bowels, & the kidneys, & the net upon the liver, all such fat laid they upon the breast, and burned the fat upon the altar. But the breast and the right shoulder waved Aaron for a Wave offering before the LORD, 〈…〉 as the LORD commanded Moses. And Aaron lift up his hand over the people, and blessed them, and came down from the work of the sin offering, burned offering, and health offering. And Moses and Aaron went in to the Tabernacle of witness. And when they came out again, they blessed the people. Then appeared the glory of the LORD unto all the people. For there came 〈…〉 a fire from the LORD, and upon the altar it consumed the burnt-offering and the fat. When all the people saw that, they rejoiced, and fallen upon their faces. The X. Chapter. Moses called Misael and Elzaphan the sons of Vsiel Aaron's uncle, and said unto them: Go to, and carry your brethren out of the Sanctuary, without the host. And they went, and carried them forth in their albes without the host, as Moses said. Then said Moses unto Aaron & to his sons Eleasar and Ithamar: 〈◊〉 14. ● 〈◊〉 6. a You shall not uncover your heads, ner rent your clotheses, that you die not, and the wrath come upon the whole congregation: Let your brethren of the whole house of Israel bewep this burning, which the LORD hath done. As for you, you shall not go out from the door of the Tabernacle of witness, jest you die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did as Moses said. The LORD spoke unto Aaron, & said: Thou & thy sons with the shall drink no wine ner strong drink, 〈◊〉 44. d 〈◊〉 1. b when you go in to the Tabernacle of witness: that you die not. Let this be a perpetual law unto all your posterities: that you may have knowledge to discern, what is holy and unholy, what is clean & unclean: & that you may teach the children of Israel all the laws, which the LORD hath spoken unto you by Moses. And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleasar and Ithamar his sons that were left: 〈…〉 Take the remnant of the meat offering in the sacrifices of the LORD, and eat it without leaven beside the altar, for it is most holy, even in the holy place shall you eat it. For it is thy duty and thy sons duty in the sacrifices of the LORD: for thus am I commanded. But the wavebreast and the heave-shoulder shalt thou eat, and thy sons and thy daughters with the in a clean place. For this duty is given unto the and thy children in the dead offerings of the children of Israel. For the heave-shoulder and the wavebreast to the offerings of the fat, shallbe brought in, that they may be waved for a Wave offering before the LORD. Therefore is it thy and thy children's for a perpetual duty, as the LORD commanded. And Moses sought for the goat of the sin offering, and found it burned. And he was angry at Eleasar and Ithamar the sons of Aaron, which were left alive, and said: Wherefore have you not eaten the sin offering in the holy place? for it is most holy, & he hath given it you, that you might bear the sin of the congregation, to make agreement for them before the LORD. Behold, the blood of it came not in to the Sanctuary: You should have eaten it in the Sanctuary, as I was commanded. Aaron said unto Moses: Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering & their burned offering before the LORD. And it is chanced me after this manner. And should I eat of the sin offering to day, & be merry before the LORD? When Moses heard that, he was content. The XI. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses & Aaron & said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say: Deu. 14. a Act. 10 b These are the beestes which you shall eat among all the beestes upon earth: What so ever hath hough, & divideth it in to two claws, & cheweth cud among the beestes, that shall you eat. But look what cheweth cud & hath hough, & divideth it not, as the Camel, the same is unclean unto you, & you shall not eat it. The conies chew cud, but they divide not the hoof in to two claws, therefore are they unclean unto you. The Hare cheweth cud also, but divideth not the hoof in to two claws, therefore is he unclean unto you. And the Swine divideth the hoof in to two claws, but cheweth not the cud, therefore is it unclean unto you. Of the flesh of these shall you not eat, ner touch their carcases, for they are unclean unto you. These shall you eat of all that are in the waters: What so ever hath fynnes and scales in the waters, seas & rivers, that shall you eat. But what so ever hath not fynnes and scales in the seas and rivers, among all that move in the waters, & of all that live in the waters, it shallbe an abomination unto you, so that you eat not of their flesh, and that you abhor their carcases. For all that have not fynnes & scales in the waters, shall you abhor. And these shall you abhor among the fowls, so that you eat them not: The Eagle, the goshawk, the Cormoraunte, the Vulture, the Rite, and all his kind, and all ravens with their kind: the Ostrich, the Nightcrow, the Cocow, the Sparrow hawk with his kind, the little Owl, the Stork, the great Owl, the Back, the pelican, the Swan, the Pie, the Heron, the jaye with his kind, the Lap wing, and the swallow. And whatso ever creepeth among the fowls, and goeth upon four feet, shallbe an abomination unto you. Yet these shall you eat of the fowls that creep and go upon four feet: even those that have no knyes above upon the legs, to hop withal upon earth. Of these may you eat, as there is the Arbe with his kind, and the Selaam with his kind, & the Hargol with his kind, & the Hagab with his kind. But what so ever else hath four feet among the fowls, it shallbe an abomination unto you, Levi. 5. a Agg 2. b and you shall take it for unclean. Who so ever toucheth the carcase of such, shall be unclean until the even: and who so ever beareth the carcase of any of these, shall wash his clotheses, and shallbe unclean until the even. Therefore every be'st that hath hoof, and divideth it not in to two claws, & cheweth not cud, shallbe unclean unto you. Who so ever toucheth such, shallbe unclean. And what so ever goeth upon hands among the beestes that go upon four feet, shallbe unclean unto you. Who so ever toucheth the carcases of them, shallbe unclean until even. And he that beareth their carcase, shall wash his clotheses, and be unclean until the even: For such are unclean unto you. These shallbe unclean unto you also, among the beestes that creep upon earth: the weasel, the Mouse, the Toad, every one with his kind, the Hedgehog, the Stellio, the Lacerte, the Snale, and the Moule, these are unclean unto you among all that creep. Who so ever toucheth the deed carcase of them, shallbe unclean until the even. And what so ever any such deed carcase falls upon, it shallbe unclean, what so ever vessel of wood it be, or raiment, or skin, or bag. And every vessel that any thing is occupied withal, shallbe put in the water, and is unclean until the even, and then shall it be clean. Levi. 6. d and 15. b All manner of earthen vessel that any such carcase falls in to, shall all be unclean that therein is, & you shall break it. All meat which is eaten, that any such water cometh in to, is unclean: & all manner of drink that is drunken in all manner of such vessel, is unclean. And what so ever any such carcase falls upon, it shallbe unclean, whether it be oven or kettle, so shall it be broken, for it is unclean, and shallbe unclean unto you: Nevertheless the fountains, wells, & pounds of water are clean. But who so ever toucheth their carcases, is unclean. And though the deed carcase of any such fallen upon the seed that is sown, yet is it clean. But when there is water poured upon the seed, and afterward any such deed carcase falls thereon, then shall it be unclean unto you. When a be'st dieth that you may eat, he that toucheth the deed carcase thereof, is unclean until even. Who so eateth of any such carcase, shall wash his clotheses, and be unclean until the even. Likewise he that beareth any such carcase, shall wash his clotheses, and be unclean until the even. What so ever creepeth upon earth, shall be an abomination unto you, and shall not be eaten. And what so ever creepeth upon the belly, or all that goeth upon four or more feet, among all that creepeth upon earth, shall you not eat, for it shallbe an abomination unto you. Make not your souls abominable, and defile you not in them, to stain your selves: for I am the LORD your God. Therefore shall you sanctify yourselves, that you may be holy, for I am holy. 〈…〉 And you shall not defile yourselves on any manner of creeping be'st, that creepeth upon earth: for I am the LORD, which brought you out of the land of Egipte, that I might be your God: therefore shall you be holy, for I am holy. This is the law over the beestes and fowls, & all manner of souls of creeping beestes in the waters, and all manner of souls that creep upon earth: that you may know to discern what is unclean & clean, and what manner of beestes are to be eaten, and which are not to be eaten. The XII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say: When a woman hath conceived, and beareth a man-child, she shallbe unclean seven days, so long as she suffereth her disease, 〈…〉 and in the eight day shall the flesh of his foreskin be cut away. And she shall bide at home three and thirty days in the blood of her purifienger she shall touch no holy thing, ner come in to the Sanctuary, till the days of her purifying be out. But if she hear a maid child, them shall she be unclean two weeks, so long as she suffereth her disease, and six and three score days shall she bide at home in the blood of her purifying. 〈…〉 And when the days of her purifying are out, for the son or for the daughter, she shall bring a lamb of one year old for a burned offering, and a young pigeon or a turtle done for a sin offering to the door of the Tabernacle of witness unto the priest, which shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her, and so shall she be cleansed from her bloudyssue. This is the law for her that beareth a man-child or maid child. ●uit. 5. b But if she be not able to bring a sheep, then let her take two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, the one for a burned offering, the other for a sin offering, then shall the priest make an atonement for her, so that she shall be clean. The XIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron, & said: When there riseth up any thing in the skin of a man's flesh, whether it be a scab or a glistering white (as though there would be a leprosy in the szkynne of his flesh) he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons among the priests. And when the priest saith the plague upon the szkynne of the flesh, that the hairs are turned to white, and it seem deeper in that place then the other szkynne of his flesh, then is it surely a leprosy, therefore shall the priest look upon him, and judge him unclean. But when there is any white plecke in the szkynne of his flesh, and yet seem no deeper than the other szkynne of the flesh, and the hairs be not turned to white, them shall the priest shut him up seven days, and on the seventh day look upon him: if the plague seem unto him as afore, & hath fret no deeper in the szkynne, then shall the priest shut him up yet seven days more. And when he looketh on him again upon the seventh day, and findeth, that the plague be darkish, and hath fret no deeper in the szkynne, them shall he judge him clean, for it is but a szkyrfe, and he shall wash his clotheses, & then is he clean. But when the scab fretteth farther in the szkynne (after that he is seen of the priest, and judged clean) and he be now seen of the priest again: when the priest saith them, that the scab hath fret farther in the szkynne, he shall judge him unclean, for it is surely a leprosy. When a plague of leprosy is upon a man, he shallbe brought unto the priest. When he saith and findeth, that there is white risen up in the szkynne, and the hair turned unto white, and there be raw flesh in the sore, them is it surely an old leprosy in the szkynne of his flesh, therefore shall the priest judge him unclean, and not shut him up, for he is unclean already. But when the leprosy breaketh out in the szkynne, and covereth the whole szkynne, from the head unto the foot, all that the priest can see, So when the priest looketh upon it, and findeth, that the leprosy hath covered all the flesh, he shall judge him clean, for so much as it is turned all in to white upon him, for he is clean. notwithstanding if there be raw flesh there, in the day when he is looked upon, them is he unclean. And when the priest saith the raw flesh, he shall judge him unclean, for he is unclean, & it is surely a leprosy. But if the raw flesh change again, and be turned in to white, then shall he come unto the priest. And when the priest looketh upon him, and findeth, that the plague is turned to white, he shall judge him clean, for he is clean. When there is a bile in the szkynne of any man's flesh, and heals again, and afterward in the same place there arise up any white thing, or a glistering white some what reedish, he shall be seen of the priest. So when the priest, seyeth, that it appeareth to be lower than the other szkynne, and the hair turned to white, then shall he judge him unclean, for it is surely a plague of leprosy broken out of the bile. But if the priest see and find, that the hairs are not white, and it not lower than the other szkynne, and is darkysh, he shall shut him up seven days. If it hath fret farther in the szkynne, then shall he judge him unclean, for it is surely a plague of leprosy. But if the glistering white abide still, and fret no farther, than is it but a print of the bile, and the priest shall judge him clean. When the szkynne of any man's flesh is hurt with fire, and the print of the burning be reedysh or white, and the priest looketh upon him, and findeth the hair turned to white upon the mark of the burning, & it appear deeper than the other szkynne, than is there surely a leprosy broken out of the print of the burning: therefore shall the priest judge him unclean, for it is a plague of leprosy. But if the priest see and find, that the hair upon the print of the burning is not turned unto white, & is no lower than the other skin, and is darkish also, he shall shut him up seven days. And upon the seventh day he shall look upon him: if it hath fret farther in the skin, then shall he judge him unclean, for it is a leprosy. But if it stand still upon the mark of the burning, and fret no farther in the skin, and is darkysh, then is it a sore in the mark of the burning, & the priest shall judge him clean, for it is but the print of the burning. When a man or woman is skyruye upon the head or beerd, and the priest saith the mark, and findeth that it appeareth deeper than the other skin, and the hair be there golden and thin, then shall he judge him unclean: for it is a skyrfe of leprosy of the head or of the beerde. But if the priest see that the skyrfe appear no deeper than the skin, and that the hair is not of a pale colour, he shall shut him up seven days. And upon the seventh day when he looketh, and findeth, that the skyrfe hath fret no farther, and there be no golden hair there, and that the skyrfe appear no deeper than the other skin, then let him be shaven: but so that he shave not of the scab, and the priest shall shut him up yet seven days moo. And upon the seventh day when he looketh, and findeth that the skyrfe hath fret no farther in the skin, and that it appeareth no deeper than the other skin, then shall the priest judge him clean. And he shall wash his clotheses, for he is clean. But if the scab fret farther in the skin (after that he is judged clean) and the priest looketh, and findeth, that the scab hath fret farther in the skin, then shall he seek number for golden hairs, for he is unclean. Nevertheless if he see that the scab standeth still, & that pale hairs are there risen up, then is the scab hole, and he is clean, therefore shall the priest judge him to be clean. When there is any glistering white upon the skin of the flesh of a man or woman, and the priest saith there that the glistering white vanysheth: then is it but a white scab risen up in the skin, & he is clean. When the hairs fall out of the head of a man or a woman, so that he is bald, the same is clean. If they fall out of his fore head, then is he fore head bald & clean. But if there be a white reedish sore in the bald head, or bald fore head, then is there a leprosy risen up in the bald head or bald forehead: therefore shall the priest look upon him. And when he findeth the white reedysh sore risen up in his bald head or bald forehead, then shall the skin of the flesh be as leprous, therefore is he a leprous man and unclean. And the priest shall judge him unclean, because of the same sore upon his head. Who so now is leprous, his clotheses shall be rend, and the head bore, & the lips moffled, and shall in any wise be called unclean. And as long as the sore is upon him, 〈…〉 he shall be unclean, devil alone, and have his dwelling without the host. When the plague of leprosy is in a clot, whether it be woollen or linen, in the warp or waif, whether it be linen or woollen, or in a skin, or in any manner thing that is made of skin. And when the plague is pale or reedish in the clot or skin, either in the warp or waif, or in any manner thing that is made of skin, the same is surely the plague of leprosy, therefore shall the priest look upon it. And when he saith the plague, he shall shut it up seven days. And upon the seventh day when he saith that the plague hath fret farther in the clot, in the warp or waif, in a skin or in any manner thing that is made of skin, then is it a fretting plague of leprosy, and is unclean. And the clot shall be burned, either warp or waif, whether it be woollen or linen, or any thing made of skin, wherein is any such plague. For it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be burned with fire. But if the priest see that the plague hath frete no farther in the clot, either in the warp or waif, or any thing made of skin, then shall he command to wash the thing that the plague is in, and shall shut it up other seven days. And when the priest saith (after that the plague is waszshen) that the plague is not changed before his eyes, and hath fret no farther also, yet is it unto, & shall be burned with fire: for it is deep freten inward, and hath made skyrfes. Nevertheless when the priest saith that the print is vanyshed after the washing of it, then shall he rent it out of the cloth, and of the skin, out of the warp or waif. But if it appear any more in the cloth (either in the warp, or in the waif) or any manner thing made of skin, then is it a waxing plague: and with fire shall it be burned that any such plague is in. As for the clot, either warp or waif, or any manner thing made of skin that is waszshen, and the plague be departed from it, it shallbe waszshen once again, & then is it clean. This is the law over the plague of leprosy in clotheses, whether they be woollen or linen (either in the warp or in the waif) and in any manner of thing made of sknne, to judge them clean or unclean. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD sp●t● unto Moses, and said: This is the ●●we over the leper, when he shallbe cleansed. 〈…〉 He shall come unto the priest, and the priest shall go out of the host, and look how the plague of leprosy is healed upon the leper. And he shall command him that is to be cleansed, to take two living by●des, which are clean, and Cedar wodd, and purple will, and ysope: and shall command the one bird to be killed in an earthen vessel over sprynginge water. And he shall take the living bird with the Cedar wood, the purple will, and ysope, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird upon the springing water, and sprenkle it seven times upon him that must be cleansed from the leprosy. And so cleanse him, and let the living bird fly at liberty in to the field. But he that is cleansed, shall wash his clotheses, and shave of all his hair, and bathe himself with water, so is he clean. afterward let him go in to the host, yet shall he tarry without his tent seven days. And upon the seventh day shall he shave of all the hair upon his head, upon his beerde, upon his brows, so that all the hair be shaven of, and he shall wash his clotheses and bathe his flesh in water, then is he clean. And upon the eight day shall he take two lambs without blemish, and a sheep of a year old without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flower for a meat offering, mingled with oil, & a Log of oil. Then shall the priest present him that is cleansed and these things before the LORD, before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and shall take the one lamb, and offer it for trespass offering, with the Log of oil, & shall wave them, before the LORD, and afterward slay the lamb, where the sin offering and burned offering are slain, namely, in the holy place. For as the sin offering, so is the trespass offering the priests also, for it is most holy. And the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great too of his right foot, afterward shall he take of the oil out of the Log, and pour it in to his own left hand, and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and sprinkle the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. As for the remnant of the oil in his hand, he shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, & upon the great too of his right foot, even above upon the blood of the trespass offering. But the remnant of the oil in his hand, shall he pour upon the head of him that is cleansed, and make an atonement for him before the LORD. And he shall make the sin offering, and reconcile him that is cleansed, because of his uncleanness. And afterward shall he slay the burned offering, and shall offer it upon the altar with the meat-offering, and make an atonement for him, & than is he clean. But if he be poor, and getteth not so much with his hand, then let him take one lamb for a trespass offering to wave it, to make an atonement for him, and a tenth deal of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a Log of oil, & two turtle doves, or two young pigeons which he is able to get with his hand, let the one be a sin offering, the other a burned offering: and let him bring them upon the eight day of his cleansing unto the priest before the door of the Tabernacle of witness before the LORD. Then shall the priest take the lamb for the sin offering, and the Log of oil, and shall wave them all before the LORD, and slay the lamb of the trespass offering: and take of the blood of the same trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great too of his right foot, and pour of the oil in to his own left hand, and with his right finger sprinkle the oil that is in his left hand, seven times before the LORD. As for the remnant of the oil in his hand, he shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, & upon the great too of his right foot, even above upon the blood of the trespass offering. The other oil in his hand shall he pour upon the head of him that is cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. And afterward of the one of the turtle doves or young pigeons (according as his hands are able to get) he shall make a sin offering, of the other a burned offering, with the meat offering: and so shall the priest make an atonement for him that is cleansed before the LORD. Let this be the law for the leper, which is not able with his hand to get, that belongeth unto his cleansing. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, and said: When you are come in to the land of Canaan, which I give you to possess: and if there happen a plague of leprosy in any house of your possession, then shall he that oweth the house, come and tell the priest, and say: Me think there is as it were a plague of leprosy in my house. Then shall the priest command to rid all thing out of the house or ever the priest go in to se the plague, jest all that is in the house be made unclean. afterward shall the priest go in, to see the plague. Now when he looketh, and findeth, that there be hollow streaks yellow or reedish in the walls of the house, & they seem to be lower than the brickwall beside, then shall he go out at the door of the house, and shut up the house for seven days. And upon the seventh day when he cometh, and saith that the plague hath fretten farther in the walls of the house, them shall he command to break out the stones wherein the plague is, & to cast them in a foul place without the cite, & the house to be scraped within round about, and the dust that is scraped of, to be poured without the cite in an unclean place, & to take other stones, and put them in the place of the other, and to take other plaster, and plaster the house. When the plague than cometh again, and breaketh forth in the house, after that the stones are broken out, the plaster scraped of, and the house plastered of the new, them shall the priest go in: and when he saith that the plague hath fretten farther in the house, then is there surely a fretting leprosy in the house, and it is unclean: therefore shall the house be broken down, both the stones, and the timber and all the dust of the house, and shall be carried out of the cite in to an unclean place. And who so goeth in to the house, while it is shut up, is unclean until the even. And he that lieth therein, or eateth therein, shall wash his clotheses. But if the priest see (when he goeth in) that this plague hath fret no farther in the house, after that the house is new plastered, them shall he judge it to be clean, for the plague is healed. And to a sin offering for the house, he shall take two birds, Cedar wood, & purple will, and ysope, and slay the one bird in an earthen vessel upon sprynginge water, and shall take the Cedar wood, the purple will, the ysope, and the living bird, & dip them in the blood of the slain bird upon the sprynginge water, and sprinkle the house with all seven times: and so shall he purify the house with the blood of the bird, with the springing water, with the living bird, with the Cedar wood, with the ysope, and with the purple will. And the living bird shall he let fly at liberty out of the town in to the field, & make an atonement for the house, and then is it clean. This is the law over all manner plague of leprosy & skyrfe, over the leprosy of clotheses and of houses, over sores, scabs, and gliste ring white, that it may be known, when any thing is unclean or clean. This is the law of leprosy. The XU. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses and Aaron, and said: Speak to the children of Israel, and say unto him: When a man hath a running issue from out of his flesh, the same is unclean: but then is he unclean by the reason of this issue, when his flesh is fretten of the issue or wound. Every bed where on he lieth, & what so ever he sitteth upon, shallbe unclean. And he that toucheth his bed shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. And he that sitteth where he sat, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. Who so toucheth his flesh, shall wash his clotheses, & bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. When he spytteth upon him that is clean, the same shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, & be unclean until the even. And the saddle and what so ever he rideth upon, shallbe unclean. And who so ever toucheth any thing that hath been under him, shallbe unclean until the even. And who so beareth any such, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. And whom so ever he toucheth, and washeth not his hands first, the same shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. 〈…〉 When he toucheth an earthen vessel, it shall be broken: but the treen vessel shall be rensed with water. And when he is clean of his issue, he shall number seven. days, after that he is made clean, & wash his clotheses, & bathe himself with sprynginge water, them is he clean. And upon the eight day shall he take two turtle doves or two young pigeons, and bring them before the LORD before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and give them unto the priest. And the priest shall make of the one a sin offering, of the other a burned offering, and make an atonement for him before the LORD, as concerning his issue. When a man's seed departeth from him in sleep, the same shall bathe all his flesh with water, and be unclean until the even. And all clotheses, and every skin that is stained with such seed, shall he wash with water, & be unclean until the even. A woman, by whom such one lieth, shall bathe herself with water, and be unclean until the even. When a woman hath the blood issue of her flesh, she shallbe put a part seven. days in to a sundry place. Who so ever toucheth her, shall be unclean until the even. And all that she lieth upon (as long as she is put apart) shallbe unclean. And that she sitteth upon, shallbe unclean. And who so ever toucheth her bed, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. And who so ever toucheth any manner thing that she hath sitten upon, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. And if a man lie with her (while she is put a part) he shallbe unclean seven days, Levi. 18. c and the bed that he lay upon, shallbe unclean. Matt. 9 c But when a woman hath her blood issue a long season, not only at the time of her natural course, but also out of the time of her natural course, then shall she be unclean so long as she hath the issue: even as she is at the time when she is put apart, so shall she be unclean here also. What so ever she lieth upon all the time of her issue, shallbe as her bed, when she is put apart. And all that she sitteth upon, shallbe unclean, as is her uncleanness, when she is put apart. Who so ever toucheth any of them, shall be unclean, and shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, & be unclean until the even. But if she be clean of her issue, them shall she number seven days, afterward shall she be clean: and upon the eight day shall she take two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the priest shall make of the one a sin-offering, of the other a burned offering, and make an atonement for her before the LORD, as concerning the issue of her uncleanness. Thus shall you see that the children of Israel keep themselves from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my habitation, which is among you. This is the law over him that hath a running sore, & him whose seed departeth from him in sleep, so that he is unclean there of. And over her that hath her blood issue, and who so ever hath a running sore, whether it be man or woman, and when a man lieth with her that is unclean. The XVI. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses (after that Aaron's two sons were deed, Leu. 10. ● when they offered before the LORD) & said: Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he go not at all times in to the ynnermer Sanctuary, within the vale before the mercyseat, which is upon the Ark, that he die not: Exo. 40. ● 3. Re. 8. b for I will appear in a cloud upon the mercyseat. But herewithal shall he go in, even with a young bullock for a sin offering, and with a ram for a burntoffering, and shall put on the holy linen albe, and have linen breeches upon his flesh, and gird him with a linen girdle, and have the linen mitre upon his head. For these are the holy garments: & he shall bathe his flesh with water, & put them on: & of the congregation of the children of Israel he shall take two he goats for a sin offering, and a ram for a burned offering. And Aaron shall bring the bullock his own sin offering, Heb. 9 b and make an atonement for himself and his house: and afterward shall he take the two goats, and present them before the LORD, even before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and shall cast lots over the two goats: the lot of the one goat for the LORD, and the other for the free goat. And the goat that the LORDS lot fallen upon, shall he offer for a sin offering. But the goat, that the free goats lot fallen upon, shall he present alive before the LORD, to make an atonement for him, and to let the free goat go into the wilderness. And so shall he bring the bullock of his sin offering, and make an atonement for him and his household, and shall kill him. And he shall take a censor full of coals from the altar that standeth before the LORD, and his handful of beaten incense, and bring them in within the veil, and put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercyseat, which is upon the witness, ●eui. 4. a that he die not. And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprenkle it with his finger toward the mercyseat on the foreside. Seven times shall he sprinkle of the blood thus with his finger before the mercyseat. Then shall he kill the goat which is the people's sin offering, & bring in of his blood within the veil, & shall do with his blood, as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle therewith also on the foreside toward the mercyseat, and so shall he reconcile the Sanctuary from the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and from their trespasses in all their sins. Thus shall he do unto the Tabernacle of witness, which is the habitation with them among their unclennesses. No man shallbe in the Tabernacle of witness, when he goeth in to make an atonement in the Sanctuary, until he go out: and so shall he make an atonement for himself and his house, and for the whole congregation of Israel. And when he goeth forth unto the altar that standeth before the LORD, he shall reconcile it, and shall take of the bullocks blood, and of the goats blood, & put it upon the horns of the altar round about. And with his finger shall he sprenkle of the blood thereon seven times, and hallow it, and consecrated it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. And when he hath made an end of reconciling the Sanctuary, and the Tabernacle of witness, and the altar, he shall bring the living goat. Then shall Aaron lay both his hands upon the head of him, & confess over him all the myszdedes of the children of Israel, & all their trespasses in their sins, & shall say them upon the head of the goat, & by some man that is at hand, shall he let him run in to the wilderness: that the goat may so bear all their misdeeds upon him in to the wilderness, and he shall leave him in the wilderness. And Aaron shall go in to the Tabernacle of witness, and put of the linen clotheses, which he put on when he went in to the Sanctuary, and shall leave them there, and bathe his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his own raiment. And he shall go forth, and make his burned offering, and the burned offering of the people, and make an atonement both for himself and for the people, and burn the fat of the sin offering upon the altar. But he the carried out the free goat, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, & then come in to the host. The bullock of the sin offering, and the goat of the sin offering (whose blood was brought in to the Sanctuary to make an atonement) shallbe carried out of the host, & brent with fire, both their skins, flesh, and dung. And he that burneth them, shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and then come in to the host. And this shallbe a perpetual law unto you: Leu●▪ ● Upon the tenth day of the seventh month shall you humble your souls, and do no work, whether it be one of yourselves, or a stranger among you. For in this day is your atonement made, that you may be cleansed from all your sins before the LORD: therefore shall it be a free Sabbath unto you, and you shall humble your souls. Let this b● a perpetual law. But the priest that is anointed, and whose hand was filled to be priest in his father's stead, shall make this atonement, and shall put on the linen clotheses, namely the holy vestiments, so shall he reconcile the holy Sanctuary, and the Tabernacle of witness, and the altar, and the priests, and all the people of the congregation. 〈…〉 This shall be a perpetual law unto you, that you reconcile the children of Israel from all their sins once a year. And Moses did, as the LORD commanded him. The XVII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto Aaron & his sons, & to all the children of Israel, & say unto them: This is it that the LORD hath commanded: What so ever he be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat in the host, or out of the host, and bringeth it not before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, that it may be brought unto the LORD for an offering before the Habitation of the LORD, the same shall be guilty of blood, as though he had shed blood, and such a man shallbe rooted out from among his people. Therefore shall the children of Israel bring their offerings (that they will offer upon the wide field) before the LORD, even before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, unto the priest, & there offer their health offerings unto the LORD. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD: and they shall offer their offerings no more unto devils, with whom they go a whoring. This shall be a perpetual law unto them among their posterities. Therefore shalt thou say unto them: What man so ever he be of the house of Israel, or a stranger also that is among you, which offereth a burned offering or any other offering, and bringeth it not before the door of the Tabernacle of witness to offer it unto the LORD, he shall be rooted out from among his people. ●●ui. 7. c And what man so ever it be (either of the house of Israel, or a stranger among you) that eateth any manner of blood, against him will I set my face, and will rote him out from among his people: for the soul of the body is in the blood, and I have given it you for the altar, that your souls may be reconciled there with: For the blood that is in the soul maketh atonement. Therefore have I said unto the children of Israel: Not soul among you shall eat blood, not ner any stranger that dwelleth among you. And what man so ever it be among you (whether he be of the house of Israel, or a stranger among you) that at the hunting taketh a be'st or foul which may be eaten, he shall pour out the blood of the same, & cover it with earth: for all flesh liveth in the blood. And I have said unto the children of Israel: ●eu. 9 a ●●ui. 3. c 〈◊〉. 19 f You shall eat the blood of no body: for the life of all flesh is in his blood. Who so ever eateth it, shallbe rooted out. And what so ever soul eateth that which died alone, or that was torn of wild beestes (whether he be one of yourselves or a stranger) the same shall wash his clotheses, and bathe himself with water, and he unclean until the even, and then is he clean. But if he wash not his clotheses, nor bathe himself, then shall he bear his sin. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto the children of Israel, & say unto them: I am the LORD your God, You shall not do after the works of the land of Egipte, wherein you dwelled: neither after the doings of the land of Canaan, in to the which I will bring you. You shall not walk after their customs, but after my laws shall you do, & my statutes shall you keep, that you may walk therein: for I am the LORD your God. Therefore shall you keep my statutes and my laws. Ro. 10. a For the man that doth the same, shall live therein, for I am the LORD. Not man shall come at his next kinszwoman, to uncover her privity: for I am the LORD. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of the father & of the mother. It is thy mother, Gen. 14. Eze. 22. ● therefore shalt thou not uncover her privity. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of the father's wife, for it is the father's privity. Deu. 22. and. 27. ● 1. Cor. 5. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy sister, which is the daughter of the father or of the mother, whether she be born at home or without. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy sons daughter, Deu. 27. 2. Re. 1●. or of thy daughters daughter, for it is thy own privity. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of the father's wives daughter, which is born unto him, and is thy sister. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy father's sister, for it is thy father's next kynszwoman. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy mother's sister, Levi. hundred. ● for it is the mother's next kynszwoman. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy father's brother, to take his wife, for she is thy awnte. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of the daughter in law, for she is the sons wife, Gen. 38. ● Deu. 27. ● therefore shalt thou not uncover her privity. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy brother's wife, Levi. 20. ● Mat. 14. ● for it is thy brother's privity. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy wife and of her daughter also, neither shalt thou take her sons daughter or her daughters daughter, to uncover their privities, for they are her next kynszwomen. And it is wickedness. Thou shalt not take a wife and her sister also, to uncover her privity, Gen. 29. ● while she is yet alive. Thou shalt not go unto a woman to uncover her privity, Leu. 15. d Eze. 22. b so long as she hath her disease in her uncleanness. Thou shalt not lie with thy neighbours wife to meddle with her, 2. Re. 11. ● for to defile thyself withal. Thou shalt not give of thy seed also, to be burned unto Moloch, Leu. 20. ● jest thou unhalowe the name of thy God, for I am the LORD. ●om. 1. d ●eu. 20. b Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind, for that is abomination. ●eu. 27. c Thou shalt lie with no manner of be'st, to defile the self therewith. And no woman shall have to do with a be'st, for it is abomination. You shall defile yourselves in none of these things. For the heathen (whom I will cast out before you) have stained themselves in all these, and the land is defiled there thorough. And their wickedness will I visit upon them, so that the land shall spew out the indwellers thereof. Therefore keep you my statutes and laws, and do not one of these abominations, neither one of your own selves ner the stranger among you (for all such abominations have the people of this land done which were before you, & have defiled the land) that the land spew not you out also, when you have defiled it, as it spewed out the heathen, that were there before you. For who so ever commit these abominations, the same souls shallbe rooted out from among their people. Therefore keep you my statutes, that you do not after the abominable customs, which were before you, that you be not defiled therewith: For I am the LORD your God. The XIX. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them: Levi. 11. g and 20. c 1. Pet. 1. c You shall be holy, for I am holy, even the LORD your God. Every one fear his father and his mother. reap my holy days: for I am the LORD your God. You shall not turn yourselves unto Idols, & you shall make you no gods of metal: for I am the LORD your God. And when you will offer health offerings unto the LORD, then shall you offer them, that he may be merciful unto you, levit. 7. b and you shall eat them the same day that you offer them, and on the morrow: what so ever is left on the third day, shallbe burned with fire. But if any man eat thereof upon the third day, then is he unholy, and shall not be accepted, and the same eater shall bear his sin, because he hath unhallowed the Sanctuary of the LORD: and such a soul shallbe rooted out from among his people. When thou reapest thy land, thou shalt not reap down the uttermost borders of it round about, Levi. 33. d Deu. ●4. d ner gather it all clean up. Even so likewise thou shalt not pluck thy vineyard clean also, ner gather up the grapes that are fallen down, but shalt leave them for the poor and strangers: for I am the LORD your God. You shall not steal, neither lie, ner deal falsely one with another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, Exo. ● Ma●▪ ● & so to unhallow the name of thy God: for I am the LORD. Thou shalt do the neighbour no wrong, ner rob him. Deut. ● Tob▪ ● The workman's labour shall not bide with the until the morning. Thou shalt not curse the deaf. 〈…〉 Thou shalt put no stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD. You shall not deal wrongeously in judgement, neither shall you accept the person of the poor, ner honour the parson of the great, but thou shalt judge thy neighbour righteously. Thou shalt let no privy accuser go among the people. neither shalt thou stand against the neighbours blood: for I am the LORD. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, Mat. ● Ecc● but shalt tell the neighbour his fault, that thou bear not sin for his sake. Thou shalt not avenge thyself, ner bear evil will against the children of thy people. * 〈…〉 Ro●● Gen. ● Thou shalt love thy neighbour, as thy self: for I am the LORD. My statutes shall you keep, that thou * 〈…〉 Ro●● Gen. ● let not the cattles gender with beestes of another kind: neither sow thy field with mingled seed. And let no garment come upon thee, that is mixed with woollen and linen. When a man lieth with a woman, and hath to do with her, which is a bond woman, and hath been meddled withal of another man, but not loosed out, ner hath obtained freedom, it shallbe punished, but they shall not suffer death, because she was not free. But he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD (even before the door of the Tabernacle of witness) a ram for a trespass of fearing▪ and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the trespass offering before the LORD, concerning the sin that he hath done: He● ● so shall God be merciful unto him, as concerning his sin which he hath done. What time as you are come into the land, and plant all manner trees whereof men eat, you shall circumcise the foreskin of the same with their fruits: three years shall you hold them for uncircumcised, so that you eat them not: but in the fourth year shall all their fruits be holy and praised unto the LORD. In the fifth year shall you eat the fruits, and gather them in: for I am the LORD your God. ●eui. 3. c ●eu. 28. b You shall eat nothing with blood. You shall not regard the fowls crying, ner chose out days. ●eui. 21 a 〈◊〉. 44. c You shall shave no crowns upon your head, neither shalt thou clip thy beerde clean of. You shall rent out no marks in your body (for any that is deed) ner make lettres upon you: for I am the LORD. Thou shalt not hold thy daughter to whoredom, that the land fall not to whoredom, and wax full of wickedness. Keep my holy days, and stand in awe of my Sanctuary: for I am the LORD. ●eg 28. b You shall not turn your selves to the Soyth sayers, and axe nothing at the expounders of tokens, that you be not defiled by them: for I am the LORD your God. ●ccli. 8. a Tim. 5. a Thou shalt rise up before a grey head, and shalt give reverence unto the aged. For thou shalt fear God: for I am the LORD. sword. 22. c When there dwelleth a stranger among you in your land, you shall not vex him. He shall devil with you, even as one that is at home among you, & thou shalt love him as the self: for you yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egipte. I am the LORD your God. You shall not deal wrongeously in judgement, with meteyarde, with weight, with measure: A true balance, a true weight, a true Epha, a true Hin shallbe among you. For I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egipte, that you should keep & do all my statutes and laws: for I am the LORD. The XX. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Tell the children of Israel: Levi. 18. c Deut. 27. a Who so ever he be among the children of Israel, (or any stranger that dwelleth in Israel) which giveth of his seed unto Moloch, the same shall die the death: the people of the land shall stone him, & I will set my face against that man, and will rote him out from among his people, because he hath given of his seed unto Moloch, and defiled my Sanctuary, & unhallowed my holy name. And though the people of the land look thorough the fingers upon that man, which hath given of his seed unto Moloch, so that they put him not to death, yet will I set my face against the same man, & against his generation: And him, and all that go a whoring with him after Moloch, will I rote out from among their people. If any soul turn him to the soythsayers and expounders of tokens, so that he goeth a whoring after them, I will set my face against the same soul, and will rote him out from among his people. Levi. 1● Nu. 11. ● josu. 3. ● Sanctify yourselves therefore, & be holy: for I am holy even your God. And keep you my statutes, and do them: for I am the LORD that sanctifieth you. Who so ever curseth his father or his mother, shall die the death: Exo. 21. Pro. 20 ● Matt. ●● his blood be upon him, because he hath cursed his father or mother. He that breaketh wedlock with any man's wife, Deu. 22 shall die the death (both the adulterer and the adulteress) because he hath broken wedlock with his neighbours wife. If any man lie with his father's wife, levit. 18 Deu. 27 so that he uncover his father's privity, they shall both die the death: their blood be upon them. If any man lie with his daughter in law, Levi. 1●. they shall die both of them, for they have wrought abomination: their blood be upon them. If any man lie with the mankind, Levi. 18. Rom. 1. as with womankind, they have wrought abomination, & shall both die the death: their blood be upon them. If any man take a wife, Levi. 18. and her mother thereto, the same hath wrought wickedness: he shallbe burned with fire, and so shall they also, that there be no wickedness among you. If any man lie with a be'st, Levi. 18. Deu. 27. he shall die the death, and the be'st shall be slain. If a woman meddle with a be'st, so that she have to do with it, thou shalt put her to death, and the be'st also, they shall die the death: their blood be upon them. If any man take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her privity, and she again see his secrets, it is a wicked thing. They shallbe rooted out in the sight of their people. For he hath uncovered his sister's privity, he shall bear his sin. If a man lie with a woman in the time of her sickness, and uncover her secrets, Levi. 15. ● and 18. c & open up her fountain, and she uncover the fountain of her blood, they shall both be rooted out from among their people. Thou shalt not uncover the privity of thy mother's sister, and of thy father's sister: Levi. 18. b for such one hath uncovered his next kinswoman, and they shall bear their sin. If any man lie with his uncles wife, the same hath uncovered the privity of his uncle: they shall bear their sin, without children shall they die. 〈◊〉. 18. b 〈◊〉. 14. a If any man take his brother's wife, that is an unclean thing: they shallbe without children, because he hath uncovered his brother's secrets. So keep now all my statutes & my laws, & do them, that the land whither I bring you to devil therein, spew you not out. And walk not you in the statutes of the heathen, which I shall cast out before you. ●eut. 9 a For all such things have they done, & I have abhorred them. But I say unto you: You shall possess their land. For I will give you to inheritance a land, that floweth with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from the nations, that you also should separate the clean beestes from the unclean, and the unclean fowls from the clean: & not to defile your souls upon beestes, upon fowls & upon all that creepeth on the ground: ●eui. 11. a ●eut. 14 a which I have separated unto you, that they should be unclean. Therefore shall you be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, which have separated you from the nations, that you should be mine. ●eu. 1●. b Re. 28. b If a man or woman be a soythsayer or an expounder of tokens, the same shall die the death: they shallbe stoned, their blood be upon them. The XXI. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Moses: Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, & say unto them: 〈◊〉. 44. d A priest shall defile himself upon no soul of his people, but upon his next kin that belongeth unto him: as upon his mother, upon his father, upon his son, upon his daughter, upon his brother, & upon his sister, which is yet a virgin, & hath been no man's wife (which belongeth unto him) upon her may he defile himself. moreover he shall not defile himself upon any ruler in his people, to unhallow himself. Levi. 19▪ f Eze. 44▪ c He shall make no crown also upon his head, ner shave of his beerd, neither shall they cut out any marks in their flesh. They shallbe holy unto their God, and not unhallow the name of their God: for they offer the sacrifice of the LORD, the bread of their God, therefore shall they be holy. They shall take no whore, ner one that is defiled, 1. Tim. 2. a or that is put away from her husband, for he is holy unto his God: therefore shall he sanctify himself, for he offereth the bread of thy God. He shall be holy unto thee, for I am holy, even the LORD that sanctifieth you. If a priests daughter fall to whoring, she shallbe burned with fire, for she hath shamed her father. He that is high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and his hand filled (that he might be arrayed with the vestiments) shall not uncover his head, ner cut his clotheses, & shall come at no deed, Luc. ● & shall defile himself neither upon father ner mother. He shall not go out of the Sanctuary, that he unhalowe not the Sanctuary of his God. For the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him, for I am the LORD. A virgin shall he take to wife, but no widow, ner divorced, ner defiled, ner whore, Eze. ● Ma●. ● but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife, that he unhalowe not his seed among his people. For I am the LORD, which sanctify him. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto Aaron, & say: If there be a blemish upon any of the sede in your generations, the same shall not press to offer the bread of his God: 〈…〉 For who so ever hath a blemish upon him, shall not come near, whether he be blind, lame, with an evil favoured nose, with any myszshappen member, or that hath a broken foot or hand, or is croak backed, or hath any blemish in the eye, or is gleyd, or is skyrvye or scaulde, or hath his stones broken. Who so ever now of the seed of Aaron the priest hath any blemish upon him, shall not come nigh to offer the sacrifice of the LORD. For he hath a deformity. Therefore shall he not press unto the bread of his God, to offer it. notwithstanding he shall eat of the bread of his God, both of the holy, & of the most holy: but he shall not go in to the veil, ner come nigh the altar (for so much as he hath a blemish upon him) that he unhalowe not my Sanctuary. For I am the LORD that sanctifieth them. And Moses spoke this unto Aaron & to his sons, and to all the children of Israel. The XXII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto Aaron, & his sons, that they abstain from the hallowed things of the children of Israel, which they have hallowed unto me, & that they unhalowe not my holy name: for I am the LORD. Say now unto them & their posterities: Who so ever he be of your seed, that cometh nigh unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, & so defileth himself upon the same, his soul shall perish before my face: for I am the LORD. Who so ever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, shall not eat of the holy things, till he be cleansed. Who so toucheth any unclean thing, or whose seed departeth from him by night, or who so toucheth any worm that is unclean unto him, or a man that is unclean unto him, & what so ever defileth him, look what soul toucheth any such, is unclean until the even, & shall not eat of the holy things, but shall first bathe his flesh with water. And when the Son is go down, and he clean, then may he eat thereof, for it is his food. Look what dieth alone, or is rend of wild beestes, shall he not eat, that he be not unclean thereon: for I am the LORD. Therefore shall they keep my law, that they lad not sin upon them, & die therein, when they unhalowe themselves in it. For I am the LORD, that hallow them. A stranger shall not eat of the holy things, ner an household guessed of the priests, ner an hired servant. But if the priest buy a soul for his money, the same may eat thereof. And look who is born in his house, may eat of his bread also. Nevertheless if the priests daughter be a strangers wife, she shall not eat of the Have offerings of holiness. But if she be a widow, or divorced, or have no seed, & cometh again to her father's house as afore (when she was yet a maiden in her father's house) then shall she eat of her fathers bread. But no stranger shall eat thereof. Who so else eateth of the hallowed things, unwyttingly, shall put the fifth part there unto, and give it unto the priest with the hallowed thing, that they unhalowe not the hallowed things of the children of Israel, which they Have up unto the LORD, jest they lad themselves with myszdoinge and trespass, when they eat their hallowed things, for I am the LORD which hallow them. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto Aaron & his sons, & to all the children of Israel: Deut. 15. c and 17. a What so ever Israelite or stranger in Israel will do his offering, whether it be their vow, or of free will, that they will offer a burned offering unto the LORD, to reconcile themselves, it shall be a male, and without blemish, of the oxen, or lambs or goats. ●al. 1. b What so ever hath any blemish, shall they not offer, for they shall find no favour therewith. And who so will offer an health offering unto the LORD to separate out a vow, or of free will, oxen or sheep, it shallbe without blemish, that it may be accepted. It shall have no deformity. If it be blind, or broken, or wounded, or have a wen, or skyrvye, or scabbed, they shall offer none such unto the LORD, ner put an offering of any such upon the altar of the LORD. An ox or sheep that hath myszshappen membres, or no rump, mayest thou off●● of a free will: but to a vow it may not be accepted. Thou shalt offer also unto the LORD nothing that is bruised, or broken, or rend, or cut out, & you shall do no such in your land. moreover you shall offer no bread unto your God of a strangers hand: for it is marred of him, and he hath a deformity, therefore shall it not be accepted for you. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: When an ox, or lamb, or goat is brought forth, it shall be seven days with the dame, and upon the eight day & thereafter it may be offered unto the LORD, them is it accepted. Whether it be ox or lamb, it shall not be slain with his young in one day. But when you will offer a thank offering unto the LORD that it may be accepted, you shall eat it the same day, & keep nothing over until the morning: for I am the LORD. Therefore keep now my commandments, and do them: for I am the LORD, that you unhalowe not my holy name, & that I may be hallowed among the children of Israel. For I am he that hallow you, even the LORD, which brought you out of the land of Egipte, that I might be your God: Even I the LORD. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: These are the feasts of the LORD, which you shall call holy days. Six days shalt thou work, Exo. 2●. ● Deu. 5. b but the seventh day is the rest of the Sabbath, and shallbe called holy. You shall do no work therein, for it is the Sabbath of the LORD, where so ever you devil. These are the feasts of the LORD, that are called holy, which you shall call your feasts: Exo. 12. ● Nu. 28. c Eze. 45. ● upon the fourteen day of the first month at even, is the lords Easter. And upon the fifteen day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread of the LORD. Then shall you eat unleavened bread seven days. The first day shallbe called holy among you, you shall do no work of bondage therein, Nu. 2●. ● & seven days shall you offer unto the LORD. The seventh day shallbe called holy likewise, wherein you shall do no work of bondage also. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak to the children of Israel, & say unto them: * When you come in to the land that I shall give you, and reap down your harvest, you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest, them shall the sheaf be waved before the LORD, that you may be accepted: but this shall the priest do the next day after the Sabbath. And the same day that your sheaf is waved, shall you offer a burned offering unto the LORD, of a lamb which is without blemish and of one year old, with the meat offering, two tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil, for an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD: & the drink offering also, even the fourth part of an Hin of wine. And you shall eat neither bread, nor cakes, ner furmentye (of new corn) till the same day that you bring an offering unto your God. ●osu. ●. c This shallbe a law unto your posterities, where so ever you devil. Deu. 16. b Then shall you number (from the next day after the Sabbath, when you brought the Waveshefe) seven whole weeks, until the next day after the seventh week, namely, fifty days, shall you number, and offer new meat offerings unto the LORD. And out of all your dwellings shall you offer, namely, two Wave loaves of two tenth deals of fine flower levended, and baken for the first fruits unto the LORD. ●u. 28. d And with your bred you shall bring seven lambs of one year old without blemish, and a young bullock, and two rams: this shallbe the LORDS burned offering, meat offering, and drink offering. This is a sacrifice of a sweet savour unto the LORD. moreover you shall offer an he goat for a sin offering, and two lambs of a year old for an health offering. And the priest shall wave it upon the bread of the first fruits before the LORD with the two lambs. And they shallbe holy unto the LORD, and shall be the priests. And this day shall you proclaim, for it shallbe called holy among you: no servile work shall you do therein. A perpetual law shall it be among your posterities, where so ever you devil. Leu. 19 c ●eu. 24. d When you reap down the harvest of your land, you shall not cut it clean down upon the field, ner gather up all, but shall leave it for the poor and strangers. I am the LORD your God. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, & say: ●u. 39 a Upon the first day of the seventh month shall you have the holy rest of the remembrance of blowing, wherein you shall do no servile work, and you shall offer sacrifice unto the LORD. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Leu●● Nu. ● Upon the tenth day in this seventh month is the day of reconciling, which shallbe an holy convocation with you. You shall humble your souls therein, and offer unto the LORD, and shall do no servile work in this day: for it is the day of atonement, that you may be reconciled before the LORD your God. For what soul so ever humbleth not himself upon this day, the same shallbe rooted out from among his people. And what soul so ever doth any work this day, the same will I destroy from among his people: therefore shall you do no work. This shallbe a perpetual law unto your posterities, where so ever you devil. It is the rest of your Sabbath, that you may humble your souls. Upon the nyenth day of the month at even, shall you keep this holy day from the even forth until the even again. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: 〈…〉 Upon the fifteen day of the seventh month, is the feast of Tabernacles seven days unto the LORD. The first day shall be an holy convocation: no servile work shall you do therein. Seven days shall you offer unto the LORD. The eight day shallbe an holy convocation unto you also, and you shall offer unto the LORD: for it is the day of gathering together: Not servile work shall you do therein. These are the holy days of the LORD, which you shall proclaim and hold for holy convocations, that you may offer unto the LORD burned offerings, meat offerings, drink offerings and other offerings, every one according to his day, beside the Sabbathes of the LORD, and your gifts, and vows, and free-will offerings, that you offer unto the LORD. So upon the fifteen day of the seventh month, when you have brought in the increase of the land, you shall keep the lords feast seven days long. The first day shallbe kept holy day, and the eight day shallbe kept holy day also. And upon the first day you shall take of the goodly fruitful trees, branches of palm trees, & bows of thick trees, and Wyllies of the broken, and seven days shall you be merry before the LORD your God: and thus shall you keep the feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. This shallbe a perpetual law among your posterities, that they keep holy day thus in the seventh month. Seven days shall you devil in bothes. Who so ever is an Israelite born, shall devil in bothes, that they which come after you, may know, how that I made the children of Israel to devil in bothes, when I brought them out of the land of Egipte. I am the LORD your God. And Moses told the children of Israel these holy days of the LORD. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: 〈◊〉 7. d Command the children of Israel, that they bring pure oil olive beaten for lights, that it may be allway put in the lamps, without before the veil of witness in the Tabernacle of witness. And Aaron shall dress it allway at even & in the morning before the LORD. Let this be a perpetual law unto your posterities. The lamps shall he dress upon the pure candilsticke before the LORD perpetually. And thou shalt take fine flower, and bake twelve cakes thereof: 〈◊〉. 25. c two tenth deals shall every cake have, & thou shalt say them six on a row upon the pure table before the LORD. And upon the same shalt thou say pure frankincense, that it may be bread of remembrance for an offering unto the LORD. Every Sabbath shall he prepare them before the LORD allway, and receive them of the children of Israel for an everlasting covenant. 〈◊〉. 21. a And they shallbe Aaron's & and his sons, which shall eat them in the holy place. For this is his most holy of the offerings of the LORD for a perpetual duty. And there went out an Israelitish woman's son, which was the child of a man of Egipte (among the children of Israel) and strove in the host with a man of Israel, 〈◊〉. 10. b & named the name of God blasphemously, & cursed. Then brought they him unto Moses. His mother's name was Selomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 〈◊〉 1●. d And they put him in preson, till they were informed by the mouth of the LORD. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Bring him that cursed, out of the host, and let all them that heard it, lay their hands upon his head, and let the whole congregation stone him. And say unto the children of Israel. Mat. 26. g joh. 19 a Who so ever blasphemeth his God, shall bear his sin: and he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall die the death. The whole congregation shall stone him. As the stranger, so shall he of the household be also. If he blaspheme the name, he shall die. He that slayeth a man, shall die the death. but he that slayeth a be'st, shall pay for it. Exo. 21. b Deut▪ 19 a judic. 1 b Math. 5·S c Soul for soul. Andrea he that maymeth his neighbour, it shall be done unto him, even as he hath done: broken for broken, * Math. 5. c eye for eye, tooth for tooth: even as he hath maimed a a man, so shall it be done unto him again, so that, who so slayeth a be'st, shall pay for it: But he that slayeth a man, shall die. There shall be one manner of law among you, to the stranger as to one of yourselves: for I am the LORD your God. Moses told the children of Israel. And they brought him that had cursed, out of the host, and stoned him. Thus did the children of Israel as the LORD commanded Moses. The XXV. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses upon mount Sinai, and said: Speak to the children of Israel, and say unto them: When you come into the land, Exo. 23. b that I shall give you, the land shall rest unto the LORD, so that thou sow thy field six years, and six years cut the wines, and gather in the fruits. But in the seventh year the land shall have his Sabbath of rest for a Sabbath unto the LORD, wherein thou shalt not sow thy field ner cut thy wines. Look what groweth of itself after thy harvest, thou shalt not reap it. And the grapes that grow without thy labour, shalt thou not gather, for so much as it is the year of the lands rest: Deut. 15. ● But the rest of the land shalt thou keep for this intent, that thou mayest eat thereof, thy servant, thy maid, thy hireling, thy gest, thy stranger with thee, thy cattles, and the beestes in thy land. All the increase shall be meat. And thou shalt number seven of these year Sabbathes, that seven years may be told seven times, and so the time of the seven year Sabbathes make nine and forty years. Then shalt thou let the blast of the horn go thorough all your land, upon the tenth day of the seventh month, even in the day of atonement. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year, and shall call it a free year in the land, for all them that devil therein: for it is the year of jubilee. Eze. 46. c Then shall every one among you come again to his possession and to his kindred: for the fiftieth year is the year of jubilee. You shall not sow ner reap it that groweth of itself, ner gather the grapes, that grow without labour. For the year of jubilee shall be holy among you. But look what the field beareth, that shall you eat. This is the year of jubilee, wherein you shall come again every man to his own. Now when thou sellest aught unto thy neighbour, or byest any thing of him, there shall none of you oppress his brother: but according to the number of the year of jubilee shalt thou buy it of him: and according to the number of the years of increase shall he cell it unto the. according to the multitude of the years shalt thou raise the price, & and according to the fewness of the years shalt thou minish the price: for he shall cell it unto the according to the number of the increase. Therefore let no man defraud his neighbour, but fear the God. For I am the LORD your God. Wherefore do after my statutes, and keep my laws, so that you do them that you may devil safe in the land. For the land shall give you her fruit, so that you shall have enough to eat, and devil safe therein. And if you would say: What shall we eat in the seventh year, in as much as we shall not sow, ner gather in our increase? I will send my blessing upon you in the sixte year, that it shall bring forth fruit for three year: so that you shall sow in the eight year, and eat of the old fruit until the nyenth year, that you may eat of the old till new fruits come again. Therefore shall you not cell the land for ever, Psal. 23. a for the land is mine. And you are strangers and indwellers before me. And in all your land shall you give the land to louse. Nu. 36. c ●ere. 32 a Ruth. 4. a When thy brother waxeth poor, and selleth the his possession, and his next kynszman cometh to him, that he may redeem it: then shall he redeem that his brother sold. But when a man hath none to redeem it, and can get so much with his hand as to redeem one part, then shall it be reckoned how many years it hath been sold, and the remnant shall be restored unto him to whom he sold it, that he may come again to his possession. But if his hand can not get so much, as to have one part again, them shall it that he sold be still in the hand of the bier until the year of jubilee: In the same shall it go out, and return to his owner again. He that selleth a dwelling house within the walls of the cite, hath an whole year respite to louse it out again: that shall be the time, wherein he may redeem it. But if he redeem it not a fore the whole year be out then shall he that bought it, and his successors keep it for ever, and it shall not go out louse in the year of jubylie. Nevertheless if it be an house in a village that hath no brickwall about it, it shall be counted like unto the field of the country, and may be redeemed and shall go out free in the year of jubilee. The cities of the Levites, and the houses in the cities that their possession is in, may all way be redeemed. Who so purchaceth aught of the Levites, shall leave it in the year of jubilee, whether it be house or cite that he hath had in possession. For the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. But the field before their cities shall not be sold, for it is their own for ever. When thy brother waxeth poor, and falls in decay beside thee, thou shalt receive him as a stranger, or gest, that he may live by thee: and thou shalt take no 〈…〉 usury of him, ner more than thou hast given, but shalt fear thy God, that thy brother may live besides the. For thou shalt not lend him the money upon usury, ner deliver him thy meat upon vantage. For I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egipte, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. When thy brother waxeth poor beside thee, and selleth himself unto thee, 〈…〉 thou shalt not hold him as a bond man: but as an hired servant and as a sojourner shall he be with thee, and serve the until the year of jubilee. Then shall he depart louse from thee, & his children with him, & shall return to his own kindred, and to his father's possession: for they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egipte. Therefore shall they not be sold like bondmen. And thou shalt not reign over them with cruelty, but shalt fear thy God. But if thou wilt have bond servants and maidens, thou shalt buy them of the heathen, that are round about you: of the children of the sojourners and strangers among you, and of their generations with you, and that are born in your land, the same shall you have for bond servants, & shall possess them, & your children after you for an everlasting possession, these shallbe your bondmen. 〈…〉 But over your brethren the children of Israel, there shall none of you reign over another with cruelty. When a stranger or sojourner waxeth rich by thee, and thy brother waxeth poor beside him, & selleth himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to any of his kin, then shall he have right (after that he is sold) to be redeemed again. And any of his brethren may louse him out: or his uncle or his uncles son, or any other kynszman of his kindred: Or if his own hand getteth so much, he shall louse himself out, and shall reckon with him that bought him, from the year that he sold himself, until the year of jubilee. And the money shall be counted according to the number of the years that he was sold, and his wages of the whole time shallbe reckoned withal. If there be yet many years unto the year of jubilee, then shall he (according to the same) give the more for his deliverance, thereafter as he is sold. If there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then shall he give again thereafter for his redemption. And his wages from year to year shall he reckon withal, and thou shalt not let the other reign cruelly over him in the sight. But if he buy not himself out after this manner, then shall he go out free in the year of jubilee, and his children with him: for the children of Israel are my servants, which I have brought out of the land of Egipte. I am the LORD your God. 〈◊〉. 3. a You shall make you no Idols ner image, and you shall rear you up no piler, ner set up any markstone in your land, to bow yourselves thereto. For I am the LORD your God. Keep my Sabbathes, and stand in awe of my Sanctuary. I am the LORD. The XXVI. Chapter. IF you will walk now in my statutes, and keep my commandments and do them, 〈◊〉. 28. a them will I give you rain in due season, and the land shall give her increase, and the trees of the field shall bring forth their fruit. And the threszshinge time shall reach unto the wine harvest, and the wine harvest shall reach unto the sowing time. And you shall eat your bread in plenteousness, and shall devil safe in your land. I will give peace in your land, so that you shall sleep, and no man shall make you afraid. I will rid evil beestes out of your land, and there shall no sword go thorough your land. You shall chase your enemies, & they shall fall into the sword before you. 〈◊〉. 23. c 〈◊〉. 30. c five of you shall chase an hundredth: and an hundredth of you shall chase ten thousand. For your enemies shall fall in to the sword before you. And I will turn me unto you, and will 'cause you to grow and increase, and will set up my covenant with you. And you shall eat of the old store, and shall let go the old for plenteousness of the new. Exo. 29. g 2. Cor. 6. c I will have my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not refuse you. Andrea I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shallbe my people. For I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egipte, that you should not be their bondmen. And I have broken the sceptre of your yoke, and caused you to go up right. But if you will not hearken unto me, Deut. 28. b Mala. 2. a ner do all these commandments, and will despise my statutes, and if your souls refuse my laws, that you will not do all my commandments, & shall let my covenant stand, then will I do this again unto you. I will visit you shortly with swellynges and fevers, which shall destroy the eyes, & consume away the heart. You shall sow your seed in vain, and your enemies shall eat it up. And I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies. And they that hate you, shall have dominion over Pro. 28. a And you shall fly, when no man chaseth you. But if you will not hearken unto me for all this, then will I make it yet seven times more, to punish you for your sins, that I may break the pride of your strength, and will make your heaven like iron, and your earth as brass: and your travail and labor shall be but lost, so that your land shall not give her increase, and the trees in the land shall not bring forth their fruit. If you walk yet against me, and will not hearken unto me, then will I make it yet seven times more, to punish you because of your sins: & will send wild beestes amon 'mong you, which shall rob you, and destroy your cattles, and make you fewer, and your high way shall become waist. But if you will not yet be reformed here withal, and will walk contrary unto me, then will I walk contrary unto you also, & will punish you yet seven times for your sins. And I will bring upon you a sword of vengeance, which shall avenge my Testament. And though you gather you together in to your cities, yet will I send the pestilence among you, and will deliver you in to the hands of your enemies. For I will destroy your provision of bread, so that ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and your bread shall be delivered out by weight. Osc. 4. b Mich. 6. c And when you eat, you shall not have enough. If you will not yet for all this hearken unto me, & will walk contrary unto me, then will I also walk contrary unto you in wrath full displeasure, and will punish you seven fold because of your sins, 4. Re. 6. f so that you shall eat the flesh of your sons and daughters. Andrea I will destroy your high altars, and rote out your images, and will cast your bodies upon the bodies of your Idols, and my soul shall abhor you. And your cities will I make waist, and bring your churches to nought, and will not smell your sweet odours. Thus will I make the land desolate, so that your enemies shall devil therein, and make it waist: but you will I scatter among the Heythen, and draw out the sword after you, so that your land shall be waist, & your cities desolate. Then shall the land rejoice in her Sabbathes, as long as it lieth wayst, and you be in the enemy's land. Ye than shall the land keep holy day, and rejoice in her rest, as long as it lieth wayst, because it could not rest in your Sabbathes, when you dwelled therein. And as for them that remain of you, I will make them faint hearted in the land of their enemies, so that a shaking leaf shall chase them. And they shall fly from it, as though a sword persecuted them, and shall fall noman following upon them. And they shall fall one upon another (as it were before the sword) and noman yet chasing them. And you shall not be so bold, as to withstand your enemies, and shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And they that are l●ft of you, shall pine away in their myszdede, even in the enemy's land, and in the myszdedes of their fathers shall they consume away. Then shall they knowledge their myszdedes, and the myszdedes of their fathers in the trespass, wherewith they have trespassed against me, and walked contrary unto me. Therefore will I also walk contrary unto them, and will bring them in to the enemy's land. Then shall their uncircumcised heart be tamed. And then shall they end their myszdedes. Deut. 4. c And I shall think upon my covenant with jacob, and upon my covenant with Isaac, and upon my covenant with Abraham, and will think upon the land. Asdrubal for the land▪ when it shallbe left of them, it shall rejoice in her Sabbathes, even then, when it lieth waist, and they till it not. And they shall make atonement for their myszdedes, because they despised my laws, & their souls refused my statutes. moreover I have not so refused them, that they should be in the enemy's land: neither have I so utterly abhorred them, that I would bring them to nought, and break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. And for their sake I will remember 〈…〉 my first covenant, when I brought them out of the land of Egipte in the sight of the Heythen, that I might be their God. Even I the LORD. These are the ordinances, statutes and laws, which the LORD made betwixt him and the children of Israel upon mount Sinai, by the hand of Moses. The XXVII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak to the children of Israel, & say unto them: If any man make a special vow unto the LORD, so that he prise a soul, then shall this be the valuation: A man of twenty year old unto the three score year, shalt thou set at fifty silver Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: but a woman at thirty Sycles. If it be five year old unto twenty year, thou shalt set it at twenty Sycles, when it is a man child: 〈…〉 but a woman at ten Sycles. If it be a month old unto five year, thou shalt set it at five Sycles of silver, when it is a manchild: but a woman at three Silver Sycles. If he be three score year old and above, them shalt thou set him at fifteen sickles when it is a man a woman at ten sickles. If he be to poor so to be set, them let him present himself to the priest, & the priest shall value him. Nevertheless he shall value him, according as the hand of him that vowed, is able to get. But if it be a be'st that may be offered unto the LORD, all that is offered unto the LORD of such, is holy: it shall not be altered ner changed, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If any man change it, one be'st for another, then shall they both be holy unto the LORD. But if the be'st be unclean which may not be offered unto the LORD, them shall it be set, before the priest, and the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad, & it shall stand at the priests valuing. But if any man will buy it out, he shall give the fifth part more, to that it was set at. When any man sanctifieth his house unto the LORD for the Sanctuary, the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad. And as the priest valueth it, so shall it stand. But if he that sanctified it, will redeem it, he shall give the fifth part of silver thereto, above that it was set at: So shall it be his. If any man hallow a piece of land of his heritage unto the LORD, it shallbe set according to that it beareth. If it bear an Homer of barley, it shallbe valued at fifty Sycles of silver. But if he hallow his land immediately from the year of jubilee forth, then shall it be set according to the value thereof. If he have hallowed it after the year of jubilee, then shall the priest reckon it, according to the years that remain unto the year of jubilee, & thereafter shall he set it the lower. But if he that sanctified the land, will redeem it again, then shall he give the fifth part of silver thereto, above that it was set at: So shall it be his. If he will not louse it out, but selleth it unto another, then shall he redeem it no more: but the same land when it goeth out free in the year of jubilee, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a dedicated field, and shallbe the priests inheritance. If any man hallow unto the LORD a field, which he hath bought, and is not his inheritance, then shall the priest reckon it, what it is worth unto the year of jubilee, & the same day shall he give the price that it is set at, unto the LORD for the Sanctuary. But in the year of jubilee it shall return unto him that bought it, that it may be his inheritance in the land. All manner of prysinge shallbe made according to the Sycle of the Sanctuary. One Sycle maketh xx. Geras. 〈◊〉 30. ᵇ ●●. g 〈◊〉. 45. b 〈◊〉. 15. c The first born among the cattles (which belongeth unto the LORD) shall no man Sanctify unto the LORD, whether it be ox or sheep, for it is the LORDS all ready. Butler if there be any unto thing upon the be'st, then shall it be loosed out thereafter as it is worth, and the fifth part shallbe given more therro. If he will not redeem it, them let it be sold, as it is worth. There shall no dedicated thing be sold ner bought out, that any man dedicateth unto the LORD, of all that is his good, whether it be men, cattles or land. For every dedicated thing, is most holy unto the LORD. There shall no dedicated thing of man be bought out, but shall die the death. All the tithes in the land, both of the seed of the land, & of the fruits of the trees, are the LORDS, & shall be holy unto the LORD. But if any man will redeem his tithes, he shall give the fifth part more thereto. And all the tithes of oxen & sheep, & that goeth under the rod, the same is an holy tithe unto the LORD. It shall not be axed whether it be good or bad, neither shall it be changed. But if any man change it, then both it & that it was changed withal, shall be holy, & not redeemed. These are the commandments, which the LORD gave Moses in charge unto children of Israel upon mount Sinai. The end of the third book of Moses, called Leviticus. The fourth book of Moses, called Numerus. What this book containeth. Chap. I The children of Israel are numbered and mustered out, as many as are meet for the battle: The captains are ordained, and Levi appointed to the service of the Tabernacle. Chap. II The order and manner how the tents were pitched, and how the children of Israel lay about the Tabernacle of witness. Chap. III The office of Levi, & of the sons of Aaron. Chap. four The office of the sons of Kahath, Gerson and Merari. Chap. V What manner of people were driven out of the host. The law of jealousy of the man toward the wife. Chap. VI The law and ordinance concerning the Nazarees or absteyners. The blessing of the Israelites. Chap. VII. The offerings of the captains at the dedication of the altar, after that the Tabernacle was set up. Chap. VIII. Of the candlestick, offerings, purifying, and altar of the Levites. Chap. IX. Of the feast of Easter, & how the unclean should keep it. Of the cloud upon the Tabernacle. Chap. X. The use of the silver trumpets, & how the children of Israel broke up, and took their journey with Hobab Moses brother in law. Chap. XI. The people are weighed and unpatient by the way, murmur against Moses, desire flesh, and abhor the Manna The LORD giveth them after their lust, but punisheth them sore. Chap. XII. Miriam and Aaron grudge against Moses, & Miriam is smitten with Leprosy. Chap. XIII. The spies that were sent in to the land of Canaan▪ come again, and put the people in fear. Chap. XIIII. The people are unpatient, weep, and murmur against Moses, joshua & Caleb give the land a good word, & comfort them. The LORD is angry, & punysheth the people. Chap. XU. Of diverse offerings, and how he was punished, that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath. The people are commanded to make guards of remembrance upon their garments, to think upon the commandments of the LORD. Chap. XVI. Of the uproar and insurrection of Corah, Dathan and Abyram, & their punishment. The people murmur fourteen thousand and seven hundredth die in the plague. Chap. XVII▪ By the flourishing staff of Aaron, 〈◊〉 is declared, that the tribe of Levi and the priesthood of Aaron is choose of God. Chap. XVIII. The office & ministration of Aaron▪ of the priests & Levites, & their duty. Chap. XIX. Of the reed cow that was brent, and how the sprynklinge water was made of the aszshes of her. Chap. XX. Miriam dieth at Cades. The people chide with Moses and Aaron for fault of water, the LORD giveth it them out of the hard stony rock. Moses desireth the king of Edom, to let them go thorough his land. Aaron dieth upon mount Hor. Chap. XXI. The battle between Israel and Arad the king of the Canaanites. The people murmur, and are plagued with the serpents. They win the victory of Og and Sihon. Chap. XXII. Of Balac the king of the Moabites, and of Balaam the Soythsayer. Chap. XXIII. Balaam is brought to curse the people of God. Chap. XXIIII. The LORD turneth balaam's curse in to a blessing and praise. Chap. XXV. The people fall to whoredom and idolatry with the women of Moab, and join themselves to the service of Ball Peor. Four and twenty thousand are destroyed▪ Phineas in his fervent zeal slayeth a man and woman in their sin. Chap. XXVI. The people are numbered again and mustered. Chap. XXVII. What inheritance the daughters have, where there is no son. josua is made captain of the people in Moses stead. Chap. XXVIII. Offerings appointed for every time. Chap. XXIX. The feast of the seventh month and the offerings thereof. Chap. XXX. Of vows made by men or women. Chap. XXXI. Israel winneth the victory of the Madianites, and divideth the spoil. Chap. XXXII. Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse have their inheritance appointed them on this side of jordan. Chap. XXXIII. The journeys of the children of Israel are numbered. The people are commanded (when they come in to the land of Canaan) to destroy all utterly. Chap. XXXIIII. The devydinge of the land of Canaan with the borders thereof, and what they be that divide it. Chap. XXXV. The portion of the Levites. freedom for such as commit slaughter unawares. diverse slaughters▪ Chap. XXXVI. The inheritance of the tribe may not be mixed nor changed. The first Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tabernacle of witness, the first day of the second month in the second year, when they were go out of the land of Egipte, and said: Exo. ●0. b 〈◊〉. 26. a Take the sum of the whole congregation of the children of Israel, after their kynredes & their father's houses, with the number of the names, all that are males, head by head, from twenty year and above, as many as are able to go forth into the war in Israel. And you shall number them according to their armies thou and Aaron, and of every tribe you shall take unto you one captain over his father's house. These are the names of the captains that shall stand with you. Of Reuben, Elizur the son of Sedeur. Of Simeon, Selumiel the son of Zuri Sadai. Of juda, Nahasson the son of Aminadab. Of Isachar, Nathaneel the son of Zuar. Of Zabulon, Eliab the son of Helon. Among the children of joseph: Of Ephraim, Elisama the son of Amihud. Of Manasse, Gamaliel the son of Pedazur. Of Ben jamin, Abidam the son of Gedeoni. Of Dan, Ahieser the son of Ammi Sadai. Of Asser, Pagiel the son of Ochram. Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deguel. Of Nephthali, Ahira the son of Enan. These are the ancient men of the congregation, the captains among the tribes of their fathers, which were heads and princes in Israel. And Moses & Aaron took them (like as they are there named by name) and gathered the whole congregation together also, the first day of the second month, and reckoned them after their birth, according to their kindred's and father's houses by their names, from twenty year and above, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses, and numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. The children of Reuben Israel's first son, their kindred's & generations after their father's houses, in the number of their names head by head, all that were males, from twenty year & above, and were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Reuben, six and forty thousand, and five hundredth. The children of Simeon their kindred's & generations after their father's houses in the number of the names head by head, all that were males from twenty year and above, and were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of simeon, nine and fifty thousand and three hundredth. The children of Gad their kindred's and generations after their father's houses in the number of the names, from twenty year and above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were number to the tribe of Gad, five and forty thousand, six hundredth and fifty. The children of juda their kindred's and generations after their father's houses in the number of the names, from twenty year and above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of juda, four and seventy thousand, & six hundredth. The children of Isachar their kindred's & generations, after their father's houses in the number of the names from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Isachar, four and fifty thousand and four hundredth. The children of Zabulon their kindred's and generations after their father's houses in the number of the names from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Zabulon, seven and fifty thousand and four hundredth. joseph's children of Ephraim, their kindred's & generations after their father's houses in the number of the names, from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Ephraim, forty thousand & five hundredth. The children of Manasse their kindred's & generations, after their father's houses in the number of the names from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Manasse, two & thirty thousand & two hundredth. The children of Ben jamin their kindred's and generations, after their father's houses, in the number of the names from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Ben jamin, five and thirty thousand and four hundredth. The children of Dan their kindred's and generations after their father's houses, in the number of the names, from twenty years and above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Dan, two and three score thousand, and seven hundredth. The children of Asser their kindred's & generations, after their father's houses in the number of the names, from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth to the war, were numbered to the tribe of Asser, one & forty thousand and five hundredth. The children of Nephthali, their kindred's and generations after their father's houses in the number of the names, from twenty year & above, all that were able to go forth unto the war, were numbered to the tribe of Nephthali, three and fifty thousand and four hundredth. These are they whom Moses and Aaron numbered with the twelve princes of Israel, whereof every one was over the house of their fathers. Exo. 12. f Num. 11. And the sum of the children of Israel after their father's houses, from twenty year and above (what so ever was able to go forth to the war in Israel) was six C. thousand, three thousand, five C. & fift●e. But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: The tribe of Levi shalt thou not number, ner take the sum of them among the children of Israel: but shalt appoint them to the Habitation of witness, and to all the apparel thereof, and to all that belongeth thereto. 1. Par. 14. ● And they shall bear the Tabernacle & all the ordinance thereof, and shall wait upon it, and shall pitch their tents round about it. And when men shall go on their journey, the Levites shall take down the Tabernacle. And when the host pitch their tents, they shall set up the Tabernacle. And if a stranger press nigh unto it, he shall die. The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every one in his own army, and by the banner of his own company. But the Levites shall pitch round about the Tabernacle of witness, that there come no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: therefore shall the Levites wait upon the Habitation of witness. And the children of Israel did all, as the LORD commanded Moses. The II Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, & said: The children of Israel shall pitch round about the Tabernacle of witness, every one under his banner & tokens, after their father's houses. On the East side shall juda pitch with his banner & host, their captain Nahasson the son of Aminadab. And his army in the sum, four & seventy thousand and six hundredth. next unto him shall the tribe of Isachar pitch, their captain Nathaneel the son of Zuar: and his army in the sum, four and fifty thousand and four hundredth. The tribe of Zabulon also, their captain Eliab the son of Helon: his army in the sum, seven and fifty thousand and four hundredth. On the South side shall lie the pavilions & banner of Reuben with their host, their captain Elizur the son of Sedeur: & his army in the sum, six & forty thousand, & five C. next unto him shall the tribe of Simeon pitch, their captain Selumiel the son of Zuri Sadai: & his army in the sum, nine and fifty thousand, and three hundredth. The tribe of Gad also, their captain Eliasaph the son of Deguel: & his army in the sum, five & forty thousand, six hundredth & fifty. So that all they which belong to the host of Reuben, be in the sum, an hundredth, one & fifty thousand, four hundredth and fifty, belonging to their army. And they shall be the second in the journey. After that shall the Tabernacle of witness go with the host of the Levites even in the mids among the hosts: & as they lie in their tents, so shall they go forth also, every one in his place under his banner. On the West side shall lie the pavilions & banner of Ephraim with their host: their captain shallbe Elisama son of Amihud, and his army in the sum, forty thousand and five hundredth. next unto him shall the tribe of Manasse pitch, their captain Gamaliel the son of Pedazur: his army in the sum, two and thirty thousand & two hundredth. The tribe of Ben jamin also, their captain Abidan the son of Gedeoni: his army in the sum, five and thirty thousand & four hundredth. So that all they which belong to the host of Ephraim, be in the sum, an hundredth thousand, eight thousand, & an hundredth, belonging to his army. And they shall be the third in the journey. On the North side shall lie the pavilions & banner of Dan with their host: their captain Ahieser the son of Ammi Sadai, his army in the sum, two and sixty thousand and seven hundredth. next unto him shall the tribe of Asser pitch: their captain Pagiel the son of Ochran, his army in the sum, one and forty thousand, and five hundredth. The tribe of Nephthali also, their captain Ahira the son of Enan: his army in the sum, three & fifty thousand & four hundredth. So that all they which belong to the host of Dan, be in the sum, an hundredth thousand, seven & fifty thousand, & six hundredth. And they shallbe the last in the journey with their banners. This is the sum of the children of Israel, after their father's houses and armies with their hosts: even six hundredth thousand, & three thousand, five hundredth & fifty. But the Levites were not numbered in the sum among the children of Israel, 〈◊〉. ●. g as the LORD commanded Moses. And the children of Israel did all as the LORD commanded Moses. And so they pitched under their banners, & took their journey, every one in his kindred, according to the house of their fathers. The III Chapter. THese are the generations of Aaron & Moses, when the LORD spoke unto Moses at the same time upon mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aron. 〈◊〉. 10. a 〈◊〉. 26. g The firstborn, Nadab: then Abihu, Eleasar & Ithamar. These be the names of the sons of Aaron, ●eui. 8. a which were anointed to be priests, & their hands filled for the priesthood. ●●ui. 10. a But Nadab & Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, & had no sons. But Eleasar and Ithamar executed the priests office with their father Aaron. 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉 18. a Pa●. 10. b And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Bring hither the tribe of Levi, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve with him, & wait upon him & upon the whole congregation before the Tabernacle of witness, and execute the service of the habitation, and keep all the apparel of the Tabernacle of witness, and wait upon the children of Israel, to minister in the service of the habitation. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons for a gift, unto every one his own, from among the children of Israel. As for Aaron & his sons, thou shalt appoint them to wait on their priests office. 〈◊〉. 3. f 〈◊〉 16. a Num. ●. f and ●. b If another press thereto, he shall die. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, for all the first born that open the Matrix among the children of Israel▪ so that the Levites shallbe mine. Exod. 13. For the firstborn are mine, sense the time that I smo●e all the first born in the land of Egipte, when I sanctified unto me all the firstborn in Israel, from men unto cattles, that they should be mine. I the LORD. And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, and said: Number the children of Levi after their father's houses and kindred's, all that are males of a month old and above. So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had commanded. And these were the children of Levi with their names: Gerson, Kahath, Exod. 6. Merari. The names of the children of Gerson in their kindred's, were: Libni and Semei. The children of Kahath in their kindred's were, Amram, jezehar, Hebron and Vsiel. The children of Merari in their kindred's, were Maheli and Musi. These are the kindred's of Levi after their father's houses. These are the kindred's of Gerson: The Libnites and Seme●tes, the sum was found in number, seven thousand and five hundredth, of all that were males of a month old and above. And the same kindred's of the Gersonites shall pitch behind the Habitation on the west side: Let Eliasaph the son of Lael be their ruler. And they shall wait upon the Tabernacle of witness, of the habitation, and of the tent, and coverings thereof, and the hanging in the door of the Tabernacle of witness, the hanging about the court, & the hanging in the courtedore, which (court) goeth about the habitation and the altar, and the cords of it, & all that belongeth to the service thereof. These are the kindred's of Kahath: The Amramites, the jezeharites, the Hebronites, and Vsielites, all that were males of a month old & above, in number eight thousand and six hundredth, waiting upon the Tabernacle of the Sanctuary, & shall pitch on the south side of the Habitation: Let Elisaphan the son of Vsiel be their ruler. And they shall keep the Ark, the table, the candle stick, the altar and all the vessels of the Sanctuary, to do service in, and the veil, and all that belongeth to the service thereof. But the chief of all the rulers of the Levites, shallbe Eleasar the son of Aron the priest, over them that are appointed to keep the watch of the Sanctuary. These are the kindred's of Merari: The Mahelites and Musites, which were in number six thousand and two hundredth, all that were males of a month old and above: Let Zuriel the son of Abihail be their ruler, and they shall pitch upon the north side of the Habitation. And their office shallbe to keep the boards, and bars, and pilers, and sokettes of the Habitation, and all the apparel thereof and that serveth thereto: the pilers also about the court, with the sokettes, and nails, and cords. But before the Habitation and before the Tabernacle on the East side shall Moses & Aaron & his sons pitch, that they may wait upon the Sanctuary, & the children of Israel. Num. 3 b ●nd. 16. a If any other press thereto, he shall die. All the Levites in the sum, whom Moses and Aaron numbered after their kindred's, Nu. 26. g according to the word of the LORD, all that were males, of a month old and above, were two and twenty thousand. Andrea the LORD said unto Moses: Number all the first born, that are males among the children of Israel, of a month old and above, and take the number of their names. Num. 3. b ●nd 8. b And the Levites shalt thou take out unto me the LORD, for all the first born of the children of Israel, & the cattles of the Levites for all the first born among the cattles of the children of Israel. Andrea Moses numbered all the first born among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded him. And in the number of the names of all the first born, that were males of a month old & above, in their sum, there were found two and twenty thousand, two hundredth, and three and seventy. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Take the Levites for all the first born among the children of Israel, & the cattles of the Levites for their cattles, that the Levites may be mine the LORDS. Levi. 27. a But the redemption money of the two hundredth three & seventy that remain of the first born of the children of Israel, above the number of the Levites, shalt thou take, even five Sycles of every head, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉. 50. b 〈◊〉. 26. d 〈◊〉▪ 45. b (one Sycle is worth twenty Geras) & the money that remaineth over their number, shalt thou give unto Aaron and his sons. Then took Moses the redemption money (that remained over above the number of the Levites) from the first born of the children of Israel, even a thousand, three hundredth, and five and three score Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, & gave it unto Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. The four Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron, & said: Take the sum of the children of Kahath from among the children of Levi, after their kindred's & father's houses 〈…〉 from thirty year and above until fifty year, all that are meet for the war, that they may do the work in the Tabernacle of witness. This shall be the office of the children of Kahath in the Tabernacle of witness, which is most holy. When the host breaketh up, Aaron and his sons shall go in, and take down the veil, and cover the Ark of witness therewith, and lay the covering of do skins upon it, and spread a whole yellow cloth above thereon, and put his staves therein. And upon the show table they shall spread a yellow cloth also, and set thereon the dishes, spoons, flatpeces and pots to pour out and in, and the daily bread shall lie upon it, and they shall spread a purple cloth there over, and cover it with a covering of do skins, and put the staves of it therein. And they shall take a yellow cloth, and cover the candilsticke of light therewith, and his lamps, with his snoffers and outquenchers, and all the oil vessels that belong to the service, and about all this shall they put a covering of do skins, and put it upon staves. So shall they spread a yellow cloth over the golden altar also, and cover the same with a covering of do skins, and put it upon staves. All the vessels that they occupy in the Sanctuary, shall they take, and put a yellow cloth there over, & cover them with a covering of do skins, and put them upon staves. They shall sweep the ashes also from the altar, and spread a cloth of scarlet over it, and set all his vessels thereon, that they occupy upon it: colepames, fleshokes, shovels, basins, with all the apparel of the altar, and they shall spread a covering of do skins thereon, and put his staves thereto. Now when Aaron and his sons have done this, and have covered the Sanctuary & all the ornaments thereof, when the host breaketh up, 〈…〉 then shall the children of Kahath go in, that they may bear it, and the Sanctuary shall they not touch, 〈…〉 jest they die. This is the charge of the children of Kahath in the Tabernacle of witness. And Eleasar the son of Aaron the priest, shall have the office, to prepare the oil for the light, and the spices for the incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, to order the whole habitation, & all that therein is, in the Sanctuary and the ornaments thereof. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron, & said: You shall not destroy the tribe of the kindred of the Kahathites among the Levites, but this shall you do with them, that they may live & not die, if they touch the most holy. Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint every one unto his office & charge. But they shall not go in, presumptuously to look upon the Sanctuary, jest they die. And the LORD spoke unto Moses and Aaron & said: Take the sum of the children of Gerson also, after their father's house & kindred, 〈◊〉. 8. d from thirty year & above, until fifty year, & appoint them all that are meet for the war, to have an office in the Tabernacle of witness. This shallbe the office of the kindred of the Gersonites, even to serve & to bear. They shall bear the curtains of the habitation and of the Tabernacle of witness, and his covering and the covering of do skins, that is above thereon, and the hanging in the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and the hanging about the court, which goeth about the habitation and the altar, and their cords, and all the instruments that serve for them, and all that belongeth to their occupy. according unto the word of Aaron and of his sons, shall all the office of the children of Gerson be done, what so ever they shall bear and occupy. And you shall see, that they wait upon all their charge. This shall be the office of the kindred of the children of the Gersonites in the Tabernacle of witness. And their waiting shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. The children of Merari after their kindred and father's house, shalt thou appoint also, from thirty year and above, unto fifty year, all that are meet for the war, that they may have an office in the Tabernacle of witness. But upon this charge shall they wait according to all their office in the Tabernacle of witness, that they bear the boards of the Habitation, and the bars, and pilers, and sokettes: the pilers of the court also round about, and the sokettes and nails▪ and cords, with all their apparel▪ according to all their service. And unto every one shall you appoint his portion of charge to wait upon the apparel. Le● this be the office of the kindred of the children of Merari, all that they shall do in the Tabernacle of witness under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. And Moses and Aaron with the captains of the congregation, numbered the children of the Kahathites, according to their kindred's and house's of their fathers, from thirty year and above, until fifty, all that were meet for the war, to have office in the Tabernacle of witness. And the sum was, two thousand, seven hundredth and fifty. This is the sum of the kindred of the Kahathite● (which all had service in the Tabernacle of witness) whom Moses and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the LORD by Moses. The children of Gerson were numbered also in their kindred's and father's houses from thirty year and above until fifty, all that were meet for the war, to have office in the Tabernacle of witness, and the sum was two thousand, six hundredth and thirty. This is the sum of the kindred of the children of Gerson, which all had to do in the Tabernacle of witness, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the LORD. The children of Merari were numbered also according to their kindred's and father's houses, from thirty year and above until fifty, all that were meet for the war, to have office in the Tabernacle of witness, & the sum was three thousand, and two hundredth. This is the sum of the kindred of the children of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the LORD by Moses. The sum of all the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron with the captains of Israel told, after their kindreds and father's houses, from thirty year and above until fifty, all that went in to do every one his office, and to bear the burden in the Tabernacle of witness, was eight thousand five hundredth and four score, which were numbered according to the word of the LORD by Moses, every one to his office & charge▪ as the LORD commanded Moses. The V Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the host Leu. 13. ● all the lepers, and all that have issues, and that are defiled upon the deed, both men and women shall they put out of the host, that they defile not their tents, wherein I devil among them. And the children of Israel did so, and put them out of the host, as the LORD had said unto Moses. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel & say unto them: When a man or woman doth a sin to any body, and offendeth there with against the LORD, then hath that soul a trespass upon it. ●eui. 5. c And they shall knowledge their sin, that they have done, and shall make amendss for their trespass, even with the whole sum, and put the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him, against whom they have trespassed. Butler if there be noman to make the amendss unto for the offence that he hath trespassed against him, then shall the reconcyling be made unto the LORD for the priest, besides the ram of the atonement, wherewith he shall be reconciled. Likewise all the Have offerings of all that the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, and offer unto the priest, shall be his. And who so halloweth enythinge, it shall be his. And who so giveth the priest any thing, it shall be his also. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak to the children of Israel; and say unto them: When any man's wife goth aside, and trespaceth against him, & any man lie with her fleshly, and the thing be yet hid from his eyes, and is not come to light that she is defiled, and he can bring no witness against her (for she was not taken therein) and the spirit of jealousy kyndleth him, so that he is jealous over his wife: whether she be unclean or not unclean, then shall he bring her unto the priest, and bring an offering for her, even the tenth part of an Epha of barley meele, and shall pour no oil thereon, ner put frankincense upon it: for it is an offering of jealousy, and an offering of remembrance, that remembreth sin. Then shall the priest being her, and set her before the LORD, and take of the Num. 19 b holy water in an earthen vessel, and put of the dust that is on the floor of the habitation, in to the water. Andrea he shall set the wife before the LORD, and uncover her head, and the offering of remembrance which is an offering of jealousy, shall he lay upon her hands. And the priest shall have in his hand bitter cursing water, and shall conjure the wife, & say unto her: If no man have lyen with thee, and thou hast not go aside from thy husband, to defile thyself, then shall not these bitter cursing waters hurt the. But if thou hast go aside from thy husband, so that thou art defiled, and some other man hath lyen with the beside thy husband, then shall the priest conjure the wife with this curse, and shall say unto her: The LORD set the to a curse and a conjuration among thy people, so that the LORD make thy thy rot, and thy womb to berst. So go this cursed water in to thy body, that the womb berst, and thy thy rot. And the wife shall say: Amen Amen. So the priest shall write this curse in a bill, and wash it out with the water, and shall give the wife of the bitter cursing waters to drink. And when the cursing water is go in her, so that it is bitter unto her than shall the priest take the jealousy offering out of the wives hand, and wave it for a meat offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar: namely, he shall take an handful of the meat offering for her remembrance, & burn it upon the altar, & then give the wife the water to drink. And when she hath drunken the water, if she be defiled and have trespassed against her husband, then shall the cursing water go in to her, and be so bitter, that her womb shall berst, and her thy shall rot, and the wife shall be a curse among her people. But if the same wife be not defiled, but is clean, then shall it do her no harm, so that she may be with child. This is the law of jealousy, when a wife goeth aside from her husband, and is defiled: Or when the spirit of jealousy kyndleth a man, so that he is jealous over his wife, that he bring her before the LORD, and that the priest do all with her according unto this law. And the man shallbe guiltless of the sin, but the wife shall bear her myszdede. The VI Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When a man or woman separateth themselves, to vow a vow of abstinence unto the LORD, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink. 〈…〉 vinegar of wine & of strong drink shall he not drink, ner that is pressed out of grapes: he shall neither eat fresh ner dry grapes, so long as his abstinence endureth. moreover he shall eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the wine cornels unto the hull. As long as the vow of his abstinence endureth, there shall no rasor come upon his head, till the time be out which he absteyneth unto the LORD, for he is holy. And he shall let the here of his head grow, and stand bore openly. All the time over that he absteyneth unto the LORD, shall he go to no deed. neither shall he defile himself at the death of his father, of his mother, of his brother, or of his sister. For the abstinence of his God is upon his head, and the whole time of his abstinence shall he be holy unto the LORD. And if it chance any man to die suddenly before him, then shall the head of his abstinence be defiled. Therefore shall he * shave his head in the day of his cleansing, that is upon the seventh day: and upon the eight day shall he bring troo turtle doves, or two young pigeons, unto the priest before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the priest shall make the one a sin offering, and the other a burned offering, and make an atonement for him, because he defiled himself upon the deed, and so shall he hallow his head the same day, that he may hold out the time of his abstinence unto the LORD, and he shall bring a lamb of a a year old for a trespass offering. But the days afore shall be but lost, because his abstinence was defiled. This is the law of the abstainer. When the time of his abstinence is out, he shall be brought before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And he shall bring his offering unto the LORD, even an he lamb of a year old without blemish for a burned offering, & a she lamb of a year old without blemish for a sin offering, and a ram with out blemish for an health offering, & a mand with unleavened cakes of fine flower mingled with oil, and sweet wafer's anointed with oil, & their meat offerings & drynkofferynges. And the priest shall bring it before the LORD, and shall make his sin offering and his burned offering, and the ram shall he make an health offering unto the LORD, with the mand of the unleavened bread. His meat offering and drink offering shall he make also. And he shall shave the head of the absteyners abstinence before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and shall take the head here of his abstinence, and cast it upon the fire that is under the health-offering. And the sodden shoulder of the ram shall he take, and an unleavened cake out of the mand, and a sweet wafer, and lay them upon the hands of the abstainer: (after that he hath shaven of his abstinence.) And he shall Wave them before the LORD. This is holy for the priest with the Wave breast, and heave-shoulder. After that, may the abstainer drink wine. This is the law of the abstainer, which voweth his offering unto the LORD for his abstinence, besides that, which his hand can get. As he hath vowed, so shall he do according to the law of his abstinence. And the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak unto Aaron and his sons, and say: Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, when you bless them. Eccli. 3●. b The LORD bless thee, and keep the. The LORD make his face to shine upon thee, and be merciful unto the. The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give the peace. For they shall put my name upon the childr●● of Israel, that I may bless them. The VII. Chapter. ANd when Moses had set up the Habitation and anointed it, Exo. 40 b and sanctified it with all the apparel thereof: and had anointed and hallowed the altar also with all his vessels, Then offered the captains of Israel, which were the rulers in their father's houses. For they were the captains among the kindred's, and stood over them that were numbered. And they brought their offerings before the LORD, six covered charettes, and twelve oxen, for every two captains a charet, and an ox for every one, and brought them before the habitation. And the LORD said unto Moses: Take it of them, that it may serve for the ministration of the Tabernacle of witness, and give it unto the Levites, unto every one according to his office. Then took Moses the charettes and oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two charettes and four oxen gave he unto the children of Gerson according to their office: and four charettes and eight oxen gave he unto the children of Merari according to their office, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the children of Kahath he gave nothing, because Num. 4. b 2. Re. 6. b they had an holy office upon them, and must bear upon their shoulders. And the captains offered to the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, and offered their gifts before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses: Let every captain bring his offering upon his day to the dedication of the altar. On the first day, Nahasson the son of Aminadab, of the tribe of juda, offered his gefte. And his gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine bloure mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Nahasson the son of Aminadab. On the second day offered Nathaneel the son of Zuar, the captain of Isachar His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ramme, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a synoffering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Nathaneel the son of Zuar. On the third day, the captain of the children of Zabulon, Eliab the son of Helon. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Eliab the son of Helon. On the fourth day, the captain of the children of Reuben, Elizur the son of Sedeur. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, & five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Elizur the son of Sedeur. On the fifth day, the captain of the children of Simeon, Selumiel the son of Zuri Sadai. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, & an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Selumiel the son of Zuri Sadai. On the sixte day, the captain of the children of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deguel. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth & thirty sickles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Eliasaph the son of Deguel. On the seventh day the captain of the children of Ephraim, Elisama, the son of Amihud. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ramme, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Elisama the son of Amihud. On the eight day, the caytayne of the children of Manasse, Gamaliel the son of Pedazur. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense. A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering. And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, & five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Gamaliel the son of Pedazur. On the ninth day, the captain of the children of Ben jamin, Abidan the son of Gedeoni. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Abidan the son of Gedeoni. On the tenth day, the captain of the children of Dan, Ahieser the son of Ammi Sadai. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth & thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, & five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Ahieser the son of Ammi Sadai. On the eleventh day, the captain of the children of Asser, Pagiel the son of Ochran: His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Pagiel the son of Ochran. On the twolfte day, the captain of the children of Nephtali, Ahira the son of Enan. His gift was a silver charger, worth an hundredth and thirty Sycles: A silver bowl, worth seventy Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary) both full of fine flower mingled with oil for a meat offering: And a golden spoon, worth ten Sycles of gold, full of incense: A bullock from among the great cattles, a ram, a lamb of a year old for a burned offering, an he goat for a sin offering: And for an health offering two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs of a year old. This is the gift of Ahira the son of Enan. This is the dedication of the altar, what time as it was anointed, unto the which the captains of Israel offered these twelve silver chargers, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: every charger containing an hundredth and thirty Sycles of silver, and every bowl seventy Sycles. So that the sum of all the silver in the vessels, was two thousand and four hundredth Sycles (after the Sycle of the Sanctuary). And the twelve spoons of gold full of incense, contained every one ten Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary: So that the sum of the gold in the spoons, was an hundredth and twenty Sycles. The sum of the cattles for the burntofferinges, was twelve bullocks, twelve rams, twelve lambs of a year old with their meat offerings: And twelve he goats for sin offerings. And the sum of the cattles for the health offerings, was four and twenty oxen, three score rams, and three score he goats, three score lambs of a year old. This is the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed. And when Moses went in to the Tabernacle of witness, Exo. ●●. c that he might be commoned withal, he heard the voice speaking unto him from of the Mercy seat, which was upon the Ark of witness betwixt the two Cherubins, from thence was he commoned withal. The VIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak to Aaron, & say unto him: Exo▪ 25. d When thou settest up the lamps, thou shalt set them so, that they may all seven give light above upon the candilsticke. And Aaron did so, & set the lamps upon the candilsticke, as the LORD commanded Moses. The work of the candilsticke was of beaten gold, both the shaft & flowers thereof: According to the vision that the LORD had showed Moses, even so made he the candlestick. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, & cleanse them. But thus shalt thou do with them, that thou mayest cleanse them. Thou shalt sprinkle purifying water upon them, and let a rasure go over their whole body, and wash their clotheses, and then are they clean. Then shall they take a young bullock, and his meat offering of fine flower mingled with oil. And another young bullock shalt thou take for a synofferinge. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of witness, and gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and bring the levites before the LORD. And the children of Israel shall say their hands upon the Levites. And Aaron shall wave the Levites before the LORD for the children of Israel, that they may minister in the service of the LORD. And the Levites shall say their hands upon the heeds of the bullocks, and the one shallbe made a sin offering, the other a burned offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and wave them before the LORD, and so shalt thou separate them from the children of Israel, that they may be mine. Then shall they go in, that they may do service in the Tabernacle of witness. Thus shalt thou cleanse them, & wave them: for they are my gift of the children of Israel, Num. 3. b and I have taken them unto me for all that openeth the Matrix, namely for the first born of all the children of Israel. For every first born among the children of Israel is mine, Exo. 13. a Luc. 2. d both of men and of cattles, since the time that I smote all the first born in the land of Egipte, and sanctified them unto myself, and took the Levites for all the first born among the children of Israel, and gave them for a gift unto Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, that they should do the service of the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of witness, to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be not a plague among the children of Israel, if they will come nigh the Sanctuary. And Moses with Aaron and the whole congregation of the children of Israel, did with the Levites all as the LORD had commanded Moses. And they purified the Levites, and waszshed their clotheses. And Aaron waved them before the LORD, and made attoment for them, that they might be clean. After that went they in, to do their office in the Tabernacle of witness before Aaron and his sons: as the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, even so did they with them. And the LORD spoke unto Moses & said: This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: 〈…〉 From five and twenty year and above, shall they go in to the office of the Tabernacle of witness. But from fifty year forth, they shall cease from the waiting of the service thereof, and shall minister no more, but shall appoint their brethren to wait and to serve in the Tabernacle of witness: but the office shall not they execute. Thus shalt thou do with the Levites in their services, that every one may wait upon his own charge. The IX. Chapter. And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year that they were departed out of the land of Egipte▪ & said: 〈…〉 Let the children of Israel keep Easter in his season, even upon the fourteen day of this month at even, in his season shall they keep it, according to all the statutes & laws thereof. And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep Easter. And they keep Easter upon the fourteen day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai. according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, even so did the children of Israel. Then were there certain men defiled of a deed man, so that they could not keep Easter upon that day: these came before Moses and Aaron the same day, and said unto him: We are defiled of a deed man: wherefore should we be despised, that we must not bring our gifts in his season among the children of Israel? Moses said unto them: stand still, I will hear what the LORD commandeth you. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Speak unto the children of Israel, & say: When any man is defiled of a deed coarse, or is go far from you over the field, 〈…〉 or is among your kynszfolkes, yet shall he keep Easter, but in the second month upon the fourteen day at even, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and sour sauce, and shall leave none of it until the morning, 〈…〉 ner break any bone thereof, and shall keep it according to all the manner of the Easter. But he that is clean, and not go in a journey, and is negligent to keep the Easter, the same soul shall be rooted out from among his people: because he brought not his gift to the LORD in his season, he shall bear his sin. And when there dwelleth a stranger among you, he shall keep Easter also unto the LORD, & shall hold it according to the ordinance and law of the Easter. This statute shall be unto you alike, to the stranger as to him that is born in the land. And the same day that the Habitation was set up, ●●o. c. ● ●. 8. ᵇ ●9. a a cloud covered it upon the Tabernacle of witness, & at even there was a similitude of fire upon the Habitation until the morning. So came it to pass allway, that the cloud covered it by day, & the similitude of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the Habitation, than the children of Israel went on their journey. And look in what place the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. according to the word of the LORD took the children of Israel their journey, and according to his word pitched they their tents. So long as the cloud abode upon the Habitation, they lay still. And when the cloud tarried many days upon the Habitation, the children of Israel waited upon the LORD, & went not on their journey. And when it chanced that the cloud abode upon the Habitation any space of days, than pitched they according to the word of the LORD, & after the word of the LORD went they on their journey. When the cloud was there from the evening until the morning, and so was taken up, then went they on their journey: and whether it was taken up by day or by night, they journeyed. But when it tarried upon the habitation two days, or a month, or a long season, than lay the children of Israel, and journeyed not: and so when it was taken up, they went on their journey. For according to the mouth of the LORD they lay, and after the mouth of the LORD they journeyed, so that they kept the lords watch, according to the word of the LORD by Moses. The X. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Make the two trumpets of beaten silver, that thou mayest use them, to call the congregation together, and when the host shall break up. When they blow with both, then shall the whole congregation gather themselves together unto the before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. When they blow but with one, than the captains, the rulers over the thousands in Israel shall gather themselves together unto the. When you trump, then shall the hosts that lie on the East side, break up. And when you trump the second time, the hosts that lie on the South side, shall break up. For you shall trump, when they shall take their journeys. judic. ●. d But when the congregation is to be gathered together, you shall blow, and not trump. This blowing with the trumpets shall the sons of Aaron the priest do. And it shall be your law for ever among your posterities. When you go to a battle in your land against your enemies that vex you, you shall trump with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and delivered from your enemies. Like wise when you are merry, and in your feast days, & in your new Months, you shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt-sacrifices & health offerings, that it may be a remembrance unto you before your God. I am the LORD your God. Upon the twenty day in the second month of the second year, arose the cloud from the habitation of witness. And the children of Israel went on their journey out of the wilderness of Sinai, Num. 33. c Deut. 1 a and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran, First broke up (according to the word of the LORD by Moses.) Namely, the banner of the host of juda went forth first with their armies, Num. 1▪ a and over their host was Nahasson the son of Aminadab. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Isachar was Nathaneel the son of Zuar. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zabulon was Eliab the son of Elon. And the habitation was taken down, Num. 4. a and the children of Gerson and Merari bore the habitation. After that went the banner of the host of Reuben with their armies, and over their host was Elizur the son of Sedeur. And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Selumiel the son of Zuri Sadai. And Eliasaph the son of Deguel over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad. Then went the Kahathites forward also, and bore the Sanctuary, and caused the habitation be set up against they came. After that went the banner of the host of the children of Ephraim with their armies, and over their host was Elisama the son of Amihud. And Gamaliel the son of Pedazur over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasse. And Abidan the son of Gedeoni over the host of the tribe of the children of Ben jamin. After that went the banner of the host of the children of Dan with their Armies, (and so were all the hosts up) and Ahieser the son of Ammi Sadai was over their host. And Pagiel the son of Ochran, over the host of the tribe of the children of Asser. And Ahira the son of Enan over the host of the tribe of the children of Nephthali. Thus the children of Israel went forth with their armies. And Moses spoke unto his brother in law, Hobab the son of Raguel of Madian: We go unto the place, of the which the LORD said: I will give it you: Come now with us therefore, and we will do the best with thee, for the LORD hath promised good unto Israel. But he answered: I will not go with you, but will go in to mine own land unto my kindred. He said: O nay, leave us not: for thou knowest where is best for us to pitch in the wilderness, and thou shalt be our eye. And if thou goest with us, look what good the LORD doth unto us, the same will we do unto the. So they departed from the mount of the LORD three days journey, & the Ark of the lords covenant went before them those three days journey, to show them where they should rest. And the cloud of the LORD was over them in the day time, when they went out of the tents. And when the Ark went forth, Moses said: Psal. 67. a Arise LORD, let thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate thee, fly before the. And when it rested, he said: Come again O LORD unto the multitude of the thousands of Israel. The XI. Chapter. ANd when the people waxed unpatient, it displeased sore the ears of the LORD. Exo 16. a Deut. 9 d And when the LORD heard it, his wrath waxed hot, & the fire of the LORD burned among them, so that it consumed the uttermost of the host. Then cried the people unto Moses. And Moses prayed unto the LORD. So the fire quenched. And the place was called Tabera, because the fire of the LORD burned among them. Then the common sort of people that was among them, fallen a lusting, and sat & wept with the children of Israel, and said: Who will give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, the we ate in Egipte for nought, & Cucumbers, Melouns, lekes, onions, & garlic: But now is our soul dried away, our eyes see nothing then the Manna. The Manna was like Coriander sede, and to look upon, like Bdellium. 〈…〉 And the people ran here and there, & gathered it, & ground it in miles, and beat it in mortars, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it, and it had a taist like an oil cake. And when the dew fallen upon the tents in the night, the Manna fallen therewith. Now when Moses heard the people weep among their kindred's, every one in his tent door, than the wrath of the LORD waxed exceeding hot. And it grieved Moses also. And Moses said unto the LORD: Why vexest thou thy servant? And why find not I favour in the sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I then conceived all this people, or begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me: Carry them in thy arms (as a nurse beareth a child) unto the land, that thou hast sworn unto their fathers? Where shall I get flesh, to give all this people? They weep before me, and say: give us flesh, that we may e●te. I am not able to bear all this people alone, for it is to heavy for me. And if thou wilt deal thus with me: O kill me then, if I have found favour in thy sight, that I see not my wretchedness. And the LORD said unto Moses: Gather unto me 〈…〉 seventy men among the Elders of Israel, whom thou knowest that they are the Elders in the people and officers over them, and bring them before the Tabernacle of witness, and set them there with thee: then will I come down, and talk with the even there, & take of thy spirit that is upon thee, and put it upon them, that they may bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear not all alone. And unto the people thou shalt say: Sanctify your selves against tomorrow, 〈…〉 that you may eat flesh: for your weeping is come into the ears of the LORD, you that say: Who shall give us flesh to eat? for we were well at ease in Egipte. 〈…〉 Therefore shall the LORD give you flesh to eat, not one day, not two, not five, not ten, not twenty days long, but a month long, till it go out at your noses, and till you loath it: even because you have refused the LORD, which is among you, and have wept before him, 〈…〉 & said: Wherefore went we out of Egipte? And Moses said: Six hundredth thousand foot men are there of the people among whom I am, 〈…〉 and thou sayest: I will give you flesh to eat a month long. Shall the sheep and oxen be slain to be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the see be gathered together, to be sufficient for them? The LORD said unto Moses: 〈…〉 Is the lords hand shortened then? But now shalt thou see, whether my words shall be fulfilled in deed, or no? And Moses went out, and told the people the word of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men among the Elder of the people, & set them round about the Tabernacle. Then came the LORD down in a cloud, & spoke unto him, & took of the spirit that was upon him, & put it upon the seventy Elders. And when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and ceased not. But in the host there remained yet two men, of whom the one was called Eldad, the other Medad, & the spirit rested upon them. For they were written up also, & yet were they not go out unto the Tabernacle, and they prophesied in the host. Then ran there a lad, & told Moses, & said: Eldad and Medad prophecy in the host. Then answered josua the son of Nun Moses servant (whom he had choose) and said: My lord Moses, for bid them. But Moses said unto him: Art thou jealous for my sake? 〈◊〉. 2. f 〈◊〉. 14. a would God, that all the people of the LORD could prophecy, and that the LORD would give them his spirit. So Moses and the Elders of Israel got them to the host. Then went out the wind from the LORD, 〈◊〉. 16. c & caused quails to come from the see, & scattered them over the host here a days journey, there a days journey round about the host, two cubytes high above the earth. Than the people stood up all that day and all that night, and all the next day, and gathered quails: and he that gathered the least, gathered ten Homers, & they killed them round about the host. 〈◊〉. 77. c But while the flesh was yet between their teeth, & or ever it was up, the wrath of the LORD waxed hot among the people, 〈…〉 and slew them with an exceeding great slaughter. Therefore is the same place called the graves of lust, because the voluptuous people were buried there. From the lustgraves took the people their journey unto Hazeroth, and abode at Hazeroth. Num. ●●. ● The XII. Chapter. ANd Miriam & Aaron spoke against Moses because of his wife the Morian * Exo. 2. ● which he had taken, Deu. 24. b because he had taken a Morian to wife, and they said: Doth the LORD speak only thorough Moses? Speaks he not also by us? And the LORD heard it. Eccli. 45. a But Moses was a very meek man, above all men upon earth. And haistely spoke the LORD unto Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam: Go out you three unto the Tabernacle of witness. And they went out all three. Then came the LORD down in the cloudy piler, Psal. 98. b & stood in the door of the Tabernacle, & called Aaron & Miriam, & they both went out. And he said: Hear my words: If any man be a prophet of the LORD, unto him will I show myself in a vision, or will speak unto him in a dream. But not so with my servant Moses, Heb. 3. a which is faithful in all my house. * Exo. 33. ● Mouth to mouth speak I unto him, & he saith the LORD in his fashion, not thorough dark words or licknesses: Wherefore were you not afraid then to speak against my servant Moses? And the wrath of the LORD waxed hot over them, & he turned him away, and the cloud also departed from the Tabernacle. And behold, 2. Pa. ●6. d than was Miriam become leporus, as it were snow. And Aaron turned him unto Miriam, and saw that she was leprous, and said unto Moses: O my lord, put not the sin upon us, which we have foolishly committed and sinned, that she be not as one that cometh deed out of his mother's womb: It hath eaten up half her flesh already. But Moses cried unto the LORD, & said: O God, heal her. The LORD said unto Moses: If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Leu. 1●. 1● Let her be shut out of the host seven days, after that let her be received again. So Miriam was shut out of the host seven days, & the people went no farther, till Miriam was received again. afterward departed the people from Hazeroth, Num. 3●. c and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. The XIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Deut. 1 d Send forth men to spy out the land of Canaan (which I will give unto the children of Israel) of every tribe of their fathers a man, and let them all be such as are captains among them. Moses sent them out of the wilderness of Paran, according to the word of the LORD, such as were all heads among the children of Israel, and these are their names: Samma the son of Zacur, of the tribe of Reuben. Saphat the son of Hori, of the tribe of Simeon. Caleb the son of jephune, of the tribe of juda. Igeal the son of joseph, of the tribe of Isachar. Hosea the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Palti the son of Raphu, of the tribe of Ben jamin. Gadiel the son of Sodi, of the tribe of Zabulon. Gaddi the son of Susi, of the tribe of joseph of Manasse. Ammiel the son of Gemalli, of the tribe of Dan. Sethur the son of Michael, of the tribe of Asser. Nahebi the son of Vaphsi, of the tribe of Nephtali. Guel the son of Machi, of the tribe of Gad. These are the names of the men, whom Moses sent forth to spy out the land. As for Hosea the son of Nun, Moses called him josua. Now when Moses sent them forth to spy out the land of Canaan, he said unto them: Go up southward, and get you up to the mountains, and look upon the land how it is: and the people that devil therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many: and what manner of land it is that they devil in, whether it be good or bad: & what manner of cities they be that they devil in, whether they be fenced with walls, or not: and what manner of land it is, whether it be fat or lean, and whether there be trees therein, or not. Be of a good courage, and bring of the fruits of the land. It was even about the time, that grapes are first ripe. They went up, & spied the land, from the wilderness of Zin, until Rehob, as men go unto Hemath. They went up also toward the south, and came unto Hebron, where Ahiman was, and Sesai and Thalmai, the children of Enack (Hebron was builded seven year before Zoan in Egipte.) And they came to the river of Escol, and there they cut down a cluster of grapes, Deut. 1. ● and caused two to bear it upon a staff, pomegranates also and figs. The place is called the river of Escol, because of the cluster of grapes, which the children of Israel cut down there. Howbeit Caleb stylled the people that was against Moses, and said unto them: Let us go up, and conquer the land, for we are able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him, said: 〈…〉 We are not able to go up against that people, for they are to strong for us. And of the land that they had searched, they brought up an evil report among the children of Israel, and said: The land that we have go thorough to spy out, eateth up the indwellers thereof: and all the people that we saw therein, are men of great stature. We saw giants there also, ye giants as the children of Enack. and we seemed in our sight as the greshoppers, and so did we in their sight. The XIIII. Chapter. THen the whole congregation took on, and cried, De●●▪ 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said unto them: O that we had died in the land of Egipte, or that we might die yet in this wilderness. Wherefore bringeth the LORD us in to this land, that our wives should fall thorough the sword, and over children be a pray? Is it not better, that we go again in to Egipte? And they said one to another: Let us make a captain, and go in to Egipte again. But Moses & Aaron fallen upon their faces before the whole congregation of the multitude of the children of Israel. 〈◊〉. 46. b ●●ch. 2. f And josua the son of Nun, & Caleb the son of jephune (which also had spied out the land) rent their clotheses, & spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel: The land that we have walked thorough to spy it out, is a very good land. If the LORD have lust unto us, he shall bring us in to the same land, & give it us, which is a land that floweth with milk & honey. But in any wise rebel not you against the LORD, & ●eut. 10. a fear not the people of this land, for we will eat them up as bread. Their defence is departed from them, ●om. ●. d but the LORD is with us, be not you afraid of them. And all the people, bad stone them with stones. Then appeared the glory of the LORD in the Tabernacle of witness unto all the children of Israel, & the LORD said unmoses: How long shall this people blaspheme me? And how long will it be, or they believe me, for all the tokens that I have showed among them? I will smite them with pestilence & destroy them, ●xo. 32. c & will make of the a greater & mightier people than this is. ●eu. 9 d Butler Moses said unto the LORD: Then shall the Egipcians hear it (for with thy power hast thou brought this people from among them) so shall it be told the inhabiters of this land also, which have herd, that thou O LORD art among this people, that thou art seen from face to face, & that thy cloud standeth over them, ●xo. 13. d and that thou goest before them in the cloudy piler on the day time, and in the fiery piler on the night season. If thou shouldest now slay this people as one man, than the Heythen that have heard so good report of thee, ●xo. 32. c should say: The LORD was not able to bring the people in to the land, that he swore unto them, therefore hath he slain them in the wilderness. So let the power of the LORD now be great, according as thou hast spoken and said: The LORD is of long sufferance and of great mercy, and forgiveth sin and trespass, and leaveth no man innocent, & vysiteth the myszdede of the fathers upon the children in to the third and fourth generation. O be gracious now unto the sin of this people according to thy great mercy, like as thou hast forborn this people also, ever from Egipte unto this place. And the LORD said: I have forgiven it, as thou hast said. But as truly as I live, all the world shall be full of my glory. Nu. 26. ● Deut. 1. ● and 2. c For of all the men that have seen my glory & my tokens, which I did in Egipte and in the wilderness, and tempted me now ten times, & have not herkened unto my voice, there shall not one see the land that I swore unto their fathers: neither shall any of them that have blasphemed me, see it. josu. 14. But my servant Caleb, because there is another manner spirit with him, & because he hath followed me, him will I bring in to the land, which he hath go thorough, & his seed shall conquer it, and the Amalechites also and the Canaanites, that devil in the low countries. tomorrow turn you, and get you to the wilderness, in the way toward the reed see. And the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron, & said: How long shall this evil multitude murmur against me? For I have heard the murmuring of the children of Israel, that they have murmured against me. Tell them therefore: Nu. 32. b As truly as I live (sayeth the LORD) I will do unto you, even as you have spoken in mine ears: Your carcases shall lie in this wilderness. And all you that Num. 1. were numbered from twenty year and above, which have murmured against me, shall not come in to the land (concerning the which I lift up my hand, that I would let you devil therein) save Caleb the son of jephune, and josua the son of Nun. your children, of whom you said: Deut. 1 f They shallbe a spoil, them will I bring in, so that they shall know the land, which you have refused. But you with your carcases shall lie in this wilderness, and your children shall wander in this wilderness forty years, & bear your whoredom, till your carcases be waisted in the wilderness, according to the number of the forty days, wherein you spied out the land. Exe. 4. a A day for a year, so that forty years you shall bear your myszdede, that you may know what it is, when I with draw my hand. Even I the LORD have said it, & will do it in deed unto all this evil congregation, that have lift up themselves against me: In this wilderness shall they be consumed, and there shall they die. So there died and were plagued before the LORD all the men, 1. cor. 10. ● whom Moses sent to spy out the land, & came again, and made the whole congregation to murmur against it, because they brought up a myszreporte of the land, that it was evil. But josua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of jephune were left alive, of the men that went to spy out the land. And Moses spoke these words unto all the children of Israel. Then took the people great sorrow. And they arose early in the morning, and went up to the top of the mountain, and said: ●●ut. 1. ● Lo, here are we, and will go up to the place, whereof the LORD hath said: for we have sinned. But Moses said: wherefore go you on this manner beyond the word of the LORD? It shall not prosper with you: go not up (for the LORD is not among you) that you be not slain before your enemies. For the Amalechites and Canaanites are there before you, & you shall fall thorough the sword, because you have turned your selves from the LORD, and the LORD shall not be with you. But they were blinded to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the Ark of the lords covenant & Moses came not out of the host. Then came down the Amalechites & Canaanites which dwelled upon that mountain, and smote them and hewed them, even unto Horma. The XU. Chapter. ANd the LORD talked with Moses, and said: Speak to the children of Israel, & say unto them: When you come in to the land of your dwelling, which I shall give you, and will do sacrifice unto the LORD, whether it be a burned offering, or an offering for a special vow, or a free-will offering, or your feast offerings, that you may make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of oxen or of sheep. ●euit. 2. a 〈◊〉 ●. b He that will offer now his gift unto the LORD, shall bring for the meat offering a tenth deal of fine flower mingled with oil of the fourth part of an Hin, and wine for the drink offering the fourth part of an Hin also: to the burned offering, or any other offering, when a lamb is offered. But when there is a ram offered, thou shalt make the meat offering two tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil, of the third part of an Hin, and the third part of an Hin of wine also for a drink offering: this shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD. But if thou will't offer an ox for a burned offering, or for a special vow offering, or for an health offering unto the LORD, thou shalt bring to the ox, the meat offering, even three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with half an Hin of oil, & half an Hin of wine for a drink offering. This is an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Thus shalt thou do with an ox, with a ram, with a lamb, and with a goat. according as the number of the offerings is, thereafter shall the number of the meat offerings and drink offerings be also. He that is one of yourselves, shall do this, that he may offer a sacrifice of a sweet savour unto the LORD. And if there devil a stranger with you, or is among your kynszfolkes, and will do an offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour, the same shall do as you do. Let there be one statute for the whole congregation, both unto you and to the strangers. A perpetual statute shall it be unto your posterities, that the stranger be even as you before the LORD. One law, and one ordinance shallbe unto you and to the stranger that dwelleth with you. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak to the children of Israel, and say unto them: When you come in to the land, in to that which I shall bring you, 〈…〉 so that you eat the bread of the land, you shall have up an Have offering unto the LORD, namely, a cake of the firstlinges of your dough shall you give for an Have offering: 〈…〉 as the Have offering of the barn, even so shall you give the firstlinges of your dough also unto the LORD, for an Have offering among your posterities. And when you thorough ignorance over see any of these commandments, 〈…〉 which the LORD hath spoken by Moses, and all that the LORD hath commanded you by Moses (from the day that the LORD began to command for your posterities) and the congregation do aught ignorantly, them shall the whole congregation offer a young bullock from among the great cattles to a burned offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering and drink offering as the manner is, and an he goat for a sin offering. And so shall the priest make an atonement for the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and it shallbe forgiven them: for it is an ignorance. And they shall bring these their gifts for an offering unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD for their ignorance, and it shallbe forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel, & the stranger also that dwelleth among you, for so much as all the people is in such ignorance. If one soul sin thorough ignorance, 〈…〉 the same shall bring a she goat of a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for such an ignorant soul with the sin offering for the ignorance before the LORD, that he may reconcile him, and it shall be forgiven him. And it shall be one law, (that you shall do for the ignorance) both unto him that is born among the children of Israel, and to the stranger that dwelleth among you. 〈…〉 But if a soul do aught presumptuously, whether he be one of yourselves or a stranger, he hath despised the LORD: the same soul shallbe rooted out from among his people: because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath left his commandment undone: that soul shall utterly perish, his sin shallbe upon him. Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the Sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks, brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and before the whole congregation. 〈◊〉. ●4. c And they put him in preson, for it was not declared what should be done unto him. The LORD said unto Moses: The man shall die the death, the whole congregation shall stone him without the host. Then the whole congregation brought him out of the host, and stoned him that he died, as the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses: Speak to the children of Israel, 〈◊〉 22 b & say unto them, that they make them guards upon the quarters of their garments among all your posterities, and put yellow rybandes upon the guards in the quarters. And the guards shall serve you, that you may look upon them, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, & do them: that you order not yourselves after the meaning of your own heart, ner go awhoring after your own eyes. Therefore shall you remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egipte, to be your God. Even I the LORD your God. The XVI. Chapter. ANd Corah the son of jezehar the son of Kahath, the son of Levi, Eccli. 4●. ● with Dathan and Abiram the son of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, the sons of Reuben, stood up against Moses, with certain men among the children of Israel, two hundredth & fifty captains of the congregation, councelers, & famous men. And they gathered themselves against Moses & Aaron & said unto them: You make to much a do, Exo. 19 ● for all the congregation is holy every one, and the LORD is among them: Why lift you yourselves up then above the congregation of the LORD? When Moses heard that, he fallen upon his face, & said unto Corah, & to all his company: Tomorrow shall the LORD show who is his, & who is holy to come unto him. Whom so ever he chooseth, the same shall come unto him. This do: Take the censors, thou Corah & all the company, & do fire therein, & put incense thereon tomorrow before the LORD: than whom so ever the LORD chooseth, the same shall be holy. You make to much a do, you children of Levi. And Moses said unto Corah: Hear you children of Levi, Is it not enough unto you, Num. ●. ● that the God of Israel hath separated you from the multitude of Israel, that you should come nigh him, to do the service of the dwelling place of the LORD, and stand before the people to minister unto them? He hath caused the and all thy brethren the children of Levi with thee, to come nigh unto him: and now you seek the priesthood also. Thou and all thy company conspire against the LORD. What is Aaron, that you should murmur against him? And Moses sent to call Dathan & Abiram the sons of Eliab. But they said: We will not come up. Is it to little that thou hast brought us out of the land of Egipte (that floweth with milk & honey) to kill us in the wilderness: but thou must reign over us also? How goodly well hast thou brought us in to a land, that floweth with milk and honey, & given us fields and vyniardes in possession? Will't thou put out these men's eyes? We will not come up. Then was Moses very wroth, & said unto the LORD: Turn the not unto their meatofferinges. I have not taken so much as an Ass from them, neither have I hurt any of them. And Moses said unto Corah: Tomorrow be thou & all the company before the LORD, thou, and they, & Aaron. And take every one his censer, and put incense therein, and come before the LORD, every one with his censer (that is two hundredth and fifty censers) and both thou and Aaron take either his censer. And every one took his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and came before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and Moses and Aaron also. And Corah gathered the whole congregation against them before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. But the glory of the LORD appeared before the whole congregation. And the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron, & said: Separate yourselves from this congregation, that I may shortly consume them. And they fallen upon their faces, & said: O God, thou God of the spretes of all flesh, if one man have sinned, will't thou therefore be wroth over the whole congregation? And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Speak to the congregation, and say: Come up from the dwelling of Corah, and Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses stood up, & went unto Dathan & Abiram, & the Elders of Israel followed him, & he spoke to the congregation, & said: Depart from the tents of these ungodly men & touch nothing that is there's, that you perish not in any of their sins. And they got them up from the dwelling of Corah, Dathan, & Abiram. But Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, with their wives, and sons and children. And Moses said: Hereby shall you know that the LORD hath sent me, to do all these works, and that I have not done them of mine own heart. If these men die the common death of all men, or be vysited as all men are vysited, then hath not the LORD sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them with all that they have, so that they go down quick in to hell, them shall you know, that these men have blasphemed the LORD. And when he had spoken out all these words, Deu. 11. a Nu 26. b Psal. 100L. b the ground clove asunder under them, & the earth opened her wouth, & swallowed them, with their houses, & all the men that were with Corah, & all their substance, and they went down quick in to the hell, with all that they had. And the earth closed upon them, & so they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were about them, fled at the cry of them, for they said: That the earth swallow not us also. moreover the fire came out from the LORD, and consumed the two hundredth and fifty men, that offered the incense. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Speak to Eleasar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, & scatter the fire here & there (For the censers of these sinners are hallowed thorough their souls) that they may be beaten in to thin plates, & fastened upon the altar. For they are offered before the LORD, & hallowed: and they shallbe a token unto the children of Israel. And Eleasar the priest took the brazen censers which they that were burned, had offered, & bet them to plates, to fasten them upon the altar for a remembrance unto the children of Israel that no stranger (and he that is not of the sede of Aaron) come nigh to offer incense before the LORD, that it hap not unto him as unto Corah and his company, according as the LORD said unto him by Moses. On the next morrow murmured the whole congregation of the children of Israel against Moses & Aaron, & said: You have slain the people of the LORD. And when the congregation was gathered against Moses & Aaron, they turned them toward the Tabernacle of witness And behold, them the cloud covered the Tabernacle, & the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses & Aaron went in before the Tabernacle of witness. And the LORD spoke unto Moses & said: Get you out of this congregation, I will shortly consume them. And they fallen upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron: Take the censer & put fire therein from of the altar, & lay incense thereon, & go soon to the congregation, & make an atonement for them. For the wrath is go out from the LORD, and the plague is begun among the people. And Aaron did as Moses said, & ran in the midst among the congregation. And behold, the plague was begun. And he burned incense & made an atonement for the people, 〈…〉 & stood between the deed & the living, and the plague ceased. But there were fourteen thousand, and seven hundredth deed in the plague, besides them that died about the business of Corah. And Aaron came again unto Moses before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. And the plague ceased. The XVII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Speak to the children of Israel, & take of them twelve staves, of every captain of his father's house one, and write every man's name upon his staff. But Aaron's name shalt thou write upon the staff of Levi. For every head of their father's house shall have a staff. And lay them in the Tabernacle of witness, before the witness where I testify unto you. And look whom I shall choose, his staff shall flourish, that I may still the grudginges of the children of Israel, which they grudge against you. And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, & all their captains gave him twelve staves, every captain a staff, after the house of their fathers. And Aaron's staff was among their staves also. And Moses laid the staves before the LORD in the Tabernacle of witness. On the morrow when Moses went in to the Tabernacle of witness, he found that 〈◊〉 45. c 〈◊〉. a Aaron's rod of the house of Levi flourished, and brought forth blossoms, & bore allmondes. And Moses brought forth all the staves from the LORD before all the children of Israel, that they might see it. And they took every man his staff. The LORD said unto Moses: Bring Aaron's staff again before the witness, that it may be kept for a token to the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from, jest they die. Moses did as the LORD commanded him. And the children of Israel said unto Moses: Behold, we consume away, we are destroyed, & perish. Who so cometh nigh the dwelling place of the LORD, he dieth. Shall we then utterly consume away? The XVIII. Chap. ANd the LORD said unto Aaron: Thou & thy sons, & thy father's house with the shall bear the myszdede of the Sanctuary: & thou & thy sons with thee, shall bear the myszdede of your priesthood. 〈…〉 But thy brethren of the tribe of Levi the father, shall come nigh thee, & be joined unto thee, that they may minister unto ye. But thou & thy sons with thee, shall minister before the Tabernacle of witness. And they shall wait upon the service & upon the service of the whole Tabernacle. But nigh unto the vessels of the Sanctuary & to the altar, shall they not come, that both they & you die not: howbeit they shall be joined unto thee, to wait upon the ministration in the Tabernacle of witness, in all the service of the Tabernacle. And there shall no stranger come nigh unto you. Therefore wait now upon the service of the Sanctuary, and upon the service of the altar, that there come no more wrath upon the children of Israel. For lo, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel, to be your gift, for a present unto the LORD, to do the service in the Tabernacle of witness. As for thee, and thy sons with thee, you shall wait upon your priests office, that you may minister in all manner business of the altar, and within the veil: for your priests office give I unto you for a gift to do service. If a stranger come nigh, he shall die. And the LORD said unto Aaron: behold, I have given the my Have offerings: And all that the children of Israel hallow, have I given unto thee, and to thy sons for a perpetual duty. This shalt thou have of the most holy things that they offer. All their gifts with all their meat offerings, and with all their sin offerings, and with all their trespass offerings, that they give me, the same shall be most holy unto the and the sons. In the most holy place shalt thou eat it. All that are males shall eat thereof: For it shall be holy unto the. The Have offering of their gifts in all the Wave offerings of the children of Israel, have I given unto the also, Leu. 7. d and to thy sons, and to thy daughters for a perpetual duty. Who so is clean in thy house, shall eat thereof. All the fat of the oil, and a● the fat of the wine and corn of their firstlinges, that they give unto the LORD, have I given unto ye. The first fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto the LORD, shall be thy. Who so ever is clean in thy house, shall eat thereof. All dedicated things in Israel shall be thy. All that breaketh the Matrix among all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be man or be'st, shallbe thy. But so, that thou 'cause the firstborn of man to be redeemed, and that thou 'cause the first born of unclean beestes to be redeemed also (They shall redeem it when it is a month old, and shall give it louse for money, even for five Sycles, after the Sycle of the Sanctuary, Exo. ●0. b Leu. 27. d Eze. 45. ● which Sycle is worth twenty Geras.) But the first fruits of an ox, or lamb, or goat shalt thou not cause to be redeemed for they are holy. Their blood shalt thou sprinkle upon the altar, and their fat shalt thou burn for an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Their flesh shallbe thy, like as the Wavebrest and the right shoulder is thy also. All the Have offerings that the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, have I given unto thee, & to thy sons, & to thy daughters with the for a perpetual duty. This shallbe a salted covenant for ever before the LORD, unto the and thy seed with the. And the LORD said unto Aaron: Thou shalt inherit nothing in their land, Deut. 18. a ●ze. 44. d ner have any portion among them: for I am the portion, and thy inheritance among the children of Israel. Unto the children of Levi have I given all the tithes in Israel to inheritance, for the service which they do unto me in the Tabernacle of witness, that from hence forth the children of Israel come not nigh the Tabernacle of witness, to lad them selves with sin, and to die: But the Levites shall do the service in the Tabernacle of witness, & shall bear their sin, for a perpetual law among your posterities. jos. 13. b And they shall inherit none inheritance among the children of Israel. For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they Have unto the LORD, have I given unto the Levites for an heritage. Therefore have I said unto them, that they shall inherit no inheritance among the children of Israel. And the LORD talked with Moses, & said: Speak to the Levites, & say unto them: When you take of the children of Israel the tithes, that I have given you of them for your inheritance, you shall take an Have offering of the same unto the LORD, even the tenth of the tithe. And the same your Have offering shall you reckon, as though you gave corn out of the barn, and fullness out of the winepress. Thus shall you give an Have offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which you take of the children of Israel, that you may give the same Have offering of the LORD, unto Aaron the priest. And all that you give of the tithes, & hallow unto the LORD for a gift, the same shall be his of the best. And say thou unto them: When you thus Have up the fat thereof, it shall be reckoned unto the Levites as the increase of the barn, and as the increase of the wine press. And you may eat it in all places, you & your children: for it is your reward for your service in the Tabernacle of witness: and you shall not lad sin upon you in the same, when you Have the fat thereof, and unhalowe not the hallowed things of the children of Israel, and you shall not die. The XIX. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron & said: This custom shall be a law, which the LORD hath commanded, & said: Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring unto the a reed cow with out spot, wherein is no blemish, & upon whom there came never yock: and you shall give her unto Eleasar the priest, 〈…〉 which shall bring her without the host, and 'cause her to be slain there before him. And Eleasar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprenckle it seventy-met strait toward the door of the Tabernacle of witness, 〈…〉 and 'cause the cow to be burned before him, both her szkynne and her flesh, and her blood also with her dung. And the priest shall take Cedar wood and ysope, and purple will, and cast it upon the cow as she burneth, & he shall wash his clotheses, and bathe his body with water, and then go in to the host, and be unclean until the even. And he that burned her, shall wash his clotheses also with water, and bathe his body in water, & be unclean until the even. And one that is clean, shall gather up the 〈…〉 aszshes of the cow, and pour them without the host in a clean place, that they may be kept there, for sprenklinge water to the congregation of the children of Israel, for it is a sin offering. And he that gathered up the aszshes of the cow, shall wash his clotheses, and be unclean until the even. This shallbe a perpetual law unto the children of Israel, and to the strangers that devil among you. Who so now toucheth a deed man, 〈…〉 shall be unclean seven days: the same shall purify himself here with, on the third day and on the seventh day, and then shall he be clean. And if he purify not himself on the third day, & on the seventh day, them shall he not be clean. But when any man toucheth a deed person, and will not purify himself, he defileth the dwelling of the LORD, and the same soul shall be rooted out of Israel, because the sprenklinge water is not sprenkled upon him: and he is unclean, as long as he letteth not himself be purged thereof. This is the law. When a man dieth in the tent, who so ever goeth in to the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. And every open vessel that hath no lydd nor covering, is unclean. And who so ever toucheth one that is slain with the sword upon the field, or any other deed, or a deed man's bone, or a grave, the same is unclean seven days. So now for the unclean person, they shall take of the aszshes of this burned sin offering, & put springing water thereon in to a vessel, and a clean man shall take 〈…〉 ysope, & dip it in the water, and sprenkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and all the souls that are therein. Likewise also upon him, that hath touched a deed man's bone, or a slain person, or a deed body, or a grave. And he that is clean, shall sprinkle upon the unclean, the third day, & the seventh day, & purify him on the seventh day. And he shall wash his clotheses, & bathe himself with water, and so at even he shallbe clean. But he that is unclean, and will not purify himself, the same soul shall be rooted out of the congregation. For he hath defiled the Sanctuary of the LORD, & is not sprenkled with sprenklinge water, therefore is he unclean. And this shallbe a perpetual law unto them. And he that sprenkled with the sprenklinge water, shall wash his clotheses also. And who so ever toucheth the sprenklinge water, shall be unclean until the even. 〈◊〉 17. d And what so ever he toucheth, shallbe unclean: & look what soul he toucheth, shallbe unclean until the even. The XX. Chapter. ANd the children of Israel came with the whole congregation into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉. 1▪ f & the people abode at Cades. And there died Miriam, & was buried there. And the congregation had no water, & they gathered them selves together against Moses & Aaron, & the people chode with Moses, & said: Would God that we had perished, 〈…〉 when our brethren perished before the LORD. Wherefore have you brought the congregation of the LORD in to this wilderness, that we should die here with our cattles? And wherefore have you brought us out of Egipte in to this place, where men can not sow, where are neither figs, ner wines, ner pomegranates, & where there is no water to drink? And Moses & Aaron went from the congregation unto the door of the Tabernacle of witness, & fallen upon their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared unto them. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, 〈◊〉. 17. b 〈◊〉. 10. a and said: Take the staff, & gather the congregation together, thou & thy brother Aaron, & speak unto the rock before their eyes, & it shall give his water. And thus shalt thou provide them water out of the rock, & give the congregation drink, and their cattles also. Then took Moses the staff before the LORD, as he commanded him, & Moses & Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, & said unto them: Hear you rebellions: Shall we provide you water out of this rock? And Moses lift up his hand, & smote the rock with the staff two times. 〈◊〉. 77. b Then came the water out abundantly, so that the congregation drank, and their cattles also. But the LORD said unto Moses & Aaron: ●eut. 1. f 〈◊〉 3●. a Because you believed me not, to sanctify men before the children of Israel, you shall not bring this congregation in to the land that I shall give them. This is the water of strife, where the children of Israel strove with the LORD and he was sanctified upon them. And Moses sent messaungers from Cades unto the king of the Edomites: judic. 11. c. This word sendeth the the Gen. 25. c brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that happened unto us, how that our fathers went down in to Egipte, & how we have dwelled in Egipte a long time, & how the Egipcians dealt evil with us & our fathers. Andrea we cried unto the LORD which heard our voice, and sent his angel, & hath brought us out of Egipte: And behold, we are at Cades in the cite without the borders of the land. Num. 21 c 1. Mac. 5. c O let us go thorough thy land, we will not go thorough the fields ner vynyardes, ner drink the water out of the fountains. We will go the high street, and turn neither to the right hand ner to the left, till we be come past the borders of thy country. But the Edomite answered him: Thou shall not go by me, Eze. ●5. a Abd. 1. b or I will come against the with the sword. The children of Israel said unto him: We will go the common high way, & if we or our cattles drink of thy water, Deut. 2. a we will pay for it: we will do nothing, but pass thorough on foot only. But he said: Thou shalt not go thorough, And the Edomites came out against them with a mighty people & a strong hand. Thus the Edomites denied to grant Israel passage thorough the borders of the land. And Israel turned away from them. And the children of Israel broke up from Cades, Num. 33 d and came with the whole congregation unto mount Hor. And the LORD spoke unto Moses & Aaron at mount Hor hard upon the coasts of the land of the Edomites, & said: Let Aaron be gathered unto his people: for he shall not come in to the land that I have given unto the children of Israel, because you were dishobedient unto my mouth at the water of strife. Take Aaron and Eleasar and his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor, and stripe Aaron out of his vestiments, and put them upon Eleasar his son and there shall Aaron be gathered (unto his people) and die. Then did Moses as the LORD commanded him, and they went up unto Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. And Moses took Aaron's clotheses, & put them upon Eleasar his son. Deut. 10. b and 33. g And Aaron died there, even above upon the mount. Andrea Moses & Eleasar came down from the mount. And when the whole congregation saw that Aaron was away, they mourned for him thirty days thorough out the whole house of Israel. The XXI. Chapter. ANd when Arad the king of the Canaanites (which dwelled toward the south) heard, Nu. 33. d that Israel came in by the way that the spies had found out, he fought against Israel, and took some of them presoners. Then vowed Israel a vow unto the LORD, and said: If thou wilt give this people under my hand, I will utterly destroy their cities. And the LORD heard the voice of Israel, and delivered them the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them with their cities also. judic 1. d And he called the place Horma. Deut. 2. a Then departed they fro mount Hor on the way toward the reed see, that they might go about the land of the Edomites. And the souls of the people fainted by the way and they spoke against God and against Moses: Num 11. d Wherefore hast thou brought us out of the land of Egipte, to slay us in the wilderness? For here is neither bred ner water, and our soul loatheth this light meat. Than sent the LORD fiery serpents among the people, which boat the people, so that there died much people in Israel. Then came they unto Moses, and said: We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and against the. Exod. 8. b 3 Re. 13. b Act. 8. c Pray thou unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. Then said the LORD unto Moses: Make the a brazen serpent, and set it up for a token. Who so ever is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live. Then made Moses a serpent of brass, joh. 3. b 4. Re. 1●. a and set it up for a token: and when a serpent had bitten any man, he beheld the brazen serpent, and recovered. And the children of Israel departed, and pitched in Oboth. Num. 33. e And from Oboth they went on, and pitched in Igim by Abarim in the wilderness over against Moab, on the eastside. From thence departed they, & pitched by the river of Sared. From th●●ce departed they, and pitched on this side Arnon, which is in the wilderness, and cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites. For Arnon is the border betwixt Moab and the Amorites. Wherefore it is spoken in the book of the wars of the LORD: And go with violence both on the river of Arnon, & on the fountain of the river, which boweth downward to devil at Are, & leaneth thereon, to be the border of Moab. And from thence they came to the well. This is the well, whereof the LORD spoke unto Moses: gather the people together, I will give them water. Then sang Israel this song, and they sang one after another over the well: This is the well, that the princes digged: the nobles among the people have digged it thorough the teacher and their staves. And from this wilderness they went unto Mathana, & from Mathana unto Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth unto the valley that lieth in the field of Moab at the top of Pisga, and turneth toward the wilderness. And Israel sent messaungers unto Sihon the king of the Amorrites, & caused to say unto him: Let me go thorough the land, we will not turn in to the fields ner in to the vynyardes: neither will we drink the water of the wells, the high street will we go, till we be passed the borders of thy country. Howbeit Sihon would not give the children of Israel licence to go thorough the coasts of his land, but gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel in the wilderness. And when he came to jaheza, he fought against Israel. Nevertheless Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and conquered his land from Arnon unto jabock, and unto the children of Ammon. For the borders of the children of Ammon were strong. So Israel took all these cities, and dwelled in all the cities of the Amorites, namely at Heszbon, and in the towns belonging thereto. For Heszbon the cite was Sihons' the king of the Amorites, and he had fought before with the king of the Moabites, and conquered all his land from him until Arnon. Wherefore it is said in the proverb: Come unto Heszbon, let us build and prepare the cite of Sihon. For there is a fire go out of Heszbon, and a flame from the cite of Sihon, which hath consumed Are of the Mo●bites, and the citizens of the top of Arnon. woe unto the Moab, thou people of Camos art undone. His sons are put to flight, & his daughters brought captive unto Sihon the king of the Amorites. Their glory is come to nought from Heszbon unto Dibon: waisted are they unto Nopha, which reacheth unto Mediba. Thus dwelled Israel in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent out spies unto jahesar, & they took the towns belonging thereto, & conquered the Amorites that were therein. And they turned, 〈◊〉. 3. a & went up the way toward Basan. Then Og the king of Basan went out against them with all his people, to fight in Edrei. And the LORD said unto Moses: Fear him not, for I have given him with his land & people in to thy hand, & thou shalt do with him, as thou didst with Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelled at Heszbon. And they smote him, & his sons, & all his people (so that there remained none) & conquered the land. afterward went the children of Israel, & pitched in the field of Moab beyond jordane by jericho. The XXII. Chapter. ANd when Balac the son of Ziphor saw all that Israel had done unto the Amorites, and that the Moabites were sore afraid of the people (that was so great) and that the Moabites stood in fear of the children of Israel, he said unto the Elders of the Madianites: Now shall this heapelicke up all that is about us, even as an ox licketh up the grass in the field. (And Balac the son of Ziphor was king of the Moabites at that tyme) And he sent out messaungers unto 〈◊〉. 23. b 〈◊〉. ●3. a Balaam the son of Beor, which was an interpreter. (The same dwelled by the water of the land of the children of his people) that they should call him, and he caused to say unto him: Behold, there is come out of Egipte, a people, which covereth the face of the earth, and lieth over against me. Come now therefore, and curse me this people, for they are to mighty for me, if peradventure I might be able to smite them, and to drive them out of the land. For I wot, that whom thou blessest, he is blessed: and whom thou cursest, he is cursed. And the Elders of the Moabites went on with the Elders of the Madianites, and had the reward of the soyth saying in their hands, and they came unto Balaam, & told him the words of Balaac. And he said unto them: Tarry here all night, & I will bring you word again, even as the LORD shall say unto me. So the princes of the Moabites abode with Balaam. And God came unto Balaam, & said: What men are these, which are with thee? Balaam said unto God: Balac the son of Ziphor the king of the Moabites hath sent unto me: Behold, there is a people come out of Egipte, and covereth the face of the earth, come now therefore, & curse me them, if peradventure I may be able to fight with them, & to drive them out. But God said unto Balaam: Go not with them, & curse not that people, for they are blessed. Then rose Balaam up in the morning, & said unto the princes of Balac: Get you unto your land, for the LORD will no● suffer me to go with you. And the princes of the Moabites got them up, came to Balac, & said: Balaam refuseth to come with us. Then sent Balac yet a greater company of princes, & more honourable than they. When they came to Balaam, they told him: Balac the son of Ziphor sendeth the this word: O refuse not to come unto me, for I will promote the unto high honour, & will do what so ever thou sayest unto me. Come I pray thee, curse me this people. Balaam answered, & said unto the servants of Balac: Nu. 24. c If Balac would give me his house full of silver & gold, yet could I not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do little or great. Nevertheless tarry you here this night, that I may weet, what the LORD will say more unto me. Then came God to Balaam by night, & said unto him: If the men are come to call thee, get the up then, and go with them: but what I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. Then rose Balaam up in the morning, & saddled his Ass, & went with the princes of the Moabites. But the wrath of God waxed hot, because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way, to withstand him. But he road upon his Ass, & two servants with him. And the Ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, & his sword drawn in his hand. And the Ass turned a side out of the way, & went in to the field. But Balaam smote her, that she should go in the way. Then stood the angel of the LORD in the path by the vynyardes, where there were walls on both the sides. And when the Ass saw the angel of the LORD, she wrenshed unto the brickwall, & thrust balaam's foot unto the brickwall. And he smote her again. Then went the angel of the LORD farther, & stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn, neither to the right hand ner to the left. And when the Ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fallen down under Balaam. Then was balaam's wrath furious, & smote the Ass with a staff. Then opened the LORD the mouth of the Ass, and she said unto Balaam: What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me now three times? Balaam said unto the Ass: Because thou hast mocked me. O that I had a sword now in my hand, I would kill the. The Ass said unto Balaam: Am not I thy Ass, which thou hast ridden upon in the time unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? He said: No. Then opened the LORD the eyes of Balaam, that he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, & a drawn sword in his hand. And he inclined himself, & bowed down with his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him: Wherefore hast thou smitten thy Ass now three times? Behold, I am come out to resist thee, for that way is froward, & contrary unto me. And the Ass saw me, & avoided fro me three times: or else if she had not turned aside fro me, I had slain thee, & saved the Ass alive. Then said Balaam unto the angel of the LORD: I have sinned, for I wist not, that thou stodest in the way against me. And now if it displease thee, I will turn again. The angel of the LORD said unto him: Go with the men: but thou shalt speak nothing else, then that I shall say unto ye. So Balaam went forth with the princes of Balac. When Balac heard that Balaam came, he went out to meet him (in the cite of the Moabit●s that lieth on the coast of Arnon, which is on the uttermost border) & said unto him: Did not I send for that to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not then unto me? Thinkest thou that I am not able to promote the unto honor? Balaam answered him: Lo, I am come unto the Num. 23. c But how can I say any thing else, than that God putteth in my mouth? that I must speak So Balaam went with Balac, and they came unto the cite on the uttermost border of his land. And Balac slew oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam, and for the p●●●ces that were with him. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd in the morning, Balac took Balaam, and they went up to the high place of Baal, that from thence he might see unto the uttermost part of the people. And Balaam said unto Balac: Build me here seven altars, and provide me here seven bullocks, and seven rams. Balac did as Balaam said. And both Balac and Balaam offered, on every altar a bullock & a ram. And Balaam said unto Balac: stand thou by that burned offering, I will go, if haply the LORD will meet me, & call me, that I may tell thee, what so ever he showeth me. And he went his way, as he said. And the LORD met Balaam. And Balaam said unto him: Seven altars have I prepared, and offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. The LORD put the word in balaam's mouth, and said: Go again unto Balac, and say on this wise. And when he came again unto him, behold, he stood by his burned offering, with all the princes of the Moabites. Then took he up his parable, & said: Balac the king of the Moabites hath caused to ●et me out of Syria from the mountains toward the East, (& said:) Come, curse me jacob: come, defy me Israel. How shall I curse, whom God curseth not? How shall I defy, whom the LORD defyeth not? For from the top of the stony rocks I see him, & from the hills I behold him. Behold, the people shall devil by themselves, & shall not be reckoned among the Heithen. Who can tell the dust of jacob, & the number of the fourth part of Israel? My soul die the death of the righteous, and my end be as the end of these. Then said Balac unto Balaam: What dost thou unto me? I caused to fet the for to curse mine enemies, & behold, thou blessest them. He answered & said: 〈…〉 Must I not keep & speak that, which the LORD putteth in to me mouth? Balac said unto him: Come with me yet unto another place, from whence thou mayest see the uttermost part of them, & not see them all, and curse me them there. And he took him up to a free place, even unto the top of Pisga, & builded seven altars, and offered on every altar a bullock & a ram. And he said unto Balac: stand so by thy burned offering, while I go yonder. And th● LORD met Balaam, & put the word in his mouth, & said: Go again unto Bala● & say on this wise. And when he came to him again, behold, he stood by his burned offering with the princes of the Moabites. And Balac said unto him. What hath the LORD said? And he took up his parable, & said: Rise up Balac & hear, mark my testimony with thy ears thou son of Ziphor. ●or. 1. a 〈◊〉 10. b God is not a man that he should lie, ner a man's child that any thing should repent him. Should he say and not do? Should he speak & not make it good? Behold, I am brought hither to bless, I bless, & can not go back there fro. There is no weariness seen in jacob, neither any labour in Israel. The LORD his God is with him, & the kings trumpet is among them. 〈◊〉. 24. b God hath brought them out of Egipte, his strength is as of an Unicorn. For there is no sorcery in jacob, & no Soyth sayer in Israel. When the time cometh, it shall be said unto jacob, & to Israel, what God doth. Behold, the people shall rise up as a Lioness, & have up himself as a Lyon. He shall not lie down, till he eat of the pray, and drink the blood of the slain. Then said Balac unto Balaam: Thou shalt neither curse him ner bless him. Balaam answered, & said unto Balac: Have I not told thee: All that the LORD speaketh, that must I do? Balac said unto him: O come, I will bring that to another place, if it may haply please God, that thou mayest curse them there. And he brought him up to the top of mount Peor, that boweth toward the wilderness. And Balaam said unto Balac: Build me here seven altars, and provide me seven bullocks and seven rams. Balac did as Balaam said, and offered on every altar a bullock und a ram. The XXIIII. Chapter. NOw when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD, that he should bless Israel, he went not (as he did before) to seek witches, but set his face strait toward the wilderness, lift up his eyes, and saw Israel, Num. 2. ● how they lay according to their tribes, and the spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his parable, and said: Nu. ●4. c Thus sayeth Balaam the son of Beor: Thus sayeth the man whose eyes are opened: Thus sayeth he which heareth the words of God, which saw the vision of the almighty: which fallen down, and his eyes were opened. How goodly are thy tents O jacob, and thy habitations O Israel? Even as the broad valleys, as the gardens by the water's side, as the tents which the LORD hath planted, & as the Cedar trees upon the water. The water shall flow out of his boket, and his seed shallbe a great water. His king shallbe higher than Agag, & his kingdom shallbe exalted. Nu. 23. d God hath brought him out of Egipte, his strength is as of an unicorn. He shall eat up the heathen his enemies, and grind their bones to powder, and shoot thorough them with his arrows. Goe 49. ● He hath laid him down as a Lion and as a Lioness. Who will raise him up? Blessed be he, that blesseth thee: and cursed, that curseth the. Then was Balac furious in wrath against Balaam, & smote his hands together, & said unto him: I have called thee, that thou shouldest curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast blessed than now three times: & now get the hence to the place. I thought that I would promote the unto honour, but the LORD hath kept the back from that worship. Balaam answered him: Told not I thy messaungers (whom thou sendedst unto me) & said: Nu. 22. c If Balac would give me his house full of silver and gold, yet could I not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either evil or good after mine own heart: but what the LORD speaketh, that must I speak also. And now behold, for so much as I go to my people, come therefore, I will show the what this people shall do unto the people after this tyme. And he took up his parable, and said: Thus sayeth Balaam the son of Beor: Nu. ●4. ● Thus sayeth the man, whose eyes are opened: Thus sayeth he which heareth the words of God, & that hath the knowledge of the highest, even he that saw the vision of the almighty, & fallen down, & his eyes were opened: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh at hand. Matt. 2. ● There shall a star come out of jacob, & a sceptre shall come up out of Israel, 2. Re. ●. ● and shall smite the rulers of the Moabites, and overcome all the children of Seth. 2. Re. ●. Edom shallbe his possession, and Seir shallbe his enemies possession, but Israel shall do manfully. Out of jacob shall come he that hath dominion, and shall destroy the remnant of the cities. And when he saw the Amalechites, he took up his parable, & said: Exo. 17. Amalec the first among the Heithen, 1. Re. 15. but at the last thou shalt perish utterly. And when he saw the Kenites, he took up his parable, & said: Strong is the dwelling, and on a rock hast thou put thy nest, nevertheless thou shalt be a burning unto Rain, till Assur take the prisoner. And he took up his parable again, & said: Alas, who shall live, when God doth this? And ships out of Citim shall subdue Assur and Eber. He himself also shall perish utterly. And Balaam got him up, and departed, and came again unto his place, and Balac went his way also. The XXV. Chapter. ANd Israel dwelled in Sittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of the Moabites, ●um. 33. ● which called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people ate and worshipped their gods, ●sal. 100LS. d ●os. 22. d and Israel submytted himself unto Baal Peor. Then the wrath of the LORD waxed hot upon Israel, and he said unto Moses: Take all the rulers of the people, and hang them up unto the LORD against the Son, that the terrible wrath of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel: Every man slay his captain, that have submytted them selves unto Baal Peor. And behold, one of the children of Israel went in against his brethren, ●●ut. 23. c & joined himself to a Madianitish woman, in the sight of Moses & of the whole congregation of the children of Israel, which weped before the door of the Tabernacle of witness. When Phineas the son of Eleasar the son of Aaron the priest saw that, Mac. ●. c he rose up out of the congregation, & took a sword in his hand, & went after the man of Israel in to the whore house, & thrust them thorough, both the man of Israel and the woman, even thorough the belly of her. Then ceased the plague from the children of Israel, Cor. 10. a and there were slain in the plague four and twenty thousand. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Phineas the son of Eleasar the son of Aaron the priest, ●cli. 45. c ●ac. ●. f hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel thorough his jealousy for my sake among them, that I should not consume the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore saye● behold, I give him my 〈…〉 covenant of peace, and he shall have it, & his seed after him, even the covenant of an ever lasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God's sake, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. The man of Israel that was slain with the Madianit●sh woman, was called Simri the son of Salu, a captain of the house of the father of the Simeonites. The Madianitish woman also that was slain, was called Coszbi, the daughter of Zur, which was a ruler of the people of a kindred among the Madianites. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Vex the Madianites, & smite them, 〈…〉 for they have vexed you with their wiles, whereby they have bigyled you thorough Peor, and thorough their sister Coszbi the daughter of a captain of the Madianites, which was slain in the day of the plague, for Peors' sake, and the plague came after. The XXVI. Chapter. ANd when the guilty blood was shed, the LORD said unto Moses & unto Eleasar the son of Aaron the priest: Take the sum of the whole congregation of the children of Israel from twenty year & above, after their father's houses, 〈…〉 all that are able to go forth to the war in Israel. And Moses & Eleasar the priest spoke unto them (in the field of the Moabites beside jordane over against jericho) namely unto all them that were twenty year old & above, as the LORD commanded Moses. And these are the children of Israel, that came out of Egipte. Reuben the first born son of Israel. 〈…〉 The childreme of Reuben were, Hanoch: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hanochites. Pallu● of whom cometh the kindred of the Palluites. Hesron: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hesronites. Carmi: of whom cometh the kindred of the Carmites'. These are the kindred's of the Rubenites. And the number of them was, three & forty thousand, seven hundredth & thirty. But the children of Pallu were, Eliab. And the children of Eliab were Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. This is that Dathan & Abiram, those famous men in the congregation, 〈…〉 which stood up against Moses and Aaron in the company of Corah, when they rose up against the LORD, & the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them with Corah, when the company died, what time as the fire consumed two hundredth & fifty men, & they become a token. But the children of Corah died not. The children of Simeon in their kindred's were, Nemuel: 〈…〉 of whom cometh the kindred of the Nemuelites. jamin: of whom cometh the kindred of the jaminites. jachin: of whom cometh the kindred of the jachinites. Sera: of whom cometh the kindred of the Sarahites. Saul: of whom cometh the kindred of the Saulites. These are the kindred's of the Simeonites, two & xx. M. & two hundredth. The children of Gad in their kindred's were Zephon: of whom cometh the kindred of the Zephonites. Haggi: of whom cometh the kindred of the Haggites. Suni: of whom cometh the kindred of the Sunites. Aseni: of whom cometh the kindred of the Asenites. Eri: of whom cometh the kindred of the Erinites. Arod: of whom cometh the kindred of the Arodites. Ariel: of whom cometh the kindred of the Arielites. These are the children of Gad, in their number forty thousand and five C. The children of juda, Er & Onan, which both died in the land of Canaan. 〈…〉 But the children of juda in their kindred's, were, Sela: of whom cometh the kindred of the Selanites. Phares: of whom cometh the kindred of the Pharesites. Serah: of whom cometh the kindred of the Serahites. The children of Phares, were Hesron: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hesronites. Hamul: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hamulites. These are the kindred's of juda, in their number, six and seventy thousand and five hundredth. The children of Isachar in their kindred's were, Thola: of whom cometh the kindred of the Tholaites. Phwa: of whom cometh the kindred of the Phwaites. jasub: of whom cometh the kindred of the jasubites. Simron: of whom cometh the kindred of the Simronites. These are the kindred's of Isachar, in number, four and three score thousand, & three hundredth. The children of Zabulon in their kindred's were, Sered, of whom cometh the kindred of the Seredites. Elon: of whom cometh the kindred of the Elonites. jahelel: of whom cometh the kindred of the jahelelites. These are the kindred's of Zabulon, in their number, three score thousand, and five hundredth. The children of joseph in their kindred's were, Manasses & Ephraim. The children of Manasse were, 〈◊〉. 17. a Machir: of whom cometh the kindred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead: of whom cometh the kindred of the Gileadites. And these are the children of Gilead, Hieser: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hieserites. Helech: of whom cometh the kindred of the Helechites. Asriel: of whom cometh the kindred of the Asrielites. Sichem: of whom cometh the kindred of the Sichemites. Simida: of whom cometh the kindred of the Simidites. Hepher: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hepherites. 〈◊〉. ●7. a ●ar. 8. b And Zelaphead was the son of Hepher, & had no sons, but daughters, whose names were: Mahela, Noa, Hagla, Milca and Thyrza. These are the kindred's of Manasse, in their number, two and fifty thousand and seven hundredth. The children of Ephraim in their kindred's were, Suthelah: of whom cometh the kindred of the Suthelahites. Becher: of whom cometh the kindred of the Becherites. Thahan: of whom cometh the kindred of the Thahanites. The children of Suthelah were, Eran: of whom cometh the kindred of the Eranites. These are the kindred's of the children of Ephraim, in their number, two and thirty thousand and five hundredth. These are the children of joseph in their kindred's. The children of Ben jamin in their kindred's were, Bela: of whom cometh the kindred of the Belaites. Aszbel: of whom cometh the kindred of the Aszbelites. Ahiram: of whom cometh the kindred of the Ahiramites. Supham: of whom cometh the kindred of the Suphamites. Hupham: of whom cometh the kindred of the Huphamites. And the children of Bela were, Ard & Naeman: of whom cometh the kindred of the Ardites & Naemanites. These are the children of Ben jamin in their kindred's, in number, five & forty thousand and six hundredth. The children of Dan in their kindred's were, Suham: of whom cometh the children of the Suhamites. These are the kindred's of Dan in their generations, & they were all together in number, four and threescore thousand & four hundredth. The children of Asser in their kindred's were, jemna: of whom cometh the kindred of the jemnites. jesui: of whom cometh the kindred of the Jesuits. Bria: of whom cometh the kindred of the Bryites. And the children of Bria, were Heber: of whom cometh the kindred of the Hebrites. Melchiel: of whom cometh the kindred of the Melchielites. And the daughter of Asser was called Sarah. These are the kindred's of the children of Asser, in their number, three and fifty thousand and four hundredth. The children of Nephtali in their kindred's were, jaheziel: of whom cometh the kindred of the jahezielites Guni: of whom cometh the kindred of the Gunites. jezer: of whom cometh the kindred of the jezerites. Sillem: of whom cometh the kindred of the Sillemites. These are the kindred's of the children of Nephtali in their generations, in their number, five & forty thousand and four hundredth. This is the sum of the children of Israel: six hundredth thousand, Eccli. 16. ● a thousand seven hundredth and thirty. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Unto these shalt thou divide the land to inheritance, according to the number of the names. ●um. 32. f ●o●u. 11. d To many shalt thou give the more inheritance, and to few the less, unto every one shall be given according to their number: yet shall the land be divided by lot. according to the names of the tribes of their fathers shall they enheret it: for after the lot shalt thou divide their inheritance, both betwixt many and few. And this is the sum of the Levites in their kindred's. Gerson: of whom cometh the kindred of the Gersonites. Kahath: of whom cometh the kindred of the Kahathites. Merari: of whom cometh the kindred of the Merarites. These are the kindred's of Levi, the kindred of the Libnites, the kindred of the Hebronites, the kindred of the Mahelites, the kindred of the Musites, the kindred of the Corahites. Kahath begat Amram. And Amrams' wife was called jochebed a daughter of Levi, Exod. 6. c which was born him in Egipte: And unto Amram she bore Aaron & Moses, & Miriam their sister. And unto Aaron were born Nadab, Levi. 10. a Num●. 3 a Abihu. Eleasar & Ithamar. As for Nadab & Abihu, they died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD. And the sum of them was three & twenty thousand, Num. 3. f all males from five months & above. For they were not numbered among the children of Israel, for there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel. This is the sum of the children of Israel, whom Moses & Eleasar the priest numbered in the field of the Moabites beside jordane over against jericho: Among whom there was not one of the sum of those children of Israel, Num. 1. f whom Moses & Aaron the priest numbered in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD said unto them, Nu. 14. c that they should die in the wilderness. And there was not one of them left, save Caleb the son of jephune and josua the son of Nun. The XXVII. Chapter. ANd the daughters of Nu. 26 d Nu. 36. a ●osu. 17. a Zelaphead the son of Hepher the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasse, among the kindred's of Manasse the son joseph (whose names were, Mahela, Noa, Hagla, Milca, & Thirza) came & stood before Moses & Eleasar the priest, & before the rulers & the whole congregation, even before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, & said: Our father is deed in the wilderness, & was not in the company of them that rose up against the LORD in the congregation of Corah: Nu. 16. a but died in his own sin, and had no sons. Wherefore should our fathers name perish then among his kindred, though he h●ue no son? give us a possession also ambage our father's brethren. Moses brought their cause before the LORD. And the LORD said unto him: The daughters of Zelaphead have spoken right. Thou shalt give them a possession to inhered among their father's brethren, & shalt turn their father's inheritance unto them. And say unto the children of Israel: When a man dieth & hath no son, you shall turn his inheritance unto his daughter. If he have no daughter, you shall give it unto his brethren. If he have no brethren, you shall give it unto his father's brethren. If he have no fathers brethren, you shall give it unto his next kynszfolke which belong unto him in his kindred, that they may possess it. This shallbe an ordinance and a perpetual law unto the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD said unto Moses: 〈…〉 Get the up in to this mount Abarim, & behold the land, which I shall give unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou shalt be gathered unto the people 〈…〉 as Aaron the brother was gathered: for you were dishobedient unto my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, when you should have sanctified me, thorough the water before them. 〈…〉 This is the water of strife at Cades in the wilderness of Zin. And Moses spoke unto the LORD & said: O let the LORD God of the spretes of all flesh set a man over the congregation, which may go in & out before them, & to lead them out & in, that the congregation of the LORD be not as the sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said unto Moses: 〈…〉 Take unto the josua the son of Nun, which is a man in whom is the spirit, and put thy hands upon him, & set him before Eleasar the priest, and before the whole congregation, and give him a charge in their sight, & beutyfye him with thy beauty, that the whole congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient unto him. And he shall stand before Eleasar the priest, which shall a●e council for him after the manner of the 〈…〉 light, before the LORD. At the mouth of him shall both he and all the children of Israel with him, and the whole congregation go in and out. Moses did as the LORD commanded him, & took josua, and set him before Eleasar the priest, and before all the congregation, and 〈…〉 laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD said unto Moses. The XXVIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: Command the children of Israel, & say unto them: The offering of my bread which is my offering of the sweet savour, shall you keep in his due season, that you may offer unto me. 〈…〉 And say unto them: These are the offerings that you shall offer unto the LORD: Lambs of a year old which are without blemish, every day two for a daily burned offering: the one lamb in the morning, the other at even. And thereto a tenth deal of an Epha of fine flower for a meat offering, 〈…〉 mingled with beaten oil of the fourth part of an Hin, this is a daily burned offering, which you offered upon mount Sinai, for a sweet savour of a sacrifice unto the LORD: And the drink offering of the same, the forth part of an Hin to a lamb, and this shallbe poured in the Sanctuary for a gift unto the LORD. The other lamb shalt thou prepare at even (like as the meat offering in the morning) & the drink offering thereof, for a sacrifice of a sweet savour unto the LORD. On the Sabbath day, two lambs of a year old without blemish, & two tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil, & the drink offering thereof. This is the burntoffering of every Sabbath, beside the daily burned offering, with his drink offering. And on the first day of your months you shall offer a burned offering unto the LORD: two young bullocks, a ram, seven lambs of a year old without blemish, and allway three tenth deals of fine flower for a meat offering mingled with oil unto every bullock: two tenth deals of fine flower for a meat offering mingled with oil unto the ram: and a tenth deal of fine flower for a meat offering mingled with oil unto every lamb. This is the burned offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice unto the LORD. And their drink offerings shallbe, half an Hin of wine unto every bullock, the third part of an Hin to the ram, the forth part of an Hin to every lamb. This is the burned offering of every month in the year. There shallbe offered an he goat also for a sin offering unto the LORD, to the daily burned offering with his drynk-offering. ●xo. 12. c ●eui. 23. a ●eut. 16. a And on the fourteen day of the first month is the Easter unto the LORD, and on the fifteen day of the same month is the feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. The first day shallbe an holy convocation: Not servile work shall you do therein, and you shall offer a burned offering unto the LORD: two young bullocks, one ram, Leu●. ●●. ● seven lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meat offering: three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil to either bullock, and two tenth deals to the ram, and one tenth deal to every lamb among the seven lambs. And an he goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. And these shall you offer in the morning, besides the burned offering, which is a daily burned offering. After this manner shall you offer the bread every day seven days long for an offering of a sweet savour unto the LORD, to the daily burned offering, and drink offering also. And the seventh day shall be called an holy convocation with you: no servile work shall you do therein. And the day of the first fruits (when you offer the meat offering of the month unto the LORD in your weeks) shall be an holy convocation also: No work of bondage shall you do therein. And you shall offer a burned offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD: two young bullocks, a ram, Levi. 23▪ ● seven lambs of a year old, with their meat offerings: three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil to every bullock, two tenth deals to the ram, and one tent deal to every lamb of the seven lambs. And an he goat to make an atonement for you. This shall you do, besides the daily burned offering with his meat offering and his drink offering. Without blemish shall they be all. The XXIX. Chapter. ANd the first day of the seventh month shall be with you an holy convocation. Levi. 23▪ ● No servile work shall you do therein, for it is the day of your trumpet blowing. And you shall offer a burned offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD: a young bullock, a ram, seven lambs of a year old without blemish. And their meat offerings: three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil to the bullock, two tenth deals to the ramme, and one tenth deal unto every lamb of the seven lambs. An he goat also for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you, beside the burned offering of the month & his meat offering, & beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering & with their drink offerings, according to the manner of them for a sweet sauor. This is a sacrifice unto the LORD. 〈◊〉. 16. g The tenth day of this seventh month shallbe an holy convocation with you also, and you shall humble your souls, and do no servile work therein, but offer a burned offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour: a young bullock, a ram, seven lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meat offerings: three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil to the bullock, two tenth deals to the ramme, & one tenth deal to every one of the seven lambs. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the sin offering of the atonement, and the daily burned offering with his meat offering, and with his drink offering. 〈◊〉. 2●. f The fifteenth day of the seventh month shall be an holy convocation with you, no servile work shall you do therein, and seven days shall you keep a feast unto the LORD. And you shall offer the LORD a burned offering for a sacrifice of a sweet savour unto the LORD: thirteen young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meat offerings: three tenth deals of fine flower mingled with oil to every one of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to either of the two rams, & one tenth deal to every one of the fourteen lambs: & an he goat for a sin offering, beside the day lie burned offering with his meat offering and his drink offering. On the second day, twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish with their meat offeges and drink offerings to the bullocks, to the rams and to the lambs in the number of them according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering, and with his drink offering. On the third day, eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old with out blemish, with their meat offerings, and drink offerings to the bullocks, to the rams and to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering and his drynk-offering. On the fourth day, ten bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old with out blemish, with their meat offerings and drink offerings, to the bullocks, to the rams, and to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering, & his drink offering. On the fifth day, nine bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meat offerings & drink offerings to the bullocks, to the rams & to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering and his drink offering. On the sixte day, eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meat offerings & drink offerings to the bullocks, to the rams, & to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering and his drink offering. On the seventh day, seven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of a year old with out blemish, with their meat offerings and drink offerings to the bullocks, to the rams, and to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for a sin offering, beside the daily burned offering with his meat offering and his drynk-offering. On the eight day shall you gather the people together, No servile work shall you do therein. And you shall offer a burned offering for a sacrifice of a sweet savour unto the LORD. A bullock, a ram, seven lambs of a year old without blemish, with their meatofferynges and drink offerings to the bullock to the ram, and to the lambs in their number according to the manner. And an he goat for ● s●n offering, beside the daily burntoffering with his meat offering & his drink offering. These things shall you do unto the LORD in your feasts, beside that you vow and give of a free-will for burned offerings, meatofferynges, drink offerings and health offerings. And Moses told the children of Israel all that the LORD commanded him. The XXX. Chapter. ANd Moses spoke unto the rulers of the tribes of the children of Israel, and said: This is it that the LORD hath commanded: 〈…〉 If any man make a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath, so that he bind his soul, he shall not break his word, but do all that is proceeded out of his mouth. If a damsel make a vow unto the LORD, and bind hirself, while she is in her father's house, and unmarried, and her vow or bond that she maketh over her soul, cometh to her father's ears, & he hold his peace thereto, them all her vows & bonds that she hath bound herself withal over her soul, shall stand in effect. But if her father forbid her the same day that he heareth it, them shall no vow ner bond that she hath bound herself withal over her soul, be of veil. And the LORD shallbe merciful unto her, for so much as her father forbade her. If she have an husband, & hath a vow upon her, or if she have let go out of her lips a bond over her soul, & her husband hear it, & holdeth his peace thereat, the same day that he heareth it, than her vow & bond wherewith she hath bound herself over her soul, shall stand in effect. But if her husband forbid her the same day that he heareth it, then is the vow louse that she hath upon her, & the bond also that she hath let go out of her lips over her soul, and the LORD shallbe gracious unto her. The vow of a widow, & of her that is divorced, all that she bindeth herself withal over her soul, shall stand in effect upon her. If she vow in her huszbandes' house, or bind herself with an oath over her soul, & her husband hear it, & hold his peace thereto, and forbiddeth it not, them shall all the same vow, & all that she hath bound herself with all over her soul, stand in effect. But if her husband disanulle it, the same day that he heareth it, then is it of no value that is proceeded out of her lips, which she hath vowed or bound over her soul: for her husband hath made it louse, & the LORD shallbe gracious unto her. And all vows & oothes that bind to humble the soul, may her husband establish or break, thus: If he hold his peace thereto from one day to another, then stablisheth he all her vows & bonds, that she hath upon her, because he held his peace, the same day that he heard them. But if he disanulle them after that he hath heard them, then shall he take away her miszdede. These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses between a man & his wife, & between the father & his daughter, while she is yet a damsel in her father's house. The XXXI. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses, & said: 〈…〉 Avenge the children of Israel of the Madianites, that thou mayest afterward be gathered unto the people. Then spoke Moses unto the people, & said: Harness some men among you to the war against the Madianites (that they may avenge the LORD upon the Madianites) out of every tribe a thousand, that out of every tribe of Israel you may send some to the battle. And from among the thousands of Israel they tok● one thousand out of every tribe, even twelve thousand prepared unto the battle. And Moses sent them with Phineas the sonn● of Eleasar the priest in to the battle, and the holy vessels and the trumpets to blow in his hand. And they fought against the Madianites as the LORD commanded Moses, & slay all the males, & the king of the Madianites slay they also among the other that were slain namely, Eui, Rekem, Zur, Her and Reba, the five kings of the Madianites. And they slay 2. Pet. 2. ● Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. And the children of Israel took the women of the Madianites presoners, & their children: all their cattles, all their substance, and all their goods spoilt they, and all their cities of their dwellynges & castles burned they with fire. And they took all the spoils, & all that they could catch men & cattles, and brought them unto Moses & to Eleasar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel (namely the presoners, and the cattles that were taken, and the good that was spoiled) in to th● host in the field of the Moabites, which lieth beside jordane over against jericho. And Moses and Eleasar the priest and all the captains of the congregation, Gen. 14▪ ● went out of the host to meet them. And Moses was angry at the officers of the host, which were captains over thousands and hundreds, that came from the battle, and said unto them: Have you saved all the women alive? Behold, Num. 25 ● Apo. ●. c have not they (thorough balaam's business) turned away the children of Israel to sin against the LORD upon Peor, & their came a plague over the whole congregation of the LORD? jud. ●1. b Now therefore slay all the males among the children, & kill all the women that have known men & lyen with them. But all the women children that have known no men ner lain with them, keep those alive for yourselves. And lodge you without the host, Nu. 19 b all that have slain any man, or touched the slain, that on the third and seventh day you may purify your selves and those whom you have taken presoners. And all the clotheses, and all stuff that is made of szkynnes, and all manner furs, and all vessels of wood shall you purify. And Eleasar the priest said unto the captains of the host, that went out to the battle: This is the statute of the law, which the LORD commanded Moses: Gold, silver brass, iron, tin and lead, and all that suffereth the fire, shall you 'cause to go thorough the fire, and cleanse it, that it may be purified with the sprenckling water. As for all such as suffereth not the fire, you shall 'cause it to go thorough the water, and shall wash your clotheses upon the seventh day. and then shall you be clean. After that shall you come in to the host. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Deu 20. b and 22. b jos. 8. f 2. Mac. 8. c Take the sum of the spoil of those that are taken, both of women and of cattles, thou and Eleasar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation, and give the half unto those that took the war upon them, and went out to the battle, and the other half to the congregation. And of the men of war that went out to the battle, thou shalt have unto the LORD one soul of five hundredth, both of the women, oxen, Asses and sheep: Of their half part shalt thou take it, and give it unto Eleasar the priest for an Have offering unto the LORD. But of the children of Israel's half part, thou shalt take one head of fifty, both of the women, oxen, Asses and sheep, and of all the cattles, and shalt give them unto the Levites, that wait upon the habitation of the LORD. And Moses and Eleasar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. And the spoil and pray which the men of war had spoiled, was six hundredth thousand and five and seventy thousand sheep, two and seventy thousand oxen, one & three score thousand Asses: and the women that had known no men ner lyen with them, were two and thirty thousand souls. And the half part which belonged unto them that went to the war, was in number three hundredth thousand, and seven and thirty thousand, and five hundredth sheep: of the which the LORD had six hundredth, & five and seventy sheep. Item six and thirty thousand oxen: whereof the LORD had two & seventy. Item thirty thousand & five hundredth Asses: whereof the LORD had one & three score. Item sixteen thousand souls of women: whereof the LORD had two & thirty. And Moses gave this have offering of the LORD unto Eleasar the priest, as the LORD commanded him. As for the other half which Moses divided unto the children of Israel from the men of war (namely the half that fallen to the congregation) it was also three hundredth thousand, and seven and thirty thousand, & five hundredth sheep, six and thirty thousand oxen, thirty thousand & five hundredth Asses, and sixteen thousand women souls. And of this half of the children of Israel took Moses one of every fifty, both of the cattles & of the women, and gave them unto the Levites, that waited upon the habitation of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. And the captains over the thousands of the host, namely they that were over thousands and over hundreds, came forth unto Moses, and said unto him: Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war, that were under our hand, and there lacked not one: therefore bring we a present unto the LORD, what every one hath found of jewels of gold, chains, bracelets, rings, earinges, and taches, that our souls may be reconciled before the LORD. And Moses and Eleasar the priest took of them the gold of all manner ornaments. And all the gold of the Have offering that they heaved unto the LORD, was sixteen thousand and seven hundredth and fifty Sycles, of the captains over thousands and hundreds. For look what every one had spoiled, that was his own. And Moses with Eleasar the priest took the gold of the captains over thousands and hundreds, and brought it in to the Tabernacle of witness for a remembrance of the children of Israel before the LORD. The XXXII. Chapter. THe children of Reuben and the children of Gad had an exceeding great multitude of cattles, and saw the land of jaeser and Gilead that it was a meet place for cattles, and came & spoke unto Moses and to Eleasar the priest, and to the captains of the congregation: The land of Atroth, Dibon, jaesar, Nimra, Hesz●ō, Eleale, Seban, Nebo, & Beon, which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a meet land for cattles, and thy servants have many cattles. And they said moreover: If we have found favour before thee, them give thy servants this land in possession, and we will not go over jordane. Moses said unto them: Your brethren shall go to the war, and will you tarry here? Wherefore turn you the hearts of the children of Israel, that they should not go over in to the land that the LORD shall give them▪ 〈…〉 Thus did your fathers also, when I sent them out from Cades Bernea, to spy out the land. And when they were come up to the river of Escol, and saw the land, they turned the hearts of the children of Israel, so that they would not into the land which the LORD would have given them. And the LORD was wroth at the same time, 〈…〉 & swore, & said: These men that are come out of Egipte, from twenty year old & above, shall not see the land which I swore unto Abraham, Isaac and jacob, because they have not wholly followed me: save Caleb the son of jephune the Renisite, & josua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. So the LORD was wroth with▪ Israel, & let them wander in the wilderness forty years, till all the generation that had done evil before the LORD, was consumed. And behold, you are risen up in your father's stead, to increase the number of sinful men, & to augment yet the wrath & indignation of the LORD against Israel. For if you turn you back from following him, he shall yet leave them more in the wilderness, & so shall you destroy all this people. Then stepped they to him, & said: we will but build shepefoldes here for our sheep & ca●ell, & cities for our children: As for our selves, we will go ready armed before the children of Israel, till we have brought them unto their place: Our children shall remain in the fenced cities, because of the indwellers of the land. We will not turn home again, till the children of Israel have taken every one his inheritance in possession: for we will not inherit with them beyond jordane: for our inheritance shall fall unto us upon this side jordane Eastward. Moses said unto them: 〈…〉 If you will do this▪ that you will harness yourselves to the war before the LORD, then go over jordane before the LORD, who so ever is harnessed among you, till he have driven out his enemies before his face, and until the land be subdued before the LORD, then shall you return, & be unguilty before the LORD, and before Israel, & so shall you have this land in possession before the LORD. But if you will not do so, behold, you shall offend against the LORD, and be sure, that your sin shall find you out. Build cities now therefore for your children, and shepefoldes and stalls for your sheep and cattles, and do as you have spoken. The children of Gad, & the children of Reuben said unto Moses: Thy servants shall do as my lord hath commanded. Our children, wives, substance, & all our cattles, shall be in the cities of Gilead. But we the servants will go all harnessed for the war unto battle before the LORD, as my lord hath said. Then Moses commanded Eleasar the priest & josua the son of Nun, & the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, and said unto them: If the children of Gad & the children of Reuben go over jordane with you, all prepared to fight before the LORD, jos. 4. c & when the land is subdued unto ye●, them give them the land of Gilead 〈◊〉 possession. Butler if they go not over with 〈…〉 harness, then shall they inherit with you in the l●de of Canaan. The children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, & said: As the LORD hath spoken unto the servants, so will we do: we will go harnessed before the LORD in to the land of Canaan, and possess our inheritance on this side jordane. So Moses gave unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Deut. ●. b jos. 22. ●. d and to the half tribe of Manasse the son of joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og the king of Basan, the land with the cities thereof in all the coasts of the country round about. Then the children of Gad builded Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth, Sophan, jaeser, & jegabeha, Bethnimra, & Betharan, strong fenced cities, & sheep folds. The children of Reuben builded Heszbon, Eleale, Kiriathaim, Nebo, Baal Meon, & turned the names, & Sibamas & gave names unto the cities which they builded. And the children of Machir the son of Manasse went in to Gilead, & conquered it, and drove out the Amorites that were therein. Then Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasse, & he dwelled therein. jair the son of Manasse went and conquered the vyllagies thereof, and called them Havoth jair. Nobah went, and conquered Kena●h, with the towns belonging thereto, and called it Nobah, after his own name. The XXXIII. Chapter. THese are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went out of the land of Egipte according to their armies, 〈◊〉 Moses & Aaron. And Moses written their 〈◊〉 out as they journeyed, after the commandment of the LORD. And these (namely) are the yourneyes of their outgoing. Exod. 12. f They departed from Raemses upon the fifteen day of the first month (even the morrow after the Easter) thorough an high hand, so that all the Egipcians saw, and buried then their first born, whom the LORD had slain among them: for the LORD executed judgement also upon their gods. When they were departed from Raemses, they pitched in Sucoth. And from Sucoth they departed, & pitched their tents in Ethan, which lieth in the edge of the wilderness. Exod. 1●. d From Etham they departed, and abode in the valley of Hiroth (which lieth toward Baal Zephon) & pitched over against Migdol. Exo. 14. a From Hyroth they departed, Exo. 14. e & went in thorough the mids of the see in to the wilderness, and went three days journey in the wilderness of Etham, & pitched in Marah. Exo. 15. d From Marah they departed, and came unto Elim, wh●re there were twelve wells of water, and seventy palm trees, & and there they pitched▪ Exo. 16. a From Elim they departed, and pitched by the reed see. From the reed see they departed, and pitched in the wilderness of Sin. From the wilderness of Sin they departed, and pitched in Daphka. From Daphka they departed, and pitched in Alus. From Alus they departed, and pitched in Raphidim, Exo. 17. a where the people had no water to drink. From Raphidim they departed and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai. Exo. 19 a From Sinai they departed, and pitched at the Lustgraves. Num. 10 b Num. 11. g From the Lustgraves' they departed, and pitched in Hazeroth. * Nu. 12. b From Hazeroth they departed, & pitched in Rithma. From Rithma they departed, and pitched in Rimon Parez. From Rimon Parez they departed, and pitched in Libna. From Libna they departed, and pitched in Rissa. From Rissa they departed, & pitched in Kehelatha. From Kehelatha they departed, & pitched in mount Sapher. From mount Sapher they departed, & pitched in Harada. From Harada they departed, pitched in Makeheloth. From Makeheloth they departed, & pitched in Tahath. From Tahath they departed, and pitched in Tharah. From Tharah they departed, and pitched in Mitka. From Mitka they departed, and pitched in Hasmona. From Hasmona they departed, and pitched in Mosseroth. Deut. 10. b From Mosseroth they departed, and pitched in Bne jaekon. From Bne jaekon they departed, and pitched in Horgadgad. From Horgadgad they departed, & pitched in jathbatha. From jathbatha they departed, and pitched in Abrona. From Abrona they departed, and pitched in Ezeon gaber. From Ezeon gaber they departed, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Cades. Nu. 20. a From Cades they departed, and pitched at mount Hor, Nu. 20. d Deu. 10. b on the border of the land of Edom. Then Aaron the priest went up unto mount Hor (according to the commandment of the LORD) and died there in the fourtyeth year, after that the children of Israel departed out of the land of Egipte, in the first day of the fift month, when he was an hundredth and three and twenty year old. Andrea Arad the king of the Canaanites, which dwelled in the south country of Canaan heard that the children of Israel came. And from mount Hor they departed, and pitched in Zalmona. From Zalmona they departed, and pitched in Phimon. From Phimon they departed, 〈…〉 and pitched in Oboth. From Oboth they departed, and pitched in Igim by Abarim upon the border of the land of the Moabites. From Igim they departed, and pitched in Dib●● Gad. From Dibon Gad they departed, and pitched in Almon Diblathama. From Almon Diblathama they departed and pitched in the mountains of Abarim over against Nebo. From the mountains of Abarim they departed, and pitched in the field of the Moabites beside Io●dane over against jericho. From Beth haiesmoth unto the plain of Sitim lay they in the field of the Moabites. 〈…〉 And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the field of the Moabites, by jordane over against jericho, and said: Speak to the children of Israel, and say unto them: When you are come over jordane in the land of Canaan, 〈…〉 you shall drive out all the inhabiters before your face, and pluck down all their pilers, and all their images of metal, and destroy all their 〈…〉 high places: that you may so take the land in possession and devil therein For I have given you the land to enjoy it. And the land shall you divide out by lot among your kindred's. Unto those that are many, shall you divide the more: And unto them that are few, shall you divide the less. Even as the lot falls there unto every one, so shall he have it, according to the tribes of their fathers. But if you will not drive out the inhabiters of the land before your face, 〈…〉 than they whom you suffer to remain, shall become thorns in your eyes, and darts in your sides, & shall vex you in the land where you devil. Then will it come to pass, that I shall do unto you even as I thought to do unto them. The XXXIIII. Chapter. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: Command the children of Israel, and say unto them: When you come into the land of Canaan, the land that falls to your inheritance, shall have her borders in the land of Canaan. The South quarter shall begin at the wilderness of Zin by Edom, so that your South quarter be from the edge of the Salt see, which lieth toward the South: and that the same quarter fet a compass from the South up to Acrabim, & go thorough Zimma: & that his out going be from the South unto Cades Barnea, & reach unto Hazor Adar, and go thorough Azmona, and stretch out from Azmona unto the river of Egipte, and that the end thereof be at the great see. But the West quarter shall be this: namely the great see, let that be your border toward the West. The North quarter shallbe this: You shall compass from the great see unto mount Hor. And fro mount Hor you shall compass till a man come unto Hemath, that the out going thereof be the coast of Zedada, and that the border of the same go out unto Siphron, and that the going out of it be at Hazor Enan. Let this be your North quarter. And your East quarter shall you compass from Hazor Enan unto Sephan, & let the coast go down from Sephan and Ribla on the East side of Ain. Then let it go down, & reach unto the side of the see of Chinereth East ward, and come down by jordane, so that the going out of it be the Salt see. Let this be your land with the borders thereof round about. And Moses commanded the children of Israel, and said: This is your land that you shall divide out among you by lot, which the LORD hath commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe. 〈◊〉. 32. f For the tribe of the children of Reuben after their father's house, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to their father's house, and the half tribe of Manasse have received their portion. Thus the two tribes and the half tribe have their inheritance already, on this side jordane, over against jericho, Eastward. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, and said: 〈◊〉. 3. 〈…〉 4. a These are the names of the men, which shall divide the land among you. Eleasar the priest, and josua the son of Nun. And the captain of every tribe shall you take, to divide the land. And these are the names of the men: Caleb the son of jephune of the tribe of juda. Semuel the son of Ammihud of the tribe of Simeon. Elidad the son of Cislon of the tribe of Ben jamin Buki the son of jagli of the tribe of the children of Dan. Hamuel the son of Ephod, of the tribe of the children of Manasse among the children of joseph. Kemuel the son of Siphthan, of the tribe of the children of Ephraim. Elizaphan the son of Parnach, of the tribe of the children of Zabulon. Palthiel the son of Asan, of the tribe of the children of Isachar. Abihud the son of Selomi, of the tribe of the children of Asser. Pedahel the son of Ammihud, of the tribe of the children of Nephtali. These are they whom the LORD commanded, that they should divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan. The XXXV. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto Moses in the field of the Moabites by jordane over against jericho, & said: Command the children of Israel, josu. ●1. a that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession, cities to devil in. The suburbs also about the cities shall you give unto the Levites, that they may devil in the cities, and in the suburbs to have their cattles, and substance, and all their beestes. The suburbs which you give unto the Levites, shall reach from the brickwall of the cite outward, a M. cubits round about. Thus you shall measure without the cite on the East side, two thousand cubits: & on the South side, two thousand cubits: & on the West side, two thousand cubits: & on the North side, two thousand cubits, so that the cite be in the mids. This shall be their suburbs. josu. 20. a And among the cities which you shall give unto the Levites, you shall give them six free cities, that he which committeth a slaughter, may fly thither. Besides the same you shall give them yet two & forty cities: so that all the cities which you give unto the Levites, be eight & forty with their suburbs. And of the same you shall give the more, from than that have much in possession among the children of Israel: & the less from them, that have little in possession. Every one (according to his inheritance that is divided unto him) shall give of his cities unto the Levites. And the LORD talked with Moses & said: Speak to the children of Israel, & say unto them: Exo. 21. b Deut. 19 a When you come over jordane in to the land of Canaan, you shall choose out cities to be free cities, that who so committeth slaughter unawares, may fly thither. And such free cities shallbe among you because of the avenger of blood, that he which hath committed slaughter, die not, till he stand in judgement before the congregation. And of these cities which you shall give, there shallbe six free cities. Three shall you give on this side jordane, and three in the land of Canaan. These are the six free cities, both for the children of Israel & for the strangers, & for such as devil among you, that who so ever hath slain any soul unawares, may fly thither. Exo. 21. b He that smiteth any man with an iron weapon, that he die, the same is a murderer, & shall die the death. If he cast at him with a stone (wherewith any man may be slain) that he die thereof, then is he a murderer, and shall die the death. If he smite him with an handweapon of wood (wherewith any man may be slain) that he die, then is he a murderer, and shall die the death. The avenger of blood shall bring the murderer to death. When he findeth him, he shall slay him. If he thrust at him of hate, or cast aught at him with laienge of wait, or smite him of envy with his hand, that he die, then shall he that hath slain him, die the death: for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall bring him to death, as soon as he findeth him. But if he thrust him by chance, & not of envy, Deu. 19 a or hurl aught at him without any laying of wait, or cast at him with a stone (whereof a man may die, & saw it not) so that he die, & is not his enemy, neither thought him any evil, them shall the congregation judge between him that hath committed the slaughter, and the avenger of blood, in such cases. And the congregation shall deliver the deed slayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, & shall let him come again to the fire cite, whither he was fled: & there shall he abide unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. But if the deed sleyer go out of the borders of his fire cite, that he was fled unto, and the avenger of blood find him without the borders of his fire cite, and kill him, he shall not be guilty of blood. For he should have bidden in his fire cite until the death of the high priest, & after the high priests death to come again unto the land of his inheritance. This shallbe a statute of the law unto you among your posterities in all your dwellings. The deed slayer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses. Deu. 17. b and 19 c One witness shall not answer over a soul to death. And you shall receive none atonement over the soul of the deedslayer (for he is guilty of death) but he shall die the death. And you shall receive none atonement of him, which is fled to the fire cite, that he should come again to devil in the land, till the high priest die. And defile not you the land wherein you devil. For who so is guilty of blood, defileth the land: and the land can not be reconciled from the blood that is shed therein, but only thorough the blood of him that shed it. Defile not you the land that you devil in, wherein I devil also. For I am the LORD, which devil among the children of Israel. The XXXVI. Chapter. ANd the chief fathers of the kindred of the children of Gilead the son of Machir (which was the son of Manasse of the kindred of the children of joseph) came forth, and spoke before Moses, and before the captains among the chief fathers of the children of Israel, and said: Sir, the LORD hath 〈…〉 commanded, that you should give the land by lot unto the children of Israel to inheret. And thou my lord hast commanded thorough the LORD, 〈…〉 that the inheritance of our brother Zelaphead should be given unto his daughters. Now if any men out of the tribes of Israel take them to wives, then shall our father's inheritance be less: and as much as they have, shall come to the inheritance of the tribe that they come unto. Thus shall the lot of our inheritance be mynished. So when the year● of jubilee cometh unto the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance come to the inheritance of the tribe, where they are. Thus shall our father's inheritance be mynished, as much as they have. Moses charged the children of Israel (according to the commandment of the LORD) and said: The tribe of the children of joseph hath said right. This is it that the LORD commandeth the daughters of Zelaphead, and sayeth: 〈…〉 Let them marry as they like best, only that they marry in the kindred of the tribe of their father, that the inheritance of the children of Israel fall not from one tribe to another. For every one among the children of Israel shall cleave to the inheritance of the tribe of his father: & every daughter that possesseth any inheritance among the tribes of the children of Israel, shall be married unto one of the kindred of the tribe of her father: 〈…〉 that every one among the children of Israel may enjoy his father's inheritance, and that the inheritance fall not from one tribe to another: but that every one may cleave to his own inheritance among the tribes of the children of Israel. As the LORD commanded Moses, even so did the daughters of the Zelaphead, Mahela, Thirza, Hagla, Milca & Noa & were married unto their father's brothers sons, of the kindred of the children of Manasse the son of joseph. So their inheritance remained in the tribe of the kindred of their father. These are the commandments & laws, which the LORD commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel, in the field of the Moabites by jordane over against jericho. The end of the fourth book of Moses, called Numerus. The fifth book of Moses, called Deuteronomion. What this book containeth. Chap. I Moses putteth the children of Israel in remembrance of the great benefits that they have received of God, and rebuketh them for their unthankfulness and myszbeleve. Chap. II They are commanded not to fight against Seir, the Moabites and Ammonites. But Sihon the king of the Amorrites is delivered unto them. Chap. III Og the king of Basan is slain, the land taken in, and destroyed▪ Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse have their inheritance on this side jordane. josua is ordained in Moses stead. Chap. four After he hath rehearsed unto them the benefits of God, he exorteth them to keep his commandments, that they forget them not. freedom for such as commit slaughter unawares. Chap. V He rehearseth the commandments of God unto them again, & exorteth them earnestly to keep them. Chap. VI He telleth them of the statutes & ordinances of God, exortinge them to keep them, and to teach their children the same. Cahp. VII. They are commanded (when they come in the land of Canaan) to make no friendship ner to keep company with the people thereof, but utterly to rote them out, and not to be afraid of them. Chap. VIII. He exorteth them, not to forget the commandments of God, but to remember what singular kindness God hath showed them, & from what troubles he hath delivered them. And giveth the land that they are to go unto, a good report. Chap. IX. He warneth them that they ascribe not the goodness that God hath done for them, to their own power: for if he had served them after their own deserving, he had destroyed them everichone. Chap. X. He proceedeth forth in telling them their wickedness, & how they departed from Be Chap. XI. considering the multitude (roth. of the benefits of God that they had received and the pleasant land that they were to receive, he exorteth them again to keep God's commandments. Chap. XII. He describeth unto them again the statutes & ordinances of the LORD. Chap. XIII. How men shall know false prophets and how they aught to be punished. Chap. XIIII. For so much as they are a clean people of God, they are commanded to avoid the customs of the Heythen, as in shaving their heads, in eating certain meres, & Chap. XU. Of the seventh year (whereof thou readest also in the XXV. chapter of the third book of Moses) & how the poor folks and bond men ought to be entreated. Chap. XVI. The feast of Easter, whitsunday, and of tabernacles. Chap. XVII. Certain statutes. The office of kings and judges. Chap. XVIII. The portion of the Levites. Of the prophet that is promised unto the people, and how the false prophets may be known. Chap. XIX. Of the free cities for the deedslayers. How many witnesses are to be accepted in a matter, and how the false ought to be punished. Chap. XX. A godly ordinance concerning war and striking of battle. Chap. XXI. What aught to be done with one that is found slain in the field, and with a woman which is taken prisoner. Children that will not obey father and mother, are to be stoned to death. The deed bodies may not hang still upon the tree. Chap. XXII. Of love toward a man's nehgboure, with diverse other commandments. How a man shall order himself with his wife, whom he found no maiden. Chap. XXIII. What they are, that may not come in to the congregation of the LORD, and other commandments. Chap. XXIIII. Of divorcement, of the freedom of him that is new married, with other commandments concerning love toward a man's neighbour. Chap. XXV. How the judge aught to punish, & how one brother should raise up seed to another Of true weights and measures, and destroying of Amaleck. Chap. XXVI. Of the first fruits and tithes, how they are to be brought with praise and thankesuing unto God. Chap. XXVII. Of the stones to be set up beyond jordane, and the commandments of God to be written thereon. Of the blessing and cursing upon the two mountains. Chap. XXVIII. Sweet and gracious promises for all such as love the commandments of God to do them. Again, marvelous sore and fearful plagues, threatened unto all them that regard not God's word. Chap. XXIX. The covenant is renewed in the land of Moab. Moses putteth them in mind of the loving benefits of God, that they may be steadfast in the LORD. Chap. XXX. Of the merciful kindness of God, if men will hearken unto his voice, and convert from their own evil ways. Of his sore punishment ●f they will not obey. Chap. XXXI. josua is given unto the people, to be their captain in Moses stead. A prophecy that they will forsake the way of God, & be punished therefore. Chap. XXXII. The song of Moses, which goeth up to the mount, & saith the land of promise, but cometh not in to it. Chap. XXXIII. A sweet blessing, wherewith Moses blesseth the people before his death. Chap. XXXIIII. Moses goeth up to the mount, where he dieth. The children of Israel make lamentation for him. The first Chapter. THese are the words that Moses spoke unto all Israel on the other side jordane in the wilderness, in the plain field toward the reed see, between Paran, Thophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Disahab, eleven days journey from Horeb, by the way of mount Seir unto Cades Bernea. And it fortuned the first day of the eleventh month in the fortieth year, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel according unto all as the LORD commanded him, Num. 3●. d after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites which dwelled at Heszbon: and Og the king of Basan, that dwelled at Astaroth, and at Edrei. On the other side jordane in the land of the Moabites, began Moses to declare this law, and said: The LORD our God spoke unto us upon mount Horeb, & said: You have been long enough upon this mountain, turn you, & departed hence, that you may come to the mountains of the Amorites, and to all their neighbours in the fields, upon mountains, and in the valleys toward the South and toward the see side, of the land of Canaan: and to mount Libanus, even unto the great water Euphrates. Behold, I have delivered you the land, go in, and take it in possession, which the LORD swore unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and jacob, e'en. 15. d ●nd 17. b that he would give it unto them, and their seed after them. Then said I unto you at the same time: I am not able to bear you myself alone, Exod. 18. c for the LORD your God hath increased you, so that this day you are as the stars of heaven in multitude. (The LORD God of your fathers make you yet many thousand times more, & bless you, as he hath promised you.) How can I alone bear such cumbrance, & charge, & strife among you? provide here men of wisdom & understanding, such as are known among your tribes, them will I set to be heads unto you. Then answered you me, and said: It is a good thing, that thou sayest thou will't do▪ Then took I the heads of your tribes, wise and famous men, and set them over you to be heads, over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty and over ten: and officers among your tribes. And I charged your judges at the same time, & said: Hear your brethren, & 〈…〉 judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger. You shall know no person in judgement, but shall hear the small as well as the great, and be afraid of no man: for the judgement is Gods. But if any cause be to hard for you, 〈…〉 let it be brought unto me, that I may hear it. Thus commanded I you at the same time, all that you should do. Then departed we from Horeb, and walked thorough the whole wilderness (which is great and terrible as you have seen) by the way to the mountains of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commauded us, and came unto Cades Bernea. Then said I unto you: You are come to the mountains of the Amorites, which the LORD our God shall give us. Behold, there the land before thee, which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee: Go up, & conquer it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee: 〈…〉 fear not, and be not discouraged. Then came you all unto me, and said: Let us send men before us, 〈…〉 to spy us out the land, and to bring us word again, by what way we shall go up, and to what cities we shall come. That pleased me well, and I took twelve men from among you, of every tribe one. Which when they were departed, and went up to high country, and came to the river Escol, they spied it out, and took of the fruit of the land with them, 〈…〉 and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said: It is a good land, that the LORD our God hath given us. But you would not go up, and were dishobedient unto the mouth of the LORD your God, and murmured in your tents, and said: Because the LORD hateth us, therefore hath be brought us out of the land of Egipte, to deliver us in to the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us. Wither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, 〈…〉 & said: The people is greater & of higher stature than we, the cities are great, & walled even up to heaven. moreover we have seen there the children of Enakim. But I said unto you: Fear not, and be not afraid of them: for the LORD your God goeth before you, and shall fight for you, like as he dealt with you in Egipte before your eyes, and in the wilderness: where thou sawest, that the LORD thy God bore thee (even as a man beareth his son) thorough out all the way that you have walked, till you came to this place. And yet for all this you have not believed on the LORD your God, which went before you, to search you out a place, where you should pitch your tents: 〈◊〉. 9 c ●od. ●3. d by night in the fire (to show you the way, wherein you should go) & on the day time in the cloud. When the LORD heard the voice of your words, 〈◊〉▪ 94. b 〈◊〉. 14. c 〈◊〉 ●6. g he was wroth, and sworn, and said: There shall none of this evil generation see that good land, which I swore to give unto your fathers, except Caleb the son of jephune, 〈◊〉. 14. b he shall see it. And unto him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, & to his children, because he hath perfectly followed the LORD. The LORD was angry with me also for your sakes, 〈◊〉. 20. b 〈◊〉. c. 34. a and said: Thou also shalt not go in thither. But josua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: Courage him, for he shall divide the inheritance out unto Israel. And your children, 〈◊〉. 14. d of whom you said they should be a pray, and your sons which this day understand neither good ner bade, they shall go in thither, unto them will I give it, and they shall enjoy it. But as for you, turn you, and take your journey to the wilderness, even the way to the reed see. 〈◊〉. 14. f Then answered you, & said unto me: We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up, and fight, according to all that the LORD hath commanded us. Now when you had prepared your selves, every one in his harness, & were at the point to go up to the mountains, the LORD said unto me: Speak unto them, that they go not up, & that they fight not (for I am not among you) that you be not smitten before your enemies. When I told you this, you would not hear, & were dishobedient unto the word of the LORD, and were presumptuous, and went up to the mountains. Then the Amorites that dwelled upon the mountains, came out against you, and chased you, as Bees do, and smote you at Seir, even unto Horma. Now when you came again, and wept before the LORD, he would not hear your voice, and inclined not his ears unto you. Nu. 20. ● So you abode in Cades a long season. The II Chapter. THen turned we us, and took our journey to the wilderness, Nu. 21. a even the way to the reed see (as the LORD said unto me) and compassed mount Seir a long season. And the LORD said unto me: You have compassed this mountain now long enough, turn you Northward, and command the people, and say: You shall go thorough the coasts of your brethren the children of Esau, which devil at Seir: & they shall be afraid of you. But take diligent heed to your selves, that you provoke them not: for I will not give you one foot breadth of their land. Gen. 36. ● Mal. 1. a For mount Seir have I given to the children of Esau to possess. You shall buy meat of them for money, that you may eat. And water shall you buy of them for money, that you may drink. For the LORD thy God hath blessed the in all the works of thy hands. He hath considered thy journeys thorough this great wilderness: and this forty years hath the LORD thy God been with thee, so that thou hast wanted nothing. Now when we were departed from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwelled upon mount Seir, by the way of the field from Elath & Ezeon gaber, we turned us, & went by the way of the wilderness of the Moabites. Then said the LORD unto me: judic. 3. ● Thou shalt not vex the Moabites, ner provoke them unto battle, for I will not give thee of their land to possess. For Ar have I given unto the children of Lot in possession. Gen. 14. ● The Emims dwelled there before time, which were a great strong people, & high of stature, as the Enakims': and were taken for giants, like as the Enakims'. And the Moabites called them Emims. Gen. 36. ● The Horites also dwelled in Seir afore time, & the children of Esau drove them out, and destroyed them before them, & dwelled in their stead: like as Israel did in the land of his possession, that the LORD gave them. Get you up now, & go over the river Sared. And we went over. The time that we were going from Cades Barnea, till we came over the river Sared, was eight & thirty years: till all the men of war were waysted out of the host, Nu. 14. c and 26. ● as the LORD swore unto them. The hand of the LORD also was against them, to destroy them out of the host, till they were consumed. And when all the men of war were consumed, so that they were deed among the people, the LORD spoke unto me, and said: This day shalt thou go thorough the coast of the Moabites by Are, & shalt come nigh unto the children of Ammon, ● dic. 11. f whom thou shalt not vex ner provoke. For I will not give the of the land of the children of Ammon to possess, for I have given it unto the children of Lot in possession. It was taken for a land of giants also, & giants dwelled therein afore tyme. And the Ammonites call them Samsumims, which was a people that was great, many, and of high stature, as the Enakims'. And these the LORD destroyed before them, and let them possess the same, so that they dwelled in their stead. ●en. 36. d Like as he did with the children of Esau, which devil upon mount Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them: and let them possess the same, so that they have dwelled in their stead unto this day. And the Caphthorims came out of Caphther, and destroyed the Auims (that dwelled at Hazarim even unto Gaza) & there dwelled they in their stead. Get you up now, and depart, and go over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given Sihon the king of the Amorites at Heszbon in to thy hand: go to and conquer, and provoke him unto battle. This day will I begin, so that all nations under all the heaven, shall fear & dread thee: In so much that when they hear of thee, they shall tremble and quake for thy coming. Then sent I messaungers from the wilderness of the East unto Sihon the king at Heszbon ●eu. 20. b with peaceable words, ●um. 21. c and caused to say unto him: I will go but thorough the land, I will go a long by the high way, I will neither turn to the right hand ner to the left. Thou shalt cell me meat for money, that I may eat: & water shalt thou cell me for money, that I may drink. Only let me go thorough by foot, 〈◊〉. 20. c as the children of Esau (which devil at Seir) did unto me: and the Moabites that devil at Ar: until I be come over jordane, in to the land which the LORD our God shall give unto us. Butler Sihon the king at Heszbon would not let us go by him: for the LORD thy God herdened his mind, & made his heart tough that he might deliver him in to thy hands, as it is come to pass this day. And the LORD said unto me: Behold, I have begun to deliver Sihon with his land before thee: go to and conquer, and possess his land. 〈…〉 And Sihon came out with all his people to fight against us at jahza. But the LORD our God delivered him in to our hands, so that we smote him with his children and all his people. Then took we all his cities at the same time, and destroyed utterly all the cities, men, women, and children, and let none remain: save the cattles, which we caught to our selves, & the spoil of the cities that we wan from Aroer, which lieth upon the river side of Arnon, and from the cite on the river unto Gilead. There was no cite that could defend itself from us: the LORD our God delivered us all before us. 〈…〉 But unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, ner to all that was on the river jabok, ner to the cities upon the mountains, ner unto what so ever the LORD our God forbade us. The III Chapter. ANd we turned us, & went up the way unto Basan. 〈…〉 And Og the king of Basan, came out with all his people to fight against us at Edrei. But the LORD said unto me: Be not afraid of him, for I have delivered him & all his people with his land in to thy hand: & thou shalt do with him, as thou didst with Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelled at Heszbon. 〈…〉 Thus the LORD our God delivered Og the king of Basan in to our hands also with all his people: so that we smote him, till there was nothing left over unto him. Then wan we at the same time all his cities, & there was not one cite that we took not from him, even three score cities, the whole region of Argob in the kingdom of Og at Basan. All these cities were strong, with high walls, gates, and bars, beside many other unwalled towns. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did with Sihon the king at Heszbon. Deu. 〈…〉 All the cities destroyed we utterly, and the men, women, and children. But all the cattles and spoil of the cities caught we for our selves. Thus took we at the same time the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites beyond jordane, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon (which the Sidons call Sirion, but the Amorites call it Senir) all the cities upon the plain, and all Gilead, and all Basan unto Salcha and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og at Basan. For only Og the king of Basan remained over of the giants. Behold, his iron bed is here at Rabath among the children of Ammon, nine cubits long, and four cubits broad, after the cubit of a man. This land conquered we at the same time, from Aroer that lieth on the river of Arnon. 〈◊〉. 32 f 〈◊〉▪ 29. b 〈◊〉▪ 1● a And unto the Rubenites and Gaddites I gave half mount Gilead with the cities thereof: but the remnant of Gilead, & all Basan the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasse. The whole region of Argob with all Basan was called the giants' land. jair the son of Manasse took all the region of Argob unto the coasts of Gessuri and Maachati, and Basan called he Havoth jair after his own name, unto this day: But unto Machir I gave Gilead. And unto the Rubenites and Gaddites I gave one part of Gilead unto the river of Arnon (at the mids of the river is the border) and unto the river jabok, which is the border of the children of Ammon: the field also, and jordane (which is the coast) from Cinereth unto the see in the field, namely, the Salt see under mount Pisga, Eastward. 〈…〉 And I commanded you at the same time, and said: The LORD your God hath given you this land to take possession of it, Go your way forth therefore harnessed before your brethren the children of Israel, all you that be meet for the war. As for your wives, and children and cattles (for I know that you have much cattles) let them remain in your cities, which I have given you, until the LORD your God have brought your brethren to rest also as well as you, that they also may take possession of the land, which the LORD your God shall give them beyond jordane: and then shall you turn again to your own possession, which I have given you. 〈…〉 And I warned josua at the same time, and said: Thy eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: even so shall the LORD do also unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest. Fear them not, for the LORD your God shall fight for you. And I besought the LORD at the same time, & said: O LORD LORD, thou hast begun to show the servant thy greatness and thy mighty hand. For where is there a God in heaven & earth, that can do after the works and after thy power? O let me go & see that good land beyond jordane, that goodly high country, and Libanus. But the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and would not hear me, Deu. 1. f and 4. c but said unto me: Be content, speak no more to me of this matter. Nu. 27. c Get the up to the top of mount Pisga, and lift up thy eyes toward the west, and toward the north, and toward the south, and toward the east: and behold it with thy eyes, for thou shalt not go over this jordane. Andrea give josua his charge, and courage him, and bold him, for he shall go over jordane before the people, Nu▪ ●4. c josu. 14. a and shall divide unto them the land, that thou shalt se. * Nu. 25. a And so we abode in the valley over against the house of Peor. The four Chapter. ANd now hearken Israel unto the ordinances and laws, which I teach you that you do them, that you may live, and come in, & take possession of the land, which the LORD God of your fathers giveth unto you. Deut. 12· d josu. 23. b Pro 30. a You shall put nothing unto the word which I command you, neither do ought there from, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the LORD hath done with Baal Peor: all them that walked after Baal Peor, Num. 25. a and 31. c Exo. 3●. f hath the LORD thy God destroyed from among you. But you that cleave unto the LORD your God, are all alive this day. Behold I have taught you ordinances and laws, soc● as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do even so in the land, in to the which you shall come, to possess it. Keep them now therefore and do them: Psal. 1●. b for that is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of all nations, which when they have heard all these ordinances, shall say: O what a wise and understanding folk is this? and how excellent a people? For where is there so excellent a nation, that hath gods so nigh him, as the LORD our God is nigh unto us, Psa. 144. ● as often as we call upon him? And where is there so excellent a nation, that hath so righteous ordinances and laws, as all this law which I lay before you this day. Take heed to thyself now, and keep well thy soul, that thou forget not the things which thy eyes have seen, and that they depart not out of thy heart all the days of thy life. Deut. 6. d And thou shalt teach them thy children and thy childers children, the day when thou stodest before the LORD thy God by mount Horeb, when the LORD said unto me: Gather me the people together, that I may make them hear my words, which they shall learn, that they may fear me all the days of their life upon earth, Ephe▪ 6. a & that they also may teach their children. And you came nigh, & stood under the mount. But the mount burned even unto the mids of heaven, and there was darkness, clouds, and mist. And the LORD spoke unto you out of the mids of the fire. The voice of his words you heard, nevertheless you saw no image, 1. joh. 4. b but heard the voice only. * Exo. 20. a Andrea he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, namely, the ten verses, and written them upon two tables of stone. And the LORD commanded me at the same time, to teach you ordinances & laws that you might do thereafter in the land, in to the which you go to possess it. Keep well your souls therefore, for you saw no manner of image, in the day when the LORD spoke unto you out of the fire upon mount Horeb, Deut. 3. a that you destroy not your selves, and make you any image, that is like a man, or woman, or be'st upon earth, or feathered foul under the heaven, or worm upon the ground, or fyszshe in the water under the earth: Deut. 17. b Sap. 13. a job. 31. c that thou lift not up thy eyes toward heaven, and see the Son and the Moon & the stars, and the whole host of heaven, and be deceived, and worship, and serve them: Gen. 1 b 4. Esd. 6. e Mat. 5. e which the LORD thy God hath made to serve all nations under the whole heaven. But you hath the LORD taken, and brought you out of the iron furnace, Deut. 6 c and. ●2. b namely, out of Egipte, that you should be the people of his inheritance, as it is come to pass this day. And the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, Nu. 27. c Deut. 1 f and 3. e so that he swore, that I should not go over jordane, ner come in to that good land, which the LORD thy God shall give the to inheritance. As for me, Deu. 34. a I must die in this land, and shall not go over jordane: But you shall go over, and shall have that good land in possession. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, that you forget not the convenant of the LORD your God, and that you make no images of any manner of faszhion Exe. 20. a as the LORD thy God hath commanded. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire and a jealous God. Heb. 12. d If when you have begotten children, and childers children, and have dwelled in the land, you mar yourselves, Deut. ●. d ●ere. 16. b & make you images of any manner of faszhion, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God, to provoke him: Deut· 30. d ●nd 3●. g I call heaven and earth to record over you this day, that you shall shortly p●rishe from the land, in to the which you go over jordane to possess it. You shall not devil long therein, but shall utterly be destroyed. And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations and you shall be left a small people among the heathen, 〈…〉 whither the LORD shall bring you. There shall you serve gods, which are the works of men's hands, even wood & stone, which neither see ner hear, ner eat ner smell. But if thou seek the LORD the God there thou shalt find him, 〈…〉 ye if thou seek him with thy whole heart and with all the soul. When thou shalt be strately troubled, & when all these things shall come upon the in the latter days, then shalt thou turn again to the LORD thy God, and be obedient unto his voice. For the LORD the God is a merciful God, he shall not forsake thee, ner destroy thee: neither shall he forget the covenant with thy fathers, 〈…〉 which he swore unto them. For axe after the times past, which have been before thee, since the day that God created man upon earth, from one end of the heaven unto the other, whether there was ever any such great thing done, or any such like herd, that a people hath herd the voice of God speak out of the fire (as thou hast herd) & yet lived. Or whether God assayed to go & take unto him a people out of the mids of a nation, thorough tentations, thorough tokens, thorough wonders, thorough war, & thorough a mighty hand, & thorough a stretched out arm, and thorough great visions, according unto all as the LORD your God hath done with you in Egipte before thy eyes. Thou hast seen it, that thou mightest know that the LORD is God, 〈…〉 and that there is none other but he only. * Out of heaven made he the to hear his voice, that he might nurture thee: and upon earth he showed the his great fear, & out of the fire thou herdest his words: 〈…〉 because he loved the fathers, & chose their seed after them. And he brought that out with his presence thorough his mighty power out of Egipte, to drive out (before thee) nations greater and mighter than thou, and to bring the in, that he might give the their land to inheritance, as it is come to pass this day. Therefore shalt thou know this day, & turn it into thy heart, 〈…〉 that the LORD is God above in heaven, and beneath upon earth, and that there is no more. Keep his ornaunces therefore and commandments, which I command the this day, them shall it go well with the and thy children after thee, so that thy life shall long endure in the land, which the LORD the God giveth the thy life long. Then separated Moses three cities beyond jordane, 〈…〉 toward the Son rising, that he might fly thither, which had slain his neighbour unawares, & hated him not afore time, that he might fly in to one of these cities, & live. Bezer in the wilderness in the plain country among the Rubenites, & Ramoth in Gilead among the Gaddites, & Golan in Basan among the Manassites. This is the law which Moses laid before the children of Israel: these are the testimonies, ordinances, & laws, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel (after they were departed out of Egipte) beyond jordane in the valley over against the house of Peor, in the land of Zion king of the Amorites which dwelled at Heszbon, 〈…〉 whom Moses & the children of Israel smote after they were departed out of Egipte, & conquered his land, & the land of Og king of Basan, two kings of the Amorites which were beyond jordane toward the Son rising from Aroer (which lieth upon the river side of Arnon) unto mount Zion, which is Hermon: & all the plain field beyond jordane eastward unto the see in the plain field under mount Pisga. The V Chapter. ANd Moses called all Israel, & said unto them: Hear Israel the ordinances & laws which I speak in your ears this day: learn them, & keep them so, that you do thereafter. 〈◊〉. 19 a The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb: he made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, that are here this day, and live every one. He talked with us face to face out of the fire upon the mount. I stood at the same time betwixt the LORD and you, that I might show you the word of the LORD. For you were afraid of the fire, & went not up to the mount, and he said: 〈…〉. a I am the LORD thy God, which have brought the out of the land of Egipte, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods in my sight. 〈◊〉. 4. c Thou shalt make the no graven image of any manner of likeness of the things that are above in heaven, & beneath upon earth, & in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not honour them, ner serve them. 〈◊〉. 34. a 〈◊〉 1. a For I the LORD the God am a jealous God, vysitinge the sin of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation, of them that hate me: & show mercy upon many thousands that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD the God in vain: Leu. 24. ● for the LORD shall not hold him unguilty, that taketh his name in vain. Keep the Sabbath day, Exo. ●●. b that thou sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded the. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but upon the seventh day it is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: Not manner work shalt thou do in it, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy servant, and thy maid, and thy ox, and thy Ass, and all thy cattles, and the stranger which is within thy gates, that thy servant and thy maid may rest as well as thou. For thou shalt remember, that thou thyself also waste a servant in the land of Egipte, and how that the LORD thy God brought the out from thence with a mighty hand, and a stretched out arm. Therefore hath the LORD the God commanded that to keep the Sabbath day. Honour thy father and thy mother, Exo. 21. b Mat. ●5. a Ephe. 6. a as the LORD thy God hath commanded the that thou mayest live long upon earth, and that it may go well with the in the land, which the LORD thy God shall give the. Math. 5. c Rom. 13. b Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not break wedlock. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt bear no false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not Rom. 7. b and 13 b lust after the neighbours wife. Thou shalt not lust after thy neighbours house, land, servant, maid, ox, Ass, or what so ever he hath. These are the words that the LORD spoke to all your congregation, upon the mount out of the fire of the cloud and darkness with a great voice, and added nothing thereto. Exo. ●1. ● And he written them upon two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. But when you heard the voice out of the darkness, and saw the mount burn with fire, you came unto me all you rulers among your tribes, and your Elders and said: Behold, the LORD our God hath showed us his glory & his greatness, and we have herd his voice out of the fire. This day have we seen, that God may talk with a man, and he yet live. And now wherefore should we die, that this fire▪ should consume us. If we should hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, we should die. For what is all flesh, that it should be able to hear the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have done, and yet live? Go thou and hear all that the LORD our God sayeth, and tell us. ●xo. 19 b All that the LORD sayeth unto thee, that will we hear and do. When the LORD heard the voice of your words which you spoke unto me, he said unto me: I have herd the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto ye. It is all good that they have spoken. ●er. 24. b and 31. f But who shall give them such an heart, that they may fear me, & keep all my commandments as long as they live, that it may go well with them, and with their children for ever? God & say unto them: Get you in to your tents again. But thou shalt stand here before me, that I may tell the all the commandments, and ordinances and laws which thou shalt teach them that they may do thereafter in the land, which I shall give them to possess. Take heed now therefore that you do, as the LORD your God hath commanded you, Deut. 17. c and turn not aside neither to the right hand ner to the left: but walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you shall have in possession. The VI Chapter. THese are the commandments, ordinances & laws which the LORD your God hath commanded, that you should learn them, & do them, in the land whither you go to possess it, Deut. 10. c that thou mayest fear the LORD the God, & keep all his ordinances & commandments, which I command thee, thou and the children, and the childers children all the days of your life, that you may live long. Thou shalt hear (O Israel) & take heed, that thou do thereafter, that it may go well with thee, & that thou mayest multiply greatly, as the LORD God of the fathers hath promised the a land that floweth with milk & honey. Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD only. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, Mat. 22. d Mat. 12 c Luc. 10. c with all the soul, & with all thy might. * Deut. 11. c And these words, which I command the this day, shalt thou take to heart, & shalt whet them upon the children, and shalt talk of them, when thou sittest in thine house, & when thou walkest by the way: when thou liest down, & when thou risest up. Andrea thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be a token of remembrance before thy eyes, and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and upon thy gates. Now when the LORD the God shall bring the in to the land whereof he swore unto the fathers Abraham, Isaac, & jacob, and shall give the great & goodly cities, which thou hast not builded: and houses full of all goods, which thou hast not filled: & digged wells which thou hast not digged: and vynyardes and olive trees, which thou hast not planted, so that thou eatest and art full: then beware that thou forget not the LORD, which brought the out of the land of Egipte, from the house of bondage: 〈…〉 but thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, and swear by his name. 〈…〉 And you shall not follow the other gods of the nations which are about you (for the LORD thy God is a jealous God in the midst of thee) that the wrath of the LORD thy God wax not hot over thee, 〈…〉 and destroy the from the earth. You shall not tempt the LORD your God, 〈…〉 * as you tempted him at Massa: but keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his witnesses, & his ordinances, which he hath commanded thee, that thou mayest do that which is right & good in the sight of the LORD, that thou mayest prosper, and that thou mayest go in & conquer that good land, which the LORD swore unto the fathers, that he may chase out all thy enemies before thee, as the LORD hath said. Now when thy son axeth the today or tomorrow, and sayeth: 〈…〉 What mean these witnesses, ordinances and laws, that the LORD our God hath commanded you? Then shalt thou say unto thy son: We were pharao's bondmen in Egipte, and the LORD brought us out of Egipte with a mighty hand, and the LORD did great & evil tokens & wonders in Egipte upon Pharaoh and all his house before our eyes, and brought us from thence, to bring us in and to give us the land, that he swore unto our fathers. And therefore hath the LORD commanded us to do according unto all these ordinances, that we might fear the LORD our God, that we might prosper all the days of our life, as it is come to pass this day. And it shall be righteousness unto us before the LORD our God, if we keep and do all these commandments, as he hath commanded us. The VII. Chapter. When the LORD the God bringeth the in to the land where in to thou shalt come to possess it, & roteth out manations before thee: the hittites, Girgo●ites Amorites, Canaanites, Pheresites, He●ites, and jebusites, seven nations which are greater and mightier than thou: 〈…〉 and when the LORD thy God delivereth them before thee, that thou mayest smite them, thou shalt utterly destroy them, so that thou make no covenant with them, nor show them favour, and shalt make no marriages with them: You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, ner take their daughters unto your sons. 〈…〉 For they will make your sons depart fro me, to serve strange gods: then shall the wrath of the LORD wax hot upon you, and destroy you shortly. 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 33. f But thus shall you do with them: You shall overthrow their altars, break down their pilers, cut down their groves, & burn their images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. 〈…〉 The hath the LORD thy God choose, that thou shouldest be his own peculiar people, from among all nations that are upon the earth. It was not because of the multitude of you above all nations▪ that the LORD had lust unto you and choose you. (For you were the least among all nations) but because he loved you, and that he might keep the oath, 〈…〉 which he swore unto your fathers, he brought you out with a mighty hand, and delivered you from the house of bondage, out of the hand of Pharaoh king of Egipte. Thou shalt understand now therefore, that the LORD thy God is a mighty and true God, which keepeth covenant and mercy unto them that love him, 〈◊〉 20. a 〈◊〉 ●4. a and keep his commandments, even thorough out a thousand generations: And rewardeth them that hate him, before his face, that he may destroy them: and will not be long in tarrying to reward them (before his face) that hate him. Keep now therefore the commandments, and ordinances and laws, which I command the this day, that thou do thereafter. And if you shall hear these laws and keep them, 〈◊〉. 23. c 〈◊〉. 26. a 〈◊〉. 2●. a and do thereafter, then shall the LORD thy God also keep the covenant and mercy with thee, which he swore unto thy fathers: and shall love thee, bless thee, and multiply thee: he shall bless the fruit of the womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, wine and oil, the fruit of thy kine, and the fruit of thy sheep, in the land that he swore unto the fathers to give the. Blessed shalt thou be above all nations, there shall no unfruitful person be in thee, ner among thy cattles. The LORD shall put from the all manner of disease, and shall bring upon the none of the evil sicknesses of Egipte, Exo. ●. ● which thou hast seen, but shall put them upon all those that hate the. Thou shalt bring to nought all the nations, which the LORD thy God shall deliver the. Thy eye shall not spare them, and their gods shalt thou not serve, for that shallbe thy decay. If thou shalt say in thine heart: These nations are more than I, how can I drive them out? Fear them not. Deu. ●●. a josu. ●. a Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh and to all the Egipcians, thorough great tentations (which thou hast seen with thy eyes) thorough tokens and wonders, thorough a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, wherewith the LORD thy God brought the out. Even so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the nations of whom thou art afraid. The LORD the God also shall send hornettes among them, Exo. 23. d and 33. a jos. 24 c until they that remain and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. Be not thou afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is in the mids of thee, even the mighty and fearful God. He (even the LORD thy God) shall rote out the nations before the by little and little. Thou canst no● consume them at one time, Exo. 23. d that the beestes of the field increase not upon the. The LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee, and shall smite them with a great slaughter, till they be destroyed. And he shall deliver their kings in to thy hand, jos. 10.11.12 and thou shalt destroy their names from under heaven. There shall no man make the resistance before thee, until thou have destroyed them. The images of their gods shalt thou burn with fire, Deut. 13 c & shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them * jos. 7. ᵃ ●. Ma. 12. f or to take it unto thee, that thou snare not thyself therein: for it is abomination unto the LORD the God. Therefore shalt thou not bring the abomination in to thy house, that thou be not damned as it is, but shalt utterly defy it, and abhor it, for it is damned. The VIII. Chapter. ALl the commandments which I command the this day, shall you keep, so that you do thereafter, that you may live and multiply, and come in, and take possession of the land, which the LORD swore unto your fathers: and think upon all the way thorough the which the LORD thy God hath led the this forty years in the wilderness, Deut. 13. a jud. 2. d and 3. a that he might chasten thee, and prove thee, to weet what were in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his comaundementes or no. He chastened thee, and let the hunger, and fed the with Manna (which thou and thy fathers knew not) to make the know, Exo. 16. d Num. 11. b that * Mat. 4. a Luc. 4. a man liveth not by bread only, but by all that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD. Thy clotheses are not waxed old upon thee, Deut. 29. a and thy feet are not swollen this forty year. understand therefore in thy heart, that as a man nurtoureth his son, even so hath the LORD thy God nurtured the. Keep therefore the commandments of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways, and fear him. For the LORD thy God bringeth the in to a good land: A land where in are rivers of water, Deut. 11. b fountains and springs, which flow by the hills and valleys: A land wherein is wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates: A land wherein grow olive trees and honey: A land where thou shalt not eat bread in scarceness, and where thou shalt lack nothing: A land where the stones are iron, job 28. a where thou shalt dig brass out of hills: * Nu. 13 b 1. Co. 10. a 1. Tim. 4. a That when thou hast eaten and art filled, thou mayest praise the LORD thy God, for that good land, which he hath given the. beware now therefore, that thou forget not the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not keep his commandments, and his ordinances, and laws, which I command the this day: that (when thou hast eaten & art filled, and hast builded goodly houses, & dwellest therein, and when thy beestes and sheep, and silver, and gold, and all that thou hast, increaseth) thy heart rise not then, and thou forget the LORD thy God (which brought the out of the land of Egipte, Deut. 31. c Prou. 30. a from the house of bondage, and led the thorough this great & terrible wilderness, where were serpents that spouted fire, Num. 21. a and Scorpions, & drought, and where there was no water, and brought the water out of the hard flint, and fed the in the wilderness with Manna whereof the fathers knew not, that he might chasten thee, and prove thee) to do the good afterward) and jest thou say in thy heart: ●. Reg. 2. b My power and the might of mine own hand hath done me all this good: But that thou think upon the LORD thy God. For it is HE, Eze. 36. c Phil. 2. b which giveth the power to exercise strength, that he may perform the covenant, which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is come to pass this day. Butler if thou shalt forget the LORD thy God, Deut. 4. d and follow other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify over you this day, that you shall utterly perish. Even as the Heythen whom the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall you perish also, because you are not obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. The IX. Chapter. Hear O Israel, This day shalt thou go over jordane, that thou mayest come in to conquer the nations, which are greater and mightier than thou, 〈…〉 great cities, walled up unto heaven, a great people and of an high stature, namely the children of Enakim, whom thou hast known, and of whom thou hast heard say: Who is able to stand against the children of Enakim? Therefore shalt thou know this day, that the LORD the God goeth before thee, a consuming fire. He shall destroy them, and shal● subdue them before thee, and shall drive them out, & shortly shall he bring them to nought, as the LORD hath promised the. Now when the LORD thy God hath expelled them out before thee, say not thou then in thy heart: The LORD hath brought me in to take possession of this land for mine own righteousness sake, where as the LORD yet driveth out the heathen before thee, because of their ungodliness. 〈…〉 For thou comest not in to take their land in possession, for thy own righteousness sake, and because of thy right heart: but the LORD driveth out these heathen, for their own ungodliness sake, and that he may perform the word, which the LORD hath sworn unto the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob. understand now therefore, that the LORD the God giveth not the this land to possess it, for thy own righteousness sake. For thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember and forget not, how thou displeasedest the LORD thy God in the wilderness. Sense the day that thou departedst out of the land of Egipte, till you came unto this place, have you been dishobedient unto the LORD. For in Horeb you angered the LORD, 〈…〉 so that of wrath he would have destroyed you, when I was go up to the mount, to receive the tables of stone, namely the tables of the covenant 〈…〉 which the LORD made with you, and I abode forty days & forty nights upon the mount, and ate no bread, & drank no water: and the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, written with the finger of God, and in them was according to all the words, 〈…〉 which the LORD said unto you upon the mount out of the fire, in the day of the gathering together. And after the forty days and forty nights, 〈◊〉. ●1. d the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, namely the tables of the covenant, and said unto me: 〈◊〉 ●2. b up, & get the down quickly from hence, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of Egipte, have marred themselves, they are soon go out of the way, which I commanded them, and have made them a molten image. And the LORD said unto me: I see this people, that it is a stiffnecked people: let me alone, that I may destroy them, and put out their name from under heaven. I will make of the a people mightier and greater than this is. 〈…〉 And as I turned me, & went down from the mount which brent with fire, & had the two tables of the covenant in both my hands, I looked, & behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God, so that you had made you a molten calf, & were soon turned out of the way which the LORD had commanded you. Then took I the two tables, & cast them out of both my hands, & broke them before your eyes, & I fallen before the LORD 〈◊〉 34. d 〈◊〉 ●4. d (even as at the first time) forty days & forty nights, & neither ate bread, ner drank water, because of all your sins which you had sinned, when you did soch evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him unto wrath. For I was afraid of the wrath and indignation, wherewith the LORD was angry with you, even to have destroyed you. And the LORD heard me at that time also. 〈◊〉. 1●. b moreover the LORD was very angry with Aaron, so that he would have destroyed him, but I made intercession for Aaron also at the same tyme. As for your sin (namely, the calf that you had made) I took it, 〈…〉 and burned it with the fire, and smote it asunder, & grind it in pieces, even unto dust, and cast the dust in to the broken that descended from the mount. You displeased the LORD also, 〈◊〉. 11. a at Tabera, 〈◊〉. 17. b and at Massa, 〈◊〉 11. g and at the lustgraves, 〈◊〉. 13. d and when he sent you from Cades Barnea, and said: Go up, and conquer the land which I have given you. And you were disobedient unto the mouth of the LORD your God, and believed not on him, and herkened not unto his voice: 〈◊〉. 7. f for you have been disobedient unto the LORD, as long as I have known you. Then fallen I before the LORD forty days and forty nights, which I lay there. For the LORD said, he would destroy you. But I made intercession unto the LORD, and said: O LORD LORD, Exo. ●4. a Nu. ●4. b josu. 7. b destroy not the people and thy inheritance, which thou thorough thy great power hast delivered, and brought out of Egipte with a mighty hand. Remember thy servants Abraham, Isaac and jacob. Look not upon the stubborness, and ungodliness and sin of this people (that the land whereout thou hast brought us, say not: The LORD was not able to bring them in to the land, that he promised them, and because he hated them, therefore hath he brought them out, to destroy them in the wilderness:) For they are thy people & thy inheritance, which thou hast brought out with thy great power, and with thy stretched out arm. The X. Chapter. AT the same time said the LORD unto me: Exo. 34. a Hue the two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me in to the mount, and make that an Ark of wood, and in the tables I will write the words, that were in the first, Exo. 32. ● Deut. 9 which thou brakest, and thou shalt say them in the Ark. So I made an Ark of fir tree, and hewed two tables of stone (like as the first were) & went up into the mount, and the two tables were in my hand. Then written he in the tables (according as the first writing was) the ten verses, Exo. ●4. d and 24. c which the LORD spoke unto you out of the fire upon the mountain, at the time of the gathering together. And the LORD gave them unto me. And I turned me, & went down from the mount, and laid the tables in the Ark which I had made, Deu. 31. f that they might be there, as the LORD commanded me. And the children of Israel departed from Beroth & Bne Ia●kan unto Mosera (there * Nu. 20. d died Aaron, & there was he buried: Nu. 33. d & Eleasar his son become priest in his stead.) From thence they departed from Gadgad. From Gadgad to jathbath, a land of rivers of water. Nu. ●. 4.1● At the same season the LORD separated out the tribe of Levi, to bear the Ark of the lords covenant, and to stand before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to praise his name unto this day. Nu. 18. a josu. 13. d Therefore shall the Levites have no portion ner inheritance with their brethren: for the LORD is their inheritance, as the LORD thy God hath promised them. But I tarried upon the mount (like as afore) even forty days and forty nights, Deut. 9 d and the LORD heard me at that time also, and would not destroy the. But he said unto me: Up, & get the forth, that thou mayest go before the people, that they may come in, and conquer the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Now Israel, what requireth the LORD thy God of thee, Deut. ●. a josu. 22. a but that thou fear the LORD thy God, and that thou walk in all his ways, & love him, & serve the LORD the God with all thy heart, & with all thy soul: and that thou keep the commandments of the LORD, & his ordinances, which I command the this day, that thou mayest prosper? Behold, Psal. 25. a jere. 27. a the heaven & the heaven of all heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, is the LORDS the God. * Deu. 4. f Yeth hath he had a pleasure unto the fathers, to love them: and hath choose their seed after them, namely you, above all nations, as it is come to pass this day. circumcise therefore the foreszkynne of your heart, Deu. ●0. b & be no more stiffnecked. For the LORD your God is God of all gods, & LORD over all lords, a great God, mighty & terrible, which regardeth no person, & taketh no gifts, and doth right unto the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, to give him food & raiment. Exod. 22. c Therefore shall you love a stranger, for you yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egipte. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, him only shalt thou serve, Deut. 6. c unto him shalt thou cleave Matth. ●. d & swear by his name. He is thy praise & the God, which hath done for the these great & terrible things, that thy eyes have seen. Gen. 46. d Thy fathers went down in to Egipte with seventy souls, but now hath the LORD thy God made the Gene. 15. a Deut. ●● g as the stars of heaven in multitude. The XI. Chapter. Therefore shalt thou love the LORD the God, & keep his commandments, his ordinances, his laws, & his precepts all the life long. And understand this day, that which your children know not: Which have not seen the nurture of the LORD your God, & his greatness, & his mighty hand, & his stretched out arm, & his tokens and acts which he did among the Egyptians, unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte, & to all his land, & what he did to the power of the Egipcians, & unto their horses & charettes, when he brought the waters of the reed see upon them, Exo. 14 f as they followed after you, & how the LORD hath brought them to nought unto this day: & what he did unto you in the wilderness, until you came unto this place: Num. 16. c and 26. b what he did unto Dathan and Abiram the children of Eliab the son of Reuben, how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them with their households & tents all their good that they had in the mids among all Israel. For your eyes have seen the great works of the LORD, which he hath done. Therefore shall you keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong to come in, and to conquer the land, whither you go to possess it, & that you may live long in the land, 〈…〉 which the LORD swore unto your fathers, to give unto them and to their seed, even a land that floweth with milk and honey: For the land whither thou comest in, to possess it, is not as the land of Egipte, whence you came out, where thou sowedest thy seed, and waterdest it at thy foot as a garden of herbs: but it hath hills and valleys, 〈…〉 which drink water of the rain of heaven, a land that the LORD thy God careth for. And the eyes of the LORD thy God are allway therein from the beginning of the year unto the end, If you shall hearken therefore unto my commandments, which I command you this day, that you love the LORD your God, and serve him, with all your heart and with all your soul 〈…〉 then will I give rain unto your land in due season, early and late, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, thy wine and thy oil: and I will give grass upon thy field for thy cattles, that you may eat & be filled. But beware, that your heart be not deceived, that you go aside, & serve other gods, & worship them, and then the wrath of the LORD wax hot upon you, 〈…〉 and he shut up the heaven, that there come no rain, and the earth give not her increase, & you perish shortly from the good land, which the LORD hath given you. Put up therefore these my words in your hearts and in your souls, 〈…〉 and bind them for a sign upon your hands, that they may be a token of remembrance before your eyes: and teach them your children, so that thou talk thereof, when thou sittest in thy house, or walkest by the way: when thou liest down, and when thou risest up: and write them upon the posts of thy house, and upon thy gates, that thou and thy children may live long in the land, which the LORD swore unto thy fathers to give them, as long as the days of heaven endure upon earth. For if you shall keep all these commandments which I command you, so that you do thereafter, that you love the LORD your God, and walk in all his ways, and cleave unto him, then shall the LORD drive out all these nations before you, so that you shall conquer greater and mightier nations than you yourselves are. All the places that the soles of your feet tread upon, shallbe yours, from the wilderness, and fro mount Libanus, and from the water Euphrates unto the uttermost see shall your coasts be. Noman shall be able to withstand you. The LORD your God shall let the fear and dread of you come upon all the lands wherein you go, like as he hath promised you. 〈◊〉 ●0. c Behold, I lay before you this day the blessing and the curse. 〈…〉 The blessing, if you be obedient unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day. The curse, if you will not be obedient to the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn out of the way, which I command you this day, so that you walk after other gods, whom you know not. When the LORD the God hath brought the in to the land, whither thou comest in to possess it, 〈◊〉 27. b then shalt thou give the blessing upon mount Grisim, and the curse upon mount Ebal, which are beyond jordane the way toward the going down of the Son, in the land of the Canaanites, which devil in the plain field over against Gilgal, beside the Oak grove of Moore. For you shall go over jordane, that you may come in to take possession of the land, which the LORD your God hath given you, to conquer it, and to devil therein. Take heed now therefore, that you do according unto all the ordinances and laws, which I lay before you this day. The XII. Chapter. THese are the ordinances and laws which you shall keep, that you do thereafter in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers hath given the to possess, as long as you live upon earth. 〈◊〉. 7. a Destroy all the places, wherein the heathen (whom you shall conquer) have served their gods, whether it be upon high mountains, upon hills, or among green trees. And overthrow their altars, and break down their pilers, and burn their groves with fire, and hew down the images of their gods, & bring the names of them to nought out of the same place. You shall not do so unto the LORD your God: but the place ●. Reg. ●●. Par. 〈…〉 which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes (that he may let his name devil there) shall you seek, and come thither, Deu. 14. ●●. c. 16. a and thither shall you bring your burnt-sacrifices, & your other offerings, and your tithes and the Have offerings of your hands, and your vows, and your free will offerings, and the firstborn of your oxen and sheep: and there shall you eat before the LORD your God, 1. Reg. 1. ● and 16. a and rejoice over all that you and your houses have given with your hands, because the LORD thy God hath blessed the. Deu. 29. ● You shall do none of the things, that we do here this day, every man what seemeth him good in his own eyes. For you are not yet come to rest, ner to the inheritance which the LORD thy God shall give the. But you shall go over jordane, and devil in the land that the LORD your God shall divide out unto you, & he shall give you rest from all your enemies round about, and you shall devil safe. Now when the LORD thy God hath choose a place, to make his name devil there, you shall bring thither all that I have commanded you, namely, your burn sacrifices, your other offerings, your tithes, the Have offerings of your hands, & all your free vows, which you shall vow unto the LORD: and there shall you eat, and rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons, and your daughters, and your servants, and your maids, and the Levites that are within your gates, Deut. 10. ● for they have no portion ner inheritance with you. Take heed unto thyself, that thou offer not thy burned offerings in what so ever place thou sayst: but in the place which the LORD shall have choose in one of thy tribes, there shalt thou offer thy burned offerings, and do all that I command the. Notwithstondinge thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God, which he hath given thee: Deut. 35. ● both the clean and unclean may eat it, as of the roe and heart, only the blood shalt thou not eat, but pour it out as water upon the earth. But within thy gates mayest thou not eat of the tithes of thy corn, of thy wine, Deut. 14. ● & of thy oil, ner of the first born of thy oxen and of thy sheep, or of any of thy vows which thou hast vowed, or of thy frewylofferinges, or Have offerings of thy hands: but before the LORD thy God shalt thou eat them, in the place which the LORD thy God chooseth, thou & thy son, and thy daughter, thy servant, thy maid, and the Levite that is within the gates, & thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, over all that thou puttest thy hand unto. ●ccl. ●. d And beware, that thou forsake not the Levite, as long as thou livest upon the earth. But when the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy boards of thy land (as he hath promised thee) and thou say: I will eat flesh (for so much as thy soul longeth to eat flesh) then eat flesh according to all the desire of thy soul. But if the place that the LORD thy God hath choose (to let his name be there) be far from thee, then kill of the oxen and of thy sheep, which the LORD hath given thee, as he hath commanded thee, and eat it within thy gates according to all the desire of thy soul. Deut. 15. c Even as a roe or Heart is eaten, mayest thou eat it: both the clean and unclean may eat it indifferently. Re. 14. c Only beware, that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life. Therefore shalt thou not eat the life with the flesh, but shalt pour it out like water upon the earth, that thou mayest prosper, and the children after thee, when thou hast done that which is right in the sight of the LORD. But when thou halowest ought that is thy, Deu. 14. b ●●d 1●. c or makest a vow, thou shalt take it, and bring it unto the place, that the LORD hath choose, and do thy burned offerings with the flesh and blood upon the altar of the LORD thy God. The blood of thy offering shalt thou pour upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and eat the flesh. Take heed, and hear all these words, which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and thy children after that for ever, when thou hast done that which is right and acceptable in the sight of the LORD thy God. Deu. 18. b ●osu. 2●. c When the LORD thy God hath rooted out the heathen before thee, whither thou comest in to conquer them, & when thou hast conquered them, & dwelled in their land, beware then, that thou fall not in the snare after them, when they are destroyed before thee: & that thou axe not after their gods, & say: Even as these nations have served their gods, so will I do also. ●eut. 1●. b ●err. 19 a ●sa. 65. a Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God. For all that is abomination unto the LORD, & that he hateth, the same have they done unto their gods. For they have burned even their sons and their daughters with fire unto their gods. All that I command you, shall you keep, that you do thereafter. 〈…〉 You shall put nothing thereto, ner take aught there from. The XIII. Chapter. IF there rise up a 〈…〉 prophet or dreamer among you, and give the a token or a wonder, and that token or wonder which he spoke of, come to pass, and then say: Let us go after other gods (whom thou knowest not) and let us serve them: Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of such a prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God proveth you, 〈…〉 to weet whether you love him with all your heart, & with all your soul. For you shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, & hearken unto his voice, and serve him, and cleave unto him. 〈…〉 As for that prophet or dreamer, he shall die: because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God (which brought you out of the land of Egipte, and delivered you from the house of bondage) to thrust the out of the way, which the LORD thy God commanded the to walk in, and so shalt thou put away the evil from the. If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy own son, or thy daughter, Za 〈…〉 M 〈…〉 L 〈…〉 or the wife in thy bosom, or thy friend which is unto the as thy own soul, entice the secretly, and say: Let us go and serve other gods (whom thou knowest not, ner yet thy father) which are among the nations round about you, whether they be nigh unto the or far from thee, from the one end of the earth unto the other: consent not unto him, and hearken not unto him. Deut 〈…〉 Thy eye also shall not pity him, and thou shalt have no compassion upon him, ner keep him secret, but shalt 'cause him to be slain: thy hand shall be first upon him, to 'cause him to be slain, and then the hands of all the people. He shallbe stoned to death, because he went about to thrust the away from the LORD thy God, which brought the out of the land of Egipte from the house of bondage: Deut 〈…〉 that all Israel may hear, and fear him, and do no more such evil among you. If thou hearest in any cite which the LORD thy God hath given the to devil in, that it is said: There are certain men, the children of Belial, go out from among you, and have deceived the inhabiters of their cite, and said: let us go, and serve other gods, whom you know not. Deut 〈…〉 Then shalt thou seek, make search, and inquire diligently. And if it be found of a truth, that it is so in deed, that such abomination is wrought among you, then shalt thou smite the indwellers of the same cite and their cattles, with the edge of the sword, and damn the cite with all that is therein: and all the spoil thereof shalt thou gather together in the mids of the streets of it, and burn with fire, both the cite and all the spoil thereof together unto the LORD the God, that it may lie upon a heap for ever, and never be builded any more. 〈◊〉. 7. c 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉. 1●. c And let nothing of the damned thing cleave unto thy hand, that the LORD may be turned from the indignation of his wrath, and grant the mercy, and have compassion on thee, and multiply thee (as he hath sworn unto thy fathers) because thou haß herkened unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments, which I command the this day, so that thou dost the thing which is right in the sight of the LORD thy God. The XIIII. Chapter. YOU are the children of the LORD your God, 〈◊〉. 10. b Cut not yourselves therefore, & make you no baldness between your eyes over any deed. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. ●eut. 7 a 〈◊〉 26. d 〈◊〉. 19 a And the LORD hath choose the to be his own peculiar people, from among all the nations that are upon the earth. Levi. 11. a Thou shalt eat no abomination. These are the beestes which you shall eat: Oxen, sheep, Goats, Heart, roe, Bugle, wild goat, Unicorn, Origen, and chameleon. And every be'st that divideth his claw, & cheweth cudd, shall you eat. Nevertheless these shall you not eat of them that chew cudd, and divide not the hoof in to two claws: The Camel, the hair, & the conye, for though they chew cudd, yet divide they not the hoof, therefore shall they be unclean unto you. The swine, though he divide the hoof, yet cheweth he not cudd, he shall be unclean unto you: you shall not eat of the flesh of them, and their deed carcases shall you not touch. Levi. 11. b This is it that you shall eat of all that is in the waters: All that hath fynnes and scales, shall you eat. But what so ever hath no fynnes ner scales, that shall you not eat, for it is unclean unto you. Eat of all clean fowls. But these are they, whereof you shall not eat: The Eagle, the Goshanke, the Cormoraunte, the Ixion, the Vulture, the Rite with his kind, & all Ravens in their kind, the Estriche, the Night crow, the Cocow, the Sparrow hawk with his kind, the little Owl, the great Owl, the Back, the bittern, the Swan, the Pelican, the Pie, the Stork, the Heron, the jay with his kind, the Lapwynge, the swallow: And all fowls that creep, shall be unclean unto you, and you shall not eat them. You shall eat of nothing that dieth alone● thou mayest give it unto the stranger with in the gate, that he eat it, or cell it to a stranger. For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Exod. 23. and 34. c Thou shalt not seethe a kid, while it yet sucketh his mother. Thou shalt separate out the tithe all the increase of thy seed, Exo. 34. ● that cometh out of the field every year: & shalt eat it before the LORD the God ( Esa. 65. c in the place which He chooseth, that his name may devil there) namely of the tithes of thy corn, of thy wine, of thy oil, & the first born of thy oxen, and of thy sheep, that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God, all thy life long. Deut. 12. ● Baruc. 1. ● Butler if the way be to much for thee, and the place, which the LORD thy God hath choose to set his name there, be to far from thee: & thou canst not carry it that the LORD thy God hath blessed the withal, Then give it for money, & take the money in thine hand, and go unto the place which the LORD thy God hath choose, and give the money for all that thy soul desireth, whether it be oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or for what so ever thy soul desireth, and eat there before the LORD thy God, and be merry, thou and thy household, and the Levite that is within thy gates. Thou shalt not forsake him, Levi. 1●. ● for he hath no portion nor inheritance with the. In the third year shalt thou bring forth all the tithes of thy increase of the same year, Deu. 26. c and shalt say it within thy gates. Then shall the Levite (which hath no portion ner inheritance with thee) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, come and eat, and fill themselves, that the LORD thy God may bless the in all the works of the hands which thou dost. The XU. Chapter. IN the seventh year shalt thou make a Fre year. Levi. 25. a This is the manner of the Fre year. * Exo. 22. c Esa. ●●. b Who so ever dareth ought with his hand unto his neighbour, shall not require it of his neighbour or his brother: for it is called the Fre year unto the LORD. Of a stranger mayest thou require it: but unto him that is thy brother, shalt thou remit it. ●ccli. 4. a There shall be to begged among you: for the LORD shall bless the in the land which the LORD thy God shall give the to inheritance to take it in possession, only that thou hearken unto the voice of the LORD the God, & keep all these commandments which I command the this day, that thou mayest do thereafter. For the LORD the God shall bless thee, as he hath promised the. Then shalt thou lend unto many nations, & shalt borrow of noman. ●xo. 28. b Thou shalt reign over many nations, & noman shall reign over ye. joh. 3. ● When one of thy brethren is waxed poor in any cite within thy land, which 〈◊〉 LORD the God shall give thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, ner withdraw thy hand from thy poor brother: but shalt open thy hand unto him, and lend him, according as he hath need. beware, that there be not a point of Belial in thy heart, that thou wouldest say: The seventh year, the year of freedom is at hand. For if thou lookest not friendly upon thy poor brother, and givest him nothing then shall he cry over the unto the LORD, and it shall be sin unto thee: ●o. 1●. b But thou shalt give him, and let it not grieve thy heart that thou givest him. For because of it, shall the LORD thy God bless the in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. Mat. 26. a The land shall never be with out poor, therefore command I the and say, that thou open thy hand unto thy brother, which is needy and poor in thy land. Exo. 21. a Levi. 25. f ●e●. 34. b. c If thy brother an Hebrew or Hebruesse be sold unto thee, he shall serve the six year, in the seventh year shalt thou let him go Fre. And when thou deliverest him free, thou shalt not let him go from the empty, but shalt give him of thy sheep, of thy corn, and of the wine, so that thou give him of that, which the LORD thy God hath blessed the with all. Andrea remember that thou also wast a servant in the land of Egipte, and how that the LORD thy God delivered thee, therefore command I the this thing to day. But if he say unto thee: I will not go out away from thee, Exo. ●1. a for I love the and thy house (in so much as he is well at ease with thee) then take a bo●kyn, and bore him thorough his ear to the door, and let him be thy servant for ever. And with thy maid shalt thou do likewise. And let it not seem grievous unto thee, to let him go free from thee (for he hath served the six years as a double hired servant) then shall the LORD thy God bless the in all that thou dost. All the first born that come of thy oxen and sheep, that are males, Exo●▪ ● Leu. ● Nu● ● shalt thou hallow unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not plough with the firstborn of thy oxen, and shalt not clip the firstborn of thy sheep: Before the LORD thy God shalt thou eat them every year, 〈…〉 in the place that the LORD chooseth, thou and thy household. * But if it have a deformity, so that it is lame or blind, or hath any other evil blemish, thou shalt not offer it unto the LORD thy God, but shalt eat it within thy own gates) 〈…〉 whether thou be unclean or clean) even as the roe and Hert. Only see that thou eat not of the blood thereof, but pour it out as water upon the ground. The XVI. Chapter. Observe the month Abib, that thou offer Easter unto the LORD the God: 〈…〉 for in the month Abib the LORD thy God brought that out of Egipte by night. And for the Easter unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt offer oxen & sheep, in the * place which the LORD shall choose, that his name may devil there. Thou shalt eat no levended bread in that feast. Seven days shalt thou eat the unleavened bread of thy tribulation: For with sorrowful haist camest thou out of the land of Egipte, that thou mayest remember the day of thy departing out of the land of Egipte, all thy life long. In seven days shall there no levended bread be se●e within all thy coasts: & of the flesh that is offered the first day at even, there shall nothing be left over night until the morning. Thou mayest not offer Easter with in any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God hath given thee: but 〈…〉 in the place which the LORD thy God hath choose, that his name may devil there, there shalt thou offer this Easter, at even when the Son is go down, even in the same season that thou camest out of Egipte: and thou shalt dight it, and eat it in the place that the LORD thy God hath choose, and then turn the on the morrow, & go home in to thy tent. Six days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day is the gathering together of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt do no work therein. Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee, 〈…〉 and begin to number when the syccle beginneth in the corn, and thou shalt keep the Act▪ ● Feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God, that thou give a free-will offering of thy hand, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee, and shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou and thy son, thy daughter, thy servant, thy maid, and the Levite that is within thy gates, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath choose, that his name may devil there. And remember, that thou wast a servant in Egipte, so that thou keep and do these ordinances. The feast of Tabernacles shalt thou keep seven days, when thou hast gathered in the fruits of thy barn & of thy wine press, and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou and thy son, thy daughter, thy servant, thy maid, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow that are within the gates. 〈…〉 Seven days shalt thou keep the feast unto the LORD thy God, in the place that he hath choose. For the LORD thy God shall bless the in all thy fruits and in all the works of thy hands. Therefore shalt thou be glad. 〈◊〉. ●5. b Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God (in the place that he shall choose) namely, in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of Tabernacles. He shall not appear empty before the LORD, but every one after the gift of his hand, according to the blessing that the LORD thy God hath given the. The XVII. Chapter. Judges & officers shalt thou ordain within all the gates, which the LORD thy God giveth the among thy tribes, that they may judge the people with righteous judgement. Thou shalt not wrist the law. Thou shalt know no person also, ner take gifts. For 〈◊〉. ●4. c Re. 8. a Exo. 23. a ●cli. 20. d gifts blind the eyes of the wise, & pervert the righteous causes. Look what right is, that shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live & possess the land, which the LORD thy God shall give the. Thou shalt plant no grove (of what so ever trees it be) nigh unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou makest the. Thou shalt set the up no piler, which the LORD the God hateth. Reg. 13. c Re. 18. d Leu. 22. c ●eu. 1●. c Thou shalt offer unto the LORD thy God no ox or sheep, that hath a blemish or any evil favouredness on it: for that is abomination unto the LORD thy God. If there be found among you (within any of thy gates which the LORD the God shall give thee) a man or woman, ●xo. 32. ᶠ ● Re. 18. ᵉ ● Re. 10. d that worketh wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, so that he transgresseth his covenant and goeth, and serveth other gods, & worshippeth them, Deut. 4. ● whether it be Son or Moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded, and it is told thee, & thou hearest of it, Deut. 13. ● and 19 d josu. 7. d Then shalt thou make diligent search therefore. And if thou findest that it is so of a truth, that such abomination is wrought in Israel, then shalt thou bring forth the same man or the same woman (which have done soch evil) unto thy gates and shalt stone them to death. Num. 35. ● Deut. 19 ● At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he die, that is worthy of death. At the mouth of one witness shall he not die. The hands of the witnesses shall be the first to kill him, and then the hands of all the people, that thou mayest put away the evil from the. If a matter be to hard for the in judgement betwixt blood and blood, betwixt plea and plea, betwixt stroke and stroke, and if there be matters of strife within thy gates Deut. 〈…〉 Eccli. 45. ● then shalt thou rise, and go up unto the place that the LORD thy God hath choose: and shalt come to the priests the Levites, & to the judge which shallbe at that time, and shalt axe. They shall show the how to judge, Eze. 44. ● and thou shalt do thereafter, as they say unto thee, in the place which the LORD hath choose: and thou shalt take heed that thou do according unto all that they teach the. according to the law that they teach thee, & after the judgement that they tell thee, shalt thou do Deut. ●. d so that thou turn not aside from the same, neither to the right hand ner to the lefts. And if any man deal presumptuously, so that he herkeneth not unto the priest (which standeth to do service unto the LORD thy God) or to the judge, the same shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel, that all the people may hear, and fear, and be no more presumptuous. When thou art come in to the land which the LORD thy God shall give thee, & takest it in possession, and dwellest therein, and shalt say: 1. Reg. 8. ● I will set a king over me, as all the nations have about me, them shalt thou set him to be king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose. One of thy brethren shalt thou set to be king over the. Thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. Only let him not have many horses, that he bring not the people again in to Egipte thorough the multitude of horses, ●▪ Reg. 4. ᶜ ●. Par. 〈…〉 for as much as the LORD hath said unto you, that from hence forth you should come no more this way again. He shall not have many wines also, that his heart be not turned away. 〈◊〉. 11. a 〈◊〉 Re· 10. c 〈…〉. b neither shall he gather him silver and gold to much. And when he is set upon the seat of his kingdom, he shall take of the priests the Levites this second law, and 'cause it be written in a book, and that shall he have by him, ●●su. 1. ● and he shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law, all these ordinances, so that he do thereafter. He shall not lift up his heart above his brethren, and shall not turn aside from the commandment, neither to the right hand ner to the left, that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in Israel. The XVIII. Chapter. THe priests, the Levites, all the tribe of Levi shall have no part ner inheritance with Israel. Num. 18. c Deu. 10. b 2. b. 14. c ●zc. 44. d The offerings of the LORD & his inheritance shall they eat. Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren, because the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them This shallbe the priests duty of the people, & of them that offer, whether it be ox or sheep, so that they give unto the priest the shoulder and both the cheeks, and the breast. And the first fruits of thy corn, of thy wine and of thy oil, and the first of thy sheep sheringe. Num. ●. b ●nd 1●. a For the LORD thy God hath choose him out of all thy tribes, to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, he and his sons all the days of their life. If a Levite come out of any of thy gates or out of any place of all Israel, where he is a gest, and cometh with all the desire of his soul (unto the place which the LORD hath choose) to minister in the name of the LORD his God, like as all his brethren the Levites, which stand there before the LORD, then shall he have like portion of meat with the other: besides that which he hath of the sold good of his fathers. When thou comest in to the land which the LORD thy God shall give thee, Leu. 1●. a and 20. d Deut. 12. d and 17. b 4. Re. 21. a jere. 7. a and 19 a thou shalt not learn to do the abominations of these nations, that there be not found among you, that maketh his son or daughter go thorough the fire, or a prophecier, or a chooser out of days, or that regardeth the fowls crying, or a witch, or a conjuror, or soythsayer, or an expounder of tokens, or that axeth any thing of the deed. For who so ever doth such, is abomination unto the LORD: and because of such abominations doth the LORD the God drive them out before the. But thou shalt be perfect with the LORD the God. For these nations whom thou shalt conquer, whom the LORD thy God hath given thee, hearken to the chosers out of days, and to the soythsayers: but so shalt not thou do unto the LORD thy God. A prophet, like unto me, shall the LORD thy God raise the up even out of thee, 〈…〉 & from among thy brethren, * unto him shall you hearken, according as thou desyredest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, (in the day of the gathering together) & saidest: 〈…〉 Let me hear the voice of the LORD my God no more, and se no more this great fire, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me: They have well spoken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, & he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 〈…〉 And who so ever will not hearken unto my words, which he shall speak in my name, of him will I require it. But if a prophet presume to speak aught in my name, 〈…〉 which I have not commanded him to speak: and he that speaketh in the name of other gods, the same prophet shall die. But if thou say in thy heart: How can I know what word the LORD hath not spoken? Even when the prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, and the thing followeth not, and cometh not to pass, the same is the word, that the LORD hath not spoken. The prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, therefore be not afraid of him. The XIX. Chapter. When the LORD thy God shall have rooted out the nations, whose land the LORD thy God shall give thee, so that thou hast conquered them, and dwellest in their cities and houses, 〈…〉 thou shalt appoint the out three cities in the mids of the land, that the LORD thy God shall give the to possess. Thou shalt prepare the way, and part the coasts of the land (which the LORD thy God shall divide out unto thee) in to three parts, that whosoever hath committed a slaughter, may fly thither. And this shallbe the cause, 〈…〉 that whosoever hath committed a slaughter, may fly thither, and live. If any man smite his neighbour unawares, 〈…〉 and hath not hated him in time passed (as when a man goeth unto the wood with his neighbour to hue down timber, and he turneth his hand with the axe to hew down the wood, and the iron slyppeth from the helve, and hytteth his neighbour, that he dieth) the same shall fly in to one of these cities, that he may live, jest the avenger of blood follow after the deedsleyer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, while the way is so far, and slay him, where as yet no cause of death is in him, for so much as he hated him not in time passed. Therefore command I thee, that thou appoint out three cities. And when the LORD the God enlargeth thy borders, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, & giveth the all the land which he promised thy fathers to give (so that thou keep all these commandments, and do that I command the this day, that thou love the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways all the life long) then shalt thou add yet three cities unto these three, that innocent blood be not shed in thy land (which the LORD the God giveth the to inheritance) and so blood come upon the. 〈◊〉. 14. a But if any man bear hate against his neighbour, and layeth wait for him, and riseth against him, and smiteth him that he die, and flieth in to one of these cities, then shall the Elders of the same cite send thither, and 'cause him to be fetched from thence, and deliver him in to the hands of the avenger of blood, that he may die: thy eye shall not pity him, and the guilty blood shalt thou put away from Israel, that thou mayest prosper. 〈◊〉. 27. c 〈◊〉 24. ● Thou shalt not remove thy neighbours mark, which they of old time have set in thy inheritance, that thou enheretest in the land, which the LORD thy God hath given the to possess it. 〈…〉 d 〈◊〉. 18. b 〈◊〉. 8. b 〈…〉 a One witness shall not stand up alone against a man, over any trespass or sin, what manner of sin so ever it be, that a man can do, but in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established. 〈…〉 But if an unrighteous witness stand up against any man, to testify any trespass upon him, then shall both the men that strive together, stand before the LORD, before the priests and judges, which shall be at the same tyme. ●●ut. 13. b And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: & if the witness be found false, and hath given false witness against his brother, then shall you do unto him, even as he thought to do unto his brother: that thou mayest put away the evil from the 〈…〉 that other may hear and fear, and take no more upon them to do soch wicked points among you. Thy eye shall not pity him. Exod. 21. c Levi. 24. d Math. 5. c Soul for soul, eye for eye, to the for to thee, hand for hand, foot for foot. The XX. Chapter. When thou goest out to battle against thy enemies, Deut. 7. d and sayst horses and charettes of the people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God which brought the out of the land of Egipte, is with the. Now when you are come nigh unto the battle, the priest shall step forth, & speak to the people, and say unto them: Hear Israel: You go this day in to the battle against your enemies, let not your heart faint. Fear not, Deut. 1● c Num. 14 a ●. Mac. 4 a be not afraid, ner a dread of them. * Deu. 28. a For the LORD your God goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, that he may save you. And the captains shall speak to the people, and say: Who so hath builded a new house, and hath not dedicated it, let him go, and bide in his house, that he die not in the battle, and another dedicated it. 1. Mac. 3. g Who so hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet made it comen, let him go, and bide at home, that he die not in the battle, and another make it comen. Deu. 24. a Who so hath spoused a wife, and hath not yet brought her home, let him go, and bide at home, that he die not in the battle, & another bring her home. And the captains shall speak further unto the people, and say: Iudi●. 7. a He that fears and hath a faint heart, let him go, and bide at home, that he make not his brethren's heart faint also, like as his heart is. And when the captains have made an end of speaking unto the people, they shall set the rulers of the host before the people in the forefront. When thou comest nigh unto a cite to fight against it, Num. 21. c Deut. 2. c thou shalt offer them peace If they answer the peaceably, and open unto thee, then shall all the people that is found therein, be tributaries unto thee, and serve ye. But if they will not deal peaceably with thee, and will war with thee, than besiege it: and when the LORD thy God delivereth it in to thy hand, thou shalt smite all the males that are therein, with the edge of the sword: save the women and the children. josu. 8. a and 11. c Asdrubal for the cattles, and all that is in the cite, and all the spoil, thou shalt take them unto thyself, and eat the spoil of thy enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given the. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities, that are very far from thee, and are not of the cities of these nations. But in the cities of these nations, which the LORD thy God shall give the to inheritance, thou shalt leave nothing alive that hath breath, but shalt utterly destroy them, namely ●eut. 31. a ●●su. 6. c 〈◊〉. 10. c 〈◊〉. 1. b Deut. 7. a the hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Pheresites, Hevites, & jebusites, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee, that they teach you not to do all the abominations, which they do unto their gods, & so you to sin against the LORD your God. When thou must lie a long season before a cite, against the which thou makest war to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof that thou wouldest hue them down with the axe, for thou mayest eat thereof: and therefore shalt thou not hue them down. For it is but wood upon the field, and no man, and can not come & be bullworkes against the. But the trees which thou knowest that men eat not of, those shalt thou destroy, and rote out, and make bullworkes thereof, against the cite that warreth with thee, till thou have overcome it. The XXI. Chapter. When there is one slain found in the land which the LORD the God shall give the to possess it, & lieth in the field, & it is not known who hath slain him, then shall thy Elders & judges go forth, and meet from the slain unto the cities that lie round about. Look which cite is the next, the Elders of the same shall take a young cow, which hath not been laboured, ner hath drawn in the yoke, & they shall bring her in to a valley, where as is neither earinge nor sowing, and strike of her head there in the valley. Then shall the priests the children of Levicome forth. ( Deut. 17. b Eccli. 45. d For the LORD thy God hath choose them, to serve him, and to praise his name: and at their mouth shall all pleas and stripes be tried.) And all the Elders of the same cite shall come forth unto the slain, & wash their hands over the young cow, whose head is strike of in the valley, and shall answer and say: Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful (O LORD) unto thy people of Israel, whom thou hast delivered, jonae. 1. c lay no innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge: then shall they be reconciled from the blood. Thus shalt thou put away the innocent blood from thee, in that thou dost the thing whis is right in the sight of the LORD. When thou goest forth to war against thy enemies, & the LORD thy God delivereth them in to thy hands, so that thou carriest away their presoners, and seist among the captives a beautiful woman, & hast a desire unto her to take her to thy wife, them bring her home to thy house, and let her shave her head, and pair her nails, and put of her clotheses that she was taken prisoner in, and let her sit in thy house, and mourn for her father and mother a month long after that lie with her, and marry her, and let her be thy wife. But if thou have no favour unto her, then shalt thou let her go whither she will, and not to cell her, ner to make chevisance of her, because thou hast dishonoured her. If a man have two wives, 〈…〉 one that he loveth, and one that he hateth, and they bear him children, both the beloved and the hated, so that the firstborn be hers that is hated, and the time cometh that he dealeth out the inheritance unto his children, then can he not make the son of the beloved first born before the firstborn son of the hated, but he shall know the son of the hated for the first son, so that he give him double of all that is at hand: 〈…〉 for the same is the beginning of his strength, & the firstbyrth right is his. 〈…〉 If any man have a stubborn and dishobedient son, which herkeneth not unto the voice of his father, and mother, and when they teach him nurture, will not follow them, then shall his father and mother take him, and bring him to the Elders of their cite, and to the gate of the same place, and say unto the Elders of the cite: This our son is stubborn and dishobedient, and herkeneth not unto our voice, and is a rioter and a drunkard. Then shall all the men of the same cite stone him to death: and thus shalt thou put away the evil from thee, that all Israel may hear and fear. If a man have committed a sin that is worthy of death, and is put to death, 〈…〉 so that he is hanged on tree, then shall not his body remain all night on tree, but thou shalt bury him the same day ( 〈…〉 For cursed is he of God that is hanged) that thou defile not thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth the to inheritance. The XXII. Chapter. IF thou see thy brother's ox or sheep, go astray, 〈…〉 thou shalt not withdraw thyself from them, but shalt bring them again unto the brother. But if the brother be not nigh unto thee, & thou knowest him not, then shalt thou take them in to thy house, that they may be with thee, till the brother axe after them, & then deliver him then again. In like manner shalt thou do with his Ass, with his raiment, & with every lost thing of the brother, which he hath lost, & thou hast found it: thou mayest not withdraw thyself. 〈…〉 If thou see thy brother's ox or Ass fallen down by the way, thou shalt not withdraw thyself from him, but shalt help him up. 〈…〉 A woman shall not were that which pertaineth to a man, neither shall a man put on woman's raiment. For who so ever doth such, is abomination unto the LORD the God. If thou chance upon a birds nest by the way in a tree, or on the ground, with young or with eggs, and the dame sitting upon the young or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dame with the young, but shalt let the dame fly, and take the young, that thou mayest prosper and live long. When thou buyldest a new house, make a battelment about thy roof, that thou lad not blood upon thy house, if any man fall thereof. 〈…〉 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with diverse sedes, that thou hallow not (to the full offering) the seed which thou hast sown, with the increase of the vineyard. Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an Ass together at one tyme. 〈…〉 Thou shalt not were a garment, that is mixed with woollen and linen together. 〈…〉 Thou shalt make guards upon the four quarters of thy garment, wherewith thou coverest thyself. If a man take a wife, and hate her when he hath lyen with her, and layeth any shameful thing unto her charge, and bringeth up an evil name upon her, and sayeth: I took this wife, & when I came to her. I found her not a maid. Then shall the father and mother of the damsel take her, and bring forth the tokens of the damsels virginity before the Elders of the cite, even unto the gate. And the damsels father shall say unto the Elders: I gave this man my daughter to wife. Now hateth he her, and layeth a shameful thing to her charge, and sayeth: I found not thy daughter a maid. And lo, these are the tokens of my daughters virginity. And they shall spread out the cloth before the Elders of the cite. So shall the Elders of the cite take that man, and chastise him, and put a penance upon him of an hundredth Sycles of silver, and give the same unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brougte up an evil name of a maid in Israel, and he shall have her to wife, so that he may not forsake her all his life long. But if it be of a truth, that the damsel is not found a virgin, them shall she be brought forth unto the door of her father's house, and the men of the cite shall stone her to death, Deu. ●3. c be cause she hath wrought folly in Israel, and played the whore in her father's house. Andrea so shalt thou put away the evil from the. If a man be found lying with a woman that hath a married husband, Levi. 20. b they shall die both the man, & the woman that he hath lain withal. And so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. If a maid be handfested to any man, & another man getteth her in the cite, & lieth with her, you shall bring them both out unto the gate of the cite, and stone them both, that they die. The damsel, because she cried not, being in the cite. The man, because he hath brought his neighbours wife to shame. And thou shalt put away the evil from the. But if a man get an handfested damsel upon the field, and take her, and lie with her, than the man that lay with her, shall die alone, and unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing: for she hath done no sin worthy of death. It is like as if a man rose against his neighbour, and slew him, even so is this also. For he found her in the field, and the handfested damsel cried, and there was no man to help her. If a man find a maid that is not hand fested, and take her, and lie with her, Exo. 22. c and be found, then shall he that lay with her, give her father fyf●ie Sycles of silver, and shall have her to wife, because he hath shamed her: he may not forsake her all his life long. Noman shall take his father's wife, Leu. 18. a Deu. 26. c ner uncover his father's covering. The XXIII. Chapter. THere shall none that hath his stones broken or that is gelded, Esa. 56. a come in to the congregation of the LORD. There shall no whores child also come in to the congregation of the LORD, not not after the tenth generation, but shall never come in to the congregation of the LORD. ●. Esd. 1●. a The Ammonites & Moabites shall not come in to the congregation of the LORD, not not after the tenth generation, but shall never come in, because they met you not with bred & water in the way, when you came out of Egipte. Num. 22. a josu. 24. b And besides that, they hi●ed against you Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter out of Mesopotamia, to curse ye. But the LORD the God would not hear Balaam, and turned the curse to a blessing unto thee: because the LORD the God loved the. Thou shalt wish him neither prosperity ner health all thy life long for ever. Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite: Gen. 2●. c for he is thy brother. An Egipcian shalt thou not abhor, for thou wast a stranger in his land. The children whom they beget in the third generation, shall come in to the congregation of the LORD. 2. Co. 10. a Ephe. 6. b When thou goest out to fight against thy enemies, keep the from all wickedness. If there be any man among you which is unclean, so that any thing is chanced to him by night, the same shall go out of the host until he have bathed himself with water before even: and when the Son is go down, he shall come in to the host again. And without the host thou shalt have place to resort unto for necessity, & thou shalt have a shovel under the girdle: and when thou will't set the down without, thou shalt dig therewith: and when thou hast done thy easement, thou shalt cover that which is departed from the. For the LORD thy God walketh in thy host, to deliver thee, and to give thy enemies before the. Therefore shall thy host be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and so turn himself from the. Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant, which is escaped from him unto the. He shall devil with the in the place that he chooseth within any of thy gates, for his wealth, and thou shalt not vex him. Num. ●5. b Deut· 22. c There shall be no whore among the daughters of Israel, neither whorekeper among the sons of Israel. * Mich. 1. b Thou shalt not bring the hire of an whore ner the price of a dog in to the house of the LORD the God for any manner of vow: for they both are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Exo. 22. c levit. 2●. f ●. Esd. 5. a Thou shalt occupy no usury unto the brother, neither with money, ner with food, ner with any manner thing that usury may be used withal. (Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury, but not unto thy brother) that the LORD thy God may bless the in all that thou takest in hand, in the land whither thou comest in to possess it. When thou makest a vow unto the LORD the God, Num. 30. a Eccl●. 5. a Baruc. 6. c Act. 5. a to shalt not be slack to perform it: for the LORD thy God shall require it of thee, and it shall be sin unto the. If thou leave vowing, then is it no sin unto the. But that which is proceeded out of the lips shalt thou keep, and do thereafter, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD of a free-will, which thou hast spoken with thy mouth. When thou goest in to thy neghtours' vyniarde, thou mayest eat of the grapes according to thy desire, till thou have enough. But thou shalt put none in to thy vessel. 〈…〉 When thou goest in thy neighbours cornefelde, thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand, but with a syccle mayest thou not reap therein. The XXIIII. Chapter. When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, 〈…〉 and she finds no favour in his eyes because of any uncleanness, them shall he write a bill of divorcement, and give it her in her hand, and send her out of his house. If when she is go out of his house, she go, and be another man's wife, and the same second man hate her also, & write a bill of divorcement, and give it her in her hand, and send her out of his house: Or if the same second man die, which took her to wife, than her first husband that put her away, may not take her again to be his wife, in so much as she is defiled, for that is abomination before the LORD: that thou make not the land to sin, which the LORD thy God hath given the to inheritance. 〈…〉 When a man hath newly taken a wife, he shall not go aware fare, neither shall he be charged withal. He shall be free in his house one year long, that he may be merry with his wife which he hath taken. Thou shalt no take the nethermost and up permost my▪ stone to pledge, for he hat set the his living to pledge. If any man be found that stealeth one of his brethren, from among the children of Israel, and setteth him to pledge, or selleth him such a the●e shall die, that thou mayest put a way the evil from the. Keep the from the plague of leprosy, that thou 〈…〉 observe diligently and do according unto all that the priests the Levites teach thee, as I have commanded them, that shall you observe and do thereafter. Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam 〈…〉 by the way, when you were come out of Egipte. If thou lendest the brother any debt, thou shalt not go into his house, and take a pledge, but shalt stand without: and he, to whom thou lendest, shall bring out his pledge unto the. But if it be a poor body, thou shalt not lie down to sleep, with his pledge, but shalt deliver him his pledge again, when the Son goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee, so shall the same be reckoned unto the for righteousness before the LORD thy God. 〈◊〉. 19 c ●ccli. 7. c ●ob. 4. c Thou shalt not withdraw the hire of the needy and poor among thy brethren, or stranger that is in thy land, or within thy gates, but shalt give him his hire the same day, that the Son go not down thereon, for so much as he is needy, and his life sustained therewith: that he call not upon the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto the. The father's shall not die for the children, ner the children for the fathers, but every one shall die for his own sin. 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉. 14. a 〈◊〉. 25. a 〈◊〉. 18 c ●eut▪ 17. a 〈◊〉 2●▪ c Thou shalt not wrist the right of the stranger and of the fatherless. And the wedowes raiment shalt thou not take to pledge: For thou shalt remember, that thou wast a servant in Egipte, and how that the LORD thy God delivered the from thence, therefore command I the to do this. ●●uit. 19 c When thou hast reaped down thy harvest in the field, and hast forgotten a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not turn again to fetch it, but it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, that the LORD thy God may bless the in all the works of thy hands. When thou hast plucked thy olive trees, thou shalt not pluck them up clean afterward: it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. When thou hast gathered thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather it up clean afterward: it shallbe for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. And thou shalt remember, that thou wast a servant in the land of Egipte: therefore command I the to do this. The XXV. Chapter. When there is a strife between men, they shallbe brought before the law and judged: and the judges shall justify the righteous, and condemn the ungodly. And if the ungodly have deserved stripes, the judge shall command to take him down, and they shall beat him before him, according to the measure and number of his trespass. ●▪ Cor. 11. a When they have given him forty stripes, they shall beat him no more, jest (if there be more stripes given him) he be beaten to much, and thy brother be horrible before thy eyes. ● Cor. 9 b Timo. 5. c Thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the ox, that treadeth out the corn. When brethren devil together, R●●. 4. and one of them die without children, then shall not the wife of the deed take a strange man with out, but her kinsman shall go in unto her, Mat. 22 Luc. 20 and take her to wife: and the first son that she beareth, shall he set up after the name of his brother which is deed, that his name be not put out of Israel. But if the man will not take his kinswoman, then shall his kinszwoman go up under the gate to the Elders, and say: My kinsman refuseth to st●re up a name unto his brother in Israel, and will not mary me. Then shall the Elders of the cite call him, and comen with him. If he stand then and say: I will not take her, then shall his kynszwoman step forth unto him before the Elders, and louse a shoe from his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer, and say: Thus shall it be done unto every man, that will not build his brother's house. And his name shallbe called in Israel, theunshodd house. If two men strive together, and the wife of one run to, to deliver her husband from the hand of him that smiteth him, & put forth her hand, and take him by the secrets, then shalt thou cut of her hand, and thy eye shall not pity her. Thou shalt not have in the bag two manner of weights, a great and a small. neither shalt thou have in thine house diverse measures, a great and a small. Levi. 19 ● Mich. ●. ● Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, and a perfect and just measure, that thy life may be long in the land, which the LORD the God shall give the. For who so ever doth such (ye all they that do evil) are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Exo. 1●. c Remember what the Amalechites did unto the by the way, when you were departed out of Egipte, how they buckled with the by the way, and smote thy hynmost, even all that were feeble, which came after the when thou wast weary and faint, and they feared not God. Now when the LORD thy God bringeth thee, to rest from all thy enemies round about in the land which the LORD thy God giveth the for inheritance to possess, then shalt thou put out the remembrance of the Amalechites from under heaven. Forget not this. The XXVI. Chapter. When thou comest in to the land that the LORD thy God shall give the to inheritance, and enjoyest it, and dwellest therein, thou shalt take of all manner 〈◊〉. 23. c 〈◊〉 34. c 〈◊〉. ●. b first fruits of the land, that come out of thy ground, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, & shalt put them in a mand, and go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose (that his name may devil there) and thou shalt come unto the priest which shallbe at that time, and say unto him: I knowledge this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come in to the land, which the LORD swore unto our fathers to give us. And the priest shall take the mand out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God. Then shalt thou answer and say before the LORD thy God: The Syrians would have destroyed my father, ●en. 46. a which went down in to Egipte, and was a stranger there with a small folk, and become there a nation great, mighty & full of people. exod 1. b But the Egyptians entreated us evil, and troubled us, and laid an hard bondage upon us. Then cried we unto the LORD, the God of our fathers. And the LORD heard our crying, exod 3. b and looked on our adversity, labour, and oppression, ●xo. 14. ● & brought us out of Egipte with a mighty hand, and a stretched out arm, and with great terryblenesse thorough tokens and wonders, and hath brought us unto this place and hath given us this land, that floweth with milk and honey. Therefore bring I now the first fruits of the land, which the LORD hath given us. And thou shalt leave them before the LORD thy God, and give thanks before the LORD thy God, and rejoice over all the good, that the LORD the God hath given thee, and thine house: thou and the Levite, and the stranger that is with the. When thou hast brought together all the tithes of thy increase in the third year, which is a year of tithes, Deu. 14. c thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless▪ and to the widow, that they may eat within the gates, and be filled. Andrea thou shalt say before the LORD thy God: Luc. 1●. b I have brought that hallowed is, out of my house, and have given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all thy commandment which thou hast commanded me. I have not transgressed thy commandments, ner forgotten them. I have not eaten thereof in my heaviness, ner taken away thereof in uncleanness. I have not given thereof unto the deed. I have been obedient unto the voice of the LORD my God, and have done all as he hath commanded me. 〈…〉 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people of Israel, and the land that thou hast given us, as thou sworest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. In the day when the LORD thy God commanded thee, to do according unto all these ordinances and laws, that thou shouldest keep them and do thereafter with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Exo▪ 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 De●. 〈…〉 The same day maydest thou a promise unto the LORD, that he should be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in all his ways, and keep his ordinances, his commandments, and his laws, and to hearken unto his voice. Exo. 〈…〉 Deu▪ 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 And the LORD promised the upon the same day, that thou shouldest be his own peculiar people, like as he hath said unto thee (so that thou keep all his commandments) and that he would make the high in praise name and honour above all nations which he hath made 〈…〉 that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath said unto the. The XXVII. Chapter. ANd Moses with the Elders of Israel, commanded the people, & said: Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. Io●. 〈…〉 And what time as you go over jordane, in to the land that the LORD thy God shall give thee, thou shalt set up great stones, and plaster them with plaster, and write upon them all the words of this law: (when thou art come over) that thou mayest come in to the land, which the LORD thy God shall give thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised the. Now when you go over jordane, you shall set up these stones (whereof I command you this day) upon mount ebal, and plaster them with plaster: 〈…〉 and there shalt thou build unto the LORD thy God an altar of stone, whereupon thou shalt lift no iron. Exo. 〈…〉 Of whole stones shalt thou build this altar unto the LORD thy God, and offer burned offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God: and thou shalt offer health offerings, and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God: and upon the stones thou shalt write all the words of this law manifestly and well. And Moses with the priests and Levites spoke unto all Israel, and said: Take heed and hear O Israel: This day art thou become the people of the LORD thy God, that thou mayest be obedient unto the voice of the LORD thy God, and do according unto all his commandments and ordinances, which I command the this day. 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉▪ 8. g And Moses charged the people the same day, and said: These shall stand upon mount Grisim to bless the people, when you are go over jordane: Simeon, Levi, juda, Isachar, joseph, and Ben jamin. And these shall stand upon mount ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asser, Zabulon, Dan & Nephtali. And the Levites shall begin, and say unto every man of Israel, with a loud voice: 〈◊〉. 10. a 〈◊〉. ●7. a Cursed be he, that maketh any carved Idol or molten image (an abomination of the LORD, a work of the hands of the craftsman) and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. ●xo. 21. b Cursed be he, that curseth his father and mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 〈◊〉. 1●. c Cursed be he, that removeth his neighbours mark. Andrea all the people shall say, Amen. 〈◊〉. 19 d Cursed be he, that maketh a blind man go out of his way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 〈◊〉. ●4. c Cursed be he, that wresteth the right of the stranger, of the fatherless, & widow. Andrea all the people shall say, Amen. 〈◊〉. 18. a 〈◊〉 ●0. b 〈◊〉. 22. d Cursed be he, that lieth with his father's wife, to uncover his father's covering. And all the people shall say, Amen. 〈◊〉. 22. c ●eui. 20. b Cursed be he, that lieth with any manner be'st. And all the people shall say, Amen. Levi. 18. ᵃ ●● Re. 13. d Cursed be he, that lieth with his sister, which is the daughter of his father or of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Levi. 18. c Cursed be he, that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that slayeth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. ●xo. ●1. b ●eui. 2●▪ d 〈◊〉. 19 a 〈◊〉. 22. b ●ich. 3. c Cursed be he, that receiveth gifts to slay the soul of innocent blood. And all the people shall say, Amen. 〈…〉 Cursed be he, that continueth not in all the words of this law, to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. The XXVIII. Chapter. ANd if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, Leu. ●6. a to observe and do all his commandments which I command that this day, then shall the LORD thy God set the an high above all nations upon earth, and all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, because thou hast been obedient unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the town, and blessed in the field. Blessed shallbe the fruit of thy body, the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattles, and the fruit of thy oxen, and the fruit of thy sheep. Blessed shall be the baszkett, & thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou goest in, and blessed when thou goest out. Deu. 20. ● And thy enemies that rise up against thee, shall the LORD cause to be smitten before thy face. They shall come out against the one way, & fly before the seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing to be with the in thy cellars, and in all that thou takest in hand, and shall bless the in the land that the LORD thy God hath given the. The LORD shall set the up to be an holy people unto himself (as he hath sworn unto thee) if thou keep the commandments of the LORD thy God: so that all nations upon earth shall see, that thou art called after the name of the LORD: & they shall be afraid of you. And the LORD shall make the plenteous in goods, in the fruit of the womb, in the fruit of thy cattles, & in the fruit of thy ground, in the land that the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to give the. Deut. 11. ● And the LORD shall open unto the his good treasure, even the heaven, to give rain unto thy land in due season, and to prosper all the works of thy hands. Deu. 15. a And thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt borrow of no man. And the LORD shall set the before, and not behind: & thou shalt be above only, and not beneath, if thou be obedient unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command the this day to keep and to do them: & if thou Deu. 4. a and 17. c bow not aside from any of these words, which I command the this day, either to the right hand or to the left, that thou wouldest walk after other gods to serve them. Butler if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, Leu. 26. b to keep and to do all his commandments and ordinances, which I command that this day, Bar. 1 b Dan. 9 b then shall all these curses come upon thee, and overtake the. Cursed shalt thou be in the town, and cursed in the field: cursed shall thy baszket be, and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, the fruit of thy land, the fruit of thy oxen, and the fruit of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou goest in, and cursed when thou goest out. The LORD shall send in to thee, consuming, and complaining, and cursing, in all that thou takest in hand to do, till he have destroyed the & shortly brought to the naught, because of thy wicked inventions, in that thou hast forsaken me. The LORD shall make the pestilence to bide long with thee, till he have consumed the out of the land, in to the which thou comest to possess it. The LORD shall smite the with swelling, fevers, heat, burning, venom, drought, and paleness, & shall persecute thee, till he have destroyed the. ●eut. 10. c Thy heaven, that is over thy head, shallbe of brass, and the earth under thee, of iron. The LORD shall give thy land dust for rain, and aszshes from heaven upon thee, until thou be brought to nought. The LORD shall 'cause the be smitten before thy enemies. Thou shalt come out one way against them, and seven ways shalt thou fly before them, and shalt be scattered among all the kingdoms upon earth. Thy carcase shallbe meat unto all manner fowls of the air, and to all the beestes upon earth, and there shallbe no man to fray them away. The LORD shall smite the with the botches of Egipte, with the Emorodes, with scalle, and maungynesse, that thou shalt not be healed thereof. Mich. 3. b Rom. 1 c The LORD shall smite the with madness, blindness and dazing of heart. Andrea thou shalt grope at the noon day, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and shalt not prosper in thy way. And thou shalt suffer violence and wrong all thy lifelonge, & no man shall help ye. 1. Re. 12. c Thou shalt spouse a wife, but another shall lie with her. Deu. 20. a Thou shalt build an house, but another shall devil therein. Thou shalt plant a vineyard, but shalt not make it comen. Thy ox shallbe slain before thy eyes, but thou shalt not eat thereof. Thy ass shallbe violently taken away (even before the face) and shall not be restored that again. Thy sheep shallbe given unto thy enemies, and no man shall help the. Thy sons and thy daughters shallbe given unto another nation, and thy eyes shall see it, and dase upon them all the day long, and thy hand shall not be able to deliver them. The fruit of the land and all the labour, shall a nation eat, which thou knowest not: and thou shalt but only be he that shallbe oppressed and suffer wrong, all the days of thy life. And thou shalt be clean beside thyself for the sight, which thy eyes shall se. The LORD shall smite the with a mischievous botch in the knees & legs, so that thou canst not be healed, even from the sole of thy foot unto the crown of thy head▪ The LORD shall bring the and thy king (which thou hast set over thee) unto a nation, 〈…〉 whom thou knowest not, neither thy fathers: and there shalt thou serve other geddes, even wood and stone: and thou shalt go to waist, and become a byword, & a laughing stock among all nations, whither the LORD hath carried the. Thou shalt carry out much seed in to the field, and shalt gather but little in: 〈…〉 for the greshoppers shall destroy it. Thou shalt plant vynyardes and dress them, but thou shalt neither drink of the wine, ner gather of the grapes: for the worms shall consume it. Thou shalt have olive trees in all the coasts, but shalt not be anointed with the oil: for thine Olive trees shallbe rooted out. Thou shalt get sons and daughters, and yet not have them: for they shall be carried away captive. All thy trees and fruits of thy land shall be marred with blasting. The stranger that is with thee, shall climb up over thee, and be allway above thee: but thou shalt come down allow, and lie ever beneath. He shall lend unto thee, but thou shalt not lend him. He shallbe before, but thou shalt be behind. And all these curses shall come upon thee, and follow thee, and overtake that, till thou be destroyed, because thou herkenest not unto the voice of the LORD that God, to keep his commandments and ordinances, which he hath commanded the. Therefore shall there betokens and wonders upon thee, & upon thy seed for ever, because thou hast not served the LORD thy God with a joyful and good heart, when thou hadst abundance of all things. And therefore shalt thou serve thy enemy, which the LORD shall send upon thee, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and need of all thing: & he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have brought the to naught. The LORD shall bring a nation upon the from far, 〈…〉 even from the end of the world, as a flying Eagle: a people, whose speech thou canst not understand, an hard favoured people, which regard not the person of the old, ner have compassion on the young. And they shall eat up the fruit of thy cattles, & the fruit of thy land, till they have destroyed thee, and shall leave the nothing in corn, wine, oil, in the fruit of the oxen and sheep, until they have brought the to naught: and shall say siege unto the with in all thy gates, till they cast down thy high and strong walls, wherein thou trustest thorough out all thy land. And thou shalt be besieged within all thy ports, thorough out all thy land which the LORD thy God hath given the. Re. 6. f ●en. 4. b 〈◊〉. ●. a Thou shalt eat the fruit of thy own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD that God hath given thee, in that straightness and siege, wherewith thy enemy shall besiege thee: so that it shall grieve the man that afore hath lived tenderly and in voluptuousness among you, to look upon his brother and upon his wife that lieth in his bosom, and on the son that is left over of his sons, jest he should give any of them of the flesh of his children that he eateth, in as much as there is nothing left him in that straightness and siege, wherewith thy enemy shall besiege that within all thy gates. And the woman that afore hath lived so tenderly and voluptuously among you, that she durst not set the sole of her foot upon the ground for tenderness and voluptuousness, shall be grieved to look upon her husband that lieth in her bosom, and on her son, and on her daughter: even because of her daughters which she hath nourished betwixt her legs in her lap, and because of her sons that she hath born: For she shall eat them secretly for very scarcenesss of all things, in the straightness and siege, wherewith thy enemy shall besiege that with in thy gates. If thou will't not be diligent to do all the words of this law which are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, even the LORD thy God, then shall the LORD entreat the wondrously, with plagues upon the and thy seed, ye with great and continual plagues, with evil and continual sicknesses, and shall bring upon the all the sicknesses of Egipte (whereof thou wast afraid) and they shall cleave unto the. Thereto all manner sicknesses and all manner plagues, which are not written in the book of this law, shall the LORD thy God cause to come upon thee, until he have destroyed the. And there shall be left but a few people of you, Deut. 10. d which afore were as the stars of heaven in multitude: because thou hast not herkened unto the voice of the LORD thy God. And as the LORD rejoiced over you afore, to do you good, and to multiply you, jere. 31. ● even so shall he rejoice over you, to destroy you, and to bring you to naught, and you shallbe waysted from of the land, whither thou goest now to possess it. For the LORD shall scatter the among all nations, from the one end of the world unto another, and there shalt thou serve other gods, whom thou knowest not, ner yet▪ thy fathers, even wood and stone. And among those same nations shalt thou have no quietness, neither shall the sole of the foot have any rest: for the LORD shall give the there a fearful heart, and dazing of eyes, and a troubled soul, so that thy life shall hang before thee: Night and day shalt thou fear, and shalt have no trust in thy life. In the morning thou shalt say: Who shall give me the evening? And at even shalt thou say: Who shall give me the morning? For the very great fear of thy heart, which shall make the afraid: and for the fight of thy eyes which thou shalt se. And the LORD shall bring the again in to Egipte by ship fulles, even thorough the way whereof I said unto thee: Exo. 14. ● Thou shalt see it no more: and there shall you be sold unto your enemies for bond servants and bondemaidens, and there shall be no man to buy you. The XXIX. Chapter. THese are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of the Moabites, Nu. 21. c * Exo. 19 ● beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them: You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egipte, unto Pharaoh with all his servants, and all his land, the great tentations which thy eyes have seen, that they were great tokens and wonders. Deu. 10. b jere. 31. d And yet unto this day hath not the LORD given you an heart that understandeth, eyes that see, & ears that hear. He hath caused you to walk forty years in the wilderness. Deu. ●. a your clotheses are not waxed old upon you, neither is thy shoe waxed old on thy foot. You have eaten no bread, and drunken no wine, ner strong drink, that you might know, that he is the LORD your God. And when you came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heszbon, Nu. 81. d. c and Og the king of Basan, ●e●. 2. f ●●d ●. a came out against us unto battle, and we smote them, and took their land, and gave it to inheritance unto the Rubenites and Gaddites, and to the half tribe of the Manassites. Deu. 4. a Keep now therefore the words of this covenant, and do thereafter, that you may have understanding in all that you do. You stand this day all before the LORD your God, the chief rulers of your tribes, your Elders, your officers, every man in Israel, your children, your wives, the strangers that are in thy host, 〈◊〉. 9 d from the hewer of the wood unto the drawer of that water: that thou shouldest enter in to the covenant of the LORD thy God, and in to the oath which the LORD thy God maketh with the this day, that he might set the up this day to be a people unto himself, and that he might be thy God, as he hath said unto thee, ●en. 17. a and as he swore unto the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and jacob. For I make not this covenant and this oath with you only, but both with you that are here this day, and stand with us before the LORD our God, and also with them that are not here with us this day. For you know how we have dwelled in the land of Egipte, and how we came thorough the mids of the Heythen, whom you passed by, and saw their abominations and their Idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them: Jest there be among you man or woman, or an household, or a tribe, which turneth away his heart this day from the LORD our God, to go and to serve the gods of these nations: and jest there be among you some rote, that beareth gall & worm wood: so that though he hear the words of this curse, he bless himself yet in his heart, and say: ●ere. 5. b ●oph. 1. c Deu. 12. a Tush, it shall not be so evil. I will walk after the ●ere. 5. b ●oph. 1. c Deu. 12. a meaning of mine own heart, that the drunken may perish with the thirty. Then shall not the LORD be merciful unto him, but his wrath and jealousy shall smoke over such a man, and all the curses that are written in this book, shall light upon him: and the LORD shall put out his name from under heaven, and shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according unto all the curses of the covenant, that is written in the book of this law. So the posterities of your children which shall rise up after you, and the strangers that come out of far countries, shall say (when they see the plagues of this land, and the diseases wherewith the LORD hath smitten it) that he hath brent up all their land with brimstone and salt, so that it cannot be sown, ner is fruitful, neither groweth there any grass therein, 〈…〉 Like as Sodom, Gomor, Adama and Zeboim are over thrown, which the LORD overthrew in his wrath and anger. Then shall all nations say: Ie● ● 3. 〈◊〉 Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? What great wrathful displeasure is this? Then shalt it be said: Even because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers (which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egipte) and they went, and served other gods, and worshipped than, even such gods as they knew not, and whom he had not divided unto them. Therefore the wrath of the LORD waxed hot over this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book. And the LORD thrust them out of their land with great wrath, indignation & displeasoure & hath cast them into another land, as it is come to pass this day. These are the 〈…〉 secrets of the LORD our God, which are opened unto us and our children for ever, that we should do all the words of this law. The XXX. Chapter. NOw when all this cometh upon thee, whether it be the blessing or the curse which I have laid before thee; 〈…〉 and thou goest in to thy heart, being among the heathen, whither the LORD thy God hath thrust thee, and thou turnest unto the LORD the God, so that thou herkenest unto his voice, thou and thy children with all the heart and with all thy soul, in all that I command the this day, 〈…〉 then shall the LORD thy God turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and shall gather thy congregation again from among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered the. And though thou werest thrust out unto the uttermost parts of the heaven, yet shall the LORD thy God gather the from thence, and from thence shall he fetch thee, and shall bring the in to the land, which thy fathers have possessed, and thou shalt enjoy it, and he shall do the good, and multiply the above thy fathers. 〈◊〉 10. d And the LORD thy God shall circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, that thou mayest love the LORD that God with all thy heart and with all the soul, that thou mayest live. But all these curses shall the LORD thy God lay upon thy enemies, and upon them that hate the and persecute the. But thou shalt turn, and hearken unto the voice of the LORD, to do all his commandments, which I command the this day. And the LORD thy God shall make the plenteous in all the works of thy hands, in the fruit of thy body, in the fruit of thy cattles, in the fruit of thy land to good. 〈…〉 For the LORD shall turn, to rejoice over the to good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers, so that thou hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God (to keep his commandments and ordinances, which are written in the book of this law) and turn unto the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. 〈◊〉. 10. a For the commandment which I command the this day, is not to wonderful for thee, ner to far, ner yet in heaven, that thou neadest to say: Who will go up for us in to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it? neither is it beyond the see, that thou neadest to say: Who will go over the see for us, and fetch it us, that we may hear it, and do it? For the word is very nigh unto thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou do it. 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉. 21. b Behold, I have laid before you this day, life and good, death and evil. For I command the this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, ordinances, and laws, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that the LORD thy God may bless the in the land, whither thou goest to possess it. But if thou turnest away thy heart, so that thou will't not hear, but fall a way, to worship other gods and to serve them, I certify you this day, that you shall perish, & not live long in the land, whither thou goest over jordane to possess it. ●eu. 4. d ●●d 31. g I take heaven and earth this day to record over you: I have laid before you life and death, blessing and cursing, that thou mayest choose life, and that thou and thy seed may live, that you may love the LORD your God, and hearken unto his voice, and cleave unto him: (For he is thy life and thy long age) that thou mayest devil in the land, which the LORD swore unto thy father's Abraham, Isaac and jacob, to give them. The XXXI. Chapter. ANd Moses went, & spoke these words to all Israel, and said unto them: I am this day an hundredth and twenty year old, I can no more go out and in: the LORD also hath said unto me: Nu. 20. b Thou shalt not go over this jordane. The LORD thy God himself shall go before the over jordane: and HE himself shall destroy these nations before thee, that thou mayest conquer them: and josua he shall go over before the. Nu. 27. d as the LORD hath said. And the LORD shall do unto them, as he did unto Sihon and Og the kings of the Amorites and unto their land, which he destroyed. Num. 21. d * Deu. 7. a and ●0. c Now when the LORD shall deliver them before you, you shall do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be manly and strong, fear not, and be not afraid of them. For the LORD thy God himself shall go with thee, josu. 1. a Heb. 13. a and shall not fail thee, ner forsake the. And Moses called josua, and said unto him before all Israel: Be strong and bold, josu. 1. ᵇ ●. Reg. 2. a for thou shalt bring this people in to the land, which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them, and thou shalt part it among them by lot. But the LORD himself that goeth before you, even HE shall be with thee, and shall not fail thee, ner forsake thee: Fear not, and be not afraid. And Moses written this law, and delivered it unto the priests the children of Levi ( Num. 3. ● which bore the Ark of the covenant of the LORD) and unto all the Elders of Israel. And he commanded them, and said: 2. Esdr. ●. ● At the end of seven years, in the time of the Fre year, in the feast of Tabernacles when all Israel come to appear before the LORD thy God, in the place that he shall choose, thou shalt 'cause this law to be proclaimed before all Israel in their ears, namely, before the congregation of the people, both of men, women, children, and thy strangers which are within thy gates: that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD their God, and be diligent to do all the words of this law: and that their children also which know nothing, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, all your live days which you live in the land, whither you go over jordane to possess it. And the LORD said unto Moses: Behold, thy time is come that thou must die, call josua, and stand in the Tabernacle of witness, that I may give him a charge. Moses went with josua, and stood in the Tabernacle of witness. And the LORD appeared in the Tabernacle in a cloudy pillar Exo. 3●. b and the same cloudy pillar stood in the door of the Tabernacle. And the LORD said unto Moses: Behold, thou shalt sleep with the fathers, and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after strange gods of the land in to the which they come, Reg ● b and will forsake me, and break the covenant which I have made with them. And then shall my wrath wax hot against them, at the same time, & I shall forsake them, and hide my face from them, that they may be consumed. 〈◊〉. 2. d And so when much adversity & trouble cometh upon them, they shall say: Is not all this evil come upon me, because God is not with me? But I shall hide my face at the same time because of all the evil that they have done, in that they have turned unto other gods. Write now therefore this song, & teach it the children of Israel, and put it in their mouth, that this ●eut. 32. a song may be a witness unto me among the children of Israel. For I will bring them in to the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey. ●eut. 8. c And when they eat, and are full and fat, they shall turn unto other gods, and serve them, and blaspheme me, and break my covenant. And so when much mischief and tribulation is come upon them, this song shall answer before them for a witness. It shall not be forgotten out of the mouth of their seed: for I know their imagination, that they go about even now, before I bring them in to the land, which I swore unto them. So Moses written this song at the same time, and taught it the children of Israel. And the LORD gave josua the son of Nun a charge, and said: ●●su. 1. b 〈◊〉 23. c Reg. ●. a Be strong and bold, for thou shalt bring the children of Israel in to the land, which I swore unto them, and I will be with the. Now when Moses had written out all the words of this law in a book, he commanded the Levites (which bore the Ark of the lords covenant) and said: Take the book of this law, and lay it by the side of the Ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there a witness against thee: for I know thy stubborness and thy hard neck. Behold, 〈…〉 while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been disobedient unto the LORD: how much more after my death? Gather now unto me all the Elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, 〈…〉 and take heaven and earth to record against them. For I am sure that after my death you shall mar yourselves, and turn aside out of the way, which I have commanded you: and so shall misfortune happen unto you her after, because you have done evil in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him thorough the works of your hands. So Moses spoke out the words of this song even to the end, in the ears of all the congregation of Israel. The XXXII. Chapter. hearken (O you heavens) I will speak: and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 〈…〉 〈…〉 My doctrine drop as doth the rain, and my speech flow as doth the dew. Even as the rain upon the grass, and as the drops upon the herb. For I will call upon the name of the LORD, give you the glory unto our God. 〈…〉 Perfect are the works of the Stone, for all his ways are righteous. God is true, and no wickedness is there in him, righteous and just is he. The froward and overthwart generation hath marred themselves to himwarde and are not his children, because of their deformity. Thankest thou the LORD thy God so, thou foolish and unwise people? Is not he thy father and thy LORD? Hath he not made thee, and prepared thee? Remember the days that are past, 〈…〉 consider the years of the generations afore time. Axe thy father, he shall showeth: thy elders, they shall tell the. 〈…〉 When the most highest divided the nations and scattered the children of men. Then set he the borders of the nations according to the number of the children of Israel. 〈…〉 For the lords part is his folk, jacob is the meetlyne of his inheritance. He found him in the wilderness, even in the dry desert where he roared. He led him about, and gave him understanding: He kept him as the apple of his eye. As an Eagle steereth up her nest, and flotereth over her young: Even so stretched he out his feathers, and took him 〈◊〉 ●9. a and bore him on his wings. The LORD only was his guide, & there was no strange God with him. He carried him over the height of the earth, and fed him with the increase of the field. 〈…〉 He caused him suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the hard stone. Butter of the kine, and milk of the sheep, with the fat of the lambs, and rams of the sons of Basan, and he goats with the fat of the kydneys, and wheat: And gave him drink of the very blood of grapes. 〈…〉 And when he was fat and had enough, he waxed wanton. He is fat, and thick, and smooth, & hath let God go, that made him, and despised the rock of his salvation. He hath provoked him to indignation, thorough strange gods, and thorough abomination hath he angered him. 〈…〉 They offered unto field devils, & not unto their God. Unto gods whom they knew not, even unto new gods, that came newly up, whom their father's honoured not. Thy rock that begat thee, hast thou despised: and hast forgotten God that made the. And when the LORD saw it, he was moved unto wrath over his sons and his daughters. And he said: I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for it is a froward generation, they are children in whom is no faith. They have provoked me in it that is not God: with their vanites have they angered me. 〈◊〉. 10. c 〈…〉. c And I again will provoke them, by those that are no people: by a foolish nation will I anger them. For the fire is kindled in my wrath, and shall burn unto the nethermost hell, and shall consume the land with the increase thereof, and set the foundations of the mountains on fire. I will heap mischiefs upon them, I will spend all mine arrows at them. They shall pine away thorough hunger, & be consumed of the fevers, and of bitter sicknesses. I will send among them the teeth of beestes, and furious serpents. jere. 5. b joel. ● a Without shall the sword rob them, & fear in the chambers, both the young man and young woman, the sucking children with the grey headed man. I will say: Where are they? I shall make their remembrance to cease from among men. If the wrath of the enemies were not gathered, jest their enemies should be proud, & might say: Our hand is high, and: The LORD hath not done all this. For it is a people, wherein is no council, and there is no understanding in them. O that they were wise & understood this, that they would consider what should hap unto them hereafter. How cometh it, that one shall chase a thousand of them, and that two shall put ten thousand to flight? Is it not so, even because their rock hath sold them, and because the LORD hath given them over? For our rock is not as their rock, Exo. 14. c 1. Reg. ●. b of this are our enemy's judges themselves. Their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorra: their grapes are the grapes of gall, they have bitter clusters. Their wine is the poison of Dragons, & the furious gall of Adders. Is not this hide with me, and sealed up in my treasures? Vengeance is mine, Rom. ●●. c Heb. 10. d and I will reward in due season. Their foot shall slide, for the time of their destruction is at hand, and the thing that is to come upon them, maketh haiste. For the LORD shall judge his people, ●. Ma. 7. b and shall have compassion on his servants. For he shall consider that their power is away, and that it is go with them, which were shut up and remained over. And he shall say: jere. 1. d Where are their gods, their rock wherein they trusted? Of whose sacrifices they ate the fat, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. See now that I I am, and that there is none other God but I Deut. 4. f 1. Reg. 2. b I can kill and make alive: what I have smitten, that can I heal: * job 10. a and there is noman able to deliver out of my hand. For I will lift up my hand to heaven, & will say: I live ever. If I whet the edge of my sword, and my hand take hold of judgement, then will I avenge me on mine enemies, and reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunken with blood, and my sword shall eat flesh over the blood of the slain, and over the captivity, and in that the enemy's head shall be discovered. Rom. 15. a Rejoice you heathen with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will avenge him on his enemies, & will be merciful unto the land of his people. And Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he and josua the son of Nun. Now when Moses had made an end of speaking all these words unto all Israel, he said unto them: Deut. 6. b and 11. c Take to heart all the words, which I testify unto you this day, that you command your children, to observe and do all the words of this law. For it is no vain word unto you, but it is your life: & this word shall prolong your life in the land, whither you go ●uer jordane to conquer it. And the LORD spoke unto Moses the same day, & said: Get the up to this mount Abarim, upon mount Nebo, which lieth in the land of the Moabites over against jericho, & behold the land of Canaan, which I shall give unto the children of Israel in possession. And die thou upon the mount, when thou art come up, and be gathered unto thy people, Nu. ●0. d like as Aaron thy brother died upon mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people▪ Because you trespassed against me among the children of Israel by the Nu. 20. a water of strife at Cades in the wilderness of Zin, and sanctified me not among the children of Israel. For thou shalt see the land over against thee, which I give unto the children of Israel but thou shalt not come in to it. The XXXIII. Chapter. THis is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death, and said: The LORD came from Sinai, Exo. 3. a * Exo. 19 a and rose up unto them from Seir. He appeared fro mount Paran, and came with many thousand saints. At his right hand is there a law of fire for them: O how loved he the people? All his saints are in his hand, 〈…〉 they shall set themselves down at thy feet, and receive of thy words. Moses commanded us the law, which is the inheritance of the congregation of jacob. And he was in the fullness of the king, & held the rulers of the people together, with the tribes of Israel. Let Reuben live, and not die, and his people be few in number. This is the blessing of juda. And he said: LORD hear the voice of juda, and bring him unto his people: Let his hands multiply him, and let him be helped from his enemies. And unto Levi he said: Thy perfectness and the light be according unto the man of thy mercy, 〈…〉 whom thou hast tempted at Massa, when you strove by the water of strife. 〈…〉 He that sayeth unto his father and to his mother: I see him not: and to his brother, I know him not: and to his son, I wot not of him, those have observed thy words, and kept the covenant: they shall teach jacob thy judgements, and Israel thy law: they shall lay incense before thy nose, & burned offerings upon thy altar. LORD, bless thou his power & accept the works of his hands: smite the loins of them that rise up against him, & of them that hate him, that they lift not up themselves. And to Ben jamin he said: The beloved of the LORD shall devil in hope on him: All the day long shall he wait upon him, and shall devil between his shoulders. And to joseph he said: 〈…〉 His londelieth in the blessing of the LORD, there are noble fruits of heaven, of the dew, and of the deep that lieth beneath: There are noble fruits of the increase of the Son, and noble ripe fruits of the months: And of the tops of the mountains of old, and of the hills allway, and of the noble fruits of the earth, and of 〈◊〉 fullness thereof. The good will of him 〈…〉 that dwelleth in the buszshe, come upon the head of joseph, and 〈…〉 upon the top of his head that was separated from among his brethren. His beauty is as a firstborn ox, and his horns are as the horns of an Unicorn: with the same shall he puszshe the nations together, even unto the ends of the world. These are the thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasse. And unto Zabulon he said: Rejoice Zabulon of thy outgoing: but rejoice thou Isachar of thy tents. They shall call the people unto the hill, and there shall they offer the offerings of righteousness. For they shall suck the abundance of the see, and the treasures hid in the sonde. And to Gad he said: blessing have Gad, which maketh room. He dwelleth as a lion, and spoileth the arm and the top of the head. And he saw his beginning, that the heap of the teachers lay hid there, and came with the rulers of the people, and executed the righteousness of the LORD, and his judgement on Israel. And to Dan he said: Dan a young lion, he shall flow from Basan. And to Nephtali he said: Nephtali shall have abundance of pleasure, & shallbe full of the blessing of the LORD: his possession shallbe toward the west and south. And to Asser he said: Asser be blessed with sons, accepted be he with his brethren, and dip his foot in oil. Iron and brass be on thy shues. Thine age be as thy youth. There is no God as the God of the just. He that sitteth upon heaven, be thy help. And his glory is in the clouds, that is the dwelling of God from the beginning, and under the arms of the world. And he shall drive out thine enemy before thee, and say: Be destroyed. 〈◊〉. ●3. b And Israel shall devil safe alone. The eye of jacob shallbe upon the land where corn and wine is, heaven also shall drop with dew. Happy art thou Israel, who is like unto thee? O thou people that art saved by the LORD, which is thy help, shield, and the sword of thy glory. Thine enemies shall pine away, and thou shalt tread upon the height of them. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd Moses went from the field of the Moabites up unto mount Nebo, 〈◊〉. 17. c 〈◊〉. 7. a upon the top of mount Pisga over against jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Nephtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasse, and all the land of juda, unto the uttermost see, and toward the south, and the region of the plain of jericho the cite of the palm trees even unto Zoar. And the LORD said unto him: This is the land that I swore unto Abraham, Isaac and jacob, and said: I will give it unto thy seed. Thou hast seen it with thy eyes, Nu. 10. b but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of the Moabites, according unto the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley, in the land of the Moabites over against the house of Peor. And noman knew of his grave unto this day. And Moses was an hundredth and twenty year old when he died: his eyes were not dim, and his cheeks were not fallen. And the children of Israel weped for Moses in the field of the Moabites thirty days, and the days of the weeping and mourning for Moses were fulfilled. And josua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom ( Nu. 27. d for Moses had laid his hand upon him) and the children of Israel herkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. And there arose no prophet more in Israel, like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face in all tokens and wonders (which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egipte, unto Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and his land) and in all this mighty hand and great visions which Moses did in the sight of all Israel. The end of the fift book of Moses, called Deuteronomion. The second part of the old Testament. The book of josua. The book of the judges. The book of Ruth. The first book of the Kings. The second book of the Kings. The third book of the Kings. The fourth book of the kings. The first book of the Chronicles. The second book of the Chronicles. The first book of Eszdras. The second book of Eszdras. The book of Hester. The book of josua. What this book containeth. Chap. I After the death of Moses, God commandeth josua to get him up, and to go with the people over jordane in to the land of promise. Chap. II Two spies are sent unto jericho, and Rahab lodgeth them. Chap. III josua goeth forth with the people unto jordane: The Levites are ordained to go beforewith the Ark. The one part of jordane standeth still, the other runneth down, and the people go thorough it dry shod. Chap. four twelve stones doth josua cause to be taken out of jordane, and setteth them up at gilgal for a remembrance. Chap V The kings beyond jordane are afraid. The people in gilgal are circumcised. They eat the Passeover and unleavened bread. Chap. VI How jericho is won and taken. Chap. VII. The Israelites are put to flight before their enemies, because one of them had stolen of it that should have been damned and utterly destroyed. The trespasser is stoned unto death. Chap VIII. The cite of Hai is won, the people slain, the king taken alive and hanged, the cite brent. josua buildeth an altar unto the LORD. The blessings and curses are read. Chap. IX. The Heythen kings prepare themselves against Israel. The Gabaonites save their lives by craft and suttyltie Chap. X. The Heythen lay siege to Gabaon, but josua helpeth them, and winneth a great field, commandeth the Son to stand still, hangs up five kings, and taketh the cities. Chap. XI. The heathen kings gather them selves together against Israel: but they are discomfited, and their cities won. Chap. XII. The names of the kings whom josua and the Israelites slew, are here rehearsed, even one and thirty. Chap▪ XIII. The remnant of the land on this side jordane. Chap. XIIII. The dealing out of the land. Chap. XU. The land that fallen unto juda by lot. Chap. XVI. The lot of Ephraim. Chap. XVII. The lot and portion of Manasse. Chap. XVIII. Men are sent out of the seven tribes, to consider the land, and to deal it out. The portion of Ben jamin. Chap. XIX. The portion of Simeon, Zabulon, Isachar, Aser, Nephtali and Dan. Chap. XX. The parting out of the free cities. Chap. XXI. Of the cities and suburbs of the Levites. Chap. XXII. The two tribes and a half are sen● home again, with a charge to be diligent in keeping Gods commandment. Of the altar of witness Chap. XXIII. josua calleth the people together before his death, & exorteth them to cleave fast to the commandments of the LORD. Chap. XXIIII. He calleth the people together i● Sichem, and rehearceth the benefits of God unto them. The covenant with God is renewed. josua dieth, and so doth Eleasar. The first Chapter. AFter the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, spoke the LORD unto josua the son of Nun Moses minister: My servant Moses is deed, up now, and go over this jordane, thou and all this people in to the land that I have given the children of Israel. ●●ut. 11. d All the places that the soles of your feet shall tread upon, have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses: From the wilderness and this Libanus unto the great water Euphrates: all the land of the hittites unto the great see toward the west, shall be your border. There shall noman be able to withstand that all thy life long. 〈◊〉. 3. d And like as I was with Moses, so will I be with the also. ●eut. ●1. b ●●b. 13. a I will not fail the neither forsake the. Be strong and bold: for unto this people shalt thou divide the land, which I swore unto their fathers, to give it them. Deu. 31. b Be strong therefore and very bold, that thou mayest keep and do every thing according to the law, that Moses my servant commanded the. Turn not aside from it, neither to the right hand ner to the left, Deut. ●. d that thou mayest deal wisely whither so ever thou goest. Deut. 17. d And let not the book of this law depart out of thy mouth, but exercise thyself therein day and night, that thou mayest keep and do every thing according to it that is written therein: Then shalt thou prosper in thy ways, and deal wisely. Lo, I have commanded the to be strong and bold. Fear not, and be not afraid: for the LORD thy God is with thee, whither so ever thou goest. Then commanded josua the officers of the people, and said: Go thorough the host, and charge the people, and say: Prepare you vytayles, for over three days shall you go over this jordane, that you may come in and take possession of the land, which the LORD your God shall give you. And to the Rubenites, Gaddites, and to the half tribe of Manasse, said josua: Think upon the word, Nu. 32. d that Moses the servant of the LORD spoke unto you, and said: The LORD your God hath brought you to rest, and given you this land. Let your wives and children and cattles remain in the land, that Moses gave you on this side jordane: But you yourselves (as many as be fighting men) shall go forth before your brethren in harness, and help them, till the LORD have brought your brethren to rest also as well as you: that they also may take possession of the land, which the LORD your God shall give them: Then shall you turn again in to the land of your possession, that you may enjoy it, which Moses the servant of the LORD hath given you on this side jordane toward the east. And they answered josua and said: Deu. 5. ● 1. Mac 2● jere. 42 All that thou hast commanded us, will we do: and whither so ever thou sendest us, we will go thither. Like as we have obeyed Moses, so will we be obedient also unto thee: Only that the LORD thy God be with thee, like as he was with Moses. Who so ever disobeyeth thy mouth, and herkeneth not unto thy words in all that thou hast commanded us, shall die: Only be thou strong and bold. The II Chapter. IOsua the son of Nun sent out two spies privily from Setim, and said unto them: Go your way, look upon the land and jericho. They went forth, Heb. 11. ● jac. 2. ● and came in to the house of an harlot, called Rahab, and lay there. Then was it told the king of jericho: Lo, there are men come in this night from the children of Israel, to spy the land. Then sent the king of jericho unto Rahab, saying: deliver the men forth that are come unto the in to thy house, for they are come to spy out the whole land. Now as for the two men, the woman had hid them, and said: There came men in unto me in deed, but I knew not whence they were. And at the shutting in of the gate when it was dark, they went out, so that I can not tell whither they be go: follow soon after them, for you shall overtake them. But she had caused them to climb up unto the house top, and hid them under the stalks of flax, that she had prepared her upon the top of the house. Howbeit the men followed after them in the way toward jordane, even unto the ferry: and when they that followed upon them were go forth, the gate was shut. And or ever the men laid them down to sleep, she went up to them unto the house top, and said unto them: I know that the LORD shall deliver you the land, Deu. 2●. a rosu 5. a for the fear of you is fallen upon us, and all the inhabiters of the land are discouraged at your coming. For we have herd, how the LORD dried up the water in the reed see before you, Exo. 14. e when you departed out of Egipte: Nu. 21. d and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og beyond jordane, how you rooted them out, and destroyed them. And sense we heard thereof, our heart hath failed us, neither is there a good stomach more in any man, by the reason of your coming. For the LORD your God is both the God above in heaven and beneath upon earth. Swear now then unto me ●eu. 10. d even by the LORD (for so much as I have dealt mercifully with you) that you will also show mercy upon my father's house: and give me a true token, that you will let my father live, and my mother, my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our souls from death. The men said unto her: ●su. ●. d If we show not mercy and faithfulness upon thee, when the LORD giveth us the land, then let our soul die for you, so far as thou betrayest not our device. Then let she them down thorough the window by a cord: for her house wa● in the brickwall of the cite, and in the brickwall was her dwelling. And she said unto them: Go your way up to the mountains, jest they meet you that follow upon you: and hide yourselves there three days, till they be come again that follow after you: and then get you your way. But the men said unto her: As for this oath that thou hast taken of us, we will be discharged of it when we come in to the land, except thou knyttest in the window the line of this rosecoloured rope (that thou hast let us down with all) & gatherest unto the in to the house, thy father, thy mother, thy brethren & all thy father's house. And look who so ever goeth out at the door of thy house, his blood be upon his own head, and we guiltless. But of all those that be in the house, if a hand be laid upon them, their blood shallbe upon our head. And if thou bewrayest any of this device of ours, them will we be discharged of the oath that thou hast taken of us. She said: Let it be so as you say, and she let them go. And they went their way. And she knit the rose coloured line in the window. They went on their way, and came to the mountains, and remained there three days, till they that followed upon them were come again: for they sought them thorough every street, & yet they found them not. So the two men turned again, and departed from the mountains, and passed over (jordane) and came to josua the son of Nun, and told him every thing, as they had found it, & they said unto josua: The LORD hath given us all the land in to our hands, and all they that devil in the land, are sore afraid of us. The III Chapter. ANd josua rose up early, and they departed from Setim, & came unto jordane, he and all the children of Israel, and remained there all night, afore they went over. But after three days went the officers thorough the host, and commanded the people, and said: When you see the Ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests from among the Levites bearing it, depart you then out of your place, and follow after (but so, that there be room between you and it by two thousand cubits, & that you come not nigh it) that you may know what way you should go: for you never went that way afore. And josua said unto the people: hallow yourselves, 〈…〉 for tomorrow shall the LORD bring wondrous things to pass among you. And unto the priests he said: Bear you the Ark of the covenant, and go before the people. Then 〈…〉 bore they the Ark, and went before the people. And the LORD said unto josua: This day will I begin to make the great in the sight of all Israel, that they may know, how that like as I was with Moses, so am I with the also. And command thou the priests that bear the Ark, and say: When you come before in the water of jordane, stand still. And josua said unto the children of Israel: Come hither, & hear the word of the LORD your God. He said moreover: By this shall you perceive, that the living God is among you, and that he shall drive out before you the Canaanites, hittites, Hevites, Pheresites, Girgosites, Amorites and jebusites. Behold, the Ark of the covenant of him that hath dominion over all lands, shall go before you in jordane. Take now therefore twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe one. And when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the Ark of the LORD the governor of all lands, are set in the water of jordane, then shall the water of jordane withdraw itself from the water that floweth from above, that it may stand on a heap. Now when the people departed out of their tents, to go over jordane, & the priests bore the Ark of the covenant before the people, and came in to jordane, & dypte their feet before in the water (as for jordane on all his banks it was full of all manner waters 〈…〉 of the land) than the water that came down from above, stood strait up upon one heap, very far from the cite of Adom, that lieth on the side of Zarthan: But the water that ran down to the see (even to the salt see) fallen away, and decreased. 〈◊〉. 65. a So the people went thorough over against jericho. And the priests that bore the Ark of the lords covenant, stood dry in the mids of jordane, ready prepared: & all Israel went thorough dry shod, until the whole people were all come over jordane. The four Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto josua: Take you twelve men, out of every tribe one, & command them, & say: 〈◊〉. ●7. a Take up twelve stones out of jordane, from the place where the feet of the priests stood in their array: & carry them with you, that you may leave them in the lodging, where you shall lodge this night. Then josua called twelve men which were prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe one, & said unto them: Go your way over before the Ark of the LORD your God in the mids of jordane, & take every man a stone upon his shoulder, after the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that they may be a token among you. And when your children axe their fathers here after, and say: What do these stones there? That you may then say unto them, how that the water of jordane clave in sunder before the Ark of the lords covenant, when it went thorough jordane, & that these stones are set for a perpetual remembrance unto the children of Israel. Then did the children of Israel as josua commanded them, and bore twelve stones out of the mids of jordane (as the LORD had said unto josua) 1. Re. ●●. ● according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and brought the same with them in to the lodging, and left them there. And josua set up twelve stones in the mids of jordane, where the feet of the priests stood, that bore the Ark of the covenant: and there they be yet unto this day. As for the priests that bore the Ark, they stood in the mids of jordane, until all was performed that the LORD charged josua to say unto the people Deu. 27. ● according as Moses gave josua in commandment. The people also made haist, and went over. Now when all the people was go over, the Ark of the LORD went over also, and the priests went before the people. Num 32. ● josu. ●. c And the Rubenites, & Gaddites, and the half tribe of Manasse went harnessed before the children of Israel, like as Moses had said unto them: About a forty thousand men ready harnessed to the war, went before the LORD to the battle, upon the field of jericho. josu. 3 c In that day the LORD made josua great in the sight of all Israel: and like as they feared Moses, so stood they in awe of him, all his life long. And the LORD said unto josua: Command the priests which bear the Ark of witness, that they come up out of jordane. So josua commanded the priests, & said: Come up out of jordane. And when the priests that bore the Ark of the covenant of the LORD were come out of jordane, and trod with the soles of their feet upon the dry land, the water of jordane came again in to his place, and flowed (like as afore time) upon all his banks. It was the tenth day of the first month, when the people came up out of jordane: & they pitched their tents in gilgal upon the East side of the cite of jericho. And the twelve stones which they had taken out of jordane, did josua set up at gilgal, & said unto the children of Israel: Exo. 1●. ● When your children axe their fathers hereafter, & say: What mean these stones: You shall tell them, & say: Israel went dry thorough jordane, what time as the LORD your God dried up the water of jordane before you, until you were over: like as the LORD your God did in the reed see, ●xo. 14. c which he dried up before us, that we might go thorough: that all the people upon earth might know the hand of the LORD, how mighty it is, to the intent that you should allway fear the LORD your God. The V Chapter. NOw when all the kings of the Amorites that dwelled beyond jordane westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites by the see side heard, how the LORD had dried up the water of jordane before the children of Israel, till they were come over ●osu. 2. b their heart failed them, neither was there any more courage in them at the presence of the children of Israel. At the same time said the LORD unto josua: Make the knives exod 4. c of stone, & circumcise the children of Israel again the second tyme. Then josua made him knives of stone, and circumcised the children of Israel upon the top of the foreszkynnes. And the cause why josua circumcised all the males of the people that were come out of Egipte, is this: for all the men of war died in the wilderness by the way, after they were departed out of Egipte: for all the people that came forth, were circumcised. But all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way (after they departed out of Egipte) were not circumcised: for the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the people of the men of war that came out of Egipte, were consumed, because they herkened not unto the voice of the LORD, like as the LORD swore unto them, 〈◊〉. 14. d that they should not see the land, which the LORD swore unto their fathers to give unto us, even a land that floweth with milk & honey: their children which were come up in their stead, did josua circumcise: for they had the foreszkynne, and were not circumcised by the way. And when all the people were circumcised, they abode in their place, even in the tents, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto josua: To day have I turned the shame of Egipte away from you, & the same place was called gilgal unto this day. And while the children of Israel lay thus at gilgal, they kept Easter Exod. 1●. a the fourteenth day of the month at even in the field of jericho. And they ate of the corn of the land the second day of the Easter: namely, unleavened bread, & fyrmentye of that year, even the same day. And upon the morrow, the exod ●●. f Manna failed, when they ate of the corn of the land, so that the children of Israel had no more Manna, but ate of the corn of the land of Canaan the same year. And it fortuned that when josua was by jericho, he lift up his eyes, & was aware, that there stood a man against him, and had a naked sword in his hand. And josua went to him, & said unto him: Art thou one of us, or of our enemies? He said: Not, but I am 〈…〉 the prince of the lords host, and now am I come. Then fallen josua down to the earth upon his face, & worshipped him and said unto him: What sayeth my LORD unto his servant? And the prince over the LORDS host said unto him: 〈…〉 Put the shues of the feet, for the place whereupon thou stondest, is holy. And josua did so. The VI Chapter. AS for jericho, it was shut & kept because of the children of Israel, so that no man might go out ner in. But the LORD said unto josua: Behold, I have given jericho with the king and men of war thereof, in to the hand. Let all the men of war go once round about the cite, and do so six days. But upon the seventh day let the priests take the seven trumpets of the year of jubilee before the Ark, and go the same seventh day seven times abou●● the cite, and let the priests blow the trumpets. And when the horn of the year of jubilee bloweth and maketh a sound, so that you hear the trumpets, all the people shall make a great shout, then shall the walls of the cite fall down, and the people shall fall in, every one strait before him. Then josua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them: Bear you th● Ark of the covenant, and let seven priests take the seven trumpets of the year of jubilee before the Ark of the LORD. But unto the people he said: Get you hence, and go round about the cite: and let him that is harnessed, go before the Ark of the LORD. When josua had spoken this unto the people, the seven priests bore the seven trumpets of the year jubilye before the Ark of the LORD, and went & blew the trumpets, and the Ark of the lords covenant followed after them: and who so was harnessed, went before the priests that blue the trumpets, and the multitude followed the Ark. And all was full of the noise of the trumpets. But josua commanded the people, and said: You shall make no shout, ner let your voice be herd, nother shall you give one word out of your mouth, until the day that I say unto you: Make a shout, then make a shout. So the Ark of the LORD went once round about the cite, and came agyne in to the host, & remained therein: for josua used to rise up early in the morning. And the priests bore the Ark of the LORD: so did the seven priests bear the seven trumpets of the year of jubilee before the Ark of the LORD, and went and blue the trumpets: and who so was harnessed, went before them, but the multitude followed the Ark of the LORD. And all was full of the noise of the trumpets. The second day went they once about the cite also, and came again into the host. Thus did they six days. But upon the seventh day when the morning spring arose, they got them up early, and went after the same manner seven times about the cite, so that upon the same one seventh day they went seven times about the cite. And at the seventh time when the priests blue the trumpets, josua said unto the people: Make a shout, for the LORD hath delivered you the cite: Howbeit this cite, & all that is therein, shallbe damned unto the LORD: 〈◊〉. ●. c only the harlot Rahab shall live, & all that are with her in the house, for she hid the messaungers, whom we sent forth. 〈◊〉. ●. a Only beware of it that is damned, jest you damn yourselves (if you take aught of it which is damned) and make the host of Israel to be damned, and bring it in to misfortune. But all the silver and gold, with the ornaments of brass & iron, shallbe sanctified unto the LORD, that it may come to the lords treasure. Then made the people a great shout, and the priests blue the trumpets (for when the people heard the noise of the trumpets, they made a great shout) 〈…〉 and the walls fallen, and ehe people clymmed up in to the cite, every one strait before him. Thus they wan the cite, and Deut. ●●. ● destroyed all that was in the cite with the edge of the sword, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep, and Ass. But josua said unto the two men which had spied out the land: Go in to the house of the harlot, and bring out the woman from thence with all that she hath, according as you have sworn unto her. Then the young men (the spies) went in, and brought forth Rahab with her father and mother, & brethren, and all that she had, and all her kindred, and caused her to devil without the host of Israel. As for the cite, they brent it with fire, & all that was therein: only the silver and gold, and the ornaments of brass and iron put they unto the treasure in the house of the LORD: but josua let Heb. 11. ● jacob. ●. ● the harlot Rahab live, with her father's house, and all that she had: & she dwelled in Israel unto this day, because she had hid the messaungers whom josua sent unto jericho to spy. At the same time swore josua, and said: ●. Re. 1●. ● Cursed be that man before the LORD, which setteth up this cite of jericho & buildeth it: When he layeth the foundation thereof, let it cost him his first son: And when he setteth up the gates of it, let it cost him his youngest son. Thus the LORD was with josua, so that he was spoken of in all lands. The VII. Chapter. But the children of Israel had committed a sin in the thing that was damned: Deut. 7. ● josu. 6. ᵈ ●. Ma. 1●. ● for Achan the son of Charmi the son of Sabdi the son of Serah, of the tribe of juda, took some of it that was damned. Then was the wrath of the LORD fierce over the children of Israel. Now when josua sent out men from jericho unto Hai, which lieth beside Bethanen on the east side of Bethel, he said unto them: Go up, and spy the land. And when they had go up, and spied out Hai, they came again to josua, and said unto him: Let not all the people go up, but upon a two or three thousand, that they may go up and smite Hai, jest all the people weary themselves there, for they are but few. So there went up, of the people upon a three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Hai, and they of Hai smote upon a six and thirty men of them, and chased them from the port unto Sebar●m, and smote them down the way. Then was the heart of the people discouraged, * and become like water. Psa. ●1. b As for josua he rent his clotheses, and fallen upon his face unto the earth before the Ark of the LORD, until the evening, with the Elders of Israel, and cast dust upon their heads. Andrea josua said: O LORD LORD, wherefore hast thou brought this people over jordane, to deliver us in to the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? O that we had tarried beionde jordane, as we began. O my LORD, what shall I say, while Israel turneth his back upon his enemies? When the Canaanites hear of this, they shall compass us round about, ye and rote out our names from of the earth. What wilt thou do then unto thy great name? Then said the LORD unto josua: stand up, why liest thou so upon thy face? Israel hath offended, and transgressed over my covenant, which I commanded them. They have taken also of the thing that was damned, and have stolen, and dyssembled, and laid it among their ornaments. The children of Israel are not able to stand before their adversaries, but must turn their backs upon their enemies: for they are accursed. I will no more be with you from hence forth if you put not out the damned from among you. stand up, and sanctify the people, and say: Re. 16. a Sanctify your selves against tomorrow for thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: ●eut. 13. c ●nd 17. b There is a damned thing in the O Israel, therefore canst thou not stand before thy enemies, till you put away the damned from among you. And you shall rise up early, one tribe after another: and look which tribe so ever the LORD taketh, the same shall come forth, one kindred after another: and look which kindred the LORD taketh, the same shall come forth, one house after another. And look what house the LORD taketh, the same shall come forth, one householder after another. And who so ever is found in the curse, the same shallbe burned in the fire with all that he hath: because he hath go beyond the covenant of the LORD, and committed folly in Israel. Then josua got him up by times in the morning, and brought forth Israel, one tribe after another, and the tribe of juda was taken. And when he had brought forth the kindred's in juda, the kindred of the Serahites was taken. And when he had brought forth the kindred of the Serahites, one household after another, Sabdi was taken. And when he had brought forth his house, one householder after another, Achan the son of Charmi the son of Sabdi the son of Serah of the tribe of juda, was taken. And josua said unto Achan: My son, give the glory unto the LORD the God of Israel, and give him the praise, and tell me, what thou hast done, and hide nothing fro me. Then answered Achan unto josua, and said: Verily I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, thus & thus have I done: I saw among the spoils a costly Babylonish garment, and two hundredth Sycles of silver and a tongue of gold, worth fifty Sycles in weight, unto the which I had a lust, and took it: and behold, it is hid in the ground in my tent, and the silver under it. Then josua sent messaungers thither, which ran to the tent, and behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took it out of the tent, and brought it unto josua, and to all the children of Israel and poured it before the LORD. Then josua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Serah with the silver, the garment and golden tongue, his sons and daughters, his oxen and asses, and sheep, and all that he had brought they in to the valley of Anchor. And josua said: For so much as thou hast troubled us, the LORD trouble the this day. And all Israel stoned him, and burned him with fire with all that he had. And when they had stoned him, they made over him a great heap of stones, which remaineth unto this day. (So the LORD turned from the rigorousness of his wrath.) Therefore is the same place called the valley of Anchor unto this day. The VIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto josua: Fear not, and be not afraid. 〈…〉 Take all the men of war with thee, and rise, and get the up unto Hai. Behold, I have given in to thy hand, the king of Hai with his people in his cite & country. And thou shalt do with Hai and the king of it, 〈…〉 as thou didst with jericho and the king thereof, saving that you shall deal among you their spoil & cattles: but set thou a 〈…〉 privy watch behind the cite. Then josua arose, and all the men of war, to go up unto Hai: and josua chose thirty thousand fighting men, and sent them out by night, and commanded them, and said: Take heed, you shall be the privy watch behind the cite, but go not to far from the cite, and see that you be ready altogether. As for me and all the people that is with me, we will make us to the cite. And when they come forth against us ( 〈…〉 as afore) we will fly before them, that they may follow out after us, till we have provoked them forth of the cite: for they shall think that we fly before them, like as at the first. And while we fly before them, you shall get you up out of the privy watch, and win the cite. For the LORD your God shall deliver it in to your hands. But when you have won the cite, set fire upon it, doing 〈◊〉. ●0. c according unto the word of the LORDE· Behold, I have commanded you. So josua sent them away, & they went unto the place of the privy watch, and lay betwixt Bethel and Hai, on the west side of Hai. But josua abode that night among the people. And in the morning he arose early, and set the people in order, and went up with the Elders of Israel before the people toward Hai: and all the men of war that were with him, went up, & got them forth, and came over against the cite, and pitched their tents on the north side of Hai, so that there was but a valley between him and Hai. He had taken about a five thousand men, and set them in the hinder watch between Bethel and Hai, on the west side of the cite, and they ordered the people of the whole host that was on the north side of the cite, so that the uttermost of the people reached unto the west end of the cite. So josua went the same night in to the mids of the valley. But when the king of Hai saw that, he made haist, and got him up early, and the men out of the cite, to meet Israel to the battle, with all his people, even right before the field: for he wist not that there was a privy watch behind him on the back side of the cite. But josua and all Israel were feeble before them, and fled by the way to the wilderness. Then cried all the people in the ci●●●●at they should follow upon them, anerley followed after josua and ruszshed out of 〈◊〉 cite, so that there remained not one man in Hai and Bethel, which went not out to follow upon Israel, and they left the cite standing open, that they might persecute Israel. Then said the LORD unto josua: Reach out the spear that thou hast in thy hand, toward Hai: for I will deliver it in to thy hand. And when josua reached out the spear that was in his hand, toward the cite, the hinder watch broke up out of their place, and ran (when he had stretched out his hand) and came in to the cite, and wan it, and made haist, & set fire upon it. And the men of Hai turned them, and looked behind them, and the smoke of the cite went up toward heaven, and they had no place to fly unto, neither hither ner thither: and the people that fled toward the wilderness turned about, to follow upon them. And when josua and all Israel saw, that the hinder watch had won the cite (for the smoke of the cite ascended) they turned again, and smote the men of Hai. And they in the cite came forth also against them, so that they came in the mids among Israel on both the sides, and they slew them, so that there was not one man of them left over or escaped: and they took the king of Hai alive, and brought him unto josua. And when Israel had slain all the inhabiters of Hai, which had followed upon them in the field and in the wilderness: and when they were all fallen thorough the edge of the sword, till they were destroyed, them turned all Israel unto Hai, and smote it with the edge of the sword. And of all them which fallen that day fro man unto woman, there were twelve thousand, all men of Hai. But josua withdrew not his hand (wherewith he reached out the spear) till all the inhabiters of Hai were utterly destroyed, Num. ●●. d Deut. 20. ● josu. 8. a and 22. b saving the cattles and the spoil of the cite, did Israel part among themselves, according unto the word of the LORD, which he commanded josua. And josua burned up Hai and made an heap thereof for ever, which is there yet unto this day. And the king of Hai caused he to be hanged on a tree until the even. But when the Son was go down, Deut. 20. ● josu. 10. c he commanded to take his body from the tree, and to cast it under the gate of the cite, and made upon him a great heap of stones, which is there yet unto this day. Then builded josua an altar unto the LORD God of Israel upon mount Ebal according as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, Deu. 27. a ●xo. 20. d as it is written in the book of the law of Moses even an altar of whole stone, whereupon there was no iron lifted: and he offered burntofferinges and health offerings, and there upon the stones he written the second law of Moses, which he written before the children of Israel. And all Israel with their Elders and officers and judges, stood on both the sides of the Ark, right over against the priests that bore the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as one of them selves, the one half beside mount Grysim, and the other half beside mount Ebal, Deu. 27. b as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded afore, to bless the people of Israel. afterward caused he to proclaim all the words of the law of the blessing and cursing, as it is written in the book of the law. There was not one word that Moses commanded, but josua caused it to be proclaimed before all the congregation of Israel, and before the women, and children, and strangers which walked among them. The IX. Chapter. NOw when all the kings that were beyond jordane upon the mountains, and in the low countries, & in all the havens of the great see, and beside mount Libanus, heard this (namely, the hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Pheresites, Hevites and jebusites) they gathered themselves together with one accord, to fight against josua, and against Israel. But when the inhabiters of Gibeon herd, what josua had done with jericho and Hai, they dealt craftily, went on their way, and made a message, and took old sacks upon their asses, and old rent wine botels, and old mended shues upon their feet, and put on old and peced garments, and all the bread of their vytayles was hard and mould, and they went unto josua into the host at gilgal, and said unto him, and to every man in Israel: We are come out of a far country, therefore make now a covenant with us. Then said every man in Israel unto the Hevyte: Peradventure thou dwellest among us, how can I then make a covenant with thee? They said unto josua: We are the servants. josua said unto them: What are you, & whence come you? They said: Thy servants are come out of a very far country, because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the report of him, and all that he did in Egipte, and all that he did unto the two kings of the Amorites beyond jordane, Sihon the king at Heszbon, and Og the king of Basan, which dwelled at Astaroth. Therefore said our Elders and all the inhabiters of our country: Take food with you for your journey, and go meet them, and say unto them: We are your servants, therefore make now a bond with us: This our bread that we took out of our houses for our food, was new when we took our journey toward you: but now lo, it is hard & mould. And these bottles filled we new, and lo, they are rent. And these our clotheses and shues are waxed old, by the reason of the sore long journey. Then the captains took their vytayles, and axed not the mouth of the LORD▪ 〈…〉 And josua made peace with them, and set up a covenant with them, that they should be saved alive, and the rulers of the congregation swore unto them. But three days after that they had made a covenant with them, they heard, that they were their neighbours, and dwelled among them: For as the children of Israel went forth on their journey, they came on the third day unto their cities, which are called Gibeon, Caphira, Beeroth, and Cirath jearim, and smote them not, because that the rulers of the congregacisn had sworn unto them by the name of the LORD the God of Israel. But when all the congregation murmured against the rulers, all the rulers said unto the whole congregation: We have sworn unto them by the LORD the God of Israel, therefore may we not touch them. But this will we do unto them: Let them live, that there come no wrath upon us, because of the oath that we have made unto them. And the rulers said unto them: Let them live, that they may be 〈…〉 hewers of wood and bearers of water for the whole congregation, as the rulers have said unto them. Then josua called them, and commened with them, and said: Wherefore have you deceived us, and said, that you were far from us, where as you devil among us? Therefore shall you be cursed, so that of you there shall not cease servants to hue wood and to bear water for the house of my God. They answered josua, & said: It was told thy servants, that the LORD thy God commanded Moses his servant, that he should give you the whole land, and that he would destroy all the inhabiters of the land before you: therefore were we sore afraid of our lives before you, and thus have we done. But now lo, we are in thy hands: look what thou thinkest good and right to do unto us, that do. And he did even so unto them, and delivered them from the children of Israel's hand, that they should not slay them. So upon the same day josua made them hewers of wood and water bearers for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD unto this day, in the place that he shall choose. The X. Chapter. When Adonisedech the king of jerusalem herd, that josua had won Hai, and damned it, and done unto Hai and the king of it, like as he did unto jericho and to the king thereof, 〈…〉 and that they of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were come under them, they were sore afraid. For Gibeon was a great cite, like as one of the kings cities, and greater than Hai, and all the citesyns thereof were men of arms. Therefore sent he unto Hoham the king of Hebron, and to Pirea the king of jarmuth, and to japhia the king of Lachis, and to Debir the king of Eglon, and caused to say unto them: Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon, for they have made peace with josua and the children of Israel. Then came the five kings of the Amorites together, and went up, the king of jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of jarmuth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, with all their armies, & laid siege unto Gibeon, and fought against it. Howbeit they of Gibeon sent unto josua to gilgal, and caused to say unto him: Withdraw not thy hand from thy servants, come up soon unto us: deliver and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that devil upon the mountains, are gathered together against us. josua went up from gilgal, and all the warryers' and all the men arms with him. And the LORD said unto josua: 〈◊〉. 1. a Fear them not, for I have given them in to thy hand. There shall not one of them be able to stand before the. So josua came suddenly upon them, for all that night went he up from gilgal. Esa. 28. d And the LORD discomfyted them before Israel, and smote them with a great slaughter at Gibeon: & they chased them the way down to Beth Horon, and smote them unto Aseka and Makeda. And when they fled before Israel, the way down to Bethoron, the LORD caused a great hail from heaven to fall upon them, unto Aseka, so that they died: & many more of them died of the hail, than the children of Israel slew with the sword. Then spoke josua unto the LORD (the same day that the LORD gave over the Amorites before the children of Israel) and said in the presence of Israel: Eccli. 46. a Son, hold still at Gibeon, and thou Moon in the valley of Aialon. Then the Son held still, and the Moon stood, until the people had avenged themselves on their enemies. Is not this written in the book of the righteous? Thus the Son stood still in the mids of heaven, and dyfferred to go down for the space of a whole day after. And there was no day like unto this (neither before ner after) when the LORD herkened unto the voice of one man: for the LORD fought for Israel. And josua went again to gilgal in to the tents, and all Israel with him. As for the five kings, they were fled, and had hid them selves in the cave at Makeda. Then was it told josua: We have found the five kings hid in the cave at Makeda. josua said: roll great stones then before the hole of the cave, and set men there to keep them. As for you, stand not you still, but follow after your enemies, and smite them behind, and let them not come in their cities, for the LORD your God hath delivered them in to your hand. And when josua and the children of Israel had ended the sore great slaughter upon them, so that they were brought to nought, the remnant of them came in to the strong cities. So all the people came again to the host unto josua to Makeda in peace, and no man dared move his tongue against the children of Israel. josua said: Open the mouth of the cave, and bring the five king forth unto me. They did so, and brought the kings unto him out of the cave: the king of jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of jarmuth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon. When these five kings were brought forth unto him, josua called every man of Israel, and said unto the rulers of the men of war that went with him: Come forth and tread upon the necks of these kings with your feet. And they came forth, and trod upon their necks with their feet. And josua said unto them: Be not afraid, and fear not: be strong and bold, for thus shall the LORD do unto all your enemies, against whom you fight. And josua smote them afterward, and put them to death, and hanged them upon five trees. And they hanged still upon the trees until the evening. Deut. ●●. d But when the Son was go down, he commanded to take them of from the trees: and they cast them in the cave, wherein they had hid themselves, & before the hole of the cave they laid great stones, which are there yet unto this day. The same day wan josua Makeda also, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and Deut. 20. c damned it, and all the souls that were therein, and let none remain escaped: and did unto the king of Makeda josu. 6. c as he did unto the king of jericho. Then josua and all Israel with him departed fro Makeda unto Lybna, & fought against it. (And the LORD gave it with the king thereof into the hand of Israel) and smote it and all the souls that were therein, with the edge of the sword, and let not one remain in it: and did unto the king thereof as he had done unto the king of jericho. afterward went josua and all Israel with him from Lybna unto Lachis, and laid siege unto it, and fought against it. And the LORD delivered Lachis also in to the hand of Israel, so that they wan it upon the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all as he had done unto Lybna. At the same time Horam the king of Gazer went up, to help Lachis. But josua smote him with all his people, till there remained not one. And josua went with all Israel from Lachis, unto Eglon, and laid siege unto it, and fought against it, and wan it the same day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and damned all the souls that were therein the same day, according unto all as he had done unto Lachis. After that went josua with all Israel from Eglon unto Hebron, and fought against it, and wan it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it, 〈◊〉 all the cities thereof, and all the soul's 〈◊〉 were therein, and let not one remain, aco●●dynge unto all as he had done unto Eg●●● and damned it, and all the souls that 〈◊〉 therein. Then turned josua again with all I●●rael toward Debir, and fought against 〈◊〉, and wan it, with the king of it, and all the cities thereof, and smote them with the edg● of the sword, and damned all the souls that were therein, and let not one remain over▪ Even as he had done unto Hebron and L●●●na with their kings, so did he also unto D●●bir, and the king thereof. Thus josua smote all the land upon the mountains, and toward the south, and in the low countries, and by the rivers, with all their kings, and let not one remain over and damned all that had breath, * as the LORD God of Israel had commanded. And josua smote them from Cades Bernea unto Gaza, and all the land of Gosen unto Gibeon, and took all these kings with their land at one time: for the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. And josua went again withal Israel to the tents unto Gilgal. The XI. Chapter. When jabin the king of Asor heard this, he sent unto jabob the king of Madon and to the king of Samron, and to the king of Achsaph, and to the kings that dwelled toward the north upon the mountains, and in the plain on the southside of Cineroth, and in the lo●● countries, and in the lordships of Dor by the see side: and to the Canaanites toward the east and west, to the Amorites, hittites, Pheresites, and jebusites, upon the mountains and to the Hevites, under mount Hermon in the land of Mispa. These went out with all their armies, a great people, as many as the sand of the see, and exceeding many horses and charettes. All these kings gathered themselves, and came, and pitched together by the water of Meram, to fight with Israel. And the LORD said unto josua: Fear them not, for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them all slain, before the children of Israel: thou shalt lame their horses, and burn their charettes with fire. 〈…〉 And Ios●● came suddenly upon them, and all the men of war with him by the water of Mero●●, & fallen upon them. And the LORD delivered them into the hands of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them unto great Sidon and to the warm water, and to the plain of Mispa toward the east: and smote them, until there remained not one. Then dealt josua with them as the LORD had said unto him, & lamed these horses, & brent their charettes. And he turned back at the same time, & wan Hasor, & smote the king of it with the sword (for Hasor was afore time the head cite of all these kingdoms) and smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, and damned it, & let nothing remain that had breath, & damned Hasor with fire. All the cities of these kingdoms wan josua also, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and damned them, 〈◊〉. 20. c according as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded. Howbeit the cities that stood upon the hills, did not the children of Israel burn with fire: but Hasor only did josua burn. 〈◊〉. 31. d And all the spoils of these cities and the cattles, did the children of Israel deal among them, but smote all the men with the edge of the sword, till they had destroyed them, and let nothing remain that had breath. As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, and as Moses commanded josua, even so did josua, so that there was nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. So josua took all this land upon the mountains, & all that lieth toward the south, & all the land of Gosen, and the low country, & the plain field, and the mountain of Israel with the valley thereof, from the mountain that parteth the land up toward Seir, unto Baalgad, in the plain of mount Libanus beneath mount Hermon. All their kings took he, and smote them, and put them to death. 〈◊〉. 23. d Howbeit he warred a long season with these kings. Yet was there not one cite, that yielded itself peaceably unto the children of Israel 〈◊〉. 9 a (except the Hevites, which dwelled at Gibeon) but they wan them all with battle. And this was done so of the LORD that their heart was so hardened, to come against the children of Israel with battle, that they might be damned, & no favour to be showed unto them, but to be destroyed, ●eu. 20. c as the LORD commanded Moses. At the same time came josua, and rooted out the Enakims' from the mountain, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, from every mountain of juda, and from every mountain of Israel, and damned them with their cities, and let none of the Enakims' remain in the land of the children of Israel, save at Gasa, 1. Re. 1● at Ga●th, at Asod, there remained of them. Thus josua conquered all the land according unto all as the LORD said unto Moses, & gave it unto Israel to inheritance, Nu. 26. unto every tribe his portion, and the land rested from war. The XII. Chapter. THese are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, & conquered their land, beyond jordane, eastward, from the water of Arnon, unto mount Hermon, and unto all the plain field toward the east: Nu. 21. c Deut. 2. ● Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelled at Heszbon, and had dominion from Aroer that lieth by the water side of Arnon, and unto the mids of the water: and over half Gilead, unto the water of jabok, which is the border of the children of Ammon: and over the plain field, unto the see of Cynneroth eastward, and unto the see of the plain field, namely the Salt see toward the east, the way unto Beth jesimoth: and from the south beneath by the rivers of mount Pisga. And the border of Og the king of Basan, which remained yet of Raphaim, Nu. 21. c Deut 3. ● and dwelled at Astaroth and Edrei, and had the dominion over mount Hermon, over Salcha, and over all Basan unto the border of Gessuri & Maachati, & of half Gilead, which was the border of Sihon the king at Hesbon. Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smote them. Nu. 32. d and 34. ● Deut. 3. ● josu. 13. ● And Moses the servant of the LORD gave it unto the Rubenites, Gaddites and to the half tribe of Manasse in possession. These are the kings of the land, whom josua & the children of Israel smote on this side jordane westward, from Baalgad upon the plain of mount Libanus, unto the mount that parteth the land up toward Seir, & that josua gave unto the tribes of Israel in possession, unto every one his part, what so ever was in the mountains, valleys, plain fields, by the rivers, in the wyldernesses & toward the south, the hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Pheresites, Hevites, and jebusites. The king of jericho, the king of Hai, which lieth beside Bethel, ●●su. ●. a 〈◊〉 8 a rosu 10. a the king of jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of jarmoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon, the king of Geser, the king of Debir, the king of Geder, the king of Horma, the king of Arad, the king of Libna, the king of Adulla, the king of Makeda, the king of Bethel, the king of Tapnah, the king of Hepher, the king of Aphek, the king of Lasaron, the king of Madan, the king of Hasor, the king of Simron Meron, the king of Achsaph, the king of Tahenah, the king of Megido, the king of Cades, the king of jakneam by Carmel, the king in the lordships of Dor, the king of the heathen at gilgal, the king of Thirza. These are one and thirty kings. The XIII. Chapter. NOw when josua was old and well strike in age, the LORD said unto him: Thou art old & well aged, and there remaineth yet much of the land to conquer, namely all Galilee of the philistines, and all Gessuri, from Sihor which floweth before Egipte, unto the border of Ekron, northward, which is reckoned unto the Canaanites: five lords of the philistines, namely, the Gasites, the Aszdodites, the Ascalonites, the Gethites, the Ekronites & the Havites. But from the north it is all the land of the Canaanites, and Maara of the Sidonians unto Aphek, even unto the border of the Amorites. moreover the land of the Giblites eastward, from Baalgad under mount Hermon, till a man come unto Hamath. All they that devil upon the mount, from Libanus unto the warm waters, and all the Sidonians. I will drive them out before the children of Israel: Only let them be dealt out among Israel, as I have commanded the. Divide thou this land now to inheritance among the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasse. ●●su. 12. b For the Rubenites & Gaddites with the half tribe of Manasse, have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them beyond jordane Eastward, Nu. 32. d according as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them the same, from Ar●er which lieth up by the water side of Arnon, and the cite in the mids of the water, & all the coaste● of Medba unto Dibon, and all the cities of Sihon the king of the Amorites, which, dwelled at Heszbon, 〈…〉 unto the border of the children of Ammon: and Gilead and the border of Gessuri and Maachati, and all mount Hermon, and all Basan unto Salcha: all the kingdom of Og at Basan, which dwelled at Astaroth and Edrei, that remained yet over of Raphaim. But Moses smote them and drove them out. The children of Israel drove not out the Gessurites & Maachathites, but both Gessur and Maachat dwelled among the children of Israel unto this day. 〈…〉 But unto the tribe of the Levites he gave no inheritance: for the offering of the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, according as he hath promised them. So Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben after their kindred's, 〈…〉 so that their border was Aroer, which lieth upon the water side of Arnon, and the cite in the mids of the same water, with all the plain field unto Medba: Heszbon, and all the cities thereof which lie in the plain field: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, & Beth Baal Meon, jahza, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibama, Zeretha Sahar, upon mount Emek, Beth Peor: the rivers by Pisga, and Beth jesimoth, and all the cities upon the plain, and all the realm of Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelled at Heszbon, 〈…〉 whom Moses smote with the princes of Madian, Eui, Rekem, Zur, Her, & Reba, the mighty men of king Sihon, which were inhabiters of the land. And Balaam the son of Beor the prophecier, did the children of Israel kill with the sword among the other that were slain: and the border of the children of Reuben was jordane. This is the inheritance of the children of Reuben among their kindred's, cities and villages. Unto the tribe of the children of Gad among their kindred's gave Moses, so that their border was, jahesar and all the cities in Gilead, and the half land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer, which lieth before Rabbath: and from Heszbon unto Ramath Mispe & Betomim: and fro Mahanaim unto the border of Debir. But in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimra, Suchoth and Zaphon (which remained yet of the realm of Sihon king of Heszbon) and was by jordane, unto the edge of the see of Cyneroth, on this side jordane eastward. This is the inheritance of the children of Gad in their kindred's, cities & vyllagyes. 〈◊〉. 17. a 〈◊〉. 6. d Unto the half tribe of the children of Manasse after their kindred's, gave Moses, so that their border was fro Mahanaim, all Basan, all the kingdom of Og king of Basan, and all the towns of jair which lie in Basan, namely three score cities. And half Gilead, Astaroth, Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og at Basan, unto the children of Machir the son of Manasse. This is the half portion of the children of Machir after their kindred's. This is it that Moses dealt out upon the field of Moab beyond jordane over against jericho eastward. 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉 28. a But unto the tribe of Levi gave Moses no inheritance: for the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, as he hath promised them. The XIIII. Chapter. THis is it that the children of Israel have enhereted in the land of Canaan, 〈◊〉. 34. c which Eleasar the priest, and josua the son of Nun, and the chief of the fathers among the tribes of the children of Israel parted out among them. 〈◊〉. 26. f 〈◊〉 ●3. f But by lot did they divide it out among them, according as the LORD commanded Moses to give unto the nine tribes and the half: for unto the two tribes and the half did Moses give inheritance beyond jordane. 〈◊〉. 13. b Butt unto the Levites he gave no inheritance among them. 〈◊〉. 48 c For of the children of joseph there were two tribes, Manasses and Ephraim. Therefore gave they the Levites no portion in the land, but cities, to devil therein, and suburbs for their cattles and goods. 〈◊〉 35. a Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel, and divided the land. Then came forth the children of juda to josua at gilgal: and Caleb the son of jephunne the Kenisite said unto him: Thou knowest what the LORD 〈◊〉. 14. c said unto Moses the man of God, concerning me and the in Cades Bernea. I was forty year old, when Moses the servant of the LORD 〈◊〉. 1●. a sent me out from Cades Bernea, to spy out the land, and I brought him word again, even as I had it in my heart. Howbeit my brethren that went up with me, discouraged the heart of the people: but I followed the LORD my God unto the uttermost. Then swore Moses unto me the same day, and said: The land whereupon thou hast trodden with thy foot, shallbe thy inheritance and thy children's for ever, because thou hast followed the LORD my God unto the uttermost. And now hath the LORD let me live, Nu. 14. c according as he said. It is now five and forty year sense the LORD spoke this unto Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness. And now lo, this day am I five and four score year old Eccl. 4●. ● and am yet as strong to day, as I was in that day when Moses sent me out: even as my strength was then, so is it now also to fight, and to go out and in. give me now therefore this mountain, whereof the LORD spoke in that day, and thou herdest it the same day: for now the Enakims' devil thereon, and it hath great and strong cities: if haply the LORD will be with me, that I may drive them out, as he hath said. Then josua blessed him, 1. Pa●. 7. ● josu. 21. b and so gave Hebron unto Caleb the son of jephune. Therefore was Hebron the inheritance of Caleb the son of jephune the kenisite, unto this day, because he followed the LORD God of Israel unto the uttermost. josu. 15. c But afore time was Hebron called Kiriatharba, & great people were there among the Enakims'. And the land ceased from war. The XU. Chapter. THe lot of the tribe of the children of juda among their kindred's, was the coast of Edom by the wilderness of Zin, which borderth southward on the edge of the south countries. Their south borders were from the uttermost side of the salt see, that is, from the coast that goeth southward, and cometh out from thence toward the eastside of Acrabbim, and goeth forth thorough Zinna, and yet goeth up from the south toward Cades Bernea, and goeth thorough Hesron, and goeth up to Adara, & fetcheth a compass about Carcaa, & goeth thorough Asmona, and cometh forth to the river of Egipte, so that the see is the end of the border. Let this be your border southward. But the east border is from the salt see to the uttermost part of jordane. The border northward, is from the see coast which is on the edge of jordane, and goeth up unto Beth Hagla, and stretcheth out from the north unto Betharaba, and cometh up unto the stone of Bohen the son of Reuben, and goeth up unto Debir from the valley of Anchor, and from the north coast that is toward gilgal, which lieth over against Adumim upward, which is on the north side of the water. Then goeth it unto the water of Ensemes, and cometh out unto the ●eg. 1. b well of rogel. Than goeth it up to the valley of the son of Hinnam, a long beside the jebusite that dwelleth from the southward, that is jerusalem: and cometh up unto the top of the mount which lieth before the valley of Hinnam from the westward, that borderth on the edge of the valley of Raphaim toward the north. Then cometh it from the top of the same mount unto the water well of Nephtoah, and cometh out unto the cities of mount Ephron, and boweth toward Baala, that is Kiriath jarim, and fetcheth a compass about from Baala westward unto mount Seir, and goeth by the northside of the mount jarim, that is Chessalon: and cometh down to Bethsemes, and goeth thorough Thimna, and breaketh out on the north side of Acron, and stretcheth forth toward Sicron, and goeth over mount Baala, and cometh out unto jabueel: so that their uttermost border is the see. The west border is the great see. This is the border of the children of juda round about in their kindred's. Caleb the son of jephune had his portion given him among the children of juda (as the LORD commanded josua) namely ●●su. 14. d Kiriatharba of the father of Enak, that is Hebron. ●dic. 1. b And Caleb drove from thence the three sons of Enak, Sesai, Ahiman, and Thalmas begotten of Enak. And from thence he went up to the inhabiters of Debir. (As for Debir, it was called Kiriath Sepher aforetime.) And Caleb said: 〈◊〉. 1 c ●e. 17. c ●ar. 12. a Who so smiteth Kiriath Sepher and winneth it, I will give him my daughter Achsa to wife. Then Athniel the son of Kenas the brother of Caleb wan it: and he gave him his daughter Achsa to wife. And it fortuned when they went in, that she was counciled of her houszbande, to axe a piece of land of her father. And she fallen down from the ass. Then said Caleb unto her: What aileth thee? She said: give me a blessing, for thou hast given me a south (and dry) land: give me wells of water also. Then gave he her wells above and beneath. This is the inheritance of the tribe of juda among their kindred's. And the cities of the tribe of the children of juda, from one to another by the coasts of the Edomites toward the south, were these: Cabzeel, Eder, jagur, Kina, Dimona, Adada, Kedes, Hazor, jethnam, Siph, Telem, Bealot, Hazor Hadatha, Kirioth Hezron that is Hasor: Aman, Sema, Molada, Hazor Gadda, Hesmon, Beth palet, Hazer Sual, Beer Seba, Bisziothia, Baala, Limb, Azem, Elth●lad, Chesil, Harma, Zi●lag, Madmanna, San Samna, Lebaoth, Silhim, Ain, Rimon. 〈…〉 These are nine and twenty cities & their villages. But in the low countries was Esthaol, Zaren, Asna, Saroah, Engannim, Thapna, Enam, jarmoth, Adullam, Socho, Aseka, Saaraim, Adithaim, Gedera, Giderothim. These are fourteen cities & their villages. Zenan Hadasa, Migdal Gad, Dilean, Mispa, jakthiel, Lachis, Bazekath, Eglon, Ch●bon, Lachman, Chithlis, Ged●roth, Beth Dagon, Naama, Makeda. These are sixteen cities and their villages. Libna, Ether, Asen, jephthah, Asua, Nezib, Keila, Achsib, Maresa. These are nine cities and their villages. * Ekron with her daughters and villages. From Ekron unto the see, all that reacheth unto Asdod and the villages thereof. Asdod with the daughters and villages thereof. Gasa with her daughters and villages unto the water of Egipte. And the great see is his border. But upon the mount was Samir, jatir, Socho, Danna, Kiriath Sanna, that is Debir: Anab, Esthemo, Annim, Gosen, Holen, Gilo. These are eleven cities and their vyllagies. Maon, Carmel, Siph, juta, jesrael, jakdean, Sanoah, Kain, Gibea, Thimna. These are ten cities and their villages. Halhul, Bethzur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth Anoth, Elthekon. These are six cities and their villages. Kiriath Baal (that is Kiriath jearim) Harabba, two cities & their villages. And in the wilderness was Betharaba, Middin, Sechacha, Nibsan, and the Salt cite, and Engaddi. These are si●e cities and their vyllagies. 〈…〉 But the jebusites dwelled at jerusalem, and the children of juda could not drive them away. So the jebusites remain with the children of juda at jerusalem unto this day. The XVI. Chapter. ANd the lot fallen unto the children of Ephraim from jordane over against jericho, unto the water on the east side of jericho, and the wilderness, that goeth up from jericho thorough the mountain of Bethel, and cometh out from Bethel unto Lus, and goeth thorough the coast of Arciataroth, and stretcheth down westward unto the coast of japhleti to the border of the lower Bethoron, and unto Gazer: and the end thereof is by the great see. This the children of joseph (Manasses & Ephraim) received to inheritance. The Border of the children of Ephraim among their kindred's of their inheritance from the east, was Ataroth Adar unto the upper Bethoron, & goeth out westward by Michmethath that lieth toward the north, there fetcheth it a compass toward the east side of the cite Thaenath Silo, and goeth there thorough from the east unto janoha, and cometh down from janoha unto. Ataroth and Naaratha, and bordreth on jericho, and goeth out at jordane. From Thapuah goeth it westward unto Naalkama, and the out going of it is at the see. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim among their kindred's. And all the borders, cities with their villages of the children of Ephraim lay scattered among the inheritance of the children of Manasse. And they drove not out the Canaanites, which dwelled at Gazer. So the Canaanites remained among Ephraim unto this day, and become tributaries. The XVII. Chapter. ANd the lot fallen upon the tribe of Manasse (for 〈◊〉. 48. c he is joseph's first son) and it fallen upon Machir the first son of Manasse the father of Gilead: for he was a man of arms, therefore had he Gilead and Basan. It fell also unto the other children of Manasse, namely unto the children of Abieser, the children of Helek, the children of Asriel, the children of Sechem, the children of Hepher, and the children of Semida: These are the children of Manasse the son of joseph, males, among their kindred's. 〈◊〉. 17. a 〈◊〉 ●6. d But Zelaphead the son of Hepher the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasse, had no sons, but daughters, and their names are these: Mahala, Noa, Hagla, Milca, Tirza, and they came before Eleasar the priest, and before josua the son of Nun, and before the rulers, and said: The LORD commanded Moses, to give us inheritance among our brethren. And so they had inheritance given them among their father's brethren, according to the commandment of the LORD. There fallen upon Manasse ten meetlynes without the land of Gilead and Basan, which lieth beyond jordane. For the daughters of Manasse received inheritance among his sons: but the other children of Manasse had the land of Gilead. And the border of Manasse was from Asser forth unto Michmethath, that lieth before Sichem, and reacheth unto the right side of them of En Tapuah: for the land of Tapuah fallen unto Manasse, and the border of Manasse is unto the children of Ephraim. Then cometh it down to Nahelkana toward the south side of the river cities, which are Ephraim's among the cities of Manasse. But from the north is the border of Manasse by the river, and goeth forth by the see side, south ward unto Ephraim, and to Manasse northward, and the see is his coast. And it shall border on Aser from the north, and on Isachar from the east. So (among Isachar and Asser) Manasses had Beth Sean and the towns thereof, and jeblaam and the towns thereof, and them of Dor and their towns, and them of En Dor and their towns, & them of Taanach and their towns, and them of Mageddo and their towns, and the third part of (the cite) Nophet. And the children of Manasse could not drive away the inhabiters of these cities, but the Canaanites began to devil in the same land. Howbeit when the children of Israel were able, they made the Canaanites tributaries, and drove them not out. Then spoke the children of joseph unto josua, and said: Wherefore hast thou given me but one portion and one meetlyne of inheritance, and I am yet a great people, as the LORD hath blessed me so largely? Then said josua unto them: For so much as thou art a great people, go up therefore in to the wood, and make thyself room there in the land of the Pheresites and Raphaim, saying mount Ephraim is to narrow for the. Then said the children of joseph: We shall not be able to attain unto the mountains, for there are iron charettes among all the Canaanites, that devil in the land of Emek, by whom lieth Beth Sean and the villages thereof, and jesrael in Emek. josua said unto the house of joseph, even to Ephraim and Manasses: Thou art a great people, & for so much as thou art so great, thou must not have one lot, but the mountain where the wood is, shall be thy: rote that out for thee, so shall it be the outgoing of thy portion, when thou dryvest out the Canaanites, which have iron charettes, & are mighty. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd all the multitude of the children of Israel gathered themselves together unto Silo, and they set up the Tabernacle of witness, and the land was subdued unto them. But there were yet seven tribes of the children of Israel, unto whom they had not divided their inheritance. And josua said unto the children of Israel: Howlonge are you so slow, to go and conquer the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? Chose you three men out of every tribe, that I may send them, and that they may get them up and go thorough the land, and describe it according to the enheritaunces thereof, and come unto me. Divide the land in seven parts. judas shall remain upon his borders of the south side, and the house of joseph shall remain upon his borders of the north part: but describe you the land in seven parts, and bring them unto me, then shall I cast the lot for you before the LORD our God. ●●su. 13. d 〈◊〉 14. a For the Levites have no portion among you, but the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. ●●su 12. b As for Gad & Reuben and the half tribe of Manasse, they have received their inheritance beyond jordane eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them. Then the men got up, to go their way. And when they were about to go for to describe the land, josua commanded them, and said: Go your way, and walk thorough the land, and describe it, and come again unto me, that I may cast the lot for you before the LORD at Silo. So the men departed, and went thorough the land, and describe it in seven parts upon a letter according to the cities, and came to josua in to the host at Silo. Then josua cast the lot over them at Silo before the LORD, and there distributed the land among the children of Israel, unto every one his part. And the lot of the tribe of the children of Ben jamin fallen according to their kindred's, and the border of their lot went out between the children of juda & the children of joseph. And their border was on the north quarter of jordane, and goeth up from the north side of jericho, and cometh up to the mountain westward, and goeth out by the wilderness of Bethaven, and goeth from thence toward Lus, even by the south side of Lus (that is Bethel) and cometh down unto Ataroth Adar by the mountain which lieth on the south side of the lowe● Bethoron. Then howeth it down, and fetcheth a compass unto the south west quarter from the mount that lieth over against Bethoron toward the south, and goeth out unto Kiriath Baal, that is Kiriath jearim, a cite of the children of juda. This is the west border. But the south border is from Kiriathiearim forth, and goeth out toward the west, and cometh forth unto the water well of Nepthoah: and goeth down by the edge of the mount, that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnam: and goeth down thorough the valley of Hinnam on the south side of the jebusites, and cometh down to the well of rogel, and stretcheth from the northward, and cometh out unto E● Seems, and cometh forth to the heaps that lie up toward Adumim, and cometh down unto the stone of Bohen the son of Reuben, and goeth a long beside the plain field which lieth north ward, and cometh down unto the plain field, and goeth beside Beth Hagla that lieth toward the north, and his end is at the north border of the Salt see, unto the edge of jordane south ward. This is the south border. But jordane shall be the end of the east quarter. This is the inheritance of the children of Ben jamin in their borders round about, among their kindred's. The cities of the tribe of the children of Ben jamin among their kindred's are these: jericho, Beth Hagla, Emek Kezi●z, Betharaba, Zemaraim, Bethel, Auim, Haphar, Aphra, Caphar Amonai, Aphni, Gaba: these are twelve cities and their villages. Gibeon, Rama, Beeroth, Mispa, Caphira, Moza, Rekem, jeerpeel, Thareala, Zela, Eleph, and the jebusites, that is jerusalem, Gibeath, Kiriath: these are fourteen cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Ben jamin in their kindred's. The XIX. Chapter. THen fallen the second lot of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their kindred's, and their inheritance was among the inheritance of the children of juda. 〈…〉 And to their inheritance they had Beer Seba, Molada, Hazar Sual, Baala, Azem, El Tholad, Beth●l, Harma, Ziklag, Betha Markaboth, Hazar Sussa, Beth Lebaoth, and Saruhen: these are thirteen cities & their villages. Ain, Rimon, Ether, Asan: these are four cities and their villages. And all the villages that lie about the cities unto Balath Beer Ramath toward the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon in their kindred's: for the inheritance of the children of Simeon is under the portion of the children of juda. For so much as the inheritance of the children of juda was to great for them, therefore inhereted the children of Simeon among their inheritance. The third lot fallen upon the children of Zabulon after their kindred's. And the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid, & goeth up westward to Mareala, & bordreth upon Dabaseth, and reacheth unto the river that floweth over against jakneam: & turneth from Sarid eastward unto the border of Cisloth Thabor, and cometh out unto Dabrath, and reacheth up to japia, and from thence goeth it westward thorough Githa Hepher, and Itha Kazim, and cometh out toward Rimon, Hamthoar Hanea, & fetcheth a compass about from the north unto Nathon, & the going out of it is in the valley jephtha El, Katath, Nahalal, Simron, jedeala, & Bethlehem: These are twelve cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Zabulon in their kindred's: these are their cities and villages. The fourth lot fallen upon the children of Isachar after their kindred's, & their border was jesraela, Chessulloth, Sunem, Hapharaim, Zion, Anaharath, Raabith, Kision, Abez, Kemeth, En Gamnim, Enhada, Beth Pazez, & bordreth upon Thabor, Sahazima, Beth Seems, and the outgoing of it was at jordane. These are sixteen cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Isachar in their kindred's, cities and villages. The fifth lot fallen upon the tribe of the children of Asser, after their kindred's. And their border was Helkath, Hali, beaten, Achsaph, Alamelech, Amead, Miseal, and borderth on Carmel unto the see, and on Sihor, and Libnath, and turneth toward the east unto Beth Dagon, and bordreth on Zabulon, and on the valley of jephtael, and toward the north side of Beth Emek and Negiel: & cometh out unto Cabul on the left side of Ebron, Rehob, Hamon and Cana, unto great Sidon. And turneth toward Rama, unto the strong cite of Zor, and turneth toward Hossa, and goeth out unto the see, after the 〈◊〉 toward Achsib, Vma, Aphek, Rehob. These are two and twenty cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asser in their kindreds cities and villages. The sixth lot fallen upon the children of Nephtali in their kindred's. And their border was from Heleph Elon thorough Zaanaim, Adai Nekeb, jabne El unto Lakum, and goeth out unto jordane, and turneth westward to Asnoth Thabor, and cometh ou● from thence unto Hukok, and bordreth on Zabulon toward the south, and on Asser toward the west, and on juda by jordane toward the east: and hath strong cities, Zidimzer, Hamath Rakath, Chinnaret, Adama, Rama, Hazor, Kedes, Edrei, En Hazor, jereon, Migdal Elharen, Beth Anath, Beth Same. These are nyentene cities and their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Nephtali in their kindred's, cities, and villages. The seventh lot fallen upon the tribe of the children of Dan after their kindred's. And the border of their inheritance was Zarea, Esthaol, Irsames, Saalabin, Aialon, jethla, Elon, Thimnata, Ekron, Eltheke, Gibethon Baalath, jehud, B●erbarak, Got Rimon, Me jarkon, Rakon with the border by japho, and on the same goeth the border of the children of Dan out. And the children of Dan went up, and fought against Lesem, and wan it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and took it in possession, & dwelled therein, and jud. 1●. ● called it Dan, after the name of their father. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan in their kindred's, cities, and villages. And when the land was all parted out with the borders thereof, the children of Israel gave josua the son of Nun, an inheritance among them, and (according to the commandment of the LORD) they gave him the cite that he required, namely, Io●●▪ 24. ● Thimnath Serah, upon mount Ephraim: there builded he the cite, and dwelled therein. These are the enheritaunces which Eleasar the priest and josua the son of Nun, and the chiefest of the fathers among the tribes, divided out by lot unto the children of Israel at Silo before the LORD, even before the door of the Tabernacle of witness, and so they ended the devydinge out of the land. The XX. Chapter. ANd the LORD spoke unto josua, and said: Speak to the children of Israel: give among you free cities, ●xo. 21. b Deut. 19 c whereof I spoke unto you by Moses, that a deedsleyer which sleyeth a soul unawares and unwittingly, may fly thither, that they may be free among you from the avenger of blood. Andrea he that flieth to one of those cities, shall stand without before the port of the cite, and show his cause before the Elders of the cite, then shall they take him to them in to the cite, and give him place to devil with them. And if the avenger of blood follow upon him, they shall not deliver the deedslayer in to his hands, for so much as he hath slain his neighbour unawares, and was not his enemy afore: but he shall devil in the cite, till he stand before the congregation in judgement, until the high priest die, which shall be at that tyme. Then shall the deedsleyer return, and go unto his own cite, and unto his house to the cite, from whence he was fled. Then appointed they Kedes in Galilee upon mount Nepthali, and Sechem upon mount Ephraim, and Kiriatharba, that is Hebron upon mount juda. And beyond jordane on the east side of jericho, they gave Beser in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Basan out of the tribe of Manasse. These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the strangers which dwelled among them, that whosoever had slain a soul unawares, might fly thither, that he should not be put to death by the avenger of blood, till he had stand before the congregation. The XXI. Chapters. THen the chief fathers among the Levites came forth unto Eleasar the priest and to josua the son of Nun, and to the ancient fathers among the tribes of the children of Israel, and spoke unto them at Silo in the land of Canaan, and said: Num. 35. a The LORD commanded by Moses, that we should have cities given us to devil in, and the suburbs of the same for our cattles. Then the children of Israel gave of their inheritance these cities and the suburbs thereof, unto the Levites, according to the commandment of the LORD. And the lot fallen upon the kindred of the Kahathites, and the children of Aaron the priest among the Levites, had by the lot thirteen cities of the tribe of juda, of the tribe of Simeon, and of the tribe of Ben jamin. The other children of Kahath of the same kindred, had by the lot ten cities, of the tribe of Ephraim, of the tribe of Dan, and of the half tribe of Manasse. But the children of Gerson of the same kindred had by the lot thirteen cities, of the tribe of Isachar, of the tribe of Asser, of the tribe of Nepthali, and of the half tribe of Manasse at Basan. The children of Merari of their kindred had twelve cities, of the tribe of Reuben, of the tribe of Gad, and of the tribe of Zabulon. So the children of Israel gave these cities and their suburbs unto the Levites by lot, as the LORD commanded by Moses. Of the tribe of the children of juda, and of the tribe of the children of Simeon, they gave these cities (which they named by name) unto the children of Aaron of the kindred of the Kahathites among the children of Levi: for the first lot was theirs. So they gave them Kiriatharba, which was the fathers of Enak, that is Hebren upon the mount juda, and the suburbs thereof round about. 〈…〉 But the field of the cite and the villages thereof, gave they unto Caleb the son of jephune for his possession. Thus gave they unto the children of Aaron the priest, the fire cite of the deed sleyers, Hebron and the suburbs thereof, Libna and the suburbs thereof, jathir and the suburbs thereof, Esthuma and the suburbs thereof, Holon and the suburbs thereof, Debir and the suburbs thereof, Ain and the suburbs thereof, juta and the suburbs thereof, Beth Seems and the suburbs thereof, even nine cities of these two tribes. But of the tribe of Ben jamin they gave four cities, Gibeon and the suburbs thereof, Gaba, and the suburbs thereof, Anathot and the suburbs thereof, Almon and the suburbs thereof: so that all the cities of the children of Aaron the priest were thirteen with their suburbs. The kindred's of the other children of Kahath the Levites, had by their lot four cities, of the tribe of Ephraim, and they gave them the fire cite of the deedsleiers, Sechem and the suburbs thereof upon mount Ephraim Gazer and the suburbs thereof, Kibzaim and the suburbs thereof, Bethron and the suburbs thereof. Of the tribe of Dan four cities, Eltheke and the suburbs thereof, Gibthon and the suburbs thereof, Aialon and the suburbs thereof, Gath Rimon and the suburbs thereof. Of the half tribe of Manasses two cities, Thaenach and the suburbs thereof, Gath Rimon and the suburbs thereof: so that all the cities of the other children of the kindred of Kahath, were ten with their suburbs. But unto the children of Gerson among the kindred's of the Levites were given, Of the half tribe of Manasse two cities, the fire cite for the deedslayer, Gola in Basan and the suburbs thereof, Beasthra, and the suburbs thereof. Of the tribe of Isachar four cities, Kision and the suburbs thereof, Dabrach and the suburbs thereof, jarmuth and the suburbs thereof, Engannim and the suburbs thereof. Of the tribe of Asser four cities, Miseal, Abdon, Helkath and Rehob with the suburbs thereof. Of the tribe of Nephtali three cities, the fire cite Kedes (for the deedsleyer) in Galilee, Hamoth, Dor, and Karthan with the suburbs thereof: so that all the cities of the kindred of the Gersonites were thirteen with their suburbs. Unto the kindred's of Merari the other Levites were given, Of the tribe of Zabulon four cities, jakneam, Kartha, Dimna and Nahalal with the suburbs thereof. Of the tribe of Reuben four cities, Bezer, jahza, Kedemoth and Mephaat with their suburbs. Of the tribe of Gad four cities, the fire cite for the deedsleyer, Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heszbon and jaeser with their suburbs: so that all the cities of the children of Merari among their kindred's of the other Levites, were twelve. Thus all the cities of the Levites among the possession of the children of Israel, were eight and forty with their suburbs. And these cities were so dealt out, that every one had their suburbs round about, the one as the other. Thus the LORD gave the children of Israel all the land, which he had sworn unto their fathers to give: & they took possession of it, and dwelled therein. And the LORD gave them rest before all those that were about them ●en. 17. a like as he swore unto their fathers, & none of their enemies stood against them, but all their enemies delivered he in to their hand. And their myssed nothing of all the good that the LORD had promised unto the house of Israel, it came every whit. The XXII. Chapter. THen josua called the Rubenites and Gaddites, and the half tribe of Manasse, and said unto them: You have kept all, Num. ●2. ● Deut. 3. b josu. 1●. a that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have herkened unto my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brethren a long season, unto this day, and have waited upon the commandment of the LORD your God. For so much now as the LORD your God hath brought your brethren to rest, as he promised them, turn you now, and go your way to your tents in to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond jordane. But take diligent heed now, that you do according to the commandment and law which Moses the servant of the LORD hath commanded: Deut. 10. c That you love the LORD your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and cleave unto him, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. So josua blessed them, and let them go. And they went unto their tents. Unto the half tribe of Manasse had Moses given possession at Basan: unto the other half gave josua among their brethren on this side jordane westward. And when he let them go to their tents and blessed them, he said unto them: You come home again with great good unto your tents, with exceeding much cattles, silver, gold, brass, iron and raiment, Deut. ●0. b Num. 31. d josu. 8. f 1. Re. 30. e distribute therefore the spoil of your enemies among your brethren. So the Rubenites, Gaddites, and the half tribe of Manasse returned, and went from the children of Israel out of Silo (which lieth in the land of Canaan) to go in to the country of Gilead to the land of their possession, that they might possess it, according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses. And when they came unto the heaps by jordane, which lie in the land of Canaan, the same Rubenites, Gaddites, and the half tribe of Manasses builded there beside jordane, a fair great altar. But when the children of Israel heard say: Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse have builded an altar over against the land of Canaan upon the heaps by jordane on this side the children of Israel, they gathered themselves together with the whole congregation at Silo, to go up against them with an army. And (in the mean season) they sent to them in to the land of Gilead, Phineas the son of Eleasar the priest, and with him ten chief princes among the houses of their fathers, out of every tribe in Israel one. And they came to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasse in the land of Gilead, and said: Thus sayeth the whole congregation of the LORD unto you: judi. 20. b What trespass is this, that you have trespassed against the God of Israel, that you should turn back from the LORD this day, to build you an altar, for to fall away from the LORD? Num. 25. a Have we not enough of the wickedness of Peor? from the which we are not yet cleansed this day, and there came a plague among the congregation of the LORD: and you turn you back this day from the LORD, and this day are you fallen away from the LORD, that he may be wroth to day or tomorrow at the whole congregation of the LORD. If the land of your possession be unclean, then come over in to the land that the LORD possesseth, where the dwelling of the LORD is, and take possessions among us, and fall not away from the LORD and from us, to build you an altar with out the altar of the LORD our God. josu. 7. a Did not Achan the son of Serah trespass in the thing that was damned, and the wrath came over the whole congregation of Israel and he went not down alone for his myszdede? Then answered the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse, and said unto the heads and princes of Israel: The mighty God the LORD, the mighty God the LORD knoweth, and Israel knoweth also, if this be a transgressing or trespacing against the LORD, then let it not help us this day: If we have builded the altar, because we would turn away back from the LORD, to offer burned offerings or meat offerings thereon, or to make any deed offerings upon it, then let the LORD require it: And if we have not done it rather for very fear of this thing, and said: To day or tomorrow might your children say unto our children: What have you to do with the LORD the God of Israel? The LORD hath set jordane for a border between us and you you children of Reuben and Gad, you have no portion in the LORD: By this should your● children make our children to turn away from the fear of the LORD. Therefore said we: Let us make our children an altar, not for sacrifice, ner for burned offering, 〈…〉 but that it may be a taken between us and you, and our posterities, that we may serve the LORD in his sight with our burned offerings, deed offerings, and other offerings: and that your children to day or tomorrow need not to say unto our children: You have no part in the LORD. And we said: But if they should speak so unto us, or to our posterities to day or tomorrow, then may we say: Behold the similitude of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for sacrifice, ner for burned offering, but for a witness between us and you. God forbid, that we should fall away from the LORD, to turn back from him this day, and to build an altar for sacrifice, for burned offering and for any present, without the altar of the LORD our God, that standeth before his Habitation. But when Phineas the priest, and the chief of the congregation, the princes of Israel which were with him, heard these words, that the children of Reuben, Gad, and Manasse had spoken, they pleased them well. And Phineas the son of Eleasar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, Gad and Manasse: This day we know, that the LORD is among us, in that you have not trespassed against the LORD in this deed. Now have you delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. Then Phineas the son of Eleasar the priest, and the rulers returned out of the land of Gilead, from the children of Reuben and Gad, unto the land of Canaan to the children of Israel, and brought them word again of the matter. Then were the children of Israel well content with the thing. And they praised the God of Israel, and said no more that they would go up against them with an army, to destroy the land that the children of Reuben and Gad dwelled in. And the children of Reuben and Gad called the name of the altar: This altar be witness between us, that the LORD is God. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd after a long season, when the LORD had brought Israel to rest from all their enemies round about: and josua was now old and well strike in age, he called all Israel and their Elders, heads, judges, and officers, and said unto them: I am old and well aged, and you have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations in your sight. For the LORD your God himself hath fought for you. Behold, I have parted among you the remnant of the nations by lot, unto every tribe his inheritance from jordane forth, and all the nations whom I have rooted out unto the great see westward. And the LORD your God shall thrust them out before you, and drive them away from you, that you may have their land in possession, as the LORD your God hath promised you. Be strong now therefore, that you may observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses: 〈…〉 so that you turn not aside from it, neither to the right hand ner to the left: that you come not among the remnant of these nations, which are with you: And see that you make no mention ner 〈…〉 swear by the names of their gods, neither serve them, ner bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the LORD your God, as you have done unto this day: them shall the LORD drive away great and mighty nations before you, like as there hath no man been able to stand before you unto this day. 〈…〉 One of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God fighteth for you, according as he promised you. Take diligent heed therefore unto your souls, that you love the LORD your God. 〈…〉 But if you turn back, and cleave unto these other nations, and make marriages with them, so that you come among them, and they among you, be you sure then, that the LORD your God shall no more drive out all these nations before you, 〈…〉 but they shall be unto you a snare and net, and pricks in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until he have destroyed you from the good land, which the LORD your God hath given you. Behold, 〈…〉 this day do I go the way of all the world, and you shall know even from all your heart and from all your soul, that there hath not failed one word of all the good that the LORD your God promised you. Now like as all the good is come that the LORD your God promised you: Deut. 2●. b even so shall the LORD cause all evil to come upon you, till he have destroyed you from this good land, which the LORD your God hath given you: if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he hath commanded you. And if you go your way and serve other gods, and worship than, then shall the wrath of the LORD wax hot over you, & shall shortly destroy you out of the good land, that he hath given you. The XXIIII. Chapter. IOsua gathered all the tribes of Israel together unto Sichem, and called the Elders of Israel, the heads, judges and officers. And when they were come before God, he said unto all the people: Thus sayeth the LORD the God of Israel: Gen. 11. d your fathers dwelled afore time beyond the water, Abraham & Nahor with Tarah their father & served other gods. Gen. 12. a Then took I your father Abraham beyond the water, & caused him to walk in the land of Canaan, & multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac, Gen. 21. a Gen. 25. c Gen. 32. a and unto Isaac I gave jacob and Esau, and gave Esau mount Seir to possess * G●. 46. a As for jacob, & his children, they went down in to Egipte. Then sent I Moses and Aaron, and plagued Egipte as I have done among them. Exod. 7.8 9 10 11. After that * Exod 14. brought I you and your fathers out of Egipte. And when you came to the see, and the Egipcians followed upon your fathers with charettes and horse men unto the reed see, than cried they unto the LORD, which put a darkness between you and the Egipcians, and brought the see upon them, and overwhelmed them. And your eyes have seen what I did to the Egipcians, & you dwelled in the wilderness a long season Num. 21. d And I brought you in to the land of the Amorites, which dwelled beionde jordane: & when they fought against you, I delivered them in to your hand, that you might have their country in possession, and I destroyed them before you. Num. 22. a Deut. 23. a Then Balac the son of Ziphor the king of the Moabites got him up, and fought against Israel: and he sent and bad call Balaam the son of Beor, to curse you, nevertheless I would not hear him, but I blessed you, and delivered you out of his hand. And when you went over jordane, and came unto jericho, the citesyns of jericho fought against you, the Amorites, Pheresites, Canaanites, hittites, Girgosites, Henites, & jebusites: howbeit I delivered them in to your hand. Exo. 33. a Deu. 7. d And I sent hornettes before you, which drove them out before you, namely the two kings of the Amorites: not thorough thy sword, ner thorough thy bow. And I have given you a land whereupon you bestowed no labour, Deut. 6. b and cities which you have not builded, that you might devil therein, and that you might eat of the vynyardes and olive trees which you have not planted. Fear the LORD now therefore, and serve him perfectly and in the truth, 1 Reg 7 a Tob. 14. c and let go the gods, whom your fathers served beyond the water and in Egipte, and serve you the LORD. Butler if you like not to serve the LORD, then chose you this day whom you will serve: the God whom your fathers served beionde the water, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you devil. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Then answered the people, and said: God forbid, that we should forsake the LORD, & serve other gods. For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egipte from the house of bondage, and did soch great tokens before our eyes, and preserved us all the way that we went, and among all the nations, whom we travailed by. And the LORD thrust out before us all the people of the Amorites that dwelled in the land. Therefore will we also serve the LORD, for he is our God. josua said unto the people: You can not serve the LORD: for he is an holy God, mighty, and jealous, which spareth not your transgressions and sins. But if you forsake the LORD, and serve a strange god, then shall the LORD turn him, josu. 23. d and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. The people said unto josua: Not so, but we will serve the LORD. Then said josua unto the people: You are witnesses over yourselves, that you have choose you the LORD, to serve him. And they said: Ye. Then put away from you (said he) the strange gods that are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD the God of Israel. And the people said unto josua: We will serve the LORD our God, and be obedient unto his voice. 4. Re. 23. a So josua made a covenant with the people the same day, and laid statutes & laws before them at Sichem. And josua written this act in the book of the law of God, 1. Reg. 7. c and took a great stone, & set it up there under an oak, which was in the Sanctuary of the LORD, and said unto all the people: Behold, this stone shall be witness over you: For it hath heard all the words of the LORD, which he hath spoken unto us, and shall be a witness over yo●, that you deny not your God. So josua 〈◊〉 the people go every one to his inheritance. And it fortuned after these acts, that josua the son of Nun the servant of the LORD died, when he was an hundredth and 〈◊〉 year old, and was buried in the border 〈…〉 of his inheritance at Thimnath Serah, which lieth on the mount Ephraim, on the northside of mount Gaas. And the children of Israel served the LORD as long as Iosu● lived, and the Elders (that lived long after josua) which knew all the works of the LORD, that he had done unto Israel. 〈…〉 The bones of joseph, which the children of Israel had brought out of Egipte, buried they at Sichem, in the piece of the land, 〈…〉 that jacob bought of the children of Hemor the father of Sichem for an hundredth pens, and was the inheritance of the children of joseph. Eleasar the son of Aaron died also, and they buried him at Gibeath, which was Phineas his sons, that was given him upon mount Ephraim. The end of the book of josua. The book of the judges called, judicum. What this book containeth. Chap. I judas is made captain of the p●●ple subdueth, the Cananytes, and winneth I●rusalem. Israel roteth not out the Canaanites as God commanded them. Chap. II The angel of God punysheth the●●, because they consent to their enemies The children of Israel serve Baal, for the which cause God giveth them over in to captivity. Chap. III God punysheth Israel, and yet delivereth them wondrously. Chap. four Debbora the prophetess with B●rach overcometh Sissara, and delivereth the people of the LORD. Chap. V The song of praise which Debbo●● and Barach song because of the victory. Chap. VI For their sins God giveth them over in to the hands of the Madianites, from the which Gedeon delivereth them. Chap. VII. How Gedeon parteth his host, & discomfiteth the Madianites. Chap. VIII. Gedeon punysheth them at Suchoth, dieth, and is buried. Chap IX. Abimelech seeketh the superiority, slayeth his seventy brethren, winneth Sichem and Thebes. Chap. X. Thola & Iai● rule the people. The Israelites sin, and are punished Chap. XI. jepthe is made ruler of the people, and overcometh Ammon in Maspha. Chap XII. The Ephraites rise up against jepthe, and there are slain of them two and forty thousand. Chap. XIII. The birth of Samson is showed unto his father and mother by an angel. Chap. XIIII. Samson taketh a wife in Timnath, renteth a young Lion in pieces, and putteth forth a dark sentence unto his companions. Chap. XU. How Samson hurteth the philistines with the foxes. He slayeth a thousand men with the cheek bone of an ass. Chap XVI. Samson taketh both the ports of the gate of the cite upon his back, & beareth them up to the mount Dalila the harlot bringeth him in dotage, so that he telleth her his secrets, and is blinded of his enemies. Chap. XVII. Of Micha and his image &c. Chap. XVIII. Dan sendeth out men to spy the land, which take Michas image, & carry away the priest. Chap. XIX. How shamefully the Gabeonites deal with the Levites wife. Chap XX. How the same sin is punished. Chap. XXI. The Ben jamites obtain wives in Israel, whom the Israelites had sworn not to give them. The first Chapter. AFter the death of josua the children of Israel axed the LORD, and said: Who shall go up & be our captain of war against the Canaanites? The LORD said: juda shall go up. 〈◊〉 13. a Behold, I have delivered the land in to his hand. Then said juda unto his brother Simeon: Go up with me in to my lot, and let us fight against the Canaanites, then will I go again with the in to the lot: So Simeon went with him. Now when juda went up the LORD delivered the Canaanites and Pheresites in to their hands, & they slew ten thousand men at Besek: & they found Adoni Besek at Besek, & fought against him, and slew the Canaanites and Pheresites. But Adoni Besek fled, and they followed after him: and when they had overtaken him, they cut of the thumbs of his hands and feet. Then said Adoni Besek: Three score and ten kings with the thumbs of their hands & feet cut of, gathered up the meat that was left under my table. Leu. 24. d judic. 15. ● Now as I have done, so hath God rewarded me again. And he was brought unto Jerusalem, where he died. But the children of juda fought against jerusalem, and wan it, Deu. 20. ● and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set fire upon the cite. Then went the children of Israel down, to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelled upon the mount, and toward the south, and in the vall●● 〈…〉 juda went against the Canaanites, which dwelled at Hebron. josu. 15. d (As for Hebron, it was called Kiriatharba afore time) and they smote Sesai, & Achiman, and Thalmai. And from thence he went against the inhabiters of Debir (but Debir was called Kiriath Sepher aforetime.) And Caleb said: josu. 15. d 2. Par. 12. a 1. Re. 17. c He that smiteth Kiriath Sepher, & winneth it, I will give him my daughter Achsa to wife. Then Athniel the son of Kenas, Calebs' youngest brother wan it. And he gave him his daughter Achsa to wife. And it fortuned that when they went in she was counciled of her houszbande, to axe a piece of land of her father. And she fallen from the ass. Then said Caleb unto her: What aileth thee? She said: give me a blessing, for thou hast given me a south & dry land, give me also a watery land. Then gave he her a land that was watery above and beneath. And the children of the Kenyte Moses brother in law, went up out of the Deu. 34. a palm cite, with the children of juda in to the wilderness of juda, that lieth on the south side of the cite Arad: Nu. 10. d 1. Re. 15. d and went their way, & dwelled among the people. And juda went with his brother Simeon, & they smote the Canaanites at Zephath, & damned them, & called the name of the cite Horma. Num. 21. a * josu. 15. a juda also wan Gasa with the borders thereof, & Ascalon with her borders, & Accaron with the coasts thereof. And the LORD was with juda, so that he conquered the mountains: but them that dwelled in the valley could he not conquer, because they had iron charettes. And according as Moses had said, they gave Hebron unto Caleb, which drove out the three sons of Enak. josu. 14. d Howbeit the children of Ben jamin drove not out the jebusites which dwelled at jerusalem, * josu. 15. g but the jebusites dwelled among the children of Ben jamin at jerusalem unto this day. Likewise the children of joseph went up also unto Bethel, & the LORD was with them. josu. 16. a And the house of joseph spied out Bethel (which afore time was called Lus) and the watch men saw a man going out of the cite, and said unto him: Show us where we may come in to the cite, josu. 2. c & we will show mercy upon the. And when he had showed them where they might come in to the cite, they smote the cite with the edge of the sword: but they let the man go & all his friends. Then went the same man up in to the country of the hittites, & builded a cite, and called it Lus, & so is the name of it yet unto this day. And Manasses Nu. 33 g josu. 17. c 〈◊〉 not out Beth Sean with the villages thereof, ner Thaenah with the villages thereof, n●r the inhabiters of Dor with the villages thereof: ner the inbiters of jebleam with the villages thereof, ner the inhabiters of Mageddo with the villages thereof, and the Canaanites began to devil in the same land. But when Israel was mighty, he made the Canaanites tributaries, and drove them not out. josu. 16. b In like manner Ephraim drove not out the Canaanites that dwelled at Gazer, but the Canaanites dwelled among them at Gazer. Zabulon also drove not out the inhabiters of Kitron and Nahalol, but the Canaanites dwelled among them, & were tributaries. Asser drove not out the inhabiters of Aco, & the inhabiters of Sidon, of Ahelab, of Achsib, of Helba, of Aphik & of Rehob, but the Asserites dwelled among the Canaanites that dwelled in the land, for they drove them not out. Nephtali drove not out the inhabiters of Beth Seems, ner of Beth Anath, but dwelled among the Canaanites which dwelled in the land: howbeit they of Beth Seems and of Beth Anath were tributaries. And the Amorites subdued the children of Dan upon the mountain, and suffered them not to come down in to the valley. And the Amorites began to devil upon mount Heres at Aiolon and at Saalbim. Howbeit the hand of the house of joseph was to sore for them, and they become tributaries. And the border of the Amorites was, as a man goeth up toward Acrabim, and from the rock, & from the top. The II Chapter. But there came up a messenger of the LORD from gilgal unto Bochim, and said: I have carried you up hither out of Egipte, and brought you in to the land that I swore unto your fathers, & said: Deut▪ 〈…〉 I will never break my covenant with you, that you should make no covenant with the ●●dwellers of this land, but break down their altars: Nevertheless you have not herk●●ed unto my voice. Wherefore have you done this? Then said I moreover: I will no● drive them out before you, that they may● be a fall unto you, and their gods a 〈◊〉. And when the messenger of the LORD had spoken these words unto all the children of Israel, the people left up their voice, & wept, and called the name of the place Bochim, and offered there unto the LORD. For when josua had sent away the people, and the children of Israel were go, every one to his inheritance, for to take possession of the land, 〈…〉 the people served the LORD as long as josua lived and the Elders, which lived long after josua, and that saw all the great works of the LORD, which he did for Israel. Now when josua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, 〈…〉 was deed (when he was an hundredth and ten year old) they buried him in the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres upon mount Ephraim on the north side of mount Gaas. And when all the same generation was gathered unto their fathers, there came up after them another generation, which known not the LORD, ner the works that he had done for Israel. Then wrought the children of Israel evil before the LORD, 〈…〉 and served Baalim, and forsook the LORD the God of their fathers (which brought them out of the land of Egipte) and followed other gods & the gods of the nations that dwelled round about them, & worshipped them, & displeased the LORD: for they forsook the LORD ever more and more, and served Baal and Astaroth. Then the wrath of the LORD waxed hot upon Israel, & he delivered them in to the hands of those that spoiled them, that they might spoil them, & sold them in to the hands of their enemies round about, & they were not able to withstand their enemies any more, but what way so ever they would out, the hand of the LORD was against them to their hurt (even as the LORD said and swore unto them) and they were sore oppressed. 〈…〉 Now when the LORD raised them up judges, which helped them out of the hand of soch as spoiled them, they followed not the judges neither, but went a whoring after other gods, & worshipped them, and were soon go out of the way that their fathers walked in, to hear the commandments of the LORD, & did not as they did. But when the LORD raised up judges unto them, the LORD was with the judge, and helped them out of the hand of their enemies, as long as the judge lived. ●●od. 2. d For the LORD had pity of their complaint, which they made over those that subdued them and oppressed them. Nevertheless when the judge died, they turned back, 〈…〉 and marred all more than their fathers, so that they followed other gods to serve them and to bow themselves unto them: they would not fall from their purposes, ner from their obstinate way. Therefore waxed the wrath of the LORD always so hot over Israel, that he said: For so much as the people have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded their fathers, & follow not my voice, I will from hence forth drive out none of the Heythen, whom josua left behind him, when he died, 〈◊〉. 8. a 〈◊〉 13. a that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD, to walk therein, as their fathers did, or not. Thus the LORD suffered all these nations, so that in a short time he drove them not out, whom he had not given over in to Iosuas hand. The III Chapter. THese are the nations, whom the LORD suffered to remain, that by them he might prove Israel, which had no understanding in the wars of Canaan: only because that the tribes of the children of Israel might know & learn to war, which afore had no knowledge thereof, namely: The five lords of the philistines, & all the Canaanites, & Sidonians, & the hittites that dwelled upon mount Libanus, fro mount Baal Hermon, until a man come unto Hemath. The same remained, that Israel might be proved by them, that it might be known whether they would hearken to the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by Moses. Now when the children of Israel dwelled thus among the Canaanites, hittites, Amorites, Pheresites, Hevites & jebusites, ●eut. 7. a 〈◊〉 12. a they took their daughters to wives, & gave their daughters unto their sons, & served their gods, and wrought wickedness before the LORD, & forgot the LORD their God, & served Baalim & Astaroth. Then the wrath of the LORD waxed hot over Israel, & he sold them under the hand of Cusan Risathaim king of Mesopotamia, & so the children of Israel served Cusan Risathaim viij. year. Then cried the children of Israel unto the LORD, & the LORD raised them up a saviour which delivered them, namely 〈◊〉. 1. c Athniel the son of Kenas, Calebs' youngest brother. And the spirit of the LORD came upon him, & he was judge in Israel, & went out a war fare. And the LORD delivered Cusan Risathaim the king of Syria in to his hand, so that his hand was to strong for him. ●. Par. 1● Then was the land in rest forty years. And Athniel the son of Kenas died. But the children of Israel did yet more evil before the LORD. Then the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of the Moabites against the children of Israel, because they wrought wickedness before the LORD. And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon, & the Amalechites, & went and smote Israel, and conquered the Deut. ●0. cite of the palm trees. And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of the Moabites eighteen year. Then cried they unto the LORD. And the LORD raised them up a saviour, namely Ehud the son of Gera the son of jemini, which was a man that might do nothing with his right hand. And when the children of Israel sent a present by him unto Eglon the king of the Moabites, Ehud made him a two edged dagger of a span long, & girded it under his garment upon his right thy, & brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, and he himself turned back from the Idols at gilgal, & caused to say thus (unto the king:) I have a secret thing to tell the O king. And he commanded to keep silence, & all they that stood about him, went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him. He sat in a syled Summer perler, which was for him self alone. And Ehud said: I have somewhat to say unto the of God. Then rose he up from his seat. But Ehud put forth his left hand, & took the dagger from his right thy, & thrust it in to his belly, so that the hefte went in also after the shoulder-blade, & the fat closed the hefte: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly, & the filthiness departed from him. But Ehud got him out at the back door, & put to the door after him, and locked it. Now when he was go, his servants came in, and saw that the door of the Summer perler was locked, and they said: peradventure he is go to the privy in the syled Summer perler. But when they had waited so long till they were ashamed (for no man opened the perler door) they took the key, and opened it. Behold, then lay their lord deed upon the earth. As for Ehud, he was got away, while they made so long tarienge, & he went over by the Idols, and ran his way unto Seirath. And when he came in 〈◊〉▪ 10. a he blue the trumpet upon mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel went with him from the mount, and he before them, and he said unto them: Follow me, for the LORD hath delivered the Moabites your enemies in to your hand. And they followed him, & wan the ferry of jordane, that goeth toward Moab, & suffered no man to go over, and at the same time they smote of the Moabites upon a ten thousand men, all nobles and men of arms, so that there escaped not one. Thus were the Moabites brought under the hand of the children of Israel at that time, and the land w●s in rest four score years. afterward was ●ud. 5. a Samgar the son of Anath, which slew six hundredth Philistynes with an ox's gadd, and delivered Israel also. The four Chapter. But the children of Israel did yet more evil before the LORD, when Ehud was deed. And the LORD sold them in to the hand of jabin the king of the Canaanites, which dwelled at Hazor, & the chief captain of his host was Sissera, and he dwelled at Haroseth of the Heythen. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundredth iron charettes, and subdued the children of Israel by violence twenty year. At the same time was judgesse in Israel the prophetess Debbora, the wife of Lapidoth, and she dwelled under the palm of Debbora between Rama & Bethel, upon mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up unto her to the law. She sent forth, 〈◊〉. 5. b & called for Barak the son of Abi Noam of Kedes Nephtali, and said unto him: Hath not the LORD the God of Israel commanded thee: Go thy way, and get the up unto mount Thabor, & take with the ten thousand men of the children of Nephtali & Zabulon? For I will make Sissera the chief captain of jabins' host to come to the unto the Psal. ●2. a water of Cyson, with his charettes and with his multitude, and I will deliver him in to thy hand. Barak said unto her: If thou will't come with me, I will go: but if thou will't not come with me, I will not go. She said: I will go with thee: nevertheless the praise shall not be thy in this journey that thou goest, but the LORD shall deliver Sissera in to a woman's hand. So Debbora got her up, and went with Barak unto Kedes. Then Barak called Zabulon and Nephtali unto Kedes, and went on foot with ten thousand men. And Debbora went with him also. As for Heber the Kenyte he was departed from the Kenytes from the children of 〈…〉 Hobab Moses brother in law, and had pitched his tent by the Oak of Zaanaim beside Kedes. Then was it told Sissera, that Barak the son of Abi Noan, was go up unto mount Thabor: & he gathered all his charettes together, nine C. iron charettes, & all the people that was with him from Haroseth of the heathen, unto the water Cyson. Debbora said unto Barak: Up, this is the day wherein the LORD hath delivered Sissera in to the hand: for the LORD shall go forth before ye. So Barak went fro mount Thabor, and the ten thousand men after him. But the LORD discomfited Sissera with all his charettes & host, & made them afraid of the edge of the sword before Barak, so that Sissera leapt of his chariot, & fled on foot. Nevertheless Barak followed upon the charettes & the host unto Haroseth of the Heythen, & all Sisseras host fallen thorough the edge of the sword, so that not one escaped. As for Sissera, he fled on foot unto the tent of jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. For there was peace between king jabin at Hasor, & the house of Heber the Kenite. jael went forth to meet Sissera, & said unto him: Turn in my lord, turn in to me, & be not afraid. And he turned in unto her in to the tent, & she covered him with a garment. He said unto her: I pray the give me a little water to drink, for I am a thirst. 〈…〉 Then opened she a milk pot, & gave him to drink, and covered him. And he said unto her: stand in the tent door, & if one come & axe, is there any man here? say Noman. Then jael the wife of Heber took a nail of the tent, and an hammer in her hand, & went in privily unto him, & smote the nail in thorough the temples of his head, so that he sank to the earth. As for him, he was fallen on a slumber, and weighed, and so he died. But when Barak followed after Sissera, jael went for to meet him, and said unto him: Come hither, I will showeth the man, whom thou seekest. And when he came in unto her, he saw Sissera deed, & the nail sticking in his temples. Thus God brought down jabin the king of the Canaanites before the children of Israel at that time, & the hand of the children of Israel went & subdued jabin the king of the Canaanites, till they had rooted him out. Then Debbora and Barac the son of Abi Noam, sang at the same time, and said: The V Chapter. NOw that you are come to rest, you quiet men in Israel, praise the LORD, among such of the people as be frewyllinge. Hear you kings, & hearken to you princes: I will, I will sing to the LORD, even unto the LORD the God of Israel will I play. 〈◊〉. 19 c ●●ut. 4. b LORD, when thou wentest out from Seir, & camest in from the field of Edom, the earth quaked, the heaven dropped, and the clouds dropped with water. 〈◊〉. 96. a The hills melted before the LORD, Sinai before the LORD the God of Israel. In the time of 〈◊〉 3. d Sanger the son of Anath: In the time of 〈◊〉. 4. c jael the ways failed: and they that should have go in paths, walked thorough crooked ways. There was scarcenesss, there was scarcenesss of houszbande men in Israel, until I Debbora came up, until I came up a mother in Israel. God hath choose a new thing. He hath overcome the ports in battle: and yet was there seen neither shield ner spear among forty thousand in Israel. My heart loveth the teachers of Israel: you that are frewyllinge among the people, praise the LORD. You that ride upon fair Asses, you that sit in judgement and give sentence, you that go by the way, praise the LORD. When the archers cried between the drawers of water, than was it spoken of the righteousness of the LORD, of the righteousness of his husband men in Israel: then ruled the people of the LORD under the gates. Up Debbora up, get the up, get the up, & rehearse a song. 〈◊〉. 4. a Arise Barak, & catch him that catched thee, thou son of Abinoam. Then had the desolate the rule with the mighty of the people. The LORD had the dominion thorough the giants. 〈◊〉. 3. d Out of Ephraim was their rote against Amalek, and after him Benjamin in thy people. Out of Machir have teachers ruled, and out of Zabulon are there become governors thorough the writing pen. And out of Isachar there were princes with Debbora, and Isachar was as Barak in the valley, sent with his people on foot: A● for Reuben, he stood high in his own conceit, and separated himself from us. Why abodest thou betwixt the borders, when thou herdest the noise of the flocks? because Reuben stood high in his own conceit, and separated himself from us. Gilead abode beyond jordane, and why dwelled Dan among the ships? Asser sat in the haven of the see, and tarried in his portions. But Zabulons people jeopardy their life unto death: Nephtali also in the top of the field of Merom. The kings came & fought, then fought the kings of the Canaanites at Thaanah by the water of Megiddo, but spoil of money brought they not there from. From heaven were they fought against, the stars in their courses fought with Sissera. The broken Cyson overwhelmed them, the broken Kedumim, ye the broken Cyson. My soul tread thou upon the mighty. Then made the horse feet a ruszshinge together, for the great violence of their mighty horse men. Curse the cite of Meros' (said the angel of the LORD) curse the citesyns thereof, be cause they come not to help the LORD, to help the LORD to the giants. Blessing among women have jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: blessing have she in the tent among the women. jud. 4. c When he axed water, she gave him milk, & brought forth butter in a lordlyd●szshe. She took hold of the nail with her hand, & the smith hammer with her right hand, and smote Sissera, cut of his head & pierced and bored thorough his temples. He bowed himself down at her feet, he fallen down, and lay there. He sank down, and fallen at her feet: when he had sunk down, he lay there destroyed. His mother looked out at the window, & cried piteously thorough the tr●llace: Why tarrieth his chariot out so long, that he cometh not? Wherefore do the wheels of his chariot make so long tarienge? The wisest among his ladies answered, & said unto her: Should they not find & divide the spoil, unto every man a fair maid or two for a pray, & party coloured garments of needle work to Sissera for a spoil, party coloured garments of needle work about the neck for a pray? Thus all thy enemies must perish O LORD: but they that love thee, shall be even as the Son rising up in his might. And the land had peace forty years. The VI Chapter. ANd when the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, the LORD delivered them under the hand of the Madianites seven. years. And when the hand of the Madianites was to mighty over the children of Israel, the children of Israel made them cliffs in the mountains, and caves and holds, to defend them selves from the Madianites. And when Israel sowed any thing, the Madianites and Amalechites, and the children toward the south came up upon them, and pitched their tents against them, and destroyed the increase of the land down unto Gasa, & let nothing remain over of the beestes in Israel, neither sheep, ner oxen, ner asses. For they came up with their cattles and tents, as it had been a great multitude of greshoppers (so that neither they ner their camels might be numbered) and fallen in to the land, that they might destroy it. Thus was Israel exceeding small before the Madianites. Then cried the children of Israel unto the LORD. But when they cried unto the LORD be cause of the Madianites, the LORD sent them a prophet, which said unto them: Thus saith the LORD the God of Israel: I carried you out of Egipte, & brought you out of the house of bondage, & delivered you from the hand of the Egipcians, & from the hand of all them that oppressed you, and I have thrust them out before you, & given you their land and said unto you: I am the LORD your God. ●ge. 17. g ●●e. 10. a Fear not you the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you devil: nevertheless you have not herkened unto my voice. And there came an angel of the LORD, & sat him down under an Oak at Aphra, which belonged unto joas the father of the Esrites, and his son Gedeon was throsshinge wheat in the barn, that he might fly away before the Madianites. Then appeared unto him the angel of the LORD, and said unto him: The LORD with the thou mighty giant. But Gedeon said unto him: Sir, if the LORD be with us, wherefore is all this then happened unto us? And where are all the wonders, which our fathers told us, & said: The LORD brought us out of Egipte? But now hath the LORD forsaken us, and delivered us in to the hand of the Madianites. The LORD turned him unto him, & said: Go thy way in this thy strength, thou shalt deliver Israel out of the hand of the Madianites. I have sent the. But he said: My LORD, wherewithal shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my kindred is the smallest in Manasse, & I am the least in my father's house? The LORD said unto him: I will be with thee, so that thou shalt smite the Madianites, even as though they were but one man. He said unto him: If I have found grace in thy sight, then make me a token, that it is thou, which speakest with me: go not away, till I come to thee, and bring a meat-offering, to set before the. He said: I will tarry, till thou comest again. And Gedeon went, and made ready a kid, and an Epha of unleavened flower, and laid the flesh in a mand, and put the broth in a pot, and brought it forth unto him under the Oak, and came nigh. But the angel of God said unto him: 〈…〉 Take the flesh and the unleavened bread, & set it upon the stony rock that is here, and pour the broth thereon. And he did so. Then the angel of the LORD stretched out the staff that he had in his hand, and with the end of it he touched the flesh and the unleavened flower: 〈…〉 and the fire came out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened flower. And the angel of the LORD vanyshed out of his sight. Now when Gedeon saw that it was an angel of the LORD, he said: 〈…〉 O LORD LORD, have I thus seen an angel of the LORD face to face? The LORD said unto him: Peace be with thee, fear not, thou shalt not die. Then Gedeon builded an altar there unto the LORD, & called it: The LORD of peace. The same standeth yet unto this day at Apra, that belongeth unto the father of the Esrites. And in the same night said the LORD unto him: Take a fed bullock from among thy father's oxen, & another bullock of seven year old, and break down the altar of Baal which is thy fathers, and cut down the grove that standeth by it, and build thou an altar unto the LORD the God above upon the top of this rock, and make it ready, and take the other bullock, and offer a burned offering with the wood of the grove that thou hast hewn down. Then took Gedeon ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD said unto him: but he was afraid to do this by day time, for his father's house and the people in the cite, and so he did it by night. Now when the people in the cite rose up early in the morning, behold, Baal's altar was broken, and the grove hewn down by it, and the other bullock a burned offering upon the altar that was builded, & one said unto another: Who hath done this? And when they sought & made search, it was said: Gedeon the son of joas hath done it. Then said the people of the cite unto joas: Bring forth the son, He must die, because he hath broken Baal's altar, and hewn down the grove thereby. But joas said unto all them that stood by him: Will you strive for Baal? Will you deliver him? He that striveth for him, shall die this morning. If he be God, let him avenge himself, because his altar is broken down. From that day forth was he called jerubaal, because it was said: Let Baal avenge himself, that his altar is broken down. When the Madianites now & the Amalechites, & the children toward the south had gathered themselves together, & were passed thorough (jordane) & had pitched their tents in the valley of jesrael, the spirit of the LORD endued Gedeon, & he caused the trumpet to be blown, & called (the house of) 〈…〉 Abieser, that they should follow him: & he sent messaungers unto all Manasse, & called them, that they should follow him also: and he sent messaungers likewise unto Asser & Zabulon & Nephtali, which came up to meet him. And Gedeon said unto God: If thou will't deliver Israel thorough my hand, as thou hast said, them will I say a flese of will in the court: if the dew be only upon the fleece, & dry upon all the ground, then will I perceive, that thou shalt deliver Israel thorough my hand, as thou hast said. And it came so to pass. And when he rose up early on the morrow, he wrange the dew out of the flese, and filled a dyszshe full of water. And Gedeon said unto God 〈◊〉. 18. d Be not wroth at me, that I speak yet this one tyme. I will prove yet but once with the flese, let it be dry only upon the flese, and dew upon all the ground. And God did so the same night: so that it was dry only upon the flese, and dew upon all the ground. The VII. Chapter. THen jerubaal (that is Gedeon) got him up early, jud. 6. ● and all the people that was with him, and pitched their tents beside the well of Harod, so that he had the host of the Madianites on the north side behind the hill of Moore in the valley. But the LORD said unto Gedeon: The people that be with that are to many for me to deliver Madian in to their hand, jest Israel boost themselves against me, and say: My hand hath delivered me. Cause a proclamation now to be made in the ears of the people, and say: Deu. 20. b 1. Mac. 3. g He that fears, and is afraid, let him turn back, and get him soon fro mount Gilead. Then returned there of the people about a two and twenty thousand so that there was left but ten thousand. And the LORD said unto Gedeon. The people are yet to many: bring them down to the water, there will I prove them for thee: and of whom I say that he shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee: but of whom I say that he shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. And he brought the people unto the water. And the LORD said unto Gedeon: Whosoever licketh of the water with his tongue, as a dog licketh, make him stand aside and likewise who soever falls down upon his knees to drink. Then was the number of them that had licked out of the hand to the mouth, three hundredth men. And the LORD said unto Gedeon: Thorough the three hundredth which have licked, will I deliver you, and give over the Madianites in to thy hand: As for the other people, let them go every one unto his place. And they took vytayles with them for the people, and their trumpets: but the other Israelites let he go, every one unto his tent. And he strengthened himself with the three hundredth men, and the Madianites host lay before him beneath in the valley. And the same night said the LORD unto him: Up, and go down in to the host, for I have given them over in to thy hand. But if thou be afraid to go down, then let the servant Pura go down with the unto the host, that thou mayest hear what they say: after that shalt thou be bold, and thy hand strong, that thou mayest go down in to the host. Than went Gedeon down with his servant unto the uttermost part of the watchmen of arms that were in the host. And the Madianites and Amalechites, and all the children of the south, had laid themselves beneath in the valley, as a multitude of greshoppers, and their Camels were not to be numbered for multitude, even as the sand on the see shore. Now when Gedeon came, behold, one told another his dream, & said: Behold, I have dreamt a dream: Me thought a baken barley loaf came rolling down to the host of the Madianites: and when it came to the tent, it smote it, and overthrew it, and turned it upside down, so that the tent fallen. Then answered the other: That is nothing else then the sword of Gedeon the son of joas the Israelite: God hath given over the Madianites with all the host in to his hand. When Gedeon heard this dream told, & the interpretation of it, he worshipped, and came again in to the host of Israel, and said: Up, for the LORD hath delivered the host of the Madianites in to your hand. And he divided the three hundredth men in to three parts, and gave every one a trumpet in his hand, and empty pytchers, and lamps therein, and said unto them: Look unto me, ●ud. 9 g and do you even so, and behold, when I come to the uttermost part of the host, even as I do, so do you also. When I blow the trumpet, and all that are with me, then shall you blow the trumpets also round about all the host, and say: Here the LORD & Gedeon. Thus came Gedeon and the three hundredth men with him unto the uttermost part of the host (about the time when the mydwatch beginneth) and waked up the watchmen, and blue with the trumpets, and smote asunder the pitchers in their hands. So all the three companies blue with the trumpets, and broke the pitchers. But the lamps held they in their left hand, and the trumpets in their right hand, so that they blue, and cried: Here the sword of the LORD and Gedeon. And every one stood in his place about the host. Then ran all the host, and cried and fled. And while the three hundredth men blue the trumpets, the LORD brought it so to pass, that ●. Re. 14. ᶜ ●. Pa. 20. d every man's sword in all the host was against another, and the host fled unto Bethsitha Zereratha, and unto the border of the plain of Mehohab beside Tabath. And the men of Israel of Nephtali, of Asser, & of Manasse cried, and followed upon the Madianites. And Gedeon sent messaungers up unto all mount Ephraim, saying: Come down against the Madianites, and stop the water from them unto Beth Bara and jordane. And then cried all they that were of Ephraim, and stopped the water from them unto Bethbara and jordane, and took two princes of the Madianites Oreb and Zeb, and slew Oreb upon the rock of Oreb, and Zeb in the wine press of Zeb, and followed upon the Madianites, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb, unto Gideon over jordane. The VIII. Chapter. ANd the men of Ephraim said unto him: Wherefore hast thou done this unto us, that thou hast not called us, when thou wentest forth to fight against the Madianites? and they chode sore with him. But he said unto them: What have I done now that is like your act? Is not the after gathering of Ephraim better than the whole harvest of Abieser? 〈…〉 God hath delivered the princes of the Madianites Oreb and Zeb in to your hand, how could I do that you have done? When he had said this, their blast was suaged from him. Now when Gedeon came unto jordane, he went over with the three hundredth men that were with him, and they were weighed, and followed upon their chase. And he said unto the men of Sucoth: I pray you give the people that are with me, some loaves of bread (for they are weighed) that I may follow upon Zebea and Salmana the kings of the Madianites. But the rulers of Sucoth said: Are the hands of Zebea and Salmana in thy hands already, that we must give bread unto thy men of war? Gedeon said: Well, when the LORD delivereth Zebea and Salmana in to my hand, I will thres●she your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and with breares. And from thence he went up unto Penuel, and spoke even so unto them. And the men of Penuel gave him like answer as they of Sucoth. And he said also unto the men of Penuel: If I come peaceably again, I will break down this tower. As for Zebea and Salmana, they were at Karkar, and their host with them upon a fifteen thousand, which were all that were left of the whole host of the children of the east: for there were fallen an hundredth and twenty thousand, that could draw the sword. And Gedeon went up by the way, where they devil in the tents on the east side of Nobah and jakbeha, & smote the host, for the host was careless, and mystrusted nothing. And Zebea and Salmana fled, but he followed after them, and took the two kings of the Madianites Zebea and Salmana, and put all the host in fear▪ Now when Gedeon the son of joas came again from the battle out of the east, he took a lad of the men of Sucoth, & examined him, which written him up the names of the rulers of Sucoth, and their Elders, even three score and seventeen men. And he came to the men of Sucoth, & said: Behold, here is Zebea & Salmana, concerning whom you laughed me to scorn, & said: Are the hands of Zebea and Salmana in thy hands all ready, that we must give bread unto thy men which are weighed? And he took the Elders of the cite, and thorns out of the wilderness, and breres, and caused the men of Sucoth to be torn therewith. 〈…〉 And the tower of Penuel broke he down, and slew the men of the cite. And he said unto Zebea and Salmana: What manner of men were they whom you slew at Thabor? They said: They were even like thee, & goodly men, as if they had been a kings children. He said: They were my brethren, even my mother sons: As truly as the LORD liveth, if you had let them live, I would not slay you. And he said unto his first born son Jether: stand up, & slay them. Howbeit the lad drew not out his sword, for he was afraid, for so much as he was yet but a lad. Zebea & Salmana said: stand thou up, & slay us, for as the man is, such is also his strength. So Gedeon arose, and slew Zebea and Salmana, and took the ornaments that were about their Camel's necks. Then said certain in Israel unto Gedeon: Be thou lord over us, thou and thy son, and thy sons son, for so much as thou hast delivered us from the hand of the Madianites. Nevertheless Gedeon said unto them: I will not be lord over you, neither shall my son be lord over you, but the LORD shallbe lord over you. Gedeon said unto them: One thing I desire of you, Every man give me the earinge that he hath spoiled. (For in so much as the men were Ismaelites, they had earinges.) They said: Them will we give the. And they spread out a clot, and every man cast the earinge thereon that he had spoiled. And the golden earynges which he required, had in weight, a thousand and seven hundredth Sycles of gold, beside the spangs and chains, and scarlet raiment which the kings of the Madianites did were, and beside the neckbandes of their Camels. And Gideon made a cote armour thereof, and set it in his cite at Aphra. And all Israel went there a whoring after it, and it turned to an occasion of falling unto Gedeon and his house. Thus were the Madianites brought down before the children of Israel, and lift up their head no more: and the land was in rest forty years, as long as Gedeon lived. And jerubaal the son of joas went & dwelled in his house. 4. Re. 10▪ ● And Gedeon Had three score & ten sons, which were come out of his thy: for he had many wives. And his concubine which he had at Sichem, bore him a son also, whom he called Abimelech. And Gideon the son of joas died in a good age, & was buried at Aphra in the sepulchre of his father joas the father of the Esrites. But when Gedeon was deed, the children of Israel turned back, and went awhoringe after Baalim, and made a covenant with Baal Berith, that he should be their God. And the children of Israel thought not on the LORD their God, which had delivered them from the hand of their enemies round about: and they showed not mercy unto the house of jerubaal Gedeon, according to all the good that he had done unto Israel. The IX. Chapter. ABimelech the son of jerubaal, went unto Sichem to his mother's brethren, & spoke unto them, & to all the kindred of his mother's father's house, and said: I pray you speak in the ears of all the men at Sichem: What is better for you, that threescore and ten men all children of jerubaal should be lords over you, or that one man should be lord over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh. Then spoke his mother's brethren all these words for him, in the ears of all the men at Sichem. And their heart inclined to Abimelech, for they thought: He is our brother: and gave him three score and ten silverlings out of the house of Baal Berith. And with them Abimelech hired men that were vagabundes and of light conditions, which followed him. And he came to his father's house unto Aphra, and slay his brethren the children of jerubaal, 2. Pa●. 21. ● even three score men and ten upon one stone. But jotham the youngest son of jerubaal remained over, for he was hid. And all the men of Sichem, and all the house of milo gathered themselves together, and went and made Abimelech king by the Oak that standeth at Sichem. When this was told jotham, he went, and stood upon the top of mount Grisim, and lift up his voice, cried, and said: Hear me you men of Sichem, that God may hear you also 2. Par. 25. c 4. Esd. 4. b The trees went to anoint a kind over them, and said unto the olive tree: Be thou our king. But the olive tree answered them: Shall I go and leave my fatness (which both God and men commend in me) and go to be puffed up above the trees? Then said the trees unto the fig tree: Come thou and be king over us. But the fig tree said unto them: Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to be puffed up above the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine: Come thou and be our king. But the vine said unto them: Shall I leave my sweet wine, which rejoiceth God and men, and go to be puffed up above the trees? Then said all the trees unto the thorn bush: Come thou, and be king over us. And the thorn bush said unto the trees: If it be true, that you anoint me to be king over you, them come, and put your trust under my shadow. If no, then go fire out of the thorn bush, & consume the Cedar trees of Libanon. If you have done right now and justly, that you have made Abimelech to be king: and if you have done well unto jerubaal and to his house, and have done unto him as he deserved unto you. Which (even my father) fought for your sakes, and jeopardy his life, to deliver out of the Madianites hand, even you, which are risen up this day against my father's house, & have slain his children, three score personnes & ten upon one stone, and have made you a king (even Abimelech the son of his handmaid) over the men at Sichem, for so much as he is your brother. If you have done right now and justly unto jerubaal and his house this day, then rejoice over Abimelech, and let him rejoice over you. If no, then go fire out from Abimelech, and consume the men of Sichem and the house of milo: And fire go out also from the men of Sichem, and from the house of milo, and consume Abimelech. And jothan (when he had spoken this out) fled, and got him out of the way, and went unto Ber, and dwelled there because of his brother Abimelech. Now when Abimelech had reigned three year over Israel, Esa. 45. a God sent an evil mind between Abimelech and the men of Sichen (for the men of Sichem despised Abimelech, and rehearsed the wr●nge done to the sons of jerubaal, and their blood, and laid it upon Abimelech their brother which slew them, and upon the men of Sichem that strengthened his hand thereto, that he might slay his brethren. And the men of Sichem set an hynder watch upon the tops of the mountains, and spoiled all them that walked nigh them by the way, and it was told Abimelech. But there came Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren, and entered in to Sichem, and the men of Sichem put their trust in him, and went out in to the field, and gathered their vynyardes, and pressed them, and made a dance, and went in to their god's house, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech. And Gaal the son of Ebed said: Who is Abimelech? and what is Sichem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of jerubaal, and hath set Sebul his servant over the men of 〈…〉 Hemor the father of Sichem▪ Wherefore should we serve him? Would God the people were under my hand, that I might put down Abimelech. And it was told Abimelech: Increase thy host, and depart. For Sebul the chief ruler of the cite, when he heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, he was wroth fully displeased, and sent message secretly to Abimelech, and caused to say unto him: Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Sichem, and make the cite to be against the. Arise therefore by night, thou and thy people that is with thee, and lay wait for them in the field: and tomorrow when the Son ariseth, get the up soon, and fall upon the cite: and if he and the people that is with him come out unto thee, them deal with him, as thine hand findeth. Abimelech stood up by night, and all the people that was with him, and laid wait for Sichem with four companies of men of war. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood at the door of the gate of the cite. But Abimelech got him up out of the hinder watch, and the people that was with him. Now when Gaal saw the people, he said unto Sebul: Behold, there cometh a people down from the top of the mount. Sebul said unto him: Thou seist the shadow of the mountains as though they were ●ē. Gaal spoke yet more and said: Behold, there cometh a people down from the mids of the land, & one bond of men cometh by the way to the witch Oak. Then said Sebul: Where is now the mouth that said: Who is Abimelech▪ that we should serve him? Is not this the people, whom thou hast refused? Go forth now, and fight with him. Gaal went forth before the citesyns of Sichem, and fought with Abimelech. But Abimelech chased him, so that he fled, and there fallen many slain even unto the gate of the cite. And Abimelech abode at Aruma. But Sebul drove away Gaal and his brethren, so that they must not remain at Sichem. Upon the morrow went the people forth in to the field. When this was told Abimelech, he took the people, and parted them in to three bonds of men, and waited for them in the field. Now when he saw that the people went out of the cite, he rose against them, and smote them. Abimelech and the company of men that was with him, fallen upon them, and stepped unto the door of the port: but the other two companies fallen upon all them that were in the field, and slew them. Then fought Abimelech against the cite all the same day, and wan it, and slew the people that was there in, and broke down the cite, and sowed salt thereon. When all the men of the tower of Sichem heard this, they went in to a strong hold of the house of their God Berith. But when Abimelech heard, that all the men of the tower of Sichem had gathered them selves together, he went up unto mount Zelmon, and all the people that was with him, and took an axe in his hand, and hewed down a branch of a tree, and took it up, & laid it upon his shoulder, and said unto all the people that was with him: 〈…〉 As you have seen me do, make you haist, and do even so as I Then all the people hewed down every one a branch, and followed Abimelech: and they laid them to the hold, and set fire upon them against them and the hold: and all the men of the tower of Sichem died thorough the smoke and fire, upon a thousand men and women. As for Abimelech, he went unto Thebetz, and laid siege unto it, and wan it. But in the mids of the cite, there was a strong tower, unto the which all the men and women, and all the citesyns of the cite fled, and shut it after them, and clymmed up to the top of the tower. Then came Abimelech unto the tower, and fought against it, and came nigh unto the door of the tower, that he might burn it with fire. 2. Re. 11. c But a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelechs' head, and broke his bran pan. Then Abimelech in all the haist, called the servant that bore his wapen, and said unto him: Draw out thy sword, and kill me, 1. Reg. 11. a 1. Par. 11. a that it be not said of me: A woman hath slain him. Then his servant thrust him thorough, and he died. When the Israelites which were with him, saw, that Abimelech was deed, they got them away every one unto his own place. Thus God recompensed Abimelech the evil that he had done unto his father, when he slew his three score and ten brethren: like wise all the evil of the men of Sichem, did God reward them upon their head: and so the jud. 9 c curse of jotham the son of jerubaal came upon them. The X. Chapter. AFter Abimelech there rose up another saviour in Israel, Thola a man of Isachar, and the son of Pua, the son of Dodo. And he dwelled at Samir upon the mount Ephraim, and judged Israel three and twenty year, and died, and was buried at Samir. After him stood up one jair a Gileadite, and judged Israel two and twenty year, and hath thirty sons, jud. 1●. c riding upon thirty asses foals: and had thirty cities, whose names are Havoth jair (that is, the cities of jair) unto this day, and lie in Gilead. Andrea jair died▪ and was buried at Camon. But the children of Israel wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim and Astaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served him not. Then was the wrath of the LORD fierce upon Israel, and he gave them over under the hand of the philistines, and of the children of Ammon. And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen year long, all the children of Israel that were beyond jordane in the land of the Moabites, which lieth in Gilead. The children of Ammon also went over jordane, and fought against juda, Ben jamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very sore troubled. Then cried the children of Israel unto the LORD, and said: We have sinned against thee, for we have forsaken our God, & served Baalim. But the LORD said unto the children of Israel: Did not the Egyptians, the Amorites, the children of Ammon, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalechites and Maonites oppress you, and I helped you out of their hand, when you cried unto me? Yet have you forsaken me, and served other gods? Therefore will I help you no more Deut. 32. c jere. 2. d Go your way, and cry upon the gods whom you have choose, let them help you in the time of your trouble. But the children of Israel said unto the LORD: We have sinned, do thou unto us what pleaseth thee, only deliver us at this tyme. And they put the strange gods from them, and served the LORD, And his soul had pity on the misery of Israel. And the children of Ammon called themselves together, and pitched in Gilead: But the children of Israel gathered themselves together also, and pitched at Mispa. And the people of the chiefest of Gilead said among themselves: Who so ever beginneth to fight against the children of Ammon, shallbe head over all them that devil in Gilead. The XI. Chapter. IEphthae a Gileadite was a valiant man of arms, but an harlots child. Gilead begat Iephthae. But when the wife had born children unto Gilead, and the same wives children were waxen great, they thrust out Iephtae, and said unto him: Thou shalt not be heir in our father's house, for thou art another woman's son. Then fled he from his brethren, and dwelled in the land of Tob. And there resorted unto him vagabundes, and went out with him. And after a certain time fought the children of Ammon with Israel. Now when the children of Ammon fought thus with Israel, the Elders went from Gilead to fetch Iephthae out of the land of Tob, and said unto him: Come, and be our captain, and fight against the children of Ammon. But Iephthae said unto the Eldes of Gilead: Are not you they that hate me and have thrust me out of my father's house, and now come you to me when you are in trouble? The Elders of Gilead said: Therefore come we now again unto thee, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our captain over all that devil in Gilead. Iephthae said unto the Elders of Gilead: If you fetch me again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me shall I then be your head? The Elders of Gilead said unto Iephthae: The LORD be hearer between us, if we do not as thou hast said. So Iephthae went with the Elders of Gilead. And the people made him head and duke over them. And Iephthae spoke all this before the LORD at Mispa. Then sent Iephthae messaungers to the king of the children of Ammon, and caused to say unto him: What hast thou to do with me, that thou comest unto me to fight against my land? The king of the children of Ammon answered jephthaes' messaungers Because that Israel took away my land (when they departed out of Egipte) from Arnon unto jabock, and unto jordane: give it me again now therefore peaceably. But Iephthae sent yet more messaungers to the king of the children of Ammon, which said unto him: Thus sayeth Iephthae: 〈…〉 Israel hath taken no land, neither from the Moabites ner from the children of Ammon: for when they departed out of Egipte, Israel walked thorough the wilderness unto the reed see, and came to Cades, and 〈…〉 sent messaungers to the king of the Edomites, and said: Let me go thorough thy land. But the king of the Edomites would not hear them. They sent likewise unto the king of the Moabites, which would not also. Thus Israel abode in Cades, and compassed the land of the Edomites and Moabites, and came on the eastside of the land of the Moabites and pitched beyond Arnon, and came no● within the coast of the Moabites. 〈…〉 For Arnon is the border of the Moabites. And Israel sent messaungers unto Si●hon the king of the Amorites at Heszbon, 〈…〉 and caused to say unto him: Let me go thorough thy land unto my place. Nevertheless Sihon would not trust Israel to go thorough the border of his land, but gathered all his people, and pitched at jahza, and fought with Israel. Howbeit the LORD God of Israel gave Sihon with all his people in to Israel's hand, so that they slew them. Thus Israel conquered all the land of the Amorites that dwelled in the same country. And they took possession of all the borders of the Amorites, from Arnon unto jabok, & from the wilderness unto jordane. So the LORD God of Israel drove away the Amorites before his people of Israel, and will't thou conquer them? Is it not so, if thy God Camos gave the ought to possess, wouldest thou not possess it? What so ever the LORD our God hath given us before us to possess, that shall we conquer and take in possession. Hast thou better right (thinkest thou) than 〈◊〉. 22. a 〈◊〉. 23. a Balac the son of Ziphor, the king of the Moabites? Did he ever go to law or fight against Israel? Though Israel have dwelled now upon a three hundredth year in Hesbon, and in the villages thereof, in Aroer and in the villages thereof, and in all the cities that lie by Arnon. Why did not you rescue it at the same time? I have not offended thee, & thou dost me evil to fight against me? The LORD give sentence this day between Israel and the children of Ammon. Nevertheless the king of the children of Ammon would not hear the words of Iephthae, which he sent unto him. Then came the spirit of the LORD upon Iephthae, and he went thorough Gilea●●nd Manasse, and thorough Mispa which lieth in Gilead, and fro Mispa that lieth in Gilead, unto the children of Ammon. And Iephthae vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said: 〈…〉 If thou will't deliver the children of Ammon in to my hand, what so ever cometh (first) out at the door of my house in my way, when I return again peaceably from the children of Ammon, that same shallbe the LORDS, and I will offer it for a burtn offering. So Iephthae went upon the children of Ammon, to fight against them. And the LORD gave them in to his hand, and he smote them from Ar●er till thou comest unto Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vynyardes a very great slaughter, and thus were the children of Ammon subdued before the children of Israel. Now when Iephthae came to Mispa unto his house, behold, his daughter went out to meet him with tabrettes and dances: and she was his only child, & he had else neither son ner daughter. And when he saw her, he rent his clotheses, & said: Alas my daughter, thou makest my heart sorrowful, and discomfortest me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and can not call it again. She said: My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, then do unto me as it is proceeded out of the mouth, according as the LORD hath avenged the of thine enemies the children of Ammon. And she said unto her father: Do this for me, give me leave to go down upon the mountains two months, that I may bewept my virginity with my playfeeres. He said: Go thy way. And he let her go two months. Then went she with her playefeeres, and bewailed her maiden head upon the mountains. And after two months she came again unto her father. And he did unto her according as he had vowed. And she had never been in danger of any man. And it was a custom in Israel, that the daughters of Israel should go every year, and mourn for the daughter of Iephthae the Gileadite, four days in the year. The XII. Chapter. ANd they of Ephraim made insurrection, & went northward, & said unto Iephthae: jud. 8. ● Wherefore wentest thou to the battle against the children of Ammon, & hast not called us, that we might go with thee? We will burn thy house and the with fire. Iephthae said unto them: I and my people had a great matter with the children of Ammon, and I cried upon you, but you helped me not out of their hands. Now when I saw that there was no helper, I put Psal. 118. ● my soul in my hand, and went against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them in to my hand. Wherefore come you up to me, to fight against me? And Iephthae gathered all the men in Gilead, & fought against Ephraim. And the men in Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said: You Gileadites are as they that i'll away before Ephraim, (and devil) among Ephraim & Manasse. And the Gileadites took the ferry of jordane from Ephraim. Now when one of the fugitive Ephraites did say: Let me go over, the men of Gilead said: Art thou an Ephraite? if he answered: Not, they bade him say: Schiboleth, & he said: Siboleth, & could not speak it right: then they took him, & slay him at the ferry of jordane, so that the same time there fallen of Epraim two & forty M. Iephthae judged Israel six years. And Iephthae the Gileadite died, & was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. After him judged▪ Israel one Ebzan of Bethleem, which had thirty sons and as many daughters: and his thirty daughters gave he forth to marriage, and thirty daughters took he from without for his sons, and judged Israel seven year, and died, and shoulders & loins: and went down, & dwelled in the stone cliff at Etam. Then went the philistines up, and laid siege unto juda, & pitched at Lechi. But they of juda said: Wherefore are you come up against us? They answered: we are come up to bind Samson, that we may do unto him, as he hath done unto us. Then went there three M. men of juda down to the stone cliff of Etam, & said unto Samson: Knowest thou not that the Philistynes reign over us? Wherefore hast thou done this then unto us? He said: As they did unto me, so have I done unto them again. They said unto him: We are come down to bind thee, & to deliver that into the hand of the philistines. Samson said unto them: Then swear & promise me, that you will not slay me. They answered him: We will not kill thee, we will but bind thee, & deliver the in to their hand, & will not slay ye. And they bound him with two new cords & carried him from the stone. And when he came unto Lechi, the philistines shouted, and ran unto him. But the spirit of the LORD came upon him, & the cords about his arms were like threads burned in the fire, so that the bonds were loosed from his hands. And he found the cheek bone of a deed ass: then put he forth his hand, and took it, & slew a thousand men therewith: And Samson said: With an old asses cheek bone, ye even with the cheek bone of an ass have I slain a thousand men. And when he had said that, he cast the cheek bone out of his hand, & called the place Ramath Lechi. But when he was sore a thirst, he called upon the LORD, & said: Soch great health hast thou given by the hand of thy servant, but now must I die a thirst, & fall in to the hand of the uncircumcised. Then God opened a gome tooth in the cheek bone, so that water went out: & when he drank, his spirit came again, & he was refreszshed. Therefore unto this day it is yet called the well of the cheek bone of him that made intercession. And he judged Israel in the time of the philistines twenty year. The XVI. Chapter. SAmson went unto Gasa, & there he saw an harlot, & lay with her. Then was it said unto the Gasites: Samson is come hither. And they compassed him about, & caused to say wait for him privily, & watched all the night in the gate of the cite, & all that night they held them still, & said: Abide, tomorrow when it is light, we will slay him. But Samson lay unto mydnighte, than rose he at mydnighte, & took hold on both the side ports of the gate of the cite, with both the posts, & lift them out with the bars, & laid them upon his shoulders, & bore them up to the top of the mount over against Hebron. After this he fallen in to the love of a woman by the broken of Sorek, whose name was Dalila, unto whom the princes of the philistines came up, and said unto her: Persuade him, and look wherein he hath soch great strength, & how we may overcome him, that we might bind him & subdue him, so will we giveth every man a M. and an HUNDRED silverlings. And Dalila said unto Samson: I pray the tell me, wherein thy great strength is, & how thou mightest be bound to be subdued. Samson said unto her: If I were bound with seven ropes of fresh senowes, which are not yet dried up, I should be weak, and as another man. Then the princes of the Philistynes brought up unto her seven new ropes, which were not yet dried up. And she bound him therewith. (But there was wait laid for him beside her in the chamber) and she said unto him: The Pilistynes upon the Samson. Nevertheless he broke the ropes in sunder, even as a twined thread breaketh, when it hath catched the heat of the fire. And it was not known wherein his strength was. Then said Dalila unto Samson: behold, thou hast beguiled me & dyssembled with me: tell me yet, wherewithal mayest thou be bound? He answered her: If they bound me with new cords, wherewith no labor hath been done, I should be feeble, & as another man. Then took Dalila new cords, & bound him withal, and said: The philistines upon the Samson (but there was wait laid for him in the chamber.) And he broke them from his arms, even as it had been a thread. Dalila said unto him: Yet hast thou beguiled me & dissembled with me: O tell me yet, wherewithal mightest thou be bound? He answered her: If thou playtest seven hairy locks of my head together in a fillet, and fastenest them in with a nail (I should be weak.) And she said unto him: The philistines upon the Samson. But he awaked out of his sleep, & drew out the playted hairy locks with the nail and the fillet. Then said she unto him: How canst thou say that thou lovest me, where as thy heart is not yet with me? Three times hast thou deceived me, and not told me wherein thy great strength is. So when she was every day importune upon him with her words, & would not let him have rest, his soul was faint even unto the death, & he showed her his whole heart, & said unto her: 〈◊〉. 6. a 〈◊〉. 1●. a There came never rasor upon my head, for I am a Nazaree of God fro my mother's womb. If I were shaven, my strength should depart fro me, so that I should be weak, and as all other men. Now when Dalila saw that he had opened all his heart unto her▪ she sent & called for the princes of the philistines, & said: Come yet once up, for he hath opened his whole heart unto me. Then came the princes of the Philistynes up unto her, & brought the money with them in their hands. And she made him to sleep upon her lap, & called one which shove of the seven hairy locks of his head. And she began to vex him. Then was his strength departed from him. And she said unto him: The philistines upon the Samson. Now when he awoke out of his sleep, he thought: I will go forth as I have done afore time, & ease myself, & knew not that the LORD was departed from him. But the philistines took him, & put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gasa, & bound him with fetters, and made him to grind in the preson. But the here of his head began to grow again, where it was shaven of. When the princes of the philistines were gathered together, to make a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to be joyful, they said: Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy in to our hand. Like wise when the people saw him, they praised their god, & said: Our god hath delivered in to our hands our enemy, that destroyed our land, & slew many of us. Now when their heart was joyful, they said: Let us fetch Samson, that he may make some pastime before us. Then fetched they Samson out of the preson, & he made pastime before them. And they set him between two pilers. But Samson said unto the lad that led him by the hand: Let me touch the pilers where upon the house standeth, that I may lean there unto. As for the house, it was full of men & women. All the princes of the philistines were there also, and upon the roof were about a three thousand men and women, which beheld what pastime Samson made. The XVII. Chapter. THere was a man upon mount Ephraim, named Micha, which said unto his mother: The thousand and hundredth silverlings which thou hast taken unto thee, & sworn, and spoken of before mine ears: behold, the same money is by me, I have taken it unto me. Then said his mother: The blessing of the LORD have thou my son. So he gave his mother the thousand & hundredth silverlings again. And his mother said: That money have I sanctified unto the LORD with my hand for my son, to make a molten image: therefore I give it the again. Nevertheless he delivered the money again unto his mother. Then took his mother two hundredth silverlings, & put them forth to the goldsmith, which made a molten image, that was afterward in Michas house. And thus the man Micha had a gods house, & made an overbody cote, & Idols, and filled the hands of one of his sons, that he might be his priest. jud. 18. ● and ●1. d At that time was there no king in Israel, & every man did the thing that was right in his own eyes. There was a young man of Bethleem juda, among the kindred's of juda, and he was a Levite, and was a stranger there. The same went out of the cite of Bethleem juda, to walk whither he could. And when he came up to mount Ephraim unto the house of Micha, to go on his journey, Micha axed him: Whence comest thou? He answered him: I am a Levite of Bethleem juda, and am walking where I can. Micha said unto him: Tarry with me, thou shalt be my father and my priest, I will give the every year ten silverlings and thy appointed raiment, and meat and drink: and the Levite went on. And the Levite agreed to abide with the man: and he held the young man, as one of his own sons. And Micha filled the Levites hand, that he might be his priest, and so he was in Michas house. And Micha said: I am sure the LORD will do me good now, that I have a Levite to my priest. The XVIII. Chapter. AT that time was there no king in Israel. And the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to devil in, ●●su. 19 d for unto that day there was no inheritance fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel. And the children of Dan sent out of their kindred's five captains (which were men of arms) from Zarga and Esthaol, to spy and search out the land. And they said unto them: Go your way, and search out the land. And they came up to mount Ephraim in to the house of Micha, and tarried there all night. And while they were there with Michas huszsholde, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite, and said unto him: Who brought the hither? What makest thou here? and why wouldest thou come hither? He answered them: Thus & thus hath Micha done unto me, & hath hired me to be his priest. They said unto him: O axe at God, that we may perceive, whether our journey which we go, shall prosper well or not. The priest answered them: Go your way in peace, your journey that you go, is before the LORD. Then the five men went their way, & came unto Lais, and saw that the people which was therein, dwelled sure, even as the Sidonians, at rest, and careless, and that there was no lord in the land to vex them, and were far from the Sidonians, and had nothing to do with any man. And they came to their brethren to Zarga and Esthaol. And their brethren said unto them: How is it with you? They said: Arise, let us go up unto them, for we have seen the land, that it is a very good land: make haist therefore, & be not slack to go, that you may come to take possession of the land. When you come, you shall come to a careless people, and the land is wide: for God hath delivered this place in to your hand, where nothing wanteth of all that is upon earth. Then went there thence out of the kindred's of Dan from Zarga and Esthaol, six hundredth men ready wapened to the battle, and went up, and pitched at Kiriath jearim in juda: therefore called they the sam● place, the host of Dan, unto this day, which is behind Kiriath jearim. And from thence they went up unto mount Ephraim, and came to the house of Micha. Then answered the five men that went out to spy the land of Lais, & said unto their brethren: Know you not that in these houses there is an overbody cote, Idols, & molten images? Now may you look what you have to do. They departed thence, and came to the house of the young man the Levite in Michas house, and saluted him friendly. But the six hundredth men, which were of the children of Dan, stood ready harnessed before the gate. And the five men that were go one to spy the land, went up, and came thither, and took the image, the overbody cote, & the molten Idols. In the mean while stood the priest at the gate, with the six hundredth ready harnessed. Now when these were come in to Michas house, and took the image, the overbody cote, and the molten Idols, the priest said unto them: What do you? They answered him: Hold thy peace, and lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, that thou mayest be our father & priest. Is it better for the to be priest in one man's house, then among a whole tribe & kindred in Israel? This pleased the priest well, & he took both the overbody cote, and the Idols, and the image, and came in among the people. And when they turned them and went thence, they sent their children, and cattles, and such precious things as they had, before them. When they were come far now from the house of Micha, the men that were in Michas houses gathered them together by Michas house, & followed the children of Dan, and cried upon the children of Dan. They turned their faces about, and said unto Micha: What aileth thee, that thou makest such a crying? He answered: You have taken away my gods, and the priest, & are going your way, and what have I behind? What is here? And yet you say unto me: What aileth thee? But the children of Dan said unto him: Let not thy voice be herd among us, that some wrathful men thrust not at thee, and so the soul and the soul of the house be destroyed. So the children of Dan went on their way. And Micha, when he saw that they were to strong for him, turned back, and came again to his house. But they took that Micha had made, & the priest whom he had, & came unto Lais, to a quiet careless people, and slew them with the edge of the sword, and burned the cite with fire, and there was no man to deliver them: for they lay far from Sidon, and had to do with no man. And they lay in the valley, which is beside Beth Rehob. Then builded they the cite, & dwelled therein, 〈◊〉. 19 d & called it Dan, after name of their father Dan, whom Israel begat. And the cite was called Lais afore tyme. And the children of Dan set up the image for them, and jonathan the son of Gerson the son of Manasse, & his sons were priests among the tribe of the Danites, 〈◊〉. 17. a unto the time that they were led away captive out of the land. And thus they set among them the image of Micha, which he had made, as long as the house of God was at Silo. The XIX. Chapter. AT the same time was there no king in Israel, and there was a man of Levi, which was a stranger beside mount Ephraim, and had taken him a concubine of Bethleem juda to wife: And when she had played the harlot beside him, she ran from him to her father's house unto Bethleem juda, & was there four months long. And her husband got him up, & went after her, to speak friendly with her, & to fetch her again, & had a servant & a couple of asses with him. And she led him in to her father's house. But when the damsels father saw him, he was glad, & received him: & his father in law, that the damsels father kept him, so that he tarried three days with him: thus they ate and drunk, and remained there all night. But on the fourth day he got him up early, & would go his way. Then said the damsels father unto his son in law: ●en. 18. a ●●al. 105. b Refresh thy heart first with a morsel of bread, and then shall you go. And they sat them down, & ate and drunk both together: Then said the damsels father unto the man: O tarry all night, that we way refresh thy heart. But the man arose, & would needs go. And his father in law constrained him to tarry all night. On the fifth day in the morning he got him up, and would be go. Then said the damsels father: I pray the comfort thy heart, & let us tarry till the day be farther passed, and so they ate both together. And the man got him up, and would go with his concubine and with his servant. But his father in law the damsels father, said unto him again: Lo, the day is spent, & it beginneth to be even, tarry all night: behold, here is lodging yet this day, abide here this night, it shall refresh thy heart: tomorrow by times get you up, and go your way unto thy tent. Neverttheles the man would not tar●, but got him up, and went his way▪ and came over against jebus (that is jerusalem) and his couple of asses laden, and his concubine with him. Now when they were come nigh unto jebus, the day ●●ll fast away. And the servant said unto his master: I pray you go on, and let us turn in to this cite of the jebusites, and tarry therein allnight. Not withstanding his master said unto him: I will not turn in to the cite of the aleauntes, that are not of the children of Israel, but I will go over unto Gibea. And he said unto his servant: Go thou before, that we may come to some place, and tarry at Gibea or at Ramah all-night. And they went on and walked, and the Son went down upon them hard by Gibea, which lieth in the tribe of Ben jamin: and they turned in there, that they might come in, and tarry at Gibea all night. But when he came in, he sat him down in the street of the cite: for there was noman that would lodge them in his house that night. And behold, than came there an old man from his work out of the field in the evening: and he was also of mount Ephraim, and a stranger at Gibea: but the men of that place were the children of jemini. And when he lift up his eyes, & saw the stranger in the street he said unto him: Wither will't thou go? & whence comest thou? He answered him: We are going on our journey from Betlemes juda, until we come beside mount Ephraim, whence I am, and went unto Bethleem juda, and now I go unto the house of the LORD & no man will harbarow me. We have straw and provender for our asses, and bread and wine for me and thy handmaiden, and for the young man which is with thy servant, so that we want nothing. The old man said: Peace be with thee: what soever thou wantest, thou findest it with me, only tarry not in the street all night. And he brought him in to his house, and gave the asses provender: and they washed their feet, and ate & drunk. And when their heart was now joyful, the men of the city, the children of Belial, came, and compassed the house round about, and ruszshed at the door, and said unto the old man, which was the good man of the house: Bring out the man which is come in to thy house, that we may know him. Gen. 19 b But the good man of the house went forth to them, and said unto them: O not my brethren, do not so wickedly, considering this man is come in to my house: O do not such folly. Behold, I have a daughter yet a virgin, and this man hath a concubine, those will I bring forth unto you, that you may humble them, and do with them as you like: but do not such folly unto this man. Nevertheless the men would not hearken unto him. Then took the man his concubine and brought her forth unto them: and they knew her, and dealt shamefully with her all that night until the morning. And when the morning broke on, they let her go. Then came the woman early in the morning, and fallen down at the door of the man's house that her lord was in, and lay there till it was light. Now when her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the door of the house, and went forth to go on his journey, behold, his concubine lay at the door of the house, and her hands upon the threshold. He said unto her: stand up, let us go, Nevertheless she gave him no answer. Then took he her up upon his ass, got him up, and went unto his place. Now when he came home, he took a sword, and held his concubine, and cut her with the bones and all in to twelve pieces, and sent them in to all the coasts of Israel. Who so ever saw it, said: Soch a thing hath not been done ner seen, sense the time that the children of Israel departed out of the land of Egipte, unto this day. Now as concerning this, take your advysement, and give your council, and show it forth. The XX. Chapter. THen went the children of Israel out and gathered a congregation together as one man, from Dan until Bersaba, and from the land of Gilead unto the LORD to Mispa: and there came together of all the quarters of the people, and of all the tribes of Israel in to the congregation of the people of God, four hundredth thousand foot men that drew out the sword. But the children of Ben jamin heard, how that the children of Israel were go up unto Mispa. And the children of Israel said: Tell us, how happened this evil? Then answered the Levite the husband of the woman that was slain, and said: I came to Gibea in Ben jamin with my concubine, to tarry there allnight, than the city▪ sins of Gibea got them up against me, and compassed me about in the house by night, and thought to slay me, and defiled my concubine, so that she died: then took I my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent the pieces in to every country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have done an abomination and folly in Israel. Behold, here are you children of Israel: advise you well, and take this matter in hand. So all the people got them up as one man, and said: Noman shall go in to his tent, ner depart to his house, but this will we do now against Gibea: Let us cast lot, and take ten men of an hundredth, and an hundredth of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel, that they may take food for the people, to come & do with Gibea Ben jamin, according to their folly which they have done in Israel. Thus all the men of Israel being confederate, gathered themselves together as one man unto the cite: and the tribes of Israel sent men unto all the kindreds of Ben jamin, and caused to say unto them: What manner of wickedness is this, that is done among you? deliver here therefore the men the children of Belial at Gibea, that we may put them to death, and do away the evil out of Israel. Nevertheless the children of Ben jamin would not follow the voice of their brethren the children of Israel, but gathered themselves out of the cities unto Gibea, to go forth in battle against the children of Israel. And the same day were there numbered of the children of Ben jamin out of the cities, six and twenty thousand men, that drew the sword, beside the citesyns of Gibea of whom there were told seven hundredth choose men. And among all this people there were choose out seven hundredth men, which used not the right hand but the left, and yet with the sling could they touch an here, and not miss. But the men of Israel, beside them of Ben jamin, were numbered four hundredth thousand, which drew the sword, & were all men of arms. And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God (in Silo) and axed at God, and said: Who shall go up for us to begin the battle with the children of Ben jamin? The LORD said: juda shall begin. So the children of Israel got them up in the morning, & pitched over against Gibea, & every man of Israel went out to fight with Ben jamin, and set themselves in array to fight against Gibea. Then fallen the children of Ben jamin out of Gibea, and slew the same day among Israel two & twenty thousand to the ground. But the people of the men of Israel comforted themselves, and made them ready to fight yet more in the same place, after they had prepared themselves the day afore. And the children of Israel went up, and wept before the LORD until the evening, and axed at the LORD, & said: Shall we go anymore to fight with our brethren the children of Ben jamin? The LORD said: Go up unto them. And when the children of Israel got them up to the children of Ben jamin on the next day, the Ben jamites fallen out of Gibea against them the same day, and slew yet eighteen thousand of the children of Israel to the ground, which all drew the sword. Then went all the children of Israel up, and all the people, and came to the house of God, and wept, and tarried there before the LORD, & fasted that day until the even, and offered burned offerings and deed offerings before the LORD. And the children of Israel axed at the LORD (the Ark of the covenant of God was there at that time, and Phineas the son of Eleasar the son of Aaron stood before him at the same time) & they said: Shall we go forth any more to fight with our brethren the children of Ben jamin, or shall we leave of? The LORD said: Go up, tomorrow will I deliver them in to your hands. And the children of Israel set a privy watch against Gibea round about, and so the children of Israel went up to the children of Ben jamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibea like as the other two times afore. Then came the children of Ben jamin out against the people, & broke out of the cite, & began to slay certain wounded of the people (like as the other two times afore) in the field upon two streets: whereof one goeth toward Bethel, the other unto Gilead upon a thirty men in Israel. Then thought the children of Ben jamin: They are smitten before us like as afore. But the children of Israel said: Let us fly, that we may provoke them out of the cite in to the high streets. Then all the men of Israel got them up from their place, and prepared themselves unto Baal Thamar. And the hinder watch of Israel broke out of their place, from the cave of Gaba, and came unto Gibea, twenty thousand choose men out of all Israel, so that it was a sore battle: but they knew not that the evil should happen unto them. Thus the LORD smote Ben jamin before the children of Israel, so that the same day the children of Israel destroyed five & twenty thousand and an hundredth men in Ben jamin, which all drew the sword. For when the children of Ben jamin saw that they were smitten, the men of Israel gave them room (to fly). For they trusted to the watch, which they had set by Gibea. And the watch made haist also, & broke forth unto Gibea, and went upon it, and smote all the cite with the edge of the sword. They were appointed between themselves the men of Israel and the hinder watch, to f●ll upon them with the sword, when the smoke of the cite arose. Now when the men of Israel turned them in the battle, and Ben jamin began to smite the wounded in Israel upon a thirty men, and thought, they are smitten before us, like as in the battle afore, than began there a piler of smoke to arise up from the cite. And Ben jamin looked behind them: and behold, the flame of the cite went up unto heaven. And the men of Israel turned them, and were fierce upon the men of Ben jamin: for they saw that the evil would happen unto them. And they turned them before the men of Israel in the way to the wilderness, but the battle followed upon them. And them of the cite destroyed they among them. And they compassed Ben jamin round about, and followed upon them unto Menuah, and trod them down till afore Gibea eastward. And there fallen of Ben jamin eighteen thousand men, which were all men of arms. When the remnant of Ben jamin saw that, they turned them and fled toward the wilderness unto the stony rock of Rimon. But in the same street they slew five thousand men, and followed upon them unto Gideom, and slew two thousand of them: and so there fallen the same day of Ben jamin five and twenty thousand men which drew the sword, and were all men of arms. Only six hundredth men turned back, and fled toward the wilderness unto the stony rock of Rimon, and abode in the rock of Rimon four months. And the men of Israel came again to the children of Ben jamin, and smote them that were in the cite with the edge of the sword, both men and cattles and all that was found: and what soever was found in the cite, they cast it in to the fire. The XXI. Chapter. THe men of Israel had sworn at Mispa, and said: Noman shall give his daughter to the Ben jamites to wife. And the people came to the house of God (in Silo) & abode there before God until the evening, and lift up their voice, and wept sore, and said: O LORD God of Israel, wherefore is this come to pass in Israel this day? But on the morrow the people got them up early, and builded there an altar, and offered burned offerings and deed offerings. And the children of Israel said: Where is there any man of the tribes of Israel, that is not come up with the congregation unto the LORD? For there was a great oath made, that who so came not up to Mispa unto the LORD, should die the death. And the children of Israel were sorry for Ben jamin their brother, and said: This day is there one tribe less in Israel. How will we do that the remnant may have wives? For we have sworn by the LORD, that we will not give them wives of our daughters. And they said: Where is there any man of the tribes of Israel, that is not come up to the LORD unto Mispa? And behold, there was not one man of the citesyns of Jabes in Gilead. Then sent the congregation twelve thousand men of arms thither, and commanded them, and said: Go your way, and smite the citesyns of Jabes in Gilead with the sword, the women also and the children, but so that you do after this manner: Num. 31. c See that you damn all them that are males, and all the women that have lyen with men. And among the citesins of Jabes in Gilead they found four hundredth damsels, which were virgins, and had lyen with noman: those they brought in to the host unto Silo, which lieth in the land of Canaan. Then sent the whole congregation, and caused to talk with the children of Ben jamin, 〈…〉 which were in the stony rock of Rimon and called unto them friendly. 〈…〉 So the children of Ben jamin came again at the same time, and thy gave them women which they had of the women of Jabes in Gilead, and found no more after that manner. Then were the people sorry for Ben jamin, that the LORD had made a gap in the tribes of Israel. And the Elders of the congregation said: What will we do, that the remnant may have wives also? for the women in Ben jamin are destroyed, and they said: The inheritance of them of Ben jamin that are escaped, must needs remain, that there be not a tribe destroyed out of Israel: & we can not give them our daughters to wives. For the children of Israel have sworn and said: Cursed be he that giveth a wife to the Ben jamites. And they said: Behold there is a yearly feast of the LORD at Silo, which lieth on the northside of the God's house, and on the eastside of the street as a man goeth from Bethel unto Sichem, and lieth on the south side of Libo●a. And they commanded the children of Ben jamin, & said: Go your way, and wait in the vynyardes. And when you see that the daughters of Silo go forth by companies to dance, get you out of the vynyardes, and every man take him a wife of the daughters of Silo, and go your way in to the land of Ben jamin. As for their fathers and brethren, when they come to law with us, we will say unto them: Be favourable to them, for they have not taken them in battle: but you gave them not unto them by time, and it is your fault. The children of Ben jamin did so, and according to their number took them wives from the dance, whom they caught by violence, and went their way, & dwelled in their own inheritance, and builded cities and dwelled therein. The children of Israel also got them up from thence at the same time, every one to his tribe and to his kindred, and departed thence, every man to his own inheritance. 〈…〉 At that time was there no king in Israel, and every man did the thing that was right in his own eyes. The end of the book of the judges, called judicum. The book of Ruth. What this book containeth. Chap. I Elimelech departeth from Bethleem with his wife and two sons in to the land of the Moabites, where the father dieth and both the sons. Ruth the wife of the one son goeth home with her mother in law. Chap. II Ruth gathereth up ears of corn in the field of Boos her houszbandes' kinsman. Chap. III Ruth lieth her down in the barn at Boos feet, and he giveth her good words, and ladeth her with six measures of barley. Chap. four Boos marrieth Ruth, which beareth him Obed David's grandfather. The first Chapter. IN the time when the judges ruled, there was a dearth in the land. And there went a man from Bethleem juda to take his journey in to the land of the Moabites with his wife and two sons, which man was called Eli Melech, and his wife Naemi, & his two sons, the one Mahelon, and the other Chilion: these were Ephrates of Bethleem juda. And when they came in to the land of the Moabites, they dwelled there. And Eli Melech Naemis husband died, & she was left behind with her two sons, which took Moabitish wives: the one was called Arpa, the other Ruth. And when they had dwelled there ten year, they died both, Mahelon and Chilion, so that the woman remained desolate of both her sons and her husband. Then got she her up with both her sons wives, & went again out of the land of the Moabites (for she had herd in the land of the Moabites, that the LORD had visited his people & given them bread) & so she departed from the place where she was, & both her sons wives with her. And as they went by the way to come again in to the land of juda, she said unto both her sons wives: Go your way, & turn back either of you to her mother's house: the LORD show mercy upon you, as you have done on them that are deed & on me. The LORD grant you, that you may find rest either of you in her huszbandes' house (whom you shall get) and she kissed them. Then lift they up their voice, and wept, & said unto her: We will go with the unto the people. But Naemi said: Turn again my daughters, why would you go with me? How can I have children any more in my body, to be your huszbandes? Turn again my daughters, and go your way, for I am now to old to take an husband. And though I should say: I hope this night to take an husband & to bring forth children, yet could you not tarry tlll they were grown up: for you should be to old, so that you could have no huszbandes. No my daughters, therefore am I sorry for you, for the hand of the LORD is go forth over me. Then lift they up their voice, and wept yet more, and Arpa kissed her mother in law (and turned back again) but Ruth abode still by her. Nevertheless she said: Behold, thy sister in law is turned back unto her people and to her god, turn thou again also after thy sister in law. Ruth answered: Speak not to me thereof, that I should forsake thee, and turn back from thee: whither so ever thou goest, thither will I go also: and look where thou abydest, there will I abide also: Thy people is my people, & thy God is my God. Look where thou diest, there will die, and even there will I also be buried. The LORD do this and that unto me, death only shall depart us. Now when she saw, that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she spoke no more to her thereof. So they went on both together, till they came unto Bethleem. And when they were come in to Bethleem, the whole cite was moved over them, and said Is not this Naemi? Nevertheless she said unto them: call me not Naemi, but Mara: for the almighty hath made me very sorry. I departed full, but the LORD hath brought me home again empty. Why call you me then Naemi? when the LORD hath brought me low, and the almighty hath made me sorry? It was about the time of the beginning of the barley harvest, when Naemi and his sons wife Ruth the Moabitysse, came again from the land of the Moabites unto Bethleem. There was a kinsman also of the kindred of Eli Melech Naemis husband, whose name was Boos, which was an honest man. The II Chapter. ANd Ruth the Moabitisse said unto Naemi: Let me go in to the field, & gather ears of corn, after him, in whose sight I shall find fau●. She said unto her: Go that way my daughter. She went on, & came & gathered after the reapers in the field. And it fortuned that the same field was the inheritance of Boos, which was of the kindred of Elimelech, and behold, Boos came from Bethleem, and said unto the reapers: The LORD be with you. They answered: The LORD bless the. And Boos said unto his youngman which had the oversight of the reapers. Whose damsel is this? The young man that was set over the reapers, answered and said: It is the damsel the Moabitisse, which came again with Naemi from the land of the Moabites. And she said: Let me pluck up and gather (I pray thee) between the sheves after the reapers: and thus is she come, and hath stand here ever sense the morning, and within a little while she would have been go home again. Then said Boos unto Ruth: Hearest thou my daughter? Thou shalt not come upon another man's land to gather, and go not away from hence, but tarry with my dansels, and look where they reap in the field, go thou after them: for I have commanded my servants that no man touch the. And if thou be a thirst, go thy way to the vessel & drink, where my servants draw. Then fallen she down upon her face, and bowed herself down to the earth, and said unto him: How have I found this favour in the sight, that thou wouldest know me, which am yet a stranger? Boos answered and said unto her: It is told me altogether, what thou hast done unto thy mother in law after thy huszbandes' death, how that thou hast left the father and thy mother, and thy native country, and art come to a people, whom thou hast not known afore. The LORD recompense the thy doing, and thy reward be perfect with the LORD God of Israel, unto whom thou art come to put thy trust under his wings. She said: let me find favour (sir) before thine eyes, for thou hast comforted me, and spoken friendly unto thy handmaiden, where as I am not yet like one of the handmaidens. Boos said unto her: When it is eating time, come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat her down beside the reapers. And he set parched come before her, and she ate, & was satisfied, and left over. And when she rose to gather, Boos commanded his servants, and said: Let her gather between the sheves also, and do her no dishonesty: and cast of the sheves unto her, and let it lie that she may gather it up, and see that noman reprove her for it. So she gathered in the field until even and she shaked out what she had gathered, and it was almost an Epha of barley: and she took it up, and came in to the cite, and showed her mother in law what she had gathered. She took forth also, and gave her of that which was left, whereof she was satisfied. Then said her mother in law unto her Blessing have the man that hath known thee, where thou hast gathered and laboured this day. She told her mother in law by whom she had laboured, and said: The man's name, by whom I have wrought to day, is Boos. Naemi said unto her daughter in law: The blessing of the LORD have he, for he hath not left of to be merciful unto the living 〈…〉 and to the deed. And Naemi said unto her: The same man belongeth 〈◊〉 to us, and is our nigh kinsman. Ruth the Moabitisse said: He said moreover unto me: Thou shalt resort unto my servants, till they have made an end of all my harvest. Naemi said unto Ruth her daughter in law: It is better my daughter, that thou go forth with his damsels, jest any man withstand the in another field. Thus she kept herself with Boos damsels, so that she gathered until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest was out, and came again to her mother in law. The III Chapter. ANd Naemi her mother in law said unto her: My daughter, I will provide rest for thee, that thou mayest prosper. Boos our kinsman, by whose damsels thou hast been, casts up barley now this night in his barn. Bath thyself therefore, and 〈…〉 moffell thee, and put on thy clotheses, and go down unto the barn, so that noman know thee, till they have all eaten and drunken. When he layeth him down then to sleep, mark the place where he lieth down, and come thou, and take up the covering at his feet, and lay the down, so shall he tell the what thou shalt do. She said unto her▪ whatso ever thou sayest unto me, I will do it. She went down to the barn, & did all as her mother in law had commanded her. And when Boos had eaten & drunken, his heart was merry, & he came and laid him down behind a heap of sheves. And she came secretly, and took up the covering at his feet, and laid her down. Now when it was midnight, the man was afraid, and groped about him, and behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said: Who art thou? She answered: I am Ruth thy handmaiden, spread the wings over thy handmaiden: for thou art the next kinsman. He said: The lords blessing have thou my daughter. Thou hast done a better mercy here after then before, that thou art not go after young men, neither rich ner poor. Fear not now my daughter: All that thou hast said, will I do for thee: for all the cite of my people knoweth, that thou art a virtuous woman. Truth it is now, that I am a nigh kinsman, but there is one nigher than I. Tarry thou allnighte. Tomorrow if he take thee, well: if he like not to take thee, then will I take that my self, as truly as the LORD liveth. sleep thou till the morning. And she slept at his feet until the morrow. And she rose up or ever one could know another. And he thought thus: That no man know now that there hath come a woman in to the barn, and he said: Reach me the cloak that thou hast on thee, & hold it forth. And she held it forth. And he meet her six measures of barley, and laid it upon her, & she went in to the cite, & came to her mother in law, which said: How is it with the my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done unto her, & said: These six measures of barley gave he me, for he said: Thou shalt not come empty unto the mother in law. She said: Abide my daughter, till thou see what the matter will grow to: for the man will't not cease, till he bring it to an end this day. The four Chapter. BOos went up to the gate, and sat him down there: & behold, when the nigh kinsman went by, Boos spoke unto him, & said: Come & sit the down here (and called him by his name.) And he came & sat him down, & he took ten men of the Elders of the cite, & said: Sit you down here. And they sat them down. Then said he to the nigh kynszman: Naemi which is come again from the land of the Moabites 〈◊〉 2● d 〈◊〉. 32. b offereth to cell the piece of land, that was our brothers Eli Melech, therefore thought I to show it before thy ears, & to tell thee: If thou will't redeem it, then buy it before the citesyns & before the Elders of my people: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is no nigh kinsman except thou, and I next after the. He said: I will redeem it. Boos said: In the day that thou byest the land out of the hand of Naemi, thou must take Ruth also the Moabitisse the wife of the deed, that thou mayest raise up a name to the deed in his inheritance. Then said he: I can not redeem it, jest I happily destroy mine own inheritance. Redeem thou that I should redeem, for I can not redeem it. But this was an old custom in Israel concerning the redeeming & changing, that all matters might be stable, the one put of his shoe, & gave it unto the other: that was the testimony in Israel. And the nigh kinsman said unto Boos: Buy thou it, & he put of his shoe. And Boos said unto the Elders and to all the people: You are witnesses this day, that I have bought out of the hand of Naemi, all that belonged to Eli Melech, and all that was Chilions and Mahelons': And Ruth the Moabitisse Mahelons' wife, take I to wife, Deut. 25. ● that I may raise up a name unto the deed in his inheritance, and that his name be not rooted out from among his brethren, and out of the gate of his place: Of this are you witnesses. And all the people that was in the gate with the Elders, said: We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that cometh in to thy house, as Rachel and Lea ( Goe 29. 3● which both have builded up the house of Israel) that she may be an ensample of virtue in Ephrata, and have an honourable name in Bethleem. And thy house be as the house of Phares ( Gen. 3●. ● whom Thamar bore unto juda) thorough the seed, that the LORD shall give the of this damsel. So Boos took Ruth, and she become his wife. And when he lay with her, the LORD granted her that she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the women unto Naemi: Praised be the LORD, which hath not suffered a kinsman to cease from the at this time, that his name may continue in Israel: he shall restore thy life again, and provide for thy age. For thy sons wife which hath loved thee, hath born him that is better unto thee, than seven sons. And Naemi took the child, and laid it upon her lap, and become the norse of it, and her neighbours gave him a name & said: There is a child born unto Naemi, and they called his name Obed. The same is the father of Isai, which is the father of David. This is the generation of Phares. 1. Par. 2. a Matth. 1. a Phares begat Hesrom. Hesrom begat Aram. Aram begat Aminadab. Aminadab begatt Naasson. Naasson begat Salmon. Salmon begat Boos. Boos begat Obed. Obed begat Isai. Isai begat David. The end of the book of Ruth. The first book of the kings, otherwise called the first book of Samuel. What this book containeth. Chap. I Of Elcana and his two wives. Unto Anna giveth God Samuel, which is appropriated unto the LORD. Chap. II The thankful song of Anna. The sons of Eli do wickedly, their father refourmeth them not, therefore is the priesthood taken from him and his sons. Chap. III The revelation showed unto Samuel, and unto Eli. Chap. four Israel fighteth against the philistines, loseth the victory, and is smitten the second tyme. The philistines win the Ark of the LORD: The two sons of Eli perish, the father falls down and breaketh his neck. Chap. V The philistines bring the Ark of the LORD in to the temple of Dagon, which falls down before it. Chap. VI The Philistynes send the Ark again unto the people of God, with certain gifts and offerings. Chap. VII. The Ark is brought in to Aminadab's house. Samuel exhorteth the people to amendment. Chap. VIII. Samuels sons rule not well. The people desire to have a king. Chap. IX.X. Saul seeketh his father's asses, and cometh unto Samuel, which (at the commandment of the LORD) anoynteth him king, and showeth him unto the people. Chap. XI. Saul defendeth Jabes from Nahas the Ammonite. Chap. XII. Samuel showeth his innocency unto the people, and giveth them a godly exhortation. Chap. XIII. The Philistynes gather them selves against Israel. Saul is disobedient unto to the LORD. Samuel reproveth him. Chap. XIIII. jonathas discomfiteth the enemies by sotyltie, Saul helpeth him: the father would slay the son, the people deliver him. Chap. XU. Samuel commandeth Saul to 〈◊〉 Amalek and utterly to destroy him▪ Saul is dishobedient, & therefore is he deposed from the kingdom. Chap. XVI. David is anointed king. The evil spirit vexeth Saul, David easeth him with playing at the harp. Chap. XVII. David destroyeth Goliath the 〈◊〉 The philistines i'll. Chap. XVIII. jonathas and David are sworn lovers. David behaveth himself wisely in all things. The people love him. Saul giveth him his daughter of purpose, that the Philistynes might destroy him. Chap. XIX. Saul commandeth to kill David. jonathas giveth him warning. David flieth his way. His wife delivereth him. Chap. XX. David avoideth from the kings displeasure. jonathas warneth him. Chap. XXI. David flieth unto Noba to the priest Ahimelech, and eateth of the shewbred. Chap. XXII. David's friends help him. Do●g the Edomite slayeth Ahimelech & the other priests of the LORD. Chap. XXIII. Saul layeth wait for David ●●●getteth him out of the way, and the LORD defendeth him. Chap. XXIIII. Saul cometh into David's hand, which will not slay him, but cutteth of a piece of his garment, &c. Chap. XXV. Samuel dieth. Nabal displeaseth David. Abigail pacifieth him. Chap. XXVI. David findeth Saul sleeping, and where as Abisai would slay him, he will not suffer him, but taketh away his spear and the cup of water. Chap. XXVII. David flieth unto Achis the king at Geth. Chap. XXVIII. David is made Achis captain. Saul axeth council at the soothsayer. Samuel appeareth unto him and rebuketh him. Chap. XXIX. The Philistynes are not content, that David should be their captain. The king sendeth him home again. Chap. XXX. The Amalechites fall upon Sice●ek. David followeth upon them, and recovereth the spoil again. Chap. XXXI. The Philistynes fihgte against Israel. Sauls sons are slain, & he wounded, and slayeth himself. The first Chapter. THere was a man of Ramathaim Sophim of mount Ephraim, 〈◊〉. 7. b whose name was Elcana the son of jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, that was an Ephrate. And he had two wives, the one was called Anna, the other Peninna. As for Peninna, she had children, but Anna had no children. And the same man went up from his cite 〈◊〉. 2●. b 〈◊〉. 1●. a at his time, to worship and to offer unto the LORD Zebaoth at Silo. There were the priests of the LORD Ophni and Phineas, the two sons of Eli. Now when it came upon a day that Elcana offered, he gave parts unto his wife Peninna, and to all his sons and daughters. But unto Anna he gave one deal heavily, for he loved Anna. Nevertheless 〈◊〉. 2●. d 〈…〉. a the LORD had closed her womb, & her adversary cast her in the teeth with her unfrutefulnes, because the LORD had closed her womb: thus did she every year, when they went up to the house of the LORD, and thus she provoked her. So she wept, and ate nothing. But Elcana her husband said unto her: Wherefore wepest thou? and why eatest thou not? And wherefore is thy heart so grieved? Am not I better unto the then ten sons? Then stood Anna up, when she had eaten and drunken at Silo. But Eli the priest sat upon a stole by the post of the temple of the LORD. And she was full of heuyn●●● in her heart, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept, and vowed a vow, and said: O LORD Zebaoth, if thou will't look upon the adversity of thy handmaiden, and think upon me, and not forget thy handmaiden, and will't give thy handmaiden a son, I will give him unto the LORD all his life long, jud. 13. a Num. ● and there shall no rasou●e come upon his head. And when she had prayed long before the LORD, Eli took heed to her mouth, for Anna spoke in her heart, her lips only moved, but her voice was not herd. Then thought Eli she had been drunken, and said unto her: How long will't thou be drunken? Let come from the the wine that thou hast by the. Nevertheless Anna answered and said: Not my lord, I am a sorrowful woman, wine and strong drink have I not drunken Psal. 4●. but have poured out my heart before the LORD. Count not thy handmaiden a daughter of Belial: for out of my heavy thought and sorrow have I spoken hitherto. Eli answered her, and said: Go thy way in peace, the God of Israel shall grant the thy petition that thou hast desired of him. She said: Let thy handmaiden find favour in thy sight. So the woman went her way and ate, and looked no more so soroufully: and on the morrow they got them up by times. And when they had worshipped before the LORD, they returned, and came home unto Ramatha. And Elcana lay with Anna his wife, and the LORD remembered her. And after certain days, she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, for I have desired him (said she) of the LORD. And when the man Elcana went up with all his houszholde to offer sacrifice and his vow unto the LORD at such time as the custom was, Anna went not up, but said unto her husband: (I will not go up) till the child be weened: then will I bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and continue there Num. ●. for ever. Elcana her husband said unto her: Then do as thou thinkest best, tarry till thou have weened him: but the LORD perform that he hath spoken. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck, till she weened him. And when she had weened him, she brought him up with her, with three bullocks, with an Ephi of fine flower, and a bottle of wine, and brought him in to the house of the LORD at Silo. Nevertheless the child was yet but young. And they slew a bullock, and brought the child unto And she said: O my lord, as truly as thy soul liveth my lord, I am the woman that stood here by thee, and made intercession unto the LORD, when I prayed for this child. Now hath the LORD granted me my petition, which I desired of him, therefore have I given him over unto the LORD, as long as he is lent unto the LORD. And they worshipped the LORD there. The II Chapter. ANd Anna prayed, and said: My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, & my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth is opened wide upon mine enemies, for I am glad of thy salvation. There is no man holy as the LORD, for without the is nothing, and there is no comfort like unto our God. Let go your great boostinge of high things, let go out of your mouth that old byword: for the LORD is a God that knoweth all things, & he hath set all works in order. The bow of the mighty is broken, and the weak are girded about with strength. They that were filled afore, are sold for bread: and they that were hungry, are satisfied: until the barren bore seven, and till she that had many children, was become weak. ●eut. ●2. f 〈◊〉. 1●. c ●ob▪ 13. a The LORD slayeth, and giveth life: he leadeth unto hell, and bringeth out again. The LORD maketh poor and maketh rich: He bringeth low and exalteth. ●●al. 112. a He taketh up the needy out of the dust, and lifteth up the poor out of the mire, that he may set them among the princes, and to let them inheret the seat of honour: for the foundations and corners of the world are the LORDS, and he hath set the compass of the earth thereon. He shall preserve the feet of his saints, but the ungodly shall be put to silence in darcnesse. ●eut ●. d For there is no man that can do ought of his own power. The lords enemies shall be put in fear before him, he shall thunder upon them in heaven. The LORD shall judge the ends of the world, & shall give strength unto his king, & shall exalt the horn of his anointed. Elcana went his way to Ramath unto his house. And the child become the LORDS minister before Eli the priest. But Elis sons were the children of Belial, and knew not the LORD, ner the duty of the priests unto the people: but when any man would offer ought, the priests boy came, while the flesh was seething, and had a three forked fleshoke in his hand, and thrust it in to the cauldron, or ketell, or pan, or pot: and look what he drew forth with the fleshoke, that took the priest thereof. Thus did they unto all Israel▪ which came thither unto Silo. Like wise, or ever they burned the fat, the priests lad came, and said unto him that brought the offering: give me the flesh, that I may roast it for the priest, for he will receive no sodden flesh of thee, but raw. If any man said then unto him: Let the fat burn as it ought to do this day, and afterward take what thy heart desireth, than said he unto him: Thou shalt give it me even now: if no, I will take it from the by violence. Therefore was the sin of the children very great before the LORD, for the people spoke evil of the meat offering of the LORD. But Samuel was a minister before the LORD, and the child was girded with an over body cote of linen. His mother also made him a little cote of silk, and brought it up unto him at convenient times, when she went up with her husband to offer the offering in due season. And Eli blessed Elcana & his wife, and said: The LORD give the seed of this woman, for this good that thou hast lent unto the LORD. And they went unto their place. And the LORD vysited Anna, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters: but the child Samuel grew up with the LORD. As for Eli, he was very old, and heard of all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they lay with the w●men that served God before the door of the tabernacle of witness, and he said unto them: wherefore do you this? For I hear of your evil conversation of all this people. Not so my children, this is no good report that I hear, you 'cause the people of the LORD to offend. 〈…〉 If any man sin against a man, the judge can redress it. But if any man sin against the LORD, who can redress it? Nevertheless they herkened not unto the voice of their father, for the LORDS will was to slay them. But the child Samuel went and grew up, & was accepted of the LORD & of men. There came a man of God to Eli, and said unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD: I showed myself unto thy father's house, when they were yet in Egipte under the house of Pharaoh, and chose him there unto myself before all the tribes of Israel, for the priesthood, that he should offer upon mine altar, and burn incense, and were the overbody cote before me, 〈…〉 and unto thy father's house I gave all the offerings of the children of Israel. Why layest thou thyself then against my sacrifices and meat offerings, which I commanded (to offer) in the habitation: and thou honour'st thy sons more than me, that you might feed your selves with the firstlinges of all the meat offerings of my people of Israel? Therefore sayeth the LORD God of Israel: I have spoken, that thy house and thy father's house should walk before me for ever. But now sayeth the LORD: That be far fro me. But who so ever honoureth me, him will I honour also: as for those that despise me, they shall not be regarded. Behold, 〈◊〉. 2. d the time shall come, that I will break thine arm in two, and the arm of thy father's house, so that there shall no oldeman be in thy house. And thou shalt see thy adversaries in the habitation, in all the good of Israel, and there shall never be old man in thy father's house. Yet will I not rote out every man of the fro mine altar, but that thine eyes may be consumed, & that the soul may be sorry: 〈◊〉. 22. d & a great multitude of thy house shall die, when they are come to be men. And this shallbe a token unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons Ophni and Phineas: They shall both die in one day. 〈◊〉. 4. c 〈◊〉. ●3. c But unto myself I will raise up a faithful priest, which shall do according as it is in my heart & in my soul: unto him will I build a sure house, that he may allway walk before mine anointed. And who so ever remaineth of thy house, shall come and worship him for a silver penny and for a piece of bread, and shall say: I pray the leave me to one priests part, that I may eat a morsel of bread. The III Chapter. ANd when the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD under Eli, the word of the LORD was dear at the same time, neither was there any sure & manifest vision. And it fortuned at the same time, that Eli lay in his place, 〈◊〉. 4. c and his eyes began to be dim, so that he could not se. And Samuel had laid him down in the temple of the LORD (where the Ark of God was) before the lamp of God was put out. And the LORD called Samuel. He answered: Behold, here am I And he ran unto Eli, & said: Behold, here am I, thou hast called me. But he said: I have not called thee, go thy way again, and lay the down to sleep. And he went his way, and laid him down to sleep. The LORD called again: Samuel. And Samuel arose, & went unto Eli, & said: Behold, here am I, thou hast called me. Nevertheless he said: My son, I have not called the. So thy way again, and lay the down to sleep. As for Samuel, he knew not the LORD as yet, & the word of the LORD was not yet showed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel the third tyme. And he arose, & went unto Eli, & said: Behold, here am I, thou hast called me. Then perceived Eli that the LORD called the child, & he said unto him: Go thy way again, & lay the down to sleep: and if the LORD call the any more, then say: Speak LORD, for the servant heareth. Samuel went his way, and laid him down in his place. Then came the LORD, & stood, and called like as afore: Samuel, Samuel. And Samuel said: Speak (LORD) for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said unto Samuel: Behold, I do a thing in Israel, that who so ever shall hear it, both his ears shall glow. In that day will I raise up upon Eli 1. Re. 2. g all that I have spoken concerning his house. I will take it in hand, & perform it: for I have told him, that I willbe judge over his house for ever, because of the wickedness, that he knew how shamefully his children behaved themselves, and hath not once looked sourly thereto. Therefore have I sworn unto the house of Eli, that this wickedness of the house of Eli shall not be reconciled neither with sacrifice ner with meat offering for ever. And Samuel lay unto the morrow, & opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision unto Then Eli called him & said: Samuel my son. He answered: Behold, here am I He said: What is the word that the LORD hath spoken unto thee? hide it not fro me. God do this & that unto thee, if thou hide ought fro me, of all that he hath talked with the. Then Samuel told him altogether, & hid nothing from him. He said: It is the LORD, let him do what pleaseth him. Samuel grew up, & the LORD was with him, & there fallen none of all his words upon the earth. And all Israel from Dan unto Bersaba, knew that Samuel was faithful to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again at Silo: for the LORD showed himself unto Samuel at Silo, thorough the word of the LORD. The four Chapter. ANd all Israel spoke of Samuel. And Israel went forth to the battle against the philistines, & pitched beside the. 1. Reg. ●. ● Help stone: As for the philistines, they pitched at Aphek, and prepared themselves against Israel. And when the battle began, the host was divided, so that Israel was smitten before the enemies, & in the edge in the field they slew about a four thousand men. And when the people came in to the host, the Elders of Israel said: Wherefore hath the LORD caused us to be smitten this day before the philistines? Let us take unto us the Ark of the LORDS covenant from Silo, & let it come among us, that it may help us from the hand of our enemies. And the people sent unto Silo, & caused to set thence the Ark of the covenant of the LORD Zebaoth, that sitteth upon the Cherubins. And with the Ark of the covenant of God there were the two sons of Eli, Ophni and Phineas. And when the Ark of the covenant of the LORD came in to the host, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth sounded withal. But when the philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said: what noise is this of such great shoutinge in the tents of the Hebrews? And when they perceived that the Ark of the LORD was come in to the host, they were afraid & said: God is come in to the host. And they said moreover: Woe unto us, for it hath not been thus afore tyme. Woe unto us. Who will deliver us from the hand of these high gods? These are the gods that smote Egipte with all manner of plagues in the wilderness. Be strong now and manly you Philistynes, that you serve not the Hebrews ●ud. 13. a as they have served you. Be manly and fight. Then fought the philistines, & Israel was smitten, & every one fled unto his tent, & there was a very great slaughter, so that there fallen of Israel thirty thousand foot men, & the Ark of God was taken, ●. Re. 2. g & the two sons of Eli, Ophni and Phineas died. Then ran there one of Ben jamin out of the fore front of the battle, & came unto Silo the same day, & had his clotheses rent, and had earth upon his head. And when he came in, Heli sat upon the seat, that he might look toward the way: for his heart was fearful about the Ark of God. And when the man came in to the cite, he told it forth: and all the cite cried. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he axed: What noise of business is this? The man came haistely, and told Elimine (As for Eli, he was fourscore and eighteen year old, Reg. ●. a and his eyes were dim, so that he could not se.) The man said unto Eli: I come and am fled this day out of the host. He said: How is it my son? Then answered the tydinge bringer, & said: Israel is fled before the philistines, and a great slaughter hath there been among the people, & thy two sons Ophni & Phineas are deed, ye & the Ark of God is taken away. When he had made mention of the Ark of God, he fallen down backward from the seat by the gate, and broke his neck, and died: for he was old, & an heavy man. He judged Israel forty years. The wife of his son Phineas was with child, & should shortly be delivered, when she heard the tidings that the Ark of God was taken, and that her brother in law and her husband were deed, she bowed herself and travailed: for her pain came upon her. And when she was now at the point of death, the women that stood by her, said: Fear not, thou hast a young son. But she gave no answer, neither regarded it, and she called the child Icabod, and said: The glory is go from Israel, because the Ark of God was taken away, and her brother in law and her husband. And she said moreover: The glory is go from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away. The V Chapter. AS for the Ark of God, the philistines took it and brought it from the stone of help unto Aszdod in to the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon. And when they of Aszdod rose up early on the morrow, they found Dagon dying on his face upon the earth, before the Ark of the LORD. But they took up Dagon, and set him again in his place. Nevertheless when they rose up early on the next morrow, they found Dagon dying on his face again upon the earth before the Ark of the LORD: but his head and both his hands hewn of upon the threszholde, so that the block lay there only. Therefore the priests of Dagon, and all they that go in to his house, tread not upon the threszsholde of Dagon at Aszdod unto this day. But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Aszdod, and destroyed them, and smote Aszdod and all the borders thereof in secret places. When the men of Aszdod saw that they were so plagued, they said: 〈…〉 Let not the Ark of the God of Israel tarry with us, for his hand is to hard upon us & upon our god Dagon. And they sent forth and gathered all the princes of the philistines unto them, and said: What shall we do with the Ark of the God of Israel? Then answered they of Geth: Let the Ark of the God of Israel be born about. And they carried the Ark of the God of Israel round about. But when they bore it about, there was a very great rumour in the cite thorough the hand of the LORD, and smote the people of the cite, from the smallest unto the greatest, and destroyed them in the secret places. Then sent they the Ark of the LORD unto Ekron. But when the Ark of the LORD came unto Ekron, they of Ekron cried: They have carried the Ark of God about unto me, to slay me and my people. Then sent they forth, and gathered all the princes of the Philistynes together, and said: Send away the Ark of the God of Israel again unto her place, that it slay not me & my people: for there is a very great rumour with the deed in all the cite, and the hand of God is there. And the people that died not, were smitten in secret places, so that the noise of the cite went up unto heaven. The VI Chapter. THus was the Ark of the LORD in the land of the philistines seven months. And the philistines called their priests and soythsayers, and said: What shall we do with the Ark of the LORD? Show us, where with shall we send it unto her place? They said: If you will send away the Ark of the God of Israel, send it not away empty, but give a trespass offering: so shall you be made whole, and you shall know, why his hand departeth not from you. They said: What is the trespass offering that we shall give him? They answered: five hinder parts of gold, and five golden mice, according to the number of the five princes of the philistines. For there hath been one manner of plague upon you all, and upon your princes. Therefore must you make your hinder parts of one faszshion and your mice, which have destroyed your land, that you may give the God of Israel the honour: peradventure his hand shall be the lighter upon you and upon your God, and upon your land. Why harden you your heart, as the Egipcians and Pharaoh hardened their heart? When he showed himself upon them 〈◊〉. 12. c did not they let them depart to go their way? God to now therefore, and make a new cart, and take two milk kine, upon the which there never came yock, and yocke them to the cart, and let their calves tarry behind them at home: and take you the Ark of the LORD and lay it upon the cart: and the jewels of gold that you give him for a trespass offering put in a coffer beside it, & send it away and let it go. And look well: if it go the way of her own coast Beth Seems, them hath he done us all this great evil: If no, then shall you know that his hand hath not touched us, but that it is happened unto us by chance. The men did so, and took two young milk kine, and yocked them to a cart, and held their calves at home, and laid the Ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the golden mice, and with the images of their disease. And the kine went strait way unto Beth Seems upon one high street, and went on blearing, and turned neither to the right hand ner to the left. And the princes of the philistines went after them unto the coast of Beth Seems. The Beth Samites were even reaping down their wheat harvest in the valley, and lift up their eyes, and saw the Ark, and rejoiced to see it. The cart came in to the field of josua the Beth Semite, and there it stood still. And there was a great stone, and they clave the timber of the cart, and offered the kine unto the LORD for a burnt-offering. But the Levites took down the Ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was by it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and set them upon the great stone. The men of Beth Seems offered burned offerings, and other offerings also unto the LORD the same day. And when the five princes of the philistines had seen it, they departed again the same day toward Ekron. These are the golden diseases, that the Philistynes offered for a trespass offering unto the LORD: Aszdod one, Gasa one: Ascalon one, Gath one, and Ekron one: and golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the philistines among the five princes, from the walled cite unto the village, and unto the great plain field, whereupon they set the Ark of the LORD (which was) unto this day upon the field of josua the Beth Semite. And certain of Beth Samewere slain because they had seen the Ark of the LORD, and he slew fifty thousand and seventy men of the people. Then mourned the people, because the LORD had done so great a slaughter in the people. And the men at Beth Seems said: Who may stand before the LORD so holy a God? And to whom shall he go from us? And they sent messaungers to the inhabiters of Kiriath jearim, saienge: The Philistynes have brought the Ark of God again, come down, & fetch it up unto you. The VII. Chapter. SO the men of Kiriath jearim came down, & fetched up the Ark of the LORD, & brought it in to the house of Re. 6. a Abinadab at Gibea, & they consecrated Eleasar his son, that he might keep the Ark. And from that day that the Ark of the LORD abode at Kiriath jearim, the time extended forth so long till it came to twenty years: and all the house of Israel wept after the LORD. But Samuel said unto all the house of Israel: 〈◊〉. 24 c ●ob. 14▪ c If you turn you withal your heart unto the LORD, than put away from you the strange gods and Astaroth, and direct your heart unto the LORD and ●●ut. ●. c ●at. 4. b serve him only, so shall be deliver you out of the hand of the philistines. Then the children of Israel put away Baalim and Astaroth from them, and served the LORD only. Samuel said: Gather all Israel together unto Mispa, that I may pray for you unto the LORD. And they came together unto Mispa, and drew water, & poured it out before the LORD, and fasted the same day, and there they said: We have sinned unto the LORD. So Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mispa. But when the philistines heard that the children of Israel were come together unto Mispa, the princes of the philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard that, they were afraid of the philistines, & said unto Samuel: Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he may help us out of the hand of the philistines. eccle. 46 c Samuel took a fat lamb, & offered an whole burned offering unto the LORD, & cried unto the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him. And while Samuel was offering the burned sacrifice, the Philistines came to fight against Israel. But the LORD thondred a thunder upon the Philistynes the same day & discomfited them, so that they were smitten before Israel. Then went the men of Israel forth, & chased the philistines, & smote them till under Beth Car. Then took Samuel a stone, & set it up between Mispa & Sen, & called it the Help stone, & said: Hither to hath the LORD helped us. Re. 4. a Thus were the philistines brought down, & came no more within the border of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the philistines, as long as Samuel lived. S● Israel got the cities again, that the philistines had conquered, from Ekron unto Gath, with the borders thereof, those did Israel rescue out of the hand of the Philistynes: & Israel had peace with the Amorites. Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived, & went about every year unto Bethel & Gilgal & Mispa: & when he had judged Israel in all these places, he came again unto Ramath for there was his house, & there he judged Israel, & builded an altar there unto the LORD. The VIII. Chapter. But when Samuel waxed old, he set his sons to be judges over Israel. His firstborn son was called joel & the second Abia, & they were judges at Bersaba. Nevertheless his sons walked not in his ways, but inclined unto covetousness, & 〈…〉 took gifts, & wraysted the law. Then all the Elders in Israel gathered themselves together, & came to Ramath unto Samuel, & said unto him: Behold, thou art waxed old, & thy sons walk not in that ways, 〈…〉 set a king now over us therefore, to judge us, as all the Heithen have. Then was Samuel displeased when they said: give us a king, to judge as. And Samuel prayed before the LORD. The LORD said unto Samuel: hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they have said unto the. 〈…〉 For they have not refused thee, but me, that I should not be king over them. They do unto the as they have done ever, sense the day that I brought them out of the land of Egipte unto this day, and ha●ue forsaken me, and served other gods. hearken now therefore unto their voice. Yet testify unto them, and show them 〈…〉 the law of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people, that required a king of him. This shall be the law of the king that shall reign over you: 〈…〉 your sons shall he take for his charettes, and for horsemen to run before his charettes, and to be rulers & captains, to be plowemen to till his land and to be reapers in his harvest, and to make his harness, and such things as belong to his charettes. As for your daughters, he shall take them, to be Apotecaries, cooks and bakers Your best land and vynyardes, 〈…〉 and oylegardens shall he take, and give unto his servants: Of your sedes also and viniardes shall he take the Tithes, & give unto his chamberlains and servants. And your servants and your maids, and your best young men, and your asses shall he take, and do his business withal. Of your flocks shall he take the Tithes, and you shall be his servants. When you shall cry then at the same time over your king, whom you have choose you, the LORD shall not hear you at the same tyme. Nevertheless the people refused to hear the voice of Samuel, and said: Not so, but there shall be a king over us, that we may be as all other Heithen, that our king may judge us, & go forth before us, and govern our wars. Then herkened Samuel unto all that the people said, & told it before the ears of the LORD. The LORD said unto them: hearken thou unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: Go your way every one unto his cite. The IX. Chapter. THere was a man of Ben jamin named 〈◊〉. 9 a Cis, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeor, the son of Bethorah, the son of Apiah, the son of a man of jemini, a valiant man, which had a son named Saul, which was so goodly a young man, that there was not a goodlier among the children of Israel, higher by the head than all the people. Cis the father of Saul had lost his asses, and he said unto Saul his son: Take one of the children with thee, get the up, go thy way, and seek the asses. And he went his way thorough mount Ephraim, and thorough the land of Solisa, and found them not. They went thorough the land of Saalim, & there they were not. They passed thorough the land of jemini, & found them not. But when they came in to the land of Zuph, Saul said unto the child that was with him: Come, let us go home again, jest my father let go the asses, and take care for us. He said: Behold, here is an honourable man of God in this cite, all that he sayeth, cometh to pass. Let us go thither now, peradventure he may show us our way which we go. But Saul said unto his child: Though we should go, what bring we the man? For the bread is go out of our walet, and else have we no gift to bring the man of God, what have we? The child answered again, and said: Behold, I have the fourth part of a silver Sycle by me, the same will we give the man of God, that he may show us our way. (Afore time in Israel, when a man went to axe council at the LORD, he said: Come, let us go to the Seer: for they that now are called prophets, were called Seers afore time). Saul said unto his child: Thou hast well spoken, come let us go. And when they went unto the cite where the man of God was, and came up to the cite, they found damsels which were go forth to draw water, unto them they said: Is the Seer here▪ They answered them and said: Ye. Behold, he is there, make haist, for he came in to the cite this day, because the people have a sacrifice to do to day in the high place. When you come in the cite, you shall find him, afore he go up to the high place for to eat: for the people will not eat till he come. For he shall bless the offering, then shall they eat that are called. Therefore go your way up, for even now shall you find him And when they came up to the cite, and were even in the mids of the cite, behold, Samuel came forth in their way, and would go up to the high place. ( 1. Reg. ●5▪ ● But the LORD had opened Samuels ear the day afore, or ever Saul came, and said: Tomorrow about this time will I send a man unto the out of the land of Ben jamin, him shalt thou anoint to be prince over my people of Israel, that he may deliver my people from the hand of the Philistynes: for I have looked upon my people, and their cry is come before me.) Now when Samuel beheld Saul, the LORD answered him: lo, that is the man of whom I told thee, that he should reign over my people. Then came Saul unto Samuel under the gate, and said: Tell me (I pray thee) where is the Seers house? Samuel answered Saul, and said: I am the Seer. Go up before me unto the high place: for you shall eat with me to day, tomorrow will I let the go, and all that is in thine heart, will I tell thee: and as for the Asses which were lost three days ago, care not thou for them, for they are found. And to whom shall belong all that is pleasant in Israel? Shall it not belong unto the and to all thy father's house? Saul answered: Am not I a son of jemini, judi. 20. c 1. Re. 15. d and of the smallest tribe, and my kindred the least among all the kindred's of the tribe of Ben jamin? Why speakest thou so then unto me? Samuel took Saul & his child & brought them in to the perler where they should eat, and sat them above those that were called, of whom there were about a thirty men. And Samuel said unto the coke: give me the portion that I gave thee, and bad the keep it by the. Then the coke took up a shoulder, and bore it forth, and set it before Saul. And (Samuel) said: Behold, this is left, lay it before thee, and eat: for it was kept for the against this time, when I called the people. Thus Saul ate with Samuel the same day. And when they were go down from the high place unto the cite, he talked with Saul in the chamber. And they rose up early on the morrow. And when the morning spring arose, Samuel called Saul in the chamber, and said: Up, that I may send the thy way. And Saul got him up: & they both went forth together, he and Samuel. And when they came down to the end of the cite, Samuel said unto Saul: Speak unto the child, that he go on forth before us, but stand thou still now, that I may shew● the what God hath said: The X. Chapter. THen took Samuel a glass of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said: Seist thou that the LORD hath anointed thee, to be the prince over Deut. 9 c his inheritance? When thou goest now fro me, thou shalt find two men beside Gen. 35. d Rachel's grave in the coast of Ben jamin at Zelzah, which shall say unto thee: The asses are found, whom thou wentest to seek: and behold, thy father hath put the asses out of his mind, and taketh thought for thee, and sayeth: What shall I do for my son? And when thou goest on forth from thence, thou shalt come to the Oak of Thabor, there shall three men find thee, which go up unto God toward Bethel: one beareth three kids, another three loaves of bread the third a bottle with wine: and they shall salute thee, and give the two loaves, which thou shalt take of their hand. After that shalt thou come to the hill of God, 1. Reg. ●●. a where the philistines watch is: and when thou comest there in to the cite, there shall meet the a company of prophets coming down from the high place, and before them a Psaltery, and tabret, a pipe and a harp, and they themselves prophecienge. And the spirit of the LORD shall come upon thee, and thou shalt prophecy with them, and shalt be changed in to another man. When these tokens now come unto thee, ●. Re. ●. ᵃ ●. Par. 28. a then do what so ever cometh under thine hand: for God is with the. Thou shalt go down before me unto gilgal: Behold, thither will I come down unto thee, that thou mayest offer burned offerings and deed offerings. 〈…〉 Seven days shalt thou tarry till I come to thee, and show the what thou shouldest do. And when he turned his shoulder to go from Samuel, God changed him another heart, and all these tokens came the same day. And when they came unto the hill, behold, there met him a company of prophets 〈…〉 and the spirit of God came upon him, so that he prophesied among them. But when they which knew him before, saw him that he prophesied with the prophets, they said all among themselves: What is happened unto the son of Cis? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one that was there, answered and said: Who is their father? 〈…〉 Hereof came the proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets? And when he had left of prophesying, he came up to the hill. Sauls uncle said unto him and to his child: Wither went you? They answered: To seek the asses. And when we saw that they were away, we came unto Samuel. Then said Sauls uncle: Tell me, what said Samuel unto you? Saul answered his uncle: He told us, that the asses were found. But of the kingdom he told him nothing what Samuel had said. Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mispa, and spoke unto the children of Israel: Thus saith the LORD the God of Israel: I brought Israel out of Egipte, and delivered you from the hand of the Egipcians, and from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 〈…〉 But now have you refused your God, which hath helped you out of all your sorrows and troubles, & you have said unto him: Set a king over v●. Well, stand you now before the LORD according to your tribes and kindred's. Now when Samuel had brought forth all the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Ben jamin was taken. And when he had brought forth the tribe of Ben jamin with his kindred's, the kindred of Matri was taken, & Saul the son of Cis was taken. And they sought him, but they found him not. Then axed they further at the LORD, whether he was for to come thither. The LORD answered: Behold, he hath hid himself among the vessels. Then ran they thither, and fetched him. And when he stood among the people, he was higher by the head than all the people. And Samuel said unto all the people: There see you him whom the LORD hath choose, for in all the people there is none like him. Then gave all the people a shout, and said: 〈…〉 God save the new king. Samuel told the people all the 〈◊〉 ●7. d law of the kingdom, and written it in a book, and laid it before the LORD. And Samuel let all the people go, every one to his own house. And Saul went home also unto Gibea, and there went with him one part of the host, whose hearts God had touched. But the children of Belial said: What shall this fellow help us, 〈…〉 and despised him, & brought him no present. But he made him as though he heard it no●. The XI. Chapter. NAhas the Ammonite went up & laid siege unto Jabes in Gilead. And all the men of Jabes said unto Nahas: Be at one with us, & we will serve the. But Nahas the Ammonite answered them: I will make a covenant with you, of this condition, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and put you to shame among all Israel. Then said all the Elders of Jabes unto him: give us seven days respite, that we may send messaungers into all the coasts of Israel: If there be then no saviour, we will go forth unto the. So the messaungers came unto Gibea of Saul, and spoke this before the ears of the people. Then all the people lift up their voice, and wept. And behold, Saul came after the oxen out of the field, and said: What aileth the people that they weep? So they told him the earande of the men of Jabes. 〈…〉 Then came the spirit of God upon him, when he had heard these words, and his wrath was sore moved, and he took a couple of oxen, and hewed them in sunder, and sent them in to all the coasts of Israel by the messaungers, saying: Who so ever goeth not forth after Saul and Samuel, his oxen shallbe thus dealt withal. Then fallen the fear of the LORD upon the people, so that they went forth like as one man, 〈…〉 and they were told at Basek, and of the children of Israel there were three hundredth thousand men, and thirty thousand of the children of juda. And they spoke unto the messaungers that were come: Say thus to the men of Jabes in Gilead: Tomorrow shall you have help, when the Son is at the whotest. When the messaungers came and told this to the men of Jabes, they were glad. And the men of Jabes said: Tomorrow will we come forth unto you, that you may do unto us, what so ever it pleaseth you. And on the next morrow Saul set the people in three parts, and came into the host about the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites till the day was at the whotest. As for those that remained, they were so scattered, that two of them abode not together. Then said the people unto Samuel: Where are they that said: 1. Re. 〈…〉 Should Saul reign over us? deliver us here the men, that we may put them to death. But Saul said: There shall noman die this day, for to day hath the LORD given health in Israel. Samuel said unto the people: Come, let us go unto gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. Then went all the people unto gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD at Gilgal, and offered deed offerings before the LORD. And Saul with all the men of Israel rejoiced there greatly. The XII. Chapter. SAmuel said unto all Israel: Behold, I have herkened unto your voice in all that you said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now lo, there goeth your king before you. As for me, I am waxed old and grey heered, and my sons are with you: and I have go before you fro my youth up unto this day. Behold, here am I▪ answer you against me before the ROARED and his anointed, Eccli. 4● d Act. 20. d if I have taken any man's ox or ass, if I have done any man violence or wrong, If I have oppressed any man, if I have received a gift of any man's hand, and kept it secretly, I will restore it you again. They said▪ Thou hast done us neither violence ner wrong, neither oppressed, ner taken aught of any man's hand. He said: The LORD be witness against you, and so be his anointed this day, that you have found nothing in my hand. They said: Ye they shallbe witnesses. And Samuel said unto the people: The LORD which made Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of the land of Egipte (is here present.) stand forth now therefore, that I may judge you before the LORD over the righteousness of the LORD, which he hath done for you and your fathers. Gen. 46. a Exod. 2. d When jacob was come in to Egipte, your fathers cried unto the LORD. * Exo. 3 b And he sent Moses and Aaron to bring your fathers out of Egipte, and to 'cause them for to devil in this place. 〈◊〉. 4. a But when they forgot the LORD their God, he sold them under the power of Sissera, the captain at Hazor 〈◊〉. 13. a and under the power of the Philistynes 〈◊〉. 3. b and under the power of the king of the Moabites, which fought against them. But they cried unto the LORD, and said: We have sinned, in that we have forsaken the LORD, and served Baalim and Astaroth. But now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve the. 〈◊〉. 6. c Then the LORD sent jerubaal, * 〈◊〉. 13. d Bedan, 〈◊〉. 11. a jephthae, ●. Reg. 7. a and Samuel, & delivered you from your enemies round about, and caused you to devil safe. But when you saw that Nahas the king of the children of Ammon came against you ●. Reg. 8 a you said unto me: Not thou, but a king shall reign over us, where as notwithstanding your God was your king. Now, there have you your king, whom you have choose and desired: for lo, the LORD hath set a king over you. If you shall fear the LORD now, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not be dishobedient unto the mouth of the LORD, then shall both you and your king that reigneth over you, follow the LORD your God. But if you hearken not unto the voice of the LORD, but be dishobedient unto his mouth, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, and against your fathers. stand forth now also, and behold this great thing, that the LORD shall do before your eyes. Is not now the wheat harvest? Yet will I call upon the LORD, so that he shall 'cause it thunder and rain, that you shall know and see the great evil, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in that you have desired to have a king. And when Samuel called upon the LORD, the LORD caused it to thunder and rain the same day. Then all the people feared the LORD greatly and Samuel, and they said all unto Samuel: Pray thou unto the LORD thy God for thy servants, that we die not: for beside our sins we have done this evil also, that we have desired unto us a king. Samuel said unto the people: Fear not, you have done all this evil in deed. Nevertheless depart not back from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart, and go not aside after vanity, for it profiteth you nothing, and can not deliver you, in so much as it is but a vain thing. * Exo 34. b Deut. 9 ● josu. 7. b For the LORD shall not forsake his people because of his great names sake: for the LORD hath begun to make you a people unto him self. But God forbid that I should sin so unto the LORD, to cease from praying for you, and from teaching you the good & righteous way. Fear you the LORD therefore, and serve him faithfully with all your heart: for you have seen, how great things he doth unto you. But if you do wickedly, both you & your king shall perish. The XIII. Chapter. SAul had been king one year, and when he had reigned over Israel two years, he chose him three thousand men out of Israel: two thousand were with Saul at Michmas upon the mount of Bethel, and one thousand with jonathas at Gibea of Ben jamin. As for the other people, he let them go every one unto his tent. But jonathas smote the philistines in their own 〈…〉 watch, which was at Gibea. That came to the Philistynes ears. And Saul caused to blow the trumps in all the land, & to say: Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say: Saul hath smitten the philistines watch, for Israel stank before the philistines. And all the people cried after Saul unto Gilgal. Then the philistines gathered them selves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand charettes, six thousand horsemen, and other people beside, in number as the sand by the See shore, and went up, and pitched at Michmas on the eastside of Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that misfortune lay upon the necks of them (for the people was come thereto) they crope in to caves and dens, in to rocks, and holes and wells. But the Hebrews went over jordane in to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul he was yet at Gilgal, and all the people were fainthearted after him. 〈…〉 Then tarried he seven days according to the time appointed of Samuel. And when Samuel came not unto Gilgal, the people were scattered abroad from him. Then said Saul: Bring me hither a burned offering and deed offerings. And he offered a burned offering. But when he had made an end of the burned offering behold, Samuel came. Then went Saul forth to meet him, that he might salute him. But Samuel said: What hast thou done? Saul answered: I saw that the people was scattered abroad fro me, and thou camest not in due season: and the philistines were gathered together at Michmas. Then said I Now shall the Philistynes come down to me unto Gilgal, and I have not besought the face of the LORD: & so I boldened myself, & offered a burned offering. Samuel said unto Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded the. For (if thou hadst not done this) he had prospered thy kingdom upon Israel for ever: but now shall not thy kingdom continue. 〈◊〉. ●6. c The LORD hath sought him out a man after his own heart: him hath the LORD commanded to be prince over his people, for thou hast not kept that the LORD commanded ye. And Samuel arose, and went up from Gilgal unto Gibea Ben jamin. Andrea Saul numbered the people that was found with him, upon a six hundredth men. Saul & his son jonathas, and the people that was with them, tarried at Gibea Ben jamin: but the philistines had pitched their tents at Michmas. And out of the host of the Philistynes there went three bonds of men to destroy: one turned the way toward Ephra in to the land of Sual: another turned toward the way of Bethoron: the third turned toward the way, that reacheth to the valley of Zeboim unto the wilderness. But there was not a smith found in all the land of Israel: for the Philistynes thought: The Hebrews might haply make swords and spears. And all Israel were fain to go down to the philistines, when any man had a plowshare, a mattock, an axe, or a sith to sharp: and the edges of the plowshares, and mattocks, & forckes, and axes, were laboured, and the points blunt. Now when the day of the battle came, there was neither sword ner spear found in the hand of all the people, that was with Saul and jonathas: but for Saul and jonathas his son there was some what found. And the philistines watch went out over by Michmas. The XIIII. Chapter. IT fortuned at the same time, that jonathas said unto his lad which was his wapen bearer: Come, let us go over to the Philistynes watch that lieth above, & he told not his father. Saul dwelled at the end of Gibea under a pomegranate tree, which was in the suburb. Re. 13. d And the people that were by him, were upon a six hundredth men. And Ahia the son of Achitob the brother of Icabod, the son of Phineas the son of Eli the priest of the LORD at Silo, wayre the overbody cote. But the people knew not that jonathas was go. Between the passages where jonathas sought to go over unto the Phylistynes watch, there were two high rocks, the one on the one side, the other on the other: the one was called Bozez, the other Senne. And the one lay on the north side toward Michmas, and the other on the south side toward Gaba. And jonathas said unto his wapen bearer: Come, let us go ever to the watch of these uncircumcised, peradventure the LORD shall work with us, 2. Par. 14 For it is no hard matter for the LORD to help by many or by few. Then answered him his wapen bearer: Do all that is in thy heart, go on thy w●rie, behold, I am with thee, even as thy heart will. jonathas said: Well than, When we are go over to the men, and come within the sight of them, if they say: stand still, till we come to you, then will we stand still in our place, and not go up to them. But if they say: Come up to us, we will go up to them, then hath the LORD delivered them in to our hand, and this shallbe a token for us. Now when they came both in the sight of the Philistynes watch, the philistines said: See, Iudi●. 14. the hebrews are go out of their holes, that they were crept in to. And the men in the watch answered jonathas and his wapen bearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will teach you what the matter is. Then said jonathas to his weapon bearer. ●. Mac. 4. Come up after me, the LORD hath delivered them into Israel's hand. And jonathas clamme up with hands and feet, and his wapen bearer after him. And jonathas smote them down before him, and his wapen bearer slew behind him, so that the first slaughter that jonathas and his wapen bearer did, was upon a twenty men, with in the length of half an acre of land, which a pair of oxen may till in one day. judi 14. And there came a fearfulness and flight in the host upon the field, and among all the people of the watch: and upon the 1. Re. 13. destroyers there came a fearfulness also and flight, so that the land was in a rumour, and josu. 10. jud. 4. c there came a flight thorough God. And Sauls watchmen at Gibea Ben jamin saw, that the multitude got them away, and ran to and fro. Saul said unto the people that was with him: Tell and see which of us is go away. And when they numbered, behold, jonathas & his wapen bearer was not there. Then said Saul unto Ahia: Bring hither the Ark of God (for at that time was the Ark of God with the children of Israel.) And while Saul was yet speaking to the priest, the multitude in the philistines host got up, ran, and was great. And Saul said unto the priest: Withdraw thy hand. And Saul cried, and all the people that was with him, and came to the battle. And behold, 〈◊〉. 7. f ● Pa. 20. d every man's sword was against another, and there was a very great rumour. The Hebrews also that were with the Philistynes afore, and had go up with them in the host on every side, joined them selves unto Israel which were with Saul and jonathas. And all the men of Israel which Re. 1●. b had hid themselves upon mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistynes fled, followed after them in the battle. Thus the LORD helped Israel at that time, and the battle lasted unto Bethaven. And when the men of Israel came forth, Saul charged all the people the same day, and said: Cursed be every man, which eateth bread until even, that I may avenge me on mine enemies. Then all the people taisted no bread. And all the people of the land came in to the wood. But there lay honey upon the field: and when the people came in to the wood, heholde, the honey flowed, but no man put of it to his mouth with his hand: for the people were afraid because of the oath. As for jonathas he had not herd, that his father had charged the people, and he put forth his staff that he had in his hand, and dypped the end of it in the honey comb, and turned his hand to his mouth, and his eyes were lighted. Then answered one of the people, and said: Thy father hath charged the people, and said: Cursed be every man that eateth ought this day. Nevertheless the people were faint. Then said jonathas: My father hath troubled the land: See how light mine eyes are become, because I have taisted a little of this honey. If the people this day had eaten of the spoil of their enemies that they found, the slaughter should have been greater against the philistines. Yet smote they the philistines the same day fro Michmas unto Aialon, and the people were very weighed. And the people turned to the spoils, and took sheep and oxen, and calves, and slew them upon the earth, ●eui. ●. c ●ud 1● f and ate them with the blood. Then was it told Saul: Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat blood. He ●ayde: You have done evil: roll unto me now a great stone. And Saul said moreover: Go abroad among the people, and say unto them, that every one bring me his ox and his sheep, and slay them here, that you may eat, and not to sin against the LORD with eating of blood. Then brought all the people every one his ox with his hand the same night, and slew them there. And Saul builded an altar unto the LORD. This is the first altar that he builded unto the LORD. And Saul said: Let us go down after the philistines, by night, and spoil them till it be clear morning, that we let none escape. They answered: Do what so ever pleaseth the. But the priest said: Let us go nigh here unto God. And Saul axed at God. Shall I go down here after the Philistines? & will't thou deliver them in to Israel's hand? Nevertheless he answered him not at that tyme. Then said Saul: Let all the armies of the people come hither, and make search and see, in whom is this sin at this tyme. For as truly as God the saviour of Israel liveth, & though it be in my son jonathas, he shall die. And no man answered him of all the people. And he said unto all Israel: Be you on the one side, I & my son jonathas will be on this side. The people said unto Saul: Do as it pleaseth the. And Saul said unto the LORD the God of Israel: Do thou that right is. Then was jonathas and Saul taken: but the people went forth free. Saul said: Cast the lot over me and my son jonathas. So jonathas was taken. And Saul said unto jonathas: Tell me, what hast thou done? jonathas told him, & said: I taisted a little honey with the staff that I had in my hand, and behold, must I die therefore? Then said Saul: God do this and that unto me, jonathas thou must die the death. But the people said unto Saul: Should jonathas die, that hath done so great health in Israel this night? God forbid. 〈…〉 As truly as the LORD liveth, there shall not one here of his head fall upon the earth: for with God hath he wrought at this time. So the people delivered jonathas, that he died not. Then went Saul up from the philistines: and the philistines went unto their place. But when Saul had conquered the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies round about, against the Moabites, against the children of Ammon, against the Edomites, against the king of Zoba, against the philistines: and whither so ever he turned him, he got the victory. And he made an host, and smote the 〈◊〉. 2●. c Amalechites, and delivered Israel from the hand of all those that spoiled them. Saul had these sons: jonathas, Isui, and Malchisua. And these were the names of his two daughters: the firstborn Merob, & the youngest Michol. And Sauls wife was called Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaas. And his chief captains name was Abner, the son of Ne'er, Sauls uncle. 〈…〉. a 〈◊〉. 9 a Cis was the father of Saul. But Ne'er the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. There was a mighty sore war against the philistines, as long as Saul lived. And where Saul saw a man that was strong and meet for the war, he took him to him. The XU. Chapter. SAmuel said unto Saul: 〈◊〉. 9 c The LORD sent me to anoint the for to be king over his people of Israel: hear now therefore the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD Zebaoth: I have remembered what Amaleck did unto Israel, 〈◊〉. 17. c 〈◊〉 24. d 〈◊〉▪ 25. c & how he laid wait for him in the way, when he went out of Egipte: Go the way now therefore, and smite the Amalechites, & damn them with all that they have, & spare him not: but slay both man and woman, children & sucklynges, oxen & sheep, Camels and asses. Saul commanded the people the same, and numbered them at Talaim, two hundredth thousand foot men, & ten thousand men of juda. And when Saul came to the cite of the Amalechites, he set an hinder watch by the river, and said unto the Kenites: Get you hence, depart, and go down from the Amalechites, that I smite you not with them, 〈◊〉. 10. d 〈◊〉. 1. d for you showed mercy unto all the children of Israel, when they departed out of Egipte. So the Kenites got them away from among the Amalechites. Then smote Saul the Amalechites from Hevila unto Sur (which lieth over against Egipte) & took Agag the king of the Amalechites alive, & damned all the people with the edge of the sword. Nevertheless Saul and the people spared Agag, and the sheep and oxen that were good and fat, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not damn them: but look what was foul and nothing worth, that they damned. Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, and said: It repenteth me that I made Saul king, for he hath turned himself back fro me, and not confirmed my words. Therefore was Samuel angry, & cried unto the LORD all that night. And Samuel got him up early, that he might meet Saul in the morning. And it was told him, that Saul was come unto Carmel, Deu. 1●. & had set him up a piler, and was go about, and come down to gilgal. Now when Samuel came to Saul, Saul said unto him: Blessed be thou unto the LORD, I have performed the word of the LORD. Samuel answered: What cry is this then of sheep in mine ears, and the cry of oxen which I hear? Saul said: They have brought them from the Amalechites: for the people spared the best sheep & oxen for the offering of the LORD thy God, the other have we damned. Nevertheless Samuel answered Saul: Let me tell the what the LORD hath said unto me this night. He said: Say on. Samuel said: 1. Re. 9 c and 10. ● When thou wast but small in thy own eyes, wast thou not the head among the tribes of Israel? & the LORD anointed the to be king over Israel? and the LORD sent that in to the way, & said: Go the way & damn the sinners the Amalechites, and fight against them, till thou have utterly destroyed them? Wherefore hast thou not herkened unto the voice of the LORD, but hast turned thyself to the spoil, and done evil in the sight of the LORD? Saul answered Samuel: Ye I have herkened unto the voice of the LORD, & have go the way that the LORD sent me, and brought Agag the king of the Amalechites, & damned the Amalechites: but the people have taken of the spoil, sheep & oxen, and the best among the damned, to offer unto the LORD thy God in gilgal. Samuel said: Hath the LORD pleasure in sacrifices and burned offerings, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, Eccl●. 4 obedience is better than offering, and to hearken is better than the fat of rams. For disobedience is as the sin of Exo. 22. Deut. 1● witchcraft, and rebellion is as the blasphemy of idolatry. In so much now as thou hast refused the word of the LORD, he hath refused the also, that thou shouldest not be king. Then said Saul unto Samuel: I have sinned, that I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and thy word: for I was afraid of the people, and herkened unto their voice. And now forgive me my sin, & return with me, that I may worship the LORD. Samuel said unto Saul: I will not turn back with thee, for thou hast refused the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath refused the also, that thou shouldest not be king in Israel. And when Samuel turned him back to go his way, he got him by the edge of his garment, & rent it. Then said Samuel unto him: The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from the this day, & given it unto the neghbor, which is better than thou. The over winner in Israel also shall not lie, neither shall he repent: for he is no man, that he should repent. He said: I have sinned, yet honour me now before the Elders of my people and before Israel, and turn back with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. So Samuel turned again after Saul, that Saul might worship the LORD. But Samuel said: Bring me hither Agag the king of the Amalechites. And Agag went unto him tenderly. And Agag said: Thus departeth the bitterness of death. Samuel said: 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉. 14 g Like as thy sword hath made women childless, so shall the mother also be with out children among women. So Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in gilgal. Re. 17. d And Samuel departed unto Ramath. But Saul went up to his house at Gibea Saul. And Samuel saw Saul no more unto the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because it repented the LORD, that he had made Saul king over Israel. The XVI. Chapter. ANd the LORD said unto Samuel: How long mournest thou for Saul, whom I have refused, that he should not be king over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, go thy way, I will send the to Isai the Bethleemite: for among his sons have I provided me a king. But Samuel said: How shall I go? Saul shall perceive it, and shall slay me. The LORD said: Take the a calf from the drove, & say: I am come to do sacrifice unto the LORD. And thou shalt call Isai to the sacrifice, so shall I tell the what thou shalt do, that thou mayest anoint me him, whom I shall show the. Samuel did as the LORD said, and came to Bethleem. Then were the Elders of the cite astonnyed, and went forth to meet him, and said: Re. 2. b Is thy coming peaceable? He said: Ye. I am come to do sacrifice unto the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, & come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Isai and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. Now when they came in, he beheld Eliab, & thought, whether he should be his anointed before the LORD. But the LORD said unto Samuel: look not upon his countenance, ner upon the tallness of his person, For I judge not after the sight of man. A man hath respect unto the thing that is before his eyes, but the LORD looketh upon the heart. Then Isai called Abinadab, & brought him before Samuel. And he said: This hath not the LORD choose. Then Isai brought Samma. But he said: This also hath not the LORD choose. Then brought Isai his seven sons before Samuel. Nevertheless Samuel said unto Isai: The LORD hath choose none of these. And Samuel said unto Isai: Are here all the children? He said: There is yet one that least of all, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. Then said Samuel unto Isai: Send & 'cause him to be fetched, for we will not sit down at the table, until he come. Then sent he, & caused him be brought. And he was well coloured with fair eyes & of a beautiful countenance. And the LORD said: Arise, and anoint him, that is he. Then took Samuel his oil ho●e, & anointed him among his brethren. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David from the day forth. As for Samuel, he got him up, & went unto Ramath. But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD vexed him. Then said Sauls servants unto him: Behold, an evil spirit from God vexeth the. Let our lord say unto his servants which stand before him, that they seek a man which can play upon the harp, and instrument, that when the evil spirit of God cometh upon thee, he may play with his hand, to ease the withal. Then said Saul unto his servants: provide me a man, that can play well upon the instrument, & bring him unto me. Then answered one of the children, & said: Behold, I saw a son of Isai the Bethleemite, which can play upon the instrument, an honest & valiant man, and one that hath understanding in matters, & is well-favoured. Then Saul sent messaungers unto Isai, saying: Send me David the son, which is with the sheep. Then took Isai an ass with bread, & a bottle with wine, and a kid, and sent it unto Saul by David his son. So David came to Saul, & stood before him, & he loved him well, and he become his wapen bearer. And Saul sent unto Isai, saying: Let David remain before me, for he hath found favour in my sight. Now when the spirit of God came upon Saul, David took the harp, & played with his hand: so was Saul refreszshed, & eased, & the evil spirit departed from him. The XVII. Chapter. THe philistines gathered their host to the battle, and came together to Socho in juda, & pitched their tents between Socho & Aseka, at the end of Damin. But Saul & the men of Israel came together, & pitched in the Oak valley, & prepared themselves to the battle against the philistines. And the philistines stood upon a hill on the one side, and the Israelites upon a hill on the other side, so that there was a valley between them. Then stepped there forth from among the Philistynes a stout bold man, named Goliath of 〈…〉 Gath, six cubits and an hand breath high, and had an helmet of steel on his head, and a fast habergion upon him, and the weight of his habergion was five thousand sickles of steel, and harness of steel had he upon his legs, and a shield of steel upon his shoulders: and the shaft of his spear was like a weavers lome, and the iron of his spear had six hundredth sickles of iron, and his wapen bearer went before him. And he stood and called unto the host of Israel, and said unto them: Wherefore are you come forth to prepare yourselves to the battle? Am not I a philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Chose one among you to come down unto me: if he can fight against me and slay me, then will we be your servants: but if I can overcome him and slay him, then shall you be our servants, to do us service. And the philistine said: I have spoken diszdanedly unto the host of Israel this day. give me one, and let v● fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the philistine, they were astonnyed, and sore afraid. But David was the son of a man of Ephrata of Bethleem juda, whose name was Isai, which had eight sons, and was an old man in Sauls time, and was well stricken in age among men. And the three elder sons of Isai were go with Saul to the battle. And there names were these: Eliab the first born, Abinadab the second, and Samma the third. But David was the youngest of all. So when the three elder were go with Saul to the battle, David went again from Saul, to keep his father's sheep at Bethleem. But the philistine stepped for●h early in the morning and at even, and stood there forty days. Isai said unto David his son: Take this Epha of firmentye for thy brethren, and these ten loaves of bread (and run to the host unto thy brethren) & these ten new cheses, and bring them to the captain, and look how thy brethren do, whether it go well with them or not, and take what they bid the. But Saul and they, and all the men of Israel were in the Oak valley, and fought against the philistines. Then David got him up early in the morning, and committed the sheep to the keeper, and took his burden, went his way, as Isai commanded him, and came to the tent. And the host was go forth, and had prepared themselves, and cried in the battle: For Israel had set themselves in array, and the philistines were against their host in their array also. Then left David the vessel that he bore, with the keeper of the stuff, and ran to the host, and went in, and saluted his brethren. And while he was yet talking with them, behold, than came up the stout bold man, whose name was Goliath, the Philistine of Gath, out of the philistines host, and spoke like as afore, and David heard it. But every man of Israel, when he saw the man, fled from him, and was sore afraid of him. And every man in Israel said: Have you seen the man coming up hither? For he is come up hither, to speak diszdanedly unto Israel. And who so ever smiteth him, him will the king make rich, and give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. Then said David unto the men that stood by him: What shallbe done to the man, that smiteth this philistine, and turneth this shame away from Israel? For what is he this philistine this uncircumcised, that defyeth the host of the living God? Then the people told him as afore. Thus shall it be done unto the 〈◊〉 that smiteth him. And Eliab his greater brother heard him talk with the men, and was very wroth against David, and said: Wherefore art thou come down? and why hast thou left a few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy presumptuousness well enough, and the wickedness of thy heart: for thou art come down to see the battle. David answered: What have I down now? Is there not an occasion? And he turned himself from him unto another, and spoke according as he had said before. Then the people answered him like as afore. And when they heard the words which David said, they told them in the presence of Saul, and he caused him be fetched. And David said unto Saul: Let no man's heart be discouraged because of him. Thy servant shall go, and fight with the philistine. Nevertheless Saul said unto David: Thou art not able to go against this Phylistyne to fight with him, for thou art but a child: but this is a man of war from his youth up. David said unto Saul: Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a Bear, and carried away a sheep from the flock, than went I forth after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth. 〈◊〉. 14. b 〈◊〉. 11. f And when he would have been upon me, I took him by his beerde, and smote him, and slew him. So thy servant smote both the Lion and the Bear. Therefore shall this philistine this uncircumcysed be even as one of them: for he hath defied the host of the living God. And David said: The LORD that delivered me from the Lion and Beer, shall deliver me also from this philistine. And Saul said unto David: Go thy way, the LORD be with the. And Saul clothed David with his clotheses, and set an helmet of steel upon his head, and put an habergion upon him. And David girded his sword above his clotheses, and began to go, for he had never been used to it afore. Then said David unto Saul: I can not go thus, for I have not been used to it, and so he laid it from him, and took his staff in his hand, and chose five slight stones out of the river, and put them in the shepardes bag which he had by him, and took a sling in his hand, and made him to the philistine. And the philistine went forth, and made him to David, and his wapen bea●e● before him. Now when the philistine looked & saw David, he thought scorn of him: for he was but a child, well coloured, and beautiful to look upon. And the philistine said unto David: Am I a dog then, that thou comest unto me with a staff? And he cursed David by his God, and said unto David: Come hither to me, I will give thy flesh to the fowls under the heaven, and to the beasts in the field. Nevertheless David said unto the philistine: Thou comest unto me with sword, spear and shield. But I come unto the in the name of the LORD Zebaoth the God of the host of Israel, whom thou hast despised. This day shall the LORD deliver the in to my hand, that I may smite thee, and take thy head from thee, and give the bodies of the host of the Philistynes this day unto the fowls under the heaven, and to the wild beestes upon the earth, that all the land may know that Israel hath a God. And all this congregation shall know, that the LORD saveth neither thorough sword ner spear: for the battle is the LORDS, & he shall deliver you in to our hands. Now when the philistine got him up, and went forth and drew nigh unto David, David made haiste, and ran from the host unto the philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone, & threw it with the sling, 〈…〉 and hit the Philisty●● even in the fore head, so that the stone st●cke in his forehead, and he fallen down to the ground upon his face. So David overcame the philistine with the sling and with the stone, and smote him, and slew him. And for so much as David had no sword in his hand, he ran and stood over the philistine, 〈…〉 and took his sw●rde, and drew it out of the sheeths, and slew him, and smote of his head withal. When the philistines saw that the strongest of them was deed, 〈◊〉. 7. f they fled. And the men of Israel and juda got them up, and cried and followed upon the philistines, till they came unto the valley, and to the Ports of Ekron. And the philistines fallen down slain unto Gath and to Ekron. And the children of Israel turned again from chasing of the philistines, and spoiled their tents. But David took the head of the Phil●styne, and brought it unto jerusalem, as for is armour, he laid it in his tent. When Saul saw David go forth against the philistine, he said unto 〈◊〉. 14. g Abner his chief captain: Abner, whose son is this child? Abner said: As truly as thy soul liveth O king, I wot not. The king said: Axe them whose son the young man is. Now when David came again from the slaughter of the philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul, and he had the philistines head in his hand. And Saul said unto him: Whose son art thou, thou young man? David said: I am a son of thy servant Isai the Bethleemite. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd when he had made an end of talking with Saul, the soul of jonathas was bound with the soul of David, and jonathas loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him the same day, and let him not go again to his father's house. And jonathas and David made a covenant together, for he loved him as his own soul. And jonathas put of his own cote that he had upon him, and gave it unto David: ye and his cloak, his sword, his bow, and his girdle. And David went forth whither so ever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he pleased all the people well, and all the servants of Saul. It fortuned, that when David was come again from the slaughter of the philistine, the women went out of all the cities of Israel with songs & daunses, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with mirth, and with fyddels. And the women sang one to another, and played & said: ●. Re. 21. d 〈◊〉 ●9. b Saul hath smitten his thousand: but David his ten thousand. Then was Saul very wroth, and the word displeased him sore, and he said: They have ascribed ten thousand unto David, and but one thousand unto me: what shall he have more but the kingdom? And from that day forth, Saul looked sourly upon David. The next day after came the evil spirit of God upon Saul, and prophesied in the mids of the house. But David played on the instrument with his hand, as he was wont daily. And Saul had a iaveling in his hand, and cast it, and thought: I will stick David fast to the brickwall. Nevertheless David turned himself twice away from him. And Saul was afraid of David: for the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Then Saul put him from him, and set him to be prince over a thousand men, and he went out and in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his doings, and the LORD was with him. Now when Saul saw that he was so exceeding wise, he stood in fear of him. But all Israel and juda loved David, for he went out and in before them. And Saul said unto David: Behold, my greatest daughter Merob 1. Re. 17. c will I give the to wife: be strong now, & govern the wars of the LORD. For Saul thought: my hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Pilistynes Nevertheless David answered Saul: Who am I? & what is my life & the kindred of my father in Israel, that I should marry the kings daughter? But when the time came, that Merob the daughter of Saul should have been given unto David, she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. Nevertheless M●chol Sauls daughter loved David. When this was told Saul, the matter pleased him well, & he said: I will give him her, that she may be a snare unto him, & that the hands of the philistines may come upon him. And he said unto David: This day shalt thou be my daughters husband the second time. And Saul spoke unto his servants: Talk with David secretly & say: Behold, the king hath pleasure in thee, and all his servants love thee, marry thou therefore the kings daughter. And Sauls servants spoke these words in the ears of David. But David said: Think you it: but a small matter, to marry the kings daughter? As for me, I am but a poor simple man. And Sauls servants told him again, and said: Soch words hath David spoken. Saul said: Then say you unto David: The king desireth no dowry, but only an hundredth foreszkynnes of the philistines, that vengeance may be taken of the kings enemies. Howbeit Saul thought to cause David be slain by the hands of the philistines. Then his servants told David these words, and David was content with the matter, to marry the kings daughter. And after a few days David got him up, and went with his men, and smote two hundredth men among the philistines. And David brought their foreszkynnes, and made their number sufficient unto the king, that he might marry the kings daughter. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michol to wife. And Saul saw and perceived, that the LORD was with David. And Michol Sauls daughter loved him. Then was Saul the more afraid, and become his enemy as long as he lived. And when the princes of the philistines went forth, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul in their outgoing: so that his name was in great reputation. The XIX. Chapter. SAul spoke to jonathas his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. Re. 1●. a Nevertheless jonathas the son of Saul loved David exceadingly, and told him, and said: Saul my father goeth about to slay the. Keep the therefore (I pray thee) in the morning and abide in secret, and hide the. But I will go forth, and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and will speak of the unto my father: and what soever I see I shall bring the word. And jonathas reported the best of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him: O let not the king sin against his servant, for he hath not sinned against thee, and his doing is very necessary for thee, 〈◊〉. 12. a ●sal. 118. oh he put his life in his hand also, and smote the philistine, & the LORD did a great health unto all Israel: this haste thou seen, and rejoiced thereof. Wherefore wilt thou then offend against innocent blood, that thou wouldest kill David without a cause? Then herkened Saul unto the voice of jonathas and swore: As truly as the LORD liveth, he shall not die. Then jonathas called David, and told him all these words, and brought him to Saul, so that he was in presence like as afore tyme. But there arose a battle again, and David went forth, and fought against the philistines, and smote a great slaughter, so that they fled before him. Nevertheless the evil spirit of the LORD came upon Saul, and he sat in his house, and had a iaveling in his hand. But David played upon the instrument with his hand. And Saul thought with the iavelinge to stick David fast to the brickwall. Howbeit, he went aside from Saul and the iaveling smote in the brickwall. And David fled, and escaped that night. notwithstanding Saul sent his messaungers to David's house, that they should say wait for him, and kill him in the morning. Michol David's wife told him this, and said: If thou save not thy soul this night, thou shalt die tomorrow. 〈…〉 Then Michol let him down thorough the window, so that he went his way, fled, and escaped. And Mickol took an image, and laid it in the bed, and laid a goats szkinne at the head of it, and covered it with clotheses. Then Saul sent messengers, to fetch David. But she said: He is sick. Nevertheless Saul sent messaungers to see David, & said: Bring him up to me with the bed, that he may be slain. Now when the messaungers came, behold, the image lay in the bed, and a goats szkynne at the head of it. The● said Saul unto Michol: Why hast thou beguiled me, and let mine enemy go, that he might escape? Michol said unto Saul: He said unto me: Let me go, or I will kill the. A● for David, he fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel unto Ramath, and told him all that Saul had done unto him. And he went with Samuel, and they abode at Naioth. And it was told Saul: Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramath. Then Saul sent messaungers to fetch David. And they saw a company of prophets prophecienge, and Samuel had the oversight of them. Then came the spirit of God upon the messaungers of Saul, so that they prophesied also. When this was told Saul, he sent other messaungers, which prophesied likewise. Then sent he messaungers the third time, and they in like manner prophesied. Then went he himself also unto Ramath, and when he came to the great well which is at Secho, he axed and said: Where is Samuel and David? Then was it told him: behold, at Naioth in Ramath. And he went thither, even unto Naioth in Ramath. And the spirit of God came upon him also, and he went & prophesied till he came unto Naioth in Ramath. And he put of his clotheses, & prophesied likewise before Samuel, & fallen down naked all that day and all that night. ●e. 10. c Here of came the proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets? The XX. Chapter. David fled from Naioth in Ramath, and came, & spoke before jonathas: What have I done? What trespass have I made? What have I sinned in the sight of thy father, that he seeketh to kill me? He said unto him: God forbid, thou shalt not die. Behold, my father doth nothing, neither great ner small, but he showeth it before mine ears. Wherefore should my father then hide this fro me? It shall not be so. Then swore David again, and said: Thy father knoweth well, that I have found favour in the sight, therefore shall he think: jonathas shall not know of this, jest it grieve him. Verily, as truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as the soul liveth, there is but one step between me & death. jonathas said unto David: I will do for the what so ever thy heart desireth. David said unto him: Behold, tomorrow is the new Moon, that I should sit at the table with the king. Let me hide myself therefore in the field unto the third day at even. If thy father then axe after me, say: David prayed me, that he might run to Bethleem unto his cite, for all his kindred have there a yearly sacrifice. If he say then: It is good, them standeth it well with the servant. But if he be wroth, thou shalt perceive that he intends evil. Do mercy therefore upon thy servant: 〈…〉. a 〈◊〉 ●3. d for with me the servant hast thou made a covenant in the LORD. But if there be any trespass in me, then slay me thyself, for why wouldest thou bring me unto thy father? jonathas said: That be far from thee, that I should perceive my father to intend any evil against thee, and should not tell the. David said: Who shall bring me word, if thy father give the an hard answer? jonathas said unto David: Come, let us go forth in to the field. And they went out both in to the field. And jonathas said unto David: LORD God of Israel, if I perceive by my father tomorrow or on the third day, that it goeth well with David, & send not unto thee, and show the before thy ears, then let the LORD do this and that unto jonathas. But if my father delight in evil against thee, I will show it before thy ears also, and let that go, that thou mayest depart in peace. And the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. If I do it not, then do thou no mercy of the LORD on me, while I live, not not when I die, and pluck thy mercy fro my house for ever. And when the LORD roteth out the enemies of David, every one out of the land, then let David rote out jonathas also with his house, and the LORD require it of the hand of David's enemies. And jonathas proceeded further, and swore unto David (he loved him so well: for he loved him even as his own soul) and jonathas said unto him: Tomorrow is the new Moon, and thou shalt be axed after: for thou shalt be wanted where thou wast wont to sit. But on the third day come down soon, & go in to the place where thou hydest the on the worckdaye, & set the down by the stone of Asel: then will I shoot three arrows on that side, as though I would shoot at a mark: and behold, I will send the boy, and say unto him, Go seek the arrows. If I say now unto the lad: Lo, the arrows lie hitherward behind thee, fetch them, then come thou, for it is peace, and there is no apparel, as truly as the LORD liveth. But if I say unto the lad: behold, the arrows lie yonderwarde before thee, then go thou thy way, for the LORD hath let the go. 1. Re. 20. ● As for that which thou and I have spoken together, the LORD is between me and the for ever. David hide himself in the field. And when the new Moon came, the king sat him down at the table to eat. When the king had set him down in his place as he was wont by the brickwall, jonathas stood up, but Abner sat him down beside Saul. And David was myssed in his place. And Saul spoke nothing that day, for he thought: There is somewhat happened unto him, that he is not clean. On the second day of the new Moon, when David was myssed in his place, Saul said unto jonathas his son: Wherefore is not the son of Isai come to the table neither yesterday ner to day? jonathas answered Saul: He prayed me that he might go unto Bethleem, and said: Let me go, for our kindred hath a sacrifice to do in the city, and my brother hath sent for me himself: if I have found favour now in thy sight, I will go, and see my brethren: therefore is he not come to the kings table. Then was the king wroth at jonathas, and said unto him: Thou wicked and unthrift, I know how that thou hast choose the son of Isai, to the shame of thyself and of the shameful mother. For as long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth neither thou ner thy kingdom shall prosper. Send now therefore, and 'cause him to be fetched unto me, ●. Re. 86. c for he is a child of death. jonathas answered his father Saul and said unto him: Wherefore shall he die? what hath he done? Then shot Saul the iaveling at him, that he might smite him. Then perceived jonathas, that his father was utterly determed to kill David, and he rose up from the table in a wrathful displeasure, and ate no bread that same second day of the new Moon: for he was vexed because of David, that his father had done him such dishonor. On the morrow went jonathas forth in to the field, at the time appointed of David, and a little boy with him, and said unto the boy: Run and seek me the arrows which I shoot. When the boy ran, he shot an arrow over him. And when the boy came to the place whither jonathas had shot the arrow, jonathas cried after him, and said: The arrow lieth yonder ward before the. And he cried after him again: haist thee, and stand not still. Then the boy gathered up Ion●thas arrows, and brought them to his lord. And the boy knew nothing, only jonathas and David knew of the matter. Then jonathas gave his boy his wapens and said unto him: Go thy ways, and carry them in to the cite. And when the boy was go, David arose from the place toward the south, and fallen upon his face to the ground, and worshipped three times, and they kissed one another, and wept together. But David most specially. And jonathas said unto David: Go thy way in peace: 1. Re. 20. d What soever we both have sworn & spoken together in the name of the LORD, the LORD be witness between me and thee, between my seed and the sede for ever. And jonathas got him up, and came in to the cite. The XXI. Chapter. David came to Nobe to the priest Ahimelech. And Ahimelech was astonnyed, when he saw David coming, and said unto him: Why comest thou alone, and no man is with thee? David said unto 1. Re. 14. a Ahimelech the priest: The king hath committed a matter unto me, and said: Let noman know wherefore I have sent thee, and what I have commanded thee: for I have appointed my servants to meet me here & there. 1. Re. 2●. b ●ud. 8. b If thou have now aught under thy hand, a loaf of bread or five, give me the same in my hand, or what so ever thou findest. The priest answered David, and said: I have no comen bread under my hand, but the holy bread, if the young men have only refrained themselves from women. David answered the priest, and said unto him: The women were kept three days from us when we departed forth, and the young men's vessels were holy. But this way is unholy, nevertheless it shallbe santifyed to day in the instruments. 〈…〉 Then the priest gave him of the holy, in so much as there was none other bread but the shewbredes, which were taken up before the LORD, that there might be other fresh bredes set therein the day when he took them away. But the same day was there a man sp●●red in before the LORD, one of Sauls servants, named Doeg an Edomite, the mightiest among Sauls hyrdmen. And David said unto Ahimelech: Is there not a spear or a sword here under thy hand? I have not taken my sword and weapens with me: for the kings matter required haist. The priest said: The sword of Goliath the philistine 〈…〉 whom thou smotest in the Oak valley, is here wrapped in a clot behind the overbody cote. If thou wilt have it, take it, for here is else none but it. David said: There is not such another, give me it. And David got him up, and fled from Saul, and came to Achis the king of Gath. But Achis servants said unto him: This is David the king of the land, of whom they sung in the dance, and said: 〈…〉 Saul hath smitten his thousand, but David his ten thousand. And David took these words to heart, and was sore afraid of Achis the king of Gath, and altered his countenance before them, and showed himself ●s he had been mad in their hands, and stackered toward the doors of the gate, and his slaverynges ran down his beerd. Then said Achis unto his servants: Behold, you see that the man is out of his wit, why have you brought him unto me? Have I to few mad men, that you have brought this hither to be mad before me? Should he come in to my house? The XXII. Chapter. David went from thence, & fled unto the cave of Adullam. When his brethren and all his father's house heard that, they came down thither unto him. And there gathered unto him all men that were in trouble and debt, and sorry of heart, and he become their head, so that there 〈◊〉 with him upon a four hundredth men. And David went from thence toward Mispa in the land of the Moabites, and said unto the king of the Moabites: Let my father and my mother go out and in among you, till I see what God will do with me. And he left them before the king of the Moabites, so that they remained by him, as long as David was in the castle. Nevertheless the prophet Gad said unto David: Abide not in the castle, but go that way, and come in to the land of juda. Then departed David, and came into the wood of Hareth. And Saul heard that David and the men which were with him, were come forth. Now while Saul dwelled at Gibea under a grove in Rama, he had a javelinge in his hand, and all his servants stood by him. Then said Saul unto his servants that stood by him: Hear you children of jeminir Shall the son of Isai give lands and vynyardes unto you all, & make you all captains over thousands and over hundreds, that you have all conspired against me, and there is no man that showeth it before mine ears, 〈…〉 for so much as my son also hath made a covenant with the son of Isai? There is no man among you that letteth it for my sake, or that openeth it unto mine ears: for my son hath stirred up my servants against me, that he may say wait for me, as it is manifest. Then answered Doeg the Edomite which stood beside Sauls servants, and said: 〈…〉 I saw the son of Isai, that he came unto Nobe, to Ahimelech the son of Achitob, which axed council at the LORD for him, and gave him food, & the sword of Goliath the philistine. Then sent the king, and caused to call Ahimelech the priest the son of Achitob, and all his father's house, the priests that were at Nobe, and they came all to the king. And Saul said: Hear thou son of Achitob. He said: Here am I my lord. And Saul said unto him: Wherefore have you conspired against me, thou & the son of Isai, that thou hast given him bread and a sword, and axed council at God for him, to steer him up, that he might say await for me, as it is manifest? Ahimelech answered the king and said: And who is among all thy servants like David, which is faithful, and hath married the kings daughter, and goeth in thy obedience, & is honourably taken in thy house? Have I begun then first this day to axe council at God for him? That be far fro me. Let not the king lay such to his servants charge in all my father's house: for thy servant knew not of all these things neither small ner great. Nevertheless the king said: Ahimelech thou must die the death, thou and all thy father's house. And the king said to his foot men that stood by him: Turn you, and slay the priests of the LORD, for their hand is with David also. Not withstanding the kings servants would not not say their hands upon the priests of the LORD, to slay them. Then said the king unto Doeg: Turn thee, and slay the priests. 1. Reg. 2. g 2. Re. 21. a Doeg the Edomite turned him, and slew the priests, so that the same day there died five and four score men, which wayre overbody coats of linen. And Nob the cite of the priests smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklynges, oxen and asses, and sheep. Nevertheless there escaped a son of Ahimelech (the son of Achitob) whose name was Abiathar, and fled after David, and told him, that Saul had slain the priests of the LORD. David said unto Abiathar: I knew well the same day that Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would tell Saul. I am guilty of the souls of thy father's house. Abide thou with me, and fear not. He that layeth wait for my life, shall say wait for thine also, and thou shalt be preserved with me. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd it was told David: Behold, the Philistynes fight against Cegila, and spoil the barns. Then David axed at the LORD, and said: Shall I go, & smite these philistines? And the LORD said unto David: Go thy way, thou shalt smite the philistines, and deliver Cegila. But the men that were with David, said unto him: Behold, we are here in fear in jewry, and shall we go to Cegila unto the host of the philistines? Then David axed at the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, and said: Up, get the down to Cegila, for I will deliver the philistines in to thy hand. So David went with his men unto Cegila, and fought against the philistines, & drove away their cattles, and smote them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered them of Cegila. For when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled unto David at Cegila, he ba●e down the overbody cote with him. Then was it told Saul, that David was come to Cegila, and he said: God hath delivered him in to my hand, for he is shut fast in, now that he is come in to a cite which is kept with gates and bars. And Saul caused for to call all the people down to the battle unto Cegila, that they might besiege David and his men. But when David perceived that Saul intended evil against him, he said unto Abiathar the priest: * Bring me hither the overbody cote. And David said: O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath herd, that Saul goeth about to come for to destroy the cite of Cegila for my sake. Shall the citysens of Cegila deliver me over in to his hands? And shall Saul come down, as thy servant hath herd? Tell thy servant this, O LORD God of Israel. And the LORD said: He shall come down. David said: Shall the citysens of Cegila deliver me and my men in to Sauls hands? The LORD said: Ye. Then David got him up with his men, of whom there were upon a six hundredth, & walked whither they could. Now when it was told Saul that David was escaped from Cegila, he let his journey stand. As for David, he remained in the wilderness in the castle, and abode upon the mount in the wilderness of Siph. But Saul sought him as long as he lived. Nevertheless God gave him not in to his hands. And David saw, that Saul was go forth to seek after his life. But David was in the wilderness of Siph, in the wood. Then jonathas the son of Saul got him up, and went unto David in to the wood, and strengthened his hand in God, and said unto him: Fear not, my father Sauls hand shall not find thee: and thou shalt be king over Israel, so will I be the next unto the. And that my father knoweth right well. 1. Re. 18. a and 20. b And they made a covenant both together before the LORD. And David remained in the wood. As for jonathas, he went home again. But the Par. 2. c Siphites went up to Saul unto Gibeath, and said: Is not David hid with us in the castle in the wodd, upon mount Hachila, which lieth on the right hand of the wilderness? Letoy the king come down now therefore according to all the desire of his heart, and we will deliver him in to the kings hand. Then said Saul: Blessed be you of the LORD, that you have had pity upon me: Go your way now therefore, and be sure, that you may know and see in what place his feet have been, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me, that he is full of sotiltye. Look well and spy out all the places, where he hideth him, and come again to me, when you are sure, and I will go with you. If he be in the land, I will inquire after him among all the thousands in Iud●. Then got they them up, and went their way unto Siph before Saul. But David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, even in the field on the right hand of the wilderness. Now when Saul went thither with his men to seek him, it was told David and he got him down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Mahon. When Saul heard that, he followed after David in the wilderness of Mahon. And Saul with his men went on the one side of the hill: David with his men on the other side of the hill. But when David made haist to escape from Saul, Saul with his men compassed about David and his men, that he might take them. 〈…〉 Nevertheless there came a messenger unto Saul, and said: Make haist and come, for the Philistynes are fallen in to the land. Then Saul turned him from chasing of David, and went against the Philstynes. Therefore is the place called 〈…〉 Sela Mahelkoth. And David went up from thence, and abode in the castle at En Gaddi. The XXIIII. Chapter. NOw when Saul came again from the Philistines, it was told him: Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi. And Saul took three thousand choose men out of all Israel, and went to seek David with his men upon the stony rocks of the wild goats. And when he came to the sheep folds by the way, there was a cave, and Saul went in to 〈…〉 cover his feet. But David and his men sat behind within the cave. Then said David's men unto him: Lo, this is the day, whereof the LORD thy God hath said unto thee: Behold, I will deliver thine enemy in to thy hand, that thou mayest do with him what it pleaseth the. And David stood up, & cut of the tip of Sauls garment quietly. Nevertheless it smote him afterward in his heart, because he had cut of the tip of Sauls garment, and said unto his men: The LORD let that be far fro me, that I should do it, & lay my hand upon my lord the LORDS anoyntd: for he is the anointed of the LORD. And David withheld his servants with words, & suffered them not to rise up against Saul. But when Saul got him up out of the cave, and was going his way, David rose up also after him, and went out of the cave, and cried behind Saul, & said: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him. And David bowed down his face to the earth, and worshipped, and said unto Saul: Why herkenest thou unto the words of men, that say: David seeketh thy misfortune? Behold, thy eyes see this day that the LORD gave the in to my hand in the cave, and I was counciled to slay thee: Nevertheless thou wast favoured, for I said: I will not say my hand upon my lord, for he is the lords anointed. Behold, my father the tip of thy garment in my hand, that I would not slay thee, when I cut of the tip of thy garment. know and see, that there is no evil ner trespass in my hand: neither have I offended thee, and thou folowest after my soul, to take it away. The LORD shall be judge between me and thee, and avenge me on thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee, according as it is said after the old proverb: ungodliness cometh of the ungodly: but my hand shall not be upon the. Whom persecutest thou O king of Israel, whom persecutest thou? a deed dog? a flee? The LORD be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and consider it, and defend my cause, and deliver me from thy hand. Now when David had spoken out these words unto Saul, Saul said: 〈◊〉 26. c Is not this thy voice my son David? Andrea Saul lift up his voice, and wept, and said unto David: Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast recompensed me good, but I have rewarded the evil. And this day hast thou showed me how thou hast done me good, for so much as the LORD hath delivered me in to thy hand, and thou nevertheless hast not slain me. What is he, which if he find his enemy, wyllet him go in a good way? The LORD reward the good for that thou hast done unto me this day? Behold now, I know that thou shalt be king, & the kingdom of Israel standeth in thy hand: swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou shalt not rote out my seed after me, neither destroy my name out of my father's house. And David swore unto Saul. Then went Saul home, but David got him up with his men unto the castle. The XXV. Chapter. ANd Samuel died, and all Israel gathered themselves together, mourned for him, & buried him in his house at Ramath. As for David, he rose, and went down in to the wilderness of Paran. And there was a man at Maon, and his possession at Carmel, and the man was of great power, and had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats. And it fortuned that he clipped his sheep at Carmel, and his name was Nabal, but his wives name was Abigail, and she was a woman of good understanding, & beautiful of face. But the man was hard, and wicked in his doings, and was one of Caleb. Now when David heard in the wilderness that Nabal clipped his sheep, he sent out ten young men, & said unto them: Go up unto Carmel, & when you come to Nabal, salute him friendly on my behalf, & say: Good luck, peace be with the & thy house, & with all that thou hast. I have herd say that thou hast sheep clyppers. Now the shepherds whom thou hast, have been with us, we have done them no dishonour, and they wanted nothing of their number, as long as they were at Carmel: Axe thy young men, they shall tell thee, and let thy young men find favour in the sight: for we are come in a good day, give thy servants & thy son David what thy hand findeth. And when David's young men came, and spoke all these words on David's behalf unto Nabal, they left of. But Nabal answered David's servants, & said: What is he that David? & who is the son of Isai? There are many servants now that run away from their masters. Should I take my bread, water and flesh, that I have slain for my clyppers, & give it unto men whom I know not whence they are? Then David's young men turned their way again. And when they came again unto him, they told him all these words. Then said David unto his men: Every man gird his sword about him. And every one gird his sword about him. And David gird his sword about him also, and there went up after him upon a four hundredth men, but two hundredth remained with the stuff. Nevertheless Abigail Nabals wife told one of her young men, and said: Behold, David sent messaungers out of the wilderness to bless our lord, notwithstanding he was fierce upon them, and yet have they been very profitable men unto us, and have done us no dishonour, and we wanted none of the number as long as we walked with them, when we were in the field: but they have been our brickwall day and night, as long as we kept the sheep by them. Take heed now therefore, and look well what thou dost, for there is surely a misfortune at hand against our lord, & against all his house. And he is a man of Belial, to whom no man dare say any thing. Then Abigail made haist, and took two hundred loaves of bread, and two botels of wine, and five sheep ready dight, and five measures of firmentye, and an hundredth frayles of rasens, and two hundredth frayles of figs, & laid them upon asses, and said to her young men: Go you your way before me, behold, I will come after. And she told Nabal her husband nothing thereof. And as she road upon the ass, and went down in the shadow of the hill, behold, David & his men met her down, so that she came upon them. But David said: Well, all that this man had in the wilderness, have I kept for naught, so that there wanted nothing of all that he had, and he rewardeth me evil for good. God do this and yet more unto the enemies of David, if until tomorrow in the morning I leave this man (of all that he hath) so much as one that maketh water against the brickwall. Now when Abigail saw David, she light down from the ass in all the haist, and fallen upon her face before David, and worshipped him to the ground, and fallen at his feet, and said: O my lord, let this trespass be mine, and let thy handmaid speak before thy ears, and hear the words of thy handmaiden: Let not my lord set his heart against this Nabal the man of Belial, for he is a fool, according as his name is called: his name is fool, and foolishness is with him. As for me thy handmaid, I saw not my lords young men, whom thou didst send. But now my lord, as truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as thy soul liveth, the LORD hath kept the back, that thou shouldest not come against blood, and he hath delivered thy hand. Thy enemies be now as Nabal, and so be they that would my lord evil. Here is the blessing, that thy handmaid hath brought my lord, take it, and give it unto the young men, that walk under my lord. For a sure house shall the LORD make my lord, which fighteth the fight of the LORD, and no evil shall be found in the all thy life long. And if any man rise up to persecute that, and to say wait for thy soul, then shall the soul of my lord be bound in the bundle of the living, even with the LORD thy God. But the soul of thy enemies shallbe turned back with the sling. When the LORD therefore doth all this good for my lord (which he hath promised thee) and commandeth that to be his Duke over Israel, then shall it be no stumbling block ner occasiion of falling unto my lords heart, that thou hast not shed blood without a cause, and avenged thyself, then shall the LORD do good unto my lord, and thou shalt think upon thy hand maiden. Then said David unto Abigail: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath sent the to meet me this day: and blessed be thy speech, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me back this day, that I am not come against blood, to avenge me with mine own hand. Verily (as truly as the LORD the God of Israel liveth, which hath hindered me that I should do the no evil.) If thou hadst not met me in all the haist, Nabal should not have had left him until the light morning, so much as one that maketh water against the brickwall. So David took of her hand what she had brought him, and said unto her: Go up in peace unto the house: behold, I have herkened unto the voice, and accepted thy person. But when Abigail came to Nabal, behold, he had prepared a feast in his house like a kings feast, and his heart was merry, for he was very drunken. And she told him nothing, neither small ner great until the clear morning. But when it was day, & the wine was come from Nabal, his wife told him these things. Then was his heart deed in his body, so that he become even as a stone: and over ten days the LORD smote him, so that he died. When David heard that Nabal was deed, he said: Blessed be the LORD which hath avenged my rebuke on Nabal, and preserved his servant from evil. And the LORD hath rewarded Nabal that evil upon his head. And David sent, and caused to talk with Abigail, that he might take her to wife. And when David's servants came to Abigail unto Carmel, they spoke unto her, and said: David hath sent us unto thee, that he may take the to wife. She rose up, and worshipped upon her face unto the earth, and said: behold, here is thy handmaid, that she may do service unto the servants of my lord, and to waszshe their feet. And Abigail made haist, and got her up, and road upon an ass, and five maidens that were under her, and went after David's messaungers, and become his wife. David took Ahinoam of jesrael also, and they both become his wives. But Saul gave Michol his daughter the wife of David unto Phalti the son of Lais of Gallim. The XXVI. Chapter. THey of Siph came to Saul unto Gibeath, & said: 〈◊〉 ●5. d Is not David hid upon the hill of Hachila, which lieth over against the wilderness? Then Saul got him up, and went down to the wilderness of Siph, and three thousand choose men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Siph, and pitched upon the hill of Hachila, which lieth by the way before the wilderness. But David remained in the wilderness, and when he saw that Saul came after him in to the wilderness, he sent out spies, and knew of a surety, that he was come in deed. And David got him up, and came to the place where Saul had pitched his tent, and saw the place where Saul lay with his chief captain 〈◊〉. 14. g Abner the son of Ne'er: for Saul lay in the tent, and the host about him. Then answered David, and said unto Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abisai the son of jeru ja the brother of joab: Who will go down with me to Saul in to the host? Abisai said: I will go down with the. So David and Abisai came to the people in the night season, & behold, Saul lay and slept in the tent, and his spear stack in the ground at his head. But Abner and the people lay round about him. Then said Abisai unto David: God hath closed thy enemy in thine hand this day. Therefore will I now thrust him thorough once with the spear even in to the ground, that he shall have enough of it. Nevertheless David said unto Abisai: Destroy him not, for who will say hand upon the anointed of the LORD, & remain unguilty? David said moreover: As truly as the LORD liveth, if the LORD himself smite him not, or except his time come that he die, or that he go in to the battle and perish, the LORD let it be far fro me, that I should say my hand on the lords anointed. Take the spear now therefore at his head, & the cup of water, & let us go. So David took the spear & the cup of water at Sauls head, & they went their way. And there was no man that saw it, ner perceived it, neither awaked, but they slept every one, for there was a deep sleep fallen upon them from the LORD. Now when David was come over on the other side, he stood upon the top of the mount a far of (so that there was a wide space between them) and cried upon the people, and upon Abner the son of Ne'er, & said: Hearest thou not Abner? And Abner answered and said: Who art thou that criest so, and diseasest the king? And David said unto Abner: Art thou not a man? And where is there such one as thou in Israel? Why hast thou not then kept thy lord the king? for there is one of the people come in to destroy thy lord the king. It is not well that thou hast done. As truly as the LORD liveth 1. Re. ●0. you are the children of death, because you have not kept your lord the lords anointed. Behold now, where is the kings spear, and the cup of water that was at his head. Then knew Saul the voice of David, and said: 1.2 c. 24. ● Is not that thy voice my son David? David said: It is my voice my lord the king. And he said moreover: Why doth my lord so persecute his servant? What have I done? and what evil is there in my hand? Yet let my lord the king hear but the words of his servant? If the LORD provoke the against me, let there be smelled a meat offering: but if the children of men do it, cursed be they before the LORD, because they have thrust me out this day (that I should not devil in the lords inheritance) and say: Go that way, and serve other gods. So fall not now my blood upon the earth from the face of the LORD. For the king of Israel is go forth to seek a flee, as a partridge is followed on upon the mountains. And Saul said: I have sinned: Come again David my son, I will do the no more hurt, because my soul hath been dear in the sight this day. Behold, I have done foolishly and very unwisely. David answered and said: Behold, here is the kings spear, let one of the young men come over here and fetch it. But the LORD shall reward every one according to his righteousness and faith, for the LORD delivered that this day into my hand: nevertheless I would not lay my hand upon the lords anointed. And as the soul hath been greatly reputed in my sight this day, so let the LORD repute my soul in his sight, & deliver me from all trouble. Saul said unto David: Blessed be thou David my son, thou shalt do it, & be able. But David went his way, and Saul turned again unto his place. The XXVII. Chapter. David thought in his heart: One of these days shall I fall in to the hands of Saul: It is better that I get me my way in to the land of the Philistynes, that Saul may leave of from seeking me in all the coasts of Israel, so shall I escape his hands. And he got him up, and went over (with the six hundredth men that were with him) unto Achis the son of Maoch king of Gath. So David remained by Achis at Gath, with his men, every one with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals' wife of Carmel. And when word came to Saul that David was fled unto Gath, he sought him no more. And David said unto Achis: If I have found grace in thy sight, then let there be given me a place in one of the cities of the land, that I may devil therein. Wherefore should thy servant devil in the kings cite with thee? Then Achis gave him Siclag the same day. Therefore belongeth. Siclag to the kings of juda unto this day. The time that David dwelled in the land of the philistines, is four months. David went up with his men, and fallen in to the land of the Gessurites and Girsites, and Re. 15. b Amalechites: for these were the inhabiters of this land of old, as thou comest to Sur unto the land of Egipte. But when David smote the land, ●eu. 20. c he let neither man ner woman live, and took the sheep, oxen, asses, Camels and raiment, and returned and came to Achis. So when Achis spoke: Wither fallen you in to day? David said: Toward the south part of juda, toward the south part of the jerahmielites, & toward the south part of the Kenites. But David let neither man ner woman come living unto Geth, and thought: They might peradventure speak & report against us: thus did David, and this was his manner as long as he dwelled in the land of the philistines. Therefore Achis gave credence unto David, and thought: he hath made himself stink before his people of Israel, therefore shall he be my servant for ever. The XXVIII. Chapter. IT fortuned at the same time, that the philistines gathered their host together to the battle, to go against Israel. And Achis said unto David: Thou shalt know, that thou and thy men shall go forth with me in the host. David said unto Achis: Well, thou shalt see what thy servant shall do. Achis said unto David: Therefore will I ordene the to be the keeper of my head as long as I live. 〈…〉 As for Samuel, he was deed, and all the people had mourned for him, & buried him in his cite Ramath. 〈…〉 So Saul had driven the soythsayers and expounders of tokens out of the land. Now when the Philistynes gathered themselves together, and came and pitched their tents at Sunem, Saul gathered all the people together, & they pitched at Gilboa. But when Saul saw the host of the philistines, he was afraid, and his heart was discouraged, and he axed council at the LORD. But the LORD gave him no answer, neither by dreams, ner by the 〈…〉 light, ner by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants: Seek me a woman which hath a spirit of soythsayenge, that I may go unto her, and axe at her. His servants said unto him: Behold, at Endor is there a woman, which hath a spirit of soythsayenge. And Saul changed his clotheses, and put on other, and went his way and two men with him, and came by night unto the woman, and said: prophecy unto me (I pray thee) thorough the spirit of soythsayenge, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto the. The woman said unto him: Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath rooted out the soythsayers & witches from the land, wherefore will't thou bring my soul then in to the net, that I may be slain? But Saul swore unto her by the LORD, and said: As truly as the LORD liveth, there shall no harm happen unto the for this. Then said the woman: Whom shall I bring up unto the He said: Bring me up Samuel. Now when the woman saw Samuel, she cried loud, and said unto Saul: Wherefore hast thou beguiled me? Thou art Saul. And the king said unto her: Fear not, what seist thou? The woman said unto Saul: I see gods coming up out of the earth? He said: How is he shapened? She said: There cometh up an old man, and is clothed with a long garment. Then perceived Saul that it was Samuel, & bowed himself down with his face to the ground, and worshipped him. Samuel said unto Saul: Why hast thou disquyeted me, to 'cause me be brought up▪ Saul said: I am sore troubled, the philistines fight against me, & God is departed fro me, & giveth me no answer, neither by prophets ner by dreams: therefore have I called thee, that thou mightest show me, what I shall do. Samuel said: What will't thou axe at me, saying the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thy enemy? The LORD shall do unto the even as he spoke by me, 〈◊〉 ●5. f and shall pluck the kingdom out of thy hand, and give it unto David thy neighbour, because thou hast not herkened unto the voice of the LORD, ner performed the displeasure of his wrath against Amalek. Therefore hath the LORD done this now unto the. moreover the LORD shall deliver Israel with the also in to the hands of the Philistynes: 〈◊〉. ●1. a tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me. And the host of Israel shall the LORD deliver in to the hands of the philistines. Then fallen Saul immediately unto the earth, for he could not stand, and was sore afraid at these words of Samuel, so that there was no more strength in him: for he had eaten no bread all that day and all that night. And the woman went in to Saul, & saw that he was sore vexed, and said unto him: Behold, thy handmaid hath herkened unto thy voice, and I have put my soul in my hand, so that I have herkened unto the words which thou spakest unto me. Therefore follow thou also the voice of thy handmaid. I will set a morsel of bread before the to eat, that thou mayest come to thy strength, & go the way. But he refused, and said, I will not eat. Then his servants & the woman compelled him, so that he herkened unto their voice. And he rose up from the ground, and sat upon the bed. The woman had a fat calf at home, so she made haist, and killed it, and took meell and did kneet it, and baked sweet cakes, & brought them forth before Saul, & before his servants. And when they had eaten, they stood up, and went their way that night. The XXIX. Chapter. THe philistines gathered all their armies together at Aphek. But Israel pitched at Ain in jesrael. And the princes of the philistines went forth with hundreds and with thousands, but David and his men went behind with Achis. Then said the princes of the Philistynes: What shall these Hebrews do? Achis said unto them: Is not this David the servant of Saul king of Israel, which hath been with me now years and days, & I have found no evil in him sense the time that he fallen to me unto this day? 〈◊〉. 13. c Nevertheless the princes of the philistines were wroth at him, & said unto him: Let the man turn back again, & abide in his place, 1. Re. 27. which thou hast appointed him, that he go not down with us to the battle, and become our adversary in the field. For wherein could he better do his lord a pleasure, than in the heads of these men? Is not this David, of whom they sung in the dance: 1. Re. 18. and 21. d Saul hath smitten his thousand, but David his ten thousand? Then Achis called David, and said unto him: As truly as the LORD liveth, I take the for an honest man, and thy out going and ingoing with me in the host pleaseth me well, and no evil have I marked in thee, sense the time that thou camest to me unto this day. But thou pleasest not the princes. Return now therefore, and go the way in peace, that thou do no evil in the sight of the princes of the philistines. David said: What have I done, & what hast thou marked in thy servant, sense the time that I have been in the presence unto this day, that I should not come and fight against the enemies of my lord the king? Achis answered and said unto David: I know well that thou pleasest mine eyes even as an angel of God. But the princes of the Philistynes have said: Let him not go up with us unto the battle. Get the up therefore tomorrow by times, and the lords servants which are come with the. And when you have got you up early in the morning, when it is light, go your way. So David & his men got them up early, to go their way in the morning, and to come again in to the land of the philistines. But the philistines went up toward jesrael. The XXX. Chapter. NOw when David came to Siclag on the third day with his men, the Amalechites had fallen in on the south part and at Siclag, and had smitten Siclag, and burned it with fire, and had carried away the women out of it, both small & great. Nevertheless they had slain no man, but driven them thence, and were going on their way. Now when David with his men came to the cite, and saw that it was brent with fire, and that their wives, sons & daughters were led away captive, David and the people that was with him left up their voice, and wept so long till they could weep no more. For David's two wives also were carried away captive, Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals' wife of Carmel. And David was very sorrowful, for the people would have stoned him: for the soul of all the people was in great heaviness, every one over his sons and daughters. Nevertheless David strengthened himself in the LORD his God, & said unto Abiathar the priest the son of Ahimelech: ●. Re. 23. b Bring me hither the overbody cote. And when Abiathar had brought the overbody cote unto David, David axed at the LORD, and said: Shall I follow upon the men of war, and shall I overtake them? He said: Ye, follow upon them, thou shalt overtake them, and shalt rescue the prey. Then went David his way, and the six hundredth men that were with him. And when they came to the river of Besor, some stood still. But David and the four hundredth men followed after: As for the two hundredth men that stood still, they had been slow to go over the river of Besor. And they found a man of Egipte upon the field, him they brought unto David, ●●ou. 25. d & gave him bread to eat, and water to drink, and gave him a quantity of figs, & two quantities of rasyns. And when he had eaten, his spirit came to him again: for in three days and three nights he had eaten no bread, and drunk no water. David said unto him: Whose art thou? & whence art thou? He said: I am a child of Egipte, an Amalechites servant, & my master hath forsaken me, because I was sick three days a go. We fallen her in toward the south side of Chrethus, and upon juda, and toward the south part of Caleb, & have burned Siclag with fire. David said unto him: Will't thou bring me down to these men of war? He sayde● Swear unto me by God, that thou shalt not slay me, ner deliver me in to my master's hand, and I will bring the down to these men of war. And he brought them down, and behold, they were scattered upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and keeping holy day, and were making merry cheer, because of all the great spoils that they had taken out of the land of the Philistynes and of juda. And David smote them from the morrow till the even, against the next day, so that there escaped none, except four hundredth young men, which road upon camels, & fled. So David rescued all that the Amalechites had taken, and his two wives, & there myssed nothing, neither small ner great, neither sons ner daughters, ner spoils: and what so ever they had taken, David brought all again. And David took the sheep and oxen, and drove the cattles before him. And they said: This is David's spoil. And when David came to the two hundredth men, which had been slow to follow after David, and abode at the river of Besor, they went forth to meet David, and the people that was with him. And David came to the people, and saluted them friendly. Then answered such men as were evil & Belials men (among them that had go with David) and said: saying they went not with us, they shall have none of the spoils that we have rescued: but let every man took his wife & his children and be going. Then said David: You shall not do so (my brethren) with that which the LORD hath given us, and hath preserved us, and delivered these men of war (which were come against us) in to our hands. Who should consent unto you herein? like as the portion is of them that went down to the battle, so shall the portion be of them also that abode with the stuff, & shallbe divided a like. From that time forth hath this been an ordinance & law in Israel unto this day. And when David came to Siclag, he sent of the spoil unto the Elders in juda his neighbours, and said: Behold, there have you the blessing out of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD, namely unto them of Bethel, unto them at Ramath in the south, unto them at jathir, unto them at Aroer, unto them at Siphamoth, unto them at Eschemoa, unto them at Rachal, unto them in the cities of the jerahmielites, unto them in the cities of the Kenites, unto them at Horma, unto them at Borasan, unto them at Atach, unto them at Hebron, and unto all the places where David had walked with his men. The XXXI. Chapter. But the 〈…〉 Philistynes fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the philistines, and fallen down smitten upon the mount Gilboa. And the philistines preassed upon Saul and his sons, and slew jonathas, & Abinadab and Malchisua the sons of Saul. And the battle was sore against Saul, & the archers fallen upon him with bows, and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his wapembearer▪ Draw out thy sword, and thrust it thorough me, that these uncircumcised come not and slay me, and make a laughing stock of me, Nevertheless his wapenbearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Then took Saul the sword, and fallen therein. Now when his wapenbearer saw that Saul was deed, he fallen also upon his sword, and died with him. Thus died Saul and his three sons, & his wapenbearer, and all his men together the same day. When the men of Israel which were beyond the valley, and beyond jordane, saw, that the men of Israel were fled, and that Saul and his sons were deed, they left the cities, and fled also. Then came the philistines, & dwelled therein. 〈◊〉. 11. b On the next day came the philistines to spoil the slain, and found Saul and his three sons dying upon mount Gilboa, and smote of his head, and took of his harness, and sent it in to the land of the Philistynes round about, to show it in the house of their Idols, and among the people, & laid his harness in the house of Astaroth: but his body hanged they up upon the brickwall of Bethsan. When they of Jabes in Gilead heard, what the philistines had done unto Saul, they got them up, as many as were men of arms, and went all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons from the brickwall of Bethsan, brought them to Jabes, 〈…〉 and brent them there, and took their bones, and buried them under the tree at Jabes, & fasted seven days. The end of the first book of the kings, otherwise called the first book of Samuel. The second book of the kings, otherwise, called the second book of Samuel. What this book containeth. Chap. I The death of Saul is showed unto David, which mourneth for him. Chap. II David is anointed king of the men of juda. Abner goeth about to make Iszboseth Sauls son king of Israel. Chap. III Discord betwixt the house of David and Saul. Abner lieth with Sauls concubine, is reproved therefore, and falls unto David joab stycketh Abner. Chap. four Iszboseth is stick●e of traitors whom David putteth to death. Chap. V David taketh in all the kingdom, and overcometh the philistines on eu●ry side. Chap. VI David causeth the Ark of the LORD to be carried out of Abinadabs' house in to the house of Obed Edom. Vs● is punished for touching it. David carrieth it in to his cite. Chap. VII. David is forbidden to build an house unto the LORD, unto whom he giveth thanks. Chap. VIII. David subdueth the philistines and other 〈◊〉 about him. Chap. IX. David showeth favour to Sauls kindred, and doth them good for jonathas sake. Chap. X. David sendeth messaungers to the king of the Ammonites, which putteth them to shame: wherefore David goeth against them, and winneth the victory of them two times. Chap. XI. David committeth adultery with Bethseba, and causeth her husband be slain. Chap. XII. The prophet Nathan rebuketh David, which knowlegeth his sin, and requireth mercy. His son dieth. Chap. XIII. Ammon defileth Thamar, therefore Absalon slayeth him. Chap. XIIII. joab reconcileth Absalon unto his father with suttyltie. Absalon sendeth for joab, and because he cometh not to him, he burneth up his corn. Chap. XU. Absalon seeketh his father's kingdom. David flieth with his men. Chap. XVI David giveth Siba all the good of Mephiboseth: Semei curseth and blasphemeth David. Absalon lieth with his father's concubines. Chap. XVII. The LORD turneth the council of Achitophel. The council of Chusa● goeth forth. Chap. XVIII. David's host winneth the victory. Absalon is slain David his father is sorrowful. Chap. XIX. joab rebuketh the king for his mourning. Israel flieth in to their tents. juda cleaveth unto David. Semei and Mephiboseth obtain favour. Barsillai showeth the king great fendshippe. Chap. XX. Seba maketh an uproar, and divideth Israel from David. joab stycketh Amasa. joab followeth upon Seba, and layeth siege unto him in Abela. Chap. XXI. A great hunger. Sauls children are given unto the Gibeonites. David fighteth against the philistines. Chap. XXII. David praiseth the LORD with a song of thanksgiving, because he delivered him out of the hand of Saul and other enemies. Chap. XXIII. The last words of David. The names of the Worthies are rehearsed. Chap. XXIIII. David numbereth the people, and displeaseth the LORD, which plageth his land with the pestilence. The first Chapter. AFter the death of Saul when David was come again from the slaughter of the Amalechites, Re. 30. d and had remained two days at Siclag, behold, on the third day there came a man out of Sauls host, with his clotheses rent, and earth upon his head. And when he came unto David, he fallen down to the ground, and worshipped. David said unto him: Whence comest thou? He said unto him: Out of the host of Israel am I fled. David said unto him: Tell me, what is the matter? He said: the people is fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen: Ye and Saul also is deed and his son jonathas. David said unto the young man that brought him this word: How knowest thou that Saul and jonathas his son are deed? The young man that told him this, said: I came by chance unto mount Gelboa, and behold, Saul leaned upon his spear, & the charettes and horsemen followed hard after him: and he turned him about, and saw me, and called me. And I said: Here, am I And he said unto me: What art thou? I said unto him: I am an Amalechite. And he said unto me: Come to me, and kill me, for anguish hath got hold of me: for my life is yet whole within me. Then stepped I to him, and slew him, for I know well that he could not live after his fall. And I took the crown from his head, and the armelet from his arm, and have brought it here unto the my lord. Then took David hold of his clotheses, 1. Reg. 3. f ●nd. 13. f and rent them, and so did all the men that were with him, & mourned, and wept, and fasted until the even, over Saul & jonathas his son, and over the people of the LORD, and over the house of Israel, because they were fallen thorough the sword. Andrea David said to the young man that brought him word: What art thou? He said: I am the son of a stranger an Amalechite. David said: How happeneth it that thou wast not afraid to say thy hand upon the LORDS anointed to destroy him? And David said unto one of his young men: Come hither, and slay him. And he smote him that he died. Then said David unto him: Thy blood be upon thine own head. Mat. 1●. d Luc. 19 b For thy mouth hath spoken against thyself and said: I have slain the anointed of the LORD. Andrea David mourned this lamentation over Saul and jonathas his son, and commanded to teach the children of juda the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of the righteous. The Elder in Israel are slain upon the height of the. How are the Worthies fallen? 〈…〉 Tell it not at Gath: speak not of it in the streets at Ascalon: jest the daughters of the Philistynes rejoice, jest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. You mountains of Gelboa, neither dew ner rain come upon you, neither land be whereof cometh Have offerings: for there is the shield of the Worthies smitten down, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 〈…〉 The bow of jonathas failed not, and 〈…〉 the sword of Saul came not again void from the blood of the slain, and from the fat of the giants. Saul and jonathas lovely and pleasant in their life, and in their death were not parted asunder: lighter than eagles, and stronger than lions. You daughters of Israel weep over Saul which clothed you with purple in pleasures, and decked you with jewels of gold on your garments. How are the Worthies fallen so in the battle? jonathas is slain upon the height of the. I am sorry for the my brother jonathas: thou hast been very lovely unto me: Thy love hath been more special unto me, than the love of women. How are the Worthies falle●, and the weapens destroyed? The II Chapter. AFter these acts David 〈…〉 axed at the LORD, and said: Shall I go up in to one of the cities of juda? And the LORD said unto him: Go up. David said: Wither? He said: Unto Hebron. So David went thither with his two wives, Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse, and Abigail Nabals' wife of Carmel. And David brought up the men that were him also, every one with his household, and they dwelled in the cities of Hebron. And the men of juda came, and there they anointed him king over the house of juda. And when it was told David, 〈…〉 that they of Jabes in Gilead had buried Saul, he sent messaungers unto them, saying: Blessed be you of the LORD, that you have done such mercy upon your lord Saul, and have buried him. The LORD therefore show mercy now and faithfulness upon you. And because you have done this, I also will do you good. Let your hand now therefore be comforted, and be you strong: for though Saul your lord be deed, yet hath the house of juda choose me to be king over them. But Abner the son of Ne'er, which was Sauls chief captain, took Iszboseth the son of Saul, and brought him thorough the host, and made him king over Gilead, Assuri, jesrael, Ephraim, Ben jamin and over all Israel. And Iszboseth the son of Saul was forty year old, when he was made king of Israel, & he reigned two years. But the house of juda held with David: 〈…〉 The time that David was king at Hebron over the house of juda, was seven year and six months long. And Abner the son of Ne'er went forth with the servants of Iszboseth the son of Saul, out of the host unto Gibeon. And joab the son of ZeruIa went forth with David's servants, and they met together by the pole at Gibeon, and these lay on the one side of the pole, the other on the other side. And Abner said unto joab: Let the young men get them up, and play before us. joab said: Let them arise. Then got they them up, & went in number twelve of Ben jamin on Iszboseth Sauls sons side, and twelve of David's servants. And every one got another by the head, and thrust his sword in his side, and fallen together: therefore is the place called Helkath hazurim (that is, the field of the Worthies) which is at Gibeon. And there arose a sore hard battle the same day. But Abner and the men of Israel were put to flight of David's servants. Three sons of ZeruIa were there, joab, Abisai & Asahel. As for Asahel, he was light of feet as a roe in the field, & followed after Abner, and turned not aside neither to the right hand ner to the left from Abner. Then Abner turned him about, and said: Art thou Asahel? He said: Ye. Abner said unto him: Go thy way either to the right hand or to the left, and get the one of the young men, and take his harness from him. Nevertheless he would not leave of from him. Then said Abner again to Asahel: Get the away fro me, why will't thou that I smite the to the ground? and how dare I lift up my face before the brother joab? Howbeit he would not go his way. Then Abner thrust him in with a spear in to his belly, so that the spear went out behind him. And there he fallen and died before him: and who so came to the place where Asahel lay deed, stood still there. But joab and Abisai followed upon Abner, till the son went down. And when they came to the hill of Amma, which lieth before Giah, by the way to the wilderness of Gibeon, the children of Ben jamin gathered themselves together behind Abner, and grew to a multitude, and stood upon the top of an hill. And Abner called unto joab, and said: Shall the sword them devour without end? Knowest thou not, that it will be bitter at the last? How long will it be or thou say unto the people, that they leave of from their brethren: joab said: As truly as God liveth if thou hadst said thus day in the morning, the people had ceased every one from his brother. And joab blue the trumpet, & all the people stood still, and followed no more upon Israel, neither fought they any more. Abner and his men went all that same night over the plain field, and passed over jordane, & walked thorough all Bithron, and came to the tents. joab turned him from Abner, and gathered all the people together. And of David's servants there myssed nineteen men, and Asahel. But David's servants had smitten so among Benjamin and the men of Abner, that three hundredth and threescore men were deed. And they took up Asahel, and buried him in his father's grave at Bethleem. And joab with his men went all that night: and at the break of the day they came unto Hebron. The III Chapter. ANd there was a long battle between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David went and increased, and the house of Saul went and mynished. And unto David were children born at Hebron. His firstborn son Ammon of Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse: the second Chileab of Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel: the third Absalon the son of Maacha the daughter of Thalmai king of Gessur: the fourth Adonia the son of Hagith: the fifth Saphatia the son of Abital: the sixte jethream of Egla David's wife. These were born unto David at Hebron. Now when it was war between the house of Saul & the house of David, Abner strengthened Sauls house. And Saul had had a concubine, whose name was Rispa the daughter of Aia. And Iszboseth said unto Abner: Wherefore liest thou with my father's concubine? Then was Abner very wroth at these words of Iszboseth, and said: Am I a dogs head then, that I against juda do mercy unto the house of Saul thy father, and unto his brethren and kynsfolkes? and have not delivered the into the hand of David, and thou layest a trespass to my charge this day for a woman's sake? God do Abner this and that, if I do not ●. Reg. ●●. f ●nd 16. c as the LORD hath sworn unto David, that the kingdom may be taken from the house of Saul, and the seat of David set up over Israel and juda, from Dan unto Berseba. Then could he not answer him one word again, he feared him so. And Abner sent messaungers unto David, saying: Whose is the land? And said: Make thy covenant with me. Behold, my hand shall be with thee, to turn all Israel unto the. He said: Well, I will make a covenant with thee, but one thing I desire of thee, that thou see not my face, except thou bring me first Michol Sauls daughter, when thou comest to see my face. David sent messaungers also unto Iszboseth the son of Saul, saying: ●. Re. 1●. g give me my wife Michol, whom I married with an hundredth foreszkinnes of the philistines. Iszboseth sent, and caused for to take her from the man 1. Re. 25. g Palthiel the son of Lais. And her husband went with her, and wept behind her unto Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him: Turn back again, and go thy way. And he turned back again. And Abner talked with the Elders in Israel, and said: Your minds have been set afore time and long a go upon David, that he might be king over you, do it now therefore, for the LORD hath said of David: I will deliver my people of Israel by the hand of David my servant, from the hand of the philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies. Abner spoke also before the ears of Ben jamin, and went to speak before the ears of David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Ben jamin was content withal. Now when Abner came to Hebron unto David, and twenty men with him, David made them a feast. And Abner said unto David: I will get me up, and go gather all Israel together to my lord the king, and that they may make a covenant with thee, that thou mayest be king, at thy soul's desire. So David let Abner go from him in peace. And behold, David servants and 〈◊〉 came from the men of war, and brought a great spoil with them. And Abner wa● not now with David at Hebron, for he had sent him from him, so that he was go his way in peace. But when joab and all the host with him was come, it was told him that Abner the son of Ne'er came to the king, and how he had sent him from him, so that he was go his way in peace. Then went joab in to the king, and said: What hast thou done? Behold, Abner came to thee, why hast thou sent him from thee, that he is go his way? Knowest thou not Abner the son of Ne'er? For he came to the to deceive th●, that he might know thy outgoing, and ingoing, and to spy out all that thou dost. And when joab went out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, to fetch him again from Boharsira, and David knew● not thereof. Now when Abner came again unto Hebron, joab brought him in to the mids under the gate, to talk with him secretly, and thrust him there in to the belly that he died, because of his brother Asahels' blood. When David knew of it thereafter, he said: I am unguilty, and so is my kyngdodome for ever before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner the son of Ne'er: but upon the head of joab fall it, and upon all his father's house, and in the house of joab there cease not one to have a renninge issue and a leprosy, and to go upon a staff, and fall thorough the sword, and to have scarnesse of bread. Thus joab and his brother Abi●a● slew Abner, 〈…〉 because he had slain their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. David said unto joab and to all the people that was with him: Rent your clotheses, and gird sack clot about you, and make lamentation for Abner. And the king went after the Bear. And when they buried Abner at Hebron, the king lift up his voice, and wept beside Abners' grave, and all the people wept also. And the king mourned for Abner, and said: Abner is not deed as a fool dieth. Thy hands were not bound, thy feet were not vexed with fetters, thou art fallen as a man falls before wicked unthrifts. The● all the people bewailed him yet more. Now when all the people came in to eat with David, while it was yet high day, David swore, and said: God do this and that unto me, if I taist either bread or ought else afore the Son go down. And all the people knew it, and it pleased them well all that the king did in the sight of all the people. And all the people and all Israel perceived the same day, that it came not of the king, that Abner the son of Ne'er was slain. And the king said unto his servants: Know you not that this day a prince and a great man is fallen in Israel? As for me, I am yet but tender and anointed king. But the men the children of ZeruIa are to hard for me. The LORD recompense him that doth evil, according to his wickedness. The four Chapter. When Sauls son heard that Abner was deed at Hebron, his hands were feeble, & all Israel was sorry. But there were two men captains over the soudyers under the son of Saul, the one was called Baena, the other Rehob, sons of Rimon the Berothite, of the children of Ben jamin: for Beroth was counted also in Ben jamin. And the Berothites were fled unto Gethaim, & were strangers there unto this day. jonathas also the son of Saul had a son which was lame on his feet, & was five year old when the rumour of Saul and jonathas came from jesrael. And his norse took him, and fled. And while she made haist and fled, he fallen, and was lame: And his name was Mephiboseth. Then went the sons of Rimon the Berothite, Rehob & Baena, & came to the house of Iszboseth, in the heat of the day, & he lay upon his bed at the noon day. And they came in to the house to fetch wheat, & thrust him in the belly, & got them away. For when they came in to the house, he lay upon his bed in his chamber, & they sticked him to death, & smote of his head, and took his head, and departed by the way of the plain field all that night, and brought the head of Isboseth to David unto Hebron, and said unto the king: Behold, there is the head of Iszboseth the son of Saul thy enemy, which laid wait for thy soul. This day hath the LORD avenged my lord the king of Saul and his seed. Then answered David unto Rehob and Baena his brother, the sons of Rimon the Berothite, & said: As truly as the LORD liveth, which hath delivered my soul out of all trouble, 〈◊〉. 1. c I took him that brought me word and said: Saul is deed, and he thought he had been a good messenger, and at Siclag I put him to death, unto whom I should have given a reward for his message. And these ungodly personnes have slain a righteous man in his own house upon his bed. Ye should not I require his blood of your hands, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, which slew them, and smote of their hands and feet, and hanged them up by the pole at Hebron. But the head of Iszboseth took they, and buried it ●. Reg. ●. f in Abners' grave at Hebron. The V Chapter. ANd all the tribes of Israel came to David unto Hebron, and said: 1. Par. 1●. ● Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. And afore time when Saul was king over us, thou leddest Israel out and in. So the LORD hath said: Thou shalt keep my people of Israel, and shalt be the duke over Israel. And all the Elders in Israel came to the king unto Hebron. And king David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David to be king over Israel. Thirty year old was David when he was made king, and reigned forty years. ●. Re. ●. ● At Hebron reigned he seven years and six months over juda: but at jerusalem he reigned three and thirty years over all Israel and juda. And the king went with his men to jerusalem, against the jebusites, which dwelled in the land. Nevertheless they said unto David: Thou shalt not come hither but the blind and lame shall drive that away. (They thought plainly, that David should not come in.) Howbeit David wan the castle of Zion, which is the cite of David. Then said David the same day: 1. Pa. ●●. ● Who so ever smiteth the jebusites, and optayneth the perquellies, the lame & the blind, which (jebusites) David's soul hateth. Hereof cometh the proverb: Levi. ●1. ● Let no blind ne●●ame come in to the house. So David dwelled in the castle, and called it the cite of David. And David builded round about fro milo and within. And David grew, & the LORD the God Zebaoth was with him. And Hiram the king of tire sent messaungers unto David, 1. Pa●. 15. ● and Cedar trees for walls, and Carpenters, and Masons, to build David an house. And David knew, that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, and exalted his kingdom for his people of Israel's sake. And David took yet more wives and concubines at jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet more sons & daughters born unto him. 1. Par. ●. ● And these are the names of them that were born unto him at jerusalem: Samma Sobab, Nathan, Solomon, jebehar, Elisua, Nepheg, japhia, Elisama, Eliada, Eliphalet. And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over Israel, they went up all to seek David. When David perceived that, he went down in to a castle. But the Philistynas came and scattered them selves beneath in the valley of Rephaim. ●. Re 23. ᵃ ● Re 2 a and. 5. d And David axed at the LORD, and said: Shall I go up against the philistines? and wilt thou deliver them in to my hand? The LORD said unto David: Go up, I will deliver the philistines in to thy hand. And David came unto Baal Prazim, and smote them there, and said: The LORD hath divided mine enemies, even as the waters part asunder: therefore is the same place called Baal Prazim. And they left their images there, but David and his men carried them away. Nevertheless the philistines went up again, and scattered themselves beneath in the valley of Rephaim. And David axed at the LORD. The LORD said: Thou shalt go up, but compass them behind, that thou mayest be upon them over against the Peertrees: and when thou hearest upon the top of the Peertrees, the sound of the going be bold, for than is the LORD go forth before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines David did as the LORD commanded him and smote the philistines from Geba, till thou comest unto Gazer. The VI Chapter. ANd David gathered again all the young choose men in Israel, even three thousand, 1. Par. 14. a and got him up, and went with all the people that was with him of the 〈◊〉 of juda, to fetch up the Ark of God from thence: whose name is: The name of the LORD Zebaoth dwelleth thereon between the Cherubins. 1. Reg. 6. c And they caused the ark of God to be carried upon a new cart, 1. Reg. 7. a and fetched it out of the house of Abinadab, which dwelled at Gibea. Vsa and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart. And when they brought it with the Ark from the house of Abinadab which dwelled at Gibea, Ahio went before the Ark: and David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD, with all manner of instruments of Pine tree, with haps, and Psalteries, and tabrettes, and bells, and Cymbals. 1. Pa. 14. b And when they came to the barn floor of Nahon, Vsa stretched out his hand, 〈…〉 and held the Ark of God, for the oxen went out aside. Then waxed the wrath of the LORD fierce against Vsa, and God smote him there because of his presumption, so th●● he died there beside the Ark of God. Th●● was David sorry, because the LORD had made soch a rent upon Vsa, and he called the same place Perez Vsa unto this day. And David feared the LORD the same day, and said: How shall the Ark of the LORD come unto me? And he would not let it be brought to him in to the cite of David, but caused it be brought in to the house of Obed Edom the Gathite. And when the Ark of the LORD had continued three months in the house of Obed Edom the Gathite, the LORD blessed him and all his house. And it was told king David, that the LORD had blessed the house of Obed Edom and all that he had because of the Ark of God. 〈…〉 Then went he, and fetched up the Ark of God out of the house of Obed Edom in to the cite of David with joy. And when they were go six steps in with the Ark of the LORD, they offered an ox and a fat sheep. And David daunsed with all his might before the LORD, and was girded with an overbody cote of linen. And David with all Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with tabrettes and trumpets. And when the Ark of the LORD came in to the cite of David, Michol the doughte of Saul looked out at a window, and saw king David leaping, sprynginge and dancing before the LORD, and despised him in her heart. But when they brought in the Ark of the LORD, they set it in her place in the mids of the Tabernacle, which David had pitched for it. And David offered burned offerings and deed offeryges before the LORD. And when David had made an end of offering the burned offerings and deed offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Zebaoth, and dealt out unto all the people, and to the multitude of Israel, both to man & woman, unto every one a cake of bread, and a piece of flesh, and a meece of pottage. Then went all the people their way, every one unto his house. When David came again to bless his house, Michol the daughter of Saul went forth to meet him, and said: How glorious hath the king of Israel been to day, which hath uncovered himself before the maidens of his servants, like as the rascal people discover themselves. But David said unto Michol: I will play before the LORD, which hath choose me afore the father, and afore all his house, because he hath commanded me to be the prince over the people of the LORD, even over Israel, and yet will I be vyler than so, and will be low in mine own sight: and with the maidens whereof thou hast spoken, will I be honoured. As for Michol the daughter of Saul, she had no child unto the day of her death. The VII. Chapter. NOw when the king sat in his house, 〈◊〉. 18. a and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies on every side, he said unto the prophet Nathan: Behold, I devil in a house of cedar, and the Ark of God dwelleth among the curtains. Nathan said unto the king: Go thy way, what so ever thou hast in thy heart, that do: for the LORD is with the. But the same night came the word of the LORD unto Nathan, & said: Go & speak to my servant David: Thus sayeth the LORD: Shalt thou build me an house to devil in? I have dwelled in no house sense the day that I brought the children of Israel unto this day, but have walked in the Tabernacle and Habitation, whither so ever I went with the children of Israel. Did I ever speak to any of the tribes of Israel (whom I commanded to keep my people of Israel) & said: Wherefore do you not build me an house of Cedar wood? So shalt thou speak now unto my servant David: Thus sayeth the LORD Zebaoth: 〈◊〉. 16. c I took the from the pasture when thou wentest behind the sheep, that thou shouldest be the prince over my people of Israel, & have been with the whither so ever thou wentest, & have rooted out all thy enemies before thee, & have made the a great name, according to the name of the great men upon earth. And for my people of Israel I will appoint a place, and will plant them, that they may remain there, no more to be removed, and that the children of wickedness oppress them no more, like as afore, and sense the time that I ordained judges over my people of Israel. And I will give the rest from all thy enemies. And the LORD showeth thee, that the LORD will make the a house. 〈◊〉. 5. a 〈◊〉. 8 c 〈◊〉 1●1. b Now when the time is fulfilled that thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will after the raise up thy side, which shall come of thy body: his kingdom will I stablish, he shall build an house for my name, 〈◊〉. 33. c and I will stablish the seat of his kingdom for ever. 〈…〉 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. 3. Re. 11▪ Psal. 88 ● When he doth a trespass, I will reprove him with the rod of men and with the plagues of the children of men: But my mercy shall not be withdrawn from him, as I have with drawn it from Saul, whom I have taken away before the. As for the house & thy kingdom, it shall be established for ever before thee, & thy seat shall endure fast for evermore. When Nathan had told all these words & all this vision unto David, king David came and sat him down before the LORD, and said: O LORD God, who am I? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? This O LORD God hast thou thought to little also, but hast spoken of the house of thy servant yet long for to come. O LORD God, is that the law of men? And what shall David speak unto thee? thou knowest thy servant O LORD God, for thy words sake and according to the heart hast thou done all these great things, that thou mightest show them unto thy servant. Therefore art thou greatly magnified O LORD God: Deu. 32. ● for there is none like thee, & there is no God but thou, according unto all that we have herd with our ears. Deu. 4. a For where is there a people upon earth as thy people of Israel? For whose sake God went to deliver him a people, and to make himself a name, and to do them such great and terrible things in thy land before the people, Exo. 14. ● whom thou hast delivered unto thyself from Egipte, from the people, and from their gods. And thy people of Israel hast thou prepared the to be a people unto thine own self for ever, and thou O LORD art become their God. Establish now the word therefore for ever (O LORD God) which thou hast spoken over thy servant & over his house, & do according as thou hast said. So shall thy name be great for ever, so that it shall be said: The LORD Zebaoth is the God over Israel, & the house of thy servant David shall be made sure before the. For thou LORD Zebaoth, thou God of Israel hast opened the ear of thy servant, and said: I will build the an house. Therefore hath the servant found his heart, to pray this prayer unto the. Deu. 32. f Now LORD God thou thyself art God, & thy words shall be the truth. Thou hast spoken soch good over thy servant. Begin now therefore, and bless the servants house, that it may be before the for ever, for thou LORD God thy own self hast spoken it: and with thy blessing shall thy servants house be blessed for ever. The VIII. Chapter. ANd it fortuned after this, that David smote the philistines, Par. 19 d and discomfited them, and took the bridle of bondage out of the philistines hand. Nu. 24. d He smote the Moabites also to the ground, so that he brought two parts of them to death, and let one part live. Thus the Moabites were subdued unto David, so that they brought him gifts. David smote Hadad Eser also the son of Rehob king of Zoba, when he went to fetch his power again at the water Euphrates. And of them took David a thousand & seven hundredth horsemen, and twenty thousand foot men, and lamed all the charettes, save an hundredth which he kept behind. But the Siryans came from Damascon to help Hadad Eser king of Zoba. And David smote two and twenty thousand men of the Syrians, and laid people unto Damascus in Syria. Thus was Syria subdued unto David, so that they brought him gifts: for the LORD helped David whither so ever he went. And David took the shyldes of gold, which Hadad Esers servants had, and brought them to jerusalem. But from Bethah & Berothai the cities of Hadad Eser took David very much brass. ●. Par. 19 b When Thoi the king of Hemath herd, that David had smitten all the power of Hadad Eser, he sent his son joram unto David to salute him friendly, & to bless him, because he had fought with Adad Eser and smitten him (for Thoi had war with Hadad Eser) and had jewels with him of silver, of gold, and of brass: which king David hallowed also unto the LORD, with the silver and gold which he sanctified unto the LORD from all the heathen, whom he subdued, from Syria, fro Moab, from the children of Ammon, from the philistines, from Amalek, from the spoil of Hadad Eser the son of Rehob king of Zoba. David got himself a name also when he came, ●. Par. 19 c and smote eighteen thousand of the Syrians in the Salt valley. Andrea he laid people in all Edomea, * Gen. 25. c Nu. 24. d and all Edem was subdued unto David: for the LORD helped David, whither so ever he went. Thus was David king over all Israel. And he executed judgement and righteousness unto all the people. ●. Re. 20. d joab the son of ZeruIa was captain over the host. josaphat the son of Ahilud was Chancellor. Zadok the son of Achitob, & Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests. Seraia was Scribe. Benaia the son of joiada was over the Chr●thians & Plethians. And the sons of David were 〈…〉 priests. The IX. Chapter. ANd David said: Remaineth there yet any man of Sauls house, that I may do mercy upon him for jonathas sake? There was a servant of Sauls house, named 〈…〉 Siba, whom they called unto David, & the king said unto him: Art thou Siba? He said: Ye thy servant. The king said: Is there yet any man of Sauls house, that I may do the mercy of God upon him? Siba said unto the king: 〈…〉 There is yet a son of jonathas, lame on his feet. The king said unto him: Where is he? Siba said unto the king: Behold, he is at L●dober in the house of 〈…〉 Machir the son of Ammuel. Then sent king David thither, & caused for to fetch him from Lodaber out of the house of Machir the son of Ammuel. Now when Mephiboseth the son of jonathas the son of Saul came unto David, he fallen upon his face, & worshipped him▪ David said: Mephiboseth. He said: Here am I thy servant. David said unto him: Fear not, for I will do mercy upon the for thy father jonathas sake, and will restore unto the all the land of thy father Saul: but thou shalt eat bread daily at my table. He worshipped and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou turnest the to a deed dog as I am? Then the king called Siba the servant of Saul, and said unto him: All that hath belonged unto Saul & to all his house, have I given to thy lords son. Till his land for him therefore, thou & thy children & servants, & bring it in, that it may be bread for the lords son, and that he may enjoy it: but Mephiboseth the lords son shall eat bread daily at my table. Siba had fifteen sons & twenty servants. And Siba said unto the king: according unto all as my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall his servant do. And let Mephiboseth (said David) eat at my table, as one of the kings own children. And Mephiboseth had a young son, whose name was Micha. But all that dwelled in the house of Siba, served Mephiboseth. As for Mephiboseth him self, he dwelled at jerusalem: for he ate daily at the kings table 〈…〉 and was lame on both his feet. The X. Chapter. ANd it fortuned after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, 〈◊〉 20. a & his son Hanun was king in his stead. Then said David: I will do mercy upon Hanun the son of Nahas, as his father did mercy upon me. And so he sent, and comforted him by his servants over his father's death. Now when David's servants came in to the land of the children of Ammon, the mighty men of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord: thinkest thou it is for the honour of the father in the sight, that David hath sent comforters unto thee? Hath he not sent his servants unto thee (thinkest thou) to spy and search out the cite and to overthrow it? Then took Hanun the servants of David, and shove of the one half of their beerdes, and cut of the half of their garments even by the girdle, and so let them go. When this was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were put to great shame. And the king caused to say unto them: Abide at jericho, till your beerdes be grown, & then come again. When the children of Ammon saw that they stynked in the sight of David, they sent and hired the Syrians of the house of Rehob, and the Syrians at Zoba even twenty thousand foot men, and from the king of Maecha a thousand men, and from Istob twelve thousand men. When David heard that, he sent joab with all the host of the men of war. And the children of Ammon went forth, and prepared themselves to the battayll before the entrance of the gate. But the Siryans of Soba, of Rehob, of Istob and of Maecha were alone in the field. Now when joab saw that the battle was set upon him before and behind, he chose of all the best young men in Israel, & prepared himself against the Syrians. And the residue of the people put he under the hand of his brother Abisai, that he might prepare him against the children of Ammon. And said: If the Syrians be to mighty for me, help thou me: but if the children of Ammon be to mighty for thee, I shall help the. Take a good courage unto thee, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cite of our God: nevertheless the LORD do what pleaseth him. And joab made him forth with the people that was with him, to fight against the Syrians: and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled also before Abisai, & went in to the cite. So joab turned again from the children of Ammon, & came to jerusalem. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they came together. And Hadad Eser sent & brought out the Syrians beyond the water, and conveyed their power in, & Sobath the chief captain of Hadad Eser went before them. When this was told David, he gathered all Israel together, & went over jordane, and came to Helam, & the Syrians prepared them selves against David to fight with him, howbeit the Syrians fled before Israel. And David slew of the Syrians seven hundredth charettes, & forty thousand horsemen, & Sobath the chief captain smote he also, so that he died there. When the kings which were under Adad Eser, saw, that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and were subdued unto them. And the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more. The XI. Chapter. ANd when the year came about what time as the kings use to go forth, 1. Par. 21. David sent joab and his servants with him, and all Israel, to destroy the children of Ammon, and to say siege unto Rabba: but David abode at jerusalem. And about the eventide it fortuned that David arose from his resting place, & went up to the top of the kings palace, and from the top he saw a woman Exo. 2. a Susan. c waszshinge herself, and the woman was of a very fair beauty. Andrea David sent, and caused to axe what woman it was, and said: Is not that Bethseba the daughter of Eliam the wife of V●ias the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and caused for to fetch her. And when she was come in unto him, he lay with her. Nevertheless she hallowed herself from her uncleanness, and turned a gain unto 〈◊〉 house. And the woman was with child, and sent, and caused to tell David and to say: I am with child. David sent unto joab (saying:) Send me Urias the Hittite. And joab sent Urias unto David. And when Urias came to him, David axed him if it stood well with joab, and with the people and with the battle. And David said to Urias: Go down in to thy house, and wash thy feet. And when Urias went out of the kings palace, the kings gift followed him. And Urias laid him down to sleep before the kings palace gate, where all his lords servants lay, & went not down in to his house. When word came to David: Urias is not go down in to his house, David said unto him: Camest thou not over the field? Why wentest thou not down in to thy house? Urias' said unto David: The Ark and Israel & juda abide in the tents: And joab my lord and my lords servants lie in the field, and shall I go in to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As truly as thou livest, and as truly as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. David said unto Vria: Abide here then to day, tomorrow will I let the go. So Urias abode at jerusalem the same day, and the next also. And David called him to eat & drink before him, & made him drunken. And at even he went to lie him down for to sleep upon his couch with his lords servants, and went not down in to his house. On the morrow written David a letter unto joab, & sent it by Urias. After this manner written he in the letter: Set Urias in the sorest part of the battle, & turn you behind him, that he may be slain. Now when joab laid siege to the cite, he set Urias in the place, where he knew that the mightiest men of A●mes were. And when the men of the cite fell out and fought against joab, there fallen certain of the people of David's servants. And Urias the Hittite died also. Then sent joab, and caused to tell the king all the matter concerning the battle, and commanded the messenger, and said: When thou hast told the king all the matter concerning the battle, and seist that he is wroth, and if the king say unto thee: Wherefore came you so nigh the cite with the battle? Know you not how they use to shoot from the brickwall? jud. 9 h Who smote Abimelech the son of jerubaall? Did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the brickwall, so that he died at Thebez? Why came you so nigh the brickwall? Then shalt thou say●: Thy servant Urias the Hittite is deed also. The messenger went his way, and came and told David all together, wherefore joab had sent him. And the messenger said unto David: The men prevailed against us, and fallen out unto us in to the field: and we were upon them hard at the door of the port. And the archers shot from the brickwall upon thy servants, and slew certain of the kings servants: and thy servant Urias the Hittite is deed also. David said unto the messenger: Thus shalt thou say unto joab: Let not that vex thee, for the sword consumeth now one now another. Go forth with the battle against the cite, that thou mayest destroy it, and comfort the men. And when Urias' wife heard that Urias was deed, she mourned for her husband. But when she had made an end of mourning, David sent, and caused her be fetched unto his palace, and she become his wife, and bore him a son. Nevertheless this deed that David did, displeased the LORD. The XII. Chapter. ANd the LORD sent Nathan unto David. When he came to him, he told him: There were two men in one cite, the one rich, the other poor. The rich man had very many sheep and oxen: but the poor man had nothing save one little sheep, which he had bought, and nourished it, so that it grew up with him and his children together. It ate of his bread, and drank of his cup, and slept in his lap, and he held it as a daughter. But when there came a stranger unto the rich man, he spared to take of his own sheep & oxen (to prepare ought for the stranger that was come unto him) and took the poor man's sheep, and prepared it for the man that was come unto him. Then was David wroth with great displeasure against that man, and said unto Nathan: As truly as the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this, is the child of death. 〈…〉 The sheep also shall he make good four fold, because he hath done soch a thing, and not spared it. Then said Nathan unto David: Thou art even the man. Thus sayeth the LORD the God of Israel: 〈…〉 I have anointed the to be king over Israel, and delivered the out of the hand of Saul, and have given the thy lords house, and his wives in to thy lap, and the house of Israel and juda have I given thee: and if that be to little, I will yet do this and that for the also. Wherefore hast thou then despised the word of the LORD, to do soch evil in his sight? Urias' the Hittite hast thou slain with the sword: His wife hast thou taken to be thy wife, but him hast thou slain with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore shall not the sword depart from thy house for over, because thou hast despised me, and taken the wife of Urias the Hithite, to be thy wife. Thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉. 16. d I will raise up evil of thine own house, and will take thy wives before thine eyes, and will give them unto thy neighbour, so that he shall lie with thy wives by Son light. For thou hast done it secretly, but I will do this in the sight of all Israel, and by Son light. Then said David unto Nathan 〈◊〉 47. ᶜ ●0, a I have sinned unto the LORD. Nathan said unto David: So hath the LORD also taken away thy sin, thou shalt not die. But for so much as thou thorough this deed hast caused the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the son that is born unto thee, shall die the death. And Nathan went home. As for the child which Urias wife bore unto David, the LORD smote it, so that it was deedsicke. And David besought God for the child, and fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth. Then rose the Elders of his house, and would have taken him up from the ground: nevertheless he would not, neither ate he with them. Upon the seventh day the child died. And David's servants dared not tell him that the child was deed. For they thought: Behold, when the child was yet alive, we spoke unto him, and he herkened not unto our voice, How much more shall it grieve him, if we say: The child is deed? And David saw that his servants made a whispering together, and perceived that the child was deed, and said unto his servants: Is the child deed? They said: Ye. Then rose David up from the earth, and waszshed himself, and anointed him, and put on other garments, & went in to the house of the LORD, and worshipped. And when he came again, he commanded to set bread before him, and ate. Then said his servants unto him: What manner of thing is this that thou dost? When the child was alive, thou fastedst and weptest: but now that it is deed, thou stondest up and eatest? He said: I fasted and wept for the child when it was yet a live, for I thought: Who knoweth, peradventure the LORD may be gracious unto me, that the child may live. Eccli. 38. But now that it is deed, wherefore should I fast? Can I fetch it again? I shall go unto it, but it shall not come again unto me. And when David had comforted Bethseba his wife, he went in unto her, and lay with her. 1. Par. 3. a Matt 1. a And she bore a son, whom he called Solomon. And the LORD loved him. And he put him under the hand of Nathan the prophet, which called him jedidia because of the LORD. So joab fought against Rabba of the children of Ammon, and wan the kings cite, & sent messengers unto David, & caused to say unto him: 1. Par. 21. 2 I have fought against Rabba, and have won the water cite also. Gather thou therefore the residue of the people together, and lay siege to the cite, and win it, that I win it not, and have the name thereof. So David gathered all the people together, and went, & fought against Rabba, and wan it, and took their kings crown from his head (which in weight had a talent of gold, and precious stones) and was set upon David's head, and very much spoil carried he out of the cite. As for the people that was therein, he brought them forth, and laid them under iron saws and hokes and wedges of iron, and burned them in tile ovens. Thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then returned David and all the people unto jerusalem again. The XIII. Chapter. ANd it: fortuned after this, that Absalon the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Thamar, & Ammon the son of David loved her. And Ammon was in great cumbrance, in so much that he was even sick, because of Thamar his sister. For she was a virgin, and Ammon thought it should be hard for him to do any thing unto her. But Ammon had a friend, whose name was jonadab the son of Simea David's brother, And the same jonadab was a very wise man, which said unto him: Why art thou so lean (thou kings son) from day to day? Mayest thou not tell me? Then said Ammon unto him: I love Thamar my brother Absaloms' sister exceadingly. jonadab said unto him: lay the down upon thy bed, and make the sick. And when thy father cometh to look how thou dost, say unto him: O let my sister Thamar come, that she may feed me, and make a meece of meat before me, that I may see it, & eat it of her hand. So Ammon laid him down, and made him sick. Now when the king came in to look how he did, Ammon said unto the king: O let my sister Thamar come, and make me a sipping or two, and that I may eat it of her hand●. Then sent David for Thamar in to the house, and said unto her: Go thy way to thy brother Ammon's house, & make him a meece of meat. Thamar went unto her brother Amons house, but he lay in his bed. And she took flower, and mixed it, and dight it before his eyes, and made him a sipping. And she took the meece of meat, and poured it out before him: but he would not eat. And Ammon said: Put forth every man fro me. And every man went forth from him. Then said Ammon unto Thamar: Bring me that meece of meat in to the chamber, that I may eat it of thy hand. Then took Thamar the sipping that she had made, and brought it unto Ammon her brother in to the chamber. And when she brought it unto him that he might eat, he took hold of her, & said unto her: Come my sister, lie with me. Nevertheless she said: O not my brother, force me not: for so do they not in Israel, do not thou such folly. Wither shall I go with my shame? And thou shalt be as one of the unwise in Israel. But speak unto the king, he shall not withhold me from the. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her, and overcame her, Gen. 34. a Levi. 18. a and forced her, and lay with her. And Ammon hated her exceadingly, so that the hate was greater than the love was before. And Ammon said unto her: Up, and get the hence. She said unto him: This evil that thou thrustest me out, is greater than the other, that thou hast done unto me. Nevertheless he herkened not unto her, but called his boy that served him, and said: Put away this woman fro me, and lock the door after her. And she had a party garment on: for such garments wayre the kings daughters while they were virgins. And when his servant had put her forth, & locked the door after her, Thamar strewed aszshes upon her head, and rent the party garment which she had upon her, and laid her hand upon her head, and went on, and cried. And her brother Absalon said unto her: Hath thy brother Ammon been with thee? Now hold thy peace my sister, it is thy brother, and take not the matter so to heart. So Thamar remained a widow in brother Absaloms' house. And when king David heard of all this, he was very sorry. As for Absalon, he spoke neither evil ner good to Ammon: but Absalon hated Ammon, because he had forced his sister Thamar. After two years had Absalon sheep clyppers at Baal Hazor, which lieth by Ephraim. And Absalon called all the kings children, and came to the king, and said: Behold, thy servant hath sheep clyppers, let it please the king with his servants to go with his servant. But the king said unto Absalon: Not my son, let us not all go, jest we be to chargeable unto the. And he would needs have had him to go, howbeit he would not, but blessed him. Absalon said: Shall my brother Ammon go with us then? The king said unto him Wherefore shall he go with thee? Then was Absalon so importune upon him, that he let Ammon and all the kings children go with him. But Absalon commanded his young men, and said: Take heed when Ammon is merry with wine (and I say unto you: Smite Ammon, and slay him) that you be not afraid: for I have commanded you, be strong, and play the men. So Absaloms' young men did unto Ammon, as Absalon had commanded them. Then stood all the kings children up, and every one got him up upon his Mule, and fled. And while they were yet on their way, the rumour came to king David, that Absalon had slain all the kings children, so that not one of them was left. Then stood the king up, and rent his clotheses, & laid him down upon the earth, and all his servants that stood about him, rent their clotheses. Then answered jonadab the son of Simea David's brother, and said: Let not my lord think that all the young men the kings children are deed, but that Ammon is deed only: for Absalon hath kept it in himself sense the day that he forced his sister Thamar. Therefore let not my lord the king take it so to heart, that all the kings children should be deed, but that Ammon is deed only. As for Absalon, he fled. And the young man that kept the watch, lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, A great people came in the way one after another by the hill side. Then said jonadab unto the king: Behold, the kings children come. Even as thy servant said, so is it happened. And when he had ended his talking, the kings children came, and lift up their voice, and wept. The king and all his servants wept also very sore. But Absalon fled, and went unto Thalmai the son of Ammihud king of Gesur. As for David, he mourned for his son every day. When Absalon was fled and go unto Gesur, he was there three year. And king David ceased from going out against Absalon, for he had comforted himself over Ammon that he was deed. The XIIII. Chapter. IOab the son of jeru ja perceived that the kings heart was against Absalon, and sent unto Thecoa, and caused to fetch from thence a prudent woman and said unto her: Make lamentation, and were mourning garments, & anoint the not with oil: but feign thyself as a woman which hath mourned long over a deed, and thou shalt go in to the king, and speak so & so unto him. And joab told her what she should say. And when the woman of Thecoa would speak with the king, she fallen upon her face to the ground, and worshipped, and said: Help me O king. The king said unto her: What aileth thee? She said: I am a widow, a woman that mourneth, and my husband is deed. And thy handmaid had two sons, which strove together in the field: and while there was noman to part them asunder, the one smote the other, and slew him. And behold, all the whole kindred riseth up against thy handmaiden, and say: 〈◊〉 19 c deliver him which hath smitten his brother, that we may kill him, for the soul of his brother whom he hath slain, and that we may destroy the heir also. And thus are they minded to put out my spark, which yet is left, that there should no name ner any thing else remain over unto my husband upon earth. The king said unto the woman: Go the way home, I will give a commandment for ye. And the woman of Thecoa said unto the king: The trespass be upon me (my lord the king) and upon my father's house: but the king and his seat be unguilty. The king said: He that speaketh against thee, bring him unto me, so shall he touch the no more. She said: Let the king think upon the LORD his God, that there be not to many avengers' of blood to destroy, and that they bring not my son to nought. He said: 1. Re. 14. g As truly as the LORD liveth, there shall not one here of thy son fall upon the earth. And the woman said: Let thy handmaid speak somewhat to my lord the king. He said: speak on. The woman said: Wherefore hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? And how happeneth it that the king speaketh such, to make himself guilty, and causeth not his outlaw to be brought again? For we all die the death, and as the water that sinketh in to the earth, which is not taken up. ●ze. 18. And God will not take away the life, but unbethynketh himself, that even the very outlaw be not clean thrust out from him. Thus am I come also to speak this to my lord the king in the presence of the people, for thy handmaiden thought: I will speak to the king, peradventure he shall do that his handmaiden sayeth, for he shall hear his handmaiden, to deliver me from the hand of all them, that would destroy me with my son from the inheritance of God. And thy handmaiden thought, the word of my lord the king shall be as a meat offering, 2. Re. 19 for my lord the king is as an angel of God, so that he can hear good and evil, therefore shall the LORD thy God be with the. The king answered and said unto the woman: Keep nothing fro me that I axe the. The woman said: Let my lord the king speak on. The king said: Is not the hand of joab with the in all this? The woman answered and said: As truly as thy soul liveth (my lord O king,) there is else noman neither at the right hand ner at the left, but even as my LORD the king hath said, for thy servant joab hath commanded me, and he himself hath taught thy handmaiden all these words, that I should turn this matter of this faszshion, this hath joab thy servant done. But my lord is wise, as the wisdom of an angel of God, so that he knoweth all things upon earth. Then said the king unto joab: Behold, I have done this: go thy way therefore and bring the child Absalon again. Then fallen joab upon his face unto the ground, and worshipped, and thanked the king, and said: This day doth thy servant perceive, that I have found grace in thy sight my lord the king, in that the king doth as his servant hath said. So joab got him up, and went unto Gesur, and brought Absalon to jerusalem. But the king said: Let him go again in to his house, and not see my face. Thus Absalon came again to his house, and saw not the kings face. But in all Israel there was not so fair, and so marvelous goodly a man, as Absalon. From the sole of his foot unto the top of his head there was not one blemish in him. And when his head was rounded (that was commonly every year, for it was to heavy for him, so that it must needs have been rounded) the here of his head weighed two hundredth sickles after the kings weight. And unto Absalon there were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Thamar, and she was a woman of a fair beauty: So Absalon abode two year at jerusalem, and saw not the kings face. And Absalon sent for joab, that he might send him to the king. And he would not come to him. But he sent the second time, yet would he not come. Then said he unto his servants: You know joabs piece of land that lieth by mine, and he hath barley thereon: go your way therefore and set fire upon it. So Absaloms' servants set fire upon joabs piece of land. Then joab got him up, and came to Absalon in to the house, and said unto him: Wherefore have thy servants set fire upon my piece of land? Absalon said unto joab: Behold, I sent for thee, and caused to say unto thee: Come hither, that I may send the to the king, and to say: Wherefore came I from Gesur? It were better for me that I were there yet. Let me therefore see the kings face. But if there be any trespass in me, than put me to death. And joab went in to the king, and told him. And he called Absalon, to come in to the king, and he worshipped upon his face to the grounge before the king. And the king kissed Absalon. The XU. Chapter. ANd after this it fortuned that Absalon caused to prepare himself chearettes and horses, and fifty men, which were his foot men. And Absalon got him up allway early in the morning, and st●de in the way by the port: and when any man had a matter which should come to the king for judgement, Absalon called unto him and said▪ Of what cite art thou? If he said the●● thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel, then said Absalon unto him: Behold, thy matter is right and plain: but there is noman appointed that of the king to hear the. And Absalon said: O who setteth me to be judge in the land, that every man which hath a plea or matter to do in the law, might come to me, that I might help him to right And when any man came to him to do worship & to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and held him & kissed him. After this manner did Absalon unto all Israel when they came to the law unto the king, and so did he steal away the heart of the men of Israel. After forty years said Absalon unto the king: I will go and perform my vow at Hebron, which I made unto the LORD. For thy servant made a vow, 〈…〉 when I dwelled at Gesur in Syria, and said: When the LORD bringeth me again to jerusalem, I shall do a God's service unto the LORD. The king said unto him: Go thy way in peace. And he got him up, and went unto Hebron. But Absalon had sent out spies in all the tribes of Israel, saying: When you hear the noise of the trump, say: Absalon is made king at Hebron. There went with Absalon two hundredth men called from jerusalem, but they went on simply, and knew not of the matter. Absalon sent also for Achitophel (the Gilonyte) David's counsellor, out of his cite Gilo. Now when he did the sacrifice, the conspiration was mighty and the people ran together, and multyplied with Absalon. Then came one which told David, and said, that the heart of every man in Israel followed Absalon. David said unto all his servants that were with him at jerusasem: Up, let us i'll, for here shall be no escaping for us before Absalon. Make haist that we may be going, jest he overtake us and catch us, and drive some misfortune upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. Then said the kings servants unto him: Look what my LORD the king chooseth, behold, here are thy servants. And the king went forth on foot with all his household. 〈…〉 But ten concubines left he to keep the house. And when the king and all the people came forth on foot, they went far from home, and all his servants went by him, and all the Chrethians and Plethians, and all the Gethites (even six hundredth men) which were come on foot from Gath, went before the king. And the king said unto 〈…〉 Ithai the Gethite: Why goest thou also with us? Turn back, and bide with the king, for thou art a stranger: get the hence again unto thy place. Thou camest yesterday, and to day thou iuperdest to go with us: As for me, I will go whither I can: turn thou back again, and mercy and faithfulness happen unto thy brethren with the Ithai answered, and said: 〈◊〉 1. c As truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as my lord the king liveth, look in what place my lord the king shallbe, (whether it chance to life or death) there shall thy servant be also. David said unto Ithai: Then come, and go with us. So went Ithai the Gethite and all his men, and the whole multitude of the children that were with him. And all the land wept with loud voice, and all the people with them. And the king went over the broken Cedron, and all the people went over by the way that goeth to the wilderness. And behold, Sadoc was there also, and all the Levites that were with them, & they bore the Ark of the covenunat of God, and set it there. And Abiathar went up, till all the people came out of the cite. But the king said unto Sadoc: Bring the Ark of God in to the cite again. If I shall find grace before the LORD, he shall fetch me again, and shall let me see it, and the house of it. But if he say thus: I have no pleasure to thee, behold, here am I, let him do with me as it pleaseth him. And the king said unto Sadoc the priest: O thou 〈…〉 Seer, turn again to the cite with peace, and Ahimaas thy son with the and jonathas the son of Abiathar: behold, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, till the message come from you, and tell me. So Sadoc and Abiathar brought the Ark of God again to jerusalem, and remained there. But David went up to mount Olyvete and wept, & his head was covered. And all the people that was with him, had every man his head covered and went on and wept. And when it was told David, that Achitophel was in the confederacy with Absalon, he said: LORD turn thou Achitophel's council to foolishness. And when David came up to the top of the mount, where the use was to worship God, Chusai the Arachite met him with his cote rend, and earth upon his head. And David said unto him: If thou go with me, thou shalt be chargeable unto me: but if thou goest again in to the cite, and sayest unto Absalon: I am thy servant O king even as I was thy father's servant, so will I now be thy servant, 2. Re. 17. a and b. c Then shalt thou bring Achitophel's council to naught. So is Sadoc and Abiathar the priests with thee, and all that thou hearest out of the kings house, tell it unto Sadoc and Abiathar the priests. Behold, their two sons are with them: Ah●maas the son of Sadoc, and jonathas the son of Abiathar, by them mayest thou send me word what thou hearest. So Chusai David's friend came in to the cite. And Absalon came to jerusalem. The XVI. Chapter. ANd when David was go a little by from the top of the mount, behold, Siba the servant of Mephiboseth met him with a couple of asses saddled, whereon were two hundredth loaves of bread, and an hundredth quantities of rasyns and an hundredth quantities of figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king unto Siba: What will't thou do herewith? Siba said: The asses shallbe for the kings household to ride upon, and the loaves and figs for the young men to eat, and the wine shallbe for them to drink when they are weighed in the wilderness. The king said: Where is thy lords son? Siba said unto the king: Behold, he abide that Jerusalem, for he said: To day shall the house of Israel restore my father's kingdom unto me. The king said unto Siba: Behold, ●. Re. ●. b all that Mephiboseth hath, shallbe thy. Siba said with reverence, Let me find grace in thy sight my lord O king. But when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there went out a man of the kindred of the house of Saul, 〈…〉 whose name was Semei the son of Gera, which went forth and Exo. 22. d cursed, and caststones at David, and at all king David's servants and all the people and all the mighty men men were at his right hand and at his left. Thus said Semei when he cursed: Get the forth, get the forth thou bloody hound, thou man of Belial. The LORD hath rewarded the for all the blood of the house of Saul, that thou becamest king in his stead. Now hath the LORD given the kingdom in to the hand of Absalon thy son, and behold, now stickest thou in thy own mischief, for thou art a bloody hound. But Abisai the son of ZeruIa said unto the king: Shall this deed dog curse my lord the king? I will go and take the head away from him. The king said: You children of ZeruIa, what have I to do with you? Let him curse on, for the LORD hath commanded him: Curse David. Who can say now: Why dost thou so? And David said unto Abisai and to all his servants: Behold, my son which came of my body, seeketh after my life, how much more now the son of jemini? Let him curse on, for the LORD hath commanded him: 3. Re. 2. g peradventure the LORD shall consider my adversity, and recompense me good for his cursing this day. So David went on his way with his men. But Semei went on by the mount beside him, and cursed, and caststones at him, & threw clottes of earth. And the king came in and all the people that was with him, weighed, and refreshed himself there. But Absalon and all the people of the men of Israel came to jerusalem and Achitophel with him. When Chusai the Arachite David's friend came in to Absalon, he said unto Absalon: God save the king God save the king. Absalon said unto Chusai: Is this thy mercy unto thy friend? Why art thou not go with thy friend? Chusai said unto Absalon: Not so, but look whom the LORD chooseth, and this people, and all the men in Israel, his will I be, and bide with him. Secondly, whom should I serve? Should I not do service before his son? Like as I have served in the presence of thy father, so will I do service before the also. And Absalon said unto Achitophel: give us your council what we shall do? Achitophel said unto Absalon: 2. Re. 12. c and 15. c Go lie with thy father's concubines, whom he hath left to keep the house, so shall all Israel hear that thou hast made thy father to stink, and the hand of all them that are with thee, shall be the bolder. Then made they a tent unto Absalon * The houses upon the house top. And Absalon lay with his father's concubine in the sight of all Israel. At that time when Achitophel 〈◊〉 council, that was even as if a man 〈◊〉 council at God: So were all the counsels of Achitophel both with David and 〈◊〉 Absalon. The XVII. Chapter. ANd Achitophel said unto Absalon I will choose out twelve thousand 〈◊〉, and will get me up, and pursue 〈◊〉 by night, and fall upon him when he is feeble and weighed: When I vex him them, so that all the people which is by him, flieth, I will 〈◊〉 the king only, and bring all the people unto the again. So when every man is brought unto the as thou desirest, then shall all the people be in peace. Absalon thought that good, and so did all the Elders in Is●rael. But Absalon said: I pray you call Chusai the Arachite also, and let us hea●● what he sayeth thereto. And when Chusai came in to Absalon, Absalon said unto him: Thus hath Achitophel spoken, Say thou now, shall we do it or not? Then said Chusai unto Absalon: It is no good council that Achitophel hath given at this tyme. And Chusai said moreover: Thou knowest thy father well and his men, that they are strong and of a wrathful stomach, even 〈…〉 as a Beer that is rob of her young one's in the field, Thy father also is a man of war, and will not be negligent with the people. Behold, he hath now peradventure hid himself in some cave or in some place. If it came to pass then that it chanced evil at the first, & there should come a rumor and say: There is a slaughter done in the people that followed Absalon: then should every man be discouraged, which else is valiant, & hath a heart like a lion: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is strong, and that all they which be with him, are mighty men. But this is my council, that thou gather together all Israel from Dan unto Berseba in number as the sand of the See, and go thou thy own person among them, then will we fall upon him in what place we find him, and will overwhelm him even as the dew falls upon the earth, so that we shall not leave one of him and of all his men. But if he resort in to a cite, then shall all Israel cast ropes about the same cite, and draw it in to the river, so that there shall not one stone of it be found Then said Absalon and every man in Israel: The council of Chusai the Arachite is better than Achitophel's council. 〈…〉 But the LORD brought it so to pass, that the good council of Achitophel was hindered, that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalon. 〈…〉 And Chusai said unto Sadoc & Abiathar the priests: Thus and thus hath Achitophel counciled Absalon and the Elders in Israel: but so and so have I counciled. Send now therefore in all the haist, and tell David, and say: Abide not all night in the plain field of the wilderness, but get the over, that the king be not swallowed up, and all the people that is with him. As for jonathas and Ahimaaz, they stood by the well of Rogel, and a damsel went thither and told them. They went on their way, and told king David, for they dared not be seen to come in to the cite. But a lad saw them, and told Absalon. Nevertheless they went on their way, and came to a man's house at Bahurim, which had a well in his court, and they went down in to it. And the woman took and spread a covering over the wells mouth, & strewed firmentye corn thereon, that it was not perceived. Now when Absaloms' servants came to the woman in to the house, they said: where is Ahimaaz and jonathas? The woman said unto them: They are go over the little water. And when they sought and found them not, they went again to jerusalem. And when they were go, they clymmed up out of the well, and went their way, and told David the king, and said unto David: Get you up, and go soon over the water, for thus and thus hath Achitophel given council against you. Then David got him up, and all the people that was with him, and passed over jordane till it was clear morning. And there was not one, but he went over jordane. When Achitophel saw that his council went not forth, he saddled his ass, got him up, and went home in to his cite and put his house to point, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in his father's grave. And David came to Mahanaim, and Absalon went over jordane, & all the men of Israel with him. And Absalon had set Amasa over the host in joabs stead. Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was jethra a jesraelite, which lay with Abigail the daughter of Nahas the sister of ZeruIa joabs mother. But Israel and Absalon pitched in Gilead. When David was come to Mahanaim, 1. Re. 11. a Nahas of Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and 2. Reg. ●. a Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and * 2. Re. 19 f 3 Reg. 2. b Barsillai a Gileadite of Roglim brought bedstuffe, tapestry work, basins, earthen vessel, where, barley, meel, parched corn, beans, otemeell, rise, honey, butter, sheep and fat oxen unto David, and to the people that was with him, for to eat: for they thought, The people shall be hungry, weerye and thirsty in the wilderness. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd David mustered the people that was with him, and set captains over them, over thousands and over hundreds. And sent out of the people one third part under Abisai the son of ZeruIa joabs brother, and one third part under ● Re. 2. b Ithai the Gethite. And the king said unto the people: I will go forth with you also. Nevertheless the people said: Thou shalt not go forth, for though we i'll, or die half of us they shall not regard us. For thou art as ten thousand of us. Therefore is this better that thou mayest help us out of the cite. The king said: Look what you are content withal, that will I do. And the king stood in the gate, and all the people went forth by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded joab and Abisai, and Ithai, and said: Entreat me the young man Absalon gently. And all the people heard it, when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalon. And when the people were come forth in to the field against Israel, the battle began in the wood of Ephraim. And the people of Israel were smitten there before David's servants, so that there was a great slaughter the same day, of twenty thousand men. And the battle was scattered abroad there in the land. And the would consumed much more people the same day, than the sword consumed. And Absalon met David's servants, and road upon a Mule. And when the Mule came under a great thick Oak tree, his head took hold on the Oak, and so hanged he between heaven and earth, but the Mule ran away from under him. When a certain man saw that, he told joab, and said: Behold, I saw Absalon hang upon an Oak tree. And joab said unto the man that told it him: Behold, sawest thou that, why smotest thou him not there to the ground? so would I have given the of mine own behalf ten silverlings and a girdle. The man said unto joab: If thou hadst weighed me a thousand silverlings in my hands, yet would I not have laid my hands on the kings son. For the king commanded the and Abisai and Ithai before our ears, and said: Keep me the young man Absalon. Or if I had dyssembled upon the jeopardy of mine own soul (for so much as nothing should be hid from the king) thou thyself shouldest have stand against me. joab said: Not so, I will upon him before thy face. Then took joab three spears in his hand, and thrust Absalon thorough the heart, while he was yet alive upon the Oak. And ten young men joabs weapenbearers, came about him, and smote him to death. Then blue joab the trump, and brought the people again, that they should follow no more upon Israel. For joab would favour the people. And they took Absalon, and cast him in the wood in to a great pit, and laid a great heap of stones upon him. And all Israel fled, every one unto his tent. Absalon had set him up a piler while he was yet alive, which stood in the kings valley, for he said: I have no son, therefore shall this be a remembrance of my name: and he called the piler after his own name. And unto this day it is yet called Absaloms' place. Ahimaas the son of Sadoc said: Let me run now, and bring the king word, that the LORD hath got him right from the hand of his enemies. But joab said: Thou shalt bring no good tidings to day another day shalt thou bring him word, and not to day, for the kings son is deed But unto Chusi said joab: Go thou thy way, and tell the king what thou hast seen. And Chusi did his obeisance unto joab, and ran. Ahimaas the son of Sadoc said again unto joab: What and I ran also? joab said: What will't thou run my son? Come hither, thou shalt bring no good tidings. (He answered:) What and I ran yet. He said unto him: Renne on the way then. So Ahimaas ran the strait way, and came before Chusi. As for David, he sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the top of the port upon the brickwall, and lift up his eyes, and saw a man running alone, and cried, and told the king. The king said: If he be alone, then is there good tidings in his mouth. And as the same went and came forth, the watchman saw another man running, and cried in the port and said: Behold, there runneth a man alone. The king said: The same is a good messenger also. The watchman said: I see the running of the first as it were the running of Ahimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is a good man, and bringeth good tidings. Ahimaas cried, and said unto the king: Peace, and worshipped before the king upon his face to the ground, and said: Praised be the LORD thy God, which hath given over the men that lift up their hands against my LORD the king. The king said: Goeth it well with the young man Absalon? Ahimaas said: I saw a great uproar, when joab the kings servant sent me thy servant, and I wot not what it was. The king said: Go about, and stand here. And he went about and stood there. Behold, then came Chusi and said: I bring good tidings my lord the king: The LORD hath executed right for the this day, from the hand of all them that rose up against the. But the king said unto Chusi: Goeth it well with the young man Absalon? Chusi said: Even so go it with all the enemies of my lord the king, and with all them that rise up against the to do evil, as it goeth with the young man. Then was the king sorrowful, and went up in to the perler upon the gate, and wept, and as he went, he said thus: O my son Absalon, my son, my son Absalon, would God that I should die for the. O Absalon my son, my son. The XIX. Chapter. ANd it was told joab: behold, the king weepeth & mourneth for Absalon. And so out of the victory of that day there came a mourning among all the people. For the people had herd the same day, that the king took on heavily because of his son. And the people stolen away the same day, so that they came not in to the cite: as a people that is put to shame, pycketh them selves away, when they are fled in a battle. As for the king, he had covered his face, and cried loud, and said: O my son Absalon, Absalon my son, my son. But joab came to the king in to the house, and said: This day hast thou shamed all thy servants (which have delivered thy soul this day, and the souls of thy sons, of thy daughters, of thy wives, and of thy concubines) in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest those that love ye. For to day thou showest thyself, that thou carest not for the captains and servants: For I perceive this day, that if Absalon only were alive, and we all deed this day, thou wouldest think it were well. Get the up now therefore, and go forth, and speak lovingly unto thy servants. For I swear unto the by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there shall not be left the one man this night: this shallbe worse unto that, than all the evil that happened the sense the youth up hither to. Then the king got him up, and sat in the gate. And it was said unto the people: behold, the king sitteth in the gate. Then came all the people before the king. But Israel was fled every one unto his tent. And all the people strove in all the tribes of Israel, and said: The king rid us from the hand of our enemies, and delivered us from the hand of the philistines, and was fain to i'll out of the land for Absalon. So Absalon whom we had anointed over us, is deed in the battle. Why are you so still now, that you fetch not the king again? The king sent unto Sadoc & Abiathar the priests, & caused to say unto them: Speak to the Elders of juda, & say: Why will you be the last to fetch the king again unto his house? (for the saying of all Israel was come before the king in to his house) you are my brethren, my bone, and my flesh. Wherefore will you then be the last to bring the king again? And say unto Amasa: Art not thou my bone and my flesh? God do this & that unto me, if thou shalt not be the chief captain before me in joabs stead, as long as thou livest. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Iud● as of one man. And they sent unto the king: Come again, thou and all thy servants: So the king came again. And when he came unto jordane, the men of juda were come to Gilgal, for to go down to meet the king, that they might bring the king over jordane. And Semei the son of Gera the son of jemini, which dwelled at Bahurim, made haist, and went down with the men of juda to meet king David, and there were with him a thousand men of Ben jamin. 2. Re. 16. ● Siba also the servant of the house of Saul with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, & got them thorough jordane and passed over the ferry, that they might bring over the kings household, and to do him pleasure. But Semei the son of Gera fallen down before the king, when he passed over jordane, and said unto the king: O my lord, lay not the trespass unto my charge, & think not upon it that thy servant vexed thee, 2. Re. 16. ● in the day when my lord the king went out of jerusalem: and let not the king take it to heart, for thy servant knoweth that he hath sinned. And behold, this day am I come the first among all the house of joseph, for to go down to meet my lord the king. Nevertheless Abisai the son of ZeruIa answered and said: And should not Semei die therefore, saying he hath cursed the anointed of the LORD? But David said: 2. Re. 16. b Mat. 16. c What have I to do with you you children of Zeru? ja, that you will become Satan unto me this day? Should any man die this day in Israel? thinkest thou that I know not, that I am become king over Israel this day? And the king said unto Simei: Thou shalt not die? And the king swore unto him. Mephiboseth the son of Saul came down also to meet the king. And he had not made clean his feet ner combde his beerde, neither had he waszshed his clotheses from the day that the king was go away, until the day that he came again in peace. Now when he came to jerusalem for to meet the king, the king said unto him: Mephiboseth, wherefore wentest thou not with me? And he said: My lord O king, my servant hath dealt unrighteously with me: for thy servant thought: I will saddle an ass and ride thereon, and go unto the king: for thy servant is lame, and he hath accused thy servant before my lord the king. Gen. 33. b 2. Re. 14. a Hest. 15. b But my lord the king is an angel of God, and thou mayest do what pleaseth the. For all my father's house was nothing, but people of death before my lord the king. 2. Re. 9 b And yet hast thou set thy servant among them that eat at the table. What other righteousness have I, that I should cry any more unto the king? The king said unto him: What speakest thou yet more of thy matter: I have said: Thou and Siba part the land between you. Mephiboseth said unto the king: Let him take it all, in as much as my lord the king is come home in peace. And Barsillai the Gileadite came down from Roglim, and brought the king over jordane, that he might convey him in jordane. And Barsillai was very old, so good as four score year old, ●. Re. 17. c the same had provided the king of food while he was at Mahanaim, for he was a very noble man. And the king said unto Barsillai: Thou shalt go over with me, I will take care for the with mine own self at jerusalem. Butler Barsillai said unto the king: What have I yet to live, that I should go up to jerusalem with the king? This day am I four score year old. How should I know what is good or evil, or taist what I eat or drink, or hear what the Musicians do sing? Why should thy servant be chargeable first unto my lord the king? thy servant shall go a little with the king over jordane. Why will the king recompense me after this manner? Let thy servant turn back again, that I may die in my cite beside my father and my mother's grave. Behold, there is thy servant Chimeam, let him go over with my lord the king, and do unto him what pleaseth the. The king said: Chimeam shall go over with me, and I will do for him what liketh thee: and what so ever thou desirest of me, that will I do for the also. And when all the people was go over jordane and the king likewise, the king kissed Barsillai and blessed him, and he turned unto his place. And the king passed over unto Gilgal, and Chimeam went with him. And all the people of juda brought the king over, howbeit there was but half of the people of Israel there. And behold, them came all the men of Israel unto the king, & said unto him: Why have our hrethrens the men of juda stolen the away, and have conveyed the king and his household over jordane, and all David's men with him? Then answered they of juda unto them of Israel: The king is of our nigh kindred, why are you angry therefore? Think you that we have received any food or gifts of the king? Then answered they of Israel unto them of juda, & said: We have ten times more with the king and with David, them thou, why hast thou regarded me then so lightly, that ours were not the first to fetch our king again? But they of juda spoke harder than they of Israel. The XX. Chapter. THere was a famous man of Belial there, whose name was Seba the son of Bichri, a man of jemini, which blue the trump, and said: 〈…〉 We have no portion in David, ner inheritance in the son of Isai: let every get him to his tent, O Israel. Then fallen every man in Israel from David, and followed Seba the son of Bichri. But the men of juda cleaved unto their king from jordane unto Jerusalem. When David came home to jerusalem, he took the ten concubines ( 〈…〉 wh●m he had left to kep● the house) and put them in a hold to be kept, and made provision for them: but he lay not with them, and so were they shut up unto their death, and lived wedowes. And the king said unto Amasa: Call 〈◊〉 all the men of juda together against the third day, & be thou here present also. And Amasa went to call juda together. And he was slack to come at the time which he had appointed him. And David said unto Abisai: Now shall Seba the son of Bichri do us more harm than Absalon. Take thou the lords servants, and follow upon him, that he find not some strong cities for him, and so escape out of our sight. Then went joabs men forth after him, and the Chrethian● and Plethians, and all the mighty men: and they went out of jerusalem to follow upon Seba the son of Bichri. But when they were by the great stone at Gibeon, Amasa came before them. As for joab, he was girded above his garment which he had on, and upon it he had a sword girded, which hanged by his thy in the sheeths, and went easily out and in, and fallen from him. And joab said unto Amasa: Peace be with the my brother. And joab took Amasa by the beerde with his right hand, to kiss him. And Amasa took no heed unto the sword in joabs hand, and he thrust him therewith in to the belly, that his bowels ran out upon the earth, and he thrust at him no more. And so he died. joab & his brother Abisai followed upon Seba the son of Bichri. And one of joabs servants stood by him, and said: What is he this that would be against joab to please David, and to be with David in joabs stead? As for Amasa, he lay rolled in the blood in the mids of the street. But 〈◊〉 one saw that all the people stood there still, he removed Amasa from the street unto the field, and cast a cloth upon him, for so much as he saw, that who so ever came by him, stood still. Now when he was put out of the way, every man went after joab, to follow upon Seba the son of Bichri. And he went thorough all the tribes of Israel unto Abel Beth Maacha, and all the best choose men gathered themselves together, & followed after him, and came and besieged him at Abel Beth Maacha, and made a bank about to cite hard on the brickwall. And all the people that was with joab, laid to their ordinance, and would have cast down the brickwall. Then cried there a wise woman out of the cite: Hear, hear, say unto joab that he come hither, I will speak with him. And when he came to her, the woman said: Art thou joab? He said: Ye. She said unto him: Hear the words of thy handmaiden. He said: I hear. She said: The comonsayenge was sometime: Who so will axe, let him axe at Abel, and so came it to a good end. This is the noble and faithful cite in Israel, and will't thou destroy the cite and the mother in Israel? Why will't thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD? joab answered and said: That be far, that be far fro me, that I should swallow up and destroy. The matter is not so, but a certain man of mount Ephraim named Seba the son of Bichri, hath lift up himself against king David, deliver him only, and I will depart from the cite. The woman said unto joab: Behold, his head shall be cast unto the over the brickwall. And the woman came in to all the people with her wisdom. And they smote of the head of Seba the son of Bichri, and cast it unto joab. Then blue he the trump, and they departed from the cite, every one unto his tent. But joab came again to jerusalem unto the king. 〈…〉 joab was captain over all the host of Israel: Benaia the son of joiada was over the Chrethians and Plethians: Adoram was rend gatherer: josaphat the son of Ahilud was Chancellor: Seia was the scribe: Sadoc and Abiathar were the priests: Ira also the jairite was David's priest. The XXI. Chapter. THere was a dearth also in David's time three years together. And David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said: Because of Saul and be cause of that bloody household 〈◊〉. 22. d that he slew the Gibeonites. Then the king caused for to call the Gibeonites, and spoke unto them. (As for the Gibeonites, they were not of the children of Israel, but a remnant of the Amorites: howbeit ●osu. 9 c the children of Israel had sworn unto them, and Saul sought for to smite them in his jealousy, for the children of Israel and juda.) Then said David to the Gibeonites: What shall I do unto you? And where withal shall I make the atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD? The Gibeonites said unto him: It is not for gold and silver that we have to do with Saul and his house, neither have we ought to do for to slay any man in Israel. He said: What say you then, that I shall do unto you? They said unto the king: The man that hath destroyed us and brought us to naught, should we destroy, that nothing be left him in all the coasts of Israel. Let there be given us seven men of his sons, that we may hang them up unto the LORD at Gibea of Saul the choose of the LORD. The king said: I will give them. Howbeit the king spared Mephiboseth the son of jonathas the son of Saul, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them: 1. Re. 18. a 20. b. 23. c namely, between David & jonathas the son of Saul. But the two sons of Rispa the daughter of Aia, whom she had born unto Saul, Armoni & Mephiboseth, And the five sons of Michol the daughter of Saul, whom she bore unto Adriel the son of Barsillai the Mahalothite, did the king take, and gave them in to the hands of the Gibeonites, which hanged them up upon the mount before the LORD. So these seven fallen at one time, and died in the time of the first harvest, when the barley harvest beginneth. Then took Rispa the daughter of Aia a sackcloth, & spread it upon the rock in the beginning of the harvest, till the water from the heaven dropped upon them, and suffered not the fowls of the heaven to rest on them on the day time, neither the wild beestes of the field on the night season. And it was told David what Rispa the daughter of Aia Sauls concubine had done. And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of jonathas his son from the citesens at Jabes in Gilead (which they 1. Re. ●1. c had stolen from the street at Bethsan, where the philistines had hanged them, what time as the philistines had smitten Saul upon mount Gilboa) and brought them up from thence, and gathered them together with the bones of them that were hanged. And the bones of Saul and of his son jonathas buried they in the land of Ben jamin, beside the grave of his father Cis. So after this was God at one with the land. But there arose war again of the philistines against Israel. And David went down & his servants with him, & fought against the philistines. And David was weighed, & jeszbi of Nob (which was one of the children of Rapha, and the weight of his spear was three C. weight of brass, and had a new harness upon him) thought to smite David. Nevertheless Abisai the son of ZeruIa helped him, & smote the philistine to death. Then swore David's men unto him, & said: ●. Re. 18. a Thou shalt no more go forth with us unto the war, that the lantern in Israel be not put out. Par. ●1. a afterward there arose yet war at Nob with the philistines. Then Sibechai the Husathite smote Sapho, which also was one of the children of Rapha. And there arose yet war at Gob with the philistines. Then Elhanan the son of jaere Orgim a Bethleemite smote Goliath the Gethite, which had a spear, whose shaft was like a weevers lome. And there arose yet war at Gath, where there was a contentious man, which had six fingers on his hands, and six toes on his feet, that is four and twenty in the number, and he was born also of Rapha. And when he spoke despitefully unto Israel, jonathas the son of Simea David's brother smote him. These four were born unto Rapha at Gath, and fallen thorough the hand of David and of his servants. The XXII. Chapter. ANd David spoke the words of this song before the LORD, what time as the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul, and he said. The LORD is my stony rock, & my castle, and my deliverer. God is my strength, in him will I put my trust: my shield & the horn of my salvation, my defence & my refuge, my saviour, thou shalt help me from violent wrong. Psal. 17. a I will call upon the LORD with praise, so shall▪ I be delivered fro mine enemies. For the sorrows of death compassed me, and the brokes of Belial made me afraid. The pains of hell came about me, and the snares of death had overtaken me. When I was in trouble, I called upon the LORD, ye even my God called I upon, & so he heard my voice from his holy temple, & my complaint (came) in to his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heaven shaken and moved, be cause he was wroth. Smoke went up from his nose, and consuming fire out of his mouth, coals were kindled thereof. He bowed the heavens and came down, and it was dark under his feet. He sat upon Cherub and did fly, and appeared upon the feathers of the wind. He made darkness his pavilion round about him, thick water in the clouds of the air. At the brightness of him were the fire coals kindled. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Hyest put forth his voice. He shot his arrows, and scattered them: he lightened, and discomfited them. The pourynges out of the See were seen, and the foundations of the earth were discovered at the chydinge of the LORD, & at the breath of the spirit of his wrath. He sent down from above, and received me, and drew me out of many waters. He delivered me fro my strong enemy, from them that hated me, for they were to mighty for me. They overtook me in the time of my trouble, but the LORD was my succour. He brought me forth in to liberty: he delivered me, because he had a favour unto me. The LORD shall reward me after my righteousness, and according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me. For I have kept the way of the LORD, & have not been ungodly against my God. For I have an eye unto all his laws, and have not put his ordinances fro me. Therefore will I be perfect unto him, and will eshue mine own wickedness. So shall the LORD reward me after my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye sight. With the holy shalt thou be holy, and with the perfect thou shalt be perfect. With the clean thou shalt be clean, and with the froward thou shalt be froward. For thou shalt save the poor oppressed people, and shalt set thy eyes against the proud to bring them down. For thou O LORD art my lantern. The LORD shall light my darkness. For in the I shall discomfit an host of men, & in my God I shall leap over the brickwall. The way of God is perfect: the words of the LORD are tried in the fire: he is a shield for all them that put their trust in him. For where is there a God, except the LORD? Or who hath any strength without our God? God hath strengthened me with power, and made plain a perfect way for me. He hath made my feet like hearts feet, & hath set me up an high. He teacheth my hands to fight, and bendeth the steel bow with mine arms. And thou hast given me the shield of the health, and with the loving correction shalt thou multiply me. Thou hast enlarged my going under me, and mine ankles have not slyded. I will follow upon mine enemies, and destroy them: and will not turn back again, till I have brought them to nought. I will consume them and thrust them thorough, that they come not up: they shall fall under my feet. Thou hast girded me with strength to the battle, and hast subdued them under me that rose up against me. Thou hast made mine enemies to turn their backs upon me, that I might destroy them that hate me. They shall cry, but there shallbe no saviour: ye even unto the LORD, but he answereth them not. I will beat them as small as the dust of the earth: even as the clay of the streets will I make them thin, and spread them out abroad. But me shalt thou deliver from the strivings of the people, and shalt keep me to be the head of the Heythen: A people whom I have not known▪ shall serve me. The strange children have denied me: at the hearing of the ear shall they hearken unto me. The strange children are waxen old, & are shut up in their presons. The LORD liveth, and blessed be my God, and magnified be the strength of my health. God saith that I be avenged, and subdueth the people unto me. He bringeth me out fro mine enemies: & from them that rise up against me, shalt thou exalt me, and from the cruel man shalt thou deliver me. 〈◊〉. 15. a For this cause will I give thanks unto the among the Heythen, and sing praises unto thy name. Which doth great health for his king, & showeth mercy unto David his anointed, and to his seed for evermore. The XXIII. Chapter. THese are the last words of David: David the son of Isai said. The man, that was set up to be the anointed of the God of jacob, & a pleasant dyter of songs of Israel, said: The spirit of the LORD hath spoken by me, and the utterance thereof is done thorough my tongue. He said: The God of Israel hath spoken unto me, the strength of Israel, the governor among men, the righteous governor in the fear of God. As the light is in the morning when the Son ariseth, so that for the brightness thereof no cloud remaineth: and as the grass looketh upon the earth thorough the rain, even so shall my house be with God. 2. Re. 7. c For he hath made an everlasting covenant with me, well appointed on every side and sure. For this is all my health & pleasure, that it shall grow. But the Belial shall be utterly & clean rooted out as the thorns, which men take not in their hands. And they that touch them, shall destroy them with irons & spears: & in the fire shall they be brent, that they may be brought to nought. These are the names of David's Worthies: jasabeam the son of Hachmoni, 1. Par. 12. ● the chiefest among three, which lift up his spear, & slew eight hundredth at one tyme. After him was Eleasar the son of Dodi the son of Ahohi among the three Worthies with David, when they spoke despytefully to the philistines, and were gathered together to the battle, and the men of Israel went up. Then stood he up and smote the philistines, till his hand was so weighed that it cromp●ed with the sword. And the LORD gave a great victory at the same time, so that the people turned after him to spoil. After him was Samma the son of Age the Hararite. When the philistines had gathered themselves in a company, and in the same place there was a piece of land full of small corn, and the people fled before the philistines, them stood he in the mids of the piece of land▪ & delivered it, & smote the philistines. And God gave a great victory. And these three principal among thirty, came down in the harvest unto David, 1. Par. 12. c in to the cave of Adullam, & the host of the philistines lay in the valley of Rephaim. Butler David was at the same time in the castle, and the philistines people lay at Bethleem. And David was desirous, and said: Would God that some man would fetch me a drink of water out of the well at Bethleem under the gate. Then broke the three Worthies in to the host of the philistines, and drew of the water out of the well at Bethleem under the gate, & carried it & brought it unto David: nevertheless he would not drink it, but offered it unto the LORD, & said: The LORD let this be far fro me, that I should do it. Is it not the blood of the men that ioperded their lives, and went thither? And he would not drink it. This did the three Worthies. ●. Par. 12. ᶜ ●. Re. 21. d Abisai the brother of joab the son of ZeruIa was one also chief among three. He lift up his spear & smote three hundredth, & was an ancient man among three, & the noblest among three, & was their ruler. But he came not unto the three. ●. Par. 12. ● And Benaia the son of joiada, the son of Ishail (a man of great acts of Cabzeell) smote two mighty giants of the Moabites, & went down, & slew a lion at a well in the snow tyme. He smote also a fair goodly man of Egipte, which had a spear in his hand. But he went down to him with a staff, and took the spear out of the Egipcians hand by violence, and slew him with his own spear. This did Benaia the son of joiada, and was a famous man among three Worthies, and more honourable than the thirty, but he came not unto the three. And David made him of his secret council. Asahel the brother of joab is among the thirty: Elham his uncles son at Bethleem. Samma the Haradite, Elika the Haradite, Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Tekoite, Abiser the Anthothite, Mebunai the Husathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maherai the Netophatite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibea of the children of Ben jamin, Benaia the Pirgathonite, Hidai of the broken of Gaas, Abialbon the Arbathite, Asmaveth the Bahumite, Eliaheba the Baalbonite. The children of jasen and jonathas: Samma the Hararite, Eliphelet the son of Ahaszbai the son of Maechathi, Eliam the son of Achitophel the Gilonite, Hesrai of Carmel, Paerai the Arbite, jegael the son of Nathan of Soba▪ Bani the Gadite, Zeleg the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the weapon bearer of joab the son of ZeruIa, Ira the Jethrite, Gareb the Jethrite, Vri●s the Hittite. These are altogether seven and thirty. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd the LORD was wrothfully displeased of the new against Israel, 〈…〉 and moved David among them, because he said: Go, number Israel and juda. And the king said unto joab the chief captain of his host: Go about in all the tribes of Israel, from Dan unto Berseba, and number the people, that I may know how many they be. joab said unto the king: The LORD thy God add unto this people an hundredth times as much as it is now, that my lord the king may see his eyes lust thereon. But why hath my lord the king a desire to this thing? Nevertheless the kings word prevailed against joab and the captains of the host. So joab and the captains of the host went forth from the king, to number the people of Israel, and passed over jordane, and pitched at Aroer, at the right hand of the cite which lieth in the river of Gad, and at jaseer, & came to Gilead, and in the low country of Hadsi, and came unto Dan jaan, and about Sidon, and came to the strong cite of Tyrus, and all the cities of the Hevites and Canaanites, and came forth to the south part of juda unto Berseba, and went round about that country, and after nine months and twenty days they came to jerusalem. And joab delivered unto the king the sum of the people that was numbered. And in Israel there were eight C. thousand strong men, that drew out the sword: and in juda five hundredth thousand men. And after that the people was numbered, David's heart smote himself. And David said unto the LORD: I have sinned sore, that I have done this. And now LORD take away the trespass of thy servant. For I have done very unwisely. And when David rose up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's Seer, & said: Go & speak unto David. Thus sayeth the LORD▪ I bring the three things, chose the one of them, that I may do it unto the. Gad came unto David, and told him, and said unto him: Will't thou that seven year dearth shall come in to thy land? Or that thou be fain to fly before thy adversaries three months, and they to persecute thee? Or that there be pestilence three days in the land? Take advisement therefore and see, what answer I shall bring again unto him that sent me. David said unto Gad: I am in extreme trouble. 〈…〉 Nevertheless (if it may be) let me rather fall in to the hands of the LORD (for his mercy is great) I will not fall in to the hands of men. So the LORD sent pestilence in to Israel from the morrow unto the time appointed, so that there died of the people from Dan unto Berseba, three score and ten thousand men. And when the angel stretched his hand over jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repent over the evil, and said unto the angel: It is enough, hold now thy hand. The angel of the LORD was beside the barn of Arafna the jebusite. But when David saw the angel that smote the people, he said unto the LORD: behold, It is I that have sinned, I have done the trespass: As for these sheep, what have they done? O let thy hand be against me and against my father's house. And Gad came to David at the same time, and said unto him: Go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the barn of Arafna the jebusite. So David went up as Gad said, and as the LORD had commanded. And when Arafna looked about him, he saw the king with his servants going unto him, and he worshipped upon his face to the ground, and said: Wherefore cometh my lord the king unto his servant? David said: To buy the barn of thee, and to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may cease from the people. But Arafna said unto David: Let my lord the king take it, and offer what pleaseth him. Behold, there is an ox for a burned offering, and sleddes, and vessels of oxen to the wood. All this gave Arafna unto the king. And Arafna said unto the king: The LORD thy God make the accepted unto him. Nevertheless the king said unto Arafna: Not so, but I will buy it of the for as much as it is worth. For I will not offer burned offerings unto the LORD, of that which I have for naught. So David bought the barn and the ox for fifty sickles of silver, and builded an altar there unto the LORD, and offered burned offerings & deed offerings. And the LORD was merciful unto the land, and the plague ceased from the people of Israel. The end of the second book of the kings, otherwise called the second book of Samuel. The third book of the kings. What this book containeth. Chap. I▪ Adonias seeketh his father's kingdom, Solomon is ordained king. Chap. II David before his death exhorteth Solomon to godliness. Adonias, joab and Semei are put to death. Abiathar is deposed from the priesthood. Chap. III Solomon optayneth wisdom of God. The wise sentence of Solomon between the two women that strove for the child. Chap. four The description of Salomons kingdom, and of his wisdom. Chap. V Hiram the king of tire sendeth Solomon cunning craftsmen to build the Temple. Chap. VI The description of the time when Solomon began to build the Temple, and how it was builded. Chap. VII. Solomon buildeth himself an house of the timber of mount Libanus. Chap. VIII. The Ark of the LORD is brought in to Salomons temple. The thanksgiving and prayer of Solomon. Chap. IX. The LORD appeareth unto Solomon, which giveth Hiram twenty cities &c. Chap. X. Queen Saba hearing of Salomons wisdom, cometh to jerusalem. Chap. XI. Solomon displeaseth God with the love of Heythenysh women. God divideth his kingdom, he dieth. Chap. XII. Roboam followeth young council, and maketh the people to cleave to Jeroboam, which setteth up Idolatry with the two golden calves. Chap. XIII. Jeroboam despiseth the prophet of the LORD, is punished, & received to grace again. A Lion slayeth the dishobedient prophet. Chap. XIIII. Jeroboam dieth, his son Nadab is king. Of Roboams' dominion. Chap. XU. Abia reigneth in juda, after him reigneth Asa, which hath war with Baasa the king of Israel, After him reigneth josaphath: and Baesa dieth. Chap. XVI. Ella reigneth in stead of his father Baesa. Simri slayeth him, and taketh the kingdom. The people are divided. Achab is king. Chap. XVII. A great drought & dearth in Elias tyme. The LORD feedeth him thorough the Ravens, and by the widow at Sarepta. Chap. XVIII. Elias cometh again unto Achab. All Baal's priests are slain. Chap. XIX. jesebel threateneth Elias, he flieth, and is fed and strengthened by the angel. The LORD talketh with him upon mount Horeb▪ Eliseus is called. Chap. XX. Benadab the king of Syria fighteth against Samaria and Israel, is overcome and discomfited. Chap. XXI. Achab oppresseth Naboth for his vineyard. Elias rebuketh him. Chap. XXII. josaphat and Achab help one another to fight. The prophet Micheas warueth them. The first Chapter. ANd when king David was old & well stricken in age, he could not be warm, though he was covered with clotheses. Then said his servants unto him: Let us seek a young damsel a virgin for our lord the king, to stand before the king, and to nourish him, & to sleep in his arms, and to warm our lord the king. And they sought a fair damsel in all the coasts of Israel, and found Abisag of Sunem, and brought her unto the king. And she was a very fair damsel, and nourished the king, and served him. Howbeit the king knew her not. Adonias the son of Hagith lift up himself, and said: I will be king. And he prepared him charettes and horsemen, and fifty men to be renners on foot before him. And his father reproved him not therefore, so much as to say: Wherefore dost thou so? And he was a man of a very fair beauty Reg. 3. a and he had begotten him next after Absalon. And his matter stood by joab the son of ZeruIa and by Abiathar the priest, which helped Adonias. But Sadoc the priest, and Benaia the son of joiada, and Nathan the priest and Semei and Rei, and David's Worthies were not with Adonias. And when Adonias offered sheep and oxen, and fat cattles beside the stone of Soheleth, which lieth by the ●su. 15. b 〈◊〉▪ 1●. c well of Rogel, he called all his brethren the kings sons, and all the men of juda the kings servants. But the prophet Nathan and Benaia, and the Worthies, and his brother Solomon called he not. Then said Nathan unto Bethseba Salomons mother: Hast thou not herd that Adonias is king, and our lord David knoweth not thereof? Come now therefore, I will give the council, that thou mayest deliver thy soul and the soul of thy son Solomon. Come now and go in to king David and say unto him: Hast not thou my lord the king sworn and said unto thy handmaiden: Solomon thy son shall be king after me, and he shall sit upon my seat? Why is then Adonias made king? Behold, while thou art yet there, and talkest with the king, I will come in after thee, and tell forth thy tail. And Bethseba went in to the king to the chamber. And the king was very old. And Abisag of Sunem served the king. And Bethseba bowed herself, and worshipped the king. The king said: What will't thou? She said unto him: My lord, Thou hast sworn unto thy handmaid by the LORD thy God: Thy son Solomon shall be king after me and sit upon my seat. But now lo, Adonias is king, and my lord the king knoweth it not. He hath offered oxen and fat cattles, and many sheep, and hath called all the kings sons, and Abiathar the priest, and joab the chief captain. But thy servant Solomon hath he not bidden. Nevertheless thou my lord art king, the eyes of all Israel look unto the., that thou shouldest show them who shall sit upon the seat of my lord the king after the. And when my lord the king sleepeth with his fathers then shall I and my son Solomon be fain to be sinners. But while she yet spoke to the king, the prophet Nathan came, and she told the king: behold, there is the prophet Nathan. And when he came in before the king, he worshipped the king upon his face to the ground, and said My lord O king, hast thou said: Adonias shall be king after me, & sit upon my seat? For he is go down this day, and hath offered oxen, and fat cattles, & hath called all the kings sons, and the captains, and the priest Abiathar. And behold, they eat and drink before him, and say: God save the king Adonias. But me thy servant, and Sadoc the priest, and Benaia the son of joiada, and thy servant Solomon hath he not called. Hath my lord the king commanded this, and not certified his servants who shall sit upon the seat of my lord the king after him? The king answered and said: Call Bethseba unto me. And she came in before the king. And when she stood before the king, the king swore and said: As truly as the LORD liveth (which hath delivered my soul out of trouble,) I will do unto the this day, even as I swore unto the by the LORD the God of Israel, so that Solomon thy son shallbe king after me, and he shall sit 'pon my seat in my stead- Then Bethseba bowed herself with her face to the ground, and thanked the king and said: God save my lord king David for evermore. And the king said: Call me the priest Sadoc & the prophet Nathan, and Benaia the son of joiada. And when they came in before the king, the king said unto them: Take your lords servants with you, and set my son Solomon upon my Mule, and carry him down to Gihen: and let Sadoc the priest and the prophet Nathan, anoint him there to be king over Israel, and blow the trump, and say: God save king Solomon, and go you up after him: and when he cometh, he shall sit upon my seat, and be king in my stead: for I have ordained him to be prince over Israel and juda. Then answered Benaia the son of joiada unto the king, & said: Amen. The LORD God of my lord the king say thus also. As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon also, that his seat may be greater than the seat of my lord king David. Then went they down, the priest Sadoc and the prophet Nathan, and Benaia the son of joiada, and the Chrethians, & Plethians, & set Solomon upon king David's Mule, & brought him to Gihen. And Sadoc the priest took the oil horn out of the Tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blue the trump: And all the people said: God save king Solomon. And all the people went up after him, and the people pyped with pipes, and was very joyful, so that the earth range at the noise of them. And Adonias heard it, and all they whom he had called, which were with him, and they had new eaten. And when joab heard the noise of the trump, he said: What means this noise of the cite and this business? But while he yet spoke, behold, jonathas the son of Abiathar the priest come. And Adonias said: Come in, for thou art a valiant man, and bryngest good tidings. jonathas answered and said unto Adonias: Alas, our lord king David hath made Solomon king, and hath sent with him Sadoc the priest, and the propheth Nathan, and Benaia the son of joiada, and the Chrethians and Plethians, and they have set him upon the kings Mule: and Sadoc the priest with the prophet Nathan hath anointed him king at Gihen, and from thence are they go up with joy, that the cite range with all: that is the noise that you have herd. Solomon also sitteth upon the kings seat, and the kings servants are go in to wish good luck unto over lord king David, and have said: Thy God make Solomon a better name than thy name is, and make his seat greater than thy seat. And they have wyszshed the king good luck upon the bed. moreover the king hath said thus: Praised be the LORD God of Israel, which this day hath made one to sit upon my seat, that mine eyes have seen it. Then were they afraid, and got them up all that were called by Adonias, and so they departed every man his way. But Adonias was afraid of Solomon, and got him up, and went his way, & took hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon: behold, Adonias fears king Solomon, & behold, he taketh hold of the horns of the altar, & sayeth: Let king Solomon swear unto me this day, that he shall not slay his servant with the sword. Solomon said: If he will be an honest man, there shall not one here fall from him upon the earth: but if there be evil found in him, he shall die. And king Solomon sent, and caused him to be fetched Exo. 21. b from the altar. And when he came, he fallen down before king Solomon. But Solomon said unto him: Go the way in to thy house. The II Chapter. NOw when the time came that David should die, he commanded Solomon his son, and said: josu. 2●. d I go the way of all the world, Be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man, and keep the watch of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways, and hold his ordinances, his commandments, his laws, and his testimonies, Deut. ●7. d as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest be wise in all that thou dost, and whither so ever thou turnest thee: that the LORD may raise up his word, which he hath spoken over me, and said: If thy children keep their way and walk before me faithfully and truly and with all their heart and withal their soul, them shall there never fail the a man upon the seat of Israel. Thou knowest well also what joab the son of ZeruIa hath done unto me, what he did unto the two chief captains of Israel, 2. Re. 3. e Abner the son of Ne'er, and 2. Re. 20. ● Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew and shed the blood of war when it was peace, & put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shues that were upon his feet: Do thou according to thy wisdom, that thou bring not his grey here down to the grave in peace. And to the children of Barsyllai the Gileadite, thou shalt show mercy, that they may eat at thy table. For so joined they themselves unto me, when I fled before thy brother Absalon. And behold, thou hast with the 2. Re. 16. b Semei the son of Gera the son of jemini of Bahurim, which cursed me with very bitter and shameful cursynges, what time as I went to Mahanaim. Yet 2 Re 19 d came he down to meet me at jordan, where I swore unto him by the LORD, and said: I will not slay the with the sword. But suffer not thou him to be unguilty, for thou art a wise man, and shalt well know what thou oughtest to do unto him, that thou mayest bring his grey here down to the grave with blood. Act. 2. c and 13. d So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the cite of David. The time that David was king over Israel, is forty year. 2. Reg. 5. a Seven years was he king at Hebron and three and thirty year at jerusalem. And Solomon sat upon the seat of David his father, 1. Pa. 30. e and his kingdom was made very sure. But Adonias the son of Hagith came in to Bethseba Salomons mother. And she said: Is thy coming peaceable? He spoke: Ye, and said: I have somewhat to ●aye to the. She said: Say on. He said: Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel had set themselves upon me, that I should be king, but now is the kingdom turned, and become my brothers: for he hath it of the LORD. Now desire I one petition of thee, Make not my face ashamed. She said unto him: Say on. He said: Speak unto king Solomon (for * that is: He shall not deny the thy pe●icion. he shall not shame thy face) that he may give me Abisag to wife. Bethseba said: Well, I will speak to the king for the. And Bethseba came in to king Solomon to speak with him. And the king stood up, and went to meet her, and worshipped her, and sat him down upon his seat. And there was a chair set for the kings mother, so that she sat at his right hand. And she said: One petition desire I of the make not my face ashamed. The king saydt: Axe O my mother, I will not shame thy face. She said: Let Abisag of Sunem be given thy brother Adonias to wife. Then answered king Solomon, and said unto his mother: Why desirest thou Abisag of Sunem for Adonias? Axe the kingdom or him also, for he is my greater brother, 〈…〉 and hath Abiathar the priest, and joab the son of Zeru ja. And the king swore by the LORD, and said: God do this and that unto me, Adonias shall have spoken this against his life. And now as truly as the LORD liveth which hath ordained me, and made me to sit upon the seat of my father David, and hath made me a house ( 〈…〉 according as he said) this day shall Adonias die. And king Solomon sent thither by Benaia the son of joiada, which smote him that he died. And to the priest Abiathar said the king: Go thy way unto Anathoe to thy land, for thou art a man of death. Nevertheless I will not slay the this day for thou hast born the Ark of the LORD God before my father David, and hast suffered also where my father suffered. Thus Solomon put forth Abiathar, that he must no more be the priest of the LORD, that the word of the LORD might be fulfilled, 〈…〉 which he spoke over the house of Eli at Silo. And this rumour came before joab: for joab cleaved unto Adonias, and not unto Solomon. Then fled joab in to the Tabernacle of the LORD, and took hold of the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon, that joab was fled in to the Tabernacle of the LORD, and behold, he standeth at the altar. Then sent Solomon Benaia the son of joiada, and said: Go slay him. And when Benaia came to the Tabernacle of the LORD, he said unto him: Thus sayeth the king: Come forth. He said: Not, I will die here. And Benaia told this unto the king again. and said: Thus hath joab spoken, and thus hath he answered me. The king said unto him: Do as he hath spoken, and slay him, and bury him, that thou mayest put fro me and my father's house the blood which joab hath shed with out a cause, and that the LORD may recompense him his blood upon his head, because he smote two men, which were more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword that my father David knew not of: namely, 〈…〉 Abner the son of Ne'er the chief captain over Israel, & Amasa the son of Jether the chief captain over juda that their blood may be recompensed upon the head of joab and of his seed for ever: 〈…〉 but David and his seed, his house and his seat have peace for evermore of the LORD. And Benaia the son of joiada went up, and smote him, and slew him: & he was buried in his house in the wilderness. And the king set Benaia the son of joiada in his stead over the host. And 〈…〉 Sadoc the priest did the king set in the stead of Abiathar. And the king sent, and caused for to call Semei, and said unto him: Build the an house at jerusalem, and devil there, and depart not from thence, neither hither ner thither. In what day so ever thou departest forth, and goest over the broken Cedron, be thou sure, that thou shalt die the death: thy blood be upon thy head. Semei said unto the king: This is a good meaning, as my lord the king hath said, so shall thy servant do. So Semei dwelled at jerusalem a long season. But after three year it fortuned that two servants ran away from Semei unto Achis the son of Maecha king of Gath. And it was told Semei: behold, thy servants are at Gath. Then Semei got him up, and saddled his ass, and went unto Gath to Achis, for to seek his servants. And when he came thither, he brought his servants from Gath. And it was told Solomon, that Semei went from jerusalem unto Gath, and was come again. Then sent the king, and caused for to call Semei, and said unto him: Swore not I to the by the LORD, and assured thee, and said: Look what day so ever thou departest out and goest hither or thither, be sure that thou shalt die the death? And thou saidest unto me: I have heard a good meaning. Why hast thou not kept the then according to the oath of the LORD, and commandment that I commanded thee? And the king said unto Semei: Thou remember'st all the wickedness, which thy heart knoweth 〈…〉 that thou didst unto my father David. The LORD hath recompensed the thy wickedness upon thy head. And king Solomon is blessed, and the seat of David shallbe established before the LORD for ever. And the king commanded Benaia the son of joiada, which went forth, and smote him that he died. And the kingdom was established by Salomons hand. The III Chapter. ANd Solomon made marriage with Pharaoh the king of Egipte, & took pharao's daughter, and brought her in to the cite of David, till he had builded his house, and the lords house, and the walls round about jerusalem. But the people offered yet upon the high places: for as yet there was no house builded unto the name of the LORD unto that tyme. But Solomon loved the LORD, and walked after the ordinances of David his father: except only that he offered and brent incense upon the high places. 2. Par. 1. a And the king went unto Gibeon, to do sacrifice there: for that was a goodly high place. Andrea Solomon offered a thousand burned offerings upon the same altar. 3. Reg. 9 a And the LORD appeared unto Solomon at Gibeon in a dream of the night, and God said: Axe what I shall give ye. Solomon said: Thou hast done great mercy unto my father David thy servant. Like as he walked before the in faithfulness and righteousness, and in a true heart with thee, & this great mercy hast thou laid up for him, and given him a son to sit upon his seat, as it is now come to pass. Sap. 9 a Now LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king in my father David's stead: As for me, I am but a small young man, knowing neither my outgoing ner ingoing. And thy servant is among the people whom thou hast choose: which is so great, that no man can number them ner describe them for multitude. give thy servant therefore an obedient heart, that he may judge thy people, & understand what is good & bad: for who is able to judge this thy mighty people? This pleased the LORD well, that Solomon axed such a petition. And God said unto him: For so much as thou axest this, and desirest not long life, neither riches, neither the souls of thy enemies, but understanding to hear judgement, behold, therefore have I done according to thy words. Eccle. 1. c Behold, I have given the an heart of wisdom and understanding, so that such one as thou hath not been before thee, neither shall rise up after the. Ye and that thou hast not prayed for, have I given the also, namely, riches, and honour, so that among the kings in the time there is not such one as thou. And if thou will't walk in my ways, so that thou keep mine ordinances and laws, ●. Re. 15. a as David thy father hath walked, then will I give the a long life. And when Solomon awaked, behold, it was a dream, 2. Par. 1. b and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the Ark of the lords covenant, and offered burned offerings, and health offerings, and made a great feast unto his servants. At the same time came there two harlots unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said: O my lord, I and this woman dwelled in one house, and I was delivered of a child in the house with her: & on the third day after that I was delivered, she was delivered of a child also. And we were together, so that there was no stranger in the house, but we two: & this woman's son died in the night (for she smoored him in the sleep) and she rose up in the night, and took my son fro my side (where thy handmaid slept,) and laid it in her arm, and her deed son laid she in mine arm. And when I rose up in the morning to give my son suck, behold, he was deed. But in the morning I looked well, and behold, it was not my son, whom I had born. The other woman said: Not so, my son liveth, and thy son is deed. But she said: Not so, thy son is deed, and my son liveth. And thus spoke they before the king. And the king said: This woman saith: my son liveth and thy son is deed: Yonder woman sayeth: Not so, thy son is deed, & my son liveth. And the king said: Fetch me a sword. And when the sword was brought before the king, the king said: part the living child in two parts, and give this woman the one half, and yonder woman the other half. Then said the woman whose son lived, unto the king: (for her motherly heart was kindled with pite over her son) O my lord, give her the child alive, and kill it not. But the other said: Let it neither be mine ner thy, but let it be parted. Then answered the king, and said: give this woman the living child, and slay it not, for she is his mother. And all Israel heard of this judgement that the king had given: and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to keep judgement. The four Chapter. THus was Solomon king over all Israel. And these were his princes: Asaria the son of Sadoc the priest: Elihoreph, and Ahi Iathe sons of Sisa, were priests: josaphat the son of Ahilud was chancellor: Benaia the son of joiada was the chief captain: Sadoc and Abiathar were priests: Asaria the son of Nathan was over the officers: Sabud the son of Nathan the priest was the kings friend: Ahisar was steward: Adoniram the son of Abda was rend gatherer. And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which made provision of food for the king and his house: One had a month long in the year to make provision: The son of Her upon mount Ephraim. The son of Deber at Macaz and at Saalbaim, & at Bethsames, and at Elon, and Beth Hanan. The son of Hased at Aruboth, and had thereto Socho and all the land of Hepher. The son of Abinadab all the lordship at Dor: & had Taphat Salomon'S daughter to wife. Baena the son of Ahilud at Thaenach & at Magiddo, & over all Beth Sean, which lieth beside Zarthana under jesrael from Beth Sean unto the plain of Mehelo, till the other side of jakmeam. The son of Geber at Ramoth in Gilead: he had the towns of jair the son of Manasse in Gilead, and had the coasts of Argob which lieth in Basan, even three score great walled cities, and with brazen bars. Ahinadab the son of Iddo at Mahanaim. Ahimaas in Nephtali: and he also took Basmath Salomons daughter to wife. Baena the son of Husai in Asser and at Aloth. josaphat the son of Paruha in Isachar. Semei the son of Ela in Ben jamin. Geber the son of Vri in the land of Gilead, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og the king in Basan. One officer was in the same land. As for juda and Israel, they were in number as the sand of the see, and ate and drunk, and were merry. 〈…〉 Thus was Solomon lord over all the kingdoms (from the water of the land of the philistines, unto the border of Egipte) which brought him gifts, and served him as long as he lived. And Solomon had daily to his vytayles thirty quarters of fine meel, three score quarters of other meel, ten fat oxen, and twenty small cattles, and an hundredth sheep, beside hearts and Roes, and wild goats, and fat capons, and fowls. For he had the lordship of all the land on this side the water, from Tiphsa unto Gasa, and over all the kings on this side the water: & had peace of all his subjects round about, so that juda and Israel dwelled safe, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan unto Berseba, as long as Solomon lived. And Solomon had forty thousand cart horses, and twelve thousand horsemen. And the officers provided the king Solomon with vytayles: and whatsoever belonged to the kings table, that brought every man in his month, and myssed not: Barley also & straw for the horses and coursers, & brought them unto the place where the king was, every one after his charge. 〈◊〉. 1. c And God gave Solomon marvelous great wisdom and understanding, and a large heart, as the sand that lieth upon the See shore: so that the wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the children toward the south and of all the Egipcians. Andrea he was wiser than all men, ye wiser than Ethan the Esrahite, Heman, Chalcal, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and had a great name among all the heathen on every side. And he spoke three thousand 〈…〉 proverbs, & his 〈…〉 songs were a thousand & five. And he spoke of trees, from the Cedar of Libanus unto the Isope that groweth out of the brickwall: he talked also of cattles, of fowls, of worms, of fiszshes. And there came of all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there came of all the kings of the earth, which had herd of his wisdom. The V Chapter. ANd Hiram the king of tire sent his servants unto Solomon, for he had herd, that they had anointed him king in his father's stead: For Hiram 〈◊〉. 3. c 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 loved David as long as he lived. 〈◊〉. 3. c 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 And Solomon sent unto Hiram, saying: 〈◊〉. 3. c 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉 23. b 〈…〉 Thou knowest that my father might not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God, because of the war that was about him, until the LORD delivered them under the soles of his feet: But now hath the LORD my God given me rest on every side, so that there is no adversary ner evil hindrance: Behold, I am therefore advised to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, according as the LORD spoke unto David my father, and said: 〈◊〉 7. c Thy son, whom I shall set upon thy seat in thy stead, shall build an house unto my name. Command therefore that they hew me down Ceders out of Libanus, and that thy servants be with my servants, & the reward of thy servants will I give thee, what so ever thou shalt axe: for thou knowest, that with us there is no man which can hew timber as the Sidonians. When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he was very glad, and said: Praised be the LORD this day, which hath given David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram sent unto Solomon, saying: I have herd what thou hast sent unto me: I will do according unto all thy desire with Ceders and Pine trees. My servants shall bring them down from Libanus unto the See, and I will make them to float upon the See, unto the place which thou shalt show me, and there will I 'cause them to aryve, & thou shalt make them to be fetched. But thou shalt fulfil my desire also, and give food unto my household folks. So Hiram gave Solomon Ceders and Pine trees according to all his desire. But Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand quarters of wheat to eat for his household, and twenty quarters of beaten oil. This gave Solomon yearly unto Hiram. And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, according as he had said unto him, & there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made a covenant both together. And Solomon made an outchosing (of workmen) thorough out all Israel. And the outchosing was thirty thousand men, and he sent them to mount Libanus every two months ten thousand, so that they were one month upon Libanus, and two months at home. And 3. Re. 4 a and 12. c Adoniram was over the outchosing. Andrea Solomon had three score thousand & ten that bore burdens, & four score thousand that hewed timber upon the mount, beside Salomons chief officers, which were ordained over the work: namely three thousand and three hundredth, which ruled the people that laboured there in the work. And the king commanded, that they should break out great and costly stones, namely frestone, for the foundation of the house. And Salomons masons, and Hirams, and they that were in those coasts, hewed out & prepared timber and stones to the building of the house. The VI Chapter. IN the four hundredth and four score year after the departing of the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte, 2. Par. 3. a Act. 7. f in the fourth year of the reign of Solomon over Israel, in the month Sif (that is the second month) was the house builded unto the LORD. This house that king Solomon builded unto the LORD, was three score cubytes long, twenty cubytes broad, & thirty cubits high. And he builded a joh. 10. c Act. 3 b and 5. b porch before the temple of twenty cubytes long after the breadth of the house, & ten cubits broad before the house. And in the house he made windows, which might be opened and shut with lyddes. And round about by the brickwall of the house he builded a compass, so that it went both about the temple and the quere, and made his outward brickwall round about. The neither most station was five cubytes wide, and the midst six cubits wide, and the third seven cubits wide. For he laid balks round about the house, that they touched not the brickwall of the house. And when the house was builded, it was builded of whole and outbroken stones, so that there was heard neither hammer ner axe, ner any other instrument of iron, when the house was a building. But on the right side of the mids of the house there was a door, so that they might go up to the midst station by a turn grese, & from the midst station unto the third. Thus builded he the house, & finished it, & syled the house both above & by the walls with Cedar wood. He builded a gallery also above upon the whole house five cubytes high, and covered the house with Cedar timber. And the word of the LORD came unto Solomon, & said: Let this be the house that thou buyldest. If thou shalt walk in mine ordinances, & do according to my laws, & keep all my commandments, to walk therein, then will I stablyszshe my word with thee, ( ●. Re. 7. b as I said unto David thy father) & will devil among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people of Israel. Thus Solomon builded the house, & finished it, & builded the walls on the inside with Cedar timber, from the ground of the house unto the roof, and syled it with timber on the ynsyde, and overlayed the floor of the house with boards of Pine tree. And behind in the house he builded a brickwall of Cedar timber twenty cubytes long, from the floor unto the roof. And there on the ynsyde builded he the quere for the most holy. But the house of the temple before the quere was forty cubits long: on the ynsyde was the whole house of Cedar with thrown knoppes and flowers, so that there was no stone seen. As for the quere, he prepared it on the ynsyde of the house, that the Ark of the covenant of the LORD might be set therein. And before the quere (which was twenty cubits long, twenty cubytes broad, and twenty cubytes high, and overlayed with pure gold) he syled the altar with Cedar. And Solomon overlayed the house on the ynsyde with pure gold, & shot bars of gold before the quere, which he had overlayed with gold, so that the whole house was laid over with gold. And all the altar also before the quere overlayed he with gold. 〈…〉 He made also in the quere two Cherubins ten cubits high of olive tree. One wing of either of the Cherubs had five cubytes, so that from the edge of his one wing to the edge of his other wing there were ten cubytes. Even so had the other Cherub ten cubits also, and both the Cherubs were of one measure and of one quantity so that either Cherub was ten cubits high. And he put the Cherubins within in the house. And the Cherubins spread forth their wings, so that the wing of the one touched the one brickwall, and the other Cherubs wing touched the other brickwall. But in the mids of the house the one wing ●●uched another. And he overlayed the Cherubins with gold. And on all the walls of the house round about, he caused to make carved work, with carved Cherubins, palm trees, and flowers. And the pavement of the house overlayed he also with golden plates. And at the entrance of the quere he made two doors of olive three with five squared posts, and caused carved work to be made thereof with Cherubins, palm trees and flowers, & overlayed them with plates of gold. So made he also at the entrance of the temple, four squared posts of olive tree, and two doors of Pine tree (so that either door had two side doors one hanging to another) and made carved work thereof, palm trees and flowers, right as it was appointed. And he builded a court also within with three rows of free stone, and with one row of plain Cedar timber. In the fourth year in the month Sif, was the foundation of the lords house laid: and in the eleventh year in the month Bul (that is the eight month) was the house finished as it should be, so that they were seven year a building of it. The VII. Chapter. But Solomon was a building his own house thirteen year, & finished it, namely, he builded an house of the wood of Libanus, an hundredth cubits long, fifty cubits wide, & thirty cubits high, fouresquared with rows of pilers, and with carved Ceders. And the roof above syled he also with Cederwodd upon the five & forty pilers, for one row had fifteen pilers, so that there stood ever three pilers one right over against another: so that every space betwixt the pilers was one over against another fouresquared with the pilers. And he made a porch with pilers which was fifty cubits long, and thirty cubits broad, & yet a porch before it with pilers & with a great post. He made a porch also unto the kings seat (wherein the judgement was kept) and made it to be the porch of judgement, and syled it with Cedar from the pavement unto the pavement again, and his own house wherein he dwelled, in the back court made between the house and the porch like the other. And like unto the porch made he a house for pharao's daughter, 〈◊〉. 3. a whom Solomon had taken to wife. All these were costly stone hewn after the measure, cut with saws on every side, from the ground unto the roof: and without the great court also. As for the foundations, they were costly and great stones, ten and eight cubits great: and costly free stones thereon according to the measure, and Ceders. But the great court round about had three rows of free stone, & one row of plain Ceders: Even so also the court by the hovof the LORD within, and the porch by the house. And king Solomon sent to fetch one 〈◊〉. 2. c Hiram of tire a wedowes son, of the tribe of Nephtali, and his father had been a man of tire, 〈…〉 which was a cunning man in metal, full of wisdom, understanding and knowledge to work all manner of metal work. When he came to king Solomon, he made all his work, 〈…〉 and made two brazen pilers, either of them eighteen cubits high: and a thread of xij. cubits was the measure about both the pilers: and he made two knoppes of brass melted, to set above upon the pilers: and every knop was five cubytes high: and on every knop above upon the pilers seven writhen ropes like chains. And upon every knop he made two rows of pomegranates round about on one rope, wherewith the knop was covered. And the knoppes were like roses before the porch four cubits great. And the pomegranates in the rows round about were two hundredth above and beneath upon the rope, which went round about the thickness of the knop, on every knop upon both the pilers. And set up the pilers before the porch of the temple. And that which he set on the right hand, called he jachin: and that which he set on the left hand, called he Boos. And so stood it above upon the pilers even like roses. Thus was the work of the pilers finished. And he made a molten laver ten cubytes wide from the one side to the other round about, and five cubits high, and a thread of thirty cubits long was the measure round about: and about the same laver that was then cubits wide, there went knoppes on the edge thereof round about the laver. Two rows were there of the knoppes melted with the laver. And it stood upon twelve bullocks, whereof three were turned toward the north, three toward the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east, and the laver above thereon, so that all their hinder parts were within under the laver: whereof the thickness was an handbreth: and the edge of it was like the edge of a cup, and as a flowered rose, and it contained two thousand * A Bat●●● was a certain measure of liqu●●re. Bats. And he made ten brazen seats, every one four cubits long and broad, and three cubits high. The seat was made so, that it had sides between the ledges. And on the sides between the ledges there were lions, bullocks and Cherubins. And on the ledges which were above and beneath the lions and bullocks, were the sides made so, that they were set downwards. And every stolen had four brazen wheels with brazen axeltrees. And upon the four corners there were props melted, every one over against another, underset unto the kettle. And the soket upon the stole was a cubit high and round, a cubit and an half wide: and on the soket there were knoppes in folds, which were four squared & not round. The four wheels stood beneath by the sides, & the axeltrees of the wheels were hard on the seat. Every wheel was a cubit and a half high, and they were wheels like cart wheels. And their axeltrees, spokes, nails, & shafts were all molten. And the four props upon the four corners of every seat were hard on the seat. And on the soket above upon the seat a cubit and an half round about, there were ledges and sides hard on the seat. And on the plat of the same sides and ledges, he caused to carve Cherubins, lions and palm trees, one by another round about thereon. After this manner made heten molten seats, one manner of measure & wideness was in all. And he made ten copper kettles, so that one kettle contained forty Bats, and was four cubits great, and upon every seat was a kettle. And five seats set he on the right side of the house, and the other five on the left side. But the laver set he before on the right hand toward the south. And Hiram made pots also and shovels and basins, & so finished he all the work, that king Solomon caused to be made in the house of the LORD: namely the two pilers, and the round knoppes above upon the two pilers, and the two writhen ropes to cover the two round knoppes upon the pilers. And the four hundredth pomegranates on the two writhen ropes, ever two rows of pomegranates unto every rope, to cover the two round knoppes upon the pilers. And the ten seats, and ten kettles thereon, and the laver, and twelve bullocks under the laver. And the pots, shovels and basins. And all the ornaments which Hiram made unto king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of pure metal. In the country by jordane, caused the king them to be melted in thick earth, between Sucoth and Zarthan. And Solomon let all the apparel be unweyed, because the metal was so much. moreover Solomon made all the apperell that belonged unto the house of the LORD: namely a golden altar, a golden table that the shewbred lay on, five candelstickes on the right hand, and five candelstickes on the left (before the quere) of pure gold, with flowers, lamps and snoffers of gold, thereto flat pieces, charges, basins, spoons and censors of pure gold. And the hokes of the doors on the inside of the house in the most holy, and in the doors of the house of the temple of the LORD were of gold. Thus all the work that king Solomon made in the house of the LORD, was fynisshed. ●. Par. 5. a And Solomon brought in that his father David had sanctified, of silver and gold and ornaments, and laid it among the treasures of the house of the LORD. The VIII. Chapter. THen gathered king Solomon all the Elders in Israel together, all the rulers of the tribes and princes of the fathers among the children of Israel, unto jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, ●. Re. ●. d out of the cite of David, that is Zion. And there resorted unto king Solomon all the men in Israel, at the feast in the month Ethanim, that is the seventh month. And when all the Elders of Israel came, the priests took the Ark of the LORD, and brought it up, and the Tabernacle of witness, and all the ornaments of the Sanctuary that were in the Tabernacle. This did the priests and the Levites. And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that were gathered unto him, went with him before the Ark, and offered sheep and bullocks, so many, that they could not be numbered ner told. So the priests brought the Ark of the LORDS covenant unto her place, even in to the Quere of the house in the most holy under the wings of the Cherubins. For the Cherubins spread out their wings in the place where the Ark stood, and covered the Ark and the staves thereof from above. And the staves were so long, that the knoppes of them were seen from the Sanctuary before the quere, but on the outside were they not seen, and they were there unto this day. And in the Ark there was nothing, but only the two tables of stone, 〈…〉 which Moses had laid therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, what time as they were departed out of the land of Egipte. But when the priests went out of the Sanctuary, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand & execute the office for the cloud: for the glory of the LORD filled the lords house. Then said Solomon: 〈…〉 The LORD said, that he would devil in a dark cloud. I have builded an ●ouse, to be an habitation unto thee: a seat, that thou mayest devil there for ever. And the king turned his face, & blessed all the congregation of Israel. And all the congregation of Israel stood, & he said: Praised be the LORD God of Israel, which promised by his mouth unto my father David, and by his hand hath fulfilled it, and said: 〈…〉 Sense the day that I brought my people of Israel out of Egipte, have I choose no cite among all the tribes of Israel, to build me an house, that my name might be there. 〈…〉 But David have I choose, to be over my people of Israel. And in deed my father David was minded to build an house unto the name of the LORD God of Israel: nevertheless the LORD said unto my father David: Where as thou wast minded to build an house unto my name, thou hast done well, that thou art so advised. Howbeit thou shalt not build the house, but thy son which shall come out of thy loins, he shall build an house unto my name. And the LORD hath performed his word that he spoke: For I am come up in my father David's stead, and sit upon the seat of Israel, as the LORD said: and have builded an house unto the name of the LORD God of Israel: and there have I ordained a place for the Ark, wherein is the lords covenant, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egipte. And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel, and held out his hands toward heaven, and said: 〈…〉 O LORD God of Israel, there is no god like thee, neither above in heaven, ner beneath upon earth, thou that keepest covenant and mercy for all thy servants that walk before the with all their heart, thou that hast kept promise with my father David thy servant: With thy mouth thou saidest it, and with thy hand hast thou fulfilled it, as it is come to pass this day. Now LORD God of Israel make good unto my father David the servant, that which thou hast promised him, and said: 〈…〉 Thou shalt not want a man before me to sit upon the seat of Israel, if thy children keep their way, so that they walk before me like as thou hast walked before me. Now thou God of Israel, let the word be verified, which thou hast promised unto my father David thy servant. For thinkest thou that God dwelleth upon earth? 〈…〉 Behold, the heavens and the heavens of all heavens may not contain thee: how should then this house do it, that I have builded? But turn the unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication (O LORD my God) that thou mayest hear the thanksgiving and prayer, which thy servant maketh before the this day, so that thy eyes be open over this house night and day, even over this place (whereof thou saidest: 〈…〉 My name shall devil there.) That thou mayest hear the prayer which thy servant maketh in this place, & hear the intercession of the servant & of thy people of Israel, which they shall make here in this place of thy habitation in heaven: and when thou hearest it, be gracious. When any man sinneth against his neighbour, 〈…〉. d 〈◊〉. 22. b and taketh upon him an oath wherewith he bindeth himself, and the oath cometh before thy altar in this house, then hear thou in heaven, and see that thy servants have right, to condemn the ungodly, and to bring his way upon his own head, and to justify the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. ●eu. ●0. a When thy people of Israel is smitten before their enemies (while they have sinned against thee) and if they turn unto the and knowledge thy name, & make their prayer and intercession unto the in this house, them hear thou them in heaven, and be merciful unto the sin of thy people of Israel, and bring them again into the land, that thou hast given unto their fathers. ●. Re. 1● When the heaven is shut up, so that it raineth not (for so much, as they have sinned against thee) and if they make their prayer in this place, and knowledge thy name, and turn from their sins when thou troublest them, hear thou them then in heaven, and be merciful unto the sins of thy servants, and of thy people of Israel, that thou mayest show them the good way, wherein they should walk, and let it rain upon the land that thou hast given thy people to inheritance. When a dearth, or pestilence, or drought, or burning, or grasshopper or catirpiller, is in their land, or when his enemy layeth league to his ports in the land, or when any other plague or disease happeneth, who so ever then maketh his prayer and petition, Esa. 36. b whether it be any other men or thy people of Israel (which then are ware of their plague) every one in his heart, and spreadeth out his hands unto this house: Hear thou then in heaven in the seat where thou dwellest, and be merciful, & see that thou give every one according as he hath walked, like as thou knowest his heart (for thou only knowest the heart of all the children of men) that they may allway fear thee, as long as they live in the land, which thou hast given unto our fathers. joh. 12. e Acto. ●. c And when any stranger, that is not of thy people of Israel, cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thy outstretched arm) and cometh to make his prayer in this house, hear thou him then in heaven, even in the seat of thy dwelling, and do all for the which that stranger calleth upon thee, that all the nations upon earth may know thy name, and that they may fear thee, as thy people of Israel do: and that they may know, how that this house which I have builded, is named after thy name. When thy people go forth to the battle against their enemies, the way that thou shalt send them Dan. 6. b and shall pray unto the LORD toward the way of the cite which thou hast choose, and toward the house that I have builded unto thy name, hear thou then their prayer and petition in heaven, and execute judgement for them. When they sin against thee (for acle. 7. c ●oh. 1. b there is no man that sinneth not) & thou be wroth, and deliver them unto their enemies, so that they carry them away captive in to the enemies land far or nigh, and if they remember themselves in the land where they are captive, and turn, and make their intercession unto the in the land of their captivity, and say: We have sinned, & done amiss, and have been ungodly, and so turn unto the with all their heart, and with all their soul in the land of their enemies (which led them away captive) and make their prayer unto the toward the way of their land, that thou hast given unto their fathers, even toward the cite which thou hast choose, and toward the house that I have builded unto thy name: then hear thou their prayer and supplication in heaven, ●●os 9 b from the seat of thy dwelling, and execute judgement for them, and be merciful unto thy people that have sinned against thee, and unto all their trespasses, wherewith they have transgressed against thee, ●sd. 1. a and grant them mercy in the sight of them which led them away presonners, that their enemies may be merciful unto them: for they are thy people, and thine inheritance, whom thou broughtest out of Egipte, from the iron furnace: that thy eyes may be open unto the petition of thy servant, and of thy people of Israel, that thou mayest hear them in all things for the which they shall call upon the 〈◊〉 19 a (for thou O LORD LORD) hast sundered them out to be an inheritance unto thyself, from among all the nations upon earth, according as thou saidest by Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egipte. Par. 7. a And when Solomon had ended all this prayer and petition before the LORD, he rose up from the altar of the LORD, and left of from kneeling and holding out of hands toward heaven, and stood and blessed all the congregation of Israel with loud voice, and said: Praised be the LORD which hath given rest unto his people, according as he said. There hath not one failed of all his good words, which he spoke by his servant Moses. The LORD our God be with us, as he hath been with our fathers, and forsake us not, neither withdraw his hand from us, but bow our hearts unto him, that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, ordinances and laws, which he commanded our fathers. And these words wherewith I have made my petition before the LORD, come nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he may execute judgement for his servant and for his people of Israel, every one at his time: that all nations upon earth may know, that the LORD is God, & that there is none other. And let your heart be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as it is this day. And the king with all Israel his people offered sacrifice before the LORD. And Solomon offered deed offerings (which he offered unto the LORD) two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundredth & twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD. The same day did the king dedicated the myddelmost court, which was before the house of the LORD: that he might there perform the burned offerings, meatofferynges, and the fat of the deed offerings: for the brazen altar that stood before the LORD, was to little for the burned offerings, meat offerings, and for the fat of the deed offerings. And at the same time made Solomon a solemn feast, and all Israel a great congregation with him, from the border of Hemath unto the river of Egipte, before the LORD our God, sevendayes, and yet seven days, that were fourteen days. And on the eight day he let the people go. And they blessed the king, and went unto their tents rejoicing and with a merry heart, because of all the good that the LORD had done unto David his servant, & to his people of Israel. The IX. Chapter. ANd when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the kings house, 〈…〉 and all that his desire and pleasure was to make, the LORD appeared unto him the second time, 〈…〉 even as he appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him: I have herd thy prayer and petition, that thou hast made before me, and have sanctified this house which thou hast builded, that I may set my name there for ever: and mine eyes and my heart shallbe there allway. And if thou walk before me (as thy father David walked) with a perfect and a true heart, so that thou do all that I have commanded thee, and keep mine ordinances and laws, then will I establish the ●eate of thy kingdom over Israel for ever, according as I promised thy father David, and said: 〈…〉 Thou shalt not want a man from the seat of Israel. But if you turn back fro me, you and your children, and keep not my commandments and ordinances which I have laid before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them, then will I rote Israel out of the land that I have given them. 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 7. a And the house that I have hallowed unto my name, will I put away fro my face. And Israel shall be come a byword and fabell among all nations, and so shall this high house: so that every one that goeth by, shall be astonied, and make an hissing, and say: 〈◊〉. 29. d 〈◊〉 22. b Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land and to this house? Then shall it be answered: Because they forsook the LORD their God, (which brought their fathers out of the land of Egipte) and have received other gods, and worshipped them, and served them. Therefore hath the LORD brought all this evil upon them. Now when the twenty years were ended, 〈…〉 wherein Solomon builded the two houses, the lords house and the kings house, 〈…〉 where unto Hiram the king of tire brought Solomon Cedar trees & Pine trees, and gold after all his desire, than gave king Solomon unto Hiram twenty cities in the country of Galilee. And Hiram departed from tire to visit the cities which Solomon had given him, & they pleased him not, and he said: What manner of cities are these (my brother) that thou hast given me? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. And Hiram sent unto the king, six score hundredth weight of Gold. And the same is the sum of the tax, that king Solomon raised to the building of the house of the LORD, and his own house, & milo, and the walls of jerusalem, and Hasor, and Megiddo, and Gazer. For Pharaoh the king of Egipte came up, and wan Gazer, & brent it with fire, & slew the Canaanites that dwelled in the cite, & gave it for a gift unto his daughter Salomon'S wife. So Solomon builded Gazer, & the lower Bethoron, and Baelath and Thamar, in the wilderness, in the land, & all the cities of the corn houses that Solomon had, and all the cities of the charettes, & all the cities of the horsemen, and what it pleased him to build at jerusalem, in Libanus, & in every country of his dominion. And all the remnant of the people of the Amorytes, hittites, Pheresites, Henites and jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, their children which they left behind them in the land (whom the children of Israel could not utterly destroy) those did Solomon make tributaries unto this day. Levi. 25 But of the children of Israel he made no bondmen, but let them be men of war, and his servants, and princes, and knights, and over his charettes and horsemen. And the officers which were over Salomons business, were five hundredth and fifty, which ruled the people, and performed the work. And pharao's daughter went up from the cite of David, in to her house 1. Re. 9 which he had builded for her. 2. Reg. 5. Then builded he milo likewise. And three times in the year did Solomon offer burned offerings and deed offerings upon the altar 7. Par. 4. that he had builded unto the LORD, and burned incense upon it before the LORD, and so was the house ended and finished. 1. Re. 22 2. Par. 8. And Solomon made ships also at Ezeon Geber, which lieth by Eloth beside the Reed See shor● in the land of the Edomites. And Hiram sent his servants by ship, which were shipmen, and had experience of the See, with Salomons servants, and they came unto jere. 10. Ophir, and fetched from thence one & twenty score hundredth weight of gold, and b●ought it unto Solomon. The X. Chapter. ANd when king Salomons fame of the name of the LORD came to the ears of the Queen of rich Arabia, 2. Par. 9 Mat. 1●. d she came to prove him with dark sentences. And she came to jerusalem with a marvelous great train, with camels which bore spices, and much gold, and precious stones And when she came in to king Solomon, she spoke unto him all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her every thing, and the king had nothing in secret, but he told it her. But when the Queen of rich Arabia saw all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had builded, and the meats of his table, and the dwellings of his servants, & the offices of his ministers, and their garments, and his butler's and the burned offerings which he offered in the house of the LORD, she wondered exceadingly, and could no longer refrain, but said unto the king: It is true that I have herd in my land of thy behaviour and of thy wisdom. And I would not believe it, till I came and saw it with mine eyes: and behold, the half hath not been told me. Thou hast more wisdom and good, than the fame is that I have herd. Happy are thy people and thy servants, that always stand before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Praised be the LORD thy God, which had such a pleasure unto thee, that he set the upon the seat of Israel: because he hath allway loved Israel, and hath set the to be king, that thou shouldest maintain justice and equity. And she gave the king six score hundredth weight of gold, and very much spice, and precious stones. There came never so much spice thither, as the Queen of rich Arabia gave unto king Solomon. And Hirams ships, ●. Re. 9 ● which carried gold out of Ophir, brought marvelous much costly timber and precious stones from Ophir. And of that costly timber the king caused to make pilers in the house of the LORD, and in the kings house, and haps and Psalteries for the Musicians. There came no more such costly timber, neither was it seen unto this day. And king Solomon gave the queen of rich Arabia, all that she desired and axed, besides that which he gave her of a fry hand. And she returned, and departed in to her land with her servants. The gold that came to Solomon in one year, was nine and thirty score hundredth weight, besides that which came of chapmen, merchants and Apotecaries, and of the next kings, and of the mighty men in the land. And king Solomon caused to make two hundredth spears of beaten gold, six hundredth pieces of gold put he to every spear: and three hundredth shyldes of the best gold, even three pound of gold upon every shield. And the king put them in the 1. Re. 7. a house of the wood of Libanus. And the king made a great seat of ivory, and overlayed it with the most precious gold. And the seat had six steps, and the head of the seat was round behind. And there were two posts to lean upon on both the sides of the seat, and two lions stood upon the leaning posts, and twelve lions stood upon the six steps on both the sides. Soch one hath not been made in any kingdom. All king Salomon'S drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels in the house of the would of Libanus were of pure gold also: for silver was not regarded in Salomons tyme. For the kings Seeshippe that sailed upon the See with the ship of Hiram, came once in three year, and brought gold, silver, ivory, Apes, and Peacocks. 〈…〉 Thus was king Solomon greater in riches and wisdom, than all the kings upon earth: And all the world desired to see Solomon, that they might hear the wisdom which God gave him in his heart. And they brought him yearly every man his present, vessels of silver and gold, raiment and harness, spices, horses and Mules. And Solomon brought charettes and horsemen together, so that he had a thousand and four hundredth charettes, and twelve thousand horsemen: and those he put in the chariot cities, and with the king at jerusalem. And the king brought it to pass, that there was as much silver at Jerusalem as stones: and as many Ceders as there were wild fig trees in the valleys. And Salomon'S horses were brought out of Egipte, and from Kena: for the kings merchants fetched them from Kena for money. And a chariot came up out of Egipte for six hundredth Sycles of Silver, and an horse for an hundredth and fifty. Thus were they brought also unto all the kings of the hittites and to the kings of Syria by their hands. The XI. Chapter. But king Solomon loved many out landish women, 〈…〉 pharao's daughter, and women of Moab, of Ammon, of Edom, of Sidon, and of Heth, even of those nations, that the LORD spoke of unto the children of Israel: Go not you unto them, 〈…〉 and let not them come unto you: they shall surely bow your hearts after their gods: Unto these did Solomon incline with affection. And he had seven hundredth women to wives, and three hundredth concubines, and his wives turned his heart aside. And when he was now old, his wives bowed his heart after strange gods, so that his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. So Solomon walked after Asta●oth the god of the Sidonians, and after Malcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did that which displeased the LORD, and followed not the LORD to the uttermost as did his father David. Then builded Solomon an high place unto Chamos the abomination of the Moabites (upon the mount that lieth before Jerusalem) and unto Moloch the abomination of the Ammunites. Thus did Solomon for all his outlandish wives, which brent incense, and offered unto their gods. But the LORD was wroth at Solomon, because his heart was turned aside from the LORD God of Israel, 〈…〉 which had two times appeared unto him, and commanded him, that he should not walk after other gods: and yet kept he not that the LORD commanded him. Therefore said the LORD unto Solomon: For so much as this is done with thee, and hast not kept my covenant and mine ordinances, which I commanded thee, therefore will I also pluck thy kingdom from thee, and give it unto thy servant: Neruertheles in the time will I not do it, for thy father David's sake, but from the hand of thy son will I pluck it. Howbeit I will not pluck the kingdom clean away. One tribe will I give unto thy son, for David my servants sake, and for jerusalems' sake which I have choose. And the LORD raised up an adversary unto Solomon, even Hadad the Edomite of the kings seed, which was in Edom. For when David was in Edom, and joab the chief captain went up to bury the slain, he smote all the males in Edom. (For joab remained there six months and all Israel, till he had rooted out all the males that were in Edom.) Then fled Hadad, and certain men of the Moabites with him, of his father's servants. As for Hadad, he was a young man. And they got them up fro Madian, and came unto Paran, and took men with them out of Paran, and came in to Egipte unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte: which gave him an house and certain vytales appointed, & gave him a country. And Adad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife even the sister of his own wife Thaphenes the Queen. And Thaphenes sister bore him Genubath his son, and Thaphenes nourished him up in pharao's house, in so much that Genubath was in pharao's house among pharao's children. Now when Hadad heard in Egipte, that David was fallen on slept with his fathers, and that joab the chief captain was deed, he said unto Pharaoh: Let me go in to my country. Pharaoh said unto him: What lackest thou with me, that thou will't go in to thy country? He said: Nothing, but yet let me go. God raised him up another adversary also, one Reason the son of El jada, which fled from his lord Hadad Eser king of Zeba, and gathered men against him, and was a captain of the men of war when David slew them: and they went unto Damascus and dwelled there, and reigned at Damascus, and he was Israel's adversary as long as Solomon lived. This is the harm that Hadad suffered: therefore had he evil will at Israel, and was king over Israel. moreover Jeroboam the son of Nebatan Ephraite Salomons servant (and his mother's name was Zeruga, a widow) lift up his hand also against the king. And this is the cause wherefore he lift up his hand against the king: When Solomon builded milo, he shut up a gap in the cite of David his father. And Jeroboam was a man of arms. And when Solomon saw that it was a meet young man, he set him over all the burdens of the house of joseph. But at the same time it fortuned, that Jeroboam went out from jerusalem, and the prophet Ahias of Silo found h●m by the way, and he had a new cloak upon him, and they two were alone in the field. And Ahia took hold of the new cloak that he had on, and rent the same in to twelve pieces, and said unto Jeroboam: Take thou ten pieces unto the. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Behold, even thus will I rent the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give the ten tribes. One tribe shall he have for my servant David's sake, and because of the city of jerusalem, 2. Par. 7. ● which I have choose out of all the tribes of Israel: for they have forsaken me, and worshipped Astaroth the god of the Sidonians, Chamos the god of the Moabites, and Malcon the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to fulfil my pleasure, mine ordinances, and laws, as did David his father. notwithstanding I will not take the whole kingdom from out of his hand, but will make him a prince as long as helyveth for my servant David's sake, whom I did choose, which kept my commandments & ordinances. 3. Re. 12. c From out of the hand of his son will I take the kingdom, and will give ten tribes unto thee, and one unto his son, 3 Re. 15. a Psal. 131. b that David my servant may allway have a lantern before me in the cite of jerusalem, which I have choose, that I may set my name there. Therefore will I take the now, to reign over all that thy heart desireth, and thou shalt be king over Israel. If thou follow now all that I shall command thee, and walk in my ways, and fulfil my pleasure to keep mine ordinances and commandments, as did my servant David, then will I be with thee, and build the a sure house, as I builded unto David, and will give Israel unto the and therewith will I subdue the seed of David, but not for evermore. But Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. Then Jeroboam got him up, and fled in to Egipte to Sisak the king of Egipte, and remained in Egipte, till Solomon died. What more there is to say of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, it is written in the Chronicles of Solomon. The time that Solomon was king at jerusalem over all Israel, is forty year. And Solomon fallen on sleep with his fathers, and was buried in the cite of David his father, and Roboam his son was king in his stead. The XII. Chapter. ANd Roboam went unto Sichem, for all Israel was come to Sichem to make him king. 2. Pa. 10. a And when Jeroboam the son of Nebat herd that, while he was yet in Egipte 3. Re. 11 g (whither he was fled for Solomon) he came again out of Egipte. Andrea they sent for him, and called him. And Jeroboam with all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Roboam, and said: Thy father made our yock to hard: therefore make thou now the hard bondage and the sore yock lighter, and we will submit ourselves unto the. He said unto them: Go your way unto the third day, and then come to me again. And the people went their way. And Roboam the king held a council with the Elders that stood before Solomon his father while he lived, & he said: What is your council, that we may give this people an answer? They said unto him: If thou do this people a pleasure to day, and follow their mind, and hear them, and give them good words, then shall they be obedient unto the as long as thou livest. Nevertheless he forsook the council that the Elders had given him, and axed council at the young men which were grown up with him, and stood before him. And he said unto them: What is your council that we may answer this people which have said unto me: Make the yock lighter, that thy father hath laid upon us. And the young men that were grown up with him, said unto him: Where as the people have said unto thee: Thy father hath made our yock to sore, make thou it easier for us, Thus shalt thou say unto them▪ My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. Now, my father laid a sore yock upon you, but I will yet say more thereon: My father correct you with scourges, but I will nurture you with scorpions. So upon the third day came Jeroboam with all the people unto Roboam, as the king had appointed and said, come to me again on the third day. And the king gave the people an hard rough answer, and forsook the council that the Elders had given him, and talked with them after the council of the young men, and said: My father made your yock sore, but I will make it yet sorer upon you. My father correct you with scourges, but I will nurture you with scorpions. Thus the king followed not the people's mind, for he was turned so from the LORD, that he might establish his word 〈…〉 which he spoke by Ahias of Silo unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. But when all Israel saw that the king would not hear them, the people gave the king an answere●and said: 〈…〉 What portion have we then in David or inheritance in the son of Isai? Get the to thy tents O Israel. Look thou now to thy house thou David. So Israel went unto their tents. As for Roboam, he reigned but over the children of Israel, which dwelled in the cities of juda. And when king Roboam sent thither Adoram the rent-gatherer, all Israel stoned him to death. But king Roboam strengthened himself, and got him up into a chariot, to i'll unto jerusalem. Thus departed Israel from the house of David unto this day. Now when all Israel heard, that Jeroboam was come again, they sent for to call him to the whole congregation, and made him king over all Israel. And no man followed the house of David, save only the tribe of juda. 〈…〉 And when Roboam came to jerusalem, all the house of juda and the tribe of Ben jamin (even an hundredth and four score thousand choose men of arms) gathered themselves together to fight against the house of Israel, & to bring the kingdom again unto Roboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Semeia the man of God, and said: Speak thou to Roboam the son of Solomon king of juda, and to all the house of juda and Ben jamin, and to the other people, and say: Thus sayeth the LORD: You shall not go up and fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man go home again, for this is my deed. And they herkened unto the word of the LORD, and turned back, to go their way, as the LORD said. But Roboam builded Sichem upon mount Ephraim, and dwelled therein, and departed thence, and builded 〈…〉 Penuel. jeroboam thought in his heart: The kingdom shall fall again now unto the house of David, if this people go up to offer in the lords house at jerusalem, and so shall the heart of this people turn to their lord Roboam king of juda, and then shall they slay me, and fall again to Roboam king of juda. And the king held a council 〈…〉 and made two golden calves, and said vn●o them: It is to much for you to go to Jerusalem: behold, 〈◊〉 32. b there is thy God (O Israel) which brought the out of Egipte. And the one set he at Bethel, & the other in Dan. And this deed turned to sin, for the people went before the one unto Dan. He made an house also in the high places, 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 ●7. g and made priests of the smallest in the people, which were not of the children of Levi. Andrea upon the fifteen day of the eight month he made an holy day, like as the solemn feast in juda, and offered upon the altar. Thus did he at Bethel, in doing sacrifice unto the calves which he had made, and at Bethel he ordained the priests of the high places that he had made: and offered upon the altar (which he had made) at Bethel, the fifteen day of the eight month, which he invented of his own heart. And he made the children of Israel an holy day, & went up to the altar to burn incense. The XIII. Chapter. ANd behold, there came a man of God from juda (thorough the word of the LORD) unto Bethel, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar thorough the word of the LORD, and said: O altar, altar, thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, there shall be born unto the house of David a son, josias by name Re. ●3. ● which on the shall offer the priests of the high places, that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall he burn on the. And he gave a wonder token the same day, and said: This is the token, that the LORD hath spoken it, behold, the altar shall rive, and the aszshes, that are thereon, shall be poured out. But when the king heard the word of the man of God, that cried against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand by the altar, and said: Say hands on him. And his hand that he stretched out, withered, and he could not draw it unto him again. And the altar rove, and the aszshes were poured out from the altar, according to the wonder token that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king answered, and said unto the man of God: Exod ●. b 9 f. 10. c Num. 21 b Act. 8. c O pray the face of the LORD thy God, and make intercession for me, that my hand may be restored unto me again. Then prayed the man of God unto the face of the LORD. And the kings hand was restored him again, and become as it was afore. And the king said unto the man of God: Come home with me, and dine, and I will give the a reward. But the man of God said unto the king: If thou givest me half thy house, I will not come with thee: for in this place will I neither eat bread, ner drink water. For thus am I commanded, and thus is it said unto me by the word of the LORD: Thou shalt eat no bread, and drink no water, neither return the way that thou wentest. And he departed another way, and returned not again the way that he came to Bethel. But at Bethel there dwelled an old prophet unto whom his sons came, & told him all the works that the man of God had done that day at Bethel, & the words that he had spoken unto the king. And their father said unto them: Which way is he go? And his sons showed him the way that the man of God was go: which came from juda. He said unto his sons: Saddle me the ass. And when they had sad led him the ass, he road thereon, and went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an Oak tree, and said unto him: Art thou the man of God that came from juda? He said: Ye. He said unto him: Come home with me, and eat bread. He said: I may not turn back with thee, and come with the. neither will I eat bread, ner drink water with the in this place: for it is spoken unto me by the word of the LORD: Thou shalt neither eat bread there, ner yet drink water, neither shalt thou go again by the way which thou wentest. He said unto him: I myself am a prophet as well as thou, and an angel hath spoken with me by the word of the LORD, and said: Bring him again with thee, that he may eat bread, and drink water. But he lied unto him, and brought him again, so that he ate bread, and drank water in his house. And when they sat at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet that had brought him again, and cried unto the man which was come from juda, and said: Thus sayeth the LORD: Because thou hast been dishobedient unto the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment that the LORD thy God commanded thee, but hast turned back, and hast eaten bread, and drunk water in the place, whereof he said unto thee: Thou shalt neither eat bread ner drink water, therefore shall not thy body come in to thy father's grave. And when he had eaten bread and drunken the ass was saddled unto the prophet whom he had brought again. 3. Re 20. f And when he was go, a lion found him by the way, & slew him, and his body was cast in the way. And the ass stood by him, and the lion stood by the body. And when men went by, they saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing beside the body, and came and told it in the cite, where the old prophet dwelled. When the prophet which had brought him again, heard that, he said: It is the man of God, that hath been dishobedient un the mouth of the LORD, therefore hath the LORD delivered him unto the Lion, which hath rent him, and slain him, according to the word that the LORD spoke unto him. And he said unto his sons: Saddle me the ass. And when they had saddled it, he went, and found his body cast in the way and the ass and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had eaten nothing of the body, neither had he torn the ass. Then took the prophet the deed coarse of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it again in to the cite of the old prophet, to mourn, and to bury him. And he laid the coarse in his own grave, and they mourned for him: Alas my brother. And when they had buried him, he said unto his sons: When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried, and lay my bones beside his bones. 4. Re. 24 d For it shall come to pass, that he cried (thorough the word of the LORD) against Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places, which are in the cities of Samaria. Howbeit after this act did not jeroboam turn from his evil way, but was perverted, and made priests of the high places, even of the smallest of the people: Look whom it pleased him, his hands he filled, & he was priest of the high places. And this turned to sin unto the house of jeroboam, to destroy him and to bring him to naught. The XIIII. Chapter. AT the same time was Abia the son of Jeroboam sick, and Jeroboam said unto his wife: Get the up, and disguise thee, so that no man perceive that thou art jeroboams wife, and go unto Silo: behold, there is the prophet Ahias, 〈…〉 which promised me that I should be king over this people: and take with the ten loaves of bread and cakes, and a cup with honey, & go to him, that he may tell the how it shall go with the child. And jeroboams wife did so, and got her up, and went unto Silo, and came in to the house of Ahias. But Ahias could not see, for his eyes were dim for age. Nevertheless the LORD said unto Ahias: Behold, jeroboams wife cometh, to axe a matter at the for her son, for he is sick. Speak thou therefore unto her thus & thus Now when she came in, she showed herself strange. But when Ahias heard the noise of her feet going in at the door, he said: Come in thou wife of jeroboam. Why showest thou thyself so strange? I am sent unto the an hard messenger. Go thy way and tell Jeroboam: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: 〈…〉 I have exalted the from among the people, and set the to be prince over my people of Israel, and have rent the kingdom from the house of David, and given it the. But thou hast not been as my servant David, which kept my commandments, and walked after me with all his heart, so that he did only the thing that was right in my sight: and thou hast done worse than all they that have been before thee: thou hast go thy way and made the other gods, and molten images, to provoke me unto wrath, and hast cast me behind thy back. Behold therefore, I will bring misfortune upon the house of Jeroboam, and will rote out from Jeroboam even him that maketh water against the brickwall, the prisoner and forsaken in Israel: and the posterity of the house of Jeroboam will I sweep out, as dung is swept out, till he be clean brought to nought. 〈…〉 He that dieth (of Jeroboam) in the cite, the dogs shall eat him up. But him that dieth in the field, shall the fowls of the air eat up, for the LORD hath spoken it. Get the up therefore, and go home, & when thy feet enter in to the cite, the child shall die. And all Israel shall bewail him, and bury him. For he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because there is some good found in him before the LORD God of Israel, in jeroboams house. 〈◊〉. 15. c But the LORD shall raise him up a king, which shall rote out the house of Jeroboam in that day. And what is it, that is now in hand all ready? And the LORD shall smite Israel, like as a reed is moved in the water: & shall rote out Israel from this good land, that he gave unto their fathers, & shall scatter them beyond the water, because they have made their groves to provoke the LORD unto wrath. And Israel shall be given over because of the sin of Jeroboam, which hath sinned himself, & made Israel to sin. And jeroboams wife got her up, went her way, & came unto Thirza. And when she came upon the threshold of the house, the child died, & they buried him, & all Israel made lamentation for him, 〈◊〉. 14. c according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahia the prophet. 〈…〉 What more there is to say of Jeroboam, how he fought & reigned, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. The time that Jeroboam reigned, was two & twenty year. And he slept with his fathers. And Nadab his son was king in his stead. Roboam the son of Solomon was king in juda. 〈◊〉. 12. c One and forty year old was Roboam when he was made king, & seventeen year reigned he at jerusalem, in the cite that the LORD had choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to set his name there. His mother's name was Naemaan Ammonitisse. And juda did that which displeased the LORD, & provoked him to indignation more than all that their fathers had done with their sins which they did: for they likewise builded them high places, pilers, and groves upon every high hill, and among all green trees. There were whoremongers also, & they did all the abominations of the Heythen, whom the LORD drove out before the children of Israel. 〈◊〉. 12. a But in the fifth year of king Roboam went Sisack the king of Egipte up against jerusalem, & took the treasure out of the house of the LORD, & out of the kings house, & all that might be got, & took all the shyldes of gold, 〈◊〉. 1●. c 〈◊〉. 9 b which Solomon caused to be made. In stead whereof the king Roboam caused for to make shyldes of steel, & committed them under the hands of the chief footmen, which kept the door of the kings house. And as often as the king went in to the house of the LORD, the foot men bore them, and brought them again in to the foot men's chamber. What more there is to say of Roboam, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. But between Roboam & Jeroboam there was war as long as they lived. And 2. Par. 12. Robobam slept with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the cite of David. And his mother's name was Naema an Ammonitisse. And his son Abia was king in his stead. The XU. Chapter. IN the eighteenth year of king jeroboam the son of Nebat, 2. Par. 13. ● was Abia king in juda, and reigned three year at jerusalem. His mother's name was. 2. Par. 11. Maecha, the daughter of Abisalom, and he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him, and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 3. Reg. 11. For because of David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lantern at jerusalem, so that he raised his son after him, & manteyned him at jerusalem, because David did the thing that was right in the sight of the LORD, and departed not from all that he commanded him as long as he lived (saving in the matter with 2. Re. 11. a Urias the Hittite). But there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam, as long as he lived. What more there is to say of Abia, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. There was war also between Abia and Jeroboam. And Abia slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the cite of David. And Asa his son was king in his stead. 2. Par. 14. a In the twentieth year of king Jeroboam over Israel, was Asa king in juda, and reigned one & forty year at jerusalem. His grand mother's name was Maecha the daughter of Abisalom. And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, as did his father David. And he removed the 3. Re. 22. g who remongers out of the land, and put down all the Idols that his fathers had made. 2. Par. 15. d He put his mother from the ministration, that she had made unto Miplezeth in the grove. And Asa rooted out her Miplezeth, and brent it in the broken Cedron: but the high places put he not down. Yet was the heart of Asa perfect with the LORD as long as he lived. And the silver and gold, and vessels that his father had hallowed, & such as was sanctified unto the house of the LORD, that brought he in. And there was war between Asa & Baesa the king of Israel, as long as they lived. Baesa the king of Israel went up against juda, ●. Par. 16. a and builded Rama, that no man should go out and in of Asas side the king of juda. Then took Asa all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and in the treasure of the kings house, and delivered it in to his servants hands, & sent it unto ● Re 10▪ a Benadab the son of Tabrimon the son of Hesion king of Syria, which dwelled at Damascon, and let say unto him: There is a covenant between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: therefore send I the a present of silver and gold, that thou shouldest break the covenant which thou hast with Baesa the king of Israel, that he may depart fro me. Benadab agreed unto king Asa, and sent his captains against the cities of Israel, and smote jion and Dan, & Abel Beth Maecha, and all Cineroth with the whole land of Nephtali. When Baesa heard that, he left of from building Rama, and went again unto Thirza. King Asa caused it be proclaimed in all juda: Here be no man except. And they took away the stones and timber from Rama, wherewith Baesa had builded. And king Asa builded Geba Ben jamin & Mispa therewith. What more there is to say of Asa, and of all his power, and all that he did, and of the cities which he builded, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda: saving that in his old age he was diseased in his feet. And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the cite of David his father. 2. Par. 17. a And josaphat his son was king in his stead. But Nadab the son of Jeroboam was king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of juda, & reigned over Israel two year, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. Howbeit Baesa the son of Ahia of the house of Isachar conspired against him, & smote him at Gibbethon, which was the philistines: for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon. So Baesa slew him in the third year of Asa king of juda, & was king in his stead. 〈…〉 Now when he was king, he smote all the house of Jeroboam, and let nothing of Jeroboam remain that had breath, till he had destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Ahia of Silo, because of jeroboams sins which he did, & made Israel sin withal: even with the provoking wherewith he displeased the LORD God of Israel. What more there is to say of Nadab, & all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel, and there was war between Asa & Baesa the king of Israel, as long as they lived. In the third year of Asa king of juda was Baesa the son of Ahia king over all Israel at Thirza four and twenty year, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin. Nevertheless the word of the LORD came unto jehu the son of Hanani against Baesa, and said: For so much as I lifted the out of the dust, and made the prince over my people of Israel, and thou walkest in the way of Jeroboam, and makest my people over Israel for to sin, to provoke me unto wrath thorough their sins, behold, therefore will I take away the posterity of Beasa, and the posterity of his house, and will set thy house even as the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 〈…〉 He that of Baesa dieth in the cite, the dogs shall devour him: and who so being of him dieth in the field, the fowls of the air shall eat him up. What more there is to say of Baesa, & what he did, & of his power, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Baesa slept with his fathers, & was buried at Thirza: & his son Ella was king in his stead. And the word of the LORD came by the prophet jehu the son of Hanani, over Baesa, and over his house, and against all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him unto wrath thorough the works of his hands: so that he become as the house of Jeroboam, and because he slew 〈…〉 this man. The XVI. Chapter. IN the six & twentieth year of Asa king of juda, was Ella the son of Baesa king over Israel at Thirza two year. Nevertheless his servant Simri, the principal man over the half of the charettes conspired against him. As for Ella, he was at Thirza, drank & was drunken in the house of Arza the ruler of Thirza. And Simri came in, and slew him in the seven & twentieth year of Asa king of juda, and was king in his stead. 〈…〉 And when he was king, and sat upon his seat, he smote all the house of Baesa, & left not so much as one to make water against the brickwall: his blood avengers' also & his friends. 〈…〉 Thus did Simri destroy all the house of Baesa, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke over Baesa by the prophet jehu, because of all the sins of Baesa and of Ella his son, which they did, and made Israel for to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel unto wrath thorough their vanities. What more there is to say of Ella, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. In the seven and twentieth year of Asa king of juda, was Simri king seven. days at Thirza, and the people lay before Gibbethon of the philistines. But when the people in the host heard say that Simri had conspired and slain the king, than all Israel the same day made Amri the chief captain king over all in the host. And Amri went up and all Israel with him from Gibbethon, and laid siege unto Thirza. ● Re. 9 f But when Simri saw that the cite should be won; he went in to the palace in the kings house, & brent it with the kings house, & died because of his sins which he had committed, in that he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sins which he did, wherewith he made Israel to sin. What more there is to say of Simri, and how he conspired, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. At the same time were the people divided in two parts: the one part held with Thibni the son of Ginath, that they might make him king: the other half held with Amri. But the people that held with Amri, were mightier than the people which held with Thibni the son of Ginath. And Thibni died, and Amri was king. In the one and thirtieth year of Asa king of juda, was Amri king over Israel twelve years, & reigned at Thirza six years. He bought the mount of Samaria of Semer for two hundredth weight of silver, & builded upon the mount, and called the cite which he builded, after the name of Semer the owner of the mount of Samaria. And Amri did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and was worse than all they that were before him, and walked in all the ways of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin, so that they provoked the LORD God of Israel unto wrath in their vanities. What more there is to say of Amri, & all that he did, and his power that he exercised, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Amri slept with his fathers, & was buried in Samaria, and Achab his son was king in his stead. In the eight & thirtieth year of Asa king of juda, was Achab the son of Amri king over Israel, & reigned over Israel at Samaria two & twenty year, & did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all they that were before him. And he thought it but a small matter to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat: Deut. 7. a and took jesabel the daughter of Eth Baal king of Sidon to wife, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And unto Baal he set up an altar in Baal's house, which he builded him in Samaria, and made a grove: so that Achab did more to provoke the God of Israel unto wrath, than all the kings that were before him in Israel. At the same time did Hiel of Bethel build jericho: josu. 6. e It cost him his first son Abiram, that he laid the foundation: & his youngest son Segub, that he set up the ports: according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by josua the son of Nun. The XVII. Chapter. ANd Elias the Theszbite one of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Achab: 3. Re. 18 f 4. Re. 3. c jacob 5. c Luc. 4. c As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, whose servant I am, there shall neither rain ner dew come this year, except I speak it. And the word of the LORD came unto him, and said: Get the hence, and turn the toward the east, and hide the bythe river Crith, which is over against jordane, and thou shalt drink of the river: and I have commanded the ravens, that they shall feed the there. He departed, and did according to the word of the LORD, and went his way, and sat him down by the river Crith, which is over against jordane. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning and in the evening, and he drank of the river. And it fortuned after cerayne days, that the river was dried: up for there was no rain in the land. Then came the word of the LORD unto him, and said: 〈◊〉. 4. c Get the up, and go unto Sarepta, which lieth by Sidon: for there have I commanded a widow to make provision for the. Andrea he got him up, and went unto Sarepta. And when he came to the gate of the cite, behold, the widow was there, and gathered sticks. And he called her, and said: Fetch me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he cried unto her, & said: Bring me a morsel of bread also in thy hand. She said: As truly as the LORD the God liveth, I have no bread, but an handful of flower in a pitcher, & a courtesy oil in a cruse: and behold, I have gathered up one or two sticks, & will go and prepare it for me and my son, that we may eat and die. Elias said unto her: Fear not, go thy way, & do as thou hast said: yet make me first a morsel of bread thereof, & bring it me forth: & afterward shalt thou make it for the & thy son. For thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: The meell in the pitcher shall not be spent, & the oil in the cruse shall not fail, unto the day that the LORD shall 'cause it for to rain upon earth. She went & did as Elias said. And he ate, & she also, and her house a certain season. The meel in the pitcher was not mynished, and the oil in the cruse failed not, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Elias. And after these acts the son of the wife of the house was sick: and his sickness was so exceeding sore, that there remained no breath in him. And she said unto Elias: What have I to do with thee, thou man of God? Art thou come in unto me, that my sin should be kept in remembrance, & that my son should be slain? He said unto her: give me thy son. And he took him from her lap, & carried him up in to the chamber where he himself dwelled, and laid him upon his bed, & called upon the LORD, and said: O LORD my God, hast thou dealt so evil with the widow with whom I devil, that thou wouldest slay her son? And Eccli. 48. a he stretched out himself over the child three times, & called upon the LORD, and said: O LORD my God, let the soul of this child come again in to him. And the LORD heard the voice of Elias. And the soul of the child came again unto him, & he revived. And Elias took the child, and brought him down from the chamber in to the house and delivered him unto his mother, and said: Behold, thy son liveth. And the woman said unto Elias: Now know I, that thou are a man of God, & that the word of the LORD is in thy mouth of a truth. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd after a long season came the word of the LORD unto Elias in the third year, & said: 〈…〉 Go thy way, & show the self unto Achab, that I may 'cause it for to rain upon earth. And Elias went to show himself unto Achab. But there was a great dearth in Samaria. And Achab called Abdia his chief officer: (As for Abdia, he feared the LORD greatly: for when jesabel rooted out the prophets of the LORD, Abdia took an HUNDRED prophets, and hid them in caves, here fifty, & there fifty, & provided for them with bread and water.) Achab now said unto Abdia: Go thorough the land unto all the wells of water & rivers, if happily we may find hay, & to save the horses & mules, that all the cattles perish not. And they parted themselves in to the land, to go thorough it. Achab departed the one way alone, and Abdia the other way alone. Now when Abdia was on the way, Elias met him. And when he knew him, he fallen down upon his face, & said: Art not thou my lord Elias? He said: ye, go thy way, and tell the lord: behold, Elias is here. But he said: What have I offended, that thou will't deliver thy servant in to the hands of Achab, that he may slay me? As truly as the LORD thy God liveth, there is no people ner kingdom, but my lord hath sent thither to seek the. And when they said: He is not here, he took an oath of the same kingdom and nation, that they had not found the. And now thou sayest: Go tell the LORD: behold, Elias is here. Now when I were go from thee, the spirit of the LORD should take the away, I can not tell whither: and if I then came and told Achab, and found the not, he should slay me: But thy servant fears the LORD from his youth up. Hath it not been told my lord what I did, when jesabel slew the prophets of the LORD, how that I hid an hundredth of the lords prophets, here fifty, and there fifty in the caves, and provided for them with bread and water? And thou sayest now: Go thy way, tell thy lord: Elias is here, that he may slay me. Elias said: As truly as the LORD Zebaoth liveth, before whom I stand, I will show myself unto him this day. Then went Abdia to meet Achab, & told him. And Achab went for to meet Elias. And when Achab saw Elias, Achab said unto him: Art thou he that troublest Israel? He said: I trouble not Israel, 〈◊〉. 4. c but it is thou and thy father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and walk after Baal. God to, send forth now, and gather me all Israel together unto mount carmel, and the four hundredth and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundredth prophets of the grove, which eat of jesabels' table. So Achab sent unto all the children of Israel, & gathered the prophets together unto mount carmel. Then stepped Elias unto all the people, & said: How long halt you on both the sides? If the LORD be God, them walk after him: but if Baal be he, them follow him. And the people gave him no answer. Then said Elias unto the people: I only am left a prophet of the LORD: but Baal's prophets are four C. and fifty men. give us now two bullocks, & let them choose one bullock, & hew him in pieces, & lay him upon the wood, & put no fire thereon: so will I take the other bullock, & lay him upon the wood, & put no fire thereon also: call you then upon the name of your god, & I will call upon the name of the LORD: look which God now answereth with fire, let the same be God. And all the people answered & said: That is right. And Elias said unto Baal's prophets: Chose you one bullock, and do you it first (for you are many) and call you upon the name of your god, & lay no fire thereon. And they took the bullock which he gave them, & prepared it, & called upon the name of Baal from the morning until the noon day, and said: O Baal hear us. But there was neither voice ner answer. And they hopped about the altar, as their use was to do. Now when it was noon day, Elias mocked them, and said: Cry loud. For he is a god, peradventure he is musing, or hath somewhat to do, or is go some journey, or happily he sleepeth, so that he would be waked up. And they cried loud, and provoked themselves with knives & botkens, (as their manner was) till the blood followed. But when the noon day was past, they prophesied until the time that the meat offering should be offered, & there was neither voice ner answer, ner one to regard them. Then said Elias unto all the people: Come hither all you people unto me. And when all the people came to him, he repaired the ● Re. 14. c altar of the LORD that was broken, josu. 4 b & took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the children of jacob (unto whom the word of the LORD spoke, and said: Gen. 3 and 35. Thy name shall be Israel) and of the stones he builded an altar in the name of the LORD, & made a pit round about the altar, like two forowes in the corn land, & prepared the wood, & hewed the bullock in pieces, and laid him upon the wood, & said: Fetch four pitchers full of water, and poured it upon the burned offering, and upon the wood. And he said: Do it yet once. And they did it once again. And he said: Do it the third tyme. And they did it the third tyme. And the water ran about the altar, and the pit was full of water also. And when the time was to offer the meat offering, Elias stepped forth, and said: O LORD God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Israel, let it be known this day, that thou art God in Israel, and I thy servant, and that I have done all this according unto the word. Hear me O LORD, O hear me, that this people may know, how that thou art the LORD God, that thou mayest afterward turn their hearts. jud. 6. d Eccli▪ 4● 2. Mac. 1. Then fallen down the fire of the LORD, and consumed the burned offering, the wood, the stones and the earth, and licked up the water that was in the pit. When all the people saw that, they fallen upon their faces, and said: The LORD is God, the LORD is God. Elias said unto them: Deut. 12. ● and 17. b Say hands upon Baal's prophets, that none of them escape. And they took them. And Elias brought them down unto the broken Cyson, & slew them there. And Elias said unto Achab: Go up, eat & drink, for it soundeth as though it would rain sore. And when Achab went up to eat & drink. Elias ascended up to the top of Carmel, & bowed himself down to the earth, & put his head between his knees, & said unto his lad: Go up, and look toward the See. He went up & looked, & said: There is nothing. He said: Go again seven times. And at the seventh time he said: Behold, there goeth up a little cloud out of the see, like a man's hand. He said: Go up, and say unto Achab: Bind the chariot, & go down, that the rain overtake the not. And or a man could turn him, the heaven was black with clouds & wind, & there came a great rain. But Achab road his way, & departed unto jesrael. And the hand of the LORD came upon Elias, and he gird his loins, & ran before Achab, till he came unto jesrael. The XIX. Chapter. ANd Achab told jesabel all that Elias had done, & how he had slain all Baal's prophets with the sword. Then sent jesabel a messenger unto Elias, saying: The gods do this & that unto me, if I tomorrow about this time, make not thy soul as one of these. Then was he afraid, & got him up, & went where he would, & came unto Berseba in juda, and left his lad there. But he himself went a days journey in to the wilderness, & came in, & sat him down under a juniper tree, & wyszshed unto his soul that he might die, & said: It is now enough LORD, take my soul, for I am no better than my fathers. And he laid him down & slept under the juniper tree. And behold, the angel touched him, & said unto him: stand up, and eat. And he looked about him, & behold, at his head there was a bread baken on the coals, & a cruse with water. And when he had eaten and drunken, he laid him down again to sleep. And the angel of the LORD, came again the second time, & touched him, & said: stand up, and eat, for thou hast a great way to go. And he arose, and ate and drank, and went on thorough the strength of that meat ●xo. 34. d ●att. 4. a forty days and forty nights, even unto Horeb the mount of God: and there he came to a cave, and abode there all night. And behold the word of the LORD came to him, and said unto him: What dost thou here Elias? He said: I have been zealous for the LORD God Zebaoth: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, and broken down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword, and I am left only, & they seek to take away my life. He said: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And behold, the LORD went over: and a great mighty wind, which rove the mountains, and broke the hard stones, came before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind came there an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earth quake there came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came there a still soft hyssinge. When Elias heard that, he covered his face with his cloak, and went forth, and stood in the door of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said: What hast thou here to do Elias? He said: I have been zealous for the LORD God Zebaoth: 〈…〉 for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, broken down thy altars, slain the prophets with theswerde, & I only am left, and they seek to take away my life. But the LORD said unto him: Go the way again thorough the wilderness unto Damascon, & go in, 〈…〉 & anoint Hasael king over Syria, 〈…〉 & jehu the son of Nimsi king over Israel, & Eliseus the son of Saphat of Abel Mehola to be prophet in the stead. And it shall come to pass, that, who so escapeth the sword of Hasael, jehu shall slay him, & who so escapeth the sword of jehu, Eliseus shall slay him. 〈…〉 And I will reserve unto me seven. M. men in Israel: namely, all the knees which have not bowed themselves unto Baal, and every mouth that hath not kissed him. And he departed thence, & found Elizeus the son of Saphat, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, & he himself was among the twelve. And Elias went unto him, & cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen, & ran after Elias, & said: 〈…〉 Let me kiss my father & my mother, and so will I follow the. And he said unto him: Go thy way, & come again, for I have some what to do with the. And he ran again from him, and took a yock of oxen, and offered it, and sod the flesh with the wood of the oxen ploughs, and gave it unto the people to eat, and got him up, & followed Elias, and ministered unto him. The XX. Chapter. ANd 〈…〉 Benadab the king of Syria gathered all his power, & there were two & thirty kings with him, & horses & charettes, and he went up, and laid siege unto Samaria, & fought against it. And he sent messaungers unto Achab the king of Israel in to the cite, & caused to say unto him: Thus sayeth Benadab: Thy silver & thy gold is mine, and thy wives & thy best children are mine also. The king of Israel answered, & said: My lord O king, even as thou hast said, I am thy, and all that I have. And the messaungers came again, & said: Thus sayeth Benadab: For so much as I have sent unto thee, saying: Thy silver & thy gold, thy wives & thy children shalt thou give me, tomorrow about this time will I send my servants unto thee, that they may search thine house and the houses of thy subjects: & look what pleasant thing thou hast, that shall they take in their hands, and carry it away. So the king of Israel called all the Elders of the land, & said: Mark well & see, what mischief this man seeketh: He sent unto me for my wives & children, for silver & gold, & I have not said him nay. Then said all the Elders and all the people unto him: Thou shalt not consent ner agreed unto him. And he spoke unto Benadabs' messengers, Say unto my lord the king: All the things wherefore thou didst send unto me the servant at the first, will I do, but this can I not do. And the messaungers went, and told this again. Then sent Benadab unto him saying: The gods do this and that unto me, if the dust of Samaria shallbe enough, for every one of my people to bring me an handful thereof. But the king of Israel answered, & said: Tell him, Let not him that putteth on the harness, make his boast like him that hath put it of. When Benadab heard that (even as he was drinking with the kings in the pavilion) he said unto his servants: Set your selves in array. And they set themselves in array against the cite. And behold, there came a prophet unto Achab the king of Israel, & said: Thus sayeth the LORD: Hast thou seen all this great multitude? Behold, this day will I deliver them in to the hand, so that thou shalt know, how that I am the LORD. Achab said: By whom? He said: Thus sayeth the LORD: Even by the young men of the rulers of the land. He said: Who shall order the battle? He said: Thou. Then mustered he the young men of the rulers of the land, & there were two hundredth and two and thirty of them: & after them mustured he of the whole people of all the children of Israel, seven thousand men, and they went out in the noon day. As for Benadab, he drank and was drunken in the pavilion with the two & thirty kings which were come to help him. And the young men of the rulers of the land went forth first. Benadab sent forth, & they brought him word, & said: There come men out of Samaria. He said: Take them alive, whether they be come forth for peace, or for war. But when the land rulers young men were go forth, and the host behind them, every one smote him that came in his way. And the Syrians fled, and Israel followed after them. And Benadab the king of Syria escaped with horses and horsemen. And the king of Israel went forth, and smote horses and charettes, and did a great slaughter on the Syrians. Then came there a prophet unto the king of Israel, and said unto him: Go thy way and strength thee, and take heed, and look well what thou dost: for when the year is about, the king of Syria shall come against the of the new. For the king of the Syrians servants said unto him: Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore have they got the victory. But let us fight with them on the plain, and thou shalt see that we shall overcome them. Do thus, put away the kings every one from his place, and set dukes in their steads, and appoint the an host as was that which thou hast lost, & horses & charettes as the other were, and led us fight against them in the plain, and thou shalt see that we shall have the victory. He consented unto their voice, and did so. Now when the year was go about, Benadab appointed the Syrians, and went up toward Aphek, to fight against Israel, and the children of Israel mustured, and provided themselves with vytailes, and went to meet them, and pitched their tents over against them, like two little flocks of goats but the land was full of the Syrians. And there came a man of God, and said unto the king of Israel: Thus sayeth the LORD: Because the Syrians have said, that the LORD is a God of the mountains and not a God of the valleys, therefore have I given all this great heap in to thy hands, that you may know how that I am the LORD. And they pitched their tents right over against them seven days. But upon the seventh day they went together in to the battle: and the children of Israel smote of the Syrians an hundredth thousand foot men in one day, and the remnant fled to Aphek in to the cite, and the brickwall fallen upon the other seven and twenty thousand men. And Benadab fled also unto the cite in to a little chamber. Then said his servants unto him: Behold, we have herd that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, Let us therefore put sack clot about our loins, and halters about our necks, & go forth to the king of Israel, peradventure he shall let the soul live. And they put sack clot about their loins, and halters about their necks, and came to the king of Israel, and said: Benadab thy servant sayeth unto thee: O let my soul live. He said: if he be yet alive, he is my brother. And the men took him shortly at his word, and expounded it for themselves and said: Ye Benadab is thy brother. He said: Come and bring him. Then went Benadab forth unto him, and he caused him to sit upon the chariot, and said unto him: The cities that my father took from thy father, will I give the again. And make thou streets for thyself at Damascon, as my father did at Samaria, so will I let the go with a bond of peace. And he made a covenant with him, and let him go. Then spoke there a man among the children of the prophets unto his neighbour by the word of the LORD: I pray the smite me. But he refused to smite him. Then said he unto him, because thou hast not herkened unto the voice of the LORD, behold, therefore shall there a lion smite thee, when thou goest fro me· ●. Re 13. c And when he went from him, a lion found him, and slew him. Andrea he found another man, and said: I pray the smite me. And the man smote him, and wounded him, Then went the prophet, and stepped unto the king by the way side, and altered his face with aszshes. And when the king went by, he cried upon the king, and said: Thy servant went forth in to the battle, and behold, there went one aside, and brought a man unto me, and said: Keep this man: if he be myssed, thy soul shall be in stead of his soul, or else thou shalt weigh down an hundredth weight of silver. And while thy servant had here & there to do, he was away. The king of Israel said unto him: It is thy own judgement, thou hast given it thyself. Then put he the aszshes from his face in all the haist. And the king of Israel knew him, that he was one of the prophets. And he said unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD: Because thou hast let the damned man go, therefore shall thy soul be for his soul, and thy people for his people. And the king of Israel departed unto his house, being troubled in his mind and full indignation, and came to Samaria. The XXI. Chapter. AFter these acts it fortuned, that Naboth the jesraelite had a vyniarde at jefreel beside the palace of Achab king of Samaria. And Achab spoke to Naboth, and said: give me thy vineyard, I will make me an herbgarden thereof, because it is so nigh my house: I will give the a better vineyard for it: or if it please thee, I will give the silver for it, as much as it is worth. But Naboth said unto Achab: The LORD let that be far fro me, 〈…〉 that I should give the my father's heritage. Then came Achab home, being moved and full of indignation, because of the word that Naboth the jesraelite had spoken unto him, & said: I will not give the my father's inheritance. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned his face aside, and ate no bread. Then jesabel his wife came in to him and said unto him: What is the matter, that thy spirit is so cumbered, and that thou eatest no bread? He said unto her: I have spoken unto Naboth the jesraelite, and said: give me thy vineyard for money: or if it please that, I will give the another for it. But he said: I will not give the my vineyard. Then said jesabel his wife unto him: What kingdom were in Israel, if thou didst it? stand up, and eat bread, I will get the the vineyard of Naboth the jesraelite. And she written a letter under Achab's name, and sealed it with his signet, and sent it unto the Elders and rulers in his cite, which dwelled about Naboth, and written thus in the letter: Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth above in the people, and set two men of Belial before him, to testify and say: Thou hast blasphemed God and the king. And bring him forth, and stone him to death. And the Elders and rulers of his city, which dwelled in his cite, did as jesabel had commanded them, according as she had written in the letter that she sent unto them and they proclaimed a fast, and caused Naboth to sit above among the people. Then came the two men of Belial, and stood before him, and testyfyed against Naboth in the presence of the people, and said: Naboth hath blasphemed God and the king. Then brought they him out of the cite, and stoned him to death. And they sent jesabel word, saying: Naboth is stoned & put to death. When jesabel heard that Naboth was stoned and deed, she said unto Achab: Up, and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the jesraelite, which he denied to give the for money: for Naboth liveth no more but is deed. And when Achab heard the Naboth was deed, he rose to go down un-the vyniarde of Naboth the jesraelite, and to take possession of it. But the word of the LORD came to Elias the Theszbite, and said: Get the up, and go down to meet Achab the king of Israel, which is at Samaria: behold, he is in Naboths' vineyard, in to the which he is go down to take possession of it, and talk thou with him, and speak: Thus sayeth the LORD: Thou hast slain, and taken in possession. And thou shalt talk moreover unto him, and say: Thus sayeth the LORD: 〈◊〉. 22. f Even in the place where the dogs licked up Naboths' blood, shall the dogs lick thy blood also. Andrea Achab said unto Elias: Hast thou ever found me thy enemy? He said: Ye, I have found thee, because thou art even sold to do evil in the sight of the LORD. Behold, Re. ●. b 〈◊〉 1. ● I will bring misfortune upon thee, and take away thy posterity, and will rote out from Achab, even him that maketh water against the brickwall, and him that is shut up and left behind in Israel: and thy house will I make as the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and as the house of Baesa the son of Ahia, because of the provocation wherwhith thou hast provoked me unto wrath, and made Israel to sin. And over jesabel spoke the LORD also and said: Re. 9 b The dogs shall devour jesabel in the field of jesrael. Re. 14. b 〈…〉. 16. a Who so of Achab dieth in the cite, him shall the dogs eat up: and who so dieth in the field, the fowls under the heaven shall eat him up. So clean 〈◊〉. 1. b sold to do mischief in the sight of the LORD hath no man been, as Achab: for his jesabel hath so deceived him, and he maketh himself a great abomination, that he goeth after Idols, according unto all as did the Amorites, 〈…〉 whom the LORD expelled before the children of Israel. But when Achab heard these words, he rent his clotheses, & put a sack clot on his body, & fasted, and slept in sack clot, and went about hanging down his head. And the word of the LORD came to Elias the Theszbite, & said: Hast thou not seen how Achab humbleth himself before me? For so much now as he humbleth himself in my sight, I will not bring that plague while he liveth: but by his sons life will I bring misfortune upon his house. The XXII. Chapter. ANd there passed over three years, that there was no war between the Syrians & Israel. ●. Par. ●●. a But in the third year went josaphat the king of juda down to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said unto his servants: Know you not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours? and we sit still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria. And he said unto josaphat: Will't thou go with me to the battle unto Ramoth in Gilead? josaphat said unto the king of Israel: I will be as thou my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. And josaphat said unto the king of Israel: ●. Re. 23. ● 2. Re. 2. a and 2●. a * 3. Re. 1●. ● Axe this day at the word of the LORD. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets about a four hundredth men, and said unto them: Shall I go unto Ramoth in Gilead to fight, or shall I let it alone? They said: Go up, the LORD shall deliver it in to the kings hand. But josaphat said: Is there not one prophet here more of the LORD, that we may axe at him? The king of Israel said unto josaphat Here is yet a man, one Micheas the son of jemla, at whom we may axe of the LORD: but I hate him, for he prophesieth me no good, but evil. josaphat said: Let not the king say so. Then called the king of Israel a chamberlain, and said: Bring hither soon Micheas the son of jemla. As for the king of Israel and josaphat the king of juda, they sat either of them upon his seat, arrayed in their garments in the place at the door of the port of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them. And Sedechias the son of Cnaena had made him horns of iron, and said: Thus sayeth the LORD: With these shalt thou puszshe at the Syrians, till thou bring them to naught And all the prophets prophesied likewise, and said: Go up unto Ramoth in Gilead, thou shalt prosper right well, & the LORD shall deliver it in to the kings hand. And the messaunger that went to call Micheas said unto him: Behold, The words of the prophets are with one accord good before the king, let thy word therefore be as their word, and speak thou good also. Micheas said: As truly as the LORD liveth, look what the LORD sayeth unto me, that will I speak. And when he came to the king, the king said unto him: Micheas, shall we go unto Ramoth in Gilead to fight or shall we let it alone? He said unto him: Ye, go up, thou shalt prosper right well, the LORD shall give it in to the kings hand. But the king said unto him again: I charge that that thou say no other thing unto me but the truth, in the name of the LORD. He said: I saw all Israel scattered abroad upon the mountains, as the sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said: Have these no lord? Let every one turn home again in peace. Then said the king of Israel unto josaphat: Told not I the that he would prophecy me no good, but evil? He said: Hear now therefore the word of the LORD: ●. Pa. 18. c I saw the LORD sit upon his seat, and all the host of heaven standing by him at his right hand & at his left. And the LORD said: Who will deceive Achab to go up, & fall at Ramoth in Gilead. And one said this, another that. Then went there forth a spirit, & stood before the LORD, and said: I will deceive him. The LORD said unto him: Wherewith? He said unto him: I will go forth, and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. He said: Thou shalt deceive him, and shalt be able: go forth and do so. Behold now, ●ze. 14. b the LORD hath given a false spirit in the mouth of all these the prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil over the. Then stepped forth Sedechias the son of Cnaena, and smote Micheas upon the cheek, and said: What, is the spirit of the LORD departed fro me, to speak with thee? Micheas said: Behold, thou shalt see it in that day, when thou shalt go from one chamber to another to hide the. The king of Israel said: Take Micheas, and let him remain with Amon the ruler of the cite, and with joas the kings son, and say: Thus sayeth the king: Put this man in preson, and feed him with bread and water of trouble, till I come again in peace. Micheas said: If thou comest again in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken thorough me. And he said: hearken to all you people. So the king of Israel and josaphat the king of juda went up unto Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said unto josaphat: Change thy clotheses, and come in to the battle in thy array. The king of Israel changed his clotheses also, and went in to the battle. But the king of Syria commanded the rulers of his charettes (of whom there were two and thirty) and said: You shall fight neither against small ner great, but only against the king of Israel. And when the rulers of the charettes saw josaphat, they thought it had been the king of Israel, and fallen upon him with fighting. But josaphat cried. So when the rulers of the charettes saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him. A certain man bended his bow hard, and shot the king of Israel between the maw and the longs. And he said unto his charetman: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host, for I am wounded. And the battle was sore the same day. And the king stood upon his chariot, against the Syrians and died in the evening, and the blood ran from the wound in to the mids of the chariot. And when the Son went down there was a proclamation made in the host, and said: Every one get him in to his cite, and to his country. Thus the king died, and was brought unto Samaria, and they buried him in Samaria. And when they waszshed the charet in the pole of Samaria, 〈…〉 the dogs licked his blood (but the harlots waszshed him) according to the word of the LORD which he spoke. What more there is to say of Achab, & all that he did, and of the ivory house which he builded, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. So Achab slept with his fathers, and his son Ahasia was king in his stead. 〈…〉 And josaphat the son of Asa was king over juda in the fourth year of Achab king of Israel, and was five and thirty year old when he was made king and reigned five and twenty year at Jerusalem. His mother's name was Asuba the daughter of Silhi, and he walked in all the way of his father Asa, & departed not there from And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet put he not away the high places, and the people offered and brent incense yet upon the high places, and he had peace with the king of Israel. What more there is to say of josaphat and the might that he exercised, and how he fought, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. 〈…〉 He put out of the land also the whoremongers that yet were left, which remained over in the time of his father Asa. And at that time there were no kings in Edom. And josaphat had caused to make ships upon the See, which should go to fetch gold in Ophir, but they went not: for they were broken at Ezeon Gaber. At that time said Ahasia the son of Achab unto josaphat: Let my servants pass with thy servants in the ships. But josaphat would not. And josaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried in the cite of David. And joram his son was king in his stead. The end of the third book of the kings. The fourth book of the kings. What this book containeth. Chap. I Of the reign of Ochosias' (otherwise called Ahasia) and of joram his brother and how the fire consumed the two captains with their men. Chap. II Elias is taken up in a fiery chariot. Eliseus receiveth the spirit of Elias, maketh the bitter water sweet, and curseth the mysnurtoured children. Chap. III Of joram and josaphat, and of their war, & what Eliseus said unto them Chap. four Eliseus helpeth the woman that was in debt, and for another woman which had no children, he optayneth one of God: which child being deed he raiseth up again. Chap. V Naaman the chief captain of Syria is cleansed from his leprosy, and Gehasi Eliseus servant is made leprous. Chap. VI The iron swymmeth in the water. The king of Syria fighteth against Israel. His servants which go about to take Eliseus, are smitten with blindness. A great hunger in Samaria. Chap. VII. Of the four lepers which came in to the tents of the Syrians, and how vytayles began to be good cheap. Chap. VIII. Of the seven year dearth. Benadab is sick, and areth council at Eliseus. Of Ochosias' the son of joram. Chap. IX. Of jehu, how he was anointed king over Israel, and how he rooted out the hovof Achab and of jesabel. Chap. X. The heads of Achab's seventy sons are brought unto jehu. Of Ochosias' brethren jehu slayeth Baal priests. Chap. XI. Atalia destroyeth all the kings seed, save joas which escapeth, and is made king by joiada the priest. Chap. XII. joas ruleth well while joiada is alive, but evil after his death. Chap. XIII. Of the kings joachias, joas & Jeroboam, and how the deed that was laid in Eliseus' grave, revived. Chap. XIIII. Of joas, Amasias, Jeroboam and Azarias. Chap. XU. Of Azarias the Leper, and of his son jonathas. Of Zacharias the king of Israel. Of Sellum, Manahem, Pacea, Romelia. And how Teglatphalasser conquererh the cities of juda▪ Chap. XVI. Of Achas, Resin, and Ezechias. Chap. XVII. Of Osea, how Salmanasar came upon him, and conquered, and carried the people away captive. And how God punished those that came in their stead. Chap. XVIII. Of the good king Ezechias, & how Sennacherib troubleth him. Chap. XIX. Ezechias sendeth unto Esay, which comforreth him. God defendeth Ezechias, & delivereth him. Chap. XX. Ezechias is deed sick, but Esay at the commandment of the LORD, promiseth him to live yet fifteen year. Chap. XXI. Of the reign of the ungodly king Manasses, how he lived and how he died Of his son Amon. Chap. XXII. Of the reign of that noble & virtuous king josias, and of his goodly acts. Chap. XXIII How josias caused the book of the covenant to be read unto all the people, and setteth up the true honour of God again Of joachas his son. Chap. XXIII. How Nabuchodonosor cometh upon king joachim, and carrieth away joachim his son unto Babylon. Chap. XXV. Nabuchodonosor layeth siege to Jerusalem, winneth it, setteth fire on it, and carrieth away the king and the people presoners unto Babylon. The first Chapter. AHasia the son of Achab was king over Israel at Samaria in the seventeenth year of josaphat king of juda, & reigned over Israel two years, & did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and of his mother, & in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel for to sin. And served Baal, and worshipped him, and displeased the LORD God of Israel, even as his father did. The Moabites also fallen away from Israel, when Achab was deed. And Ochosias' fallen thorough the grate in his chamber at Samaria, and was deed sick, and sent messaungers, and said unto them: Go your way, and axe council at Beelzebub the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness. But the angel of the LORD said unto Elias the Theszbite: Up, & go meet the messaungers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them: Is there no God in Israel, that you go to axe council at the god of Ekron? Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Thou shalt not come from the bed whereon thou liest, but shalt die the death. And Elias went his way. And when the messaunges came to Ochosias' again, he said unto them: Why come you again? They said unto him: There came up a man in our way, and said unto us: Go again to the king that hath sent you, and say unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Is there no God in Israel, that thou sendest to axe council at Beelzebub the god of Ekron? Therefore shalt thou not come from the bed whereon thou liest, but shalt die the death. He said unto them: What manner of man was it that met you, and said this unto you? They said unto him: He had a rough here upon him, and a letheren girdle about his loins. He said: It is Elias the Theszbite. And he sent unto him a captain over fifty, with the same fifty. And when he came unto him, behold, he sat above upon the mount. He said unto him: Thou man of God, the king sayeth: Thou shalt come down Elias answered the captain over fifty, and said unto him: If I be a man of God, the fire fall down then from heaven, and consume the and thy fifty. ●uc. 9 f Then fallen there fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. And again he sent another captain over fifty unto him, with his fifty, which answered, and said unto him: Thou man of God, thus sayeth the king: Come down in all the haist. Elias answered, and said: If I be a man of God, the fire fall down from heaven, and consume the and thy fifty. Then fallen the fire of God from heaven, & consumed him, and his fifty. Again, he sent unto him the third captain over fifty, with his fifty. Now when he came to him, he kneeled to Elias, and besought him, and said unto him: Thou man of God, let my soul and the souls of thy servants these fifty, be somewhat worth in thy sight. Behold, the fire fallen down from heaven, and hath consumed the first two captains over fifty with their fyftyes. But now let my soul be somewhat worth in thy sight. Then said the angel of the LORD unto Elias: Go down with him, and fear him not. And he got him up, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him: Thus saith the LORD: Because thou hast sent forth messengers, and caused to axe council at Beelzebub the god of Ekron, as though there were no God in Israel to axe council at his word, therefore shalt thou not come from the bed whereon thou hast laid thee, but shalt die the death. So he died, according to the word of the LORD which Elias said. And joram (his brother) was king in his stead in the second year of joram the son of josaphat king of juda: for he had no son. What more there is to say of Ochosias', what he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. The II Chapter. When the LORD was minded to take up Elias in the tempest, Elias and Eliseus went from gilgal. And Elias said to Eliseus: Tarry thou here I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me unto Bethel. But Eliseus said: As truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as thy soul liveth, I will not forsake the. And when they came down unto Bethel, the prophets children that were at Bethel, went forth to Eliseus, and said unto him: Knowest thou not, that the LORD will take thy lord away from thy head this day? He said: I know it well, hold you your peace. And Elias said unto him: Eliseus, tarry thou here I pray thee, for the LORD hath sent me unto jericho. Nevertheless he said: as truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as thy soul liveth, I will not forsake the And when they came unto jericho, the prophets children which were at jericho, stepped forth to Eliseus and said unto him: Knowest thou not that the LORD will take the lord away from thy head this day? He said: I know it well, hold you your peace. And Elias said unto him: I pray the tarry here, for the LORD hath sent me unto jordane. But he said: As truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as thy soul liveth, I will not forsake the. And they went both together. But fifty men of the prophets children went forth, and stood over against them a far of: but they both stood by jordane. Then took Elias his cloak, and wrapped it together, and smote the water, which divided itself on both the sides, so that they went dry shod thorough it. And when they were come over, Elias said unto Eliseus: Axe what I shall do for thee, afore I be taken away from the. Eliseus said: That thy spirit may be upon me to speak twice as much. He said: Thou hast desired an hard thing: nevertheless if thou shalt see me when I am taken away from thee, it shall be so: If no, then shall it not be. And as they were going together, and he talked, there came a fiery chariot with horses of fire, and parted them both asunder. 〈…〉 And so went Elias up to heaven in the storm. But Eliseus saw it, & cried: My father, my father, the charetman of Israel and his horsemen. And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his clotheses, and rent them in two pieces, and took up Elias cloak that was fallen from him, and turned back, and stood by the shore of jordane, and took the same cloak of Elias which was fallen from him, and smote it in the water, and said: Where is now the LORD God of Elias? And he smote it in to the water, and then parted it asunder on both the sides, and Eliseus went thorough. And when the prophets children which were at jericho over agynst him, saw him, they said: The spirit of Elias rests upon Eliseus, and so they went forth to meet him, and worshipped him to the ground, and said unto him: Behold, there are fifty valiant men among thy servants, let them go and seek thy lord, peradventure the spirit of the LORD hath taken him, and cast him upon some mountain or in some valley. But he said: Send them not. Nevertheless they constrained him, till he was ashamed, and said: Let them go. And they sent fifty men, which sought him three days: but they found him not, and came again unto him. And he abode at jericho, and said unto them: Told not I you, that you should not go? And the men of the cite said unto Eliseus: Behold, there is good dwelling in this cite, as my lord saith, but the water is evil, and the land unfruitful. He said: Bring me hither a new vessel, & put salt in it. And they brought it him. Then went he forth unto the well of water, and cast the salt therein, & said: Thus sayeth the LORD: I have healed this water: from hence forth shall there no deed ner unfrutefulnes come of it. So the water was healed unto this day, according to the word of Eliseus which he spoke. And he went up toward Bethel. And as he was going up by the way, there came little boys out of the cite, and mocked him, & said: Come up here thou bald head, come up here thou bald head. And he turned him about. And when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then came there two Beeres out of the wood, and tent two and forty of the children. From thence went he up unto mount Carmel, and from it turned he back to Samaria. The III Chapter. IOram the son of Achab was king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of josaphat king of juda, & reigned xij. years, & did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as his father & his mother: for he put away the pilers of Baal, which his father caused to make. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel for to sin, & departed not there from. Mesa the king of the Moabites had many sheep, & paid tribute unto the king of Israel with the will of an hundredth thousand lambs, & of an hundredth thousand rams. 4. Re. 1. a But when Achab was deed, the king of the Moabites fallen away from the king of Israel. At the same time went king joram from Samaria, & mustered all Israel, & sent unto josaphat king of juda, saying: The king of the Moabites is fallen away fro me, come thou with me to fight against the Moabites. He said: I will come up, 3. Re. 22. a I am even as thou, and my people as the people, and my horses as thy horses. And said moreover: Which way will we go up? He said: by the way in the wilderness of Edom. So the king of Israel, the king of juda, & the king of Edom went forth. And when they had go about seven days journey, the host & the cattles that were among them had no water. Then said the king of Israel: Alas, the LORD hath called these three kings, to deliver them into the hand of the Moabites. But: josaphat said: 3. Re. 22. a Is here no prophet of the LORD, that we may axe council at the LORD by him? Then answered one of the king of Israel's servants, & said: Here is Eliseus the son of Saphat, which poured water upon Elias hands. josaphat said: The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel & josaphat, and the king of Edom went down unto him. But Eliseus said unto the king of Israel: What hast thou to do with me? go to the prophets of thy father & to the mother's prophets. The king of Israel said unto him: Not, for the LORD hath called these three kings, to deliver them in to the hands of the Moabites. Eliseus' said: As truly as the LORD Zebaoth liveth, before whom I stand, if I regarded not josaphat the king of juda, I would not regard thee, ner set ought by ye. So bring me now a minstrel. And when the minstrel played upon the instrument, the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said: Thus sayeth the LORD: Make pits by this broken. For thus sayeth the LORD: You shall see neither wind ner rain, yet shall the broken be full of water, that you and your households & your cattles may drink. Ye and that is but a small thing in the sight of the LORD. And the Moabites shall he deliver in to your hands, so that you shall smite all the strong cities, and all the choose cities Deu. 20. c & shall fell down all the good trees, and stop all the wells of water and all the good fields shall you make waist with stones. On the morrow, when the meat offering is offered, behold, there came water the way from Edom, and filled the land with water. But when the Moabites herd, that the kings came up to fight against them, they called all the harnessed men, & their rulers, & stood on the border. And when they rose early in the morning, & the Son went up upon the water, the Moabites thought the water over against thento be even as reed as blood, & they said: It is blood, the kings have destroyed themselves with the sword, & one hath smitten another. Now Moab get the up to the spoils. But when they came to the tents of Israel, the Israelites got up, & smote the Moabites, & they fled before them. Nevertheless they came in, & smote Moab, & broke down the cities, & every one cast his stone upon all the good fields, and made them full, and stopped all the wells of water, and felled down all the good trees, till there remained but the stones in the brickwall, and they compassed them about with slynges, and smote them. But when the king of the Moabites saw that the battle was to strong for him, he took to him seven HUNDRED men, which drew the sword, to fall upon the king of Edom: nevertheless they were not able. Then took he his first son, which should have been king in his stead, and offered him for a burned offering upon the brickwall. Then came there a great wrath over Israel, that they departed from him, and turned again in to their land. The four Chapter. ANd there cried a woman among the wives of the prophets children unto Eliseus, and said: Thy servant my husband is deed, and thou knowest that thy servant feared the LORD. Now cometh the man that he was debtor unto, and will take away both my children to be bond servants. Eliseus' said unto her: What shall I do forth? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? She said: Thy handmaiden hath nothing in the house but a pitcher with oil. He said: Go that way, borrow without of all thy neghboures empty vessels, & that not a few, and go in, and shut the door behind the with thy sons, and pour of it in to all the vessels: & when thou hast filled them, deliver them forth. She went, and shut the door unto her with her sons, which brought her the vessels, and so she poured in. And when the vessels were full, she said unto her son: Bring me yet one vessel. He said unto her: There is not one vessel more here. Then stood the oil still. And she sent, and told the man of God. He said: Go thy way, cell the oil, and pay the creditor: but live thou and the sons of the residue. And it fortuned at the same time, that Eliseus went unto Sunem. And there was a rich woman, which held him to eat with her: & as he passed often thorough that way, he went in unto her: & ate with her. And she said unto her husband: Behold, I perceive that this is an holy man of God which goeth ever thorough this way, let us make him a little chamber of boards, & set a bed, a table, a stole & a candlestick therein, that when he cometh unto us, he may resort thither. And it fortuned upon a time, that he came in, & laid him down in the chamber, & slept therein. And he said unto Gehasi his child: Call this woman of Sunem. And when he had called her, she stood before him. He said unto him: Speak thou unto her, behold, thou hast ministered unto us in all these things, what shall I do for thee? Hast thou any matter to be spoken for to the king, or to the chief captain of the host? She said: Idwell among my people. He said: What hast thou then to do? Gehasi said: Alas, she hath no son, and her husband is old. He said: Call her. And when he had called her, she stood at the door. And he said: 〈…〉 About this time if the fruit can live, thou shalt embrace a son. She said: Alas, no my lord, thou man of God, lie not unto thy handmaiden. And the woman conceived, and bore a son about the same time, when the fruit could live, according as Eliseus had said unto her. But when the child was grown, it fortuned, that he went forth to his father unto the reapers, & said unto his father: O my head, my head. He said unto his servant: Bring him to his mother. And he took him, and brought him to his mother: and she set him upon her lap until the noon day, & then he died. And she went up, and laid him upon the bed of the man of God, & shut the door, and went forth, & called her husband, & said unto him: Send me one of the servants, and an Ass, I will go quickly unto the man of God, and come again. He said: Why will't thou go unto him? To day is it neither new moon ner Sabbath. She said: Well. And she saddled the ass, & said to the youngman: drive forth, and keep me not back with riding, and do as I bid the. So she went, and came to the man of God unto mount carmel. When the man of God saw her over against him, he said unto his child Gehasi: Behold, the Sunamitisse is there, run now & meet her, and axe her if it go well with her, and her husband & her son. She said: Well. But when she came to the man of God upon the mount, she held him by his feet. And Gehasi stepped to her, to put her away. But the man of God said: Let her alone, for her soul is in heaviness, and the LORD hath hid it fro me, and not showed it me. She said: When desired I a son of my lord? Said I not, that thou shouldest not mock me? He said unto Gehasi: Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way. 〈…〉 If any man meet thee, salute him not: and if any man salute thee, thank him not, and lay thou my staff upon the child's face. But the child's mother said: As truly as the LORD liveth, and as truly as the soul liveth, I will not leave the. Then got he up, and went after her. As for Gehasi, he went before them, and laid the staff upon the child's face, but there was neither voice ner feeling. And he went again to meet him, and showed him, and said: The child is not risen up. And when Eliseus came in to the house, behold, the child lay deed upon his bed. And he went in, & shut the door on them both, & made his prayer unto the LORD, & went up, & laid himself upon the child, & laid his mouth upon the child's mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, & so stretched himself forth upon him, so that the child's body was warm. And he rose up, & went in to the house once hither and thither, & went up, & laid himself a long upon him. Then nesed the child seven times, and afterward the child opened his eyes. And he cried upon Gehasi, and said: Call the Sunamitisse. And when he had called her, she came in unto him. He said: Take there thy son. Then came she, and fallen at his feet, and worshipped unto the ground, and took her son, and went forth. But when Eliseus came again unto Gilgal, there was a dearth in the land, & the prophets children dwelled before him, & he said unto his servant: Set on a great pot, and make pottage for the children of the prophets. Then went there one in to the field, to gather herbs, and found a Cucumbers stalk, & gathered wild Cucumbers thereof his cotefull. And when he came, he chopped it small for pottage to the pot, for they knew it not. And when they poured it forth for the men to eat, & they ate of the pottage, they cried and said: O thou man of God, death is in the pot: for they might not eat it. Nevertheless he said: Bring meel hither. And he put it in the pot, & said: Pour it out for the people, that they may eat. And then was it not bitter in the pot. There came a man from Baal Salisa, & brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, namely twenty barley loaves, & new corn in his garment. But he said: give it unto the people, that they may eat. His minister said: joh. 6. ● How shall I give an hundredth men of this? He said: give it unto the people, that they may eat. For thus sayeth the LORD: They shall eat, and there shall be left over. And he set it before them, so that they ate, and there left over, according to the word of the LORD. The V Chapter. NAaman the chief captain of the king of Syria, was an excellent man in the sight of his lord, and much set by (for thorough him the LORD gave health unto Syria) and he was a mighty man, but a leper. And there had men of war fallen out of Syria, and carried away a little damsel out of the land of Israel: the same was in service with Naamans' wife, and said unto her mistress: O that my master were with the prophet at Samaria, he would heal him from his leprosy. Then went he in to his lord, and told him, and said: Thus and thus hath the damsel of the land of Israel spoken. The king of Syria said: Go thy way then, & I will writ a letter unto the king of Israel. And he went, and took with him ten hundredth weight of silver, and six thousand guldens, & ten change of raiment, & brought the letter unto the king of Israel, with these words: When this letter cometh unto thee, behold, thou shalt understand that I have sent my servant Naaman unto thee, that thou mayest heal him of his leprosy. And when the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clotheses, & said: Am I God then, that I can kill and quicken again, that he sendeth unto me, to heal the man from his leprosy? consider and se, how he seeketh an occasion unto me. When Eliseus the man of God herd, that the king of Israel had rent his clotheses, he sent unto him, saying: Why hast thou rent thy clotheses? Let him come to me, that he may know, that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with horses and charettes, and held still at the door of Eliseus' house. Then sent Eliseus a messenger unto him, saying: Go thy way, and waszshe the seven times in jordane, so shall thy flesh be restored the again, & be cleansed. Then was Naaman wroth, & went his way, & said: I thought he should have come forth unto me, & to have stand here & to have called upon the name of the LORD his God, & to have touched the place with his hand, & so to have put away the leprosy. Are not the waters of Amana and Pharphar at Damascon better than all the waters in Israel, that I might waszshe me therein & be cleansed? and he turned him, and went his way in displeasure. Then his servants got them to him, and said: Father, if the prophet had commanded the any great thing, shouldest thou not have done it? much more than if he say unto thee: wash thee, & thou shalt be clean. Then went he down, & waszshed himself in jordane seven times (as the man of God said) & his flesh was restored him again, even as the flesh of a young child Luc. 4 c and he was cleansed. Andrea he turned again to the man of God with all his army. And when he came in, he stood before him, and said: Behold, I know that in all lands there is no God, but in Israel. Take now therefore this blessing I pray the of thy servant. Nevertheless he said: 1. Re. 13 b Dan. 5. ● As truly as the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will not take it. And he would needs have him to take it, but he would not. Then said Naaman: Might there not a burden of this earth be given unto the servant, as much as two Mules may bear? For thy servant will no more do sacrifice and offer burned offerings unto other gods, but unto the LORD, That the LORD may be gracious unto thy servant, if I worship in the house of Rimmon, when my lord goeth there in to the house to worship, & leaneth upon my hand. He said unto him: Go thy way in peace. And as he was go fr●m him a field breadth in the land, Gehasi the servant of Eliseus the man of God thought: behold, my lord hath spared Naaman this Syrian, so that he hath not taken from him that which he brought: As truly as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, & take something of him. So Gehasi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw that he ran after him, he light down from the chariot to meet him, & said: Are all things well? He said: Ye. But my lord hath sent me, & caused to say unto thee: Behold, there are now come to me fro mount Ephraim two young men of the prophets children, give them a talente of silver (I pray thee) & two change of raiment. Naaman said: Go to, take two talents. And he compelled him, & band two talentes in two bags, and two change of raiment, and delivered it unto two of his servants, which bore it before him. And when he came in the dark, he took it from their hands, & laid it a side in the house, & let the men go. And when they were go their way, he stood before his lord. And Eliseus said unto him: Whence comest thou Gehasi? He said: Thy servant went neither hither ner thither. But he said unto him: Went not my heart with thee, when the man turned back from his chariot to meet thee▪ Now thou hast taken the silver & the raiment, olive trees, vynyardes, sheep, oxen, servants & maidens. But the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave unto the & to thy seed for ever. 〈…〉 Then went he forth from him leprous as snow. The VI Chapter. THe children of the prophets said unto to Eliseus: Behold, the place where we devil before thee, is to narrow for us, let us go unto jordane, & every one fetch number there, that we may there build us a place to devil in. He said: Go your way. And one said: Go to then, & come with thy servants. He said: I will go with you. And he went with them. And when they came to jordane, they hewed down timber. And as one was felling down a tree, the iron fallen in to the water, and he cried and said: Alas my lord, & it is burowed. But the man of God said: Where fallen it in? And when he had showed him the place, he cut down a stick, and thrust it in there. Then swam the iron. And he said: Take it up. So he put forth his hand, and took it. And the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took council at his servants, and said: There & there will we lie. But the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying: beware that thou go not unto that place, for the Syrians rest there. So the king of Israel sent unto the place whereof the man of God told him, & kept it, & held watch there, & did that not once or twice only. Then was the king of Syrias heart vexed therefore, and called his servants, and said unto them: Will you not tell me, which of our men is fled unto the king of Israel? Then said one of his servants: Not so my lord O king, but Eliseus the prophet in Israel telleth the king of Israel all that thou speakest in thy chamber where thou liest. He said: Go your way then and look where he is, that I may send, and 'cause him be fetched. And they showed him and said: Behold, he is at Dothan. Then sent he thither horses & charetes, & a great power. And when they came thither by night, they compassed the cite about. And the minister of the man of God arose early to get him up. And as he went forth, behold, there lay an host of men about the cite with horses and charettes. Then said his child unto him: Alas sir, how will we now do? He said: 〈…〉 Fear not, for there are more of them that are with us, then of those that are with them. And Eliseus prayed & said: LORD open his eyes, that he may se. Then the LORD opened the child's eyes, that he saw, & behold, the mount was full of fiery horses & charettes round about Eliseus. And when they came down unto him, Eliseus made his prayer, & said: LORD smite this people with blindness. 〈◊〉. 1●. c And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Eliseus. Andrea Eliseus said unto them: This is not the way nor the cite, follow me, I will bring you to the man whom you seek. And he brought them unto Samaria. And when they came to Samaria, Eliseus said: LORD open these men's eyes, that they may se. And the LORD opened their eyes, that they saw, & behold, they were in the mids of Samaria. And when the king of Israel saw them, he said unto Eliseus: My father, shall I smite them? He said: Thou shalt not smite them: look whom thou takest with thy sword and bow, smite those. Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and let them depart unto their lord. Then was there a great dinner prepared. And when they had eaten and drunken, he let them go to depart unto their lord. From that time forth came the men of war of the Syrians no more in to the land of Israel. After this is fortuned, that Benadab the king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, & laid siege unto Samaria: & there was a great dearth at Samaria. But they laid siege to the cite so long, till an Asses head was worth four score silver pens, and the fourth part of a 〈…〉 Cab of doves dung worth five silver pens. And when the king of Israel went unto the brickwall, a woman cried unto him and said: Help me my lord O king. He said: If the LORD help the not, wherewith shall I help thee? with the barn or with the wine press? And the king said unto her: What aileth thee? She said: This woman said unto me: give us the son, that we may eat him, tomorrow will we eat my son. So we sod my son, & have eaten him, and I said unto her on the third day: give us thy son and let us eat him, but she hath hid him away. When the king heard the woman's words, he rent his clotheses, while he was going to the brickwall. Then saw all the people, that he had a sackcloth under upon his body. And he said: 3. Re. 19 ● and 20. b God do this and that unto me, if the head of Eliseus the son of Saphat shall this day stand upon him. As for Eliseus, he sat in his house, & the Elders sat by him. And he sent a man before him, but or ever the messaunge came to him, he said unto the Elders: Have you not seen how this child of murthure hath sent hither, to take away my head? Take heed, when the messenger cometh, that you hold him at the door. Behold, the noise of his lords feet followeth him. While he was thus talking with them, behold, the messenger came to him, & said: Behold, this evil cometh of the LORD, and what more shall I look for of the LORD? The VII. Chapter. Eliseus' said: Hear the word of the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD: 4. Re. 7. ● Tomorrow about this time shall a buszshel of fine meel be sold for one Sycle, and two buszshels of barley for one Sycle under the port of Samaria. Then a knight (upon whose hand the king leaned) answered the man of God, and said: And though the LORD made windows in heaven, how could such a thing come to pass? He said: Behold, thou shalt see it with thy eyes, & shalt not eat thereof. And there were four leprous men at the door before the port, and one said unto another: Why tarry we here while we die? Though we thought to come in to the cite, yet is there dearth in the cite, and there should we be fain to die. And if we tarry here, we must die also. Let us go now, and fly unto the host of the Syrians. If they let us live, we shall live: if they slay us, then are we deed. And so they got them up early, to come unto the host of the Syrians. And when they came to the uttermost end of the tents, behold, there was no body. 2. Mac. 5. a ●sa. 1●. a For the LORD had made the Syrians to hear a noise of horses, charettes, and of a mighty great host, so that they said one to another among themselves: Behold, the king of Israel hath hired the king of the hittites, and the king of the Egipcians against us, to come upon us. And they got them up, and fled early in the twilight, and left their bothes, and horses and Asses in the tents as they stood, & fled every man where he might save his life. Now when the lepers came to the place of the tents, they went in to the tents, ate and drunk, and took silver, gold and raiment, and went and hid it: & came again & entered in to another tent, and took thereout, and went and hid it. But one of them said unto another: Let us not do thus, this day is a day of good tidings. If we keep this secret and bide till the light morning, our trespass will be found out. Let us go now therefore, that we may come, & tell the kings house. And when they came, they cried at the port of the cite, and told them, and said: We came to the tents of the Syrians, and behold, there is no man there, neither yet any man's voice, but horses and asses bound, and the bothes as they stand. Then cried the porters and told it within in the kings house. And the king arose in the night, & said unto his servants: I will tell you how the Syrians deal with us: they know that we suffer hunger, and are go out of the tents, to hide themselves in the field, and think thus: when they go out of the cite, we will take them alive, & come in to the cite. Then answered one of his servants, and said: Let us take the five horses that remain, which yet are left in the cite (behold, these are left therein for all the multitude in Israel, which is destroyed) let us send these and se. Then took they two charettes with the horses. And the king sent them unto the tents of the Syrians, and said: Go your way and se. And when they went after them unto jordane, behold, the way lay full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast from them, while they made haist. And when the messaungers came again, and told the king, the people went forth, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. And a buszshel of fine meell was sold for a Sycle, and two buszshels of barley for a Sycle also, 4. Re. 7 a according to the word of the LORD. But the king appointed the knight (upon whose hand he leened) to be at the gate, & the people trod upon him, so that he died, even as the man of God said, when the king came down unto him. And it came to pass even as the man of God told the king, when he said: Tomorrow about this time shall two buszshels of barley be sold for one Sycle, and a buszshel of fine meel for one Sycle under the gate at Samaria. And the knight answered the man of God, and said: Behold, though the LORD made windows in heaven, how could such a thing come to pass? Nevertheless he said: Behold, with thy eyes shalt thou see it, and shalt not ●●te thereof. And even so fortuned it unto him, for the people trod upon him in the gate, that he died. The VIII. Chapter. ELiseus spoke unto the woman, 〈…〉 whose son he had restored unto life again, and said: Get the up, & go with thy household, and be a stranger where thou canst: for the LORD shall call for a dearth, which shall come in to the land seven year long. The woman got her up, and did as the man of God said, & went with hi● household, and was a stranger in the land of the philistines seven year. But when the seven years were ended, the woman came again out of the philistines land, and went forth to cry upon the king for her house and land. The king spoke unto Gehasi the servant of the man of God, & said: Tell me all the great acts that Eliseus hath done. And while he was telling the king how he had made one that was deed, to live again, behold, the woman whose son he had caused to revive, came even in the mean season, and cried unto the king for her house and land. Then said Gehasi: My lord O king, this same is the woman, and this is her son, whom Eliseus restored unto life again. And the king axed the woman, and she told him. Then the king delivered her a chamberlain, & said: Restore her again all that is hers, and all the increase of the land, sense the time that she left the land until now. 〈…〉 And Eliseus came to Damascon, & Benadab the king of Syria lay sick. And it was told him, and said: The man of God is come hither. Then said the king unto Hasael: Take gifts with thee, & go meet the man of God, and axe council at the LORD by him, and say: May I recover from this sickness? Hasael went for to meet him, and took rewards with him, and of all the goods at Damascon, as much as forty Camels might bear. And when he came, he stood before him, and said: Thy son Benadab the king of Syria hath sent me unto thee, saying: May I recover from this sickness? Eliseus' said unto him: Go thy way and tell him: Thou shalt recover. But the LORD hath showed me, that he shall die the death. And the man of God looked earnestly, & made a troublous countenance, & wept. Then said Hasael: Wherefore weepeth my lord? He said: I know what evil thou shalt do unto the children of Israel. Thou shalt burn their strong cities with fire, and slay their young men with the sword, and kill their young children, and rip up their women with child. Hasael said: How so, is thy servant a dog, that he should do soch a great thing? Eliseus' said: 〈…〉 The LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria. And he went his way from Eliseus, & came to his lord, which said unto him: What saith Eliseus unto thee? He said: He told me, Thou shalt recover. But on the next day he took the bed covering, and dypte it in water, and spread it over him, and he died, & Hasael was king in his stead. In the fifth year of joram the son of Achab king of Israel, was joram the son of josaphat king of juda. 〈◊〉. 2●. a Two & thirty year old was he when he was made king, & reigned eight year at jerusalem, & walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Achab did (for Achab's daughter was his wife) & he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. Nevertheless the LORD would not destroy juda for his servant David's sake, Re. 7. c as he promised him, to give him ever a lantern among his children. * At the same time fallen the Edomites away from juda, & made a king over them selves: the cause was this, joram had go thorough Seira, and all the charettes with him, & had got him up by night, and smitten the Edomites that were about him, and the rulers over the charettes, so that the people fled unto their tents: therefore fallen the Edomites away from juda unto this day. At the same time fallen Libna away also. What more there is to say of joram, & all that he did, heholde, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And joram fallen on sleep with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the cite of David, Par. 22. a & Ochosias' his son was king in his stead. In the twolueth year of joram the son of Achab king of Israel, was Ochosias' the son of joram king in juda. Two and twenty year old was Ochosias' when he was made king, and reigned one year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Atalia the daughter of Amri king of Israel, & he walked in the way of the house of Achab, & did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, even as did the house of Achab: for he was son in law in the house of Achab. And he went with joram the son of Achab in to the battle against Hasael the king of Syria unto Ramoth in Gilead, but the Syrians smote joram. 4. Re. 9 Then joram the king turned back, to be healed at jesreel of the wounds, wherewith the Syrians had wounded him at Ramoth, when he fought with Hasael king of Syria. And Ochosyas the son of Ioram king of juda, came down to viset joram the son of Achab at jesreel, for he lay sick. The IX. Chapter. Eliseus' the prophet called one of the prophets children, & said unto him: Gird up the loins, 4. Re. 4. and take this cruse of oil with thee, and go unto Ramoth in Gilead: and when thou comest thither, thou shalt see there one jehu, the son of josaphat the son of Nimsi, and go in, and bid him stand up among his brethren, and bring him in to the ynmost chamber, ● Re. 19 & take thou the cruse of oil, and pour it upon his head, & say: Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed the to be king over Israel: & thou shalt open the door, and fly, and not tarry. And the prophets young man, the child went his way unto Ramoth in Gilead. And when he came in, behold, the captains of the host sat there, and he said: I have somewhat to say unto the O captain. jehu said: Unto whom among us all? He said: Even unto the oh captain. Then stood he up, and went in. So he poured the oil upon his head, and said unto him· Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: I have anointed that to be king over the lords people of Israel, and thou shalt smite thy lord Achab's house, ●. Re. 21. that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the lords servants, from the hand of jesabel, that all the house of Achab may periszshe. And I will rote out from Achab, 1. Re. 25. 3. Re. 14. even him that maketh water against the brickwall, and the closed up and the desolate in Israel: and the house of Achab will I make even as the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and as the house of Baesa the son of Ahia, and the dogs shall eat up jesabel upon the field at jesrael, and noman shall bury her. 3. Re. 21. And he opened the door, and fled. And when jehu came forth to his lords servants, they said unto him: Are all things well? Wherefore came this mad fellow unto thee? He said unto them: You know the man well, & what he hath spoken. They said▪ That is not true, but tell thou us. He said: Thus and thus hath he spoken unto me, and said: Thus sayeth the LORD: I have anointed the to be king over Israel. Then made they haist, and every one took his garment and laid them under him in manner of a judges seat, and blue the trumpet, and said: jehu is made king. So jehu the son of josaphat the son of Nimsi, made a confederation against joram. As for Ioram he lay before Ramoth in Gilead with all Israel against Hasael the king of Syria. ●. Re. 8. d But joram the king was turned back, that he might be healed of the wounds wherewith the Syrians had wounded him, when he fought with Hasael the king of the Syrians. And jehu said: If it be your mind, there shall noman escape out of the cite, to go and tell it at jesreel. And he road, and departed unto jesrael: for joram lay there, and Ochosias' the king of juda was come down to visit joram. But the watchman that stood upon the tower at jesrael, saw the company of jehu coming, and said: I see a company. Then said joram: Take a chariot, and send to meet them, and say: Is it peace? And the charetman road to meet them, and said: Thus sayeth the king: Is it peace? jehu said: What hast thou to do with peace? Turn the behind me. The watchman told it, and said: The messenger is come unto them, and cometh not again. Then sent he another charetman, which when he came to them, said: Thus sayeth the king: Is it peace? jehu said: What hast thou to do with peace? Turn the behind me. And the watchman told it, and said: He is come to them: and cometh not again, and the going is as it were the going of jehu the son of Nimsi: for he driveth on as he were mad. Then said joram: Bind the chariot fast. And they bound the chariot, and so they went forth, joram the king of Israel, and Ochosias' the king of juda, every one upon his chariot, to meet jehu. And they found him upon the field of Naboth the jesraelite. And when joram saw jehu, he said: jehu, is it peace? But he said: What peace? The whoredom and witchcraft of thy mother jesabel is not yet come to an end. Then turned joram his hand and fled, and said unto Ochosias': There is treason Ochosias'. But jehu took his bow, & sho● joram between the arms, that the arrow went thorough his heart, and he fallen down in his chariot. And jehu said unto Bidekar the knight: Take and cast him in the piece of land of Naboth the jesraelite: for I remember sense thou rodest with me in a chariot after Achab his father, that the LORD would say this heavy burden upon him. I hold (said the LORD) I will recompense the that blood of Naboth and of his children, even in this piece of land. Take him now and cast him in to that piece of land, 〈…〉 according to the word of the LORD. When Ochosias' the king of juda saw this, he fled by the way unto the garden house. But jehu followed after him, and commanded to smite him also upon his chariot in the going up toward Gur, which lieth by jeblaam: and he fled unto Megiddo, and died there. And his servants caused him to be carried unto jerusalem, and there they buried him in his own grave with his fathers in the cite of David. Ochosias' reigned over juda in the eleventh year of Ioram the son of Achab. And when jehu came to jesrael, and jesabel heard thereof, she coloured her face, and decked her head, and looked out at the window. And when jehu came under the gate, she said: 〈…〉 Prospered Symri well that slew his lord? And he lift up his face to the window, and said: Who is with me? Then resorted there two or three chamberlains unto him. He said: Cast her down headlinges. And they cast her down headlynges, so that the brickwall and the horses were sprenkled with her blood, and she was trodden under feet. And when he came in, and had eaten and drunken, he said: Look upon yonder cursed woman, & bury her, 〈…〉 for she is a kings ●oughter. Nevertheless when they went in to bury her, they found nothing of her, but the szkull and the feet, and the palms of her hands. And they came again and brought him word. He said: This is even it that the LORD spoke by his servant Elias the Theszbite, and said: 〈…〉 In the field of jesrael shall the dogs eat jesabels' flesh. So the deed carcase of jesabel become even as dung in the field of jesrael, so that a man could not say: This is jesabel. The X. Chapter. AChab had three score and ten sons at Samaria. 〈…〉 And jehu written a letter, and sent it to Samaria, unto the rulers of the cite jesrael, even unto the Elders, & to Achab's tuters, saying these words: When this letter cometh unto you with whom are your lords sons, charetes, horses, strong cities, & ordinance, look which is the best and most righteous among your lords sons, & set him upon his father's seat, and fight for your lords house. Nevertheless they were sore afraid, and said: Behold, two kings were not able to stand before him, how will we then endure? And they that were over the house and over the cite, and the Elders and tuters sent unto jehu, saying: We are thy servants, we will do all that thou sayest unto us: We will make no man king, do thou what pleaseth the. Then written he the second letter unto them with these words: If you be mine, and hearken unto my voice, then take the heads of the men your lords sons, and bring me them tomorrow by this time unto jesrael. The kings sons were three score men and ten, and the chief men of the cite brought them up. Now when this letter came they took the kings sons, and slew them even three score men and ten, and laid their heads in baszkettes, and sent them to him unto jesrael. And when the messenger came, & told him, and said: They have brought the heads of the kings children, he said: Say them upon two heaps at the door of the port till tomorrow. And on the morrow when he went forth, he stood, and said unto all the people: Are you righteous? Behold, I have made an appointment against my lord, and slain him, who hath slain all these then? understand you now therefore, that there is not fallen upon the earth one word of the LORD, which he spoke against the house of Achab: and the LORD hath done, even Re. 21. c as he said by his servant Elias. So jehu smote all the remnant of the house of Achab at jesrael, all his great men, his kynsfolkes, and his priests, till there was not one left over. And he got him up, went his way, and came to Samaria. By the way there was a shepherds house, where jehu found the brethren of Ochosias' king of juda, and said: Whence are you? They said: We are Ochosias' brethren, and are going down to salute the kings children, and the queens children. He said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them by the wells side at the shepherds house, even two and forty men, and let not one of them remain. And when he went from thence, he found jonadab the son of jer. 2●. a Rechab, which met him, & saluted him. And he said unto him: Is thine heart right, as mine heart is with thine heart? jonadab said: Ye. If it be so (said he) then give me thy hand. And he gave him his hand. And so he caused him to sit beside him in the chariot, and said: Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. And they carried him with him upon his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained of Achab at Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD, 3. Re. 21. c which he spoke unto Elias. Andrea jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them: 3. Re. 16. ● Achab did Baal but little service, jehu will serve him better. Call unto me now therefore all Baal's prophets, all his servants and all his priests, that there be none wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to do unto Baal. Who so ever is myssed, shall not live. But jehu did it craftily, that he might destroy all the ministers of Baal. And jehu said: Sanctify the feast unto Baal, and proclaim it. And jehu sent in to all Israel, and caused all Baal's ministers to come, so that there was noman left behind, which came not. And they came in to Baal's house, so that the house of Baal was full from one corner to another. Then said he unto him that had the rule of the vestry. Bring forth raiment for all Baal's ministers. And he brought forth the raiment. And jehu went in to Baal's house with jonadab the son of Rechab, and said unto Baal's ministers: Search and see that there be not here among you any minister of the LORD, but only Baal's ministers. And when they came in to offer sacrifices and burned offerings, jehu appointed him four score men without, & said: If any of these men escape whom I deliver under your hands, then shall the same man's soul be for his soul. Now when he had made an end of the burned offering, jehu said unto the footmen and knights: Go in, & smite every man, let noman go forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword. And the foot men and knights threw them away and went unto the cite of Baal's house, and brought forth the piler in the house of Baal, and brent it, and broke down Baal's pillar with the house of Baal, and made a privy house thereof unto this day. ●hus jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. But jehu left not of from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (which caused Israel to sin) namely, from the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan. And the LORD said unto jehu: Because thou hast been willing to do that which was right in my sight, & hast done unto Achab's house all that was in my heart, ●. Re. 15. b therefore shall thy children sit upon the seat of Israel unto the fourth generation. Nevertheless jehu was not diligent to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he left not of from the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel to sin. At the same time began the LORD to be grieved at Israel. ●. Re. ● a For Hasael smote them in all the borders of Israel from jordane Eastward, and all the land Gilead of the Gaddites, Rubenites and Manassytes, from Aroer that lieth on the river by Arnon, and Gilead and Basan. What more there is to say of jehu, and all that he did, and all his power, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And jehu fallen on sleep with his fathers, & they buried him in Samaria. And joahas his son was king in his stead. The time that jehu reigned over Israel, is eight and twenty years at Samaria. The XI. Chapter. AThalia the mother of Ochosias', when she saw that her son was deed, ●. Pa. 22. d got her up, and destroyed all the kings sede. But joseba king jorams' daughter the sister of Ochosias', took joas the son of Ochosias' and stole him away with his norse in the chamber from among the kings children which were slain, and she hid him from Athalia, so that he was not slain. And he was hid with her in the house of the LORD six years. But Athalia was queen in the land. Pa. 24. a Nevertheless in the seventh year sent joiada, and took the rulers over hundreds with the captains and foot men, and caused them to come to him in to the house of the LORD and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the kings son, and commanded them, and said: This is it that you shall do: One third part of you which enter on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch in the kings house, and one third part shall be at the port of Sur, and one third part shall be at the port which is behind the foot men, and you shall keep the watch at the house of Massa. But two parts of you all that go of on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch in the house of the LORD about the king and you shall get you round about the king and every one with his weapon in his hand: and who so ever cometh within the brickwall, let him die, so that you be with the king, when he goeth out and in. And the rulers over the hundreds did all as joiada the priest had commanded them, 〈…〉 and took unto them their men which entered upon the Sabbath, with those that went of on the Sabbath, and came to joiada the priest. And the priest gave the captains spears and shyldes which had been king David's, and were in the house of the LORD. And the foot men stood about the king, every one with his weapon in his hand, from the corner on the right side of the house unto the corner of the left side, even unto the altar and to the house. And he brought forth the kings son, and set a crown upon his head, and took the 〈…〉 witness, and made him king, and they were glad, and clapped their hands together, and said: God save the king. 〈…〉 And when Athalia heard the noise of the people that ran rogether, she came to the people in to the house of the LORD, and looked, and behold, the king stood by the piler, as the use was, and the syngers and trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land were glad, and blue with trumpets. But Athalia rent her clotheses, & said: Vproure, uproar. Nevertheless joiada the priest commanded the rulers over hundreds, which were appointed over the host, and said unto them: Bring her without the brickwall, and whosoever followeth her, let him die of the sword (for the priest had said, that she should not die in the house of the LORD.) And they laid hands upon her, and she went in by the way where the horses go in to the kings house, and there was she slain. Then made joiada a covenant between the LORD and the king, 〈…〉 and the people, that they should be the people of the LORD. Likewise also betwixt the king and the people. Then went all the people of the land in to the house of Baal, and broke down his altars, and destroyed his images right well. And Mathan the priest of Baal slew they before the altar: And the priest appointed the officers in the house of the LORD, and took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the foot men, and all the people of the land, & brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and came the way from the port of the foot men unto the kings house, and he sat upon the kings seat. And all the people of the land were glad, and the cite was at rest. As for Athalia, they slew her with the sword in the kings house. And joas was seven year old, when he was made king. The XII. Chapter. IN the seventh year of jehu, was joas made king, 〈◊〉. ●4. a and reigned forty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibea of Bersaba. And joas did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, as long as joiada the priest taught him. But they put not down the high places: for the people offered & brent incense yet upon the high places. And joas said unto the priests: All the money that is sanctified to be bestowed upon the house of the LORD, namely the money that every man giveth unto the treasury, and the money that every man giveth for his soul, and all the money that every man giveth of a free heart, to be bestowed on the house of the LORD, let the priests take it unto them, every one his portion: with that shall they repair the decay in the house of the LORD, where they find that there is any decay. But when the priests repaired not the decay in the house unto the three and twentieth year of king joas, joas the king called joiada the priest with the other priests, and said unto them: Wherefore do you not repair the decay in the house? Therefore shall you not take the money unto you now every one his portion, but shall give it to the decay of the house. And the priests agreed to take no money of the people, and to repair the decay of the house. Then joiada the priest took a chest, and bored an hole above therein, and set it on the right hand beside the altar, at the entering in to the house of the LORD. And the priests that kept the threshold, put all the money therein that was brought unto the house of the LORD. When they saw then that there was much money in the chest, 4. Re. 22. a the kings scribe came up with the high priest, and bound the money together, and told it as much as was found in the house of the LORD. And so the ready money was given unto them that wrought and were appointed to the house of the LORD, and they gave it forth to the carpenters and to them that builded and wrought in the house of the LORD, namely, to the daubers and masons, and to them that bought timber and frestone, to repair the decay in the house of the LORD and all that they found to have need of repairing in the house. Howbeit there were no silver chargers, flat pieces, basins, trumpets, ner any other vessel of gold and silver made on the house of the LORD, of the money that was brought unto the lords house: but it was given unto the workmen to repair the decay in the house of the LORD therewith. The men also that the money was delivered unto, for to give the workmen, needed not to make any acomptes, but did their business upon credence. But the money of trespass offerings and sin offerings was not brought unto the house of the LORD: for it was the priests. At the same time went Hasael the kynof Syria up, and fought against Gath, and wan it. And when Hasael set his face to go up to jerusalem, king joas took all that was sanctified, which his father's josaphat, joram and Ochosias' the kings of juda had hallowed, and what he himself had sanctified, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the kings house, and sent it unto Hasael the king of Syria. And so he departed from jerusalem. What more there is to say of joas, and all that he did, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And his servants made insurrection and conspired, and smote him in the house of milo, at the going down unto Silla. For josebar the son of Simeath, and josabad the son of Summer his servants smote him to death: and he was buried with his fathers in the cite of David. And Amasias his son was king in his stead. The XIII. Chapter. IN the XXIII. year of joas the son of Ochosias' king of juda, was joahas the son of jehu king over Israel at Samaria, seventeen year: & did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked after the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (which caused Israel to sin) and left not of from them. And the wrath of the LORD waxed hot upon Israel, & he delivered them over under the hand of Hasael king of Syria, and under the hand of Benadad the son of Hasael, as long as they lived. And joahas besought the face of the LORD. And the LORD heard him, for he considered the misery of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, which brought them out of the power of the Syrians, so that the children of Israel dwelled in their tents, like as afore tyme. Yet left they not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which caused Israel to sin, but walked in them. The grove at Samaria stood still also. For of the people of joahas there were no more left, but fifty horsemen, ten charettes, and ten thousand foot men: 4. Re. 8. b for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and made them as the dust in the barn. What more there is to say of joahas, and all that he did, and his power, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And joahas fallen on sleep with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, & joas his son was king in his stead. In the seven and thirtieth year of joas king of juda, was joas the son of joahas king over Israel at Samaria sixteen year. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel for to sin, but walked in them. What more there is to say of joas, and what he did, & his power, how he fought with Amasias king of juda, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And joas fallen on sleep with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat upon his seat. And joas was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. As for Eliseus, he fallen in to a sickness, whereof he died. And joas the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept for him, and said: 4. Re 2. c My father, my father, the chariot man of Israel, and his horsemen. Eliseus said unto him: Take the bow and the arrows And when he had taken the bow and the arrows, he said unto the king of Israel: Bend the bow with thy hand. And he bend it with his hand. And Eliseus laid his hand upon the kings hand, and said Open that window toward the Eas●. And he opened it. And Eliseus said: Sh●●● And he shot. He said: one arrow of the salvation of the LORD, one arrow of salvation against the Syrians: and thou shalt smy●● the Syrians at Aphek, till they be brought to naught. And he said: Take the arrows. And wh●● he had taken them, he said unto the king of Israel: Smite the earth. And he smote three times and stood still. Then was them▪ of God wroth at him, and said: If thou hadst smitten five or six times, thou shouldest have smitten the Syrians, till thou had dost utterly brought them to naught. But now shalt thou smite them three times. When Eliseus was deed and buried, the men of war of the Moabites fallen in to the land the same year. And it fortuned that they buried a certain man. But when they saw the men of war, they cast the man in to Eliseus' grave. 〈…〉 And when he was therein, and touched Eliseus' bones, he revived, and stood upon his feet. So Hasael the king of Syria oppressed Israel, as long as joahas lived. But the LORD was gracious unto them, and had mercy upon them, and turned him to them for his covenants sake, with Abraham, Isaac and jacob, and would not destroy them 〈…〉 neither did he cast them out from his presence unto this hour. And Hasael the king of Syria died, and Benadad his son was king in his stead. But joas turned back, and took out of the hand of Benadad the son of Hasael the cities which he had taken in battle out of the hand of his father joahas: Three times did joas smite him, and brought the cities of Israel again. The XIIII. Chapter. IN the second year of joas the son of joahas king of Israel, was Amasias the son of joas king of juda made king: 〈…〉 five and twenty year old was he, when he was made king, & reigned nine and twenty year at Jerusalem. His mother's name was joadan of jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: yet not as his father David, but even as his father joas did so did he also: for the high places were not put down, but the people offered and brent incense yet upon the high places. Now when he had got the power of the kingdom, he smote his servants ● Re. 12. d which had smitten the king his father: but the children of the deed slayers slew he not, according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the LORD hath commanded & said: 〈◊〉. 24. c 〈◊〉. 31. d 〈◊〉. 18. c The fathers shall not die for the children, & the children shall not die for the fathers: but every one shall die for his own sin. Ten thousand of the Edomites smote he also in the Salt valley, and wan Sela in battle, and called it jatheel unto this day. 〈◊〉. 25. c Then sent Amasias messaungers unto joas the son of joahas the son of jehu king of Israel, saying: Come hither, let us see one another. Butler joas the king of Israel sent unto Amasias the king of juda, saying: The hawthorn that is in Libanus, sent to the Cedar tree in Libanus, saying: give thy daughter unto my son to wife. But a wild be'st of the field ran over the hawthorn, and trod it down. Thou hast smitten the Edomites, therefore is thy heart waxed proud: Take the praise, and bide at home: why strivest thou for misfortune, that thou mayest fall, and juda with thee? Howbeit Amasias consented not. Then went joas the king of Israel up, and they saw one another, he and Amasias the king of juda at Beth Seems which lieth in juda. But juda was smitten before Israel, so that every one fled in to his tent. And joas the king of Israel took Amasias the king of juda, the son of joas the son of Ochosias' at Beth Seems, and came to jerusalem, and broke down the brickwall of jerusalem from the port of Ephraim unto the corner port, even four hundredth cubits long: and took all the gold and silver, and ornaments that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the kings house, & the children also to pledge, & departed again to Samaria. What more there is to say of joas, what he did, and of his power, & how he fought with Amasias the king of juda, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And joas fallen on sleep with his fathers, and was buried at Samaria among the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son was king in his stead. But Amasias the son of joas king of juda, lived after the death of joas the son of joahas king of Israel, fifteen year. What more there is to say of Amasias, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And they conspired against him at jerusalem, but he fled unto Lachis. And they sent after him unto Lachis, and slew him there. And they brought him upon horses, & he was buried at jerusalem with his fathers in the cite of David. 2. Par. ● And all the people of juda took Asarias' in his sixteenth year, and made him king in stead of Amasias his father. He builded 4. Re. ● Eloth, and brought it again unto juda, after that the king was fallen on sleep with his fathers. In the fifteenth year of Amasias the son of joas king of juda, was Jeroboam the son of joas king over Israel at Samaria, one and forty year. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which caused Israel for to sin. But the borders of Israel brought he again from Hemath unto the see that lieth in the plain field, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant jon. 1. a jonas the son of Amithai the prophet, which was of josu. 19 Gath Epher. For the LORD considered the miserable affliction of Israel, how that even they which were shut up and desolate, were away, and that there was no helper in Israel. 4. Re. 1● Osc. 1. a And the LORD said not that he would destroy the name of Israel from under heaven. And he helped them by Jeroboam the son of joas. What more there is to say of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and of his power, how he fought, and how brought Damascon and Hemath again unto juda in Israel, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam fallen on sleep with his fathers, with the kings of Israel. And Zacharias his son was king in his stead. The XU. Chapter. IN the seven & twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, reigned Asarias' the son of Amasias king of juda: and 2. Par. 2● was sixteen year old when he was made king, and reigned two and fifty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was jechalia of Jerusalem. And he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all as did Amasias his father, saving that they put not down the high places. For the people did sacrifice and brent incense yet upon the high places. Howbeit the LORD smote the king, so that he was leper unto his death, Levi. 1●. and dwelled in a fry house. But jotham the kings son ruled the house, and judged the people in the land. What more there is to say of Asarias', & all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And Asarias' fallen on sleep with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the cite of David, & jotham his son was king in his stead. In the eight and thirtieth year of Asarias' king of juda, was Zacharias the son of Jeroboam king over Israel at Samaria six months. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, even as his fathers did. He departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which caused Israel for to sin. And Sellum the son of Jabes conspired against him, and smote him in the presence of the people, and slew him, & was king in his stead. What more there is to say of Zacharias, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. Re. 10. e And this is it, that the LORD said unto jehu: Thy children shall sit upon the seat of Israel until the fourth generation. And even so came it to pass. Sellum the son of Jabes reigned in the nine & thirtieth year of Some read: * Vsia. Asarias' king of juda, & reigned one month at Samaria. For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Thirza, & came to Samaria, and smote Sellum the son of Jabes at Samaria, & slew him, and was king in his stead. What more there is to say of Sellum, & of his sedition which he stirred up, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. At the same time did Manahem smite Tiphsa, & all that were therein, & the coasts thereof from Thirza, because they would not let him in, and smote all their women with child, and rypte them up. In the nine & thirtieth year of Asarias' king of juda, began Manahem the son of Gad to reign over Israel ten years at Samaria, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. As long as he lived, departed he not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which caused Israel for to sin. And Phul the king of Assiria came in to the land. And Manahem gave unto Phul a thousand talentes of silver to hold with him, and to confirm him in the kingdom. And Manahem raised up a tax in Israel upon the richest, fifty Sycles of silver upon everyman, to give unto the king of Assiria. So the king of Assiria went home again, and tarried not in the land. What more there is to say of Manahem, & all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. And Manahem fallen on sleep with his fathers. And Pecahia his son was king in his stead. In the fiftieth year of Asarias' king of juda, began Pecahia the son of Manahem to reign over Israel at Samaria two year, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which caused Israel for to sin. And Pecah the son of Romelia his knight conspired against him, & smote him at Samaria in the palace of the kings house with Argob and Ariah, and fifty men with him of the children of Gilead, & slew him, & was king in his stead. What more there is to say of Pecahia, & all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. In the two and fiftieth year of Asarias' king of juda, began Pecah the son of Romelia to reign over Israel at Samaria, twenty year, & did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which caused Israel for to sin. In the time of Pecah the king of Israel, came Teglatphalasser the king of Assiria, & took Eion, Abel Beth Maecha, janoha, Kedes, Hasor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Nephtali, & carried them away in to Assiria. And Osea the son of Ela conspired against Pecah the son of Romelia, & slew him, and was king in his stead in the twentieth year of jotham the son of * Osias. What more there is to say of Pecah, & all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Israel. In the second year of Pecah the son of Romelia king of Israel, was jotham the son of Osias king of juda, & was five and twenty year old when he was made king, and reigned sixteen year at jerusalem. His mother's name was jerusa the daughter of Sadok. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according unto all as did Osias his father▪ saving that he put not down the high places: for the people offered & brent incense yet upon the high places. He builded the high poet of the house of the LORD. What more there is to say of jotham, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. At the same time began the LORD to send Rezin the king of Syria, & Pecah the son of Romelia in to juda. And jotham fallen on sleep with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the cite of David his father. And Achas his son was king in his stead. The XVI. Chapter. IN the seventeenth year of Pecah the son of Romelia, 〈◊〉. 28. a was Achas the son of jotham king of juda. Twenty year old was Achas when he was made king, & reigned sixteen year at jerusalem, & did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as did David his father: for he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, 〈◊〉. 1●. ᵇ ● Re. ●●. ● Ye and caused his son to go thorough the fire, after the manner of the abominations of the Heythen, whom the LORD drove away before the children of Israel. And he did sacrifice, and brent incense upon the high places, & upon all hills, and among all green trees. 〈◊〉. 7. a Then went Rezin the king of Syria, and Pecah the son of Romelia king of Israel up to jerusalem to fight against it, and laid siege to Achas: but they could not win it. At the same time did Rezin the king of Syria, bring 〈◊〉. 14 d Eloth again unto Syria, and thrust the Jews out of Eloth. But the Syrians came & dwelled therein unto this day. Nevertheless Achas sent messaungers unto Teglatpha●asser the king of Assiria, saying: I am thy servant & thy son, come up & help me out of the hand of the king of Syria, & of the king of Israel, which are risen up against me. And Achas took the silver & gold that was found in the house of the LORD, & in the treasures of the kings house, & sent a present to the king of Assiria. 〈◊〉 8. a And the king of Assiria consented unto him, & went up to Damascon, & wan it, & carried them away unto Cira, & slew Rezin. And king Achas went to Damascon for to meet Teglatphalasser the king of Assiria. And when he saw an altar that was at Damascon, king Achas sent a patron & similitude of the same altar unto the priest Urias, even as it was made. And Urias the priest builded an altar, and made it according as king Achas had sent unto him from Damascon, till Achas the king came from Damascon. And when the king came from Damascon, and saw the altar, he offered thereon, & kindled his burned offerings and meat offerings upon it, and poured his drink offerings thereon, & caused the blood of the deedofferynges which he offered, to be sprenkled upon the altar. But the brazen altar that stood before the LORD, put he away, so that it stood not between the altar and the house of the LORD, but set it in the corner on the north side of the altar. And Achas the king commanded Urias the priest, & said: Upon the great altar shalt thou kindle the burned offering in the morning, & the meat offering in the evening, & the kings burned offering & his meat offering, & the burned offering of all the people in the land, with their meat offering & drink offering. And all the blood of the burned offerings, & all the blood of the other offerings shalt thou sprinkle thereon: but with the brazen altar will I devise what I can. Urias' the priest did all according as Achas the king commanded him. And king Achas broke down the seats, and put away the 3. Re▪ 7. c ketell from above, and took the laver from the brazen bullocks that were there under, and set it upon the pavement of stone. And the pulpit for the Sabbath which they had builded in the house, and the entry of the kings house turned he unto the house of the LORD, for the king of Assirias' sake. What more there is to say of Achas, what he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And Achas fallen on sleep with his fathers, & was buried with his fathers in the cite of David. And Ezechias his son was king in his stead. The XVII. Chapter. IN the twolueth year of Achas the king of juda, began Oseas the son of Ela to reign over Israel at Samaria nine year, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Against him did Salmanasar the king of Assiria come up. And Oseas was subject unto him, & gave him trybutes. But when the the king of Ass●ria perceived that Oseas had conspired & sent messaungers to Sua the king of Egipte, & paid not tribute yearly to the king of the Assyrians, he besieged him & put him in preson. 4. Re. 18. b And the king of Assiria went up in to all the land and to Samaria, and laid siege unto it three year. Esa. 8. a And in the ninth year of Oseas did the king of Assiria win Samaria, 4. Es. 1●. c and carried Israel away in to Assiria, and set them at Halah and at Habor by the water Gosan, and in the cities of the Medes. For when the children of Israel sinned against the LORD their God (that brought them out of the land of Egipte, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egipte) and served other gods: and walked after the customs of the heathen, whom the LORD had driven out before the children of Israel, and did as the kings of Israel, and provoked the LORD their God, and did secretly the things that were not right in the sight of the LORD their God: namely in that they builded them high places in all cities, both in castles and strong cities, and set up pilers and groves, upon all high hills, and among all green trees, and brent incense there in all the high places, even as did the Heythen, whom the LORD had cast out before them, & wrought wicked things, wherewith they provoked the LORD unto wrath, & served the Idols, whereof the LORD said unto them: ●eut. 4 e You shall not do soch a thing. And when the LORD testified in Israel and juda by all the prophets and Seers, saying: ●●re. 25 a O turn again from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and ordinances, according to all the law which I gave unto your fathers, and that I sent unto you by my servants the prophets: they would not hearken, Deut. ●1. f Mal 3 b but herdened their necks, according to the hardneck of their fathers, which believed not on the LORD their God. Ye they despised his ordinances and his covenant which he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he witnessed among them, and walked in their own vanities, and become vain following the Heythen, which dwelled round about them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them, that they should not do as they did. Nevertheless they forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God ●. Re. 12. d and made them two molten calves and groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, & served Baal, and Deu. 18. b caused their sons and daughters to go thorough the fire, and meddled with soythsayers and witches, and gave themselves over to do that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him unto wrath. Then was the LORD very wroth at Israel, and put them away from his presence, so that there remained nomo ●. Re. 12. c but only the tribe of juda. neither did juda keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked after the customs of Israel, which they did. Therefore did the LORD cast away all the sede of Israel, and troubled them, and delivered them in to the hands of the spoilers, till he had cast them out of his presence: for Israel was divided from the house of David. And they made them a king, one Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which turned Israel back from the LORD, & caused them to sin so sore. Thus walked the children of Israel in all the sins of Jeroboam, which he had done, & departed not from them, until the LORD put Israel out of his presence, according as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. 〈…〉 So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assiria unto this day. The king of Assiria caused men to come from Babylon, from Cutha, from Ava, from Hemath & Sepharuaim, & caused them to inhabit the cities in Samaria in stead of the children of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria, & dwelled in the same cities. But when they began to devil there, & feared not the LORD, the LORD sent lions among them, which slew them. And they caused it be said unto the king of Assiria: The Heythen whom thou hast brought hither, & caused them to inhabit the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the God of the land. Therefore hath he sent lions among them, & behold, they slay them, because they know not the ordinance of the God of the land. The king of Assiria commanded & said: Bring thither one of the priests that were carried away from thence & let him go thither, & devil there, & teach them the ordinance of the God of the land. Then came one of ● priests which were carried away from Samaria, & dwelled at Bethel, & taught them how they should fear the LORD. But every people made them gods, & put them in the houses upon the high places, which the Samaritans had made, every people in their cities wherein they dwelled. They of Babylon made Sochoth Benoth. They of Chut made Nergel. They of Hemath made Asima. They of Ava made Nibehas & Tharthak. They of Sepharuaim burned their sons unto Adramelech and Anamelech the gods of them of Sepharuaim. And while they feared the LORD, they made priests in the high places of the lowest among them, & put them in the houses of the high places: thus they feared the LORD, & served the gods also, according to the custom of every nation, from whence they were brought. And unto this day do they after the old fashion, so that they neither fear the LORD, ner yet keep their own ordinances and laws, after the law and commandment that the LORD commanded the children of jacob, 〈…〉 unto whom he gave the name of Israel, and made a covenant with them, and commanded them, and said: 〈…〉 Fear none other gods, and worship them not, and serve them not, and offer not unto them▪ but the LORD which brought you out of the land of Egipte, with great power and outstretched arm, Him fear, him worship, & unto him do sacrifice: and the statutes, ordinances, law & commandment which he hath caused to be written unto you, those see that you keep, that you allway do thereafter, and fear none other gods. And forget not the covenant which he hath made with you, jest you fear other gods. But fear the LORD your God, he shall deliver you from all your enemies. Nevertheless they would not hearken, but did after their old custom. Thus these heathen feared the LORD, and served their Idols also, and so did their children and childers children likewise. Even as their fathers have done before them, so do they unto this day. The XVIII. Chapter. IN the third year of Oseas the son of Ela king of Israel, 〈◊〉. 29. a reigned Ezechias the son of Achas king of juda. And he was five and twenty year old when he was made king, & reigned nine & twenty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zachary. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according unto all as did David his father. 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉. 25. a He put away the high places, and broke down the pilers, & rooted out the groves, and broke the brazen serpent 〈◊〉. 21. a which Moses had made. For unto that time had the children of Israel brent incense unto it. And it was called Nehusthan. He put his trust in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him there was not his like among all the kings of juda neither had been before him. He cleaved unto the LORD, and departed not back from him, and kept his commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him. And whither so ever he went forth, he behaved himself wisely. He resisted the kin of Assiria, and was not subdued unto him. 〈…〉 He smote the philistines also unto Gasa, and their borders, from the castles unto the strong cities. In the fourth year of Ezechias king of juda (that was the seventh year of Oseas the son of Ela king of Israel) came Salmanasar the king of Assiria up against Samaria, ● Re. 17. a and laid siege unto it, and wan it after three years in the sixte year of Ezechias, that is in the ninth year of Oseas king of Israel, them was Samaria won. And the king of Assiria carried Israel away unto Assiria, and set them at Halah and Habor by the water Gosan, and in the cities of the Medes. And all because they herkened not unto the voice of the LORD their God, and had transgressed his covenant: And as for all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded them, they had neither herkened unto any of those, ner done them. In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias did Sennacherib the king of Assiria come up against all the strong cities of juda, 2. Par. 32. Eccli. 48. ●sa. 36. a & conquered them. Then sent Ezechias the king of juda to the king of Assiria unto Lachis, saying: I have offended, turn back fro me: look what thou layest unto me, I will bear it. Then the king of Assiria laid unto Ezechias the king of juda, three hundredth talentes of silver, & thirty talentes of gold. 4. Re. 1● So Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, & in the treasures of the kings house. At the same time broke Ezechias the king of juda the doors of the temple of the LORD, & the plates of gold which he himself had caused to say over them, & gave them unto the king of Assiria. And the king of Assiria sent Thartan, 2. Par. 32 and the chief chamberlain, & the chief butler from Lachis to king Ezechias with a great power unto jerusalem. And they went up: and when they came there, they stood still at the conduit by the over pole, which lieth in the way upon the fullers land, and called unto the king. Then came there forth unto them Eliachim the son of Helchias the steward, and Sobna the scribe, & joah the son of Assaph the Secretary. And the chief butler said unto them: Tell king Ezechias: Thus sayeth the great king, even the king of Assiria: What presumption is this that thou trustest unto? Thinkest thou, that thou hast yet council and power to fight? Where unto trustest thou then, that thou art fallen of fro me? Behold, puttest thou thy trust in this broken staff of read, in Egipte? which who leaneth upon, it shall go in to his hand, & pierce it thorough. Even so is Pharaoh the king of Egipte unto all them that put their trust in him. But if you would say unto me: We put our trust in the LORD our God. Is not that he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken down, and said unto juda and Jerusalem: Before this altar which is at Jerusalem, shall you worship? Make a multitude now therefore unto my lord the king of Assiria, and I will give the two thousand horses, let see if thou be able to man them: how will't thou then endure before the smallest prince of my lords subjects? And trustest thou unto Egipte because of the charettes and horsemen? But thinkest thou that I came up hither without the LORD to destroy these cities? The LORD hath commanded me: Go up in to that land and destroy it. Then said Eliachim the son of Helchia & Sobna and joah unto the chief butler: Speak to thy servants in the Syrians language, for we understand it, and speak not unto us in the jews speech before the ears of the people that are upon the brickwall. Nevertheless the chief butler said unto them: Hath my lord then sent me unto thy lord, or to thee, to speak these words? Ye even unto the men, which sit upon the brickwall, that they may eat their own dung and drink their own stolen with you. So the chief butler stood and cried with loud voice in the jews language, and spoke and said: Hear the word of the great king the king of Assiria. Thus sayeth the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you, for he is not able to deliver you fro my hand: & let not Ezechias make you to trust in the LORD, saying: The LORD shall deliver us, and this cite shall not be given in to the hands of the king of Assiria. Follow not you Ezechias, for thus sayeth the king of Assiria: Do me this blessing, and come forth unto me, so shall every man eat of his vine and of his fig tree, and drink of his well, till I come myself and fetch you in to a land, which is like your own land, wherein is corn, wine, bread, vynyardes, oil trees, oil and honey, so shall you live, and not die. Follow not you Ezechias, for he deceiveth you, when he sayeth: The LORD shall deliver us. ●sa. 10. b Have the gods of the Heythen delivered every one his land from the hand of the king of Assiria? Where are the gods of Hemath and Arphad? Where are the gods of Sepharuaim Hena and jua? Have they delivered Samaria fro my hand? Where is there one god among the gods of all lands, which hath delivered his land fro my hand? that the LORD should deliver jerusalem fro my hand. As for the people, they held their peace, and gave him no answer: for the king had commanded and said: Answer him nothing. Then came Eliachim the son of Helchia the steward, and Sobna the scribe, and joah the son of Assaph the Secretatary unto Ezechias with rent clotheses, and told him the words of the chief butler. The XIX. Chapter. When Ezechias the king heard this, he rent his clotheses, 〈…〉 & put on a sackcloth, & went in to the house of the LORD, & sent Eliachim the steward & Sobna the Scribe with the Elder priests, clothed in sackcloth, unto the prophet Esay the son of Amos, & they said unto him: Thus sayeth Ezechias: This is a day of trouble, & of defiance & blasphemy. The children are come to the birth, & there is no strength to be delivered of them. If haply the LORD thy God will hear all the words of the chief butler, whom his lord the king of Assiria hath sent, to blasphemy the living God, & to defy him with such words as the LORD thy God hath herd, therefore lift thou up thy prayer for the remnant, which are yet left behind. And when king Ezechias servants came to Esay, Esay said unto them: Speak thus unto your lord: Thus sayeth the LORD: Fear not thou the words that thou hast herd, wherewith the king of Assirias' servants have blasphemed me. Behold, I will put him in another mind, so that he shall hear tidings, & go again in to his own country, 〈…〉 and in his own land will I 'cause him to fall thorough the sword. And when the chief butler came again, he found the king of Assiria fighting against Libna: for he had herd that he was departed from Lachis. And he heard of Taracha the king of the Morions: Behold, he is go forth to fight with the. Then turned he back, & sent messaungers to Ezechias, & caused to say unto him: Let not thy God deceive thee, on whom thou trustest & sayest: jerusalem shall not be given in to the hand of the king of Assiria. Behold, thou hast herd what the kings of Assiria have done unto all lands, & how they damned them, & shalt thou be delivered? Have the gods of the heathen delivered them, whom my father destroyed, as Gosan, Haran, Reseph, & the children of Eden which were at Thalassar? Where is the king of Hemath, the king of Arphad, & the king of the cite Sepharuaim, Hena & jua? And when Ezechias had received the letters of the messaungers and had read them, he went up unto the house of the LORD, and laid them abroad before the LORD, & made his prayer before the LORD, and said: O LORD God of Israel, thou that sittest upon the Cherubins, thou only art God among all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made heaven and earth. incline thy ear O LORD, and hear: open thy eyes, and behold, and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent hither to blaspheme the living God. It is true (O LORD) that the kings of Assiria have destroyed the Heythen and their land with the sword, and have cast their gods in the fire: for they were not Gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone, therefore have they destroyed them. But now O LORD help thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms upon earth may know, that thou LORD art God alone. Then sent Esay the son of Amos unto Ezechias, saying: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Where as thou hast made thy prayer unto me concerning Sennacherib the king of Assiria, I have heard it. This is it that the LORD hath spoken against him: He hath despised the and mocked the O virgin thou daughter Zion: he hath shaken his head at the O daughter jerusalem. 〈◊〉. 1. b 〈◊〉 ●5. d 〈◊〉 9 a Whom hast thou despised & blasphemed? Over whom hast thou lift up thy voice? Even against the holy one in Israel hast thou lift up thy eyes: thou hast blasphemed the LORD by thy messaungers, and said: Thorough the multitude of my charettes have I go up to the tops of the mountains, upon the sides of Libanus. I have hewn down his high Ceders and his choose Pine trees, and am come to the uttermost habitation of the wood of Carmel that belongeth unto it. I have digged and drunk up the strange waters, and with the soles of my feet have I dried up the See. But hast thou not herd how that I have done this long ago, and have prepared it from the beginning? Now have I caused it for to come, that contentious strong cities might fall in to a waist heap of stones, & they that devil therein, shall be faint, and fearful and a shamed, 〈◊〉. ●6. a and shall be as the grass upon the field, and as the green herb and hay upon the house tops, that withereth afore it be grown up. I know thy habitation, thy out and ingoing, and that thou ragest against me. For so much then as thou ragest against me, and saying thy presumption is come up to mine ears, therefore will I put a ring in thy nose, and a bridle bit in thy lips, and will bring the again, even the same way thou camest. And let this be a token unto the O Ezechias. In this year eat that which is fallen▪ in the second year such as groweth of itself: In the third year sow and reap, and plant vynyardes, and eat the fruit thereof. And the daughter juda which is escaped & remaineth, shall from hence forth take rote beneath, and bear fruit above. For the remnant shall go forth from jerusalem, & they that are escaped, shall go out fro mount Zion. The jealousy of the LORD Zebaoth shall bring this to pass. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD concerning the king of the Assyrians: He shall not come in to this cite, and shall shoot no arrow therein, neither shall there come any shield before it, neither shall he dig any back about it, but shall go again the way that he came, and shall not come in to this cite, sayeth the LORD: and I will defend this cite, to help it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And in the same night went the angel of the LORD, and smote in the host of the Assyrians, an hundredth and five and four score thousand men. And when they got them up in the morning, behold, all lay full of deed corpses. Tobi. 1 d So Sennacherib the king of Assyria broke up, and departed, and returned, and abode at Ninive. And as he worshipped in the house of Nesrach his god, his own sons Adramalech and Sarazer smote him with the sword, and fled in to the land of Ararat. And Asarhadon his son was king in his stead. The XX. Chapter. AT that time was Ezechias deedsicke. And the prophet Esay the son of Amos, came to him, & said unto him: 2. Par. 32. ● Esa. 38. a Thus sayeth the LORD: Set thy house in order for thou shalt die & not live. And he turned, his face to the brickwall, and prayed unto the LORD, and said: Remember (O LORD) that I have walked faithfully before thee, & with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Ezechias wept sore. But when Esay was not go out of half the cite, the word of the LORD came to him, & said: Turn back, & tell Ezechias the prince of my people: Thus sayeth the LORD God of thy father David: I have herd thy prayer, & considered the tears. Behold, I will heal thee: on the third day shalt thou go in to the house of the LORD, & fifteen years will I add unto the life, & will deliver the & this cite from the king of Assyria, & this cite will I defend for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Esay said: Bring hither a quantity of figs. And when they brought them, they laid them upon the sore, and it was healed. Ezechias said unto Esay: Which is the token, that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up in to the house of the LORD on the third day? Esay said: This token shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD shall do according as he hath said. Shall the shadow go ten degrees forward, or shall it turn ten degrees backward? Ezechias said: It is an easy thing for the shadow to go ten degrees downward, that is not my mind: but that it go ten degrees backward. Then cried the prophet Esay unto the LORD, Eccli. 48 e and the shadow went back ten degrees in Achas Dial, which he was descended afore. At the same time Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan king of Babylon, Esa 39 a sent letters and presents unto Ezechias, for he had herd that Ezechias had been sick. And Ezechias rejoiced with them, & showed them all the house of rotes, the silver, gold, spices, and the best oil, and the house of ordinance, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house and in all his dominion, but Ezechias showed it them. Then came Esay the prophet unto king Ezechias, and said unto him: What have these men said? and whence came they unto thee? Ezechias said: They came to me out of a far country, even from Babylon. He said: What have they seen in thine house? Ezechias said: They have seen all that is in my house, and there is nothing in my 〈◊〉 but I have showed it them. Then said Esay unto Ezechias: Hear the word of the LORD: Behold, 4 Re. 24. c and▪ 2●. b jere. 32. c the time cometh, that it shall all be carried away unto Babylon, and whatsoever thy fathers have laid up unto this day, and there shall nothing be left, sayeth the LORD. Dan. 1. a Ye and the children which come of thee, whom thou shalt beget, shallbe taken away, to be chamberlains in the king of Babylon's palace. Ezechias said unto Esay: It is good that the LORD hath spoken. And he said moreover: Let there be peace yet and faithfulness in my tyme. What more there is to say of Ezechias, and all his power, and what he did, and of the pole and water conduit, where by he conveyed water in to the cite, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. 2. Par. 32. f And Ezechias fallen on sleep with his fathers, and Manasses his son was king in his stead. The XXI. Chapter. MAnasses was twelve year old, when he was made king, 〈…〉 and reigned five and fifty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephziba. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD (even after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD expelled before the children of Israel) and waxed fro ward, 〈…〉 and builded up the high places which his father Ezechias had destroyed, and set up Baal's altars, and made groves (as Achab the king of Israel did) and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And builded altars in the lords house, whereof the LORD said: I will set my name at jerusalem. And in both the courts of the house of the LORD builded he altars unto all the host of heaven. And 〈…〉 caused his son to go thorough the fire, and regarded birds crying and tokens, and maintained soythsayers, and expounders of tokens, and so much did he of this which was evil in the sight of the LORD, that he provoked him unto wrath. A grove Idol also which he had made, set he in the house, whereof the LORD said unto David and to Solomon his son: In this house, and at jerusalem ( 〈…〉 which I have choose out of all the tribes of Israel) will I set my name forever, and will not 'cause the foot of Israel to be removed any more from the land, which I gave unto their fathers, ye so that they observe and do according unto all that I have charged them, and after all the law that my servant Moses commanded them. Nevertheless they would not hearken, but Manasses deceived them, so that they did worse than the heathen, whom the LORD expelled before the children of Israel. Then spoke the LORD by his servants the prophets, and said: Because that Manasse the king of juda hath go these abominations, which are worse than all the abominations that the Amorites have done which were before them, and hath caused juda also to sin against their God, therefore thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: 〈…〉 Behold, I will bring such a plague upon jerusalem and juda, that who so ever heareth it, both his ears shall glow, and over jerusalem will I stretch forth the line of Samaria, and the weight of the house of Achab, and will wipe out jerusalem, even as one wipeth a platter, and I will overthrow it. And the remnant of mine inheritance will I cast out, & seater them abroad, & will deliver them in to the hands of their enemies, to be spoiled and rend of all their enemies: because they have done that which is evil in my sight, & have provoked me unto wrath, sense the day that I brought their fathers out of Egipte, unto this day. Manasses also shed exceeding much innocent blood, so long till Jerusalem was full on every side, with out the sins wherewith he caused juda for to sin, so that they did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. What more there is to say of Manasses, and all that he did, and his sins which he committed, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And Manasses fallen on sleep with his fathers, and was buried in the garden beside his house, namely, in the garden of Vsa, and Amon his son was king in his stead. 〈◊〉. 33. d Two and twenty year old was Amon when he was made king, & he reigned two year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Mesumeleth, the daughter of Harus of jatba, and he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasses his father had done, and walked in all the way which his father walked, and served the Idols which his father had served, and worshipped them, and forsook the LORD the God of his father, and walked not in the way of the LORD. And his servants conspired against Amon, & slew the king in his house. But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon. And the people of the land made josias his son king in his stead. As for other things that Amon did, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And he was buried in his grave in Vsas' garden. And josias his son was king in his stead. The XXII. Chapter. IOsias was eight year old when he was made king, 〈◊〉. 34▪ a & reigned one and thirty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was jedida the daughter of Adaia of Bascath, and he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, & turned not aside, neither to the right hand ner to the left. ●. Par. 34. And in the eighteenth year of king josias, the king sent Saphan the son of Asalia the son of Mesulam the scribe, in to the house of the LORD, and said: ●. Re. 12. b Go up to Helchias the high priest, that the money that is brought unto the house of the LORD (which the tresholde keepers have gathered of the people) may be delivered unto them, that they may give it to the workmen which are appointed in the house of the LORD, & to give it unto the labourers in the house (that they may repair the decay of the house) namely, unto the carpenters, and builders, & masons, and to them that buy timber & free stone for the repairing of the house: but so that there be no accounts taken of them concerning the money, that is under their hand, but that they deal withal upon credence. Andrea Helchias the priest said unto Saphan the scribe: 2. Pa. 34. ● I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Helchias gave the book unto Saphan, that he might read it. And Saphan the scribe bore it unto the king, and brought him word again, & said: Thy servants have gathered together the money that was found in the house, & have delivered it unto the workmen, which are appointed in the house of the LORD. And Saphan the scribe told the king and said: Helchias the priest hath delivered me a book, and Saphan read it before the king. But when the king heard the words of the book of law, he rent his clotheses. And the king commanded Helchias the priest, & Ahicam the son of Saphan, & Achbor the son of Michaia, and Saphan the scribe, & Asaia the kings servant, and said: Go your way and axe council at the LORD for me, jere. 21. ● for the people, and for all juda, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled over us, because our fathers have not herkened unto the words of this book, to do all that is written unto us therein. Then went Helchias the priest, and Ahicam, Achbor, Saphan & Asaia unto Hulda the prophetess the wife of Sellum the son of Thecua the son of Harham the keeper of the clotheses, and she dwelled at jerusalem in the second port, and they spoke unto her. And she said unto them: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you unto me, Thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and the inhabiters thereof, even all the words of the law which the king hath caused to be read, because they have forsaken me, and brent incense unto other gods, to provoke me unto wrath with all the works of their hands. Therefore is my wrath kindled against this cite, and shall not be quenched. But tell this unto the king of juda, which hath sent you to axe council at the LORD: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Because thy heart is not departed from the words which thou hast herd, and hast humbled thyself before the LORD, to hear what I have spoken against this place and the inhabiters thereof (how that they shall become a very desolation and curse) & hast rent thy clotheses, and wept before me, I have heard it, sayeth the LORD: 4. Re. 23. f therefore will I gather the unto thy fathers, so that thou shalt be put in to thy grave in peace, and thy eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring upon this place. Andrea they brought the king word again. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd the king sent fotth, and all the Elders in juda and jerusalem resorted unto him, ●. Par 34. f and the king went up in to the house of the LORD, and all the men of juda, and all the inhabiters of jerusalem with him, the priests and prophets and all the people both small and great, ●. Esd 8. a and all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD, were read in their ears. And the king stood upon a piler, and made a covenant before the LORD, ●su. 24. ● that they should walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, witnesses, and ordinances with all their heart and with all their soul, that they should set up the words of this covenant, which are written in this book. And all the people entered in to the covenant. And the 〈◊〉 commanded Helchias the high priest, and ●he priests of the second course, and the keepers of the threshold, that they should put out of the temple all the vessels which were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven, & he brent them without jerusalem in the valley of Cedron, and the dust of them was carried unto Bethel. And he put down the ●ph 1. a Kemurims, whom the kings of juda had founded, to burn incense upon the high places, in the cities of juda, and about jerusalem. He put down also them that brent incense unto Baal, to the Son, and the Moon, and the twelve tokens, and to all the host of heaven. And the grove caused he to be carried from the house of the LORD out of jerusalem in to the valley of Cedron, and brent it in the valley of Cedron, and made it to dust, and cast the dust upon the graves of the comen people. And he broke down the whorekepers' houses which were by the house of the LORD, wherein the women made mansions for the grove. And he caused all the priests for to come out of the cities of juda, and suspended the high places, where the priests brent incense, from Geba unto Berseba. And broke down the high places in the ports, that were at the door of the gate of josua the shreve of the cite, at the left hand as one goeth to the cite port. Yet had not the priests of the high places offered upon the altar of the LORD at jerusalem, but ate unleavened bread among their brethren. He suspended 〈…〉 Tophet also in the valley of the children of Ennon, that noman should 'cause his son or his daughter to go thorough the fire unto Moloch. And he put down the horses, which the kings of juda had set unto the Son, at the intringe in to the house of the LORD, beside the chest of Netham Melech the chamberlain which was at Paruarim, and the charettes of the Son brent he with fire, and the altars upon the roof of Achab's perler, which the kings of juda had made. And the altars 〈…〉 which Manasses had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king break down. And rannefrom thence, and cast the dust of them in to the broken Cedron. And the high places that were before jerusalem on the right hand of Mount Mashith 〈…〉 which Solomon the king of Israel had builded unto Astaroth the abomination of Sidon, and to Camos the abomination of Moab, and to Malcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, those did the king suspend, and broke the pilers, and rooted out the groves, and filled their places with men's bones. And 〈…〉 the altar at Bethel, and the high place that Jeroboam the son of Nebat made, which caused Israel to sin, the same altar broke he down, and the high place, & brent the high place, and made it to dust, and brent up the grove. And josias turned him about, and saw the graves that were upon the mount, and caused the bones to the fetched out of the graves, and brent them upon the altar, and suspended it, according to the word of the LORD, 〈…〉 which the man of God cried out, that told this before. And he said: What title is this, that I see here? And the men of the cite said unto him: It is the grave of the man of God, which came from juda, and cried out this that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel. And he said: Let him lie, no man touch his bones. Thus were his bones delivered with the bones of the prophet that came from Samaria. He put away also all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria (which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD unto wrath) and did with them according to all as he had done at Bethel. And all the priests of the high places that were there, offered he up upon the altars, and 〈…〉 so brent he men's bones thereon, and came again to jerusalem. 〈…〉 And the king commanded the people, and said: Keep Easter unto the LORD your God, 〈…〉 as it is written in the book of this covenant. For there was no Easter so kept as this, sense the time of the judges which judged Israel, and in all the times of the kings of Israel, and of the kings of juda: but in the eighteenth year of king josias, was this Easter kept unto the LORD at jerusalem. And josias expelled all soythsayers, expounders of tokens, images and Idols, and all the abominations which were seen in the land of juda and at jerusalem, that he might set up the words of the law, which were written in the book, that Helchias the priest found in the house of the LORD. His like was no king before him, which so converted unto the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, & with all his strength, according to all the law of Moses. And after him came there not up such another. Yet turned not the LORD from the indignation of his great wrath, wherewith he was displeased over juda, because of all the provocation wherewith Manasses had provoked him. And the LORD said: 〈◊〉 ●4. a I will put juda out of my presence also, even as I have put away Israel: and this cite which I have choose, will I cast out, namely, jerusalem, & the house whereof I said: My name shallbe there. What more there is to say of josias, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. In his time went Pharaoh Necho the king of Egipte up against the king of Assyria by the water Euphrates. ●. Par. 35. a But king josias went against him, and died at Megiddo, when he had seen him. And his servants carried him deed from Megiddo, & brought him to Jerusalem, & buried him in his grave. And the people of the land took That is * jechonias. joahas the son of josias, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead. Three & twenty year old was joahas when he was made king, & reigned three months at Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of jeremia of Libna. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, even as his fathers had done. But Pharaoh Necho took him prisoner of Reblatha in the land of Hemath, that he should not reign at jerusalem: & raised a tax upon the land, an hundredth talents of silver, & one talent of gold. And Pharaoh Necho made Eliachim the son of josias king in his father josias stead, & turned his name joachim. jere. 22. b But joahas took he, & brought him in to Egipte where he died. And joachim gave the silver & gold unto Pharaoh, yet taxed he the land, that he might give the silver according to pharao's commandment. Every one among the people in the land taxed he after his ability in silver & gold, to give it unto Pharaoh. five & twenty year old was joachim when he was made king, & reigned eleven years at jerusalem. His mother's name was Sebida the daughter of Pedaia of Ruma, & he did evil in the sight of the LORD, even as his fathers had done. The XXIIII. Chapter. IN his time came up Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, & joachim was in subjection unto him iij. year. And he turned back, & rebelled against him. And the LORD sent men of war upon him out of Chaldea, out of Syria, out of Moab, & from among the children of Ammon, & caused them for to come in to juda, to destroy it according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. It fortuned even so unto juda, 4. Re. 23. ● according to the word of the LORD, that he would put them away from his presence, because of the sins of Manasses which he did, & because of the innocent blood that he shed. And he filled jerusalem with innocent, blood, therefore would not the LORD be reconciled. What more there is to say of joachim, and all that he did, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of juda. And joachim fallen on sleep with his fathers. And jere. 36. d joachim his son was king in his stead. And the king of Egipte came no more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had conquered all that was the king of Egiptes, from the river of Egipte unto the water Euphrates. eighteen year old was joachim when he was made king, and reigned three months at Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nebustha the daughter of Elnathan of jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, even as his father had done. At the same time went the servants of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon up to jerusalem, and came upon the city with ordinance of war. And when Nabuchodonosor and his servants came to the cite they laid siege unto it. But joachim the king of juda went forth to the king of Babylon with his mother, with his servants, with his rulers and chamberlains. And the king of Babylon received him in the eight year of his reign. 4. Re. 20 c Esa. 29. b And he took forth from thence all the treasure in the house of the LORD, and in the kings house, and broke all the golden vessel that Solomon the king of Israel had made in the house of the LORD (according as the LORD had said) and carried away all jerusalem, all the rulers, all the mighty men, even ten thousand presoners, and all the carpenters, and all the smiths, and left none behind but the poor people of the land. Deu. 28. d jer. 24. a And he carried joachim away unto Babylon, and the kings mother, the kings wives, and his chamberlains: and the mighty men of the land led he away presoners also from jerusalem unto Babylon, and seven thousand of the best men, and a thousand carpenters and smiths, and all the strong men of war. jer. 37. a And the king of Babylon made Matania his uncle king in his stead, and turned his name Sedechias. jer. 52. a One and twenty year old was Sedechias, when he was made king, and reigned eleven year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Amithal the daughter of jeremia of Libna. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, even as joachim did: for thus fortuned it unto Jerusalem thorough the wrath of the LORD, till he had cast them out from his presence. And Sedechias fallen away from the king of Babylon. The XXV. Chapter. ANd it fortuned, that in the ninth year of his reign, upon the tenth day of the tenth month, 〈…〉 Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came with all his power against jerusalem. And they laid siege unto it, and builded strong holds round about it. Thus was the cite besieged unto the eleventh year of king Sedechias. But on the ninth day of the fourth month was the hunger so strong in the cite, 〈…〉 that the people of the land had nothing to eat. And the cite was broken up, & all the men of war fled in the night by the way of the port between the two walls, which goeth to the kings garden. But the Caldees lay about the cite. And he fled by the way to the plain field. Nevertheless the power of the Caldees followed after the king, and took him in the plain field of jericho: and all the men of war that were with him, were scattered abroad from him. And they took the king, and led him up to the king of Babylon unto Reblatha. 〈…〉 And he gave judgement upon him. And they slew Ezechias children before his eyes, and put out Sedechias eyes, and bound him with chains, and carried him unto Babylon. Upon the seventh day of the fifth monet, that is the ninetenth year of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, came Nabusaradan the chief captain the king of Babylon's servant, unto jerusalem, and brent the house of the LORD, and the kings house, & all the houses at jerusalem, and all the great houses brent he with fire. And all the power of the Caldees which was with the chief captain, broke down the walls round about jerusalem. As for the other people that yet were left in the cite, and were fallen unto the king of Babylon, and the other comen people, Nabusaradan the chief captain carried them away. And of the poorest people did the chief captain leave in the land to be wynegardeners and plowmen. But the brazen pilers in the house of the LORD, and the seats, and the brazen laver that was in the house of the LORD, did the Caldees break down, and carried the metal unto Babylon. And the pots, shovels, fleshokes, spoons, & all the brazen vessel that was occupied in the service, carried they away. And the chief captain took away the censors and basins that were of gold and silver, two pilers, one laver, and the seats that Solomon had made for the house of the LORD. The metal of all these ornaments could not be weighed. 〈◊〉 7. b eighteen cubytes high was one piler, and the knop thereon was of brass also, & three cubytes high: & the rope and the pomegranates upon the knop round about, were all of brass. After the same manner was the other piler also with the rope. And the chief captain took Seraia the priest of the first course, & Sophony the priest of the second course, and three dorekepers, and one chamberlain out of the cite, which was appointed over the men of war: and five men that were ever before the king, which were found in the cite: and Sophar the captain, which taught the people of the land to fight: and three score men of the people of the land, that were found in the cite: these did Nabusaradan the chief captain take, and brought them to the king of Babylon unto Reblatha. And the king of Babylon slew them at Reblatha in the land of Hemath. Thus was juda carried away out of his own land. 〈◊〉 2. b But over the remnant of the people in the land of juda, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon left behind, he set Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan. Now when all the captains of the soudyers, & the men heard, that the king of Babylon had made Godolias' governor, they came to Godolias unto 〈…〉 Mispa, namely, Ishmael the son of Nathanias, & johanna the son Carea, & Seraia the son of Tanhometh the Netophatite, & jesanias' the son of Maechati with their men. And Godolias swore unto them & to their men, & said unto them: 〈◊〉 4●. c Fear not you the officers of the Caldees, tarry in the land, & submit yourselves unto the king of Babylon, & you shall prosper. 〈◊〉. 41. a Butt in the seventh month came Ishmael the son of Nathanias the son of Elisama (of the kings kindred) and ten men with him, and slew Godolias, and the jews and Caldees that were with him at Mispa. Then all the people got them up, both small and great, and the captains of the host, and came in to Egipte, for they were afraid of the Caldees. Howbeit in the seven and thirtieth year after that joachim the king of juda was carried away on the seven and twenty day of the twolueth month, Euilmerodach the king of Babylon in the first year of his reign, lift up the head of joachim the king of juda out of preson, and spoke lovingly unto him, and set his throne above the trones of the kings that were with him at Babylon, and changed the clotheses of his captivity. And he ate allway before him as long as he lived. And he appointed him his portion, which was ever given him daily of the king, as long as he lived. The end of the fourth book of the kings. The first book of the Chronicles, called Paralipomenon. What this book containeth. Chap. I.II. A rehearsing of the generations. Chap. III Of David and his sons. Chap. four A register of the children of juda. Chap. V A register of the children of Simeon. Chap. VI A register of the Rubenites. Chap. VII. A register of the children of Levi. Chap. VIII. Of the children of Isachar & Ben jamin. Chap. IX. Of the tribe of Ben jamin. Chap. X. The number of the Israelites, that were carried away unto Babylon. Chap. XI. The battle of the philistines against Saul and his sons. Chap. XII. How David was anointed king, and of his kingdom. Chap. XIII. Of David's worthy men of war, which came unto him out of all the tribes. Chap. XIIII. How the other tribes were called, and how they fetched away the Ark. Chap. XU. Hiram sendeth timber unto David. Of David's wives. He overcometh the philistines. Chap. XVI. David appointeth the Levites to bear the Ark. Chap. XVII. The Ark is set in the Tabernacle, with sacrifice and thanksgiving. Chap. XVIII. God forbiddeth David to build the temple. Chap. XIX. David subdueth the enemies on every side. Chap. XX. Hanun the king of Amon dealeth shamefully with David servants, that come to comfort him. Chap. XXI. Of certain battles which David winneth with worship. Chap. XXII. David numbereth the people, and displeaseth the LORD, which punysheth the people for his sake. Chap. XXIII. David prepareth timber and stone, gold & silver for the building of the temple. Chap. XXIIII. XXV. David in his age before his death, appointeth the offices in the house of God. Chap. XXVI. The office of the children of Asaph, Heman, and jedithun. Chap. XXVII The office of the porters. Chap. XXVIII. The office of the captains among the tribes. Chap. XXIX. The words of David to the captains, to the people and to Solomon. Chap. XXX. How David talketh of building the temple, and what the princes give there to. The first Chapter. ADam, Seth, Enos, Kenan, Gene 5. a Mahalaleel, Jared, Henoch, Mathusalah, Lamech, No, Sem, Ham & japhet. Gen 10. a The children of japhet are these: Gomer, Magog, Madai, javan, Tubal, Mesech and Thiras. The children of Gomer are these: Ascenas, Riphat Togarma. The children of javan are these: Elisa, Tharsisa, Chitim and Dodanim. The children of Ham are these: Chus, Misraim, Phut & Canaan. The children of Chus are these: Seba, Hevila, Sabtha, Reyma & Sabthecha. The children of Reyma are these: Sheba & Dedan. Chus, begat Nemr●●, that began to be mighty upon earth. Misraim begat Ludim, Enanim, Lehabim, Napthuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim: of whom came the philistines and Caphthorims. Canaan begat Sidon his first son: Heth, jebusi, Amori, Girgosi, Hevi, Arki, Sim, Aruadi, Zemari and Hemathi. The children of Sem are these: Elam, Assur, Arphachsad, Lud, Aram, Vz, Hul, Gether & Masech. Arphachsad begat Salah. Salah begat Eber. Unto Eber there were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, because that in his time the world was divided, and his brother's name was jaketan. And jaketan begat Almodad, Saleph, Hazarmaphet, jarah, Hadoran, Vsal, Dikela, Ebal, Abimael, Seba, Ophir, Hevila and jobab. These all are the children of jakethan. Gene▪ 11. b Sem, Arphachsad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Regu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram, that is Abraham. The children of Abraham are these: Isaac and Ishmael. This is their generation: Gen. 25. b The first son of Ishmael: Nebaioth, Cedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, Misma, Duma, Masa, Hadad, Thema, jethur, Naphis & Kedma. These are the children of Ishmael. The children which Ketura Abraham's concubine bore, are these: Simram, Iaks●● Medan, Midian, jeszbak and Suah. The children of jaksan are these: Seba and Dedan. And the children of Midian be: Eph● Epher, Henoch, Abida and Eldaa. All thee are the children of Ketura. Abraham beg●● Isaac. The children of Isaac are: Esau 〈◊〉 Israel. * The children of Esau are: Eliph● Reguel, jeus, jaelam, Korah. The children of Eliphas are, Theman, Omar, Zep●● Gaethan, Kenas, Thimna & Amalek. The children of Reguel are: Nahath, Serah, Samma and Misa. 〈…〉 The children of Seir are: Lothan, Sobal, Zibeon, Ana, Dison, Ezer, Disan. The children of Lothan are: Hori and Hom●● and Thimna was the sister of Lothan. The children of Sobalare: Aluan, Manahath▪ Ebal, Sephi, Onan. The children of Zibeon are: Aia and Ana. The children of Ana, Dison. The children of Dison are: Hamran, Eszban, jethran and Charan. The children of Ezer are: Bilhan, Se●uan & Acan. The children of Disan are: Vz and Aran. These are the kings which reigned is the land of Edom, or ever there reigned any king among the children of Israel: Bel● the son of Beor, and the name of his cite was Dinhaba. And when Bela died, jobab the son of Serah of Bosra was king in his stead. And when jobab died, H●sam out of the land of the Themanites was king in his stead. When Husam died, Hadad the son of Bedad (which smote the Madianites in the field of the Moabites) was king in his stead, & the name of his cite was Auith. When Hadad died, Samla of Masrek was king in his stead. When Samla died, Saul of Rehobeth by the water side, was king in his stead. When Saul died, Baal Havan the son of Achbor was king in his stead. When Baal Havan died, Hadad was king in his stead, and the name of his cite was Pagi, & his wives name was Mehetabeel the daughter of Matred, & daughter of Mesahab. But when Hadad died, there were princes at Edom: Prince Thimnah, prince Alva, prince jetheth, prince Ahalibama, prince Ela, prince Pinon, prince Kenas▪ prince Theman, prince Mibzar, prince Magdiel, prince Iram. These are the princes of Edom. The II Chapter. THese are the children of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, juda, Isachar, Zabulon, Dan, joseph, Ben jamin, Nephtali, Gad & Aser. 〈…〉 The children of juda: Er, Onan & Sela: these three were born unto him of the daughter Sua the Cananitisse. Howbeit the first son of juda was wicked before the LORD, & therefore he slew him. But 〈…〉 Thamar his sons wife bore him Phares & Zarah, so that all the children of juda were five. 〈◊〉 ●4. d The children of Phares are, Hesrom and Hamuel. The children of Zarah are, Simri, Ethan, Heman, Chalcol, Dara, which all are five in number. The children of Charmi are, 〈…〉 Achan, which troubled Israel, when he sinned in the thing that was damned. The children of Ethan: Asaria. The children which were born unto Hesrom, are: Raia, Thalubai. 〈…〉 Ram begat Aminadab. Aminadab begat Naasson the prince of the children of juda. Naasson begat Salmon. Salmon begat Boos. Boos begat Obed. Obed begat Isai. 〈…〉 Isai begat Eliab his first son, Abinadab the second, Samma the third, Nathanael the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixte, David the seven. And their sisters were Zervia & Abigail. The children of Zervia are these three: Abisai, joab & Asahel. Abigail begat Amasa. 〈…〉 The father of Amasa was Jether an Ismaelite. Caleb the son of Hesrom begat Asuba the woman, & jerigoth. And these are the same woman's children: jeser, Sobab, and Ardon. But when Asuba died, Caleb took Ephrat, which bore him Hur. 〈…〉 Her begat Vri. Vri begat Bezaleel. afterward lay Hesrom with the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, & he took her when he was three score year old, and she bore him Segub. Segub begat jair, which had three & twenty cities in the land of Gilead. And he took out of the same jesur and Aram the towns of jair, and Kenath with the villages thereof, three score cities. All these are the children of Machir the father of Gilead. After the death of Hesrom in Caleb Ephrata, left Hesrom his wife unto Abia: which (wife) bore him 〈…〉 Ashur the father of Thecoa. jerahmeel the first son of Hesrom had children: the first Ram, Buna, Oren and Ozem and Ahia. And jerahmeel had yet another wife, whose name was Athara, she is the mother of Onan. The children of Ram the first son of jerahmeel are, Maaz, jamin and Eker. Onan had children: Samai and jada. The children of Samai are, Nadab & Abisur. Abisurs wife was called Abihail, which bore him Ahban and Molid. The children of Nadab are, Seled and Appaim. And Seled died without children. The children of Appaim: jesei. The children of jesei: Sesan. The children of Sesan: Ahelai. The children of jada the brother of Samai are, Jether & jonathan. But Jether died without children. The children of jonathan are, Peleth and Sasa: These are the children of jerahmeel. As for Sesan, he had no sons, but a daughter. And Sesan had a servant an Egipcian, whose name was jatha. And Sesan gave his daughter unto jatha his servant to wife, which bore him Athai. Athai begat Nathan. Nathan begat Sabad. Sabad begat Ephal. Ephal begat Obed. Obed begat jehu. jehu begat Asaria. Asaria begat Halez. Halez begat Elleasa. Elleasa begat Sissemai. Sissemai begat Sallum. Sallum begat jekamia. jekamia begat Elisama. The children of Caleb the brother of jerahmeel are, Mesa his first son, which is the father of 1. Re. 23. ● Siph, and of the children of Maresa the father of Hebron. The children of Hebron are, Corah, Thapuah, Rekem, & Sama. Sama begat Raham the father of jarkaam. Rekem begat Samai. The son of Samai was called Maon, & Maon was the father of Bethzur. Epha Calebs' concubine bore Haram, Mosa & Gases. Haram begat Gases. The children of jahdai are, Rekem, jotham, Gesan, Pelet, Epha and Saaph. Maecha Calebs' concubine bore Seber and Thirhena. And she bore Saaph also the father of Madmanna, and Scheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea. But josu. 15. d jud. 1. c Achsa was Calebs' daughter. These were the children of Caleb: Her the first son of Ephrata, Sobal the father of Kiriath jearim, Salma the father of Bethleem, Hareph the father of Beth Sader. And Sobal the father of Kiriath jearim had sons, namely the half kindred of Manuhoth. The kindred's at Kiriath jearim were the jethites, Puthites, Sumathites & Misraites. From these came forth the Zaregathites & Esthaolites. The children of Salma are Bethleem & the Netophathites the crown of the house of joab, and the half of the Manahites of the Zareite. And the kindred's of the scribes which dwelled at Jabes, are the Thireathites, Simeathites, Suchothites, jud. 1. d. these are the Kenites, that came of Hamath the father of Beth Rechab. The III Chapter. THese are the children of David, which were born unto him in Hebron. Reg▪ ●. a The first son, Amnon of Ahinoam the Iesraelitisse: the second, Daniel of Abigail the Carmelitisse: the third, Absalon the son of Maecha the daughter of Thalmai king of Gesur: the fourth, Adonias the son of Hagith: the fifth, Saphathia of Abital: the sixte, jethream of his wife Egla. These six were born unto him at Hebron, for he reigned there seven. year & six months. But at Jerusalem reigned he three & thirty year. Reg. ●. c And these were born unto him at jerusalem: Simea, Sobab, Nathan, Re. 12. c Solomon: these four of Bethseba the daughter of Ammiel. Andrea jebear, Elisama, Eliphalet, Noga, Nepheg, japia, Elisama, Eliada, Eliphelet, these nine. These all are the children of David, beside those that were the children of the concubines. Re. 13. a And Thamar was their sister. Salomons son was Roboam, whose son was Abia, jat. 1. a whose son was Asa, who son was josaphat, whose son was joram, whose son was Ahasia, whose son was joas, whose son was Amasias, whose son was Asaria, whose son was jotham, whose son was Achas, whose son was Ezechias, whose son was Manasses, whose son was Amon, whose son was josias. The sons of josias were: the first, johanna: the second, joachim: the third, Sedechias: the fourth, Sallum. The children of joachim were, jechonias, whose son was Sedechias. The children of jechonias which were taken presoners, were ●att. 1. b Selathiel, Malchiram, Phadaia, Semeazar, jekamia, Hosanna, Nedabia. The children of Phadaia were: Zorobabel & Simei. The children of Zorobabel were: Mesullam & Hanania, & their sister Selomith, and Hasuba, Ohel, Barachias, Hasadia, jusab Hases, these five. The children of Hanania were: Platia & jesaia, whose son was Rephaia, whose son was Arnan, whose son was Obedia, whose son was Sachania. The children of Sachania were: Semaia. The children of Semaia were: Hatus, jegeal, Bariah, Nearia, Saphat & Sesa, these six. The children of Nearia were: Elioenai, Ezechias & Asrikan, these three. The children of Elioenai were: Hodaia, Eliasib, Platia, Akub, johanna, Delaia and Anani, these seven. The four Chapter. THe children of juda were: Phares, Hesrom, Gen. 28. a Charmi, Her & Sobal. Rehoia the son of Sobal begat jahath. jahath begat Ahumai and Lahad. These are the kindred's of the Zaregathites, Elle the father of Ethan, jesreel, jesma, jedbas and their sister was called Hazelelponi: and Penuel the father of Gedor, & Eser the father of Husa. These are the children of Her the first son of Ephrata the father of Bethleem. 〈…〉 Ashur the father of Thecoa had two wives, Hellea & Naera: and Naera bore Ahusam, Hepher, Thennu, & Ahastari: these are the children of Naera. The children of Hellea were: Zereth, jezohar and Ethnan. Chos begat Anub and Hazobeba, and the kindred of Aharhel the son of Harum. jaebes was more honourable than his brethren, and his mother called him jaebes, for she said: I have born him with trouble. And jaebes called upon the God of Israel, & said: 〈…〉 If thou will't bless me, and increase the borders of my land, & if thy hand be with me, & thou deliver me from evil, that it trouble me not. And God caused it for to come that he axed. Chalub the brother of Suah begat Mehir: he is the father of Esthon. Esthon begat Bethrapha, Passeah, and Thehinna the father of the cite of Nahas: these are the men of Recha. The children of Kenas were: Athniel and Saraia. The children of Athniel were, Hathath. And Meonothai begat Aphra. And Saraia begat joab the father of Geharasim: for they were carpenters. The children of Caleb the son of jephune were: Iru, Ela & Naam. The children of Ela were: Kenas. The children of jehaleleel were: Siph, Sipha, Thiria, & Asarieel. The children of Esra were: Jether, Mered, Epher & jalon, & Thahar with Miriam, Samai, jeszbah the father of Esthemoa, & his wife judi ja bore jered the father of Geder, Heber the father of Socho, jekuthiel the father of Sanoah: these are the children of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh, which Marid took. The children of the wife Hodia the sister of Naham the father of Regila, were, Hagarmi & Esthomoa the Maechathite. The children of Simon were: Amnon, Rimna & Benhanan, Thiflon. The children of jesei were: Soheth, and Ben Soheth. The children of Sela the son of juda were: Er, the father of Lecha. Leda the father of Maresa, & the kindred of the linen wevers in the house of Aszbea: & jokim, & the men of Cosebo, joas & Seraph, which were householders in Moab, and dwelled at Lahem and Hadebarim Athikim. These were potmakers, and dwelled among plants and hedges, beside the king in his business, and came & dwelled there. The V Chapter, THe children of Simeon were Nemuel, 〈…〉 jamin, jarib, Serah, Saul: whose son was Sallum, whose son was Mipsam, whose son was Misma. The children of Misma were, Hamuel, whose son was Sachur, whose son was Simei. Simei had sixteen sons and six daughters, and his brethren had not many children. And all their kindred multiplied not as the children of juda. But 〈◊〉. 19 a they dwelled at Berseba, Molada, Hazar Sual, Bilha, Ezem, Tholad, Bethuel, Harma, Ziclag, Beth Marchaboth, Hazarsussim, Beth Birei, and Saraim: these were their cities until the time of king David. And their towns, Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, Asan, these five cities, & all the villages that were about these cities, until Baal, this is their habitation and their kindred among them. And Mesobab, jamlech, josa the son of Amasia, joel, jehu the son of jeschibia, the son of Seraia, the son of Asiel, Elioenai, jaecoba, jesohaia, Asaia, Adiel, Ishmael and Benaia. Sisa the son of Siphei, the son of Alon, the son of jedaia, the son of Simri, the son of Semaia. These were famous princes in their kindred's of the house of their fathers, and multiplied in number. And they went forth, that they might come unto Gedor to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their sheep. And found fat and good pasture, and a land large on both the sides, quiet and rich: for they of Ham dwelled there afore tyme. And these that are now describe by name, came in the time of Ezechias the king of juda, and smote the tents and dwellings of those that were found there, and damned them unto this day, and dwelled in their stead, for there had they pasture for their sheep. There went of them also (of the children of Simeon) five hundredth men unto mount Seir, with their rulers: Platia, Nearia, Rephaia and Vsiel, the children of jesei, and smote the remnant of the Amalechites (which were escaped) and dwelled there unto this day. The VI Chapter. THe children of Reuben the first son of Israel: for he was the first son, but Gen. 49. Exo. 6. b Nu. 26. a because he defiled his father's bed, therefore was his first birthright given unto the children of joseph the son of Israel, & he was not reckoned to the first birthright: for unto juda which was mighty among his brethren, was given the pryncipalite before him, and the first birthright unto joseph. The children now of Reuben the first son of Israel are these: Hanoch, Pallu, Hesron and Charmi. The children of johel were, Semaia, whose son was Gog, whose son was Semei, whose son was Micha, whose son was Reaia, whose son was Baal, whose son was Beera, 4. Re. 15 whom Teglatphalasser the king of Assiria carried away prisoner. He was a prince among the Rubenites. But his brethren among his kindred's (when they were reckoned among their generation) had jeiel and Sacharia to their heads. And Bela the son of Asan the son of Sema, the son of joel, josu. 13. c dwelled at Aroer, and until Nebo & Baal Meon. Andrea dwelled toward the East, as one cometh to the wilderness by the water Euphrates: Nu. 32. a for their cattles were many in the land of Gilead. And in the time of Saul they fought against the Agarites, which fallen thorough their hand, and they dwelled in their tents toward all the East part of Gilead. But the children of Gad dwelled over against them in the country of Basan, until Salcha. joel the chiefest, and Sapham the second, jaenai and Saphat at Basan. And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, Mesullam, Seba, jorai, jaecan, Sia and Eber, these seven. These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of jesisai, the son of jahdo, the son of Bus. Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni was a ruler in the house of their fathers, and they dwelled at Gilead in Basan, and in the villages thereof, and in all the suburbs of Saron, unto the uttermost parts thereof. All these were reckoned in the time of jotham the king of juda, and of Jeroboam the king of Israel. The children of Reuben, the Gaddites & the half tribe of Manasses (of such as were fighting men, which wayre shield & sword, and could bend the bow, and were men of arms) were four and forty thousand and seven hundredth and three score, that went forth to the war. And when they fought against the Agarites, jetur, Naphes and Nodab helped them, and delivered the Agarites in to their hands, and all that was with them: for they cried unto God in the battle. And he heard them, because they put their trust in him. And they carried away their cattles, five thousand Camels, two hundredth & fifty thousand sheep, two thousand Asses, and an hundredth thousand souls of men. For there were many wounded, for why? the battle was of God. And they dwelled in their stead, until the time that they were carried away presoners. The children of the half tribe of Manasses dwelled in the land josu. 1●. d from Basan forth until Baal Hermon & Sevir, and mount Hermon: for they were many. And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, Epher, jesei, Eliel, Asriel, jeremia, Hodaneia, jahdiel, mighty valiant men, & ancient heads in the house of their fathers. ●. Re. 1●. d And when they sinned against the God of their fathers, and went awhoring after the gods of the people of the land, (whom God had destroyed before them) the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Phul the king of Assiria, and the spirit of Teglatphalassar the king of Assiria, and led away the Rubenites, Gaddites, and the half tribe of Manasses, and brought them un Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the water of Gosan unto this day. The VII. Chapter. THe children of Levi were, Gerson, Kahath and Merari. ●en. 46. b The children of Kahath were, Amram, jezeher, Hebron and Vsiel. The children of Amram were, Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The children of Aaron were, Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar and Ithamar. Eleasar begat Phineas. Phineas begat Abisua. Abisua begat Buki. Buki begat Vsi. Vsi begat Serahia. Serahia begat Meraioth. Meraioth begat Amaria. Amaria begat Achitob. Achitob begat Sadoc. Sadoc begat Ahimaas. Ahimaas begat Asaria. Asaria begat johanan. johanan begat ●. Par. 26. c Asaria: for he was priest in the house that Solomon builded at jerusalem. Asaria begat Amaria. Amaria begat Achitob. Achitob begat Zadock. Zadock begat Sallum. Sallum begat ●. Re. 22. b Helchias. Helchias begat Asaria. Asaria begat ●. Re. 25. c Seraia. Seraia begat josedec. But josedec was carried away when the LORD caused juda & Jerusalem to be led away captive by Nabuchodonosor. The children of Levi are these: Gerson, Kahath and Merari. These are the names of the children of Gerson: Libni and Semei. The names of the children of Kahat are these: Amram, jezohar, Hebron and Vsiel. The names of the children of Merari are: Maheli and Musi. These are the kindred's of the Levites among their households. Gersons' son was Libni, whose son was jahath, whose son was Sima, whose son was joah, whose son was Iddo, whose son was Serah, whose son was jeathrai. Kahats' son was Aminadab, whose son was Corah, whose son was Assir, whose son was Elcana, whose son was Abiasaph, whose son was Assir, whose son was Thahath, whose son was Vriel, whose son was Vsia, whose son was The children of Elkana were, Ama (Saul. say & Ahimoth, whose son was Elkana, whose son was Elkana of Zuph, whose son was Nahath, whose son was Eliab, whose son was jeroham, whose son was Elkana, whose son was Samuel. Whose first born sons were Seni and Abija. Meraris son was Maheli, whose son was Libni, whose son was Simei, whose son was Vsa, whose son was Simea, whose son was Haggia, whose son was Asaia. These are they whom David appointed to sing in the house of the LORD, where the Ark rested, & they ministered before the habitation of the Tabernacle of witness with synginge, until Solomon had builded the house of the LORD at jerusalem, and they stood after their manner in their office. And these are they that stood & their children. Of the children of Kahath was Heman the singer, the son of joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkana, the son of jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Thoah, the son of Zuph, the son of Elkana, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, the son of Elkana, the son of johel, the son of Asaria, the son of Sophonias, the son of Thahath, the son of Assir, the son of Abijasaph, the son of Corah, the son of jezehar, the son of Kahath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. And his brother Assaph stood at his right hand, and Assaph was the son of Barachia, the son of Simea, the son of Michael, the son of Maeseia, the son of Malchija, the son of Athin, the son of Serah, the son of Adaia, the son of Ethan, the son of Sima, the son of Simei, the son of jahath, the son of Gerson, the son of Levi. Their brethren the children of Merari, stood on the left hand, namely, Ethan the son of Kusi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, the son of Hasabia, the son of Amazia, the son of Helchia, the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Samer, the son of Maheli, the son of Musi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. As for their brethren the Levites, they were given to all the offices in the habitation of the house of the LORD: but the office of Aaron and his sons was to kindle the fire upon the altar of burned offerings, and upon the altar of incense, and to all the business in the most holy, and to make atonement for the people, according as Moses the servant of God commanded. These are the children of Aaron: Eleasar his son, whose son was Phineas, whose son was Abisua, whose son was Buki, whose son was Vsi, whose son was Serahia, whose son was Meraioth, whose son was Amaria, whose son was Achitob, whose son was Sadoc, whose son was Ahimaas. And this is their habitation and room in their borders, namely of Aaron's children of the kindred of the Kahathites: for this lot fallen unto them. 〈◊〉. 14. d 〈◊〉▪ ●1. b And they gave them Hebron in the land of juda, & the suburbs of the same round about. But the field of the cite & the villages thereof, gave they unto Caleb the son of jephune. Thus gave they unto the children of Aaron these free cities, Hebron & Libna with their suburbs, jather, & Esthemoa, Hilen, Debir, Asan and Bethsemes, with their suburbs. And out of the tribe of Ben jamin, Geba, Alemeth and Anathot with their suburbs, so that all the cities in their kindred were thirteen. The other children of Kahath of their kindred, had out of the half tribe of Manasses, ten cities by lot. The children of Gerson of their kindred, had out of the tribe of Isachar, & out of the tribe of Asser, & out of the tribe of Nephtali, & out of the tribe of Manasses in Basan, thirteen cities. The children of Merari of their kindred, had by lot out of the tribe of Reuben, & out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zabulon, twelve cities. And unto the Levites gave the children of Israel cities with their suburbs, namely by lot, out the tribe of the children of juda, & out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, & out of the tribe of the children of Ben jamin, even those cities, which they appointed by name. 〈◊〉. ●1. c But the kindred's of the children of Kahath had the cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim. So gave they now unto them (namely unto the kindred of the children of Kahath) the free cities, Sichem upon mount Ephraim, Geser, jakmeam, Bethoron, Aialon, and Gath Rimon with their suburbs. And out of the half tribe of Manasses, Aner and Bileam with their suburbs. But unto the children of Gerson they gave out of the kindred of the half tribe of Manasses, Golan in Basan and Astharoth with their suburbs. Out of the tribe of Isachar, Kedes, Dabrath Ramoth, and Anem with their suburbs. Out of the tribe of Asser, Masal, Abdom, Hikoh and Sehob, with their suburbs. Out of the tribe of Nephtali, Kedes in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim with their suburbs. Unto the other children of Merari gave they out of the tribe of Zabulon, Rimano and Thabor with their suburbs. And beyond jordane over against jericho eastward beside jordane out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness, jahza, Kedemoth and Mepaath with their suburbs. Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heszbon and jaeser with their suburbs. The VIII. Chapter. THe children of Isachar were, Thola, Pua, jasub and Simrom, these four. The children of Thola were, Vsi, Rephaia, jeriel, jahemai and jebsam and Samuel, heads in the house of their fathers of Thola, & mighty men in their kindred, 2. Re. ●●. in number in the time of David, two and twenty thousand and six hundredth. The children of Vsi were, jesrahia. The children of jesrahia were, Michael, and Obedia, joel and jesia: all these five were heads. And with them among their kindred in the house of their fathers there were ready harnessed men of war to the battle, six and thirty thousand: for they had many wives and children. And the mighty men of their brethren in all the kindred's of Isachar, were seven and four score thousand, and were all numbered. The children of Ben jamin, were, Bela, Becher, and jedieel, these three. The children of Bela, were, Ezbon, Vsi, Vsiel, jeremoth & Iri, these five, heads in the house of their fathers, mighty men: and were numbered two & twenty thousand and four and thirty. The children of Becher were, Semira, joas Elieser, Elioenai, Amri, jeremoth, Abia, Anathot & Alameh, all these were the children of Becher, and were reckoned in their kindreds after the heads in the house of their fathers, valiant men, twenty thousand, and two hundredth. The children of jedieel were Bilhan. The children of Bilhan were, jeus, Ben jamin, Ehud, Cnaena, Sethan, Tharsis and Ahisahar, all these were the children of jedieel, heads of the fathers, valiant men, even seventeen thousand, which went forth to the war for to fight. And Supim and Hupim were the children of Ir. But Husim were the children of Aher. The children of Nephtali were: jahziel, Guni, jezer and Sallum, Gen. 30. b the children of Bilha. The children of Manasses are these: Esriel, whom his concubine Aramiel did bear. ●osu. 17. a But (first) begat he Machir the father of Gilead. And Machir gave wives unto Hupim & Supim, & their sister's name was Maecha. His second sons name was Zelaphehad. Num. 26 ᵈ ●7. a. 36. a And Zelaphehad had daughters. And Maecha the wife of Machir bore a son whose name was Phares, & his brother's name was Sares, and his sons were Vlam and Rakem. Vlams' son was Bedam. These are the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasses. And his sister Molecheth bore Ishud, Abieser and Mahela. And Semida had these children: Ahean, Sichem, Likhi and Aniam. The children of Ephraim were these: Suthelah, whose son was Bered, whose son was Thahath, whose son was Eleada, whose son was Thahath, whose son was Sabad, whose son was Suthelah, whose son was Eser and Elead. And the men of Gath, that dwelled in the land, slew them, because they were go down to take their cattles. And their father Ephraim mourned for them a long season, and his brethren came to comfort him. And he went in to his wife, which conceived, and bore a son, whom he called Bria, because of the adversity that was in his house. His daughter was Seera, which builded the lower and upper Bethoron, & Vsen Serea. Whose son was Rephad & Reseph, whose son was Thelah, whose son was Thahan, whose son was Laedan, whose son was Ammihud, whose son was Elisama, whose son was Nun, whose son was josua. And their substance & dwelling was, Bethel and the villages thereof, and toward the East side of Naeran, and toward the westparte of Geser and the villages thereof. Sechem and her villages unto Aia and her villages. And by the children of Manasses, Bethsean and the villages thereof, That nach and the villages thereof, Dor and the villages thereof. In these dwelled the children of joseph the son of Israel. The children of Asser were these: jemna, jesua, jesui, Bria and Serah their sister. The children of Bria were, Heber and Malchiel, this is the father of Birsavith. Heber begat japhet, Somor, Hothan, and Sua their sister. The children of japhlet were, Passach, Bimehal and Asuath, these were the children of japhlet. The children of Summer were Ahi, Rahag, jehuba, and Aram. And the children of his brother Helen were, Zophah, jemna, Seles and Amal. The children of Zophah were, Suah, Harnepher, Sual, Beri, jemra, Bezer, Hod, Sama, Silsa, jethran and Beera. The children of Jether were, jephune, Phispa and Ara. The children of Vlla were Arah, Haniel and Rizia. All these were the children of Asser, heads in the house of their fathers, choose out, valiant men, and heads among the princes, and were mustered to the war for to fight, in their number, six and twenty thousand men. The IX. Chapter. Been jamin begat Bela his first son, Aszbal the second, Ahrah the third, Noah the fourth, Rapha the fifth. And Bela had children: Gera, Abihud, Abisua, Neman, Ahoah, Gera, Sphuphan and Huram. These are Ehuds' children, which were heads of the fathers among the citesyns at Geba, and went away unto Manahath, namely Naeman, Ahia and Gera, the same carried them away, and begat Vsa and Ahihud. And Seharaim (when he had sent them away) begat children in the land of Moab of Husim and Baera his wives. And of Hodes his wife begat he jobab, Zibea, Mesa, Malcham, jeus, Sachia, and Mirma, these are his children, heads of the fathers. Of Husim begat he Ahitob and Elpaal. The children of Elpaal were: Eber, Miseam and Samed. The same builded Ono & Lod and the villages thereof. And Bria and Sama were heads of the fathers among the citesyns at Aialon. These chased away them of Gath. His brethren Sasak, jeremoth, Sebadia, Arad, Ader, Michael, jespa and joha, these are the children of Bria. Sebadia Mesullam, Ezechi, Heber, jesmerai, jeslia, joab, these are the children of Elpaal. jakim Sichri, Sabdi, Eloenai, Zilthai, Eliel, Adaia, Braia and Simrath, these are the children of Semei. jespan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Sichri, Hanan, Hanania, Elan, Enthothia, jephdeia and Penuel, these are the children of Sasak. Samserai, Seharia, Athalia, jaeresia, Elia and Sichri, these are, the children of jeroham. These are the heads of the fathers of their kindred's, which dwelled at jerusalem. 〈…〉 But at Gibeon dwelled, the father of Gibeon, & his wives name was Maecha, and his first son was Abdon, Zur, Cis, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio and Secher. Mikloth begat Simea. And they dwelled over against their brethren at jerusalem with there's. Ne'er begat Cis. 〈…〉 Cis begat Saul. Saul begat jonathas, Melchisua, Abinadab and Esbaal. The son of jonathas was Meribaal. Meribaal begat Micha. The children of Micha were: Python, Melech, Thaerea and Ahas. Ahas begat joadda. joadda begat Alemeth, Asmaneth and Simri. Simri begat Moza. Moza begat Binea, whose son was Rapha, whose son was Eleasa, whose son was Azel. Azel had six sons, whose names were: Esricam, Bochru, jesmael, Searia, Abadia, Hanan, all these were the sons of Azel. The children of Esek his brother were: Vlam his first son, jeus the second, Elipelet the third. The children of Vlam were valiant men, and could handle bows, and had many sons, and sons sons an hundredth and fifty. All these are of the children of Ben jamin. The X. Chapter. ANd all Israel were numbered: and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and juda, and now are they carried away unto Babylon for their sin, even they that afore dwelled in their possessions and cities, namely Israel, the priests, Levites and Nethinim. But at jerusalem dwelled certain of the children of juda, some of the children of Ben jamin, some of the children of Ephraim and of Manasses. 〈…〉 Namely of the children of Phares of the son of juda, was Vthai the son of Ammihud the son of Amri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani. Of Soloni, Asaia the first son, and his other sons. Of the children of Serah, jeguel and his brethren, six hundredth, four score and ten. 〈◊〉. 11. b Of the children of Ben jamin, salu the son of Mesullam, the son of Hodavia, the son of Hasnua. Andrea jebneia the son of jeroham. And Ela the son of Vsi the son of Michri. And Mesullam the son of Sephatia the son of Reguel the son of jebneia. And their brethren in their kindreds nine hundredth and six and fifty. All these were heads of the fathers in the house of their fathers. Of the priests: jedaia, joiarib, jachim, And Asaria the son of Helchia, the son of Mesullam, the son of Sadoc, 2. Esd. 11. c the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob, prince in the house of God. And Adaia the son of jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchia. Andrea Maesai the son of Adiel the son of jachsera, the son of Mesullam, the son of Messylemeth, the son of Immer. And their brethren heads in the house of their fathers a thousand, seven hundredth and three score valiant men in executing the office in the house of God. Of the Levites of the children of Merari, Semaia the son of Hasub, 2. Esd. 11. c the son of Asrikam, the son of Hasabia. Andrea Bakbakar the carpenter and Galal. And Mathania the son of Micha the son of Sichri, the son of Assaph. And Obadia the son of Semaia, the son of Galal, the son of Elkana, which dwelled in the villages of the Netophatites. The porters were: Sallum, Acub, Talmon, Ahiman, with their brethren, and Sallum the chiefest: 2. Esd. 11. c for hither to had the children of Levi kept the watch at the eastside of the kings gate by armies. Andrea Sallum the son of Core, the son of Abiassaph, the son of Corah, and his brethren of his father's house. The Corahytes were in the work of the service, to keep the thresholdes of the Tabernacle: and their fathers in the host of the LORD, to keep the entrance. Phineas the son of Eleasar was the prince over them, because the LORD had been with him before. Sacharia the son of Meselemia was keeper at the door of the Tabernacle of witness. All these were choose out to be keepers of the thresholdes even two hundredth and twelve. These were numbered in their villages. And David and Samuel the Seer founded them thorough their faith, that they and their children should keep the house of the LORD, namely to keep the watch of the house of the Tabernacle. These dorekepers were appointed toward the four winds, toward the East, toward the West, toward the North, Num. 3. ● toward the South. But their brethren were in their villages, that they might come allway on the seventh day to be with them: for unto these four manner of chief dorrkepers were the Levites committed. And they had the oversight of the chests and treasures in the house of God. In the night season also remained they about the house of God: for their duty was to give attendance to open every morning. And some of them had the oversight of the ministering vessel: for they bore the vessel out and in. And some of them were appointed over the vessel, and over all the holy vessel, over the fine wheat flower, over the wine, over the oil, over the frankincense, over the sweet odours: but some of the priests children made thee, Exo. 30. d incense. Unto Mathithia one of the Levites the first son of Sallum the Corahite, were the pans committed. And certain of the Kahathites their brethren were appointed over the shewbred, to prepare it every Sabbath day. These are the heads of the singers among the fathers of the Levites choose out over the chests: for day and night were they in work withal. These are the heads of the fathers among the Levites in their kindreds. These dwelled at jerusalem. 1. Par. 9 d At Gibeon dwelled jeiel the father of Gibeon, his wives name was Maecha, and his first son Abdon, Zur, Cis, Baal, Ne'er, Nadab, Gedor, Ahaio, Sacharia, Mikloth. Mikloth begat Simeam. And they dwelled also about their brethren at jerusalem among there's. Ne'er begat Cis, Cis begat Saul, Saul begat jonathas, Malchisua, Abinadab, Esbaal. The son of jonathas was Meribaal. Meribaal begat Micha. The children of Micha were, Python, Melech and Thaherea. Ahas begat jaera, jaera begat Alemeth, Asmaveth and Simri. Simri begat Moza. Moza begat Binea, whose son was Raphaia, whose son was Eleasa, whose son was Azel. Azel had six sons, whose names were: Asrikam, Bochru, jesmael, Searia, Obadia, Hanan. These are the children of Azel. The XI. Chapter. THe philistines fought against Israel. 1. Re. 31. a And they of Israel fled before the philistines, and the wounded fallen upon mount Gilboa. And the philistines followed upon Saul and his sons, and smote jonathas, Abinadab and Malchisua the sons of Saul. And the battle was sore against Saul. And the archers came upon him, so that he was wounded of the archers Then said Saul unto his weapenbearer: Draw out thy sword, and thrust it thorough me, that these uncircumcised come not, and deal shamefully with me. Nevertheless his weapenbearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Then took Saul his sword, and fallen therein. When his weapenbearer saw that Saul was deed, he fallen upon his sword also, and died. Thus died Saul and his three sons, and all his household together. And when the men of Israel which were in the valley, saw, that Saul and his sons were deed, they left their cities and fled: and the philistines came and dwelled therein. On the morrow came the philistines to spoil the slain, and found Saul, 〈…〉 and his sons dying upon mount Gelboa, and stryped him out, and took his head, and his harness, and sent it about in to the land of the philistines, and caused it to be showed before their Idols and the people. And his weapens laid they in the house of their god, and styckte up his head upon the house of Dagon. But when all they of Jabes in Gilead heard of every thing, that the philistines had done unto Saul, they got them up (as many as were men of arms) and took the body of Saul and of his sons, and brought them unto Jabes, and buried their bones under the Oak at Jabes, and fasted seven days. Thus died Saul in his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because 〈…〉 he kept not the word of the LORD: 〈…〉 & because he axed council at the soythsayer, and axed not at the LORD, therefore slew he him, & turned the kingdom unto David. The XII. Chapter. ANd all Israel resorted to David unto Hebron, and said: Behold, 〈…〉 we are the bone and thy flesh. And afore time when Saul reigned, thou leddest Israel out and in. So the LORD thy God hath said unto thee: Thou shalt keep my people of Israel, and thou shalt be the prince over my people of Israel. And all the Elders of Israel came to the king unto Hebron. And David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David to be king over Israel 〈…〉 according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. And David and all Israel went unto jerusalem, that is jebus: for the jebusites dwelled in the land. And the citesyns of jebus said unto David: Thou shalt not come in hither. Howbeit David wan the castle of Sion. which is the cite of David. And David said: 〈…〉 who so ever smiteth the jebusites first, shall be a prince & captain. Then joab the son of Zer●ia clymmed up first, & was made captain. So David dwelled in the castle, therefore was it called the cite of David. And he builded the cite round about, fro milo forth on every side. As for the remnant of the cite, joab builded it, & repaired it. And David went forth & grew, & the LORD Zebaoth was with him. These are the chief among the mighty men of David, which dealt valiantly with him in his kingdom with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD over Israel. And this is the number of David's mighty men: jesabeam the son of Hachmoni the chiefest among thirty. He lift up his spear, & smote three C. at one tyme. After him was Eleasar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, and he was among the three mighty. This man was with David when they blasphemed, & the philistines gathered themselves there to the battle. And even there▪ was there a piece of land full of barley, & the people fled before the philistines. And they stood in the mids of the land, and rescued it, and smote the philistines. And the LORD gave a great health. And three of the chiefest thirty went down to the rock unto David in to the cave of Adullam. 〈◊〉. 23. c But the philistines host say in the valley of Rephain. Asdrubal for David, he was in the castle. And the philistines people were then at Bethleem. And David was desirous, and said: O that some would give me to drink of the water out of the well at Bethleem under the gate. Then broke those three in to the philistines host, and drew of the water out of the well at Bethleem under the gate, and carried it, and brought it unto David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it unto the LORD, and said: God let this be far fro me, that I should do it, and drink the blood of these men in the apparel of their life: for with the apparel of their life have they brought it: therefore would he not drink it. This did the three Worthies. Abisai the brother of joab, he was the chiefest among three. And he lift up his spear, and smote three hundredth. And he was famous among three, and before the third, more honourable than the two, yet came he not unto the three. Benaia the son of joiada the son of Ishail of Cabzeel, 2 Re. 23 ● was a man of great acts. He smote two lions of the Moabites. And he went down, and smote a lion in the mids of a well in the time of snow. He smote a man of Egipte also, which was five cubits great of stature, and had in his hand a spear like a weavers lome. Yet went he down to him with a staff, and took the spear out of his hand, and slew him with his own spear, This did Benaia the son of joiada, and was a famous man among three Worthies, and most ancient among thirty. But unto the three came he not. Howbeit David made him of his secret council. The valiant Worthies are these: Asahel the brother of joab, Elhanam his uncles son of Bethleem, Samoth the Harodite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira the son of Ekes the Thecoite, Abraser the Anathothite, Sibechai the Husathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Matheraithe Netophatite, healed the son of Baena the Netophatite, Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeath of the children of Ben janim, Benaia the Pirgathonite, Hura of the broken of Gaas. Abiel the arbathite, Asmaneth the Baherunite, Eliahba the Saalbonite. The children of Hasem the Gisonite, jonathas the son of Sage the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Vr, Hepher the Macherathite, Ahia the Pelointe, Hezro of Carmel, Naerai the son of Aszbai, joel the brother of Nathan, Mibehar the son of Hagri, Zeleg the Ammonite, Naherai the Berothithe the wapenbearer of joab the son of Zernia, Ira the Jethrite, Gareb the Jethrite, Urias the Hittite, Sabad the son of Ahalai, Adina the son of Sisa the Rubenite, a captain of the Rubenites, and there were thirty under him: Hanam the son of Maecha, josaphat the Mathonite, Vsia the Astharathite, Sama and jaiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, jediael the son of Simri, joha his brother the Thirzite, Eliel the Mahenite, jeribai and josua the sons of Elnaan, jethma the Moabite, Eliel, Obed, jaesiel of Mizobaia. Than XIII. Chapter. THese also came to David unto Siclag when he was yet kept aside be cause of Saul the son of Cis▪ 1. Re. 27. a 〈◊〉 they were like wise among the worthies the helped in the battle, and could handle bows with both their hands, & could cast stones, and shoot arrows with the bow. Of Sauls brethren which were of Ben jamin: The chiefest Ahieser and joas the children of Samaa the Gibeathite. jesiel and Pelet the children of Asmaveth. Baracha & and jehu the Anthothite. jesmaia the Gibeonite, valiant among thirty and over thirty. jeremia, jahasiel, johanan, josabad the Gederathite. Eleusai, jerimoth, Bealia, Samaria, Saphatia the Harophite, Elkana, jesiia, Asareel, jasabeam the Korahyte, joela and Sabadia the children of jeroham of Gedor. Of the Gaddites resorted there unto David to the castle in the wilderness, mighty Worthies and men of arms, which handled spears and swords, and had faces like lions, & were as swift as the Roes upon the mountains. The first Eser, the second Obadia, the third Eliab, the fourth Masmanna, the fifth jeremia, the sixte Athai, the seventh Eliel, the eight johanna, the nyenth Elsabad the tenth jeremia, the eleventh Machbanai. These were of the children of Gad, heads in the host, the least over an hundredth, and the greatest over a thousand. These are they which in the first month went over jordane, when it was full on both the shores, so that all the valleys were even both toward the East and toward the West. There came of the children of Ben jamin also and of juda unto the castle of David. But David went forth unto them, and answered and said unto them: If you come to me in peace, and to help me, my heart shall be with you. But if you come upon deceit, and to be mine adversaries (where as there is yet no unrighte in me) the God of our father's look upon it, and rebuke it. Nevertheless the spirit endued Amasai the captain among thirty, and he said: We are thy O David, and hold with the thou son of Isai. Peace, peace be with thee, peace be with thy helpers, for thy God helpeth the. Then David received them, and made them captains over the men of war. And of Manasses there fallen certain unto David, when he came to the battle with the philistines against Saul, and helped them not, ●. Re. 29. a for the princes of the philistines counciled to let him go from them, and said: If he fallen unto his lord Saul, it might cost us our necks. Now when he departed unto Siclag, there fallen unto him of Manasses, Adna, josabad, jediael, Michael, josabad, Elihu, Zilthai, heads over thousands in Manasses. And they helped David against the men of war: for they were all valiant Worthies, and were captains over the host. And every day came there some to David, to help him, till there was a great host as an host of God. And this is the number of the heads harnessed unto the war, which came to David unto Hebron, for to turn the kingdom of Saul unto him, according to the word of the LORD. The children of juda, which handled spears and swords, were six thousand, & eight hundredth ready harnessed unto the war. Of the children of Simeon noble men of arms for the battle, seven thousand and an hundredth. Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundredth. And joiada the prince among them of Aaron with three thousand and seven hundredth. Sadoc the young valiant man of arms with his father's house, two and twenty rulers. Of the children of Ben jamin Sauls brother, three thousand: for unto that time held many of them yet with the house of Saul. Of the children of Ephraim, twenty thousand and eight hundredth valiant men of arms, and famous in the house of their fathers. Of the half tribe of Manasses, eighteen thousand, named by name, to come and make David king. Of the children of Isachar (which were men of understanding, when need required to know what Israel should do) two hundredth captains, and all their brethren followed their word. Of Sabulon, such as went forth in the host to the war, ready with all manner of weapens for the battle, fifty thousand, being of one mind to keep themselves in order. Of Nephtali, a thousand captains, & with them such as handled shield and spear, seven and thirty thousand. Of Dan, ready harnessed to the battle, eight and twenty thousand, and six hundredth. Of Asser, such as went forth in the host, ready harnessed to the battle, forty thousand. From beyond jordane, of the Rubenites, Gaddites and the half tribe of Manasses, with all manner of weapens to the battle, an hundredth and twenty thousand. All these men of war, ready harnessed to the battle, came with a whole heart unto Hebron, to make David king over all Israel. And all Israel beside were of one heart, that David should be made king. And there were they with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. And such neighbours as were about them until Isachar, Zabulon and Nephtali, brought bread upon Asses, Camels, Mules and oxen to eat: meel, fyges, rasens, wine, oil, oxen, sheep, very many: for there was joy in Israel. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd David held a council with the captains over thousands and over hundreds, 〈◊〉. 6. a and with all the princes, and said unto all the congregation of Israel: If it like you, and if it be of the LORD our God, let us send forth on every side to our other brethren in all the countries of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in the cities where they have suburbs, that they may be gathered together unto us, and let us fetch the Ark of our God again unto us: for by Sauls time we axed after it. Then said the whole congregation, that the same should be done, for it pleased all the people well. So David gathered all Israel together from Sihor of Egipte, till a man come unto Hemath, to fetch the Ark of God from Kiriath jearim. And David went up with all Israel to Kiriath jearim, which lieth in juda, to bring from thence the Ark of God the LORD, that sitteth upon the Cherubins, where the name is named: and they caused the Ark of God to be carried upon a new cart from the house of Abinadab. Vsa and his brethren drove the cart. As for David and all Israel, they played with all their strength before God, with songs, with haps, with psalteries, with tabrettes, with Cymbales and trumps. But when they came to the barn floor of Chidon, Vsa stretched out his hand to hold the Ark: for the oxen went out aside. Then waxed the wrath of the LORD fierce over Vsa, & smote him, because he stretched out his hand to the Ark, so that he died there before God. Then was David sorry, because the LORD had made such a rent upon Vsa, and called the place Perez Vsa, unto this day. And David stood in fear of God the same day, & said: How shall I bring the Ark of God unto me? Therefore would he not let the Ark of God be brought unto him in to the cite of David, but carried it in to the house of Obed Edom the Gathite. So the Ark of God abode with Obed Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed Obed Edom's house and all that he had. The XU. Chapter. ANd Hiram the king of tire sent messaungers Reg. 5. c unto David and cedar timber, and masons and carpenters, to build him an house. Andrea David perceived, that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel: for his kingdom increased for his people of Israel's sake. And David took yet more wives at jerusalem, & begat yet more sons & daughters. And the names of them that were born unto him at jerusalem, are these: Sammua, Sobab, Nathan, Solomon, jebehar, Elisua, Elipalet, Noga, Nepheg, japhia, Elisamma, Baal jada, Eliphalet. And when the philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, they went up all to seek David. When David heard that, he went forth against them. And the philistines came, and scattered themselves beneath in the valley of Rephaim. And David axed council at God, & said: Shall I go up against the philistines? and will't thou deliver them in to my hand? The LORD said unto him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy hand. And when they were go up to Baal Prasim, David smote them there. And David said: God hath divided mine enemies thorough my hand, even as the water parteth asunder: therefore called they the place Baal Prasim. And there left they their gods. Then Deut. 7 commanded David to burn them with fire. But the philistines got them thither again, 2. Reg. 5. and scattered themselves beneath in the valley. And David axed council at God again. And God said unto him: Thou shalt not go up behind them, but turn the from them, that thou mayest come upon them over against the Peertrees. So when thou hearest above upon the Peertrees the noise of the going, go thou forth then to the battle: for God is go forth then before the to smite the host of the philistines. And David did as God commanded him. And they smote the host of the philistines from Gibeon forth unto Gazer. And David's name was noised out in all lands. And the LORD caused the fear of him to come upon all the Heythen. The XVI. Chapter. ANd he builded him houses in the cite of David, & made ready a place for the Ark of God, & pitched a Tabernacle for it. At that time said David: The Ark of God is not to be born, but only of the Levites: Num. 4. for them hath the LORD choose to bear the Ark of the LORD, and to minister unto him for ever. Therefore gathered David all Israel together unto jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the LORD unto the place which he had prepared for it. And David brought the children of Aaron & the Levites together. Of the children of Kahath: Vriel the chief with his brethren, an C. and twenty. Of the children of Merari: Asaia the chief with his brethren, two C. and twenty. Of the children of Gerson: joel the chief with his brethren, an C. and thirty. Of the children of Elizaphan: Semaia the chief with his brethren, two hundredth. Of the children of Hebron: Eliel the chief, with his brethren, four score. Of the children of Vsiel: Amminadab the chief, with his brethren, an hundredth and twelve. And David called Sadoc and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites, namely Vriel, Asaia, joeli, Semaia, Eliel, Aminadab, and said unto them: You are the heads of the fathers among the Levites: sanctify your selves therefore & your brethren, that you may bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Pa●. 4. b For afore when you were not there, the LORD our God made a rent among us, because we sought him not, as we should have done. So the priests & the Levites hallowed themselves, that they might bring up the Ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of Levi bore the Ark of God the LORD upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, ●xo 25 b as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. And David sp●ke unto the rulers of the Levites, that they should ordain some of their brethren to be syngers with psalteries, haps and loud instruments, and Cimbales, to sing loud with joy. Then the Levites appointed Heman the son of joel: and of his brethren Assaph the son of Barachias: and of the children of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Cusaia: and with them their brethren of the second course, namely Zacharias, jaesiel, Semiramoth, jehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Benaia, Maeseia, Mathithia, Elipheleia, Mikneia, Obed Edom, jeiel, the door keepers. For Heman, Assaph and Ethan were syngers, with brazen bells making a loud noise: but Zacharias, jaesiel, Semiramoth, jehiel, Vnni, Eliab, Maeseia & Benaia with Phalteries to Alamoth: Mathithia, Elipheleia, Mikneia, Obed Edom, jeiel & Asasia with haps to sing above them on high. Chenania the ruler of the Levites was the master of Music to teach them for to sing, for he was a man of understanding. And Barachias and Elcana were the dorekepers of the Ark. But Sachamia, josaphat, Nathaneel, Amasai, Zacharias, Benaia, Elieser the priests, blue the trumpets before the Ark of God. And Obed Edom and jehia were dorekepers of the Ark. So David and the Elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went up to fetch the Ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obed Edom with joy. And when God had helped the Levites that bore the Ark of the lords covenant, there were offered seven bullocks & seven rams, And David had a linen garment upon him, and so had all the Levites that bore the Ark, and the syngers, and Chenania the master of Music with the syngers. David had an overbody cote of linen upon him also. Thus all Israel brought up the Ark of the covenant of the LORD with mirth, with trumpets, tabrettes, & loud Cymbales, with psalteries and haps. Now when the Ark of the covenant of the LORD came in to the cite of David, Michol the daughter of Saul looked out at awyndowe: & when she saw king David dancing & playing, she despised him in her heart. The XVII. Chapter. ANd when they brought in the Ark of God, they set it in the Tabernacle, 〈…〉 that David had pitched for it, and offered burned offerings & thank offerings before God. And when David had ended the burned offerings and thank offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD, & distributed unto every man in Israel (both unto man and woman) a cake of bread, and a piece of flesh and a meece of pottage. And he appointed before the Ark of the LORD certain Levites to minister, that they should give praise, thanks and loavinge unto the LORD God of Israel: namely Assaph the first, Zacharias the second, Ie●el, Semiramoth, jehiel, Mathithia, Eliab, Benaia, Obed Edom and jehiel, with psalteries and haps. But Assaph with loud Cymbales. Benaia and jehasiel the priests with tabrettes, allway before the Ark of the covenant of God. At the same time ordained David first of all to give thanks unto the LORD by Assaph and his brethren. O give thanks unto the LORD, 〈…〉 call upon his name, tell the people what things he hath done. O let your songs be of him: praise him, and let your talking be of all his wondrous works. give his holy name a good report: let the heart of them rejoice, that seek the LORD. O seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face evermore. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth. You seed of Israel his servant, you children of jacob his choose. He is the LORD our God, his judgements are in all lands. Be mindful ever of his covenant what he hath commanded in to a thousand generations. 〈…〉 Which he made with Abraham, & 〈…〉 his oath unto Isaac. And he 〈…〉 comfirmed the same unto jacob for a perpetual law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant. And said: Unto the will I give the land of Canaan, the metelyne of your inheritance. When they were yet but small & few in number, and strangers in the same land. And they went from one nation to another, & from one realm to another people. He suffered no man to hurt them, and reproved even kings for their sakes. 〈…〉 Touch not mine anointed, & do my prophets no harm. 〈◊〉 95. a O sing unto the LORD, let all the earth be telling of his salvation from day to day. Declare his holiness among the heathen, & his wondrous works among the people. For the LORD is great, and can not worthily be praised, and more to he had in awe then all gods. As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but Idols: 〈…〉 but it is the LORD that made the heavens. thanksgiving and worship are before him, strength and joy is in his place. ascribe unto the LORD you kindred's of nations: ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength. ascribe unto the LORD the honour of his name: bring presents, and come before him, and worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Let the whole earth stand in awe of him: he hath made the compass of the world so fast, that it can not be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: and let it be told among the Heythen, that the LORD reigneth. Let the See make a noise, and the fullness thereof: let the field be joyful, and all that therein is. Let all the trees in the would leap for joy before the LORD, for he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for ever. And say: Help us O God our saviour, and gather us together, and deliver us from the Heythen, that we may give thanks unto the holy name, and sing praises unto the in thy Psalms. Praised be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all people say, Amen, Andrea: Praise be unto the LORD. So he left Assaph and his brethren there before the Ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister allway before the Ark, every day his day work. But Obed Edom and their brethren, eight and threescore, and Obed Edom the son of jedithun, and Hossa, to be door keepers. And Sadoc the priest, & his brethren the priests, left he before the habitation of the LORD upon the high place at Gibeon, to offer burnt-sacrifices daily unto the LORD upon the altar of burned offerings in the morning & in the evening, as it is written in the Exo. 29. ● Nu. 28. a law of the LORD, which he commanded unto Israel. And with them Heman & jedithun, and the other choose, which were named by name to give thanks unto the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever. And with them Heman & jedithun to strike upon the tabrettes and Cymbales, and the musical instruments of God. As for the children of jedithun, he made them dorekepers. So all the people departed, every one to his house: and David returned also to bless his house. The XVIII. Chapter. IT fortuned when David dwelled in his house, 2. Re. 7. a he said unto the prophet Nathan: Behold, I devil in a house of Cedar, and the Ark of the covenant of the LORD is among the curtains. Nathan said unto David: Whatsoever is in thy heart, that do: for God is with ye. But the same night came the word of God unto Nathan, and said: Go and speak to David my servant: Thus sayeth the LORD: Thou shalt not build me an house to be an habitation: for I have dwelled in no house sense the day that I brought forth the children of Israel, unto this day: But where the Tabernacle and habitation hath been, there have I been where so ever I have walked in all Israel. Spoke I ever to any of the judges in Israel (whom I commanded to keep my people) and said: Wherefore do you not build me an house of cedar timber? So shalt thou speak now unto my servant David: Thus sayeth the LORD Zebaoth: I took the from the pasture behind the sheep, that thou shouldest be the prince over my people, and have been with the whither so ever thou wentest, and have rooted out all thy enemies before thee, and have made the a name, according to the name of the great men that are upon earth. And for my people of Israel, I will appoint them a place, and will plant them, that they may devil there, and no more to be removed. And the children of wickedness shall oppress them no more, like as afore time, when I commanded the judges over my people of Israel. And I will subdue all thy enemies, and do declare unto thee, that the LORD will build the an house. ● Re. 7. c Psal. 111. b But when thy days are fulfilled, that thou departest hence with the fathers, I will after the raise up the sede, which shall be even one of thy sons: his kingdom will I stabliszshe, he shall build me an house, & I will make his seat sure for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. And I will not withdraw my mercy from him, as I have withdrawn it from him that was before thee: But I will set him in my house and in my kingdom for ever, so that his seat shallbe sure for evermore. And when Nathan had spoken unto David according to all these words & all this vision, king David came and sat him down before the LORD, and said: O LORD God, who am I? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? And this (O God) hast thou thought yet to little, but hast spoken of thy servants house yet long for to come. And thou LORD God haste looked down upon me from above, even as one man looketh upon another. What more shall David say unto thee, that thou bryngest the servant to such honour? Thou knowest thy servant O LORD, for thy servants sake and according to thy heart hast thou done all these great things, that thou mightest show all great things unto thy servant. LORD, Deut. 32. f there is none lykel thee, and there is no God but thou, of whom we have herd with our ears. And Deut. 4. a where is there a people upon earth as thy people of Israel, where God went to deliver him a people, and to make himself a name thorough great & terrible things, to cast out the Heythen before thy people, whom thou hast delivered out of Egipte? and the people of Israel hast thou made the people for ever, and thou LORD art become their God. Now LORD, let the word be verified for ever, that thou hast spoken over thy servant and over his house, & do as thou hast spoken: and let thy name endure and be magnified for ever, that it may said: The LORD Zebaoth, the God of Israel is the God in Israel, and that the house of thy servant David may be stablyszshed before thee: for thou LORD hast opened the ear of the servant, that thou will't build him an house. Therefore hath thy servant found (confidence) to make his prayer before the. Now LORD, thou art God, and hast promised soch good unto thy servant. Begin now to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be evermore before thee: for look what thou blessest (O LORD) the same is blessed for ever. The XIX. Chapter. AFter this smote David the philistines, and subdued them, 〈…〉 and took Gath & the villages thereof out of the hand of the philistines. He smote the Moabites likewise, so that the Moabites were subdued unto David, and gave him tribute. He smote Hadad Eser also the king of Zoba in Hemath, when he went to set up his power by the water Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand charettes, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot men. And David lamed all the charettes, and kept an hundredth charettes over. And the Syrians came from Damascon, to help Hadad Eser the king of Zoba. Howbeit David smote two & twenty thousand of the same Syrians, and laid men of war at Damascon in Syria, so that the Syrians were subdued unto David, and brought him tribute. For the LORD helped David, whither so ever he went. And David took the shyldes of gold, that Hadad Esers servants had, & brought them to Jerusalem. And out of Tibehath & Chun the cities of Hadad Eser, took David very much brass, 〈…〉 whereof Solomon made the brazen laver, and pilers, and brazen vessels. And when Thogu the king of Hemath herd, 〈…〉 that David had smitten all the power of Hadad Eser, he sent his son Hadoran unto king David, to salute him & to bless him, because he had fought with Hadad Eser, & smitten him (for Thogu had war with Hadad Eser) and all the same vessels of gold, silver and of brass, did king David consecrated unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had taken from the heathen, namely, from the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistynes, and Amalechites. And Abisai the son of ZeruIa smote eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Salt valley, 〈◊〉. 8. c and laid men of war in Edomea, so that all the Edomites were subdued unto David: for the LORD helped David, whither so ever he went. Thus David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgement and righteousness unto all the people. joab the son of ZeruIa was captain over the host. josaphat the son of Ahilud was Chancellor. Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests. Savesa was Scribe. Benaia the son of joiada was over the Chrethians & Plethians. 〈◊〉. 8. c And David's sons were chief at the kings hand. The XX. Chapter. ANd after this died Nahas the king of the children of Ammon, 〈◊〉. 10. a and his son was king in his stead. Then said David: I will do mercy upon Hanun the son of Nahas, for his father did mercy upon me: and so he sent messaungers to comfort him over his father. And when David's servants came in to the land of the children of Ammon unto Hanun to comfort him, the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun: Thinkest thou that David honoureth thy father in thy sight, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Ye his servants are come unto thee, to search and to overthrow, and to spy out the land. Then took Hanun the servants of David, and shove them, & cut the half of their garments of, even by the loins, & so let them go. And they went their way, & sent men to tell David. Nevertheless he sent to meet them (for the men were put to great shame) and the king said: Abide at jericho, till your beerdes be grown, and then come again. When the children of Ammon saw, that they stynked in the sight of David, both Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire charettes and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Maecha and out of Zoba: and hired two and thirty thousand charettes, & the king of Maecha with his people, which came & pitched their tents before Medba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and came to the battle. When David heard that, he sent joab thither with all the host of the men of arms. And the children of Ammon were go forth, and prepared themselves to the battle before the gate of the cite. But the kings that were come, kept them aside in the field. Now when joab saw that the battle was against him both before and behind, he chose of all the best young men in Israel, and prepared himself against the Syrians. As for the residue of the people, he put them under the hand of Abisai his brother, that they should prepare themselves against the children of Ammon, and he said: If the Syrians be to mighty for me, help thou me: but if the children of Ammon be to strong for thee, I shall help thee: take a good courage unto thee, and let us quite ourselves manly for our people and for the cities of our God: nevertheless the LORD do what pleaseth him. And joab made him forth with the people that was with him, to fight against the Syrians: & they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled also before Abisai his brother, and went in to the cite. And joab came to jerusalem. But when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they sent messaungers, and brought forth the Syrians which were beyond the water. And Sophach the chief captain of Hadad Eser went before them. When this was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and went over jordane. And when he came at them, he set the battle in array against them. And David prepared himself to the battle against the Syrians, & they fought with him: but the Syrians fled before Israel. And David slew of the Syrians seven thousand charettes, & forty thousand foot men. And Sophach the chief captain slew he also. And when Hadad Esers servants saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with David & his servants. And the Syrians would help the children of Ammon no more. The XXI. Chapter. ANd when the year came about, what time as the kings use to go forth, 2. Re. 11 ● joab brought the power of the host, & destroyed the land of the children of Ammon, and came and laid siege unto Rabba. But David abode at jerusalem. 2. Re. 1ST And joab smote Rabba, and broke it down. And David took their kings crown from his head, and found the weight of a talon of gold thereon, & precious stones. And it was set upon David's head. And very much spoil carried he out of the cite. As for the people that were therein, he brought them forth, & parted them in sunder with saws, & hokes & betels of iron. Thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David departed again, with the people unto jerusalem. afterward arose there war at Gasar with the philistines. Then Sibechai the Husathire smote Sibai, which was one of the children of Rephaim, and he subdued him. And there arose war again with the philistines. Then Elhamah the son of jair smote Lahemi the brother of Goliath the Gathite, whose spears staff was life a weevers l●me. afterward was there a battle at Gath, where there was a man of a great stature, that had six fingers and six toes, which make four and twenty. And he was born also of Rapha, and spoke despytefully unto Israel. But jonathas the son of Simea David's brother smote him. These were the children of Rapha at Gath, & fallen thorough the hand of David, and of his servants. The XXII. Chapter. ANd Satan stood against Israel, & enticed David to number Israel. 〈◊〉. 24. a And David said unto joab & to the rulers of the people: Go your way, number Israel from Berseba unto Dan, and bring me the number of them, that I may know it. joab said: The LORD make his people an hundredth times more than they are now. But my lord O king, are they not all my lords servants? Why doth my lord then axe thereafter? Wherefore shall there a trespass come upon Israel? Nevertheless the kings word prevailed against joab. And joab went forth, and walked thorough all Israel, and came to jerusalem, and delivered unto David the number of the people that was told. And of all Israel there were a thousand times a thousand, and an hundredth thousand men, that drew out the sword: and of juda four hundredth thousand and seventye thousand men, which drew out the sword. As for Levi and Ben jamin, he numbered them not among these: for the kings word was abominable unto joab. But this displeased God right sore: for he smote Israel. And David said unto God: I have sinned grievously, that I have done this. But now take away the trespass of thy servant: for I have done very unwisely. And the LORD spoke unto Gad David's Seer, & said: Go speak to David, & say: Thus saith the LORD: Three things lay I before thee, chose the one of them, that I may do it unto the. And when Gad came to David, he spoke unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD: Chose the either three year dearth, or three months to fly before thy adversaries, & before the sword of thy enemies, that it may overtake thee: or three days the sword of the LORD, & pestilence in the land, that the angel of the LORD may destroy in all the coasts of Israel. Look now what answer I shall give unto him that sent me. David said unto Gad: I am in great trouble: yet will I rather fall in to the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is exceeding great, & I will not fall in to the hands of men. Then did the LORD cause pestilence to come in to Israel, so that there fallen of Israel three score & ten thousand men. And God sent the angel to Jerusalem for to destroy it. And even in the destruction the LORD considered, and he repent of the evil, and said unto the angel the destroyer: It is enough, hold now thy hand. The angel of the LORD stood beside the barn of Arnan the jebusite. And David lift up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, and a naked sword in his hand stretched out over jerusalem. Then David and the Elders being clothed with sack clot, fallen upon their faces. And David said unto God: Am not I he that caused the people to be numbered? I am he that hath sinned and done evil: as for these sheep, what have they done▪ LORD my God, let thy hand be against me and against my father's house, and not against thy people to plague them. And the angel said unto Gad, that he should speak unto David, that David should should go up, & set up an altar in the barn of Arnan the jebusite. So David went up according to the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the LORD. But when Arnan turned him, and saw the angel (and his four sons with him) they hid themselves: for Arnan throszshed wheat. Now when David came to Arnan, Arnan looked, and was ware of David, and went forth out of the barn, and worshipped David with his face to the ground. And David said unto Arnan: give me room in the barn, to build an altar unto the LORD therein: for the full money shalt thou give it me, that the plague may cease from the people. But Arnan said unto David: Take it unto thee, and let my lord the king do as pleaseth him. Behold, that ox give I for a burned offering, and those vessels to the ox, and wheat for the meat offering, I give it all. Nevertheless the king said unto Arnan: Not so, but for the full money will I buy it: for that which is thy will not I take for the LORD, and offer a burned offering for naught. So David gave Arnan for the room, six hundredth Sycles of gold in weight. And there builded David an altar unto the LORD, & offered burned offerings & slain offerings. And when he called upon the LORD, he heard him thorough the fire from heaven upon the altar of the burned offering. And the LORD said unto the angel, that he should put his sword in to his sheeths. At the same time when David saw, that the LORD had heard him upon the corn floor of Arnan the jebusite, he did sacrifice there. For the habitation of the LORD which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burned offerings, was at that time in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go thitherto seek God before it, for he feared the sword of the lords angel. And David said: 〈◊〉. 3. a Here shall be the house of God the LORD, and this the altar of burned offerings fo● Israel. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel, and appointed masons to hew stone for the building of the house of God. And David prepared much iron for nails in the doors of the ports, and for such things as were to be naled together, and so much brass, that is was not to be weighed: and cedar trees innumerable: for they of Zidon & tire brought David much cedar timber: for David thought, Solomon my son is but a child and tender: But the house that shall be builded unto the LORD, shall be great, that his name & praise may be exalted in all lands, therefore will I provide for him. So David made great provision before his death. And he called Solomon his son, & commanded him to build the house of LORD God of Israel, and said unto him: My son, 〈◊〉. 7. a I was minded to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, but the word of the LORD came unto me, and said: Thou hast shed much blood, and strycken many battayls, therefore shalt thou not build an house unto my name, for as much as thou hast shed so much blood upon the earth before me. Behold, the son which shall be born unto thee, shall be a quiet man: and I will 'cause him to be in rest from all his enemies on every side, for his name shallbe Solomon: for I will give peace and rest upon Israel as long as he liveth. He shall build an house unto my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father. And I will stablish the seat of his kingdom upon Israel for ever. Now my son, the LORD shall be with thee, and thou shalt prosper, that thou mayest build an house unto the LORD thy God, according as he hath spoken of the. The LORD also shall give the wisdom & understanding, and shall commit Israel unto thee, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. But then shall thou prosper, if thou take heed to do after the ordinances and laws which the LORD commanded Moses unto Israel. Be strong, and take a good courage unto thee, fear not, and be not faint hearted. Behold, I have in my poverty provided for the house of the LORD, an hundredth thousand talentes of gold, and a thousand times a thousand talentes of silver, and brass and iron without number: for there is so much of it. And timber and stone have I prepared, thou mayest get more thereof. Thou hast many workmen also, mesons and carpenters in stone and timber, and all manner of men that have understanding in all work of gold, silver, brass, and iron without number. Yet get the up, and be doing, and the LORD shall be with the. And David commanded all the rulers of Israel, to help Solomon his son, and said: Is not the LORD your God with you, and hath given you rest on every side? for he hath delivered the inhabiters of the land in to your hands, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before his people. give over your heart now therefore and your soul, to seek the LORD your God, and get you up, and build a Sanctuary unto the LORD God, that the Ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God, may be brought in to the house, which shallbe builded unto the name of the LORD. So David made Solomon his son king over Israel, when he himself was old, and had lived enough. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd David gathered all the rulers in Israel together, and the priests & Levites, to number the Levites from thirty year old & above. And the number of them (which were strong men) from head to head, was eight and thirty thousand: of whom there were four & twenty thousand, which did their diligence in the work over the house of the LORD, and six thousand officers and judges, and four thousand porters, & four thousand that song praises unto the LORD with instruments, which he had made to sing praise with all. And David made the ordinance among the children of Levi, namely among Gerson, Kahath & Merari. The Gersonites were: Laedan and Simei. The children of Laedan: the first, jehiel, Sethan, and joel, these three. The children of Simei were: Salomith, Hasiel and Haran, these three. These were the chief among the fathers of Laedan. These also were the children of Simei: jahath, Sina, jeus and Bria, these four were Simeis children also. jahath was the first, Sina the second. As for jeus and Bria, they had not many children, therefore were they counted but for one father's house. exod 6. ᶜ ●. Pa●. 7. ● The children of Kahath were: Amram, jezehar, Hebron and Vsiel, these four. The children of Amram were: Aaron and Moses. ●xo. 29. a As for Aaron, he was separated, to be sanctified for the Most holy, he & his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, & to minister and bless in the name of the LORD for evermore. And the children of Moses the man of God were named among the tribe of the Levites. Exod. 2. d The children of Moses were Gerson and Elieser. The children of Gerson, the first was Sebuel. The children of Elieser, the first was Rehabia & Elieser had none other children. But the children of Rehabia were many there over. The children of jezehar were: Salomith the first. The children of Hebron were: jeria the first, Amaria the second, jahasiel the third and jakmeam the fourth. The children of Vsiel were: Micha the first and jesia the second. The children of Merari were: Maheli & Musi. The children of Maheli were: Eleasar and Cis. And Eleasar died, and had no sons but daughters. And the children of Cis their brethren took them. The children of Musi were: Maheli, Eder and jeremoth, these three. These are the children of Levi among their father's houses, and the chiefest of the fathers, which were counted after the number of the names head by head: which executed the work of the offices in the house of the LORD 〈…〉 from thirty year old & above. For David said: The LORD God of Israel hath given his people rest, & shall devil at jerusalem for ever. Among the Levites also were the children of Levi numbered from thirty year old and above, 〈…〉 that they needed not to bear the Habitation with all the vessels of their office, but according to the last words of David, that they should stand under the hand of the children of Aaron, to minister in the house of the LORD in the court, and to the chests, and for purifying, and to all manner of sanctifying, and to every work of the office in the house of God. And for the shewbred, for the fine flower, for the meat offering, for the unleavened wafers, for the pans, for the frying, and for all manner of weight and measure. And in the morning to stand for to give thanks and to praise the LORD, and in the evening likewise. And upon all Sabbathes, Newmones and feasts to offer all the burned offerings unto the LOROE, according to the number and order, allway before the LORD: to wait upon the Tabernacle of witness and of the Sanctuary, and upon their brethren the children of Aaron, to minister in the house of the LORD. The XXV. Chapter. THis was the ordinance of the children of Aaron. 〈…〉 The children of Aaron were, Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their fathers, and had no children. And Eleasar and Ithamar were priests. And David ordered them after his manner: Sadoc out of the children of Eleasar, and Ahimelech out of the children of Ithamar, according to their number and office. And there were more chief strong men found among the children of Eleasar, than the children of Ithamar. And he ordained them after this manner: namely, sixteen out of the children of Eleasar to be rulers thorough out their father's house: & eight of the children of Ithamar thorough out their father's house. Nevertheless he ordained them by lot, because that both the principal of the children of Eleasar and of Ithamar were in the Sanctuary, and chief before God. And the Scribe Semeia the son of Nethaneel one of the Levites, written them up before the king and before the rulers, and before Sadoc the priest, & before Ahimelech ●he son of Abiathar, & before the chief of the fathers among the priests & Levites: namely one father's house for Eleasar, and the other for Ithamar. And the first lot fallen upon joiarib, the second upon jedana, the third upon Harim, the fourth upon Seorim, the fifth upon Malchia, the sixte upon Meiamin, the seventh upon Hakoz, the eight upon 〈…〉 Abia, the nyenth upon jesua, the tenth upon Sechania, the eleventh upon Eliasib, the twolueth upon jakim, the thirteenth upon Hupa, the fourteenth upon jesebeab, the fifteenth upon Bilga, the sixteenth upon Immer, the seventeenth upon Hesir, the eighteenth upon Hapizez, the nyententh upon Pethahia, the twentieth upon jeheszkel, the one and twentieth upon jachin, the two & twentieth upon Samul, the three & twentieth upon Dalaia, the four and twentieth upon Maasia. This is their course after their office, to go in to the house of the LORD, according to their manner under their father Aaron, as the LORD God of Israel commanded him. Of the children of Levi among the children of Amram, was Subael. Among the children of Subael, was johdea. Among the children of Rehabia, was the first jesia. Among the jezeharites was Selomoth. Among the children of Selomoth was jahath. The children of Hebron were: jeria the first, Amaria the second, jehasiel the third, jakneam the fourth. The children of Vsiel were: Micha. Among the children of Micha was Samir. The brother of Micha was jesia. Among the children of jesia was Zacharias. The children of Merari were: Maheli & Musi, whose son was jaesia. The children of Merari of his son jaesia were: Soham, Sacur & Ibri. Maheli had Eleasar: for he had no sons. Of Cis, the children of Cis were: jerahmeel and Musi. The children of Musi were, Maheli, Eder and jeremoth. These are the children of the Levites thorough out the house of their fathers. And the lot was cast for them also beside their brethren the children of Aaron, in the presence of king David and Sadoc and Ahimelech, and before the chief fathers among the priests & Levites, as well for the least brother as for the chiefest among the fathers. The XXVI. Chapter. ANd David with the chief captains sundered to the offices among the children of Assaph, Heman & jedithun the prophets with haps, psalteries & Cymbales, and they were numbered unto the work according to their office. Among the children of Assaph was Sakur, joseph, Nethania, Asarela, children of Assaph under Assaph which prophesied beside the king. Of jedithun: The children of jedithun were, Gedalia, Zori, jesaia, Hasabia, Mathithia (Simei) these six under their father jedithun with haps, whose prophesying was to give thanks and to praise the LORD. Of Heman: The children of Heman were Bukia, Mathania, Vsiel, Sebuel, jerimoth, Hanania, Hanani, Eliatha, Gilthi, Remamthieser, jaszbaksa, Mallothi, Hothir and Mehesioth. All these were the children of Heman the kings Seer in the words of God to lift up the horn: for God gave Heman fourteen sons & three daughters. All these were under their father's Assaph jedithun and Heman, to sing in the house of the LORD with Cymbales, Psalteries & haps, according to the office in the house of God beside the king. And their number with their brethren, which were taught in the song of the LORD (every one having understanding) was two hundredth & eight and four score. And they cast the Pro. 16. d lots over their office, for the least as for the greatest, for the master as for the scolar. And the first Lot fallen upon joseph which was of Assaph: the second upon Gedolia with his brethren and sons, of whom there were twelve. The third upon Sacur with his sons & brethren, of whom there were twelve. The fourth upon jezri with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The fifth upon Nethania with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The sixth upon Bukia with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The seventh upon jesreela with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The eight upon jesaia with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The nyenth upon Mathania with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The tenth upon Simei with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The eleventh upon Asraeel with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The twolueth upon Hasabia with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The thirteenth upon Subael with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The fourteenth upon Mathithia with his sons & brethren, of whom there were twelve. The fifteenth upon jeremoth with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The syxtenth upon Anania with his sons and brethren of whom there were twelve. The seventeenth upon jaszbekasa with his sons & brethren of whom there were twelve. The eighteenth upon Hanani with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The nyententh upon Mallothi with his sons & brethren, of whom there were twelve. The twentieth upon Eliatha with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The one & twentieth upon Hothir with his sons & brethren of whom there were twelve. The two and twentieth upon Gidalthi with his sons & brethren, of whom there were twelve. The three and twentieth upon Mehesioth with his sons and brethren of whom there were twelve. The four and twentieth upon Romamthieser with his sons and brethren, of whom there were twelve. The XXVII. Chapter. OF the ordinances of the dorekepers Among the Korahytes was Meselemia of the children of Assaph. The children of Meselemia were these: the first-born Zacharias, the second jediael, the third Sebadia, the fourth jathniel, the fifth Elam, the sixte johanan, the seventh Elidenai. The children of Obed Edom were these: the firstborn Semaia, the second josabad the third joah, the fourth Sachur, the fifth Nethaneel, the sixte Ammiel, the seventh Isachar, the eight Pegulthai: for God had blessed him. And unto Semaia his son there were sons born also, which bore rule in the house of their fathers: for they were mighty valiant men. The children of Semaia were, Athni, Rephael, Obed and Elsabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu and Semachia: all these were of the children of Obed Edom▪ Meselemia had children and brethren which were strong men, even eighteen. Hossa of the children of Merari had children, Simri the chiefest: for the first-born was not there, therefore did his father appoint him to be chiefest, the second Helchias, the third Tebalia, the fourth Zacharias. All the children and brethren of Hossa were thirteen. This is the ordinance of the dorekepers among the heads of the valiant men in the office beside their brethren, to minister in the house of the LORD. And the lot was cast for the small as for the great thorough out the house of their fathers at every door. The lot toward the East fallen upon Meselemia. And the lot was cast for Zacharias his son, which was a man of prudent council, & unto him it fallen toward the North: But unto Obed Edom toward the South, and to his sons beside the house of Esupim. And unto Supim and Hossa toward the West by the gate of Salechet in the street of the burned offerings, where the tabernacles stand together. Toward the East were there six of the Levites. Toward the north four on the day tyme. Toward the south four on the day season likewise. Beside Esupim two & two. By Parbar westward were there four in in the street, and two beside Parbar. These are the ordinances of the dorekepers among the children of the Korahites, and the children of Merari. Of the Levites, was Ahia over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures that were sanctified. Of the children of Laedan, the children of the Gersonites. Of Laedan were these the heads of the fathers, namely the jehielites. The children of the jehielites were, Sethan and his brother joel over the treasures of the house of the LORD. Among the A●●amites, jezeharites, Hebronites and Vsielites, was Sebuel the son of Gerson the son of Moses, prince over the treasures. His brother Elieser had a son Rehabia, whose son was jesaia, whose son was Ioram, whose son was Sichri, whose son was Selomith: the same Selomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the things that were hallowed, which king David hallowed, and the principal of the fathers among the rulers over thousands & over hundreds, and rulers in the host (of wars and spoils had they hallowed it, to repair the house of the LORD) and over all that Samuel the Seer, and Saul the son of Cis, & Abner the son of Ne'er, and joab the son of ZeruIa had hallowed: whatsoever was sanctified, it was under the hand of Se●●mith and his brethren. Among the jezeharites was Chenaia with his sons for the work without over Israel, officers & judges. Among the Hebronites was Hasabia & his brethren, valiant men, a thousand and seven hundredth, over the offices of Israel on this side jordane westward for all manner work of the LORD, and to serve the king. But among the Hebronites was jeria the chiefest among the Hebronites of his kindred among the fathers. And search was made among them, and in the fortieth year of king David there were found valiant men at jaeser in Gilead, and their brethren mighty men, two thousand and seven hundredth principal fathers, and David set them over the Rubenites, Gaddites, and over the half tribe of Manasses, for all such business as belonged unto God and the king. The XXVIII. Chapter. THe children of Israel according to their number, were heads of the fathers, and over thousands and over hundreds, & officers waiting upon the king, to go of & on after their course every month one, in all the months of the year. Every course had four & twenty thousand. Over the first course of the first month, was jasebeam the son of Sabdiel, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. Of the children of Phares was the principal among all the chief captains in the first month. Over the course of the second month was Dodaithe Ahohite, and Mikloth was the prince over his course. And under his course were four and twenty thousand. The third principal captain of the third month, was Benaia the son of joiada the priest, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. 〈…〉 This is that Benaia the Worthy among thirty and above thirty, And his course was under his son Ammi Sabad. The fourth in the forth moaneth was Asahel the brother of joab, and Sabadia his son after him, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The fifth in the fifth month was Samehuth the jesrahite, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The sixte in the sixte month, was Ira the son of Ickes the Thec●ite, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The seventh in the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite of the children of Ephraim, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The eight in the eight month, was Sibechai the Husathite of the Sarehites, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The nyenth in the ninth month, was Abieser the Anthothite of the children of jemini, & under his course were four and twenty thousand. The tenth in the tenth month, was Maherai the Netophatite of the Serahites, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The eleventh in the eleventh month, was Benaia the Pirgathonite of the children of Ephraim, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. The twolueth in the twolueth month was Heldai the Netophatite of Athniel, and under his course were four and twenty thousand. Over the tribes of Israel were these: Among the Rubenites was Prince Elieser the son of Sichri. Among the Simeoninites was Sephatia the son of Maecha. Among the Levites was Hasabia the son of Kemuel. Among the Aaronites was Sadoc. Among juda was Elihu one of David's brethren. Among Isachar was Amri the son of Michael. Among Zabulon was jesmaia the son of Obadia. Among Nephtali was jeremoth the son of Asriel. Among the children of Ephraim was Hosea the son of Asasia. Among the half tribe of Manasses was joel the son of Pedaia. Among the half tribe of Manasses in Gilead was jeddo the son of Zacharias. Among Ben jamin was jaesiel the son of Abner. Among Dan was Asareel the son of jeroham. These are the princes of the tribes of Israel. But David took not the number of them that were twenty year old and there under: for the LORD had promised to multiply Israel as the stars of the szkie. 1. Par. 22. a Howbeit joab the son of Zervia had begun to number them, and performed it not: for there came wrath upon Israel for the same cause, therefore came not the number in to the Chronicles of king David. Over the kings treasures was Asmaveth the son of Adiel. And over the treasures in the land, in the cities, villages and castles was jonathan the son of Vsia. Over the huszbandmen to till the land was Esri the son of Chelub. Over the vynyardes was Simei the Ramathite. Over the wine Cellars and treasures of wine was Sabdi the Siphimite. Over the oil gardens and Molberytrees in the low fields, was Baal Hanan the Gaderite. Over the treasure of the oil was joas. Over the oxen of the pasture at Saron was Sitari the Saronite. Over the oxen in the valleys was Saphath the son of Adlai. Over the Camels was Obil the Ismaelite. Over the asses was jehethia the Meronothite. Over the sheep was jasis the Hagarite. All these were rulers over king David's goods. jonathan David's uncle was of the council a wise man and a scribe. And jehiel▪ the son of Hachmoni was with the kings children. 1. Re. ●6. d Achitophel also was of the kings council. Husai the Arachite was the kings friend. After Achitophel was joiada the son of Benaia and Abiathar. As for joab, he was the kings chief captain of war. The XXIX. Chapter. ANd David gathered unto jerusalem all the rulers of Israel, namely the princes of the tribes, the rulers over the courses, which waited upon the king, the captains over thousands and over hundreds, the rulers over the goods and cattles of the king and of his sons, with the chamberlains, warryers' and valiant men. And David the king stood up upon his feet, and said: Hear me my brethren and my people: ● Re. 7. a I was minded to build an house, where the Ark of the covenant of the LORD should rest, and a foot stolen for the feet of our God, and prepared myself for to build, 1. Par. 23. b But God said unto me: Thou shalt not build an house unto my name, for thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood. 1. Re. 16. a Now hath the LORD God of Israel choose me out of all my father's house, that I should be king over Israel: for * Goe 49. b 1. Pa●. 6. a juda hath he choose to be the Prince, and in the house of juda among my father's children hath he had pleasure unto me, to make me king over all Israel: and among all my sons (for the LORD hath given me many sons) he hath choose Solomon my son, to sit upon the seat of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel, and hath said unto me: 1 Par. 18. b 2. Par. 6. b Solomon thy son shall build me an house and my courts: for I have choose him to be my son, & I will be his father, & will stablish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do after my commandments and laws, as it is this day. Now in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the ears of our God, see that you observe and seek all the commandments of the LORD yo God, that you may possess this good land and that you and your children may have the inheritance thereof for ever. And thou my son Solomon, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with all thy heart, and with the desire of thy soul: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all thoughts & imaginations If thou seek him, thou shalt find him: but if thou forsake him, he shall refuse the for ever. Take heed now, for the LORD hath choose thee, to build an house to be the Sanctuary: be strong, and make it. And David gave Solomon his son ● patron of the porch, and of his house, and of the cells and perlers and ynnermer chambers, and of the house of the mercyseat, & of all that he had in his mind, namely of the court of the lords house, and of all the oratory's round about the treasures in the house of God, and of the treasures of such things as were hallowed, of the ordinances of the priests, and Levites, and of all the business of the offices in the house of the LORD. Gold (gave he him) after the gold weigh● for all manner of vessels of every office, and all silver ornaments after the weight for all manner of vessel of every office: and weigh● for the golden candilstickes and golden lamps, for every candilstycke and his lamps his weight: likewise for the silver candilstickes gave he the weight to the candlestick & his lamps, according as was required for every candilstycke. He gave gold also for the tables of the shewbred, for every table his weight▪ and silver likewise for the silver tables. And pure gold for the fleshokes, basins and censors: and for the golden cups, unto every cup his weight: and for the s●uer cups, unto every cup his weight and for the altar of incense his weight, of the most pure gold. And a patron of the charett of the golden Cherubins, that they might spread out themselves, and cover the Ark of the covenant of the LORD. All this is given me in writing of the hand of the LORD, to make me understand all the works of the patron. And David said unto Solomon his son: Be thou manly and strong, and make it, fear not, and be not fainthearted, the LORD God my God shall be with thee, and shall not withdraw his hand, ner fail thee, till thou have finished every work for the service in the house of the LORD. Behold, the courses of the priests and Levites to all the offices in the house of God are with the in every work, and are willing, and have wisdom to all the offices: and so have the princes and all the people for every thing that thou hast to do. The XXX. Chapter. ANd king David said unto all the congregation: God hath choose Solomon one of my sons, which yet is young and tender. But the work is great: for it is not a man's palace, but the LORD Gods. Yet have I after all my ability prepared unto the house of God, gold for the vessels of gold, silver for them of silver, brass for them of brass, iron for them of iron, would for them of wood, Onyx stones, set Rubies, & stones of diverse colours, & all precious stones, & Marble stones in multitude. Besides this, for the good will that I have to the house of God, I have of mine own proper good three M. talents of gold of Ophir, & seven M. talents of pure silver, which I give unto the holy house of God, beside all that I have prepared, to overlay the walls of the house, that the same which aught to be of gold, may be of gold: & that it which aught to be of silver, may be of silver: and for all manner of work by the hand of the craftsmen. And who is now free willing, to fill his hand this day unto the LORD? Then were the princes of the fathers, the princes of the tribes of Israel, the captains over thousands & over hundreds, the rulers over the kings business, free willing, & gave to the ministration in the house of God five M. talentes of gold, and ten M. guldens, and ten M. talentes of silver, eighteen M. talents of brass, and an hundred M. talents of iron. And by whom so ever were found stones, they gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, under the hand of jehiel the Gersonite. And the people were glad that they were free willing: for they gave it with a good will (even with all their heart) unto the LORD. And David also the king rejoiced greatly, and praised God, and said before the whole congregation: Praised be thou O LORD God of Israel our father, unto the belongeth worship and power, glory, victory & thanks: for all that is in heaven and earth, is thy: thy is the kingdom, and thou art exalted above all princes. Thy are riches and honour before thee, thou reignest over all, in thy hand consists power and might, in thy hand is it to make every man great and strong. Now thank we the our God, and praise the name of thy glory: For who am I? What is my people? that we should be able with a free will to offer, as this is done? For of the cometh all, and of thy hand have we given it thee: 〈◊〉. 47. b 〈◊〉. 11. c For we are but pilgrems & strangers before thee, as were all our fathers. Our life upon earth is as a shadow, and here is no abiding. O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build the an house unto thy name, came of thy hand, and is thy altogether. I know my God, that thou triest the heart, and that unfaynednes is acceptable unto thee: therefore have I given all this with an unfeigned heart, even with a good will, and now have I had joy to see thy people (which here are present) offer with a free will unto the. O LORD God of our father's Abraham, Isaac, & Israel, keep thou evermore such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of thy people, & prepare thou their hearts unto the. And grant my son Solomon a perfect heart, that he may keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, & thy statutes, that he may do all, & build this palace, which I have prepared. And David said unto the whole congregation: O praise the LORD your God. And all the congregation praised the LORD God of their fathers, & bowed themselves, & worshipped the LORD & then the king, and offered sacrifices unto the LORD. And on the next morrow offered they burned offerings, a M. bullocks, a M. rams, a M. lambs with their drink offerings, & plenteously offered they among all Israel. And they ate and drank the same day before the LORD with great joy, and made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him to be the prince for the LORD, ●. Reg. ● & Sadoc to be the priest. 3. Re. 2. ● Thus sat Solomon upon the seat of the LORD, king in his father's stead, & prospered. And all Israel obeyed him, & all the rulers & mighty men, & all king David's children submytted themselves unto king Solomon. And the LORD made Solomon excellent & great in the sight of all Israel, 3. Re. 4 and gave him such a glorious kingdom, as none had before him over Israel. So had David now been king over all Israel. And the time that he was king over Israel, is forty years: At Hebron reigned he seven year, and at jerusalem three & thirty year, & died in a good age, full of days, riches and honour. And Solomon his son was king in his stead. These acts of king David (both the first and last) behold, they are written among the acts of Samuel the Seer, and among the acts of the prophet Nathan, and among the acts of Gad the Seer, with all his kingdom, power and times which passed under him, both upon Israel & upon all the kingdoms of the earth. The end of the first book of the Chronicles. The second book of the Chronicles, called Paralipomenon. What this book containeth. Chap. I Of the kingdom of Solomon, to whom the LORD appeareth, and Solomon maketh his prayer unto him. Chap. II How Solomon deviseth to build the temple of the LORD. Chap. III How he beginneth to build, and after what faszshion. Chap. four Of the ornaments of the temple. Chap. V The Ark is brought in to the temple, &c. Chap. VI Solomon speaketh unto the people praiseth God, and beseketh him to hear such as make their prayer in the temple. Chap. VII. The fire cometh from heaven, & consumeth the sacrifice. The king & the people offer. The LORD appeareth unto Solomon, and promiseth to hear him. Chap. VIII. Solomon buildeth cities, and subdueth the Heythen. Of his captains and of his wife. Chap. IX. The Queen of Saba bringeth presents unto Solomon, & receiveth gifts of him. Solomon dieth. Chap. X. Roboam oppressing the people, maketh them to fall away from him. Chap. XI. The LORD will not suffer Roboam king of juda & Ben jamin to fight against Israel. He buildeth cities. Chap. XII. Roboam forsaketh the law of the LORD. The king of Egipte cometh upon him. The LORD delivereth him. Chap. XIII. Of Abia & Jeroboam & their wars. Chap. XIIII. XU. Of king Asa. Chap. XVI. Baesa cometh up against Asa, which agreeth with him, therefore is he rebuked. Chap. XVII. Of the reign of josaphat. Chap. XVIII. josaphat maketh friendship with Achab, and helpeth him to fight. Chap. XIX. jehu rebuketh josaphat for helping the ungodly. josaphat amendeth, and liveth well. Chap. XX. The Moabites & Ammonites with the Syrians and Edomites go forth against josaphat, which prayeth unto God, and he helpeth him. Chap. XXI. josaphat dieth. joram his son is made king, slayeth his brethren, and forsaketh the LORD. Edom falls away from juda. God punysheth joram. Chap. XXII. Ochosias' is made king, and taketh part with Achab's son. Chap. XXIII. joiada maketh joas king, & commandeth to slay Athalia. Chap. XXIIII. While joiada liveth, king joas doth well, but after his death he forsaketh the LORD: And because Zacharias reproveth him, he commandeth to stone him to death. His own servants kill him upon his bed. Chap. XXV. Of king Amasias, which smiteth the Edomites. He worshippeth their Idols, therefore the prophet reproveth him. He will needs fight with the king of Israel, which overcometh him and taketh him. Chap. XXVI. Of king Osias other wise called Vsia or Azarias: of his buildings, & how he become leper for his presumption. Chap. XXVII. Of jothams' reign, of his buildings, and of his wars. Chap. XXVIII. Of the wicked king Achas. Chap. XXIX. XXX.XXXI. Of the virtuous king Ezechias, and of his noble acts. Chap. XXXII. Sennacherib layeth siege to jerusalem, Ezechias comforteth the people. Sennacherib threateneth, but the LORD delivereth juda. Ezechias is sick and recovereth. Chap. XXXIII. Of the reign of Manasses, and of his amendment from his wickedness. Of king Ammon his son. Chap. XXXIIII. XXXV. Of the reign and most virtuous acts of king josias, and of his death. Chap. XXXVI. Three months reigneth joachas, after whom reigneth Eliachim other wise called joachim, whom Nabuchodonosor carrieth unto Babylon, and in his stead reigneth joachim his son, which also is led away captain unto Babylon. Sedechias is made king, and at the last carried away prisoner with all the people, and jerusalem destroyed. The first Chapter. ANd Solomon the son of David was stablished in his kingdom, 〈…〉 and the LORD his God was with him, & made him exceeding great. And Solomon spoke unto all Israel, to the captains over thousands and over hundreds, to the judges, and to all the princes in Israel, and to the chiefest fathers, so that they went (Solomon and the whole congregation with him) unto the high place which was at Gibea: 〈…〉 for there was the Tabernacle of the witness of God, 〈…〉 which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 〈…〉 For David had brought up the Ark of God from Kiriath jarim, when he had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at jerusalem. As for the brazen altar 〈…〉 which Bezaleel the son of V●● the son of Her had made, it was there before the habitation of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought God. And Solomon offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon the brazen altar that stood before the Tabernacle of witness. In the same night appeared God unto Solomon, and said unto him: Axe, what shall I give thee? And Solomon said unto God: Thou hast done great mercy unto my father David, ●nd hast made me king in his stead. Now LORD God, let the word that thou hast promised unto my father David, be verified, 〈…〉 for thou hast made me king over a people, which is as many in number as the dust upon the earth. Grant me wisdom therefore and knowledge, that I may go out and in before this people: for who is able to judge this great people of thy? Then said God unto Solomon: For so much as thou art so minded, and hast not desired riches ner good, ner honor, ner the souls of thy enemies, ner long life, but haste required wisdom and knowledge, to judge my people, over whom I have made the king, wisdom therefore and knowledge be given the. moreover, riches & good and honour will I give thee, so that such one as thou hath not been before the among the kings, neither shall be after the. So came Solomon from the high place (which was at Gibeon) unto Jerusalem from the Tabernacle of witness, 〈…〉 and reigned over Israel. And Solomon gathered him charettes and horsemen, so that he had a thousand and four hundredth charettes, & twelve thousand horsemen: and those appointed he to be in the chariot cities, and with the king at jerusalem. And the king brought it so to pass, that there was as much silver & gold at Jerusalem as stones: and as many Ceders, as the Molberyes trees, that are in the valleys. And there were horses brought unto Solomon out of Egipte, & the kings merchants fetched them from Kena for money. And they came up, and brought out of Egipte a chariot for six hundredth silver pens, and an horse for an hundredth and fifty. Thus brought they also unto all the kings of the hittites, and to the kings of the Syrians. The II Chapter. ANd Solomon thought to build an house unto the name of the LORD, & an house for his kingdom: and told out three score and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and four score thousand that hewed timber upon the mount, and three thousand and six hundredth officers over them. 〈◊〉. 5. a And Solomon sent unto Hiram the king of tire, saying: As 〈…〉 thou didst with my father, & sendedst him Cedar trees, to build an house for to devil in (even so do thou with me also.) Behold, I will build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, to sanctify it, for to burn good incense before him, and allway to prepare the shewbred, and burned offerings in the morning and in the evening, on the Sabbathes & New moans, and solemn feasts of the LORD our God evermore for Israel. And the house that I will build, shall be great: for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him an house? For heaven & the heavens of all heavens may not comprehend him. Who am I then, that I should build him an house? But only for this intent to burn incense before him? Send me now therefore a wise man to work with gold, silver, brass, iron, scarlet, purple, yellow silk and such one as can grave carved work with the wise men that are with me in jewry and jerusalem, whom my father David ordained. And send me timber of Cedar, pine tree and costly wood from Libanus: for I know that the servants can hew timber upon Libanus. And behold, my servants shallbe with the servants, to prepare me much timber: for the house that I will build, shallbe great & marvelous goodly. And behold, I will give unto the carpenters thy servants which hew the timber, twenty thousand quarters, of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand quarters of barley, and twenty thousand Batthes of wine, and twenty thousand Batthes of oil. Then said Hiram the king of tire by writing, and sent it unto Solomon: Because the LORD loveth his people, therefore hath he made the to be king over them. And Hiram said moreover: Praised be the LORD God of Israel, which made heaven earth, that he hath given king David a wise and prudent son, and such one as hath understanding to build an house unto the LORD, & an house for his realm. Therefore send I now a wise man that hath understanding, 3. Re. ●. b even Hiram Abi (which is the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was of tire) which can work in gold, silver, brass, iron, stone, timber, scarlet, yellow silk, linen, purple and to carve all manner of things, and to make what cunning thing so ever is given him, with thy wise men, and with the wise men of my lord king David the father. And now let my lord send the wheat, barley, oil and wine unto his servants, according as he hath said, and so will we hew the timber upon Libanus, as much as thou needest, and will bring it by floats in the See unto japho, from whence thou mayest bring it up to jerusalem. And Solomon numbered all the strangers in the land of Israel, according to the number when David his father numbered them: and there were found an hundredth & fifty thousand, three thousand and six hundredth. And of the same he made three score and ten thousand bears of burdens, and four score thousand hewers upon the mount, and three thousand and six hundredth overseers, which held the people at their work. The III Chapter. ANd Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at jerusalem upon the mount Moria, ●. Par. ●2. d that was showed unto David his father, which David had prepared for the room, upon the corn floor of Arnan the jebusite. In the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign began he to build. And so laid Solomon the foundation to build the house of God: first the length three score cubytes, the breadth twenty cubits: and the porch before the wideness of the house, was twenty cubits long, but the height was an hundredth and twenty, and he overlayed it on the ynsyde with pure gold. But the great house syled he with Pine tree, and overlayed it with the best gold, and made palm trees and thrown work thereon, and overlayed the house with precious stones to beutifye it. As for the gold, it was gold of Paruaim. And the balks and posts above, and the walls, and the doors of it overlayed he with gold, and caused Cherubins to be carved on the walls. He made also the house of the Most holy, whose length was twenty cubits according to the wideness of the house: and the breadth of it was twenty cubits likewise, and he overlayed it with the best gold by six hundredth talentes. And for nails he gave fifty sickles of gold in weight, and over laid the chambers with gold. He made also in the house of the most holy, two Cherubins of carved work, and overlayed them with gold: and the length on the wings of the Cherubins, so that one wing had five cubytes, and touched the brickwall of the house: and the other wing had five cubytes also, and touched the wing of the other Cherub. Even so had one wing of the other Cherub five cubits likewise, and touched the brickwall of the house: and his other wing had five cubits also, and touched the wing of the other Cherub: so that these wings of the Cherubins were spread out twenty cubits wide. And they stood upon their feet, and their face was turned to the house ward. He made a veil also of yellow silk, scarlet, purple and lynworke, and made Cherubins thereon. And before the house he made two pilers five and thirty cubits long, and the knoppes above thereon, five cubytes. And he made thrown work for the quere, and put it above upon the pilers: and made an hundredth pomegranates, and put them on the wrythrens work. And he set up the pilers before the temple, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left: and that on the right hand called the jachin, and it on the left hand called he Boos. The four Chapter. HE made a brazen altar also, twenty cubytes long, and twenty cubytes broad, and ten cubits high. 〈…〉 And he made a molten laver ten cubits wide from the one side to the other round about, and five cubytes high. And a metelyne of thirty cubits might comprehend it about. And images of Bullocks were under it. And about the laver (which was ten cubits wide) there were two rows of knoppes, that were melted withal. It stood so upon the bullocks, that three were turned toward the north, three toward the west, three toward the south, and three toward the east, and the laver above upon them, and all their hinder parts were on the ynsyde. The thickness of it was an hand breadth, and the edge of it was like the edge of a cup, and as a flowered rose. And it contained three thousand Batthes. And he made ten kettles, whereof he set five on the right hand and five on the left, to waszshe in them such things as belonged to the burned offering, that they might thrust them therein: but the laver (made he) for for the priests to wash in. Ten golden candelstickes made he also as they aught to be, and set them in the temple: five on the right hand, and five on the left. And made ten tables, and set them in the temple: five on the right hand, and five on the left. And made an hundredth basins of gold. He made a court likewise for the priests, and a great court, and doors in the court, and overlayed the doors with brass. And the laver set he on the right side toward the south east. And Hiram made cauldrous, shovels and basins. So Hiram finished the work which he made for king Solomon in the house of God: namely the two pilers with the roundels and knoppes above upon both the pilers, and both the writhen ropes to cover both the roundels of the knoppes above upon the pilers, and the four hundredth pomegranates on both the writhen ropes, two rows of pomegranates on every rope, to cover the roundels of the knoppes that were above upon the pilers. He made the stoles also and the kettles upon the stoles, and a laver, and twelve bullocks there under. And pots, shovels, fleshokes, and all their vessels made Hiram Abif of pure metal for king Solomon unto the house of the LORD. In the coast of jordane did the king 'cause them to be melted in thick earth between Suchoth and Zaredatha. And Solomon made all these vessels which were so many, that the weight of the metal was not to be sought out. And Salomen made all the ornaments for the house of God: namely, the golden altar, the tables and the shewbreds thereon, the candelstickes with their lamps of pure gold, to burn before the Quere according to the manner: and the flowers and the lamps and the snoffers were of gold, all these were of pure gold. And the knives, basins, spoons and pots, were of pure gold. And the entrance and his doors within unto the Most holy, and the doors of the house of the temple were of gold. Thus was all the work finished, which Solomon made in the house of the LORD. The V Chapter. ANd Solomon brought in all that his father David had sanctified, 〈…〉 namely, silver and gold, and all manner of ornaments, and laid them in the treasures of the house of God. 〈…〉 Then gathered Solomon all the Elders in Israel together, all the heads of the tribes, princes of the fathers among the children of Israel unto Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the cite of David, that is Zion. And there resorted unto the king all the men in Israel at the feast, that is in the seventh month, and all the Elders in Israel came. And the Levites took the Ark, & brought it up with the Tabernacle of witness, 〈…〉 and all the holy vessels that were in the Tabernacle: and the priests and Levites brought them up. As for king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel that was gathered unto him before the Ark, they offered sheep and oxen, so many, that no man could number ner reckon them. Thus the priests brought the Ark of the covenant of the LORD unto her place in to the quere of the house, even in to the Most holy under the wings of the Cherubins, so that the Cherubins spread out their wings over the place of the Ark: and the Cherubins covered the Ark and the staves thereof from above. And the staves were so long, that the knoppes of them were seen from the Ark before the quere, but on the outside were they not seen. And it was there unto this day. And there was nothing in the Ark, save the two tables, which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, what time as they were departed out of Egipte. And when the priests went out of the Sanctuary (for all the priests that were found, sanctified themselves, because the courses were not kept) the Levites with all those that were under Asaph, Heman, jedithun and their children and brethren, being clothed in linen, song with Cymbales, psalteries and haps, and stood toward the east part of the altar, and an hundredth & twenty priests with them, which blue with trumpets. And it was, as if one did trumpet and sing, as though a voice had been herd of praising and giving thanks unto the LORD. And when the voice arose from the trumpets, cymbales and other instruments of music, and from praising the LORD (because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for ever) the house of the LORD was filled on the ynsyde with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister for the cloud: for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. The VI Chapter. THen said Solomon: The LORD said, 3. Reg. ●. that he would devil in a dark cloud: I have builded an house to be an habitation unto thee: & a seat, that thou mayest devil there for ever. And the king turned his face, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: for the whole congregation of Israel stood, & he said: Praised be the LORD God of Israel, which promised by his mouth unto my father David, and with his hand hath fulfilled it, when he said: 2. Re. 7. 〈◊〉. Re. 8. c Sense the time that I brought my people out of the land of Egipte, I have choose no cite in all the tribes of Israel, to build an house for my name to be there, neither have I choose any man to be prince over my people of Israel. ●. Par. 7. c Butler jerusalem have I choose, for my name to be there: & David have I elect, to be prince over my people of Israel. And when my father David was minded to build an house unto the name of the LORD God of Israel, the LORD said unto David my father: Where as thou wast minded to build an house unto my name, thou hast done well: howbeit thou shalt not build the house, but thy son which shall come out of thy loins, shall build the house unto my name. Thus hath the LORD now performed his word, that he spoke: for I am come up in my father David's stead, and sit upon the seat of Israel, even as the LORD said, & have builded an house unto the name of the LORD God of Israel, & in it have I put the Ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with the children of Israel. And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands: for Solomon had made a brazen pulpit, and set it in the mids of the court, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high: upon the same stood he, and fallen down upon his knees in the presence of the whole congregation of Israel, and held out his hands toward heaven and said: ●. Reg. 8. c O LORD God of Israel, there is no god like thee, neither in heaven ner upon earth, thou that keepest covenant and mercy for thy servants, that walk before the with all their heart. Thou hast kept promise with my father David thy servant: With thy mouth thou saidest it, and with thy hand hast thou fulfilled it, as it is come to pass this day. Now LORD God of Israel, make good unto my father David thy servant, that which thou hast promised him, & said: Thou shalt not want a man before me, to sit upon the seat of Israel: if thy children keep their way, so that they walk in my law, like as thou hast walked before me: Now LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast promised unto David thy servant. for thinkest thou that God in very deed dwelleth among men upon earth? ●sa. 66. a ●re. 23. d ●cto. 7. e Beholholde, the heaven and the heavens of all heavens may not contain thee: how should then this house do it, which I have builded? But turn the unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication (O LORD my God) that thou mayest hear the thanksgiving and prayer, which thy servant maketh before thee, so that thy eyes be open over this house day and night, even over this place (wherein thou saidest thou wouldest set thy name) that thou mayest hear the prayer, which thy servant shall make in this place. Hear now therefore the intercession of thy servant and of thy people of Israel, what so ever they shall desire in this place: hear thou it from the place of thy habitation, even from heaven: and when thou hearest it, be merciful. When any man sinneth against his neighbour, and an oath be put upon him which he aught to swear, and the oath cometh before thy altar in this house, then hear thou from heaven, and see that thy servant have right, so that thou reward the ungodly, and recompense him his way upon his own head, and to justify the righteous, and to give him according to his righteousness. When thy people of Israel is smitten before their enemies (while they have sinned against thee) and if they turn unto thee, and knowledge thy name, and make their prayer and intercession before the in this house, the● hear thou them from heaven, and be merciful unto the sin of thy people of Israel, & bring them again in to the land, that thou hast given them and their fathers. 〈…〉 When the heaven is shut up, so that it rain not (for so much as they have sinned against thee) and if they make their prayer in this place, and knowledge thy name, and turn from their sins (when thou hast brought them low) hear thou them then in heaven, and be merciful unto the sin of thy servants, and of thy people of Israel, that thou mayest teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and let it rain upon thy land which thou hast given thy people to possess. When a dearth, or pestilence, or drought, ●●●blastinge, or grasshopper or catirpiller, is in the land: Or when their enemy layeth siege to their ports in the land, or when any other plague or disease happeneth, who so ever them maketh his prayer or petition among any manner of men, or among all thy people of Israel, if any man feel his plague and disease, and spreadeth out his hands unto this house, hear thou then from heaven, even from the 〈…〉 seat of thy habitation, and be merciful: and give every man according to all his ways, in so much as thou knowest his heart (for thou only knowest the heart of the children of men) that they may fear thee, and all way walk in thy ways, as long as they live in the land, which thou hast given unto our fathers. And when any stranger which is not of thy people of Israel, cometh out of a far country because of thy great name, and mighty hand, and out stretched arm, and cometh to make his prayer in this house, hear thou him then from heaven, even from the seat of thy habitation: and do all for the which that stranger calleth upon thee, that all the nations upon earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as thy people of Israel do: and that they may know, how that this house which I have builded, is named after thy name. When thy people go forth to the battle against their enemies, the way that thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the 〈◊〉 6. b toward the way of this cite which thou hast choose, and toward the house that I have builded unto thy name, hear thou then their prayer and petition from heaven, and help them to their right. When they sin against thee ( 〈◊〉. 1. b for there is no man that sinneth not) and thou be wroth at them, and give them over before their enemies, so that they carry them away captive in to a country far or nigh, and if they turn within their hearts in the land where they are presoners, and so convert, and make their intercession unto the in the land of their captivity, and say: We have sinned, and done amiss, and have been ungodly: and so turn themselves unto the with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, wherein they are presoners: and make their prayer toward the way of their own land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the ci●e which thou hast choose, and toward the house that I have builded unto thy name: then hear thou their prayer and supplication from heaven, even from the seat of thy dwelling, and help them to their right, and be merciful unto thy people that have sinned against the. My God, let thy eyes now be open, and let thy ears give heed unto prayer in this place. 〈◊〉 ●31. a Arise now O LORD God unto thy resting place, thou and the Ark of thy strength. Let thy priests O LORD God be clothed with health, and let thy sayentes rejoice over this good. LORD God, turn not away the face of thy anointed: think upon the mercies of thy servant David. The VII. Chapter. ANd when Solomon had ended his prayer, there fallen a fire from heaven, and consumed the burned offering and the other offerings. And the glory of the LORD filled the house, so that the priests could not go in to the house of the LORD, while the glory of the LORD filled the LORDS house. And all the children of Israel saw the fire fall down, and the glory of the LORD over the house: and they fallen on their knees with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto the LORD, because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for ever. As for the king and all the people, they offered before the LORD. For king Solomon offered two and twenty thousand bullocks, and an hundredth thousand and twenty thousand sheep, & so both the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. But the priests stood in their watches, & the Levites with the musical instruments of the LORD, which king David had caused to make for to give thanks unto the LORD, (because his mercy endureth for ever) with psalms of David thorough their hand. And the priests blue trumpets over against them, and all Israel stood. And Solomon hallowed the myddelmost court, which was before the house of the LORD, for there prepared he the burned offerings and the fat of the slain offerings: for the brazen altar that Solomon made, might not contain all the burned offerings, meat offerings, and the fat. 1. Mac. 4. And at the same time held Solomon a feast seven days long, and all Israel with him a very great congregation, from Hemath unto the river of Egipte, and on the eight day held he a convocation. For the dedication of the altar held they seven days, and the feast seven days also. But on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he let the people go unto their tents joyful and with merry hearts because of all the good, that the LORD had done unto David, unto Solomon, and to his people of Israel. * Thus finished Solomon the house of the LORD, and the kings house, and all that came in his heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, prosperously. And the LORD appeared unto Solomon in the night season, and said unto him: I have herd thy prayer ●. Par. ●. and choose this place unto myself for an house of sacrifice. Behold, when I shut the heaven so that it rain not, or command the grasshopper to consume the land, or 'cause a pestilence to come among my people, to humble my people, which is named after my name: and if they pray, and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, them will I hear them from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. So shall mine eyes now be open, and mine ears shall be attent unto prayer in this place. Thus have I now choose this house, and sanctified it, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and my heart shall allway be there. And if thou walk before me, as thy father David walked, so that thou do all that I command thee, and keep mine ordinances and laws, then will I stablish the seat of thy kingdom, according as I promised thy father David, and said: Thou shalt not want a man to be lord over Israel. But if you turn back, and forsake mine ordinances and commandments which I have laid before you, and so go your way, and serve other gods, and worship them, than will I rote ●ome 〈◊〉 ●hem. you out of my land that I have given you: and this house which I have sanctified unto my name, will I cast away out of my presence, and give it over to be a byword and fabell among all nations. And every one that goeth by, shall be astonnyed at this high house, and shall hiss at it, and say: ●eu. 2●. d 〈◊〉. 22. a Wherefore hath the LORD dealt thus with this land and with this house? Then shall it be said: Even because they have forsaken the LORD God of their fathers (which brought them out of the land of Egipte) & have cleaved unto other gods, & worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. The VIII. Chapter. ANd after twenty years (wherein Solomon builded the house of the LORD and his own house) he builded the cities also which Hiram gave unto Solomon, and caused the children of Israel to devil therein. And Solomon went unto Hemath Zoba, and made it strong, and builded Thadmor in the wilderness, and all the cornecyties which he builded in Hemath. He builded the upper and lower Bethoron likewise, so that they were strong cities with walls, ports and bars. And Baelath, and all the cornecites which Solomon had, and all the cities of the charettes and of the horse men, and all that Solomon had lust to build, both at jerusalem and upon Libanus, and in all the land of his dominion. All the remnant of the people of the hittites, Amorites, Pheresites, Hevites and jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, and their children which they had left behind them in the land, (whom the children of Israel had not utterly destroyed) those did Solomon make trybutaries unto this day. As for the children of Israel, Solomon made no bondmen of them unto his work, but they were men of war, and chief captains, and over his charettes & horsemen. And the chief of king Salomons officers were two hundredth and fifty, which ruled the people. And Solomon caused pharao's daughter to be fetched up out of the cite of David, in to the house that he had builded for her: for he said: My wife shall not devil in the house of David the king of Israel, for it is sanctified, in as much as the Ark of the LORD is come in to it. Then offered Solomon burned offerings unto the LORD upon the lords altar, which he had builded before the porch, every one upon his day to offer after the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbathes, Newmones & at the appointed seasons of the year, even three times, namely in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, & in the feast of Tabernacles. And he set the priests in order to their ministration 〈…〉 according as David his father had appointed, and the Levites in their offices, to give thanks and to minister in the presence of the priests, every one upon his day. And the dorekepers in their courses, every one at his door, for so had David the man of God commanded. And they departed not from the kings commandment over the priests and Levites in every matter and in the treasures. Thus was all Salomons business made ready, from the day that the foundation of the lords house was laid, till it was finished, so that the house of the LORD was all prepared. Then went Solomon unto Ezeon Geber, 〈…〉 and unto Eloth by the See side in the land of Edomea. And Hiram sent him ships by his servants which had knowledge of the See, and they went with Salomon'S servants unto Ophir, and fetched from thence four hundredth and fifty talentes of gold, and brought it unto king Solomon. The IX. Chapter. ANd when the queen of rich Arabia heard the fame of Solomon, 〈…〉 she came with a very great trine to jerusalem (with Camels that bore spices and gold, and precious stones) to prove Solomon with dark sentences. And when she came unto Solomon, she spoke unto him all that she had devised in her mind. And the king told her all her matters, & Solomon had nothing in secret, but he told it her. And when the Queen of rich Arabia saw the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had builded, the meats of his table, the dwellings of his servants, the offices of his ministers and their garments, & his butler's and their apparel, and his parlour where he went up in to the house of the LORD, she could no longer refrain. And she said unto the king: It is true that I have herd in my land of thy behave our and of thy wisdom: howbeit I would not believe their words, till I came myself, & saw it with mine eyes: and behold, the half of thy great wisdom hath not been told me: there is more in the then the fame that I have herd. Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, that allway stand before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Praised be the LORD thy God, which had such pleasure unto thee, that he hath set the upon his seat to be king unto the LORD thy God. Because thy God loveth Israel, to set them up for ever, therefore hath he ordained that to be king over them, that thou shouldest maintain justice and equity. And she gave the king an hundredth and twenty talentes of gold, & very much spice & precious stones. There were no more such spices as these that the Queen of rich Arabia gave unto king Solomon. And Hirams servants and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought costly timber also & precious stones. And of the same costly timber did Solomon cause to make stars in the house of the LORD, and the kings house, and haps and psalteries for the Musicians. There was no such timber seen before in the land of juda. But king Solomon gave the Queen of rich Arabia all that she desired and axed, & much more than she had brought unto the king. And she returned, and departed in to her land with her servants. The gold that was brought unto Solomon in one year, was six hundredth and six and three score talentes, besides that the chap men and merchants brought. And all the kings of the Arabians, and the lords in the land brought gold and silver unto Solomon. Of the which king Solomon made two hundredth spears of beaten gold, so that six hundredth pieces of beaten gold came upon one spear: & three hundredth shields of beaten gold, so that three hundredth pieces of beaten gold came to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the wood of Libanus. And the king made a great seat of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold: and the seat had six steps, and a footstool of gold festened unto the seat, and it had two leaning posts upon both the sides of the seat, and two lions stood beside the leaning posts, and there stood twelve Lions upon the six steps on both the sides. In all realms hath not such one been made. And all king Salomons drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the wood of Libanus, were of pure gold: for silver was reckoned nothing in Salomons tyme. For the kings ships went upon the See with the servants of Hiram, & came once in three year, and brought gold, silver, ivory, Apes and Peacocks. Thus was king Solomon greater than all the kings upon earth, in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth desired (to see) Salomon's face, and to hear his wisdom, which God had given him in his heart. And they brought him yearly every man his present: jewels of silver and gold, raiment, harness, spices, horses and Mules. And Solomon had four thousand charethorses, and twelve thousand horsemen, ●. Re. 4. ● and put them in the charetcities, and with the king at jerusalem. And he was lord over all the kings from the water unto the land of the philistines, and to the coast of Egipte. And the king brought it so to pass, that there was as much silver at jerusalem as stones: and as many Ceders, as there were Molbery trees in the valleys. And there were horses brought unto him out of Egipte, and out of all countries. What more there is to say of Solomon, both of his first and of his last, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the prophet Nathan, and in the prophecies of Ahia of Silo, & in the acts of jeddithe Seer against joroboan the son of Nebat. And Solomon reigned at Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. And Solomon fallen on sleep with his fathers, & was buried in the city of David his father. And Roboam his son was king in his stead. The X. Chapter. EOboam went unto Sichem: for all Israel was come unto Sichem: ●. Re. 12. a to make him king. And when jeroboam the son of Nebat herd that, which was in Egipte ( ●. Re. ●●. g whither he was fled for king Solomon) he came again out of Egipte. Andrea they sent for him and called him. And Jeroboam came with all Israel, and spoke to Roboam, and said: Thy father made our yocke grievous: make thou lighter now the hard bondage of thy father, and the heavy yoke that he laid upon us, and we will submit ourselves unto the. He said unto them: Come to me again over three days. And the people went their way. And Roboam the king axed council at the Elders, which had stand before Solomon his father while he lived, and he said: What is your council, that I may give this people an answer? They spoke unto him, and said: If thou be loving unto this people, and deal gently with them, and give them good words, then shall they allway be obedient unto the. Nevertheless he forsook the council of the Elders that they had given him, and took council at that young men which were grown up with him, and stood before him. And he said unto them: What is your council, that we may answer this people, which have spoken unto me, and said: Make our yock lighter, that thy father laid upon us? The yongemen that were grown up with him, spoke unto him, and said: Thus shalt thou say unto the people, that have talked with the & spoken: Thy father made our yock to heavy, make thou our yock lighter, Thus shalt thou say unto them: My little finger shallbe thicker than my father's loins. If my father hath laid an heavy yock upon you, I will make your yock the more. My father chastened you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions. Now when Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day (according as the king said: Come to me again on the third day) the king gave them an hard answer. And Roboam the king forsook the council of the Elders, & spoke unto them after the young men's council, & said: If my father have made your yock to heavy, I will make it yet heavier. My father chastened you with scourges, but I will beat you with scorpions. Thus the king followed not the people's mind: for so was it determined of God, that the LORD might stablish his word, ●. Re. 11. e which he spoke by Ahia of Silo, unto jeroboam the son of Nebat. But when all Israel saw that the king would not consent unto them▪ the people answered the king, and said: What portion have we then in David, or inheritance in the son of Isai? Let every man of Israel get him to his tent. Look thou now to thy house David. And all Israel went unto their tents, so that Roboam reigned but over the children of Israel that dwelled in the cities of juda. And Roboam sent forth Adoram the rend gatherer, but the children of Israel stoned him to death. And king Roboam strengthened himself upon his chariot, to fly unto jerusalem. Thus fallen Israel away from the house of David unto this day. The XI. Chapter. ANd when Roboam came to jerusasalem, he gathered together the house of juda and Ben jamin (even an hundredth and four score thousand choose men of arms) to fight against Israel, that they might bring the kingdom again unto Roboam. But the word of the LORD came to Semaia the man of God, and said: Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon king of juda, and to all Israel that are in juda and Ben jamin, and say: Thus sayeth the LORD: You shall not go up, ner fight against your brethren: let every man go home again, for this is my deed. They herkened unto the words of the LORD, and went not forth against jeroboam. As for Roboan, he dwelled at jerusalem, and builded up the strong cities in juda, namely Bethleem, Etan, Tekoa, Bethzur, Socho, Adullan, Gath, Maresa, Siph, Adoraim, Laches, Aseka, Z●rega, Aialon, and Hebron (which were the fenced cities in juda and Ben jamin) & he made them strong, and set princes therein, & provided them of vytayles, oil and wine, and in all cities prepared he shields and spears, and made them very strong. And juda and Ben jamin were under him. The priests and Levites also came unto him out of Israel and from all the borders thereof, And left their suburbs & possession, and camt to juda unto jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons expelled them, that they should not execute the office of the priesthood unto the LORD. But for himself he founded priests to the high places, & to field devils & calves, which he caused to make. And after them came there men out of all the tribes of Israel, which gave over their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel, & came to Jerusalem for to offer unto the LORD God of their fathers. And so strengthened they the kingdom of juda, and mantayned Roboam the son of Solomon three year long: for they walked in the way of David & Solomon three years. And Roboam took Mahelath the daughter of jeremoth the son of David to wife, & Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Isai, which bore him these sons: jeus, Semaria & Saham. After her took he Maecha the daughter of Absalon, which bore him Abia, Athai Sisa and Selomith. But Roboam loved Maecha the daughter of Absalon better than all his wives & concubines: for he had eighteen wives and three score concubines, and begat eight & twenty sons, and three score daughters. And Roboam set Abia the son of Maecha to be head and prince among his brethren: for he thought to make him king: for he was wise, & more mighty than all his sons in all the countries of juda & Ben jamin, and in all the strong cities. And he gave them plenteousness of food, and desired many wives. The XII. Chapter. But when the kingdom of Roboam was confirmed and stablished, he forsook the law of the LORD & all Israel with him. And in the fifth year of Roboam went Sisack the king of Egipte up against jerusalem (for they had transgressed against the LORD) with a thousand and two hundredth charettes, and with three score thousand horsemen, and the people were innumerable that came with him out of Egipte, Libya, S●chim & out of Ethiopia, and he wan the strong cities that were in juda, and came to jerusalem. Then came Semaia the prophet unto Roboam and to the rulers of juda (which were gathered together at jerusalem for Sisack) & said unto them: Thus sayeth the LORD: You have left me, therefore have I left you also in Sisacks hand. Then the rulers in Israel with the king submytted themselves, and said: The LORD is righteous. But when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Semaia, & said: They have humbled themselves, therefore will I not destroy them, but I will give them a little deliverance, that my indignation fall not upon jerusalem by Sisack: for they shallbe subdued unto him, that they may know what it is to serve me, & to serve the kingdoms of the world. Thus went Sisack the king of Egipte up to jerusalem, & took the treasures in the house of the LORD, & the treasures in the kings house, and carried all away, and took the shyldes of gold 3. Par. 9 b that Solomon caused to make: in stead whereof king Roboan made shyldes of steel, and committed them unto the chief footmen, which kept the door of the kings house. Andrea as often as the king went in to the house of the LORD, the foot men came & bore them, & brough●●hem again in to the foot men's chamber. And for so much as he submytted himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so that all was not destroyed: for there was yet some good in juda. Thus was Roboam the king established in jerusalem, and reigned. One and forty year old was Roboam when he was made king, and reigned seventeen year at jerusalem in the cite, 2. Par. 7. b which the LORD had choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to set his name there. His mother's name was Naemaan Ammonitisse: and he did evil, and prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. These acts of Roboam, both first and last, are written in the acts of Semaia the prophet, & of Iddo the Seer, and are noted, & so are the wars that Roboam and Jeroboam had together as long as they lived. And Roboam fallen on sleep with his fathers and was buried in the cite of David, & Abia his son was king in his stead. The XIII. Chapter. IN the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam, was Abia king in juda, & reigned three year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Michaia the daughter of Veiel of Gibea. And there was war between Abia and Jeroboam. And Abia prepared himself to the battle with four hundredth thousand strong choose men of war. But Jeroboam made himself ready to fight against him with eight hundredth thousand choose men of strength. And Abia got him up upon the hill Zemaraim, which lieth upon mount Ephraim and said: hearken unto me thou Jeroboam and all Israel: Know you not that the LORD God of Israel hath given David the kingdom of Israel for ever, unto him and his sons with a Salt covenant? But jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon David's son, got him up & fallen away from his lord. And there resorted unto him vagabonds and children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Roboam the son of Solomon: for Roboam was but young and of a fearful heart, and could not resist them. Now think you to set yourselves against the kingdom of the LORD among the sons of David, for so much as there is so great a multitude of you, and have the golden calves ●. Re. 12. d that Jeroboam made you for gods. * ●. Pa. 11 d Have you not expelled the priests of the LORD the children of Aaron and the Levites? and have made you priests of your own, even as the people of the lands? Who so ever cometh to fill his hand with a young bullock and seven rams, shall be pressed unto them that are not gods. But with us is the LORD our God, whom we forsake not: and the priests that minister unto the LORD, the children of Aaron and the Levites in their business, and every morning and every evening kindle they the burned offerings unto the LORD, and the sweet incense, and prepare the shewbred upon the pure table, and the golden candilsticke with his lamps, to be kindled every evening: for we wait upon the LORD our God. As for you, you have forsaken him. Behold, God is the captain of our host, and with us are his priests, and the Num. 10. a blowing trumpets, to trump against you. You children of Israel, fight not against the LORD God of your fathers: for you shall not prosper. Nevertheless Jeroboam made a privy watch on every side, to come upon them behind, so that they were before juda, and the privy watch behind. Now when juda turned them, behold, there was battle before them & behind. Then cried they unto the LORD, & the priests tromped with the trumpets, & when every man in juda gave a shout, God plagued Jeroboam and Israel before Abia and juda. And the children of Israel fled before juda, and God gave them in to their hands, so that Abia & his people did a great slaughter upon them, and there fallen wounded of Israel five hundredth thousand choose men. Thus were the children of Israel subdued at that time, but the children of juda were comforted, for they put their trust in the LORD God of their fathers. And Abia followed upon Jeroboam, and wan cities from him, Bethel with the villages thereof, jesana with her villages, and Ephron with the villages thereof, so that Jeroboam came no more to strength, as long as Abia lived. And the LORD smote him that he died. Now when Abia was strengthened, he took fourteen wives, and begat two and twenty sons and sixteen daughters. What more there is to say of Abia, and of his ways and his doings, it is written in the story of the prophet Iddo. And Abia fallen on sleep with his fathers, and they buried him in 〈◊〉 cite of David: and Asa his son was 〈◊〉 in his stead. In his time was the land 〈◊〉 rest ten years. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd Asa did that which was good● right in the sight of the LORD his God, and put away the strange antares, and the high places, and broke the p●lers, and hewed down the groves, and said unto juda, that they should seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do after the law and commandments. And the high places and images put he away out of 〈◊〉 the cities of juda: and the kingdom ha● rest before him. And he builded strong cities in juda, while the land was in quietness, & while there was no war against him 〈◊〉 the same years: for the LORD gave him rest. And he said unto juda: Let us build up these cities, and fence them round about with walls, and towers, with ports and bars, while the land is yet with us: for we have sought t●e LORD our God, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they builded, and it went prosperously with them▪ And Asa had an host of men which bore s●●des & spears, out of juda three C. thousand, and out of Ben jamin two hundredth and foore score thousand, that bore shyldes & could shoot with bows, and all these were mighty strong men. But Serah the Moryan came out against them with an host of a thousand times a thousand, and with three hundredth charettes, and came unto Maresa. And Asa went forth against him. And they prepared themselves to the battle in the valley Zephat● beside Maresa. And Asa called upon the LORD his God and said: 〈…〉 LORD, it is no difference with thee, to help by few or by many. Help us O LORD our God: for our trust is in thee, & in thy name are we come forth against this multitude. LORD our God, let no man prevail against the. And the LORD smote the Morions before Asa and before juda, so that they fled. And Asa with the people that was by him, followed upon them unto Gerar. And the Morions fallen, so that none of them remained alive, but were smitten before the LORD and before his host. And they carried exceeding much spoil from thence. And he smote all the cities about Gerar, for a fearfulness of the LORD came upon them. And they spoiled all the cities, for there was much spoil in them. They smote the tents of the cattles also, and took many sheep and Camels, and came again to jerusalem. The XU. Chapter. ANd the spirit of God came upon Asarias' the son of Obed, which went forth to Asa, and said unto him: Hear me Asa and all juda & Ben jamin: The LORD is with you, while you are with him: and if you seek him, he willbe found of you. But if you forsake him, he shall forsake you also. Nevertheless there shall be many days in Israel, that 〈…〉 there shallbe no true God, no priest to teach, & no law. And when they turn in their trouble unto the LORD God of Israel, and seek him, he shallbe found. At that time shall it not be well with him that goeth out and in: for there shall be great uproars upon all them that devil on the earth. For one people shall all to smite another, & one cite another: for God shall vex them with all manner of trouble. But be you strong, and let not your hands be feeble: for your work hath his reward. When Asa heard these words, and the prophecienge (of Asarias' the son) of Obed the prophet, he took a courage unto him, and put away the abominations out of all the land of juda and Ben jamin, and out of the cities that he had won upon mount Ephraim: and renewed the lords altar, which stood before the porch of the LORD. And all juda and Ben jamin gathered themselves together, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim, Manasses and Simeon: for there fallen many unto him out of Israel, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. And they resorted unto jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, and the same day offered they unto the LORD of the spoil that they had brought, seven hundredth oxen, and seven thousand sheep. And they entered in to the covenant, that they would seek the LORD God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul. And who so ever would not seek the LORD God of Israel, should die, both small & great, both man and woman: and they swore unto the LORD with loud voice, with shoutinge, with trumpets and with shawms. And all juda were glad over the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and they sought him with a whole will: and he was found of them, and the LORD gave them rest on every side. And Asa the king put down his mother from the ministration, that she had founded in the grove unto Miplezeth. And Asa rooted out her Miplezeth, and beat it in sunder, and brent it by the broken Cedron. But the high places were not put down out of Israel. Yet was the heart of Asa perfect as long as he lived. And look what his father had hallowed, and that he himself had hallowed, he brought it into the house of God, silver, gold and ornaments. And there was no war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa. The XVI. Chapter. IN the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, 3. Re. 15. c went Baesa the king of Israel up against juda, and builded Rama, to let Asa the king of juda, that he should not go out and in: But Asa took forth the treasure in the house of the LORD, and the silver and gold in the kings house, and sent it unto Benadad the king of Syria, which dwelled at Damascon, and caused to say unto him: There is a covenant between me and thee, between my father and thy father, therefore have I sent the silver and gold, that thou mayest break the covenant with Baesa the king of Israel, that he may depart fro me, Benadad herkened unto king Asa, and sent his host against the cities of Israel, which smote Enjoy, Dan and Abel Maim, and all the corn cities of Nephtali. When Baesa heard that, he left of from building Rama, and ceased from his work. But king Asa took all juda unto him, and carried away the stones and timber (wherewith Baesa builded) and he builded Geba & Mizpa withal. At the same time came Hanani the Seer unto Asa the king of juda, and said unto him: Because thou hast trusted unto the king of Syria, and not put thy trust in the LORD thy God, therefore is the power of the king of Syria escaped thy hand. 2. Par. 14. c Were not the Moryans and Lybians a great multitude with exceeding many charettes and horsemen? Yet gave the LORD them in to thy hand, when thou didst put thy trust in him: for the eyes of the LORD look round about all lands, to strength them that are in him with all their heart. Thou hast done unwisely, therefore shalt thou have war from hence forth. But Asa was wroth at the Seer, and put him in preson: for he murmured with him over this thing. And Asa oppressed certain of the people at the same tyme. These acts of Asa both first and last, be hold, they are written in the book of the kings of juda & Israel. And Asa was diseased in his feet in the nine and thirtieth year of his reign, and endured there over. Eccli. 3●. b neither sought he the LORD in his sickness, but trusted unto Physicians. Thus fallen Asa on sleep with his fathers, & died in the one and fortieth year of his reign, & was buried in his own sepulchre which he had caused to be graven for himself in the cite of David. And they laid him upon his bed, which was filled with sweet odours & all manner of spices (made after the Apotecaries craft) and made a very great burning. The XVII. chapter. ANd josaphat his son was king in his stead, & waxed mighty against Israel. And he put men of war in all the strong cities of juda, and set officers in the land of juda, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had won. And the LORD was with josaphat: for he walked in the old ways of his father David, & sought not Baalim, but the God of his father, & walked in his commandments, ● not after the works of Israel: therefore did the LORD stablish the kingdom in his hand. And all juda gave presents unto josaphat, & he had great riches & worship. And when his heart was coraged in the ways of the LORD, he put down still the high places and groves out of juda. In the third year of his reign sent he his princes, Benhail, Obadia, Zacharias, Nethaneel & Michaia, to teach in the cities of juda: & with them the Levites: Semaia, Nethania, Sebadia, Asahel, Semiramoth, jonathan, Adonia, Tobia & Tob Adonia, & with them the priests Elisama & joram. And they taught in juda, & had the book of the law of the LORD with them, & went about in all the cities of juda, & taught the people. And the fear of the LORD came upon all the kingdoms in the countries that lay about juda, so that they fought not against josaphat. And the Philistynes brought presents and tribute of silver unto josaphat. And the Arabians brought him seven thousand and seven hundredth rams, and seven thousand and seven hundredth he goats. Thus increased josaphat, & grew ever greater. And he builded castles and corn cities in juda. And did much in the cities of juda, and had valiant and mighty men at jerusalem. And this was the ordinance thorough out the house of their fathers, which were rulers over the thousands in juda. 〈…〉 captain, & with him were three hundredth th●●●sande mighty men. next unto him was ●●●hanan the chief, and with him were two h●●●dreth and four score thousand. next 〈◊〉 was Amasia the son of Sichri the fire ●●●linge of the LORD, and with him were two hundredth thousand valiant men. Of the children of Ben jamin was Eliada a mighty man, and with him were two hundredth thousand ready with bows and shyldes. next unto him was josabad, and with him were an hundredth and four score thousand harnessed men of war. All these ●●●ted upon the king, besides those that the king had laid in the strong city's thor●● out all juda. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd josaphat had great riches and worship, and made friendship 〈◊〉 Achab. 〈…〉 And after two years went he down to Achab unto Samaria. And Achab caused many sheep and oxen to be slain for him and for the people that were with him. And he counciled him to go up unto Ramoth in Gilead. And Achab the king of Israel said unto josaphat the king of juda: Go with me unto Ramoth in Gilead. He said unto him: I am as thou, and my people as thy people, we will go with the unto the battle. But josaphat said unto the king of Israel: Axe council (I pray thee) this day at the word of the LORD. And the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, even four hundredth men, & said unto them▪ Shall we go to the battle unto Ramoth in Gilead, or shall I let it alone? They said: Go up, God shall deliver it into the kings hand. But josaphat said: Is there not ye● one prophet of the LORD here, that we may axe at him? The king of Israel said unto josaphat: There is yet one man, at whom we may axe of the LORD: but I hate him, for he prophesieth me no good, but allway evil, namely Micheas the son of jemla. josaphat said: Let not the king say so. And the king of Israel called one of his chamberlains, & said: Bring hither soon Micheas the son of jemla. And the king of Israel, and josaphat the king of juda, sat either of them upon his seat, arrayed in their garments. Even in the place at the door of the port of Samaria sat they, and all the prophets prophesied before them. And Sedechias the son of Cnaena had made him horns of iron, and said: Thus sayeth the LORD: With these shalt thou puszshe at the Syrians, till thou bring them to naught. And all the prophets prophesied likewise, & said: Go up unto Ramoth in Gilead, and thou shalt prosper, and the LORD shall deliver it in to the kings hand. And the messaunger that went to call Micheas, spoke unto him, and said: Behold, the words of the prophets are with one accord good before the king: let thy word (I pray thee) be as one of there's, and speak thou good also. But Micheas said: As truly as the LORD liveth, look what my God sayeth unto me, that will I speak. And when he came to the king, the king said unto him: Micheas, should we go unto Ramoth in Gilead to the battle, or should we let it alone? He said: Go up, and you shall prosper. It shall be given you in your hands. But the king said unto him: I charge the yet again, that thou tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD. Then said he: I saw all Israel scattered abroad upon the mountains, as the sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said: Have these no lord? Let every one turn home again in peace. Then said the king of Israel unto josaphat: Did not I tell thee, that he would prophecy me no good, but evil? And he said: Therefore hear you the word of the LORD: 〈…〉 I saw the LORD sit upon his seat, and all the host of heaven standing at his right hand & at his left. And the LORD said: Woe will deceive Achab the king of Israel, that he may go up & fall at Ramoth in Gilead? And when one said thus, another so, there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said: I will deceive him. The LORD said unto him: Wherewith? He said: I will go forth, and be a false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said: Thou shalt deceive him, and shalt be able: go thy way, and do so. Behold now, 〈◊〉. 4. b the LORD hath given a false spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against the. Then stepped forth Sedechias the son of Cnaena, and smote Micheas upon the cheek, and said: Which way is the spirit of the LORD departed fro me, to speak thorough thee? Micheas said: Behold, thou shalt see it, when thou comest in to the ynmost chamber to hide the. But the king of Israel said: Take Micheas, and let him remain with Amon the ruler of the cite, and with joas the son of Melech, and say: Thus sayeth the king: Put this man in preson, and feed him with bred and water of trouble, till I come again in peace. Micheas said: If thou comest again in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken thorough me. And he said: hearken to all you people. So the king of Israel, and josaphat the king of juda went up unto Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said unto josaphat: Change thy clotheses, and come to the battle in thy array. And the king of Israel changed his raiment, & came in to the battle. But the king of Syria had commanded the rulers of his charettes: You shall fight neither against small ner great, but only against the king of Israel. Now when the rulers of the charrettes saw josaphat, they thought: It is the king of Israel, and they went about to fight against him. But josaphat cried, and the LORD helped him. And God turned them from him: for when the rulers of the charettes saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from him. But a certain man bended his bow hard, & shot the king of Israel between the maw and the longs. Then said he unto his chariot man: Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host, for I am wounded. And the battle was sore the same day. And the king of Israel stood upon his chariot against the Syrians until the evening, and died when the Son went down. The XIX. Chapter. But josaphat the king of juda came home again in peace unto jerusalem. And jehu the son of Hanani the Seer went forth to meet him, & said unto king josaphat: shouldest thou so help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? And for this cause is the wrath upon the from the LORD: nevertheless there is some good found in thee, that thou hast put the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thy heart to seek God. So josaphat abode at jerusalem. And he went again among the people, from Berseba unto mount Ephraim, and brought them again to the LORD God of their fathers. And he set judges thorough out the land, in all the strong cities of juda, and a certain in every cite. And said unto the judges: Take heed what you do: for you execute not the judgement of man, but of the LORD, and he is with you in judgement: therefore let the fear of the LORD be with you, and beware, and do it: for with the LORD our God there is no unrighteousness, ner respect of personnes, ner accepting of gifts. And at jerusalem did josaphat ordain certain of the Levites and priests, and of the awncient fathers of Israel for the judgement of the LORD, and over the matter of the law, and caused them to devil at jerusalem, and commanded them, and said: See that you do thus in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness & in a perfect heart. In all causes that come unto you from your brethren (which devil in their cities) between blood and blood, between law and commandment, between statutes and ordinances you shall inform them, that they sin not against the LORD, and so the wrath to come upon you and your brethren. Do thus, and you shall not offend. Behold, Amaria the priest is chief over you in all causes of the LORD: so is Sabadia the son of Ishmael prince in the house of juda in all the kings matters: You have officers likewise the Levites before you. Take a good courage unto you, and be doing, and the LORD shallbe with the good. The XX. Chapter. AFter this came the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and certain of Amanim with them, to fight against josaphat. And they came and told josaphat, and said: There cometh a great multitude against the from beyond the See of Syria, & behold, they are at Hazezon Thamar, that is Engaddi. And josaphat was afraid, & set his face to seek the LORD, & caused a fast to be proclaimed in all juda. And juda came together to seek the LORD. And out of all the cities of juda came they to seek the LORD. And josaphat stood among the congregation of juda & jerusalem in the house of the LORD before the new court, and said: O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and hast dominion in all the kingdoms of the Heythen? And in thy hand is strength and power, and there is no man that can withstand the. Hast not thou our God expelled the inhabiters of this land before thy people of Israel? and hast given it unto the sede of Abraham thy lover for ever? so that they have dwelled in it, & have builded the a Sanctuary unto the name therein, and said: If there come any plague, sword, judgement, pestilence, or dearth upon us, we will stand before this house even before thee (for thy name is in this house) and will cry unto the in our trouble, and thou shalt he●re, and shalt save us. Behold now, the children of Ammon, of Moab, & they of mount Seir, upon whom 〈…〉 thou wouldest not suffer the children of Israel to go, when they went out of the land of Egipte, but they were fain to depart from them, and not to destroy them: and behold, they deal contrarely with us, and come to thrust us out of the inheritance, that thou hast given us in possession. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For in us is no strength to withstand this great multitude that cometh against us. We know not what we should do, but our eyes look unto the. And all juda stood before the LORD, with their children, wives and sons. But upon jehasiel the son of Zacharias, the son of Benaia, the son of jehiel, the son of Mathania the Levite of the children of Assaph, came the spirit of the LORD in the mids of the congregation, and said: give heed all thou juda, and you inhabiters of jerusalem, and thou king josaphat: Thus sayeth the LORD unto you: Be not you afraid, neither fear you this great multitude: for it is not you that fight, but God. Tomorrow shall you go down unto them. And behold, they go up by Sister, and you shall find them at the reed see by the broken before the wilderness of jeruel: for you shall not fight in this cause. Do you but step forth, and stand, and see the health of the LORD that is with you. Fear not O juda and jerusalem, and be not afraid, tomorrow go you forth against them, and the LORD shall be with you. Then josaphat bowed himself with his face to the earth, & all juda, & the inhabiters of jerusalem fallen before the LORD, & worshipped the LORD. And the Levites of the children of the Kahathites & of the children of the Corahites arose to praise the LORD God of Israel with loud voice on high. And they got them up early in the morning, and went forth by the wilderness of Thekoa. And when they were going out, josaphat stood, & said: hearken unto me O juda, & you indwellers of Jerusalem: Put your trust in the LORD your God, & you shall be safe: and give credence unto his prophets, & you shall prosper. And he gave council unto the people, and appointed the syngers unto the LORD, and them that gave praise in the beauty of holiness, to go before the harnessed men, & to say: O give thanks unto the LORD, for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to give thanks and praise, 〈◊〉. 7. f 〈◊〉. 14. c the LORD caused the hinder watch that was come against juda, to come upon the children of Ammon, Moab & them of mount Seir, and they smote them. Then stood the children of Ammon & Moab against them of mount Seir, to damn them, and to destroy them. And when they had destroyed them of mount Seir, one helped another to destroy themselves also. And when juda came to Mispa unto the wilderness, they turned them toward the multitude, and behold, the deed bodies lay upon the earth, so that none was escaped. And josaphat came with his people to divide the spoils of them. And they found among them so much goods and raiment and precious jewels (which they took from them) that they could not bear them. And three days were they dividing the spoil, for it was so much. On the fourth day came they together in to the valley of blessing: for there blessed they the LORD. Therefore is the place called the valley of blessing unto this day. So every man of juda & jerusalem turned back again, & josaphat before them, to go to Jerusalem with joy: for the LORD had given them gladness on their enemies. And they entered in to jerusalem with psalteries, haps & trumpets unto the house of the LORD. And there came a fear of God over all the kingdoms in the lands, when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. Thus was the kingdom of josaphat in quietness, & God gave him rest on every side. And josaphat reigned over juda, & was five & thirty year old when he was made king, & reigned five & twenty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Asuba the daughter of Silhi. And he walked in the way of his father Asa, & departed not aside from doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD: saving that the high places were not put down, for the people had not yet prepared their heart to the God of their fathers. What more there is to say of josaphat, both the first & the last, behold, it is written in the acts of jehu the son of Hanani, which he noted up in the book of the kings of Israel. ● Re. ●●. g afterward did josaphat the king of juda agreed with Ahasia the king of Israel, which was ungodly in his doings. Andrea he agreed with him to make ships, for to go upon the see. And they made the ships at Ezeon Gaber. But Elieser the son of Dodana of Maresa prophesied against josaphat, and said: Because thou hast agreed with Ahasia, therefore hath the LORD broken thy works. And so the ships were broken, & might not go upon the See. The XXI. Chapter. ANd josaphat fallen on sleep with his fathers, 3. Re. 2● & was buried with his fathers in the cite of David, & joram his son was king in his stead. And he had brethren the sons of josaphat: Asaria, jehiel, Zacharias, Asaria, Michael & Sephatia. All these were the children of josaphat king of juda. And their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold & jewels, with strong cities in juda. But the kingdom gave he unto joram: for he was the first born. But when joram came up over his father's kingdom, & had got the power of it, he slew all his brethren with the sword, & certain rulers also in Israel. 4. Re. ●● Two & thirty year old was joram when he was made king, & reigned eight year at Jerusalem, & walked in the way of the kings of Israel, even as the house of Achab did (for Achab's daughter was his wife) & he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. Nevertheless the LORD would not destroy the house of David, for the covenants sake, 2. Re. ●● which he made with David, and according as he had said, that he would give him and his children a lantern for evermore. At the same time fallen the Edomites away from juda, and made a king over them selves: for joram had go over with his captains and all the charettes with him, & had got him up in the night season, and slain the Edomites on every side, and the rulers of the charettes: therefore fallen the Edomites away from juda unto this day. At the same time fallen Lybna away from him also: because he forsook the LORD God of his fathers. He made high places also on the mountains in juda, & caused them of Jerusalem to go awhoring, and deceived juda. But there came a writing unto him from the prophet Elias, saying: Thus sayeth the LORD God of thy father David: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of thy father josaphat, neither in the ways of Asa the king of juda, but walkest in the way of the kings of Israel, and makest juda and them of jerusalem to go awhoring after the whoredom of the house of Achab, and hast slain thy brethren also of thy father's house, which were better than thou. Behold, the LORD shall smite the with a great plague on thy people, on thy children & thy wives, and on all thy substance. But thou thyself shalt have much sickness in thy bowels, till thy bowels go forth from day to day for very disease. So the LORD raised up against joram, the spirit of the philistines, & Arabians, which lie beside the Morions, and they went up in to juda, and waysted it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the kings house, & his sons, and his wives, so that there was not one son left him, save joahas his youngest son. And after all this did the LORD smite him in his bowels, with such a sickness as could not be healed. And while that endured from day to day, when the time of two years was expired, his bowels went from him with his sickness, and he died in evil diseases. And they made not a burning over him, as they did unto his fathers. Two and thirty year old was he when he was made king, and reigned eight year at Jerusalem, and walked not well. And they buried him in the cite of David, but not among the sepulchres of the kings. The XXII. Chapter. ANd they of jerusalem made Ochosias' his youngest son king in his stead: 〈◊〉. 8 d for the men of war that came with the host of the Arabians, had slain all the first, therefore reigned Ochosias' the son of joram king of juda. Two and forty year old was Ochosias' when he was made king, and reigned one year at jerusalem. His mother's name was Athalia the daughter of Amri. And he walked also in the ways of the house of Achab: for his mother enticed him so that he was ungodly. Therefore did he evil in the sight of the LORD, even as the house of Achab: for they were his council givers after his father's death, to destroy him, and he walked after their council. And he went with joram the son of Achab king of Israel, to the battle unto Ramoth in Gilead, against Hasael the king of Syria. But the Syrians smote joram, so that he turned back to be healed at jesreel: for he had wounds that were given him at Rama, when he fought with Hasael the king of Syria. And 〈…〉 Asarias' the son of joram king of juda went down to visit joram the son of Achab at jesreel, which lay sick: For it was ordained of God unto Ochosias', that he should come to joram, & so to go forth with joram against jehu the son of Nimsi, 〈…〉 whom the LORD had anointed to rote out the house of Achab. Now when jehu would be avenged of the house of Achab, he found certain rulers of juda, and the children of Ochosias' brethren which served Ochosias', and he slew them. 〈…〉 And he sought Ochosias', and they overtook him, when he had hid him at Samaria: & he was brought unto jehu, which slew him, and they buried him, for they said: He his the son of josaphat, which sought the LORD with all his heart. And there was no man more of the house of Ochosias' that might be king. When Athalia the mother of Ochosias' saw that her son was deed, she got her up, 〈…〉 & destroyed all the kings seed in the house of juda. But josabeath the kings sister took joas the son of Ochosias', and stole him away from among the kings children that were slain, & put him with his norse in a chamber. Thus josabeath king jorams' douhgter, the wife of joiada the priest, hid him from Athalia, so that he was not slain: for she was Ochosias' sister. And he was hid with them in the house of God six years, for so much as Athalia was queen in the land. The XXIII. Chapter. But in the seventh year was joiada bold, 〈…〉 and took the rulers over hundreds: namely Asaria the son of jeraham, Ishmael the son of johanan, Asaria the son of Obed, Maeseia the son of Adaia, and Elisaphat the son of Sichri with him, in to the covenant: and they went about in juda, and brought the Levites together out of all the cities of juda, and the chief fathers of Israel, to come unto jerusalem. And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God, and he said unto them: Behold, the kings son shall be king, 〈…〉 even as the LORD spoke concerning the children of David. This is it therefore that you shall do: The third part of you that enter on the Sabbath, shallbe among the priests & Levites, which are dorekepers at the thresholdes: & one third part in the kings house, and one third part at the ground port. But all the people shallbe in the courts of the house of the LORD, and that no man go in to the house of the LORD, except the priests and Levites that minister there, they shall go in: for they are hallowed. And let all the people wait upon the LORD. And the Levites shall get them round about the king, every one with his weapon in his hand. And who so else goeth in to the house, let him die. And they shall be with the king when he goeth out & in. And the Levites & all juda did as joiada the priest had commanded, and every one took his men that entered on the Sabbath, with those that went of on the Sabbath: for joiada the priest suffered not those two companies to part asunder. And joiada the priest gave the captains over hundreds spears & shyldes, and king David's weapens, which were in the house of God, and set all the people every one with his weapon in his hand, from the right corner of the house, unto the left corner of the altar, and to the house ward about the king. And they brought forth the kings son, & set the crown upon his head, and gave them the 〈◊〉. 17. d witness, & made him king. And joiada with his sons anointed him, & said: God save the king. But when Athalia heard the noise of the people that ran together and praised the king, she went forth to the people in to the house of the LORD, and looked: and behold, the king stood in his place at the entrance, and the rulers and trumpets about the king: and all the people of the land were glad, & blue the trumps, and there were syngers that could play with all manner of musical instruments. But she rent her clotheses, & said: Sedition, sedition. Nevertheless joiada the priest got him forth with the captains over hundreds and rulers of the host, and said unto them: Bring her forth between the walls, & who so ever followeth her, shall be slain with the sword: for the priest had commanded, that she should not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her. And when she came at the entrance of the horsgate of the kings house, they put her to death there. And joiada made a covenant between him and all the people, and the king, that they should be the people of the LORD. The went all the people in to the house of Baal and destroyed it, & broke down his altars & images, & slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altar. And joiada appointed the officers in the house of the LORD among the priests & Levites 〈…〉 whom David had ordained for the house of the LORD, to offer burned sacrifices unto the LORD, as it is written in the 〈…〉 law of Moses: with joy & songs made by David. And the porters set he at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none should enter, which were defiled with any manner of thing. And he took the captains over hundreds and the mighty men and lords of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and brought him thorough the high port of the kings house, and caused the king sit upon the seat royal. And all the people of the land were glad, and the cite was at rest. But Athalia was slain with the sword. The XXIIII. Chapter. IOas was seven year old when he was made king, 4. Re. 12. ● and reigned forty year at Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibea of Berseba. And joas did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, as long as joiada the priest lived. And joiada gave him two wives, & he begat sons & daughters. afterward devised joas to renew the house of the LORD, & gathered together the priests and Levites, & said unto them: Go forth unto all the cities of juda, & gather the money of all Israel, to repair the house of God yearly, and do it right soon: but the Levites made no haist. Then the king called joiada the principal, and said unto him: Why lookest thou not unto the Levites, that they bring in from juda and jerusalem, Ex. 50. b. the collection which Moses the servant of the LORD appointed to be gathered among Israel for the Tabernacle of witness? For that ungodly Athalia & her sons have waisted the house of God: and all that was hallowed for the house of the LORD, have they bestowed on Baalim. Then commanded the king to make a chest, and to set it without at the entrance of the house of the LORD: & caused it to be proclaimed in juda and Jerusalem, that they should bring in to the LORD, the collection, which Moses the servant of God appointed unto Israel in the wilderness. Then were all the rulers glad, & so were all the people, & brought it, and cast it in to the chest, till it was full. And when the time was that the Levites should bring the Ark at the kings commandment (when they saw that there was much money therein) then came the kings scribe, & he that was appointed of the chief priest, and emptied the chest, and carried it again in to his place. Thus did they every day, so that they gathered much money together. And the king & joiada gave it unto the workmasters of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons & carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and men that could work in iron and brass, to repair the house of the LORD. And the labourers wrought, so that the repairing in the work went forward thorough their hand, and they set the house of God in his beauty, and made it strong. And when they had performed this, they brought the residue of the money before the king and joiada, whereof there were made vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels for the ministration and burned offering, spoons and ornaments of gold and silver. And they offered burned offerings allway in the house of the LORD, as long as joiada lived. And joiada waxed old, and had lived long enough, and died, & was an hundredth and thirty year old when he died: and they buried him in the cite of David, among the kings, because he had done good unto Israel, and toward God & his house. And after the death of joiada, came the rulers in juda, and worshipped the king. Then consented the king unto them. And they forsook the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served the groves and images. Then came the wrath of the LORD upon juda and jerusalem because of this trespass of there's. Yet sent he prophets, unto them, that they should turn unto the LORD, & they testified unto them: but they would not hear. And the spirit of God came upon ●at. 23 c Zachary the son of joiada the priest, which stood over the people, & said unto them: Thus sayeth God: Wherefore do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, which shall not be to your prosperity: for you have forsaken the LORD, therefore shall he forsake you. Nevertheless they conspired against him, & stoned him at the kings commandment in the court of the house o● the LORD. And joas the king thought not on the mercy that joiada his father had done for him, but slew his son. notwithstanding when he died, he said: The LORD shall look upon it, and require it. And when the year was go about, the power of the Syrians went up, & came to juda & jerusalem, and destroyed the rulers in the people, and sent all the spoils of them unto Damascon. For the power of the Syrians came but with a few men, yet gave the LORD a very great power in to their hand: because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. They executed judgement also upon joas. And when they departed from him, they left him in great sicknesses. Nevertheless his servants conspired against him (because of the blood of the children of joiada the priest) & slew him upon his bed, & he died, and they buried him in the cite of David, but not among the sepulchres of the kings. They that conspired against him, were these: Sabad the son of Simeath the Ammonitisse, and josabad the son of Simrith the Moabitisse. As for his sons, and the sum that was gathered under him, and the building of the house of God behold, they are written in the story in the book of the kings. And Amasias his son was king in his stead. The XXV. Chapter. Five and twenty year old was Amasias when he was made king, and reigned nine and twenty year at jerusalem. His mother's name was joadan of jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a whole her. Now when his kingdom was in strength, he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But their children slew he not, for so is it written in the book of the law of Moses, 〈…〉 where the LORD commandeth, and sayeth: The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers: but every one shall die for his own sin. And Amasias brought juda together, and set them after the father's houses, after the rulers over thousands & over hundreds among all juda and Ben jamin, and numbered them from twenty year old & above, and found of them three hundredth thousand choose men, which were able to go forth to the war, and carried spears and shyldes. And out of Israel appointed he an hundredth thousand strong men of war for an hundredth talentes of silver. But there came a man of God unto him, and said: O king, Let not the host of Israel come with thee: for the LORD is not with Israel, neither with all the children of Ephraim. For if thou comest to show the boldness in the battle, God shall make the fall before thy enemies. For God hath power to help, and to cause for to fall. Amasias said unto the man of God: What shall be done then with the hundredth talentes that I have given the soudyers of Israel? The man of God said: The LORD hath yet more than this to give the. So Amasias separated out the men of war which were come to him out of Ephraim, that they should departed unto their place. Then waxed their wrath very hot against juda, and they went again unto their place in wrathful displeasure. And Amasias strengthened himself, and carried out his people, and went forth in to the Salt valley, and smote ten thousand of the children of Seir. And the children of juda took ten thousand of them alive, whom they brought up to the top of a mountain, and cast them down headlinges from the top of the mount, so that they all to barst in sunder. But the children of the men of war whom Amasias had sent away again (that they should not go to the battle with his people) fallen in to the cities of juda, from Samaria unto Beth Horon, and smote three thousand of men, and took much spoil. And when Amasias came again from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and made them his gods, and worshipped before them, & brent incense unto them. Then was the LORD very wroth at Amasias, & sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him: Why seekest thou the gods of the people, which could not deliver their folk from the hand? And when he talked with him, the king said unto him: Have they made the of the kings council? Cease, why will't thou be smitten? Then the prophet ceased, & said: I perceive, that the LORD is minded to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and herkenest not unto my council. 〈◊〉. 14. b And Amasias the king of juda took council, & sent unto joas the son of joahas the son of jehu, king of Israel, saying: Come, let us see one another. But joas the king of Israel sent unto Amasias the king of juda, saying: The hawthorn in Libanus sent unto the cedar tree in Libanus, saying: give thy daughter unto my son to wife. But a wild be'st in Libanus ran over the haw thorn, & trod it down. Thou thinkest: Behold, I have smitten the Edomites, therefore is thy heart proud to boast. Now bide at home: why strivest thou after misfortune, that thou mayest fall & juda with thee? Nevertheless Amasias consented not: for so was it brought to pass of God, that they might be given in to the hands of the enemies, because they sought the gods of the Edomites. Then went joas the king of Israel up, & they saw one another, he and Amasias the king of juda, at Beth Seems which lieth in juda. But juda was smitten before Israel, and they fled every one unto his tent. And joas the king of Israel took Amasias the king of juda, the son of joas the son of joahas, at Beth Seems, & brought him to jerusalem, & broke down the brickwall of Jerusalem, from the port of Ephraim unto the corner port, even four hundredth cubits long: and took with him all the gold, and silver, and all the ornaments that were found in the house of God with Obed Edom, and in the treasures in the kings house, and the children to pledge unto Samaria. And Amasias the son of joas king of juda, lived after the death of joas the son of joahas king of Israel fifteen year. What more there is to say of Amasias (both the first and last) behold, it is written in the book of the kings of juda & Israel. And from the time forth that Amasias departed from the LORD, they conspired against him at jerusalem. But he fled unto Lachis. Then sent they after him unto Lachis, & slew him there. And they brought him upon horses & buried him beside his fathers in the cite of juda. The XXVI. Chapter. THen all the people of juda took Osias, which was sixteen year old, 4. Re. 15. and made him king in stead of his father Amasias. He builded Eloth, & brought it again unto juda, after that the king was fallen on sleep with his fathers. Sixteen year old was Osias when he was made king, and reigned two and fifty year at Jerusalem. His mother's name was jechalia of jerusalem. And he did right in the sight of the LORD, as his father Amasias had done, and sought God as long as Zacharias lived, which taught in the visyons of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper. For he went forth, and fought against the philistines, and broke down the walls of Gath, and the walls of jabne, and the walls of Aszdod, and builded cities about Aszdod, & among the philistines. For God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians, against them of Gur Baal, & against the Meunites. And the Ammonites gave Osias presents, & his name came in to Egipte: for he was exceeding strong. And Osias builded towers at jerusalem upon the cornerporte, and on the valley gate, and on other corners, and made them strong. He builded castles also in the wilderness, and digged many wells: for he had many cattles, both in the medewes and in the plains, huszbandmen also and wynegardeners on the mountains and on Carmel: for he delighted in huszbandaye. And Osias had an host of men of war going forth to the battle, which were numbered under the hand of jeiel the scribe & of Maesa the office, under the hand of Hanania of the kings rulers. And the number of the chief fathers among the strong men of war, was two thousand and two hundredth. And under the hand of the host three hundredth thousand, and seven thousand and five hundredth meet for the battle, in the strength of an army to help the king against the enemies. And Osias prepared for all the host, shyldes, spears, helmettes, breastplates, bows and slyngstones. And at Jerusalem he made ordinance cunningly, to be upon the towers and in the pinnacles, to shoot arrows and great stones. And the fame of him came far abroad, because he was specially helped, till he become mighty. And when his power was great, his heart arose to his own destruction: for he trespassed against the LORD his God, and went in to the temple of the LORD, to burn incense upon the altar of incense. But Asarias' the priest went after him, and four score priests with him, valiant men, and withstood king Osias, and said unto him: 〈◊〉. 18. a It belongeth not unto thy office (Osias) to burn incense unto the LORD, but unto the priests belongeth it, even unto the children of Aaron, which are hallowed to burn incense. Go forth out of the Sanctuary: for thou offendest, and it shall be no worship unto the before God the LORD. And Osias was wroth, and had a censor in his hand. 〈◊〉 4●. b And while he murmured with the priests, the leprosy sprung out of his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense. And Asarias' the chief priest turned his head toward him, and so did all the priests, and behold, he was leper in his forehead. And they put him out from thence. Ye he made haist himself to go forth, for his plague came of the LORD. Thus become Osias the king a leper unto his death, and dwelled full of leprosy in a free house: for he was put out of the house of the LORD. But joram his son had the oversight of the kings house, and judged the people in the l●nde. What more there is to say of Osias (both first and last) Esay the son of Amos hath written it. And Osias fallen on sleep with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the piece of ground beside the kings sepulchres: for they said: He is leprous. And jotham his son was king in his stead. The XXVII. Chapter. IOtham was five and twenty year old when he was made king, ● Re. 15. f and reigned sixteen year at jerusalem. His mother's name was jerusa the daughter of Sadoc: & he did right in the sight of the LORD as did Osias his father: saving that he went not in to the temple of the LORD, and the people yet marred themselves. He builded the high port of the house of the LORD, and on the brickwall of Ophel builded he much, and builded the cities upon the mountains of juda, and in the woods builded he castles and towers. And he fought with the king of the children of Ammon, and over came them, so that the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundredth talentes of silver, ten thousand quarters of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon give him also in the second & third year. Thus become jotham mighty, for he gyded his ways before the LORD his God. What more there is to say of jotham, & all his wars, und his ways, behold, it is written in the book of the kings of Israel & juda. five and twenty year old was he when he was made king, & reigned sixteen year at Jerusalem. And jothan fallen on sleep with his fathers, & they buried him in the cite of David, and Achas his son was king in his stead. The XXVIII. Chapter. AChas was twenty year old when he was made king, 〈…〉 and reigned sixteen year at jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, as did David his father, but walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molten images unto Baalim, and brent incense in the valley of the children of Hennon, and brent his own sons in the fire, 〈…〉 after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD expelled before the children of Israel. And he did sacrifice and brent incense upon the high places and upon the hills, and among all green trees. Therefore did the LORD his God deliver him in to the hand of the king of Syria, so that they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of his men presoners, and brought them to Damascon. He was given also under the hand of the king of Israel, so that he did a great slaughter upon him. For Pecah the son of Romelia smote in juda an hundredth & twenty thousand in one day (which all were valiant men) even because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. And Sichri a mighty man of Ephraim slew Maeseia the kings son, & Asri●am the prince of the house, & El●ana the next unto the king. And the children of Israel carried of their brethren presoners two hundredth thousand, women, sons and daughters, and took a great spoil from them, and brought the spoil unto Samaria. But even there was there a prophet of the LORD, whose name was Obed, which went out to meet the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them: Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers is wroth at juda, therefore hath he given them over in to your hands: but you have slain them so abominably, that it is come unto heaven. Now think you to subdue the children of juda and jerusalem, to be bondmen and bond maidens unto you. Is not this a trespass then with you against the LORD your God? hearken now unto me, and send the presoners hence again, whom you have carried away from your brethren: for the wrath of the LORD is fierce over you. Then got up certain of the chief of the children of Ephraim, Asarias' the son of johanan, Barachias the son of Mesillemoth, Ezechias the son of Sallum, & Amasa the son of Hadlai, against them that came from the battle, & said unto them: You shall not bring the presoners in hither, for your mind is but to make us trespass before the LORD, to make our sins and offences the greater: for the trespass is to much already, & the wrath is fierce over Israel. So the host left the presoners & the spoil before the rulers and before the whole congregation. Then stood up the men (which now were rehearsed by name) and took the presoners, and as many as were naked among them, clothed they with the spoils, & decked them, and put shues upon their feet, and gave them to eat and drink, and anointed them, and carried them upon asses (as many as were feeble) and brought them to jericho to the Palm cite unto their brethren, and came again to Samaria. 〈…〉 At the same time sent king Achas unto the kings of Assur, that they should help him. And the Edomites came again, and smote juda, and carried some away captive. The philistines also fallen in to the cities in the plain, & toward the south part of juda, & wan Beth Seems, A●alon, Gederoth, and Socho with the villages thereof, Timna with the villages thereof, & Gimso with the villages thereof, and dwelled therein. For the LORD subdued juda for Achas sake the king of juda, because he made juda naked, and rebelled against the LORD. And Teglatpilnesser the king of Assur came against him, and besieged him, & he was not mighty enough for him. For Achas spoiled the house of the LORD, and the kings house, and of the rulers, to give unto the king of Assur, but it helped him not. moreover king Achas trespassed yet more against the LORD even in his trouble, and did sacrifice unto the gods of them of Damascon, which had smitten him, & said: The gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I offer unto them, that they may help me also, where as the same yet were a fall unto him and to all Israel. And Achas gathered the vessels of the house of God together, and broke the vessels in the house of God, & ●. Pa. ●●. shut the doors of the house of the LORD, and made him altars in all corners at jerusalem, and every where in the cities of juda made he high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked the LORD God of his fathers unto wrath. What more there is to say of him and of all his ways (both first and last) behold, it is written in the book of the kings of juda and Israel. And Achas fallen on sleep with his fathers, and they buried him in the cite of jerusalem: for they brought him not among the sepulchres of the kings of Israel. And Ezechias his son was king in his stead. The XXIX. Chapter. EZechias was five & twenty year old when he was made king, & reigned nine & twenty years at jerusalem. 4. Re. 1●. ● His mother's name was Abia the daughter of Zachary. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, as did his father David. 2· Pa. ●●. He opened the doors of the house of the LORD in the first month of the first year of his reign, & made them strong, & brought in the priests and Levites, and gathered them together unto the East street and said unto them: hearken unto me you Levites, sanctify yourselves now, that you may hallow the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and put filthiness out of the Sanctuary: for our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him. For they turned their faces from the habitation of the LORD our God, & turned their backs on it, and shut the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and brent no incense, & offered no burntsacrifyces in the Sanctuary unto the God of Israel. Therefore is the wrath of the LORD come over juda and jerusalem, and he hath given them over to be scattered abroad, desolate and to be hissed at, as you see with your eies·s For behold, even for the same cause fallen our fathers thorough the sword, our sons daughters and wives were carried away captive. Now am I minded to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that he may turn away from us his wrath & indignation. Now my sons, be not you negligent: ●um. 18. a for the LORD hath choose you to stand before him, and to be his ministers and to burn incense unto him. Then rose the Levites: Mahath the son of Amasai, and joel the son of Asaria of the children of the Rahathites. Of the children of Merari: Cis the son of Abdi, & Asaria the son of jehaleleel. Of the children of the Gersonites: joah the son of Simma, and Eden the son of joah. And of the children of Elizaphan: Simri & jeiel. And of the children of Assaph: Sachary and Mathania. And of the children of Heman: jehiel and Simei. And of the children of jedithun: Semaia and Vsiel. And they gathered their brethren together, and were sanctified, and went in according to the kings commandment at the word of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. And the priests entered within in the house of the LORD to purify, and put out all the uncleanness that was found in the temple of the LORD, in the court of the lords house: and the priests took it up, and carried it out in to the broken Cedron. The first day of the first month began they to sanctify themselves, and on the eight day of the month went they in to the porch of the LORD, and hallowed the house of the LORD eight days, and finished it on the sixteenth day of the first month. And they went in to the king Ezechias, and said: We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burned offerings, and all his vessels, the table of the shewbred and all the apparel thereof: and all the ornaments that king Achas cast away when he was king, what time as he transgressed, those have we prepared and hallowed. Behold, they are before the altar of the LORD. Then the king Ezechias got him up early, and gathered together the Elders of the cite, and went up unto the house of the LORD, and they brought seven bullocks, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven he goats to be the sin offering, for the Sanctuary, & for juda. And he spoke unto the priests the children of Aaron, that they should offer upon the altar of the LORD. So they slew the bullocks, and the priests took the blood, and sprenkled it upon the altar: and slew the rams, and sprenkled the blood upon the altar: and slew the lambs, and sprenkled the blood upon the altar. And the goats to the sin offering brought they before the king and the congregation, and laid their hands upon them: and the priests slew them, and sprenkled their blood upon the altar to make atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded to offer burntsacrifyces and sin offerings for all Israel. And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with Cymbales, Psalteries and haps, 〈…〉 as David had commanded, and Gad the kings Seer, and the prophet Nathan for it was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, & the priests with the trumpets. And Ezechias commanded them to offer burntsacrifyces upon the altar. And about the time that the burnt-sacrifice began to be offered the song of the LORD began also, and the trumpets, and diverse instruments of David the king of Israel and all the congregation gave praise & thanks: and the song of the Musicians, and the blowing of the trompetters, endured all till the burned offering was finished. Now when the burned offering was performed, the king and all they that were with him, bowed themselves, and gave praise and thanks. And Ezechias the king with the rulers commanded the Levites to praise the LORD with the songs of David and Assaph the Seer. And they gave praise till they were joyful, and they bowed them selves, and worshipped. And Ezechias answered and said: Now have you filled your hands unto the LORD step forth, and bring hither the sacrifices and thank offerings unto the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and every man of a free willing heart brought burned offerings. And the number of the burned offerings that the congregation brought, was three score bullocks and ten, an hundredth rams, and two hundredth lambs, and all these for the burned offering unto the LORD, and they sanctified six hundredth bullocks, and three thousand sheep. But the priests were to few, and could not pluck of the skins of all the burned offerings, therefore took they their brethren the Levites, till the work was fyniszhed, and till the priests were hallowed (for the Levites are easier to be hallowed then the priests) and many of the burned offerings were with the fat of the thank offerings and drink offerings to the burnt-sacrifices. Thus was the ministration of the house of the LORD prepared. And Ezechias rejoiced with all the people, that they were prepared with God: for it was done right haistely. The XXX. Chapter. ANd Ezechias sent in to all Israel and juda, and written letters unto Ephraim and Manasses, that they should come to the house of the LORD at jerusalem, to keep easter unto the LORD God of Israel. And the king held a council with his rulers, and all the congregation at jerusalem, 〈◊〉. 9 b to keep Passeover in the second month: for at that time they could not keep it, because the priests were not sanctified enough, and the people were not yet come together unto jerusalem. And it pleased the king well and all the congregation. And they appointed it to be proclaimed thorough out all Israel from Berseba unto Dan, that they should come to keep Passeover unto the LORD God of Israel: for they were not many to keep it as it is written. And the posts went with the letters from the hand of the king and of his rulers thorough out all Israel and juda, at the kings commandment, and said: You children of Israel, turn you unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and jacob, and he shall turn to the escaped, which are left over among you from the hand of the king of Assur: and be not you as your fathers and brethren, which rebelled against the LORD God of their fathers, and he gave them over in to desolation as you see yourselves. Be not you hardnecked now as were your fathers, but offer your hand unto the LORD, and come to his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve the LORD your God, & so shall the indignation of his wrath turn away from you. For if you turn unto the LORD, then shall your brethren and children have mercy in the sight of them which hold them in captivity, that they may come again in to this land: 〈◊〉. 34. c for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and shall not turn away his face from you, if you convert unto him. And the posts went from one cite to another in the land of Ephraim and Manasses, and unto Zabulon. But they mocked them and laughed them to scorn. Yet were there some of Asser and Manasses, and of Zabulon, that submytted themselves, and came to jerusalem. And the hand of God came in to juda, so that he gave them one heart to do after the commandment of the king and the rulers at the word of the LORD. And there came together unto Jerusalem a great people, to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they got them up, and put down the 2. Pa. 27. d altars that were at jerusalem, and all the incense put they away, and cast it in to the broken Cedron, and slew the Passeover on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed, and hallowed themselves, and brought the burned offerings to the house of the LORD, and stood in their ordinance, as it was according, after the law of Moses the man of God. And the priests sprenkled the blood from the hand of the Levites: for there were many in the congregation which were not sanctified, therefore did the Levites kill Passeover for them which were not cleansed, that they might be sanctified unto the LORD. There were many people also of Ephraim, Manasses, Isachar and Zabulon, which were not clean, but ate the Easter lamb not as it is written: for Ezechias prayed for them, and said: The LORD, which is gracious, shallbe merciful unto all them that prepare their hearts unto God, to seek the LORD God of their fathers, though they be not cleansed after the holy purification. And the LORD heard Ezechias, and healed the people. Thus the children of Israel that were found at Jerusalem, held the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great joy. And the Levites and priests praised the LORD every day with the loud instruments of the LORD. And Ezechias spoke heartily unto all the Levites, which had good understanding in the LORD, and they ate the feast seven days, and offered thank offerings, and gave thanks unto the LORD God of their fathers. And all the congregation devised to keep the feast yet other seven days, and so they held it those seven days also with joy: for Ezechias the king of juda gave an Heve-offering for the congregation, even a thousand bullocks, and seven thousand sheep. But the rulers gave an Have offering for the congregation, even a thousand bullocks, and ten thousand sheep. And many of the priests sanctified themselves. And the whole congregation of juda rejoiced, the priests and Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that were come out of the land of Israel, and they that dwelled in juda, and great joy was there at jerusalem: for sense the time of Solomon the son of David the king of Israel, was there no such (joy) at Jerusalem. And the priests and Levites stood up and blessed the people, and their voice was herd, and their prayer came in to his holy habitation in heaven. The XXXI. Chapter. ANd when all this was finished, all the Israelites that were found in the cities of juda, went out, and broke the pilers, and hewed down the groves, and broke down the high places and altars out of all juda, Ben jamin, Ephraim and Manasses, till they had destroyed them. And all the children of Israel went again every one to his possession unto their cities. But Ezechias set the priests and Levites in their ordinances, every one after his office, both the priests and Levites, for the burnt-sacrifices and thank offerings, to minister, to give thanks and praise in the gates of the host of the LORD. And the king gave his portion of his substance for the burned offerings in the morning and evening, and for the burned offerings of the Sabbath, and of the newmone and of the feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. And he spoke unto the people which dwelled at jerusalem, that they should give portions unto the priests and Levites, that they might the more steadfastly endure in the law of the LORD. And when the word came forth, the children of Israel gave many first fruits of corn, wine, oil, honey, and allmaner increase of the field, and brought in much of all manner tithes. And the children of Israel and juda which dwelled in the cities of juda, brought the tithes also of oxen and sheep, and the tithes of such things as were sanctified, which they had hallowed unto the LORD their God, and made here an heap, and there an heap. In the third month began they to say upon heaps, and in the seventh month did they finish it. And when Ezechias with the rulers went in, and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD, and his people of Israel. And Ezechi●s axed the priests and Levites concerning the heaps. And Asaria the priest the chief in the house of Sadoc, said unto him: Sense the time that they began to bring the Have offerings in to the house of the LORD, we have eaten, and are satisfied, and yet is there left over: for the LORD hath blessed his people, therefore is this heap left over. Then commanded the king, that they should prepare chests in the house of the LORD. And they prepared them▪ and put in the Have offerings, and tithes and that which was hallowed, faithfully. And the oversight of the same had Chanania the Levite, and Simei his brother the second, and jehiel, Asasia, Naglath, Asahel, jerimoth, josabad, Eliel, jesmachia, Mahath and Benaia, ordained of the hand of Chanania and Simei his brother, according to the commandment of king Ezechias. But Asaria was prince in the house of God. And Core the son of jemna the Levite the power of the Eastgate was over the frewyllinge gifts of God (which were given for Have offerings unto the LORD) and over the Most holy. And under his hand were, Eden, Miniamin, jesua, Semaia, Amaria, and Sachania in the cities of the priests upon credence, that they should give unto their brethren according to their courses, to the least as to the greatest. And unto them that were counted for men children from three year old and above, among all them that went in to the house of the LORD, every one upon his day to their office in their attendaunces after their courses. And they that were reckoned for priests in the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty year and above, in their attendaunces after their courses. And they that were reckoned among their children, wives, sons and daughters among the whole congregation: for that which was hallowed, sanctified they upon credence. There were men also named by name among Aaron's children the priests upon the fields of the suburbs in all the cities, that they should give portions unto all the men children among the priests, and to all them that were numbered among the Levites. Thus did Ezechias in all juda, and did that which was good, right and true in the sight of the LORD his God. And in all the business that he took in hand concerning the service of the house of God, according to the law and commandment, to seek his God, that did he with all his heart, and therefore prospered he well. The XXXII. Chapter. AFter these acts and faithfulness came Sennacharib the king of Assur, 〈◊〉. 18. c and went in to juda, and pitched before the strong cities, and thought to pluck them unto him. And when Ezechias saw that Sennacherib came, and that his face stood to fight against jerusalem, he devised with his rulers and mighty men, to cover the waters of the wells that were without the cite, and they helped him: and there gathered together a great people, and covered all the wells and water brokes in the mids of the land, and said: Jest the kings of Assur find much water when they come. And he took a courage unto him, and builded all the walls where they were in decay, and made towers thereon, and builded yet another brickwall without, and strengthened milo in the cite of David. And made much ordinance and shyldes, and set captains of war over the people. And gathered them unto him upon the broad street by the gate of the cite, and spoke heartily unto them, and said: Be strong and bold, fear not, and be not afraid for the king of Assur, ner all the multitude that is with him: for there is one greater with us then with him. With him is a 〈…〉 fleshly arm, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight for us. And the people trusted unto the words of Ezechias king of juda. 〈…〉 afterward sent Sennacherib the king of Assur his servants unto jerusalem (for he lay before Lachis, & all his host with him) to Ezechias the king of juda, & to all juda that was at Jerusalem, saying: Thus sayeth Sennacherib the king of Assur: Wherein put you your trust you that devil in the besieged jerusalem? Ezechias deceiveth you, that he may deliver you unto death, hunger and thirst, and sayeth: The LORD our God shall deliver us from the hand of the king of Assur. Is it not Ezechias, that hath put away his high places and altars, and said unto juda and jerusalem: Before one altar shall you worship, and burn incense thereon? Know you not what I and my fathers have done to all the people in the lands? Have the gods of the Heythen in the lands been able to deliver their countries fro my hand? What is he among all the gods of these heathen (whom my father damned) that was able to deliver his people fro my hand? that your God should be able to deliver fro my hand. Therefore let not Ezechias now deceive you, and let him not persuade you any such thing, and believe him not. For if no god of all the heathen and kingdoms might deliver his people fro my hand and from the hand of my progenitors, then shall not your gods be able to deliver you fro my hand. His servants also spoke yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Ezechias. And he written a letter to blaspheme the LORD God of Israel, and spoke of him, and said: Like as the gods of the Heythen in their lands have not been able to deliver their people from my hand, even so shall not the God of Ezechias deliver his people fro my hand. And the cried with loud voice in the jewish language unto the people of jerusalem that were upon the brickwall, to make them fearful and to be fainthearted, that they might win the cite. And they spoke against the God of jerusalem, even as against the gods of the nations upon earth, which were but the works of men's hands. But contrary wise the king Ezechias and the prophet Esay the son of Amos prayed, and cried unto heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which destroyed all the mighty men of the host, and the princes and rulers in the tents of the king of Assur, so that he departed again with shame in to his own land. 4. Re. 19 b And when he went in to his god's house, they that came of his own body, slew him there with the sword. Thus the LORD, helped Ezechias and them at jerusalem, out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assur, and of all other, and maintained than from all on every side, so that many brought presents unto the LORD to jerusalem, and jewels unto Ezechias the king of juda. And afterward was he exalted in the sight of all Heythen. At the same time was Ezechias deedsicke, and he prayed unto the LORD, which made him promise, 4. Re. 20. a Esa. 28. a and gave him a wondertoken. But Ezechias recompensed not acordinde as was given unto him, for his heart was lifted up: therefore came the wrath upon him, and upon juda and jerusalem. Nevertheless Ezechias humbled himself because his heart had been exalted, with them at jerusalem: therefore came not the wrath of the LORD upon them, while Ezechias lived. And Ezechias had very great riches and worship, and made him treasures of silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shyldes, and all manner costly vessel, and corn houses for the increase of corn, wine and oil, and stalls for all manner cattles, and folds for the sheep, and builded him cities, and had many cattles of sheep and oxen: for God gave him very much good. It is the same Ezechias that covered the high water conduit in Gihen, and conveyed it under on the west side of the cite of David: for Ezechias prospered in all his works. But when the interpreters the chief of Babylon were sent unto him, to axe question at him (concerning the wondertoken that had happened in the land) God left him Deut. ●. a to be tempted, that it might be known what soever was in his heart. What more there is to say of Ezechias, and of his mercifulness, behold, it is written in the vision of the prophet Esay the son of Amos, and in the book of the kings of juda and Israel. And Ezechias fallen on sleep with his fathers, and they buried him over the sepulchres of the children of David, and all juda and they of Jerusalem did him worship in his death: and Manasses his son was king in his stead. The XXXIII. Chapter. MAnasses was twelve year old when he was made king, 4. Re. 21. a and reigned five and fifty year at jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD (even after the abominations of the Heythen, whom the LORD expelled before the children of Israel) and turned back, and builded the high places, ( 4. Re. 18. a which his father Ezechies had broken down) and set up altars unto Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. He builded altars also in the LORDS house, whereof the LORD had said: 2. Par. 7. c At jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And unto all the host of heaven builded he altars in both the courts of the house of the LORD. And in the valley of the son of Hennon caused he his own sons to go thorough the fire, and choosed days, & regarded byrdescryenge, and witches, and founded soythsayers and expounders of tokens, and did much that was evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him unto wrath. Carved images also and Idols (which he caused to make) set he up in God's house, whereof the LORD said unto David and to Solomon his son: In this house at jerusalem which I have choose out of all the tribes of Israel, will I set my name for ever and will no more let the foot of Israel remove from the land that I appointed for their fathers, so far as they observe to do all that I have commanded them, in all the law, statutes and ordinances by Moses. But Manasses deceived juda and them of Jerusalem, so that they did worse than the Heythen, whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel. And the LORD spoke unto Manasses and his people, and they regarded it not. Therefore did the LORD cause the rulers of the host of the king of Assur to come upon them, which took Manasses prisoner with bonds, and bound him with chains, & brought him unto Babylon. 〈…〉 And when he was in trouble, he made intercession before the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed and besought him. Then heard he his prayer, and brought him again to jerusalem to his kingdom. And Manasses knew that the LORD is God. afterward builded he the uttermost brickwall of the cite of David, on the west side of Gihen by the broken, and at the entrance of the Fyshgate, and round about 〈…〉 Ophel, and made it very high. And laid captains in the strong cities of juda, & put away the strange gods & Idols out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars which he had builded upon the mount of the house of the LORD, and in jerusalem, and cast them out of the cite, and builded the altar of the LORD, and offered slain offerings and thankofferynges thereon, and commanded juda, that they should serve the LORD God of Israel. Nevertheless though the people offered unto the LORD their God, yet offered they upon the high places. What more there is to say of Manasses and of his prayer to his God, and the words of the Seers that spoke unto him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are among the acts of the kings of Israel. And his prayer and intercession, and all his sin and offence, & the rooms wherein he builded the high places & groves and founded idols, afore he humbled himself, behold, they are written among the acts of the Seers. And Manasses fallen on sleep with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son was king in his stead. Two and twenty year old was Amon when he was made king, and reigned two year at Jerusalem, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasses his father had done. And Amon offered unto all the Idols that his father Manasses had made and served them. Yet did not he humble himself before the LORD, as Manasse his father had submitted himself: but Amon trespassed ever more and more. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his house. Then smote the people in the land all them that had conspired against king Amon. And the people in the land made josias his son king in his stead. The XXXIIII. Chapter. IOsias was eight year old when he was made king, 〈◊〉. 22. a and reigned one and thirty year at jerusalem, and did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside, neither to the right hand ner to the left. For in the eight year of his reign when he was yet but a child, he began to seek the God of his father David: and in the twolueth year began he to cleanse juda and Jerusalem from the high places and groves, and carved Idols, and molten images: and caused the altars of Baalim to be broken down before him, and the images that were thereon, hewed he down. And the groves and carved Idols and molten images broke he in pieces, and made them to dust, and scattered it upon the graves of them that had offered unto them. And the bones of the priests brent he upon the altars, and so cleansed he juda & Jerusalem, & in the cities of Manasses, Ephraim, Simeon, and unto Nephtali in their wyldernesses on everysyde. And when he had broken down the altars and groves, and smitten the Idols in pieces, and hewed down all the images in all the land of Israel, he came again to jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of his reign when he had cleansed the land and the house, 〈◊〉. ●2. a he sent Saphan the son of Asalia and Maeseia the Shreve of the cite, and joath the son of joahas the Chancellor, to repair the house of the LORD his God. And they came to Hechias the high priest, and there was delivered unto them the money that was brought unto the house of God, which the Levites (that kept the threshouldes) had gathered, of Manasses, Epraim, and of all the residue in Israel, and of all juda & Ben jamin, and of them that dwelled at Jerusalem, and they delivered it unto the hands of the work men in the house of the LORD, and gave it unto those that wrought in the house of the LORD, where it was in decay, that they should repair it. And the same gave it forth unto the carpenters and builders, to buy free stone and hewn timber for the balks in the houses, which the kings had destroyed. And the men laboured faithfully in the work. And over them were ordained, jahath and Obadia the Levites of the children of Merari: Zachary and Mesullam of the children of the Kahathites, to further the work, and they were all Levites that could play upon instruments. But over them that bore burdens and furthured all manner of work in all the offices, there were scribes, officers and door keepers of the Levites. And when they took out the money that was brought unto the house of the LORD, Helchias the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. And Helchias answered, and said unto Saphan the Scribe: 4. Re. 22. b I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. Andrea Helchias delivered the book unto Saphan. And Saphan bore it unto the king, and brought the king word again, and said: All that was given under the hands of thy servants, that make they: and the money that was found in the house of the LORD, have they gathered together, and delivered it unto the officers, and to the workmen. And Saphan the Scribe told the king, and said: Helchias the priest hath delivered me a book. And Saphan read therein before the king. And when the king heard the words of the law, he rent his clotheses. And the king commanded Helchias and Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Abdon the son of Micha, and Saphan the Scribe, and Asaia the kings servant, and said: Go your way, axe council at the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel, and for juda, concerning these words of the book that is found. For great is the indignation of the LORD that is go forth over us, because our fathers have no● kept the word of the LORD, to do according as it is written in this book. Then went Helchias (with the other that were sent from the king) unto the prophetess Hulda the wife of Sallum the Son of Thecoath the son of Hafra the keeper of the clotheses, which dwelled at jerusalem in the second part, and they spoke this unto her. And she said unto them: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel: Tell the man that sent you unto me: Thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, I will bring plagues upon this place and the inhabiters thereof, even all the curses which are written in the book, that was read before the king of juda: because they have forsaken me, and brent incense unto other gods, to provoke me with all the works of their hands. And my indignation shall go forth upon this cite, and shall not be quenched. And after this manner shall you say unto the king of juda, that sent you to axe council at the LORD: Thus sayeth the LORD God of Israel concerning the words that thou hast herd: Because thy heart is moved, and because thou hast humbled thyself in the sight of God, when thou herdest his words against this place and the inhabiters thereof, and hast submytted thyself before me, and rend thy clotheses, and wept before me, therefore have I heard thee, sayeth the LORD. Behold, I will gather the unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be laid in thy grave with peace, so that thy eyes shall not see all the evil that I will bring over this place, and the indwellers thereof. And they brought the king word again. Then sent the king, and caused all the Elders in juda and jerusalem to come together. 4. Re. 23. a And the king went up in to the house of the LORD, and all the men of juda and inhabiters of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites, and all the people both small and great: and all the words in the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD, were read in their ears. And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, that they should walk after the LORD, to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all their heart and with all their soul, to do according unto all the words of the covenant that are written in this book. And there stood all they that were found at jerusalem and in Ben jamin. And the inhabiters of jerusalem did according to the covenant of God the God of their fathers. And josias put away all abominations out of all the lands that were the children of Israel's, and caused all them that were found in Israel, to serve the LORD their God. 〈…〉 As long as josias lived, departed they not from the LORD the God of their fathers. The XXXV. Chapter. ANd josias kept Passeover unto the LORD at jerusalem, and slew the Passeover on the fourteenth day of the first month, 〈…〉 and set the priests in their offices, and strengthened them to their ministration in the house of the LORD, and said unto the Levites that taught in all Israel, and were sanctified unto the LORD: Put the holy Ark in the house that Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build. 〈…〉 You shall bear it no more upon your shoulders. See that you serve now the LORD your God, and his people of Israel, and prepare the house of your fathers in your courses, as it was appointed by David the king of Israel, and by Solomon his son: and stand in the Sanctuary after the course of the father's houses among your brethren the children of the people, And after the course of the father's houses among the Levites, and kill Passeover, sanctify and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by Moses. And josias gave lambs and young kyddes which were males, to the Have offering for the comontye (all to the Passeover for every one that was found) in the number thirty thousand, and three thousand oxen, all of the kings good. And his princes of their own good will gave to the Have offering for the people, & for the priests and Levites (namely, Helchias, Zachary and jehiel the princes in the house of God among the priests) for the Passeover, two thousand and six hundredth, And three hundredth oxen. But Chanania, Semaia, Nathaneel and his brethren, Gasabia, jeiel and josabad the chief of the Levites gave the Levites to the Have offering for the Passeover, five thousand sheep, & five hundredth oxen. Thus was the God's service prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses according to the kings commandment. And they killed the Passeover, and the priests took it of their hands, and sprenkled it: and the Levites took the skins of them, and removed the burned offering there from, to give it among the portions of the father's houses in the multitudes of their congregation to offer unto the LORD, 〈◊〉. 1. a as it is written in the book of Moses, Even so did they with the oxen also. And they dight the Passeover at the fire 〈◊〉. 1●. b according to the law. And that which was hallowed, dight they in pots, kettles, and pans, and made haist for the common people. afterward prepared they for themselves also and for the priests: for the priests the children of Aaron were occupied in the burned offerings and fat until the night. Therefore must the Levites prepare for themselves and for the priests the children of Aaron. And the syngers the children of Asaph stood in their place (according to 〈◊〉▪ ●6. ●7 David's commandment) and Asaph and Heman, and jedithim the kings Seer, and the porters at all the gates. And they departed not from their office. For the Levites their brethren prepared for them. Thus was all the God's service prepared the same day, that the Passeover might be kept, and the burnt-sacrifices offered upon the altar of the LORD according to the commandment of king josias. So the children of Israel that were at hand, held Passeover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread, seven days. Sense the time of Samuel the prophet, was no Passeover kept in Israel like this: and no king of Israel had held soch a Passeover as josias did, and the priests, Levites, all juda, and such as were found of Israel, and the inhabiters of jerusalem. In the eighteenth year of the reign of josias was this Passeover kept. After this, when josias had prepared the house, Necho the king of Egipte went up to fight against Carcamis beside Euphrates. And josias went forth against him. But he sent messaungers unto him, saying: What have I to do with the O king of juda? I am not come now against thee, but I fight against another house: and God hath said, that I shall make haist. Cease from God which is with me, that he destroy the not. Nevertheless josias turned not his face from him, but prepared himself to fight with him, and herkened not unto the words of Necho out of the mouth of God, & came to fight with him upon the plain beside Mageddo. But the Archers shot at king josias. And the king said unto his servants: Carry me away, for I am sore wounded. And his servants took him from the chariot, and carried him upon his second chariot, and brought him to jerusalem. And he died, and was buried among the sepulchres of his fathers. And All juda▪ and jerusalem mourned for josias, and jeremy bewailed josias, and all the synginge men and women, spoke their lamentations over josias unto this day, and made a custom thereof unto this day. Behold, it is written also among the Lamentations. What more there is to say of josias, and his mercy according to the scripture in the law of the LORD, and of his acts (both first and last) behold, it is written in the book of the kings of Israel and juda. The XXXVI. Chapter. ANd the people of the land took joahas the son of josias, 4. Re. 23. ●●. Esd. 1. d and made him king in his father's stead at jerusalem. Three and twenty year old was joahas when he was made king, and reigned three months at jerusalem. For the king of Egipte deposed him at jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundredth talentes of silver, and one talon of gold. And the king of Egipte made Eliachim his brother king over juda and Jerusalem, and turned his name joachim. But Necho took his brother joahas, and carried him in to Egipte. five and twenty year old was joachim when he was made king, and reigned eleven year at Jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the siighte of the LORD his God. 4. Re. ●4 ● And Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon went up against him, and bound him with chains, to carry him unto Babylon. And Nabuchodonosor brought certain vessels of the house of the LORD unto Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. What more there is to say of joachim, and of his abominations which he did, and that were found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and juda. And joachim his son was king in his stead. Eight year old was joachim when he was made king, and reigned three months and ten days at Jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. But when the year came about, Nabuchodonosor sent thither, and caused him be fetched unto Babylon with the costly vessels and jewels of the house of the LORD, and made Sedechias his brother king over juda and jerusalem. jere. 52. a 4. Re. 24 d One and twenty year old was Sedechias when he was made king, & reigned eleven year at jerusalem, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and submytted not himself before the face of the prophet jeremy, which spoke out of the mouth of the LORD. He fallen away also from Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon (which had taken an oath of him by God) and was stiffnecked, and hardened his heart, that he should not convert unto the LORD God of Israel. And all the chief among the priests, and the people, multiplied their sins, according to all the abominations of the Heythen, and dyfyled the house of the LORD, which he had sanctified at jerusalem. ●ere. 25. a And the LORD God of their fathers sent unto them early by his messaungers (for he spared his people and his habitation) but they laughed the messaungers of God to scorn, and despised his words, and had his prophets in derision, so long till the indignation of the LORD increased over his people, and there was no remedy of healing. 4. Re. ●5. a For he brought the king of the Caldees upon them, and caused for to slay all their young men with the sword in the house of their Sanctuary, and spared neither young manner virgin, neither aged ner grand father, but gave them all in to his hand. And all the vessels in the house of God, great and small, the treasures in the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all this caused he to be carried unto Babylon. And they brent the house of God, and broke down the brickwall of Jerusalem, and all the palaces thereof brent they with fire, so that all the costly ornaments of it were destroyed. And look who escaped the sword, him carried he away unto Babylon, & they become his servants, & the servants of his sons, till the Persians had the empire: ●ere. 25. b that the word of the LORD by the mouth of jeremy might be performed, even until the land had enough of her Sabbathes: for all the time of the desolation was it Sabbath, until the seventy years were fulfilled. 1. Esd. 1. a 3. Esd. 2. a But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Persia (that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of jeremy might be fulfilled) the LODDE raised up the spirit of Cyrus the king of Persia, that he caused it be proclaimed thorough out all his empire, ye and by writing also, saying: Thus sayeth Cyrus the king of Persia: The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms in the land, and hath commanded me to build him an house at jerusalem in juda. Who soever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. The end of the second book of the Chronicles. The first book of Esdras. What this book containeth. Chap. I Cyrus (otherwise called Cores) the king of Persia, giveth the jews lyconce to go again to jerusalem, and to build it. Chap. II The number of them that went up from Babylon unto jerusalem. Chap. III The people resort to jerusalem, the priests build the altar, keep the feasts and sacrifices, and prepare to build the temple. Chap. four The heathen would build with them: and because they are not suffered, therefore labour they (with their council and letters) to hinder the building of the temple. Chap. V In this time prophesied Aggeus and Zachary. The officers of the Heythen forbid the building, and hinder it. Chap. VI Darius renueth the commandment of Cyrus, and giveth the jews licence to build the temple. Chap. VII. Artaxerses sendeth Eszdras unto jerusalem with a charge unto the officers beyond the water. Chap. VIII. The number of them that went up with Eszdras unto jerusalem. Chap IX. Eszdras is sorry that the people have mixed themselves with the Heythenish women. Chap. X. They make a covenant to put away their Heythenish wives. The first Chapter. IN the first year of Cyrus' king of Persia (that the word of the LORD spoken 〈…〉 by the mouth of jeremy might be fulfilled) the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus' king of Persia, that he caused it be proclaimed thorough out all his empire, ye and by writing also, saying: Thus sayeth Cyrus the king of Persia: The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms in the land 〈◊〉. 4●. a and hath commanded me to build him an house at jerusalem in juda. Who soever now among you is of his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up to jerusalem in juda, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel. He is the God that is at Jerusalem. And who so ever remaineth yet in any manner of place (where he is a stranger) let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with good and cattles of a good free-will, for the house of God at jerusalem. Then got up the principal fathers of juda and Ben jamin, and the priests and Levites, and all they whose spirit God had raised to go up, and to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem. And all they that were about them, strengthened their hand with vessels of silver and gold, with good and cattles, and jewels, besides that which they gave of their own free-will. And king Cyrus brought forth the vessels of the lords house, ●▪ Pa. ●6. c 〈…〉. 1. a which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of jerusalem, and put in his god's house. But Cyrus the king of Persia brought them forth by Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Seszbazar the prince of juda. And this is the number of them: thirty basins of gold, and a thousand basins of silver, and nine and twenty knives, thirty cups of gold, and of other silver cups four hundredth and ten, and of other vessels a thousand. So that all the vessels both of gold and silver, were five thousand and four hundredth. Seszbazar brought them all up, with them that came up out of the captivity of Babylon unto jerusalem. The II Chapter. THese are the children of the land that went up out of the captivity (whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon) and came again to jerusalem and in to juda, every one unto his cite, and came with Zorobabel, jesua, Nehemias, Seraia, Reeleia, Mardachai, Bilsan, Mispar, Begevai, Rehum and Baena. This is now the number of the men of the people of Israel: The children of Phares, two thousand, an hundredth, and two and seventy: the children of Sephatia, three hundredth and two and seventy: the children of Arath, seven hundredth and five and seventy: the children of Pahath Moab among the children of jesua joab, two thousand, eight hundredth and twelve: the children of Elam, a thousand, two hundredth and four and fifty: the children of Sathu, nine hundredth▪ and five and forty: the children of Sacai, seven hundredth and three score: the children of Bani, six hundredth and two and forty: the children of Bebai, six hundredth and three and twentyethe children of Asgad, a thousand two hundredth and two and twenty: the children of Adonicam, six hundredth and six and sixty: the children of Bigevai, two thousand and six and fifty: the children of Adin, four hundredth and four and fifty: the children of Ater of Ezechias, eight and ninety: the children of Bezai, three hundredth and three and twenty: the children of jorath, an hundredth and twelve: the children of Hasum, two hundredth and three and twenty: the children of Gibbar, five and ninety: the children of Bethleem, an hundredth and three and twenty: the men of Netopha six and fifty: the men of Anathot, an hundredth and eight and twenty: the children of Asmaveth, two and forty: the children of Kiriath Arim, Caphira and Beeroth, seven hundredth and three and forty: the children of Rama and Gaba, six hundredth and one and twenty: the men of Michmas▪ an hundredth and two and twenty: the men of Bethel and Ai, two hundredth and three and twenty: the children of Nebo, two and fifty: the children of Magbis, an hundredth and six and fifty: the children of the other Elam a thousand, two hundredth and four and fifty: the children of Harim, three hundredth and twenty: the children of Lodhadid and Ono, seven hundredth and five and twenty: the children of jericho, three hundredth and five and forty: the children of Senaa, three thousand, six, hundredth and thirty. The priests. The children of jedaia of the house of jesua, nine hundredth and three and seventy: the children of jemmer, a thousand and two and fifty: the children of Pashur, a thousand and two hundredth, and seven and forty: the children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. The Levites. The children of jesua and Cadmiel of the children of Hodavia, four and seventy. The syngers, the children of Asaph, an hundredth and eight and twenty. The children of the dorekepers. The children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Acub, the children of Hatita, and the children of Sobai: altogether an hundredth and nine and thirty. The Nethinims. the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabaoth, the children of Ceros, the children of Sieha, the children of Pardon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Acub, the children of Hagab, the children of Samlai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaia, the children of Rezin, the children of Necuba, the children of Gasan, the children of Vsa, the children of Passeah, the children of Bessai, the children of Asna, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephussim, the children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur, the children of Hazeluth, the children of Mehira, the children of Harsa, the children of Barcom, the children of Sissera, the children of Thamah, the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. The children of Salomons servants. The children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pruda, the children of jaela, the children of Darcon, the children of Giddell, the children of Sephatia, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami. All the Nethinims and the children of Salomons servants were altogether, three hundredth and two and nyentye. And these went up also, Mithel, Melath, Thel, Harso, Cherub, Addon and Immer. But they could not show their father's house ner their seed, whether they were of Israel. The children of Delaia, the children of Tobias, the children of Necoda, six hundredth and two and fifty. And of the children of the priests. The children of Habaia, the children of Hacom, the children of Barsillai, which took one of the daughters of Barsillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted among the same names: these sought the register of their birth, and found none, therefore were they put from the priesthood. And Hathirsatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy, till there rose up a priest with the 〈…〉 light and perfectness. The whole congregation as one man, was two and forty thousand, three hundredth and three score: beside their servants and maidens, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundredth and seven and thirty. And they had two hundredth singing men and women, seven hundredth and six and thirty horses, two hundredth and five and forty Mules, four hundredth and five and thirty Camels, and six thousand, seven hundredth and twenty Asses. And certain of the chief fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD at jerusalem, they were well minded unto the house of God, that it should be set in his place, and gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work, one and three score thousand guldens, and five thousand pound of silver, and an hundredth priests garments. So the priests and the Levites, and certain of the people, and the syngers, and the po●ters, and the Nethinims dwelled in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. The III Chapter. ANd when the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were now in their cities, 〈…〉 the people came together even as one man, unto jerusalem. And there stood up jesua the son of josedec and his brethren the priests, and Zorobabel the son of Saalthiel and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burned offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God, and the altar set they upon his sokettes (for there was a fearfulness among them because of the nations and lands) and offered burned offerings thereon unto the LORD 〈…〉 in the morning and at even. And held the feast of Tabernacles 〈…〉 as it is written, and offered burnt-sacrifices daily after the number as according was, every day his sacrifice. afterward the daily burnt-offerings also, and of the new Moans and of all the feast days of the LORD that were hallowed, and allmaner of free willing offerings, which they did of their own fire will unto the LORD. 〈◊〉▪ 5. ● Upon the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burned sacrifices unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. Nevertheless they gave money unto the masons and carpenters, and meat and drink and oil unto them of Zidon and of tire, to bring them cedar tymbre from Libanus by See unto 〈…〉 joppa, according to the commandment of Cyrus the king of Persia. In the second year of their coming unto the house of God at jerusalem in the second month, began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and jesua the son of josedec, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto jerusalem, and appointed the Levites from twenty year old and above, to see that the work of the house of the LORD went forward. And jesua stood with his sons and brethren, and Cadmiel with his sons, and the children of juda, to furthur the workmen of the house of God, namely the children of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Levites. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their array, with trumpets. And the Levites the children of Asaph with Cimbales, to praise the LORD 〈◊〉 17▪ b with the ditty of David king of Israel. And they sung together, giving praise & thanks unto the LORD, because he is gracious, and because his mercy endureth for ever upon Israel. And all the people shouted land in praising the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Nevertheless many of the old priests and Levites and ancient fathers, which had seen the house afore in his foundation, and this was now before their eyes, wept loud. But many shouted with joy, so that the noise gave a great sound, in so much that the people could not know the joyful sound for the noise of the weeping in the people: for the people shouted loud, so that the noise was herd far of. The four Chapter. But when the adversaries of juda and Ben jamin heard, that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel, they came to Zorobabel & to the principal fathers, and said unto them: We will build with you: for we seek the LORD your God like as you do. And we have done sacrifice unto him, 4. Re. 17. c sense the time that Assar Hadon the king of Assur brought us up hither. Butler Zorobabel and jesua and the other awncient fathers of Israel, answered them: It is not meet for us and you to build the house of our God, but we will build alone unto the LORD God of Israel, 1. Esd. 1. a as Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the folk of the land hindered the people of juda, and made them afraid to build, and hired councelers against them and hindered their device, as long as Cyrus the king of Persia lived, until the reign of Darius' king of Persia. But when Ahasuerus was king, in the beginning of his reign written they unto him a complaint against them of juda and jerusalem. And in the time of Artaxerses, written Bisellam, Mithridath, Tabeel and the other of their council unto Artaxerses the king of Persia. But the scripture of the letter was written in the Syrians speech, and was interpretated in the language of the Syrians. Rehum the chancellor, and Simsai the scribe, written this letter against jerusalem to Artaxerses the king. We Rehum the chancellor, and Simsai the scribe, and other of the council of Dina, of Arphasath, of Tarplat, of Persia, of Arach, of Babylon, of Susan, of Deha, and of Elam, and other of the people 4. Re. 17. c whom the great and noble Asnaphar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and other on this side the water, and in Canaan. And this is the sum of the letter that they sent unto king Artaxerses: Thy servants the men on this side the water and in Canaan. Be it known unto the king, that the jews which are come up from the to us unto Jerusalem in to that seditious & wicked cite, build the same, and make up the walls of it, & bring it out of the foundation. Be it known now therefore unto the king, that if this cite be builded & the walies made up again, them shall not they give tribute, toll, and yearly custom, and their device shall do the king harm. But now that we all are thereby which destroyed the temple, we would no longer see the kings dishonour. Therefore sent we out, and caused the king to be certified thereof: That it may be sought in the Chronicles of thy progenitors, and so shalt thou find in the same Chronicles, and perceive, that this cite is seditious and noisome unto kings and lands, and that they 'cause other also to rebel of old, and for the same cause was this cite destroyed. Therefore do we certify the king, that if this cite be builded, and the walls thereof made up, thou shalt keep nothing on this side the water by the reason of it. Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and Simsai the Scribe, and to the other of their council that dwelled in Samaria, and unto the other beyond the water. Peace and salutation. The letter which you sent unto us, hath been openly read before me, and I have commanded to make search: and it is found, that this cite of old hath made insurrection against, kings, & how that vpror and rebellion hath been committed therein. There have been mighty kings also at Jerusalem, which have reigned over all that is beyond the water, and toll, tribute and yearly custom was given unto them. Do you now after this commandment, forbid the same men, that the cite be not builded, till I have given commandment. Take heed now that you be not negligent here in, jest the king have harm there thorough. Now when king Artaxerses letter was read before Rehum the chancellor and Simsai the Scribe and their council, they went up in all the haist to jerusalem unto the jews, and forbade them with the arm and authority. Then ceased the work of the house of God at jerusalem, and continued so unto the second year of Darius' king of Persia. The V Chapter. THe prophets, Aggeus and Zachary the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in juda and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. Then got up Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, Agg. 1 c and jesua the son of josedec, and began to build the house of God at jerusalem, and with them the prophets of God which strengthened them. At the same time came to them Thathnai the debit on this side the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their councelers, and said thus unto them: Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up the walls thereof? Then told we them the names of the men, that made this building. But the eye of their God came upon the Elders of the jews, that they were not inhibyte, till the matter was brought before Darius, and till there came a writing thereof again. This is the sum of the letter that Thathnaithe debit on this side the water, and Sethar of Bosen, and their counsellors of Apharsach (which were on this side the water) sent unto king Darius. And these are the words that they sent unto him: Unto Darius the king, all peace. Be it known unto the king, that we came in to jewry to the house of the great God, which is builded with all manner of stone, and balckes are laid in the walls, and the work goeth fast forth, and prospereth in their hands. Nevertheless we axed the Elders and said unto them: Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up the walls thereof? We axed their names also, that we might certify thee, and have written the names of the men that were their rulers. But they answered us with these words, and said: We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded many years ago, 〈…〉 which a great king of Israel builded and set up. Howbeit when our fathers provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, 〈…〉 he gave them over in the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon the Chaldee, which broke down this house, & carried the people away unto Babylon. 〈…〉 Nevertheless in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus commanded to build this house of God: for the vessels of gold and silver in the house of God, which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple at Jerusalem, and brought them in to the temple at Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple at Babylon, 〈…〉 and delivered them unto Seszbazer by name, whom he made debit, and said unto him: Take these vessels, go thy way and bring them unto the temple at jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. Then came the same Seszbazar, and laid the foundation of the house of God at jerusalem. Sense that time hath it been in building, and yet is it not finished. If it please the king now, let there be search made in the kings treasure house which is at Babylon, whether it have been king Cyrus' commandment, that the house of God at jerusalem should be builded: & send us the kings mind concerning the same. The VI Chapter. THen commanded king Darius, that search should be made in the library of the kings treasure house, which lay at Babylon. So at Egbathanis in a castle that lieth in the land of the Medes, there was found a book, & in it was there an act written after this manner: In the first year of king Cyrus, commanded the same king Cyrus to build the house of God at jerusalem, in the place where the sacrifice is made, & to say the foundation to bear three score cubits height, & three score cubits breadth, & three walls of all manner of stones, and one brickwall of timber, & the expenses shallbe given of the kings house. And the golden and silver vessel of the house of God (which Nabuchodonosor took out of the temple at jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon) shallbe restored again, that they may be brought unto the temple at Jerusalem to their place in to the house of God. Get you far from them therefore, thou Thathnai debit beyond the water, and Sethar of Bosen, & your councelers which are beyond the water. Let them work in the house of God, that the debit of the Jews and their Elders may build the house of God in his place. I have commanded also, what shallbe done to the Elders of juda for the building of the house of God, that there shall diligently be taken of the kings goods, even of the rents beyond the water, & given unto the men, and that they be not hindered. And if they have need of calves, lambs, or goats for the burned offering unto the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine and oil, after the custom of the priests at jerusalem, there shallbe given them daily as is according: and see that this be not done necligently, that they may offer sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the kings life, and for his children. This commandment have I given. And what man so ever he be that altereth these words, there shall a baulk be taken from his house, and set up, and he shall be hanged thereon, and his house shallbe prysed for the deed. But the God that dwelleth in heaven, destroy all kings and people, that put to their hand to altar and to break down the house of God at jerusalem. I Darius have commanded, that this be diligently done. Then Thathnai the debit beyond the water, and Sethar of Bosen with their councelers (to whom king Darius had sent) did their diligence. And the Elders of the jews builded, and they prospered thorough the prophesying of Aggeus the prophet and Zachary the son of Iddo: and they builded, and set up the work, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and after the commandment of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerses kings of Persia. And they performed the house unto the third day of the month Adar, that was the sixte year of the reign of king Darius. 2. Par. 7. And the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the other children of the captivity held the dedication of the house of God with joy, and offered at the dedication of the house of God, an hundredth calves, two hundredth lambs, four hundredth goats: and for the sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, and set the priests in their courses, and the Levites in their offices, to minister unto God which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses. And the children of the captivity held Passeover upon the fourteenth day of the first month: for the priests and Levites had purified themselves, so that they were all clean as one man, and killed Passeover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the Heythen in the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate & held the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them glad, and turned the heart of the king of Assur unto them, so that their hands were strengthened in the work of the house of God, which is the God of Israel. The VII. Chapter. AFter these acts in the reign of Artaxerses king of Persia, ●. Esd. ●. a there went up from Babylon, Eszdras the son of Seraia, the son of Asaria, the son of Helchias, the son of Sallum, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amaria, the son of Asaria, the son Meraioth, the son of Serahia, the son of Vsi, the son of Buki, the son of Abisua, the son of Phineas, the son of Eleasar, the son of Aaron the chief priest, which was a quick scribe in the law of Moses, 〈◊〉 20. a 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 syngers, of the porters, and of the Nethinims unto jerusalem, in the seventh year of king Artaxerses. 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 Babylon: and on the first day of the fifth month came he to jerusalem, according to the good hand of God upon him: For Eszdras prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the precept & judgement in Israel. And this is the sum of the letter, that king Artaxerses gave unto Eszdras the priest, the scribe, which was a teacher in the words of the LORD and of his statutes over Israel. Unto Eszdras 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 good will to go up to jerusalem, that they go with thee, being sent of the king and of the seven lords of the council, to visit juda 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 council 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 Babylon: 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 same 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 the and thy brethren to do with the remnant of the money, that do after the will of your God. And the vessels that are given the for the ministration in the house of thy God, those deliver thou before God at jerusalem. And what so ever thing more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which is necessary for the to spend, let the same be given out of the kings chamber. I king Artaxerses have commanded all the treasurers beyond the water, that look what so ever Eszdras the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heaven, requireth of you, that you fulfil the same diligently, until an hundredth talents of silver, and till an hundredth quarters of wheat, and till an hundredth Batthes of wine, and till an hundredth Batthes of oil, and salt without measure. Whatsoever belongeth to the law of the God of hea●uen, let the same be done with diligence for the house of the God of heaven, that there come no wrath upon the kings realm & his children. And known be it unto you, that you shall have no authority to require taxing & custom, and yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, syngers, porters, Nethinims and ministers in the house of this God. But thou Eszdras (after the wisdom of the God that is in thy hand) set thou judges and arbiters, to judge all the people that is beyond jordane, even all such as know the law of thy God: and them that know it not, those see that you teach. And who so ever will not diligently fulfil the law of thy God, and the kings law, shall have his judgement for the deed, whether it be unto death, or to be banished, or to be condemned in good, or to be put in preson. Praised be the LORD God of our fathers, which so hath inspired the kings her● to garnish the house of God at jerusalem: and hath inclined his mercy unto me in the presence of the king, and his councelers, 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. The VIII. Chapter. THese are the heads of their fathers that were named, which went up with me from Babylon, what time as king Artaxerses reigned. Of the children of Phineas, Gersom: of the children of Ithamar, Daniel: of the children of David, Hattus: of the children of Pareos, Zachary, and the men children numbered with him, an hundredth and fifty. Of the children of Pahath Moab, Eleoenai the son of Serahia, and with him too hundredth males. Of the children of Sechania, the son of jehasiel, and with him three hundredth males. Of the children of Adin Ebed, the son of jonathan, and with him fifty males. Of the children of Elam, jesaia the son of Athalia, and with him seventy males. Of the children of Sephatia, Sebadia the son of Michael, and with him four score males. Open the children of joab, Obadia the son of jehiel, and with him two hundredth & eighteen men children. Of the children of Selomith, the son of josiphia, and with him an hundredth and three score males. Of the children of Bebai, Zachary the son of Bebai, and with him eight and twenty males. Of the children of Asgad, johanan the youngest son, and with him an hundredth and ten males. Of the last children of Adonicam, and these were their names: Eliphelet, jeiel and Semaia, and with them three score males. Of the children of Bigenai, Vthai and Sabud, and with them seven males. And I gathered them together by the water that runneth toward Ahena, & there abode we three days. And when I looked among the people & the priests, I found no Levites there. Then sent I Elieser, Ariel, Semaia, Elnathan, jarib, Elnathan, Natha, Zachary and Mesullam the rulers, and joiarib and Elnathan the teachers, and those sent I unto Iddo the chiefest at Casiphia, that they should fetch us ministers for the house of our God, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and to his brethren the Nethinims at Casiphia. And (according to the good hand of our God upon us) they brought us a wise man from among the children of Maheli the son of Levithe son of Israel, even Serebia with his sons and brethren, eighteen. And Hasabia, and with him jesaia of the children of Merari, with his brethren & their sons, twenty. And of the Ne●hinims, whom David and the princes gave to minister unto the Levites, two hundredth & twenty, all named by name. And even there at the water beside Ahena, caused I a fasting to be proclaimed, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, & our children and all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king, soudyers & horsemen, to help us against the enemy in the way. For we had said unto the king: The hand of our God is for the best upon all them that seek him, and his violence and wrath upon all them that forsake him. So we fasted, and sought this at our God, and he heard us. And I took out twelve of the chief priests, Serebia and Hasabia, and ten of their brethren with them, and weighed them there the silver and gold and vessels for the Have offering unto the house of our God, which the king, and the lords of his council and princes, and all Israel that were at hand, had given to the Have offering: and there weighed I them under their hand six hundredth and fifty talentes of silver, and in silver vessel an hundredth talentes, and in gold an hundredth talentes, twenty cups of gold of a thousand guldens, and two costly ornaments of good brass, as clear as gold, and said unto them: You are holy unto the LORD, therefore are the vessels holy also, and so is the silver and gold that is given of a good will unto the LORD God of your fathers: Watch you therefore and keep it, till you weigh it down before the chief priests and Levites, and ancient fathers of Israel at jerusalem in the chests of the house of the LORD. Then took the priests and Levites that weighed silver and gold & vessel, to bring it to jerusalem unto the house of our God. So we broke up, from the water of Ahena on the twolueth day of the first month, to go unto jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and delivered us from the hand of the enemies and privy waytinge by the way. And we came to jerusalem, and abode there three days. But on the fourth day was the silver and gold, and vessel weighed in the house of our God under the hand of Meremoth the son of Urias the priest, and with him Eleasar the son of Phineas, and with them josabad the son of jesua, and Noadia the son of Benui the Levites, according to the number & weight of every one. And the weight was all written up at the same tyme. And the children of the captivity, which were come out of preson, offered burned offerings unto the God of Israel: twelve bullocks for all Israel, six and ninety rams, seven and seventy lambs, and twelve goats for a sin offering, all to the burned offering of the LORD. And they delivered the kings commission unto the kings officers, & to the Debytes on this side the water. And they promoted the people and the house of God. The IX. Chapter. When all this was performed, the rulers came to me, and said: The people of Israel, and the priests, & Levites are not separated from the nations in the lands as touching their abominations, namely of the Canaanites, hittites, Pheresites, jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egipcians, and Amorites. Deut. 7. a ●nd 12. d ●osu. 23. c ●udic. 3. a For they have taken the daughters of the same, & their sons, and have mixed the holy seed with the nations in the lands: and the hand of the rulers and lords of council hath been principal in this trespass. When I heard this, I rent my clotheses and my raiment, and plucte out the here of my head and of my beerd, and sat mourning. And there resorted unto me all such as feared the word of the LORD God of Israel because of the great transgression. And I sat mourning until the evening sacrifice. And about the evening sacrifice I rose up fro my heaviness, and rent my clotheses and my raiment, and fallen upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, and said: My God, I am ashamed, and dare not lift up mine eyes unto the my God: for our wickednesses are grown over our head, & our trespasses are waxen great unto the heaven. Sense the time of our fathers have we been in great trespass unto this day, Deu. 28. d and because of our wickednesses have we and our kings been delivered in to the hand of the kings of the nations, in to the sword, in to captivity, in to spoil, and in to confusion of face, as it is come to pass this day. But now is there a little and sudden graciousness come from the LORD our God, so that some of us are escaped, that he may give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may light our eyes, and give us a little life in our bondage. For we are bondmen, and our God hath not forsaken us though we be bondmen, and hath inclined mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, that they should give us life, and promote the house of our God, and to set up the desolation thereof, and to give us an hedge in juda and jerusalem. O our God, what shall we say now after this? that we have forsaken thy commandments, which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, and said: The land wherein you shall come to possess it, is an unclean land thorough the filthiness of the people of the lands, in their abominations wherewith they have made it full of uncleanness on every side. * Therefore shall you not give your daughters unto their sons, and their daughters shall you not take unto your sons, and seek not their peace and wealth for ever, that you may be strong, and enjoy the good in the land, and that you and your children may have the inheritance of it for evermore. And after all this that is come upon us (because of our evil deeds and great trespass) thou our God hast spared our wickednesses, and hast given us a deliverance as it is come to pass. As for us, we have turned back, & have let go thy commandments, to make contract with the people of these abominations. Will't thou then be wroth at us, till we be utterly consumed, so that nothing remain, and till there be no deliverance? O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous, for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day. Behold, in thy presence are we in our trespass, for because of it is there no standing before the. The X. Chapter. ANd when Eszdras prayed after this manner and knowledged, wept, and lay before the house of God, there resorted unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women, and children: for the people wept very sore. And Sachania the son of jehiel one of the children of Elam, answered, and said unto Eszdras: We have trespassed against the LORD our God, in that we have taken strange wives of all the people of the land. Now there is hope yet in Israel concerning this, therefore let us make a covenant now with our God, that we shall put away all the wives (and soch as are born of them) according to the council of the LORD, and of them that fear the commandment of our God, that we may do according to the law. Get the up therefore, for the matter belongeth unto the. We will be with thee, be of good comfort, and do it. Then rose Eszdras, and took an oath of the rulers, priests and Levites, and of all Israel, that they should do according to this word: and they sworn. And Eszdras stood up before the house of God, and went in to the chamber of johanan the son of Eliasab. And when he came thither, he ate no bread, and drank no water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been in captivity. And they caused a proclamation be made thorough out juda and jerusalem, unto all the children which had been in captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem: And that who soever came not within three days according to the device of the rulers and Elders, all his substance should be forfett, and he put out from the congregation of the captive. Then all the men of juda and Ben jamin gathered themselves together unto jerusalem in three days, that is on the twentieth day of the ninth month: and all the people sat in the street before the house of God, and trembled because of the matter, and for the rain. And Eszdras the priest stood up, and said unto them: 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉. 3. a You have transgressed, that you have taken strange wives, to make the trespass of Israel yet more: confess now therefore unto the LORD God of your fathers, & do his pleasure, and separate yourselves from the people of the land, & from the strange wives. Then answered all the congregation, & said with loud voice: Let it be done as thou hast said. But the people are many, & it is a rainy wether, & they cannot stand hear without, neither is this a work of one day or two, for we are many that have offended in this transgression. Let us appoint our rulers therefore in all the congregation, that all they which have taken strange wives in our cities, may come at the time appointed, and the Elders of every cite and their judges with them, till the wrath of our God because of this matter be turned away from us. Then were appointed jonathan the son of Asahel & jehasia the son of Thecua over this matter. And Mesullam and Sabthai the Levites helped them. And the children of the captivity did even so. And Eszdras the priest, and the ancient fathers thorough the house of their fathers, and all that were now rehearsed by name, separated themselves, and sat them down on the first day of the tenth month, to examine this matter. And on the first day of the first moaneth brought they the matter to a conclusion, concerning all the men that had taken strange wives. And among the children of the priests there were men found that had taken strange wives, namely among the children of jesua the son of josedec & of his brethren, Maeseia, Elieser, jarib and Godolia. And they gave their hands there upon, that they would put away their wives: & for their trespass offering to give a ramme for their trespass. Among the children of Immer, Hanani & Sabadia. Among the children of Harim, Maeseia, Elia, Semaia, jehiel, and Vsia. Among the children of Pashur, Elioenai, Maeseia, Ishmael, Nethaneel, josabad & Eleasa. Among the Levites, josabad, Simei and Celaia, He is that Celita, Pethahia, juda & Eleasar. Among the syngers, Elyasib. Among the porters, Sallum, Telem and Vri. Of Israel. Among the children of Pareos, Ramia, jesia, Malchia, Meiamin, Eleasar, Malchia & Benaia. Among the children of Elam, Mathania, Zachary, jehiel, Abdy, jeremoth & Elia. Among the children of Sathu, Elioenai, Eliasib, Mathania, jeremoth, Sabad & Asisa. Among the children of Bebai, johanan, Hanania, Sabai & Athlai. Among the children of Bani, Mesullam, Malluch, Adaia, jasub, Seal and jeremoth. Among the children of Pahath Moab, Adna, Chelal, Benaia, Maesea, Mathania, Bezaleel, Benui and Manasse. Among the children of Harim, Elieser, jesia, Malchia, Semaia, Simeon, Ben jamin, Malluch & Samaria. Among the children of Hasum, Mathnai, Mathatha, Sabad, Eliphelet, jeremai, Manasse & Simei. Among the children of Bani, Maedai, Amram, Huel, Benaia, Bedia, Chelui, Naia, Meremoth, Eliasib, Mathania, Mathnai, jaesau, Bani, Benui, Simei, Selemia, Nathan, Adaia, Machnadbai, Sasai, Sarai, Afareel, Selemia, Samaria, Sallum, Amaria, & joseph. Among the children of Nebo, jeiel, Mathithia, Sabad, Sebina, jaddai, joel, and Benaia. All these had taken strange wives. And among the same wives there were some, that had born children. The end of the first book of Eszdras. The second book of Esdras, otherwise called the book of Nehemias. What this book containeth. Chap. I Nehemias mourneth for the captivity of the people. Chap. II Nehemias optayneth licence of the king Artaxerses (otherwise called Arthasastha) to go unto jerusalem. Chap. III Of building the cite. Chap. four The officers go about to hinder the building. The jews watch, & prepare themselves to build and to fight. Chap. V Nehemias reproveth usury. Chap. VI The officers go about to kill Nehemias. Chap. VII. The number of them that depart from Babylon. Chap. VIII. In the feast of the Tabernacles readeth Eszdras the book of the law. Chap. IX. The law is read before the people, which are exhorted unto godliness. Chap. X. They renew the covenant with the LORD, and seal it. Chap. XI. How the people are sundered out, some to devil at jerusalem, and some in the cities without. Chap. XII. The names of the priests and Levites that went up with Zorobabel. Of the dedication of the brickwall at jerusalem. Chap. XIII. They separate the strangers from among the people of God. The portion of the Levites is appointed, and the Sabbath renewed. The first Chapter. THese are the acts of Nehemias the son of Hachalia. It fortuned in the month Chisleu in the twentieth year, that I was in the castle at Susan: and Hanani one of my brethren came with certain men of juda, and I axed them how the jews did that were delivered and escaped from the captivity, & how it went at Jerusalem. And they said unto me: The remnant of the captivity are there in the land in great misfortune & rebuke. ●. Re. 25. b The walls of jerusalem are broken down, and the ports thereof are brent with fire. When I heard these words, I sat me down & wept, & mourned two days, & fasted & prayed before the God of heaven, & said: O LORD God of heaven, thou great & terrible God, ●xo. 20. a ●nd 34. a ●eut. 7. b thou that keepest covenant & mercy for them that love the & observe thy commandments: let the ears mark, & let thy eyes be open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of the servant▪ which I pray now before the day and night for the children of Israel thy servants, & knowledge the sins of the children of Israel, which we have committed against the. And I & my father's house have sinned also. We have been corrupt unto thee, in that we have not kept the commandments, statutes & laws, which thou commaundedst the servant Moses. Yet call to remembrance the word that thou commaundedst thy servant Moses, and saidest: ●eut. 30 a If you transgress, then will I scatter you abroad among the nations. But if you turn unto me, and keep my commandments & do them: though you were cast out unto the uttermost part of heaven yet will I gather you from thence, and will bring you from thence, even unto the place, that I have choose for my name to devil there. They are thy servants, and thy people, whom thou hast delivered thorough thy great power & mighty hand. O LORD, let thy ears mark the prayer of thy servant, & the prayer of thy servants, whose desire is to fear thy name, & let thy servant prosper this day, & grant him mercy in the sight of this man: for I was the kings b●t●ar. The II Chapter. IN the month Nisan of the twentieth year of king Artaxerses, when the wine stood before him, I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king, and I was heavy in his presence. Then said the king unto me: Why lookest thou so sadly? Thou art not sick, that is not the matter, but thou art heavy hearted. Nevertheless I was sore afraid, & said unto the king: God save the kings life for ever, should I not look sadly? the cite of my father's burial lieth weigh'st, & the ports thereof are consumed with the fire. Then said the king unto me: What is then thy request? Then made I my prayer to the God of heaven, and said unto the king: if it please the king, and if thy servant be favoured in thy sight, I beseek the send me in to juda unto the cite of my father's burial, that I may build it. And the king said unto me, & so did the queen that sat by him: How long shall thy journey continue, and when will't thou come again? And it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time, & said unto the king: If it please the king, let him give me letters to the Debites beyond the water, that they may convey me over, till I come in to juda: & letters unto Assaph the lord of the kings would, that he may give me wodd for balks to the gates of the palace, which are hard on the house & hard on the walls of the cite, & for the house that I shall enter in to. And the king gave me according to the good hand of God upon me. And when I came to the Debites beyond the water, I gave them the kings letters. And the king sent captains and horsemen with me. But when Saneballath the Horonite, & Tobias the servant of the Ammonites heard that, it grieved them sore, that there was come a man which sought the wealth of the children of Israel. And when I came to jerusalem, & had been there three days, I got m● up in the night season, & a few men with me: for I told no man what God had given m● in my heart to do at jerusalem: & there was not one be'st with me, save it that I road upon. And I road by night unto the valley po●● before the Dragon well, & to the Dongporte, & considered the walls of jerusalem that were broken down, & the ports thereof consumed with the fire. And I went over unto the Well port, & to the kings conduit, & there was no room for my be'st, that it could go under me. Then went I on in the night by the broken side, & considered the brickwall, & turned back, & came home again to the valley port. And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did: for hither to had I not told the jews & the priests, the councelers & the rulers, & the other that laboured in the work, & I said unto them: You see the misery that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth wayst, & how the gates thereof are brent with fire, come, let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, that we be no more a rebuke. And I told than of the good hand of my God which was upon me: And the kings words that he had spoken unto me. And they said: Then let us get up. And we builded, and their hands were strengthened to good. But when Saneballat the Horonite, and Tobias the servant of the Ammonites, & Gosem the Arabian herd it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, & said: What is this that you do? Will you fall away again from the king? Then answered I them, and said: The God of heaven shall 'cause us to prosper: for we his servants are got up, & are building. As for you, you have no portion ner right, ner remembrance in Jerusalem. The III Chapter. ANd Eliasib the high priest got him up with his brethren the priests, and builded the Shepegate. They hallowed it, and set up the doors of it: even unto the tower Meam hallowed they it, namely unto the 〈…〉 tower of Hananeel. next unto him builded the men of jericho. And beside him builded Sachur the son of Imri. But the Fyshporte did the children of Senaa build, they covered it, and set on the doors, locks and bars of it. next unto him builded Meremoth the son of Vria the son of Hacoz. next unto him builded Mesullam the son of Barachias the son of Mesesabeel. next unto him builded Sadoc the son of Baena. next unto him builded they of Thecoa. But their great men put not their necks to the service of their lord. The Oldgate builded joiada the son of Passeah, & Mesullam the son of Besodia: they covered it, and set on the doors, locks & bars of it. next unto them builded Melacia of Gibeon, and jadon of Morono, men of Gibeon and of Mispa, for the seat of the debit on this side the water. next unto him builded Vsiel the son of Harhaia the goldsmith. next unto him builded Hanania the Apotecarys son, & they repaired Jerusalem unto the broad brickwall. next unto him builded Reph●ia the son of Her, the ruler of the half quarter of jerusalem. next unto him builded jedaia the son of Harumaph, over against his house. next unto him builded Hattus the son of Hasabenia. But Malchia the son of Harim, and Hasub the son of Pahath Moab builded the other piece, and the tower beside the furnace. next unto him builded Sallum the son of Halohes the ruler of the half quarter of jerusalem, and his daughters. The valley gate builded Hanum, and the citesins of Sanoah. They builded it, and set on the doors, locks and bars thereof, and a thousand cubytes on the brickwall, unto the Dongeporte. But the Dongeporte builded Malechia the son of Rechab, the ruler of the fourth part of the vynyardes: He builded it, & set on the doors, locks & bars thereof. But the Wellgate builded Sallum the son of Chal Hose, the ruler of the fourth part of Mispa: He builded it, & covered it, & set on the doors, locks, & bars thereof, & the brickwall unto the pole of Sybah by the kings garden, unto the steps that go down from the cite of David. After him builded Nehemia the son of Aszbulr, the ruler of the half quarter of Bethzur, until the other side over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pole Asuia, & unto the house of the mighty. After him builded the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. next unto him builded Hasabia the ruler of the half quarter at Regila in his quarter. After him builded their brethren, Banai the son of Henadab, the ruler of the half quarter of Segila. After him builded Eser the son of jesua the ruler of Mispa, the other piece hard over against the Harness corner. After him builded Baruc the son of Sabai the other piece worshipfully & costly, from the corner unto the door of the house of Eliasib the high priest. After him builded Meremoth the son of Vria the son of Hacoes the other piece, from the door of Eliasibs' house, unto the end of the house of Eliasib. After him builded the priests, the men of the country. After him builded Ben jamin and Hasub over against their house. After them builded Asaria the son of Maeseia the son of Anania next unto his house. After him builded Benui the son of Henadad the other piece from the house of Asaria unto the turning, and unto the corner. After him builded Palal the son of Vsai, over against the corner & the high tower, which lieth out over from the kings house, beside the court of the preson. After him Pedaia the son of Pareos (As for the Nethinims they dwelled in Ophel, unto the Watergate, toward the east where the tower lieth out) After him builded they of Thecoa the other piece over against the great tower, that lieth outward, and unto the brickwall of ●. Pa. 33. c Ophel. But from the Horsgate forth builded the priests, every one over against his house. After them builded Sadoc the son of Immer over against his house. After him builded Semaia the son of Sachania the keeper of the eastgate. After him builded Hanania the son of Selemia, & Hanum the son of Zalaph the sixte, the other peace. After him builded Mesullam the son of Berechia over against his chest. After him builded Malchia the goldsmiths son, until the house of the Nethinims▪ and of the merchants over against the council gate, and to the perler in the corner. And between the perler of the corner unto the Shepegate builded the gold smiths and the merchants. The four Chapter. But when Saneballat heard that we builded the brickwall, he was wroth, & took great indignation & mocked the Jews & said before his brethren & the mighty men of Samaria: What do the impotent jews? shall they be thus suffered? shall they offer? shall they perform it in one day? shall they make the stones whole again, that are brought to dust, & brent? And Tobias the Ammonite beside him said: Let them build on, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stony brickwall. Hear O thou our God, how we are despised, turn their shame upon their own head, that thou mayest give them over in to despising in the land of their captivity. Cover not their wickedness, & put not out their sin from the presence: for they have provoked the builders. Yet builded we the brickwall, & joined it whole together, unto the half height. And the people were well minded to labor But when Saneballat, & Tobias, and the Arabians, & Ammonites, & Aszdodites heard, that the walls of jerusalem were made up, and that they had begun to stop up the gaps, they were very wroth, and conspired all together, to come and fight against jerusalem, & to make an hindrance therein. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, & set watchmen upon the brickwall day & night over against them. And juda said: The strength of the bearers is to feeble, & there is to much dust, we are not able to build on the brickwall. And our adversaries thought: They shall not know neither see, till we come in the mids among them, and slay them, & hinder the work. But when the jews that dwelled beside them, came out of all the places where they dwelled about us, and told us as good as ten times, than set I the people after their kindred's with their swords, spears & bows beneath in the low places behind the brickwall, & looked, and got me up, and said unto the chief men and rulers, & to the other people: Be not you afraid of them, think upon the great LORD which aught to be feared, & fight for your brethren, sons, daughters, wives, & houses. Nevertheless when our enemies heard that we had got word of it, God brought their council to naught, and we turned all again to the brickwall, every one unto his labor. And from that time forth it came to pass, that the half part of the young men did the labour, & the other half part held the spears, shyldes, bows, and breastplates, and the rulers stood behind all the house of juda, which builded on the brickwall, & bore burdens, from those that jaded them. With one hand did they the work, and with the other held they the weapon. And every one that builded, had his sword gird by his side, & so builded they. And the trompetters stood beside me. And I said unto the principal men, & rulers, and to the other people: The work is great & large, & we are separated upon the brickwall one far from another. Look in what place now you hear the noise of the trump, resort you thiter unto us. 〈…〉 Our God shall fight for us, & we will be labouring in the work. And the half part of them held the spears from the morning springe, till the stars came forth. And at the same time said I unto the people: Every one abide with his servant at jerusalem, that in the night season we may give attendance to the watch, and to labour on the day tyme. As for me and my brethren, & my servants, and the men of the watch behind me, we put never of our clotheses, so so much as to wash ourselves. The V Chapter. ANd there arose a great complaint of the people, & of their wives against their brethren the jews. And there were some that said: our sons and daughters are to many, let us take corn for them, & eat, that we may live. Some said: Let us set our lands, vynyardes & houses to pledge, & take up corn in the dearth. But some said: Let us borrow money of the king upon usury for our lands and vynyardes. Now are our brethren's bodies as our own bodies, and their children as our children: else should we subdue our sons and daughters unto bondage, and some of our daughters are subdued already, and no strength is there in our hands, and other men shall have our lands and vynyardes. But when I heard their complaint and such words, it displeased me sore, and I advised so in my mind, that I rebuked the councelers, and the rulers, and said unto them: 〈…〉 Will you require usury one of another? And I brought a great congregation against them, and said unto them: We (after our ability) have bought our brethren the jews, which were sold unto the Heythen. And will you cell your brethren, whom we have bought unto us? Then held they their peace, & could find nothing to answer. And I said: It is not good that you do. Ought you not to walk in the fear of God, because of the rebuke of the Heythen our enemies? I and my brethren, and my servants have lent them money and corn: but as for usury, let us leave it. Therefore this same day see that you restore them their lands again, their vynyardes, oil gardens and houses, and the hundredth part of the money of the corn, wine and oil that you have won of them. Then said they: We will restore them again, and will require nothing of them, and will do as thou hast spoken. And I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do so. And I shaken my lap, and said: God shake out every man after the same manner from his house and labour, that maintaineth not this word: even thus be he shaken out, and void. And all the congregation said: Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did so. 〈…〉 And from the time forth that it was committed unto me to be a debit in the land of juda, namely from the twentieth year unto the two and thirtieth year of king Artaxerses (that is twelve year) I and my brethren lived not of such sustenaunbe as was given to a debit: For the old Debytes that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty Sycles of silver: Ye and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God. I laboured also in the work upon the brickwall, and bought no land. And all my servants came thither together unto the work. moreover there were at my table an hundredth and fifty of the jews and rulers, which came unto me, from among the Heythen, that are about us. And there was prepared me daily an ox, and six choose sheep, and birds, and ever once in ten days a great sum of wine. Yet required not I the living of a debit for the bondage was grievous unto the people. Think upon me my God unto the best, according to all that I have done for this people. 2. Esd. 1.3. ● The VI Chapter. ANd when Saneballat, Tobias and Gosem the Arabian, and the other of our enemies herd, that I had builded the brickwall, and that there were no more gaps there in (howbeit at the same time had I not hanged the doors upon the gates) Saneballat and Gosem sent unto me, saying: Come and let us meet together in the villages upon the plain of the cite On●. Nevertheless they thought to do me evil. notwithstanding I sent messaungers unto them, saying: I have a great business to do, I can not come down. The work should stand still, if I were negligent, and came down to you. Howbeit they sent unto me as good as four times after the same manner. And I gave the same answer. Then sent Saneballat his servant unto me the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand, wherein was written: It is told the Heythen, & Gosem hath said it, that thou and the jews think to rebel: for the which cause thou buyldest the brickwall, and wilt be their king in these matters, and hast ordained the prophets to preach of the at jerusalem, and to say: He is king of juda. Now shall this come to the kings ears: come now therefore, and let us take our council together. Nevertheless I sent unto him, saying: There is no such thing done as thou sayest: thou hast feigned it out of thy own heart. For they were all minded to make us afraid, and thought: They shall withdraw their hands from the work, that they shall not labour. Howbeit I strengthened my hand the more. And I came unto the house of Semaia the son of Delaia the son of Mechetabeel, & he had shut himself within, & said: Let us come together in to the house of God, even unto the mids of the temple, & spar the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee, ye even in the night will they come to put the to death. But I said: Should such a man fly? Should such a man as I am, go in to the temple, to save his life? I will not go in. For I perceived, that God had not sent him: Yet spoke he prophecy upon me, nevertheless Tobias and Saneballat had hired him for money. Therefore took he the money, that I should be afraid, and so to do and sin, that they might have an evil report of me, to blaspheme me. My God think thou upon Tobias and Saneballat, according unto these their works, and of the prophet Noadia, and of the other prophets, that would have put me in fear And the brickwall was finished on the five & twentieth day of the month Elul, in two and fifty days. And when all our enemies heard thereof, all the heathen that were about us, were afraid, and their courage failed them: for they perceived, that this work came of God. And at the same time were there many of the chief of juda, whose letters went unto Tobias, & from Tobias unto them (for there were many in juda that were sworn unto him: for he was the son in law of Sachania the son of Arah, and his son johanan had the daughter of Mesullam the son of Barachia, and they spoke good of him before me, and told him my words) And Tobias sent letters, to put me in fear. The VII. Chapter. NOw when we had builded the brickwall I hanged on the doors, and the porters, syngers and Levites were appointed. And I commanded my brother Hanani, and Hanania the ruler of the palace at jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God more than did many other) and I said unto them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the Son be hot. And while they are yet standing in the watch, the doors shall be shut and barred. And there were certain citesyns of jerusalem appointed to be watchmen, every one in his watch, and about his house. As for the cite, it was large of room, and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. And my God gave me in my heart, that I gathered together the principal men and the people, to number them, and I found a register of their number, ● Esd. 2. a which came up afore out of the captivity (whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away) and dwelled at jerusalem and in juda, every one unto his cite, and were come with Zorobabel, jesua, Nehemias, Asaria, Raamia, Naheman, Mardachai, Bilsan, Mispereth, Bigevai, Nehum and Baena. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel. The children of Pareos were two thousand, an hundredth and two and seventy: The children of Sephatia, three hundredth & two and seventy: the children of Arah, six hundredth and two and fifty: the children of Pahath Moab among the children of jesua and joab, two thousand, eight hundredth, and eighteen: the childron of Elam, a thousand, two hundredth, and four and fifty: the children of Sathu, eight hundredth & five and forty, the children of Sacai, seven hundredth and three score: the children of Benni, six hundredth, and eight and forty: the children of Bebai, six hundredth and eight and twenty: the children of Asgad, two thousand, three hundredth and two and twenty: the children of Adonicam, six hundredth & three score: the children of Bigevai, two thousand, and seven and three score: the children of Adin, six hundredth & five and fifty: the children of Atter of Ezechias, eight and nyentye. The children of Hasum, three hundredth & eight and twenty: the children of Bezai, three hundredth and four and twenty: the children of Hariph, an hundredth and twelve: the children of Gibeon, five and nyentye the men of Bethleem and Netopha, an hundredth and eight and four score: the men of Anathot, an hundredth and eight and twenty: the men of Beth Asmaveth, two and forty: the men of Ririath jearim, Caphira and Beeroth, seven hundredth and three and forty: the men of Rama and Gaba, six hundredth and one and twenty: the men of Michmas, an hundredth and two and twenty: the men of Bethel and Ai, an hundredth and three and twenty: the men of Nebo, an hundredth and two and fifty: the children of the other Elam, a thousand, two hundredth and four and fifty: the children of Haram, three three hundredth and twenty: the children of jericho: three hundredth and five and forty the children of Lodhadid & Ono, seven hundredth and one and twenty: the children of Senaa, three thousand, nine hundredth and thirty. The priests. The children of jedaia of the house of jesua, nine hundredth and three and seventy: the children of Immer, a thousand and two and fifty: the children of Pashur, a thousand, two hundredth and seven and forty: the children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. The Levites. The children of jesua of Cadmiel among the children of Hodua, four & seventy. The syngers. The children of Assaph, an hundredth and eight and forty. The porters were: The children of Sallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Acub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai, altogether an hundredth and eight and thirty. The Nethinims. The children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabaoth, the children of Ceros, the children of Sia, the children of Pardon, the children of Libana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai, the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaia, the children of Rezin, the children of Necoda, the children of Gasam, the children of Vsa, the children of Passeah, the children of Bessai, the children of Megunim, the children of Nephusim, the children of Bachuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur, the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsa, the children of Barcos, the children of Sissera, the children of Thamah, the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. The children of Salomons servants were: The children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Prida, the children of jaela, the children of Darcon, the children of Giddel, the children of Sephatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinims & the children of Salomons servants, were three hundredth and two and ninety. And these went up also: Michael, Mela, Thel, Harsa, Cherub, Addom, Immer: but they could not show their father's house ner their seed, whether they were of Israel. The children of Delaia, the children of Tobia, & the children of Necoda, were six hundredth & two & forty. And of the priests were, the children of Habaia, the children of Hacoz, the children of Barsillai, which took one of the daughters of Barsillai the Gileadite to wife, and was named afther their name. These sought the register of their generation, and when they found it not, they were put from the priesthood. And Hathirsatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy, till there came up a priest with the light and perfectness. The whole congregation as one man, was two and forty thousand there hundredth, and three score: beside their servants and maids, of whom there were seven thousand, three hundredth and seven and thirty. And they had two hundredth and seven and forty synginge men and women, seven hundredth and six and thirty horses, two hundredth and five and forty Mules, four hundredth and five and thirty Camels: six thousand, seven hundredth and twenty Asses. And certain of the awncient fathers gave unto the work. Hathirsatha gave to the treasure a thousand guldens, fifty basins, five hundredth and thirty priests garments. And some of the chief fathers gave unto the treasure of the work, twenty thousand guldens, two thousand and two hundredth pound of silver. And the other people gave twenty thousand guldens, and two thousand pound of silver, and seven and threescore priests garments. And the priests and Levites, the Porters, the syngers, and the other of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelled in their cities. The VIII. Chapter. NOw when the seventh month drew nigh, and the children of Israel were in their cities, all the people gathered themselves together as one man upon the street before the Watergate, and said unto Eszdras the scribe, that he should fetch the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD commanded Israel. Deu. 31. c 4. Re. 2●. ● And Eszdras the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and of all that could understand it, upon the first day of the seventh month, and read therein in the street that is before the Watergate, from the light morning until the noon day before men and women and such as could understand it: and the ears of all the people were inclined unto the book of the law. And Eszdras the scribe stood upon an high pulpit of wood, which they had made for the preaching, & beside him stood Mathithia, Sema, Anania Vria, Ezechias, and Maescia on his right hand: And on his left hand stood Pedaia, Misael, Malchia, Hasum, Haszbadana, Zachary and Mesullam. And Eszdras opened the book before all the people, for he stood above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Eszdras praised the LORD the great God. And all the people answered Amen, Amen, with their hands up, and bowed themselves, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. And jesua, Bani, Serebia, jamin, Acub, Sabthai, Hodaia, Maescia, Celita, Asaria, josabad, Hanam, Plaia, and the Levites, caused the people to give heed unto the law, & the people stood in their place. And they read in the book of the law of God distinctly and plainly, so that men understood the thing that was read. And Nehemias (which is Hathirsatha) and Esdras the priest and scribe, and the Levites that caused the people to take heed, said unto all the people: This day is holy unto the LORD your God: be not you sorry therefore, & weep not. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Therefore said he unto them: * Go your way, and eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them also that have not prepared themselves: for this day is holy unto our LORD, be not you sorry therefore: for the joy of the LORD is your strength. And the Levites stylled all the people, and said: Hold your peace, for the day is holy, vex not you yourselves. And all the people went their way to eat and drink, and to send pa●te unto other, and to make great mirth, for they had understand the words that were declared unto them. And on the next day were gathered together the chief fathers among all the people, and the priests and Levites, unto Esdras the scribe, that he should teach them the words of the law. And they found written in the law, Levi. 23. f how that the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should devil in bothes in the feast of the seventh month. And so they caused it be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, & at jerusalem, saying: Go up unto the mount and fetch olive branches, Pynebraunches, Myrtbraunches, Palmebraunches, & branches of thicketrees, to make bothes as it is written. And the people went up, and fetched them, and made them bothes, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street by the Watergate, and in the street by Ephraim's port. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made bothes, and dwelled therein: for sense the time of josua the son of Num unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great gladness. And every day from the first day unto the last, read he in the book of the law of God. And seven days held they the feast, & on the eight day the gathering together, according unto the manner. The IX. Chapter. IN the four and twentieth day of this month came the children of Israel together with fasting and sack clotheses, and earth upon them, and separated the seed of Israel from all the strange children, and stood and knowledged their sins, and the wyckednesses of their fathers, and stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God four times on the day, and they knowledged, and worshipped the LORD their God four times on the day. And the Levites stood on high, namely jesua, Bani, Cadmiel, Sebania, Buni, Serebia, Bani, and Chenanis, and cried loud unto the LORD their God. And the Levites, jesua, Cadmiel, Bani, Hasabenia, Serebia, Hodia, Sebania, Pethahia, said: stand up, praise the LORD our God for ever: and let thanks be given unto the name of thy glory, which excels all thanksgiving and praise. LORD, thou art alone, thou hast made heaven, and the heaven of all heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that therein is, the See and all that is therein: thou givest life unto all, and the host of heaven bow themselves unto the. Thou art the LORD God, that hast choose Abram, and brought him out of Vr in Chaldea, 〈…〉 & called him Abraham, and found his heart faithful before thee, 〈…〉 and madest a covenant with him, to give unto his seed the land of the Canaanites, hittites, Amorites, Pheresites, jebusites, and Girgosites, and hast made good thy words: for thou art righteous 〈…〉 And hast considered the misery of our fathers in Egipte, and heard their complaint by the reed See, and showed tokens and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all his people of his land: for thou knewest that they were presumptuous & cruel against them, & so madest thou 〈…〉 the a name as it is this day. And the reed See partedst thou in sunder before them, so that they went thorough the mids of the See dry shod: & their persecutors threwest thou in to the deep as a stone, in the mighty waters, and leddest them on the day time in a cloudy pillar, and on the night season in a piler of fire, to show them light in the way that they went. Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest unto them from heaven, 〈…〉 and gavest them right judgements, true laws, good commandments and statutes, and declared unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, ordinances, and laws, by Moses thy servant: and 〈…〉 gavest them bread from heaven when they were hungry, and 〈…〉 brought forth water for them out of the rock when they were thirsty: and promised them, 〈…〉 that they should go in, and take possession of the land, where over thou hadst lift up thy hand for to give them. Nevertheless our fathers were proud and hardnecked, so that they followed not the commandments, and refused to hear, and were not mindful of the wonders that thou didst for them: but become obstinate and heady, in so much that they turned back to their bondage in their dishobedience. But thou my God forgavest, and waste gracious, merciful, patient, and of great goodness, and forsokest them not. 〈◊〉▪ ●2. b And though they made a molten calf (and said: This is thy God, that brought the out of the land of Egipte) and did great blasphemies, yet for sokest thou them not in the wilderness, according to thy great mercy. 〈…〉 And the cloudy piler departed not from them on the day time to lead them the way, neither the piler of fire in the night season, to show them light in the way that they went. And thou gavest them thy good spirit to inform them, 〈…〉 and withheldest not thy Manna from their mouth, 〈…〉 and gavest them water when they were thirsty. Forty years long madest thou provision for them in the wilderness, so that they wanted nothing: 〈…〉 their clotheses waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. And thou gavest them kingdoms & nations, & partedst them according to their portions, so that they possessed 〈…〉 the land of Sihon king of Heszbon, & the land of Og the king of Basan. 〈…〉 And their children multiplyedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them in to the land whereof thou hadst spoken unto their fathers, that they should go in to it, and have it in possession. And the children went in, and possessed the land, 〈◊〉▪ ●3. 4 and thou subdudest before them the inhabiters of the land, even the Canaanites, & gavest them in to their hand, and their kings and the people of the land, that they might do with them what they would. And they wan their strong cities, & a fat land, and took possession of houses that were full of all manner goods, wells digged out, vynyardes, oylgardens, & many fruitful trees: and they ate & were filled, & become fat, & lived in wealth thorough thy great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, 〈◊〉. 1●. b and slew thy prophets (which exhorted them so earnestly, that they should convert unto thee) and did great blasphemies. Therefore gavest thou them over in to the hand of their enemies that vexed them. And in the time of their trouble they cried unto thee, and thou hardest them from heaven: and thorough thy great mercy thou gavest them saviours, which helped them out of the hand of their enemies. But when they came to rest, they turned back again to do evil before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. So they converted, and cried unto thee, and thou herdest them from heaven, and many a time hast thou delivered them according to the great mercy, and testified unto them, that they should turn again unto thy law. notwithstanding they were proud, and herkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned in thy laws (which a man should do, & live in them) & turned their shoulder away, & were stiffnecked, & would not hear. And many years didst thou forbear them, & testified unto them thorough the spirit, even by the office of the prophets, & yet would they not hear. Therefore gavest thou them in to the hand of the nations in the lands. But for thy great mercy's sake thou hast not utterly consumed them, neither forsaken them: for thou art a gracious and merciful God. Now our God, thou great God, mighty and terrible, thou that keepest covenant and mercy, regard not a little all the travail that hath happened unto us, & our kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers & all thy people, sense the time of the kings of Assur unto this day. Thou art righteous in all that thou hast brought upon us: for thou hast done right. As for us, we have been ungodly, and our kings, princes, priests & fathers have not done after the law, ner regarded the commandments, & thy earnest exhortations wherewith thou hast exhorted them, & have not served the in their kingdom, and in thy great goods that thou gavest them, and in the large and plenteous land which thou gavest them to good, and have not converted from their wicked works. Behold, therefore are we in bondage this day: Ye even in the land that thou gavest unto our fathers, to enjoy the fruits and goods thereof, behold, there are we bondmen. And great is the increase of it unto the kings, whom thou hast set over us because of our sins, and they have dominion over our bodies and cattles, and we are in great trouble. And in all this made we a sure covenant, & written it, & let our princes, Levites & priests seal it. The X. Chapter. THe sealer's were: Nehemias (that is) Hathirsatha the son of Hachalia and Sedechias, Seraia, Asaria, jeremy, Pashur, Amaria, Malchia, Hattus, Sebania, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadia, Daniel, Sinthun, Baruch, Mesullam, Abia, Meiamin, Maasga, Bilgai and Semaia: these were priests. The Levites were: jesua the son of Asania, Binui among the children of Henadad, Cadmiel. And their brethren: Sechania, Hodia, Celita, Plaia, Havan, Micha, Rehob, Hasabia, Sachur, Serebia, Sebania, Hodia, Bani and Beninu. The heads of the people were: Pareos, Pahath Moab, Elam, Sathu, Bani, Buni, Asgad, Sebai, Adonia, Bigenai, Adieu, Ater, Hezechias, Asur, Hodia, Hasum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathot, Neubai, Magpias, Mesullam, Hesir, Mesesabeel, Sadoc, jaddua, Platia, Hanan, Anaia, Hoseia, Hanania, Hasub, Halohes, Pilha, Sobek, Rehum, Hasabna, Maeseia, Ahia, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim and Baena. And the other people, the priests, Levites, Porters, syngers. Nethinims, & all they that had separated themselves from the people in the lands unto the law of God, with their wives, sons and daughters, as many as could understand it, and their lords that had rule of them, received it for their brethren. ●osu. 24 ᵉ ●. Par. 15. c And they came to swear, and to bind themselves with an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, that they would observe and do according unto all the commandments, judgements and statutes of the LORD our God: Deut. 7. a and that we would not give our daughters unto the people in the land, neither to take their daughters for our sons. ●. Esd. 13. c And if the people of the land brought ware on the Sabbath, and all manner of vytayles to cell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy days. Levi. 25. a Deut. 15. a And that we would let the seventh year be free concerning all manner of charge. And we laid a statute upon ourselves, to give yearly the third part of a Sycle to the ministration in the house of our God, namely to the shewbred, to the daily meat-offering, to the daily burned offering of the Sabbathes, of the new moans and feast days, and to the things that were sanctified, and to the sin offerings, to reconcile Israel with all, and to all the business in the house of our God. And we cast the lot among the priests, Levites and the people, for offering of the wood, to be brought unto the house of our God from year to year, after the houses of our fathers, that it might be brent at times appointed, upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law: and yearly to bring the firstlinges of our land, & the firstlinges of our fruits of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD: and the firstlinges of our sons, and of our cattles, as it is written in the law: and the firstlinges of our oxen and of our sheep, that we should bring all this to the house of our God unto the priests that minister in the house of our God: and that we should bring the firstlinges of our dough, and of our Have offerings, and the fruits of all manner trees, of wine also and of oil, unto the priests to the chests of the house of our God. And the tithes of oh land unto the Levites, that the Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our ministration. And the priest the son of Aaron shall with the Levites have also of the tithes of the Levites, so that the Levites shall bring up the tithes of their tithes unto the house of our God to the chest in the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring up the Have offerings of the corn, wine and oil unto the chests, there are the vessels of the Sanctuary, & the priests that minister, and the porters & syngers, that we forsake not the house of our God. The XI. Chapter. ANd the rulers of the people dwelled at jerusalem. But the other people cast lots therefore, so that among ten one part went to jerusalem in to the holy cite to devil, and nine parts in the cities. And the people thanked all the men that were willing to devil at jerusalem. These are the heads of the land that dwelled at jerusalem. In the cities dwelled juda every one in his possession that was in their cities, namely Israel, the priests, Levites, the Nethinims, and the children of Salomons servants. And at Jerusalem dwelled certain of the children of juda & of Ben jamin. Of the children of juda: 〈…〉 Athaia the son of Vsia the son of Zachary, the son of Amaria, the son of Sephatia, the son of Mahelaleel, of the children of Phares. And Maeseia the son of Baruch, the son of Chal Hose, the son of Hasaia, the son of Adaia, the son of joiarib, the son of Zachary, the son of Siloni. All the children of Phares that dwelled at jerusalem, were four C. and eight & three score valiant men. These are the children of Ben jamin: salu the son of Mesullam, the son of joed, 〈…〉 the son of Pedaia, the son of Colaia, the son of Maeseia, the son of Ithiel, the son of jesaia. And after him Sabai, Sallai: nine hundredth and eight and twenty. And joel the son of Sichri had the oversight of them: and juda the son of Hasnua over the second part of the cite. 〈…〉 Of the priests there dwelled: jedaia the son of joiarib, jachin. Seraia the son of Helchias the son of Mesullam, the son of Sadoc, the son of Meraioth, the son of Achitob, was prince in the house of God: & his brethren that performed the work in the house: of whom there were viij. C. and xxij. And Adaia the son of jeroham, the son of Plalia, the son of Amzi, the son of Zachary, the son of Pashur & his brethren, chief among the fathers: of whom there were two hundredth and two and forty. And Amassai the son of Asariel the son of Ahusai, the son of Mesillemoth, the son of Immer: and his brethren were valiant men, of whom there were an hundredth and eight and twenty. And their overseer was Sabdaiel the son of Gedolim. Of the Levites: Semaia the son of Hasub, 〈◊〉. 1●. b the son of Asrikam, the son of Hasabia, the son of Bunni: And Sabthai and josabad of the chief of the Levites, in the outward business of the house of God. And Mathania the son of Micha, the son of Sabdi, the son of Assaph, which was the principal to begin the thanksgiving unto prayer. And bacbuchia the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Sammua, the son of Galal, the son of jedithun. All the Levites in the holy cite were two hundredth and four & four score. 〈◊〉 1●. c And the porters Acub and Talman, and their brethren that kept the ports, were an hundredth and two and seventy. As for the residue of Israel, the priests and Levites, they were in all the cities of juda, every one in his inheritance. And the Nethinims dwelled in Ophel: and Zipha and Gispa belonged unto the Nethinims. The overseer of the Levites at jerusalem, was Vsi the son of Bani, the son of Hasabia, the son of Mathania, the son of Micha. Of the children of Assaph there were syngers about the business in the house of God: for it was the kings commandment concerning them, that the syngers should deal faithfully, every day as according was. And Pethaia the son of Mesesabeel of the children of Serah the son of juda next the king in all matters concerning the people. And the children of juda that were without in the towns of their land, dwelled some at Kiriath Arba, and in the villages thereof, & at Dibon, and in the villages thereof: and at Cabzeel, and in the villages thereof: and at jesua, Molada, Bethphalet, Hazarsual, Berseba and in their villages: & at Siclag and Mochona, and in their villages: And at Enrimmon, Zarega, jeremuth, Sanoah, Adullam and in their villages: At Lachis, and in the fields thereof: At Aseka, and in the villages thereof: and dwelled from Berseba unto the valley of Hinnom. The children of Ben jamin of Gaba, dwelled at Michmas, Aia, Bethel and in their villages. And at Anathoth, Nob, Anania, Hazor, Rama, Githaim, Hadid, Ziboim, Neballat, Lod, Ono & in the Carpenter's valley. And certain of the Levites that had portions in juda, dwelled in Ben jamin. The XII. Chapter. THese are the priests and Levites that went up with Zorobabel the son of Saalthiel and with jesua: Seraia, jeremy, Esdras, Amaria, Malluch, Hattus, Sechania, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginthoi, Abia, Meiamin, Maadia, Bilga, Semaia, joiarib, jedaia, salu, Amok, Helchias & jedaia. These were the heads among the priests and their brethren in the time of jesua. The Levites were these: jesua, Bennui, Cadmiel, Serebia, juda and Mathania, over the office of thanksgiving, they & their brethren: Bacbuchia & Vnni and their brethren, were about them in the watches. jesua begat joachim. joachim begat Eliasib. Eliasib begat joiada. joiada begat jonathan. jonathan begat jaddua. And in the time of joachim were these the chief fathers among the priests: namely of Seraia was Meraia, of jeremy was Hanania, of Eszdras was Mesullam, of Amaria was johanan, of Malluch was jonathan, of Sebania was joseph, of Harim was Adna, of Meraioth was Helcai, of Iddo was Zachary, of Ginthon was Mesullan, of Abia was Sichri, of Miniamin Moadia was Piltai, of Bilga was Sammua, of Semaia was jonathan, of joiarib was Mathnai, of jedaia was Vsi, of Sallai was Callai, of Amok was Eber, of Helchias was Hasabia, of Gedaia, was Nethaneel. And in the time of Eliasib. joiada, johanan and jaddua, were the chief fathers among the Levites, and the priests written under the reign of Darius the Persian. The children of Levi the principal fathers were written in the Chronicles, until the time of johanan the son of Eliasib. And these were the chief among the Levites, Hasabia, Serebia and jesua the son of Cadmiel, & their brethren over against them, to give praise and thanks, according as David the man of God had ordained it, one watch over against another. Mathania, Bacbuchia, Obadia, Mesullam, Talmon and Acub were porters in the watch at the thresholdes of the gates. These were in the time of joiachim the son of jesua the son of josedec, and in the time of Nehemias the debit, and of the priest Eszdras the scribe. And in the dedication of the brickwall at jerusalem, were the Levites sought out of all their places, that they might be brought to jerusalem, to keep the dedication in gladness, with thanksgivings, with synginge, with Cymbales, Psalteries and haps. And the children of the syngers gathered them selves together from the plain country about jerusalem, and from the villages of Nethophathi, and from the house of Gilgal, & out of the fields of Gibea & Asmaveth: for the syngers had builded them villages about jerusalem. And the priests and Levites purified themselves, and cleansed the people, the gates and the brickwall. And I caused the princes to go up upon the brickwall, and appointed two great queres of thanksgiving, which went on the right hand of the brickwall toward the Donggate, and after them went Hosaia, and half of the princes of juda, & Asaria, Eszdras, Mesullam, juda, Ben jamin, Semaia and jeremy: and certain of the priests children with trumpets, namely Zachary the son of jonathan, the son of Semaia, the son of Mathania, the son of Michaia, the son of Sachur, the son of Assaph, and his brethren, Semaia, Asareel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nathaneel and juda and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Eszdras the scribe before them toward the Wellgate, and they went up over against them upon the steps of the cite of David at the going up of the brickwall to the house of David, unto the Watergate Eastward. The other quere of thanksgiving went over against them, and I after them, and the half part of the people upon the brickwall, toward the Fornacegate upward, until the broad brickwall, and to the port of Ephraim, and to the Oldgate, and to the Fyshgate, and to the tower of Hananeel, and to the tower of Meah, until the Shepegate. And in the presongate stood they still, and so stood the two queres of thanksgiving of the house of God, and I and the half of the rulers with me, and the priests, namely Eliachim, Maeseia, Miniamin, Michaia, Elioenai, Zachary, Hanania, with trumpets, and Maeseia, Semaia, Eleasar, Vsi, johanan, Malchia, Elam and Aser. And the syngers song loud, and jesrahia was the overseer. And the same day were there great sacrifices offered, & they rejoiced: for God had given them great gladness, so that both the wives and children were joyful, & the mirth of jerusalem was heard far of. At the same time were there men appointed over the treasure chests (wherein were the Have offerings, the firstlinges and the tithes) that they should gather them out of the fields about the cities, to distribute them unto the priests and Levites according to the law: for juda was glad of the priests, and Levites, that they stood and waited upon the office of their God, and the office of the purification. And the syngers & porters stood after the commandment of David & of Solomon his son: 〈…〉 for in the time of David and Assaph, were the chief syngers founded, and the songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. In the time of Zorobabel and Nehemias, did all Israel give portions unto the syngers and porters, every day his portion, and they gave things hallowed unto the Levites, and the Levites gave things that were sanctified, unto the children of Aaron. The XIII. Chapter. 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 Moabites should never come in to 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 in to a blessing. Now when they heard the law, they separated from Israel every one that had mixed himself therein. And before this had the priest Eliasib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobia: for he had made him a great chest, and there had they aforetime laid the meat offerings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil (according to the commandment given to the Levites, syngers and porters) and the Have offerings of the priests. But in all this was not I at jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerses king of Babylon, came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I licence of the king to come to Jerusalem. And I got knowledge of the evil that Eliasib did unto Tobia, in that he had 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 Tobias house out of the chest, and commanded them to cleanse the chest. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the meat offering and the incense. And I perceived, that the portions of the Levites were not given them, for the which cause the Levites and syngers were fled, every one 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 juda the tithes of corn, wine and oil unto the treasure. And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Selemia the priest, and Sadoc the scribe, & of the Levites Pedaia, and under their hand Hanan the son of Sachur the son of Mathania: for they were counted faithful, and their office was, to distribute unto their brethren. 〈…〉 Think upon me O my God here in, & wipe not out my mercy, that I have showed on the house of my God, & on the offices thereof. At the same time saw I some tredinge wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in clusters, and asses laden 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 vytayles. There dwelled men of tire also therein, which brought fish and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of juda and jerusalem. Then reproved I the rulers in juda, and said unto them: What evil thing is this that you do, and break the Sabbath day? Did not our fathers even thus, and our God brought all this plague upon us & upon this cite? And you make the wrath more yet upon Israel, in that you break the Sabbath. And when the ports of jerusalem were slawen up 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 merchants once or twice over night without jerusalem with all manner of wares. Then reproved I them sore, & said unto them: Why tarry you all night about the brickwall? If you do it once again, I will say hands upon you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I said unto the Levites which were clean, that they should come and keep the gates, to hallow the Sabbath day. Think upon me (O my God) concerning this also, & spare me according to thy great mercy. And at the same time saw I jews, that married wives of Asdod, Ammon and of Moab, and their children spoke half in the speech of Asdod, and could not speak in the jewish language, but by the tongue might a man perceive every people. And I reproved them, and cursed them, & smote certain men of them, and plucte them up, and took an oath of them by God: Deut. 7. You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, neither shall you take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. 3. Re. 11. Did not Solomon the king of Israel sin there in & yet among many heathen was there no king like him, & he was dear unto his God, and God made him king over all Israel, and the outlandish women. And one of the children of joiada the son of Eliasib the high priest, had made a contract with Saneballath the Horonite: but I chased him fro me. O my God, think thou upon them that are quite of the priesthood, and have desyled 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 first fruits. Think thou upon me (O my God) for the best. The end of the second book of Eszdras, otherwise called the book of Nehemias. The book of Hester. What this book containeth. Chap. I Ahasuerus maketh a great feast to his lords and princes, calleth for Vasthi the queen, she cometh not, therefore is she deposed from the kingdom. Chap. II Among the daughters, Hester pleaseth the king. Mardocheus giveth the king warning of his harm. Chap. III Aman is great with the king, hateth Mardocheus that will not worship him, and commandeth to slay all the jews. Chap. four great heaviness among the jews. Chap. V Hester cometh before the king, and biddeth him and Aman to a feast. Aman maketh a galowe for Mardocheus. Chap. VI Mardocheus is recompensed for his friendship showed unto the king. Chap. VII. Hester prayeth for her people, Aman is hanged on the gallow that he had prepared for Mardocheus. Chap. VIII. The king giveth Amans house unto the queen, and at her request he causeth Amans writings to be called again. Chap. IX. Amans sons are hanged also, and many enemies slain. The jews keep a joyful feast. Chap. X. Of the authority of Mardocheus under the king. The first Chapter. IN the time of Ahasuerus, which reigned from India unto Ethiopia, over an hundredth and seven and twenty lands, what time as he sat on his seat royal in the castle of Susan in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and servants, namely unto the mihgtie men of Persia and Media, to the Debities and rulers of his countries, that he might show the noble riches of his kingdom, and the glorious worship of his greatness, many days long, even an hundredth and four score days. And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were in the castle of Susan, both unto great and small, seven days long in the court of the garden by the kings palace: where there hanged white, reed & yalow clotheses, fastened with cords of linen and scarlet in silver rings, upon pylers of Marble stone. The benches were of gold and silver made upon a pavement of green, white, yalow● and black Marble. And the drink was carried in vessels of gold, and there was ever change of vessel. And the kings wine was much according to the power of the king. And no man was appointed what he should drink: for the king had commanded all the officers of his house, that every one should do as it liked him. And the queen Vasthi made a feast also for the women in the palace of Ahasuerus. And on the seventh day when the king was merry of the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bistha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Sethar and Charcas, the seven chamberlains (that did service in the presence of king Ahasuerus) to fetch the queen Vasthi with the crown regal, that he might show the people and princes her fairness: for she was beautiful. But the queen Vasthi would not come at the kings word by his chamberlains. Then was the king very wroth, and his indignation kindled in him. And the king spoke to the wise men that had understanding in the ordinances of the land (for the kings matters must be handled before all such as have knowledge of the law and judgement: And the next unto him were, Charsena, Sethar, Admatha, Tharsis, Meres, Marsena and Memuchan, the seven princes of the Persians', and Medes, which saw the kings face, and sat above in the kingdom) What law should be execute upon the queen Vasthi, because she did not according to the word of the king by his chamberlains. Then said Memuchan before the king & the princes: The queen Vasthi hath not only done evil against the king but also against all the princes and all the people in all the lands of king Ahasuerus for this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their huszbandes before their eyes, and shall say: The king Ahasuers commanded Vasthi the queen to come before him, but she would not. And so shall the pryncesses in Persia and Media say likewise unto all the kings princes, when they hear of this deed of the queen, thus shall there arise despytefulnes and wrath enough. If it please the king, let there go a kingly commandment from him, and let it be written according to the law of the Persians and Median● (and not to be transgressed) that Vasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus, and let the king give the kingdom unto another that is better than she. And that this writing of the king which shallbe made, be published thorough out all his empire (which is great) that all wives may hold their huszbandes in honour, both among great and small. This pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memuchan. Then were there letters sent forth in to all the kings lands, in to every land according to the writing there of, and to every people after their language, that every man should be lord in his own house. And this caused he be spoken after the language of his people. The two Chapter. AFter these acts when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was laid, he thought upon Vasthi, what she had done, and what was concluded concerning her. Then said the kings servants: Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king, and let the king appoint overseers in all the lands of his empire, that they may bring together all fair young virgins unto the castle of Susan to the Wemens' building, under the hand of Hegai the kings clamberlayne, that keepeth the women, and let him give them their apparel. And look which damsel pleaseth the king, let her be queen in Vasthis stead. This pleased the king, and he did so. In the castle of Susan there was a jew, whose name was Mardocheus, the son of jair, the son of Simei, the son of Cis, the son of jemini, which was carried away from jerusalem, 〈…〉 when jechonias the king of juda was led away, (whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon carried away) and he nourished Hadassa (that is Hester) his uncles daughter: for she had neither father ner mother, and she was a fair and beautiful damsel. And when her father and mother died, Mardocheus received her as his own daughter. Now when the kings commandment and commission was published, & many dansels were brought together unto the castle of Susan under the hand of Hegai, Hester, was taken also unto the kings house under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the women, & the damsel pleased him, & she found grace in his sight. And he put her with her maidens in the best place of the women's building. And Hester showed it not unto her people & her kindred: for Mardocheus had charged her, that she should not tell it. And Mardocheus walked every day before the court of the women's building, that he might know how Hester did, and what should be come of her. And when the appointed time of every damsel came that she should come to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months in the decking of the women (for their decking must have so much time, namely six months with Balm & Myrrh, & six months with good spices, so were the women beutifyed) then went there one damsel unto the king, and what so ever she required, that must be given her to go with her out of the women's building unto the kings palace. And when one came in the evening, the same went from him on the morrow in to the second house of women, under the hand of Saasgas the kings chamberlain, which kept the concubines. And she must come unto the king no more, except it pleased the king, and that he caused her to be called by name. Now when the time came of Hester the daughter of Abihail Mardocheus uncle (whom he had received as his own daughter) that she should come to the king, she desired nothing but what Hegai the kings chamberlain the keeper of the women said. And Hester found favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. And Hester was taken unto king Ahasuerus in to the house royal, in the tenth month which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Hester above all the women, and she found grace and mercy in his sight before all the virgins: and he set the queens crown upon her head, and made her queen in stead of Vasthi. And the kynke made a 〈◊〉 feast unto all his princes and servants (●h●ch feast was because of Hester) and let the lands be in quietness, & gave royal gifts. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mardocheus sat in the kings gate. And as yet had not Hester showed her kindred and her people, according as Mardocheus had bidden her: for Hester did after the word of Mardocheus, like as when he was her tutor. At the same time while Mardocheus sat in the kings gate, two of the kings chamberlains▪ Bigthan and Therewhich kept the door, were wroth, and sought to say their hands on the king Ahasuerus: Whereof Mardocheus got knowledge, and told it unto queen Hester, and Hester certified the king thereof in Mardocheus name. And when inquisition was made, it was found so. And they were both hanged on tree: and it was written in the Chronicles before the king. The III Chapter. AFter these acts did the king promote Aman the son of Amadathi the Agagite, und set him high, & set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the kings servants that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and did reverence unto Aman: for the king had so commanded. But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, and worshipped him not. Then the kings servants which were in the kings gate, said unto Mardocheus: Why transgressest thou the kings commandment? And when they spoke this daily unto him, and he followed them not, they told Aman, that they might see whether Mardocheus matters would endure: for he had told them, that he was a jewe. And when Aman saw, that Mardocheus bowed not the knee unto him, ner worshipped him, he was full of indignation & despite, that he should say hands only on Mardocheus: for they had showed him the people of Mardocheus, but he sought to destroy the people of Mardocheus, and all the people that were in the whole empire of Ahasuerus. In the first month that is the month Nissan, in the twolueth year of king Ahasuerus, was there occasion and opportunity sought by Aman, from one day to another, and from the same month unto the twolueth month, that is the month Adar. And Aman said unto king Ahasuerus: There is a people scattered abroad and dispersed among all people in all the lands of thy empire, and their law is contrary unto all people, and they do not after the kings laws, neither is it the kings profit to suffer them after this manner. If it please the king, let him write, that they may be destroyed, & so will I weigh down ten thousand talentes of silver, under the hands of the workmen, to be brought in to the kings chamber. Then took the king his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Aman the son of Amadathi the Agagite the jews enemy. And the king said unto Aman: Let the silver be given thee, and that people also, to do withal what pleaseth the. Then were the kings scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, & there was written (according as Aman commanded) unto the kings princes, and to the Debites every where in the lands, and to the captains of every people in the countries on every side, according to the writing of every nation, and after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the kings ring. And the writings were sent by posts in to all the kings lands, to rote out, to kill, and to destroy all jews, both young and old, children and women in one day (namely upon the thirteenth day of the twolueth month, which is the month Adar) and to spoil their goods. This was the sum of the writing, that there should be a commandment given in all lands, to be published unto all people, that they should be ready against the same day. And the posts went in all the haist according to the kings commandment. And in the castle of Susan was the commandment devised. And the king & Aman sat & drank. But the cite of Susan was disquieted. The four Chapter. When Mardocheus perceived all that was done, he rent his clotheses, and put on a sack clot, & aszshes, & went out in to the mids of the cite, and cried loud and lamentably, and came before the kings gate: for there might no man enter within the kings gate, that had a sack clot on. And in all lands & places, as far as the kings word and commandment extended, there was great lamentation among the jews, and many fasted, wept, mourned, & lay in sack clotheses & in aszshes. So Hesters dansels, and her chamberlains, came and told it her. Then was the queen exceadingly astonnyed. And she sent raiment, that Mardocheus should put them on, and lay the sacklothe from him. But Mardocheus would not take them. Then called Hester Hathac one of the kings chamberlains (which stood before her) and gave him a commandment unto Mardocheus, that he might know what it were, and wherefore he did so. So Hathac went forth to Mardocheus unto the street of the cite, which was before the kings gate. And Mardocheus told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of silver that Aman had promised to weigh down in the kings chamber because of the Jews for to destroy them, and he gave him the copy of the commandment, that was devised at Susan to destroy them, that he might show it unto Hester, and to speak to her and charge her, that she should go in to the king, and make her prayer and supplication unto him for her people. And when Hathat came in, and told Hester the words of Mardocheus, Hester spoke unto Hathat, and commanded him to say unto Mardocheus: All the kings servants, and the people in the lands of the king know, that who so ever cometh within the court unto the king, whether it be man or woman, which is not called, the commandment is that the same shall die immediately, except the king hold out the golden sceptre unto him, that he may live. As for me, I have not been called to come in to the king now this thirty days. And when Mardocheus was certified of Hesters words, Mardocheus bade say again unto Hester: Think not to save thy own life, while thou art in the kings house before all jews: for if thou holdest thy peace at this time, then shall the jews have help and deliverance out of another place, & thou & thy father's house shallbe destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom, for this times sake? Hester had give Mardocheus this answer: Go thou that way then, & gather together all the Jews that are found at Susan, & fast you for me, that you eat not & drink not in three days, neither day ner night. I & my damsels will fast likewise, & so will I go in to the king contrary to the commandment: if I perish, I perish. So Mardocheus went his way, & did all that Hester had commanded him. The V Chapter. ANd on the third day put Hester on her royal apparel, and stood in the court of the kings palace within over against the kings house. And the king sat upon his royal seat in the kings palace over against the door of the house. And when the king saw Hester the queen standing in the court, she found grace in his sight. And the king held out the golden sceptre in his hand toward Hester. So Hester stepped forth, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her: What will't thou queen Hester▪ & what requyrest thou? axe even the half of the empire, & it shall be given the. Hester said: If it please the king, let the king & Aman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared. The king said: 'Cause Aman to make haist, that he may do as Hester hath said. Now when the king & Aman came to the banquet that Hester had prepared, the king said unto Hester when he had drunken wine: Hester, what is thy petition? it shall be given the. And what requyrest thou? even the half of the empire, it shall be done. Then answered Hester and said: My petition and desire is, if I have found grace in the sight of the king, & if it please the king to give me my petition, and to fulfil my request, then let the king & Aman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and so will I do tomorrow as the king hath said. Then went Aman forth the same day joyful and merry in his mind. And when he saw Mardocheus in the kings gate, that he stood not up and kneeled before him, he was full of indignation at Mardocheus. Nevertheless he refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent, and called for his friends, and Seres his wife, and told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, all together how the king had promoted him so greatly, and how that he was taken above the princes and servants of the king. Aman said moreover: Ye● and Hester the queen let no man come with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared, except me, and tomorrow am I bidden unto her also with the king. But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mardocheus the jew sitting in the kings gate Then said Seres his wife and all his friends unto him: Let them make a gallow of fifty cubits hie, & tomorrow speak thou unto the king, that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon, if thou comest merely with the king unto the banquet. Aman was well content withal, and caused a gallow to be prepared. The VI Chapter. THe same night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the Chronicles and stories: which when they were read before the king, they happened on the place where it was written, how Mardocheus had told, that the kings two chamberlains (which kept the tresholdes) sought to lay hands on king Ahasuerus. And the king said: What worship and good have we done to Mardocheus therefore? Then said the kings servants that ministered unto him. There is nothing done for him. And the king said: Who is in the court? (for Aman was go in to the court without before the kings house, that he might speak unto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree, that he had prepared for him.) And the kings servants said unto him: Behold, Aman standeth in the court. The king said: Let him come in. And when Aman came in, the king said unto him: What shall be done unto the man, whom the king would fain bring unto worship? But Haman thought in his heart: Whom should the king else be glad to bring unto worship, but me? And Aman said unto the king: Let the man unto whom the king would be glad to do worship, be brought hither, that he may be arrayed with the royal garments which the king useth to were: and the horse that the king rideth upon, and that the crown royal may be set upon his head. And let this raiment and horse be delivered under the hand of one of the kings princes, that he may array the man withal (whom the king would fain honour) and carry him upon the horse thorough the street of the cite, and 'cause it to be proclaimed before him: Thus shall it be done to every man, whom the king would fain honour. The king said: Make haist, and take (as thou hast said) the raiment and the horse, and do even so with Mardocheus the jew that sitteth before the kings gate, and let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Then took Aman the raiment and the horse, and arrayed him, and brought him on horszbacke thorough the street of the cite, and proclaimed before him: Even thus shall it be done unto every man whom the king is disposed to honour. And Mardocheus came again to the kings gate, but Aman got him home in all the haist, mourning with bore head, and told Seres his wife and all his friends, every thing that had happened him. Then said his wise men and Seres his wife unto him: If it be Mardocheus of the seed of the jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst do nothing unto him, but shalt fall before him. While they were yet talking with him, came the kings chamberlains, and caused Aman to make haist to come unto the banquet that Hester had prepared. The VII. Chapter. ANd when the king and Aman came to the banquet that queen Hester had prepared, the king said unto Hester on the second day when he had drunken wine: What is thy petition queen Hester, that it may be given thee? And what requyrest thou? Ye axe even half of the empire, and it shall 〈◊〉 done. Hester 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 to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. And would God we were sold to be bondmen and bondwemen, than would I hold my tongue, so should not the enemy be so high to the kings harm. The king Ahasuerus spoke & said unto queen Hester: What is he that? Or where is he that dare presume in his mind to do such a thing after that manner? Hester said: The enemy and adversary is this wicked Aman. As for Aman, he was exceadingly afraid before the king & the queen. And the king arose from the banquet & from the wine in his displeasure, and went in to the palace garden. And Aman stood up, and besought queen Hester for his life: for he saw that there was a mischance prepared for him of the king already. And when the king came again out of the palace garden in to the parlour where they had eaten, Aman had laid him upon the bed that Hester 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 Amans face. And Harbona one of the chamberlains that stood before the king, said Behold, there standeth a galowe in Amans house fifty cubytes high, which he had made for Mardocheus, that spoke good for the king. The king said: Hang him thereon. So they hanged Aman on the gallow that he had made for Mardocheus. Then was the kings wrath stylled. The VIII. Chapter. THe same day did king Ahasuerus give the house of Aman the jews enemy, unto queen Hester. And Mardocheus came before the king: for Hester told how that he belonged unto her. And the king put of his finger ring, which he had taken from Aman, & gave it unto Mardocheus. And Hester set Mardocheus over the house of Aman. And Hester spoke yet more before the king, and fallen down at his feet, & besought him, that he would put away the wickedness of Aman the Agagite, and his device that he had imagined against the jews. And the king held out the golde● sceptre unto Hester. Then rose Hester, and stood before the king, and said: If it please the king, and if I have found grace in his sight, & if it be convenient for the king, and if it be accepted in his sight, then let it be written, that the letters of the device of Aman the son of Amadathai the Agagite, may be called again: which letters he written, to destroy the Jews in all the kings lands. For how can I see the evil that shall hap unto my people? and how can I look upon the destruction of my kindred? Then said the king Ahasuerus unto queen Hester, and to Mardocheus the jew: Behold, I have given Hester the house of Aman, & him have they hanged upon a tree, because he laid hand upon the jews. Write you now therefore for the jews, as it liketh you in the kings name, and seal it with the kings ring (for the writings that were written in the kings name, and sealed with the kings ring, dared no man dysanulle.) Then were the kings scribes called at the same time in the third month, that is the month Si●an, on the three & twentieth day. And it was written (as Mardocheus commanded) unto the jews and to the princes, to the Debities and captains in the lands from India until Ethiopia, namely, an hundredth and seven and twenty lands, unto every one according to the writing thereof, unto every people after their speech, and to the jews according to their writing and language. And it was written in the king Ahasuerus name, and sealed with the kings ring. And by posts that road upon swift young Mules, sent he the writings, where in the king granted the jews (in what cities so ever they were) to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, and for to rote out, to slay, and to destroy all the power of the people and land that would trouble them, with children and women, and to spoil their good upon one day in all the lands of king Ahasuerus, namely upon the thirteenth day of the twolueth month, which is the month Adar. The sum of the writing was, how there was a commandment given in all lands to be publisled unto all the people, that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. And the posts that road upon the Mules, made haist with all speed, according to the kings word: and the commandment was devised in the castle of Susan. As for Mardocheus, he went out from the king in royal apparel of yellow and white, and with a great crown of gold, being arrayed with a garment of linen and purple, and the cite of Susan rejoiced & was glad: but unto the jews there was come light and gladness, & joy & worship. And in all lands and cities, in to what places so ever the kings word and commandment reached, there was joy & mirth, prosperity and good days among the jews: in so much that many of the people in the land become of the jews believe, for the fear of the jews came upon them. The IX. Chapter. IN the twolueth month, that is the month Adar, upon the thirteenth day, which the kings word and commandment had appointed, that it should be done, even upon the same day that the enemies should have destroyed the jews to have oppressed them, it turned contrary wise, even that the jews should subdue their enemies. Then gathered the jews together in their cities within all the lands of king Ahasuerus, to say hand on such as would do them evil, & no man could withstand them: for the fear of them was come over all people. And all the rulers in the lands, and princes and Debities, and officers of the king promoted the jews: for the fear of Mardocheus came upon them. For Mardocheus was great in the kings house, & the report of him was noised in all lands, how he increased & grew. Thus the jews smote all their enemies with a sore slaughter, and slew and destroyed, & did after their will unto such as were their adversaries. And at the castle of Susan slew the jews and destroyed five hundredth men: & slew Parsandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmastha Arissai, Aridai, Vaiesatha, the ten sons of Aman the son of Amadathi the enemy of the jews: but on his goods they laid no hands. At the same time was the king certified of the number of those that were slain at the castle of Susan. And the king said unto queen Hester: The jews have slain and destroyed five hundredth men at the castle of Susan, and the ten sons of Aman: What shall they do in the other lands of the king? What is thy petition, that it may be given thee? & what requirest thou more to be done? Hester said: If it please the king, let him suffer the jews tomorrow also to do according unto this days commandment, that they may hang Amans ten sons upon the tree. And the king charged to do so, and the commandment was devised at Susan, & Amans ten sons were hanged. And the jews gathered themselves together at Susan, upon the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and slew three hundredth men at Susan, but on their goods they laid no hands. As for the other jews in the kings lands, they came together, & stood for their lives, & got rest from their enemies: and slew of their enemies five and seventy thousand, howbeit they laid no hands on their goods. This was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and on the fourteenth day of the same month rested they, which (day) they ordained to be a day of feasting and gladness. But the jews at Susan were come together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and on the fifteenth day they rested, and the same day ordained they to be a day of feasting & gladness. Therefore the jews that dwelled in the villages and unwalled towns, ordained the fourteenth day of the month Adar, to be a day of feasting and gladness, and one sent gifts unto another. And Mardocheus written these acts, and sent the writings unto all the jews that were in all the lands of king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, that they should yearly receive and hold the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month Adar, as the days wherein the Jews came to rest from their enemies, & as a month wherein their pain was turned to joy, and their sorrow in to prosperity: that they should observe the same as days of wealth and gladness, and one to send gifts unto another, & to distribute unto the poor And the jews received it that they had begun to do, and that Mardocheus written unto them: how that Aman the son of Amadathai all the Jews enemy, had devised to destroy all the jews, and caused the lot to be cast for to put them in fear, and to bring them to naught: and how Hester went and spoke to the king, that thorough letters his wicked device (which he imagined against the jews) might be turned upon his own head, and how he and his sons were hanged on the tree. For the which cause they called this day Purim after the name of the lot, according to all the words of this writing: and what they themselves had seen, and what ha● happened unto them. And the jews set it up, and took it upon them and their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, that they would not miss to observe these two days yearly, according as they were written and appointed, how that these days are not to be forgotten, but to be kept of childers children among all kindred's in all lands and cities. They are the days of Purim, which are not to be overslipte among the jews, and the memorial of them ought not to perish from their seed. And queen Hester the daughter of Abihail and Mardocheus the jew, written with all authority, to confirm this second writing of Purim, and sent the letters unto all the jews in the hundredth and seven and twenty lands of the empire of Ahasuerus, with friendly and faithful words, to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, acordynges as Mardocheus the jew and Hester the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had confirmed the acts of the 〈…〉 fastings and of her complaint. And Hester commanded to establish these acts of this Purim, and to write them in a book. The X. Chapter. ANd the king Ahasuerus laid tribute upon the land, and upon the Isles of the See. As for all the work of his power and authority, and the great worship of Mardocheus, which the king gave him, behold, it is written in the Chronicles of the kings of Media & Persia, For Mardocheus the jew was the second next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted among the multitude of his brethren, as one that seeketh the wealth of his people, and speaketh the best for all his seed. The end of the second part of the Old Testament. The book of job. What this book containeth. Chap. I.II. The prosperity of job, and how God giveth Satan power over his body and goods, which he is content withal Chap. III The flesh can not suffer: and here is described the unpatient man, that grudgeth against the judgement of God. Chap. four Job'S friends comfort him, and give his sins the blame of his punishment. Chap. V That no man is without sin. A praise of the allmightynesse and loving kindness of God. Chap. VI job excuseth his own unpatience, layeth hypocrisy to his friends charge, and sayeth they are but dyssemblers. Chap. VII. A friendly contention that job maketh with God, shewing the miserable life and travail of man. Chap. VIII. Baldad reproveth job. The nature of ypocrytes. Chap. IX. All men are sinners in the fight of God, and righteousness cometh only of him. He punysheth also whom he will. Chap. X. Not man is without sin, neither may any man escape the hand of God Chap. XI. Sophar reproveth job of sin: and for so much as no man may withstand God, he biddeth him be patient. Chap. XII. All things come of the mighty ordinance of God. The wicked have better days than the godly. Chap. XIII. job speaketh as he thinketh, reproveth the hypocrisy of his friends, and commendeth the wisdom of God. Chap. XIIII. The miserable life of man. Chap. XU.XVI. No man is innocent before God. The conversation of the ungodly. Chap. XVII. job declareth his misery. Chap. XVIII. Baldad reproveth job as ungodly, and showeth the punishment of the wicked. Chap. XIX. job showeth his miserable estate, and reproveth his friends, in that they increase his pain. Chap. XX. Punysment of the proud, ungodly and ypocrytes. Chap. XXI. Wicked men have prosperity in this world. God punysheth according to his own will. Chap. XXII. They tell job, that is punishment cometh for his sins. Chap. XXIII. XXIIII. job defendeth his innocency Chap. XXV. No man is innocent before God. Chap. XXVI. job mocketh his friends, because they go about to prove the thing, that he denieth not. The power of God. Chap. XXVII. God punysheth us not according to our merits, but is merciful and spareth even the ungodly Again, he chasteneth the most righteous (as job was) with adversity. Chap. XXVIII. The wisdom and foreknowledge of God. Chap. XXIX. The prosperity that job was in afore. His innocency and good deeds. Chap. XXX. He complaineth of his misery: how the ignorant and simple people laugh him to scorn. Chap. XXXI. He rehearseth his innocent life. Chap. XXXII. Job'S friends are angry, and forsake him. Chap. XXXIII. God punysheth for sin, yet heareth he a meek prayer. Chap. XXXIIII. job withstondeth the words of them, which say, that the wicked only are punished. Chap. XXXV. job is reproved, for holding himself righteous. Chap. XXXVI. An argument, that God punisheth no man, except he have deserved it. Chap. XXXVII. The power of God is here describe. job is reproved. Chap. XXXVIII. XXXIX.XL.XLI. The foreknowledge and wisdom of God. Chap▪ XLII. Job'S friends are reproved, and he himself is restored to his prosperity again. The first Chapter. IN the land of Hus there was a man called job: an innocent and virtuous man, Gen. 22. d such one as feared God, and eschewed evil. This man had seven. sons, and iij. daughters. job. 42. c His substance was seven. M. sheep, iij. M. camels, u C. yock of oxen, u C. she asses, and a very great household: so that he was one of the most principal men among all them of the east country. His sons now went on every man, and made banckettes: one day in one house, another day in another, and ●ent for their iij. sisters, to eat & drink with them. So when they had passed over the time of their banckettinge round about, job sent: for them, and cleansed them again, stood up early, and offered for every one a brent offering. For job thought thus: peradventure my sons have done some offence, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts. And thus did job every day. Now upon a time, when the servants of God came and stood before the LORD, job. 2. a Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan: From whence comest thou? Satan answered the LORD, and said: I have go about the land, and walked thorough it. 1. Pe. 5. b Then said the LORD unto Satan: hast thou not considered my servant job, how that he is an innocent and virtuous man: such one as fears God, and eschueth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? Satan answered, and said unto the LORD: Doth job fear God for nought? hast thou not preserved him, his house, and all his substance on every side? hast thou not blessed the works of his hands? Is not his possession increased in the land? But lay thine hand upon him a little, touch once all that he hath, and (I hold) he shall curse the to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan: lo all that he hath, be in thy power: only upon himself see that thou lay not thy hand. Then went Satan forth from the LORD. Now upon a certain day when his sons and daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their elder brothers house, there came a messenger unto job, and said: While the oxen were a plowing, and the Asses going in the pasture beside them: the Sabees came in violently, and took them all away: ye they have slain the servants with the sword, and I only ran my way, to tell the. And while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The fire of God is fallen from heaven, it hath consumed & brent up all the sheep and servants: and I only ran my way, to tell the. In the mean season while he was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The Caldees made three armies, and fallen in upon the camels, which they have carried away, ye and slain the servants with the sword: and I only am gotten away, to tell the. While he was speaking, there came yet another, and said: Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their elder brothers house, and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the iiij. corners of the house: which fallen upon thy children, so that they are deed: and I am got away alone, to tell the. Then job stood up, and rent his clotheses shaved his head, fallen down upon the ground, worshipped, and said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, ●cls. 5. c Tim. 6. b and naked shall I turn thither again. The LORD gave, 〈…〉 and the LORD hath taken away (the LORD hath done his pleasure) now blessed be the name of the LORD. 〈…〉 In all these things did job not offend, ner murmured foolishly against God. The II Chapter. IT happened also upon a time, that when the servants of God came & stood before the LORD, 〈…〉 Satan came also among them, and stood before him. And the LORD said unto Satan: From whence comest thou? Satan answered and said: 〈…〉 I have go about the land, and walked thorough it. Then said the LORD unto Satan: Hast thou not considered my servant job, how that he is an innocent & virtuous man such one as fears God, and eschueth evil, and that there is none like him in the land? But thou movedest me against him, to punish him: yet is it in vain, for he continueth still in his godliness. Satan answered the LORD, and said: Skin for skin? ye a man will give all that ever he hath, for his life. But lay thy hand upon him, touch him once upon the bone and flesh, and (I hold) he shall curse the to thy face. Then said the LORD unto Satan: lo, there hast thou him in thy power, but spare his life. So went Satan forth from the LORD, and smote job with marvelous sore biles, from the sole of the foot unto his crown: so that he sat upon the ground in the ashes, and scraped of the etter of his sores with a potsherd. Then said his wife unto him: Dost tho● yet continue in thy perfectness? curse God, 〈…〉 & die. But job said unto her: Thou speakest like a foolish woman. seeing we have received prosperity at the hand of God, wherefore should we not be content with adversity also? In all these things, 〈…〉 did not job sin with his lips. Now when Job'S friends heard of all the trouble, that happened unto him, there came three of them, every one from his own place: namely, Eliphas the Themanite, Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite. For they were agreed together to come, to show their compassion upon him, and to comfort him. So when they lift up their eyes a far of, they knew him not. Then they cried, and wept: then every one of them rent his clotheses, and sprynckled dust upon their heads in the air. They sat them down by him also upon the ground, seven. days and seven. nights. neither was there any of them that spoke one word unto him, for they saw that his pain was very great. The III Chapter. AFter this opened job his mouth, and cursed his day, 〈…〉 and said: lost be that day, wherein I was born: and the night, in the which it was said: there is a man-child conceived. The same day be turned to darkness, and not regarded of God from above, neither be shined upon with light: but be covered with darkness, and the shadow of death. Let the dim cloud fall upon it, and let it be lapped in with sorrow. Let the darckstorme overcome the night, let it not be reckoned among the days of the year, ner counted in the months. despised be that night, and discommended: let them that curse the day, give it their curse also, even those that be ready to raise up Leviathan. Let the stars be dim thorough darkness of it. Let it look for light, but let it see none, neither the rising up of the fair morning: because it shut not up the womb that bore me, ner hid these sorrows fro mine eyes. Alas, why died I not in the birth? Why did not I perish, 〈…〉 as soon as I came out of my mother's womb? Why set they me upon the irknees? Why gave they me suck with their breasts? Then should I now have lyen still, I should have slept, and been at rest: like as the kings and lords of the earth, which build themselves special places: As the princes that have great substance of gold, & their houses full of silver. O that I utterly had no being, or were as a thing born out of time (that is put aside) either as young children, which never saw the light. There must the wicked cease from their tyranny, there such as are over-laboured, be at rest: there are those let out free, which have been in preson, so that they hear no more the voice of the oppressor: There are small and great: the bond man, and he that is free from his master. Wherefore is the light given, to him that is in misery? and life unto them, that have heavy hearts? (Which long for death, and it cometh not: for if they might find the 〈◊〉 grave, they would be marvelous glad, as those that dig up treasure) To the man whose way is hid, which God keepeth back from him. This is the cause, that I sigh before I eat, and my roaringes fall out like a water flood. For the thing that I feared, is come upon me: and the thing that I was afraid of, is happened unto me. Was I not happy? Had I not quietness? Was I not in rest? And now cometh such misery upon me. The four Chapter. THen answered Eliphas of Theman and said unto him: If we begin to common with thee, peradventure thou will't be myscontent, but who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, thou hast been a teacher of many, and hast comforted the weighed hands. Thy words have set up those that were fallen, thou hast refreshed the weak knees. But now that the plague is come upon thee, thou shrenckest away: now that it hath touched thyself, thou art faint hearted. Tob. 2. d Where is now thy fear of God, thy steadfastness, thy patience, and the perfectness of thy life? consider (I pray thee) who ever perished, being an innocent? Or, when were the godly destroyed? As for those that plough wickedness (as I have seen myself) and sow mischief, they reap the same. Gala. 〈…〉 For when God bloweth upon them, they perish, and are destroyed thorough the blast of his wrath. The roaring of the lion, the crying of the lioness, & the teeth of the lions whelps are broken. The great lion perysheth, because he can get no prey and the lions whelps are scattered abroad. There is spoken unto me a thing in council, which hath given a terrible sound in mine ear, with a vision in the night, Dan. 10. ● when men are fallen a sleep. Soch fear and dread came upon me, that all my bones shaken. And when the wind passed over by me, the hairs of my flesh stood up. Then stood there one before me, whose face I knew not: an image there was, and the wether was still, so that I heard this voyce● May a man be justified before God? May there any man be judged to be clean, job. ●5. ● Psal. 1. ●. Rom. 3. ● job. 15. b 2. Pe. ●. d by reason of his own works? Behold, he hath found unfaithfulness among his own servants, and proud disobedience among his angels. How much more than shall they (that devil in houses of clay, whose foundation is but earth) be moth eaten? They shallbe destroyed from the morning unto the evening: ye they shall perish, or ever they be aware: and be taken away so clean, that none of them shall remain, but be deed, or ever they be aware of it. The V Chapter. NAme me one else, if thou canst find any: ye look about thee, upon any of the holy men. As for the foolish man displeasure killeth him, and anger slayeth the ignorant. I have seen myself, when the foolish was deperoted, Psal. 36. d that his beauty was suddenly destroyed: that his children were without prosperity or health: that they were slain in the door, and no man to deliver them: that his harvest was eaten up of the hungry: ●eu. 2●. d that the weapened man had spoiled it, and that the thirsty had drunk up his riches. It is not the earth that bringeth forth travail, neither cometh sorrow out of the ground: but it is man, that is born unto misery, like as the bird for to i'll. But now will I speak of the LORD, and talk of God: which doth things, that are unsearchable, and marueles without number: ●eu. 28. b ●ccli. 10. c ●uc. 1. d 〈◊〉. 144. ᵇ ●6. a Re. 2. b Which giveth rain upon the earth, and poureth water upon all things: which setteth up them of low degree, and sendeth prosperity, to those that are in heaviness: Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand: ●a 8. c Cor 3 c ●al. 32. b which compaseth the wise in their own craf●ynesse, and overtroweth the council of the wicked: In so much that they run in to darkness by fair day, ●eu. 28. c and grope about them at the noon day, like as in the night. And so he delivereth the poor from the sword, 〈…〉 from their mouth, and from the hand of the cruel: that the poor may have hope, & that the mouth of the oppressor may be stopped. Behold, happy is the man, whom God punysheth: 〈◊〉. 3. b ●et. 4. c ●●b. ●2. a ●ec. ●. a therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For though he make a wound, he giveth a medicine again: though he smite, his hand maketh whole again. He delivereth the out of six troubles, so that in the seventh there can no harm touch the. In the midst of hunger he saveth the from death: and when it is war, from the power of the sword. He shall keep the from the people tongue so that when trouble cometh, thou shalt not need to fear. In destruction and dearth thou shalt be merry, 〈…〉 and shalt not be afraid for the beasts of the earth: But the castles in the land shall be confederate with thee, & the beasts of the field shall give the peace: Ye thou shalt see, that thy dwelling place shallbe in rest: thou shalt behold thy substance, and be no more punished for sin. Thou shalt see also, that thy seed shall increase, and that thy posterity shallbe as the grass upon the earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a fair age, like as the corn sheaves are brought in to the barn in due season. Lo, this is the matter, as we ourselves have proved by experience. Therefore now that thou hearest it, take better heed to thyself. The VI Chapter. IOb answered, and said: O that my misery were weighed, and my punishment laid in the balances: for than should it be heavier, than the sonde of the see. This is the cause, that my words are so sorrowful. For the almighty hath shot at me with his arrows, whose indignation hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against me. Doth the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or crieth the ox, 〈…〉 when he hath fodder enough? May a thing be eaten unseasoned, or without salt? What taist hath the white within the yoke an egg? The things that sometime I might not a way withal, are now my meat for very sorrow. O that I might have my desire: O the God would grant me the thing, that I long for: That he would begin and smite me: that he would let his hand go, & hue me down. Then should I have some comfort: ye I would desire him in my pain, that he should not spare, for I will not be against the words of the holy one. What power have I to endure? Or▪ what is mine end, that my soul might be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or, is my flesh made of brass? Am I able to help myself▪ Is not my strength go fro me, like as if one withdrew a good deed from his friend, and forsook the fear of God: Mine own brethren pass over by me as the waterbroke, that hastily runneth thorough the valleys. But they that fear the horefrost, 〈…〉 the snow shall fall upon them. When their time cometh, they shallbe destroyed and perish: and when they be set on fire, they shallbe removed out of their place. for the paths that they go in, are crooked: they haist after vain things, and shall perish. consider the paths of Theman, & the ways of Saba, wherein they have put their trust. Confounded are they, that put any confidence in them: For when they came to obtain the things that they looked for, they were brought to confusion. Even so are you also come unto me: but now that you see my misery, you are afraid. Did I desire you, to come hither? Or, to give me any of your substance? To deliver me me from the enemies hand, or to save me from the power of the mighty? Teach me and I will hold my tongue: and if I do err, show me wherein. Wherefore blame you then the words, that are well and truly spoken? which of you can reprove them? Saving only that you are subtle to check men's sayings, and can speak many words in the wind. You fall upon the fatherless, and go about to overthrow your own friend. Wherefore look not only upon me, but upon yourselves: whether I lie, or no. Turn in to your own selves (I pray you) be indifferent judges, and consider mine ungyltinesse: whether there be any unrighteousness in my tongue, or vain words in my mouth. The VII. Chapter. IS not the life of man upon earth a very battle? Are not his days, like the days of an hired servant? For like as a bond servant desireth the shadow, and as an hireling would fain have an end of his work: Even so have I laboured whole months long (but in vain) and many a careful night have I told. When I laid me down to sleep, 〈…〉 I said: O when shall I rise? Again, I longed sore for the night. Thus am I full of sorrow, till it be dark. My flesh is clothed with worms, filthiness and dust: my skin is withered, and crompled together: job. 9 c 14. a my days pass over more speedily, than a weever can weeve out his web, and are go, or I am aware. O remember, that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall no more see the pleasures thereof ye and that none other man's eye shall see me any more. For if thou fasten thy eyes upon me, I come to nought▪ like as a cloud is consumed and vanyshed away, even so he that goeth down to hell, cometh no more up, ner turneth again in to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. Therefore I will not spare my mouth, but will speak in the trouble of my spirit, in the bitterness of my mind will I talk. Am I a see or a whalfysh, that thou keepest me so in preson? When I think: my bed shall comfort me, I shall have some refreshing by talking with myself upon my couch: Then troublest thou me with dreams, Dan. ●. a and makest me so afraid thorough visions, that my soul wisheth rather to be hanged, and my bones to be deed. I can see no remedy, I shall live no more: O spare me then, for my days are but vain What is man, Matt. ● c Deu. 8. a Gen. 22 a that thou hast him in such reputation, and settest so much by him? Thou takest diligent care for him, and suddenly dost thou try him. Why goest thou not fro me, ner lettest me alone, so long till I swallow down my spittle? I have offended, what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou made me to stand in thy way, and am so heavy a burden unto myself? Why dost thou not forgive me my sin? Wherefore takest thou not away my wickedness? Behold, now must I sleep in the dust: and if thou seekest me tomorrow in the morning, I shallbe go. The VIII. Chapter. THen answered Baldad the Suhit● and said: How long will't thou talk of such things? how long shall the mouth speak so proud words? Doth God pervert the thing that is lawful? Or, doth the almighty destroy the thing that is right? When thy sons sinned against him, job. 1. c did not he punish them for their wickedness? if thou wouldest now resort unto God by times, Deu. 30. and make thy humble prayer to the almighty: if thou wouldest live a pure and a godly life: should he not wake up unto the immediately, & give the the beauty of righteousness again? In so much, that where in so ever thou hadst little afore, thou shouldest now have great abundance. inquire of them that have been before thee, search diligently among thy forefathers: Namely, that we are but of yesterday, and consider not, that our days upon earth are buth a very shadow. They shall show thee, Psal. 14●. they shall tell thee, ye they will gladly confess the same. May a resshe be green without moistness? may the grass grow without water? Not: but (or ever it be shot forth, and or ever it be gathered) it withereth, before any other herb. Even so goeth it with all them, that forget God: and even thus also shall the ypocrytes hope come to nought. His confidence shallbe destroyed, for he trusteth in a spiders web. He leeneth him upon his house, but he shall not stand: he holdeth him fast by it, yet shall he not endure. Often times a thing doth flourish, and men think that it may abide the Sunshine: it shuteth forth the branches in his garden, it taketh many rotes, in so much that it is like an house of stones. But if it be taken out of his place, every man denieth it, saying: I know the not. Lo, thus is it with him, that rejoiceth in his own doings: and as for other, they grow out of the earth. Behold, God will not cast away a virtuous man, neither will he help the ungodly. Thy mouth shall he fill with laughing, and thy lips with gladness. They that hate thee, shallbe confounded, & the dwellings of the ungodly shall come to nought. The IX. Chapter. IOb answered, and said: As for that I know it is so of a truth, Psal. 142. a 〈◊〉 Ro. 3. b 〈◊〉 job. 4. b 〈…〉. b. 25. a that a man compared unto God, can not be justified. If he will argue with him, he shall not be able to answer him unto one among a thousand. He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength. Who ever prospered, that took part against him? He translateth the mountains, or ever they be aware, & overthroweth them in his wrath. He removeth the earth out of her place, that her pilers shake withal. He commandeth the Son, & it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet. He himself alone spreadeth out the heavens, and goeth upon the wawes of the see. He maketh the veins of heaven, the Orion's, Amos. 5 a the * Some ●all the●e seven stars, ●●he clock soenne ●ith her ●hekens. seven. stars and the secret places of the south. He doth great things, such as are unsearchable, ye and wonders without number. If he came by me, I might not look upon him: if he went his way, I should not perceive it. If he be haisty to take any thing away, who will make him restore it again? Who will say unto him: what dost thou? He is God, Eccls. 8. g jere. 10. a whose wrath no man may with stand: but the proudest of all must stoop under him. How should I then answer him? or, what words should I find out against him? Ye though I be righteous, yet will I not give him one word again, but meekly submit myself to my judge. All be it that I call upon him, and he hear me, yet am I not sure, that he hath heard my voice: he troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause. He will not let my spirit be in rest, but filleth me with bitterness. If men will speak of strength, he is the stongest of all: if men will speak of righteousness, who dare be my record? if I will justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I will put forth myself for a perfect man, he shall prove me a wicked doer: For that I should be an innocent, my conscience knoweth it not, ye I myself am weighed of my life. This one thing will I say: 〈…〉 He destroyeth both the righteous & ungodly. And though he slay suddenly with the scourge, yet laugheth he at the punishment of the innocent. As for the world, he giveth it over in to the power of the wicked, such as the rulers be, whereof all lands are full. Is it not so? where is there any, but he is such one? My days have been more swift, 〈…〉 than a runner: they are go suddenly, and have seen no good thing. They are passed away, as the ships that be good under sale, and as the Eagle that haisteth to the pray. When I am purposed to forget my complayninges to change my countenance, and to comfort myself: then am I afraid of all my works, for I know, thou favourest not an ●uell doer. If I be then a wicked one, why have I laboured in vain? Though I washed myself with snow water, and made mine hands never so clean, yet shouldest thou dip me in the mire, & mine own clotheses should defile me. For he that I must give answer unto, and with whom I go to law, is not a man as I am neither is there any days man to reprove both the parts, or to say his hand betwixt us. Let him take his rod away fro me, ye let him make me no more afraid of him, and then shall I answer him without any fear. For as long as I am in such fearfulness, I can make no answer: And why? it grieveth my soul to live. The X. Chapter. Nevertheless, now will I put forth my words: I will speak out of the very heaviness of my soul, and will say unto God: O do not condemn me, but show me the cause, wherefore thou judgest me on this manner. Thinkest thou it well done, to oppress me, to cast me of (being a work of thy hands) and to maintain the council of the ungodly? Hast thou fleszshy eyes then, or dost thou look as man looketh? Are thy days as the days of man, and thy years as man's years? that thou makest such inquisition for my wickedness, and searchest out my sin? where as (notwithstanding) thou knowest that I am no wicked person, & that there is no man able to deliver me out of thy hand. 〈…〉 Thy hands have made me, & fashioned me altogether round about, will't thou then destroy me suddenly? O remember (I beseek thee) how that thou madest me of the mould of the earth, and shalt bring me to earth again. Hast thou not milked me as it were milk: and turned me to cruddes like cheese? Thou hast covered me with skin and flesh, and joined me together with bones & sinews. Thou hast granted me life, and done me good: and the diligent heed that thou tookest upon me, hath preserved my spirit. Though thou hydest these things in thy heart, yet am I sure, that thou remember'st them all. Wherefore diddest thou keep me, when I sinned, and hast not cleansed me fro mine offence? If I do wickedly, woe is me therefore: If I be righteous, yet dare I not lift up my head: so full am I of confusion, and see mine own misery. Thou huntest me out (being in heaviness) as it were a Lion, and troublest me out of measure. Thou bringest fresh witnesses against me, thy wrath increasest thou upon me, very many are the plagues that I am in. Wherefore hast thou brought me out of my mother's womb? 〈…〉 O that I had perished, & that no eye had seen me. If they had carried me to my grave, as soon as I was born, then should I be now, as though I had never been. Shall not my short life come soon to an end? O hold the fro me, let me alone, that I may ease myself a little: afore I go thither, from whence I shall not turn again: Namely, to that land of darkness & shadow of death: ye in to that dark cloudy land & deadly shadow, where as is no order, but terrible fear as in the darkness. The XI. Chapter. THen answered Sophar the Naamathite, and said: Should not he that maketh many words, be answered? Should he that babbleth much, be commended therein? Should men give ear unto the only? Thou will't laugh other men to scorn, & shall no body mock the again? Will't thou say unto God: The thing that I take in hand, is perfect, & I am clean in thy sight? O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee, that he might show thee (out of his secret wisdom) how many fold his law is: then shouldest thou know, that God had forgotten thee, because of thy sins. Will't thou find out God with thy seeking? will't thou attain to the perfectness of the almighty? He is higher than heaven, what will't thou do? deeper them hell, how will't thou then know him? His length exceadeth the length of the earth, and his breadth the breadth of the see. Though he turn all things up side down, close them in, or thrust them together, who dare check him therefore? For it is he, that knoweth the vanity of men: he saith their wickedness also, 1. Re. 16 jere. 17. d should he not then consider it? A vain body exalteth himself, and the son of man is like a wild asses foal. If thou hadst now a right heart, & liftest up thy hands toward him: if thou wouldest put away the wickedness, which thou hast in hand, so that no ungodliness dwelled in thy house: Then mightest thou lift up thy face without shame, then shouldest thou be sure, and have no need to fear. Then shouldest thou forget thy misery, and think no more upon it, then upon the waters that run by. Then should thy life be as clear as the noon day, and spring forth as the morning. Then mightest thou have comforth, in the hope that thou hast: & sleep quietly, when thou art buried. Then shouldest thou take thy rest, and no man to make the afraid, ye many one should set much by the. As for the eyes of the ungodly, they shall be consumed, and not escape: their hope shallbe misery and sorrow of mind. The XII. Chapter. SO job answered, and said: Then (no doubt) you are the men alone, and wisdom shall perish with you. But I have understanding as well as you, and am no less than you. Ye who knoweth not these things? Thus he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighbour: the godly & innocent man is laughed to scorn. Godliness is a light despised in the hearts of the rich, & is set for them to stumble upon. The houses of robbers are in wealth and prosperity, & they that maliciously meddle against God, dwell without care: ye God giveth all things richly with his hand. Axe the cattles, & they shall inform thee: the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Speak to the earth, and it shall showeth: Or to the fishes of the see, and they shall certify the. What is he, but he knoweth, that the hand of the LORD made all these? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, ●ap 3. a ●ob 34. a and the breath of all men. Have not the ears pleasure in hearing, and the mouth in tasting the thing that it eateth? 〈◊〉. 32. d Among old personnes there is wisdom, and among the aged is understanding. Ye with God is wisdom and strength, it is he that hath council & foreknowledge. If he break down a thing, who can set it up again? If he shut a thing, ●sa 22. d ●po. 3. b ●sa. 50. a who will open it? Behold, if he withhold the waters, they dry up: If he let them go, they destroy the earth. With him is strength and wisdom: he knoweth both the deceiver, and him that is deceived. He carrieth away the wise men, as it were a spoil, and bringeth the judges out of their wits. He lowseth the girdle of kings, and gyrdeth their loins with a bond. he leadeth away the priests in to captivity, and turneth the mighty up side down. He taketh the verity from out of the mouth, ●. Par. 18. c Eze. 14. b & disapoynteth the aged of their wisdom. He poureth out confusion upon princes, and comforteth them that have been oppressed. Luc. 12. a Look what lieth hid in darkness, he declareth it openly: and the very shadow of death bringeth he to light. He both increaseth the people, and destroyeth them: He maketh them to multiply, and driveth them away. He changeth the heart of the princes and kings of the earth, and disapoynteth them: so that they go wandringe out of the way, and grope in the dark without light, stackeringe to and fro like drunken men. The XIII. Chapter. LO, all this have I seen with mine eye, heard with mine ear, & understand it. Look what you know, that same do I know also, neither am I inferior unto you. Nevertheless I am purposed to talk with the almighty, and my desire is to common with God. As for you, you are work masters of lies: and unprofitable Physicians altogether. Would God you kept your tongue, that you might be taken for wise men. Therefore hear my words, Pro. 17. d and ponder the sentence of my lips. Will you make answer for God with lies, and manteyne him with deceit? Will you accept the person of God, and entreat for him? Shall that help you, when he calleth you to reckoning? Think you to beguile him, as a man is beguiled? Punish you shall he and reprove you, if you do secretly accept any person. Shall he not make you afraid, when he showeth himself? Shall not his terrible fear fall upon you? your remembrance shallbe like the dust, & your pride shallbe turned to clay. Hold your tongues now, and let me speak, for there is some thing come in to my mind. Wherefore do I bear my flesh in myteth, and my soul in mine hands? Lo, there is neither comfort ner hope for me, if he will slay me. 〈…〉 But if I show and reprove mine own ways in his sight, he is even the same, that maketh me whole: and why? there may no hypocrite come before him, Hear my words, and ponder my sayings with your ears. Behold, though sentence were given upon me, I am sure to be known for unguilty. What is he, that will go to law with me? For if I hold my tongue, I shall die. Nevertheless grant me ij. things, and then will I not hide myself from the. Withdraw thy hand fro me, & let not the fearful dread of the make me afraid. And then send for me to the law, that I may answer for myself: or else, let me speak, and give thou the answer. How great are my myszdedes & sins? Let me know my transgressions & offences. Wherefore hydest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemy? Will't thou be so cruel & extreme unto a flying leaf, and follow upon dry stubble? that thou layest so sharply to my charge, and will't utterly undo me, for the sins of my youth? Thou hast put my foot in the stocks: ●para thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths, & marckest the steps of my feet: where as I (notwithstanding) must consume like as a foul carrion, and as a clot that is moth eaten. The XIIII. Chapter. MAn that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of diverse miseries. He cometh up, and falls away like a flower. He flieth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one state. Thinkest thou it now well done, to open thy eyes upon such one, and to bring me before the in judgement? Who can make it clean, that cometh of an unclean thing? No body. The days of man are short, the number of his months are known only unto the. Thou hast appointed him his bounds, he can not go beyond them. Go from him, that he may rest a little: until his day come, which he looketh for, like as an hireling doth. If a tree be cut down, there is some hope yet, that it will sprout and shoot forth the branches again: For though a rote be waxen old and deed in the ground, yet when the stock getteth the sent of water, it will bud, and bring forth bows, like as when it was first planted. But as for man, when he is deed, perished and consumed away, what becometh of him? 〈…〉 The floods when they be dried up, & the rivers when they be empty, are filled again thorough the flowing waters of the see: 〈…〉 but when man sleepeth, he riseth not again, until the heaven perish: he shall not wake up ner rise out of his sleep. O that thou wouldest keep me, and hide me in the hell, until thy wrath were stilled: & to appoint me a time, wherein thou mightest remember me. May a deed man live again? All the days of this my pilgrimage am I looking, 〈…〉 when my changing shall come. If thou wouldest but call me, I should obey thee: only despise not the work of thy own hands. 〈…〉 For thou hast numbered all my goings, yet be not thou to extreme upon my sins. Thou hast sealed up mine offences, as it were in a bag: but be merciful unto my wickedness. The mountains fall away at the last, the rocks are removed out of their place, the waters pierce thorough the very stones by little and little, the floods waszshe away the gravel & earth: Even so destroyest thou the hope of man in like manner. Thou prevaylest against him, so that he passeth away: thou changest his estate, and puttest him from the. Whether his children come to worship or not, he can not tell: And if they be men of low degree, he knoweth not. While he liveth, his flesh must have travail: and while the soul is in him, he must be in sorrow. The XU. Chapter. THen answered Eliphas the Themanite, and said: Should a wise man give such an answer (as it were one that spoke in the wind) and fill his stomach with anger? Thou reprovest with words, that are nothing wroth: and speakest the things, which can do no good. As for shame, thou hast set it aside, else wouldest thou not make so many words before God: but thy wickedness teacheth thy mouth, and so thou hast choose the a crafty tongue. Thy own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: ye thy own lips shape the an answer. Art thou the first man, that ever was born? Or, wast thou made before the hills? hast thou heard the secret council of God, that all wisdom is to little for thee? What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, but we can the same? With us are old and aged men, ye such as have lived longer than thy forefathers. Dost thou no more regard the comfort of God? but thy wicked words will not suffer the. Why doth thy heart make the so proud? Why stondest thou so greatly in thy own conceit? Where unto look thy eyes, that thy mind is so puffed up against God & lettest such words go out of thy mouth? What is man, that he should be unclean? what hath he (which is born of a woman) whereby he might: be known to be righteous? Behold, he hath found unfaithfulness among his own sanctes: job 4. b 2. Pet. 2. d ye the very heavens are unclean in his sight. How much more than an abominable and vile man, which dryncketh wickedness like water? I will tell thee, hear me: I will showeth a thing, that I know: which wise men have told, & hath not been hid from their fathers: unto whom only the land was given▪ that no stranger should come among them. The ungodly despayreth all the days of his life, Gen. 4. b & the number of a tyrants years is unknown. A fearful sound is ever in his ears, & when it is peace, yet fears he destruction: He believeth never to be delivered out of darkness, the sword is allway before his eyes. When he goeth forth to get his living, he thinketh plainly, that the day of darkness is at hand. Sorrow and carefulness make him afraid, & compass him round about, like as it were a king with his host ready to the battle. For he hath stretched out his hand against God, & armed himself against the almighty. He runneth proudly upon him, & with a stiff neck fighteth he against him: where as he covereth his face with fatness, and maketh his body well liking. Therefore shall his dwelling be in desolate cities, & in houses which noman inhabiteth, but are become heaps of stones. He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continued, ner increase upon earth. He shall never come out of darkness, the flame shall dry up his branches, with the blast of the mouth of God shall he be taken away. He will neither apply himself to faithfulness ner truth, so sore is he deceived with vanity. He shall perish, afore his time be worn out, and his hand shall not be green. He shall be pluck of as an untimely grape from the vine, and shall let his flower fall, as the olive doth. For the congregation of hypocrites is unfruitful, & the fire shall consume the houses of such, Psal. 7. b Esa. 59 a as are greedy to receive gifts. He conceiveth travail, he beareth mischief, & his body bringeth forth deceit. The XVI. Chapter. IOb answered, and said: I have often times heard such things. Miserable givers of comfort are you, all the sort of you. Shall not thy vain words come yet to an end? Or, hast thou yet anymore to say? I could speak, as you do also. But would God, that your soul were in my soul's stead: then should I heap up words against you, and shake my head at you. I should comfort you with my mouth, and release your pain with the talking of my lips. But what shall I do? For all my words, my sorrow will not cease: and though I hold my tongue, yet will it not depart fro me. And now that I am full of pain, and all that I have destroyed (whereof my wryncles bear witness) there standeth up a dissembler to make me answer with lies to my face. He is angry at me, he hateth me, and gnassheth upon me with his teeth. Mine enemy skouleth upon me with his eyes. They have opened their mouths wide upon me, 3. Re. 22 d Mar. 14. g and smitten me upon the cheek despitefully, they have eased themselves thorough mine adversity. God hath given me over to the ungodly, and delivered me in to the hands of the wicked. I was sometime in wealth, but suddenly hath he brought me to nought. He hath taken me by the neck, he hath rent me, and set me, as it were a mark for him to shoot at. He hath compassed me round about with his darts, he hath wounded my loins, & not spared. My bowels hath he poured upon the ground. He hath given me one wound upon another, and is fallen upon me like a giant. I have sowed a sack clot upon my skin, and lie with my strength in the dust. My face is swollen with weeping, & mine eyes are waxed dymne. Howbeit there is no wickedness in my hands, and my prayer is cle●e. O earth, cover not my blood, and let my crying find no room. For lo, my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth me, is above in the height. My friends laugh me to scorn, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. Though a body might pleat with God, as one man doth with another, yet the number of my years are come, & I must go the way, from whence I shall not turn again. The XVII. Chapter. MY breath faileth, my days are shortened, I am hard at deaths door. I have deceived no man, yet must mine eye continued in heaviness. O deliver me, and set me by thee, who shall then be able to thrust my hands together? Thou hast with held their hearts from understanding, therefore shall they not be set up an high. He promises his friends part of his good, but his own children spend it. He hath made me as it were a byword of the common people, I am his gestinge stock among them. My countenance is heavy for very anger, & the membres of my body are become like a shadow. Virtuous men therefore shall well consider this, and the innocent shall take part against the hypocrite. The righteous will keep his way, and he that hath clean hands, will ever be stronger & stronger. As for you, turn you, & get you hence, for I can not see one wise man among you. My days are past, my thoughts are vanished away, which have vexed mine heart, changing the night in to day, & the light in to darkness. Though I tarry never so much, yet the grave is my house, and I must make my bed in the dark. I call corruption my father, and the worms call I my mother and my sister. What helpeth then my long tarrying? Or, who will fulfil the thing, that I look for? All that I have, shall go down in to the pit, & lie with me in the dust. The XVIII. Chapter. THen answered Baldad the Suhite, and said: when will you make an end of your words? Mark well, and consider, we will speak also. Wherefore are we counted as beestes, & reputed so vile in your sight? Why destroyest thou thyself with anger? Shall the earth be forsaken, or the stones removed out of their place because of that? Shall not the light of the ungodly be put out? ye the flame of his fire shall not burn. The light shallbe dark in his dwelling, & his candle shallbe put out with him. His presumptuous goings shall be kept in, and his own council shall cast him down. For his feet shallbe taken in the net, and he shall walk in the snare. His foot shallbe held in the gilder, and the thirsty shall catch him. The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a pitfall in the way. Fearfulness shall make him afraid on every side, that he shall not know, where to get out. hunger shallbe his substance, and myszfortune shall hang upon him. He shall eat his own skin, ye his own arms shall he devour, being a firstborn of death. All his comfort and hope shallbe rooted out of his dwelling, very fearfulness shall bring him to the king. Other men shall dwell in his house (which now is none of his) and brimstone shallbe scattered upon his habitation. His rotes shallbe dried up beneath, & above shall his harvest be cut down. His remembrance shall perish from the earth, & his name shall not be praised in the streets: he shallbe driven from the light in to darkness, and be cast clean out of the world. He shall neither have children ner kynßfolkes among his people, not ner any posterity in his country: young & old shallbe astonyshed at his death. Soch are now the dwellynges of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God. The XIX. Chap. IOb answered, & said: How long will you vex my mind, & trouble me with words? Lo, ten-times have you reproved me: are you not ashamed, for to laugh me so to scorn? if I go wrong, I go wrong to myself. But if you will enhance your selves against me, & accuse me to be a wicked person because of the shame that is come upon me: know this then, that it is God, which hath handled me so violently, & hath compassed me about with his scourges. Behold, though I cry, 〈…〉 yet violence is done unto me, I can not be herd: Though I complain, there is none to give sentence with me. He hath hedged up my path, I can not get away, he hath set darkness in my gate. He hath spoiled me of mine honour, & taken the crown away fro my head. He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am undone: My hope hath he taken away fro me, as it were a tree plucte up by the rote. His wrath is kindled against me, he taketh me, as though I were his enemy. His men of war came together, which made their way over me, and besieged my dwelling round about. 〈…〉 He hath put my brethren far away fro me, and such as were of mine acquauntaunce, are become strangers unto me. Mine own kynszfolkes have forsaken me, and my friends have put me out of remembrance. The servants and maidens of mine own house take me for a stranger, and I am become as an alient in their sight. When I call upon my servant, he giveth me no answer: not though I pray him with my mouth. Mine own wife may not abide my breath, I am fain to speak fair unto the children of mine own body. Ye the very desert fools despise me, and when I am go from them, they speak evil upon me. All such as were my most familiars, abhor me: and they whom I loved best, are turne● against me. My bone hangs to my skin, and the flesh is away, only there is left me the skin about my teeth. Have pite upon me, have pite upon me (oh you my friends) for the hand of the LORD hath touched me. saying God persecuteth me, will you vex me also? Have you not yet enough of the trouble of my flesh? O that my words were written, O that they were put in a book: would God they were graven with an iron pen in lead or in stone. For I am sure, that my redeemer liveth, and that I shall rise out of the earth in the latter day: that I shall be clothed again with this skin, and see God in my flesh. Ye I myself shall behold him, not with other but with these same eyes. My reins are consumed within me, when ye say: Why do not we persecute him? we have found an occasion against him. But beware of the sword, for the sword willbe avenged of wickedness, and be sure, that there is a judgement. The XX. Chapter. THen answered Sophar the Naamathite, and said: For the same cause do my thoughts compel me to answer. And why? my mind is tossed here and there. I have sufficiently heard the checking & reproof, therefore am I purposed to make answer after my understanding. Knowest thou not this, namely: that from the beginning (ever sense the creation of man upon earth) the praise of the ungodly hath been short, and that the joy of Ypocrytes continued but the twinkling of an eye? Though he be magnified up to the heaven, so that his head reacheth unto the clouds: yet he perisheth at the last like dung: In so much the they which have seen him, say: Where is he? He vanysheth as a dream, so that he can no more be found, & passeth away as a vision in the night. So that the eye which saw him before, getteth now no sight of him, & his place knoweth him no more. His children go a begging, their hands bring them to sorrow and heaviness. From his youth his bones are full of vice, which shall lie down with him in the earth. When wickedness is sweet in his mouth, he hideth it under his tongue. That he favoureth, that will he not forsake, but keepeth it close in his throat. The meat that he eateth, shallbe turned to the poison of serpents within his body. The riches that he devoureth, shall he parbreak again, for God shall draw them out of his belly. The serpent's head shall suck him, and the adders tongue shall slay him: so that he shall no more see the rivers and brokes of honey and butter: But labour shall he, & yet have nothing to eat. great travail shall he make for riches, but he shall not enjoy them. And why? he hath oppressed the poor, and not helped them: houses hath he spoiled, and not builded them. His belly could never be filled, therefore shall he perish in his covetousness. He devoured so greedily, that he left nothing behind, therefore his goods shall not prosper. Eccls. 5. b Though he had plenteousness of everythinge, yet was he poor, & therefore he is but a wretch on every side. For though the wicked have never so much to fill his belly, yet God shall send his wrath upon him▪ and 'cause his battle to rain over him: so that if he i'll the iron weapens, he shall be shot with the steel bow. The arrow shall be taken forth, & go out at his back, and a glistering sword thorough the gall of him, fear shall come upon him. There shall no darkness be able to hide him. An unkyndled fire shall consume him, and look what remaineth in his house, it shall be destroyed. The heaven shall declare his wickedness, & the earth shall take part against him. The substance that he hath in his house, shallbe taken away and perish, in the day of the lords wrath. This is the portion that the wicked shall have of God, job 27. b and the heritage that he may look for of the LORD. The XXI. Chapter. IOb answered, and said: O hear my words, and amend your selves. Suffer me a little, that I may speak also, and then laugh my words to scorn, if you will. Is it with a man, that I make this disputation? Which if it were so, should not my spirit be then in sore trouble? Marck me well, be abaszshed, and lay your hand upon your mouth. For when I ponder & consider this, I am afraid, and my flesh is smitten with fear. Psal. 72. a jere. 12. a Wherefore do wicked men live in health and prosperity, come to their old age, & increase in riches? Their childers children live in their sight, & their generation before their eyes. Pro. 3. b Heb. 12. a Their houses are safe from all fear, for the rod of God doth not smite them. Their bullock gendereth, and that not out of time: their cow calueth, and is not unfruitful. They send forth their children by flocks, and their sons lead the dance. 〈…〉 They bear with them tabrettes and haps, and have instruments of music at their pleasure. They spend their days in wealthiness: but suddenly they go down to hell. They say unto God: go from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 〈…〉 What manner of fellow is the almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, to submit our selves unto him? Lo, there is utterly no goodness in them, therefore will not I have to do with the council of the ungodly. How often shall the candle of the wicked be put out▪ 〈…〉 how often cometh their destruction upon them? O what sorrow shall God give them for their part in his wrath? Ye they shall be even as chaff before the wind, 〈…〉 and as dust that the storm carrieth away. And though God save their children from such sorrow, yet will he so reward themselves, that they shall know it. Their own destruction and misery shall they see with their eyes, and drink of the fearful wrath of the Almighty. For what caruth he, what become of his household after his death? whose months pass away swifter than an arrow. In as much them as God hath the highest power of all, who can teach him any knowledge? One dieth now when he is mighty & at his best, rich and in prosperity: even when his bowels are at the fattest, and his bones full of marry. Another dieth in sorrow and heaviness, and never had good days. Now sleep they both a like in the earth, & the worms cover them. But I know what you think, ye and what you imagine against me unrighteously. 〈…〉 For you say: where is the princes palace? where is the dwelling of the ungodly: Axe any man that goeth by the way, and (if you will not regard their tokens & deeds) he shall tell you, 〈…〉 that the wicked is kept unto the day of destruction, and that the ungodly shallbe brought forth in the day of wrath. Who dare reprove him for his ways to his face● who rewardeth him for the ungraciousness that he doth? Yet shall he be brought to his grave, and watch among the heap of the deed. Then shall he be fain to be buried among the stones by the brokesyde. All men must follow him, & there are innumerable go before him. O how vain is the comfort the you give me? Are not your answers clean contrary to right and truth? The XXII. Chapter. SO Eliphas the Themanite gave answer, & said: May a man be compared unto God in wisdom, though he seem to himself, for to be like him? What pleasure hath God in that thou art righteous? Or what doth it profit him, that thy ways are perfect? Is he afraid to reprove thee, & to step forth with the in to judgement? 〈…〉 cometh not this for the great wickedness, 〈…〉 & for thy ungracious deeds which are innumerable? Thou hast taken the pledge from thy brethren for nought, & rob the naked of their clothing: 〈…〉 To such as were weighed, hast thou given no water to drink, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry: Should such one then as useth violence, wrong & oppression (doing all things of partiality, & having respect of personnes) devil in the land? Thou hast sent widows away empty and oppressed the poor fatherless. Therefore art thou compassed about with snares on every side, & suddenly vexed with fear. shouldest thou then see no darkness? Should not the water flood run over thee? Now because that God is higher than the heavens, & because thou seist that the stars are so high, will't thou therefore say: 〈…〉 Tush, how should God know? Doth his dominion reach beyond the clouds? Tush, the clouds cover him, that he may not see, for he dwelleth in heaven. Well, thou will't keep the old way, that all wicked men have go: both old & young, whose foundation is a running water, which say unto God: go from us, and after this manner: Tush, 〈…〉 what will the almighty do unto us? where as he (not with stondinge) filleth their houses with all good. Which meaning of the ungodly be far fro me. 〈…〉 For with joy shall the godly, and with gladness shall the innocent see, that their increase shall be hewn down, & their posterity consumed with the fire. Therefore reconcile the unto God, & be content, so shall all things prosper with the right well. 〈…〉 Receive the law at his mouth, & lay up his words in thy heart. For if thou will't turn to the almighty, 〈…〉 thou shalt stand fast, & all unrighteousness shall be far from thy dwelling: He shall give the an harvest, which in plenty & abundance shall exceed the dust of the earth, and the gold of Ophir like river stones. Ye the almighty his own self shallbe thy harvest, & the heap of thy money. Then shalt thou have thy delight in the almighty, & lift up thy face unto God. Then shalt thou make thy prayer unto him, & he shall hear thee, & thou shalt keep thy promises. Then, look what thou takest in hand, he shall make it to prosper with thee, and the light shall shine in thy ways. For who so humbleth himself, him shall he set up: and who so looketh meekly, shallbe healed. If thou be innocent, he shall save thee: and thorough the ungiltynesse of thine hands shalt thou be delivered. The XXIII. Chapter. IOb answered, and said: My saying is yet this day in bitterness, and my hand heavy among my groanings. O that I might see him & find him: O that I might come before his seat, to pleat my cause before him, and to fill my mouth with arguments: That I might know, what answer he would give me: & that I might understand, what he would say unto me. Will he pleat against me with his great power & strength, or will he lean himself utterly upon me? O not, let him not do so with me. But let him give me like power to go to law, then am I sure to win my matter. For though I go before, I find him not: if I come behind, I can get no knowledge of him: If I go on the left side to ponder his works, I can not attain unto them: Again, if I go on the right side, he hideth himself, that I can not see him. But as for my way, Sap. 3. a 1. Pet. 1. ● he knoweth it: & trieth me as the gold in the fire. Nevertheless my feet keep his path, his high street have I held, and not go out of it. I have not forsaken the commandment of his lips, but look what he charged me with his mouth, that have I shut up in my heart. It is he himself alone, who will turn him back? He doth as him listeth, and bringeth to pass what he wil He rewardeth me in to my bosom, & many other things mother doth he, as he may by his power. This is the cause, that I shrenke at his presence, so that when I consider him, I am afraid of him. For in so much as he is God, he maketh my heart soft: and saying that he is almighty, he putteth me in fear. Thus can not I get out of darkness, the cloud hath so covered my face. The XXIIII. Chapter. Considering then that there is no time hid from the almighty, how happeneth it, that they which know him, will not regard his days? For some men there be, that remove other men's land marks: Deu. 19 c 27. c Exo. 22. c that rob them of their cattles, and keep the same for their own: that drive away the ass of the fatherless: that take the widow's ox for a pledge: that thrust the poor out of the way, Exo. 23. a & oppress the simple of the world together. Behold, the wild asses in the desert go by times (as their manner is) to spoil: Ye the very wilderness ministereth food for their children. They reap the corn field that is not their▪ own: and gather the grapes out of his vineyard, whom they have oppressed by violence. They are the cause that so many men are naked and bore, having no clotheses to cover them and keep them from cold: So that when the showers in the mountains have rained upon them, & they be all wet, they have none other succour, but to keep them among the rocks. They spoil the sucking fatherless children, and put the poor in preson: In so much that they let them go naked without clothing, and yet the 〈◊〉 bear the sheaves. The poor are 〈◊〉 to labour in their oil mylles, ye 〈…〉 tread in their wine presses, and yet 〈…〉 thirst. The whole cite crieth unto t●e LORD with sighing, ●oc. 6. b Es. 15. b the souls of the ●layne make their complaint: But God destroyeth them not for all this, where as they (not with stondinge) are rebellious and disobedient enemies: which seek not his light and way, ner turn again in to his path. 〈◊〉. 22. d Timely in the morning do they arise, to murder the simple and poor, & in the night they go a stealing. The eye of the ungodly is like the adulterer, that waiteth for the darkness, and sayeth thus in himself: Tush, there shall no man see me, & so he disgyseth his face. In the night season they search the houses, and hide themselves in the day time, but will not know the light. For as soon as the day breaketh, the shadow of death cometh upon them, and they go in horrible darkness. The ungodly is very swift: O that his portion also upon earth were swifter then the running water, which suffereth not the shipman to behold the fair & pleasant vyniardes. O that they (for the wickedness which they have done) were drawn to the hell, sooner than snow melteth at the heat. O that all compassion upon them were forgotten: that their dainties were worms: that they were clean put out of remembrance, & utterly hewn down like an unfruitful tree. For they manteyne the barren, & make them that they can not bear, & unto widows they do no good. They pluck down the mighty with their power, & when they themselves are got up, they are never without fear, as long as they live. And though they might be safe, yet they will not receive it, for their eyes look upon their own ways. They are exalted for a little, but shortly are they go, brought to extreme poverty, & taken out of the way: ye● & utterly plucte of as the ears of corn. Is it not so? Who will then reprove me as a liar, & say that my words are nothing worth? The XXV. Chapter. THen answered Baldad the Suhite, & said: Power & fear is with him above, that maketh peace (sitting) in his hynesse, whose men of war are innumerable, and whose light ariseth over all. 〈…〉 But how may a man compared unto God, be justified? Or, how can he be clean, that is born of a woman? Behold, the Moon shineth nothing in comparison to him, & the stars are unclean in his sight. How much more them, man, that is but corruption: and the son of man, which is but a worm? The XXVI. Chapter. IOb answered, and said: O how helpest thou the weak? what comfort givest thou unto him that hath no strength? Where is the council that thou shouldest give him, which hath no wisdom? Will't thou so show thy excellent righteousness? Before whom hast thou spoken those words? Who made the breath to come out of the mouth? The giants & worthies that are slain, & lie under the world with their companions: ye & all they which devil beneath in the hell are not hid from him, & the very destruction itself can not be kept out of his sight .. He stretcheth out the north over the empty, & hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth the water in his clouds, that they fall not down together. He holdeth back his stole, that it cannot be seen, and spreadeth his clouds before it. He hath compassed the waters with certain bounds, 〈…〉 until the day & night come to an end. The very pilers of heaven tremble & quake at his reproof. 〈…〉 He stilleth the see with his power, & thorough his wisdom hath he set forth the world. With his spirit hath he garnished the heavens, & with his hand hath he wounded the rebellious serpent. This is now a short sum of his doings. But who is able sufficiently to rehearse his works? Who can perceive and understand the thunder of his power? The XXVII. Chapter. IOb also proceeded and went forth in his communication, saying: As truly as God liveth (which hath taken away my power fro me) & the almighty, that hath vexed my mind: My lips shall talk of no vanity, and my tongue shall speak no deceit, while my breath is in me, and as long as the wind (that God hath given me) is in my nostrils. God forbid, that I should grant your cause to be right. As for me, until mine end come will I never go fro mine innocency. My righteous dealing will I keep fast, & not forsake it: For my conscience reproveth me not in all my conversation. Therefore mine enemy shallbe found as the ungodly, & he that taketh part against me, as the unrightuous. What hope hath the hypocrite, though he have great good, and though God give him riches after his hearts desire? Doth God hear him the sooner, when he crieth unto him in his necessity? Hath he such pleasure & delight in the almighty, that he dare allway call upon God? I will teach you in the name of God, & the thing that I have of the almighty, will I not keep from you. Behold, you stand in your own conceit, as though you known all things. Wherefore then do you go about with such vain words, saying: This is the portion that the wicked shall have of God, & the heritage that tyrants shall receive of the almighty. If he get many children, they shall perish with the sword, & his posterity shall have scarcenesss of bread. Look whom he leaveth behind him, they shall die & be buried, & no man shall have pite of his widows. Though he have as much money as the dust of the earth, & raiment as ready as the clay, he may well prepare it: but the godly shall put it upon him, and the innocent shall deal out the money. His house shall endure as the moth, & as a both that the watch man maketh. When the rich man dieth, he carrieth nothing with him: he is go in the twinkling of an eye. Destruction taketh hold upon him as a water flood, & the tempest stealeth him away in the night season. A vehement wind carrieth him hence, & departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place. It ruszsheth in upon him, and spareth him not, he may not escape from the power thereof. Than clap men their hands at him, ye and jest of him, when they look upon his place. The XXVIII. Chapter. THere are places where silver is melted, 〈◊〉 ●. b & where gold is tried: where iron is digged out of the ground, & stones resolved to metal. The darkness shall once come to an end, he can seek out the ground of all things: the stones, the dark, & the horrible shadow. with the river of water parteth he asunder the strange people, that knoweth no good neghbourheade: such as are rude, unmannerly & boisterous. He bringeth food out of the earth, & that which is under, consumeth he with fire. There is found a place, whose stones are clean sapphires, and where the clottes of the earth are gold. There is a way also that the birds know not, that no vultures eye hath seen: wherein the proud & high minded walk not, & where no lion cometh. There putteth he his hand upon the stony rocks, & overthroweth the mountains. Rivers flow out of the rocks, & look what is pleasant, his eye saith it. Out of drops bringeth he great floods together, & the thing that is hid bringeth he ●o light. How cometh a man then by wisdom? Eccli. 1. a 7. c jacob 1. ᵃ ●. Reg. 3. b 4. c Pro. ●. a Sap. 7. b Where is the place that men find understanding? Verily no man can tell how worthy a thing she is, neither is she found in the land of the living. The deep sayeth: she is not in me. The see sayeth: she is not with me. She can not be got for the most fine gold, neither may the price of her be bought with any money. Not wedges of gold of Ophir, no precious Onyx stones, no sapphires may be compared unto her. Not, neither gold ner Crystal, neither sweet odours ner golden plate. There is nothing so worthy, or so excellent, as once to be named unto her: for perfect wisdom goeth far beyond them all. The Topas that cometh out of Ind, may in no wise be lickened unto her: ye no manner of apparel how pleasant and fair so ever it be. From whence then cometh wisdom? & where is the place of understanding? She is hid from the eyes of all men, ye & from the fowls of the air. Destruction & death say: we have herd tell of her with our ears. But God saith her way, & knoweth her place. For he beholdeth the ends of the world, and looketh upon all that is under the heaven. When he weighed the winds, & measured the waters: when he set the rain in order, and gave the mighty floods a law: Then did he see her, them declared he her, prepared her and knew her. And unto man he said: Behold, Psal. 110. b Pro. 1. a 9 b Eccli. 1. e to fear the LORD, is wisdom: & to forsake evil, is understanding. The XXIX. Chap. SO job proceeded and went forth in his communication, saying: O that I were as I was in the months by past, & in the days when God preserved me: when his light shined upon my head: when I went after the same light & shine even thorough the darkness. As it stood with me, when I was wealthy & had enough: when God prospered my house: when the almighty was with me: when my household folks stood about me: when my ways ran over with butter, & when the stony rocks gave me rivers of oil: when I went thorough the cite unto the gate, & when they set me a chair in the street: when the young men (as soon as they saw me) hid themselves, & when the aged arose, & stood up unto me: when the princes left of their talking, & laid their hand to their mouth: when the mighty kept still their voice, and when their tongues cleaved to the roof of their mouths. When all they that heard me, called me happy: & when all they that saw me, wished me good. For I delivered the poor when he cried, & the fatherless that wanted help. He that should have been lost, gave me a good word, & the widows heart praised me. And why? I put upon me righteousness, which covered me as a garment, & equity was my crown. I was an eye unto the blind, & a foot to the lame. I was a father unto the poor, & when I known not their cause, I sought it out diligently. I broke the chaftes of the unrightuous, & plucte the spoil out of their teeth. Gen. 14. c Therefore, I thought verily, that I should have died in my nest: & that my days should have been as many as the sondes of the see. For my rote was spread out by the water's side, & the dew lay upon my corn. My honor increased more & more, and my bow was ever the stronger in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, me they regarded, & with silence they tarried for my council. If I had spoken, they would have it none other ways, my words were so well taken among them. They waited for me, as the earth doth for the rain: & gaped upon me, as the ground doth to receive the latter shower. When I laughed, they known well it was not earnest: & this testimony of my countenance pleased them nothing at all. When I agreed unto their way, I was the chief, & sat as a king among his servants: Or as one that comforteth such as be in heaviness. The XXX. Chapter. But now they that are my inferiors & younger than I, have me in derision: ye even they, whose fathers I would have thought scorn to have set with the dogs of my cattles. The power & strength of their hands might do me no good, & as for their age, it is spent & passed away without any profit. For very misery & hunger, they went about in the wilderness like wretches & beggars, plucking up herbs from among the buszshes, & the jumpers rote was their meat. And when they were driven forth, men cried after them, as it had been after a thief. Their dwelling was beside foul brokes, ye in the caves & dens of the earth. Upon the dry heeth went they about crying, & in the broom hills they gathered them together. They were the children of fools & vylanes, which are deed away from the world. 〈…〉 Now am I their song, & am become their jesting stock. they abhor me, they i'll far fro me & stain my face with spittle. For the LORD hath opened his quiver, he hath hit me, & put a bridle in my mouth. Upon my right hand they rose together against me, they have hurt my feet, made away to destroy me, & my path have they clean marred. It was so easy for them to do me harm, that they needed no man to help them. They fallen upon me, as it had been the breaking in of waters, & came in by heaps to destroy me. Fearfulness is turned against me. Mine honour vanisheth away more swiftly than wind, & my prosperity departeth hence like as it were a cloud. Therefore is my mind poured full of heaviness, & the days of trouble have taken hold upon me. My bones are pierced thorough in the night season, & my sinews take no rest. With all their power have they changed my garment, & girded me therewith, as it were with a coat. I am even as it were clay, & am become like aszshes & dust. When I cry unto thee, thou dost not hear me: & though I stand before thee, yet thou regardest me not. Thou art become mine enemy, & with thy violent hand thou takest part against me. In times past thou diddest set me up an high, as it were above the wind, but now hast thou given me a very sore fall. Sure I am, that thou will't deliver me unto death: where as a lodging is prepared for all men living. Now use not men to do violence unto them, that are destroyed all ready: but ●here hurt is done, there use the● to help. Did not I weep in the time of trouble? Had not my soul compassion upon the poor? Yet nevertheless where as I looked for good, evil happened unto me: and where as I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels seethe with in me & take no rest, for the days of my trouble are come upon me. meekly & lowly came I in, ye & without any displeasure: I stood up in the congregation, & commoned with them But now. I am a companion of dragons, & a fellow of Ostriches. My s●●ynne upon me is turned to black, & my b●nes are brent with heat: my harp is turned to sorrow, & my pipe to weeping. The XXXI. Chap. I Made a covenant with mine eyes, that I would not look upon a damsel. 〈…〉 For how great a portion shall I have of God from above? & what inheritance from the Almighty on high? As for the ungodly & he that joineth himself to the company of wicked doers shall not far be it from God, that he should meddle with wickedness: and far be it from the almighty, that he should meddle with unrightuous dealing: but he rewardeth the works of man, 〈…〉 and causeth every man to find according to his ways. For sure it is, that God condemneth no man wrongeously, and the judgement of the almighty is not unrightuous. Who ruleth the earth in his stead? Or, whom hath he set to govern the whole world? To whom hath he given his heart, for to draw his spirit and breath unto him? All flesh shall come together unto nought, 〈…〉 & all men shall turn again unto earth. If thou now have understanding, hear what I say and hearken to the voice of my words. May he be made whole, that loveth no right? If thou were a very innocent man, shouldest thou then be punished? For he is even the same, that knoweth the rebellious kings, & sayeth to princes: Ungodly men are you He hath no respect unto the personnes of the lordly, & regardeth not the rich more than poor. For they be all the work of his hands. In the twinkling of an eye shall they be slain: and at midnight, when the people & the tyrants rage, then shall they perish, and be taken away with out hands. And why● his eyes look upon the ways of man, 〈…〉 and he saith all his goings. There is no darkness ner thick shadow, that can hide the wicked doers from him. For no man shallbe suffered to go into judgement with God. 〈…〉 Many one, ye innumerable doth he punish and setteth other in their steads. For he knoweth their evil & dark works, therefore shall they be destroyed. They that were in the stead of Seers, dealt like ungodly men. Therefore turned they back traytorously and unfaithfully from him, & would not receive his ways. In so much that they have caused the voice of the poor to come unto him, & now he heareth the complaint of such as are in necessity. If he deliver & grant pardon, who will judge or condemn? But if he hide away his countenance, who will turn it about again, whether it be to the people or to any man? For the wickedness & sin of the people, he maketh an hypocrite to reign over them. For so much then as I have begun to talk of God, I will not hinder the. If I have go amiss, inform me: if I have done wrong, I will leave of. Will't thou not give a reasonable answer? Art thou afraid of any thing, ●eynge thou begamnest first to speak, & not I? For else the men of understanding & wisdom that have heard me, might say: What canst thou speak? As for job he hath neither spoken to the purpose ner wisely. O father, let job be well tried, because he he hath turned himself to the wicked: ye above his sins he hath blasphemed, which offence he hath done even before us, in that he striveth against God with his words. The XXXV Chapter. ELiu spoke moreover, and said: Thinkest thou it right that thou sayest: I am righteous before God? seeing thou sayest so, how dost thou know it? What thing hast thou more excellent, than I that am a sinner? Therefore will I give answer unto the & thy friends: look unto the heaven, & behold it: consider the clouds, how they are higher than thou. If thou synnest, what dost thou unto him? If thy offences be many, how gettest thou his favour? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or, what receiveth he of thy hands? Psal. ●9. b Heb. 10. a Psal. 49. ● Of such an ungodly person as thou, & of the son of man that is righteous as thou pretendest to be: there is a great cry & complaint made by them that are oppressed with violence, ye every man complaineth upon the cruel arm of tyrants. For such one never sayeth: Where is God that made me? and that shineth upon us, that we might praise him in the night? Which giveth us more understanding than he doth the beasts of the earth, and teacheth us more than the fowls of heaven. If any such complain, no man giveth answer, and that because of the wickedness of proud tyrants. But if a man call upon God, doth not he hear him? Doth not the Almighty accept his cry? When thou speakest then, should not he pardon thee, if thou open thyself before him, and put thy trust in him? Then useth he no violence in his wrath neither hath he pleasure in curious and deep inquisitions. Therefore hath job opened his mouth but in vain, and foolishly hath he made so many words. The XXXVI. Chapter. ELiu proceeded forth in his talking, & said: hold the still a little, and I shall show thee, what I have yet to speak on God's behalf. I will open unto the yet more of mine understanding, and prove my maker righteous. True are my words, & no lie: and the knowledge wherewithal I argue against thee, is perfect. Behold, God casts not away the mighty, for he himself is mighty in power and wisdom. As for the ungodly, he preserveth them not but helpeth the poor to their right. ●sal. 31. ᵇ ● Re. 7. ᶜ ●. Re. 10. c Par. 33. c He turneth not his eyes away from the righteous he setteth up kings in their Throne, and confirmeth them, so that they allway sit therein. Butler if they be laid in preson and chains, or bound with the bonds of poverty: then showeth he them their works and deeds and the sins wherewith they have used cruel violence. He with punyshinge and nurturing of them, rowneth them in the ears, warneth them to leave of from their wickedness, and to amend. If they now will take heed and be obedient, they shall were out their days in prosperity, Esa. 1. c and their years in pleasure and joy. But if they will not obey, they shall go thorough the sword, & perish or ever they be aware. As for such as be feigned, dyssemblers and ypocrytes, they heap up wrath for themselves: for they call not upon him, though they be his presoners. Thus their soul perisheth in foolishness, and their life with the condemned. The poor delivereth he out of his straightness, and comforteth such as be in necessity and trouble. Even so shall he keep thee (if thou will't be content) from the bottomless pit that is beneath: & if thou will't hold the quiet, he shall fill thy table with plenteousness. Nevertheless, thou hast condemned the judgement of the ungodly, ye even such a judgement and sentence shalt thou suffer. For than shall not thy cause be stilled with cruelty, ner pacified with many gifts. Hath God ordained then, that the glorious life of the & all such mighty men should not be put down? Prolong not thou the time, till there come a night for thee, to set other people in thy stead. But beware that thou turn not aside to wickedness and sin, which hither to thou hast choose more than meekness. Behold, God is of a mighty high power: Where is there such a guide and lawegever as he? Who will reprove him of his way? who will say unto him: thou hast done wrong? O consider how great and excellent his works be, whom all men love and praise: ye wonder at him, and yet they see him but afar of. Behold, so great is God, that he passeth our knowledge, neither are we able to come to the experience of his years. He turneth the water to small drops, he driveth his clouds together for to rain, so that they pour down and drop upon men. Deu. 11. c 28. d He can spread out the clouds (a covering of his tabernacle) and 'cause his light to shine upon them, and to cover the bottom of the see. By these things governeth he his people, and giveth them abundance of meat. In the turning of a hand he hideth the light, & at his commandment it cometh again. The rising up thereof showeth he to his friends and to the cattles. The XXXVII. Chapter. AT this my heart is astonied, and moved out of his place. Hear then the sound of his voice, and the noise that goeth out of his mouth. He governeth every thing under the heaven, and his light reacheth unto the end of the world. A roaring voice followeth him: for his glorious majesty giveth such a thunder clap, that (though a man hear it) yet may he not perceive it afterward. It giveth an horrible sound, when God sendeth out his voice: great things doth he, which we can not comprehend. When he commandeth the snow, it falls upon the earth: 〈…〉 As soon as he giveth the rain a charge, Immediately the showers have their strength and fall down He sendeth fear upon every man, that they might know their own works. The beestes creep in to their dens, & take their rest. Out of the south cometh the tempest, and cold out of the north. At the breath of God, the frost cometh, & the waters are shed abroad. The clouds do their labour in giving moistness, the clouds pour down their rain. He distributeth also on every side, according as it pleaseth him to deal out his works, that they may do, what so ever he, commandeth them thorough the whole world: whether it be to punish any land, or to do good unto them, that seek him. hearken unto this (oh job) stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Art thou of council with God, when he doth these things? When he causeth the light to come forth of his clouds? Art thou of his council, when he spreadeth out the clouds? Hast thou the perfect knowledge of his wonders? and how thy clotheses are warm, when the land is still thorough the south wind? hast thou helped him to spread out the heaven, which is to look upon, as it were cast of clear metal? Teach us what we shall say unto him, for we are unmeet because of darkness. Shall it be told him, what I say? Should a man speak, or should he keep it back? For every man seith not the light, that he keepeth clear in the clouds, which he cleanseth when he maketh the wind to blow. Gold is brought out of the north, but the praise and honour of God's fear cometh from God himself. It is not we that can find out the almighty: for in power, equity and rigtuousnesse he is higher than can be expressed. seeing then that every body fears him, why should not all wise men also stand in fear of him? Chap. XXXVIII. THen spoke the LORD unto job out of the storm, 〈…〉 and said: what is he, that hideth his mind with foolish words? Gird up thy loins like a man, for I will question the se thou give me a direct answer. Where wast thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell plainly if thou haste understanding. Who hath measured it, knowest thou? Or, who hath spread the line upon it? Where upon stand the pilers of it? 〈…〉 Or, who laid the corner stone? where wast thou when the morning stars gave me praise, and when all the angels of God rejoiced? 〈…〉 Who shut the see with doors, when it broke forth as a child out of his mother's womb? When I made the clouds to be a covering for it, and swedled it with the dark? 〈…〉 when I gave it my commandment, making doors & bars for it, saying: Hither to shalt thou come, but no further, and here shalt thou lay down thy proud and high wawes. Hast thou given the morning his charge (as soon as thou wast born) and showed the dayespringe his place, that it might take hold of the corners of the earth, & that the ungodly might be shaken out? Their tokens & weapens hast thou turned like clay, & set them up again as the changing of a garment. Ye thou hast spoiled the ungodly of their light, & broken the arm of the proud. Camest thou ever in to the ground of the see, Or, hast thou walked in the low corners of the deep? Have the gates of death been opened unto the or hast thou seen the door of everlasting treasure? Hast thou also perceived, how broad the earth is? Now if thou hast knowledge of all, them show me where light dwelleth, and where darkness is: that thou mayest bring us unto their quarters, if thou canst tell the way to their houses. Knewest thou (when thou wast born) how old thou shouldest be? Wentest thou ever in to the treasuries of the snow, 〈…〉 or hast thou seen the secret places of the hale: which I have prepared against the time of trouble, against the time of battle & war? By what way is the light parted, & the heat dealt out upon earth? Who divideth the abundance of waters in to rivers, or who maketh a way for the stormy wether, that it watereth & moystureth the dry & barren ground: to make the grass grow in places where no body dwelleth, & in the wilderness where no man remaineth? Who is the father of rain? Or, who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? who hath gendered the coldness of the air? that the waters are as hard as stones, & lie congeeled above the deep. Hast thou brought the seven. stars together? Or, art thou able to break the Circle of heaven? Canst thou bring forth the morning star or the evening star at convenient time, & convey them home again? Knowest thou the course of heaven, that thou mayest set up the ordinance thereof upon earth? moreover, canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that they may pour down a great rain upon thee? Canst thou thunder also that they may go their way, & be obedient unto thee, saying: lo, here are we? Who giveth sure wisdom, or steadfast understanding? who numbereth the clouds in wisdom? who stilleth the vehement waters of the heaven? who turneth the clottes to dust, & then to be clottes again? Huntest thou the pray from the Lion, or fedest thou his whelps dying in their dens & lurking in their couches? who provideth meat for the raven, Psa. 14●. ● when his young one's cry unto God, and i'll about for want of meat? Chap. XXXIX. KNowest thou the time when the wild goats bring forth their young among the stony rocks? Or layest thou wait when the hinds use to fawn? Rekenest thou the month as after they engender, that thou knowest the time of their bearing? Or when they lie down, when they cast their young one's, & when they are delivered of their travail & pain? How their young one's grow up & wax great thorough good feeding? who letteth the wild ass go free, or who lowseth the bonds of the Moole? Unto whom I have given the wilderness to be their house, & the untilled land to be their dwelling place. That they may give no force for the multitude of people in the cities, neither to regard the crying of the driver: but to seek their pasture about the mountains, & to follow upon the green grass. Will the unicorn be so tame as to do the service, or to abide still by thy crib? Canst thou bind the yock about him in thy forowes, to make him plough after the in the valleys? Mayest thou trust him (because he is strong) or commit thy labor unto him? Mayest thou believe him, that he will bring home the corn, or to carry any thing unto the barn? The Ostrich (whose feathers are fairer than the wings of the sparrow hawk) when he hath laid his eggs upon the ground, he breedeth them in the dust, and forgetteth them: so that they might be trodden with feet, or broken with some wild beast. So hard is he unto his young one's, as though they were not his, and laboureth in vain without any fear. And that because God hath taken wisdom from him, & hath not given him understanding. When his time is, he flieth up an high, and careth neither for horse ner man. Hast thou given the horse is strength, or learned him to bow down his neck with fear: that he letteth himself be driven forth like a grasshopper, where as the stout neyenge that he maketh, is fearful? he breaketh the ground with the hoffes of his feet cheerfully in his strength, and runneth to meet the harnessed men. He layeth aside all fear, his stomach is not abated, neither starteth he a back for any sword. Though the quivers rattle upon him, though the spear and shield glistre: yet russheth he in fearsly, and beateth upon the ground. He fears not the noise of the trumpets, but as soon as he heareth the shawms blow, tush (sayeth he) for he smelleth the battle afar of, the noise, the captains and the shoutinge. cometh it thorough thy wisdom, that the goshawk flieth toward the south? Doth the Eagle mount up & make his nest on high at thy commandment? He abideth in the stony rocks, and upon the high tops of hard mountains, where no man can come. From thence may he behold his pray, and look far about with his eyes. His young one's are fed with blood, Mat. 24. c and where any deed body lieth, there is he immediately. moreover, God spoke unto job and said: Can he that striveth with the almighty, be at rest? Should not he which disputeth with God, give him an answer? job answered the LORD, saying: Behold, I am to vile a person, to answer thee, therefore will I say my hand upon my mouth. Once or twice have I spoken, but I will say no more. The XL. Chapter. THen spoke the LORD unto job out of the storm, and said: gird up the loins like a man, job. 38, a and tell me the thing that I will axe the. Will't thou disannul my judgement? Or, will't thou condemn me, that thou thyself mayest be made righteous? Is thy arm then like the arm of God? Maketh thy voice such a sound as his doth? Then arm thyself with thy own power, up, deck the in thy jolly array, pour out the indignation of thy wrath: see that thou cast down all the proud, look well, that thou makest all such as be stubborn, to obey: tread all the ungodly under thy feet, cast them down in to the mire, and cover their faces with darkness: Then will I confess also, that thine own right hand hath saved the. Behold, the cruel beast (whom I made with thee) which eateth hay as an ox: lo, how strong he is in his loins, and what power he hath in the navel of his body. He spreadeth out his tale like a cedar tree, all his veins are stiff. His shynnes are like pipes of brass, his ridge bones are like staves of iron First when God made him, he ordained the wilderness for him, that the mountains should give him grass, where all the beasts of the field take their pastime. He lieth among the reeds in the Mosses, the fens hide him with their shadow, and the wylowes of the broken cover him round about. Lo, without any labour might he drink out the whole flood, and sup of jordane without any travail. Who dare say hand upon him openly, and undertake to catch him? Or, who dare put an hook thorough his nose, and lay a snare for him? Darrest thou draw out Leviathan with an angle, or bind his tongue with a snare? 〈…〉 Canst thou put a ring in the nose of him, or bore his chaftes thorough with a awl? Will he make many fair words with thee (thinkest thou) or flatre thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? Or, art thou able for to compel him to do the continual service? Will't thou take thy pastyne with him as with a bird, or give him unto thy maidens, that thy companions may hue him in pieces, to be parted among the merchant men? Canst thou fill the net with his skin, or the fish pamnyer with his head? Darrest thou say hand upon him? It is better for the to consider what harm might hap the there thorough and not to touch him. For when thou thinkest to have hold upon him, he shall beguile thee: Every man also that saith him, shall go back. And why? there dare none be so bold, as to raise him up. The XLI. Chapter. WHo is able to stand before me? Or, who hath given me any thing afore hand, 〈…〉 that I am bound to reward him again? All things under heaven are mine. I fear him not, whether he threaten or speak fair. Who lifteth him up and stripeth him out of his clotheses, or who taketh him by the bit of his bridle? Who openeth the door of his face? for he hath horrible teeth round about. His body is covered with scales as it were with shyldes, locked in, kept, and well compact together. One is so joined to another, that no air can come in: Ye one hangs so upon another, and stick so together, that they can not be sundered. His nesinge is like a glistering fire, and his eyes like the morning shine. Out of his mouth go torches and fire brands, out of his nostrils there goeth a smoke, like as out ●ff an hot seetinge pot. His breath maketh the coals burn, the flame goeth out of his mouth. In his neck remaineth strength, and before his face sorrow is turned to gladness. The membres of his body are joined so straight one to another, and cleave so fast together, that he can not be moved. His heart is as hard as a stone, and as fast as the styth you that the hammer man smiteth upon. When he goeth: the mightiest of all are afraid, and the wawes heavy. if he draw out the sword, there may neither spear ner breast plate abide him. He setteth as much by a straw as by iron, and as much by a rotten stock as by metal. He starteth ●ot away for him that bendeth the bow, & ●s for sling stones, he careth as much for stubble as for them. He counteth the hammer no better than a straw, he laugheth him to scorn that shaketh the spear. He treadeth the gold in the mire like the sharp potsherdes. He maketh the deep to seethe and boil like a pot, and steereth the see together like an ointment. The way is light after him, the deep is his walking place. Upon earth is there no power like unto his, for he is so made, that he fears not. if a man will consider all high things, this same is a king over all the children of pride. The XLII. Chapter. THen job answered the LORD, and said: I know that thou hast power of all things, 〈…〉 and that there is no thought hid unto the. For who can keep his own council so secret, but it shall be known? Therefore have I spoken unwisely, saying these things are so high, and pass mine understanding. O hearken thou unto me also, and let me speak: answer me unto the thing that I will axe the. I have given diligent ear unto thee, and now I see the 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 the & thy two friends, for you have not spoken the thing that is right before me, like as my serua●●● job hath done. Therefore take seven. oxen 〈…〉 seven rams, and go to my servant 〈…〉 offer up also for yourselves a brent offe●●●●●ge, and let my servant job pray for 〈…〉 Him will I accept, and not deal with 〈…〉 after your foolishness: in that you hau● 〈…〉 spoken the thing which is right, like as my 〈…〉 job hath done. So Eliphas the Themanite, Bald 〈…〉 Suhite and Sophar the Naamathite 〈…〉 their way, and did according as the 〈…〉 commanded them. The LORD also 〈…〉 the person of job, and the LOR●● 〈…〉 turned him unto job, when he prayed for 〈…〉 friends: Ye the LORD gave job twice 〈◊〉 much as he had afore. And then came there unto him all his 〈…〉 threns, all his sisters with all them that 〈…〉 been of his acquamtaunce afore, and ate 〈…〉 with him in his house, wondringe at him, and 〈◊〉 comforting him over all the trouble, 〈…〉 the LORD had brought upon him. 〈…〉 man gave him a sheep and a jewel of 〈…〉 And the LORD made job richer the● 〈…〉 was before: for he had xiv. M. sheep, vi. 〈…〉 camels, a M. yock oxen, and a M. asses. 〈…〉 had children also: seven. sons and iij. dough●ters. The first he called day, the second 〈◊〉 poverty: the third, All plenteousness. In the land were none found so fair, as 〈…〉 daughters of job, & their father gave 〈…〉 inheritance among their brethren. After this lived job xl. years, so that he saw his children, & his childers children unto the fourth generation. And so he died, being old & of a perfect age. The end of the book of Io● 〈◊〉 The Psalter The first psalm. O Blessed is the man, that goeth 〈…〉 in the council of the ungodly 〈…〉 that abideth not in the way 〈…〉 sinners, & sitteth not in the 〈…〉 of the scornful. But 〈…〉 lyteth in the law of the LORD, & exercise 〈◊〉 himself in his law both ●aye and night. 〈…〉 Soch a man is like a tree plated 〈◊〉 the water, syd●de, that bringeth forth his fruit in due season. His leaves shall not fall of, and look what 〈◊〉 he doth, it shall prosper. As for the 〈◊〉, it is not so with them: but they are 〈◊〉 dust, which the wind scatereth 〈…〉 of the ground. Therefore the ungod 〈◊〉 all not be able to stand in the judgement, 〈◊〉 the sinners in the congregation of ●ightuous. For the LORD alloweth the 〈◊〉 of the righteous, but the way of the 〈◊〉 shall perish. The II A psalm of David. THy do the Heithen grudge? why do the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stand up, 〈◊〉 rulers are come together, against 〈◊〉 LORD and against his anointed. Let 〈◊〉 break their bonds asunder, and cast 〈…〉 their yoke from us. Nevertheless, 〈◊〉 that dwelleth in heaven, shall laugh them 〈◊〉 scorn: ye even the LORD himself shall have them in derision. Then shall he 〈…〉 unto them in his wrath, and vex them in 〈…〉 displeasure. Yet have I set my 〈◊〉 upon my holy hill of Zion. As for me 〈…〉 preach the law, whereof the LORD 〈…〉 said unto me: Thou art my son, 〈◊〉 day have I begotten the. Desire of 〈◊〉, and I shall give the the heathen for 〈◊〉 inheritance, Ye the uttermost parts of 〈…〉 world for thy possession. Thou shalt 〈…〉 with a rod of iron, and break them 〈…〉 like an earthen vessel. Be wise now 〈◊〉 (oh you kings) be warned, you that are 〈◊〉 of the earth. Serve the lord ●ith fear, and rejoice before him with reverence. Kiss the son, jest the LORD be 〈◊〉, and so you perish from the right way. ●or his wrath shallbe kindled shortly: blessed 〈…〉 they that put their trust in him. The III A psalm of David. ●Hy are they so many (oh LORD) that 〈…〉 trouble me? a great multitude are 〈…〉 they, that rise against me. Ye 〈◊〉 one there be that say of my soul: 〈◊〉 is no help for him in God. Sela 〈…〉 (oh LORD) art my defender, my 〈◊〉, and the lifter up of my head. I call 〈◊〉 the LORD with my voice, and he 〈…〉 me out of his holy hill. Sela I laid 〈◊〉 down and slept, but I rose up again, 〈◊〉 the LORD sustained me. I am not 〈◊〉 for thousands of the people, that 〈…〉 round about. Up LORD, and help 〈◊〉 my God: for thou smytest all mine 〈◊〉 upon the chek●bones, and breakest the 〈◊〉 of the ungodly. Help belongeth 〈◊〉 the LORD, therefore let thy blessing be upon thy people. The four A psalm of David. Hear me when I call, oh God of my righteousness, thou that comfortest me in my trouble: have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. O you sons of men: how long will you blaspheme mine honour? why have you such pleasure in vanity, & seek after lies? Sela Know this, that the LORD dealeth marvelously with his saint: and when I call upon the LORD, he heareth me. Be angry, but sin n●t: 〈…〉 common with your own hearts upon your beds, & remember your selves. Sel●. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, & put your trust in the LORD. There be many that say: who will do us any good? where as thou (oh LORD) hast showed us the light of the countenance. Thou reioysest mine heart, though their increase be great both in corn & wine. Therefore will I lay me down in peace, & take my rest: for thou LORD only settest me in a sure dwelling. The V A psalm of David. Hear my words (oh LORD) consider my calling. O mark the voice of my petition, my king & my God: for unto the will I make my prayer. Hear my voice by times (oh LORD) for early in the morning will I get me unto thee, 〈…〉 ye & that with diligence. For thou art not the God that hath pleasure in wickedness, there may no ungodly person dwell with the. Soch as be cruel may not stand in thy sight, thou art an enemy unto all wicked doers. Thou destroyest the liars: the LORD abhorreth the blood thirsty and deceitful. But as for me, I will come into thy house, 〈…〉 even upon the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. lead me (oh LORD) in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies, and make thy way plain before me. For there is no faithfulness in their mouths: they dissemble in their hearts: their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they deceive. Punish them (oh God) that they may perish in their own imaginations: cast them out because of the multitude of their ungodliness, for they rebel against the. Again, let all them that put their trust in thee, rejoice: ye let them ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them: that they which love thy name, may be joyful in the. For thou LORD givest thy blessing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindness thou defendest him, as with a shield. The VI A psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy anger: O chasten me not in thy heavy displeasure. 〈…〉 Have mercy upon me (oh LORD) for I am weak: oh LORD heal me, for all my bones are vexed. My soul also is in great trouble, but LORD how long? Turn thee (oh LORD) & deliver my soul: O save me, for thy mercy's sake. For in death no man remembreth thee: O who will give the thanks in the hell? I am weighed of groaning: Every night wash I my bed, & water my couch with my tears. My countenance is changed for very inward grief, I consume away, 〈…〉 I have so many enemies. Away fro me all you wicked doers, for the LORD hath herd the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard mine humble peticien, the LORD hath received my prayer. All mine enemies shallbe confounded & sore vexed: ye they shallbe turned back and put to shame, and that right soon. The VII. A psalm of David. O LORD my God, in the do I trust: save me from all them that persecute me, 〈…〉 & deliver me. Jest he hantch up my soul like a lion, & tear it in pieces, while there is none to help. O LORD my God, if I have done any such thing: if there be any unrighteousness in my hands: if I have rewarded evil unto them that dealt friendly with me or hurt them that with out any cause are mine enemies: Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, & take me: ye let him tread my life down in the earth, & lay mine honour in the dust. Sela. stand up (oh LORD) in thy wrath, lift up thyself over the furious indignation of mine enemies: arise up (for me) in the vengeance that thou hast promised. 〈…〉 That the congregation of the people may come about thee, for their sakes therefore lift up thyselff again, The LORD is judge over the people: Avenge me then (oh LORD) according to my righteousness & innocency. O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end: but manteyne the just, thou righteous God, that triest the very hearts & the reins. My help cometh of God, which preserveth them that are true of heart. 〈…〉 God is a righteous judge, & God is ever threatening. If men will not turn, he hath whet his sword: he hath bend his bow & made it ready. He hath prepared him the weapens of death, & ordained his arrows to destroy. Behold, he travaileth with mischief, 〈…〉 he hath conceived unhappiness, and brought forth a lie. He hath graven and digged up a pit, 〈…〉 but he shall fall himself into the pit that he hath made. For his unhappiness shall come upon his own head, Psal. ●●9. b & his wickedness shall fall upon his own pate. As for me, I will give thanks unto the LORD for his righteousness sake, and will praise the name of the LORD the most highest. The VIII. A psalm of David. O LORD our governor: how wonderful is thy name in all the world? how excellent is thy glory above the heavens? Matt. ●1. b Out of the mouth of the very babes & sucklinges thou hast ordained praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mightest destroy the enemy and the avenger. For I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers: the Moon and the stars which thou hast made. O what is man, that thou art so mindful of him? either the son of man that thou visitest him? Psal. 143. a Heb 2. b After thou hadst for a season made him lower than the angels, thou crownedest him with honour & glory. Thou hast set him above the works of thy hands: 〈…〉 thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. All sheep and oxen, ye and the beasts of the field. The fowls of the air: the fish of the see, and what ●o walketh thorough the ways of the see. O LORD our governor, how wonderful is thy name in all the world? The IX. A psalm of David. I Will give thanks unto thee (oh LORD) with my whole heart, I will speak of all thy marvelous works. Psal 110. a and. 137. a I will be glad & rejoice in thee, ye my songs will I make of thy name, oh thou most highest. Because thou hast driven mine enemies aback, they were discomfited, & perished at thy presence. For thou hast manteyned my right and my cause: thou sittest in the Throne that art the true judge. Thou rebukest the heathen, and destroyest the ungodly, thou puttest out their name for ever and ever. The enemy's swords are come to an end, thou hast overthrown their cities, their memorial is perished with them. But the LORD endureth for ever, he hath prepared his seat unto judgement. He governeth the world with righteousness & ministereth true judgement unto the people. The LORD is a defence for the poor, a defence in the time of trouble. Therefore they that know thy name, put their trust in thee: for thou (LORD) never faylest them, that seek the. O praise the LORD, Deu. 4. c Psal. 75. a which dwelleth in Zion show the people of his doings. And why? he maketh inquisition for their blood, and remembreth them: Psal. 21. c he forgetteth not the complaint of the poor. Have mercy upon me (oh LORD) consider the trouble that I am in among mine enemies, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death. That I may she we all thy praises within the ports of the daughter Zion, and rejoice in thy saving health. As for the heathen, the are suncken do●ne in the pit that they made: in the same net, which they spread out privily, is their own foot taken. Thus the LORD is known to execute true judgement, when the ungodly is trapped in the works of his own hands Sela. The wicked must be turned unto hell, and all the heathen that forget God. But the poor shall not allway be out of remembrance, the patient abiding of such as be in trouble shall not perish for ever. Up LORD, let not man have the upper hand, let the Heithen be condemned before the. O LORD, set a schoolmaster over them, that the Heithen may know themselves to be but men. Sela. Here the Hebrews begin the x. psalm. WHy art thou go so far of, oh LORD? will't thou hide thyselff in time of trouble? While the ungodly hath the over hand, the poor must suffer persecution: O that they were taken in the imaginations which they go about. For the ungodly maketh boost of his own hearts desire, the cuvetous blesseth himself, and blasphemeth the LORD. The ungodly is so proud and full of indignation, that he careth not: neither is God before his eyes. His ways are allway filthy, thy judgements are far out of his sight, he defyeth all his enemies. For he sayeth in his heart: Tush, I shall never be cast down, there shall no harm hap unto me. His mouth is full of cursing, fraud and deceit: under his tongue is travail & sorrow. He sitteth lurking in the gardens, that he may privily murder the innocent, his eyes are set upon the poor. He lieth way ●inge secretly, as it were a lion in his den. He lurketh that he may ravish the poor, ye to ravish the poor, when he hath got him in to his net. Then smiteth he, then oppresseth he & casts down the poor with his authority. For he sayeth in his heart: Tush, God hath forgotten, he hath turned a way his face, so that he will never see it. Arise oh LORD God, lift up thy hand, and forget not the poor. Wherefore should the wicked blaspheme God, and say in his heart: Tush, he careth not for it? This thou seist, for thou considerest the misery and sorrow: The poor giveth himself over in to thy hand, and committeth him unto thee, for thou art the helper of the friendless. Break thou the arm of the ungodly and malicious, search out the wickedness which he hath done, that he may perish. The LORD is king for ever, you heathen shall perish out of his land. LORD, thou hearest the desirous longing of the poor: their heart is sure, that thy ear herkeneth thereto. Help the fatherless and poor unto their right, that the ungodly be no more exalted upon earth. The X. A psalm of David. IN the LORD put I my trust: how will you then say to my soul: that she should i'll as a bird upon your hill? For ●o, the ungodly have bend their bow, and made ready their arrows in the quiver: that they may privily shoot at them, 〈…〉 which are true of heart. The very foundation have they cast down, what can the righteous then do withal? But the LORD is in his holy temple, the lords seat is in heaven: 〈…〉 He considereth it with his eyes, his eye lyddes behold the children of men. 〈…〉 The LORD seith both the righteous and ungodly, but who so delighteth in wickedness, him his soul abhorreth. Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire, brimstone, storm and tempest: this reward shall they have to drink. For the LORD is righteous, and he loveth righteousness, his countenance beholdeth the thing that is just. The XI. A psalm of David. Help LORD, for there is not one saint more: very few faithful are there among the children of men. Every man telleth lies to his neghbor, they do but flatter with their lips and dissemble in their heart. O that the LORD would rote out all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Which say: Our tongue should prevail: we are they that aught to speak, who is lord over us? Now for the troubles sake of the oppressed, & because of the complaint of the poor, I will up (sayeth the LORD) I will help them, and set them at rest. The words of the LORD are pure words: even as the silver, 〈…〉 which from earth is tried and purified seven. times in the fire. Keep them therefore (oh LORD) and preserve us from this generation for ever. And why? when vanity and idleness getteth the over hand among the children of men, all are full of the ungodly. The XII. A psalm of David. HOw long will't thou forget me, oh LORD? for ever? how long will't thou hide thy face fro me? O how long shall I seek council in my soul? how long shall I be so vexed in my heart? how long shall mine enemy triumph over me? consider, and hear me, oh LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death. Jest mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it. But my trust is in thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in thy saving health. I will sing of the LORD, that dealeth so lovingly with me. (Ye I will praise the name of the LORD the most highest) The XIII. A psalm of David. THe foolish bodies say in their hearts: 〈…〉 Tush, there is no God. They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings, there is not one ● doth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, 〈…〉 to see if there were any, that would understand & seek after God. But they are all go out of the way, they are altogether become unprofitable: there is none that doth good, not not one. 〈…〉 Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have deceived, the poison of Asps is under their lips. 〈…〉 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, their feet are swift to shed blood. 〈…〉 Destruction & wretchedness are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. How can they have understanding, that work mischief, eating up my people, as it were bread, & call not upon the LORD? Therefore shall they be brought in great fear, for God standeth by the generation of the righteous. As for you, you have made a mock at the council of the poor, because he putteth his trust in the LORD. O that the saving health were given unto Israel out of Zion. 〈…〉 O that the LORD would deliver his people out of captivity. Then should jacob rejoice, and Israel should be right glad. The XIIII. A psalm of David. LORD, who shall devil in thy tabernacle? 〈…〉 who shall rest upon thy holy hill? Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life: that doth the thing which is right, and that speaketh the truth from his heart. He that useth no disceat in his tongue: he that doth no evil to his neighbour, & slandereth not his neighbours. He that setteth not by the ungodly but maketh much of them that fear the LORD: he that sweareth unto his neighbour & dispoynteth him not. He that giveth not his money upon usury, Eze. 18. a and taketh no reward against the innocent. Who so doth these things, shall never be removed. The XU. A psalm of David. Preserve me (oh God) for in the do I trust. I have said unto the LORD: thou art my God, my goods are nothing unto the. All my delight is upon the sanctes that are in the earth, and upon such like. But they that run after another shall have great trouble. Their drink offerings of blood will not I offer, neither make mention of their name in my mouth. The LORD himself is my good and my 〈◊〉 thou manteynest my inheritance. 〈…〉 is fallen unto me in a fair ground● 〈…〉 a goodly heritage. I will thank 〈…〉 for giving me warning my 〈…〉 so have chastened me in the night 〈…〉 Afore hand saw I God always 〈…〉 me, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, & my tongue was glad, my flesh also shall rest in hope. For why? thou shalt not leave my sou●e in hell, neither shalt thou suffer thy saint to see corruption. Thou hast showed me the ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. At thy right hand there is pleasure and joy for evermore. The XVI. A psalm of David. Hear the right (O LORD) consider my cō●playnte: hearken unto my prayer, tha● goeth not out of a feigned mouth. Le● my sentence come forth from thy presence, and look upon the thing that is equal. Tho● hast proved & visited mine heart in the night season: thou hast tried me in the fire, & has● found no wickedness in me: for I utterly pu●●posed, that my mouth should not offend. Because of the words of thy lips, I have kept me from the works of men, in the way● of the murderer. O order thou my goyn●ges in thy paths, that my foot steps slip not. For unto the I cry, hear me oh God● incline thy ears to me, and hearken unto my words. Show thy marvelous loving kindness, thou that savest them which put their trust in thee, from such as resist thy right hand. Keep me as the apple of an eye, defend me under the shadow of thy wings. zac. 2. b Matt▪ 23. From the ungodly that trouble me, fro mine enemies which compass my soul round about. Which manteyne their own wealthiness with oppression, & their mouth speaketh proud things. They lie waiting in our way on every side, turning their eyes down to the ground. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, & as it were a lions whelp lurking in his den. Up LORD, dispoynte him & cast him down: deliver my soul with thy sword from the ungodly. Ephe. ●. b From the men of thy hand (oh LORD) from the men of the world, which have their portion in this life: whose bellies thou fyllest with thy treasure. They have children at their desire, and leave the rest of their substance for their babes But as form, I will behold thy presence in righteousness: and when thy glory appea●● shall be satisfied. 〈◊〉 XVII. A psalm of David when he is delivered from the hand of Saul. 〈…〉 love thee (oh LORD) my strength. 〈…〉 The LORD is my sucor, my refuge, 〈◊〉 my saviour: my god, my helper in whom 〈…〉: my buckler, the horn of my health, & my protection. I will praise the LORD & call upon him, 〈…〉 a so shall I be safe fro mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, & the brokes of ungodliness made me afraid. 〈…〉 a The pains of hell came about me, the snares of death took hold upon me. Yet in my trouble I called upon the LORD, & complained unto my God. So he heard my voice out of his holy temple, & my complaint came before him, ye even in to his ears. Then the earth trembled & quaked, ●att. ●7. f the very foundations of the hills shaken & were removed, because he was wroth. There went a smoke out of his nostrils, and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so the coals were kindled at it. He bowed the heavens & came down, & it was dark under his feet. He road upon the Cherubins & did i'll: he came flying with the wings of the wind. He made darkness his pavilion round about him, with dark water & thick clouds to cover him. At the brightness of his presence the clouds removed, with hale stones & coals of fire. The LORD also thondred out of the heaven, & the height gave his thunder with hale stones & coals of fire. He sent out his arrows & scattered them, he cast sore lightenings, & destroyed them. The springs of waters were seen, & the foundations of the round world were discovered at thy chiding (oh LORD) at the blasting & breath of thy displeasure. He sent down from the height to fetch me, & took me out of great waters. He delivered me fro my strong enemies, and fro my foes which were to mighty form. They prevented me in the time of my trouble, but the LORD was my defence. He brought me forth also into liberty: & delivered me, because he had a favour unto me. The LORD shall reward me after my righteous dealing, & according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, & have not behaved myself wickedly against my God. I have an eye unto all his laws, & cast not out his commandments fro me. uncorrupt will I be before him, & will eschew mine own wickedness. Therefore shall the LORD reward me after my righteous dealing, & according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eye sight. With the holy thou shalt be holy, & with the innocent thou shalt be innocent. With the clean thou shalt be clean & with the froward thou shalt be froward. 〈…〉 For thou shalt save the poor oppressed, & bring down the high looks of the proud. 〈…〉 Thou lightest my candle, oh LORD my God: thou makest my darkness to be light. For in the I can discomfit an host of men: ye in my God I can leap over the brickwall. The way of God is a perfect way: 〈…〉 the words of the LORD are tried in the fire: he is a shield of defence, for all them that trust in him. For who is God, but the LORD? 〈…〉 Or, who hath any strength, but our God? 〈…〉 It is God that hath girded me with strength and made my way uncorrupt. He hath made my feet like hearts feet, and set me up an high. He teacheth mine hands to fight, 〈…〉 and maketh mine arms to break even a bow of steel. Thou hast given me the defence of thy health, thy right hand upholdeth me, and thy loving correction maketh me great. Thou hast made room enough under me for to go, that my foot steps should not slide. I will follow upon mine enemies, and take them: I will not turn till they be discomfited. I will smite them, they shall not be able to stand, but fall under my feet. Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle, thou hast thrown them all down under me, that rose up against me. Thou hast made mine enemies to turn their backs upon me, thou hast destroyed them that hated me. They cried, but there was none to help them: ye even unto the LORD, 〈…〉 but he heard them not. I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind, I will cast them out as the clay in the streets. Thou shalt deliver me from the stryvinge of the people, thou shalt make me the head of the Heithen. A people whom I have not known, shall serve me. As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me, but the strange children dissemble with me. The strange children are waxen old, and go halting out of their paths. The LORD liveth: and blessed be my helper, praised be the God of my health. Even the God which saith that I be avenged, and subdueth the people unto me. It is he that delivereth me fro my cruel enemies: thou shalt lift me up from them that rise against me, thou shalt rid me from the wicked man. 〈…〉 For this cause I will give thanks unto thee (oh LORD) among the Gentiles, and sing praises unto thy name. great prosperity giveth he unto his king, 〈…〉 and showeth loving kindness unto David his anointed, ye & unto his seed for evermore. The XVIII. A psalm of David. THe very heavens declare the glory of God, 〈…〉 and the very firmament showeth his handy work. One day telleth another, and one night certifieth another. There is neither speech ner language, but their voices are herd among them. Their sound is go out in to all lands, and their words in to the ends of the world. 〈…〉 In them hath he set a tabernacle for the Son, which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chambre, & rejoiceth as a giant to run his course. It goeth forth from the one end of the heaven, and runneth about unto the same end again, & there may no man hide himself from the heat thereof. The law of the LORD is a perfect law, it quickeneth the soul. 〈…〉 The testimony of the LORD is true, & giveth wisdom even unto babes. The statutes of the LORD are right, & rejoice the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, & endureth for ever: the judgements of the LORD are true and rigtuous altogether. Moore pleasunt are they then gold, 〈…〉 ye then much fine gold: sweeter than honey & the honey comb. These thy servant keepeth, & for keeping of them there is great reward. 〈…〉 Who can tell, how often he offendeth? O cleanse thou me fro my secret faults. Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, jest they get the dominion over me: so shall I be undefiled & innocent from the great offence. Ye the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart shallbe acceptable unto thee, oh LORD, my helper and my redeemer. The XIX. A psalm of David. THe LORD hear the in the time of trouble, the name of the God of jacob defend the. Send the help from the Sanctuary, & strength the out of Zion Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy brent sacrifice▪ Sela. Grant the thy hearts desire, & fulfil all thy mind. We will rejoice in thy health, & triumph in the name of the LORD our God: the LORD perform all thy petitions. Now know I, that the LORD helpeth his anointed, and will hear him from his holy heaven: mighty is the help of his right hand. Some put their trust in charettes, & some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen and stand up right. Save (LORD) & help us (oh king) when we call upon the. The XX. A psalm of David. LORD, how joyful is the king in the strength? O how exceeding glad is he of thy saving health? Thou hast given him his hearts desire, & hast not put him from the request of his lips▪ Sela. For thou hast prevented him with liberal blessings, & set a crown of gold upon his head. He asked life of thee, & thou gavest him a long life, even forever & ever. His honour is great in thy saving health, glory and great worship shalt thou say upon him. For thou shalt give him everlasting felicity, & make him glad with the joy of the countenance. And why▪ because the king putteth his trust in the LORD, & in the mercy of the most highest he shall not miscarry. Let all thy enemies feel thy hand, let thy right hand find out all them that hate the. Thou shalt make them light a fire oven in time of thy wrath: the LORD shall destroy them in his displeasure, & the fire shall consume them. Their fruit shalt thou rote out of the earth, & their seed from among the children of men. For they intended mischief against thee, & imagined such devices, as they were not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou put them to flight, & with thy strings thou shalt make ready thy arrows against the faces of them. Be thou exalted (LORD) in thy own strength, so will we sing and praise thy power. The XXI. A psalm of David. MY God, my God: why hast thou forsaken me? Matt. ●7. ● Mar. 15. d the words of my complaint are far fro my health. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not: and in the night season also I take no rest. Yet dwellest thou in the Sanctuary, oh thou worship of Israel. Our fathers hoped in thee, they trusted in the and thou didst deliver them. They called upon thee, and were helped: they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded. But as for me, I am a worm and no man: a very scorn of men and the outcast of the people. All they that see me, Psal. 108. d laugh me to scorn: they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads. He trusted in God, Matt. 27. c let him deliver him: let him help him, if he will have him. But thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: Psal. 7●. a thou wast ●●y hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts. I have been left unto the ever sense I was born, thou art my God, even fro my mother's womb. O go not fro me them, for trouble is hard at hand, and here is none to help me. great bulls are come about me, fat oxen close me in on every side. They gape upon me with their mouths, as it were a ramping and roaring lion. ●uc. 7. a Re. 14. b I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint: my heart in the midst of my body is even like melting wax. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, my tongue cleaveth to my gums, and thou hast brought me in to the dust of death. For dogs are come about me, the council of the wicked hath laid siege against me. They pierced my hands and my feet, I might have told all my bones: as for them, they stood staring and looking upon me. They have parted my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 〈…〉 But be not thou far fro me, oh LORD: thou are my succour, haist the to help me. deliver my soul from the sword, my dearlinge from the power of the dog. Save me from the lions mouth, and hear me from among the horns of the unicorns. ●sal. ●4. b So will I declare thy name unto my brethren, Heb. 2. c in the midst of the congregation will I praise the. O praise the LORD you that fear him: Magnify him all you seed of jacob. & let all the sede of Israel fear him. ●sal. 9 b For he hath not despised ner abhorred the miserable estate of the poor: he hath not hid his face from, but when I called unto him, he heard me. I will praise the in the great congregation, and perform my vows in the sight of all them that fear the. The poor shall eat and be satisfied: ●sal. 1●1. b they the seek after the LORD shall praise him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember themselves, & be turned unto the LORD: and all the generations of the heathen shall worship before him. For the kingdom is the LORDS, and he shall be the governor of the heathen. All such as be fat upon earth, shall eat also and worship: All they that lie in the dust, and live so hardly, shall fall down before him. The seed shall serve him, and preach of the LORD for ever. They shall come, & declare his righteousness: unto a people that shall be born, 〈…〉 whom the LORD hath made. The XXII. A psalm of David. THe LORD is my shepherd, I can want nothing. 〈…〉 He feedeth me in a green pasture, and leadeth me to a fresh water. He quickeneth my soul, & bringeth me forth in the way of righteousness for his name's sake. 〈…〉 Though I should walk now in the valley of the shadow of death, yet I fear no evil, for thou art with me: thy staff & thy sheephook comfort me. Thou preparest a ●●ble before me against mine enemies: thou anoyntest my head with oil, & fyllest my cup full. O let thy loving kindness & mercy follow me all the days of my life, that I may devil in the house of the LORD for ever. The XXIII. A psalm of David. THe earth is the LORDS, 〈…〉 & all that therein is: the compass of the world, and all that devil therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, & builded it upon the floods. Who shall go up in to the hill of the LORD? Or, who shall remain in his holy place? Even he that hath innocent hands & a clean heart: which lifteth not up his mind unto vanity, & sweareth not to deceive. 〈…〉 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and mercy from God his saviour. This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek thy face, oh jacob. Sela. Open your gates (oh you princes) let the everlasting doors be opened, that the king of glory may come in. Who is this king of glory▪ It is the LORD strong and mighty, even the LORD mighty in battle. Open your gates (oh you princes) let the everlasting doors be opened, that the king of glory may come in. Who is this king of glory? It is the LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory. Sela. The XXIIII. A psalm of David. UNto thee (oh LORD) I lift up my soul. My God, I trust in thee: 〈…〉 O let me not be confounded, jest mine enemy's triumph over me. For all they that hope in the shall not be ashamed: but such as be scornful despisers with out a cause▪ they shall be put to confution. Show me thy ways (oh LORD) & teach me thy paths. lead me in the truth and learn me, for thou art the God of my health, and in the is my hope all the day long. Call to remembrance, O LORD, thy tender mercies & thy loving kyndnesses, which have been ever of old. O remember not the sins & offences of my youth, but according unto thy mercy think upon me (O LORD) for thy goodness. O how friendly & righteous is the LORD, therefore will he teach sinners in the way. He leadeth the simple a right, and such as be meek them learneth he his ways. All the ways of the LORD are very mercy & faith fullness, unto such as keep his testament and covenant. For thy name's sake, O LORD, be merciful unto my sin, for it is great. What so ever he be that fears the LORD, he shall show him the way that he hath choose. His soul shall devil at ease, and his seed shall possess the land. The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him, and he showeth them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever looking unto the LORD, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. turneth unto me and have mercy upon me, for I am desolate and in misery. The sorrows of my heart are great, O bring me out of my troubles. Look upon my adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sins. consider how mine enemies are many, and bear a malicious hate against me. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in the. Let innocency and rightevous dealing wait upon me, for my hope is in the. deliver Israel (O God) out of all his trouble. The XXV: A psalm of David. BE thou my judge (O LORD) for I walk innocently: my trust is in the LORD, therefore shall I not fall. Examen me O LORD, and prove me: try out my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes, and I walk in thy truth. I sit not among vain personnes, and have no fellishipe with the deceitful. I hate the congregation of the wicked, and I will not sit among the ungodly. I waszshe my hands with innocency O LORD, and so go I to thy altar. That I may show the voice of thy praise, and tell of all thy wondrous works. LORD, I love the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy honour dwelleth. O destroy not my soul with the sinners, ner my life with the blood thirsty. In whose hands is wickedness, and their right hand is full of gifts. But as for me I will walk innocently: O deliver me, Deu. 17. ● and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth right: I will praise thee (O LORD) in the congregations. The XXVI. A psalm of David. THe LORD is my light and my health: Psal 111. ● whom then should I fear the LORD is the strength of my life, for whom then should I be afraid? Therefore when the wicked (even mine enemies & my foes) came upon me, to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fallen. Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid: and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him. Luce 10. ● One thing have I desired of the LORD, which I will require: namely, that I may devil in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, 2. Re. 7. ● to behold the fair beauty of the LORD, and to visit his temple. For in the time of trouble he hath hide me in his tabernacle, 1. Re. 21. ● ye in the secret place of his dwelling hath he kept and set me up upon a rock of stone. And now hath he lift up my head above mine enemies, that compassed me round about. Therefore will I offer in his dwelling, the oblation of thanksgiving: I will both sing & speak praises unto the LORD. hearken unto my voice (O LORD) when I cry unto thee: have mercy upon me & hear me. My heart speaketh unto thee, my face seeketh thee, ye LORD, thy face will I seek. O hide not thou thy face fro me, cast not thy servant of in displeasure. Thou art my succour, leave me not, neither forsake me, O God my saviour. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD hath taken me up. Show me thy way O LORD, and lead me in the right path, because of mine enemies. deliver me not in to the wills of mine adversaries, for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and they imagine mischief. Nevertheless, I believe verily to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psal. ●0. d O tarry thou the LORDS leisure, be strong, let thy heart be of good comfort, and wait thou still for the LORD. The XXVII. A psalm of David. UNto the will I cry, oh my strong defence: think no scorn of me, jest (if thou make the as though thou herdest not) I become like them, that go down in to the pit. Hear the voice of my humble petition, when I cry unto thee, and hold up my hands toward thy holy temple. O pluck me not away among the ungodly and wicked doers, 〈◊〉. 9 a which speak friendly to their neighbour, but imagine mischief in their hearts. Reward them according to their deeds and wickedness of their own inventions. Recompense them after the works of thei●●●des, pay them that they have deserved. For they regard not the works of the LORD, ner the operation of his hands: therefore shall he break them down, and not build them up. Praised be the LORD, for he hath herd the voice of my humble petition. ●eut. ●. d The LORD is my strength and my shield: my heart hoped in him, & I am helped: therefore my heart danceth for joy, and I will sing praises unto him. The LORD is the strength of his people, he is the defender and saviour of his anointed. O help thy people, give thy blessing unto thy inheritance: ●eut. 32. a feed them, and set them up for ever. The XXVIII. A psalm of David. ascribe unto the LORD (oh you mighty) ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength. give the LORD the honour of his name, bow yourselves to the holy majesty of the LORD It is the LORD that commandeth the waters: It is the glorious God that maketh the thunder: it is the LORD that ruleth the see. The voice of the LORD is mighty in operation, the voice of the LORD is a glorious voice. ●ze. 17. d The voice of the LORD breaketh the Cedr● trees: ye the LORD breaketh the Ceders of Libanus. He maketh them to skip like a calf: Deut. 3 b Libanus and Sirion like a young unicorn. Num. 1●. c The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire: the voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness, ye the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Cades. The voice of the LORD moveth the hinds & discovereth the thick buszshes: in his temple shall every man speak of his honour. The LORD stilleth the water flood, & the LORD remaineth a king for ever. The LORD shall give power unto his people, the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace. The XXIX. A psalm of David. I Will magnify thee (O LORD) for thou hast set me up, & not suffered my foes to triumph over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 1. Reg. 2. b Psal. ●5. b Thou LORD hast brought my soul out of hell: thou hast kept my life, where as they go down to the pit. Sing praises unto the LORD (oh you saints of his) give thanks unto him for a remembrance of his holiness. 〈…〉 For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and his pleasure is in life: heaviness may well endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. As form, when I was in prosperity, I said: Tush, I shall never fall more. (And why? thou LORD of thy goodness hadst made my hill so strong.) But as soon as thou turnedest thy face fro me, I was brought in fear. Then cried I unto thee (O LORD) ye unto the LORD made I my prayer. What profit is there in my blood, 〈…〉 if I go down to corruption? May the dust give thanks unto you? Or shall it declare thy faithfulness? Hear (O LORD) and have mercy upon me: LORD be thou my helper. And so thou hast turned my heaviness in to joy: thou hast put of my sack clot, & girded me with gladness. That my honor might sing praises unto the with out ceasing: O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto the for ever. The XXX: A psalm of David. IN thee, O LORD, is my trust: let me never be put to confusion, 〈…〉 but deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thy ear to me, make haist to deliver me: be thou my strong rock and a house of defence, that thou mayest save me. For thou art my strong hold & my castle: O be thou my guide, & lead me for thy name's sake. Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me, for thou art my strength. 〈…〉 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast ●●lyuered me O LORD thou God of truth. I hate them that hold of vanities, and my trust is in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble, thou hast known my soul in adversity. Thou hast not delivered me over in to the hands of the enemy, but hast set my feet in a large room. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble, mine eye is consumed for very heaviness, ye my soul and my body. My life is waxed old with heaviness, and my years with mourning. My strength faileth me because of my adversity, and my bones are corrupt. I am become a very reproof among all mine enemies, my neighbours & they of mine own acquauntaunce are afraid of me: they that seem in the street, convey themselves fro me. I am clean forgotten and out of mind, as a deed man: I am become like a broken vessel. For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude: every man abhorreth me: they have gathered a council together against me, and are purposed to take away my life. But my hope is in the O LORD, & I say: thou art my God. My time is in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, & from them that persecute me. Show thy servant the light of thy countenance, help me for thy mercy's sake. Let me not be confounded (oh LORD) for I call upon thee: let the ungodly rather be put to confusion, and brought unto the hell. Let the dying lips be put to silence, which cruelly, diszdanedly & despitefully speak against the righteous. O how great and manifold is thy good, which thou haist hid for them that fear thee? O what things bringest thou to pass for them, that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men? Thou hydest them privily by thy own presence from the proud men, thou keepest them secretly in thy tabernacle, from the strife of tongues. Thanks be to the LORD, for he hath showed me marvelous great kindness in a strong cite. For when the sudden fear came upon me, I said: I am cast out of thy sight. Nevertheless, thou herdest mine humble prayer, when I cried unto the. O love the LORD (all you his saints) for the LORD preserveth the faith full, and plenteously rewardeth he the proud doer. 〈…〉 Be strong therefore & take a good heart unto you, all you that put your trust in the LORD. The XXXI. A psalm of David. BLessed are they, whose unrighteousness is forgiven, 〈…〉 and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man, unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin, in whose spirit there is no guile. For while I held my tongue, my bones consumed away thorough my daily complaynynges. And because thy hand was so heavy upon me both day and night, my moisture was like the drought in Summer. Sela. Therefore I confessed my sin unto thee, and hid not mine unrighteousness. 〈…〉 I said: I will knowledge mine offence, and accuse myself unto the LORD, and so thou forgavest me the wickedness of my sin. 〈…〉 Sela. For this shall every saint make his prayer unto the in due season, therefore shall not the great water floods come nigh him. Thou art my defence in the trouble that is come about me, O compass thou me about also with the joy of deliverance. 〈…〉 Sela. I will inform thee, and show the the way wherein thou shalt go: I will fasten mine eyes upon the. Tob. 6. d Pro. 26. a Be not you now like horses & mooles, which have no understanding. Whose mouths thou must hold with bit & bridle, if they will not obey the. great plagues shall the ungodly have, but who so putteth his trust in the LORD, mercy shall compass him on every side. Be glad (oh you righteous) and rejoice in the LORD, be joyful all you that are true of heart. The XXXII. A psalm of David. EEioyse in the LORD (oh you righteous) for it becometh well the just to be thankful. Psal. 96. b Praise the LORD with harp: Colo. 3. b Ephe ●●. b sing psalms unto him with the lute and instrument of ten strings. Sing him a new song, ye sing lustily unto him & with a good courage. For the word of the LORD is true, and all his works are faithful. He loveth mercy & judgement, the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, Gen. 1. a Colos. 1 b & all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters together as it were in a bottle, & layeth up the deep in secret. Let all the earth fear the LORD, and let all them that devil in the world, stand in awe of him. For look what he sayeth, it is done: and look what he commandeth, it standeth fast. The LORD bringeth the council of the heathen to nought, and turneth the devices of the people. But the council of the LORD endureth, and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation. Psal. 143. c Blessed are the people that hold the LORD for their God, & blessed are the folk whom he hath choose to be his heritage. Psal. 101. c The LORD looketh down from heaven, & beholdeth all the children of men: from his strong seat he considreth all them that devil in the world. Pro. 16. a 21. a He only hath fashioned all the hearts of them, & knoweth all their works. A king is not helped by his own great host, neither is a giant saved thorough the might of his own strength. A horse is but a vain thing to save a man, Pro. 21. d it is not the power of his strength that can deliver him. Behold, Eccli. 15. e the eye of the LORD looketh unto them that fear him, 〈◊〉 put their trust in his mercy. That he may deliver their souls from death, and to feed them in the dear tyme. Let our soul patiently abide the LORD, for he is our help and shield. So shall our heart rejoice in him, because we have hoped in his holy name. Let thy merciful kindness (oh LORD) be upon us, like as we put our trust in the. The XXXIII. A psalm of David. I Will allway give thanks unto the LORD, his praise shall ever be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the poor oppressed shall hear thereof, and be glad. O praise the LORD with me, and let us magnify his name together. ●. Re. ●●. d I sought the LORD, and he heard me, ye he delivered me out of all my fear. They that have an eye unto him, shallbe lightened, & their faces shall not be ashamed. This poor man cried unto the LORD, and he heard him, ye and delivered him out of all his troubles. ● Re. 6.19 ●os●e 5. d The angel of the LORD pitcheth his tent round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. ●sal. 2. b O taist and see how friendly the LORD is, blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, Psal. 127. a Matt. 6▪ c you that be his saints: for they that fear him, lack nothing. The rich shall want and suffer hunger, but they which seek the LORD, shall want no manner of thing, that is good. Come hither (oh you children) hearken unto me, I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 〈◊〉▪ 3 b Who so listeth to live, & would fain see good days. Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, and do good: Let him seek peace & ensue it. For the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the LORD beholdeth them that do evil, to destroy the remembrance of them out of the earth. When the righteous cry, the LORD heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are contrite in heart, & will help such as be of an humble spirit. Pro. 24. ᶜ ●. Tim. 3▪ b great are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD delivereth them out of all. He keepeth all their bones, so that not one of them is broken. But miszfortune shall slay the ungodly, and they that hate the righteous shall be guilty. The LORD delivereth the souls of his servants, and all they that put their trust in him, shall not offend. The XXXIIII. A psalm of David. strive thou with them (oh LORD) that strive with me, fight thou against them that fight against me. Say hand upon the shield and spear, and stand up to help me. Draw out thy sword, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my soul: I am thy help. Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion, that imagine mischief for me. 〈…〉 Let them be as the dust before the wind, and the angel of the LORD scattering them. Let their way be dark and slippery, and the angel of the LORD to persecute them. For they have privily laid their net to destroy me without a cause, ye and made a pit for my soul, which I never deserved. Let a sudden destruction come upon him unawares, 〈…〉 and the net that he hath laid privily, catch himself, that he may fall in to his own mischief. But let my soul be joyful in the LORD, and rejoice in his help. All my bones shall say: LORD, who is like unto thee? which deliverest the poor from those that are to strong for him, ye the poor and the needy from his robbers. False witnesses are risen up, & lay to my charge things that I know not. 〈…〉 They reward me evil for good, to the great discomforth of my soul. Nevertheless, when they were sick, I put on a sack clot: I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer turned in to mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother, I went heavily, as one the mourneth for his mother. 〈…〉 But in my adversity they rejoice, and gather them together: ye the very lame come together against me unawares, making mows at me, & cease not. With the greedy & scornful hypocrites, they gnaszshed upon me with theirteth. LORD, when will't thou look upon this? O restore my soul from the wicked rumour of them, my dearlinge from the lions. 〈…〉 So will I give the thanks in the great congregation, & praise the among much people. O let them not triumph over me, that are mine enemies for nought: O let them not wink with their eyes, that hate me without a cause. 〈…〉 And why? their comoning is not for peace, but they imagine false words against the outcasts of the land. They gape upon me with their mouths, saying: there there: we see it with our eyes. This thou seist, oh LORD: hold not thy tongue them: go not far fro me, oh LORD. Awake (LORD) and stand up: avenge thou my cause, my God, and my LORD. judge me (oh LORD my God) according to thy righteousness, that they triumph not over me. O let them not say in their hearts: there there, so would we have it. O let them not say: we have overcome him. Let them be put to confusion and shame, that rejoice at my trouble: let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour, that boost themselves against me. Let them also be glad and rejoice, that favour my righteous dealing: ye let them say allway: blessed be the LORD, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. And as for my tongue, it shall be talking of thy righteousness and of thy praise, all the day long. The XXXV. A psalm of David. MY heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he dyssembleth before his face, so long till his abominable sin be found out. The words of his mouth are unrighteousness and deceit, 〈…〉 he will not be learned to do good. He ymagineth mischief upon his bed, he will come in no good way, ner refuse the thing that is evil. 〈…〉 Thy mercy (O LORD) reacheth unto the heaven, and thy faith fullness unto the clouds. Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains, & thy judgement like the great deep. Thou LORD preservest both men & the beestes. 〈…〉 How precious is thy mercy (O God) that the children of men may put their trust under the shadow of thy wings? They shallbe satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, and thou shalt give them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 〈…〉 For by the is the well of life, & in thy light, shall we see light. O spread forth thy loving kindness unto them that know thee, & thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart. O let not the foot of pride overtake me, O let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down. As for wicked doers, they fall, they are cast down, & are not able to stand. The XXXVI. A psalm of David. Fret not thyself at the ungodly, be not thou envious against the evil doers. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, 〈…〉 & be withered even as the green herb. Put thou thy trust in the LORD, 〈…〉 & be doing good: so shalt thou devil in the land, & verily it shall feed the. delight thou in the LORD, & he shall give the thy hearts desire. 〈…〉 Commit thy way unto the LORD, set thy hope in him, and he shall bring it to pass. Ye he shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light, & thy just dealing as the noon day. Hold the still in the LORD, and abide patiently upon him: but grieve not thyself at one that hath prosperity, and liveth in abomination. Leave of from wrath, let go displeasure, let not thy jealousy move the also to do evil. For w●●ed doers shall be rooted out, but they that patiently abide the LORD, shall enheret the land. Suffer yet a little while, & the ungodly shall be clean go: thou shalt look after his place, & he shall be away. Matt. 5. a But the meek spreted shall possess the earth, & have pleasure in much rest. The ungodly layeth wait for the just, & gnaszsheth upon him with his teeth. But the LORD laugheth him to scorn, Psal. ●. a for he seith that his day is coming. The ungodly draw out the sword & bend their bow, to cast down the simple & poor, and to slay such as go the rightwaye. Nevertheless, their sword shall go thorough their own heart, and their bow shallbe broken. Pro. 15. b Eccli. 29. ● 1. Tim. 6. b A small thing that the righteous hath, is better than great riches of the ungodly. For the arms of the ungodly shallbe broken, but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the godly, & their inheritance shall endure for ever. They shall not be confounded in the perilous time, & in the days of dearth they shall have enough. As for the ungodly, they shall perish: & when the enemies of the LORD are in their flowers, they shall consume, ye even as the smoke shall they consume away. The ungodly * borroweth and payeth not again, but the righteous is merciful & liberal. Soch as be blessed of him, shall possess the land: & they whom he curseth, shallbe rooted out. The LORD ordereth a good man's going, & hath pleasure in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be hurt, for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, & now am old: yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, ner his seed to seek their bread. The righteous is ever merciful, & dareth gently, therefore shall his seed be blessed. flee from evil, & do the thing that is good, so shalt thou devil for ever. For the LORD loveth the thing that is right, he forsaketh not his saints, but they shall be preserved for evermore: as for the seed of the ungodly, it shallbe rooted out. Ye the righteous shall possess the land, & devil therein for ever. Pro. 10. ● The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom, & his tongue talketh of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart, therefore shall not his fotesteppes slide. The ungodly saith the righteous, & goeth about to slay him. But the LORD will not leave him in his hands, ner condemns him when he is judged. Hope thou in the LORD, & keep his way: & he shall so promote thee, that thou shalt have the land by inheritance, & see when the ungodly shall perish. I myself have seen the ungodly in great power, & flourishing like a green bay tree: but when I went by, lo, he was go: I sought him, but he could no where be found. Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right, for that shall bring a man peace at the last. As for the transgressors, they shall perish together, and the ungodly shall be rooted out at the last. The help of the righteous cometh of the LORD, he is their strength in the time of trouble. The LORD shall stand by them, and save them: he shall deliver them from the ungodly, and help them, because they put their trust in him. The XXXVII. A psalm of David. Put ●e not to rebuke (O LORD) in thy anger: ●ere. 10. d Psal. 6. a O chasten me not in thy heavy displeasure. For thy arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no whole part in my body, be cause of thy displeasure: there is no rest in my bones, by reason of my sins. For my wickednesses are go over my head, and are like a sore burden, to heavy form to bear. My wounds stink & are corrupt, thorough my foolishness. I am brought in to so great trouble and misery, that I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are clean dried up, and there is no whole part in my body. I am feeble and sore smitten, I roar for the very disquietness of my heart. LORD, thou knowest all my desire, & my groaning is not hid from the. My heart paunteth, my strength hath failed me, & the light of mine eyes is go fro me. My lovers & friends stand looking upon my trouble, ●ob 19 b Psal. ●4 b and my kinsmen are go a far of. They that sought after my life, and to do me evil, spoke of lies and imagined disceate all the day long. As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not: and as one that were dumb, not opening his mouth. I am become as a man that heareth not, and that can make no resistance with his mouth. For in the (O LORD) is my trust, thou shalt hear me, O LORD my God. My desire is, that mine enemy's triumph not over me: for if my foot slip, they rejoice greatly against me. I am ready to suffer trouble, and my heaviness is ever in my sight. For I confess my wickedness, & my sin grieveth me. But mine enemies live, and are mighty: and they that hate me without a cause, are many in number. They that reward me evil for good, speak evil of me, because I follow the thing that good is. Forsake me not (O LORD my God) O go not far fro me. Haist the to help me, O LORD my succour. The XXXVIII. A psalm of David. I Said: I will keep my ways, that I offended not in my tongue. And so I shut my mouth, while the ungodly laid wait for me. I held my tongue, I was dumb, I kept silence, ye even from good words, but it was pain and grief to me. My heart was hot within me, & while I was thus musing, the fire kindled: so that I spoke with my tongue. LORD, 〈…〉 let me know mine end, and the number of my days: that I may be certified what I want. Behold, 〈…〉 thou hast made my days a span long, and my life is as it were nothing before the. O how vain are all men living? Sela. Ye every man walketh as it were a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, 〈…〉 and can not tell to whom he gathereth them. And now LORD, wherein shall I comfort me? my hope is in the. deliver me from all mine offences, and make me not a scorn unto the foolish. I keep silence, and open not my mouth, for thou hast done it. Turn thy plagues away fro me, for I am consumed thorough the fear of thy hand. When thou punyshest man for sin, thou chastenest him: so that his beauty consumeth away, like as it were a moth. O how vain are all men? Sela. Hear my prayer oh LORD, and consider my calling: show not thyself as though thou sawest not my tears. For I am a stranger and pilgrymme with thee, 〈…〉 as all my forefathers were. O spare me a little, that I may refresh myself, before I go hence, and be no more seen. The XXXIX. A psalm of David. I Waited patiently for the LORD, which inclined himself unto me, and heard my calling. He brought me out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay: he set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings. He hath put a new song in my mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God. Many men saying this, shall fear the LORD, & put their trust in him. 〈…〉 Blessed is the man that setteth his hope in the LORD, and turneth not unto the proud, & to such as go about with lies. O LORD my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done: & in thy thoughts toward us there may none be lickened unto the. I would declare them, and speak of then but they are so many, that they can not be told. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not have 〈…〉 but a body hast thou ordained me▪ burned offerings and sacrifice for sin thou hast not allowed. Then said I: Lo, I come. In the beginning of the book it is written of me, 〈…〉 that I should fulfil thy will O my God, & that am I content to do: ye thy law is within my heart. I will preach of the righteousness in the great congregation: Lo, I will not refrain my lips, oh LORD, & that thou knowest. I do not hide the righteousness in my heart, my talking is of thy truth and saving health: I keep not thy loving mercy and faithfulness back from the great congregation. Turn not thou thy mercy fro me oh LORD, but let thy loving kindness and truth al●waye preserve me. For innumerable troubles are come about me: my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up: ye they are more in number then the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me. O LORD, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me, make haist (oh LORD) to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded, 〈…〉 that seek after my soul, to destroy it: let them fall backward and be put to confusion, that wish me evil. Let them soon be brought to shame, that cry over me: there there. But let all those that seek thee, be joyful and glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy saving health, say allway: the LORD be praised. As for me, I am poor & in misery, but the LORD careth for me. Thou art my helper & redeemer, make no long tarienge, oh my God. The XL. A psalm of David. BLessed is he, that considreth the poor: the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble. 〈…〉 The LORD shall preserve him, and keep him alive: he shall make him to prosper upon earth, and shall not deliver him in to the will of his enemies. The LORD shall refresh him, when he lieth sick upon his bed, ye thou makest his bed in all his sickness. I said: LORD be merciful unto me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against the. Mine enemies speak evil upon me: when shall he die, and his name perish? Though he came in to se, yet meaned he falsed in his heart, heaping mischief upon himself. All they that hate me, run together against me, and imagine evil against me. They have given a wicked sentence upon me: when he lieth, he shall rise up no more. 〈…〉 Ye even mine own familiar friend, whom I trusted, which did eat my bread, hath lift up his heel against me. But be thou merciful unto me (oh LORD) raise thou me up, and I shall reward them. By this I know thou favourest me, that my enemy shall not triumph over me. Thou hast up held me because of my innocency, and set me before thy face for ever. O blessed be the LORD God of Israel, from hence forth and for evermore. Amen, Amen. The XLI. A psalm of the children of Corah. LIke as the heart desireth the water brokes, so longeth my soul after thee, oh God. My soul is a thirst for God, ye even for the living God: when shall I come, & behold the face of God? Psal. ●9 My tears are my meat▪ day and night, while it is daily said unto me: where is now thy God? Now when I think there upon, I pour out my heart by myself: 1. Reg. 1 for I would fain go hence with the multitude, & pass over with them unto the house of God, in the voice of praise & thanksgiving, among such as keep holy day. Psal. 4● Why art thou so full of heaviness (oh my soul) & why art thou so unquiet within me? O put thy trust in God, for I will yet give him thanks, for the help of his countenance. My God, my soul is vexed within me: therefore I remember the land of jordane, & the little hill of Hermon●m. One deep calleth another with the voice of thy whystles, all thy wawes & water floods are go over me. The LORD hath promised his loving kindness daily, therefore will I praise him in the night season, and make my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my stony rock: why has● thou forgotten me? why go I thus heavily▪ while the enemy oppresseth me? While my bones are broken, & while mine enemies cast me in the teeth, daily saying unto me where is now thy God? Why art thou 〈◊〉 h●uy (oh my soul) & why art thou so disquiete●● within me? O put thy trust in God, for ● will yet thank him for the help of his coun●tenaunce, and because he is my God. The XLII. psalm. Been sentence upon me (oh God) & de●fende my cause against the vnhol● people: O deliver me from the di●ceatfull & wicked man. For thou (oh God art my strength: why hast thou shot me fro● thee? Why go I then so heavily, while the e●●mie oppresseth me? O send out the light & thy truth, that they may lead me & bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy dwellings That I may go in to the altar of Go● even unto the God which is my joy & plea●●●re, & upon the harp to give thanks unto 〈◊〉 oh God, my God. Why art thou so heavy my soul) & why art thou so disquieted with●● me? O put thy trust in God, for I will yet g●●ue him thanks for the help of his countenance, and because he is my God. The XLIII. A psalm of the children of Corah. WE have herd with our ear 〈◊〉 God) our fathers have told us, ●●ut. 6. b what thou hast done in their time, of old. How thou hast driven out the heathen with thy hand, & planted them in: how thou hast destroyed the nations & cast them out. For they got not the land in possession thorough their own sword, ●●ut. 9 a neither was it their own arm that helped them. But thy right hand, thine arm & the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. ●●al. 97. a Thou art the king & my God, thou sendest help unto jacob. Thorough thee, will we over throw our enemies: & in thy name will we tread them under, that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, it is not my sword that shall help me. But it is thou that savest us from our enemies, and puttest them to confusion that hate us. We will allway make our boast of God, and praise thy name for ever. Sela. But now thou forsakest us, & puttest us to confusion, and goest not forth with our hosts. 〈◊〉 9 b Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies, so that they which hate us, spoil our goods. 〈…〉 Thou lettest us be eaten up like sheep, & scatrest us among the heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, & takest no money for them. Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours, to be laughed to scorn and had in derision, of them that are round about us. ●sal. ●●. a Thou hast made us a very by word among the heathen, & that the people shake their heads at us. My confusion is daily before me, & the shame of my face covereth me. For the voice of the slanderer & blasphemer, for the enemy and avenger. All this is come upon us, & yet have we not forgotten thee, ner behaved ourselves unfaithfully in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither our steps go out of thy way. That thou smytes● us so in the place of the serpent, & coverest us with the shadow of death. If we had forgotten the name of our God, & held up our hands to any strange God: Should ●ot God find it out? for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart. But for thy sake we are killed all the day long, and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain. Up LORD, why sleepest thou▪ Awake, and cast us not of for ever. Wherefore hydest thou thy face? will't thou clean forget our misery and oppression? For our soul is brought low even unto the dust, and our belly cleaveth unto the ground. Arise oh LORD, help us, and deliver us for thy mercy sake. The XLIIII. A psalm of the children of Corah. MY heart is dytinge of a good matter, I speak of that, which I have made of the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art the fairest among the children of men, full of grace are thy lips, therefore God blesseth the for ever. Gird the with thy sword upon thy thee (oh thou mighty) with worship and renown. Good luck have thou with thy honour, ride on with the truth, meekness & righteousness: & thy right hand shall teach the wonderful things. Thy arrows are sharp, the people shallbe subdued unto thee, even in the midst among the kings enemies. Thy seat (oh God) endureth for ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. 〈…〉 Thou hast loved righteousness, & hated iniquity: wherefore God (which is thy God) hath anointed the with the oil of gladness above thy f●lowes. All thy garments are like myrrh, Aloes & Cassia, when thou comest out of thy yverie palaces in thy beautiful glory. Kings daughters go in thy goodly array, & upon thy right hand standeth the queen in a vesture of the most fine gold. hearken (oh daughter) consider, & incline thy ear: forget thy own people, & thy father's house. So shall the king have pleasure in thy beauty, for he is thy LORD, & thou shalt worship him. The daughters of tire shall be there with gifts, 〈…〉 the rich among the people shall make their supplication before the. The kings daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is of wrought gold▪ She shallbe brought unto the king in raiment of needle work, and maidens after her: soch as be next her shallbe brought unto the. With joy and gladness shall they be brought, and go into the kings palace. In stead of thy father thou hast got children, whom thou shalt make princes in all lands. I will remember thy name from one generation to another: therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end. The XLV. A psalm of the children of Corah. IN our troubles and adversity, we have found, that God is our refuge, our strength and help. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth fallen, and though the hills were carried in to the midst of the see. 〈…〉 Though the waters of the see raged & were never so troublous, & though the mountains shaken at the tempest of the same. Sela. For there is a flood, which with his rivers rejoiceth the cite of God, the holy dwelling of the most highest. God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed: for God helpeth her, & the right early. The heathen are mad, the kingdoms make much a do: but when he showeth his voice, the earth melteth away. The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of jacob is our defence. Sela. O come hither, & behold the works of the LORD, what destructions he hath brought upon the earth. 〈…〉 He hath made wars to cease in all the world: he hath broken the bow, he hath knapped the spear insunder, & brent the charettes in the fire. Be still them & confess that I am God: I will be exalted among the Heithen, & I will be exalted upon earth. The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of jacob is our defence. Sela. The XLVI. A psalm of the children of Corah. O Clap your hands together (all you people) O sing unto God with the voice of thanksgiving. For the LORD the most highest is to be feared, & he is the great king upon all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, & the Heithen under our feet. He chooseth us for an heritage, the beauty of jacob whom he loved. Sela. God is go up with a merry noise, & the LORD with the sound of the trumpet. O sing praises, sing praises unto God: O sing praises, sing praises unto our king. For God is king of all the earth, O sing praises unto him with understanding. God is king over the Heithen, God sitteth in his holy seat. The princes of the people are gathered together unto the God of Abraham: for God is far far higher exalted, than the mighty lords of the earth. The XLVII. A psalm of the children of Corah. Great is the LORD & hyelie to be praised, in the cite of our God, even upon his holy hill. The hill of Zion is like a fair plant, whereof all the land rejoiceth: upon the north side lieth the cite of the great king. God is well known in her palaces, that he is the defence of the same. 〈…〉 For lo, kings are gathered, and go by together. They marveled, to see such things: they were aston●ied, & suddenly cast down. Fear came there upon them, & sorrow as upon a woman in her travail. Thou shalt break the ships of the see, thorough the east wind. Like as we have herd, so see we in the cite of the LORD of hosts, in the cite of our God: God upholdeth the same for ever. Sela. We wait for thy loving kindness (oh God) in the midst of thy temple. O God, according unto thy name, so is the praise unto the worlds end: thy right hand is full of righteousness. O let the mount Zion rejoice, Psal. 96. ● & the daughters of juda be glad because of thy judgements. Walk about Zion, go round about her, and tell her towers. Mark well her walls, set v● her houses: that it may be told them that come after. For this God is our God for ever & ever, and he shall always be our guide. The XLVIII. A psalm of the children of Corah. O Hear this, all you people: ponder it well, all you that devil upon the earth. high & low, rich & poor, one with another My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall muse of understanding. I will incline mine ear to the parable, & show my dark speech upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear the evil days, when the wickedness of my heel's compasseth me round about? They that put their trust in their good, & boost themselves in the multitude of their riches. No man may deliver his brother, ner make agreement for him unto God. For it costeth more to redeem their souls, so that he must let that alone for ever. Ye though he live long, & see not the grave. For it shall be seen, that such wise men shall die & perish together, as well as the ignorant and foolish, & leave their goods for other. Look what is in their houses, it continueth still: their dwelling places endure from one generation to another, & are called after their own names upon the earth, Nevertheless man abideth not in such honor, but is compared unto the brute beasts, & becometh like unto them. This way of there's is very foolishness, & yet their posterity praise it with their mouth. Sela. They lie in the hell like sheep, death shall gnaw upon them, & the righteous shall have domination of them in the mo●●nynge by times: their strength shall consume & hell shallbe their dwelling. But God shall deliver my soul from the power of hell when he receiveth me. Sela. O be not thou afraid, when one is made rich, & th● glory of his hence increased. For he 〈◊〉 carry nothings away with him when he dye● neither shall his pomp follow him. 〈◊〉 he liveth, he is counted an happy 〈◊〉 so long as he is in prosperity, men speak good of him. But when he followeth his father's generation, he shall never see light any more. When a man is in honour and hath no understanding, he is compared unto the brute beasts, and becometh like unto them. The XLIX. A psalm of Asaph. THe LORD even the mighty God hath spoken, & called the world from the rising up of the son unto the going down of the same. asaie 2. a Out of Zion appeareth the glorious beauty of God. Our God shall come, and not keep silence: there goeth befo●● him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest round about him. He shall call the heavens from above, and the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me, those that set more by the covenant then by any offering. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself. Sela. Hear, oh my people: let me speak, let me testify among you, oh Israel: I am God, even thy God. I reprove the not because of thy sacrifice, the burned offerings are allway before me. I will take no bullocks out of thy house, ner goats out of thy folds. For all the beestes of the field are my●e, and thousands of cattles upon the hills. I know all the fowls upon the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are in ●y sight. If I be hungry, I will not tell ●he: for the whole world is mine, and all that therein is. thinkest thou, that I will eat ●he flesh of oxen, or drink the blood of goa●es? Offer unto God praise and thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the most ●yest. And call upon me in the time of trouble, so will I hear thee, that thou shalt thanne me. But unto the ungodly sayeth God: Why dost thou preach my laws, and tamest my covenant in thy mouth? Where ●s thou hatest to be reformed, and castest ●y words behind thee? If thou seist a ●hefe, thou runnest with him, and art partaker with the adulterers. Thou lettest ye●outh speak wickedness, & thy tongue payneth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother, ye and slaundrest thy twne mother's son. This thou dost, why●e I hold my tongue: and thinkest me to be even such one as thyself but I will reprove thee, set myself against the. O consider this, 〈◊〉 that forget God: jest I pluck you away, 〈◊〉 there be none to deliver you. Who so ●●reth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me: & this is the way, whereby I will show him the saving health of God. The L. A psalm of David. Have mercy upon me (oh God) after thy goodness, & according unto thy great mercies, do away mine offences. Wash me well fro my wickedness, & cleanse me fro my sin. For I knowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against the only, against the have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and shouldest over come when thou art judged. Behold, I was born in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou hast a pleasure in the truth▪ and hast showed me secret wisdom. O reconcile me with Isope, and I shall be clean: wash thou me, and I shallbe whiter then snow. O let me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice. Turn thy face fro my sins, and put out all my myszdedes. Make me a clean heart (oh God) and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit fro me. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and establish me with thy free spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, that sinners may be converted unto the. deliver me from bloudegyltynesse oh God, thou that art the God of my health, that my tongue may praise thy righteousness. Open my lips (O LORD) that my mouth may show thy praise. For if thou hadst pleasure in sacrifice, I would give it thee: but thou delytest not in burned offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit, a broken and a contrite here (oh God) shalt thou not despise. O be favourable and gracious unto Zion, that the walls of jerusalem may be builded. For then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burned offerings and oblations: then shall they say bullocks upon thy altar. The LI. A psalm of David. WHy boastest thou thyself (thou Tyrant) that thou canst do mischief? Where as the goodness of God endureth yet daily. Thy tongue ymagineth wickedness, and with lies it cutteth like a sharp rasor. Thou lovest ungraciousness more than good, to talk of lies more than righteousness. Sela. Thou lovest to speak all words that may do hurt, O thou false tongue. Therefore shall God clean destroy thee, smite the in pieces, pluck the out of thy dwelling, and rote the out of the land of the living. Sela. The righteous shall see this, & fear, and laugh him to scorn. 〈…〉 Lo, this is the man, that took not God for his strength, but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, & was mighty in his wickedness. As for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever & ever. I will allway give thanks unto thee, for that thou hast done: and will hope in thy name, for thy saints like it well. The LII. A psalm of David. THe foolish bodies say in their hearts▪ Tush, 〈…〉 there is no God. Corrupt are they, and become abominable in their wickednesses: there is not one, that doth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that would understand, or seek after God. 〈◊〉. 3. b But they are all go out of the way, they are all become unprofitable: there is none that doth good, not not one. How can they have understanding, that are the workers of wickedness, eating up my people as it were bread, & call not upon God? They are afraid, where no fear is: for God breaketh the bones of them that besiege thee: thou puttest them to confusion, for God despiseth them. O that the saving health were given unto Israel out of Zion: O that the LORD would deliver his people out of captivity. Then should jacob rejoice, & Israel should be right glad. The LIII. A psalm of David. Help me (oh God) for thy name's sake, and deliver me in thy strength. Hear my prayer (oh God) consider the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and the mighty (which have not God before their eyes) seek after my soul. Sela. But lo, God is my helper: it is he that upholdeth my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies, 〈◊〉 2. e and in thy truth shalt thou destroy them. A free-will offering will I give thee, and praise thy name oh LORD, because it is so comfortable. For thou hast delivered me out of all my trouble, so that mine eye saith his desire upon mine enemies. The liv. A psalm of David. Hear my prayer (oh God) and hide not thyself fro my petition. Take heed unto me and hear me, how piteously I mourn & complain. The enemy crieth so, & the ungodly cometh on so fast: for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me. My heart is heavy within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. And I said: O that I had wings like a dove, that I might i'll somewhere, and be at rest. Lo, then would I get me away far of, and remain in the wilderness. Sela. I would make haist to escape, from the stormy wind and tempest. Destroy their tongues (oh LORD) and divide them, Gen. 11 for I see unrighteousness & strife in the cite. This goeth day and night about the walls, mischief and vice are in the midst of it. Wickedness is therein, deceit and guile go not out of her streets. If it were mine enemy that reviled me, I could bear it: or if one that aught me evil will did threaten me, I would hide myself from him. But it is thou my companion, my guide and mine own familiar friend. We had sweet 〈◊〉 secret communication together, and lovingly walked we together in the house of God. Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick in to hell, for wickedness is among them in their dwellings. As for me, I will call unto God, and the LORD shall help me. In the evening, morning and at noon day will I mourn and complain: and he shall hear my voice. It is he that delivereth my soul in peace, from them that lay wait for me: for they are many against me. Ye even God that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down. Sela. For they will not turn: and why? they fear not God. Ye they lay hands upon such as be at peace with him, and so they break his covenant. Their mouths are softer than butter, & yet have they battle in their mind: their words are smother than oil, and yet be they very swords. Matt. 6. c Luc. 12. d 1. Pet. 5. a O cast thy burden (or care) upon the LORD, he shall nourish thee, and not leave the righteous in unquietness. But as for them, thou (oh God) shalt cast them down in to the pit of destruction. The bloudthurstie and deceitful shall not live out half their days. Nevertheless my trust is in the. The LU. A psalm of David. BE merciful unto me (oh God) for 〈…〉 will tread me down: they are 〈…〉 fighting & troubling me. 〈…〉 enemy's tread me daily under their feet, for they be many, that proudly fight against me. Nevertheless, when I am afraid, I put my trust in the. I will comfort myself in God's word, ye I will hope in God, and not fear: What can flesh then do unto me? They vex me daily in my words: all that they imagine, is to do me evil. They hold●●lltogether, & keep themselves close: they mark my steps, how they may catch my soul. But in vain, for it shall escape them: and why? thou (oh God) in thy displeasure shalt cast down such people. Thou tellest my flittings, thou puttest my tears in thy bottle, and nombrest them. When so ever I call upon thee, mine enemies are put to flight: whereby I know, that thou art my God. In God's word will I rejoice, in the lords word will I comfort me. Ye in God do I ●rust, & am not afraid: what can man them do unto me? Unto thee (oh God) will I pay my vows, unto the will I give thanks & praise. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, & my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living. The LVI. A psalm of David. BE merciful unto me (oh God) be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in the▪ & under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until wickedness be ever past. I call unto God the most highest, even the God that shall help me up again. ●e shall send from heaven, & save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me up. Sela. This shall God send, for his mercy and faithfulness sake. I lie with my soul among the cruel lions: even among the children of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Set up thyself (oh God) above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth. They have laid a net for my feet, & pressed down my soul: they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen in to it themselves. 〈…〉 Sela. My heart is ready (oh God) my heart is ready, to sing and give praise. Awake (oh my glory) awake lute and harp, I myself will awake right early. I will give thanks unto thee (oh LORD) among the people, I will sing praises unto the among the Heithen. For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth ●●to the heavens, and thy faithfulness unto 〈◊〉 clouds. Set up thyself (oh God) 〈…〉 heavens, & thy glory above all the earth. The LVII. A psalm of David. ●F your minds be upon rightuous●esse in deed, then judge the thing that is right, oh you sons of men. But you imagine mischief in your hearts, and your hands deal with wickedness. The ungodly are froward, even from their mother's womb: as soon as they be born, they go astray & speak lies. They are as furious as the serpent, 〈…〉 even like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her ears. That she should not hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. Break their teeth (oh God) in their mouths, smite the chafed bones of the lions whelps insunder, oh LORD. That they may fall away, like water the runneth a pace: and that when they shoot their arrows, they may be broken. Let them consume away like a snale, & like the untimely fruit of a woman, and let them not see the Son. Or ever your thorns be sharp, the wrath shall take them away quick, like a stormy wind. 〈…〉 The righteous shall rejoice when he saith the vengeance, and shall wash his feet in the blood of the ungodly. So that me● shall say: verily, there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless, there is a God that judgeth the earth. The LVIII. A psalm of David. deliver me fro mine enemies (oh my God) & defend me from them that rise up against me. O deliver me from the wicked doers, & save me from the bloudthurstie men. For lo, they lie waiting for my soul: the mighty men are gathered together against me, with out any offence or fault of me, oh LORD. They run & prepare themselves, with out my fault: Arise, come thou help me, & behold. stand up oh LORD God of hosts, thou God of Israel, to visit all heathen: be not merciful unto them that offend of malicious wickedness. Sela. 〈…〉 Let them go to & fro, & run about the cite youlinge like dogs. Behold, they speak (against me) with their mouth, swords are under their lips, for who reproveth them? 〈…〉 But thou (oh LORD) shalt have them in derision, thou shalt laugh all Heithen to scorn. My strength do I ascribe unto thee, for thou (oh God) art my defender. God showeth me his goodness plenteously, God letteth me see my desire upon mine enemies. Slayethen not, jest my people forget it: but scatre them abroad with thy power & put them down, oh LORD our defence. For the sin of their mouth, for the words of their lips, & because of their pride, let them be taken: & why? their preaching is of cursing & lies. Consume them in thy wrath, consume them that they may perish, & know that it is God, which ruleth in jacob and in all the world. Sela. Let them go to & fro, & run about the cite, youlinge like dogs. Let them run here & there for meat, and grudge when they have not enough. As for me, I will sing of thy power, and praise thy mercy betimes in the morning: for thou art my defence and refuge in the time of my trouble. Unto thee (oh my strength) will I sing, for thou (oh God) art my defence, and my merciful God. The LIX. A psalm of David. O God, thou that haste cast us out and scattered us abroad, thou that hast been so sore displeased at us, comfort us again. Thou that hast removed the land & divided it, heal the sores thereof, for it shaketh. Thou hast showed thy people heavy things, 〈…〉 thou hast given us a drink of wine, that we slombre withal. Yet hast thou given a token for such as fear thee, that they may cast it up in the truth. Sela. That thy beloved might be delivered, help them with thy right hand, and hear me. God hath spoken in his Sanctuary (which thing rejoiceth me) I will divide Sichem, 〈…〉 & meet out the valley 〈◊〉 Suchoth Galaad is mine, Manasses is mine, Ephraim is the strength of my head, juda is my captain. Moab is my washpotte, over Edom will I stretch out my shoe, Philistea shall be glad of me. Who will lead me in to the strong cite? Who will bring me in to Edom? Shalt not thou do it, oh God, thou that haste cast us out: thou God, that wentest not out with our hosts? 〈…〉 O be thou our help in trouble, for vain is the help of man. Thorough God we shall do great acts, for it is he that shall tread down our enemies. The LX. A psalm of David. Hear my crying (oh God) give heed unto my prayer. From the ends of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is in trouble: O set me up upon an high rock. For thou art my hope, a strong tower for me against the enemy. I will devil in thy tabernacle for ever, that I may be safe under the covering of thy wings. Sela. For thou (oh LORD) hast herd my desires, thou hast given an heritage unto those that fear thy name. Thou shalt grant the king a long life, that his years may endure thorough out all generations. That he may devil before God for ever: O let thy loving mercy & faithfulness preserve him. So will I allway sing praises unto thy name, that I may daily perform my vows. The LXI. A psalm of David. MY soul waiteth only upon God, for of him cometh my help. He only is my strength, my salvation, my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall. How long will you imagine mischief against every man? you shall be slain all the sort of you: ye as a tottringe brickwall shall you be, & like a broken hedge. Their device is only how to put him out, their delight is in lies: they give good words with their mouth but curse with their heart. Sela. Nevertheless, my soul abideth only upon God, for he is my God. He only is my strength, my salvation, my defence: so that I shall not fall. In God is my health, my glory, my might, & in God is my trust. O put your trust in him allway (you people) pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope. Sela. As for men, they are but vain, men are deceitful: upon the weights they are all together lighter than vainte itself. O trust not in wrong & robbery, give not your selves unto vanity: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God spoke once a word, twice have I heard the same: that power belongeth unto God. That thou LORD art merciful, & that thou rewardest every man according to his works. The LXII. A psalm of David. O God, thou art my God: early will I seek the. My soul thursteth for thee, my flesh longeth after the in a barren & dry land, where no water is. Thus do I look for the in thy Sanctuary, that I might behold the power & glory. For thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise the. As long as I live will I magnify thee, & lift up my hands in thy name. My soul is satisfied even as it were with marry & fatness, when my mouth praiseth the with joyful lips. In my bed will I remember thee, & when I wake, my talking shallbe of the. For thou hast been my helper, & under the shadow of the wings will I rejoice. My soul hangs upon thee, thy right hand up holdeth me. They seek after my soul, but in vain, for they shall go under the earth. They shall fall into the sword, & be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God: all they that swear by him, shall be commended, for the mouth of liars shallbe stopped. Deut. 6. The LXIII. A psalm of David. Hear my voice (oh God) in my complaint, preserve my life from fear of the enemy Hide me from the gathering together of the froward, from the heap of wicked doer. Which whet their tongues like a sword, & shoot with their venomous words like as with arrows. That they may privily hurt the innocent, & suddenly to it him with out any fear. They have devised mischief, and commoned among themselves, how they may say snares: Re. 1●. d tush (say they) who shall see them? They imagine wickedness, and keep it secret among themselves, every man in the deep of his heart. But God shall suddenly shoot with an arrow, that they shall be wounded. Ye their twne tongues shall make them fall, In so much that who so saith them, shall laugh them to scorn. And all men that see it, shall say: this hath God done for they shall perceive, that it is his work. The righteous shall rejoice in the LORD, and put his trust in him: and all they that are true of heart, shallbe glad thereof. The LXIIII A psalm of David. THou (oh God) art praised in Zion, and unto the is the vow performed. Thou hearest the prayer, therefore cometh all flesh unto the. Our myszdedes prevail against us, o be thou merciful unto ●ure sins. Blessed is the man whom thou chosest and receivest unto thee, that he may devil in thy court: he shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Hear us according unto thy wonderful righteousness, oh God our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of the broad see. Which in his strength setteth fast the mountains, & is girded about with power. Which stilleth the raging of the see, the roaring of his wawes, and the woodness of the people. They that devil in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens, thou makest both the morning and evening stars to praise ye. Thou visetest the earth, thou watrest it, and makest it very plenteous. The river of God is full of waters, thou preparest man his corn, and thus thou providest for the earth. Thou watrest her forowes, thou breakest the hard clottes thereof, thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it. Thou crownest the year with thy good, and thy fotesteppes drop fatness. The dwellings of the wilderness are fat also, that they drop withal, & the little hills are pleasant on every side. The folds are full of sheep, the valleys stand so thick with corn that they laugh and sing. The LXV. A psalm of David. Psal. 99 a O Be joyful in God (all you lands) sing praises unto the honor of his name make his praise to be glorious. Say unto God: O how wonderful are thy works? thorough the greatness of thy power shall thy enemies be confounded. O that all the world would worship thee, sing of the and praise thy name. Sela. O come hither and behold the works of God, which is so wonderful in his doings among the children of men. He turned the see in to dry land, so that they went thorough the water on foot: therefore will we rejoice in him. He ruleth with his power for ever, his eyes behold the people: the rennagates shall not be able to exalt themselves. Sela. O magnify our God (you people) make the voice of his praise to be herd. Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to slip. For thou (oh God) hast proved us, thou hast tried us li●● as silver is tried. Thou hast brought us in to captivity, and laid trouble upon our lo●nes. Thou hast suffered men to ride over our heads, we went thorough fire and water, 〈◊〉 thou hast brought us out, and refreshed 〈◊〉. Therefore will I go in to thy house with 〈◊〉 offerings, to pay the my vows, which I promised with my lips, and spoke with my mouth, when I was in trouble. I will offer unto the fat brentsacrifices with the smo●e of rams, I will offer bullocks and goate●. Sela. O come hither and hearken (all you that fear God) I will tell you, what he hath done for my soul. I called unto him with my mouth and gave him praises with my tongue. (if I incline unto wickedness with my heart, the LORD will not hear me.) Therefore God hath heard me, and considered the voice of my prayer. Praised be God, which hath not cast out my prayer, ner turned his mercy fro me. The LXVI. psalm. GOd be merciful unto us, bless us, & show the light of his countenance upon us. Sela. That we may know the way upon earth, the saving health among all heathen. Let the people praise thee (oh God) ye let all people praise the. O let the people rejoice and be glad, that thou judgest the folk rightuously, and governest the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee (oh God) let all people praise the. God (even our own God) give us his blessing, that the earth may bring forth her increase God bless us, and let all the ends of the world fear him. The LXVII. A psalm of David. LEt God arise, so shall his enemies be scattered, and they that hate him, 〈…〉 shall i'll before him. Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away: and like as wax melteth at the fire, so shall the ungodly perish at the presence of God. But the righteous shall be glad & rejoice before God, they shallbe merry & joyful. O sing unto God, sing praises unto his name: magnify him the rideth above the heavens (whose name is the LORD) & rejoice before him. He is a father of the fatherless, he is a defender of widows: even God in his holy habitation. He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in a house, & bringeth the presoners out of captivity in due season, but letteth the rennagates continued in scarcenesss. O God, when thou wentest forth before the people, when thou wentest thorough the wilderness. Sela. The earth shaken, & the heavens dropped at the presence of God in Sinai, at the presence of God which is the God of Israel. Thou oh God sendest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance, & refreshest it, when it is dry. That thy beasts may devil therein, which thou of thy goodness hast prepared for the poor. The LORD shall give the word, with great hosts of evangelists. Rings with their armies shall i'll, & they of the household shall divide the spoil. If so be that you lie among the pales, the doves feathers shallbe covered with silver, & her wings of the color of gold. When the All mighty setteth kings upon the earth, it shall be clear even in the darkness. The hill of Basan is God's hill, the hill of Basan is a plenteous hill. Why hop you so, you great hills? It pleaseth God to devil upon this hill, ye● the LORD will abide in it for ever. The charettes of God are many M. times a thousand, the LORD is among them in the holy Sinai. Thou art go up an high, thou hast led captivity captive, & received gifts for men: Ye even for thy enemies, that they might devil with the LORD God. Praised be the LORD daily, even the God which helpeth us, & poureth his benefits upon us. Sela. The God that is our saviour, even God the LORD by whom we escape death. The God that smiteth his enemies upon the heads & upon the hairy scalps: soch as go on still in their wickedness. The LORD hath said: some will I bring again from Basan, some will I bring again from the deep of the see. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thy enemies, & that thy dogs may lick it up. It is well se●e (oh God how thou goest, how thou my God and king goest in the Sanctuary. The syngers go before, and then the mynstrells among the maidens with the timbrels. O give thanks unto God the LORD in the congregation, for the wells of Israel. There little Benjamin, the princes of juda, the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali bear rule among them. Thy God hath committed strength unto thee, establish the thing (oh God) that thou hast wrought in us. For thy temples sake at jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto the. Reprove the beestes among the reeds, the heap of bulls with the calves: those that drive for money. O sca●re the people that delight in battle. The princes shall come out of Egipte, the Morions land shall stretch out her hands unto God. Sing unto God, oh you kingdoms of the earth: oh sing praises unto the LORD. Sela. Which sitteth in the heavens over all from the begynnge: Lo, he shall send out his voice, ye and that a mighty voice. ascribe you the power unto God, his glory is in Israel, and his might in the clouds. God is wonderful in his Sanctuary, he is the God of Israel, he will give strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God. The LXVIII. A psalm of David. Help me (oh God) for the waters are come in even unto my soul. I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is: I am come in to deep waters, and the floods will drown me. I am weighed of crying, my throat is dry, my sight faileth me, for waiting so long upon my God. They that hate me without a cause, are more than the hairs of my head▪ they that are mine enemies & would destroy me guiltless, are mighty: I am fain to pay the things that I never took. God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from the. Let not them that trust in thee (oh LORD God of hosts) be ashamed for my cause: let not those that seek thee, be confounded thorough me, oh God o● Israel. And why? for thy sake do I suffer reproof, shame covereth my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alient unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thy house hath even eaten me, and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee, is fallen upon me. I wept and chastened myself with fasting, and that was turned to my reproof. I put on a sack clot, and therefore they jested upon me. They that sat in the gate, spoke against me, and the dronckardes made songs upon me. But LORD, I made my prayer unto the in an acceptable time: Hear me (oh God) with thy great mercy & sure help. Take me out of the mire, that I sink not: O let me be delivered from them that hate me, & out of the deep waters. 〈…〉 flood drown me, that the 〈…〉 not up, & that the pit shut not her mouth upon me. Hear me (oh LORD) for thy loving kindness is comfortable: turn the unto me according unto the great mercy. Hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble: O haist the to help me. Draw nigh unto my so●le, and save it: O deliver me because of 〈◊〉 enemies. Thou knowest my reproof, my shame & my dishonour: my adversaries are all in thy sight. The rebuke breaketh my heart, & maketh me heavy: I look for some to have pity upon me, but there is no man: & for some to comfort me, but I find none. ●at. 27. d joh. 18. c They gave me gall to eat, & when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink. Letoy their table be made a snare to take themselves withal, Ro. 11. b an occasion to fall & a reward unto them. Letoy their eyes be blinded, that they see not: & ever bow down their backs. Pour out thy indignation upon them, & let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them. Let their habitation be void, & no man to devil in their tents. 〈…〉 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, & beside thy wounds they have given him moo. Let them fall from one wickedness to another, & not come into thy righteousness. Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, & not be written among the righteous. 〈◊〉 2. g As for me, I am poor & in heaviness, let thy help defend me, oh God. That I may praise the name of God with a song, & magnify it with thanksgiving. This shall please the LORD better than a bullock, that hath horns & hoffes. O consider this & be glad (you that be in adversity) seek after God, & your soul shall live. For the LORD heareth the poor, & despy●● not his presoners. Let heaven & earth praise him, the see & all that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, & build the cities of juda, that men may devil there, & have them in possession. The seed of his servants shall inheret it, & they that love his name, shall devil therein. The LXIX. A psalm of David. HAist thee (oh God) to deliver me, & to help me, oh LORD. Let them be shamed & confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward & put to confusion, that wish me evil. Let them soon be brought to shame, 〈…〉 that cry over me: there there. But let all those that seek thee, be joyful & glad in thee: and let all such as delight in thy saving health, say alway: the LORD be pray 〈…〉 As for me, I am poor & in misery, 〈…〉 to help me. Thou art my help, my redeemer & my God: o make no 〈◊〉 tarienge. The LXX psalm. IN thee, oh LORD, is my trust, let me never be put to confution, 〈…〉 but rid me & deliver me thorough thy righteousness▪ incline thy ear unto me, & help me. Be thou my strong hold (where unto I may allway i'll) thou that hast promised to help me: for thou art my house of defence & my castle. deliver me (oh my God) out of the hand of the ungodly, out of the hand of the● righteous & cruel man. For thou (oh LORD God) art the thing that I long for, 〈…〉 thou art my hope even fro my youth. I have ●eaned upon the ever since I was born, thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb, therefore is my praise allway of the. I am become a wonder unto the multitude, but my sure trust is in the. O let my mouth be filled with thy praise & honour all the day long. Cast me not away in mine old age, forsake me not when my strength faileth me. For mine enemies speak against me, & they that lay wait for my soul, take their co●●cell together, saying: God hath forsaken him, persecute him, take him, for there is none to help him. Go not far fro me, oh God: my God, haist the to help me. Let them be confounded & perish, that are against my soul: let them be covered with shame & dishonour, that seek to do me evil. As for me, I will patiently abide allway, & will ever increase thy praise. My mouth shall speak of thy righteousness & saving health all the day long, for I know no end thereof. Let me go in (oh LORD God) & I will make mention of thy power and righteousness only. Thou (oh God) hast learned me fro my youth up until now, therefore will I tell of the wondrous works. Forsake me not (oh God) in mine old age, when I am grey headed: until I have showed thine arm unto childers children, 〈…〉 & thy power to all them that are yet for to come. Thy righteousness (oh God) is very high, thou that dost great things: oh God, who is like unto thee? O what great troubles & adversity hast thou showed me? & yet diddest thou turn & refresh me, ye & broughtest me from the deep of the earth again. Thou hast brought me to great honour, & comforted me on every side. Therefore will I praise the & thy faith fullness (oh God) playing upon the lute, unto the will I sing upon the harp. oh thou holy one of Israel. My lips would fain sing praises unto thee: & so would my soul, whom thou hast delivered. My tongue talketh of thy righteousness all the day long, for they are confounded & brought unto shame, that sought to do me evil. The LXXI. A psalm of Solomon. Give the king thy judgement (oh God) and thy righteousness unto the kings son. That he may govern thy people according unto right, and defend thy poor. That the mountains may bring peace, and the little hills righteousness unto the people. He shall keep the simple folk by their right, defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrongeous doer. Thou shalt be feared as long as the Son and the Moon endureth, from one generation to another. He shall come down like the rain in to a flese of will, and like the drops that water the earth. In his time shall righteousness flourish, ye and abundance of peace, so long as the Moon endureth. His dominion shallbe from the one see to the other, and from the flood unto the worlds end. They that devil in the wilderness, shall kneel before him, & his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of the see and of the Isles shall bring presents, the kings of Araby & Saba shall offer gifts. All kings shall worship him, & all Heithen shall do him service. For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth, & the needy that hath no help. He shall be favourable to the simple & poor, he shall preserve the souls of such as be in adversity. He shall deliver their souls from extortion & wrong, & dear shall their blood be in his sight. He shall live, & unto him shallbe given of the gold of Arabia: Prayer shall be made ever unto him, & daily shall he be praised. There shallbe an heap of corn in the earth high upon the hills, his fruit shall shake like Libanus, & shall be green in the cite, like grass upon the earth. His name shall endure for ever, his name shall remain under the son among the posterites, which shall be blessed thorough him, & all the heathen shall praise him. Blessed be the LORD God, even the God of Israel, which only doth wondrous things. And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever, and all lands be fulfilled with his glory. Amen, Amen. Here end the prayers of David the son of jesse. The LXXII. A psalm of Asaph, O How loving is God unto Israel, to such as are of a clean heart? Ne●erthelesse my feet were almost go, my treadinges had well nigh slipped. And why? I was grieved at the wicked, Aba. 1. c jere. 12. a job. ●●. a to see the ungodly in such prosperity. For they are in no apparel of death, but stand fast like a palace. They come in no misfortune like other folk, neither are they plagued like other men. And this is the cause that they be so puffed up in pride, & overwhelmed with cruelty and unrigthuousnesse. Their eyes swell for fatness, they do even what they list. Corrupt are they, and speak blasphemies maliciously, proud and presumptuous are their words. They stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, & their tongue goeth thorough the world. Therefore fall the people unto them, and there out suck they no small advantage. Psal. 93▪ ● Tush (say they) how should God perceive it? is there knowledge in the most highest? Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world, these have riches in possession. Should I then cleanse my heart in vain (thought I) & wash my hands in innocency? Wherefore should I be then punished daily, & be chastened every morning▪ Ye I had almost also said even as they: but lo, then should I have condemned the generation of thy children. Then thought I to understand this, but it was to hard for me. Until I went in to the Sanctuary of God, & considered the end of these men. Namely, how thou hast set them in a slippery place, that thou mayest cast them down headlynges & destroy them. O how suddenly do they consume, perish, & come to a fearful end? Ye even like as a dream when one awaketh, so makest thou their image to vanish out of the cite. Thus my heart was grieved, & it went even thorough my reins. So foolish was I and ignorant, and as it were a be'st before the. Nevertheless, I am allway by thee, thou hold est me by my right hand. Thou ledest me with thy council, and afterward receivest me unto glory. O what is there prepared for me in heaven? there is nothing upon earth, that I desire in comparison of the. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For lo, Num. 18. c Psal. 118. h Trens 3. c they that forsake thee, shall perish, thou destroyest all them that commit fornication against the. But it is good for me, to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the LORD God, and to speak of all thy works. The LXXIII. A psalm of Asaph. O God, wherefore dost thou cast us so clean away? why is the wrath so hot against the sheep of the pasture? O think upon thy congregation, whom thou hast purchased from the beginning: the staff of thy inheritance, whom thou hast redeemed, even this hill of Zion wherein thou dwellest. Tread upon them with thy feet, & cast them down to the ground, for the enemy hath destroyed altogether in the Sanctuary. Thy adversaries roar in thy houses, & set up their banners for tokens. Men may see the axes glister above, like as those that hew in the wood. They cut down all the sylinge work of the Sanctuary with bills & axes. 4. Re. 25. b 2. Pa. 36. c Eze. 16. d They have set fire upon the Sanctuary they have defiled the dwelling place of the name, even unto the ground. Ye they say in their hearts: Let us spoil them all together, thus have they brent up all the houses of God in the land. We see our tokens no more, there is not one prophet more, not not one that understandeth anymore. O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy name? forever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand? why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom, to consume thy enemies? But God is my king of old, the help that is done upon earth he doth it himself. Thou devydest the see thorough thy power, thou breakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 〈…〉 14. c 〈◊〉. 27. a 〈…〉 40. c Thou smytest the heads of Leviathan in pieces, & givest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness. Thou dyggest up wells & brokes, thou driest up mighty waters. The day is thine, & the night is thy: thou hast prepared the lights & the Son. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made both Summer & winter. Remember this (oh LORD) how the enemy rebuketh, & how the foolish people blaspheme thy name. O deliver not the soul of thy turtle dove unto the beestes, & forget not the congregacon of the poor for ever. Look upon the covenant, for the dark houses of the earth are full of wickedness. O let not the simple go away ashamed, for the poor & needy give praises unto thy name. Arise (oh God) & manteyne thy own cause, remember how the foolishmen blasphemeth the daily. Forget not the voice of thy enemies, for the presumption of them that hate thee, increaseth ever more & more. The LXXIIII. A psalm of Asaph. UNto thee (oh God) will we give thanks, ye unto the will we give thanks, & saying thy name is sonye, we will tell of thy wondrous works. When I may get a convenient time, I shall judge according unto right. The earth is weak & all that is therein, but I bear up her pilers. Sela. I said unto the mad people: deal not so madly, & to the ungodly: set not up your horns. Set not up your horns an high, & speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east ner from the west, ner yet from the wilderness. And why? God is the judge: he putteth down one & setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup full of strong wine, & he poureth out of the same: As for the dregss thereof, all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, & suck them out. But I will talk of the God of jacob, & praise him for ever. All the horns of the ungodly will I break, & the horns of the righteous shallbe exalted. The LXXV. A psalm of Asaph. IN juda is God known, his name is great in Israel. At Salem is his tabernacle, & his dwelling in Zion. There breaketh he the arrows of the bow the shield, the sword & the whole battle. Sela. Thou art of more honour & might than the hills of robbers. The proud shallbe rob & sleep their sleep, & the mighty shallbe able to do nothing with their hands. When thou rebukest them (oh God of jacob) both the charettes & horsemen shall fall on sleep. Thou art fearful, for who may abide in the sight, when thou art angry? When thou latest thy judgement be herd from heaven, the earth trembleth & is still. Ye when God ariseth to give judgement, & to help all them that be in adversity upon earth. Sela. When thou punyshest one man, he must knowledge, that thou art ready to punish other more. Look what you promise unto the LORD your God, see that keep it, all you that be round about him: bring presents unto him that aught to be feared. Which taketh away the breath of princes, & is wonderful among the kings of the earth. The LXXVI. A psalm of Asaph. I Cried unto God with my voice, yet even unto God cried I with my voice, & he heard me. In the time of my trouble I sought the LORD, I held up my hands unto him in the night season, for my soul refused all other comfort. When I was in heaviness, I thought upon God: when my heart was vexed, then did I speak. Sela. Thou heldest mine eyes wa●●●ge, I was so feeble, that I could not speak, Then remembered I the times of old, & the years that were passed. I called to remembrance my song in the night, I commoned with mine own heart, and sought out my sp●ete. Will the LORD cast out for ever? Will he be no more entreated? Is his mercy clean go? Is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore? Hath the LORD forgotten to be gracious? Or, hath he shut up his loving kindness in displeasure? Sela. At the last I came to this point, that I thought: O why art thou so foolish? the right hand of the most highest can change all. Therefore will I remember the works of the LORD, and call to mind thy wonders of old tyme. I will speak of all thy works, and my talking shallbe of thy doings. Thy way (oh God) is holy, who is so great & mighty as God? Thou art the God, that doth wonders, thou hast declared thy power among the people. Thou with thy arm hast delivered thy people, even the sons of jacob and joseph. Sela. The waters saw thee (oh God) the waters saw thee, & were afraid: the depths were moved. The thick clouds poured out water, the clouds thundered, and thy arrows went abroad. Thy thunder was herd round about, the lighteninges shone upon the ground, the earth was moved and shaken withal. Thy way was in the see, and thy paths in the great waters, yet could no man know thy fotesteppes. Thou leddest thy people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. The LXXVII. A psalm of Asaph. Hear my law (oh my people) incline your ears unto the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, 〈…〉 and speak of things of old. Which we have herd and known, and such as our fathers have told us. That we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come: but to show the honour of the LORD, his might and wonderful works that he hath done. He made a covenant with jacob, and gave Israel a law, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children. 〈…〉 That their posterity might know it, and the children which were yet unborn. To the intent that when they came up, they might show their children the same. That they also might put their trust in God, & not to forget what he had done, but to keep his commandments. 〈…〉 And not to be as their forefathers, a froward and overthwart generation, a generation that set not their heart a right, and whose spirit was not true toward God. Like as the children of Ephraim, which being harnessed and carrying bows, turned themselves back in the time of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, & would not walk in his law. They forgot what he had done, and the wonderful works that he had showed for them. marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egipte, even in the field of Zoan. Exo. 14. e He divided the see and let them go thorough it, and made the waters to stand like a brickwall. In the day time he led them with a cloud, Exo. 13. d Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b 1. Co. 10. a and all the n●ght thorough with a light of fire. He cloave the hard rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth. He brought waters out of the 〈◊〉 rock, so that they gushed out like 〈…〉. Yet for all this they sinned against him, and provoked the most highest in the wilderness. They tempted God in their hearts, and required meat for their lust, For they spoke against God and said: Ye ye, God shall prepare a table in the wilderness, shall he? Lo, he smote the stony rock, that the watery streams gushed out, and the streams flowed withal: but how can he give bread and provide flesh for his people? When the LORD heard this, he was wroth: so the fire was kindled in jacob, and heavy displeasure against Israel. Because the● believed not in God, and put not their trust in his help. So he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven. Exo. 16. c▪ Deut. 8. a Sapritius 16. d joh. 6. d He rained down Manna upon them for to eat, and gave them bread from heaven. Then ate they angels food, for he sent them meat enough. He caused the east wind to blow under the heaven, and thorough his power he brought in the south wind. Exo. 16. c Num. 11. g He made flesh to rain upon them as thick as dust, and feathered fowls like the sonde of the see. He let it fall among their tents round about their habitations. So they ate & were filled; for he gave them their own desire. They were not dispointed of their lust. Num. 11. g But while the meat was yet in their mouths: The heavy wrath of God came upon them, slew the wealthiest of them, & smote down the choose men of Israel. But for all this they sinned yet more, Num ●4. a and believed not his wondrous works. Therefore their days were consumed in vanity, and suddenly their years were go. When he slew them, they sought him, and turned them ●arly unto God. They thought then that God was their succour, and that the high God was their redeemer. Nevertheless, they did but flatter him in their mouths, and dissembled with him in their tongues. For their heart was not whole with him, neither continued they in his covenant. But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, and destroyed them not: Ye many a time turned he his wrath away, and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise. Psal. 102. b For he considered that they were but flesh: even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. O how often have they grieved him in the wilderness? How many a time have they provoked him in the desert? They turned back & tempted God, and moved the holy one in Israel. They thought not of his hand, in the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy. How he had wrought his miracles in Egipte, and his wonders in the land of Zoan. How he turned their waters in to blood, so that they might not drink of the rivers. Exo. 7. d 〈◊〉. 8. e ●●o. 8. b How he sent lice among them, to eat them up, and frogs to destroy them. How he gave their fruits unto the catirpiller, and their labour unto the grasshopper. 〈◊〉. 10. d 〈…〉 How he bet down their vynyardes with hail stones, and their Molbery trees with the frost. How he smote their cattles with haylestones, and their flocks with hot thunder bolts. How he sent upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger & displeasure: with trouble and falling in of evil angels. Exo. 9 a When he made a way to his fearful indignation, and spared not their souls from death, ye and gave their cattles over to the pestilence. When he smote all the firstborn in Egipte, Exo 12 ● Psal. 1●4. b the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham. But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep, and carried them in the wilderness like a flock. He brought them out safely, that they should not fear, and overwhelmed their enemies with the see. He carried them unto the borders of his Sanctuary: even in to this hill, which he purchased with his right hand. Deut. ●. a josu. 6. a He did cast out the heathen before them, caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to devil in their tents. For all this they tempted and displeased the most high God, and kept not his covenant. But turned their backs and fallen away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow. And so they grieved him with their high places, & provoked him with their images. When God heard this, he was wroth, and took sore displeasure at Israel. jere. 7. a So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo, even his habitation wherein he dwelled among men. 〈…〉 He delivered their power in to captivity, and their glory in to the enemies hand. He gave his people ●uer in to the sword, for he was wroth with his heritage. The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given to marriage. Their priests were slain with the sword, and there were no widows to make lamentation. So the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a giant refreshed with wine. 〈…〉 He smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetual shame. He refused the tabernacle of joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim. Nevertheless, he chose the tribe of juda, even the hill of Zion which he loved. 〈…〉 And there he builded his temple on high, and laid the foundation of it like the ground, that it might perpetually endure. 〈…〉 He chose David also his servant, and took him away from the sheep folds. As he was following the yowes great with young, he took him, that he might feed jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, and ruled them with all the diligence of his power. The LXXVIII. A psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are fallen in to thy heritage: 〈…〉 thy holy temple have they defiled, and made jerusalem an heap of stones. The deed bodies of thy servants have they given unto the fowls of the air to be devoured, 〈…〉 and the flesh of thy saints unto the beestes of the land. Their blood have they shed like water on every side of jerusalem, and there was no man to bury them. We are become an open shame unto our enemies, 〈…〉 a very scorn and derision unto them that are round about us. LORD, how long will't thou be angry? shall thy jealousy burn like fire for ever? Pour out thy indignation upon the heathen that know the not, 〈…〉 and upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name. For they have devoured jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 〈…〉 O remember not our old sins, but have mercy upon us (& that soon) for we are come to great misery. Help us (O God our Sauyor) for the glory of the name: oh deliver us, & forgive us our sins for the names sake. Wherefore shall the Heithen say: where is now their God? 〈…〉 O let the vengeance of thy servants blood that is shed, be openly showed upon the Heithen in our sight. O let the sorrowful sighing of the presoners come before thee, and according unto the power of thy arm, preserve those that are appointed to die. And for the blasphemy where with our neighbours have blasphemed thee, reward them (oh LORD) seven fold in to their bosom. So we that be the people & sheep of thy pasture, shall give the thanks for ever, & will allway be shewing forth thy praise more & more. The LXXIX. A psalm of Asaph. Hear oh thou shepherd of Israel, thou that ledest jacob like a flock of sheep: show thy self, thou that sittest upon the Cherubins. 〈◊〉 2. c Before Ephraim, Ben jamin & Manasses: steer up thy power & come help us. Turn us again (oh God) show the light of thy countenance & we shallbe whole. O LORD God of hosts, how long will't thou be angry over the prayer of thy people? Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, 〈◊〉 41 a ye thou hast given them plenteousness of tears to drink. Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, & our enemies laugh us to scorn. Turn us again (thou God of hosts) show the light of thy countenance, & we shall be whole. 〈◊〉. 5. a 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉. 2●. d Thou hast brought a vyny●rde out of Egipte, thou diddest cast out the Heithen, & plant it. Thou maydest room for it, & caused it to take rote, so that it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, & so were the strong Cedretrees with the bows thereof. She stretched out her branches unto the see, 〈…〉 & her bows unto the water: Why hast thou then broken down her hedge, that all they which go by, pluck of her grapes? The wild bore out of the wood hath wrutt it up, & the beestes of the field have devoured it. Turn the again (thou God of hosts) look down from heaven, behold & viset this vineyard. Manteyne it, that thy right hand hath planted, & the son whom thou maydest so much of for thyself. 〈…〉 For why? it is brent with fire, & lieth waist: oh let them perish at there book of thy wrath. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, & upon the man whom thou maydest so much of for thy own self. And so will not we go back from thee: o let us live, & we shall call upon thy name. Turn us again oh LORD God of hosts, show the light of thy countenance, & we shall be whole. The LXXX. A psalm of Asaph. sing merely unto God which is our strength make a cheerful noise unto the God of jacob. Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret, the merry harp & lute. Blow up the trumpets in the new Moon, upon our solemn feast day. 〈…〉 For this is the use in Israel, & a law of the God of jacob. This he ordained in joseph for a testimony, when he came out of Egipte, & had herd a strange language. When he eased his shoulder from the burden, & when his hands were delivered from the pots. Exo. 3 b Exo. 19 c Exo. 17. a When thou calldest upon me in trouble, I helped the & heard thee, what time as the storm fallen upon thee, I proved the also at the water of strife. Sela. Hear oh my people, for I assure the oh Israel, if thou will't hearken unto me: There shall no strange God be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any other God. Exo. 20 I am the LORD thy God, which brought the out of the land of Egipte: open thy mouth wide, & I shall fill it. Pro. 1. c But my people would not hear my voice, & Israel would not obey me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust, Rome 1 & let them follow their own imaginations. O that my people would obey me, for if Israel would walk in my ways. I should soon put down their enemies, & turn mine hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should miss Israel, but their time should endure for ever. He should feed them with the finest wheat flower, & satisfy them with honey out of the stony rock. The LXXXI. A psalm of Asaph. GOd standeth in the congregation of the gods, & is a judge among the judges. How long will you give wrong judgement, & accept the personnes of the ungodly? Sela. Defend the poor & father less, see that such as be in need & necessity have right. deliver the outcast & poor, Pro. 24. b & save him from the hand of the ungodly. Nevertheless, they will not be learned & understand, but walk on still in darkness: Esa. 3. a Exo. 22. b joh. 10. d therefore must all the foundations of the land be moved. I have said: you are gods, you all are the children of the most highest. But you shall die like men, & fall like one of the tyrants. Arise (oh God) & judge thou the earth, Psal. 2. b for all heathen are thy by inheritance. The LXXXII. A psalm of Asaph. Hold not thy tongue (oh God) keep not still silence,, refrain not thy self, oh God. For lo, Psal. 2. a thy enemies make a murmuring, & they that hate thee, lift up their head▪ They imagine craftily against thy people, & take council against thy secret one's. Come (say they) let us rote them out from among the people, that the name of Israel may be put out of remembrance. For they have cast their heads together with one consent, & are confederate against the. The tabernacles of the Edomites & Ismaelites, the Moabites & Hagarenes. Gebal, Ammo● and Amalech: the philistines with them that devil at tire. Assur also is joined unto them & help the children of Loth. Sela. But do thou to them as unto the Madianites, unto Sisera and unto jabin by the broken of Cyson. jud. 7. c jud. 4. c Which perished at Endor, & become as the dung of the earth. Make their princes like Oreb and Zeeb: jud. 7. g jud. 8. b Ye make all their princes like as Zebea and Salmana. Which say: we will have the houses of God in possession? O my God, make them like unto a wheel, Psal. 1 b and 34. a and as the stubble before the wind. Like as a fire that burneth up the wood, & as the flame that consumeth the mountains. Persecute them even so with thy tempest, & make them afraid with thy storm. Make their faces ashamed (oh LORD) that they may seek thy name. Let them be confounded & vexed ever more & more: Let than be put to shame & perish. That they may know, that thou art alone, that thy name is the LORD, and that thou only art the most highest over all the earth. The LXXXIII. A psalm of the children of Corah. O How amiable are that dwellings, thou LORD of hosts? My soul hath a desire & longing for the court of the LORD, my heart & my flesh rejoice in the living God. For the sparrow hath found her an house, & the swallow a nest, where she may say her young: even the altars O LORD of hosts, my king & my God. O how blessed are they that devil in thy house, they are allway praising ye. Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are that ways. Which going thorough the vale of misery, use it for a well, and the poles are filled with water. They go from strength to strength and so the God of Gods appeareth unto them in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: hearken oh God of jacob. Behold oh God our defence, look upon the face of thine anointed. For one day in thy court is better than a thousand: I had rather be a door keeper in the house of my God, then to devil in the tents of the ungodly. For the LORD God is a light and defence, the LORD will give grace & worship, and no good thing shall he withhold from them, that live a godly life. O LORD God of hosts, blessed is the man, that putteth his trust in the. The LXXXIIII. A psalm of the children of Corah. LORD, thou barest a love unto thy land, thou diddest bring again the captivity of jacob. Thou didst forgive the offence of thy people, 〈…〉 and coverdest all their sins. Sela. Thou tookest away all thy displeasure, & turnedest thyself from thy wrothful indignation. Turn us then (oh God our saviour) & let thy anger cease from us. Will't thou be displeased at us for ever? will't thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another? Will't thou not turn again, & quicken us, that thy people may rejoice in thee? I will hearken what the LORD God will say, for he shall speak peace unto his people and to his saints, that they turn not themselves unto foolishness. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him, so that glory shall devil in our land. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace kiss each other. Truth shall rise out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. And why? the LORD shall show loving kindness, and our land shall give her increase. righteousness shall go before him, and prepare the way for his coming. The LXXXV. psalm A prayer of David. Bow down thy ear (oh LORD) and hear me, for I am comfortless and poor. O keep my soul, for I am holy: my God, help thy servant that putteth his trust in the. Be merciful unto me (oh LORD) for I call daily upon the. comfort the soul of thy servant, for unto thee (oh LORD) do I lift up my soul. 〈…〉 For thou LORD art good and gracious, & of great mercy unto all them that call upon the. give ear LORD unto my prayer, and ponder my humble desire. In the time of my trouble I call upon thee, for thou hearest me. Among the gods there is none like the oh LORD, there is not one that can do as thou dost. All nations whom thou hast made, shall come and worship before the oh LORD, and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, thou dost wondrous things, thou art God alone. lead me in thy way (oh LORD) that I may walk in thy truth: O let my heart delight in fearing thy name. I thank the oh LORD my God, & will praise thy name for ever. For great is thy mercy toward me, 〈…〉 thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the congregation of the mighty seeketh after my soul, & set not the before their eyes. 〈…〉 But thou (oh LORD God) art full of compassion and mercy, long suffering, great in goodness & truth. O turn the then unto me, have mercy upon me: give thy strength unto thy servant, & help the son of thy handmaiden. Show some token upon me for good, that they which hate me, may see it and be ashamed: because thou LORD hast helped me, & comforted me. The LXXXVI. A psalm of the children of Corah. Her foundations are upon the holy hills: 〈…〉 the LORD loveth the gates of Zion more, than all the dwellings of jacob. Very excellent things are spoken of thee, thou cite of God▪ Sela. I will think upon Rahab & babylon, so that they shall know me: Ye the philistines also & they of tire with the Morions. Lo, there was he born. And of Zion it shallbe reported, that he was born in her, even the most highest which hath builded her. The LORD shall 'cause it be preached & written among the people, that he was born there. Sela. Therefore the dwelling of all syngers & dancers is in the. The LXXXVII. A psalm of the children of Corah. O LORD God my Sauyor, I cry day & night before thee: O let my prayer enter in to thy presence, incline thy ear unto my calling. For my soul is full of trouble, & my life draweth nigh unto hell. I am counted as one of them that go down unto the pit, I am even as a man that hath no strength. Fre among the deed, like unto them that lie in the grave, which be out of remembrance, and are cut away from thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkness and in the deep. Thy indignation lieth hard upon me, and thou vexest me with all thy floods. Sela. Thou hast put away mine acquamtaunce far fro me, & made me to be abhorred of them: I am so fast in preson, that I can not get forth. My sight faileth for very trouble: LORD, I call daily upon thee, and stretch out my hands unto the. 〈…〉 Dost thou show wonders among the deed? Can the physicians raise them up again, that they may praise thee? 〈…〉 May thy loving kindness be showed in the grave, or thy faithfulness in destruction? May thy wondrous works be known in the dark, or thy righteousness in the land where all things are forgotten? Unto the I cry (oh LORD) and early cometh my prayer before the. LORD, why puttest thou away my soul? Wherefore hydest thou thy face fro me? My strength is go for very sorrow and misery, with fearfulness do I bear thy burdens. Thy wrathful displeasure goeth over me, the fear of the oppresseth me. They come round about me daily like water, and compass me together on every side. My lovers and friends hast thou put away fro me, and turned away mine acquantaunce. The LXXXVIII. A psalm of Ethan the Esrahite. MY song shall be allway of the loving kindness of the LORD, Psal. 100L with my mouth will I ever be shewing thy faithfulness from one generation to another. For I have said: mercy shall be set up for ever, thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the heavens. I have made a couenaun● with my choose, I have sworn unto Daui● my servant. Thy seed will I establish for e●uer, and set up thy Throne from one generation to another. Sela. O LORD, the very heavens shall praise th● wondrous works, ye & thy faithfulness in the congregation of the saints. For who is he among the clouds; that may be compared unto the LORD? Ye what is he among the gods, that is like unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, & to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is like unto the in power? thy truth is round about the. Thou rulest the pride of the see, thou stillest the wawes thereof, when they arise. Thou breakest the proud, like one that is wounded▪ thou scatrest thy enemies abroad with thy mighty arm. The heavens are thy, the earth is thy: thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is. Thou hast made the north and the south, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm, strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. righteousness and equity is the habitation of thy seat, mercy and truth go before thy face. Blessed is the people (oh LORD) that can rejoice in thee, and walketh in the light of thy countenance. Their delight is in thy name all the day long, and thorough thy righteousness they shallbe exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength, & thorough thy favour shalt thou lift up our horns. Esa. 1. a Abac. 1 c The LORD is our defence, and the holy one of Israel is our king. Thou spakest sometime in visions unto thy saints, and saidest: I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one choose out of the people. 1. Re. 16. a 2. Reg. 5. a I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him. My hand shall hold him fast, and my arm shall strength him. The enemy shall not overcome him, and the son of wickedness shall not hurt him. I shall smite down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. My truth also & my mercy shallbe with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand in the see, and his right hand in the floods. ●. Reg. ● He shall call me: thou art my father, my God, and the strength of my salvation. And I will make him my firstborn, ●yer then the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him His seed will I make to endure for ever, ye and his Throne as the days of heaven. But if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgements. If they break mine ordinances, and keep not my commandments. I will visit their offences with the rod, and their sins with scourges. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, ner suffer my truth to fail. My covenant will I not break, ner disanulle the thing that is go out of my lips. I have sworn once by my holiness, that I will not fail David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his seat also like as the Son before me. ●●al. 71. a He shall stand fast for evermore as the Moon, and as the faithful witness in heaven. Sela. But now thou forsakest and abhorrest thine anointed, and art displeased at him. Thou hast turned back the covenant of thy servant, and cast his crown to the ground. Psal. 79. b Thou hast over thrown all his hedges, and broken down his strong holds. Albina they that go by, spoil him, he is become a rebuke unto his neighbours. Thou settest up the right hand of his enemies, and makest all his adversaries to rejoice. Thou hast taken away the strength of his sword, and givest him not victory in the battle. Thou hast put out his glory, and cast his Throne down to the ground. The days of his youth hast thou shortened, and covered him with dishonour. Sela. LORD, how long will't thou hide thyself? For ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? O remember how short my time is, hast thou made all men for nought? Gen. 2. c Heb. 9 d What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? may a man deliver his own soul from the hand of hell? Sela. LORD, where are thy old loving kyndnesses, which thou sworest unto David in thy truth? Remember LORD the rebuke that the multitude of the people do unto thy servants, & how I have born it in my bosom. Where with thy enemies blaspheme thee, 〈…〉 & slander the fotesteppes of the anointed. Thanks be to the LORD for evermore: Amen, Amen. The LXXXIX psalm. A prayer of Moses the man of God. LORD, thou art our refuge from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth & the world were made, thou art God from everlasting and world with out end. Thou turnest man to destruction, Again, thou sayest: come again you children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday that is past, and like as it were a night watch. As soon as thou scatrest them, they are even as a sleep, and fade away suddenly like the grass. 〈…〉 In the morning it is green and groweth up, but in the evening it is cut down and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure, and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. Thou ●ettest our miszdedes before thee, and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For when thou art angry, all our days are go, we bring our years to an end▪ as it were a tail that is told. The day of our age are iij. score years & ten: & though men be so strong that they come to iiij. score years, yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow: so soon passeth it away, & we are go. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath, thy fearful & terrible displeasure? O teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 〈…〉 Turn the again (oh LORD) at the last, and be gracious unto thy servants. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. Comfort us again, now after the time that thou hast plagued us, and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. Show thy servants thy work, & their children thy glory. And the glorious majesty of the LORD our God be upon us: O prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, oh prosper thou our hondy work. The XC. psalm. WHo so dwelleth under the defence of the most highest, & abideth under the shadow of the almighty: He shall say unto the LORD: oh my hope, & my strong hold, my God, in whom I will trust. For he shall deliver the from the snare of the hunter, & from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover the under his wings, that thou mayest be safe under his feathers: his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. So that thou shalt not need to be afraid for any bugs by night, ner for arrow that flieth by day. For the pestilence that creepeth in the darkness, ner for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon day. A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh the. Ye with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the ungodly. For thou LORD art my hope, thou hast set thy house of defence very high. There shall no evil happen unto thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 〈…〉 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep the in all thy ways. They shall bear the in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt go upon the Lion and Adder, the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, I shall deliver him: I shall defend him, for he hath known my name. 〈…〉 When he calleth upon me, I shall hear him: ye I am with him in his trouble, where out I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. With long life will I satisfy him, & show him my salvation. The XCI. psalm. IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, 〈…〉 and to sing praises unto the name, oh most highest. To tell of thy loving kindness early in the morning, and of thy truth in the night season. Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the lu●e and with a song upon the harp. 〈…〉 For thou LORD hast made me glad thorough thy works▪ and I will rejoice over the operation of thy hands. O LORD, how glorious are thy works, thy thoughts are very deep. An unwise man will not know this, 〈…〉 & a fool will not understand it. That the ungodly are green as the grass, and that all the works of wickedness do flourish, to be destroyed for ever. But thou LORD o most highest, abydest world without end. For lo, thy enemies (oh LORD) lo, thy enemies shall perish, and all the workers of wickedness shallbe scattered abroad. But my horn shallbe exalted like the horn of an Unicorn, 〈…〉 & shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine enemies, & mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar of Libanus. Soch as be planted in the house of the LORD, be fruitful, plenteous & green. That they may show, how true the LORD my strength is, and that there is no unrighteousness in him. The XCII. psalm. THe LORD is king, and hath put on glorious apparel, the LORD hath put on his apparel, & girded himself with strength: Psal. ●● a he hath made the round world so sure, that it can not be moved. From that time forth hath the seat been prepared, thou art from everlasting. The floods arise (oh LORD) the floods lift up their noise, the floods lift up their wawes. The wawes of the see are mighty, & rage horribly: but yet the LORD that dwelleth on high, is mightier. Thy testimonies (oh LORD) are very sure, holiness becometh thine house for ever. The XCIII. psalm. O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth: thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself. Arise thou judge of the world, & reward the proud after their deserving. LORD, how long shall the ungodly, how long shall the ungodly triumph? How long shall all wicked doers speak so diszdaynedly, and make soch proud boasting? They smite down thy people (oh LORD) and trouble thy heritage. They murder the widow and the stranger, and put the fatherless to death. And yet they say: Tush, Esa. 29. c Eze. ● b 9 b job 22. b Ecclin 2.3. ● the LORD saith not, the God of jacob regardeth it not. Take heed, you unwise among the people: oh you fools, when will you understand? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that made the eye, shall not he see? He that nurtureth the heathen, and teacheth a man knowledge, Gen. 7. d and 19 Exo. 14. ● 1. Cor. 3. c Baruc. 4. shall not he punish? The LORD knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are but vain. Blessed is the man, whom thou lernest (oh LORD) and teachest him in thy law. That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity, until the pit be digged up for the ungodly. For the LORD will not fail his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. And why? judgement shallbe turned again unto righteousness, and all such as be true of heart shall follow it. Who riseth up with me against the wicked? who taketh my part against the evil doers? If the LORD had not helped me, my soul had almost been put to silence. ●ob 13. ᵇ ●. joh. 1. b Psal. 31. ᵃ ●. Cor. 1. a When I said: my foot hath slipped, thy mercy (oh LORD) held me up. In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, thy comforts have refreshed my soul. Will't thou have any thing to do with the stolen of wickedness, which ymagineth mischief in the law? They gather them together against the soul of the righteous, & condemn the innocent blood. But the LORD is my refuge, my God is the strength of my confidence. He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice: ye the LORD our God shall destroy them. The XCIIII. psalm. O Come, let us praise the LORD, let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. ●phe. 5. b Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, & show oure self glad in him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great king above all gods. In his hand are all the corners of the earth, and the strength of the hills is his also. The see is his, for he made it, and his hands prepared the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down ourselves: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God: as for us, ●sal. 22. a 〈◊〉. a ●eb. 3. a. b 〈◊〉. b we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hands. To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as when you provoked in time of temptation in the wilderness. Where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works. XL. years long was I grieved with that generation, & said: they ever err in their hearts, they verily have not known my ways. 〈◊〉. 14 c ●eb. 4. a Therefore I swore unto them in my wrath, that they should not enter in to my rest. The XCV. psalm. O Sing unto the LORD a new song, Par. 17. a sing unto the LORD all the whole earth. Sing unto the LORD, & praise his name, be telling of his salvation from day to day. Declare his honour among the Heithen, and his wonders among all people. ●sal. 46. a ●cclī. 4● d For the LORD is great, and can not worthily be praised: he is more to be feared then all gods. As for all the gods of the Heithen, they be but Idols, but it is the LORD that made the heavens. thanksgiving and worship are before him, power and honour are in his Sanctuary. ●sal. 28. a ascribe unto the LORD (oh you kinredes of the heathen) ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength. ascribe unto the LORD the honour of his name, bring presents, and come in to his court. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness, let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Tell it out among the Heithen, that the LORD is king: and that it is he which hath made the round world so fast, that it can not be moved, and how that he shall judge the people rightuously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the see make a noise, ye & all that therein is. Let the field be joyful and all that is in it, let all the trees of the wood leap for joy. Before the LORD, for he cometh: for he cometh to judge the earth: ye with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with his truth. The XCVI. psalm. THe LORD is king, the earth may be glad thereof: 〈…〉 ye the multitude of the Isles may be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his seat. There goeth a fire before him, to burn up his enemies on every side. His lightenynges give shine unto the world, the earth saith it & is afraid. 〈…〉 The hills melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth. 〈…〉 The very heavens declare his righteousness, & all people see his glory. Confounded be all they that worship images, and delight in their Idols: worship him all you gods. Zion heareh of it and rejoiceth: ye all the daughters of juda are glad because of thy judgements, oh LORD. 〈…〉 For thou LORD art the most highest over all the earth, thou art exalted far above all gods. 〈…〉 O you that love the LORD, see that you hate the thing which is evil: the LORD preserveth the souls of his saints, he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly. There is sprung up a light for the righteous, and a joyful gladness for such as be true hearted. Rejoice therefore in the LORD, 〈…〉 you righteous: and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness. The XCVII. psalm. O Sing unto the LORD a new song, 〈…〉 for he hath ●one marvelous things. With his own right hand and with his holy arm hath he got the victory. The LORD hath declared his saving health, and his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the Heithen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel: 〈…〉 Esa. so that all the ends of the world see the saving health of our God. Show yourself joyful unto the LORD all you lands, sing, rejoice and give thanks. 〈…〉 Praise the LORD upon the harp, sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also & shawms: O show yourselves joyful before the LORD the king. Let the see make a noise and all that therein is, ye the whole world & all that devil therein. 〈…〉 Let the floods clap their hands, and let all the hills be joyful together. Before the LORD, for he is come to judge the earth. Ye with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. The XCVIII. psalm. THe LORD is king, be the people never so unpatient: he sitteth upon the Cherubins, be the earth never so unquiet. The LORD is great in Zion, & high above all people. O let men give thanks unto thy great & wondered name, for it is holy. The kings power loveth judgement, thou preparest equity, thou executest judgement & righteousness in I●cob. O magnify the LORD our God, 〈…〉 f●ll down before his foot stolen, for he his holy. Moses & Aaron among his priests, Samuel among such as call upon his name: these called upon the LORD, 〈…〉 & he heard them. He spoke unto them out of the cloudy piler, for they kept his testimonies, & the law that he gave them. Thou herdest them (oh LORD our God) thou forgavest them oh God, & punyshedst their own inventions. O magnify the LORD our God, and worship him upon his holy hill, for the LORD our God is holy. The XCIX. psalm. O Be joyful in God (all you lands) serve the LORD with gladness, 〈…〉 come before his presence with joy. Be you sure, that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, & not we ourselves: we are but his people, & the sheep of his pasture. O go your way in to his gates them with thanksgiving, & in to his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, & speak good of his name. For the LORD is gracious, 〈…〉 his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth from generation to generation. The C. psalm A thanksgiving of David. MY song shallbe of mercy and judgement, 〈…〉 ye unto thee (oh LORD) will I sing. O let me have understanding in the way of godliness, until the time that thou come unto me: & so shall I walk in my house with an innocent heart. I will take no wicked thing in hand, I hate the sin of unfaithfulness, it shall not cleave unto me. A froward heart shall depart fro me, I will not know a wicked person. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy: Who so hath a proud look & an high stomach, I may not away with him. Mine eyes shall look for such as be faithful in the land, that they may devil with me: and who so leadeth a godly life, shall be my servant. There shall no deceitful person devil in my house, he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I shall soon destroy all the ungodly of the land, that all wicked doers may be rooted out of the cite of the LORD. The CI. psalm. Hear my prayer (oh LORD) and let my crienge come unto the. Psal. 142. a Hide not thy face fro me in the time of my trouble: incline thy ears unto me when I call, O hear me, and that right soon. For my days are consumed away like smoke, & my bones are brent up as it were a fire brand. My heart is smitten down and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. For the voice of my groaning, my bone will scarce cleave to my flesh. I am become like a Pelican in the wilderness, and like an Owl in a broken brickwall. I wake, and am even as it were a sparrow sitting alone upon the house top. Mine enemies revile me all the day long, they laugh me to scorn, and are sworn together against me. I eat ashes with my bread, and mengle my drink with weeping And that because of the indignation and wrath, for thou hast taken me up, and cast me away. My days are go like a shadow, and I am withered like grass. But thou (oh LORD) endurest for ever, and thy remembrance thorough out all generations. Arise therefore and have mercy upon Zion, for it is time to have mercy upon her, ye the time is come. And why? 2. Pa. 36. ● jere. 25. b 29. b 1. Esd. 1 a 6.7 thy servants have a love to her stones, & it pitieth them to see her in the dust. The heathen shall fear thy name (oh LORD) and all the kings of the earth thy majesty. For the LORD shall build up Zion, and shall appear in his glory. He turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, and despiseth not their desire. This shallbe written for those that come after, Psal. 21. d that the people which shallbe born, may praise the LORD. For He looketh down from his Sanctuary, Psal. 3●. b out of the heaven doth the LORD behold the earth. That he may hear the mournynges of such as be in captinyte, and deliver the children of death. That they may preach the name of the LORD in Zion, and his worship at jerusalem. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms also to serve the LORD. He hath brought down my strength in my journey, and shortened my days. Yet will I say: O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age: as for thy years, they endure thorough out all generations. ●ebre. 1. b Thou LORD in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands. ●sa. 40. ᵃ ●. Pet. 3. b They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth a garment, & as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shallbe changed. Butler thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. The children of thy servants shall continue, & their seed shall prosper in the sight. The CII. A psalm of David. Praise the LORD (oh my soul) & all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise the LORD oh my soul, & forget not all his benefits. Which forgiveth all thy sins, and heals all thy infirmities. ●sal. 31. a Which saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth the with mercy & loving kindness. Which satisfieth thy desire with good things, making the young and lusty as an Eagle. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgement, for all them that suffer wrong. He showed his ways unto Moses, and his works unto the children of Israel. ●xo. 34. a ●sal. 85. c 〈◊〉. 4. a The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, long suffering, and of great goodness. He will not allway be chiding, neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, ner rewarded us according to our wickednesses. ●sal. ●●. ᵇ ●7. a For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. Look how wide the east is from the west, so far hath he set our sins from us. Ye like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the LORD merciful unto them that fear him. For he knoweth whereof we be made, ●sal. 77. d he remembreth that we are but dust. That a man in his time is but as is grass, & flourisheth as a flower of the field. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it go, and the place thereof knoweth it no more. But the merciful goodness of the LORD endureth for ever and ever, ●sal. 101. d upon them that fear him, and his righteousness upon their childers children. Soch as keep his covenant, and think upon his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his seat in heaven, and his kingdom ruleth over all. O praise the LORD you angels of his, you that be mighty instrength, fulfilling his commandment, that men may hear the voice of his words. O praise the LORD all you his hosts, you servants of his, that do his pleasure. O speak good of the LORD all you works of his, in every place of his dominion: praise thou the LORD, oh my soul. The CIII. psalm. Praise the LORD oh my soul: O LORD my God, 〈…〉 thou art become exceeding glorious, thou art clothed with majesty and honour. Thou deckest thyself with light, as it were with a garment, thou spredest out the heaven like a curtain. Thou voltest it above with waters, thou makest the clouds thy chariot, and goest upon the wings of the wind. Thou makest thy angel's spretes, 〈…〉 and thy ministers flames of fire. Thou hast laid the earth upon her foundation, that it never moveth at any tyme. Thou coverest it with the deep like as with a garment, 〈…〉 so that the waters stand above the hills. But at thy rebuke they i'll, at the voice of thy thunder they are afraid. (Then are the hills seen aloft, & 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 run among the hills. That all the beasts of the field may have drink, & that 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 watrest the hills from above, the earth is filled with the fruits of thy works. Thou bryngest forth grass for the cattles, and green herb for the service of men. 〈…〉 Thou bryngest food out of the earth: wine to make glad the heart of man, oil to make him a cheerful countenance, & bread to strength man's heart. The trees of the LORD are full of sap, even the trees of Libanus which he hath planted. There make the birds their nests, and the fir trees are a dwelling for the storcke. The 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 Son knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, that it may be night, wherein all the beasts of the forest do move. Ye and the young lions which roar after the pray, and seek their meat at God. But when the Son ariseth, they get them away together, and lie them down in their dens. Then goeth man forth 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: ye the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide see also, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships ●uer, 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 thy hand, they are filled with good. But when thou hydest thy face, they are sorrowful: if thou takest away their breath, they die, & are turned again to their dust. Again, when thou latest thy breath go forth, they are made, and so thou renuest 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 sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, and the ungodly shall come to an end: but praise thou the LORD, oh my soul. Halleluya. The CIIII psalm. O give thanks unto the LORD, and call upon his name: tell the people what things he hath done. O let your songs be of him: praise him, and let your talking be of all his wondrous works. give his holy name a good report, let their hearts rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength, seek his face evermore. Remember the marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth. O you seed of Abraham his servant, you children of jacob his choose. He is the LORD our God, whose punishments are thorough out all the world. He is allway mindful of his covenant, and promise that he made to a thousand generations. Ye the covenant that he made with Abraham, Gen. 17. a Gen. 26. a Gen. 28. a and the oath that he sworn unto Isaac. And appointed the same unto jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting testament. saying: unto the will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your heritage. When there was yet but a few of them, and they strangers therein. What time as they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another. He suffered no man to hurt them, Gen. 12. d and 20. a but reproved even kings for their sakes. Touch not mine anointed, do my prophets no harm. moreover he called for a dearth upon the land, and destroyed all the provision of bread. But he had sent a man before them, Gen. 45. a 37. f. 39 a even joseph which was sold to be a bond servant. They hurt his feet in the stocks, the iron pierced his heart. Luc. 2 ● Until the time that his word came, and till the word of the LORD had tried him. Gen. ● Then sent the king and caused him be delivered, the prince of the people bade let him go. He made him lord of his house, & ruler of all his substance. That he might inform his princes after his will, and teach his Senators wisdom. Israel also came in to Egipte, Gen. 4 and jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham. But he increased his people exceadingly, Exo. 1 Acto. and made them stronger than their enemies. Whose heart turned, so that they hated his people, and dealt untruly with his servants. Then sent he Moses his servant, Exo. 3 Acto. and Aaron whom he had choose. These did his tokens among them, and wonders in the land of Ham. Exo 10. e He sent darkness and it was dark, for they were not obedient unto his word. Exo. 7. d He turned their waters in to blood, and slew their fish. Their land brought forth frogs, Exo. 8. b Exo. 8. d Psal. 77. c ye even in their kings chambers. He spoke the word, & their came all manner of flies & lice in all their quarters. He gave them hale stones for rain, and flames of fire in their land. He smote their vynyardes & fige trees, and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts. He spoke the word, Exo. 10. d and their came greshoppers & catirpillers innumerable. These ate up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruits of their ground. He smote all the first born in their land, Exo. 11. a 12. c even the chief of all their substance. He brought them forth with silver & gold, there was not one feeble person among their tries. Egipte was glad of their departing, for they were afraid of them He spread out a cloud to be a covering, and fire to give light in the night season. Exo Exo. 16. a At their desire, there came quails, and he filled them with the bread of heaven. Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b Exo. 17. a He opened the rock of stone, & the waters flowed out: so that rivers ran in the wilderness. For why, he remembered his holy promise which he had made unto Abraham his servant. Thus he brought forth his people with joy, and his choose with gladness. And gave them the lands of the Heithen, where they took the labours of the people in possession. That they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Halleluya. The CV. psalm. Halleluya. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever. 1. Mac. 4. c judit 13. c Psal. 106. a Ecclin. 43. d Who can express the noble acts of the LORD, or show forth all his praise? Blessed are they that allway keep judgement, and do righteousness. Remember us (oh LORD) according to the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: oh visit us with thy saving health. That we might see the pleasure of thy choose, that we might rejoice in the gladness of thy people, and give thanks with thy inheritance. jud. 7. e We have sinned with our fathers, we have done amiss, we have dealt wickedly. Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egipte, they kept not thy great goodness in remembrance: but were dishobedient at the see, even at the reed see. Nevertheless, he helped them for his name's sake, that he might make his power to be known. He rebuked the reed see, Psal. 103. a and it was dried up: so he led them thorough the deep as in a wilderness. Thus he saved them from the hand of the hater, & delivered them from the hand of the enemy. As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them, there was not one of them left. Exo. 15. a Then believed they in his word, and song praise unto him. Butt within a while they forgot his works, & would not abide his council. Nu. 11. a A lust came upon them in the wilderness, so that they tempted God in the desert. Yet he gave them their desire, and sent them enough at their wills. They angered Moses in the tents, Nu. 16. a and Aaron the saint of the LORD. So the earth opened & swallowed up Dathan, and covered the congregation of Abiram. The fire was kindled in their company, the flame brent up the ungodly. Exo. 32. a 1. cor. 10. a Rom. 1. ● They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they turned his glory into the similitude of a calf, that eateth hay. They forgot God their saviour, which had done so great things in Egipte. Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and fearful things in the reed see. So he said he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his choose stand before him in the gap: to turn away his wrathful indignation, jest he should destroy them. Ye they thought scorn of that pleasant land, and gave no credence unto his word. But murmured in their tents, and herkened not unto the voice of the LORD. Then lift he up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness. To cast out their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands. They joined themselves unto Baal Peor, and ate the offerings of the deed. Thus they provoked him unto anger with their own inventions, and the plague was great among them. Then stood up Phineas and executed justice, & so the plague ceased. And that was counted unto him for righteousness, among all posterites for evermore. They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that Moses was punished for their sakes. Because they provoked his spirit, and he told them plainly with his lips. neither destroyed they the heathen, as the LORD commanded them. But were mingled amon●ge the heathen, and learned their works. In so much that they worshipped their images, which turned to their own decay. Ye they offered their sons & their daughters unto devils. And shed the innocent blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they offered unto the images of Canaan, so that the land was defiled wi●● blood. Thus were they stained with the●● own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions. Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, in so much that he abhorred his own inheritance. And gave them over in to the hand of the Heithen, and they that hated them, were lords over them. Their enemies oppressed them, and had them in subjection. Many a time did he deliver them, but they provoked him with their own inventions, and were brought down for their wickedness. Nevertheless when he saw their adversity, he heard their complaint. 〈…〉 He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them▪ according unto the multitude of his mercies. Ye he made all those that had led them away captive, to pity them. deliver us (oh LORD our God) & gather us from among the heathen: that we may give thanks to thy holy name, & make our boast of thy praise. Blessed be the LORD God of Is● He showeth his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity & judgement, all his commandments are true. They stand fast for ever & ever, 〈…〉 & are done in truth & equity. He sent redemption unto his people, he hath commanded his covenant for ever, holy & reverent is his name. 〈…〉 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding have all they that do thereafter: the praise of it endureth for ever. The CXI. psalm. Halleluya. BLessed is the man that fears the LORD, & hath great delight in his commandments. 〈…〉 His seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the faithful shallbe blessed. Riches & plenteousness shallbe in his house, & his righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness: he is merciful, 〈…〉 loving & righteous. Well is him that is merciful, & dareth gladly, & pondreth his words with discretion. 〈…〉 For he shall never be moved, the righteous shall be had in an ever lasting remembrance. He will not be afraid for any evil tidings, his heart standeth fast, & believeth in the LORD. His heart is established, he will not shrencke, until he see his desire upon his enemies. He hath sparsed abroad, 〈…〉 & given to the poor, his righteousness remaineth for ever, his horn shall be exalted with honour. The ungodly shall see it, & it shall grieve him: he shall gnash with his ●●th & consume away, & the desire of the ungodly shall perish. The CXII. psal. Halleluya. Praise the LORD (O you servants) O praise the name of the LORD. 〈…〉 Blessed be the name of the LORD, from this time forth for evermore. The lords name is worthy to be praised, from the rising up of the Son unto the going down of the same. The LORD is high above all heathen, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, that hath his dwelling so high, which humbleth himself, to behold that is in heaven and earth? Which taketh up the simple out of the dust, and lifteth the poor out of the mire. That he may set him among the princes, even among the princes of his people. Which maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Halleluya. The CXIII. psalm. WHen Israel came out of Egipte, & the house of jacob from among that strange people. juda was his Sanctuary, Israel his dominion. Exo. 14. e josu. 3. d The see saw that, and fled, jordan turned back. The mountains stripped like rams, & the little hills like young sheep. What ailed thee (oh thou see) that thou fleddest? and thou jordan, that thou turnedest back? You mountains, that you stripped like rams? and you little hills, like young sheep? The earth trembled at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of jacob. Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. b Which turned the hard rock in to a stondinge water, & the flint stone in to a sprynginge well. Here the Hebrews begin the CXV. psalm. Not unto us (oh LORD) not unto us, but unto thy name give the praise, for thy loving mercy and faithfulness. Wherefore shall the heathen say: where is now their God? Psal. 78. b As for our God, he is in heaven, he doth what soever it pleaseth him. Their images are but silver and gold, even the work of men's hands. They have mouths, Psal 13 4 ● Esa. 4 4. b ●ere. 10. a and speak not: eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, and hear not: noses have they, but they smell not. They have hands and handle not, feet have they, but they can not go, neither can they speak thorough their throat. They that made them, are like unto them, and so are all such as put their trust in them. But let Israel trust in the LORD, for he is their succour & defence. Let the house of Aaron put their trust in the LORD, for he is their succour & defence. They that fear the LORD, let them put their trust in the LORD, Psal. 17. c for he is their succour and defence. The LORD is mindful of us, & blesseth us: he blesseth the house of Israel, he blesseth the house of Aaron. Ye he blesseth all them that fear the LORD, both small & great. The LORD increase you more & more: you, and your children. For you are the blessed of the LORD, which made heaven & earth. All the whole heavens are the LORDS, but the earth hath he given unto the children of men. Psal. ● Esa The deed praise not thee (oh LORD) neither all they that go down in to silence. But we will praise the LORD, from this time forth for evermore. Halleluya. The CXIIII. psalm. I Am well pleased, that the LORD 〈…〉 heard the voice of my prayer. 〈…〉 he hath inclined his ear 〈…〉 therefore will I call upon him as long 〈…〉. The snares of death compas● 〈…〉 about, the pains of hell gat● 〈…〉 me, I found trouble and heavy 〈…〉 called I upon the name of the LORD: oh LORD, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD & righteous, ye our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple, I was brought down, and he helped me. Turn again then unto thy rest (oh my soul) for the LORD hath given the thy desire. Psal. 55. b And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD, in the land of the living. The CXV. psalm. This psalm do the Hebrews join unto it that goeth before, and it is with them the CXVI▪ psalm. I believed, and therefore have I spoken, but I was sore troubled. 2. cor. 4. c Rom. 3 a I said in my haist: All men are liars. What reward shall I give unto the LORD, for all the benefits that he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows in the presence of all his people, right dear in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaiden, thou hast broken my bonds insunder. Hebr. ●3. c Psal. 91. a I will offer the the sacrifice of thanks giving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD in the sight of all his people, in the courts of the lords house, even in the midst of thee, oh jerusalem. Halleluya. The CXVI. psalm. O Praise the LORD all you Gentiles, laud him all you people. Rom. 15. c For his merciful kindness is ever more and more toward us, & the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Halleluya. The CXVII. psalm. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, ●●dit. 13. c ●●al. 105. a 〈◊〉 6. a 135. a Nu. 16▪ a c▪ 4. c and his mercy endureth for ever. Letoy Israel now confess, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now confess, that his mercy endureth for ever. Ye let them now that fear the LORD, confess, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the LORD in trouble, and the LORD heard me 〈◊〉 large. The LORD is my helper, I will 〈…〉 what man doth unto me. The 〈…〉 is my helper, & I shall see my desire 〈…〉 enemy's. It is better to trust 〈…〉, then to put any confidence in 〈…〉 is better to trust in the LORD, 〈…〉 confidence in princes. All heathen compassed me round about, but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. They kept me in on every side, but in the name of the LORD, I will destroy them. They came about me like bees, & were as hot as the fire in the thorns, but in the name of the LORD. I will destroy them. They thrust at me, that I might fall, but the LORD was my help. 〈…〉 The LORD is my strength, & my song, & is become my salvation. The voice of joy & mirth is in the dwellynges of the righteous, for the right hand of the LORD hath gotten the victory. The right hand of the LORD hath the pre-eminence, the right hand of the LORD hath gotten the victory. I will not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD hath chastened & correct me, but he hath not given me over unto death. Open me the gates of righteousness▪ that I may go in there thorough, & give thanks unto the LORD. This is the door of the LORD, the righteous shall enter in thorough 〈◊〉 I thank thee, that thou hast heard me, & are become my salvation. The same stone which the builders refused, is become the headestone in the corner. This was the LORDS doing, & it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made▪ let us rejoice and be glad in it. Help now oh LORD, oh LORD send us now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD, we wish you good luck, you that be of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, & hath showed us light: O 〈◊〉 the solemn feast with green branches, 〈◊〉 unto the horns of the altar. Thou art 〈◊〉 God, & I will thank thee: thou art my 〈◊〉 and I will praise the. O give thanks 〈◊〉 to the LORD, for he is gracious, & his malacy endureth for ever. The CXVIII. psalm. Aleph. BLessed are those that be undefiled in th● way: which walk in the law of 〈◊〉 LORD. Blessed are they that keep his t●●●timonies, & seek him with their whole hert●▪ Which walk in his ways, & do no wickedness. Thou hast given straight cha●●● to keep thy commandments. O th●● my ways were established to keep thy stat●●tes. So should I not be confounded, 〈◊〉 I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will thank the with an vnfay●ned heart, because I am learned in the judgements of thy righteousness. I will 〈◊〉 thy statutes, oh forsake me not utterly. They came about me like bees/ & were ●s hot as the fire in the thorns/ but in the ●●me of the Lord I will destroy them. They thrust at me/ that I might fall/ but ●●e Lord was my help. * The Lord is my strength/ and my song/ ●nd is become my salvation. The voice of joy and mirth is in the dwel●●ges of the righteous/ for the right hand 〈◊〉 the Lord hath got the victory. The right hand of the Lord hath the pre●●ynence/ the right hand of the Lord hath ●●tten the victory. I will not die/ but live/ and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened & correct me/ ●●t he hath not given me over unto death. ᵃ * Open me the gates of righteousness/ 〈◊〉 I may go in there thorough/ and give ●●●nckes unto the Lord. This is the door of the Lord/ the righteous shall enter in thorough it. I thank thee/ that thou hast heard me/ & become my salvation. The same ▪b* stone which the builders re●●●●●●/ is become the head stone in the corner. This was the Lords doing/ and it is ●●●uelous in our eyes. This is thec* day/ which the Lord hath ●●de/ let us rejoice and be glad in it. Help now O Lord/ O Lord send us 〈◊〉 prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of 〈◊〉 Lord/ we wish you good luck/ you that of the house of the Lord. God is the Lord/ & hath showed us light: garnish the solemn feast with green ●●●ches/ even unto the horns of the altar. thou art my God/ and I will thank thee▪ 〈◊〉 art my God/ and I will praise the. 〈◊〉 give thanks unto the Lord/ for he is ●●●●ous/ and his mercy endureth for ever. ¶ The cxix Psalm. This Psalm declareth how moche the saints 〈…〉 set by the laws of God/ and how greatly 〈◊〉 endeavour themselves unto them: in so much that 〈◊〉 sorrow them to be transgressed & withstanded of 〈◊〉 wicked: And how they pray to be taught them from 〈◊〉 & to be accustomed with them: & wish as many transgress & withstand them/ to be destroyed and 〈◊〉 away. א Aleph. yblessed are those that a* be undefiled in the way: which walk in the law of the Lord. ● Blessed are they that keep his testymo●●●s/ and seek him with their whole heart. 〈◊〉 which walk in his ways/ & do no wyc●●●nesse. ● Thou hast given straight charge to keep 〈◊〉 commandments. א O that my ways were stablished to keep thy statutes. א So should I not be confounded/ while I have respect unto all thy commandments. א I will thank the with an unfeigned heart/ because I am learned in the judgements of thy righteousness. א I will keep thy statutes/ O forsake me not utterly. ב Beth. ב Where withal shall a young man cleanse his way? Even by ruling himself after thy word. ב With my whole heart do I seek thee/ O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments. ב Thy words have I hid within my heart/ that I should not sin against the. ב Praised be thou O Lord/ O teach me thy statutes. ב With my lips will I be telling out all the judgements of thy mouth. ב I have as great delight in the way of thy testymonies/ as in all manner of riches. ב I will exercise myself in thy commandments/ & have respect unto thy fotepathes. ב My delight shallbe in thy statutis/ I will not forget thy words. ג Gimel. ג O do well unto thy servant/ that I may live and keep thy words. ג Open thou mine eyes/ and so shall I spy out wondrous things in thy law. ג I am a stranger upon earth/ O hide not thy commandments fro me. ג My soul breaketh out/ for the very fervent desire that I have alway unto thy judgements. ג Thou rebukest the proud/ cursed are they that depart from thy commandments. ג O turn fro me shame and rebuke/ for I keep thy testimonies. גb*Prynces also sit & speak against me/ but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes. ג In thy testymonies is my delight/ they are my councelers. ד Daleth. ד My soul cleaveth to the dust/ O quicken thou me according to thy word. ד I knowledged my ways/ & thou herdest me/ O teach me then thy statutes. ד Make me to understand the way of t 〈…〉 commandments/ and so shall I ta 〈…〉 thy wondrous works. ד My soul melteth away for ver● 〈…〉/ O set me up according unto th● 〈…〉 ד Take fro me the way of dying 〈…〉 me thy law. ד I have choose the c* way of truth 〈…〉 judgements have I laid before me. ד I stick unto thy testymonies/ O Lo 〈…〉 confound me not. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will run the way of thy commandments/ when thou hast comforted my heart. ה He. ה Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes/ and I shall keep it unto the end. ה O d* give me understanding/ and I shall keep thy law/ ye I shall keep it with my whole heart. ה Lead me in the path of thy commaundmentes/ for that is my desire. ה incline mine heart unto thy testymonies/ and not to covetousness. ה O turn away mine eyes/ lest they behold vanity/ & quicken me in thy way. ה O establish thy word in thy servant/ that I may fear the. ה Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of/ for thy judgements are amiable. ה Behold/ my delight is in thy commandments/ O quicken me in thy righteousness. ו Vau. ו Let thy loving mercy come unto me/ O Lord/ and thy saving health according unto thy word. ו That I may give answer unto my blasphemers/ for my trust is in thy word. ו O take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth/ for my hope is in thy iudgmentis ו So shall I alway keep thy law/ ye for ever and ever. ו And I will walk at liberty/ for I seek thy commandments. ו I will speak of thy testimonies even before kings/ and will not be ashamed. ו My delight shallbe in thy commandments/ which I love. ו My hands also will I life up unto thy commandments which I love/ & my talking shallbe of thy statutes. ז Zain. ז O think upon thy servant as concerning thy word/ wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust. ז For it is my comfort in my trouble/ ye thy word quyckeneth me. ז The proud have me greatly in derision/ yet shryncke not I from thy law. ז I remember thine everlasting iudgmentis/ O Lord/ and am comforted. ● I am horribly afraid for the ungodly/ that 〈…〉 thy law. 〈…〉 statutes are my songs in the house 〈…〉 ●ylgremage. 〈…〉 upon thy name/ O Lord/ in the 〈…〉 ●eason/ and keep thy law. 〈…〉 mine own/ for I keep thy cōmaūd●●●●es. ח Heth. ● Thou art my portion/ O Lord/ I am purposed to keep thy law. ח I make mine humble petition in presence with my whole heart/ O be 〈◊〉 unto me according unto thy wor●● ח I call mine own ways to remembrance/ and turn my feet in to thy testimon●●● ח I make haste/ and prolong not the 〈◊〉 to keep thy commandments. ח The congregations of the ungodly 〈◊〉 rob me/ but I forget not thy law. ח At midnight stand I up/ to give thā●●● unto thee/ for the judgements of thy ●●●●●●tuousnesse. ח I am a companion of all them that 〈◊〉 the/ and keep thy commandments. ח * The earth/ O Lord/ is full of thy 〈◊〉. O teach me thy statutes. ט Teh. ט O Lord/ thou hast dealt friendly with 〈◊〉 servant/ according unto thy word. ט O learn me thy kindness/ 〈◊〉 knowledge/ for I believe thy cōmaūde●●●● ט Before I was troubled/ I went 〈◊〉 but now I keep thy word. ט Thou art good & friendly/ O teach 〈◊〉 statutes. ט The proud imagine lies upon me 〈◊〉 keep thy commandments with my 〈◊〉 heart. ט Their heart is as fat as brawn/ 〈◊〉 delight is in thy law. ט It is good for me that I have been in●●ble/ that I may learn thy statutes. ט The law of thy mouth is dearer 〈◊〉 me/ then thousands of gold and silver▪ י jod. י * Thy hands have made me and 〈◊〉 me/ O give me understanding/ that I 〈◊〉 learn thy commandments. י They that fear thee/ will be glad 〈…〉 me/ because I put my trust in thy 〈◊〉 י I know/ O Lord/ that thy iudgm●●● are right/ and that thou of very faithfu●● hast caused me to be troubled. י O let thy merciful kindness be my eau forte/ according to the promise that 〈◊〉 hast made unto thy servant. י O let thy loving mercies come unto 〈◊〉 that I may live/ for thy law is my 〈◊〉 י Let the proud be confounded/ which 〈◊〉 me so falsely. י But let such as fear thee/ and know 〈◊〉 testymonies/ be turned unto me. י O let mine heart be undefiled in the ●●●●tutes that I be not ashamed. כ Caph. כ My soul longeth for thy saving 〈◊〉 for my trust is in thy word. כ Mine eyes long sore for thy word/ 〈◊〉 O when wilt thou comfort me? ● For I am become like a bottle in the smoke/ do not I forget thy statutes. ● How many are the days of thy servant? ●hen wilt thou be avenged of mine aduer●●●yes? ● The proud have digged pits for me/ ●●ich are not after thy law. ●●ll thy commandments are true/ they ●●●secute me falsely/ O be thou my help. ● They have almost made an end of me 〈◊〉 earth/ but I forsake not thy commandments. ● O quicken me after thy loving kyndnꝭ/ & ●hall I keep the testimonies of thy mo●●h. ל Lamed. ● O Lord/ thy word endureth for ever in ●●●uen. ● Thy truth also remaineth from one 〈…〉 to another: thou hast laid the 〈…〉 of the earth/ and it abideth. ● They continue this day according to 〈◊〉 ordinance/ for all things serve the. If my delight were not in thy law/ I 〈◊〉 perish in my trouble. ● I will never forget thy commandments/ for with them thou quickenest me. I am thine/ O help me/ for I seek thy ●●●maundementes. ● The ungodly lay wait for me to 〈◊〉 me/ but I consider thy testimonies. ● I ●e that all things come to an end/ but 〈◊〉 commandment is exceeding broad. מ Mem. ● O what love have I unto thy law? all day long is my talking of it ● Thou thorough thy commandment hast 〈◊〉 me wiser than mine enemies▪ for it is 〈◊〉 by me. ● I have more understanding than all my others/ for thy testymonies are my study. Ye I am wiser than the aged/ for I keep 〈◊〉 commandments. ● I refrain my feet from every evil way/ 〈◊〉 I may keep thy words. ● I shrynck not from thy judgements/ for 〈◊〉 teachest me. ● O how sweet are thy words unto my 〈◊〉? ● Ye more than honey unto my mouth. ● Thorough thy commandments I get understanding/ therefore I hate all false ways. נ Nun. ● Thy word is ae * lantern unto my feet 〈◊〉 a light unto my ●●●thes. 〈…〉 have sworn & 〈◊〉 steadfastly purposed/ ●epe the judgements 〈◊〉 ●hy righteousness. I am troubled 〈◊〉 measure/ quicken 〈◊〉/ O Lord/ according unto thy word. Let the free-will offe●ynges of my mouth 〈◊〉 the/ O Lord/ & t●ach me thy iudgmentis נ 〈…〉 My soul is alway in my hand/ yet do not I forget thy law. נ The ungodly have laid a snare for me/ but yet serve not I from thy commaundmentꝭ. נ Thy testymonyes have I claimed as mine heritage for ever: and why? they be the very joy of my heart. נ I apply mine heart to fulfil thy statutes alway/ even unto the end. ס Samech. ס I hate the ungodly/ but thy law do I love. ס Thou art my defence & shield/ my trust is in thy word. ס Away fro me you wicked/ I will keep the commandments of my God. ס O establish me according unto thy word/ that I may live/ & let me not be disappointed of my hope. ס Hold thou me up/ and I shall be safe: ye I shall ever be talking of thy statutes. ס Thou treadest down all them that depart from thy statutis/ for they imagine but deceit ס Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross/ therefore I love thy testymonies. ס My flesh trembleth for fear of thee/ and I am afraid of thy judgements. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aiin. ע I deal with the thing that is lawful & right/ O give me not over unto mine oppressors. ע Be thou surety for thy servant to do him good/ that the proud do me no wrong. ע Mine eyes are waysted ●waye with looking for thy health/ and for the word of thy righteousness. ע O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy/ & teach me thy statutes. ע I am thy servant/ O grant me understanding/ that I may know thy testimonies. ע It is time for thee (O Lord) to say to thy hand/ for they have destroyed thy law. ע For I love thy commandments above gold and precious stone. ע Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments/ and all false ways I utterly abhor. פ Phe. פ Thy testymonyes are wonderful/ therefore doth my soul keep them. פ When thy word goeth forth/ it giveth light & understanding/ even unto babes. פ I open my mouth and draw in my breath/ for I desire thy commandments. פ O look thou upon me/ & be merciful/ as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. פ order my goings after thy word that no wickedness reign in me. פ O deliver me from the wrongeous dealings of men/ & so shall I keep thy commandments. פ Show the light of thy countenance unto thy servant/ and learn me thy statutes. פ Mine eyes gusshe out with water/ because men keep not thy law. צ Zade. צ Righteous art thou/ O Lord/ and true is thy judgement. צ The testymonyes that thou hast commanded are exceeding/ righteous and true. צ ●sal. lx. c 〈◊〉. ij. b. My zeal hath even consumed me/ because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. צ Thy word is tried to the uttermost/ and thy servant loveth it. צ I am small and of no reputation/ yet do not I forget thy commandments. צ Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness/ and thy law is true. צ Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me/ yet is my delight in thy commandments. צ The righteousness of thy testymonyes is everlasting/ O grant me understanding/ and I shall live. ק Koph. ק I call with my whole heart/ hear me/ O Lord/ I will keep thy statutes. ק Ye even upon the do I call/ help me/ and I shall keep thy testymonies. ק Early in the morning do Is What is defied by 〈◊〉 you have 〈◊〉 Psalm cry unto thee/ for in thy word is my trust. ק Mine eyes prevent the night watches/ that I might be occupied in thy words. ק Hear my voice/ O Lord/ according unto thy loving kindness/ quicken me according as thou art wont. ק They draw nigh that of malice persecute me/ and are far from th● law. ק Be thou nigh at hand also/ O Lord/ for thy promises are faithful. ק As concerning thy testimonies/ I have known ever since the beginning/ that thou hast grounded them for ever. ר Res. ר O consider mine adversity/ & deliver me/ for I do not forget thy law. ר Manteyn thou my cause and defend me/ quicken me according unto thy word. ר Health is far from the ungodly/ for they regard not thy statutes. ר great is thy mercy/ O Lord/ quicken me as thou art wont. ר Many there are that trouble me/ & persecute me/ yet do not I serve from thy testimonies. ר It grieveth me/ when I see/ that the transgressors keep not thy law. ר consider/ O Lord/ how I love thy commandments/ O quicken me with thy loving kindness. ר Thy word is true from everlasting/ all the judgements of thy righteousness endure for ever more. ש Sin. שh*The princes persecute me without 〈◊〉 but my heart standeth in awe of thy 〈◊〉 ש I am as glad of thy word/ as one 〈◊〉 great spoils. ש As for lies/ I hate and abhor 〈…〉 thy law do I love. שi* Seven times a day do I praise ●●●cause of thy righteous judgements. ש great is the peace that they have 〈◊〉 lo●e thy law/ & they are not offend●●▪ ש Lord/ I look for thy saving 〈◊〉 do after thy commandments. ש My soul keepeth thy testymonyes 〈◊〉 loveth them exceadingly. ש I keep thy commandments and 〈◊〉/ for all my ways are before 〈◊〉▪ ת Chau. ת Let my complaint come before 〈◊〉 Lord/ give me understanding/ 〈…〉 unto thy word. ת O let my supplication come befo●● deliver me according to thy promise▪ ת My lips shall speak of thy 〈◊〉 saying thou hast taught me thy statu●●●▪ ת Ye my tongue shall sing of thy 〈◊〉 for all thy commandments are 〈◊〉 ת Let thine hand help me/ for I have 〈…〉 thy commandments. ת I long for thy saving health/ O 〈◊〉 and in thy law is my delight. ת O let my soul live and praise the 〈◊〉 thy judgements may help me. ת I go astray/ like a sheep that is 〈◊〉 seek thy servant/ for I do not forget th●●●●●maundementes. ¶ The cxx Psalm. ¶ An affectuous complain of the prophe●● 〈◊〉 drive out of the l●nde ● abiding among 〈…〉 that did all things by fraud and violence. *‡ In Hebr. Maheloth. Ab●. Ezra thyn● 〈…〉 the beginning of some song/ after whose 〈…〉 Psalms that have this title were song. 〈…〉 pound it to signify: in a high plac●. Some 〈…〉 which say/ that the levites sang 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 in David's house/ upon the steers which 〈…〉 the chamber where the men assembled/ to the 〈◊〉 where the women comm●n●y abode. The song of the steers. WHen I am in trouble/ I call 〈◊〉 the Lord/ & 〈◊〉 answereth 〈◊〉▪ deliver my soul/ O 〈◊〉 from dying ●lyppes/ & from a ●●●ceatfull tongue. What reward sha●● be given or 〈…〉 to thee/ thou false tong●●. Even mighty an● sharp arrows/ 〈◊〉 hot burnyngea* 〈◊〉. Woe is me that 〈◊〉 banishment endur●●● long: I devil in the tabernacles of the soro●●● My soul hath lo●ge dwelled among 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the enemies unto peace. I laboured for peace/ but when I spoke 〈◊〉/ they made them to battle. ¶ The cxxj Psalm. 〈◊〉 showeth that the godly must look for their help 〈◊〉 God only/ & that he giveth it very readily. The song of the steers. I life up mine eyes unto thea*hylles/ 〈◊〉 from whence cometh my help. My help cometh even from the ●●rde which hath made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved/ 〈◊〉 he that keepeth thee/ sleepeth not. * Behold/ he that keepeth Israel/ doth 〈◊〉 slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is thy keeper/ 〈◊〉 Lord ●hy defence upon thy right hand. So that the sun shall not burn the by 〈◊〉/ neither the moon by night. The Lord preserveth the from all evil/ 〈◊〉 it is the Lord that keepeth thy soul. The Lord preserveth thy going out & 〈◊〉 coming in/ from this time forth for ●●er more. ¶ The cxxij Psalm. ●nder the shadow and figure of jerusalem he de●●●●eth the felicity of the congregation of Christ/ 〈◊〉 the desires of the saints/ wishing ever the furtherance of it. The song of the steers I Was glad/ when they said unto me: we will go in to the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates/ 〈◊〉 jerusalem. jerusalem is builded as a city/ that is 〈…〉 in itself. For there the tribes go up/ even the tribes 〈◊〉 the Lord: to testify unto Israel/ to give ●●an●kes unto the name of the Lord. For there is the seat of judgement/ even 〈◊〉 seat of the house of David. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem/ they 〈◊〉 all prosper that love the. Peace be within thy walls/ & plenteousness with 〈◊〉 thy palaces. For my brethren and companions sakes/ 〈◊〉 will wish 〈◊〉 the prosperity. Ye because of the house of the Lord our 〈◊〉/ I will se●●e to do the good. ¶ The cxxiij Psalm. The godly subdued 〈◊〉 the wicked/ do affectuously 〈◊〉 God to deliver th●● for unto him they wholly 〈◊〉 themselves. The song of the steers. Unto the life I 〈◊〉 mine a * eyes/ thou that dwellest in th●●e heavens. Behold/ even as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters: & 〈◊〉 the eyes of a maiden unto the hands of ●astresse/ even so our eyes wait upon 〈…〉 our God/ vn●yll he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us/ O Lord/ have mercy upon us/ for we are utterly despised. Our soul is filled with the scornful reproof of the wealthy/ and with the despitefulness of the proud. ¶ The cxxiiij Psalm. ¶ The godly rejoice that they are rid/ by the help of God/ from a jeopardy whereunto they were very nigh. * The song of the steers. IF the Lord had not been of our side (now may Israel say) If the Lord had not been of our side/ when men rose up against us. They had swallowed us up quick/ when they were so wrathfully displeased at us. Ye the waters had drowned us/ the stream had go over our soul. The deep waters of the proud had go even unto our soul. But praised be the Lord/ which hath not given us over for a pray unto their teeth. Our soul is escaped/ even as a bird out of the snare of the fouler: the snare is broken and we are delivered. Our help standeth in the name of the Lord/ which hath made heaven and earth. ¶ The cxxu Psalm. ¶ The church or congregation is in safety when the Lord defendeth it/ and shallbe prosperous when he favoureth it/ and purgeth the wicked theroute. The song of the steers. THey that put their trust in the Lord/ are even as the mount Zion/ which may not be removed/ but standeth fast for ever. The hills stand about jerusalem/ even so standeth the Lord round about his people/ from this time forth for evermore. That the rod of the ungodly come not into the lot of the righteous/ jest the righteous put their hand unto wickedness. Do well/ O Lord/ unto those that be good and * true of heart. As for such as turn back unto their own wickedness/ the Lord shall lead them forth with the evil doers: but peace be upon Israel. ¶ The cxxuj Psalm. ¶ He describeth the gladness of the people returning again from Babylon/ & under the figure hereof the rejoicing of the Christian/ whom the son of God hath made free from the captivity of sin and death. The song of the steers. When the Lord turneth again the captivity of Zion/ then shall we be like unto them that dream. Then shall our mouth be filled with laughter/ and our tongue with joy. Then shall it be said among the Heathen: the Lord hath done great things for them. Ye the Lord hath done great things for us all ready/ whereof we rejoice. Turn our captivity/ O Lord/ as the rivers in the south. They that sow in tears/ shall reap in joy. He that now goeth in his way weeping & beareth forth good seed/ shall come again with joy/ & bring his sheaves with him. ¶ The cxxvij Psalm. ¶ By the only liberality & gift of God is the house and household given/ the city defended ● meat ministered/ children & those toward and thryftye obtained. 〈…〉 The song of the steers. EXcept the Lord build the house/ their labour is but lost that build it. Except the Lord keep the city/ the watchman waketh but in vain. It is but lost labour that you rise up early/ and take no rest/ but eat the bred of carefulness: for look to whom it pleaseth him/ he giveth it in sleep. Lo/ children and the fruit of the womb are an heritage & gift/ that cometh of the Lord. Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant/ even so are the young children. Happy is the man/ that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed/ when they speak with their enemies in the gate. ¶ The cxxviij Psalm. ¶ He that fears God shall do well and fortunately at all ceasons. The song of the steers. BLessed are all they that fear the Lord/ and walk in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labours of thine own hands: O well is thee/ happy art thou. Thy wife shallbe as the fruitful vine upon the walls of thy house. Thy children like the olive branches round about thy table. Lo/ thus shall the man be 〈…〉 blessed/ that fears the Lord. The Lord shall so bless the out of Sion/ that thou shalt see jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long. Ye that thou shalt see thy chylders children/ and peace upon Israel. ¶ The cxxix Psalm. ¶ Although the wicked do long and greatly persecute the godly/ yet shall they not prevail over them: ye they shall at the length perish when the godly shall be in safety. The song of the steers. MAny a time have they fought against me fro my youth up (may Israel now say.) Ye/ many a time have they fought against me fro my youth up/ but they have not overcome me. The plowers ploughed upon my back/ & and made long forowes. But the righteous Lord hath hewn 〈◊〉 yoke of the ungodly in pieces. Let them be confounded & turned backward/ as many as have evil will at a * 〈◊〉 Let them be even as the hay upon 〈◊〉 house tops/ which withereth afore it 〈◊〉 pluck up. Whereof the mower filleth not his han●● neither he that bindeth up the sheaves/ 〈◊〉 bosom. So that they which go by/ say not so 〈◊〉 as: the Lord prosper you/ we wish you 〈◊〉 luck in the name of the Lord. ¶ The cxxx Psalm. ¶ An earnest prayer of him that is oppressed with ●●●uersitie for his sins/ & that surely hopeth to 〈◊〉 of God both forgiveness of his sins & delyura●●● from his adversities. The song of the steers. Out of the a * deep call I unto 〈◊〉 O Lord/ Lord hear my voy●●▪ O let thine ears 〈…〉 well the voice of my complay●●● If thou Lord wilt be extreme to 〈◊〉 what is done a miss/ O Lord who 〈◊〉 abide it? But there is mercy with thee/ that 〈◊〉 mayest be feared. I look for the Lord/ my soul doth wa● for him/ and in his word is my trust. My soul doth patiently abide the Lor●● from the one morning to the other. Let Israel trust in the Lord/ for with 〈◊〉 Lord there is mercy & plenteous redemp●●●● And he shall redeem Israel from all his sin ¶ The cxxxj Psalm. ¶ He showeth that he was not proud/ but meake & 〈◊〉 The song of the steers. Lord/ I am not high minded/ I have 〈◊〉 proud looks. I do not exercise myself in grea●● matters/ which are to high for me. But I refrain my soul & keep it 〈◊〉 like as a child that is weened from his 〈◊〉: ye my soul is even as a ween●ed 〈◊〉 Let Israel trust in the Lord▪ from 〈◊〉 time forth for evermore. ¶ The cxxxij Psalm. ¶ He showeth that the prosperity 〈◊〉 of Christ's kingdom dureth ever/ & that God is 〈◊〉 allway present 〈◊〉 his church and congregation: This doth he 〈◊〉 the figure of David & of the ●●a●cke abiding in 〈◊〉 The song of the steers. Lord/ remember David & all his trou●●● How he sworn, unto the Lord/ 〈◊〉 vowed a vow unto the almighty 〈◊〉 of jacob: I will not come within the taber●●●cle of my house/ nor climb up in my bed▪ I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep/ 〈◊〉 mine eye lyddes to ●●omber. Until I find out a place for the 〈◊〉 an habitation for the mighty one of 〈◊〉 shalt eat the labours of thy own hands: oh well is thee, happy art thou. Thy wife shallbe as a fruitful vine upon the walls of thy house. Thy children like the olive branches round about the table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, that fears the LORD. 〈…〉 The LORD shall so bless the out of Zion, that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long. Ye that thou shalt see thy childers children, & peace upon Israel. The CXXVIII. psalm. MAny a time have they fought against me fro my youth up (may Israel now say). Ye many a time have they fought against me fro my youth up, but they have not overcome me. The plowers ploughed upon my back, & made long forowes. But the righteous LORD hath hewn the yoke of the ungodly in pieces. Let them be confounded & turned backward, as many as have evil will at Zion. 〈…〉 Let them be even as the hay upon the house tops, which withereth afore it be pluck up. Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, neither he that bindeth up the sheaves, his bosom. So that they which go by, say not so much as: the LORD prosper you, we wish you good luck in the name of the LORD. The CXXIX. psalm. Out of the deep call I unto thee (oh LORD) LORD hear my voice. O let thy ears consider well the voice of my complaint. 〈…〉 If thou (LORD) will't be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O LORD, who may abide it? But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I look for the LORD, my soul doth wait for him, and in his word is my trust. My soul doth patiently abide the LORD, from the one morning to the other. Let Israel trust in the LORD▪ for with the LORD there is mercy and plenteous redemption. 〈…〉 And he shall redeem Israel from all his sins. The CXXX. A psalm of David. LORD, I am not high minded, I have no proud looks. 〈…〉 I do not exercise myself in great matters, which are to high for me. But I refrain my soul and keep it low, like as a child that is weened from his mother, ye my soul is even as a weened child. Let Israel trust in the LORD, from this time forth for evermore. The CXXXI. Psalm LORD, remember David and all his trouble. How he sworn unto the LORD, & vowed a vow unto the mighty one of jacob: I will not come within the tabernacle of my house, ner climb up in to my bed. I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, ner mine eye lyddes to slumber. Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty one of jacob. Lo, we heard of the same at Ephrata, & found it in the wood. We will go in to his tabernacle▪ & fall down before his footstool. 2. Par. 6. g Arise (oh LORD) in to thy resting place, thou & the ark of the strength. Letoy thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints rejoice. Exo 28 a Ephe 6. b For thy servant David's sake turn not away the presence of thy anointed. The LORD hath made a faithful oath unto David, 2. Re. 7. c 1. Par. 18. b Psal. 88 a Act. 2. d & he shall not shrenke from it: Of the fruit of thy body shall I set upon thy seat. If thy children will keep my covenant, & my testimony that I shall learn them, their children also shall sit upon thy seat for evermore. For the LORD hath choose Sion, to be an habitation for himself hath he choose her. This shallbe my rest, here will I dwell, for I have a delight therein. I will bless her vytales with increase, & will satisfy her poor with bread. Psal 2. Esa ● I will deck her priests with health, & her saints shall rejoice & be glad. Luc▪ 〈…〉 3. 〈…〉 15. There shall I make the horn of David to flourish, I have ordained a lantern for mine anointed. As for his enemies, I shall cloth them with shame, but upon himself shall his crown flourish. The CXXXII. A psalm of David. Behold, how good & joyful a thing it is, 〈…〉 brethren to devil together in unite. It is like that precious ointment upon the head, that ran down unto the beerd, even unto Aaron's beerd, 〈…〉 & went down to the skyrtes of his clothing. Like the dew of Hermon, 〈…〉 which fallen upon the hill of Zion. For there the LORD promised his blessing, and life for evermore. The CXXXIII. psalm. Behold, O praise the LORD all 〈◊〉 servants of the LORD, you that 〈◊〉 night stand in the house of the LORD. 〈◊〉 lift up your hands in the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 praise the LORD. The LOR●● 〈…〉 heaven & earth, bless the out 〈…〉 The CXXXIIII. psalms▪ O Praise the name 〈…〉 oh you servants 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 of the house of 〈…〉 LORD, for the 〈…〉 For I know that the LORD is great. & that our LORD is above all gods. What so ever the LORD pleaseth, that doth he in heaven & in earth, in the see & in all deep places. He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the world, jere. 10. c 51. a he turneth the lighteninges unto rain, bringing the winds out of their treasuries. Which smote the firstborn of Egipte, Exo. 12 e ●xo. 7.8. ●. 10. both of man and be'st. He hath sent tokens and wonders in to the midst of thee (oh thou land of Egipte) upon Pharaoh and all his servants. josu. 12. a Which smote diverse nations, & slew mighty kings. Num. 21. c Deut. 3 a Sihon king of the Amorites, Og the king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan. And gave their land for an heritage, for an heritage unto Israel his people. Thy name (oh LORD) endureth forever, so doth thy memorial (oh LORD) from one generation to another. Deu. 32. c For the LORD will avenge his people, & be gracious unto his servants. Asdrubal for the images of the Heithen, Psal. 113. b 〈◊〉▪ 44. b 〈◊〉▪ 10. a they are but silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, & speak not: eyes have they, but they see not. They have ears, and yet they hear not, neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them, are like unto them, & so are all they that put their trust in them. Praise the LORD you house of Israel, praise the LORD you house of Aaron. Praise the LORD you house of Levi, you that fear the LORD, praise the LORD. Praised be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Halleluya. The CXXXV. psalm. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of all gods, for his mercy endureth for ever. O thank the LORD of all lords, for his mercy endureth for ever. ●hich only doth great wonders, for his 〈…〉 endureth for ever. Which by his 〈…〉 some made the heavens, for his mercy 〈…〉 for ever. Which laid out the earth 〈…〉 waters, for his mercy endureth for 〈…〉 hath made great lights, for 〈…〉 for ever. The Son 〈…〉 his mercy endureth for 〈…〉 the stars to govern 〈…〉 endureth for ever. 〈…〉 their firstborn, 〈…〉 for ever. And 〈…〉 them, for 〈…〉 reed see in to parts, for his mercy endureth for ever. And made Israel to go thorough the midst of it, for his mercy endureth for ever But as for Pharaoh and his host, he over threw them in the reed see, for his mercy endureth for ever. 〈…〉 Which led his people thorough the wilderness, for his mercy endureth for ever. Which smote great kings, 〈…〉 for his mercy endureth for ever. Ye and slew mighty kings, for his mercy endureth for ever. Sihon king of the Amorites, 〈…〉 for his mercy endureth for ever. And Og the king of Basan, for his mercy endureth for ever. And gave away their land for an heritage, for his mercy endureth for ever. Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant, for his mercy endureth for ever. Which remembreth us, when we are in trouble, for his mercy endureth for ever. Which giveth food unto all flesh, for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven, for his mercy endureth for ever. The CXXXVI. psalm. BY the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, 〈…〉 when we remembered Zion. As for our haps, we hanged them up upon the trees, that are therein. Then, they that led us away captive, required of us a song and melody in our heaviness▪ sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the lords song in a strange land? 〈…〉 If I forget thee (oh jerusalem) let my right hand be forgotten. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: ye if I prefer not jerusalem in my mirth. 〈…〉 Remember the children of Edom (oh LORD) in the day of jerusalem, how they said: down with it, down with it, even to the ground. O daughter Babylon, 〈…〉 thou shalt come to misery thyself: ye happy shall he be, that rewardeth the as thou hast served us. Blessed shall he be, that taketh thy children, and throweth them against the stones The CXXXVII. A psalm of David. I Will give thanks unto thee (oh LORD) with my whole heart, even before the gods will I sing praises unto the. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name because of thy loving kindness and truth, for thou hast magnified thy word, according unto thy great name. When I call upon thee, thou hearest me, and endewest my soul with much strength. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee (oh LORD) when they hear the words of thy mouth. Ye they shall sing in the ways of the LORD, that great is the glory of the LORD. For though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: as for the proud, he beholdeth him afar of. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me: thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, & the righthande shall save me. The LORD shall make good for me, ye thy mercy (oh LORD) endureth for ever: despise not then the work of thy own hands. The CXXXVIII. A psalm of David. O LORD, thou searchest me out, and knowest me. Thou knowest my down sitting & my uprising, thou understandest my thoughts afar of. Thou art about my path & about my bed, & spyest out all my ways. For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, but thou (oh LORD) knowest it altogether. Thou hast fashioned me behind & before, & laid thy hand upon me. Soch knowledge is to wonderful & excellent for me, I can not attain unto it. Wither shall I go then from thy spirit? Or, whither shall I i'll from thy presence? If I climb up in to heaven, thou art there: if I go down to hell, thou art there also. If I take the wings of the morning, & remain in the uttermost part of the see: Even there also shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say: peradventure the darkness shall cover me, then shall my night be turned to day. Ye the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day, the darkness & light are both alike. For my reins are thine, thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks unto thee, for I am wondrously made: marvelous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My bones ●re not hid from thee, though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth. Thy eyes see mine unparfitnesse, they ston●e all written in thy book: my days were fashioned, when as yet there was not one of them How dear are the counsels unto me oh God? O how great is the sum of them? If I tell them, they are more in number then the end: when I wake up, I am present with ●he. Will't thou not slay the wicked (o God) ●hat the bloudethyrstie might depart fro●●e? For they speak unright of thee, thy enemy's exalt themselves presumptuously. I hate them (oh LORD) that hate thee, & I may not away with those that rise up against thee? Ye I hate them right sore, ●●erfore are they mine enemies. Try me ●o God) and seek the ground of mine heart: prove me, & examen my 〈…〉 well, if there be any way 〈…〉 me, & lead me in the way 〈…〉 The CXXXIX. A psalm of David▪ deliver me (oh LORD) from the 〈◊〉 men, o preserve me from the wicked men. Which imagine mischief in their hearts, & steer up strife all the day long. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent, Adder's poison is under their lips. Sela. Keep me (oh LORD) from the hand of the ungodly, preserve me from the wicked men, which are purposed to overthrow my goings. The proud have laid a snare for me, & spread a net abroad with cords, ye & set traps in my way. Sela. But my saying is unto the LORD: thou art my God, hear the voice of my prayer oh LORD. O LORD God, thou strength of my health, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Let not the ungodly have his desire (oh LORD) let him not have his purpose, jest they be to proud. Sela. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them, that compass me about. Psal. 7. b Let hot burning coals fall upon them, let them be cast in to the fire, and in to the pit, that they never rise up again. A man full of words shall not prosper upon earth: a malicious & wicked person shall be hunted away and destroyed. Sure I am, that the LORD will avenge the poor, and maintain the cause of the helpless. The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy name, & the just shall continued in thy sight. The CXL. A psalm of David. LORD, I call upon thee: haist the unto me, and consider my voice, when I cry unto the. Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense, Exo. 30 b Nu. 2.8 a and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. Set a watch (oh LORD) before my mouth, Eccli. 22. ● ye a watch at the door of my lips. O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing, to be minded as the ungodly or wicked men, jest I eat of such things as please them Let the righteous (rather) smite me friendly, and reprove me: so will I take it, as though he had poured oil upon my head: it shall not hurt my head, ye I will pray yet for the● wickedness. Their judges stumble at the stone, yet hear they my words, that they be joyful. Our bones lie scattered before the pit like as when one graveth and dyggeth up the ground. But mine eyes look unto thee, oh LORD God: in the is my trust, o cast not out my soul. Keep me from the snare which 〈…〉 me, and from the traps 〈…〉. Let the ungodly fall 〈…〉 nets together, until I be 〈…〉 them. The CXLI. A psalm of David. I Cry unto the LORD with my voice, ye even unto the LORD do I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before him, and show him of my trouble. When my spirit is in heaviness, for thou knowest my path: in the way where in I walk, have they privily laid a snare for me. I look upon my right hand & see, there is no man that will know me. I have no place to i'll unto, no man careth for my soul. Therefore do I cry unto thee (oh LORD) and say: thou art my hope and my portion, in the land of the living. consider my complaint, for I am brought very low. O deliver me fro my persecutors, for they are to strong for me: Bring my soul out of preson, that I may give thanks unto thy name: which thing if thou will't grant me, then shall the righteous resort unto my company. The CXLII. A psalm of David. Hear my prayer (oh LORD) consider my desire: answer me for thy truth & righteousness sake. And enter not in to judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy persecuteth my soul, he smiteth my life down to the ground, he layeth me in the darkness, as the deed men of the world. Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. Yet do I remember the times past, I muse upon all the works, ye I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee, my soul crieth unto the out of the thirty land. Sela. Hear me (oh LORD) and that soon, for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not the face fro me, jest I be like unto them that go down in to the grave. O let me hear thy loving kindness by times in the morning, for in the is my trust: show thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my soul unto the. deliver me (oh LORD) fro mine enemies, for I resort unto the. Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee, for thou art my God: let thy loving spre●e lead me forth unto the land of righteousness. quicken me (oh LORD) for thy name's sake, and for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of thy goodness scatter mine enemies abroad, and destroy all them that vex my soul, for I am thy servant. The CXLIII. A psalm of David. BLessed be the LORD my refuge, which teacheth my hands to war, & my fingers to fight. My hope and my castle, my defence and my deliverer, my shield in whom I trust, which governeth the people that is under me. LORD, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him: Or the son of man, that thou so regardest him? Man is like a thing of nought, his time passeth away like a shadow. Bow thy heavens (oh LORD) & come down, touch the mountains, that they may smoke withal▪ Send forth the lightning & scatter them, shoot out thy arrows and consume them. Send down thy hand from above, deliver me and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children. Whose mouth talketh of vanity, & their right hand is a right-hand of falsed. That I may sing a new song unto thee (oh God) & sing praises unto the upon a tenstrynged luck, Thou that givest victory unto kings, and hast delivered David thy servant from the apparel of the sword. Save me and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsed. That 〈◊〉 sons may grow up as the young plants, and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple. That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and hundredth thousands in our villages. That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no mischance, 〈◊〉 decay, and no complaining in our streets▪ Happy are the people that be in such a ●●se: ye blessed are the people, which have the LORD for their God. The CXLIIII. A psalm of David. I Will magnify thee (oh my God & kings I will praise the name for ever & ever. Every day will I give thanks unto thee, and praise the name for ever and ever. great is the LORD, & marvelous worthy to be praised, there is no end of his greatness. One generation shall praise thy w●kes unto another, and declare thy power. As for me I will be talking of thy worship thy glory, thy praise and wondrous works▪ So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvelous acts, and tell of the greatness▪ The memorial of the abundant kyndne● shall be showed, and men shall sing of thy righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful, long suffering & of great goodness. The LORD is loving unto every man, and his mercy is over all his works. All thy works praise thee (oh LORD) and thy saints give thanks unto the. They show the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of the power. That the power, thy glo●● & mightiness of thy kingdom mig●● 〈◊〉 known unto men. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 〈…〉 & thy dominion endureth thorough out all ages. The LORD upholdeth all such as should fall, and lifteth up all those that be down. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and fyllest all things living with plenteousness. 〈…〉 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, & holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, ye all such as call upon him faithfully. He fulfilleth the desire of them that fear him he heareth their cry, and helpeth them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him, but scatereth abroad all the ungodly. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, And let all flesh give thanks unto his holy name for ever and ever. Halleluya. The CXL●. psalm. Praise the LORD (oh my soul:) while I live will I praise the LORD, 〈…〉 ye as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God. 〈…〉 O put not your trust in princes, ner in the child of man, for there is no help in them. For when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, and so all his thoughts perish. Blessed is he that hath the God of jacob for his help, and whose hope is in the LORD his God. 〈…〉 Which made heaven and earth, that see and all that therein is, which keepeth his promise for ever. Which helpeth them to right that suffer wrong, which feedeth the hungry. The LORD lowseth men out of preson, the LORD giveth sight to the blind. The LORD helpeth them up that are fallen, the LORD loveth the righteous. The LORD careth for the strangers, he defendeth the fatherless and widow: as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down. The LORD thy God (oh Zion) is king for evermore, and thorough out all generations. Halleluya. The CXLVI. psalm. O Praise the LORD, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God: ye a joyful and pleasant thing is it to be thankful. The LORD shall build up Jerusalem, & gather together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the contrite in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars, Esa 40. d and calleth them all by their names. great is our LORD, and great is his power, ye his wisdom is infinite. The LORD setteth up the meek, & bringeth the ungodly down to the ground O sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving, sing praises upon the harp unto our God. 1. Esd. 3 c Which covereth the heaven with clouds, prepareth rain for the earth, Psal 103. b & maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains. Which giveth fodder unto the cattles, job. 38. d & feedeth the young ravens that call upon him. He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse, neither delighteth he in any man's legs. But the lords delight is in them that fear him, and put their trust in his mercy. The CXLVII. psalm, This psalm do the hebrews join unto it, that goeth before. Praise the LORD o jerusalem, praise 〈◊〉 God oh Zion. For he maketh fast 〈◊〉 baries of the gates, & blesseth the 〈…〉 within ye. He maketh peace in the bord●●● 〈◊〉 filleth the with the flor of wheat. He 〈◊〉 sinned the forth his commandment upon earth, 〈…〉 LORD runneth swiftly. He giveth snow, jaco. 1. ● 〈…〉 Eccls. 1. ● 〈…〉 And. 7. ● 〈…〉 job. 28 〈…〉 3. reg 3 〈…〉 4. c. & scatereth the horefrost like ashes. 〈◊〉. He forth his ice like morsels, who is ghtuous, and de his frost? He sendeth out ●●cently: he ●emelteth them, he bloweth with hi● 〈◊〉 preserveth the waters flow. He showeth 〈◊〉 shalt thou unIacob, his statutes & 〈…〉 and equi rael. He hath not dealt 〈◊〉. If wisdom then, neither have they 〈◊〉, and the soul delight in es. Halleluya. 〈◊〉 council preserve thee, The 〈…〉 shall keep the. That spiest be delivered from the evil way, ●om the man that speaketh forward thines. from such as leave the high street, and valkei the ways of darkness: which rejoice 〈◊〉 doing evil, and delight i wicked things: whose ways are crooked, and their paths slanderous. that thou mayest be delivered also from the strange woman, Pro. 1. a and. 5.a and from her that is not thy own: which giveth sweet words, forfaketh the husband of her youth, and for getteth the covenant of her God. For her house is inclined unto death, and her paths unto hell. All they that go in unto her, come not again, neither take they hold of the wave of life. That thou mayest walk in the good way, and keep the paths of the righuous. For the just shall devil in the lend, and the inno Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name only is excellent, and his praise above heaven and earth. He exalteth the horn of his people, all his saints shall praise him, the children of Israel, even the people that serveth him. Halleluya. The CXLIX. psalm. Halleluya. O Sing unto the LORD a new song, let the congregation of saints praise him. Esa. 42. b Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, and let the children of Zion be joyful in their king. Let them praise his name in the dance, let them sing praises unto him with tabrettes and haps. For the LORD hath pleasure in his people, and helpeth the mekcharted. Let the saints be joyful with glory, let them rejoice in their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouth, and sharp swords in their hands. To be avenged of the Heithen, & to rebuke the people. To bind their ●●nges in chains, & their nobles with lync●●●● of iron. That they may be avenged 〈…〉, as it is written, Soch honour have 〈…〉 saints. Halleluya. The CL. psalm. Halleluya. 〈◊〉 Praise the LORD in his Sanctuary 〈…〉, praise him in the firmament of 〈…〉 power. Praise him in his noble 〈…〉 him in his excellent greatness. 〈…〉 in the sound of the trumpet, 〈…〉 ●pon the lute and harp. Pray 〈…〉 cymbals and dance, praise him 〈…〉 and pipe. Praise him 〈…〉 cymbals, praise him 〈…〉 cymbals. Let 〈…〉 that hath breath, 〈◊〉 LORD. 〈◊〉. The proverbs of Solomon. What this book containeth. Chap. I The wisdom of God calleth us by the mouth of Solomon, exorteth us, and giveth us warning to eschew the wicked: whose ungodly conversation in word and work, and punishment also of the same, is here describe. Chap. II How wisdom may be got, and what profit cometh of it. Chap. III He exorteth us to the fear of God and to patience: he commends wisdom, ● requireth us to cleave unto the same. Chap. four A fatherly exhortation unto wisdom with the profit thereof, and how we aught to refrain the members of our body from evil. Chap. V He exorteth unto wyszdone, and to be war of harlots: he telleth what harm m●ye follow thereout, when men meddle with such: h● teacheth men, lovingly to cleave unto their married wives, and describeth the end of the vn●godly. Chap. VI He warneth men to beware of s●●●tishipe, exorteth the slothful to labour, showeth the wickedness of false tongues, and requireth men to beware of adultery, because it is more perilous than theft or felony. Chap. VII. He exorteth unto wisdom, showeth the conditions of harlots, and what hurt happeneth unto such as incline to the provocations and desires of the flesh. Chap. VIII. wisdom calleth men sweetly unto her, and telleth them what treasure and power she hath. A commendation and praise of wisdom, whereout every man is exorted to cleave unto her. Chap. IX. wisdom crieth upon the ignorant, and promises them great things. The foolish manner of a light woman. Chap. X. From this chapter forth unto the XXXI, there are described many sweet, lovely and wise sentences, which teach men wisdom and what profit cometh of it: Again, how men may avoid foolishness, and the hurt thereof. Chap. XXXI wisdom warneth us to beware of evil women, and describeth the conversation, manner, & behaviour of an honest married wife. These are the proverbs of Solomon the son of David king of Israel: to learn wisdom nurture, understanding, prudence, righteousness, judgement and equity. That the very babes might have wit, and that young men might have knowledge and understanding. By hearing, the wise man shall come by more wisdom: and by experience, he shall be more apt to understand a parable, and the interpretation thereof: the words of the wise, and the dark speeches of the same. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. 〈…〉 But fools despise wisdom and nurture. The first Chapter. MY son, hear thy father's doctrine, and forsake not the law of the mother: for that shall bring grace unto thy head, & shall be ● chain about thy neck. 〈…〉 My son, consent not unto sinners, if they entice thee, and say: come with us, let us say wait for blood, & lurk privily for the innocent with out a cause: 〈…〉 let us swallow them up like the hell, let us devour them quick and whole, as those that go down in to the pit. So shall we find all manner of costly riches, and fill our houses with spoils. Cast in thy lot among us, we shall have all one purse. My son, walk not thou with them, refrain the foot from their ways. 〈…〉 For their feet run to evil, & are hasty to shed blood. But in vain is the net laid forth before the birds eyes. Ye they themselves lay wait one for another's blood, and one of them would slay another. These are the ways of all such as be covetous, that one would ravish another's life. wisdom crieth without, & putteth forth her voice in the streets. She calleth before the congregation in the open gates, and showeth her words thorough the cite, saying: O you children, how long will you love childyshnesse? how long will the scorners delight in scorning, & the unwise be enemies unto knowledge? O turn you unto my correction: lo, I will express my mind unto you, and make you understand my words. seeing then that I have called, and you refused it: I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded it, but all my counsels have you despised, and set my correccions at nought. Therefore shall I also laugh in your destruction, and mock you, when the thing that you fear cometh upon you: even when the thing that you be afraid of, falls in suddenly like a storm, and your misery like a tempest: ye when trouble and heaviness cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not hear: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: And that because they hated knowledge, and received not the fear of the LORD, but abhorred my council, and despised my correction. Therefore shall they eat the fruits of their own way, and be filled with their own counsels: for the turning away of the unwise shall slay them, & the prosperi of fools shallbe their own destruction. But who so hearkeneth unto me, shall devil safely, Pro. 3. c and have enough without any fear of evil. The II Chapter. MY son, if thou will't receive my words, and keep my commandments by thee, that thy ear may hearken unto wisdom, apply thy heart then to understanding. For if thou criest after wisdom, & callest for knowledge: if thou seekest after her as after money, and dyggest for her as for treasure: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. jaco. 1. a Eccls. 1 ● And. 7. c job. 28 b 3 reg 3 ● 4. c. For it is the LORD that giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He preserveth the welfare of the righteous, and defendeth them that walk innocently: he keepeth them in the right path, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, judgement and equity, ye and every good path. If wisdom enter in to thy heart, and the soul delight in knowledge: then shall council preserve thee, and understanding shall keep the. That thou mayest be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh forward things. From such as leave the high street, and walk in the ways of darkness: which rejoice in doing evil, and delight in wicked things: whose ways are crooked, and their paths slanderous. That thou mayest be delivered also from the strange woman, Pro. 7. a And. 5. a and from her that is not thy own: which giveth sweet words, forsaketh the husband of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house is inclined unto death, and her paths unto hell. All they that go in unto her, come not again, neither take they hold of the way of life. That thou mayest walk in the good way, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the just shall devil in the land, and the innocentes shall remain in it: but the ungodly shallbe rooted out of the land, and the wicked doers shallbe taken out of it. The III Chapter. MY son, forget not my law, but see that thy heart keep my commandments. Deu. 11. a For they shall prolong the days & years of the life, & bring the peace. Let mercy & faithfulness never go from thee: bind them about the neck, & write them in the tables of thy heart. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men. Put thy trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways have respect unto him, and he shall order thy goings. Esa. 5. c Rom· 12. c Be not wise in thy own conceit, but fear the LORD and depart from evil: so shall thy navel be whole, and thy bones strong. honour the LORD with the substance, & with the firstlinges of all thy increase: ●ob. 4. b Deut. 26. a Mala. 3 b Exo. 23. c and 34. c Pet. 4. b Tob. 12. c Heb. 12 a Apo 3. d so shall thy barns be filled with plenteousness, and thy presses shall flow over with sweet wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the LORD loveth, him he chasteneth: and yet delighteth in him even as a father in his own son. Well is him that findeth wisdom, & opteyneth understanding, for the getting of it is better than any merchandise of silver, & the profit of it is better than gold. Pro. ●. a wisdom is more worth than precious stones, & all the things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto her. Upon her right hand is long life, & upon her left hand is riches & honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceable. Gen. 2. b She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and blessed are they that keep her fast. With wisdom hath the LORD laid the foundation of the earth, & thorough understanding hath he established the heavens. Thorough his wisdom the depths break up, & the clouds drop down the dew. My son, let not these things depart from thine eyes, but keep my law and my council: so shall it be life unto thy soul, & grace unto the mouth. Then shalt thou walk safely in the way, & thy foot shall not stumble. If thou sleepest, thou shalt not be afraid, but shalt take thy rest & sleep sweetly. Pro. 3. c Thou neddest not to be afraid of any sudden fear, neither for the violent russhinge in of the ungodly, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be beside thee, & keep thy foot that thou be not taken. Refuse not to do good unto him that should have it, so lon●● as thy hand is able to do it. say no● unto thy neighbour: go thy way & come again, tomorrow will I give thee: where as thou haste now to give him. Intend no hurt unto thy neighbour, saying he hopeth to devil in rest by the. strive not lightly with any man, where as he hath done that no harm. Follow not a wicked man, 〈…〉 and chose none of his ways: for the LORD abhorreth the froward, but his secret is among the righteous. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the ungodly, but he blesseth the dwellings of the righteous As for the scornful, he shall laugh them to scorn, but he shall give grace unto the lowly. The wise shall have honour in possession, but shame is the promotion that fools shall have. The four Chap. Hear (O you children) the fatherly exortation, & take good heed, that you may learn wisdom. Ye I shall give you a good reward, if you will not forsake my law. For when I myself was my father's dear son, and tenderly beloved of my mother, he taught me also, saying: let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live. Get the wisdom, get the understanding, forget not the words of my mouth, & shrenke not from them. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep the. The chief point of wisdom is, that thou be willing to obtain wisdom, and before all thy goods to get the understanding. Make much of her, and she shall promote thee: Ye if thou embracest her, she shall bring the unto honour. She shall maketh a gracious head, and garnish the with the crown of glory. Hear my son, and receive my words, that the years of thy life may be many. I will show the the way of wisdom, and lead the in the right paths. So that if thou goest therein, there shall no straightness hinder thee: and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall. Take fast hold of doctrine, let her not go: keep her, for she is thy life. Come not in the path of the ungodly, and walk not in the way of the wicked. Eschueit, & go not therein: depart aside, & pass over by it. For they can not sleep except they have first done some mischief neither take they any rest, except they have first done some harm. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of robbery. The path of the righteous shineth as the light, and is ever brighter & brighter unto the perfect day. But the way of the ungodly is as the darkness, wherein men fall, or they be aware. My son, mark my words, and incline thy ear unto my sayings. 〈…〉 Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them even in the midst of thy heart. For they are life unto all those that find them, and health unto all their bodies. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for there upon hangs life. Put away from the a froward mouth, and let the lips of slander be far from the. Let thy eyes behold the thing that is right, & let thy eye lyddes look strait before the. Pondre the path of thy feet, so shall all the ways be sure. 〈…〉 Turn not aside, neither to the right hand ner to the left, but withhold thy foot from evil. The V Chapter. MY son, give heed unto my wisdom, & bow thy ear unto my prudence: that thou mayest regard good council, and that thy lips may keep nurture. 〈…〉 For the lips of an harlot are a droping honey comb, and her throat is softer than oil. But at the last she is as bitter as worm would, and as sharp as a two edged sword. Her feet go down unto death, and her steps pierce thorough unto hell. She regardeth not the path of life, so unsteadfast are her ways, that thou canst not know them. Hear me therefore (oh my son) and depart not from the words of my mouth. Keep thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her house. That thou give not thy honour unto another, and thy years to the cruel. That other men be not filled with thy goods, & that thy labours come not in a strange house. Ye that thou mourn not at the last (when thou hast spent thy body and goods) and then say: Alas, why hated I nurture? why did my heart despise correction? Wherefore was not I obedient unto the voice of my teachers, & herkened not unto them that informed me? I am come almost in to all misfortune, in the midst of the multitude and congregation. Drink of the water of thy own well, and of the rivers that run out of thy own springs. Let the wells flow out a broad, that there may be rivers of water in the streets. But let them be only thy own, & not strangers with the. Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wife of thy youth. Loving is the hind, and friendly is the roe: Eccle. 9 let her breasts alway satisfy thee, and hold the ever content with her love. My son, why will't thou have pleasure in an harlot, and embrace the bosom of another woman? job. 31. a And 34. For every man's ways are open in the sight of the LORD, and he pondereth all their goings. The wickednesses of the ungodly shall catch himself, and with the snares of his own sins shall he be trapped. Because he would not be reformed, he shall die: and for his great foolishness he shall be destroyed. The VI Chapter. MY son, if thou be surety for the neighbour, Pro. 21. ● 17. c. 20. ● thou hast fastened thy hand with another man: ye thou art bound with thy own words, and taken with thy own speech. Therefore (my son) do this, discharge thyself, for thou art come in to the neighbours danger. Go thy way then soon, & entreat thy neighbour: let not thine eyes sleep, ner thy eye lyddes slumber. Save thyself as a do from the hand, & as a bird from the hand of the fouler. Go to the Emmet (thou slogarde) consider her ways, & learn to be wise She hath no guide, no teacher, no leader: Pro. 24. ●0. c. Pro. 13. ● yet in the summer she provideth her meat, & gathereth her food together in the harvest. How long will't thou sleep, thou slogish man? When will't thou arise out of thy sleep? Ye sleep on still a little, slumber a little, fold thy hands together yet a little, that thou mayest sleep: so shall poverty come unto the as one that travaileth by the way, & necessity like a wapened man. A dissembling person, a wicked man goeth with a froward mouth: he wyncketh with his eyes, he tokeneth with his feet, he pointeth with his fingers, he is ever ymageninge mischief & frowardness in his heart, & causeth discord. Therefore shall his destruction come hastily upon him, suddenly shall he be all to broken, and not be healed. There be six things, which the LORD hateth, & the seventh he utterly abhorreth: A proud look, a dissembling tongue, Psal. 17 Pro. 12. hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that goeth about with wicked imaginations, Pro. 1. a feet that be swift in running to do mischief, a false witness that bringeth up lies, & such one as soweth discord among brethren. My son, keep thy father's commandments, & forsake not the law of thy mother. Put than up together in thy heart, and bind them about thy neck. That they may lead the where thou goest, preserve the when thou art asleep, & that when thou awakest, Psal. 118. oh thou mayest talk of them (For the commandment is a lantern, and the law a light: ye chastening & nurture is the way of life) that they may keep the from the evil woman, Pro. 5 a. And. 7. a. & from the flattering tongue of the harlot: that thou lust not after her beauty in thy heart, & jest thou be taken with her fair looks. An harlot will make a man to beg his bread, but a married woman will hunt for the precious life. May a man take fire in his bosom, and his clotheses not be brent? Or can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be hurt? Even so, who so ever goeth in to his neighbours wife, and toucheth her, can not be unguilty. Men do not utterly despise a thief, ●xo. 22. a. that stealeth to satisfy his soul, when he is hungry: but if he may be got, he restoreth again seven times as much, or else he maketh recompense with all the good of his house. But who so committeth adultery with a woman, he is a fool, and bringeth his life to destruction. He getteth himself also shame & dishonour, such as shall never be put out. For the jealousy & wrath of the man will not be entreated, no though thou wouldest ofre him great gifts to make amendss, he will not receive them. The VII. Chapter. MY son, keep my words, & lay up my commandments by the. ●eut. 11. a. Num. 15. d. Keep my commandments & my law, even as the apple of thy eye, & thou shalt live. Bind them upon thy fingers, & write them in the table of thy heart. say unto wisdom: thou art my sister, and call understanding thy kinswoman: Pro. 2. b. And. 5. a. that she may keep the from the strange woman, & from the harlot which giveth sweet words. For out of the window of my house I looked thorough the trelies, & beheld the simple people: & among other young folks I spied one young fool going over the streets, by the corner in the way toward the harlots house in the twilight of of the evening, when it began now to be night and dark. And behold, there met him a woman in an harlots apparel (a deceitful, wanton & an unsteadfast woman: whose feet could not abide in the house, now is she without, now in the streets, & lurketh in every corner) she caught the young man, kissed him & was not ashamed, saying: I had a vow to pay, & this day I perform it. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, that I might seek thy face, and so I have found the. I have decked my bed with coverings & clotheses of Egipte. My bed have I made to smell of Myrrh, Aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us lie together, & take our pleasure till it be day light. For the good man is not at home, he is go far of. He hath taken the bag of money with him, who can tell when he cometh home? Thus with many sweet words she overcame him, 〈…〉 and with her flattering lips she wan him. Immediately he followeth her, as it were an oxeled to the slaughter (and like as it were to the stocks, where fools are punished) so long till she hath wounded his liver with her dart: like as if a bird haisted to the snare, not knowing that the apparel of his life lieth there upon. Hear me now therefore (oh my son) and mark the words of my mouth. Let not thy heart wandre in her ways, & be not thou deceived in her paths. For many one hath she wounded and cast down, ye many a strong man hath she slain. Her house is the way unto hell, where men go down to the chambers of death. The VIII. Chapter. DOth not wisdom cry? doth not understanding put forth her voice? standeth she not in the high places in the streets & ways? doth she not cry before the whole cite, & in the gates where men go out & in? It is you, oh you men (sayeth she) whom I call. Unto you (oh you children of men) lift I up my voice. Take heed unto knowledge oh you ignorant, be wise in heart oh you fools. give ear, for I will speak of great matters, & open my lips to tell things that be right. For my throat shall be talking of the truth, & my lips abhor ungodliness. All the words of my mouth are righteous, there is no frowardness ner falsed therein. They are all plain to such as will understand, & right to them that find knowledge. Receive my doctrine therefore and not silver, & knowledge more than fine gold. For wisdom is more worth than precious stones, ye● all the things that thou canst desire, are not to be compared unto it. I wisdom have my dwelling with knowledge, and prudent council is mine own. With me is the fear of the LORD, and the eschewing of evil. As for pride, disdain, an evil way, & a mouth that speaketh wicked things, I utterly abhor them. I can give council, and be a guide: I have understanding, I have strength. Thorough me, kings reign: thorough me, paces make just laws. Thorough me, lords bear rule, and all judges of the earth execute judgement. I am loving unto those that love me, and they that seek me early, shall find me. Riches & honour are with me, ye excellent goods & righteousness. My fruit is better than gold & precious stone, & mine increase more worth than fine silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, & in the street of judgement. That I may send prosperity to those that love me, & to increase their treasure. The LORD himself had me in possession in the beginning of his ways, or ever he begame his works aforetime. I have been ordained from everlasting, 〈…〉 & from the beginning or ever the earth was made. When I was born, there were neither depths ner springs of water. Before the foundations of the mountains▪ were laid, ye before all hills was I born. The earth and all that is upon the earth was not yet made, not not the ground itself. 〈…〉 For when he made the heavens, I was present: when he set the depths in order: when he hanged the clouds above: when he fastened the springs of the deep: 〈…〉 When he shut the see within certain bowndes, that the waters should not go over their marks. When he laid the foundations of the earth, I was with him, ordringe all things, delytinge daily & rejoicing all way before him. As for the round compass of his world, I make it joyful▪ for my delight is to be among the children of men. 〈…〉 Therefore hearken unto me (oh you children) for blessed are they that keep my ways▪ O give ear unto nurture, be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, & giving attendance at the posts of my doors. For who so findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But who so offendeth against me, hurteth his own soul. All they that hate me, are the lovers of death. The IX. Chapter. wisdom hath builded herself an house, and hewn out seven pilers: she hath slaughted, poured out her wine, and prepared her table. She hath sent forth her maidens to cry upon the highest place of the cite: Who so is ignorant, let him come hither. And to the unwise she said: O come on your way, eat my bread, and drink my wine, which I have poured out for you. Forsake ignorance, and you shall live: and see that you go in the way of understanding. Who so reproveth a scornful person, getteth himself dishonour: and he that rebuketh the ungodly, staineth himself. Reprove not a scorner, jest he own the evil will: but rebuke a wise man, and he will love the. give a discrete man but an occasion, & he willbe the wiser▪ teach a righteous man, and he will increase. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, job. 28. c Psal. 110. ● Eccli. 1. c Pro. 4. b & the knowledge of holy things is understanding. For thorough me the days shallbe prolonged, and the years of thy life shall be many. If thou be wise, thy wisdom shall do thy self good: but if thou thinkest scorn thereof, it shallbe thy own harm. A foolish restless woman, full of words, and such one as hath no knowledge, sitteth in the doors of her house upon a stolen above in the cite, to call such as go by and walk strait in their ways. Who so is ignorant (sayeth she) let him come hither, and to the unwise she sayeth: stolen waters are sweet, & the bread that is privily eaten, hath a good taist. But they consider not that death is there, and that her gests go down to hell. The X. Chapter. These are proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father, but an undiscrete son is the heaviness of his mother. Pro. 15. c Pro 11 a Eccli. 5. b Treasures that are wickedly got, profit nothing, but righteousness delivereth from death. Pro. 12. ● The LORD will not let the soul of the righteous suffer hunger, but he putteth the ungodly from his desire. An idle hand maketh poor, but a quick labouring hand maketh rich. Who so gathereth in Summer, is wise: but he that is slogish in harvest, bringeth himself to confusion. Loving and favourable is the face of the righteous, but the fore head of the ungodly is past shame, and presumptuous. Psal. 111. The memorial of the just shall have a good report, but the name of the ungodly shall stink. A wise man will receive warning, but a fool will sooner be smitten in the face. He that leadeth an innocent life, walketh surely: Psal. 22. a Pro. 28. ● Eccl. 27. but who so goeth a wrong way, shallbe known. He that wynketh with his eye, will do some harm: but he that hath a foolish mouth, shallbe beaten. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the ungodly is past shame, & presumptuous. Evil will steereth up strife, but love covereth the multitude of sins. 1. Pet. 4. In the lips of him that hath understanding a man shall find wisdom, but the red belongeth to the back of the foolish. wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is nigh destruction. The rich man's goods are his strong hold, but poverty oppresseth the poor. The righteous laboureth to do good, but the ungodly useth his increase unto sin. To take heed unto the chastening of nurture, is the way of life: but he that refuseth to be reformed, goeth wrong. Dissembling lips keep hatred secretly, and he that speaketh any slander, is a fool. Where much babbling is, there must needs be offence: he that refraineth his lips, is wisest of all. An innocent tongue is a noble treasure, but the heart of the ungodly is nothing worth. The lips of the righteous feed a whole multitude, but fools shall die in their own folly. 〈◊〉. 42. c ●ccli 11. ●sal. 126. a ●at. 6. c. d The blessing of the LORD maketh rich men, as for careful travail, it doth nothing thereto. A fool doth wickedly & maketh but a sport of it: nevertheless it is wisdom for a man to beware of such. The thing that the ungodly are afraid of, shall come upon them, but the righteous shall have their desire. The ungodly is like a tempest that passeth over & is no more seen, but the righteous remaineth sure for ever. As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke is unto the eyes, even so is a slogish person to them that send him forth. The fear of the LORD maketh a long life, but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened. The patient abiding of the righteous shallbe turned to gladness, but the hope of the ungodly shall perish. The way of the LORD giveth a courage unto the godly, but it is a fear for wicked doers. The righteous shall never be overthrown, ●sa 124. a ●sal. 36. d but the ungodly shall not remain in the land. The mouth of the just willbe talking of wisdom, but the tongue of the froward shall perish. The lips of the righteous are occupied in acceptable things, but the mouth of the ungodly taketh them to the worst. The XI. Chapter. A False balance is an abomination unto the LORD, ●ro. 16. b 〈◊〉. b. d but a true weight pleaseth him. Where pride is, there is shame also and confusion: but where as is lowliness, there is wisdom. The innocent dealing of the just shall lead them, but the unfaithfulness of the despisers shallbe their own destruction. Riches help not in the day of vengeance, ●rou. 10. a ●ccli. 5. b but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the innocent ordereth his way, but the ungodly shall fall in his own wickedness. The righteousness of the just shall deliver them, but the despisers shallbe taken in their own ungodliness. When an ungodly man dieth, his hope is go, the confidence of riches shall perish. The righteous shallbe delivered out of trouble, & the ungodly shall come in his stead. Thorough the mouth of the dissembler is his neighbour destroyed, but thorough knowledge shall the just be delivered. 〈…〉 When it goeth well with the righteous, the cite is merry: and when the ungodly perish, there is gladness. When the just are in wealth, the cite prospereth: but when the ungodly have the rule, it decayeth. A fool bringeth up a slander of his neighbour, but a wise man will keep it secret. 〈…〉 A dissembling person will discover privy things, but he that is of a faithful heart, will keep council. 〈…〉 Where no good council is there the people decay: but where as are many that can give council, there is wealth. 〈…〉 He that is surety for a stranger, hurteth himself: but he that meddleth not with suerteshippe, is sure. A gracious woman manteyneth honesty, as for the mighty, they manteyne riches. He that hath a gentle liberal stomach, is merciful: but who so hurteth his neghbor, is a tyrant. The labour of the ungodly prospereth not, but he that soweth righteousness, shall receive a sure reward. Like as righteousness bringeth life, even so to cleave unto evil, bringeth death. The LORD abhorreth a feigned heart, but he hath pleasure in them that are undefiled. It shall not help the wicked, though they lay all their hands together, but the seed of the righteous shallbe preserved. A fair woman without discrete manners, is like a ring of gold in a swines snout. The just labour for peace and tranquylite, but the ungodly for disquyetnesse. Some man giveth out his goods, and is the richer, but the niggard (having enough) will depart from nothing, and yet is ever in poverty. He that is liberal in giving, shall have plenty: and he that watereth, shall be watered also himself. Who so hoordeth up his corn, shallbe cursed among the people: but blessing shall light upon his head that selleth it. He that laboureth for honesty findeth his desire: but who so seeketh after mischief, it shall hap unto him. He that trusteth in his riches, shall have a fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf. Who so maketh disquyetnesse in his own house, he shall have wind for his heritage, and the fool shall be servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is as the tree of life, a wise man also winneth men's souls. If the righteous be recompensed upon earth how much more than the ungodly & the sinner▪ The XII. Chapter. Who so loveth wisdom, will be content to be reformed: but he that hateth to be reproved,, is a fool. A good man is acceptable unto the LORD, but the wicked will he condemn. A man can not endure in ungodliness, but the rote of the righteous shall not be moved. A steadfast woman is a crown unto her huszbonde: but she that behaveth herself unhonestly, is a corruption in his bones. The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the imagination of the ungodly are deceitful. The talking of the ungodly is, how they may say wait for blood, but the mouth of the righteous will deliver them. Or ever thou canst turn the about, the ungodly shall be overthrown, but the house of the righteous shall stand. A man shallbe commended for his wisdom, but a fool shall be despised. A simple man which laboureth and worketh, is better than one that is gorgeous and wanteth bread. A righteous man regardeth the life of his cattles, but the ungodly have cruel hearts. He that tilleth his land, shall have plenteousness of bread: but he that followeth idleness, is a very fool. The desire of the ungodly hunteth after mischief, but the rote of the righteous bringeth forth fruit. The wicked falls in to the snare thorough the malice of his own mouth, but the just shall escape out of apparel. Every man shall enjoy good according to the innocency of his mouth, and after the works of his hands shall he be rewarded. Look what a fool taketh in hand, he thinketh it well done: but he that is wise, will be counceled. A fool uttereth his wrath in all the haist, but a discrete man forgiveth wrong. A just man will tell the truth, & show the thing that is right: but a false witness deceiveth. A slanderous person pricketh like a sword, but a wise man's tongue is wholesome. A true mouth is ever constant, but a dyssemblinge tongue is soon changed. They that imagine evil in their mind, will deceive: but the councelers of peace shall heave joy following them. There shall no misfortune happen unto the just, but the ungodly shall be filled with misery. The LORD abhorreth deceitful lips, but they that labour for truth, please him. He that hath understanding, can hide his wisdom: but an undiscrete heart telleth out his foolishness. A diligent hand shall bear rule, but the idle shall be under tribute. heaviness discorageth the heart of man, Pro. ●5. b and. 17. d Eccli. ●0. c but a good word maketh it glad again. The righteous is liberal unto his neighbour, but the way of the ungodly will deceive them selves. A deceitful man shall find no vantage, but he that is content with that he hath, 2. 〈◊〉. 6 b Heb. 13. a is more worth than gold. In the way of righteousness there is life, as for any other way, it is the path unto death. The XIII. Chapter. A wise son will receive his father's warning, but he that is scornful, will not hear when he is reproved. A good man shall enjoy the fruit of his mouth, but he that hath a froward mind, shallbe spoiled. He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life: but who so speaketh unadvised, findeth harm. The slogarde would fain have, and can not get his desire: but the soul of the diligent shall have plenty. A righteous man abhorreth lies, but the ungodly shameth both other and himself. Righteousness keepeth the innocent in the way, but ungodliness shall overthrow the sinner. Some men are rich, though they have nothing: again, Pro. 11. c some men are poor having great riches. With goods every man delivereth his life, and the poor will not be reproved. The light of the righteous maketh joyful, Pro. ●4. c▪ but the candle of the ungodly shall be put out. Among the proud there is ever strife, but among those that do all things with advisement, there is wisdom. Hastily gotten goods are soon spent, but they that be gathered together with the hand, shall increase. Long tarrying for a thing that is dyfferred, grieveth the heart: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Who so despiseth the word, destroyeth himself: but he that fears the commandment, shall have peace. The law is a well of life unto the wise, that it may keep him from the snares of death. Good understanding giveth favour, but hard is the way of the despisers. A wise man doth all things with discretion, but a fool will declare his folly. An ungodly messenger bringeth mischief, but a faithful embassitoure is wholesome. He that thinketh scorn to be reformed, cometh to poverty and shame: but who so receiveth correction, shall come to honour. When a desire is brought to pass, it delighteth the soul: Sap. 2. c but fools abhor him that eschueth evil. He that goeth in the company of wise men, shall be wise: but who so is a companion of fools, shall be hurt. Mischief followeth upon sinners, but the righteous shall have a good reward. Which their childers children shall have in possession, for the riches of the sinner is laid up for the just. job 27. c There is plenteousness of food in the fields of the poor, & shallbe increased out of measure. Eccli. 30. a Psal. 23. b Hebr. 12. b Psal. 33. b He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but who so loveth him, holdeth him ever in nurture. The righteous eateth, and is satisfied, but the belly of the ungodly hath never enough. The XIIII. Chapter. A wise woman upholdeth her house, but a foolish wife plucketh it down. Who so fears the LORD, walketh in the right path: & regardeth not him that abhorreth the ways of the LORD. In the mouth of the foolish is the boostinge of lordship, but the lips of the wise willbe war of such. Where no oxen are, there the crybb is empty: but where the oxen labour, there is much fruit. A faithful witness will not dissemble, but a false record will make a lie. A scornful body seeketh wisdom, & findeth it not: but knowledge is easy to come by, unto him that will understand. Se that thou meddle not with a fool, Pro. 8. a & do as though thou hadst no knowledge. The wisdom of him that hath understanding is, to take heed unto his way, but the foolishness of the unwise deceiveth. Fools make but a sport of sin, but there is favourable love among the righteous. The heart of him that hath understanding will neither despair for any sorrow, ner be to presumptuous for any sudden joy. The houses of the ungodly shallbe overthrown, but the tabernacles of the righteus shall flourish. Deu. 12. a Pro. 16. c There is a way, which some men think to be right, but the end thereof leadeth unto death. The heart is sorrowful even in laughter, and the end of mirth is heaviness. An unfaithful person shall be filled with his own ways, but a good man will beware of such. An ignorant body believeth all things, but who so hath understanding, looketh well to his goings. A wise man, fears, and departeth from evil, but a fool goeth on presumptuously. An unpatient man handleth foolishly, but he that is well advised, doth other ways. The ignorant have foolishness in possession, but the wise are crowned with knowledge. The evil shall bow themselves before the good, and the ungodly shall wait at the ●●res of the righteous. The poor is hatch even of his own neighbours, but the rich hath many friends. Who so despiseth his neghbor, doth amiss: but blessed is he that hath pity of the poor. They that imagine wickedness, shallbe disappointed: but they that muse upon good things, unto such shall happen mercy and faithfulness. Diligent labor bringeth riches, but where many vain words are, truly there is scarcenesss. Riches are an ornament unto the wise, but the ignorance of fools is very foolishness. A faithful witness delivereth souls, but a liar dysceaveth them. The fear● of the LORD is a strong hold, for unto his he will be a sure defence. The fear of the LORD is a well of life, to avoid the snares of death. The increase and prosperity of the commons is the kings honour, but the decay of the people is the confusion of the prince. Patience is a token of wisdom, but wrath and hasty displeasure is a token of foolishness. A merry heart is the life of the body, but rancour consumeth away the bones. He that doth a poor man wrong, blasphemeth his maker: but who so hath pity of the poor, doth honour unto God. The ungodly is afraid of every apparel, but the righteous hath a good hope even in death. wisdom rests in the heart of him that hath understanding, and he will teach them that are unlearned. righteousness setteth up the people, but wickedness bringeth folk to destruction. A discrete servant is a pleasure unto the king, but one that is not honest, provoketh him unto wrath. The XU. Chapter. A Soft answer putteth down displeasure, but froward words provoke unto anger. A wise tongue commends knowledge, a foolish mouth blabbeth out nothing but foolishness. The eyes of the LORD look in every place, both upon the good and bad. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mind. A fool despiseth his father's correction, but he that taketh heed when he is reproved, shall have the more understanding. In the house of the righteous are great riches, but in the increase of the ungodly there is misorder. A wise mouth poureth out knowledge, but the heart of the foolish doth not so. The LORD abhorreth the sacrifice of the ungodly, but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable unto him. The way of the ungodly is an abomination vn●to the LORD, but who so followeth righteousness, him he loveth. He that forsaketh ye●ight street, shallbe sore punished: & who so hateth correction, falls in to death. The hell with her pain is known unto the LORD, how much more than the hearts of men? A scornful body loveth not one that rebuketh him, neither will he come among the wise. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance, but an unquiet mind maketh it heavy. A wise heart will seek after knowledge, but the mouth of fools meddleth with foolishness. All the days of the poor are miserable, but a quiet heart is as a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD then great treasure, for they are not without sorrow. Better is a meace of pottage with love, than a fat ox with evil will. An angry man steereth up strife, but he that is patient stilleth discord. The way of the slothful is full of thorns, but the street of the righteous is well cleansed. A wise son maketh a glad father, but an undiscrete body shameth his mother. A fool rejoiceth in foolish things, but a wise man looketh well to his own goings. Unadvised thoughts shall come to nought, but where as are men that can give council, there is steadfastness. O how joyful a thing is it, a man to give a convenient answer? O how pleasant is a word spoken in due season? The way of life leadeth unto heaven, that a man should be war of hell beneath. The LORD will break down the house of the proud, but he shall make fast the borders of the widow. The LORD abhoreth the imaginations of the wicked, but pure words are pleasant unto him. The covetous man wr●tteth up his own house, but who so hateth rewards, shall live. A righteous man museth in his mind how to do good, but the mind of the ungodly ymagineth, how he may do harm. The LORD is far from the ungodly, but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. Like as the clearness of the eyes rejoiceth the heart, so doth a good name fede the bones. The ear that hearkeneth unto wholesome warning, and inclineth thereto, shall devil among the wise. He that refuseth to ●e reformed, despiseth his own soul: but he that submytteth himself to correction, is wise. The XVI. Chapter. THe fear of the LORD is the right science of wisdom, and lowliness goeth before honour. A man may well purpose a thing in his heart, but the answer of the tongue cometh of the LORD. Pro. 21 a Psal. 32. b A man thinketh all his ways to be clean, but it is the LORD that fashioneth the minds. Psal. 36. a commit thy works unto the LORD, and look what thou devisest, it shall prosper. The LORD doth all things for his own sake, ye & when he keepeth the ungodly for the day of wrath. The LORD abhorreth all presumptuous & proud hearts, there may neither strength ner power escape. With loving mercy & faithfulness sins be forgiven, and who so fears the LORD eschueth evil. When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh his very enemies to be his friends. Better is it to have a little thing with righteousness, them great rents wrongeously got. A man deviseth a way in his heart, Pro 19 c but it is the LORD that ordereth his goings. When the prophesy is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not go wrong in judgement. A true measure & a true balance are the LORDS, Pro. 11. a and 20▪ b he maketh all weights. It is a great abomination when kings are wicked, for a kings seat should be held up with righteousness. Righteous lips are pleasant unto kings, and they love him that speaketh the truth. The kings displeasure is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify him. The cheerful countenance of the king is life, and his loving favour is as the evening dew. Pro. 8. a To have wisdom in possession is better than gold, and to get understanding, is more worth than silver. The path of the righteous eschueth evil, & who so looketh well to his ways, keepeth his own soul. presumptuousness goeth before destruction, and after a proud stomach there followeth a fall. Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly, then to divide the spoils with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely, opteyneth good: & blessed is he, Psal. 2. b that putteth his trust in the LORD. Who so hath a wise understanding, is called to council: but he that can speak fair, getteth more riches. Vnderstondinge is a well of life unto him that hath it, as for the chastening of fools, it is but foolishness. The heart of the wise enfourmeth his mouth, and amendeth the doctrine in his lips. Fair words are an honey comb, a refreshing of the mind, & health of the bones. There is a way that men think to be right, Pro 14. b Deut. 12. a Esa. 55. b but the end thereof leadeth unto death. A troublous soul disquyeteth herself, for her own mouth hath brought her thereto. An ungodly person steereth up evil, and in his lips he is as an hot burning fire. A froward body causeth strife, and he that is a blab of his tongue, maketh division among princes. A wicked man begyleth his neghbor, & leadeth him the way that is not good. He that wyncketh with his eyes, ymagineth mischief: and he that biteth his lips, will do some harm. Levi. 19 g Age is a crown of worship, if it be found in the way of righteousness. A patient man is better than one that is strong: and he that can rule himself, is more worth than he that winneth a cite. The lots are cast in to the lap, but their fall standeth in the LORD. The XVII. Chapter. BEtter is a dry morsel with quietness, them a full house and many fat cattles with strife. Eccl●. 10. d A discrete servant shall have more rule than the sons that have no wisdom, and shall have like heritage with the brethren. Sap. 3 a 1. pet. 1. b Like as silver is tried in the fire and gold in the furnace, even so doth the LORD prove the hearts. A wicked body holdeth much of false lips, & a dissembling person giveth ear to a deceitful tongue. Pro. 14. d job. 31. c Pro 24. c Who so laugheth the poor to scorn, blasphemeth his maker: and he that is glad of another man's hurt, shall not be unpunished. Childers children are a worship unto the elders, and the fathers are the honor of the children. An eloquent speech becometh not a fool, a dyssemblinge mouth also beseemeth not a prince. liberality is a precious stone unto him that hath it, for where so ever he becometh, he prospereth. Who so covereth another man's offence, seeketh love: but he that discloseth the fault, setteth friends at variance. One reproof only doth more good to him that hath understanding, than an HUNDRED stripes unto a fool. A seditious person seeketh mischief, ●ut a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. It were better to come against a she Bear rob of her whelps, then against a fool in his foolishness. ●. reg. 24. c 26. b. Who so rewardeth evil for good, the plague shall not depart from his house. 2. reg. 12. c He that soweth discord & strife, is like one that dyggeth up a water broken: but an open enemy is like the water that breaketh out & rē●eth abroad. The LORD hateth as well him that justifieth the ungodly, as him that condemneth the innocent. What helpeth it to give a fool money in his hand, where as he hath no mind to buy wisdom? He is a friend that all way loveth, and in adversity a man shall know who is his brother. Pro. 6. a 11. b Who so promises by the hand, & is surety for another, he is a fool. He that loveth strife, delighteth in sin: & who so setteth his door to high, seeketh after a fall. Who so hath a froward heart, opteyneth no good: and he that hath an ouērth●●●● tongue, shall fall in to mischief. An 〈◊〉 body bringeth himself in to sorrow, and the father of a fool can have no joy. A m●●y heart maketh a lusty age, but a sorrowful ●●●de drieth up the bones. The ungodly taketh gifts out of the bosom, to wraist the waye●● of judgement. wisdom shineth in the face of him that hath understanding, but the eyes ●● fools wander thorough out all lands. An 〈◊〉 discrete son is a grief unto his father, 〈◊〉 heaviness unto his mother that bore him. 〈◊〉 punish the innocent, and to smite the princes ● give true judgement, are both evil. He is 〈◊〉 and discrete, that tempereth his words: 〈◊〉 he is a man of understanding, that maketh mo●● of his spirit. Ye a very fool (when he hol●deth his tongue) is counted wise, and to 〈◊〉 understanding, when he shutteth his lips. The XVIII. Chapter. WHo so hath pleasure to sow dis●●de, piketh a quarrel in every things▪ A fool hath no delight in understanding, but only in those things wherein 〈◊〉 heart rejoiceth. Where ungodliness is, the●re is also diszdayne: & so there followeth shaume & dishonor. The words of a man's 〈◊〉 are like deep waters, and the well of wyszdo●me is like a full stream. It is not good 〈◊〉 regard the person of the ungodly, or to 〈◊〉 back the righteous in judgement. A fools lip●pes are ever brawling, and his mouth pro●uoketh unto battle. A fools mouth is 〈◊〉 own destruction, and his lips are the 〈◊〉 for his own soul. The words of a slaun●derer are very wounds, and go thorough unto the ynmost parts of the body. Who so i● slothful and slack in his labor, is the brother of him that is a waister. The name of the LORD● is a strong castle, the righteous flieth vnt● it, and shallbe saved. But the rich man's good●● are his strong hold, ye he taketh them 〈◊〉 an high brickwall round about him. After 〈◊〉 cometh destruction, and honor after lowliness He that giveth sentence in a matter before 〈◊〉 hear it, is a fool, and worthy to be confou●●ded. A good stomach driveth away a 〈◊〉 disease, but when the spirit is vexed, who may● abide it? A wise heart laboureth for know●lege, and a prudent ear seeketh vnderstondi●●ge. liberality bringeth a man to honour and worship, & setteth him among great 〈◊〉▪ The righteous accuseth him self first of all if his neghbor come, he shall find him. Th● lot pacifieth the variance, & parteth the might● asunder. The unite of brethren is stronger than a castle, and they that hold together are like the bar of a palace. A man's belly shallbe satisfied with the fruit of his own mouth, and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life stand in the power of the tongue, he that loveth it, shall enjoy the fruit thereof. 〈…〉 Who so findeth a wife findeth a good thing, & receiveth an wholesome benefit of the LORD. The poor maketh supplication and prayeth meekly, but the rich giveth a rough answer. A friend that delighteth in love, doth a man more friendship, and sticketh faster unto him then a brother. The XIX. Chapter. BEtter is the poor that liveth godly, them the blasphemer that is but a fool. 〈…〉 Where no discretion is, there the soul is not well: and who so is swift on foot, stombleth hastily. Foolishness maketh a man to go out of his way, & then is his heart unpatient against the LORD. Riches make many friends, but the poor is forsaken of his own friends. 〈…〉 A false witness shall not remain unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. The multitude hangeth upon great men, & every man favoureth him that giveth rewards. As for the poor, he is hated among all his brethren: ye his own friends forsake him, & he that giveth credence unto words, getteth nothing. He that is wise, loveth his own soul: and who so hath understanding, shall prosper. A false witness shall not remain unpunished, & he that speaketh lies shall perish. Delicate ease becometh not a fool, much more unseemly is it, a bond man to have the rule of princes. A wise man putteth of displeasure, & it is his honour to let some faults pass. 〈…〉 The kings disfauor is like the roaring of a Lion, but his frendshpe is like the dew upon the grass. 〈…〉 An undiscrete son is the heaviness of his father, & a brawling wife is like the top of an house, where thorough it is ever dropping. House & riches may a man have by the heritage of his elders, 〈…〉 but a discrete woman is the gift of the LORD. Slothfulness bringeth sleep, & an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Who so keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that regardeth not his way, shall die. He that hath pity upon the poor, dareth unto the LORD: & look what he layeth out, it shallbe paid him again. Chasten the son while there is hope, but let not the soul be moved to slay him. For great wrath bringeth harm, therefore let him go, and so mayest thou teach him more nurture. O give ear unto good council, & be content to be reformed, that thou mayest bewyse here after. There are many devices in a man's heart, Pro. 16. b nevertheless the council of the LORD shall stand. It is a man's worship to do good, & better it is to be a poor man, than a dissembler. The fear of the LORD preserveth the life, ye it giveth plenteousness, without the visitation of any plague. Pro. 26. ● A slothful body shuteth his hand in to his bosom, so that he can not put it to his mouth. If thou smytest a scornful person, Pro. 21. b the ignorant shall take better heed: & if thou reprovest one that hath understanding, he will be the wiser. He that hurteth his father or shuteth out his mother, is a shameful & an unworthy sonne· My son, hear no more the doctrine that leadeth the away from the words of understanding. A false witness laugheth judgement to scorn, & the mouth of the ungodly eateth up wickedness. punishments are ordained for the scornful, and stripes for fools backs. The XX. Chapter. Wine is a voluptuous thing, & drunkenness causeth sedition: Ephe. 5. ● 3. Esd. 3. ● who so delyte●h therein, shall never be wise. The king aught to be feared as the roaring of a lion, Pro. 24. ● who so provoketh him unto anger, offendeth against his own soul. It is a man's honour to keep himself from strife, but they that have pleasure in brawling, are fools everyone. A slothful body will not go to plough for cold, therefore shall he go abegginge in Summer, and have nothing. wise council in the heart of man is like a water in the deep of the earth, but he that hath understanding, bringeth it forth. Many there be that are called good doers, but where shall one find a true faithful man? Who so leadeth a godly and an innocent life, happy shall his children be, Psal. 36 whom he leaveth behind him. A king that sitteth in judgement, and looketh well about him, driveth away all evil. Who can say: my heart is clean, 1. joh. 1. b I am innocent from sin? To use two manner of weights, or two manner of measures, both these are abominable unto the LORD. A child is known by his conversation, whether his works be pure and right. As for the hearing of the ear & the sight of the eye, the LORD hath made them both. delight not thou in sleep, jest thou come unto poverty: but open thy eyes, & thou shalt have bread enough. It is nought, It is nought (say men) when they have it, but when it is go, they give it a good word. A mouth of understanding is more worth than gold, many precious stones, and costly jewels. 〈◊〉. 6. a 〈◊〉 27. b Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, & take a pledge of him for the unknown man's sake. Every man liketh the bread that is got with deceit, but at the last is mouth shallbe filled with gravel. Thorough council the things that men devise go forward: & with discretion aught wars to be taken in hand. Meddle not with him that bewrayeth secrets, and is a slanderer, and deceiveth with his lips. Who so curseth his father and mother, 〈◊〉. 20. b 〈◊〉. 20. b 〈◊〉 21. b ●eu. 27. c Re. 15. a 〈◊〉. 5. e 〈◊〉. 12. c his light shallbe put out in the midst of darkness. The heritage that cometh to haistely at the first, shall not be praised at the end. say not thou: I will recompense evil, but put the trust in the LORD, & he shall defend ye. 〈◊〉. 20. b The LORD abhorreth two manner of weights, and a false balance is an evil thing. 〈◊〉. 10. d The LORD ordereth every man's goings, for what is he, that understandeth his own ways? It is a snare for a man to blaspheme that which is holy, & then to go about with vows. Reg. 15 A wise king destroyeth the ungodly, & bringeth the wheel ●uer them. The lantern of the LORD is the breath of man, & goeth thorough all the inward parts of the body. 〈◊〉. 29. b Mercy & faithfulness preserve the king, & with loving kindness his feat is held up. The strength of young men is their worship, & a grey head, is an honor unto the aged. Wounds drive away evil, and so do stripes the inward parts of the body. The XXI. Chapter. THe kings heart is in the hand of the LORD, ●. Reg. 1. c like as are the rivers of water: he may turn it whither so ever he will. Every man thinketh his own way to be right, but the LORD judgeth the hearts. Mich. 6. b To do righteousness and judgement is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. A presumptuous look, a proud stomach, & the lantern of the ungodly is sin. The devices of one that is diligent, bring plenteousness: but he that is unadvised, cometh unto poverty. Who so hoordeth up riches with the deceitfulness of his tongue, he is a fool, & like unto them that seek their own death. The robberies of the ungodly shallbe their own destruction, for they would not do the thing that was right. The ways of the froward are strange, ●it. 1. c 〈◊〉. 25. d but the works of him that is clean, are right. It is better to devil in a corner under the house top, then with a brawling woman in a wide house. The soul of the ungodly wisheth evil, and hath no pity upon his neighbour. When the scornful is punished, the ignorant take the better heed: & when a wise man is warned, he will receive the more understanding. The righteous enfourmeth the house of the ungodly, but the ungodly go on still after their own wickedness. Who so stoppeth his ear at the crienge of the poor, he shall cry himself and not be herd. 〈…〉 A privy reward pacifieth displeasure, and a gift in the bosom stilleth furiousness. The just delighteth in doing the thing that is right, but the workers of wickedness abhor the same. The man that wandereth cut of the way of wisdom, shall remain in the congregation of the deed. He that hath pleasure in banckettes, shall be a poor man: 〈…〉 Who so delighteth in wine and delicates, shall not be rich. The ungodly shallbe given for the righteous, & the wicked for the just. It is better to devil in a wilderness, 〈…〉 than with a chydinge and an angry woman. In a wise man's house there is great treasure and plenteousness, but a foolish body spendeth up all. Who so followeth righteousness and mercy, findeth both life, righteousness and honour. A wise man winneth the cite of the mighty, and as for the strength that they trust in, he bringeth it down. Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue, 〈…〉 the same keepeth his soul from troubles. He that is proud & presumptuous, is called a scornful man, which in wrath dare work maliciously. The voluptuousness of the slothful is his own death, for his hands will not labor He coveteth and desireth all the day long, but the righteous is allway giving & keepeth nothing back. 〈…〉 The sacrifice of the ungodly is abomination, for they offer the thing that is got with wickedness. 〈…〉 A false witness shall perish, but he that willbe content to hear, shall allway have power to speak himself. An ungodly man goeth forth rashly, but the just refourmeth his own way. There is no wisdom, 〈…〉 there is no understanding, there is no council against the LORD. The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but the LORD giveth the victory. The XXII. Chapter. A Good name is more worth than great riches, 〈…〉 and loving favour is better than silver and gold. Whether riches or poverty do meet us, it cometh all of God. A wise man saith the plague and hideth himself, but the foolish go on still and are punished. The end of lowliness & the fear of God, is riches, honor, prosperity and health. Spears and snares are in the way of the froward, but he that will keep his soul, let him i'll from such. If thou reachest a child in his youth what way he should go, he shall not leave it when he is old. The rich ruleth the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. He that soweth wickedness, shall reap sorrow, & the rod of his plague shall destroy him. 〈…〉 A loving eye shallbe blessed, for he giveth of his bread unto the poor. Cast out the scornful man, and so shall strife go out with him, ye variance and slander shall cease. Who so delighteth to be of a clean heart and of gracious lips, the king shall be his friend. The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, but as for the words of the despyteful, he bringeth them to nought. The slothful body sayeth: there is a lion with out, I might be slayve in the street. The mouth of an harlot is a deep pit, 〈…〉 wherein he falls that the LORD is angry withal. Foolishness sticketh in the heart of the lad, but the rod of correction driveth it away. Who so doth a poor man wrong to increase his own riches, giveth (commonly) unto the rich, and at the last cometh to poverty himself. My son, bow down thy ear, and hearken unto the words of wisdom, apply the mind unto my doctrine: for it is a pleasant thing if thou keep it in thy heart, and practise it in thy mouth: that thou mayest allway put the trust in the LORD. Have not I warned the very often with council and learning? that I might show the the truth and that thou with the verity mightest answer them that lay any thing against thee? Se that thou rob not the poor because he is weak, and oppress not the simple in judgement: for the LORD himself will defend their cause, and do violence unto them that have used violence. Make no friendship with an angry wilful man, and keep no company with the furious: jest thou learn his ways, and receive hurt unto thy soul. 〈…〉 Be not thou one of them that bind the●r hand upon promise, and are surety for dett: for if thou hast nothing to pay, they shall take away thy bed from under the. Thou shalt not remove the land mark, 〈…〉 which thy fore elders have set. Seist thou not, that they which be diligent in their business stand before kings, and not among the simple people? The XXIII Chapter When thou sittest at the table to eat with a lord, order thyself mannerly with the things that are set before the Measure thy appetite: and if thou will't rule thy own self, be not over greedy of his meat, for meat begyleth and deceiveth. Take not over great travail and labor to be rich, beware of such a purpose. Eccl. 27. Iere 17. b 1. Tim. 6 ● Why will't thou set thy eye upon the thing, which suddenly vanisheth away? For riches make themselves wings, and take their flight like an Eagle in to the air. Eat not thou with the envious, and desire no his meat, for he hath a marvelous heart. He sayeth unto thee: eat and drink, where as his heart is not with ye. Ye the morsels that thou hast eaten shalt thou parbreak, and lose those sweet words. Tell nothing in to the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Remove not the old land mark, Pro. 22. d and come not within the field of the fatherless: For he that delivereth them is mighty, even he shall defend their cause against the. Apply thy heart unto learning, and thy ear to the words of knowledge. Pro. 13. c eccle. 30. withhold not correction from the child, for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die thereof. Thou smytest him with the rod, but thou deliverest his soul from hell. My son, if the heart receive wisdom, my heart also shall rejoice: ye myreynes shall be very glad, if the lips speak the thing that is right. Pro. 24 ● and. c Let not thy heart be jealous to follow sinners, but keep the still in the fear of the LORD all the day long: for the end is not yet come, and thy patient abiding shall not be in vain. My son, ne ear & be wise, so shall thy heart prosper in the way. Keep no company with wine bebbers and riotous eaters of flesh: for such as be dronckardes and riotous, Pro. 22. c shall come to poverty, & he that is given to much sleep, shall go with a ragged cote. give ear unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Labor for to get the truth: cell not away wisdom, nourt our & understanding (for a righteous father is marvelous glad of a wise son, & delighteth in him) so shall thy father be glad, and thy mother that bore thee, shall rejoice. My son, give me thine heart, and let thy eyes have pleasure in my ways. For an whore is a deep grave, Pro. 22. b and an harlot is a narrow pit. She lurketh like a thief, and those that be not aware she bringeth unto her. Where is woe? where is sorrow? where is strife? where is brawling? where are wounds without cause? where be reed eyes? Even among those that be ever at the wine, and seek out where the best is. Look not thou upon the wine, how read it is, and what a color it giveth in the glass. It goeth down softly, but at the last it biteth like a serpent, and styngeth as an Adder. So shall thy eyes look unto strange women, & thy heart shall muse upon froward things. Ye thou shalt be as though thou slept, in the midst of the see, or upon the top of the mast. They wounded me (shalt thou say) but it hath not hurt me, they smote me, but I felt it not. When I am well wakened, I will go to the drink again. The XXIIII. Chapter. BE not thou jealous over wicked men, & desire not thou to be among them. Pro. 23. ᵇ ●4. c For their heart ymagineth to do hurt, & their lips talk of mischief. Thorough wisdom an house shallbe builded, & with understanding it shallbe set up. Thorough discretion shall the chambers be filled with all costly & pleasant riches▪ A wise man is strong, ye a man of understanding is better, than he that is mighty of strength. For with discretion must wars be taken in hand, and where as are many that can give council, there is the victory. wisdom is an high thing, ye even to the fool, for he dare not open his mouth in the gate. He that ymagineth mischief, may well be called an ungracious person. The thought of the foolish is sin, & the scornful is an abomination unto men. If thou be overseen & negligent in time of need, them is thy strength but small. deliver them that go unto death, & are led away to be slain, & be not negligent therein. If thou will't say: I knew not of it. thinkest thou that he which made the hearts, doth not consider it? & that he which regardeth the soul, seith it not? Shall not he recompense every man according to his works? My son, thou eatest honey & the sweet honey comb, because it is good & sweet in thy mouth. Even so shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto the soul, as soon as thou hast gotten it. And there is good hope, ye the hope shall not be in vain. Say no privy wait wickedly upon the house of the righteous, & disquiet not his resting place. Psal. 33. c 3● d For a just man falls seven times, & riseth up again, but the ungodly fall in to wickedness. Rejoice not thou at the fall of thy enemy, Pro. 17. a and let not thy heart be glad when he stombleth. Lest the LORD (when he saith it) be angry, & turn his wrath from him unto the. Pro. 23. b 24. a Let not the wrath & jealousy move thee, to foolow the wicked and ungodly. And why? the wicked hath nothing to hope for, job 21. b Pro 13. a Pro. 20. a & the candle of the ungodly shall be put out. My son, fear thou the LRODE & the king, & keep no company with the slanderous: for their destruction shall come suddenly, & who knoweth the fall of them both? These are also the saienges of the wise. It is not good, 〈…〉 to have respect of any person in judgement. He that saith to the ungodly: thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, ye the comontie shall abhor him. But they that rebuke the ungodly shallbe commended, & a rich blessing shall come upon them. He maketh himself to be well loved, that giveth a good answer. First make up the work that is with out, & look well unto that which thou hast in the field, & then build thy house. Be no false witness against the neghbor, & hurt him not with the lips Say not: 〈…〉 I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, & will reward every man according to his deeds. I went by the field of the slothful, & by the vineyard of the foolish man. And lo, it was all covered with nettles, & stood full of thistles, & the stone brickwall was broken down. This I saw, & considered it well: I looked upon it, & took it for a warning. Ye sleep on still a little, 〈…〉 slombre a little, fold thy hands together yet a little: so shall poverty come unto the as one that travaileth by the way, & necessity like a wapened man. The XXV. Chapter. THese also are Salomons proverbeds, which the men of Ezechias king of juda gathered together. It is the honor of God to keep a thing secret, 〈…〉 but the kings honor is to search out a thing. The heaven is high, the earth is deep, and the kings heart is unsearchable. Take the dross from the silver, & there shallbe a clean vessel thereof. Take away ungodliness from the king, & his seat shall be established with righteousness. Put not forth that self in the presence of the king, & press not in to the place of great men. Better it is that it be said unto thee: 〈…〉 come up hither, than thou to be set down in the presence of the prince, whom thou sayst with thy eyes. Be not hasty to go to the law, jest happy thou order thy self so at the last, that thy neghbor put the to shame. Handle thy matter with thy neghbor himself, & discover not another man's secret: jest when men hear thereof, it turn to the dishonour, & jest thy evil name do not cease. A word spoken in due season, is like apples of gold in a silver dish. The correction of the wise is to an obedient ear, a golden chain and a jewel of gold. Like as the winter cool in the harvest, so is a faithful messenger to him that sent him, & refreszsheth his master's mind. Who so maketh great boasts & giveth nothing, is like clouds & wind without rain. With patience may a prince be pacified, & with a soft tongue may rigorousness be broken. If thou findest honey, eat so much as is sufficient for thee: jest thou be over full, & parbreak it out again. Withdraw the foot from thy neighbours house, jest he be weighed of thee, and so abhor the. Who so beareth false witness against his neighbour, he is a very spear, a sword & a sharp arrow. The hope of the ungodly in time of need, is like a rotten tooth and a slippery foot. Who so singeth a song to a wicked heart, clotheth him with rags in the cold, and poureth vinegar upon chalk. If thy enemy hunger, feed him: 〈…〉 if he thirst, give him drink: for so shalt thou heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward the. The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a back byters tongue. It is better to sit in a corner under the roof, 〈…〉 than with a brawling woman in a wide house. A good report out of a far country, is like cold water to a thirty soul. A righteous man falling down before the ungodly, is like a troubled well and a spring that is destroyed. Like as it is not good to eat to much honey, 〈…〉 even so he that will search out high things, it shall be to heavy for him. He that can not rule himself, is like a cite, which is broken down, and hath no walls. The XXVI. Chapter. LIke as snow is not meet in summer, ner rain in harvest: even so is worship unseemly for a fool. Like as the bird and the swallow take their flight and i'll here and there, so the curse that is given in vain, shall not light upon a man. Unto the horse belongeth a whip, 〈…〉 to the Ass a bridle, and a rod to the fools back. give not the fool an answer after his foolishness, jest thou become like unto him: but make the fool an answer to his foolishness, jest he be wise in his own conceit. He is lame of his feet, ye drunken is he in vanity, that committeth any thing to a fool. Like as it is an unseemly thing to have legs & yet to halt, even so is a parable in the fools mouth. He that setteth a fool in high dignity, that is even as if a man did cast a precious stone upon the galous. A parable in a fools mouth, is like a thorn that pricketh a drunken man in the hand. A man of experience discerneth all things well, but who so hyreth a fool, hyreth such one as will take no heed. Like as the dog turneth again to his vomit, 〈…〉 even so a fool beginneth his foolishness again a fresh. If thou seyest a man that is wise in his own conceit, there is more hope in a fool then in him. 〈…〉 The slothful sayeth: there is a leopard in the way, and a lion in the midst of the streets. Like as the door turneth about upon the tresholde, even so doth the slothful we●ter himself in his bed. The slothful body thrusteth his hand in to his bosom, Pro. 19 d and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth. The slogarde thinketh himself wiser, than seven. men that sit and teach. Who so goeth by and meddleth with other men's strife, he is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. Like as one shuteth deadly arrows and darts out of a privy place, Psal. 10. a even so doth a dissembler with his neighbour, And then sayeth he: I did it but in sport. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: Eccli. 28. and where the backbiter is taken away, there the strife ceaseth. Coals kindle heat, and wodd the fire: even so doth a brawling fellow steer up variaunce· A slanderers words are like flattery, but they pierce the inward parts of the body. venomous lips & a wicked heart, are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. An enemy dyssembleth with his lips, and in the mean season he ymagineth mischief: but when he speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Who so keepeth evil will secretly to do hurt, his malice shallbe showed before the whole congregation. Eccl●. 10. Eccli. 27 Who so dyggeth up a pit, shall fall therein: and he that weltreth a stone, shall stumble upon it himself. A dissembling tongue hateth one that rebuketh him, and a flateringe mouth worketh mischief. The XXVII. Chapter. TAke not thy boost of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what may happen todaye. Eze. 28. a Luc. 12. b jaco. 4. Let another man praysethe, & not thy own mouth: ye other folks lips, and not thine. Eccli. 22 The stone is heavy, and the sonde weighty: but a fools wrath is mightier than they both. Wrath is a cruel thing, and furiousness is a very tempest: ye who is able to abide envy? An open rebuke is better, than a secret love. Psa. 14●. Luc. 22. Faithful are the wounds of a lover, but the kysses of an enemy are deceitful. He that is full, abhorreth an honey comb: but unto him that is hungry, every sour thing is sweet. He that often times flytteth, is like a bird that forsaketh her nest. The heart is glad of a sweet ointment and savour, but a stomach that can give good council, rejoiceth a man's neighbour. Thine own friend and thy father's friend see thou forsake not, but go not in to thy brother's house in time of thy trouble. Better is a friend at hand, than a brother far of. My son, be wise, and thou shalt make me a glad heart: so that I shall make answer unto my rebukers. A wise man saying the plague will hide himself, as for fools they go on still, Pro. 10. c and suffer harm. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, & take a pledge of him for the unknown man's sake. He that is to hasty to praise his neighbour above measure, shallbe taken as one that giveth him an evil report. Pro. 19 b A brawling woman and the roof of the house dropping in a rainy day, may well be compared together. He that refraineth her, refraineth the wind, and holdeth oil fast in his hand. Like as one iron whetteth another, so doth one man comfort another. Who so keepeth his fig tree, shall enjoy the fruits thereof: he that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honour. Like as in one water there appear diverse faces, even so diverse men have diverse hearts. Pro. ●●▪ ● Eccls. 1. a ●cclī. 14. a ●ccī. 27. b Like as hell & destruction are never full, even so the eyes of men can never be satisfied. Silver is tried in the mould, & gold in the furnace, & so is a man, when he is openly praised to his face. Though thou shouldest bray a fool with a pestle in a mortar like otemeell, yet will not his foolishness go from him. Se that thou know the number of thy cattles thyself, joh. 10. a and look well to thy flocks. For riches abide not allway, & the crown endureth not for ever. The hay groweth, the grass cometh up, & herbs are gathered in the mountains. The lambs shall cloth thee, & for the goats thou shalt have money to the huszbondry. Thou shalt have goats milk enough to feed thee, to uphold thy household, & to sustain thy maidens. The XXVIII. Chapter. THe ungodly flieth no man chasing him, ●eui. 26. c but the righteous standeth stiff as a lion. Because of sin the land doth often change her prince: but thorough men of understanding & wisdom a realm endureth long. One poor man oppressing another by violence, is like a continual rain that destroyeth the fruit. They that forsake the law, praise the ungodly: but such as keep the law, abhor them. Wicked men discern not the thing that is right, Cor. 2. b but they that seek after the LORD, discuss all things. Pro. 19 a A poor man leading a godly life, is better than the rich that goeth in froward ways. Who so keepeth the law, is a child of understanding: but he that feedeth riotous men, shameth his father. Who so increaseth his riches by vantage & winning, let him gather them to help the poor withal. 〈…〉 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer shallbe abhorred. Who so leadeth the righteous in to an evil way, shall fall in to his own pit, but the just shall have the good in possession. The rich man thinketh himself to be wise, but the poor that hath understanding, can perceive him well enough. 〈…〉 When righteous men are in prosperity, them doth honour flourish: but when the ungodly come up, the state of men changeth. He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but who so knowlegeth them and forsaketh them, shall have mercy. Well is him that standeth all way in awe: as for him that hardeneth his heart, he shall fall in to mischief. Like as a roaring lion and an hungry beer, even so is an ungodly prince over the poor people. Where the prince is without understanding, there is great oppression & wrong: but if he be such one as hateth covetousness, he shall long reign. 〈…〉 He that by violence sheds any man's blood, shall be a runagate unto his grave, and no man shall be able to sucor him. 〈…〉 Who so leadeth a godly and an innocent life, shallbe safe: but he that goeth froward ways, shall once have a fall. He that tylleth his land, 〈…〉 shall have plenteousness of bread: but he that followeth ydilnesse, shall have poverty enough. A faithful man is greatly to be commended, but he that maketh to much haist for to be rich, 〈…〉 shall not be unguilty. To have respect of personnes in judgement is not good: And why? he will do wrong, ye even for a piece of bread. He that will be rich all to soon, hath an evil eye, and considereth not, that poverty shall come upon him. He that rebuketh a man, shall find more favour at the last, than he that flatreth him. Who so robbeth his father and mother, 〈…〉 and sayeth it is no sin: the same is like unto a murderer. He that is of a proud stomach, steereth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD, shallbe well fed. He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: 〈…〉 but he that dealeth wisely, shallbe safe. He that giveth unto the poor, shall not want: but he that turneth away his eyes from such as be in necessity, shall suffer great poverty himself. When the ungodly are come up, 〈…〉 men are fain to hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase. The XXIX. Chapter. HE that is stiffnecked & will not be reformed, shall suddenly be destroyed with out any help. Where the righteous have the over hand, 〈…〉 the people are in prosperity: but where the ungodly beareth rule, there the people mourn. Who so loveth wisdom, 〈…〉 maketh his father a glad man: but he that keepeth harlots, spendeth away that he hath. With true judgement the king setteth up the land, but if he be a man that taketh gifts, he turneth it upside down. Who so flatreth his neghbor, layeth a net for his feet. The sin of the wicked is his own snare, but the righteous shall be glad and rejoice. The righteous considreth the cause of the poor, but the ungodly regardeth no understanding. Wicked people bring a cite in decay, but wise men set it up again. If a wise man go to law with a fool (whether he deal with him friendly or roughly) he getteth no rest. The bloudethyrstie hate the righteous, but the just seek his soul. A fool poureth out his spirit altogether, but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward. If a prince delight in lies, all his servants are ungodly. The poor and the lender meet together, the LORD lighteneth both their eyes. The seat of the king that faithfully judgeth the poor, 〈…〉 shall continued sure for evermore. The rod and correction minister wisdom, but if a child be not looked unto, he bringeth his mother to shame. When the ungodly come up, wickedness increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall. Nurtoure thy son with correction, and he shall comfort thee, ye he shall do the good at thy heart. Where no prophet is, there the people perish: but well is him that keepeth the law. A servant will not be the better for words, for though he understand, yet will he not regard them. If thou sayst a man that is hasty to speak unadvised, thou mayest trust a fool more than him. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall make him his master at length. An angry man steereth up strife, and he that beareth evil will in his mind, doth much evil. After pride cometh a fall, 〈…〉 but a lowly spirit bringeth great worship. Who so keepeth company with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth blasphemies, & telleth it not forth. He that fears men, shall have a fall: but who so putteth his trust in the LORD, shall come to honour. Many there be that seek the princes favour, but every man's judgement cometh from the LORD. The righteous abhor the ungodly: but as for those that be in the right way, the wicked hate them. The XXX. Chapter. The words of Agur the son of jake. THe prophecy of a true faithful man, whom God hath helped, whom God hath comforted & nourished. For though I am the least of all, & have no man's vnderstondinge (for I never learned wisdom) yet have I understanding & am well informed in godly things. Who hath clymmed up in to heaven? Who hath come down from thence? Who hath held the wind fast in his hand? Who hath comprehended the waters in a garment? Who hath set all the ends of the world? What is his name, or his sons name? Canst thou tell? Psal 17. c 1●. b. 118. ● All the words of God are pure & clean, for he is a shield unto all them, that put their trust in him. 〈…〉 Put thou nothing therefore unto his words, jest he reprove thee, and thou be found as a liar. Two things I require of thee, that thou will't not deny me before I die. Remove fro me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty ner riches, only grant me a necessary living. Jest if I be to full, I deny thee, & say: Deut. 8. c and 31. e Exo. 5. a job 21· b Ecclin. 27. ● what fellow is the LORD? And jest I being constrained thorough poverty, fall unto stealing, and forswear the name of my God. Accuse not a servant unto his master, jest he speak evil of the also, and thou be hurt. He that bringeth up an evil report upon the generation of his father and mother, is not worthy to be commended. The generation that think themselves clean, shall not be cleansed from their filthiness. There are people that have a proud look, and cast up their eye lyddes. This people's teeth are swords, and with their chafed bones they consume and devour the simple of the earth, and the poor from among men. This generation (which is like an horsleche) hath two daughters: the one is called, fetch hither: the other, bring hither. There be three things that are never satisfied, and the fourth saith never hoo. The hell, a woman's womb, Pro· 27. c and the earth hath never water enough. Asdrubal for fire, it sayeth never: hoo. Who so laugheth his father to scorn, Exo. 21. b Deu▪ 27. and setteth his mother's commandment at nought: the ravens pick out his eyes in the valley, and devoured be he of the yongle eagles. There be three things to high for me, Sap. 5. b and as for the fourth, it passeth my knowledge. The way of an Eagle in the air, the way of a serpent over the stone, the way of a ship in the see, & the way of a man with a young woman. Soch is the way also of a wife that breaketh wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, & sayeth: As for me, I have done no harm. Thorough three things the earth is disquieted, & the fourth may it not bear: Thorough a servant that beareth rule, thorough a fool that hath great riches, thorough an idle housewife, & thorough an handmaiden that is heir to her masters. There be four things in the earth, the which are very little: but in wisdom they exceed the wise. The Emmettes are but a weak people, ●ro. 6. a yet gather they their meat together in the harvest. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their couches among the rocks. The greshoppers have not a guide, yet go they forth together by heaps. The spider laboureth with her hands, & that in the kings palace. There be three things that go stiftly, but the going of the fourth is the goodliest of all. A Lion which is king of beasts, & giveth place to no man: A cock ready to fight: A ramme: And a king that goeth forth with his people. If thou be so foolish to magnify the self, or medlest with any such thing, them lay thy hand upon the mouth. Who so chyrneth milk, maketh butter: he that rubbeth his nose, maketh it bleed, and he that causeth wrath, bringeth forth strife. The XXXI. Chapter. THese are the words of King Lamuel, & the lesson that his mother taught him. My son, thou son of my body: O my dear beloved son, give not over thy substance & mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings. O Lamuel, give kings no wine, give kings & princes no strong drink: jest they being drunken forget the law, & regard not the cause of the poor, & of all such as be in adversity. give strong drink unto such as are condemned to death, & wine unto those that mourn: that they may drink it, & forget their misery & adversity. Be thou an advocate & stand in judgement thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb & sucourles. With the mouth defend the thing that is lawful and right, and the cause of the poor and helpless. Who so findeth an honest faithful woman, she is much more worth than pearls. The heart of her husband may safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoils. She will do him good & not evil all the days of her life. She occupieth will & flax, & laboureth gladly with her hands. She is liken a merchants ship, that bringeth her vytayles from far. She is up in the night season, to provide meat for her household, & food for her maidens. She considreth land, & buyeth it, and with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She gyrdeth her loins with strength, and courageth her arms. And if she perceive that her houswifrie doth good, her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her fingers to the spindle, & her hand taketh hold of the rock. She openeth her hand to the poor, ye she stretcheth forth her hands to such as have need. She fears not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed. She maketh herself fair ornaments, her clothing is white silk & purple. Her husband is much set by in the gates, when he sitteth among the rulers of the land. She maketh clot of silk & selleth it, and delivereth a girdle unto the merchant. Strength and honour is her clothing, & in the latter day she shall rejoice. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, & in her tongue is the law of grace. She looketh well to the ways of her household, & eateth not her bread with idleness. Her children arise & call her blessed, & her husband maketh much of her. Many daughters there be that gather riches together, but thou goest above them all. As for favour, it is deceitful, and beauty is a vain thing: but a woman that fears the LORD, she is worthy to be praised. give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. The end of the proverbs of Solomon. Ecclesiastes. What this book containeth. Chap. I All things (if a man will consider them well) are but vanity. Nevertheless among them all there is nothing weaker and more unsteadfast, than man himself. Chap. II In this chapter (and in the other also) he maketh often times mension of the words and conversation of the ungodly: that by this means he may the better cause men to despise all creatures, in respect of the only everlasting God. Chap. III Every thing hath a tyme. There is no thing, but God hath put tediousness and travail in it, to exercise men withal. What so ever a man enjoyeth of his labour, the same is a gift of God, given to the intent that men should fear him. Chap. four A consideration of diverse things. There is nothing so excellent and high, but if it do not the duty and office where unto it is ordained, it shallbe brought low. Chap. V Against foolish and temerarious vows. Let no man marvel that so much evil is done, for the wicked are many. Against the rich and against riches. Chap. VI Against those rich men that dar●e not enjoy their riches: how mad and foolish they be. Chap. VII. No man knoweth what is for to come. How worthy a thing it is to have a good name. The profit of wisdom. Chap. VIII. Of the obedience which men own unto God and to their heads. The long sufferance of God is not to be despised. It is not possible for any man, to comprehend the works that be in the world. Chap. IX. Like things happen unto all men: therefore with mirth and thankfulness should men enjoy the gifts of God. Wyszdome passeth all things. Chap. X. XI In these two chapters are many wise and profitable sentences, well worthy to be considered of every man. Chap. XII. In this chapter the preacher showeth his whole meaning, as though he would say: As for all the things that be under the Son (where of I have spoken) I have considered them, and proved them meetly well by experience. And this is the conclusion, that there is nothing steadfast and durable but God himself, whom men aught to fear, and to have his commandments before their eyes even from their youth up The first Chapter. These are the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of jerusalem. ALl is but vanity (saith the preacher) all is but plain vanity. Eccl● 12. b For what else hath a man, of all the labor that he taketh under the Son? One generation passeth away, another cometh, but the earth a bideth still. The Son ariseth, the Son goeth down, & returns to his place, that he may there rise up again. The wind goeth toward the South, & fetcheth his compass about unto the North, & so turneth in to himself again. All floods run in to the see, job 14. b & yet the see is not filled: for look unto what place the ●●ters run, thence they come again. All things are so hard, that no man can express them. The eye is not satisfied with sight, Pro. 27. c Ecclin. 14. Eccls. 3. ● the ear is not filled with hearing. The thing that hath been, cometh to pass again: & the thing that hath been done, is done again, there is no new thing under the Son. Is there any thing, whereof it may be said: so, this is new? For it was long ago in the times that have been before us. The thing that is past, is out of remembrance: Even so the things that are for to come, shall no more be thought upon among than that come after. I myself the Preacher, being king of Israel & Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek out & search for the knowledge of all things that are done under heaven. Soch travail & labor hath God given unto the children of men, to exercise themselves therein. Thus I have considered all the things that come to pass under the Son, & lo, they are all but vanity & vexation of mind. The crooked can not be maid strait, & the faults can not be numbered. I commoned with mine own heart, saying: lo, ●. Pet 3 b and 4. c I am come to a great estate, and have gotten more wisdom, than all they that have been before me in jerusalem. Ye my heart had great experience of wisdom & knowledge, for there unto I applied my mind: that I might know what were wisdom & understanding, what were error & foolishness. And I perceived that this also was but a vexation of mind: for where much wisdom is, there is also great travail & disquietness: & the more knowledge a man hath, the more is his care. The II Chapter. THen said I thus in my heart: Now go to, I will take mine ease & have good days. But lo, that was vanity also: in so much that I said unto laughter: thou art mad, and to mirth: what dost thou? So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that (among all the things which are under the Son) I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven. ●eg. 3.4 6.7 I made gorgeous fair works, I builded me houses, and planted vynyardes: I made me ortchardes and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all manner fruits. I made poles of water, to water the green and fruitful trees withal. ●eg. 4.9 I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattles and sheep, I had more substance of them, than all they that were before me in jerusalem. I gathered silver & gold together, even a treasure of kings & lands. I provided me syngers and women which could play of instruments, to make men mirth and pastime. I got me drinking cups also and glasses. (Shortly) I was greater & in more worship, than all my predecessors in Jerusalem. For wisdom remained with me: & look what so ever mine eyes desired, I let them have it: & wherein so ever my heart delighted or had any pleasure, I with held it not from it. Thus my heart rejoiced in all that I did, and this I took for the portion of all my travail, But when I considered all the works that my hands had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therein: lo, all was but vanity and vexation of mind, & nothing of any value under the Son Than turned I me to consider wisdom, error and foolishness (for what is he among men, that might be compared to me the king in such works?) and I saw, that wisdom excels foolishness, as far as light doth darkness. For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end. Then thought I in my mind: If it happen unto the fool as it doth unto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdom? So I confessed within my heart, that this also was but vanity. For the wise are ever as little in remembrance as the foolish, and all the days for to come shallbe forgotten, ye the wise man dieth aswell as the fool. Thus began I to be weighed of my life, in so much that I could away with nothing that is done under the Son, for all was but vanity & vexation of mind: Ye I was weighed of all my labour, which I had taken under the Son, because I should be fain to leave them unto another man, that cometh after me: for who knoweth, whether he shallbe a wise man or a fool? And yet shall he be lord of all my labours, which I with such wisdom have taken under the Son. Is not this a vain thing? 〈…〉 So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Son: for so much as a man should weighed himself with wisdom, with understanding and opportunity, and yet be fain to leave his labours unto another, that never swett for them. This is also a vain thing and a great misery. For what getteth a man of all the labor & travail of his mind, that he taketh under the Son, but heaviness, sorrow & disquyetnes all the days of his life? In so much that his heart can not rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing? Is it not better then for a man to eat and drink, and his soul to be merry in his labour? Ye I saw that this also was a gift of God: 〈…〉 For who may eat, drink, or bring any thing to pass without him? And why? he giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him: whether it be wisdom▪ understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weerynes and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shallbe given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, ye a very disquietness and vexation of mind. The III Chapter. EVery thing hath a time, ye all that is under the heaven, hath is convenient season. There is a time to be born, and a time to die. 〈…〉 There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up the thing, that is planted: A time to slay, and a time to make whole: A time to break down, and a time to build up: A time to weep, and a time to laugh: A time to mourn, and a time to dance: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together: A time to embrace, & a time to refrain from embracing: A time to win, and a time to lose: A time to spare, and a time to spend: A time to cut in pieces, and a time to sow together: A time to keep silence, and a time to speak: 〈…〉 A time to love, & a time to hate: A time of war, and a time of peace. What hath a man else (that doth any thing) but weariness and labour? For as touching the travail and carefulness which God hath given unto men, I see that he hath given it them, to be exercised in it. All this hath he ordained marvelous goodly, to every thing his due tyme. He hath planted ignorance also in the hearts of men, that they should not find out the ground of his works, which he doth from the beginning to the end. So I perceived, that in these things there is nothing better for a man, than to be merry & to do well so long as he liveth. For all that a man eateth & drinketh, ye what so ever a man enjoyeth of all his labor, the same is a gift of God. I considered also that what so ever God doth, it continueth for ever, & that nothing can be put unto it ner taken from it: & that God doth it to the intent, that men should fear him. 〈…〉 The thing that hath been, is now: & the thing that is for to come, hath been afore time, for God restoreth again the thing that was passed. moreover, I saw under the Son, ungodliness in the stead of judgement, & iniquity in stead of righteousness. Then thought I in my mind: God shall separate the righteous from the ungodly, & then shall be the time & judgement of all counsels & works. I commoned with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath choose them, and yet letteth them appear, as though they were beasts: for it happeneth unto men as it doth unto beasts, & as the one dieth, so dieth the other: ye they have both one manner of breath, so that (in this) a man hath no pre-eminence above a be'st, but all are subdued unto vanity. They go all unto one place, for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turn unto dust again. 〈…〉 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the breath of the be'st that goeth down in to the earth? Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothyinge better for a man, then to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing, that shall come after him? The four Chapter. SO I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done under the Son: 〈…〉 and behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and there was no man to comfort them, or that would deliver and defend them from the violence of their oppressors. Wherefore I judged those that are deed, to be more happy than such as be alive: ye him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seith not the miserable works that are done under the Son. Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind. The fool foldeth his hands together, & eateth up his own flesh. One handful (saith he) is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail. moreover, I turned me, and behold yet another vanity under the Son. There is one man, no more but himself alone, having neither child ner brother: yet is there no end of his careful travail, his eyes can not be satisfied with riches, (yet doth he not remember himself, & say:) For whom do I take such travail? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life? This is also a vain and miserable thing. Therefore two are better than one, for they may well enjoy the profit of their labour. If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up. Again, when two sleep together, they are warm: but how can a body be warm alone? One may be overcome, but two may make resistance: A three fold cable is not lightly broken. A poor child being wise, is better than an old king, that doteth, and can not beware in time to come. Gen.▪ 41. b 1. Re. 16. c 3 Re. 12. c 2. Par 33. c 4. Re. 25. a Some one cometh out of preson, & is made a king: & another which is born in the kingdom, cometh unto poverty. And I perceived, that all men living under the Son, go with the second child, that cometh up in the stead of the other. As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater thorough him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. When thou comest in to the house of God, keep thy foot, and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, 1. Reg. 15. c for they know not what evil they do. The V Chapter. BE not hasty with thy mouth, & let not thy heart speak any thing rashly before God. For God is in heaven, & thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few. For where much carefulness is, there are many dreams: & where many words are, there men may hear fools. Deu. 23. d Baruc. 6. ● If thou make a vow unto God, be not slack to perform it. As for foolish vows, he hath no pleasure in them. If thou promise any thing, pay it: for better it is that thou make no vow, then that thou shouldest promise', and not pay. Use not thy mouth to 'cause the flesh for to sin, that thou say not before the angel: my foolishness is in the fault. For them God will be angry at thy voice, and destroy all the works of thy hands. And why? where as are many dreams & many words, there are also diverse vanities: Eccl●. 4. a but look that thou fear God. If thou sayst the poor to be oppressed and wrongeously dealt withal, so the equity & the right of the law is wraisted in the land: marvel not thou at such judgement, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together. The whole land also with the fields and all that is therein, is in subjection and bondage unto the king. He that loveth money, will never be satisfied with money: and who so delighteth in riches, shall have no profit thereof. Is not this also a vain thing▪ Where as many riches are, there are many also that spend them away. And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth them, saving that he may look upon them with his eyes? A labouring man sleepeth sweetly, whether it be little or much that he eateth: job 20. c but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Yet is there a sore plague, which I have seen under the Son (namely) riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession. job 1 c For often times they perish with his great misery and trouble: and if he have a child, it getteth nothing. Like as he came naked out of his mother's womb, so goeth he thither again, and carrieth nothing away with him of all his labour. This is a miserable plague, that he shall go away even as he came. What helpeth it him then, that he hath laboured in the wind? All the days of his life also must he eat in the dark, with great carefulness, sickness & sorrow. Eccls. 2. d Therefore me think it a better and a fairer thing, a man to eat and drink, and to be refreshed of all his labour, that he taketh under the Son all the days of his life which God giveth him, for this is his portion. For unto whom so ever God giveth riches, goods and power, he giveth it him to enjoy it, to take it for his portion, and to be refreshed of his labour: this is now the gift of God. For he thinketh not much how long he shall live, for so much as God filleth his heart with gladness. The VI Chapter. THere is yet a plague under the Son, & it is a general thing among men: when God giveth a man riches, goods & honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire: and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing & a miserable plague. If a man beget an hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet can not enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. For he cometh to nought, & goeth his way in to darkness, and his name is forgotten. moreover, he saith not the Son, and knoweth of no rest neither here ner there: Ye though he lived two thousand years, yet hath he no good life. Come not all to one place? All the labour that a man taketh, is for himself, and yet his desire is never filled after his mind. For what hath the wise more than the fool? What helpeth it the poor, that he knoweth to walk before the living? The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind. What is more excellent than man yet can he not in the law get the victory of him that is mightier than he: A vain thing is it to cast out many words, but what hath a man else? The VII. Chapter. FOr who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or▪ who will tell a man, what shall happen after him under the Son? 〈…〉 A good name is more worth than a precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth. It is better to go in to an house of mourning, then in to a banquet house. For there is the end of all men, and he that is living, taketh it to heart. It is better to be sorry then to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy, the heart is joyful. The heart of the wise is in the mourning house, but the heart of the foolish is in the house of mirth. It is better to give ear to the chastening of a wise man, then to hear the song of fools. For the laughing of fools is like the cracking of thorns under a pot. And that is but a vain thing. Who so doth wrong, maketh a wise man to go out of his wit, and destroyeth a gentle heart. The end of a thing is better than the beginning. The patient of spirit is better than the hie minded. Be not haistely angry in the mind, for wrath rests in the bosom of a fool. say not thou: What is the cause that the days of the old time were better, than they that be now▪ for that were no wise question. wisdom is better than riches, ye much more worth than the eye sight. For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life unto him that hath it in possession. consider the work of God, how that no man can make the thing strait, which he maketh crooked. Use well the time of prosperity, and remember the time of misfortune: for God maketh the one by the other, so that a man can find nothing else. These ij. things also have I considered in the time of vanity: that the just man perisheth for his righteousness sake, & the ungodly liveth in his wickedness. Therefore be thou neither to righteous ner over wise, 〈◊〉. 11. c that thou perish not: be neither to unrightuous also ner to foolish, jest thou die before thy tyme. It is good for the to take hold of this, & not to let that go out of thy hand. For he that fears God shall escape them all. 〈◊〉. 20. c 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉. 6. f 〈◊〉 ●7. a wisdom giveth more courage unto the wise, than ten mighty men of the city: for there is not one just upon earth, that doth good, & sinneth not. Take not heed unto every word that is spoken, jest thou hear thy servant curse thee: for thy own heart knoweth, that thou thyself also hast often times spoken evil by other men. All these things have I proved because of wisdom: 〈◊〉 28 b for I thought to be wise, but she went farther fro me than she was before, ye & so deep that I might not reach unto her. I applied my mind also unto knowledge, and to seek out science, wisdom and understanding: to know the foolishness of the ungodly, and the error of doting fools. 〈…〉 And I found, that a woman is bytterer than death: for she is a very angle, her heart is a net, and her hands are chains. Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sin will be taken with her. Behold (sayeth the preacher) this have I diligently searched out & proved, that I might come by knowledge: which as yet I seek, and find it not. Among a thousand men I have found one, but not one woman among all. 〈…〉 Lo, this only have I found, that God made man just & right, but they seek diverse sotylties, where as no man hath wisdom & understanding, to give answer there unto. The VIII. Chapter. wisdom maketh a man's face to shine, 〈…〉 but malice putteth it out of favour. Keep the kings commandment (I warn thee) & the oath that thou hast made unto God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight, & see thou continue in no evil thing: for what so ever it pleaseth him, that doth he. Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so who may say unto him: what dost thou? Iob ● Levi. ● Who so keepeth the commandment, shall feel no harm: but a wise man's heart discerneth time and manner: For every thing will have opportunity and judgement, and this is the thing that maketh men full of carefulness & sorrow. And why? a man knoweth not what is for to come, for who will tell him? neither is there any man that hath power over the spirit, to keep still the spirit, ner to have any power in the time of death: It is not he also that can make an end of the battle, neither may ungodliness deliver him that meddleth withal. All these things have I considered, and applied my mind unto every work that is under the Son: how one man hath lordship upon another to his own harm. For I have often seen the ungodly brought to their graves, Psal. 3● and fallen down from the high and glorious place: in so much that they were forgotten in the cite, where they were had in so high & great reputation. This is also a vain thing. Because now that evil works are not haistely punished, the heart of man giveth himself over unto wickedness: But though an evil person offend an hundredth times, and have a long life: yet am I sure, that it shall go well with them that fear God, because they have him before their eyes. Again, as for the ungodly, it shall not be well with him, neither shall he prolong his days: but even as a shadow, so shall he be that fears not God. Yet is there a vanity upon earth: There be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly: Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing. Therefore I commend gladness, because a man hath no better thing under the Son, then to eat and drink, and to be merry: for that shall he have of his labour all the days of his life, which God giveth him under the Son. When I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world (and that of such a fashion, that I suffered not mine eyes to sleep neither day ner night) I understood of all the works of God, that it is not possible for a man, to attain unto the works that are done under the Son: and though he bestow his labour to seek them out, yet can he not reach unto them: ye though a wise man would undertake to know them, yet might he not find them. The IX. Chapter. FOr all these things purposed I in my mind to seek out. The righteus and wise ye and their works also are in the hand of God: and there is no man that knoweth either the love or hate of the thing that he hath before him. It happeneth unto one as unto another: It goeth with the righteous as with the ungodly: 〈…〉 with the good & clean as with the unclean: with him that offereth as with him that offereth not: like as it goeth with the virtuous, so goeth it also with the sinner: As it happeneth unto the perjured, so happeneth it also unto him that is afraid to be man sworn. Among all things that come to pass under the Son, this is a misery, that it happeneth unto all alike. This is the cause also that the hearts of men are full of wickedness, & mad foolishness is in their hearts as long as they live, until they die. And why? As long as a man liveth, he is careless: for a quick dog (say they) is better than a deed lion: for they that be living, know that they shall die: but they that be deed, know nothing, neither deserve they any more. For their memorial is forgotten, so that they be neither loved, hated ner envied: neither have they any more part in the world, in all that is done under the Son. Go thou the way then, eat thy bread with joy, & drink that wine with gladness, for thy works please God. Let thy garments be allway white, & let the head want no ointment. 〈◊〉. 6. b Use thyself to live joyfully with thy wife whom thou lovest, 〈◊〉. 5. c all the days of thy life (which is but vain) that God hath given the under the Son, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, of all thy labor & travail that thou takest under the Son. What so ever thou takest in hand to do, that do with all thy power: for among the deed (where as thou goest unto) there is neither work, council, knowledge ner wisdom. So I turned me unto other things under the Son, and I saw, that in running, it helpeth not to be swift: in battle, it helpeth not to be strong: to feeding, it helpeth not to be wise: to riches, it helpeth not to be sutyll: to be had in favour, it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in time & fortune. ●uc. 21. d For a man knoweth not his time, but like as the fish are taken with the angle, and as the birds are catched with the snare: Even so are men taken in the perilous time, when it cometh suddenly upon them. This wisdom have I seen also under the Son, & me thought it a great thing. There was a little cite, & a few men within it: so there came a great king & besieged it, & made great bulwark against it. And in the cite there was found a poor man (but he was wise) which with his wisdom delivered the cite: yet was there no body, that had any respect unto such a simple man. Then said I: wisdom is better than strength. 〈…〉 Nevertheless, a simple man's wisdom is despised, & his words are not herd. A wise man's council that is followed in silence, is far above the crying of a captain among fools. For wisdom is better than harness: 〈…〉 but one unthrift alone destroyeth much good. The X. Chapter. DEed flies that corrupt sweet ointment & make it to stink, are something more worth than the wisdom & honor of a fool. A wise man's 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 the to bear rule, 〈…〉 be not negligent them in thy office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine. Another plague is there, which I have seen under the Son: namely, the ignorance that is commonly among princes: in that a fool sitteth in great dignity, & the rich are set down beneath: I see servants ride upon horses, & princes going upon their feet as it were servants. 〈…〉 But he that dyggeth up a pit, shall fall therein himself: & who so breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Who so removeth stones, shall have travail withal: and he that heweth wood, shallbe hurt therewith. When an iron is blunt, and the point not sharpened, it must be whet again, and that with might: Even so doth wiszdome follow diligence. A babbler of his tongue is no better, than a serpent that styngeth without hissing. The words out of a wise man's 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 can not tell what end he will make: who will then warn him to make a conclusion? The labour of the foolish is grievous unto them, while they know not how to go in to the cite. Woe be unto thee (O thou realm and land) whose king is but a child, and whose princes are early at their banckettes. But well is thee (O thou realm and land) whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust. Thorough slothfulness the balks fall down, and thorough idle hands it raineth in at the house. Meat maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merry: 〈…〉 but unto money are all things obedient. Wish the king no evil in the thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chambre: for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she bewray thy words. The XI. Chapter. Send thy vytayles over the waters, and so shalt thou find them after many years. give it away among seven or eight, for thou knowest not what misery shall come upon earth. When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And when the tree falls, (whether it be toward the south or north) in what place so ever it fall, there it lieth. He that regardeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that hath respect unto the clouds, shall not reap. Now like as thou knowest not the way of the wind, ner how the bones are filled in a mother's womb: Even so thou knowest not the works of God, which is the workemaster of all. Cease not thou therefore with thy hands to sow thy seed, whether it be in the morning or in the evening: for thou knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, & if they both take, it is the better. The light is sweet, & a pleasant thing is it for the eyes to look upon the Son. If a man live many years, and be glad in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, which shall be many: & when they come, all things shall be but vanity. Be glad then (O thou young man) in thy youth, and let thy heart be merry in thy young days: follow the ways of thy own heart, and the lust of thy eyes: but be thou sure, that God shall bring the in to judgement for all these things. The XII. Chapter. Put away displeasure out of the heart, & remove evil from thy body: for childhood and youth is but vanity. Remember thy maker in thy youth, or ever the days of adversity come, and or the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say: I have no pleasure in them: before the Son, the light, the Moon and the stars be darckened, and or the clouds turn again after the rain: when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and when the strong men shall bow themselves: when the Myllers stand still because they be so few, and when the sight of the windows shall wax dim: when the doors in the streets shall be shut, and when the voice of the miller shall be laid down: when men shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and when all the daughters of musyck shallbe brought low: when men shall fear in high places, and be afraid in the streets: when the Almond tree shallbe despised, the grasshopper born out, and when great poverty shall break in: when man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets. Or ever the silver lace be taken away, and or the golden bend be broken: Or the pot be broken at the well, & the wheel upon the Cistern: Eccls. 3. ● Or dust be turned again unto earth from whence it came, and or the spirit return unto God, which gave it. Eccls. 1. a All is but vanity (sayeth the preacher) all is but plain vanity. The same preacher was not wise alone, but taught the people knowledge also: he gave good heed, sought out the ground and set forth many parables. His diligence was to find out acceptable words, right scripture, and the words of truth. Heb. 4. c For the words of the wise are like pricks and nails that go thorough, wherewith men are kept together: for they are given of one shepherd only. Therefore beware (my son) that above these thou make the not many & innumerable books, nor take diverse doctrines in hand, to weighed thy body withal. At us hear the conclusion of all things: Fear God, and keep his comaundementes, for that toucheth all men: For God shall judge all works and secret things, whether they be good or evil. The end of Ecclesiastes, called the Preacher. Salomon's Balettes, called Cantica Canticorum. The first Chapter. O That thy mouth would give me a kiss, for the breasts are more pleasant than wine, & that because of the good and pleasant savour. ●●cl●. 7. a Thy name is a sweet smelling ointment, therefore do the maidens love thee: ye that same moveth me also to run after the. The king hath brought me into his privy chambre. We will be glad & rejoice in thee, we think more of thy breasts then of wine: well is them that love the. I am black (oh you daughters of Jerusalem) like as the tents of the Cedarenes, 〈◊〉. 25. b Par. 3 c and as the hangings of Solomon: but yet am I fair & well favoured withal. Marvel not at me that I am so black, & why? the Son hath shined upon me. For when my mother's children had evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyard. Thus was I fain to keep a vineyard, which was not mine own. Tell me (oh thou whom my soul loveth) where thou fedest, where thou restest at the noon day: jest I go wrong, and come unto the flocks of thy companions, If thou know not thy self (oh thou fairest among women) than go the way forth after the fotesteppes of the sheep, as though thou wouldest feed the goats beside the shepherds tents. There will I tarry for thee (my love) with mine host & with my charettes, which shall be no fewer than pharao's. ●xo. 〈◊〉. 14. b Then shall thy cheeks & thy neck be made fair, & hanged with spanges & goodly jewels: a neck band of gold will we make the with silver buttons. When the king sitteth at the table, he shall smell my Nardus: for a bondell of Myrrh (oh my beloved) lieth betwixt my breasts. A cluster of grapes of Cypers, or of the vynyardes of Engaddi, art thou unto me, O my beloved. ●ant. 4. a O how fair art thou (my love) how fair art thou▪ thou hast doves eyes. O how fair art thou (my beloved) how well favoured art thou? Our bed is decte with flowers, the sylinge of our house are of cedar tree, & ou●e balks of Cypress. The II Chapter. I Am the flower of the field, and lylie of the valleys: as the rose among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Like as the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. My delight is to sit under his shadow, for his fruit is sweet unto my throat. He bringeth me in to his wine seller, and loveth me specially well. Refresh me with grapes, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love. 〈…〉 His left hand lieth under my head, & his right hand embraceth me. I charge you (oh you daughters of jerusalem (by the Roes & hinds of the field, that you wake not up my love ner touch her, till she be content herself. Me think I hear the voice of my beloved: lo, there cometh he hopping upon the mountains, and leaping over the little hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young heart. Behold, he standeth behind our brickwall, he looketh in at the window, & pepeth thorough the grate. My beloved answered & said unto me: O stand up my love, my dove, my beautiful, & come: for lo, the winter is now past, the rain is away & go. The flowers are come up in the field, the twystinge time is come, the voice of the turtle dove is herd in our land. The fig tree bringeth forth her fyges, the wines bear blossoms, and have a good smell. O stand up my love, my beautiful, and come (my dove) out of the caves of the rocks, out of the holes of the brickwall: O let me see thy countenance and hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice and fair is thy face. Get us the foxes, ye the little foxes that hurt the wines, for our wines bear blossoms. My love is mine, and I am his, 〈…〉 (which feedeth among the lilies) until the day break, and till the shadows be go. Come again privily (oh my beloved) like as a roe or a young heart unto the mountains. The III Chapter. BY night in my bed, I sought him, whom my soul loveth: ye diligently sought I him, but I found him not. I will get up (thought I) and go about the cite: upon the market and in all the streets will I seek him whom my soul loveth, but when I sought him, I found him not. The watchmen that go about the cite, found me. Saw you not him, whom my soul loveth? So when I was a little past them, I found him whom my soul loveth. I have got ten hold upon him, and will not let him go, until I bring him in to my mother's house, and in to her chambre that bore me. I charge you (oh you daughters of Jerusalem) by the Roes and hinds of the field, that you wake not up my love ner touch her, till she be content herself. Who is this, that cometh out of the wilderness like pilers of smoke, as it were a smell of Myrrh, frankincense and all manner spices of the apothecary? Behold, about Salomon'S bedstead there stand LX. valiant men of the mighty in Israel. They hold swords every one, & are expert in war. Every man hath his sword upon his thee, because of fear in the night. King Solomon hath made himself a bedstead of the wood of Libanus, the pilers are of silver, the covering of gold, the seat of purple, the ground pleasantly paved for the daughters of jerusalem. Go forth (oh you daughters of Zion) and behold king Solomon in the crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. The four Chapter. O How fair art thou (my love) how fair art thou? 〈…〉 thou hast doves eyes beside that which lieth hide within. Thy hairy locks are like a flock of sheep that be clipped, which go first up from the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, and not one unfruitful among them. Thy lips are like a rose coloured rybende, thy words are lovely: thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lied hid within. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded with bulwark, where upon there hang a thousand sheldes, ye all the weapons of the giants. Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes, 〈…〉 which feed among the lilies. O that I might go to the mountain of Myrrh, and to the hill of frankynsense: till the▪ day break, and till the shadows be passed away. Thou art all fair (oh my love) & no spot is there in the. Come to me from Libanus (oh my spouse) come to me from Libanus: come soon the next way from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the lions dens and from the mountains of the leopards. Thou hast wounded my heart (oh my sister, my spouse) thou hast wounded my heart, with one of thy eyes, and with one chain of thy neck. O how fair and lovely are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse▪ Thy breasts are more pleasant than wine, and the smell of thy ointments passeth all spices. Thy lips (oh my spouse) drop as the honey comb, ye milk and honey is under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of frankynsense. Thou art a well kept garden (oh my sister, my spouse) thou art a well kept water spring, a sealed well. The fruits that sprout in thee, are like a very paradise of pongranates with sweet fruits: as Cypress, Nardus, Saffron, Calmus, and all the trees of Libanus: Myrrh, Aloes, and all the best spices. Thou art a well of gardens, a well of living waters, which run down from Libanus. Up thou northwind, come thou southwind, and blow upon my garden, that the smell thereof may be carried on every side: Ye that my beloved may come in to my garden, & eat of the fruits and apples that grow therein. The V Chapter. COme in to my garden oh my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my Myrrh with my spice. I will eat my honey and my honey comb, I will drink my wine & my milk Eat oh (you friends) drink and be merry, oh you beloved. As I was a sleep, & my heart waking, I heard the voice of my beloved, when he knocked. Open to me (said he) oh my sister, my love, my dove, my derlinge: for my head is full of dew, and the locks of my hair are full of the night drops. I have put of my cote, how can I do it on again? I have washed my feet, how shall I file them again? But when my love put in his hand at the hole, my heart was moved toward him: so that I stood up to open unto my beloved. My hands dropped with Myrrh, & the Myrrh ran down my fingers upon the lock. Nevertheless when I had opened unto my beloved, he was departed, and go his way. Now like as afore time when he spoke, my heart could no longer refrain: Even so now I sought him, but I could not find him: I cried upon him, nevertheless he gave me no answer. So the watchmen that went about the cite, found me, smote me, and wounded me: Ye they that kept the walls, took away my garment fro me. I charge you therefore (oh you daughters of jerusalem) if you find my beloved, that you tell him, how that I am sick for love. Who is thy love above other lovers, O thou fairest among women? Or, what can thy love do, more than other lovers, that thou chargest us so straightly? As for my love, he is white and read coloured, a singular person among many thousands: his head is the most fine gold, the locks of his hair are buszshed, brown as the evening: His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the water brokes, washen with mylek, and remaining in a plenteous place: His cheeks are like a garden bed, where in the Apotecaryes' plant all manner of sweet things: His lips drop as the flowers of the most principal Myrrh, his hands are full of gold rings and precious stones. His body is as the pure ivory, decree over with sapphires: Eccl. 26. c His legs are as the pilers of Marble, set upon sokettes of gold: His face is as Libanus, and as the beauty of the cedar trees: His throat is sweet, ye he is altogether lovely. Soch one is my love (oh you daughters of jerusalem) such one is my love. Wither is thy love go them (oh thou fairest among women) whither is thy love departed, that we may seek him with thee? The VI Chapter. MY love is go down in to his garden, unto the sweet smelling beds, that he may refresh himself in the garden, and gather flowers. My love is mine, and I am his, which feedeth among the lilies. Thou art pleasant (oh my love) even as loveliness itself, thou art fair as jerusalem, glorious as an army of men with their bamners (Turn away thy eyes fro me, for they make me to proud) Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Galaad. Canti. 4. a Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that be clipped, which go out of the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, & not one unfruitful among them. Thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hide within. There are three score queens, 3. Re. 11. a four score concubines, and young women without number. But one is my dove, my darling. She is the only beloved of her mother, & dear unto her that bore her. When the daughters saw her, they said she was blessed: Ye the queens and concubines praised her. What is she this, that pepeth out as the morning? fair as the Moon, excellent as the Son, glorious as an army of men with their banners? I went down in to the nut garden, to see what grew by the brokes, to look if the vineyard flourished, and if the pomegranates were shot forth. Then the charettes of the prince of my people made me suddenly afraid. Turn again, turn again (O thou S●●lamite) turn again, turn again, that we may look upon the. The VII. Chapter. WHat pleasure have you more in the S●lamite, than when she daunseth among the men of war? O how pleasant are thy treadinges with thy shoes, thou princes daughter? Thy these are like a fair jewel, which is wrought by a co●●nynge workmaster: Thy navel is like a rou●de goblett, which is never without drink▪ Thy womb is like an heap of wheat, se●● about with lilies: Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes: Thy neck is as it were a tower of ivory: Thine eyes are like the water poles in Hesebon, beside the port of Bathrabbim: Thy nose is like the tower of Libanus, which looketh toward Damascu●▪ That head that standeth upon the is like Carmel: The hair of thy head is like the kings purple folden up in plates. O how fair and lovely art thou (my darling) in pleasures? Thy stature is like a date tree, and thy breasts like the grapes. I said: I will climb up in to the date tree, and take hold of his branches. Thy breasts also shallbe as the vine grapes, the smell of thy nostrils like the smell of apples, and thy th●●●te like the best wine. This shallbe pure & clear for my love, his lips and teeth shall have their pleasure. There will I turn me unto my love, and he shall turn him unto me. O come on my love, let us go forth in to the field, and take ●●re lodging in the villages. In the morning will we rise by times, and go see the vineyard: if it be sprung forth, if the grapes be grown, & if the pomegranates be sho●● out. There will I give the my breasts: There shall the Mandragoras give their smell beside our doors: There (oh my love) have I kept unto the all manner of fruits, both new and old. The VIII. Chapter. O That I might find the without & kiss thee, whom I love as my brother which sucked my mother's breasts: & that thou wouldest not be offended, if I took the and brought the in to my mother's house: that thou mightest teach me, and that I might give the drink of spiced wine and of the sweet sap of my pomegranates. His left hand lieth under my head, & his right hand embraceth me. I charge you (oh you daughters of Jerusalem) 〈◊〉 you wake not up my love ner touch her, 〈◊〉 she be content herself. What is she this, 〈◊〉 cometh up from the wilderness, and 〈◊〉 upon her love? I am the same that 〈◊〉 the up among the apple trees, where thy ●●ther bear thee, where the mother brought 〈◊〉 in to the world. O set me as a seal upon thy heart, and as ●eale upon thy arm: for love is mighty the death, & jealousy as the hell. Her coa●● are of fire, and a very flame of the LOR●E: so that many waters are not able to quench 〈◊〉, neither may the streams drown it. Ye 〈◊〉 man would give all the good of his hou●● for love, he should count it nothing. When our love is told our young sister, ●hose breasts are not yet grown, what shall ●e do unto her? If she be a brickwall, we shall ●ylde a silver bollworke there upon: If she 〈◊〉 a tower, we shall festen her with boards of ●edre tree. If I be a brickwall, & my breasts like towers, then am I as one that hath found favour 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 (oh Solomon) giveth the a thousand, and two hundredth to the keepers of the fruit. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O let me hear thy voice, that my companions may hearken to the same. O get the away (my love) as a roo or a young heart unto the sweet smelling mountains. The end of Salomons Balettes, called Cantica Canticorum. Faults escaped in the pryntinge of this part. Upon the second leaf, the second side, in the sixth Chapter of job, the letter A. Within the yoke an egg, read, Within the yoke of an egg. In the Psalter. Upon the xxxv. leaf, the second side, in the cxxxvi. psalm, the second verse▪ Upon the trees, read, Upon the will you trees. All the Prophets in English. Esay. jeremy. Baruch. Ezechiel. Daniel. Oseas. joel. Amos. Abdy. jonas. Micheas. Naum. Abacuc. Sophony. Aggeus. Zachary. Malachy. The Prophet Esay. What Esay containeth. Chap. I The prophet rebuketh the people of Israel, for their abominations. Chap. II The calling of the heathen. Chap. III punishment of God, specially for the pride of women. Chap. four Plagues to come, with a promise of the grace and comfort thorough Christ. Chap. V The loving kindness of God toward Israel, afore other people. Again, the unthankfulness and unfaithfulness of them. Chap. VI The sending of Esay. The hard hearts of the people. Chap. VII. He rebuketh the king, for being afraid of the ungodly kings of the heathen, and because he put not his trust in God. He giveth him a token of grace, which he receiveth not. Chap. VIII. The people forsake God, & seek help at the heathen. Chap. IX. He putteth them in mind of the misery that is past. Of the coming and kingdom of Christ. punishment for their pride. Chap. X. punishment of unrighteous rulers. The comfort of Israel against the pry●● of the king of the Assyrians. Chap. XI. A prophecy of Christ. Chap. XII. A thanksgiving of the faithful people. Chap. XIII. punishment to come upon Babylon, by the Persians & Medes. Chap. XIIII. God will have mercy on his people. He threteneth Palestina. Chap. XU. The plague of Moab. Chap. XVI. The vexation & fear of Moab. Chap. XVII. punishment of Damascus & siria. Chap. XVIII. The calling of the heathen. Chap. XIX.XX. Plagues upon Egipte & Ethiopia. Chap. XXI. The punishment of Babylon, Duma, and Arabia. Chap. XXII. The punishment upon Jerusalem by Sennacherib Sobna is put down, Eliachim cometh in his stead. Chap. XXIII. The punishment of tire, of all the cities by the see coast, and of the Iles. Chap. XXIIII. Of the general punishment of the whole earth unto the end of the world. Chap. XXV. A thanksgiving unto God. The calling of the heathen. Chap. XXVI. Men aught to trust only in God. Chap. XXVII. The punishment of Leviathan. The goodness of God. The deliverance of Israel. The calling of the heathen. Chap. XXVIII. The punishment of Ephraim Of men's laws Of the stone in Zion. Chap. XXIX. punishment upon jerusalem for men's laws and doctrines. Chap. XXX God's people are punished, for seeking help at other than himself. Chap. XXXI. He calleth the people again to God, and promises them defence. Chap. XXXII. Health under the king of righteousness. He threateneth the careless cities·s Chap. XXXIII. punishment upon the enemies of God's people. Chap. XXXIIII. God's plague upon the heathen. Chap. XXXV. A comfort, & secret promise concerning the calling of the heathen. Chap. XXXVI. Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians sendeth his host to besiege Jerusalem. Chap. XXXVII. The prayer of Ezechias. God comforteth him by Esay. The angel of the LORD putteth the Assyrians host to shame. Chap. XXXVIII. Ezechias is deed sick. God helpeth him up again. He thanketh God. Chap. XXXIX. The king of Babylon sendeth Embassitours unto Ezechias, which showeth them his treasure, & displeaseth God withal. Chap. XL. The deliverance not only of Israel out of the captivity of Babylon, but of all faithful also in Christ. The vanity of man. The excellent power of God. Chap. XLI. God reasoneth with the jews & gentiles, & reproveth the people of Israel for their unthankfulness. Chap. XLII. The coming & power of Christ The praise of God. Punishment of the ungodly. Chap. XLIII. A prophecy of the coming of the saviour. He putteth them in mind of the benefits past. Chap. XLIIII. Unthankfulness of the people. The vanity of Idols or images. The mad foolishness of those that make them, or worship them. Chap. XLV. The LORD only is the true God of Israel. Chap. XLVI. Of the destruction of images. The power of the true God. Chap. XLVII. Plagues upon proud Babylon. Chap. XLVIII. Against the vanity of images. Chap. XLIX. The coming & office of Christ. Salvation for the jews and for the gentiles. Chap. L. The jews refused, because they have forsaken their maker, and go a whoring with strange gods. Chap. LI. The mighty God hath ever done them good: if they cleave to him, there shall no body hurt them. Chap. LII. A promise of Messiah: He waketh up the jews and gentiles also to the coming of him. Chap. LIII. He complaineth of the hardneckes of the people, & testifieth clearly of Christ. Chap. liv. One church of jews & Gentiles. Chap. LU. God calleth all men to his goodness in Christ. Chap. LVI. How the church of Christ should prepare herself against his coming. A complaint of false prophets and rulers. Chap. LVII. He rebuketh the prophets, ruler's and the people, and promiseth mercy to all such as will turn. Chap. LVIII. He putteth the prophets in mind of their office. What the true fast is. Chap. LIX. Why God heareth not the jews Chap. LX. He calleth unto all such as fear God, that they will know his goodness. Chap. LXI. The office of a prophet, fulfilled specially in Christ. Chap. LXII. The prophet may not leave of to cry, to warn, and to exhort, until the light of grace arise in Zion. Chap. LXIII. An exhortation to receive the saviour for to come. Chap. LXIIII He longeth sore for the coming of the saviour, showeth his power, & prayeth for the people. Chap. LXV. Of the forsaking of the jews, and calling of the heathen. Chap. LXVI. The outward ceremonies of the jews are refused: and here is showed the true service of God. This is the prophecy of Esay the son of Amos, which he showed upon juda and jerusalem: In the time of Osias, joathan, Ahas, and Ezechias kings of juda. The first Chapter. Hear oh heaven, hearken oh earth, for the LORD speaketh: 〈…〉 I have nourished & brought up children, and they are fallen away fro me. An ox knoweth his LORD, and an Ass his master's stall, but Israel knoweth nothing, my people hath no understanding. Alas for this sinful people, which are expert in blasphemies, a frawerde generation, unnatural children. They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the holy one of Israel unto anger, and are go backwardly. Wherefore should you be plagued any more? For you are ever falling away. The whole head is sick, and the heart is very heavy. 〈…〉 From the sole of the foot unto the head, there is no whole part in all your body: but all are wounds, botches, sores and stripes, which can neither be helped, bound up, mollified, ner eased with any ointment. Your land lieth waist, your cities are brent up, your enemies devour your land, and you must be fain to stand, and look upon it: and it is desolate, as it were with enemies in a battle. moreover the daughter of Syonis left alone like a cottage in a vynyearde, like a watchouse in time of war, like a besieged city. And except the LORD of hosts had left us a few alive: we should have been as Sodoma, & like unto Gomorra. Hear the word of the LORD you tyrants of Sodoma: and hearken unto the law of our God, thou people of Gomorra. Why offer you so many sacrifices unto me? I am discontent for the brent offerings of wethers, and with the fatness offedbeastes. I have no pleasure in the blood of bullocks, lambs and gootes. When you appear before me, who requireth you to tread within my porches? Offreme no more oblations, Hiere. 6. e Amos 5. b Mich 6. b for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your newmoones, your Sabbathes and solemn days. Esa. 58. a your fastings are also in vain. I hate your new holy days and fastings, even fro my very heart. They make me weighed, I can not abide them. Though you hold out your hands, yet turn I mine eyes from you. Zach. 7. b Mat. 6. b Esa. 59 a And though you make many prayers, yet hear I nothing at all, for your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean, put away your evil thoughts out of my sight, jere. 7. a and 21. a and 22. a cease from doing of evil and violence. Learn to do right, apply yourselves to equity, deliver the oppressed, help the fatherless to his right, let the widows complaint come be fore you. Now go to (saith the LORD) we will talk together. Is it not so? Though your sins be as read as scarlet, shall the● not be whiter then snow? And though they were like purple, shall they not be like white will? Is it not so? If you be loving & obedient, you shall enjoy the best thing that groweth in the land. Deut. 11. b Levi. 26. d deut. 28. d But if you be obstinate and rebellious, you shallbe devoured with the sword: for thus the LORD hath promised with his own mouth. How happeneth it then that the righteous city (which was full of equity) is become unfaithful as an whore? righteousness dwelled in it, but now murder. Pro. 25. ● Eze. 2●. b Thy Silver is turned to dross, and thy wine mixed with water. Thy princes are traitors and companions of thieves. jere. 5. g They love gifts altogether, and follow rewards. Asdrubal for the fatherless, they help him not to his right, neither will they let the widows causes come before them. Therefore speaketh the LORD God of hosts the mighty one of Israel: Ah I must ease me of mine enemies, and a venge me upon them. And therefore shall I say my hand upon thee, and burn out thy dross from the finest and purest, and put out all thy lead, & set thy judges again as they were sometime, and thy Senators as they were from the beginning. Zach. 8. ● Then shalt thou be called the righteous city, the faithful city. But Zion shallbe redeemed with equity, and her captivity with righteousness. For the transgressors and ungodly, and such as are become unfaithful unto the LORD, must all together be utterly destroyed. And except you be ashamed of the oke-trees wherein you have so delighted, and of the gardens that you have choose: you shallbe as an oak whose leaves are fallen away, and as a garden that hath no moistness. jere. 10. c And as for the glory of these things, it shallbe turned to dry straw, and he that made them to a spark. Esa. 29. b Andrea they shall both burn together, so that no man shallbe able to quench them. The second Chapter. moreover this is the word that was opened unto Isaiah the son of Amos, upon juda and jerusalem. It will be also in process of time: That the hill where the the house of the LORD is builded, Mich. 4. a shall be the chief among hills, and exalted above all little hills. Zach. 8. d And alheithen shall press unto him and the multitude of people shall go unto him, speaking thus one to another: up, let us go to the hill of the LORD, Psal. 121. a jere. 31. a and to the house of the God of jacob: that he may show us his way, Psal. 49. a Acto. 1. a and that we may walk in his paths. For the law shall come out of Zion, and the word of God from jerusalem, and shall give sentence among the heathen, and shall reform the multitude of people: So that they shall break their swords and spears, to make scythes, sycles & saws thereof. joel. 3 b From that time forth shall not one people lift up wapen against another, Mich. 4. b neither shall they learn to fight from thenceforth. It is to the that I cry (oh house of jacob) up, let us walk in the light of the LORD. But thou art scattered abroad with thy people (oh house of jacob) for you go far beyond your fathers, whether it be in Sorcerers) whom you have as the phylistynes had) or in calkers of men's births, whereof you have to many. Deut. 8. c and 17. d As soon as your land was full of silver and gold, and no end of your treasure: so soon as your land was full of strong horses and no end of your charettes: Inmediatly was it full of Idols also, even works of your own hands, Esa. 44 b. which you your selves have fashioned, and your fingers have made. There kneeleth the man, there falls the man down before them, so that thou canst not bring him away from thence. And therefore get the soon in to some rock, und hide the in the ground from the sight of the fearful judge, 2. Tess. 1 b and from the glory of his majesty. Which casts down the high looks of presumptuous personnes, and bringeth low the pride of man, Esa. 5. b and he only shall be exalted in the day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall go over all pride & presumption, upon all them that exalt themselves, and shall bring them all down? upon all high & stout cedar trees of Libanus, and upon all the oaks of Basan, upon all high hills, and upon all stout mountains, upon all costly towers, and upon all strong walls, upon all ships of the see, and upon every thing that is glorious and pleasant to look upon. And it shall bring down the pride of man, 〈…〉 〈…〉 and lay man's presumptuousness full low, and the LORD shall only have the victory in that day. 〈…〉 But the Idols shall utterly be rooted out. Men shall creep in to holes of stone, and in to caves of the earth, from the sight of the fearful judge, and from the glory of his majesty: 〈…〉 what time as he shall make him up to shake the earth. Then, them shall man cast away his gods of silver and gold (which he nevertheless had made to honour them) unto Molles and Backs: that he may the better creep in to the caves and rocks, and in to the cliffs of hard stones, from the sight of the fearful judge and from the glory of his majesty. The third Chapter. EVery man can eschew a person moved in anger, for what doth he wisely▪ Even so shall the LORD of hosts take away from Jerusalem & juda, all possessions & power, all meat and drink, the captain and the soudyare, the judge and the prophet, the wise and the aged man, the worshipful of fifty year old, and the honourable: the Senators, and men of understanding: the masters of crafts and orators. And I shall give you children to be your princes (saith the LORD) and babes shall have the rule of you. One shall ever be doing violence and wrong to another. The boy shall presume against the elder, and the vile person against the honourable. Ye one shall take a friend of his own kindred by the bosom, and say: thou hast clothing, thou shalt be our head, for thou mayest keep us from this fall and apparel. Then shall he swear and say: I can not help you. moreover, there is neither meat ner clothing in my house, make me no ru●ler of the people. For jerusalem and juda must decay, because that both their words and counsels are against the LORD, they provoke the presence of his magestyrs to anger. The changing of their countenance bewrayeth them, ye they declare their own sins themselves, as the Sodomites, & hide them not. Woe be unto their souls, for they shallbe heavily rewarded. Then shall they say: O happy are the godly, for they may enjoy the fruits of their studies. But woe be to the ungodly and unrightuous for they shallbe rewarded after their works. 〈…〉 O my people, rybaudes oppress thee, and women have rule of the. O my people, thy leders deceive thee, and tread out the way of thy footsteps. 〈…〉 The LORD is here to common of the matter, and standeth to give judgement with the people. The LORD shall come forth to reason with the Senators and princes of his people, and shall say thus unto them: It is you that have burned up my vynyearde, the robbery of the poor is in your house. Wherefore do you oppress my people, and mar the faces of the innocentes? thus shall the God of hosts revile them. moreover thus saith the LORD: seeing the daughters of Zion are become so proud, and come in with stretched out necks, and with vain wanton eyes: seeing they come in tripping so nicely with their feet: Therefore shall the LORD shave the heads of the daughters of Zion, and make their beauty bore in that day. In that day shall the LORD take away the gorgeousness of their apparel, and spangs, chains, partlettes, and colares, bracelets and hooves, the goodly flowered, wide and broderd raiment, brusshes and headbandes, rings and garlands, holy day clotheses and vales, kerch●es and pins, glasses and smocks, bonettes and taches. And in stead of good smell there shallbe stynck among them. And for their girdles there shallbe louse bonds. And for wellset hair there shallbe baldness. In stead of a stomacher, a sack clot, and for their beauty wythrednesse and sonneburning. Their husbondes and their mighty men shall perish with the sword in battle. The fourth Chapter. AT that time shall their gates mourn and complain, and they shall sit as desolate fol●k upon the earth. Then shall seven wives take hold of one man, and say: we will say all our meat and cloothinge together in common, only that we may be called thy wives, and that this shameful reproof may be taken from us. 〈…〉 After that time shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and mighty, and the fruit of the earth shallbe fair and pleasant for those Israelites that shall springe thereof. 〈…〉 Then shall the remnant in Zion and the remnant at jerusalem be called holy: namely all such as are written among the living at jerusalem: what time as the LORD shall wash away the desolation of the daughters of Sion, and purge the blood out from Jerusalem, with the wind of his smoke and fire. moreover upon all the dwellings of the hill of Zion and upon their whole congregation, shall the LORD provide a cloud and smoke by day, and the shyninghe of a flaming fire by night, for all their glory shallbe preserved. And jerusalem shall be a tabernacle for a shadow because of heat in the day time, a place and refuge where a man may keep him for wether and rain. The V Chapter NOw well than, I will sing my beloved friend a song of his vynyearde. My beloved friend hath a vineyard in a very fruitful plenteous ground. jere. 2. c Matth. 21. ● This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therein And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns. I show you now my cause (oh you Citysens of jerusalem and whole juda:) judge I pray you betwixt me: and my wynegardinge. What more could have been done for it, jere. 2. d that I have not done? Wherefore then hath it given thorns, where I looked to have had grapes of it? Well, I shall tell you how I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and break down the brickwall, that it may be trodden under foot. I will say it waist, that it shall neither be twysted nor ●ut, but bear thorns and breares. I will also forbid the clouds, that they shall not rain upon it. As for the vineyard of the LORD of hosts it is the house of Israel, and whole juda his fair planting. Of these he looked for equity, but see there is wrong: for righteousness, lo, It is but misery. woe to you that join one house to another, and bring one land so nigh unto another, till you can get no more ground. Esaiae 32. c and 56. c Will you devil upon the earth alone? The LORD of hosts rowneth me thus in mine ear: shall not many greater and more gorgeous houses be so waist, that no man shall devil in them? And ten acres of wines shall give but a Quart, and thirty. bushels of seed shall give but three. Woe be unto them that rise up early to use themselves in dronkynnes, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine. In whose companies are haps and lutes, ●ob 21 b tabrettes and pipes, and wine. But they regard not the work of the LORD, Amos ● a and consider not the operation of his hands. Therefore cometh my folck also in captivity, Osee 4 b Abac. 〈◊〉 b because they have no understanding. Their glory shallbe mixed with hunger, and their pride shallbe marred for thirst. Therefore gapeth hell, and openeth her mouth marvelous wide: that pride, boostinge and wisdom, with such as rejoice therein, may descend in to it. Esaiae 2 b Thus shall man have a fall, he shallbe brought low, and the high looks of the proud laid down. But the LORD of hosts, the holy God: shallbe exalted and untouched, when he shall declare his equity and righteousness after this manner. Then shall the lambs eat their appointed fodder, and shall feed plenteously in the mountains. woe unto vain persons, that draw wickedness unto them, as it were with a coorde: and sin, as it were with a cart rope. Which use to speak on this manner: let h●m make haist now, and go forth with his work, Pro. 20 c that we may see it. Letoy the council of the holy one of Israel come, and draw me, that we may know it. woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil: Pro. 17 c Mich 3 a which make darcknesselight, & light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sower. Woe unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding. Pro. 3 a woe unto them, that are cunning men to sup out wine, and expert to set up drunkenness. Pro 17 c Deut. 17 a Ezec. 13 d These give sentence with the ungodly for rewards, but condemn the just cause of the righteous. Therefore, like as fire licketh up the straw, and as the flame consumeth the stubble: Even so (when their root is full,) their blossom shall vanish away like dust or smoke for they despise the law of the LORD of hosts, Nu. 11 g and blaspheme the word of the holy maker of Israel. Therefore is the wrath of the LORD kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: ye he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcases shall lie in the open streets, like mire. After all this, Esa. 9 e the wrath of God shall not c●asse, but he shall stretch his hand wider▪ And he shall give a token unto a strange people, Esa. 43 c Dan. 9 c and call unto them in a far country: and behold, they shall come hastily with speed. There is not one faint nor feeble among them, not not a slogish nor slepery parson. There shall not one of them put of the girdle from his loins, ner louse the lachet of his shoe. Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bend. Their horse hooves are like flint, and their cartwheles like a stormy wind. Their cry is as it were of a lion, and the roaring of them like lions whelps. They shall roar, and hantch up the pray, and no man shall recover it or get it from them. In that day they shall be so fierce upon them, as the see. And if we look unto the land, behold, it shallbe all darkness and sorrow. If we look to heaven: behold, it shallbe dark with careful desperation. The uj Chapter. IN the same year y ʸ king Osias died, I ●a●e the LORD sitting upon an high and glorious seat, 3 Reg. 〈…〉 4. Reg. 〈…〉 2. 〈…〉 and his train filled the palace. From above flakred the Seraphins, whereof every one had sex wings. With twain each covered his face, with twain his feet, and with twain did he fly. They cried also each one to other on this manner: holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts. 〈…〉 The whole world is full of his glory. Ye the geastes and dorechekes moved at their crying, and the house was full of smoke. Then I said: O woe is me. For I was astonished: that I (which am a man of unclean lips, and devil among people that hath unclean lips also:) Should see the King and LORD of hosts with mine eyes. Then flew one of the Seraphins unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongues, and touched my mouth, and said: lo, this hath touched thy mouth, & thy unrighteousness is taken away, and thy sin forgiven. After this I heard the voice of the LORD taking advysement on this manner: Whom shall I send, and who willbe our messenger? Then I said: here am I, send me. And so he said: go, and tell this people: you shall hear in deed, but you shall not understand, 〈…〉 you shall plane lice, and not perceive. Harden the heart of this people, stop their ears, and shut their eyes, that they see not with their eyes, hear not with their ears, and understand not with their hearts, and convert and be healed. Then spoke I: LORD, how long? he answered: until the cities be utterly without inhabitors, and the houses without men, till the land be also desolate, and lie unbuilded. For the LORD shall take the men far away, so that the land shall lie waist Nevertheless, the tenth part shall remain therein, for it shall convert and be fruitful. And like wise as the Terebyntes and Oketrees bring forth their fruits, so shall the holy seed have fruit. 〈…〉 The seventh Chapter. IT happened in the time of Ahas the son of jonathas, 〈◊〉. 16 a 〈◊〉. ●3 a which was the son of joathan King of juda: that Rezin the King of Syria, and Poca Rome lies son, King of Israel: went up toward jerusalem to besiege it (but wan it not.) Now when the house of David (that is Ahas) heard word thereof, that Syria and Ephraim were confederate together: his heart quaked (ye and the hearts also of his people) like as a tree in the field, that is moved with the wind. Then said God unto Esay: go meet Ahas (thou and thy son Sear jasub) at the head of the over pole, in the foot path by the fullers ground, and say unto him: take heed to thyself and be still, but fear not, neither be faint hearted, for these two tales: that is: for these two smoking fire brands, the wrath and furiousness of Rezin the Sirian and Romelies son: because that the King of Syria Ephraim and Romelies son have wekedly conspired against thee, saying: We will go down in to juda, vex them, and bring them under us, and set a King there, even the son of Taball. For thus saith the LORD God thereto, It shall not so go forth, neither come so to pass: for the head city of the Syrians is Damascus, but the head of Damascus is Rezin. And after five and threescore year, shall Ephraim be no more a people. And the chief city of Ephraim is Samaria, but the head of Samaria is Rome lies son. And if you believe not, there shall no promise be kept with you. 〈…〉 moreover, God spoke unto Ahas, saying: require a token of the LORD thy God, whether it be toward the depth beneath or toward the height above. Then said Ahas: I will require none, neither will I tempt the LORD. The LORD answered: Then he are to, you of the house of David: Is it not enough for you, that you be grievous unto men, but you must grieve my God also? And therefore the LORD shall give you a token of himself: Behold, Luc. 1 d Math. 1 d a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know the evil, and chose the good. But or ever that child come to knowledge, to eschew the evil and chose the good: The land (that thou art so afraid for) shallbe desolate of both her kings. The LORD also shall send a time upon thee, upon thy people, and upon thy father's house (soch as never came sense the time that Ephraim departed from juda) thorough the king of the Assyrians. For at the same time shall the LORD whistle for the flies that are about the water of Egipte, 2. Par. 32 a Esa. 36 a and for the Beyes in the Assyrians land. These shall come, and shall light all in the valleys, in the vowtes of stone, upon all green things, and in all corners. At the same time shall the LORD shave the hair of the head and the feet and the beerd clean of, with the rasor that he shall pay them withal beyond the water: namely, with the king of the Assyrians. At the same time shall a man live with a cow, and two sheep. Then because of the abundance of milk, 2. Par. 22 e he shall make butter and eat it. So that every one which remaineth in the land, shall eat butter and honey. At the same time all vynyardes (though there be a thousand wines in one, and were sold for a thousand siluerlinges) shallbe turned to brears and thorns. Like as they shall come in to the land with arrows and bows, so shall all the land become brears and thorns. And as for all hills that now are hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of brears and thorns. But the cattle shallbe driven thither, and the sheep shall feed there. The viij Chapter. moreover the LORD said unto me: Take the a great leaf, Esa. 30 b and write in it, as men do with a pen, that he speed him to rob, and haist him to spoil. And Inmediatly I called unto me faithful witnesses: Urias the priest, and Zacharias the son of Barachias. After that went I unto the prophetess, that now had conceived and born a son. Then said the LORD to me: give him this name: Maherschalal haschbas, that is: a spedierobber, an hasty spoiler. For why, or ever the child shall have knowledge to say: Abi and In, that is father, and mother: shall the riches of Damascus and the substance of Samaria be taken away, thorough the king of the Assyrians. 4. Re. 16 b 4. Re. 17 a The LORD spoke also unto me, saying: ● ●e. 2. a ●●al. 12● a raiaes 30. a ●hel. 9 a for so much as the people refuseth the sti●renninge water of Silo, and put their delight in Rezin and Romelies son: Behold, the LORD shall bring mighty and great floods of water upon them: namely, the king of the Assyrians with all his power. ●. Reg. 18. c ●saiae 36 a Which shall pour out his furiousness upon every man, and run over all their banks. And shall break in upon juda, increasing in power, till he get him by the throat. He shall fill also the wideness of thy land with his broad wings, O Emanuel. Go together you people, and gather you, hearken to all you of far countries. Muster you, and gather you: muster you and gather you, take your council together, yet must your council come to naught: ●saiae 19 c go in hand withal, yet shall it not prosper. Except Emanuel: (that is God) be with us. For the LORD chastised me, and took me by the hand, and warned me, saying unto me: that I should not walk in the way of this people. He said moreover: round with none of them, who so ever say: yonder people are bound together. 1. Pet. 3. b 4 Reg. 17. g Matth. 10. d 1. Cor. 1. d 1. Pet. 2. b Nevertheless fear them not, neither be afraid of them, but sanctify the LORD of hosts, let him be your fear and dread. For he is the sanctifying, and stone to stumble at, the rock to fall upon, a snare and net to both the houses: to Israel, and the inhabitors of jerusalem. And many shall stumble, fall, and be broken upon him: ye they shallbe snared and taken. Now lay the witnesses together (said the LORD) and seal the law with my disciples. Daniel. 8. d Thus I wait upon the LORD, that hath turned his face from the house of jacob, Heb. ●. d and I look unto him. But lo, as for me, and the children which the LORD hath given me: we are a token and a wonder in Israel, for the LORD of hosts sake, which dwelleth upon the hill of Zion. And therefore if they say unto you: ask council at the soythsayers, witches, charmers and conjurers, then make them this answer: Is there a people enywhere, that aseth not council at his God: whether it be concerning the dead, or the living? If any man want light, Psal. 1●. let him look upon the law and the testimony, whether they speak not after this meaning. If he do not this, he stombleth and suffereth hunger. And if he suffer hunger, he is out of patience, and blasphemeth his king and his God. Then looketh he upward, and downward to the earth, and behold, there is trouble and darkness, vexation is round about him, and the cloud of error And out of such adversity, shall he not escape. The jx. Chapter. EVen like as in time past it hath been well seen, 〈…〉 that the land of Zabulon and the land of Nepthali (where thorough the see way goeth over jordane in to the land of Galilee) was at the first in little trouble, but afterward sore vexed. 〈…〉 Nevertheless the people that have dwelled in darkness, shall see a great light. As for them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them shall the light shine. Shalt thou multiply the people, and not increase the joy also? 〈…〉 They shall rejoice before the even as men make merry in harvest, and as men that have got the victory, when they deal the spoil. For thou shalt break the yoke of the people's burden: the staff of his shoulder, 〈…〉 and the rod of his oppressor, as in the day at Madian. moreover all temerarious and seditious power (ye where there is but a cote fyled with blood) shallbe burned, and feed the fire. 〈…〉 For unto us a child shallbe born, and unto us a son shallbe given. Upon his shoulder shall the kingdom lie, and he shallbe called with his own name? 〈…〉 The wondrous giver of council, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace, he shall make no end to increase the kingdom and peace, and shall sit upon the seat of David and in his kingdom, to set up the same, to establish it with equity and righteousness, from thence forth for evermore. This shall the jealousy of the LORD of hosts bring to pass. The LORD sent a word in to jacob, the same is come in to Israel. All the people also of Ephraim, and they that dwell in Samaria, can say with pride and high stomachs, on this manner: The tile work is fallen down, but we will build it with harder stones. The Molbery tymbreys broken, but we shall set it up again with cedar. Nevertheless, the LORD shall prepare Rezin the enemy against them, and so order their adversaries, that the Syrians shall say hold upon them before, and the philistines behind, and so devour Israel with open mouth. After all this, 〈…〉 the wrath of the LORD shall not cease, but yet his hand shable stretched out still. For the people turneth not unto him, that chastiseth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD shall rote out of Israel both head and tale, branch and twig in one day. By the head, is understand the senator and honourable man, and by the tale, the prophet that preacheth lies. For all they which inform the people that they be in a right case, such be deceivers. Soch as men think also to be perfect among these, are but cast away. Therefore shall the LORD have no pleasure in their young men, neither favour their fatherless and widows. For they are altogether hypocrites and wicked, and all their mouths speak folly. After all this shall not the lords wrath cease, but yet his hand shallbe stretched out still. For the ungodly burn, as a fire in the briars and thorns: And as it were out of a fire in a wood or a redebush, so ascendeth the smoke of their pride. For this cause shall the wrath of the LORD of hosts fall upon the land, and the people shallbe consumed, as it were with fire, no man shall spare his brother. If a man do turn him to the right hand, he shall famesh, or to the left hand to eat, he shall not have enough. Every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses shall eat Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they both shall eat juda. After all this shall not the lords wrath cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still. The tenth chapter. WOE be unto you that make unrightuous laws, 〈…〉 and devise things, which be to hard for to keep: wherethrough the poor are oppressed, on every side, and the innocentes of my people are there with rob of judgement: that widows may be your pray, and that you may rob the fatherless. What will you do in time of the visitation and destruction, that shall come from far? To whom will you run for help? or to whom will you give your honour, that he may keep it? that you come not among the presoners, or lie among the deed? 〈…〉 After all this shall not the wrath of the LORD cease, but yet shall his hand be stretched out still. 〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 ●1. b Woe be also unto Assur, which is a staff of my wrath, in whose hand is the rod of my punishment. For I shall send him among those ypocritish people, among the people that have deserved my disfavour shall I sand him: that he may utterly rob them, spoil them, and tread them down like the mire in the street. Howbeit his meaning is not so, neither thinketh his heart of this fashion. But he ymagineth only, how he may overthrow and destroy much people, for he saith: are not my princes all kings? 4. Reg. 18. Is not Calno as easy to win, as Charchamis? Is it harder to conquer Antiochia then Arphad? Or is it lighter to overcome Damascus than Samaria? As who say: I were able to win the kingdom of the Idolaters and their gods, but not jerusalem and Samaria. Shall I not do unto jerusalem and their images, as I did unto Samaria and their images? Wherefore the LORD saith: As soon as I have performed my whole work upon the Hill of Zion and jerusalem: them will I also visit the noble and stout king of Assiria, with his wisdom and pride. For he standeth thus in his own conceit: This do I, Deut. 8. d Esa. 47. b Eze. 29. b thorough the power of mine own hand, and thorough my wisdom: For I am wise, I am he that remove the lands of the people, I rob their princes: and (like one of the worthies) I drive them from their high seats. My hand hath found out the hosts of the people, as it were a nest. And like as eggs, that were laid here and there, are gathered together: So do I gather all countries. And there is no man, that dare be so bold, as to touch a feather, that▪ dare open his mouth, or once whisper. But doth the axe boost itself, Esa. 45. b Rom. 9 c against him that heweth therewith, or doth the saw make any krakinge, against him that ruleth it? That were even like, as if the rod did exalt itself against him, that beareth it: or as though the staff should magnify itself, as who say: it were no wood. Esa. 37. f Therefore shall the LORD of hosts send him poverty in his riches, and burn up his power, as it were with a fire. Mat. 13. a But the light of Israel shallbe that fire, and his Sanctuary shallbe the flame, and it shall kindle, and burn up his thorns and breyers in one day, ye all the glory of his woods and fields shallbe consumed with body and soul. As for himself, he shallbe as one chased away. The trees also of his field shallbe of such a number, that a child may tell them. After that day shall the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped out of the house of jacob, seek no more comfort at him that smote them, but shall comfort themselves with faithfulness and truth in the LORD, the holy, ●. Re. 19 c Ro. 9 c Esa. 28. f and 11. e one of Israel. The remnant, ye and the posterity of jacob, shall convert unto God the mighty one. For though thy people (oh Israel) be as the sand of the see, yet shall but the remnant of them only convert unto him. Perfect is the judgement of him that floweth in righteousness: and therefore the LORD of hosts shall perfectly fulfil the thing, that he hath determined in the midst of the whole world. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts: Thou my people, that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid for the king of the Assyrians: He shall wag his staff at thee, ye and beat the with the rod, as the Egyptians did sometime: But soon after, shall my wrath and my indignation be fulfilled against their blasphemies. moreover the LORD of hosts shall prepare a scourge for him, Esa. 37. f judic▪ 7. g like as was the punishment of Madian upon the mount of Oreb. Andrea he shall lift up his rod over the see, Exo. 14. c as he did sometime over the Egyptians. Their shall his burden be taken from thy shoulders, and his yock from thy neck, ye the same yock shall corrupt for very fatness. He shall come to Aiath, and go thorough toward Migron. But at Machmas shall he muster his host, and go over the ford. Gaba shall be their resting place, Rhama shallbe afraid, Gabea Saul shall i'll away. The voice of the noise of thy horses (oh daughter Gallim) shallbe heard unto lais and to Anathoth, which also shallbe in trouble. Madmena shall tremble for fear, but the citesyns of Gahim are manly, yet shall he remain at Nob that day. After that, shall he lift up his hand against the mount Zion, and against the hill of jerusalem. But see, the Lord God of hosts shall take away the proud from thence, with fear. He shall hue down the proud, and fell the high minded. The thorns of the wood shall be rooted out with iron, and Libanus shall have a mighty fall. The xj. Chapter. AFter this there shall come a rod forth of the kindred of jesse, Mat. 1. a Esa. 61. a Luc. 4. b and 7. c and a blossom out of his rote. The spirit of the LORD shall light upon it: the spirit of wisdom, and understanding: the spirit of council, and strength: the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of God: and shall make him fervent in the fear of God. For he shall not give sentence, after the thing that shall be brought before his eyes, neither reprove a matter at the first hearing: but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and with holiness shall he reform the simple of the world. 〈…〉 He shall smite the world with the staff of his mouth, & with the breath of his mouth shall he slay the wicked. 〈…〉 righteousness shallbe the girdle of his loins, truth and faithfulness the gyrdinge up of his reins. Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the leop●rde shall lie down by the goat. Bullokes, 〈…〉 lions and cattle shall keep company together, so that a little child shall drive them forth. The cow and the Bear shall feed together, and their yongones shall lie together. The lion shall eat straw like the ox, or the cow. The child while he sucketh, shall have a desire to the serpent's nest, and when he is weened, he shall put his hand in to the cockatrice den. 〈…〉 No man shall do evil to another, no man shall destroy another, in all the hill of my Sanctuary. For the earth shallbe full of the knowledge of the LORD, even as though the water of the see flowed over the earth. Then shall the Gentiles inquire after the rote of jesse (which shallbe set up for a token unto the Gentiles) for his dwelling shallbe glorious. 〈…〉 At the same time shall the LORD take in hand again, to conquer the remnant of his people (which are left alive) From the Assyrians, Egyptians, 〈…〉 Arabians, Morions, Elamites, Caldeyes, Antiochians and Ilondes of the see. 〈…〉 And he shall set up a token among the Gentiles, and gather together the dispersed of Israel, ye and the outcasts of juda from the four corners of the world. The hatred of Ephraim, and the enmity of juda shallbe clean rooted out. Ephraim shall bear no evil will to juda, and juda shall not hate Ephraim: but they both together shall fly upon the shoulders of the philistines toward the West, and spoil them together that devil toward the East. The Idumytes and the Moabites shall let their hands fall, and the Ammonites shallbe obedient unto them. The LORD also shall cleave the tongues of the Egyptians see, and with a mighty wind shall he lift up his hand over Nilus, and shall smite his seven streams and make men go over dry shod. And thus shall he make a way for his people, that remaineth from the Assyrians, 〈…〉 like as it happened to the Israelites, what time they departed out of the land of Egipte. The xij. Chapter. SO that then thou shalt say: O LORD, I thank thee, for thou wast displeased at me, but thou hast refrained thy wrath, 〈◊〉 c. ●. c 〈…〉. a 〈◊〉. 117. b and hast mercy upon me. Behold, God is my health, in whom I trust, and am not afraid. For the LORD God is my strength, and my praise, he also shallbe my refuge. Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of the saviour, and then shall you say: 〈…〉. a 〈…〉. b Let us give thanks unto the lord, and call upon his name, and declare his counsels among the people, and keep them in remembrance, for his name is excellent. O sing praises unto the LORD, for he doth great things, as it is known in all the world. Cry out, and be glad, thou that dwellest in Zion, for great is thy prince: the holy one of Israel. The XIII. Chapter. THis is the heavy burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did se. Make some tokens to the high hills, 〈…〉 call unto them, hold up your hand, that the princes may go in at the door. For I will send for my debites and my giants (sayeth the LORD) and in my wrath I will call for such, as triumph in my glory. 〈…〉 With that, me thought I heard in the mountains, a noise, like as it had been of a great people: and a ruszshinge, as though the kingdoms of all nations had come together. (And the LORD of hosts was the captain of the whole army.) As they had come not only out of far countries, but also from the ends of the heavens: Even the LORD himself with the ministers of his wrath, to destroy the whole land. Mourn therefore, for the day of the LORD is at hand, and cometh as a destroyer from the almighty. Then shall all hands be let down, and all men's hearts shall melt away, they shall stand in fear, carefulness and sorrow shall come upon them, and they shall have pain, as a woman that traveleth with child. 〈…〉 One shall ever be abaszshed of another, & their faces shall burn, like the flame. For lo, the day of the LORD shall come, terrible, full of indignation and wrath: to make the land waist, and to root out the sin thereof. For the stars and planets of heaven shall not give their light, the Son shallbe quenched in the rising, 〈…〉 and the Moon shall not shine with his light. And I will punish the wickedness of the world, & the sins of the ungodly, sayeth the LORD. The high stomachs of the proud will I take away, and will say down the boostinge of tyrants. I will make a man dearer than fine gold, and a man to be more worth, than a golden wedge of Ophir. moreover, I will so shake the heaven, that the earth shall remo out of her place. Thus shall it go with Babylon, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fearful indignation. And Babylon shallbe as an hunted or chased do, and as a flock with out a shepherd. Every man shall turn to his own people, & i'll eachone into his own land. Who so is found alone, shallbe shot thorough: And who so gather together, shallbe destroyed with the sword. Their children shallbe slain before their eyes, their houses spoiled, & their wives ravished. For lo, I shall bring up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver, nor be desirous of gold. Then shall young men's bows be knapped asunder. The Medes shall have no pity upon women with child, & their faces shall not spare the children. And Babylon (that glory of kingdoms and beauty of the Caldees honour) shallbe destroyed, even as God destroyed Sodom & Gomorra. It shall never be more inhabited, Gen. 19 c neither shall there be any more dwelling there, from generation to generation. The Arabians shall make no more tents there, neither shall the shepardes make their folds there any more: but wild beasts shall lie there, & the houses shallbe full of great Oules. Ostriches shall devil there, & Apes shall dance there: The little Oules shall cry in the palaces, one after another, & Dragons shallbe in the pleasant perlours. And as for Babylon's time, it is at hand, & her days may not be long absent. The XIIII. Chapter. But the LORD willbe merciful unto jacob, & will take up Israel again, & set them in their own land. Strangers shall clean unto them, & get them to the house of jacob. They shall take the people, Abdie 1 d Zach. 2. b & carry them home with them. And the house of Israel shall have them in possession, for servants & maidens in the land of the LORD. They shall take those prisoners, whose captives they had been afore: & rule those, that had oppressed them. When the LORD now shall bring the to rest, from the travail, fear, & hard bondage that thou wast laden with all: then shalt thou use this mockage upon the king of Babylon, & say: How happeneth it that the oppressor leaveth of? It the golden tribute come to an end? Doubtless the LORD hath broken the staff of the ungodly, & the sceptre of the lordly. Which when he is wroth, smiteth the people with durable strokes, & in his wonders he persecuteth them, & tameth them continually. And therefore the whole world is now at rest and quietness, & men sing for joy. Ye even the fir trees and cedars of Libanus rejoice at thy fall, saying: Now that thou art laid down, there come no more up to destroy us. Hell also trembleth at thy coming, All mighty men and princes of the earth, step forth before the. All kings of the earth stand up from their seats, that they may all (one after another) sing and speak unto the. Art thou wounded also as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp and thy pride is go down to hell: Moths shallbe laid under thee, Luc. 10. c & worms shallbe thy covering. How art thou fallen from heaven (oh Lucifer) thou fair morning child? APo. 12. d hast thou got a fall even to the ground, thou that (not withstanding) didst subdue the people? And yet thou thoughtest in thy heart: I will climb up in to heaven, and make my seat above the stars of God, I will sit upon the glorious mount toward the North, I will climb up above the clouds, & willbe like the highest of all. Yet dare I lay, that thou shalt be brought down to the deep of hell. Eze. 31. c Eze. 32. c They that see thee, shall narrowly look upon thee, and think in themselves, saying: Is this the man, that brought all lands in fear, and made the kingdoms afraid: Is this he that made the world in a manner waist, & and laid the cities to the ground, which let not his prisoners go home? How happeneth it, that the kings of all people lie, every one at home in his own palace, with worship, and thou art cast out of thy grave like a wild branch: like as dead men's raiment that are shot thorough with the sword: as they that go down to the stones of the deep: as a dead coarse that is truden under feet: and art not buried with them? Even because that thou hast waisted thy land, and destroyed thy people. For the generation of the wicked shallbe without honor, for ever. There shall a way be sought to destroy their children, for their father's wickedness: they shall not come up again to possess the land, and fill the world full of castles and towns. I will stand up against them (sayeth the LORD of hosts) and root out the name and generation of Babylon (saith the LORD) & will give it to the Otters, and will make water poddels of it. And I will sweep them out with the bosom of destruction, sayeth the LORD of hosts. The LORD of hosts hath sworn an oath, saying: It shall come to pass as I have determined: & shallbe fulfilled as I have devised. Esa. 37. a The Assyrians shallbe destroyed in my land, and upon my mountaytaines will I tread them under foot. wherethrough his yoke shall come from you, & his burden shallbe taken from your shoulders. This device hath God taken thorough the whole world, and thus is his hand stretched out over all people. For if the LORD of hosts determe a thing, who will dysanulle it? And if he stretch forth his hand, who will hold it in again? The same year that king Achas died, God threatened by Esay on this manner: 〈…〉 Rejoice not (thou whole Palestina) as though the rod of him that beateth the were broken: For out of the serpents rote, there shall wax a k●c katrice, & the fruit shallbe a fiery worm. But the poor shall feed of the best things, and the simple shall devil in safety. 〈…〉 Thy rotes will I destroy with hunger, and it shall slay the remnant. Mourn you ports, weep you Cities And fear thou (oh whole Palestina) for that shall come from the North a smoke, whose power no man may abide. Who shall then maintain the messages of the gentiles? But the LORD stablisheth Zion, & the poor of my people shall put their trust in him. The XU. Chapter. THis is the heavy burden upon Moab: Are of Moab was destroyed (as me thought) in the night season: 〈…〉 The walls of Moab perished in the night, & vanished away: They went to Baith and Dibon in the high places, for to weep: Moab did mourn from Nebo to Medba: All their heads were colled, and all their beards shaven. 〈…〉 In their streets were they girded about with sack clot. In all the tops of their houses & streets was there nothing, but mourning and weping●. Hesebon and Eleale cried, that their voice was herd unto jahaz. The worthies also of Moab bleared and cried for very sorrow of their minds: Woe is my heart for Moabs' sake. They fled unto the cite of Zoar, which is like a fair fruitful bullock, they went up to Luhith, weeping. The way toward Horonaim was full of lamentation for the hurt. The waters of Nimrim were dried up, the grass was withered, the herbs destroyed, & what necessary green thing there was beside. In like manner the thing that was left them of their substance, they carried it by water to Araby. The cry went over the whole land of Moab: from Eglaim unto Beer, was there nothing but mourning. The waters of Dimon were full of blood, for the enemy had sent thither a bond of men, which as a lion, laid wait for the remnant of the land, and for them that were escaped. The xuj. Chapter. THen sent the lords of the land a man of war, from the rock that lieth toward the desert, unto the hill of the daughter Zion (For as for the daughters of Moab, they were as it had been a trymblinge bird, that is put out of her nest, by the ferry of Arnon) which messenger said: gather your council, come together, cover us with your shadow in the midday, 〈…〉 as the night doth: hide the chased, & bewray not them that are fled, let the persecuted Moabites dwell among you, be our open refuge against the destroyer: for the adversary oppresseth us, the robber undoth us, & the tyrant driveth us out of our land. But the Throne of your kingdom is full of grace, therefore he that sitteth upon it with faitfulnesse & truth in the house of David, know the thing & do his diligence to help shortly▪ according to equity and righteousness. As for Moabs' pride (shall they answer) it is well known. And all though they be excellent, 〈…〉 proud, arrogant, & hie minded: yet is their strength nothing like. And therefore Moab complaineth unto Moab, where thorough they come all to mourn: & now that they be smitten, they take their device beneath by the bryckwall, and make their complaint. The suburbs also of Hesebon were made waist, & the princes of the gentiles hewed down the vynyardes of Sibma, which were planted with noble grapes, and spread unto jazer, and went unto the end of the desert, whose branches stretched their selves forth beyond the see. Therefore I mourned for jazer, & for the vynyardes of Sibma with great sorrow. I poured my tears upon Hesebon & Eleale, for all their songs were laid down, in their harvest & gathering of their grapes: Mirth and cheer was go out of the field & vynyardes, in so much, that no man was glad ner sung. There went no treader in to the winepress, their merry cheer was laid down. Wherefore my belly rombled (as it had been a lute) for Moabs' sake, & mine inward membres, for the bryckwalles sake. For it happened thus also: when Moab saw that she was turned upside down: 〈…〉 she went up an high in to her sanctuary to make her prayer there, but she might not 〈◊〉 helped. This is the device, which the LORD took in hand at that time against Moab. But now the LORD sayeth thus: In three year shall the power of Moab with their pomp (which is great) be minished, like as the burden of an hired servant: And as for the remnant of them, they shallbe less then a few, and not reckoned much worth. The xvij. Chapter. THis is the heavy burden upon Damascus: Behold, jere. 49 d Amos. 1. a Damascus shall be no more a cite, but an heap of broken stones. The cities of Aroer shallbe waist, The cattle shall lie there, & noman shall fray them away. Ephraim shall no more be strong, & Damascus shall no more be a kingdom. And as for the glory of the remnant of the Syrians, it shallbe as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. At that time also shall the glory of jacob be very poor, & his fatness lean. It shall hap to them, as when one sheareth in harvest, which cutteth his handful with the sickle, & when one gathreth the sheaves together in the valley, of Rephaim, there remaineth yet some ears over. Or as when one shaketh an olive tree, Esa. 24. b which findeth but two or three olive berries above in the top, and four or five in the branches. Thus the LORD God of Israel hath spoken. Then shall man convert again unto his maker, & turn his eyes to the holy one of Israel And shall not turn to the altars that are the work of his own hands, neither shall he look upon groves & images, which his fingers have wrought. At the same time shall their strong cities be desolate, like as were once the forsaken ploughs & corn, which they forsook, for fear of the children of Israel. 4. Re. 7. b So shalt thou (oh Damascus) be desolate, because thou hast forgotten God the saviour, & hast not called to remembrance the rock of thy strength, Wherefore thou hast also set a fair plant, & grafted a strange branch. In the day when thou didst plant it, it was great, and gave soon the fruit of thy seed: But in the day of harvest, thou shalt reap an heap of sorrows & miseries. Woe be to the multitude of much people, that russh in like the see, and to the heap of folk, that run over all like great waters. For though so many people increase as the flowing waters, Esa. 37 ● and though they be armed, yet they i'll far of, and vanish away like the dust with the wind upon an hill, and as the whirl wind thorough a storm. Though they be fearful at night, yet in the morning it is go with them, This is their portion, that do us harm, and heritage of them, that rob us. The xviij. Chapter. WOE be to the land of flienge ships, which is of this side the flood of Ethiopia: which sendeth her message over the see in ships of reeds upon the water, and sayeth: go soon, and do your message unto a strange and hard folk: to a fearful people, & to a people that is further than this: to a desperate and pilled folk, whose land is divided from us with rivers of water. Ye all you that fit in the compass of the world, and devil upon the earth: when the token shallbe given upon the mountains, then look up: and when the home bloweth, then hearken to, for thus hath the LORD said unto me. I laid me down, and pondered the matter in my house, at the noon day when it was hot: and there fell a myslinge shower, like a dew, as it happeneth in harvest. But the fruits, were not yet ripe cut of, and the grapes were but young and green. Than one smote of the grapes with an hook, ye he hewed down also the buwes and the branches, & did cast them away. And thus they were laid waist, for the fowls of the mountains, and for the beasts of the earth together. So that the fowls sat there upon, and the beasts of the earth wintered there. Then shall there be a present brought unto the LORD of hosts: even that hard folk, that fearful folk, and that further is than this: that desperate and pilled folk (whose land is divided from us with floods of water) unto the place of the name of the LORD of hosts: Deut. 12. a even unto the hill of Zion. The nineteeen. Chapter. THis is the heavy burden upon Egipte: Behold, jere. 46. a Eze. 29. a Luc. 21. d the LORD will ride upon a swift cloud, and come in to Egipte. And the gods of Egipte shall tremble at his coming, and the heart of Egipte shall quake within her. For thus saith the LORD: I will steer up the Egyptians one against another among themselves, Mar. 13. a so that one shallbe ever against his brother and neighbour, ye one cite against another, and one kingdom against another. And Egipte shallbe choked in herself. When they axe council at their gods, at their Prophets, at their soythsayers and witches: then will I bring their council to nought. I will deliver Egipte also in to the hands of grievous rulers, and a cruel king shall have the rule of them. The water of the see shallbe drawn out, Nilus shall sink away, & be drunk up. The rivers also shallbe drawn out, the wells shall decrease and dry away. Rede and rush shall fail, the grass by the water's side or upon the rivers bank, ye and what so ever is sown by the waters, shallbe withered, destroyed, & brought to nought. The fishers shall mourn, all such as cast angles in the water, shall complain, & they that spread their nets in the water, shallbe faint hearted. Soch as labour upon flax & silk, shall come to poverty, & they also that weeve fine works. All the pounds of Egipte, all the policy of their Moats & ditches shall come to nought. Ye the undiscrete princes of Zoan, 〈…〉 the council of the wise Senators of Pharaoh, 〈…〉 shall turn to foolishness: Those that dare boast & say of pharao's behalf: I am come of wise people. I am come of the old regal Progeny. But where are now thy wise men? Let them tell the & show thee, what the LORD of hosts hath taken in hand against egypt. Fools are those princes of Zoan, & proud are the princes of Noph: ye they dysceave egypt with the nobility of their stock. 〈…〉 For the LORD hath made egypt drunken with the spirit of error, and they shall use it in all matters: even like as a drunken man goeth spewing about. For Egipte shall lack good council, so that they shall not know what to do, neither beginning nor end, neither upon the land nor water. Then shall the Egyptians be like unto women, afraid & astonished, at the lifting up of the hand, which the LORD of hosts shall lift up over them. The land of juda also shall make the Egyptians afraid, who so doth but speak upon it, shall put them in fear: And that be cause of the council, which the LORD of hosts hath devysed against them. Then shall the five cities of Egipte speak with the Canaanites t●nge, and swear by the LORD of hosts, & Heliopolis shallbe one of them. At the same time shall the LORD of hosts have an altar in the midst of the land of Egipte, with this title there by: Unto the LORD. This shallbe a token or testimony unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egipte, when they shall cry unto him, because of those that oppress them: that he shall send them a captain and a saviour to deliver them. moreover, Egipte shallbe bought unto the LORD, and the Egyptians also shall know the LORD at the same time: they shall do him reverence with peace offerings, and with meat offerings: they shall promise him offerings, ye & pay him also. Thus the LORD shall smite Egipte, & heal it again: & so shall they turn to the LORD, and he also shall have mercy upon them, and save them. Then shall there be a common way out of Egipte in to Assiria. The Assyrians shall come in to Egipte, and the Egypcians in to Assiria. The Egipcians also and the Assyrians shall both have one Gods service. Then shall Israel with honour be the third to Egipte and Assur. And the LORD of hosts shall bless them, saying: Blissed is my people of the Egipcians, Assur is the work of my hands, but Israel is mine inheritance. The xx. Chapter. THe same year that Harthan came to Aschod, where Sargen the king of the Assyrians sent him, what time as he also be seged Aschdod, & wan it the same season: Then spoke the LORD unto Isaiah the son of Amos, saying: go and louse of that sack clot from thy loins, and put of the shues from thy feet. And so he did, going naked & barefoot. Then said the LORD: where as my servant Isaiah goeth naked and barefoot, it is a token and signifying of the thing, that after three year shall come upon Egipte and Ethiopia. For even thus shall the king of the Assyrians drive both young and old, as prisoners naked and barefoot, out of Egipte and Ethiopia, And shall discover the shame of Egipte. They shallbe also at their wits end, and ashamed one of another: the Egipcians of the Moryans, and the Morions of the Egipcians, at the sight of their glory. moreover they that dwell in the Iles shall say even the same day: behold, this is our hope, to whom we fled to seek help, that we might be delivered from the king of the Assyrians. How will we escape? The xxj. Chapter. THis is the heavy burden of the waist see: A grievous vision was showed unto me, like as when a storm of wind and rain russheth in from the wilderness, that terrible land. Who so may deceive (said the voice) let him deceive: Who so may destroy, let him destroy. Up Elam, besiege it o Madai, for I will still all their gronynges. With this, the reins of my back were full of pain: ●sa. 13. a 〈◊〉. 13. a Pangs came upon me, as upon a woman in her travail. When I heard it, I was abashed: and when I looked up, I was afraid. Mine heart paunted, I trembled for fear. The darkness made me fearful in my mind. Ye soon make ready the table (said this voice) keep the watch, eat and drink: Up you captains, take you to your shield, for thus the LORD hath charged me: go thy way, and set a watchman, that he may tell what he saith. And when he had waited diligently, he saw two horsemen: the one riding upon an Ass, the other upon a camel. And the lion cried: LORD, I have stand waiting all the whole day, and have kept my watch all the night. With that came there one riding upon a chariot, which answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, jere. 51. a Apo. 14. b and 1●. a she is turned upside down, and all the images of her gods are smitten to the ground. This (oh my fellow throsshers and fanners) have I heard of the LORD of hosts the God of Israel, to show it unto you. The heavy burden of Duma. One of Seir cried unto me: watchman, jere. 49. b what hast thou espied by night? Watchman, what hast thou espied by night? The watchman answered: The day breaketh on, and the night is coming: If your request be earnest, than axe, and come again. The heavy burden upon Arabia. At even you shall abide in the wood, in the way toward Dedanim. Esa. 16. a Meet the thirsty with water, (oh you citizens of Hema) meet those with b●ed that are fled. For they shall run away from the weapon, from the drawn sword, from the bend bow, and from the great battle. For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me: over a year shall all the power of Cedar be go, like as when the office of an hired servant goeth out: And the remnant of the good Archers of Cedar, shallbe very few: jere. 49. e For the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it. The xxij. Chapter. The heavy burden, upon the valley of Visions. WHat hast thou there to do, that thou clymnest up in to the house top, oh thou city of miracles, seditious and wilful? seeing, thy slain men are neither killed with sword, ner deed in battle? For all thy captains got them to their horses from the ordinance, ye they are altogether ridden away, and fled far of. When I perceived that, I said: away fro me, that I may weep bitterly. Take no labour for to comfort me, jere. 9 a Lucae 19 d as touching the destruction of my people. For this is the day of the LORD of hosts, wherein he will plague, tread down, and weed out the valley of Visions, and break down the walls, with such a crack, that it shall give a sound in the mountains. I saw the Elamites take the quivers to cart and to horse, and that the walls were bore from harness. Thy goodly valleys were full of Chariots, the horse men made them soon to besiege the gates. Then was the covering of juda put from thence, and then was seen the siege of the tymbre house. There shall you see the rifts in the walls of the cite of David, 2. Peg. 5. b whereof there shallbe many. You shall gather together the waters of the lower pole, and tell the houses of Jerusalem, and break of some of them to keep the walls. And you shall make a pit betwixt the twain walls of the water of the old pole, and nothing regard him, that took it in hand and made it. And at the same time shall the LORD of hosts call men to weeping mourning, to baldness and putting on of sack cloth. But they to fulfil their lust and wilfulness, slaugter oxen, they kill sheep, they eat costly meat, Sap. 2. b 1. Cor. 15. c & drink wine: let us eat and drink, tomorrow we shall die. Nevertheless when the LORD of hosts heard of it, he said: ye, if this wickedness of yours shallbe remitted, you must die for it. This hath the LORD God of hosts spoken. Thus sayeth the LORD God of hosts: Go in to the treasury unto Sobna the governor, Esa. 36. a and say unto him: What hast thou here to do? & from whence comest thou? that thou hast made the a grave here? For he had caused a costly tomb of stone to be made for himself, and a place to lie in to be hewn out of a rock. Behold the LORD shall cast the out by violence, he will deck the of another fashion, and put upon the a strange cloth. He shall carry the in to a far country, like a ball with his hands, There shalt thou die, there shall the pomp of thy charettes have an end: thou villain of the house of thy LORD: I will shoot the out of thy office, and put the from thy estate. After this will I call my servant Eliakim, the son of Helkia, and array him with thy cote, and gird him with thy girdle, and I will give thy power in to his hand He shallbe a father of the citizens of jerusalem, Apo. 1. d job 12. b and of the Kindred of juda. I will also say the key of David's house upon his shoulders, and if he open, no man shall shit, and if he do shut, no man shall open. I will fasten him to a nail in the place of the most high faithfulness, Zach. 10. a and he shallbe upon the glorius throne of his father's house. They shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, of the children and childers children, all apparel small and great, all instruments of measure & music. This shall come to pass, (saith the LORD of hosts) when the nail, that is fastened to the place of the highest faithfulness: shallbe plucked of, And when the weight that hangs upon it, shall fall, be broken, and hewn in pieces. For the LORD himself hath said it. The twenty-three. Chapter. AN heavy burden upon Tirus. Mourn you ships of Tharsis, 〈…〉 for she is thrown down to the ground, and conquered of them, that are come from Cithim. The Indwellers of the Ilondes, the merchants of Sidon, and they that occupied the see (of whom thou wast full sometime) are at a point. For by see were there fruits brought unto thee, and all manner of corn by water. Thou wast the common market of all people. Sidon is sorry for it, ye and all the power of the see complaneth, and saith: O that I had never traveled with child, that I had never born any, that I had neither nourished boy, ner brought up daughter. As soon as Egipte perceiveth it, she willbe as sorry as Tirus itself. Go over the see, Mourn you that dwell in the Iles. Is not that the glorious cite, which hath been of long antiquity? whose natyves dwelling far of, commend her so greatly▪ Who hath devised such things upon Tirus the crown of all cities, whose merchants and captains were the highest and principal of the world? Even the LORD of hosts hath devised it, that he may put down all pomp, and minish all the glory of the world. Go thorough thy land (oh thou daughter of the see) as men go over the water, 〈…〉 and there is not a girdle more. Thus the LORD that removeth the kingdoms, 〈…〉 and hath taken in hand against that mighty Canaan to rote it out:) hath stretched out his hand over the see, and said: From hence forth shalt thou make no more mirth (oh thou daughter Sidon) for thou shalt be put down of the Cethens. stand up therefore, and go where the enemy will carry thee, where thou shalt also have no rest. Behold (for thine ensample:) The Caldees were such a people, that no man was like them, Assur builded them: he set up his castles & palaces, and broken them down again. And therefore mourn (you ships of the see) for your power shallbe thrown down. After that, shall the lxx years of Tirus (even as long as their kings life was) beforgotten. And after lxx. years, it shall hap to Tirus as with an harlot that playeth upon a lute. Take thy lute (say men to her) and go about the city, thou art yet an unknown wensche, make pastime with diverse balettes, whereby▪ thou mayest come in to acquantaunce. Thus shall it happen after lxx. years. 〈…〉▪ ●1. a The LORD shall viset the city of Tirus, and it shall come again to her merchandise, and shall occupy with all the Kingdoms that be in the world. But all her occupienge and winning, shallbe hallowed unto the LORD. 〈◊〉▪ 4●. c For than shall they say up nothing behind them nor upon heaps: but the merchandise of Tirus shall belong unto the citizens of the LORD, to the feeding and susteninge of the hungry, and to the clothing of the aged. The xxiv. Chapter. Behold, the LORD shall waste and plague the world, 〈◊〉▪ 4 b he shall make the face of the earth desolate, & scatre abroad the inhabitors thereof. Then shall the priest be as the people, the master as the servant, the dame like the maid, the seller like the bier, he that dareth upon usury, like him that borroweth upon usury, the creditoure, as the debtor. Ye miserably shall the world be waysted & clean destroyed. For the LORD hath so determed in himself. The earth shallbe heavy and decay: The face of the earth shall perish & fall away, the proud people of the world shall come to nought, For the earth is corrupt of her indwellers. For why they have offended the law, changed the ordinances, and made the everlasting testament of none effect, And therefore shall the curse devour the earth: for they that dwell thereon, have sinned. wherefore they shall be brent also, and those that remain, shallbe very few. The sweet wine shall mourn, the grapes shallbe weak, and all that have been merry in heart, ●po. 1●. c shall sigh. The mirth of tabrettes shallbe laid down, the cheer of the joyful shall cease, and the pleasure of lutes shall have an end: there shall no more wine bedronke with mirth, the beer shall be bitter to them that drink it, the wicked cities shallbe broken down, all houses shallbe shut, that no man may come in. In the streets shall there be lift up a cry because of wine, all men's cheer shall vanish away, and all joy of the earth shall pass. Desolation shall remain in the cities, and the gates shallbe smitten with waistnesse. For it shall happen unto all lands and to all people, like as when a man smiteth down the olives, that are left upon the tree: Esa 17. b or seeketh after grapes, when the wine gathering is out. And those same (that remain) shall lift up their voice, and be glad, & shall magnify the glory of the LORD, even from the see, & praise the name of the LORD God of Israel, in the valeis and Ilondes. We hear songs sung to the praise of the righteous, from all the ends of the world. Therefore I must speak: O my unfrutfulnesse, oh my poverty, Woe is me, all is full of synneres, which offend of purpose and malice. And therefore, (oh thou that dwellest upon the earth) there is at hand for thee, fear, pit and snare. Who so escapeth the terrible cry, shall fall in to the pit. jere. 4● g And if he come out of the pit, he shallbe taken with the snare. For the windows above shallbe opened, and the foundation of the earth shall move. The earth shall give a great crack, it shall have asore ruin, and take an horrible fall. The earth shall stacker like a drunken man, and be taken away like a tent. Her misdeeds shall lie so heavy upon her, that she must fall, and never rise up again. At the same time shall the LORD muster together the high host above, and the kings of the world upon the earth. These shallbe coupled together as prisoners be, and shallbe shut in one ward and punished innumerable days. The Moon and the Son shallbe ashamed, Luc. 21. c when the LORD of hosts shall rule them at jerusalem upon the mount Zion, before and with his excellent council. The twenty-five. Chapter. O LORD, thou art my God, I will praise thee, and magnify the name: For thou bringest marvelous things to pass, according to thy old counsels, truly and steadfastly. Thou makest of towns, ●sa. 26. a heaps of stone: and of head cities, broken walls: The palaces of the wicked destroyest thou out of the city, that they shall never be builded again. Therefore the very rude people must magnify thee, and the cities of the cruel heathen must fear the. For thou art the poor man's help, a strength for the needful in his necessity. Thou art a defence against evil wether, a schadowe against the heat. But unto the presumptuous, thou art like a strong whirl wind, that casts down the boostinge of the ungodly, thou keepest men from heat with the shadow of the clouds, thou cuttest of the branches of tyrants. moreover the LORD of hosts shall once prepare a feast for all people upon the hill: Luc. 14 d A plenteous, costly, pleasant feast, of fat and welfed beasts, of sweet and most pure things. Upon the hill shall he take away the side vale that hangeth before the face of all people, Ose. 13. e 1. Co. 15. g Apo. 7. d and 21. a and the covering wherewith all Gentiles are covered. As for death, he shall utterly consume it, The LORD God shall wipe away the tears from all faces, and take away the confusion of his people thorough the whole world. For the LORD himself hath said it. At the same time shall it be said: lo, this is our God in whom we put our trust, Ephe. 2. a and he hath healed us. This is the LORD that we have waited for: Let us rejoice & delight in his health. For the hand of the LORD ceaseth upon this hill. But Moab shallbe throsshen down under him, like as the straw is trodden under feet in a dung hill. For he shall stretch out his hands upon him, like as a swimmer doth to swim. And with the power of his hands shall he cast down his high pomp. As for his strong holds & high walls: he shall bur●e them, cast them down, and fallen them to the ground in to dust. The xxuj. Chapter. THen shall this song be sung in the land of juda: Pro. 1●. b Zac. 2. a Psal. 117. b We have a strong city, the walls & t●e ordinance shall keep us. Open the gates, that the good people may go in, which laboureth for the truth. And thou, which art the doer and hast the matter in hand: shalt provide for peace, even the peace that men hope for in the. Rom. 5. a Esa. 12. b Esa. 25. a Hope still in the LORD, for in the LORD God is everlasting strength. For why, it is he, that bringeth low the high minded citesyns, & casts down the proud cities. He casts them to the ground, ye even in to the mire, that they may be trodden under the feet of the simple, & with the steps of the poor. Pro. 16. a jere. 10. d Thou (LORD) considerest the path of the rigtuous, whether it be right, whether the way of the righteous be right. Therefore (LORD) we have a respect unto the way of thy judgements, thy name and thy remembrance rejoice the soul. Psal. 62. a and 142. a My soul lusteth after the all the night long, & my mind haisteth freely to the. For as soon as thy judgement is known to the world, them the inhabitors of the earth learn righteousness. But the ungodly (though he have recaved grace) yet learneth he not righteousness, but in that place where he is punished, he offendeth, & fears not the glory of the LORD. LORD, they will not see thy high hand, but they shall see it, and be confounded: when thou shalt devour them with the wrath of the people, and with the fire of thy enemies. But unto us (LORD) provide for peace: for thou workest in us all our works. 〈…〉 O LORD our God, though such lords have domination upon us as know not thee: yet grant, that we may only hope in thee, and keep thy name in remembrance. The malicious tyrants when they die, 〈…〉 are neither in life nor in the resurrection, for thou visitest them and rootest them out, and destroyest all the memorial of them. Again, thou increacest the people (oh LORD), thou increacest the people, thou shalt be praised and magnified in all the ends of the world. The people that seek unto the in trouble, that same adversity which they complain of, is unto them a chastening before the. Like as a wife with child (when her travail cometh upon her) is ashamed, 〈…〉 crieth and suffereth the pain: Even so are we (oh LORD) in thy sight. We are with child, we travail, & bear, 〈…〉 & with the spirit we bring forth health, where thorough the earth is undestroyed, and the inhabitors of the world perish not. But as for thy dead men and ours, 〈…〉 that be departed, they are in life and resurrection. They lie in the earth, they wake, & have joy: for that dew is a dew of life & light. But the place of the malicious tyrants is fallen away. So go now my people in to thy chamber, 〈…〉 and shut the door to thee, and suffer now the twincklinge of an eye, 〈…〉 till the wrath be overpast. For behold, the LORD will go out of his habitation, 〈…〉 & visit the wickedness of them that devil upon earth. He will discover the blood that she hath devoured, she shall never hide them, that she hath murthured. The xxvij. Chapter. THen the LORD with his heavy, great and long sword shall visit Leviathan, that invincible serpent: even Leviathan that crooked serpent, and shall slay the Wallfish in the see. At the same time shall men sing of the vineyard of Muscadel. I the LORD keep it, and water it in due season. I watch day & night, that no man break in to it. I bear no evil will in my mind. Who will compel me, that I greatly forgetting all faith fullness, should burn it up at once with thorns & bushes? Or who will enforce me to keep or make peace? It will come to this point, that jacob shallbe rooted again, and Israel shallbe green & bear flowers, & they shall fill the whole world with their fruit. smiteth he not his smiter, as evil as he is smitten himself? Destroyeth he not the murderers, as he is murthured? Every man recompenseth with the measure that he receiveth: He museth upon his sore wind, as upon the days of extreme heat. And therefore shall the iniquity of jacob be thus reconciled. And so shall he take away all the fruit of his sins. 〈◊〉. 9 c As for altar stones, he shall make them all as stones beaten to powder: the Groves and Idols shall not stand. The strong cities shallbe desolate, and the fair cities shall be left like a wilderness. The cattle shall feed and lie there, and the sheep shall eat it up. Their harvest shall be brent, their wives which were their beauty when they came forth: 〈…〉. 26 〈◊〉. 32. b shallbe defiled. For it is a people without understanding, and therefore he that created them, shall not favour them: and he that made them, shall not be merciful to them. In that time shall the LORD shoot from the swift water of Euphrates, unto the river of Egipte. And there shall the children be choose out one by one. Then shall the great trumpet be blown, so that those which have been destroyed in the Assyrians land, and those that be scattered abroad in Egipte: shall come & worship the LORD at Jerusalem, upon the holy mount. The xxviij. Chapter. WOE be to the crown of pride, to the drunken Ephraemites, 〈◊〉 3▪ a and to the faydinge flower, to the glory of his pomp, that is upon the top of the plenteous valley: which men be overladen with wine. Behold, the strength and power of the LORD shall break in to the land on every side, like a tempest of hale, that beareth down strong holds, and like an horrible, mighty and over flowing water. And the proud crown of the drunken Ephraemites, shall be trodden underfoot. 〈◊〉▪ 10. a And as for the faydinge flower, the glory of his pomp, which is upon the top of the plenteous valley: it shall happen unto him, as to an untimely fruit before the harvest come. Which as soon as it is seen, is by and by devoured, or ever it come well in a man's hand. And then shall the LORD of hosts be a joyful crown, and a glorious garland unto the remnant of his people. Unto the lowly, he shallbe a spirit of judgement, and unto them that drive away the enemies from the gates, he shallbe a spirit of strength. But they go wrong by the reason of wine, they fall and stacker because of strong drink. Ye even the priests and prophets themselves go amiss, Esa. 3 c they are drunken with wine, and weak braned thorough strong drink. They err in seeing, and in judgement they fail. For all tables are so full of vomit and filthiness, that no place is clean. What is he among them, that can teach, instruct or inform the children, which are weened from suck or taken from the breasts: of any other fashion, then: Esa. 10. a Mat 23. b Command that may be commanded, bid that may be bidden, forbid that may be forbidden, keep back that may be kept back, here a little, there a little. 1. Cor. 14. c And therefore the LORD also shall speak with lisping lips and with a strange language unto this people, to whom he spoke afore of this manner: This shall bring rest, if one refresh the weighed, you this shall bring rest. But they had no will to hear. And therefore the LORD shall answer their stubbournes (Command that may be commanded, bid that may be bidden, forbid that may be forbidden, keep back that may be kept back, here a little, there a little) That they may go forth, fall backward, be brussed, snared and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, you mockers that rule the Lords people, which is at Jerusalem. For you comfort your selves thus: Tush, death & we are at a point, & as for hell, we have made a condition with it: that though there break out any sore plague, it shall not come upon us. Amos 9 d For with deceit will we escape, and with nimbleness will we defend our selves. Psal. 117. c Ro▪ 9 g 1 Pet 2. a Luc. 20. b Therefore thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will say a stone in Zion, a great stone, a costly corner stone for a sure foundation: that who so putteth his trust in him, shall not be confouded. righteousness will I set up again in the balance, and judgement in the weights. 1. Cor. 13. b The tempest of hale shall take away your refuge, that you have to deceive withal, and the overflowing waters shall break down your strong holds of dissimulation. Thus the appointment that you have made with death, shallbe done away, and the condition that you made with hell, shall not stand. When the great destruction goeth thorough, it shall all to tread you, It shall take you quite away before it. For it shall go forth early in the morning, and continue only that day and that night. And the very fear only shall teach you, when you hear it. For the bed shall be so narrow that a man can not lie upon it. And the covering to small, that a man may not wind himself therein. For the LORD shall step forth as he did upon the mount Perazim, Esa. 37. f 2. Re. 5. d joshua 10. b 1. Par. 14. d and shall take on as he did upon the dale of Gabaon: that he may bring forth his device, his strange device: and fulfil his work, his wondered work. And therefore make no mocks at it, that your captivity increase not: for I have heard the LORD of hosts say, that there shall come a sudden destruction and plague upon the whole earth. Take heed, and hear my voice, ponder and merck my words well. Goeth not the husband man ever in due season earnestly to his land? he moweth & ploweth his ground to sow. And when he hath made it plain, he soweth it with fitches' or common. He soweth the wheat and Barley in their place, Milium and Rye also in their place. And that he may do it right, his God teacheth him and showeth him. For he treadeth not the fitches' out with a wain, neither bringeth he the cart here and there over the common, but he throssheth the fitches' out with a flale, and the common with a rod. As for the wheat, he gryndeth it to make bread thereof, In as much as he can not bring it to pass with treading out. For neither the brussinge that the cart wheels make, ner his beasts can grind it. This and such like things come of the LORD of hosts which is marvelous in council, and great in righteousness. The xxix. Chap. woe unto the o Ariel Ariel, thou cite that David wan. Eze. 43. c 2. Reg. 5. a Take yet some years, and let some feasts yet pass over: then shall Ariel be besieged, so that she shall be heavy and sorrowful, and shall be unto me even as a lion. For I will say siege to the round about, and keep the in with towers, and grave up dykes against ye. And thou shalt be brought low, and speak out of the earth, and thy words shall go humbly out of the ground. Thy voice shall come out of the earth, like the voice of a witch, and thy talking shall groan out of the mire. For the multitude of thy enemies shallbe like mealdust. Psal. 1 b And the number of tyrants shallbe as the dust that the wind taketh away suddenly. Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, earth quake, and with a great crack, with the whirl wind, tempest, and with the flame of a consuming fire. But now the multitude of all the people, that went out against Ariel: the whole host, the strong holds, and siege: is like a dream which appeareth in the night. Psal. 72. c It is like as when an hungry man dreameth that he is eating, and when he awaketh, he hath nothing: like as when a thirsty man dreameth that he is drinking, and when he awaketh, he is faint, and his soul unpatient. So is the multitude of all people, that muster themselves against the hill of Zion. But you shallbe at your wits end, you shallbe abashed: you shall stackre, and rele to and fro. You shallbe drunken, but not of wine. You shall fall, but not thorough drunkenness: For the LORD shall give you an hard sleeping spirit, and hold down your eyes: namely your prophets and heads which should see, them shall he cover. 〈…〉 And all visions shallbe unto you, as the words that stand in a sealed letter, when one offereth it to a man that is learned, and sayeth: read us this letter. Then he answereth: I can not read it, for it is shut. But if it be given to one that is not learned, or said unto him: read this letter: Then sayeth he. I can not read. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: For so much as this people draweth nigh me with their mouth, 〈…〉 and praiseth me highly with their lips (where as there heart nevertheless is far fro me, and the fear which they own unto me, that turn they to men's laws and doctrines) therefore will I also show unto this people, a marvelous terrible and great thing (Namely this: 〈…〉 ) I will destroy the wisdom of their wise, and the understanding of their learned men shall perish. Woe be unto them that seek so deep, 〈…〉 to hide their imagination be fore the LORD, which rehearse their counsels in the darkness, and say: who seith us, or who knoweth us? Which imagination of yours is even as when the potter's clay taketh advisement, as though the work might say to the work master: make me not, or as when an earthen vessel saith of the potter: he understandeth not. See you not that it is hard by, 〈…〉 that Libanus shallbe turned in to Charmel, and that Charmel shallbe taken as a wood? Then shall deaf men understand the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see without any cloud or darkness. The oppressed shall hold a merry feast in the LORD, and the poor people shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel. Then shall the furious people cease, and the mockers shall be put away, and all they that do wrong shallbe rooted out, such as labour to draw men unto sin: 〈…〉 and that deceive him, which reproveth them in the gate, & such as turn good personnes to vanity. And therefore the LORD (even the defender of Abraham) saith thus unto the house of jacob: 〈…〉 Now shall not jacob be ashamed, nor his face confounded, when he seith among his children (whom my hands have made) such as hallow my name among them: that they may sancifie the holy one of jacob, and fear the God of Israel: and that they which afore time were of an erroneous spirit, have now understanding, and that such as before could not speak, are now learned in my law. The thirty. Chapter. WOE be to those shrenkinge children (saith the LORD) which seek council, 〈…〉 but not at me: which take a web in hand, but not after my will: that they may heap one sin upon another. They go down in to Egipte, (and axe me no council) to seek help at the power of Pharaoh, and comfort in the shadow of the Egyptians. But pharao's help shallbe your confusion, and the comfort in the Egipcians shadow shallbe your own shame. your rulers have been at Zoan, and your messaungers came unto Hanes. 〈◊〉 29. a 〈◊〉▪ 1●. d 〈◊〉 16. b But you shall all be ashamed of the people that may not help you, which shall not bring you strength or comfort, but shame and confusion. Your beasts have born burdens upon their backs toward the South, thorough the way that is full of apparel and trouble, because of the lion and lions, of the Cockatrice and shuting dragon. Ye the Mules bore your substance, and the Camels brought your treasure upon their crooked backs, unto a people that can not help you. For the Egipcians help shallbe but vane and lost. Therefore I told you also that your pride should have an end. 〈…〉 Wherefore go hence, and writ them this in their tables, and note it in a book: that it may remain by their posterity, and be still kept. For it is an obstinate people, ●sa. 1. a unfaithful children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD. 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉 7. b They dare say to the prophets: Intro mitte yourselves with nothing, and unto the Soythsayers: tell us of nothing for to come, but speak friendly words unto us, and preach us false things. Tread out of the way, go out of the path, turn the holy one of Israel from us. Therefore thus saith the holy one of Israel: In as much as you have cast of your beauty, and comforted yourselves with power and nimbleness, and put your confidence therein: therefore shall you have this mischief again for your destruction and fall, like as an high brickwall, that falls because of some rift (or blast,) whose breaking cometh suddenly. And your destruction shallbe like as an earthen pot, ●sal. 2. b which breaketh no man touching it, ye and breaketh so sore, that a man shall not find a shiver of it to fetch fire in, or to take water with all out of the pit. For the LORD God, Exo. 14. d 2. Par. 20 c even the holy one of Israel hath promised thus: With stilsittinge and rest shall you be healed, In quietness and hope shall your strength lie. notwithstanding you regard it not, but you will say: Not, for thus are we constrained to i'll upon horses. (And therefore shall you i'll) we must ride upon swift beasts, and therefore your persecutors shall yet be swifter. Levi. 26. h josu. 23. c A thousand of you shall i'll for one, or at the most for five, which do but only give you evil words: until you be desolate, as a ship mast upon an high mountain, and as a beacon upon an hill. Yet standeth the LORD waiting, Ro. 2. a that he may have mercy upon you, and lifteth himself up, that he may receive you to grace. For the LORD God is righteous. Happy are all they that wait for him. For thus (oh thou people of Zion and you citizens of jerusalem) shall you never be in heaviness, for doubtless he will have mercy upon the. As soon as he heareth the voice of thy cry, he will help the. The LORD giveth you the bread of adversity, and the water of trouble. But thy instructor fleeth not far from thee, if thy eyes look unto thy instructor, and thy ears hearken to his word, that crieth after the and saith: Deut. 4. a This is the way, go this, and turn neither to the right hand nor the leffte. moreover if you destroy the silver works of your Idols, and cast away the golden copes that you decked them withal (as filthiness) and say, get you hence: Then will he give rain to the seed, that you shall sow in the earth, and give you bread of the increase of the earth, so that all shallbe plenteous and abundant. Psal. 36. b Thy cattle also shall he feed in the broad meadows. ye thine oxen and Mu●es that till the ground, shall eat good fodder, which is purged with the fan. Goodly rivers shall flow out of all his mountains and hills. In the day of the great slaughter when the towers shall fall, 2. Pet. 3. b the Moon shall shine as the Son and the Son shine shallbe seven fold, and have as much shine, as in seven days beside. In that day shall the LORD bind up the brussed sores of his people, and heal their wounds. Behold, the glory of the LORD shall come from far, his face shall burn, that no man shallbe able to abide it, his lips shall wag for very indignation, and his tongue shall be as a consuming fire. His breath like a vehement flood of water, which goeth up to the throat. That he may take away the people, which have turned themselves unto vanity, and the bridle of error, that lieth in other folks chaws. But you shall sing, as the use is in the night of the holy solemnity. You shall rejoice from your heart, as they that come with the pipe, when they go up to the mount of the LORD, unto the rock of Israel. The LORD also shall set up the power of his voice, and declare his terrible arm, with his angry countenance, ye and the flame of the consuming fire, with earth quake, tempest of wind, Esa. 10. a and hale stones. Then shall the Assyrian fear also, because of the voice of the LORD, which shall smite him with the rod. And the same rod which the LORD will send upon him, shall move the whole foundation: with trumpet, with noise of war and battle to destroy. Mat. 25. d For he hath prepared the fire of pain from the beginning, ye even for kings also. This hath he made deep & wide, the nourishing thereof is fire and wood innumerable, which the breath oft LORD kyndleth, as it were a match of brimstone. The xxxj. Chapter. woe unto them that go down in to Egipte for help, and trust in horses, and comfort themselves in Chariots, because they be many, and in horse men because they be lusty and strong. But they regard not the holy one of Israel, and they ask no question at the LORD. Where as he nevertheless plageth the wicked, and yet goeth not from his word, when he steppeth forth and taketh the victory against the household of the frauwerde, and against the help of evil doers. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horse's flesh and not spirit. And as soon as the LORD stretcheth out his hand, then shall the helper fall, and he that should have been helped, and shall altogether be destroyed. For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me: Apo. 5. a 〈◊〉. 49. b Like as the Lion or lions whelp roareth upon the prey that he hath got, and is not afraid, though the multitude of shepardes cry out upon him, neither abashed for all the heap of them: So shall the LORD of hosts come down from the mount Zion, and defend his hill. Like as birds flotre about their nests, so shall the LORD of hosts keep, Deut. 32. b save, defend and deliver jerusalem. Therefore (oh you children of Israel turn again, like as you hahave exceaded in your going back. For in that day every man shall cast out his Idols of silver and gold, 〈…〉 which you have made with your sinful hands. Assur also shallbe slain with the sword, not with a man's sword▪ A sword shall devour him, 〈…〉 but not a man's sword. And he shall i'll from the slaughter, and his servants shallbe taken prisoners▪ He shall go for fear to his strong holds, and his princes shall i'll from his badge. This hath the LORD spoken, whose light burneth in Zion, and his fire in jerusalem. The xxxij. Chapter. Behold, the king shall govern after the rule of righteousness, and the princes shall rule according to the balance of equity. He shallbe unto men, as a defence for the wind, and as a refuge for the tempest, like as a river of water in a thirsty place, and the schadowe of a great rock in a dry land. The eyes of the seeing shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear, shall take diligent heed. The heart of the unwise, shall attain to knowledge, and the unperfect tongue shall speak plainly and distinctly. Then shall the niggard be no more called gentle, ner the churl liberal. But the churl will be churlishly minded, and his heart will work evil and play the hypocrite, and imagine abominations against God, to make the hungry lean, and to with hold drink from the thirsty: These are the perilous weapons of the cuvetous, these be his shameful counsels: that he may beguile the poor with deceitful works, ye even there as he should give sentence with the poor. 〈…〉 But the liberal person ymagineth honest things, and cometh up with honesty. Up (you rich and idle cities), hearken unto my voice. You careless cities, mark my words. After years and days shall you be brought in fear, oh you careless cities. For Harvest shallbe out, and the grape gathering shall not come. O you rich idle cities, you that fear no apparel, you shallbe abashed and removed: when you see the barrenness, the nakedness and preparing to war. You shall knock upon your breasts, because of the pleasant field, and because of the fruitful vineyard. My people's field shall bring thorns and thistles, for in every house is voluptuousness & in the cities, wilfulness. The palaces also shallbe broken, and the greatly occupied cities desolate. The towers and bulwerckes shallbe become dens for evermore, the pleasure of Mules shallbe turned to pasture for sheep: Unto the time that the spirit be poured upon us from above. Then shall the wilderness be a fruitful field & the plenteous field shallbe reckoned for a wood. Then shall equity dwell in the desert, and righteousness in a fruitful land. And the reward of righteousness shallbe peace, 〈…〉 and her fruit rest and quietness for ever. 〈…〉 And my people shall dwell in the ynnes of peace, in my tabernacle and pleasure, where there is enough in them all. And when the hale falls, it shall fall in the wood and in the city. O how happy shall you be, when you shall safely sow your seed beside all waters & drive thither the feet of your oxen & asses. The xxxiij. Chapter. Therefore woe unto thee (oh robber) shalt not thou be rob also? 〈◊〉 26. c and unto the that layest wait, as who say there should no wait be laid for thee? 〈…〉 Woe unto the which dost hurt, even so shalt thou be hurt also. And as thou layest wait, so shall wait be laid for the also. LORD be merciful unto us, we wait for the. Thy arm is at a point to visit us, but be thou our health in the time of trouble. 〈…〉 Grant that the people may i'll at the anger of thy voice, & that at thy upstondinge the Gentiles may be scattered abroad, and that their spoil may be gathered, as the greshoppers are commonly gathered together in to the pit. stand up LORD, thou that dwellest on high: Let Sion be filled with equity and righteousness. Let truth and faithfulness be in her time: power, health, wisdom, knowledge & the fear of God are her treasure. Behold, their angels cry with out, the messaungers of peace weep bitterly. The streets are waist, there walketh no man therein, the appoyntmen is broken, the cities are despised, they are not regarded, the desolate earth is in heaviness. Libanus taketh it but for a sport, that it is hewn down: Saron is like a wilderness: Basan & Charmel are turned upside down. And therefore saith the LORD: I will up, now will I get up, now will I arise. You shall conceive stubble, 〈…〉 and bear straw, & your spirit shall be the fire, that it may consume you: & the people shallbe burned like lime, & as thorns burn that are hewn of, & cast in the fire. Now hearken to (you that are far of) how I do with them, & consider my glory, you that be at hand. The sinners at Zion are afraid, a sudden fearfulness is come upon the ypocrytes. What is he among us (say they) that will devil by that consuming fire? which of us may abide that everlasting heat? 〈◊〉 14 a He that leadeth a godly life (say I) & speaketh the truth: He that abhorreth to do violence and deceit: he that keepeth his hand that he touch no reward: which stoppeth his ears, that he hear no council against the innocent: which holdeth down his eyes, that he see no evil. He it is, that shall dwell on high, whose safeguard shallbe in the true rock, to him shallbe given the right true meat & drink. His eyes shall see the king in his glory: & in the wide world, and his heart shall delight in the fear of God. What shall then become of the scribe? 1. Cor. 1. d of the senator? what of him that teacheth children? There shalt thou not see a people of a strange tongue, to have so diffused a language, that it may not be understand: neither so strange a speech, but it shall be perceived. There shall Zion be seen, the head city of our solemn feasts. There shall thy eyes see jerusalem that glorious habitation: the tabernacle that never shall remove, whose nails shall never be taken out world without end, Heb. 9 b whose cords everichone shall never corrupt: for the glorious majesty of the LORD shall there be present among us. In that place (where fair broad rivers & streams are) shall neither Gallye row, ner great ship sale. For the LORD shallbe our captain, jaco. 4. c the LORD shallbe our law giver, The LORD shallbe our king, & he himself shallbe our saviour. There are the cords so laid abroad, that they can not be better: The mast set up of such a fashion, that no banner ner sale hangeth thereon: but there is dealt great spoil, ye lame men run after the pray. There lieth no man that saith: I am sick, but all evil is taken away from the people, that dwell there. The xxxiiij. Chapter. COme you heathen & hear, take heed you people. hearken thou earth & all that is therein: thou round compass & all that groweth there upon: for the LORD is angry with all people, & his displeasure is kindled against all the multitude of them, to curse them, & to slay them. So that their slain shallbe cast out, & their body's stink: that even the very hills shallbe wet with the blood of them. All the stars of heaven shallbe consumed, & the heaven shall fold together like a roll, & all the stars thereof shall fall, 2. Pet. 3. b like as the leaves fall from the wines and fygetrees. For my sword (saith he) shallbe bathed in heaven, & shall immediately come down upon Idumea, and upon the people which I have cursed for my vengeance. And the lords sword shallbe full of blood, & be rusty with the fatness & blood of lambs and gootes, with the fatness of neeres of the wethers. For the LORD shall kill a great offering in Bosra, and in the land of Idumea. There shall the unicorns fall with the Bulls, (that is with the giants) and their land shallbe washed with blood, & their ground corrupt with fatness. Unto the also (oh Zion) shall come the day of the vengeance of God, Esa. 63. a and the year when as thine own iugdmentes shallbe recompensed. Thy floods shallbe turned to pitch, and thy earth to brimstone, & therewith shall the land be kindled, so that it shall not be quenched day ner night: But smoke evermore, & so forth to lie waist. And no man shall go thorough thy land for ever: But Pelicans, Soph. 2. b Storks, great Oules, and Ravens shall have it in possession, & devil therein. For God shall spread out the line of desolation upon it, & weigh it with the stones of emptiness. When kings are called upon, there shallbe none, and all princes shallbe away. Thorns shall grow in their palaces, nettles & thistles in their strong holds, that the dragons may have their pleasure therein, & that they may be a court for Ostriches. There shall strange visures and monstrous beasts meet one another, Tren. 4. b & the wild keep company together. There shall the lamia lie, & have her lodging. There shall the hedgehog build, dig, be there at home, and bring forth his yongeones. There shall the kites come together, each one to his like. joh. 5. b Deut. 28. Seek thorough the scripture of the LORD & read it. There shall none of these things be left out, there shall not one (ner soch like) fail▪ For what his mouth commandeth, that same doth his spirit gather together (or fulfilleth). Upon whom so ever the lot fallet, or to whom he dealeth it with the line: those shall possess the inheritance from generation to generation, and dwell therein. The xxxv. Chapter. But the desert & wilderness shall rejoice, the waist ground shall be glad, and flourish as the lily. She shall flourish pleasantly, and be joyful, and ever be giving of thanks more and more. For the glory of libanus, the beauty of Charmel & Saron shallbe given her. These shall know the honour of the LORD, and the majesty of our God. And therefore strength the weak hands, Heb. 12. b Deut. 30. a 31. b and comfort the feeble knees. Say unto them that are of a fearful heart: Be of good cheer, and fear not. Behold: your God cometh, to take vengeance & to reward, God cometh his own self, and will deliver you. 〈…〉 Then shall the eyes of the blind be lightened, and the ears of the deaff opened. Then shall the lame man leap as an heart, & the dumb man's tongue shall give thanks. In the wilderness also there shall wells springe, and floods of water in the desert. 〈…〉 The dry ground shall turn to rivers, and the thirsty to springs of water. Where as dragons dwelled afore, there shall grow sweet flowers and green rushes. There shallbe footpathes & common streets, this shallbe called the holy way. Not unclean person shall go thorough it, for the LORD himself shall go with them that way, and the ignorant shall not err. There shallbe no lion, and no ravishing beast shall come therein nor be there, but men shall go there free and safe. And the redeemed of the LORD shall convert, 〈…〉 and come to Zion with thanksgiving. everlasting joy shall they have, pleasure & gladness shallbe among them, And as for all sorrow and heaviness, it shall vanish away. The xxxuj. Chapter. IN the xiv. year of king Ezechias, 〈…〉 came Sennacherib king of the Assyrians down, to say siege unto all the strong cities of juda And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaches from Lachis toward jerusalem, against king Ezechias, with a grievous host▪ which set him by the condite of the overpole, in the way that goeth thorough the fullers land. And so there came forth unto him Eliachim Helchias son the president, Sobna the scribe, 〈…〉 and joah Asaphs son the Secretary. And Rabsaches said unto them: Te● Ezechias, that the great king of Assiria sayeth thus unto him: What presumption is this, that thou trustest unto? Thou thinkest (peradventure) that thou hast council & power enough, to maintain this war: or else where to trustest thou, that thou castest thy self of fro me? lo, Thou puttest thy trust in a broken staff of reed (I mean Egipte) which he that leaneth upon, 〈…〉 it goeth in to his hand & shuteth him thorough. Even so is Pharaoh the king of Egipte, unto all them that trust in him. But if thou wouldest say to me: We trust in the LORD our God: A goodly god, indeed: whose high places & aulteres Ezechias took down, and commanded juda and jerusalem, to worship only before the altar. Abide thee, thou hast made a condition with my lord the king of the Assyrians, that he should give the two thousand horses: Art thou able to set men there up? seeing now that thou canst not resist the power of the smallest prince that my LORD hath, how darrest thou trust in that charettes and horse men of Egipte? moreover, thinkest thou that I am come down hither, to destroy this land with out the LORDS will? The LORD said unto me: go down in to that land, that thou mayest destroy it. Then said Eliachim, Sobna & johah unto Rabsaches: Speak to us thy servants (we pray thee) in the Syrians language, for we understand it well: And speak not to us in the jews tongue, jest the folk hear, which lieth upon the brickwall. Then answered Rabsaches: Think you, that the king sent me to speak this only unto you? Hath he not sent me to them also, that lie upon the brickwall? that they be not compelled to eat their own dung, and drink their own stolen with you? And Rabsaches stood stiff, & cried with a loud voice in the jews tongue, and said: Now take heed, how the great king of the Assyrians giveth you warning. Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you. moreover, let not Ezechias comfort you in the LORD, when he saith: The LORD with out doubt shall defend us, & shall not give over this cite in to the hands of the king of the Assyrians, believe him not. But thus saith the king of Assiria: obtain my favour, incline to me: So may every man enjoy his vynyardes and fygetrees, and drink the water of his cistern: unto the time that I come myself, & bring you in to a land, that is like your own: where in is wheat and wine, which is both sown with seed, and planted with vynyardes. Let not Ezechias deceive you, when he sayeth unto you: the LORD shall deliver us. Might the gods of the Gentiles keep everymen land, 〈…〉 from the power of the king of the Assyrians? Where is the God of hemath & Arphad? Where is the God of Sepharnaim? And who was able to defend Samaria out of my hand? Or which of all the gods of the lands, hath delivered their country out of my power, so that the LORD should deliver jerusalem fro my hand? Unto this, Ezechias messaungers held their tongues, and answered not one word: for the king had charged them, that they should give him none answer. So came Eliachim Elchias son the precedent, Sobna the scribe, and joah Asaphs son the Secretary, unto Ezechias with rent clotheses, & told him the words of Rabsaches. The xxxvij. Chapter. WHen Ezechias heard that, he rent his clotheses, & put on a sack clot, 4. Re. 19 a & went in to the temple of the LORD. But he sent Eliachim the Precedent, Sobna the scribe with the elder priests cloothed in sack, jone 3. a unto the Prophet Esay the son of Amos, & they said unto him: Thus saith Ezechias: this is the day of trouble, of plague & of wrath: like as when a child cometh to the birth, but the woman hath no power to bring it forth. The LORD thy God (no doubt) hath well considered the words of Rabsaches, whom his lord the king of the Assyrians hath sent, to defy & blaspheme the living God with such words, as the LORD the God hath heard rightwell. And therefore lift up the prayer for the remnant, that yet are left. So the servants of king Ezechias came to Esay. And Esay gave them this answer: Say thus unto your lord: thus saith the LORD: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast herd, wherewith the king of Assyrians servants have blasphemed me. Behold, I will 'cause a wind go over him, Esa. 31. b as soon as he heareth it, he shall go again in to his country, there will I destroy him with the sword. Now when Rabsaches returned, 1. Re. 23 c he found the king of Assiria laying siege to Lobna, for he had understand, that he was departed from Lachis. For there came a rumour, that Taracha king of Ethiopia was come forth to war against him. And when the king of Assiria heard that, he sent other messaungers to king Ezechias, with this commandment. say thus to Ezechias king of juda: Let not thy God deceive thee, in whom thou hopest, & sayest: Jerusalem shall not be given in to the hands of the king of Assiria. For thou knowest well, how the kings of Assiria have handled all the lands, that they have subverted, & hapest thou to escape? Were the people of the Gentiles (whom my progenitors conquered) delivered at any time thorough their gods? As namely, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, 4. Re. 17. a & the children of Eden, which devil at Thalassar. Where is the king of Hemath, & the king of Arphad, & the king of the city Sepharnaim, Ena and Ava? Now when Ezechias had received the letter of the messaungers, & read it, he went up into the house of the LORD, & opened the letter before the LORD. And Ezechias prayed before the LORD on this manner: O LORD of hosts, thou God of Israel, which dwellest upon Cherubin. Batuc. 2. c Thou art the God, Exo▪ 25 c Gene. 1 a that only is God of all the kingdoms of the world, for thou only hast created haven & earth. Incline thy ear LORD & cōsidr●, open thy eyes (oh LORD,) & se, and ponder all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent his embassage to blaspheme thee, the living God. It is true (oh LORD) that the kings of Assiria have conquered all kingdoms & lands, & cast their gods in the fire. notwithstanding those were no gods but the works of men's hands, of wood or stone, therefore have they destroyed them. deliver us then (oh LORD our God) from the hands of Sennacherib, that all kingdoms of the earth may know, that thou only art the LORD. Then Esay the son of Amos sent unto Ezechias, saying: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: Where as thou hast made thy prayer unto me, as touching Sennacherib, this is the answer, that the LORD hath given concerning him: Despised art thou, & mocked (oh daughter of Zion) he hath shaken his head at thee, oh daughter of jerusalem. Zac. 2. b Matt. 25. b But thou Sennacherib, whom hast thou defied or blaspemed? And against whom hast thou lifted up thy voice, Act. 9 a & exalted thy proud looks? even against the holy one of Israel. Thou with thy servants hast blasphemed the LORD, and thus holdest thou of thyself: I cover the high mountains, & sides of Libanus with my horsemen. And there will I cut down the high cedar trees & the fairest fir trees. I will up in to the height of it & in to the chiefest of his timbre woods. If there be no water, I will grave & drink. And as for waters of defence, I shall dry them up with the feet of mine host. Ye (sayest thou) hast thou not herd, what I have taken in hand, & brought to pass of old time? That same will I do now also: waist, destroy, & bring the strong cities unto heaps of stones. For their inhabitors shallbe like lame men, brought in fear & confounded. They shallbe like the grass & green herbs in the field, like the hay upon house tops, that withereth, afore it be grown up. I know thy ways, thy going forth & thy coming home, ye & thy madness against me. Therefore thy furiousness against me, & thy pride is come before me. I will put a ring in the nose, & a bridle bit in the chaws of thee, & turn the about, even the same way thou camest. I will give the also this token (oh Ezechias) this year shalt thou eat that is kept in store, & the next year such as groweth of himself, and in the third year you shall sow and reap, ye you shall plant vynyardes, and enjoy the fruits thereof. And such of the house of juda as are escaped, shall come together, and the remnant shall take rote beneath, & bring forth fruit above. For the escaped shall go out of Jerusalem, & the remnant from the mount Zion. And this shall the jealousy of the LORD of hosts bring to pass. Therefore thus saith the LORD, concerning the king of the Assyrians: He shall not come in to the city, and shall shoot no arrow in to it, there shall no shield hurt it, neither shall they grave about it. The same way that he came, shall he return, and not come at this city, saith the LORD. And I will keep and save the city (saith he) for mine own, & for my servant David's sake. Thus the angel went forth, 〈…〉 and slew of the Assyrians host, 〈…〉 an clxxxv. thousand. And when men arose up early (at Jerusalem:) Behold, all lay full of deed bodies. So Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians broke up, and dwelled at Ninive. afterward it chanced, as he prayed in the Temple of Nesrah his god, that Adramalech and Sarazer his own sons slew him with the sword, and fled in to the land of Ararat. And Esarhadon his son reigned after him. The xxxviij. Chapter. NOt long afore this, was Ezechias deadsick: 〈…〉 And the prophet Esay the son of Amos came unto him, and said: Thus commandeth the LORD: Set thine house in order, for thou must die, and shalt not escape. Then Ezechias turned his face toward the brickwall, & prayed unto the LORD, and said: Remember (oh LORD) that I have walked before the in truth and a steadfast heart, and have done the thing that is pleasant to the. And Ezechias wept sore. Then said God unto Esay: Go and speak unto Ezechias: The LORD God of David thy father sendeth the this word: 〈…〉 I have herd thy prayer, and considered thy tears: behold, I will put xv years mother unto thy life, and deliver the and the city also, from the hand of the king of Assiria, for I will defend the cite. And take the this token of the LORD, 〈…〉 that he will do it, as he hath spoken: Behold, I will return the shadow of Achas Dial, that now is laid out with the Son, and bring it ten degrees backwardly. So the Son turned ten degrees backwardly, the which he was descended afore. A thanksgiving, which Ezechias king of juda written, when he had been sick, & was recovered. I thought I should have go to the gates of hell in my best age, and have wanted the residue of my years. I spoke within myself: I shall never viset the LORD God in this life: I shall never see man, among the dwellers of the world Mine age is folden up together and taken away fro me, like a sheperdes' cottage: my life is hewn of, like as a weever cutteth of his web. Whyl I was yet taking my rest, he hewed me of, & made an end of me in one day. 〈◊〉 4. d I thought I would have lived unto the morrow, but he brussed my bones like a lion, and made an end of me in one day. Then chatred I like a swallow, and like a Crane, and mourned as a dove. I lift up mine eyes in to the height: O LORD, (said I) violence is done unto me, be thou surety for me. What shall I speak or say, ethat he may this do? that I may live out all my years, ye in the bitterness of my life? Verily (LORD,) men must live in bitterness, & all my life must I pass over therein: For thou raisest me up, and wakest me. But lo, I willbe well content with this bitterness. Nevertheless my conversation hath so pleased thee, that thou wouldest not make an end of my life, so that thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. 〈…〉 For hell praiseth not thee, death doth not magnify the. They that go down in to the grave, praise not thy truth: but the living, ye the living acknowledge thee, like as I do this day. The father telleth his children of thy faithfulness. deliver us (oh LORD) and we will sing praises in thy house, all the days of our life. And Esay said: take a plaster of fyges, and lay it upon the sore, so shall it be whole. Then said Ezechias: O what a great thing is this, that I shall go up in to the house of the LORD. The xxxix. Chapter. AT the same time Merodach Baladan, Baladans' son king of Babylon, 〈…〉 sent lettres and presents to Ezechias. For he understood, how that he had been sick, & was recovered again. 〈…〉 And Ezechias was glad thereof, & showed them the commodities of his treasure: of silver, of gold, of spices & roots, of precious oils, all that was in his cubboordes and treasure houses. There was not one thing in Ezechias house, & so thorough out all his kingdom, but he let them see it. Then came Esay the prophet to king Ezechias, and said unto him: What have the men said, and from whence came they unto thee? Ezechias answered: They came out of a far country unto me: out of Babylon. Esay said: what have they looked upon in thine house? Ezechias answered: All that is in mine house, have they seen: and there is no thing in my treasure, but I showed it them. Then said Esay unto Ezechias: 4. Re. 2. c understand the word of the LORD of hosts, Behold, the time will come, that every thing which is in thy house, and all that thy progenitors have laid up in store unto this day, shallbe carried to Babylon, and nothing left behind. This sayeth the LORD. Ye and part of thy sons that shall come of thee, and whom thou shalt get, shallbe carried hence, and become gelded chamberlains in the king of Babylon's court: Then said Ezechias to Esay: Now God prosper his own council, which thou hast told me. He said moreover: So that there be peace, and faithfulness in my tyme. The xl. Chapter. BE of good cheer my people, be of good cheer (saith your God) comfort jerusalem, and tell her: that her travail is at an end, that her offence is pardoned, that she hath received of the LORDS hand sufficient correction for all her sins. A voice crieth: Matt. 3. a Mar. 1. a Luc. 3. c Esa. 57 e joh. 1. d Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness, make strait the path for our God in the desert. Let all valleys be exalted, and every mountain and hill be laid low. What so is crooked, let it be made strait, and let the rough places be made plain fields. joh. 1. b For the glory of the LORD shall appear, & all flesh shall see it, for why, the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The same voice spoke: Now cry. Psal. 89. a Eccin. 14. ● jaco. 1. b 1. Pet. 1. d And I said: what shall I cry? Then spoke it: that, all flesh is grass, and that all the beauty the rof, is as the flower of the field. When the grass is wytthered, the flower falls away. Even so is the people as grass, when the breath of the LORD bloweth upon them. Nevertheless whether the grass wither, Matt. 5. d Psal. 32. b jaco. 1. b 1. Pet. 2. b or the flower fade away: Yet the word of our God endureth for ever. moreover the voice cried thus: Go up unto the hill (oh Zion) thou that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with power, oh thou preacher jerusalem. Lift it up without fear, and say unto the cities of juda: Behold, your God: Esa. 6●. c behold, the LORD, even the almighty sha● come with power, & bear rule with his arm. Behold, he bringeth his treasure with him, and his works go before him. He shall feed his flock like an hirdman. Esa. 34. d He shall gather the lambs together with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, & shall kindly entreat those that bear young. Who hath held the waters in his fist? Who hath measured heaven with his span▪ and hath comprehended all the earth of the world in three fingers? Who hath weighed the mountains and hills? Who hath reformed the mind of the LORD? Sap. 9 b Ro. 11. d Or who is of his council to teach him? At whom hath he asked council, to make him understand, and to learn him the way of judgement: to teach him science, and to instruct him in the way of understanding? Behold, all people are in comparison of him, as a drop to a bucket full, and are counted as the least thing that the balance weigheth. Behold, the Isles are in comparison of him, as the shadow of the Son beam. Libanus is not sufficient to minister fire for his offering, and all the beasts thereof are not enough to one sacrifice. All people in comparison of him, are reckoned, Psal. 61. b as nothing, ye vain vanity and emptiness. To whom then will you lick God? or what similitude will you set up unto him? Shall the carver make him a carved image? and shall the goldsmith cover him with gold, or cast him in to a form of silver plates? moreover shall the image maker (that the pooreman which is disposed, may have something to set up also) seek out and chose a tree, that is not rotten, and carve thereout an image, that moveth not? Know you not this? Heard you never of it? Hath it not been preached unto you sense the beginning? Have you not been informed of this, sense the foundation of the earth was laid: That he sitteth upon the Circle of the world, and that all the inhabitors of the world are in comparison of him, but as greshoppers: ●sa. 44. e That he spreadeth out the heavens as a covering, that he stretcheth them out, as▪ a tent to devil in: That he bringeth princes to nothing, and the judges of the earth to dust: so that they be not planted nor sown again, neither their stock rooted again in the earth? For as soon as he bloweth upon them, they wither & fade away, like the straw in a whirl wind. To whom now will you licken me, & whom shall I be like, saith the holyone? Lift up your eyes an high, and consider. Who hath made those things, which come out by so great heaps? and he can call them all by their names. 〈…〉 For there is nothing hid unto the greatness of his power, strength, and might. How may then jacob think, or how may Israel say: My ways are hid from the LORD, and my God knoweth not of my judgements. Knowest thou not, or hast thou not herd, that the everlasting God, the LORD which made all the corners of the earth, is neither weighed nor faint, and that his wisdom can not be comprehended: but that he giveth strength unto the weighed, and power unto the faint? Children are weighed and faint, and the strongest men fall: But unto them that have the LORD before their eyes, shall strength be increased, 〈…〉 eagle's wings shall grow upon them: When they run, they shall not fall: and when they go, they shall not be weighed. The xlj. Chapter. BE still (you I lands) and hearken unto me. Be strong you people, Come hither, and show your cause, we will go to the law together. Who raiseth up the just from the rising of the Son, and calleth him to go forth? Who casts down the people, and subdueth the kings before him: that he may throw them all to the ground with his sword, and scatre them like stubble with his bow? He followeth upon them, and goeth safely himself, and cometh in no foot-path with his feet. Who hath made, created, and called the generations from the beginning? Even I the LORD, 〈…〉 which am the first, and with the last. Behold you Isles, that you may fear, and you ends of the earth, that you may be abashed, draw nigh, and come hither. Every man hath exorted his neighbour, and brother, and bidden him be strong. The Smyth comforted the moulder, & the Ironsmyth the hammerman, saying: It shallbe good, that we fasten this cast work: and then they fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. And thou Israel my servant: jacob my elect seed of Abraham my beloved, whom I led from the ends of the earth by the hand: For I called the from far, & said unto thee: Thou shalt be my servant: 〈…〉 I have choose thee, & will not cast the away: be not afraid, for I will be with ye.. Lake not behind thee, for I will be thy God, to strength thee, help thee, & to keep the with this right hand of mine. Behold, all they that resist thee, shall come to confusion and shame: and thy adversaries shallbe destroyed & brought to nought. So that who so seeketh after them, shall not find them. Thy destroyers shall perish, & so shall they that undertake to make battle against the. For I thy LORD & God, will strength thy right hand. Even I that say unto thee: Fear not, I will help the. Be not afraid thou little worm jacob, and thou despised Israel: For I will help thee, saith the LORD, & the holyone of Israel thy avenger. Behold, I will make the a treading cart & a new flale, that thou mayest throsshe & grind the mountains, and bring the hills to powder. Thou shalt fan them, & the wind shall carry them away, & the whirlwind shall scatre them. But thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt delight in praising the holyone of Israel. When the thirsty and poor seek water & find none, 〈…〉 & when their tongue is dry of thirst: 〈◊〉. 3●. b 〈◊〉▪ 4●. c 〈◊〉▪ 44▪ a I give it them, saith the LORD. I the God of Israel forsake them not. I bring forth floods in the hills, & wells in the plain fields. I turn the wilderness to rivers, and the dry land to condytes of water. I plant in the wayst ground trees of cedar, Box, Myrrh and olives. And in the dry, I set Fyrre trees, elms and hawthornes together. All this do I, that they altogether may see and mark, perceive with their hearts, & consider: that the hand of the LORD maketh these things, and that the holyone of Israel bringeth them to pass. stand at your cause (saith the LORD) and bring forth your strongest ground, counceleth the king of jacob. Let the gods come forth themselves, and show us the things that are past, what they be: let them declare them unto us, that we may take them to heart, and know them hereafter. Ether, let them show us things for to come, and tell us what shallbe done hereafter: so shall we know, that they be gods. Show something, either good or bad, so will we both knowledge the same, & tell it out. Behold, you gods are of nought, & your making is of nought, but abomination hath choose you. Nevertheless I have waked up one from the North, & he shall come. And another from the East, which shall call upon my name, & shall come to the princes, as the Potter to his clay, & as the Potter treadeth down the mire. Who told that afore? So will we confess & say, that he is righteous. But there is none that showeth or declareth any thing, there is none also that heareth your words. Behold, I will first grant them of Zion & jerusalem to be Evangelists. But when I consider: there is not one among them that prophesieth, neither (when I axe him) that answereth one word. Lo, wicked are they & vain, with the things also that they take in hand: ye wind are they, and emptiness, with their images together. The xlij. Chapter. Behold now therefore, this is my servant whom I will keep to myself: Matt. 3. ● Matt 12. ● Matt. 17. ● my elect, In whom my soul shallbe pacified. I will give him my spirit, that he may show forth judgement & equity among the Gentiles. He shall not be an outcryer, ner an high minded person. His voice shall not be herd in the streets. A brussed reed shall he not break, & the smoking flax shall he not quench: but faithfully & truly shall he give judgement. He shall neither be overseen ner hasty, that he may restore righteousness unto the earth: & the Gentiles also shall keep his laws. Esa 44. ● Esa. 40. f For thus saith God the LORD unto him (Even he that made the heavens, and spread them abroad, & set forth the earth with her increase: which giveth breath unto the people that is in it, & to them that dwell therein) I the LORD have called the in righteousness, & led the by the hand. Therefore will I also defend thee, & give the for a covenant of the people, & to be the light of the Gentiles. That thou mayest open the eyes of the blind, let out the prisoners, Esa. 49. ● Luc. 2. c Zac. 9 b & them that sit in darkness, out of the dungeon house. I myself, whose name is the LORD, which give my power to none other, neither mine honour to the gods: show you these new tidings, and tell you them or they come, for old things also are come to pass. Sing therefore unto the LORD, Psa. 149. ● a new song of thanks giving, blow out his praise unto the end of the world. They that be upon the see, & all that is therein, praise him, the Isles & they that dwell in them. Let the wilderness with her cities lift up her voice, the towns also that be in Cedar. Let them be glad that sit upon rocks of stone, and let them cry down from the high mountains: ascribing almightynes unto the LORD, & magnifienge him among the Gentiles. The LORD shall come forth as a giant, and take a stomach to him like a fresh man of war. He shall roar and cry, and overcome his enemies. I have long held my peace (saith the LORD) should I therefore be still, and keep silence for ever? I will cry like a travelinge woman, and once will I destroy, and devour. I will make waist both mountain & hill, & dry up every green thing, that groweth thereon. I will dry up the floods of water, & drink up the rivers. I will bring the blind in to a street, that they know not: and lead them in to a fotepath, that they are ignorant in. I shall make darkness light before them, & the thing that is crooked, to be strait. These things will I do▪ & not forget them. And therefore let them convert, Esa. 44. b and be a shamed earnestly, that hope in Idols, & say to fashioned images: you are our gods. Hear, oh you deaf men, and sharpen your sights to see (oh you blind. Matt. 15. b ) But who is blinder, them my servant? Or so deaf, as my messaungers, whom I sent unto them? For who is so blind as my people, & they that have the rule of them? They are like, as if thou understodest much, and keptest nothing: or if one heard well, but were not obedient. The LORD be merciful unto them for his righteousness sake, that his word might be magnified & praised. But it is a mischievous & wicked people. Their young men belong all to the snare, & shallbe shut in to preson houses. They shall be carried away captive and no man shall louse them. Deut. 28 They shall be trodden under foot, ●sa. 44. d & no man shall labour to bring them again. But who is he among you, that pondreth this in his mind, that considreth it, & taketh it for a warning in time to come? Who suffered jacob to be trodden under foot, ●aruc. 1 d ●obi 3. a Dan. 9 a and Israel to be spoiled? did not the LORD? Now have we sinned against him, and have had no delight to walk in his ways, neither been obedient unto his law. Therefore hath he poured upon us his wroothful displeasure, and strong battle, which maketh us have to do on every side, yet will we not understand: He burneth us up, yet syncketh it not in to our hearts. The xliij. Chapter. But now the LORD that made thee (oh jacob) and he that fashioned thee (oh Israel) saith thus: ●sa. 41. ᵇ ●. Re. 17. g Deut. 7. a Deu. 26. d Ose. 1 b ●xo. 14. ● Dan. 3. d Fear not, for I will defend ye. I have called the by thy name, thou art mine own. When thou wentest in the water, I was by thee, that the strong floods should not pluck the away: When thou walkest in the fire, it shall not burn thee, and the flame shall not kindle upon the. For I am the LORD thy God, the holyone of Israel, thy saviour. I gave Egipte for the deliverance, the Moryans and the Sabees for thee: because thou wast dear in my sight, and because I set by thee, and loved the. 〈…〉 I peeled all men for thee, and delivered up all people for thy sake, that thou shouldest not fear, 〈…〉 for I was with the. I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather the together from the west. I will say to the north: let go. And to the south, keep not back: But bring me my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the world: Namely, all those that be called after my name: For then have I created, fashioned, and made for mine honour. Bring forth that people, whether they have eyes or be blind, deaf or have ears. 〈…〉 All nations shall come in one, and be gathered in one people. But which among yonder gods shall declare such things, & tell us what is to come? Let them bring their witnesses, so shall they be free: for them men shall hear it, and say: it is truth. But I bring you witnesses (says the LORD) even those that are my servants, whom I have choose: to the intent that you might be certified, and give me faithful credence: ye and to consider, that I am he, before whom there was never any God, and that there shallbe none after me. I am only the LORD, 〈…〉 and without me is there no saviour. I give warning, I make whole, I teach you, that there should be no strange God among you. And this record must you bear me yourselves (saith the LORD) that I am God. And even he am I from the beginning, and there is none, 〈…〉 that can take any thing out of my hand. And what I do, can no man change. Thus saith the LORD the holyone of Israel your redeemer: 〈…〉 For your sake I will send to Babylon, and bring all the strongest of them from thence: Namely, the Caldees that boost them of their ships: Even I the LORD your holy one which have made Israel, and am your king. moreover, thus saith the LORD (Even he that maketh a way in the see, 〈…〉 and a foot-path in the mighty waters: which bringeth forth the charettes and horses, the host and the power, that they may fall a sleep and never rise, and be extinct, like as tow is quenched. You remember not things of old, 〈…〉 and regard nothing that is past. Therefore behold, I shall make a new thing, and shortly shall it appear: You shall well know it, I told it you afore, but I will tell it you agaane. I will make streets in the desert, and rivers of water in the wilderness. The wild beasts shall worship me: the dragon, and the Ostrich. For I shall give water in the wilderness, 〈…〉 and streams in the desert: that I may give drink to my people, whom I chose. This people have I made for myself, and they shall show forth my praise. For thou (jacob) wouldest not call upon me, but thou hadst an unlust toward me, oh Israel. Thou gavest me not thy young beasts for burned offerings, neither diddest honour me with thy sacrifices. Thou boughtest me no dear spice with thy money, neither pouredest the fat of thy sacrifices upon me. Howbeit I have not been chargeable unto the in offerings, Esa. 1. b 〈…〉. c neither grievous in Incense. Butler thou hast laden me with thy sins, and wearied me with thy ungodliness: 〈◊〉▪ 24. b 〈◊〉 33. b Where as I yet am even he only, that for mine own selves sake do away thy offences, & forget thy sins: so that I will never think upon them. Put me now in remembrance (for we will reason together) & show what thou hast for thee, 〈◊〉. 3. b 〈◊〉. ●0. b to make the quite. Thy first father offended sore, and thy rulers have sinned against me Therefore I either suspended, or slew the chiefest princes: I did curse jacob, and gave Israel into reproof. The xliiij. Chapter. SO hear now, oh jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have choose. 〈◊〉 30. b 〈◊〉▪ 4●. g 〈◊〉. 4●. a 〈◊〉. 41. b For thus saith the LORD, that made thee, fashioned thee, and helped thee, even from thy mother's womb: Be not afraid (oh jacob my servant,) thou righteous, whom I have choose. For I shall pour water upon the dry ground, 〈◊〉. d 〈◊〉. 2. g 〈◊〉. 2. g and rivers upon the thirsty. I shall pour my spirit upon thisede, and mine increase upon thy stock. They shall grow together, like as the grass, and as the Willies by the water's side. One will say: I am the LORDS. Another will call under the name of jacob. The third shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and give himself under the name of Israel. moreover, thus hath the LORD spoken: even the king of Israel, 〈◊〉. 4●. b 〈…〉 d 〈◊〉. 4●. b 〈◊〉. ●2. c 〈◊〉▪ 43. b and his avenger, the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and the last, and without me is there no God. For what is he, that ever was like me, which am from everlasting? Let him show his name and do wherethrough he may be lickened unto me. Let him tell you forth plainly things, that are past and for to come: ye and that without any fear or stop. For have not I ever told you hitherto, & warned you? You can bear me record youreselues. Is there any God except me? or any maker, that I should not know him? Wherefore all carvers of Idols are but vain, and their labour lost. They must bear record themselves, that (seeing they can neither see ner understand) they shallbe confounded. Who should now make a god, Esa. 42. b or fashion an Idol, that is profitable for nothing? Behold all the fellowship of them must be brought to confusion. Psal. 113. b Sap. 13. c Let all the workmasters of them come and stand together from among men: they must be abashed and confounded one with another. The smith taketh iron, and tempreth it with hot coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, & maketh it with all the strength of his arms: Ye sometime he is faint for very hunger, and so thirsty, that he hath no more power. The carpenter (or image carver) taketh me the timber, and spreadeth forth his line: he marketh it with some colour: he plaineth it, he ruleth it, and squareth it, and maketh it after the image of a man, and according to the beauty of a man: that it may stand in the temple. moreover, he goeth out to hew down cedar trees: He bringeth home Elms and oaks, and other timber of the wood. Or else the Fyrretrees which he planted himself, and such as the rain hath swelled, which wood serveth for men to burn. Of this he taketh and warmeth himself withal: he maketh a fire of it to bake bread. And after ward maketh a god there of, to honour it: and an Idol, to kneel before it. One piece he burneth in the fire, with another he roasteth flesh, that he may eat roast his belly full: with the third he warmeth himself, and saith: A ha': I am well warmed, I have been at the fire. And of the residue, he maketh him a god, and an Idol for himself. He kneeleth before it, he worshippeth it, he prayeth unto it, and sayeth: deliver me, for thou art my god. Yet men neither consider ner understand, because their eyes are stopped, Esa. 42. ● that they can not see: and their hearts, that they can not perceive. They ponder not in their minds (for they have neither knowledge ner understanding) to think thus: I have brent one piece in the fire, I have baked bread with the coals there of, I have roasted flesh withal, & eaten it: Shall I now of the residue make an abomination, and fall down before a rotten piece of wood? The keeping of dust, and foolishness of heart hath turned them a side: so that none of them can have a free conscience to think: may not jerre? consider this (oh jacob and Israel) for thou art my servant. I have made thee, that thou mightest serve me. O Israel, forget me not. As for thine offences, ●sa. 43. d I drive them away like the clouds, and thy sins as the mist. Turn the again unto me, & I will deliver ye. Be glad you heavens, whom the LORD hath made, let all that is here beneath upon the earth, be joyful. Rejoice you mountains & woods, with all the trees that are in you: for the LORD shall redeem jacob, & show his glory upon Israel. For thus saith the LORD thy redeemer, even he that fashioned the from thy mother's womb: ●om. 11. d Gen. 1. a ●sa. 4. c I am the LORD, which do all things myself alone. I only have spread out the heavens, and I only have laid the foundation of the earth. I destroy the tokens of witches, and make the Soothsayers go wrong. As for the wise, I turn them backwardly, and make their cunning foolishness. But I set up the purpose of my servants, and fulfil the council of my messengers. I say to Jerusalem: turn again: And to the cities of juda, be you builded again: and I repair their decayed places. I say to the ground: be dry. And I dry up thy water floods. I say to Cirus: thou art mine hyrd man, so that he shall fulfil all things after m● will. I say to jerusalem: be thou builded, and to the temple: be thou fast grounded. The xlv. Chapter. THus saith the LORD unto Cirus his anointed, Esd. 1. a whom he leadeth by the right hand: that the people may fall down before him: I will louse the girdle of kings, that they shall open the gates before thy face, and not to shut their doors. I will go before thee, and make the crooked strait. I shall break the brazen doors, & burst the iron bars. I shall give the the hid treasure, & the thing which is secretly kept: that thou mayest know, that I the God of Israel have called the by thy name: ●en. 39 a and that for jacob my servant sake, & for Israel my choose. For I called the by the name, and ordained thee, or ever thou knewest me: ●sa. 43. b Even I the LORD, before whom there is none other, for with out me there is no God I have prepared thee, or ever thou knewest me: ●ere. 1. a that it might be known from the rising of the Son to the going down of the same, that all is nothing without me. For I am the LORD, & there is else none. 〈…〉 It is I that created the light and darkness, I make peace and trouble: Ye even I the LORD do all these things. The heavens above shall drop down, and the clouds shall rain righteousness. The earth shall open itself, and bring forth health, and thereby shall righteousness flourish. Even I the LORD shall bring it to pass. Woe be unto him that chideth with his maker, the potsherd with the potter. 〈…〉 saith the clay to the potter: What makest thou? or, thy work serveth for nothing? Woe be unto him, that saith to his father: why begettest thou? And to his mother: why bearest thou? Thus saith the LORD, even the holy one & maker of Israel: Axe me of things for to come, concerning my sons: and put me in remembrance, as touching the works of my hands: I have made the earth, and created man upon it. With my hands have I spread forth heaven, and given a commandment for all the host thereof. I shall wake him up with righteousness, and order all his ways. 〈…〉 He shall build my cite, & let out my prisoners: & that neither for gift nor rewards, saith the LORD of hosts. The LORD hath said moreover: The occupiers of Egipte, the merchants of the Moryans and Sabees, shall come unto the with tribute, they shabethine, they shall follow thee, and go with chains upon their feet. They shall fall down before thee, and make supplication unto the. For God (with out whom there is none other God) shall be with the. 〈…〉 O how profound art thou oh God, thou God & saviour of Israel? Confounded be you, and put to dishonour: go hence together with shame, all you that be workmasters of error: (that is worshippers of Idols) But Israel shallbe saved in the LORD, which is the everlasting salvation: They shall not come to shame ner confusion, world without end. For thus sayeth the LORD: even he that created heaven, the God that made the earth, 〈…〉 that fashioned it, and set it forth: I have not made it for nought, but I made it to be enhabited: Even I the LORD, without whom there is none other. 〈…〉 I have not spoken secretly, neither in dark places of the earth. It is not for nought, that I said unto the sede of jacob: seek me. I am the LORD, which when I speak, declare the thing that is righteous and true. Let them be gathered & come together, let them draw nigh hither, that are escaped of the people: Have they any understanding, that set up the stocks of their Idols, and pray unto a god, 〈◊〉 44 c 〈◊〉. ● that can not help them? Let men draw nigh, let them come hither, and ask council one at another, and show forth ●What is he, that told this before? or, who spoke of it, ever sense the beginning? Have not I the LORD done it: 〈◊〉. 4●. b without whom there is none other God? the true God and saviour, 〈◊〉 44. b and there is else none but I? And therefore turn you unto me (all you ends of the earth) so shall you be saved, for I am God, & there is else none. I swear by myself: out of my mouth cometh the word of righteousness, and that may no man turn: but all knees shall bow unto me, and all tongues shall sweat by me, 〈◊〉. 14. b 〈◊〉. 2. b saying: Verily in the LORD is my righteousness and strength. To him shall men come: but all they that think scorn of him, shallbe confounded. And the whole seed of Israel shallbe justified, & praised in the LORD The xluj. Chapter. 〈◊〉 14. c 〈◊〉. 5. a 〈◊〉. 5. a Nevertheless Bel shall fall, & Nabo shallbe broken: whose images are a burden for the beasts and cattles, to overlade them, and to make them weighed. They shall sink down, and fall together: for they may not ease them of their burden, therefore must they go in to captivity. hearken unto me, oh house of jacob, and all you that remain yet of the household of Israel: whom I have born from your mother's womb, and brought you up from your birth, till you were grown: I I which shall bear you unto your last age: I have made you, I will also nourish you, bear you and save you. Whom will you make me like, in fashion or image, 〈◊〉 44 ●. 〈◊〉 3●. a that I may be like him? You fools (no doubt) will take out silver and gold out of your purses, and weigh it, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, that men may kneel down and worship it. Yet must he be taken on men's shoulders and born, 〈◊〉 44. c 〈…〉 c and set in his place, that he may stand and not move. Alas that men should cry unto him, which giveth no answer: and delivereth not the man that calleth upon him, from his trouble. consider this well, and be ashamed, Go into your own selves (O you runagates). Remember the things which are past, sense the beginning of the world: that I am God, and that there is else no God, ye and that there is nothing like unto me. In the beginning of a thing, I show the end thereof: and I tell before, things that are not yet come to pass. With one word is my device accomplished, & fulfilleth all my pleasure. I call a bird out of the east, Exo. 16. c and all that I take in hand, out of far countries. As soon as I command, I bring it hither: as soon as I think to devise a thing, I do it. Psal. 148. a 32. b Hear me, oh you that are of an high stomach, but far from righteousness. I shall bring forth my righteousness, It is not far, and my health shall not tarry long away. I will say health in Sion, and give Israel my glory. The xlvij. Chapter. But as for thee (O daughter, thou virgin Babylon) thou shalt sit in the dust. Thou shalt sit upon the ground, and not in atr one (oh thou maiden of Chaldea). Thou shalt no more be called tender, and pleasant. Thou shalt bring forth the querne, & grynede meel, put down thy stomacher, make bore thy knees, and shalt wade thorough the water rivers. Thy shame shallbe discovered, Eze. 16. d Nau. 3. b and thy privities shall be seen. For I will avenge me of thee, and no man shall let me: saith our redeemer, which is called the LORD of hosts, the holy one of Israel. Sit still, hold thy tongue, and get the in to some dark corner (O daughter Caldea) for thou shalt no more be called lady of kingdoms. I was so wroth with my people, that I punished mine inheritance, Pro. 21. b jere. 50. b and gave them in to thy power. Nevertheless, thou shewdest them no mercy, but even the very aged men of them, diddest thou oppress right sore with thy yock, & thou thoughtest thus: I shallbe lady for ever. And beside all that, thou hast not regarded these things, neither cast, what should come after. Hear now therefore, thou wilful, that sittest so careless, Esa. 10. b Apo. 18. c & speakest thus in thy heart: I am alone, and without me is there none: I shall never be widow, ner desolate again. And yet both these things shall come to the upon one day in the twinkling of an eye: Namely, wyddowhead, and desolation. Dani. 5. c They shall mightily fall upon thee, for the multitude of thy witches, and for the great heap of thy conjurers. For thou hast comforted thyself in thy deceitfulness, and hast said: Not man seith me. Thine own wisdom & cunning have deceived thee, Esa. 29. c In that thou hast said: I am alone, and without me there is none. Therefore shall trouble come upon thee, & thou shalt not know, from whence it shall arise. Mischief shall fall upon thee, which thou shalt not be able to put of. A sudden misery shall come upon thee, or ever thou be aware. Now go to thy conjurers, and to the multitude of thy witches, (whom thou hast been acquanted withal from thy youth) if they may help thee, or strengthen the. Thou hast hither to had many counsels of them, so let the heavengasers & the beholders of stars, come on now and deliver thee: ye and let them show, when these new things shall come upon the. Behold, they shallbe like straw, which if it be kindled with fire, no man may rid it for the vehemence of the flame: And yet it giveth no zynders to warm a man by, ner clear fire to sit by. Even so shall they be unto thee, whom thou hast used & occupied from thy youth. Every one shall show that his erroneous way, yet shall none of them defend the. The xlviij. Chapter. Hear this, O thou house of jacob: you that are called by the name of Israel, and are come out of one stock with juda: which swear by the name of the LORD, ●phe. 2. b ●sa. ●1. c ●erem. 3. f and bear witness by the God of Israel (but not with truth and right) which are called free men of the holy city, as they that look for conforth in the God of Israel, whose name is the LORD of hosts. The things that I showed you ever sense the beginning: Have I not brought them to pass, immediately as they came out of my mouth, and declared them? And they are come? Howbeit I knew that thou art obstinate, and that thy neck hath an iron vane, and that thy brow is of brass. Nevertheless I have ever sense the beginning showed the of things for to come, and declared them unto thee, or ever they came to pass: that thou shouldest not say: mine Idol hath done it, my carved or cast image hath showed it. Hear & consider all these things, whether it was you that prophesied them: But as for me, I told the before at the beginning, new & secret things, that thou knewest not of: And some done now not of old time, Esa. 37. f whereof thou never herdest, before they were brought to pass: that thou canst not say: I knew of them. moreover there be some whereof thou hast neither heard ner known, neither have they been opened unto thy ears afore time. For I known that thou wouldest maliciousli offend, therefore have I called the a transgressor, even from thy mother's womb. Nevertheless for my name's sake, I have withdrawn my wrath, and for mine honoursake I have overseen thee, so that I have not rooted the out. Behold I have purged thee, and not for money. I have choose the in the fire of poverty, And that only for mine own sake, 〈…〉 for I give mine Honour to none other, that thou shouldest not despise me. hearken unto me oh jacob, 〈…〉 & Israel whom I have called. I am even he that is, I am the first and the last. 〈…〉 My hand is the foundation of the earth, & my right hand spanneth over the heavens. As soon as I called them they were there. Gather you all together, and hearken: Which of yonder gods hath declared this, that the LORD will do by the king of Babylon, (whom he loveth & favoureth) and by the Caldees his arm▪ I myself alone have told you this before. Ye I shall call him and bring him forth, & give him a prosperous journey. Come nigh & hear this: 〈…〉 have I spoken any thing darckly sense the beginning? when a thing beginneth, I am there. Wherefore the LORD God with his spirit hath sent me, And thus saith the LORD thy avenger, the holyone of Israel: 〈…〉 I am the LORD thy God, which teach the profitable things, and lead the the way, that thou shouldest go. If thou will't now regard my commandment, thy wealthiness shallbe as the water stream: & thy righteousness as the wawes flowing in the see. Thysede shallbe like as the sand in the see, & the fruit of thy body, like the gravel stones thereof: Thy name shall not be rooted out, nor destroyed before me. You shall go away from Babylon, and escape the Caldees with a merry voice. 〈…〉 This shallbe spoken of, declared abroad, & go forth unto the end of the world: so that it shallbe said: The LORD hath defended his servant jacob, that they suffered no thirst, 〈…〉 when they travailed in the wilderness. He clave the rocks asunder, and the water gushed out. As for the ungodly, they have no peace, 〈…〉 saith the LORD. MESSIAH The xlix. Chapter. hearken unto me, you Isles, and take heed you people from far: The LORD hath called me fro my birth, and made mention of my name fro my mother's womb: he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, 〈…〉 under the shadow of his hand hath he defended me, and hid me in his quiver, as a good arrow, and said unto me: Thou art my servant Israel, I willbe honoured in the. 〈…〉 Then answered I: I shall lose my labour, I shall spend my strength in vain. Nevertheless, I will commit my cause and my work unto the LORD my God. And now saith the LORD (even he that fashioned me fro my mother's womb to be his servant, that I may bring jacob again unto him: howbeit, Israel will not be gathered unto him again. In whose sight I am great, which also is my LORD, my God and my strength) Let it be but a small thing, that thou art my servant, to set up the kinreddes of jacob, & to restore the destruction of Israel: 〈…〉 if I make the not also the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my health unto the end of the world. moreover thus saith the LORD the avenger and holy one of Israel, because of the abhorring and despising among the Gentiles, concerning the servant of all them that bear rule: Kings and princes shall see, and arise and worship, because of the LORD that he is faithful: and because of the holy one of Israel, which hath choose the. 〈…〉 And thus saith the LORD: In the time appointed will I be present with the. And in the hour of health will I help thee, & deliver the. I will make the a pledge for the people, so that thou shalt help up the earth again, and challenge again the scattered heretages: 〈…〉 That thou mayest say to the presoners: go forth, & to them that are in darkness: come in to the light, that they may feed in the high ways, & get their living in all places. There shall neither hunger ner thirst, heat nor Son hurt them. 〈…〉 For he that favoureth them, shall lead them, and give them drink of the springe wells. I will make ways upon all my mountains, and my foot paths shallbe exalted. And behold, they shall come from far: lo, seem from the north and west, 〈…〉 some from the south. Rejoice you heavens, and sing praises thou earth: Talk of joy you hills, for God will comfort his people, & have mercy upon his, that be in trouble. Then shall Zion say: God hath forsaken me, and the LORD hath forgotten me. Doth a wife forget the child of her womb, 〈…〉 and the son whom she hath born? And though she do forget, yet will not I forget the. Behold, I have written the up upon my hands, thy walls are ever in my sight. They that have broken the down, shall make haist to build the up again: and they that made the waist, shall devil in the. Lift up thy eyes, and look about thee: 〈…〉 all these shall gather them together, and come to the. As truly as I live (saith the LORD) thou shalt put them all upon thee, as an apparel, and gird them to thee, as a bride doth her jewels. As for thy land that lieth desolate, waisted & destroyed: it shallbe to narrow for them, that shall devil in it. And they that would devour thee, shallbe far a way. Then the child whom the barren shall bring forth unto thee, shall say in thy ear: this place is to narrow, sit nigh together, that I may have room. Then shalt thou think by thyself: Who hath begotten me these? seeing I am barren & alone, a captive & an outcast? And who hath nourished them up for me? I am desolate & alone, but from whence come these? And therefore thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will stretch out mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my token to the people. They shall bring the thy sons in their laps, & carry thy daughters unto the upon their shoulders. For kings shallbe thy noursinge fathers, and Queens shallbe thy noursinge mothers. They shall fall before the with their faces flat upon the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet: that thou mayest know, how that I am the LORD. Ro. 9 d And who so putteth his trust in me, shall not be confounded. Who spoileth the giant of his prey? or who taketh the prisoner from the mighty? And therefore thus saith the LORD: The prisoners shallbe taken from the giant, and the spoil delivered from the violent: for I will maintain thy cause against thy adversaries, and save thy sons. And will feed thy enemies with their own flesh, and make them drink of their own blood, as of sweet wine. And all flesh shall know (oh jacob) that I am the LORD thy saviour, and strong avenger. Chap. I THus saith the LORD: Where is the bill of your mothers divorcement, that I sent unto her? or who is the usurer, jere. 3. a to whom I sold you? Behold, for your own offences are you sold: & because of your transgression, Esa. ●9. a is your mother forsaken. For why would no man receive me, when I came? & when I called, no man gave me answer. Was my hand clean smitten of, that it might not help? or, had I not power to deliver? lo, Exo. 14. c josu. 3 d at a word I drink up the see, & of water floods I make dry land: so that for want of water, the fish corruppe and die of thirst. As for heaven, Exo. 10. ● I clooth it with darkness, and put a sack upon it. The LORD God hath given me a well learned tongue, so that I can comfort them which are troubled, ye & that in due season. 2. Cor. 1. ● He waked mine ear up by times in the morning (as the scolemasters do) that I might hearken. The LORD God hath opened mine ear, therefore can I not say nay, ner withdraw myself, Psal. 39 b job. 30. d Mat. 26. g Heb. 13. ● but I offer my back unto the smyters, and my cheese to the nyppers. I turn not my face from shame and spitting, for the LORD God helpeth me, therefore shall I not be confounded. I have hardened my face like a flint stone, for I am sure, that I shall not come to confusion. Mine advocate speaketh for me, who will then go with me to law? Let us stand one against another: if there be any that will reason with me, let him come here forth to me. Ro ●. f Behold, the LORD God standeth by me, what is he that can condemn me? lo, they shallbe all like as an old clot, which the moths shall eat up. Psalm. 101 Therefore who so fears the LORD among you, let him hear the voice of his servant. Who so walketh in darkness, & no light shineth upon him, let him hope in the LORD, and hold him by his God. But take heed, you have all kindled a fire, and girded yourselves with the flame: You walk in the glistering of your own fire, and in the flame that you have kindled. This cometh unto you fro my hand, namely, that you shall sleep in sorrow. The li. Chapter. hearken unto me, you that hold of righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Take heed unto the stone, whereout you are hewn, and to the grave whereout you are digged. consider Abraham your father, & Sara that bore you: Gen. 21. a Rom. 4. a Gen. 12. a how that I called him alone, prospered him well, & increased him: how the LORD comforted Sion, and repaired all her decay: making her desert as a Paradise, and her wilderness as the garden of the LORD. Mirth and joy was there, thanks giving and the voice of praise. Have respect unto me then (oh my people) and lay thy ear to me: for a law, and an ordinance shall go forth fro me, Esa. 2. a to lighten the Gentiles. It is hard by, that my health & my righteousness shall go forth, and the people shallbe ordered with mine arm. The Ilondes (that is the Gentiles) shall hope in me, and put their trust in mine arm. Lift up your eyes toward heaven, and look upon the earth beneath. Psal. 101. d Matt. 24. c 2. Pet. 3. b For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall tear like a cloth, & they that dwell therein, shall perish in like manner. But my health endureth for ever, Psalm. 36 and my righteousness shall not cease. Therefore hercken unto me, you that have pleasure in righteousness, jere. 31. f thou people that bearest my law in thy heart. Fear not the curse of men, Matt. 10. d Luc. 12 a Psal. 101. d be not afraid of their blasphemies & revilings: for worms & moths shall eat them up like cloth & will. But my righteousness shall endure for ever, & my saving health from generation to generation. Wake up, wake up, & be strong: O thou arm of the LORD: wake up, like as in times past, ever and sense the world began. Art not thou he, 〈…〉 that hast wounded that proud lucifer, and hewn the dragon in pieces? Art not thou even he, which hast dried up the deep of the see, which hast made plain the see ground, that the delivered might go thorough? 〈…〉 That the redeemed of the LORD, which turned again, might come with joy unto Sion, there to endure for ever▪ That mirth and gladness might be with them: that sorrow & woe might i'll from them? 〈…〉 Ye I, I am even he, that in all things giveth you consolation. What art thou then, that fearest a mortal man, the child of man, which goeth away as doth the flower? And forgettest the LORD that made thee, 〈…〉 that sp●ed out the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth. But thou art ever afraid for the sight of thine oppressor, which is ready to do harm: Where is the wrath of the oppressor? It cometh on fast, it maketh haist to appear: It shall not perish, that it should not be able to destroy, neither shall it fail for fault of nourishing. I am the LORD thy God, that make the see to be still, 〈…〉 and to rage: whose name is the LORD of hosts. I shall put my word also in thy mouth, and defend the with the turning of my hondel that thou mayest plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion: thou art my people. Awake, Awake, and stand up oh jerusasalem, 〈…〉 thou that from the hand of the LORD, hast drunken out the cup of his wrath: thou that hast supped of, and sucked out the slombringe cup to the bottom. For among all the sons whom thou hast begotten, there is not one that may hold the up: and not one to lead the by the hand, of all the sons that thou hast nourished. Both these things are happened unto thee, but who is sorry for it? Ye, destruction, waistinge, hunger & sword: but who hath comforted thee? Thy sons lie comfortless at the head of every street like a taken venison, & are full of the terrible wrath of the LORD, & punishment of thy God. And therefore thou miserable & drunken (howbeit not with wine) Hear this: Thus saith thy LORD: thy LORD & God, the defender of his people: Behold, I will take the slombringe cup out of thy hand, even the cup with the dregs of my wrath: that from hence forth thou shalt never drink it more, & will put it in their hand that trouble thee: which have spoken to thy soul: stoop down, that we may go over thee: make thy body even with the ground, and as the street to go upon. The lij. Chapter. UP Zion up, take thy strength unto thee: put on thy honest raiment oh Jerusalem, thou city of the holy one. For from this time forth, there shall no uncircumcised ner unclean person come in the. Shake the from the dust, arise & stand up, oh Jerusalem. Pluck out thy neck from the bond, oh thou captive daughter Zion. For thus saith the LORD: You are sold for nought, 〈…〉 therefore shall you be redeemed also without any money. For thus hath the LORD said: My people went down afore time in to Egipte, 〈…〉 there to be strangers. afterward did the king of the Assyrians oppress them, for nought. And now what profit is it to me (saith the LORD) that my people is freely carried away, & brought in to heaviness by their rulers, 〈…〉 and my name ever still blasphemed? saith the LORD. But that my people may know my name, 〈…〉 I myself will speak in that day. Behold, here am I O how beautiful are the feet of the Embassitoure, that bringeth the message from the mountain, 〈…〉 & proclaimeth peace: that bringeth the good tidings, & preacheth health, & saith unto Zion: Thy God is the king. Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice, with loud voice shall they preach of him: for they shall see him present, when the LORD shall come again to Zion. Be glad, oh thou desolate Jerusalem, & rejoice together: 〈…〉 for the LORD will comfort his people, he will deliver Jerusalem. The LORD will make bore his holy arm, 〈…〉 & show it forth in the sight of all the Gentiles, & all the ends of the earth shall see the saving health of our God. 〈…〉 Away, Away, get you out from thence, & touch no unclean thing. Go out from among such, And be clean, you that bear the vessel of the LORD. But you shall not go out with sedition, ner make haist as they that i'll away: for the LORD shall go before you, and the God of Israel shall keep the watch. 〈…〉 Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, therefore shall he be magnified, exalted & greatly honoured. Like as the multitude shall disorder upon him, because his face shallbe so deformed & not as a man's face, & his beauty like no man: Even so shall the multitude of the Gentiles look unto him, & the kings shall shut their mouths before him. For they that have not been told of him, shall see him: and they that heard nothing of him, 〈◊〉 5. c 〈◊〉 5 a shall behold him. The liij. Chapter. But who giveth credence unto our preaching? Or to whom is the arm of the LORD known? 〈…〉 He shall grow before the LORD like as a branch, & as a rote in a dry ground. He shall have neither beauty ner favour. When we look upon him, there shallbe no fairness: we shall have no lust unto him. Hebr. ● a He shallbe the most simple & despised of all, which yet hath good experience of sorrows & infirmities. We shall reckon him so simple & so vile, that we shall hide our faces from him. Math. 8. b 1. Pet. 2. d Howbeit (of a truth) he only taketh away our infirmity, & beareth our pain: Yet we shall judge him, as though he were plagued and cast down of God: 2. Cor. 11. c where as he (notwithstanding) shall be wounded for our offences, & smitten for our wickedness. For the pain of our punishment shallbe laid upon him, & with his stripes shall we be healed. As for us, we go all astray (like sheep), every one turneth his own way. But thorough him, the LORD pardoneth all our sins. He shall be pained & troubled, and shall not open his mouth. jere. 11. d Actu. ● f Mat. 27. b 1. Cor. 5. c He shallbe led as a sheep to be slain, yet shall he be as still as a lamb before the shearer, & not open his mouth. He shall be had away, his cause not herd, & without any judgement: Whose generation yet no man may number, when he shallbe cut of from the ground of the living: Which punishment shall go upon him, for the transgression of my people. Mat. 27. c His grave shallbe given him with the condemned, & his crucifienge with the thieves, 2 Cor. 5. c 1. Pet. 2. d Where as he did never violence ●er unright, neither hath there been any disceatfulnesse in his mouth. Yet hath it pleased the LORD to smite him with infirmity, johan. 12. c Rom. 8. d that when he had made his soul an offering for sin, he might see a long lasting seed. And this device of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. With travail and labour of his soul, shall he obtain great riches. My righteous servant shall with his wisdom justify & deliver the multitude, for he shall bear away their sins. Therefore will I give him the multitude for his part, Rom. ●. c & he shall divide the strong spoil because he shall give over his soul to death, & shallbe reckoned among the transgressors, which nevertheless shall take away the sins of the multitude, Marc. 15. d Luc. 22. b and make intercession for the myszdoers. The liiij. Chapter. Therefore be glad now, thou barren that bearest not. Rejoice, sing & be merry, thou that art not with child: For the desolate hath moo children, than the married wife, Gala. ●. d saith the LORD. Make thy tent wider, & spread out the hangings of thy habitation: spare not, lay forth thy cords, and make fast thy stakes: for thou shalt break out on the right side and on the left, & thy seed shall have the Gentiles in possession, and dwell in the desolate cities. Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded: Be not ashamed, for thou shalt not come to confusion. Ye thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the dishonour of thy wedo wheade. For he that made thee, shallbe thy LORD & husband (whose name is the LORD of hosts) & thy avenger shallbe even the holy one of Israel, Esa. 62 a Eze 16. b Esa. 48. a the LORD of the whole world. For the LORD shall call thee, being as a desolate sorrowful woman, and as a young wife that hath broken her wedlock: saith thy God. A little while have I forsaken thee, but with great mercifulness shall I take the up unto me. Esa. 26. d Psal. 29. a When I was angry, I hide my face from the for a little season, but thorough everlasting goodness shall I pardon thee, saith the LORD thy avenger. And this must be unto me, as the water of No: For like as I have sworn that I will not bring the water of No any more upon the world: Gen. 9 b So have I sworn, 2. Re. 7. c that I will never be angry with thee, ner reprove thee: The mountains shall remove, & the hills shall fall down: but my loving kindness shall not move, and the bond of my peace shall not fall down from thee, saith the LORD thy merciful lover. Behold, thou poor, vexed & despised: I will make thy walls of precious stones, Esa. 6. b & the foundation of sapphires, thy windows of Crystal, thy gates of fine clear stone, & the borders of pleasant stones. Thy children shall all be taught of God, 1. joh. 2. d joh. 6. e & I will give them plenteousness of peace. In righteousness shalt thou be grounded, & be far from oppression: for the which thou needest not be afraid, neither for hindrance, for it shall not come nigh the. Behold, the ale●unt that was far from thee, shall devil with thee: & he that was somtyne a stranger unto thee, shallbe joined with thee: Behold, I make the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, & he maketh a weapon after his hondy work. I make also the waister to destroy: but all the weapens that are made against thee, shall not prosper. And as for all tongues, that shall resist the in judgement, Luc. 21. b Actu. 4. a thou shalt over come them, & condemn them. This is the heritage of the lords servants, & the righteousness that they shall have of me, saith the LORD. The lv. Chapter. COme to the waters all you, that be thirsty, Ecc●. 51. d joh. 7. d Apo. 22. d & you that have no money. Come, buy, that you may have to eat. Come, buy wine & milk, without any money, or money worth, Wherefore do you say out your money, for the thing that feedeth not, and spend your labour about the thing that satisfieth you not? But hearken rather unto me, and you shall eat of the best, & your soul shall have her pleasure in plenteousness. incline your ears, & come unto me, take heed & your soul shall live. For I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 〈…〉 even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I shall give him for a witness among the folk, for a prince & captain unto the people. Lo, thou shalt call an unknown people: & a people that had no knowledge of thee, shall run unto thee: because of the LORD thy God, the holy one of Israel, which glorifieth the. Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is nigh. Let the ungodly man forsake his ways, 〈…〉 and the unrightuous his imaginations, & turn again unto the LORD, 〈…〉 so shall he be merciful unto him: and to our God, for he is ready to forgive. For thus saith the LORD: My thoughts are not your thoughts, & your ways are not my ways: But as far as the heavens are higher than the earth, so far do my ways exceed yours, 〈…〉 & my thoughts yours And like as the rain & snow cometh down from heaven, & returns not thither again, but watereth the earth, maketh it fruitful & green, that it may give corn & bread unto the sour: So the word also that cometh out of my mouth, shall not turn again void unto me, but shall accomplish my will & prosper in the thing, whereto I send it. And so shall you go forth with joy, & be led with peace. The mountains and hills shall sing with you for joy, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. For thorns, there shall grow fir trees, & the Myrte tree in the stead of breres. And this shall be done to the praise of the LORD, & for an everlasting token, that shall not be taken away. The luj. Chapter. THus saith the LORD: Keep equity, and do right, for my saving health shall come shortly, & my righteousness shallbe opened. Blissed is the man that doth this, & the man's child which keepeth the same. He that taketh heed, 〈…〉 that he unhalowe not the Sabbath (that is) he that keepeth himself that he do no evil. Then shall not the stranger, which cleaveth to the LORD, say: 〈…〉 Alas the LORD hath shut me clean out from his people. neither shall the gelded man say: lo, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the LORD, first unto the gelded that keepeth my Sabbath: Namely: that holdeth greatly of the thing that pleaseth me, and keepeth my covenant: Unto them will I give in my household and with in my walls, a better heritage & name: than if they had been called sons & daughters. 〈◊〉▪ 1. a I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not perish. Again, he saith unto the strangers that are disposed to stick to the LORD, to serve him, & to love his name: That they shallbe no bond men. And all they, which keep themselves, that they unhalowe not the Sabbath, namely: that they fulfil my covenant: Them will I bring to my holy mountain, 〈◊〉. 7. c & make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burned offerings and sacrifices shallbe accepted upon mine altar. 〈◊〉▪ ●1. b 〈◊〉 8. f for my house shallbe an house of prayer for all people. Thus saith the LORD God which gathereth together the scattered of Israel: 〈◊〉. 11. b 〈◊〉 19 d I will bring yet another congregation to him. All the beasts of the field, & all the beasts of the wood, shall come to devour him. For his watch men are all blind, they have altogether no understanding, they are all dumb dogs, 〈◊〉. 1●. b not being able to bark, they are slepery: slogish are they, & lie snorting: they are shameless dogs, that be never satiszfied. The sheperdes also in like manner have no understanding, but every man turneth his own way, every one after his own covetousness, with all his power. 〈…〉 Come (say they) I will fetch wine, so shall we fill ourselves, that we may be drunken. And do tomorrow, like as to day, ye and much more. The LVII. Chapter· But in the mean season the righteous perisheth, & no man regardeth it in his heart. Good godly people are taken away & no man considreth it. 〈…〉 Namely: that the righteous is conveyed away thorough the wicked:: that he himself might be in rest, lie quietly upon his bed, & live after his own pleasure. Come hither therefore you charmers children, 〈◊〉 1●. d you sons of the adulterer & the whore: Wherein take you your pleasure? Upon whom gape you with your mouth, & blear out your tongue? Are you not children of adultery, & a seed of dissimulaicon? You take your pleasure under the oaks, 〈◊〉 1●. b 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 1●. b 〈◊〉 20. d 〈◊〉 20. a 〈…〉. c & under all green trees, the child being slain in the valleys, & dens of stone. Thy part shallbe with the stony rocks by the river: Ye even these shall be thy part. For there thou hast poured meat and drynk-offringes unto them. Should I oversee that? Thou hast made thy bed upon high mountains, thou wentest up thither, and therehast thou slain sacrifices. Behind the doors & posts, hast thou set up thy remembrance? When thou hadst discovered thyself to another than me, when thou wentest down▪ & made thy bed wider (that is) when thou diddest carve the certain of yonder Idols, & lovedest their couches, where thou sawest them: Thou wentest strait to kings with oil & diverse ointments (that is) thou hast sent thy messaungers far of, Ose. 12. a Eze. 16. b and yet art thou fallen in to the pit thereby. Thou hast had trouble for the multitude of thine own ways, yet saidest thou never: I will leave of. Thou thinkest to have life (or health) of thyself, Math. 9 ● and therefore thou believest not that thou ar● sick. For when will't thou be abaszshed or fear, seeing thou hast broken thy promise, & remember'st not me, neither hast me in thy heart? Thinkest thou, that I also will hold my peace (as afore time) that thou fearest me not? Ye verily I will declare the goodness & the works, but they shall not profit ye. when thou criest, let the choose heap deliver the. jere. 2. d Deut. 32. ● But the wind shall take them all away, & carry them in to the air. Nevertheless, they that put their trust in me, shall inherit the land, and have my holy hill in possession. And therefore thus he saith: Make ready, make ready, and cleanse the street, take up what you can out of the way, that leadeth to my people. For thus saith the high and excellent, even he that dwelleth in everlastingness, whose name is the holy one: Psal. 50. b Esa. 61. a I dwell hie above and in the sanctuary, & with him also, that is of a contrite and humble spirit: that I may heal a troubled mind, and a contrite heart. Psal. 101. For I chide not ever, & am not wroth with out end. But the blasting goeth fro me, though I make the breath. I am wroth with him for his covetousness & lust, I smite him, I hide me, and am angry, when he turneth himself, and followeth the bywaye of his own heart. But if I may see his right way again, I make him whole, I lead him, and restore him unto them whom he maketh joyful, & that were sorry for him. I make the fruits of thanksgiving. I give peace unto them that are far of, Ephe. 2. d and to them that are nigh, say I the LORD, that make him whole. But the wicked are like the raging see, that can not rest, whose water foameth with the mire & gravel. Euenso the wicked have no peace, saith my God. Esa. 48. d The LVIII. Chapter. ANd therefore cry now, Eze. 3 c jere. 1●. a jonae. 3. a Mat. 10. a and ●●. e as loud as thou canst. Leave not of, life up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their offences, and the house of jacob their sins. For they seek me dally, and will know my ways, even as it were a people that did right, and had not forsaken the statutes of their God. They argue with me concerning right judgement, and will pleat at the law with their God. Wherefore fast we (say they) and thou seist it not? we put our lives to straightness, and thou regardest it not? Behold, when you fast, your lust remaineth still: Esa. 1. b for you do no less violence to your debtors: lo, you fast to strife and debate, and to smite him with your fist, that speaketh unto you. You fast not (as sometime) that your voice might be herd above. Think you this fast pleaseth me, zach. 7 that a man should chasten himself for a day, and to wryth his head about like an hook in an hairy clot, & to lie upon the earth? Should that be called fasting, or a day that pleaseth the LORD? But this fasting pleaseth not me, Deu. 15 a till the time be thou louse him out of bondage, that is in thy danger: that thou break the oath of wicked bargains, that thou let the oppressed go free, and take from them all manner of burdens. It pleaseth not me, till thou deal thy bread to the hungry, Eze. 18. b Mat. 25. b & bring the poor fatherless home in to thy house, when thou seist the naked that thou cover him, and hide not thy face from thy own flesh. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health flourish right shortly: thy righteousness shall go before thee, Luc. 11. d and the glory of the LORD shall embrace the. Then if thou callest, the LORD shall answer thee: Pro. 21. b if thou criest, he shall say: here I am. Ye if thou layest away thy burdens, and holdest thy fingers, and ceasest from blasphemous talking, if thou hast compassion upon the hungry, and refreszshest the troubled soul: Then shall thy light springe out in the darkness, zach. 7. a Mat. 5. b and thy darkness shallbe as the noon day. The LORD shall ever be thy guide, and satisfy the desire of thy heart, and fill the bones with marry. Thou shalt be like a freshwatred garden, and like the fountain of water, that never leaveth running. Then the places that have ever been waist, shallbe builded of thee: there shalt thou say a foundation for many kindred's. Thou shalt be called the maker up of hedges, and the builder again of the way of the Sabbath. Esa. 56. a Esa. 66. d Ye if thou turn thy feet from the Sabbath, so that thou do not the thing which pleaseth thyself in my holy day: then shalt thou be called unto the pleasant, holy & glorious Sabbath of the LORD, where thou shalt be in honour: so that thou do not after thy own imagination, neither seek thy own will, ner speak thy own words. Then shalt thou have the pleasure in the LORD, which shall carry the hie above the earth, & feed the with the heritage of jacob thy father: for the LORDS own mouth hath so promised. The LIX. Chap. Behold, the lords hand is not so shortened that it can not help, 〈…〉 neither is his ear so stopped that it may not hear. But your myszdedes have separated you from your God, & your sins hide his face from you, that he heareth you not. For your hands are defiled with blood, 〈…〉 and your fingers with unrighteousness: your lips speak lesynges, & your tongue setteth out wickedness. No man regardeth righteousness, & no man judgeth truly Every man hopeth in vain things, and ymagineth deceit, conceiveth weariness, & bringeth forth evil. 〈…〉 They breed cockatrice eggs, & weeve the spiders web. Who so eateth of their eggs, dieth. But if one tread upon them, there cometh up a serpent. Their web maketh no cloth, & they may not cover them with their labours. Their deeds are the deeds of wickedness, & the work of robbery is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, & they make haist to shed innocent blood. 〈…〉 Their counsels are wicked counsels, harm & destruction are in their ways. But the way of peace they know not. In their goings is no equity, their ways are so crooked, that who so ever goeth therein, knoweth nothing of peace. And this is the cause that equity is so far from us, & that righteousness cometh not nigh us. 〈…〉 We look for light, lo, it is darkness: for the morning shine, se, we walk in the dark. We grope like the blind upon the brickwall, we grope even as one that hath none eyes. We stumble at the noon day, as though it were toward night: in the falling places, like men that are half deed. We roar all like Beeres, & mourn still like doves. We look for equity, but there is none: for health, but it is far from us. For our offences are many before thee, & our sins testify against us. Ye we must confess that we offend, & knowledge, that we do amiss: Namely, transgress & dissemble against the LORD, & fall away from our God: using presumptuous & traitorous imaginations, & casting false matters in our hearts. And therefore is equity go aside, & righteousness standeth far of: 〈…〉 truth is fallen down in the street, and the thing that is plain and open, may not be showed. Ye the truth is lad in preson, and he that refraineth himself from evil, must be spoiled. When the LORD saw this, it displeased him sore, 〈◊〉. 5. a that there was no where any equity. He saw also, that there was no man, which had pity thereof, or was grieved at it. And he held him by his own power, and cleaved to his own righteousness. He put righteousness upon him for a breast plate, 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉. 5. & set the helmet of health upon his head. He put on wrath in stead of clothing, & took jealousy about him for a cloak: (like as when a man goeth forth wrothfully to recompense his enemies, & to be avenged of his adversaries.) Namely, that he might recompense and reward the I lands, wherethrough the name of the LORD might be feared, from the rising of the Son: and his majesty, unto the going down of the same. For he shall come as a violent waterstreame, 〈◊〉. 1●. a 〈◊〉▪ ●1. d which the wind of the LORD hath moved. But unto Zion there shall come a redeemer, and unto them in jacob that turn from wickedness, saith the LORD. I will make this convenant with them (sayeth the LORD): My spirit that is come upon thee, & the words which I have put in that mouth, shall never go out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy children, not ner out of the mouth of thy childers children, from this time forth for ever more. The lx. Chapter. 〈◊〉 ●6. c 〈◊〉 5. b ANd therefore get the up by times, for thy light cometh, & the glory of the LORD shall rise up upon ye. For lo, while the darkness & cloud covereth the earth & the people, the LORD shall show the light, & his glory shall be seen in the. 〈…〉 The Gentiles shall come to thy light, 〈◊〉. 49. c 〈◊〉 1●. a 〈…〉. a & kings to the brightness that springeth forth upon ye. Lift up thy eyes, & look round about thee: All these gather themselves, & come to the. Sons shall come unto the from far, & daughters shall gather themselves to the on every side. When thou seist this, thou shalt marvel exceadingly, and thy heart shallbe opened: when the power of the see shallbe converted unto thee (that is) when the strength of the Gentiles shall come unto the. The multitude of Camels shall cover thee, the Dromedaries of Madian and Epha. All they of Saba shall come, bringing gold & incense, 〈◊〉▪ 2. b 〈◊〉 ●1. & shewing the praise of the LORD. All the cattle of Cedar shallbe gathered unto thee, 〈◊〉. 1●. b the rams of Nabaioth shall serve thee, to be offered upon mine altar, which I have choose, & in the house of my glory which I have garnished. But what are these that i'll here like the clouds, and as the doves flienge to their windows? The Isles also shall gather them unto me, and specially the ships of the see: that they may bring the sons from far, and their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, unto the holy one of Israel, that hath glorified the. Esa. 54▪ b Strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall do the service. For when I am angry, I smite thee: and when it pleaseth me, I pardon the. Thy gates shall stand open still both day and night, and never be shut: Apo. 21. g that the host of the Gentiles may come, and that their kings may be brought unto the. For every people & kingdom that serveth not thee, shall perish, and be destroyed with the sword. The glory of libanus shall come unto thee: The fir trees, Boxes & cedars together, to garnish the place of my Sanctuary, for I will glorify the place of my feet. moreover those shall come kneeling unto thee, that have vexed thee: & all they that despised thee, shall fall down at the foot. Thou shalt be called the cite of the LORD, the holy Zion of Israel. Because thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that noman went thorough thee: I will make the glorious for ever and ever, and joyful thorough out all posterities. Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, Esa. 49. ● and kings breasts shall feed the. And thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy saviour and defender, the mighty one of jacob. For brass will I give the gold, and for iron silver, for would brass, and for stones iron. I will make peace thy ruler, and righteousness thine officer. Violence and robbery shall never be herd of in thy land, neither harm and destruction with in thy borders. Thy walls shallbe called health, Apo. 21. g & thy gates the praise of God The Son shall never by thy day light, and the light of the Moon shall never shine unto thee: Apo. 22. b but the LORD himself shallbe thy everlasting light, & thy God shallbe thy glory. Thy Son shall never go down, & thy Moon shall not be taken away, for the LORD himself shallbe thy everlasting light, and thy sorrowful days shallbe rewarded ye. Thy people shallbe all godly, & possess the land for ever: the flower of my planting, the work of my hands, whereof I will rejoice. The youngest & least shall grow in to a thousand, & the symplest in to a strong people. I the LORD shall shortly bring this thing to pass in his tyme. The lxj. Chapter. THe spirit of the LORD God is with me, Luc. 7. c Luc. 4. c Esa. 11. a for the LORD hath anointed me, & sent me, Esa. 66 a Esa. 57 c to preach good tidings unto the poor, that I might bind up the wounded hearts, that I might preach deliverance to the captive, & open the preson to them that are bound: that I might declare the acceptable year of the LORD, & the day of the avengeaunce of our God: that I might comfort all them that are in heaviness, Matt. ●. a Matt. 11. d that I might give unto them that mourn in Zion, beauty in the stead of ashes, joyful ointment for sighing, pleasant raiment for an heavy mind: That they might be called excellent in righteousness, a planting of the LORD for him to rejoice in. Esa. 60. d They shall build the long rough wilderness, & set up the old desert. They shall repair the waist places, & such as have been void thorough out many generations Strangers shall stand & feed your cattle, & the Aleauntes shallbe your plowmen & reapers. But you shallbe named the priests of the LORD, & men shall call you the servants of our God. Esa. 66. d jere. 33. d You shall enjoy the goods of the Gentiles & triumph in their substance. For your great reproof & shame, shall they have joy, that you may have part with them. For they shall have double possession in their land, & everlasting joy shallbe with them. Luc. 2. d For I the LORD, which love right and hate robbery (though it were offered me) shall make their works full of faithfulness, & make an everlasting covenant with them. Their seed also and their generation shall be known among the Gentiles, and among the people. All they that see them, shall know, that they are the high blessed seed of the LORD. And therefore I am joyful in the LORD, & my soul rejoiceth in my God. Psal. 131. b For he shall put upon me the garment of health, & cover me with the mantle of righteousness. He shall deck me like a bridegroom, & as a bride that hath her apparel upon her. For like as the ground bringeth forth fruit, & as the garden shuteth forth seed: So shall the LORD God cause righteousness, and the fear of God to flourish forth before all the heathen. The lij. Chapter. FOr Zion's sake therefore will I not hold my tongue, & for jerusalens' sake I will not cease: until their righteousness break forth as the shining light, & their health as a burning lamp. Then shall the Gentiles see thy righteousness & all kings thy glory. Thou shalt be named with a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall show. Thou shalt be a crown in the hand of the LORD, and a glorious garland in the hand of thy God. From this time forth thou shalt never be called the forsaken, & thy land shall no more be called the wilderness. But thou shalt be called Hephziba (that is, my beloved) & the land Beula (that is) a married woman: 〈…〉 for the LORD loveth thee, & thy land shallbe inhabited. And like as young man taketh a daughter to marriage, so shall God marry himself unto the sons. And as a bridegroom is glad of his bride, so shall God rejoice over the. I will set watchmen upon thy walls (oh jerusalem) which shall neither cease day nor night, to preach the LORD. And you also shall not keep him close, nor leave to speak of him, until Jerusalem be set up, & made the praise of the world. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand & by his strong arm, that from hence forth he will not give thy corn to be meat for thy enemies, ner the wine (wherein thou hast laboured) to be drink for the strangers. But they that have gathered in the corn, shall eat it, & give thanks to the LORD: & they that have born in the wine, shall drink it in the court of my Sanctuary. stand back, & depart asunder, you that stand under the gate, make room you people, repair the street, & take away the stones, & set out a token for the people. Behold, the LORD proclaimeth in the ends of the world: 〈…〉 tell the daughter Sion: se, thy Salvation cometh, behold, he bringeth his treasure with him, & his works go before him. For they whom the LORD delivereth, shallbe called the holy people: & as for thee, thou shalt be named the greatly occupied, and not the forsaken. The lxiij. Chapter. WHat is he this, that cometh from Edom, with stained read clotheses of Bosra: (which is so costly clot) & cometh in so neembly with all his strength: I am he that teacheth righteousness, & am of power to help. Wherefore then is thy clothing read, & thy raiment like his that treadeth in the wine press? I have trodden the press myself alone, & 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 cloothes, & so have I stained all my raiment. For the day of vengeance that I have taken in hand, & 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, & 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 favour, & according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said: These no doubt willbe my people, and no shrenkinge 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 & kindness that he had unto them, redeemed he them. He hath born them, and carried them up ever, sense 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 & his people: How he brought them from the water of the see, 〈◊〉 14. c 〈◊〉 76. b as a shepherd doth 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 got 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 (oh God) hast thou led thy people, to make thyself a glorious name with all. Look down then from heaven, 〈…〉 and behold the dwelling place of thy sanctuary & thy glory. How is it, that thy jealousy, thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies and thy loving kindness, will not be entreated of us? Yet art thou our father: 〈…〉 For Abraham knoweth us not, neither is Israel acquanted with us. But thou LORD art our father and redeemer, 〈…〉 and thy name is ever lasting. O LORD wherefore hast thou led us out of thy way? wherefore hast thou hardened our hearts, that we fear the not? Be at one with us again, for thy servants sake that are of the generation of thy 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. The lxiiij. Chapter. O That thou wouldest cleave the heaven insunder, & come down: that the mountains might melt away at thy presence, like as at an door fire: and that the malicious might boil, as the water doth upon the fire: Whereby thy name might be known among thy enemies, & that the Gentiles might tremble before ye. That thou mightest come down with thy wondrous strange works, than should the hills melt at thy presence. For sense the beginning of the world there was none (except thou oh God) that herd or perceived, 1. Cor. 2. b▪ neither hath any eye seen what thou dost for them, that put their trust in the. Thou helpest him that doth right with cheerfulness, and them that think upon thy ways. But lo, thou art angry, for we offend, and have been ever in sin, and there is not one whole. Ro. 3. b Psal. 13. a We are all as an unclean thing, & all our rightuousnesses are as the clotheses stained with the flowers of a woman: we fall everichone as the leaf, for our sins carry us away like the wind. There is no man that calleth upon thy name, that standeth up to take hold by the. Therefore hydest thou thy face from us, and consumest us, because of our sins. But now oh LORD, thou father of ours: Matt. 6. b jere. 18. b Ro 9 c Eccin. 33 b jere. 10. d Psal. 78. a jere. 26. d we are the clay, and thou art our potter, and we all are the work of thy hands. Be not to sore displeased (oh LORD) and keep not our offences to long in thy remembrance, but consider that we all are thy people. The cities of thy Sanctuary lie waist, Zion is a wilderness, and jerusalem a desert. Mich 3 c Our holy house which is our beauty, where our fathers praised thee, is brent up, ye all our commodities and pleasures are waysted away. Wilt thou not be entreated (LORD) for all this? Will't thou hold thy peace, and scourge us so sore? The lxv. Chapter. THey shall seek me, that hitherto have not axed for me: they shall find me, Esa. 52. a Ro. 10. d that hither to have not sought me. Then shall I say immediately, to the people that never called upon my name: I am here, I am here. For thus long have I ever held out my hands to an unfaithful people, that go not the right way, but after their own imaginations: To a people, that is ever defying me to my face. Deut. 12. a Deut. 14. b They make their oblations in gardens, and their smoke upon altars of brick, they lurk among the graves, and lie in the dens all night. levit. 11. a Deut. 14 a They eat swine flesh, and unclean broth is in their vessels. If thou comest nigh them, they say: touch me not, for I am holier than thou. All these men when I am angry, shallbe turned to smoke and fire, that shall burn for ever. ●●tt 25. d Behold, it is written before my face, & shall not be forgotten, but recompensed. I shall reward it them in to their bosom: 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈◊〉 57 a 〈◊〉. 20. d I mean your misdeeds, and the misdeeds of your fathers together (saith the LORD) which have made their smokes upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their old deeds in to their bosom again. moreover thus saith the LORD: like as when one would gather holy grapes, 〈◊〉. 11. b men say unto him: break it not of, for it is holy: Even so will I do also for my servants sakes, Re. 19 c 〈◊〉. 9 c that I will not destroy them all. But I will take a seed out of jacob, and out of juda one, to take possession of my hill. My choose shall possess these things, & my servants shall devil there. ●●su. 7. d Saron shallbe a sheepfold, and the valley of Anchor shall give stallinge for the cattles of my people, that fear me. But as for you, you are they, that have for saken the LORD, and forgotten my holy hill. You have set up an altar unto fortune, & given rich drink offerings unto treasure. Therefore will I number you with the sword, that you shall be destroyed all together. 〈◊〉. 1. c 〈◊〉. 7. c For when I called, no man gave me answer: when I spoke, you herkened not unto me, but did wickedness before mine eyes, and choosed the thing that pleased me not. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall have hunger. Behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall suffer thirst. Behold, my servants shall be merry, but you shall be confounded. Behold, my servants shall rejoice for very quietness of heart. ●●cob. 4. b But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and complain for vexation of mind. Your name shall not be sworn by among my choose, for God the LORD shall slay you, and call his servants by another name. ●●re. 9 d ● Cor. 1. d ● Cor. 11. a Who so rejoiceth upon earth, shall rejoice in the true God: And Who so sweareth upon earth, shall swear in the true God. For the old enemite shallbe forgotten, and taken away out of my sight. For lo, I shall make a new heaven, ● Pet. 3. b ●po. 21. a & a new earth. And as for the old, they shall never be thought upon, ner kept in mind: but men shallbe glad and evermore rejoice, for the things, that I shall do. For why: Behold, I shall make a joyful Jerusalem, ye I myself will rejoice with jerusalem, ●po. 21. a & be glad with my people: And the voice of weeping and wailing shall not be herd in her from thence forth. There shall never be child ner old man, that have not their full days. But when the child cometh to an hunderth year old, it shall die. And if he that is an hunderth year of age do wrong, he shallbe cursed. 〈…〉 They shall build houses, and dwell in them: they shall plant vynyardes, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, & another possess: they shall not plant, and another eat: 〈…〉 But the life of my people shallbe like a tree, and so shall the work of their hands. My choose shall live long, they shall not labour in vain, ner beget with trouble: for they are the high blessed seed of the LORD, & their fruits with them. And it shallbe, that or ever they call, I shall answer them. 〈…〉 While they are yet but thinking how to speak, I shall hear them. The wolff and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat hay like the bullock. But earth shallbe the serpents meat. 〈…〉 There shall no man hurt ner slay another, in all my holy hill, saith the LORD. The lxuj. Chapter. THus saith the LORD: Heaven is my seat, and the earth is my foot stolen. 〈…〉 Where shall now the house stand, that you will build unto me? And where shall be the place, that I will dwell in? As for these things, my hand hath made them all, and they are all created, saith the LORD. Which of them shall I then regard? Even him that is of a lowly troubled spirit, and standeth in awe of my words. For who so slayeth an ox for me, doth me so great dishonour, as he that killeth a man. He that killeth a sheep for me, choketh a dog. He that bringeth me meat offerings, offereth swines blood: Who so maketh me a memorial of Incense, praiseth the thing that is unright. Yet take they such ways in hand, and their soul delighteth in these abominations. Therefore will I also have pleasure in laughing them to scorn, 〈…〉 and the thing that they fear, will I bring upon them. For when I called, no man gave answer: when I spoke, they would not hear: But did wickedness before mine eyes, & chose the things that displease me. Hear the word of God all you, that fear the thing which he speaketh. your brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name's sake, say: Let the LORD magnify himself, that we may see your gladness: & yet they shallbe confounded. For as touching the cite and the temple, 〈…〉 I hear the voice of the LORD, that will reward, and recompense his enemies: like as when a wife bringeth forth a man child, or ever she suffer the pain of the birth and anguish of the travail. Who ever heard or saw such things? doth the ground bear in one day? or are the people born all at once, as Zion beareth his sons? For thus-sayeth the LORD: Am I he that maketh other to bear, and bear not myself? Am not I he that beareth, and maketh barren? 〈…〉 saith thy God. Rejoice with jerusalem, & be glad with her, all you that love her. Be joyful with her, all you that mourned for her. For you shall suck comfort out of her breasts, and be satisfied. You shall taist, and have delight in the plenteousness of her power. For thus sayeth the LORD: behold, I will let peace in to her, like a water flood, & that might of the Heithen like a flowing stream. Then shall you suck, you shall be born upon her sides, and be joyful upon her knees. For like as a child is comforted of his mother, so shall I comfort you, and you shallbe comforted in jerusalem. 〈…〉 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb. Thus shall the hand of the LORD be known among his servants, and his indignation among his enemies. For behold, the LORD shall come with fire, and his chariot shall be like a whirlwind, that he may recompense his vengeance in his wrath, and his indignation with the flame of fire. For the LORD shall judge all flesh with the fire and with his sword, and there shallbe a great number slain of the LORD. Soch as have made themselves holy and clean in the gardens, and those that have eaten swine flesh, mice, and other abominations, shall betaken away together, saith the LORD. For I will come to gather all people and tongues, with their works and imaginations: these shall come, and see my glory. Unto them shall I give a token, and send certain of them (that be delivered) among the Gentiles: in to Celicia, Africa and Lydia (where men can handle bows) in to Italy also and Greek land. The Isles far of, Esa. 61. a 52. a 60 65. a that have not herd speak of me, & have not seen my glory: shall preach my praise among the Gentiles, and shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD, out of all people, upon horses, charettes and horse lytters, upon Mooles and carts to jerusalem my holy hill (saith the LORD) like as the children of Israel bring the offering in clean vessels, to the house of the LORD. And I shall take out certain of them for to be preastes and levites, saith the LORD. Esa. 61. a 1. pet. ●. Rom. 1● For like as the new heaven and the new earth which I will make, shallbe fast established by me: (saith the LORD) So shall your seed and your name continue, and there shallbe a new Moon for the other, and a new Sabbath for the other, & all flesh shall come to worship before me, (saith the LORD.) And they shall go forth, and look upon the caryons of them, that have transgressed against me. For their worms shall not die, Mat. 9 ● Mar. 9 ● neither shall their fire be quenched, & all flesh shall abhor them. The end of the prophet Esay. The Prophet jeremy. What jeremy containeth. Chap. I He declareth first his calling, and in a vision he seith the destruction of jerusalem. Chap. II The faithfulness and loving mercy of God: Again, the unthankfulness of the people. Chap. III He crieth upon the people to amend, and showeth them the wrath of God. Chap. four He layeth the wrathful displeasure of God before them, and exorteth them to amendment Chap. V VI.VII.VIII. The wrath of God, and the cause thereof. Plagues and misery for to come. Chap. IX. The prophet mourneth and complaineth upon the sins of the people. Chap. X. He giveth them warning, that they follow not the uses and customs of the Heithen, and showeth them how vain a thing it is to worship images, and to forget the true living God. Chap. XI. He putteth them in remembrance of the covenant, showeth their misery, & complaineth of his own persecution. Chap. XII. The prosperity of the wicked, & trouble of them that are godly. The forsaking of the jews, and calling of the Heithen. Chap. XIII. Sore plagues upon the people, showed unto the prophet by the lynninge breach. Chap. XIIII· The dearth of fruits. So wroth is God at the people, that he forbiddeth the prophet to pray for them. Chap. XU. God will not be entreated, where his law is trodden under foot. He answereth the prophet to his complaint. Chap. XVI. The LORD forbiddeth the prophet to keep company with the people, or totake a wife in that place, for he is minded to punish them. Chap. XVII. punishment of them that forsake the LORD, and put their trust in men. A commandment concerning the Sabbath. Chap. XVIII. By the potter's work the prophet is taught, so that he warneth the people, and telleth them of the punishment. Chap. XIX. The plague upon jerusalem and Tophet. Chap. XX. Pashur the chief priest smiteth jeremy the prophet, and putteth him in preson: which showeth him his plague for to come. Chap. XXI. The prophet showeth the king, what shall become of the cite. Chap. XXII He exorteth the king and all the people unto godliness, and telleth what shall become of Sellum (other wise called joas) the son of josias: and what shall hap to jechonias the son of joachim. Chap. XXIII. He reproveth the wicked rulers and false prophets. Chap. XXIIII. The vision of the fig maundes. Chap. XXV. He reproveth the king and all the people, and showeth the punishment for to come upon the heathen. Chap. XXVI. Because the prophet rebuketh the people, the priests and the prophets put him to trouble: but at the last Ahicam delivereth him. Chap. XXVII. God commandeth the prophet for to make bonds and chains, to signify the captivity of the heathen kings. Chap. XXVIII. Hananias the false prophet with standeth jeremy. Chap. XXIX. A letter of jeremy sent unto the presoners at Babylon. Chap. XXX. jeremy (at the commandment of God) writeth his sermons in a book. Sweet and comfortable promises unto the godly: Again, the wrath of God against the wicked. Chap. XXXI. He putteth the people in mind of the loving mercy and benefits of God, and comforteth them with his promises. Chap. XXXII The prophet being in preson showeth the deliverance of the people out of captivity. Chap. XXXIII. A plain and manifest prophecy of the kingdom of Christ. Chap. XXXIIII. He showeth the king Sedechias and the people their punishment for breaking the covenant. Chap. XXXV. He reproveth the disobedience of the people, thorough the good example of the Rechabites. Chap. XXXVI The king burneth the propheres book, but a greater is written again for it, and the king punished. Chap. XXXVII. Pharaoh cometh out of Egipte to help the king, but in vain. jeremy is put in preson. Chap. XXXVIII The princes labour to have the prophet deed, they put him in a sorer preson: but Abdemelech getteth him out, and the king commoneth with him. Chap. XXXIX. The cite of jerusalem is won the king taken, his sons and princes slain before his face, his own eyes put out, and he led unto Babylon. But jeremy and Abdemelech escape. Chap. XL. How the chief captain entreateth jeremy. Godolias is made governor of the land, the people resort unto him. Chap, XLI. Ishmael slayeth Godolias, and taketh the people presoners, but johanna defendeth them. Chap. XLII. The captains axe council at jeremy, but follow him not. Chap. XLIII. XLIIII. They will needs go into Egipte against the commandment of God The prophet exorteth them to the contrary, and to leave their idolatry: Nevertheless, they regard it not, but will do as their fathers did before them. Chap. XLV. jeremy comforteth Baruch, concerning his weakness of mind. Chap. XLVI. The sum of jeremies' preaching unto the heathen, specially unto Egipte. Chap. XLVII. Against the philistines. Chap. XLVIII. Against Moab. Chap· XLIX. Against the Ammonites, Edomites, Damascus, Cedar and Elam. Chap. L.LI. Against Babylon. Chap. LII. A reciting how Jerusalem was besieged, won, and taken. These are the Sermons of jeremy the son of Helchia the priest, one of them that dwelled at Anathot in the land of Ben jamin: 〈…〉 when the LORD had first spoken with him, in the time of josias the son of Amon king of juda, in the xiij year of his kingdom: and so during unto the time of joachim the son of josias king of juda, and unto the xj years of Sedechias the son of josias king of juda were ended: 〈◊〉 39 a 〈◊〉 2●. a when jerusalem was taken, even in the fifth month. The first Chapter. THe word of the LORD spoke thus unto me: 〈◊〉 44. a Before I fasshioned the in thy mother's womb, 〈…〉 I did know thee: And or ever thou wast born, I sanctified thee, & ordained thee, to be a prophet unto the people. 〈◊〉 14. b 〈◊〉 4. c Then said I: O LORD God, I am vn●ete, for I am yet but young. And the LORD answered me thus: Say not so, I am to young: 〈…〉 b 〈…〉. c 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 1● a For thou shalt go to all that I shall send the unto, and what so ever I command thee, that shalt thou speak. Be not afraid of their faces, for I willbe with thee, to deliver thee, saith the LORD. And with that, the LORD stretched out his hand, 〈◊〉 6. a and touched my mouth, and said moreover unto me: Behold I put my words in thy mouth, and this day do I set the over the people and kingdoms: that thou mayest rote out, break of, destroy, and make waist: and that thou mayest build up, and plant. After this, the LORD spoke unto me saying: jeremy, what seist thou? And I said: 〈◊〉 ●4. b I see a waking rod. Then said the LORD: thou hast seen right, for I will watch diligently upon my word, to perform it. It happened afterward, that the LORD spoke to me again, & said: What seist thou? 〈◊〉 41. b And I said: I do see a seething pot, looking from out of the north hitherward. Then said the LORD unto me & Out of the north shall come a plague upon all the dwellers of the land. For lo, jere. 4 b Abac. 1 b jere. 25. b I will call all the officers of the kingdoms of the north, (saith the LORD.) And they shall come, and every one shall set his seat in the gates of jerusalem, and in all their walls round about, and thorough all the cities of juda. And thorough them shall I declare my judgement, upon all the wickedness of those men that have forsaken me: that have offered unto strange gods, & worshipped the works of their own hands. And therefore gird up thy loins, arise, Eze. 3. a and tell them all, that I give the in commandment. Fear them not, I will not have the to be afraid of them. For behold, jere. 15. d this day do I make the a strong fenced town, an iron pillar, and a brickwall of * or brass steel against the whole land, against the kings and mighty men of juda, against the priests and people of the land. They shall fight against thee, but they shall not be able to over come thee: jere. 25. d for I am with thee, to deliver thee, saith the LORD. The II Chapter. moreover, the word of the LORD commanded me thus: Go thy way, jere. 3. d cry in the ears of Jerusalem, & say: Thus saith the LORD: I remember the for the kindness of thy youth, and because of thy steadfast love: in that thou folowdest me thorough the wilderness, in an untilled land. Thou Israel wast hallowed unto te LORD, and so was his first fruits. jere. 10. d and ●0 c Zac. 2. b All they that devoured Israel, offended: miszfortune fallen upon them, saith the LORD. Hear therefore the word of the LORD, O thou house of jacob, and all the generation of the house of Israel. Thus saith the LORD unto your What unfaithfulness found your fathers in me, that they went so far away fro me, falling to lightness, and being so vain? They thought not in their hearts: Where have we left the LORD, that brought us out of the land of Egipte: Exo. 14. c that led us thorough the wilderness, thorough a desert and roughlonde, thorough a dry and a deadly land, ye a land that no man had go thorough, and wherein no man had dwelled. Esa. 32. f Deut. 6. b And when I had brought you in to a pleasant welbuylded land, that you might enjoy the fruits and all the commodities of the same: you went forth and defiled my land, jere. 32. c & brought mine heritage to abomination. The priests themselves said not once: where is the LORD? Marc. 12. c joh. 5. d They that have the law in their hands, know me not: The shepherds offend against me. The prophets do service unto Baal, & follow such things as shall bring them no profit. Wherefore I am constrained (sayeth the LORD) to make my complaint upon you, and upon your children. Go in to the Isles of Cethim, and look well: send unto Cedar, take diligent heed: and see, whether such things be done there, whether the Gentiles them selves deal so falsely & untruly with their gods (which yet are no gods in deed. Psal. 95. a ) But my people hath given over their high honour, for a thing that may not help them. Be astonished (oh you heavens) be afraid, & abashed at such a thing, saith the LORD. For my people hath done two evils. They have forsaken me the well of the water of life, Ba●uc. 3. b jere. 17. c joh. 4. b and digged them pits, ye vile and broken pits, that hold no water. Is Israel a bond servant, or one of the household? Why is he then so spoiled? Exo. 4. d Why do they roar and cry then upon him, as a lion? They have made his land wayst, his cities are so brent up, Esa. 1. b that there is no man dwelling in them. Ye the children of Noph and Taphanes have defiled thy neck. cometh not this unto thee, because thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, jere. 32. c ever sense he led the by the way? And what hast thou now to do in the street of Egipte? to drink foul water? Ether, what makest thou in the way to Assiria? To drink water of the flood? job 22. b Thy own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy turning away shall condemn thee: that thou mayest know and understand, how evil and hurtful a thing it is, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and not feared him, saith the LORD God of hosts. Esa. 65. a Eze. 20. d jere. 3 b I have ever broken thy yock of old, & bursten thy bonds: yet sayest thou, I will no more serve, but (like an harlot) thou runnest about upon all high hills, & among all green trees: where as I planted the out of noble grapes and good rotes. Esa. ●▪ a How art thou turned then into a bitter, unfruitful, and strange grape? Ye and that so sore: that though thou wasshest the with Nitrus & makest thyself to savour with that sweet smelling herb of Borith: yet in my sight thou art stained with thy wickedness, saith the LORD thy God. say not now: I am not unclean, and I have not followed the gods. ●ere. 3. ᵇ ● Re. 17. b ●ere. 5. b Isa. 5●. a 〈◊〉 16. b Look upon thine own ways in the woods, valleys & dens: so shalt thou know, what thou hast done. Thou art like a swift Dromedary, that goeth easily his way: and thy wantonness is like a wild Ass, that useth the wilderness, and that snoffeth and bloweth at his wil Who can tame thee? All they that seek thee, shall not fail, but find the in thine own uncleanness. Thou keepest thy foot from nakedness, and thy throat from thirst, and thinkest thus in thyself: tush, I will take no sorrow, I will love the strange gods, & hang upon them. Like as a thief that is taken with the deed, cometh to shame, even so is the house of Israel come to confusion: the common people, their kings and rulers, their priests and prophets. For they say to a stock, 〈…〉 thou art my father, and to a stone: thou hast begotten me, ye they have turned their back upon me, & not their face. But in the time of their trouble, when they say: stand up, and help us, I shall answer them: 〈…〉 Where are now thy gods, that thou hast made thee? bid them stand up, and help the in the time of need? For look how many cities thou hast (oh juda) so many gods hast thou also. Wherefore then will you go to law with me, seeing you all are sinners against me, saith the LORD? It is but lost labour, that I smite your children, for they receive not my correction. 〈…〉 your own sword destroyeth your prophets, like a devouring lion. If you be the people of the LORD, then hearken unto his word: Am I then become a wilderness unto the people of Israel? or a land that hath no light? Wherefore saith my people then: we are fallen of, and we will come no more unto thee? Doth a maiden forget her raiment, or a bride her stomacher▪ And doth my people forget me so long? Why boostest thou thy ways so hylie, (to obtain favour there thorough) when thou hast yet stained them with blasphemies? Upon thy wings is found the blood of poor and innocent people, 〈…〉 and that not in corners and holes only, but openly in all these places. Yet darrest thou say: I am guiltless: Tush, his wrath can not come upon me. Behold, I will reason with thee, because thou darrest say: I have not offended. O how evil will it be for thee, to abide it: when it shall be known, 〈…〉 how often thou hast go bacwarde? For thou shalt be confounded, as well of Egipte, as of the Assyrians: Ye thou shalt go thy way from them, & smite thine hands together upon thy head. Because the LORD shall bring that confidence and hope of thy to nought, and thou shalt not prosper with all. The III Chapter. Commonly, when a man putteth away his wife, 〈◊〉 24. a and she goeth from him, and marrieth with another, than the question is: should he resort unto her any more after that? Is not this field then defiled and unclean? 〈…〉 But as for thee, thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet turn again to me, saith the LORD. Lift up thy eyes on every side, and look, if thou be not defiled. Thou hast waited for them in the streets, and as a murderer in the wilderness. Thorough thy whoredom and shameful blasphemies, is the land defiled. 〈…〉 This is the cause, that the rain and evening dew hath ceased. Thou hast got the an whore's forehead, and canst not be ashamed. Else wouldest thou say unto me: O my father, thou art he that hast brought me up, and led me fro my youth: Will't thou then put me away, and cast me of forever? Or will't thou withdraw thyself clean fro me? Nevertheless, thou speakest such words, but thou art ever doing worse, and worse. The LORD said also unto me, in the time of josias the king: Hast thou seen what that shrenkinge Israel hath done? how she hath run up upon all high hills, 〈◊〉 2. d 〈◊〉 17. b and among all thick trees, and there played the harlot? hast thou seen also, (when she had done all this) how I said unto her: that she should turn again unto me, and yet she is not returned? 〈◊〉 ●3. b juda that unfaithful sister of hers also saw this: Namely, that affter I had well seen the adultery of the shrenkinge harlot Israel, I put her away, and gave her a bill of divorcement. For all this, her unfaithful sister juda was not ashamed, but went back and played the whore also. Ye and the noise of her whoredom hath defiled the whole land. For she hath committed her adultery with stones and stocks. Nevertheless, her unfaithful sister juda is not turned unto me again with her whole heart, 〈◊〉 3. a but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me: The bacslyder Israel is more righteous, 〈…〉 than the unfaithful juda: and therefore go preach these words toward the north, & say: Thou shrenkinge Israel, turn again (saith the LORD,) and I will not turn my face from you, for I am merciful, saith the LORD, & I will not allway bear displeasure against thee: but on this condition, that thou know thy great blasphemy: Namely, that thou hast unfaithfully forsaken the LORD thy God, jere. 5. b Esa. 57 a & hast made thy silf partaker of strange gods under all green trees, but haste had no will to hear my voice, saith the LORD. O you shrenkinge children, turn again, Eze. 2. e Osee. 14. a Eze. 14. a Osee. 2. d saith the LORD, and I willbe married with you. For I will take one out of the city and two out of one generation from among you, and bring you out of Zion: and will give you hyrdmen after mine own mind, which shall feed you with learning and wisdom. moreover, when you be increased and multiplied in the land, than (saith the LORD) there shall no more boost be made of the ark of the lords Testament: No man shall think upon it, neither shall any man make mention of it: for from thence forth it shall neither be visited, ner honoured with gifts. Then shall jerusalem be called the lords seat, and all heathen shallbe gathered unto it, for the name of the LORD sake, which shallbe set up at jerusalem. And from that time forth, they shall follow no more the imagination of their own frauwerde heart. Then those that be of the house of juda, shall go unto the house of Israel: And they shall come together out of the north, Matt. 8. b in to the same land that I have given your fathers. I have showed also, how I took the up being but a child, and gave the a pleasant land for thy heritage, ye and a goodly host of the heathen: and how I commanded thee, Matt. 23. c that thou shouldest call me father only, and not to shrencke fro me. But like as a woman faileth her lover, so are you unfaithful unto me (oh you house of Israel) saith the LORD. And therefore the voice of the children of Israel was herd on every side, weeping and wailing: jere. 31. c for they have defiled their way, and forgotten God their LORD. O you shrenkinge children, turn again, (saying: lo, we are thy, for thou art the LORD our God:) And so shall I heal your bacturnynges. The hills fall, and all the high pride of the mountains, but the health of Israel standeth only upon God our LORD. Confution hath devoured our father's labour from our youth up: Tren. 5. a Dan. 3. b 6. a Baruc. 1 b jere. 14. a Psal. 105. a Esa. 64. a Hest. 14. a judit▪ 7. c ye their sheep and bullocks, their sons and daughters. So do we also sleep in our confusion, and shame covereth us: for we and our fathers from our youth up unto this day have sinned against the LORD our God▪ and hahave not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God. ●. Esd. 9 a and 10. b The four Chapter. O Israel, if thou will't turn thee, then turn unto me, saith the LORD. And if thou will't put away thy abominations out of my sight, thou shalt not be moved: jere. 5. a and 12. a And shalt swear: The LORD liveth: in truth, in equity and righteousness: and all▪ people shall be fortunable and joyful in him. For thus saith the LORD, to all juda and jerusalem: plough your land, and sow not among the thorns. jere. 6. b and 9 a Be circumcided in the LORD, and cut away the foreskin of your hearts, all you of juda, jere. 21. c and all the indwellers of jerusalem: that my indignation break not out like fire, & kindle, so that no man may quench it, because of the wickedness of your imaginations. Preach in juda and jerusalem, cry out and speak: Esa. 58. a blow the trumpets in the land, cry that every man may hear, and say: Gather you together, and we will go in to strong cities. Set up the token in Zion, speed you, and make no tarrying: for I will bring a great plague, and a great destruction from the north. jere. 1. c For the spoiler of the Gentiles is broken up from his place, as a lion out of his den, that he may make the land waist, and destroy the cities, so, that no man may devil therein. Wherefore gird yourselves about with sack clot, mourn, and weep, for the fearful wrath of the LORD shall not be withdrawn from you▪ At the same time (saith the LORD) the heart of the king and of the princes shall be go, the priests shallbe astonished, and the prophets shallbe sore afraid. Then said I: O LORD God, hast thou then deceived this people and jerusalem, saying: you shall have peace, Deut. 28. a and now the sword goeth thorough their lives? Then shall it be said to the people & to jerusalem: jere. 1. b there cometh a warm wind from the north thorough the way of my people, but neither to fan, ner to cleanse. After that shall there come unto me a strong wind, and then will I also give sentence upon them. For lo, he cometh down like as a cloud, and his charettes are like a stormy wind: Tren. 4. d Dan. 7. a his horsemen are swifter than the Eagle. Woe unto us, for we are destroyed. O jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, Esa. 1. c that thou mayest be helped. How long shall thy noisome thoughts remain with thee? For a voice from Dan and from the hill of Ephraim speaketh out, and telleth of a destruction. Behold, the heathen give jerusalem warning, and preach unto her, that her destroyers are coming from far countries. They tell the cities of juda the same also, they shall give them warning in every place, like as the watch men in the field. For they have provoked me to wrath, 〈…〉 saith the LORD. Thy ways and thy thoughts, 〈…〉 have brought the unto this, this is thine own wickedness and disobedience, that hath possessed thine heart: Ah my belly, ah my belly, (shalt thou cry) how is my heart so sore? my heart paunteth within me, I can not be still, for I have heard the crying of the trumpets, and peals of war. They cry murder upon murder, the whole land shall perish. Immediathly my tents were destroyed, and my hangings, in the twinkling of an eye. How long shall I see the tokens of war, and hear the noise of the trumpets? Nevertheless this shall come upon them, because my people is become foolish, 〈…〉 and hath utterly no understanding. They are the children of foolishness, 〈…〉 and without any discretion. To do evil, they have wit enough: but to do well, they have no wisdom. I have looked upon the earth, and see, it is wayst and void. I looked toward heaven, and it had no shine. I beheld the mountains, and they trembled, and all the hills were in a fear. I looked about me, and there was no body, and all the birds of the air were away. I marked well, and the ploughed field was become waist: ye all their cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and indignation of his wrath. For thus hath the LORD said: The whole land shallbe desolate, yet will I not then have done. And therefore let the earth mourn, and let the heaven be sorry above: for the thing that I have purposed and taken upon me to do, shall not repent me, and I will not go from it. The whole land shall i'll, for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen: they shall run in to dens in to woods, and climb up the stony rocks. All the cities shallbe void, and no man dwelling therein. What will't thou now do, thou being destroyed? 〈…〉 For though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, & deckest the with gold: though thou payntest thy face with colours, 〈…〉 yet shalt thou trim thyself in vain. For those that hither to have been thy great favourers, shall abhor thee, and go about to slay ye. For (me think) I hear a noise, like as it were of a woman traveling, or one labouring of her first child: Even the voice of the daughter Zion, that casts out her arms, and swowneth, saying: Ah woe is me, how sore vexed and faint is my heart, for them that are slain? The V Chapter. Look thorough jerusalem, behold and see: Seek thorough her streets also within, if you can find one man, that doth equal and right, or that laboureth to be faithful: and I shall spare him (saith the LORD) For though they can say: 〈…〉 the LORD liveth, yet do they swear to deceive: Where as thou (oh LORD) lookest only upon faith and truth. Thou hast scourged them, but they took no repentance: thou hast correct them for amendment, but they refused thy correction. They made their faces harder than a stone, and would not amend. Therefore I thought in myself: peradventure they are so simple and foolish, that they understand nothing of the lords way, 〈◊〉. 17. d and judgements of our God. Therefore will I go unto their heads and rulers, and talk with them: if they know the way of the LORD, and the judgements of our God. But these (in like manner) have broken the yock, and bursten the bonds insunder. Wherefore a lion out of the wood shall hurt them, 〈◊〉. ●2. d and a wolf in the evening shall destroy them. The cat of the mountain shall lie lurking by their cities, to tear in pieces all them, that come thereout. For their offences are many, and their departing away is great. 〈◊〉 1. a Should I then for all this have mercy upon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. And albeit they were bound to me in marriage, yet they fallen to adultery, and haunted harlots houses. In the desire of uncleanly lust they are become like the stoned horse, every man neyeth at his neighbours wife. 〈◊〉. 22. b Should I not correcke this, saith the LORD? 〈◊〉. 9 a Should I not be avenged of every people, that is like unto this? climb up upon their walls, beat them down, but destroy them not utterly: cut of their branches, because they are not the LORDS. For unfaithfully hath the house of Israel and juda forsaken me, saith the LORD. 2. Pet. 2. a jere. 14. ● Deu. 29. ● Soph. 1. ● jer. 23. c They have denied the LORD, and said: it is not he. Tush, there shall no miszfortune come upon us, we shall see neither sword ner hunger. As for the warning of the prophets, they take it but for wind, jere. 6. b ye there is none of these, which will tell them, that such things shall happen unto them. Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts: because you speak such words, behold: Esa. 33. b The words that are in thy mouth will I turn to fire, and make the people to be wood, that it may consume them. Lo, Deut. 28. ● Baru. 4. ● I will bring a people upon you from far, oh house of Israel (saith the LORD) a mighty people, an old people, a people whose speech thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Their arrows are sudden death, ye they themselves be very giants. This people shall eat up thy fruit & thy meat, ye they shall devour thy sons and thy daughters, thy sheep and thy bullocks. They shall eat up thy grapes & fyges. As for thy strong and well fenced cities, wherein thou diddest trust, they shall destroy them with the sword. Nevertheless I will not then have done with you, saith the LORD. But if they say: wherefore doth the LORD our God all this unto us? Then answer them: because, that like as you have forsaken me, jere. 16. b Deu. 28. g and served strange gods in your own land, even so shall you serve other gods also in a strange land. Preach this unto the house of jacob, & cry it out in juda, and say thus: Hear this (thou foolish and undiscrete people. Esa. 6. b joh. 9 d ) You have eyes, but you see not: ears have you, but you hear not. Fear you not me, saith the LORD? Are you not ashamed, to look me in the face? job 26 b 28. a which bind the see with the sonde, so that it can not pass his bounds: For though it rage, yet can it do nothing: and though the wawes thereof do swell, yet may they not go over. But this people hath a false and an obstinate heart, they are departed and go away fro me. They think not in their hearts: O let us fear the LORD our God, that giveth us rain early and late, when need is: which keepeth ever still the harvest for us yearly. Nevertheless your miszdedes have turned these from you, Esa. 59 a & your sins have rob you hereof. For among my people are found wicked personnes, that privily lay snares and wait for men, to take them, and destroy them. And like as a net is full of birds, so are their houses full of that, which they have got with falsed and deceit. Hereof cometh their great substance and riches, her of are they fat and wealthy, and are run away fro me with shameful blasphemies. They minister not the law, ●sa. 1. e they make no end of the fatherlesses cause, they judge not the poor according to equity. ●ere. 9 a ●ere. 5. b Should I not punish these things, saith the LORD? Should I not be avenged of all such people, as these be? Horrible and grievous things are done in the land. The prophets teach falsely, and the priests follow them, and my people hath pleasure therein. What will come thereof at the last? The VI Chapter. COme out of jerusalem, you strong children of Ben jamin: blow up the trumpets you Tecuites, ●. Re. 14. a set up a token unto Bethacarem, for a plague and a great misery pepeth out from the North. I will licken the daughter Zion to a fair and tender woman, and to her shall come the shepherds with their flocks. Their tents shall they pitch round about her, and every one shall feed with his hand. Make battle against her (shall they say:) Arise, let us go up, while it is yet day. Alas, the day goeth away, & the night shadows fall down: Arise, let us go up by night, and destroy her strong holds, for thus hath the LORD of hosts commanded. Hue down her trees, and set up bulwark against Jerusalem. This is the cite that must be punished, for in her is all maliciousness. Like as a condyte aboundeth in water, even so this city aboundeth in wickedness. Robbery and unrighteousness is herd in her, sorrow & wounds are ever there in my sight. Amend thee (oh jerusalem) jest I with draw my heart from thee, and make the desolate: & thy land also, that no man dwell in it. For thus saith the LORD of hosts: The residue of Israel shallbe gathered, as the remnant of grapes. And therefore turn thy hand again in to the baszket, like the grape gatherer. But unto whom shall I speak? whom shall I warn, ●ere. 4. a 9 d that he may take heed? Their ears are so uncircumcised, that they may not hear. Behold, 〈…〉 they take the word of God but for a scorn, and have no lust thereto. And therefore I am so full of thy indignation (oh LORD) that I may suffer no longer. Shed out thy wrath upon the children that are without, and upon all young men. Ye the man must be taken prisoner with the wife, and the aged with the crepel. Then ●●uses with their lands and wives shall be turned unto strangers, when I stretchout mine hand upon the inhabitors of this land, saith the LORD. For from the least unto the most, 〈…〉 they hang all upon covetousness: and from the prophet unto the priest, they go all about with falsed and lies. And beside that, 〈…〉 they heal the hurt of my people with sweet words, saying: peace, peace, when there is no peace at all. 〈…〉 Therefore they must be ashamed, for they have committed abomination. But how should they be ashamed, when they know nothing, neither of shame ner good nurture? And therefore they shall fall among the slain, 〈…〉 and in the hour when I shall viset them, they shall be brought down, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD: go in to the streets, consider and make inquisition for the old way: and if it be the good and right way, then go therein, that you may find rest for your souls. (But they say: we will not walk therein) and I will set watchmen over you, and therefore take heed unto the voice of the trumpet. But they say: we will not take heed. Hear therefore you Gentiles, and thou congregation shalt know, what I have devised for them. Hear thou earth also: behold, 〈…〉 I will 'cause a plague come upon this people, even the fruit of their own imaginations. For they have not been obedient unto my words and to my law, but abhorred them. Wherefore bring you me incense from Saba, 〈…〉 & sweet smelling Calamus from far countries? your burned offerings displease me, and I rejoice not in your sacrifices. And therefore thus saith the LORD: behold, I will make this people fall, and there shall fall from among them the father with the children, one neighbour shall perish with another. moreover thus saith the LORD: Behold, there shall come a people from the North, 〈…〉 & a great people shall arise from the ends of the earth, with bows & with darts shall they be weapened: It is a rough & fierce people, an unmerciful people: their voice roareth like the see, they ride upon horses well appointed to the battle against thee, oh daughter Zion. Then shall this cry be herd: Our arms are feeble, heaviness and sorrow is come upon us, as upon a woman traveling with child. Noman go forth in to the field, no man come upon the high street: for the sword and fear of the enemy shallbe on every side. Wherefore, gird a sack clot about thee (oh thou daughter of my people) sprinkle thyself with aszshes, 〈…〉 mourn and weep bitterly, as upon thy only beloved son: For the destroyer shall suddenly fall upon us. The have I set for a prover of my hard people, to seek out and to try their ways. For they are all unfaithful and fallen away, they hang upon shameful lucre, they are clean brass and iron, for they hurt and destroy every man. The bellous are brent in the fire, the lead is consumed, the melter melteth in vain, for the evil is not taken away from them. Therefore shall they be called naughty silver, because the LORD hath cast them out. The VII. Chapter. THese are the words, that God spoke unto jeremy: 〈◊〉 17. d 〈◊〉 ●6. a stand under the gates of the lords house, and cry out these words there, with a loud voice, and say: Hear the word of the LORD, all you of juda, that go in at this door, to honour the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel. ●sa. 1. c 〈◊〉. ●6. c amend your ways and your counsels, and I will let you devil in this place. Trust not in false dying words, saying: here is the temple of the LORD, here is the temple of the LORD, here is the temple of the LORD. 〈◊〉. 22. c 〈◊〉. 8 c 〈◊〉. 19 g 〈◊〉 24. a For if you will amend your ways and counsels, if you will judge right betwixt a man and his neighbour: if you will not oppress the stranger, the fatherless & the widow: if you will not shed innocent blood in this place: if you will not cleave to strange gods to your own destruction: then will I let you devil in this place, ye in the land that I gave afore time unto your fathers for ever. But take heed, ye trust in counsels, that beguile you and do you no good. For when you have stolen, murthured, committed adultery, and perjury: When you have offered unto Baal, following strange & unknown gods: 〈…〉 Then come you, and stand before me in this house (which hath my name given unto it) and say: Tush, we are absolved quite, though we have done all these abominations. ●sa. ●6. b What? think you this house that beareth my name, is a den of thieves? joh. 2. b Matt. 21. ● jere. 32. d josu. 18. a jere. 26. ● 1. Re. 3, 4▪ 5.6 And these things are not done privily, but before mine eyes, saith the LORD. Go to my place in Silo, where unto I gave my name afore time, and look well what I did to the same place, for the wickedness of my people of Israel. And now, though you have done all these dede● (saith the LORD) and I myself rose up ever by times to warn you and to common with you: yet would you not hear me: I called, you would not answer. Esa. 95. b Pro. 1 c Luc. 2●. a And therefore even as I have done unto Silo, so will I do to this house, that my name is given unto, (and that you put your trust in) ye unto the place that I have given to you and your fathers. 4. Re. 17. ● And I shall thrust you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore thou shalt not pray for this people, thou shalt neither give thanks, jere. 14. ● 1. joh. 5. a Eze. 14. c nor bid prayer for them: thou shalt make no intercession to me for them, for in no wise will I hear the. Seist thou not what they do in the cities of juda, and without jerusalem? The children gather sticks, jere. 44. ● the fathers kindle the fire, the mothers kneade the dough, to bake cakes for the queen of heaven. They pour out drink offerings unto strange gods, to provoke me unto wrath: How be it they hurt not me (saith the LORD) but rather confound, and shame them selves. And therefore thus saith the LORD God: behold, my wrath and my indignation shallbe poured out upon this place, upon men and cattles, upon the trees in the field and all fruit of the land, & it shall burn so, that no man may quench it. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Esa. 1. a You heap up your burnt-offerings with your sacrifices, & eat the flesh. But when I brought your fathers out of Egipte, Deut. 10 ● Esa. 43. d Exo. 6. b I spoke no word unto them of burned offerings and sacrifices: but this I commanded them, saying: hearken and obey my voice, Exo. 20. a and I shallbe your God and you shall be my people: so that you walk in all the ways, which I have commanded you, that you may prosper. But they were not obedient, zach. 7. b they inclined not their ears there unto, but went after their own imaginations and after the motions of their own wicked heart, and so turned themselves away, and converted not unto me. And this have they done, from the time that your fathers came out of Egipte, unto this day. jere. 25. a Nevertheless, I sent unto them my servants all the prophets: I rose up early and sent them word, yet would they not hearken, ner offer me their ears, but were obstinate, and worse than their fathers. And thou shalt now speak all these words unto them, but they shall not hear thee: thou shalt cry upon them, but they shall not answer the. Therefore shalt thou say unto them: this is the people, that neither heareth the voice of the LORD their God, ner receiveth his correction. jere. 5. a Faithfulness & truth is clean rooted out of their mouth. Eze. 5. a Wherefore cut of thy hair, and cast it away, take up a complaint in the whole land: for the LORD shall cast away, and scatre the people, that he is displeased withal. For the children of juda have done evil in my sight, jere. 12. d saith the LORD. They have set up their abominations, in the house that hath my name, and have defiled it. They have also builded an altar at Tophet, 4. Re. 23. e Deut. 32. c Psal. 105. c jere. 44. a which is in the valley of the children of Ennon: that they might burn their sons and daughters, which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought. And therefore behold, the days shall come (saith the LORD) that it shall no more be called. Tophet▪ or the valley of the children of Ennon, ●ere. 19 c but the valley of the slain: for in Tophet they shall be buried, because they shall else have no room. ●ere. 8. ᵇ ●. c Ye the deed bodies of this people shall be eaten up of the fowls of the air & wild beasts of the earth, & no man shall fray them away. Eze. 26. b Andrea as for the voice of mirth & gladness of the cities of juda, & jerusalem, the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride: ●ere. 16. ᵇ ●5. b I will make them cease, for the land shall be desolate. The VIII. Chapter. AT the same time, saith the LORD, the bones of the kings of juda, the bones of his princes, the bones of the priests and prophets, ye and the bones of the citizens of Jerusalem, shallbe brought out of their graves and laid against the Son, Deut. 4. e ●ap. 21. a the Moon and all the heavenly host: whom they loved, whom they served, whom they ran after, whom they sought & worshipped. They shall neither be gathered together ner buried, but shall lie upon the earth, to their shame and despising. And all they that remain of this wicked generation, Luc. 23. c shall desire rather to die than to live: where so ever they remain, & where as I scatre them, saith the LORD of hosts. This shalt thou say unto them also: Thus saith the LORD: Do men fall so, that they arise not up again: And turn they so far away, that they never convert? Wherefore then is this people and jerusalem go so far back, that they turn not again▪ They are ever the longer the more obstinate, and will not be converted. For I have looked, and considered: but there is no man, that speaketh a good word: 〈…〉 there is no man, that taketh repentance for his sin, that will so much as say: wherefore have I done this? But every man (as soon as he is turned back) runneth forth still, like a wild horse in a battle. The Stork knoweth his appointed time, the Turtledove, the swallow and the Crane, consider the time of their travail: 〈…〉 but my people will not know the time of the punishment of the LORD. How dare you say then: we are wise, we have the law of the LORD among us? Behold, the deceitful pen of the scribes, setteth forth lies: therefore shall the wise be confounded, they shallbe afraid and taken: for lo, 〈…〉 they have cast out the word of the LORD: what wisdom can then be among them? Wherefore, I will give their wives unto aleauntes, and their fields to destroyers. For from the lowest unto the highest, they follow all shameful lucre: and from the prophet unto the priest, they deal all with lies. Nevertheless, 〈…〉 they heal the hurt of my people with sweet words, saying: peace, peace, where there is no peace at all. Fie for shame, how abominable things do they? And yet they be not ashamed, ye they know of no shame. Wherefore in the time of their visitation, 〈…〉 they shall fall among the deed bodies, saith the LORD. moreover I will gather them in (saith the LORD) so that there shall not be one grape upon the vine, neither one fig upon the fig tree, and the leaves shallbe plucte of. Then will I 'cause them to depart, and say: why prolong we the time? Let us gather ourselves together, and go in to the strong cite, there shall we be in rest: For the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water mixed with gall, to drink, because we have sinned against him. We looked for peace, and we fair not the better, 〈…〉 we waited for the time of health, and lo, here is nothing but trouble. Then shall the noise of his horses be herd from Dan, the whole land shall be afraid at the neyenge of his strong horses: for they shall go in, and devour the land, with all that is in it: the cities, and those that devil therein. moreover, I will send Cockatrices & serpents among you (which will not be charmed) and they shall bite you, 〈◊〉 ●6. d sayeth the LORD. Sorrow is come upon me, and heaviness vexeth my heart: for lo, the voice of the crienge of my people is herd from a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not he king in her? Wherefore then have they grieved me (shall the LORD say) with their images and foolish strange fashions? The harvest is go, the Summer hath an end, and we are not helped. I am sore vexed, because of the hurt of my people: I am heavy and abashed, for there is no more treacle at Galaad, and there is no Physician, that can heal the hurt of my people. The IX. Chapter. O, Who will give my head water enough, & a well of tears for mine eyes: that I may weep night and day, for the slaughter of my people? Would God that I had a cottage some where far from folk, that I might leave my people, and go from them: for they be all adulterers and a shrenckinge sort. They bend their tongues like bows, to shoot out lies: As for the truth, they may nothing away with all in the world. For they go from one wickedness to another, and hold nothing of me, saith the LORD. Ye one must keep himself from another, no man may safely trust his own brother: for one brother undermineth another, 〈◊〉. 12. b 〈◊〉. ●0. c 〈◊〉 7. ● & one neighbour begyleth another. Ye one dissembleth with another, and they deal with no truth. 〈◊〉. 2●. a They have practised their tongues to lie, and taken great pains to do mischief. They have set their stole in the midst of deceit, and (for very dissembling falsed) they will not know me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, behold, I will melt them and try them, for what should I else do to my people? Their tongues are like sharp arrows, 〈◊〉. 1●. a ●sal. 17. a to speak deceit. With their mouth they speak peaceably to their neighbour, but privily they lay wait for him. Should I not punish them for these things, saith the LORD? Or, should I not be avenged of any such people, 〈…〉 as this? Upon the mountains will I take up a lamentation and sorrowful cry, and a mourning upon the fair plains of the wilderness: Namely, how they are so brent up, that no man goeth there any more: Ye a man shall not hear one beast cry there. Birds and cattles are all go from thence. Psal. 78. a Mich. 3. c I will make jerusalem also an heap of stones, and a den of venomous worms. Andrea I will make the cities of juda so waist, that no man shall devil therein. What man is so wise, as to understand this? Or to whom hath the LORD spoken by mouth, that he may show this, and say: O thou land, Osee. 14. ● why perishest thou so? Wherefore art thou so brent up, and like a wilderness, that no man goeth thorough? Ye the LORD himself told the same unto them, that forsook his law, and kept not the thing that he gave them in commandment, neither lived thereafter: but followed the wickedness of their own hearts, Deu. 29. ● josu. 24. ● and served strange gods, as their fathers taught them. Therefore, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with wormwod, and give them gall to drink. Deu. 32. c jeren. 23. c I will scatre them also among the heathen, whom neither they ner their fathers have known: and I will send a sword among them, to persecute them, Deu. 28. c until I bring them to nought. moreover, thus saith the LORD of hosts: look that you call for mourning wives, and send for wise women: that they come shortly, and sing a mourning song of you: that the tears may fall out of our eyes, and that our eye lyddes may guszhe out of water. For there is a lamentable noise heard of Zion: O how are we so sore destroyed? O how are we so piteously confounded? We must forsake our own natural country, and we are shot out of our own lodgings. Yet hear the word of the LORD (oh you women) and set your ears regard the words of his mouth: that you may learn your daughters to mourn, and that every one may teach her neghbouresse, to make lamentation. Namely thus: Death is clymmen up in at our windows, he is come in to our houses, to destroy the child before the door, & the young man in the street. But tell thou plainly, thus saith the LORD: The deed bodies of men shall lie upon the ground, as the dung upon the field, jere. 7 d. ●. b and as the hay after the mower, and there shall be no man to take them up. moreover, thus saith the LORD: Let not the wise man rejoice in his wisdom, ner the strong man in his strength, neither the rich man in his riches: 〈◊〉 65. c Cor. 1 g Co. 10. d But who so will rejoice, let him rejoice in this, that he understandeth, and knoweth me: for I am the LORD, which do mercy, equity and righteousness upon earth. Therefore have I pleasure in such things, ●att. 9 ᵇ ● a 〈◊〉. 6. b saith the LORD. Behold, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I will visit all them, whose foreskin is uncircumciscd: The Egipcians, 〈◊〉. 25. c the jews, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and the shaven Madianites, that dwell in the wilderness. For all the Gentiles are uncircumcised in the flesh, ●re. 4. ᵃ ● b ●om. 2. c but all the house of Israel, are uncircumcised in the heart. The x. Chapter. Hear the word of the LORD, that he speaketh unto thee, oh thou house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD: You shall not learn after the manner of the Heithen, ●sa. 47. c and you shall not be afraid for the tokens of heaven: for the heathen are afraid of such: Ye all the customs and laws of the Gentiles are nothing, ●sa. 44. b but vanity. They hew down a tree in the wood with the hands of the work man, and fashion it with the axe: they cover it over with gold or silver, they fasten it with nails and hammers, that it move not. It standeth as stiff as the palm tree, it can neither speak ner go, ●●ruc 6 Re. 17. g but must be born. Be not you afraid of such, for they can do neither good ner evil. But there is none like unto thee (oh LORD) thou art great, and great is the name of thy power. ●po. 15. a Who would not fear thee▪ or what king of the Gentiles would not obey thee? For among all the wisemen of the Gentiles, and in all their kingdoms, there is none, that may be lickened unto the. They are altogether unlearned and unwise, All their cunning is but vanity: namely, wood, silver, which is brought out of Tharsis, and beaten to plates: ● Reg. 9 and gold from Ophir, a work that is made with the hand of the craftsman & the caster, clothed with yellow sylck and scarlet: even so is the work of their wise men all together. But the LORD is a true God, a living God, and an everlasting king. If he be wroth, ●aum 1. a the earth shaketh: all the Gentiles may not abide his indignation. As for their gods, it may well be said of them: they are gods, that made neither heaven ner earth: therefore shall they perish from the earth, and from all things under heaven. ●en. 1. a ●re. 51. c But (as for our God) he made the earth with his power, and with his wisdom hath he finished the whole compass of the world, with his discretion hath he spread out the heavens, At his voice the waters gather together in the air, he draweth up the clouds from the uttermost parts of the earth: 〈…〉 he turneth lightening to rain, and bringeth forth the winds out of their treasuries: 〈…〉 His wisdom maketh all men fools. And confunded be all casters of images, for that they cast, 〈…〉 is but a vain thing, and hath no life. The vain crafts men with their works, that they in their vanity have made, shall perish one with another in the time of visitation▪ Nevertheless, jacob's portion is not such: but it is he, that hath made all things, and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name. Put away thy uncleanness out of the land, thou that art in the strong cities. For thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will now thrust out the inhatours of this land a great way of, and trouble them of such a fashion, that they shall no more be found. Alas, how am I hurt? Alas, how painful are my scourges unto me? For I consider this sorrow by myself, & I must suffer it, My tabernacle is destroyed, and all my cords are broken. My children are go fro me, and can no where be found. Now have I none to spread out my tent, or to set up my hangings. For the hyrdmen have done foolishly, that they have not sought the LORD. Therefore have they dealt unwisely with their cattles, & all are scattered abroad. Behold, the noise is hard at hand, and great sedition out of the north: to make the cities of juda a wilderness, and a dwelling place for Dragons. 〈…〉 Now I know (oh LORD) that is not in man's power to order his own ways, or to rule his own steps & goings. Therefore chasten thou us (oh LORD) but with favour, and not in thy wrath, 〈…〉 bring us not utterly to nought. Pour out thy indignation rather upon the Gentiles, that know the not, and upon the people that call not on thy name: And that because they have consumed, devoured and destroyed jacob, and have rooted out his glory. The XI. Chapter. THis is another Sermon, which the LORD commanded jeremy for to preach, saying: Hear the words of the covenant, and speak unto all juda, and to all them that dwell at jerusalem, And say thou unto them: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: Cursed be every one, that is not obedient unto the words of this covenant: which I commanded unto your fathers, what time as I brought them out of Egipte, from the iron furnace, saying: Be obedient unto my voice, 〈◊〉 19 a and do according to all that I command you: so shall you be my people, and I will be your God, 〈◊〉. 6. b and will keep my promise, that I have sworn unto your fathers: 〈◊〉. ●5. c 〈…〉. c Namely, that I would give them a land which floweth with milk and honey, as you see, it is come to pass unto this day. Then answered I, and said: Amen. It is even so LORD, as thou sayest. Then the LORD said unto me again: Preach this in the cities of juda and round about jerusalem, and say: Hear the words of this convenaunt, that you may keep them. For I have diligently exorted your fathers, ever sense the time that I brought them out of the Land of Egipte, unto this day. I gave them warning by times, saying: hearken unto my voice: 〈◊〉. 11. b Nevertheless, they would not obey me, nor incline their ears unto me, 〈…〉 but followed the wicked imaginations of their own hearts. And therefore have I accused them as transgressors of all the words of this convenant, that I gave them to keep, which they (notwithstanding) have not kept. And the LORD said unto me: It is found out, that whole Israel and all the citizens of jerusalem are go back. They have turned themselves to the blasphemies of their fore fathers, which had no lust to hear my word. Even likewise have these also followed strange gods, and worshipped them. The house of Israel and juda have broken my covenant, which I made with their fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will send a plague among you, which you shall not be able to escape: and though you cry unto me, I will not hear you. Then shall the towns of juda and the citizens of jerusalem go, 〈◊〉 7. b and call upon their gods, unto whom they made their oblations: but they are not able to help them in time of their trouble. 〈◊〉. 32. c ●re 2. d For as many cities as thou hast (oh juda) so many gods hast thou also: And look how many streets there be in thee (oh jerusalem) so many shameful altars have you set up, 〈◊〉. 7. c 〈◊〉. 1●. a to offer upon them unto Baal. But pray not thou for this people, bid neither praise ner prayer for them: for though they cry unto me in their trouble, yet will I not hear them. O thou beloved, why dost thou so shameful great blasphemies in my house? even as though that holy flesh might absolve thee, 〈…〉 specially when thou hast made thy boost of thy wickedness. The LORD called the a green olive tree, a fair one, a fruitful one, jere. 17 b Matt. 7. b Ro. 11. c a goodly one: but now that there is a contrary report of the abroad, he will burn the up, and destroy thy branches. Esa. 12. d For the LORD of hosts that planted thee, hath devised a plague for thee (oh thou house of Israel & juda) for the evil that you have done, to provoke him to wrath, in that you did service unto Baal. This (oh LORD) have I learned of thee, and understand it, for thou hast showed me their imaginations. Esa. 53. b But I (as a meek lamb) was carried away to be slain: not knowing, that they had devised such a council against me, saying: jere. 18. b We will destroy his meat with wood, and drive him out of the land of the living, that his name shall never be thought upon. Therefore I will beseek the now (oh LORD of hosts) thou righteous judge, jere. 20. c 17. b thou that triest the reins and the hearts: let me see the avenged of them, for unto the have I committed my cause. The LORD therefore spoke thus of the citesens of Anothot, that sought to slay me, saying: Esa. 30. b Amo. 7. b Preach not unto us in the name of the LORD, or else thou shalt die of our hands. Thus (I say) spoke the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will viset you. your young men shall perish with the sword, your sons and your daughters shall utterly die of hunger, so that none shall remain. For upon the citesyns of Anathot will I bring a plague, and the year of their visitation. The XII. Chapter. O LORD, thou art more righteous, then that I should dispute with thee: Nevertheless, let me talk with the in things reasonable. How happeneth it, job. 21. a Aba. 1. c that the way of the ungodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so well with them, which (with out any shame) offend and live in wickedness? Thou plantest them, they take rote, they grow, and bring forth fruit. They boost much of thee, yet dost thou not punish them. But thou LORD (to whom I am well known) thou that hast seen, & proved my heart, take them away, like as a flock is carried to the slaughter house, 2. Pet. 2. ● and appoint them for the day of slaughtinge. How long shall the land mourn, and all the herbs of the field perish, for the wickedness of them that devil therein? The cattles and the birds are go, jere. 14. b Deu. 29. c Soph. 1 c jere. 5. ᵇ ●●. c yet say they: tush, God will not destroy us utterly. seeing thou art weighed in running with the foot men, how will't thou then run with horses? In a peaceable sure land thou mayest be safe, but how will't thou do in the furious pride of jordane? For thy brethren and thy kindred have altogether despised thee, and cried out upon the in thy absence. jere. 9 a Believe them not, though they speak fair words to the. As for me (say I) I have forsaken mine own dwelling place, and left mine heritage. My life also that I love so well, have I given in to the hands of mine enemies. Mine heritage is become unto me, as a Lion in the wood. It cried out upon me, therefore have I forsaken it. Esa. 19 ● Mine heritage is unto me, as a spreckled bird, a bird of diverse colours is upon it. Go hence, and gather all the beasts of the field together, that they may eat it up. diverse hyrdmen have broken down my vineyard, Esa. ●6. c Esa. 5. a and trodden upon my portion. Of my pleasant portion, they have made a wilderness & desert. They have laid it waist: and now that it is waist, it sigheth unto me. Ye the whole land lieth waist, and no man regardeth it. The distroyers come over the heeth every way, for the sword of the LORD shall consume from the one end of the land to the other, Pro. 22. d and no flesh shall have rest. They shall sow wheat, and reepe thorns. They shall take heritage in possession, but it shall do them no good. And you shallbe confounded of your own wynnynges, because of the great wrath of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD upon all mine evil neighbours, that lay hand on mine heritage, which I have given my people of Israel: Behold, I will pluck them (namely Israel) out of their land, and put out the house of juda from among them. And when I have rooted them out, Deu. 4. e 30. a Esa. 54. b 1. Esd. 1. a I will be at one with them again, and will have mercy upon them: and bring them again, every man to his own heritage, and in to his land. And if they (namely that trouble my people) will learn the ways of them, to swear by my name: The LORD liveth (like as they learned my people to swear by Baal) then shall they be reckoned among my people. But if they will not obey, them will I rote out the same folk, Mat. 22. b and destroy them, saith the LORD, The XIII. Chapter. moreover, thus said the LORD unto me: go thy way & get the a linen breach, and gird it about thy loins, and let it not be wet. Then I got me a breach, according to the commandment of the LORD, and put it about my loins. After this, the LORD spoke unto me again: Take the breach that thou hast prepared & put about thee, and get the up, and go unto Euphrates, and hide it in a hole of the rock. So went I, and hid it, ●s the LORD commanded me. And it happened long after this, that the LORD spoke unto me: Up, and get the to Euphrates, and fet the breach from thence, which I commanded the to hide there. Then went I to Euphrates, and digged up, and took the breach from the place where I had hid it: and behold, the breach was corrupt, so that it was profitable for nothing. Then said the LORD unto me: Thus saith the LORD: Even so will I corrupt the pride of juda▪ and the high mind of Jerusalem. This people is a wicked people, they will not hear my word, 〈…〉 they follow the wicked imaginations of their own heart, & hang upon strange gods, them have they served & worshipped: and therefore they shallbe as this breach, that serveth for nothing. For as strately as a breach lieth upon a man's loins, so strately did I bind the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of juda unto me, saith the LORD: 〈…〉 that they might be my people: that they might have a glorious name: that they might be in honour: but they would not obey me. Therefore lay this riddle before them, and say: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: every pot shall be filled with wine. And they shall say: thinkest thou we know not, that every pot shallbe filled with wine? Then shalt thou say unto them: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I shall fill all the inhabitors of this land with drunkenness, the kings that sit upon David's stole, the priests and prophets, with all that devil at jerusalem. And I will shoot them one against another, ye the fathers against the sons, saith the LORD. I will not pardon them, I will not spare them, ner have pity upon them: but destroy them. Be obedient, give ear, take no diszdayne at it, for it is the LORD himself that speaketh. Honour the LORD your God herein, or he take his light from you, and or ever your feet stumble in darkness at the hill: jest when you look for the light, he turn it in to the shadow and darkness of death. But if you will not hear me, that give you secret warning, I will mourn fro my whole heart for your stubborness. Piteously will I weep, 〈…〉 and the tears shall guszhe out of mine eyes. For the lords flock shallbe carried away captive. Tell the king & the rulers: Humble your selves, set you down low, for the crown of your glory shall fall from your head. The cities toward the south shallbe shut up, & no man shall open them. All juda shall be carried away captive, so that none shall remain. Lift up your eyes, and behold them, that come from the North: Like a fat flock shall they fall upon the. To whom will't thou make thy moan, when they come upon thee? for thou hast taught them thyself, and made them masters over the. 〈◊〉 10. a 〈◊〉 13. b 〈◊〉 21. a Shall not sorrow come upon thee, as on a woman traveling with child? And if thou wouldest say then in thy heart: Wherefore come these things upon me? Even for the multitude of thy blasphemies, 〈◊〉 ●5. b shall thy hinder parts & thy feet be discovered. For like as the man of Jude may change his skin, & the cat of the mountain her spots: so may yet that be exercised in evil, do good. Therefore will I scatre you, like as the stobble that is taken away with the south wind. This shall be your portion, and the portion of your measure, where with you shall be rewarded of me, saith the LORD: because you have forgotten me, and put your trust in deceitful things. Therefore shall I turn thy clotheses over thy head, 〈◊〉. 2. b and discover thy these, that thy privities may be seen: the adultery, thy deadly malice, thy beastliness and thy shameful whoredom. For upon the fields and hills I have seen thy abominations. Woe be unto thee (o jerusalem) when will thou ever be cleansed anymore? The XIIII. Chapter. The word of the LORD showed unto jeremy, concerning the dearth of the fruits. IVda shall mourn, men shall not go much more thorough his gates: the land shall be no more had in reputation, & the cry of Jerusalem shall break out. The lords shall send their servants to fetch water, & when they come to the wells, they shall find no water, but shall carry their vessels home empty. They shall be ashamed and confounded, 〈◊〉▪ 23. b & shall cover their heads. For the ground shallbe dried up, because there cometh no rain upon it. The plowmen also shallbe ashamed, and shall cover their heads. The Hind shall forsake the young fawn, that see bringeth forth in the field, because there shallbe no grass. The wild Asses shall stand in the Moss, and draw in their wind like the Dragons, their eyes shall fail for want of grass. Doubtless our own wickedness reward us: But LORD do thou according to thy name, though our transgressions and sins be many. Esa. 49. b jere. 16. c 17. c For thou art the comfort & help of Israel in the time of trouble. Why will't thou be as a stranger in the Land, and as one that goeth over the field, and cometh in only to remain for a night? Why will't thou make thyself a coward, and as it were a giaunte that yet may not help? For thou ar●ours (oh LORD) and we bear thy name, therefore forsake us not. Then spoke the LORD, concerning this people that have pleasure to go so nembly with their feet, and leave not of, and therefore displease the LORD: in so much, that he will now bring again to remembrance all their myszdedes, and punish all their sins. Ye even thus said the LORD unto me: Thou shalt not pray to do this people good. jere. 7. b Esa 1 b For though they fast, I will not hear their prayers. And though they offer burned offerings & sacrifices, yet will not I accept them. For I will destroy them with the sword, hunger and pestilence. Then answered I: O LORD God, the prophets say unto them: Tush, jere. 5. b Soph. 1 c jere. 14. b 23. c you shall see no sword, and no hunger shall come upon you, but the LORD shall give you continual rest in this place. And the LORD said unto me: The prophets preach lies unto them in my name. I have not spoken with them, jere. 23. d neither gave I them any charge, neither did I send them: yet they preach unto you false visions, charming, vanity, and disceatfulnesse of their own heart. Therefore thus saith the LORD: As for those prophets that preach in my name (whom I nevertheless have not sent) and y● say: Tush, there shall neither battle ner hunger be in this land: With sword and with hunger shall those prophets perish, Zach. 13. a and the people to whom they have preached, shall be cast out of jerusalem, die of hunger, and be slain with the sword, (and there shall be no man to bury them) both they and their wives, their sons and their daughters. jere. 16. a For thus will I 〈◊〉 their wickedness upon them. This shalt tho● say also unto them: Mine eyes shall weep without ceass●nge day & night. Thren. 2. f Tren. 1. d For my people shallbe dtstroyed with great harm, and shall perish with a great plague. For if I go in to the field, lo, it lieth all full of slain men: if I come in to the cite, lo, they be all fameshed of hunger. Ye their prophets also and priests shall be led in to an unknown land. Hast thou then utterly forsaken juda? (said I) Dost thou so abhor Sion? Or hast thou so plagued us, that we can be healed no more? jere. ●. c We looked for peace, and there cometh no good: for the time of health, & lo, here is nothing but trouble. We knowledge (oh LORD) all our myszdedes, and the sins of our fathers, that we have offended ye. Be not displeased (oh LORD) for thy name's sake, forget not thy loving kindness: Esa. 49. c Remember the throne of thine honour, break not the covenant, jere. 5. d that thou hast made with us. Are there any among the gods of the Gentiles, that send rain, or give the showers of heaven? Dost not thou it oh LORD our God, in whom we trust? Ye LORD, thou dost all these things. The XU. Chapter. THen spoke the LORD unto me, and said: jere. 7. b 11. c. 14. b Eze. 14. c Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet have I no heart to this people. drive them away, that they may go out of my sight. And if they say unto thee: zach 11. b Eze. 5. c Whither shall we go? Then tell them: The LORD giveth you this answer: Some unto death, some to the sword, some to hunger, some in to captivity. For I will bring four plagues upon them, saith the LORD. The sword shall strangle them, jere. 16. a the dogs shall devour them, the fowls of the air and beestes of the earth shall eat them up, and destroy them. I will scatre them about also in all kingdoms and lands to be plagued, because of Manasses the son of Ezechias king of juda, 4. Re. 21. a for the things that he did in jerusalem. Who shall then have pite upon thee, oh jerusalem? Who shall be sorry for thee? Or who shall make intercession, to obtain peace for thee? seeing thou goest fro me, and turnest backward, saith the LORD? Therefore I will stretch out mine hand against thee, to destroy thee, and I will not be entreated. I will scatre the abroad with the fan on every side of the land: I will waste my people and destroy them, jere. 6. c for they have had no lust to turn from their own ways. I will make their widows mother in number, than the sondes of the see. Upon the mothers of their children, I shall bring a destroyer in the noon day. 1. Tess. 5. a Suddenly and unawares, shall I send a fear upon their cities. She that hath born seven. children, shall have none, her heart shall be full of sorrow. The Son shall fail her in the clear day, when she shallbe confounded and faint for very heaviness. Amo. 8. b As for those that remain, I will deliver them unto the sword of their enemies, saith the LORD. O mother, alas that ever thou didst bear me, 〈…〉 an enemy and hated of the whole land: Though I never lente ner received upon usury, yet every man speak evil upon me. And the LORD answered me: lead not I the then unto good? Come not I to thee, when thou art in trouble: and help thee, when thy enemy oppresseth thee? Doth one iron hurt another, or one metal that cometh from the north, another? As for your riches and treasure, I will give them out in to a pray, 〈…〉 not for any money, but because of all your sins, that you have done in all your coasts. And I will bring you with your enemies in to a land, 〈…〉 that you know not: for the fire that is kindled in my indignation, shall burn you up. O LORD (said I then) thou knowest all things, therefore remember me, and viset me, deliver me fro my persecutors: Receive not my cause in thy long wrath, yet thou knowest, that for thy sake I suffer rebuke. 〈…〉 When I had found thy words, I at them up greedily: they have made my heart joyful & glad. For I call upon thy name, oh LORD God of hosts. I devil not among the scorners, neither is my delight therein: but I devil only in the fear of thy hand, for thou hast filled me with bitterness. Shall my heaviness endure for ever? Are my plagues then so great, that they may never be healed? Will't thou be as a water, that falls, and can not continue? Upon these words, thus said the LORD unto me: If thou will't turn again, I shall set the in my service: and if thou will't take out the thing that is precious from the vile, thou shalt be even as mine own mouth. They shall convert unto thee, 〈…〉 but turn not thou unto them: and so shall I make the a strong brickwall of steel against this people. 〈…〉 They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail. For I myself will be with thee, to help thee, and deliver thee, saith the LORD. And I will rid the out of the hands of the wicked, and deliver the out of the hand of tyrants. The XVI. Chapter. moreover, thus said the LORD unto me: Thou shalt take the no wife, ner beget children in this place. For of the children that are born in this place, of their mothers that have born them, and of their fathers that have begotten them in this land, thus saith the LORD: 〈…〉 They shall die an horrible death, no man shall mourn for them, ner bury them, but they shall lie as dung upon the earth. They shall perish thorough the sword and hunger, and their bodies shall be meat for the fowls of the air, ●sal. 7●. a ●ere. ●5. a and beestes of the earth. Again, thus saith the LORD: Go not unto them, that come together, for to mourn and weep: for I have taken my peace from this people (saith the LORD) ye my favour and my mercy. And in this land shall they die, old and young, and shall not be buried: no man shall be weep them, no man shall clip or shave himself for them. There shall not one viset another, to mourn with them for their deed, or to comfort them. One shall not offer another the cup of consolation, to forget their heaviness for father and mother. Thou shalt not go in to their feast house, Cor. 5. b to sit down, much less to eat or drink with them. For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, 〈◊〉. 7. d 25 b I shall take away out of this place, the voice of mirth and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride: ye and that in your days, that you may see it. 〈…〉 Now when thou showest this people all these words, and they say unto thee: Wherefore hath the LORD devised all this great plague for us? Or what is the offence and sin, that we have done against the LORD our God? Then make thou them this answer: Because your fathers have forsaken me (saith the LORD) and have cleaved unto strange gods, 〈◊〉. 4. d whom they have honoured and worshipped: but me have they forsaken, and have not kept my law. And you with your shameful blasphemies, 〈◊〉. 7. d have exceaded the wickedness of your fathers. For every one of you followeth the frawerde evil imagination of his own heart, and is not obedient unto me. Therefore will I cast you out of this land, 〈◊〉. 28. c 〈◊〉. 23. b in to a land that you and your fathers know not: and there shall you serve strange god's day and night, there will I show you no favour. Behold therefore (saith the LORD) the days are come, that it shall no more be said: 〈◊〉. ●3. b The LORD liveth, which brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte: but (it shall be said) the LORD liveth, that brought the children of Israel from the North, & from all lands where I had scattered them. For I will bring them again in to the land, that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, (saith the LORD) I will send out many fiszhers to take them, 〈◊〉 4. c and after that will I send out many hunters to hunt them out, from all mountains and hills and out of the caves of stones. For mine eyes behold all their ways, and they can not be hid fro my face, neither can their wicked deeds be kept close out of my sight. But first will I sufficiently reward their shameful blasphemies and sins, wherewith they have defiled my land: Namely, with their stinking Idols and abominations, wherewith they have filled mine heritage. O LORD, jere. 14 17. c my strength, my power, and refuge in time of trouble. The Gentiles shall come unto the from the ends of the world, and say: Verily our fathers have cleaved unto lies, their Idols are but vain and unprofitable. How can a man make those his gods, which are not able to be gods? And therefore, I will once teach them (saith the LORD) I will show them my hand and my power, that they may know, that my name is the LORD. The XVII. Chapter. Your sin (oh you of the tribe of juda) is written in the table of your hearts, & graven so upon the edges of your altars with a pen of iron & with an Adamant claw: that your children also may think upon your altars, woods, thick trees, high hills, mountains & fields. Wherefore, jere. 1●. c 20. b I will make all your substance & treasure be spoiled, for the great sin that you have done upon your high places, thorough out all the coostes of your land. You shall be cast out also from the heritage, that I gave you. And I will subdue you under the heavy bondage of your enemies, in a land that you know not. For you have ministered fire to my indignation, which shall burn evermore. Thus saith the LORD: Psal. 48. ● jere. 46. ● 48. a Pro. 11. ● c Eze. 29. ● Cursed be the man that putteth his trust in man, and that taketh flesh for his arm: and he, whose heart departeth from the LORD. He shall be like the heeth, that groweth in the wilderness. As for the good thing that is for to come, he shall not see it: but devil in a dry place of the wilderness, in a salt and unoccupied land. O Blissed is the man, that putteth his trust in the LORD, Psal. 2. b Pro. 22. c Psal. 1 a 117. a. 12● a and whose hope the LORD is himself. For he shallbe as a tree, that is planted by the water side: which spreadeth out the rote unto moistness, whom the heat can not harm, when it cometh, but his leaves are green. And though there grow but little fruit because of drought, yet is he not careful, but he never leaveth of to bring forth fruit. Among all things living, man hath the most deceitful and unsearchable heart. Who shall then know it? Even I the LORD ripe out the ground of the heart, 〈◊〉. 2. d 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉. 23. a 〈◊〉. 51. b 〈◊〉. 12. b and search the reins and reward every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his counsels. The deceitful maketh a nest, but bringeth forth no young: He cometh by riches, but not rightuously. In the midst of his life must he leave them behind him, and at the last be found a very fool. But thou (oh LORD) whose throne is most glorious, excellent and of most antiquity, which dwellest in the place of our holy rest: Thou art the comfort of Israel. All they that forsake thee, ●ere. 2. b ●oh. 4. b ●ze. 36. d shallbe confounded: all they that depart from thee, shallbe written in earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the very condite of the waters of life. heal me (oh LORD) and I shall be whole: save thou me, and I shallbe saved, for thou art my praise. Behold, these men say unto me: Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come. Where as I nevertheless leading the flock in thy ways, have compelled none by violence. For I never desired any man's death, this knowest thou well. My words also were right before the. jere. 14. a 16. c Be not now terrible unto me (oh LORD) for thou art he, in whom I hope, when I am in apparel. Letoy my persecutors be confounded, but not me: let them be afraid, and not me. Thou shalt bring upon them the time of their plague, and shalt destroy them right sore. Again, thus hath the LORD said unto me: jere. 7. a 26. a Go and stand under the gate, where thorough the people and the kings of juda go out and in, ye under all the gates of jerusalem, and say unto them: Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of juda, and all thou people of juda, and all you citesyns of jerusalem, that go thorough this gate: Thus the LORD commandeth: Deu. 4. b Deu. 5. b Exo. 20. b Take heed for your lives, that you carry no burden upon you in the Sabbath, to bring it thorough the gates of jerusalem: you shall bear no burden also out of your houses in the Sabbath: You shall do no labour there in, but hallow the Sabbath, as I commanded your fathers. How be it they obeyed me not, neither herkened they unto me: Eze. 20. b but were obstinate & stubborn, and neither obeyed me, ner received my correction. Nevertheless, if you will hear me (saith the LORD) and bear no burden in to the cite thorough this gate upon the Sabbath: If you will hallow the Sabbath, so that you do no work there in: Exo. 20. b then shall there go thorough the gates of this cite, kings and princes, that shall sit upon the stole of David: They shall be carried upon charettes, and ride upon horses, both they and their princes: Ye whole juda and all the citesyns of jerusalem shall go here thorough, and this cite shall ever be the more and more inhabited. There shall come men also from the cities of juda, from about jerusalem, and from the land of Ben jamin, from the plain fields, from the mountains and from the wilderness: which shall bring burned offerings, sacrifices, oblations, and incense, and offer up thanksgiving in the house of the LORD. But if you will not be obedient unto me, to hallow the Sabbath, so that you will bear your burdens thorough the gates of jerusalem upon the Sabbath: Then shall I set fire upon the gates of jerusalem, and it shall burn up the houses of jerusalem, and no man shall be able to quench it. The XVIII. Chapter. This is another communication, that God had with jeremy, saying: ARise, and go down in to the Potter's house, and there shall I tell the more of my mind. Now when I came to the Potter's house, I found him making his work upon a wheel. The vessel that the Potter made of clay, broke among his hands: So he began a new, and made another vessel, according to his mind. Then said the LORD thus unto me: 〈…〉 May not I do with you, as this Potter doth, O you house of Israel? saith the LORD? Behold, you house of Israel: you are in my hand, even as the clay in the Potter's hand. When I take in hand to rote out, 〈…〉 to destroy, or to waist away any people or kingdom: if that people (against whom I have thus devised) convert from their wickedness: Immediately, I repent of the plague, that I devised to bring upon them. Again: 〈…〉 When I take in hand, to build, or to plant a people or a kingdom: if the same people do evil before me, and hear not my voice: Immediately, I repent of the good, that I devised to do for them. Speak now therefore unto whole juda, and to them that devil at jerusalem: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I am devising a plague for you, and am taking a thing in hand against you. Therefore, 〈…〉 let every man turn from his evil way, 〈◊〉. 35. c take upon you the thing that is good, and do right. But they say: No more of this, 〈◊〉. 13. b we will follow our own imaginations, and do every man according to the wilfulness of his own mind. Therefore thus saith the LORD: Axe among the heathen, if any man hath herd soch horrible things, as the daughter of Zion hath done. Shall not the snow (that melteth upon the stony rocks of Libanus) moisture the fields? Or may the springs of waters be so graven away, that they run no more, give moistness, ner make fruitful? But my people hath so forgotten me, that they have made sacrifice unto vain gods. And while they followed their own ways they are come out of the high street, and go in to a foot way not used to be trodden. Where thorough they have brought their land in to an everlasting wilderness and scorn: 〈◊〉. 19 b 49. c So that who so ever travaileth there by, shallbe abashed, and wag their heads. With an East wind will I scatre them, before their enemies. And when their destruction cometh, I will turn my back upon them, but not my face. 〈◊〉 11 d Then said they: come, let us imagine something against this jeremy. Ye this did even the priests, to whom the law was committed: the Senators, that were the wyfest: and the prophets, which wanted not the word of God. Come (said they) let us cut out his tongue, and let us not regard his words. consider me (oh LORD) and hear the voice of mine enemies. Do they not recompense evil for good, 〈…〉 108 a 〈◊〉 34. b when they dygg a pit for my soul? Remember, how that I stood before thee, to speak for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them. 〈◊〉. ●0. d Therefore let their children die of hunger, and let them be oppressed with the sword. 〈◊〉. 3. f Let their wives be rob of their children, and be come widows: 〈…〉 let their huszbondes be slain, let their young men be killed with the sword in the field. Let the noise be herd out of their houses, when the murderer cometh suddenly upon them: For they have digged a pit to take me, and laid snares for my feet. 〈…〉 Yet LORD, thou knowest all their council, that they have devised, to slay me. And therefore forgive them not their wickedness, and let not their sin be put out of thy sight: but let them be judged before the as the guilty: This shalt thou do unto them in the time of thy indignation. The XIX. Chapter. moreover, thus said the LORD unto jeremy: Go thy way, and buy the an earthen pitcher, and bring forth the Senators and chief priests in to the valley of the children of Ennon, which lieth before the port that is made of brick, & show them there the words, that I shall tell thee, and say thus unto them: Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of juda, and you citesyns of jerusalem: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring such a plague upon this place, that the ears of all that hear it, shall glow. And that because they have forsaken me, 4. Re. 21 ● jere. 6. c and unhallowed this place, and have offered in it unto strange gods: whom neither they, their fathers, ner the kings of juda have known. Deu. 12. d 28. b Eze. 20. d Psal. 105. ● Eze. 16. b They have filled this place also with the blood of innocentes, for they have set up an altar unto Baal, to burn their children for a burned offering unto Baal, which I neither commanded, ner charged them, neither thought once there upon. Behold therefore, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that this place shall no more be called Tophet, jere. 7. d ner the valley of the children of Ennon, but the valley of slaughter. For in this place will I slay the Senators of juda & Jerusalem, & kill them down with the sword in the sight of their enemies, and of them that seek their lives. And their deed carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the air, and beestes of the field. And I will make this cite so desolate, and despised: 3. Re. 9 b jere. 18. b 49. c. 50. b that who so goeth there by, shall be abaszhed & jest upon her, because of all her plagues. I will feed them also with the flesh of their sons & their daughters. Tre. 4. b Ye every one shall eat up another in the beseginge & straightness, Deu. 28. b where with their enemies (that seek their lives) shall keep them in. And the pitcher shalt thou break in the sight of the men, that shallbe with thee, and say unto them: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: jere. 18. a Even so will I destroy this people & cite: as a Potter breaketh a vessel, that can not be made whole again. In Tophet shall they be buried, jere. 7. b for they shall have none other place. Thus will I do unto this place also, saith the LORD, and to them that devil there in: ye I will do to this cite, as unto Tophet (For the houses of Jerusalem & the houses of the kings of juda are defiled, like as Tophet,) because of all the houses, in whose parlours they did sacrifice unto all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto strange gods. And so jeremy came from Tophet, where the LORD had sent him to prophecy, and stood in the court of the house of the LORD, and spoke to all the people: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon this cite and upon every town about it, all the plagues that I have devised against them: for they have been obstinate, jere. 7. c 13. b and would not obey my warnings. The XX. Chapter. WHen Pashur the priest, the son of Emmer, chief in the house of the LORD, herd jeremy preach so steadfastly: Act. 23. a joh. 18. c he smote jeremy, and put him in the stocks, that are by the high gate of Ben jamin, in the house of the LORD. The next day following, Pashur brought jeremy out of the stocks again. Then said jeremy unto him: The LORD shall call the no more Pashur (that is excellent and increasing) but Mogul (that is fearful and afraid) every where. For thus saith the LORD: behold, I will make the afraid, the thyself, and all that favour thee: which shall perish with the sword of their enemies, even before that face. And I will give whole juda under the power of the king of Babylon, which shall carry some unto Babylon presoners, and slay some with the sword. moreover, all the substance of this land, 4. Re. 20. c jere. 15. c 17. a all their precious and gorgeous works, all costliness, and all the treasure of the kings of juda: will I give into the hands of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and carry them unto Babylon. But as for thee (oh Pashur) thou shalt be carried unto Babylon with all thy household, & to Babylon shalt thou come, where thou shalt die, and be buried: thou and all thy favourers, to whom thou hast preached lies. O LORD, thou makest me weak, but thou refreszhest me, & makest me strong again. All the day long am I despised, Tre. 3. b and laughed to scorn of every man: because I have now preached long against malicious Tyranny, jere. 6. b and showed them of destruction. For the which cause they cast the word of the LORD in my teeth, and take me ever to the worst. Wherefore, I thought from hence forth, not to speak of him, ner to preach any more in his name. But the word of the LORD was a very burning fire in my heart and in my bones, which when I would have stopped, I might not. For why, I heard so many derisions and blasphemies, ye even of mine own companions, Psal. ●0. b and of such as were conversant with me: which went about, to make me afraid saying: upon him, let us go upon him, to fear him, and make him hold his tongue: that we may overcome him, and be avenged of him. But the LORD stood by me, like a mighty giant: therefore my persecutors fallen, and could do nothing. They shall be sore confounded, for they have done unwisely, they shall have an everlasting shame. And now, oh LORD of hosts, 〈…〉 thou righteous searcher) which knowest the reins and the very hearts:) let me see them punished, for unto the I commit my cause. Sing unto the LORD, and praise him, for he hath delivered the soul of the oppressed, from the hand of the violent. Cursed be the day, wherein I was born: 〈…〉 unhappy be the day, where in my mother brought me forth. Cursed be the man, that brought my father the tidings, to make him glad, saying: thou hast got a son. Let it happen unto that man, 〈…〉 as to the cities which the LORD turned upside down (when he had long heard the wicked rumour of them) because he slew me not, as soon as I came out of my mother's womb, and because my mother was not my grave hirselff, that the birth might not have come out, but remained still in her. Wherefore came I forth of my mother's womb? 〈…〉 To have experience of labour and sorrow? and to lead my life with shame? The XXI. Chapter. THese are the words that the LORD spoke unto jeremy, what time as king Sedechias sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchia, and Sophonias the son▪ of Maasia priest, saying: Axe council at the LORD (we pray thee) of our behalf, for Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon besegeth us, if the LORD (peradventure) will deal with us, according to his marvelous power, and take him from us. Then spoke jeremy: give Sedechias this answer, 〈…〉 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: behold, I will turn back the weapens, that you have in your hands, wherewith you fight against the king of Babylon & the Caldees, which besiege you round about the walls: & I will bring them together in to the midst of this cite, and I myself will fight against you, with an outstretched hand, and with a mighty arm, in great displeasure and terrible wrath: and will smite them, that devil in this cite: ye both men and cattles shall die of the pestilence. And after this (saith the LORD) I shall deliver Sedechias the king of juda, & his servants, his people (and soch as are escaped in the cite, from the pestilence, sword, and hunger) into the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon: ●ere. ●9. a ye in to the hands of their enemies, in to the hands of those that follow upon their lives, which shall smite them with the sword: they shall not pite them, they shall not spare them, they shall have no mercy upon them. And unto this people thou shalt say: Thus saith the LORD: 〈◊〉. 30. c 〈◊〉. 38. a 〈◊〉. 27. a behold, I lay before you the way of life and death. Who so abideth in this cite, shall perish: either with the sword, with hunger, or with pestilence. But who so goeth out to hold on the Caldees part, that besiege it, he shall save his life, and shall win his soul for a pray. For I have set my face against this cite (saith the LORD) to plague it, 〈◊〉. 32. a and to do it no good. It must be given in to the hand of the king of Babylon, & be brent with fire. And unto the house of the king of juda, say thus: Hear the word of the LORD (oh thou house of David) for thus saith the LORD: 〈◊〉. 7. b 〈◊〉. 22. a Esa. 1. c ●ere. 4. a ●ach ●. c Ministre righteousness, and that soon, deliver the oppressed from violent power: or ever my terrible wrath break out like a fire▪ and burn so, that no man may quench it, because of the wickedness of your imaginations. 〈◊〉. 48▪ a Behold (saith the LORD) I will come upon you, that dwell in the valleys, rocks and fields and say: 〈◊〉 12. a. 〈◊〉. ●9 c 〈◊〉. 5. b 〈◊〉. 23. c ●●ph. 1. c Tush, who will make us afraid? or who will come in to our houses? For I will visit you (saith the LORD) because of the wickedness of your inventions, and will kindle such a fire in your wood, as shall consume all, that is about you. The XXII. Chapter. THus said the LORD also: Go down in to the house of the king of juda, and speak there these words, & say: Hear the word of the LORD, thou king of juda that sittest in the kingly seat of David: thou and thy servants and the people, that go in & out at this gate. Thus the LORD commandeth: Esa. 1. c 〈◊〉 21. d ●●ch. 7. ᵇ ●. c keep equity and righteousness, deliver the oppressed from the power of the violent: do not grieve ner oppress the stranger, the fatherless ner the widow, and shed no innocent blood in this place. And if you keep these things faithfully, then shall there come in at the door of this house kings, to sit upon David's seat: they shall be carried in Chariots and ride upon horses, both they & their servants, and their people. But if you will not be obedient unto these commandments, jere. 51. c Esa. 45 c Heb. 6. b I swear by mine own self (saith the LORD) this house shall be waist. For thus hath the LORD spoken upon the kings house of juda: Thou art the head, as Galaad is in Libanus: What will't thou say of it, if I make the not so waist (& thy cities also) that no man shall devil there in? I will prepare a destroyer with his weapons for thee, to hue down thy special cedar trees, and to cast them in the fire. And all the people that go by this cite, shall speak one to another: Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this noble cite? Then shall it be answered: because they have broken the covenant of the LORD their God, Deu. 29. ● 3. Re. 9 b 4. Re. 23 and have worshipped and served strange gods. Mourn not over the deed, and be not woe for them, but be sorry for him that departeth away: for he cometh not again, and seethe his native country no more. For thus saith the LORD, as touching Sellum the son of josias king of juda, 2. Par. 3. which reigned after his father, and is carried out of this place: He shall never come hither again, for he shall die in the place, where unto he is led captive, and shall see this land no more. Esa. 5. c Agg. 1 a woe worth him, that buildeth his house with unrighteousness, and his perlers with the good, that he hath got by violence: which never recompenseth his neghburs labour, ner payeth him his hire. He thinketh in himself: I will build me a wide house, and gorgeous perlers: He causeth windows to be hewn there in, and the sylinge and geastes maketh he of cedar, and painteth them with Zenober. Thinkest thou to reign, now that thou provokest me to wrath with that cedar trees? Did not thy father eat and drink, and prosper well, as long as he dealt with equity and righteousness? Ye when he helped the oppressed and poor to their right, then prospered he well. From whence came this, but only because he had me before his eyes? saith the LORD. Nevertheless, as for thy eyes and thy heart, they look upon covetousness, to shed innocent blood, to do wrong and violence. And therefore, thus saith the LORD against joachim, 4. Re. 23.24. a jere. 36. d the son of josias king of juda: They shall not mourn for him (as they use to do) alas brother, alas sister: neither shall they say unto him: Alas sir, alas for that noble prince. But as an Ass shall he be buried, corrupt and be cast with out the gates of jerusalem. climb up the hill of Libanus (oh thou daughter Zion) lift up thy voice upon Basan, cry from all parts: for all thy lovers are destroyed. I gave the warning, while thou wast yet in prosperity, But thou saidest: I will not hear. And this manner hast thou used from thy youth, that thou wouldest never hear my voice. All thy hyrdmen shallbe driven with the wind, and thy derlinges shallbe carried away in to captivity: Then shalt thou be brought to shame and confusion, because of all thy wickedness: thou that dwellest upon Libanus, and makest thy nest in the cedar trees. Esa. 13. b 21. a jere. 13. d 30. a O how great shall thy mourning be, when thy sorrows come upon thee, as a woman traveling with child? As truly as I live (saith the LORD.) Though jechonias the son of joachim king of juda were the signet of my right hand, 4. Reg. 24. b yet will I pluck him of: And I will give the in to the power of them that seek to slay thee, and in to the power of them that thou fearest: in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and in to the power of the Caldees. moreover, I will send thee▪ and thy mother that bore thee, in to a strange land, where you were not born, and there shall you die. But as for the land that you will desire to return unto, you shall never come at it again. This man jechomas shall be like an image rob and torn in pieces, which pleaseth no man, for all his apparel. Wherefore both he and his seed shallbe sent away, and cast out in to a land, that they know not. O thou earth, earth, earth: hear the word of the LORD: Write this man among the outlaws, for no prosperity shall this man have all his life long. neither shall any of his seed be so happy, as to sit upon the seat of David, and to bear rule in juda. The XXIII. Chapter. WOE be unto the shepherds, that destroy, Ezec. 34. a and scatre my flock, saith the LORD. Wherefore, this is the commandment of the LORD God of Israel, unto the shepherds that feed my people: You scatre and thrust out my flock, and look not upon them. Therefore, now will I visit the wickedness of your imaginations, saith the LORD: And will gather together the remnant of my flock, from all lands that I ha● driven them unto, 〈…〉 and will bring them again to their pastures, that they may grow and increase. I will set shepherds also oue● them, which shall feed them. They shall no more fear and dread, for there shall none of them be lost, saith the LORD. Behold, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I will raise up the righteous branch of David, 〈…〉 which shall bear rule, and discuss matters with wisdom, 〈…〉 and shall set up equity and righteousness again in the earth. In his time shall juda be saved, and Israel shall devil without fear. 〈…〉 And this is the name that they shall call him: even the LORD our righteous maker. 〈…〉 And therefore behold, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that it shall no more be said: the LORD liveth, which brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egipte: But the LORD liveth, which brought forth, and led the seed of the house of Israel, out of the north land, and from all countries where I had scattered them, and they shall devil in their own land again. My heart breaketh in my body because of the false prophets, all my bones shake: I am become like a drunken man (that by the reason of wine can take no rest) for very fear of the LORD, and of his holy words: Because the land is full of advoterers, where thorough it is destroyed and mourneth, and the pleasant pastures of the desert are dried up. Ye the way that men take, is wicked, 〈…〉 & their governance is nothing like the holy word of the LORD. For the prophets and the priests themselves are polluted Ypocrytes, and their wickedness have I found in my house, saith the LORD. Wherefore, their way shall be slippery in the darkness, where in they may stacker and fall. For I will bring a plague upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD. I have seen folly among the prophets of Samaria, that they preached for Baal, and deceived my people of Israel. I have seen also among the Prophets of jerusalem foul adultery, and presumptuous lies. They take the most shameful men by the hand, flatringe them, so that they can not return from their wickedness. All these with their citesyns are unto me, as Sodom, and as the inhabitors of Gomorre. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, 〈…〉 I will feed them with worm would, & make them drink the water of gall. For from the prophets of jerusalem is the sickness of hypocrisy come in to all the land. And therefore the LORD of hosts giveth you this warning: 〈◊〉 27. b 〈◊〉 2●. b Hear not the words of the prophets, that preach unto you, and deceive you: for they speak the meaning of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉. 5. b 〈◊〉 14. b 〈◊〉. 29. c They say unto them, that despise me: The LORD hath spoken it: Tush, you shall prosper right well. And unto all them, that walk after the lust of their own heart, they say: Tush, there shall no myszfortune happen you. For who hath sitten in the council of the LORD, that he hath herd and understand, what he is about to do? Who hath marcked his device, 〈…〉 and heard it? Behold, the stormy wether of the LORD (that is, his indignation) shall go forth, and shall fall down upon the head of the ungodly. And the wrath of the LORD shall not turn again, until he perform, and fulful the thought of his heart. 〈◊〉 30 d And in the latter days you shall know his meaning. I have not sent these prophets, (saith the LORD) and yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, 〈◊〉 14. b and yet they preached. But if they had continued in my council and heard my words: they had turned my people from their evil ways and wicked imaginations. 〈…〉 Am I then God that seethe but the thing, which is nigh at hand, and not that is far of? saith the LORD. May any man hide himself so, that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. 〈◊〉 138. a 〈◊〉. 9 a 〈◊〉. 66. a 〈◊〉 7. f 〈◊〉 17. d Do not I fulfil heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I have herd well enough, what the prophets say, that preach lies in my name, saying: I have dreamt, I have dreamt. How long will this continue in the prophets hearts, to tell lies, and to preach the crafty sotylte of their own heart? Whose purpose is, (with the dreams that every one tell) to make my people forget my name, as their fore fathers did, when Baal came up. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell it: and he that understandeth my word, 〈◊〉. 4. b 〈◊〉. 4. a let him show it faithfully. For what hath chaff and wheat to do together? saith the LORD. Is not my word like a fire, saith the LORD) and like an hammer, that breaketh the hard stone? Therefore thus saith the LORD: behold, I will upon the prophets, that steal my word privily from every man. Behold, here am I (saith the LORD) against the prophets, that take upon their tongues to speak: The LORD hath said it. Behold, here am I (saith the LORD) against those prophets, that dare prophecy lies, and deceive my people with their vanities and miracles, whom I never sent, ner commanded them. They shall do this people great harm, saith the LORD. If this people, either any prophet or priest axe thee, and say: what is the burden of the LORD? Thou shalt say unto them: What? burden? Therefore will I cast you fro me (saith the LORD) because you yourselves are a burden. And the prophet, priest or people that useth this term (the burden of the LORD) him will I viset, and his house also. But thus shall you say, every one to another: What answer hath the LORD given? or, what is the lords commandment? And as for the burden of the LORD, you shall speak no more of it: for every man's own word is his burden, because you have altered the words of the living God the LORD of hosts our God. Thus shall every man say to the prophets: what answer hath the LORD given thee? Or, what saith the LORD? And not once to name the burden of the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD: For so much as you have used this term (the burden of the LORD) where as I notwithstanding sent unto you, and forbade you to speak of the lords burden: Behold therefore, I will repute you as a burden, and will cast you out of my presence: ye and the cite also, that I gave you and your fathers: and will bring you to an everlasting confusion, and in to such a shame, as shall never be forgotten. The XXIIII. Chapter. THe LORD showed me a vision: Behold, there stood two maundes of figes before the Temple of the LORD after that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had led away captive jechonias the son of joachim king of juda, 4. Reg. 24. d the mighty men also of juda, with the workemasters and cunning men of jerusalem, unto Babylon. In the one mand were very good fyges, even like as those that be first ripe. In the other mand were very naughty figes, Os●. 9 b which might not be eaten, they were so evil. Then said the LORD unto me: what seist thou jeremy? I said: fyges, where of some be very good, and some so evil, that no man may eat them. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, after this manner: Thus saith the LORD the God of Israel: like as thou knowest the good fyges, so shall I know the men led away, whom I have sent out of this place in to the land of the Caldees, for their profit: and I will set mine eyes upon them for the best, for I will bring them again in to this land: I will build them up, and not break them down: I will plant them, and not rote them out. Deu. 29. a jere. 31. f 30. d. 32. c And I will give them an heart, to know, how that I am the LORD. They shallbe my people, and I willbe their God, for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. jere. 29. c And like as thou knowest the naughty fyges, which may not be eaten, they are so evil: Even so will I (saith the LORD) let Sedechias the king of juda, (you and all his princes, & the residue of jerusalem that remain over in this land, & them also that devil in Egipte) to be vexed & plagued in all kingdoms & lands. And will make them to be a reproof, Psal. 78. a Baru. 3. a a common byword, a laughing stock & shame, in all the places, where I shall scatre them. I will send the sword, hunger & pestilence among them, until I have clean consumed them out of the land, that I gave unto them & their fathers. The XXV. Chapter. A Sermon that was given unto jeremy, upon all the people of juda: In the fourth year of joachim the son of josias king of juda, that was, in the first year of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon. Which sermon, jeremy the prophet made unto all the people of juda, & to all the Inhabitors of Jerusalem, on this manner: From the xiij year of josias the son of Amon king of juda, unto this present day, (that is even twenty-three year) the word of the LORD hath been committed unto me. And so I have spoken to you, ●ere. 29. ᶜ ●4. a. 35. c I have risen up early, I have given you warning in season, but you would not hear me. Though the LORD hath sent his servants, ●. Par. 86. c all the prophets unto you in season: Yet would you not obey, you would not incline your ears to hear. He said: turn again every man from his evil way, 4. Re. 17. c & from your wicked imaginations, & so shall you devil for ever in the land, that the LORD promised you & your fore fathers: And go not after strange gods, serve them not, worship them not, & anger me not with the works of your hands: then will not I punish you. Nevertheless, you would not hear me (saith the LORD) but have defied me with the works of your hands, to your own great harm. Wherefore, thus saith the LORD of hosts: Because you have not herkened unto my word, lo, I will send out, & call for all the people, 〈…〉 that devil in the north (saith the LORD) & will prepare Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant, 〈…〉 and will bring them upon this land, and upon all that devil therein, & upon all the people that are about them, and will utterly rote them out. I will make of them a wilderness, a mockage, and a continual desert. moreover, I will take from them the voice of gladness and solace, 〈…〉 the voice of the bridegroom & the bride, the voice of the anointed, with the creszshettes: & this whole land shall become a wilderness, & they shall serve the said people and the king of Babylon, three score years and ten. 〈…〉 When the lxx years are expired, I will viset also the wickedness of the king of Babylon & his people, saith the LORD: ye & the land of the Caldees, & will make it a perpetual wilderness, & will fulfil all my words upon that land, which I have devised against it: ye all that is written in this book, which jeremy hath prophesied of all people: so that they also shall be subdued unto diverse nations & great kings, for I will recompense them, according to their deeds & works of their own hands. 〈…〉 For thus hath the LORD God of Israel spoken unto me: 〈…〉 Take this wine cup of indignation fro my hand, that thou mayest 'cause all the people (to whom I send thee) for to drink of it: that when they have drunken thereof, they may be mad, & out of their wits, when the sword cometh, that I will send among them. Then took I the cup from the lords hand, & made all the people drink there of, unto whom the LORD had sent me. But first the cite of jerusalem, & all the cities of juda, their kings & princes: to make them desolate, waist, despised & cursed, according as it is come to pass this day. Ye & Pharaoh the king of Egipte, his servants, his princes & his people altogether one with another and all kings of the land of Hus, all kings of the philistines land, Ascalon, Gaza, Accaron & the remnant of Aszdod▪ the Edomites, the Moabites & the Ammonites: all the kings of Tirus & Sidon: the kings of the Isles, that are beyond the see: Dedan, Thema, Buz & the shaven Ismaelites: 〈…〉 all the kings of Araby, & (generally) all the kings that devil in the desert: all the kings of Simri, all the kings of Elam, all the kings of the Medes, all kings toward the north (whether they be far or nigh) every one with his neighbours: Ye and all the kingdoms that are upon the whole earth. The king of Sesach (said he) shall drink with them also. And say thou unto them: this is the commandment of the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: drink and be drunken, spew, and fall, that you never rise: and that thorough the sword, which I will send among you. But if they will not receive the cup of thy hand, and drink it, then tell them: Thus doth the LORD of hosts threaten you: 〈◊〉 49. b 〈◊〉. 9 b 〈◊〉. 4. c drink it you shall, and that shortly. For lo, I begin to plague the cite, that my name is given unto: think you then, that I will leave you unpunished? You shall not go quite. For why, I call for a sword upon all the inhabitors of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore tell them all these words, and say unto them: 〈◊〉 3 c 〈◊〉 1. a The LORD shall cry from above, and let his voice be herd from his holy habitation. With a great noise shall he cry from his court regal. He shall give a great voice (like the grape gatherers) and the sound thereof shallbe heard unto the ends of the world. For the LORD hath a judgement to give upon all people, and will hold his court of justice with all flesh and punish the ungodly, saith the LORD. 〈…〉 For thus sayeth the LORD of hosts: Behold, a miserable plague shall go from one people to another, and a great stormy water shall arise from all the ends of the earth. And the same day shall the LORD himself slay them, from one end of the earth to another. There shall no moan be made for any of them, none gathered up, none buried: but shall lie as dung upon the ground. Mourn (oh you shepherds) & cry: sprinkle yourselves with aszshes, oh you rams of the flock: for the time of your slaughter is fulfilled, and you shall fall like vessels connyngly made for pleasure. 〈◊〉. ●41▪ a The shepherds shall have no way to i'll, and the rams of the flock shall not escape. Then shall the shepherds cry horribly, and the rams of the flock shall mourn: for the LORD shall consume their pasture, and their best fields shall lie deed because of the horrible wrath of the LORD. They shall forsake their folds like as a lion: For their lands shallbe waist, because of the wrath of the destroyer, and because of his fearful indignation. The XXVI. Chapter. IN the beginning of the reign of joachim the son of josias king of juda, came this word from the LORD, saying: Thus saith the LORD: jere. 7. a 17. d stand in the court of the LORD house, and speak unto all them which (out of the cities of juda) come to do worship in the lords house, all the words that I commandeth to say. Look that thou keep not one word back, Det. 4. a 12. b if (peradventure) they will hearken, and turn every man from his wicked way: that I may also repent of the plague, which I have determed to bring upon them, because of their wicked inventions. And after this manner shalt thou speak unto them: Thus saith the LORD: if you will not obey me, to walk in my laws, which I have given you, and to hear the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, rising up timely, and still sending: If you will not follow them (I say) then will I do to this house, as I did unto Silo, and will make this cite to be abhorred of all the people of the earth. jere. 7. a And the priests, the prophets and all the people heard jeremy preach these words, in the house of the LORD. Now when he had spoken out all the words, that the LORD commanded him to preach unto all the people, than the priests, the prophets and all the people took hold upon him, and said: thou shalt die. How darrest thou be so bold, as to say in the name of the LORD: it shall happen to this house as it did unto Silo? and this cite shallbe so waist, that no man shall devil there in? And when all the people were gathered about jeremy in the house of the LORD, the princes of juda heard of this rumour, & they came soon out of the kings Palace in to the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD. 4. Re. 15. g jere. 36. b Then spoke the priests and the prophets unto the rulers & to all the people, these words: This man is worthy to die, joh. 19 a for he hath preached against this cite, as you your selves have herd with your ears. Then said jeremy unto the rulers and to all the people: The LORD hath sent me to preach against this house & against this cite all the words that you have herd. jere. 7. a Therefore amend your ways, and your advysementes, and be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God: so shall the LORD repent of the plague, that he had devised against you. Now as form: I am in your hands, do with me, as you think expedient and good. But this shall you know: if you put me to death, you shall make yourselves, this cite & all the inhabitors there of, Mat. 23. e guilty of innocent blood. For this is of a truth: that the LORD hath sent me unto you, to speak all these words in your ears. Then said the rulers and the people un the priests and prophets: This man may not be condemned to death, for he hath preached unto us in the name of the LORD our God. The Elders also of the land stood up, & said thus unto all the people: Mich. 1. a Micheas the Morascite, which was a prophet under Ezechias king of juda, spoke to all the people of juda: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Mich. 3. c Zion shallbe ploughed like a field, Jerusalem shallbe an heap of stones, & the hill of the lords house shallbe turned to an high wood. Did Ezechias the king of juda & the people of juda put him to death for this? Not verily, but rather feared the LORD, & made their prayer unto him. For the which cause also the LORD repent of the plague, that he had devised against them. Should we then do such a shameful deed against our souls? There was a prophet also, that preached stiffly in the name of the LORD, called Urias the son of Semeia of Cariathiarim: this man preached also against this cite & against this land, 3. Re. 22. d according to all as jeremy saith. Now when joachim the king with all the estates & princes had herd his words, the king went about to slay him. When Urias perceived that, 2. Re. 19 a Matt. 2. c he was afraid, & fled, & departed in to Egipte. Then joachim the king sent servants in to the land of Egipte, Namely: Elnathan the son of Achbor, & certain men with him in to Egipte, which fetched Urias out of Egipte, & brought him unto king joachim that slew him with the sword, & cast his deed body in to the common people's grave. But Ahicam the son of Saphan helped jeremy, that he came not in to the hands of the people to be slain. The XXVII. Chapter. IN the beginning of the reign of joachim the son of josias king of juda, came this word unto jeremy from the LORD, which spoke thus unto me: Make the bonds & chains, and put them about thy neck, & send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of Amon, the king of Tirus, & to the king of Sidon: & that by the messaungers, which shall come to jerusalem unto Sedechias the king of juda, and bid them say unto their masters: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel, speak thus unto your masters: I am he that made the earth, 〈…〉 the men & the cattles that are upon the ground, with my great power & outstretched arm, & have given it unto whom it pleased me. 〈…〉 And now will I deliver all these lands in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant. The beestes also of the field shall I give him to do him service. And all people shall serve him, & his son, and his child's children, until the time of the same land be come also: Ye many people & great kings shall serve him. moreover, that people & kingdom which will not serve Nabuchodonosor, and that will not put their necks under the yock of the king of Babylon: the same people will I viset with sword, with hunger, with pestilence, until I have consumed them in his hands, saith the LORD. And therefore, 〈…〉 follow not your prophets, soythsayers, expounders of dreams, charmers & witches, which say unto you: you shall not serve the king of Babylon. For they preach you lies, to bring you far from your land, & that I might cast you out, & destroy you. But the people that put their necks under the yock of the king of Babylon, & serve him, those I willet remain still in their own land (saith the LORD) & they shall occupy it, & devil there in. All these things told I Sedechias the king of juda, and said: 〈…〉 Put your necks under the yock of the king of Babylon, and serve him & his people, that you may live. Why will't thou and thy people perish with the sword, with hunger, with pestilence: like as the LORD hath devised for all people, that will not serve the king of Babylon? Therefore give no ear unto those prophets (that tell you: You shall not serve the king of Babylon) for they preach you lies, 〈…〉 neither have I sent them, saith the LORD: how be it they are bold, falsely for to prophecy in my name: that I might the sooner drive you out, & that you might perish with your preachers. I spoke to the priests also and to all the people: Thus saith the LORD: 〈…〉 Hear not the words of those prophets, that preach unto you, & say: Behold, the vessels of the lords house shall shortly be brought hither again from Babylon: For they prophecy lies unto you. Hear them not, but serve the king of Babylon, that you may live. Wherefore will you make this cite to be destroyed? But if they be true prophets in very deed, and if the word of the LORD be committed unto them, then let them pray the LORD of hosts, that the remnant of the ornaments (which are in the house of the LORD, and remain yet in the house of the king of juda and at jerusalem) be not carried to Babylon also. For thus hath the LORD of hosts spoken concerning the pylers, the laver, the seat and the residue of the ornaments that yet remain in this city, which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon took not, when he carried away jechonias the son of joachim king of juda, with all the power of juda and jerusalem, from jerusalem unto Babylon, captive. Ye thus hath the LORD of hosts the God of Israel spoken, as touching the residue of the ornaments of the lords house▪ of the king of judaes' house, and of jerusalem: They shallbe carried unto Babylon, and there they shall remain, until I visit them, saith the LORD. Then will I bring them hither again. And this was done in the same year: even in the beginning of the reign of Sedechias king of juda. The XXVIII. Chapter. But in the fourth year of the reign of Sedechias king of juda, in the fifth month, It happened, that Hananias the son of Assur the prophet of Gabaon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests & of all the people, & said: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: I have broken the yock of the king of Babylon, and after two year will I bring again in to this place, 〈…〉 all the ornaments of the lords house, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away from this place unto Babylon. Ye I will bring again jechonias the son of joachim the king of juda himself, with all the presoners of juda, (that are carried unto Babylon,) even in to this place, saith the LORD, for I will break the yock of the king of Babylon. Then the prophet jeremy gave answer unto that prophet Hananias, before the priests & before all the people that were present in the house of the LORD. And the prophet jeremy said: 〈…〉 Amen, the LORD do that, & grant the thing, which thou hast prophesied: that he may bring again all the ornaments of the lords house, & restore all the presoners from Babylon in to 〈◊〉 place. Nevertheless, hearken thou also, what I will say, that thou & all the people may hear: The prophets that were before us in times past, which prophesied of war, or trouble, or pestilence, either of peace, upon many nations & grea●e kingdoms, were proved by this (if God had send them in very deed) when the thing came to pass, which that prophet told before. And Hananias the prophet took the chain from the prophet jeremias neck, Deu. 18. d Nu. 16. a & broke it: & with that said Hananias, that all the people might hear: Thus hath the LORD spoken: Even so will I break the yock of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, from the neck of all nations, ye & that within this two year. And so the prophet jeremy went his way. After now that Hananias the prophet had taken the chain from the prophet jeremies' neck, and broken it: The word of the LORD came unto the prophet jeremy saying: Go, and tell Hananias these words: Thus saith the LORD: Thou hast broken the chain of wood, but in stead of wood, thou shalt make chains of iron. For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: I will put a yock of iron upon the neck of all this people, that they may serve Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, ye & so shall they do. And I will give him the beestes in the field. jere. 29. c Then said the prophet jeremy unto the prophet Hananias: Hear me (I pray thee) Hananias: The LORD hath not sent thee, but thou bringest this people in to a false believe. And therefore thus saith the LORD: behold, I will send the out of the land, & within a year thou shalt die, because thou hast falsely spoken against the LORD. So Hananias the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. The XXIX. Chapter. THis is the Copy of the letter, that jeremy the prophet sent from jerusalem unto the presoners? the Senators, presies, prophets, & all the people, whom Nabuchodonosor had led unto Babylon: after the time that king jechonias & his Queen, his chambrelaynes, the princes of juda & Jerusalem & the workmasters of Jerusalem were departed thither. Which letter, Elasa the son of Saphan & Gamaria the son of Helchia did bear, whom Sedechias the king of juda sent unto Babylon to Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon: these were the words of jeremias letter: Th●s hath the LORD of hosts the God of Israel spoken, unto all the presoners, that were ●ed from Jerusalem unto Babylon: jere. ●5. a 〈…〉 you houses to devil therein: plant you▪ 〈◊〉, that you may enjoy the fruits thereof: Gene. d 1. ●. a take you wives, to bear you sons and daughters: provide wives for your sons, & huszbondes for your daughters: that they may get sons & daughters, and that you may multiply there. Labour not to be few, but seek after peace & prosperity of the cite, where in you be presoners, Baru. 1. e 1. Tim. 2. a & pray unto God for it. For in the peace there of, shall your peace be. For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: jere. 23. c 27. b Let not those prophets and soythsaiers that be among you, deceive you: & believe not your own dreams. jere. 14. e For why, they preach you lies in my name, & I have not sent them, saith the LORD. But thus saith the LORD: When you have fulfilled lxx years at Babylon, 2. Pa. 36. d jere. 25. b 1. Esd. 1. a I will bring you home, and of mine own goodness I will carry you hither again unto this place. For I know, what I have devised for you, saith the LORD. My thoughts are to give you peace, & not trouble (which I give you all ready) & that you might have hope again. Deu. 4. e 30. a You shall cry unto me, you shall go & call upon me, & I shall hear you. joan. 7. d You shall seek me, & find me: Ye, if so be that you seek me with your whole heart, I will be found of you (saith the LORD) and will deliver you out of preson, & gather you together again out of all places, where in I have scattered you, saith the LORD: and will bring you again to the same place, from whence I caused you be carried away captive. But where as you say, that God hath raised you up prophets at Babylon: Thus hath the LORD spoken (concerning the king that sitteth in the stolen of David, and all the people that devil in this cite, your brethren that are not go with you in to captivity. 4. Reg. 24. d ) Thus (I say) speaketh the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send a sword, hunger & pestilence upon them, jere. 24. b & will make them like untimely fyges, that may not be eaten for bitterness. And I will persecute them with the sword, with hunger & death. I will deliver them up to be vexed of all kingdoms, to be cursed, abhorred, laughed to scorn, & put to confusion of all the people, among whom I have scattered them: & that because they have not been obedient unto my commandments, (saith the LORD) which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets. I stood up early, and sent unto them, jere. 25. a 44. a but they would not hear, saith the LORD. Hear therefore the word of the LORD, all you presoners, whom I sent from Jerusalem unto Babylon: Thus hath the LORD of hosts the God of Israel spoken, of Achab the son of Colaias', & of Sedechias the son of Maasia, which prophecy lies unto you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them in to the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, that he may slay them before your eyes. And all the presoners of juda that are in Babylon, shall take upon them this term of cursing, and say: Now God do unto thee, as he did unto Sedechias & Achab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, because they sinned shamefully in Israel. For they have not only defiled their neighbours wives, but also preached dying words in my name, which I have not commanded them. This I testify, & assure, saith the LORD. But as for Semeia the Nehela●●te, thou shalt speak unto him: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Because thou hast sealed lettres under thy name, unto all the people that is at jerusalem, & to Sophonias the son of Maasia the priest, ye and sent them to all the priests: where in thou wrytest thus unto him: The LORD hath ordained the to be priest in stead of joiada the priest, that thou shouldest be the chief in the house of the LORD above all prophets, & preachers, & that thou mightest put them in preson, or in the stocks. How happeneth it then, that thou hast not reproved jeremy of Anathot, which never leaveth of his prophesying. And beside all this, he hath sent us word unto Babylon, and told us plainly, that our captivity shall long endure: that we should build us houses to devil therein, & to plant us gardens, that we might enjoy the fruits thereof. Which letter Sophonias the priest did read, and let jeremy the prophet hear it. Then came the word of the LORD unto jeremy, saying: Send word to all them that be in captivity, on this manner: Thus hath the LORD spoken concerning Semeia the Nehelamite: Because that Semeia hath prophesied unto you without my commission, & brought you in to a false hope, therefore thus the LORD doth certify you: Behold, I will visit Semeia the Nehelamite, & his seed: so that none of his shall remain among this people, & none of them shall see the good, that I will do for this people, saith the LORD. For he hath preached falsely of the LORD. The XXX. chapter. THese are the words, that the LORD showed unto jeremy, saying: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: 〈…〉 Write up diligently all the words, that I have spoken unto thee, in a book. For lo, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I will bring again the presoners of my people of Israel and juda, saith the LORD: For I will restore them unto the land, that I gave to their fathers, and they shall have it in possession. Again, these words spoke the LORD, concerning Israel and juda: Thus saith the LORD: We hear a terrible cry, fear and disquietness. For what else doth this signify, that I see? Namely, that all strong men smite, every man his hand upon his loins, as a woman in the pain of her travail. Who ever saw a man travail with child? 〈…〉 inquire thereafter, & se. Ye all their faces are marvelous pale. Alas for this day, which is so dreadful, that none may be lickened unto it: and alas for the time of jacob's trouble, from the which he shall yet be delivered. For in that day, saith the LORD, I will take his yock from of thy neck, & break thy bonds. They shall no more serve strange gods under him, but they shall do service unto God their LORD, 〈◊〉. 34. d 〈◊〉. 46. e and to David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. And as for thee, oh my servant jacob, fear not (saith the LORD) and be not afraid, 〈◊〉. 9 b oh Israel. For lo, I will help the also from far, & thy seed from the land of their captivity. And jacob shall turn again, he shallbe in rest, and have a prosperous life, and no man shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, to help thee, saith the LORD. And though I shall destroy all the people, among whom I have scattered thee, yet will I not destroy thee, but correcke thee, and that with discretion. 〈◊〉. 10. d 〈◊〉. 34. a 〈◊〉 1. a For I know, that thou art in no wise without fault. Therefore thus saith the LORD: I am sorry for thy hurt and wounds. There is no man to meddle with thy cause, or to bind up thy wounds: there may no man help the. All thy lovers have forgotten thee, and care nothing for the. For I have given the a cruel stroke, and chastened thee roughly: and that for the multitude of thy myszdedes, 〈◊〉. 13. d for thy sins have had the over hand. Why makest thou moon for thy harm? I myself have pite of thy sorrow, but for the multitude of thy myszdedes and sins, I have done this unto the. ●ere. 2. a 〈◊〉. d And therefore all they that devour thee, shallbe devoured, and all thy enemies shall be led in to captivity. All they that make the waist, shallbe waisted themselves: and all those that rob thee, will I make also to be rob. For I will give the thy health again, and make thy wounds whole, saith the LORD: because they reviled thee, as one cast away und despised, oh Zion. For thus saith the LORD: Behold, Nu. 24. a I will set up jacob's tents again, and defend his dwelling place. The cite shallbe builded in her old estate, and the houses shall have their right foundation. And out of them shall go thanksgiving, and the voice of joy. I will multiply them, and they shall not minish: I shall endue them with honour, and no man shall subdue them. Their children shallbe as a fore time, and their congregation shall continued in my sight. And all those that vex them, will I viset. A captain also shall come of them, Mich. 5. ● and a prince shall springe out from the midst of them: him will I challenge to myself, and he shall come unto me. For what is he, joan. 6. ● that giveth over his heart, to come unto me? saith the LORD. You shallbe my people also, jere. 13. ● 24. b. 3. f jere. 23. ● 25. d and I willbe your God. Behold, on the other side shall the wrath of the LORD break out as a stormy water, as a mighty whirl wind: and shall fall upon the heads of the ungodly. The terrible displeasure of the LORD shall not leave of, until he have done, & performed the intent of his heart, jere. 23. ● which in the latter days you shall understand. At the same time (saith the LORD) shall I be the God of all the generations of Israel, & they shallbe my people. The XXXI. Chapter. THus saith the LORD: The people of Israel which escaped in the wilderness from the sword, Nu. 14. c found grace to come in to their rest. Even so shall the LORD now also appear unto me from far, and say: I love the with an everlasting love, therefore do I spread my mercy before the. Eze. 16. I will repair the again (oh thou daughter of Israel) that thou mayest be fast and sure. Thou shalt take thy tabrettes again, & go forth with them, that lead the dance. Thou shalt plant wines again upon the hills of Samaria, and the grape gatherers shall plant, and sing. And when it is time, the watchmen upon the mount of Ephraim shall cry: Arise, Esa. ●. a let us go up unto Zion to ou●e LORD God▪ for thus saith the LORD: Rejoice with gladness because of jacob, cry unto the head of the Gentiles: speak out, sing, and say: The LORD shall deliver his people, the remnant of Israel &, make them whole Behold, I will bring them again from out of the north land, and gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and lame that are among them, with the women that be great with child, and such as be also delivered: and the company of them that come again, shall be great. They departed from hence in heaviness, but with joy will I bring them hither again. I will lead them by the rivers of water in a strait way, where they shall not stumble: ●●ut. 32. a 〈◊〉. 48. d For I will be Israel's father, and Epraim shallbe my firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD (oh you Gentiles) preach in the Isles, that lie far of, and say: he that hath scattered Israel, shall gather him together again, and shall keep him as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD shall redeem jacob, and rid him from the hand of the violent. And they shall come, & rejoice upon the hill of Zion, & shall have plenteousness of goods, which the LORD shall give them: Namely, wheat, wine, oil, young sheep and calves. And their conscience shallbe as a well watered garden, for they shall no more be hungry. Then shall the maid rejoice in the dance, ye both young and old folks. For I will turn their sorrow in to gladness, and will comfort them, and make them joyful, even from their hearts. I will pour plenteousness upon the hearts of the priests, and my people shallbe satisfied with good things, saith the LORD. ●●re. 3. e ●att. 2. c Thus saith the LORD: The voice of heaviness, weeping and lamentation came up in to heaven: even of Rachel mourning for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were away. But now saith the LORD: leave of from weeping and crying, withhold thine eyes from tears, for thy labour shallbe rewarded, saith the LORD. And they shall come again out of the land of their enemies: Ye even thy posterity shall have consolation in this (saith the LORD) that thy children shall come again in to their own land. moreover I heard Ephraim, (that was led away captive) complain on this manner: ●ze. 20. f O LORD, thou hast correct me, and thy chastening have I received, as an untamed calf. Convert thou me, 〈…〉 and I shallbe converted, for thou art my LORD God. Ye as soon as thou turnest me, I shall reform myself: and when I understand, I shall smite upon my thee. For verily I have committed shameful things: O let my youth bear this reproof and confusion. Upon this complaint, I thought thus by myself: is not Ephraim my dear son? 〈…〉 Is he not the child, with whom I have had all mirth and pastime? For sense the time that I first commoned with him, I have him ever in remembrance: therefore my very heart driveth me unto him: gladly and lovingly will I have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. Get the watchmen, provide teachers for thee: set thy heart upon the right way, that thou shouldest walk, and turn again: (oh thou daughter of Israel,) turn again to these cities of thine. How long will't thou go astray, oh thou shrenkinge daughter? For the LORD will work a new thing upon earth: A woman shall compass a man. For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: It will come thereto, that when I have brought juda out of captivity, these words shallbe herd in the land and in his cities: The LORD, 〈…〉 which is the fair bridegroom of righteousness, make the fruitful, oh thou holy hill: And there shall devil juda and all her cities, the shepherds and huszbonde men: 〈…〉 For I shall feed the hungry soul, and refresh all faint hearts. When I heard this, I came again to myself, and mused, like as I had been waked out of a sweet sleep. Behold (saith the LORD) the days come, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of juda, with men and with cattles. Ye it shall come thereto, 〈…〉 that like as I have go about in times past to r●te them out, to scatre them, to break them down, to destroy them and chasten them: Even so will I also go diligently about, to build them up again, and to plant them, saith the LORD. Then shall it no more be said: 〈…〉 the fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge: for every one shall die for his own myszdede, so that who so eateth a sour grape, his teeth shallbe set on edge. Behold, 〈…〉 the days come (saith the LORD) that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel & with the house of juda: not after the covenant that I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand, & led them out of the land of Egipte: which covenant they broke, wherefore I punished them sore, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, 〈…〉 saith the LORD: I will plant my law in the inward parts of them, and writ it in their hearts, and willbe their God, and they shallbe my people. And from thence forth shall no man teach his neighbour or his brother, and say: know the LORD: But they shall all know me, from the lowest unto the highest, saith the LORD. For I will forgive their myszdedes, and will never remember their sins any more. Thus saith the LORD which gave the son to be a light for the day, 〈…〉 and the Moon and stars to shine in the night: which moveth the see, so that the floods thereof wax fierce: his name is the LORD of hosts. Like as this ordinance shall never be taken out of my sight, saith the LORD: So shall the seed of Israel never cease, but all way be a people before me. moreover, thus saith the LORD: like as the heaven above can not be measured, and as the foundations of the earth beneath may not be sought out: 〈…〉 So will I also not cast out the whole seed of Israel, for that they have committed, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come saith the LORD, that the cite of the LORD shallbe enlarged from the tower of Hananeel, unto the gate of the corner brickwall. 〈…〉 From thence shall the right measure be taken before her unto the hill top of Gareb, and shall come about Gaatha, and the whole valley of the deed carcases, and of the ashes, 〈…〉 & all Seremoth, unto the broken of Cedron: and from thence unto the corner of the horsgate toward the east, where as the Sanctuary of the LORD also shall be set. And when it is now builded, & set up of this fashion it shall never be broken, ner cast down any more. The XXXII. Chapter. THese words spoke the LORD unto jeremy, in the tenth year of Sedechias king of juda, which was the xviij year of Nabuchodonosor, what time as the king of Babylon's host laid siege unto jerusalem. But jeremy the prophet lay bound in the court of the preson, which was in the king of judaes' house: where Sedechias the king of juda caused him to be laid, because he had prophesied of this manner: 〈…〉 Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will deliver this cite in to the hands of the king of Babylon, which shall take it. jere. 34. a 27. a. 38. a 39 a As for Sedechias the king of juda, he shall not be able to escape the Caldees, but surely he shall come in to the hands of the king of Babylon: which shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and one of them shall look another in the face. And Sedechias shallbe carried unto Babylon, and there shall he be, until the time that I visit him, saith the LORD. But if thou takest in hand to fight against the Caldees, thou shalt not prosper. And jeremy said: Thus hath the LORD spoken unto me: Behold, Hananeel the son of Sellum thy uncles son shall come unto thee, and require the to redeem the land, that lieth in Anathot unto thyself: for by reason of kindred it is thy part to redeem it, and to buy it out. Levi. 25. d Nu. 27. a 36. a Ruth. 4. a And so Hananeel mine uncles son came to me in the court of the preson, (according to the word of the LORD,) and said unto me: Buy my land (I pray thee) that lieth in Anothot in the country of Ben jamyn: for by heritage thou hast right to louse it out for thyself, therefore redeem it. Then I preceaved, that this was the commandment of the LORD, and so I loosed the land from Hananeel of Anathot, mine uncles son, and weighed him there the money: even seven sycles, and ten silver pens. I caused him also to make me a writing, and to seal it, and called record there by, and weighed him there the money upon the weights. So I took the evidence with the copy (when it was orderly sealed and read over) and I gave the evidence unto Baruch the son of Nerias' the son of Maasia in the sight of Hananeel my cozen, and in the presence of the witnesses, that be named in the evidence, and before all the jews that were thereby in the court of the preson. I charged Baruch also before them, saying: The LORD of hosts the God of Israel commandeth thee, to take this sealed evidence with the copy, and to say it in an earthen vessel, that it may long continued. For the LORD of hosts the God of Israel hath determed, that houses, fields and vynyardes shallbe possessed again in this land. Now when I had delivered the evidence unto Baruch the son of Nerias', I besought the LORD, saying: O LORD God, Gene. 1. a jere. 10. b It is thou that hast made heaven and earth with thy great power and high arm, and there is nothing to hard for ye. Thou showest mercy upon thousands, thou recompencest the wickedness of the fathers, Exo. 34. a in to the bosom of the children that come after them. Thou art the great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts: great in council, and infinite in thought: Thy eyes look upon all the ways of men's children, Ro. 2. a to reward every one after his way, and according to the fruits of his inventions: Thou hast done great tokens and wonders in the land of Egipte (as we see this day) upon the people of Israel and upon those men: to make thy name great, as it is come to pass this day: Exo. 7. unto the 15. chapter. Thou hast brought thy people of Israel out of the land of Egipte, with tokens, with wonders, with a mighty hand, with a stretched out arm and with great terribleness: and hast given them this land, like as thou hadst promised unto their fathers: Namely, that thou wouldest give them a land, that floweth with milk and honey. judi. 2.3.4.6.8 Now when they came therein, and possessed it, they followed not thy voice, and walked not in thy law: but all that thou commaundedest them to do, that have they not done, and therefore come all these plagues upon them. Behold, there are bulworckes made now against the cite, to take it: and it shallbe won of the Caldees that besiege it, with sword, with hunger and death, and look what thou hast spoken, that same shall come upon them. For lo, all things are present unto thee: Yet sayest thou unto me (oh LORD God) and commandest me, that I shall lose a piece of land unto myself, and take witnesses thereto: and yet in the mean season the cite is delivered in to the power of the Caldees. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying: Behold, I am the LORD God of all flesh, Is there any thing then to hard for me? Therefore thus said the LORD: behold, I shall deliver this cite in to the power of the Caldees, and in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, jere. 25. b 39 b they shall take it in: For the Caldees shall come, and win this cite, and set fire upon it, and burn it: with the gorgeous houses, in whose parlours they have made sacrifice unto Baal, and poured drink offerings unto strange gods, to provoke me unto wrath. For seeing the children of Israel and the children of juda have wrought wickedness before me ever from their youth up, what have they else done, but provoked me with the works of their own hands? saith the LORD. Or, what hath this cite been else, but a provokinge of my wrath, ever sense the day that I builded it, unto this hour? Wherein I cast it out of my sight, be cause of the great blasphemies of the children of Israel and juda, which they have done to provoke me: ye they, their kings, their princes, their priests, their prophets, whole juda, and all the citesyns of jerusalem. When I stood up early, 〈…〉 and taught them and instruct them, they turned their backs to me, and not their faces. They would not hear, to be reformed and correct. They have set their gods in the house, 〈…〉 that is hallowed unto my name, to defile it. They have builded high places for Baal in the valley of the children of Ennon, to vow their sons and daughters unto Moloch: which I never commanded them, neither came it ever in my thought, to make juda sin with such abomination. moreover thus hath the LORD God of Israel spoken, concerning this cite, which (as you yourselves confess) shallbe delivered in to the hand of the king of Babylon, when it is won with the sword, with hunger and with pestilence. Behold, 〈…〉 I will gather them together from all lands, wherein I have scattered them in my wrath, in my fearful and great displeasure: and will bring them again unto this place, where they shall devil safely. And they shallbe my people, and I willbe their God. And I will give them one heart and one way, 〈…〉 that they may fear me all the days of their life, that they and their children after them may prosper. 〈…〉 And I will set up an everlasting covenant with them, Namely: that I will never cease to do them good, and that I will put my fear in their hearts, so that they shall not run away fro me. Ye I will have a lust and pleasure to do them good, 〈…〉 and faithfully to plant them in this land, with my whole heart, and with all my soul. For thus saith the LORD: like as I have brought all this great plague upon this people: so will I also bring upon them all the good, that I have promised them And men shall have their possessions in this land, whereof you say now, that it shall neither be inhabited of people ner of cattles, but be delivered in to the hands of the Caldees: Ye land shallbe bought for money, & evidences made there upon & sealed before witnesses in the country of Ben jamin, & round about jerusalem: in the cities of juda, in the cities that are upon the mountains, & in them that lie beneath, ye & in the cities that are in the desert. For I will bring their presoners hither again, saith the LORD. The XXXIII. Chapter. moreover the word of the LORD came unto jeremy on this manner, 〈◊〉. 20. a when he was yet bound in the court of the preson: Thus saith the LORD, which fulfilleth the thing that he speaketh the LORD which performeth the thing that he taketh in hand: even he, whose name is the LORD: Thou hast cried unto me, and I have herdethe: I have showed great and high things, which were unknown unto you. Thus (I say) spoke the LORD God of Israel, concerning the houses of this cite, and the houses of the kings of juda: that they shallbe broken thorough the ordinance and weapens, when the Caldees come to be siege them: and they shallbe filled with the deed carcases of men, whom I will slay in my wrath and displeasure: when I turn my face from this cite, because of all her wickedness. Behold, (saith the LORD) I will heal their wounds, and make them whole: I will open them the treasure of peace and truth. And I will return the captivity of juda and Israel: 〈◊〉. 43. d and will set them up again, as they were afore. From all myszdedes (wherein they have offended against me) I will cleanse them: And all their blasphemies which they have done against me, when they regarded me not, I will forgive them. And this shall get me a name, a praise and honour, among all people of the earth, which shall hear all the good, that I will show unto them: Ye they shall be afraid and astonied at all the good deeds and benefits, that I will do for them. moreover, thus saith the LORD: 〈◊〉. 7. d In this place, whereof you say that it shallbe a wilderness, wherein neither people ner cattles shall devil: In like manner in the cities of juda and without jerusalem (which also shallbe so void, that neither people ner cattles shall devil there) Shall the voice of gladness be herd again, the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride, the voice of them that shall sing: (Praise the LORD of hosts, 1. Ma. 4. Psal. 117. ● for he is loving, and his mercy endureth for ever) and the voice of them that shall offer up gifts in the house of the LORD. For I will restore the captivity of this land, as it was afore, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts. It shall come yet thereto, that in this land, which is void from men and cattles, and in all the cities of the land, there shall be set up shepherds cottages: in the cities upon the mountains, and in the cities that lie upon the plain, and in the desert. In the land of Ben jamin, in the fields of jerusalem, and in the cities of juda shall the sheep be numbered again, under the hand of him, that telleth them, saith the LORD. Behold, jere 23. a the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I will perform that good thing, which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of juda. In those days and at the same time, I will bring forth unto David, the branch of righteousness, and he shall do equity and righteousness in the land. In these days shall juda be helped, Esa. 32. a and jerusalem shall devil safe, and he that shall call her is even God our righteous maker. For thus the LORD promiseth: 2. Re. 7. e David shall never want one, to sit upon the stole of the house of Israel: 1. Re. 2. ● neither shall the priests and Levites want one to offer allway before me, burned offerings, to kindle the meat offerings, & to prepare the sacrifices. And the word of the LORD came unto jeremy after this manner: Thus saith the LORD: Gene. 8. ● May the covenant which I have made with day and night, be broken, that there should not be day and night in due season? Then may my covenant also be broken, which I made with David my servant, and so he not to have a son to reign in his Throne. 1. Pet. 2. a So shall also the priests and Levites never fail, but serve me. For like as the stars of heaven may not be numbered, Gen. 15. a 22. c neither the sonde of the see measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and of the Levites my ministers. moreover, the word of the LORD came to jeremy, saying: Considerest thou not what this people speaketh? Two kynreddes (say they) had the LORD choose, & those same two hath he cast away. For so far is my people come, that they have no hope to come together any more, and to be one people again. Therefore thus saith the LORD: If I have made no covenant with day & night, and given no statute unto heaven and earth: then will I also cast away the seed of David my servant: so that I will take no prince out of his seed, to rule the posterity of Abraham, Isaac and jacob. But yet I will turn again their captivity, and be merciful unto them. The XXXIIII. Chapter. THese are the words which the LORD spoke unto jeremy, ●●re. 39 a what time as Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, & all his hosts (out of all the kingdoms that were under his power) and all his people, fought against jerusalem and all the cities thereof. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: Go, & speak to Sedechias the king of juda, & tell him: The LORD sendeth the this word: Re. 25. a ●ere. 32. a 〈◊〉. a Behold, I will deliver this cite in to the hand of the king of Babylon, he shall burn it, and thou shalt not escape his hands, but shalt be led away prisoner, and delivered into his power. Thou shalt look the king of Babylon in the face, and he shall speak with the mouth to mouth, and then shalt thou go to Babylon. Yet hear the word of the LORD, oh Sedechias thou king of juda: Thus saith the LORD unto thee: Thou shalt not be slain with the sword, but shalt die in peace. Like as the fore fathers, the kings, ●. Re. 3●. c thy progenitors were brent: so shalt thou be brent also, & in the mourning they shall say: o lord. For thus have I determed, saith the LORD. Then spoke jeremy the prophet all these words unto Sedechias king of juda in jerusalem: what time as the king of Babylon's host besieged jerusalem, and the remnant of the cities: Namely, Lachis & Azecha, ●. Par. 11. a which yet remained of the strong defensed cities of juda. These are the words that the LORD spoke unto jeremy the prophet, when Sedechias was agreed with all the people at jerusalem, that there should be proclaimed a liberty: Exo. 21. a Levit. 25. f Deut. 15. b so that every man should let fire go his servant and handmaid, Hebrew & Hebruesse, & no jew to hold his brother as a bond man. Now as they had consented, even so they were obedient, & let them go free. But afterward they repented, & took again the servants and handemaydens, whom they had let go free, and so made them bond again. For the which cause the word of the LORD came unto jeremy from the LORD himself, saying: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers, when I brought them out of Egipte, (that they should no more be bondmen,) saying: When seven years are out, 〈…〉 every man shall let go free his bought servant an Hebrew, if he have served him six years. But your fathers obeyed me not & herkened not unto me. As for you, you were now turned, & did right before me, in that you proclaimed, every man to let his neighbour go free, & in that you made a covenant before me, in the temple that beareth my name: But yet you have turned yourselves again, and blasphemed my name: In this, that every man hath required his servant and hand●mayden again, whom you had let go quite and free, and compelled them to serve you again, and to be your bond men. And therefore thus saith the LORD: You have not obeyed me, every man to proclaim freedom unto his brother and neghbor: wherefore, I will call you unto a freedom, saith the LORD: even unto the sword, to the pestilence, and to hunger, and will make you to be plagued in all the kingdoms of the earth. Ye those men that have broken my covenant, and not kept the words of the appointment, which they made before me: when they hewed the calf in two, 〈…〉 & when there went thorough the two halves thereof: The princes of juda, the princes of jerusalem, the gelded men, the priests and all the people of the land (which went thorough the two sides of the calf.) Those men will I give in to the power of their enemies, and in to the hands of them that follow upon their lives. And their deed bodies shall be meat for the fowls of the air, 〈…〉 and beestes of the field. As for Sedechias the king of juda & his princes, I will deliver them in to the power of their enemies, and of them that desire to slay them, and in to the hand of the king of Babylon's host, 〈…〉 which now is departed from you: But thorough my commandment (saith the LORD) they shall come again before this cite, they shall fight against it, win it, and burn it. moreover I will say the cities of juda so waist, that no man shall devil therein. The XXXV. Chapter. THe words which the LORD spoke unto jeremy, (in the reign of joachim the son of josias king of juda) are these: Go unto the house of the Rechabites, 〈…〉 & call them out, & bring them to the house of the LORD in to some commodious place, and give them wine to drink. Then took I jasanias the son of jeremy, the son of Habazania, and his brethren and all his sons, and the whole household of the Rechabites: and brought them to the house of the LORD, in to the closet of the children of Hanan the son of Igdalia the man of God: which was by the closet of the princes, that is above the closet of Maasia the son of Sellum, which is the chief of the treasury. And before the sons of the kindred of the Rechabites, I set pots full of wine, and cups, and said unto them: drink wine. But they said: we drink no wine, For jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying: You and your sons shall never drink wine, build no houses, 〈◊〉. ●9. b sow no seed, plant no wines, ye you shall have no vynyardes: but for all your time you shall devil intents, that you may live long in the land, wherein you be strangers. Thus have we obeyed the commandment of jonadab the son of Rechab our father, in all that he hath charged us, and so we drink no wine all our live long: we, our wives, our sons & our daughters. neither build we any house to devil therein, we have also among us neither vynyardes, ner corn land to sow: but we devil in tents, we obey, & do according unto all, that jonadab our father commanded us. But now that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up in to the land, we said: come, let us go to Jerusalem, that we may escape the host of the Caldees and the Assyrians: & so we devil now at Jerusalem. Then came the word of the LORD unto jeremy, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Go & tell whole juda & all the inhabitors of Jerusalem: Will you not be reformed, to obey my words? saith the LORD. The words which jonadab the son of Rechab commanded his sons, that they should drink no wine, are fast & surely kept: for unto this day they drink no wy●e: but obey their father's commandment. But as for me, 〈◊〉 18. a 25. a I have stand up early, I have spoken unto you, & given you earnest warning: & yet have you not been obedient unto me. Ye I have sent my servants, all the prophets unto you, I rose up early, & sent you word, saying: O turn you, every man from his wicked way: amend your lives, & go not after strange gods, to worship them: that you may continued in the land, which I have given unto you and your fathers, but you would neither hear me, ner follow me. The children of jonadab Rachabs' son have steadfastly kept their father's commandment, that he gave them, but this people is not obedient unto me. And therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon juda & upon every one that dwelleth in Jerusalem, all the trouble that I have devised against them. For I have spoken unto them, but they would not follow: Pro. 1. c Esa. 65. b jere. 7. b I have called unto them, nevertheless they would give me no answer. jeremy also spoke unto the household of the Rechabites: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: For so much as you have obeyed the commandment of jonadab your father, & kept all his precepts, & done according unto all that he hath bidden you: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: jonadab the son of Rechab shall not fail, but have one out of his stock, jere. 33. c to stand allway before me. The XXXVI. Chap. IN the fourth year of joachim the son of josias king of juda, came the word of the LORD unto jeremy, sayege: Take a book, & writ therein all the words, that I have spoken to thee, to Israel, jere. 30. a to juda & to all the people, from the time that I began for to speak unto thee (in the reign of josias) unto this day. That when the house of juda heareth of the plague, which I have devised for them, they may peradventure turn, every man from his wicked way, jere. 18. a that I may forgive their offences and sins. Then did jeremy call Baruch the son of Nerias', jere. 45. a & Baruch written in the book at the mouth of jeremy, all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him. And jeremy commanded Baruch saying: I am in preson, so that I may not come in to the house of the LORD: therefore go thou thither, & read the book, that thou hast written at my mouth: Namely, the words of the LORD, & read them in the lords house upon the fasting day: that the people, whole juda, & all they that come out of the cities, may hear. Peradventure they will pray meekly before the face of the LORD, and turn, every one from his wicked way. For great is the wrath and displeasure, that the LORD hath taken against this people. So Baruch the son of Nerias' did, according unto all that jeremy the prophet commanded him, reading the words of the LORD out of the book in the lords house. And this was done in the fifth year of joachim the son of josias king of juda, jone. 3. a in the ix. moaneth when it was commanded, jone. 3. a that all the people of jerusalem should fast before the LORD, and they also that were come from the cities of juda unto jerusalem. Then read Baruch the words of jeremy out of the book within the house of the LORD, out of the treasury of Gamarias' the son of Saphan the scribe, jere. 26. d which is beside the higher loffte of the new door of the lords house: that all the people might hear. Now when Micheas the son of Gamarias' the son of Saphan had heard all the words of the LORD out of the book, he went down to the kings palace in to the scribes chamber for there all the princes were set: Elisama the scribe, Dalias the son of Semei, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gamaria the son of Saphan, Sedechias the son of Hananias, with all the princes. And Micheas told them all the words, that he heard Baruch read out of the book before the people. Then all the princes sent jehudi the son of Nathanias the son of Salamia the son of Chusi, unto Baruch, saying: Take in thy hand the book, whereout thou hast read before all the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Nerias' took the book in his hand, and came unto them. And they said unto him: Sit down, and read the book, that we may hear also. So Baruch read, that they might hear. Now when they had heard all the words, they were abaszhed one upon another, and said unto Baruch: We will certify the king of all these words. And they examined Baruch, saying: Tell us, how diddest thou write all these words out of his mouth? Then Baruch answered them: He spoke all these words unto me with his mouth, and I alone was with him, and written them in the book. Then said the princes unto Baruch: Go thy way, and hide the with jeremy, so that no man know where you be. And they went in to the king to the court. But they kept the book in the chambre of Elisama the scribe, and told the king all the words, that he might hear. So the king sent jehudi to fetch him the book, which he brought out of Elisama the scribes chambre. And jehudi read it, that the king and all the princes, which were about him, might hear. Now the king sat in the winter house, for it was in their. month, and there was a good fire before him. And when jehudi had read three or four leaves thereof, he cut the book in pieces with a pen knife, Acto. 19 b and cast it in to the fire upon the hearth, until the book was all brent in the fire upon the hearth. Yet no man was abashed thereof, or rent his clotheses: neither the king himself, ner his servants, though they heard all these words. Nevertheless Elnathan, Dalias and Gamarias', besought the kings, that he would not burn the book: notwithstanding the king would not hear them, but commanded jeramyhel the son of Amalech, Sarias' the son of Esriel and Selamia the son of Abdiel, to say hands upon Baruch the scribe, and upon jeremy the prophet: but the LORD kept them out of sight. After now that the king had brent the book, and the sermons which Baruch written at the mouth of jeremy: The word of the LORD came unto jeremy saying: Take another book, and writ in it all the foresaid sermons, that were written in the first book, which joachim the king of juda hath brent. And tell joachim the king of juda, Thus saith the LORD: thou hast brent the book, and thoughtest within thyself: Why hast thou written therein, that the king of Babylon shall come, & make this land waist? so that he shall make both people and cattle to be out of it? 〈…〉 Therefore thus the LORD saith, of joachim the king of juda: There shall none of his generation sit upon the throne of David. His deed corpse shallbe cast out, that the heat of the day, 〈…〉 and the frost of the night may come upon him: And I will visit the wickedness of him, of his seed, and of his servants. moreover all the evil that I have promised them (though they heard me not) will I bring upon them, upon the inhabitors of jerusalem, and upon all juda. Then took jeremy another book, and gave it Baruch the scribe the son of Nerias', which written therein out of the mouth of jeremy: all the sermons that were in the first book, which joachim the king of juda did burn. And there were added unto them many more sermons, than before. The XXXVII. Chapter. SEdechias the son of josias (which was made king thorough Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon) reigned in the land of juda, 〈…〉 in the stead of jechonias the son of joachim. But neither he, ner his servants, ner the people in the land would obey the words of the LORD, which he spoke by the prophet jeremy. 〈…〉 Nevertheless Sedechias the king sent juchal the son of Selamia and Sophonias the son of Maasia the priest to the prophet jeremy, saying: O pray thou unto the LORD our God for us. Now jeremy walked free among the people at that time, and was not put in preson as yet. 〈◊〉. 17. b pharao's host also was come out of Egipte: which when the Caldees that besieged jerusalem, perceived, they departed from thence. Then came the word of the LORD unto jeremy the prophet, saying: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, This answer shall you give to the king of juda, that sent you unto me for council: 〈◊〉 46. a Behold, pharao's host which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egipte in to his own land: But the Caldees shall come again, & fight against this cite, win it, and set fire upon it. For thus saith the LORD: deceive not your own minds, thinking on this manner: Tush, the Caldees go now their way from us: Not, they shall not go their way. For though you had slain the whole host of the Caldees▪ that besiege you, and every one of the slain lay in his tent, yet should they stand up, and set fire upon this cite. Now when the host of the Caldees was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of the Egipcians army, jeremy went out of Jerusalem toward the land of Ben jamin, to do certain business there among the people. And when he came under Ben jamyns port, there was a porter called jerias the son of Selamia the son of Hananias, 〈…〉 which fallen upon him & took him, saying: the mind is to run to the Caldees. Then said jeremy: It is not so, I go not to the Caldees. Nevertheless jerias would not believe him, but brought jeremy bound before the princes. Wherefore the princes were angry with jeremy, causing him to be beaten, & to be laid in preson in the house of jonathas the scribe. For he was the ruler of the preson. Thus was jeremy put in to the dungeon & preson, and so lay there a long tyme. 〈◊〉. 33. c Then Sedechias the king sent for him, & called him, & axed him quietly in his own house, saying: thinkest thou this business (that now is in hand) cometh of the LORD? jeremy answered: ye that it doth: & thou (said he) shalt be delivered in to the king of Babylon's power. moreover, jeremy said unto king Sedechias: What have I offended against thee, against thy servants, or against this people, that you have caused me be put in preson? Where are your prophets, 〈◊〉. 28.29. which have prophesied unto you and said, that the king of Babylon should not come against you & this land? And therefore hear now, oh my lord the king: let my prayer be accept before thee, & send me no more in to the house of jonathas the scribe, that I die not there. Then Sedechias the king commanded to put jeremy in the fore entry of the preson, and daily to the given him a cake of bread, and else no dight meat, until all the bread in the cite was eaten up. Thus jeremy remained in the fore entry of the preson. The XXXVIII. Chapter. SAphatias the son of Mathan, Gedolias the son of Pashur, juchal the son of Selamia, & Pashur the son of Malchias perceived the words, that jeremy had spoken unto all the people, namely on this manner: Thus saith the LORD: Who so remaineth in this cite, shall perish, either with the sword, jere. 21. b 27. a with hunger or with pestilence: But who so falls unto the Caldees, shall escape, winning his soul for a pray, & shall live. For thus saith the LORD This cite (no doubt) must be delivered in to the power of the king of Babylon, jere. 32 a & he also shall win it. Then said the princes unto the king: Sir, we beseech you let this man be put to death, For thus he discorageth the hands of the soudyers that be in this cite, & the hands of all the people, when he speaketh such words unto them. This man verily laboureth not for peace of the people, but mischief. Sedechias the king answered and said: lo, he is in your hands, for the king may deny you nothing. Then took they jeremy, and cast him in to the dungeon of Malchias the son of Amalech, that dwelled in the fore entry of the preson. And they let down jeremy with cords in to a dungeon, where there was no water, but mire. So jeremy stack fast in the mire. Now when Abdemelech the Morian being a chamberlain in the kings court, understood, that they had cast jeremy in to the dungeon: he went out of the kings house, and spoke to the king (which then sat under the port of Ben jamin) these words: My lord the king, where as these men meddle with jeremy the prophet, they do him wrong: Namely, in that they have put him in preson, there to die of hunger, for there is no more bread in the cite. Then the king commanded Abdemelech the Morian, and said: Take from hence thirty. men whom thou will't, & draw up jeremy the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die. So Abdemelech took the men with him, & went to the house of Amalech, & there under an almery he got old rags & worn clouts, & let them down by a cord, in to the dungeon to jeremy. And Abdemelech the Morian said unto the prophet jeremy: O put these rags and clouts under thy arm holes, betwixt them and the cords: and jeremy did so. So they drew up jeremy with cords and took him out of the dungeon, and he remained in the fore entry of the preson. Then Sedechias the king sent and caused jeremy the prophet be called unto him, in to the third entry, that was by the house of the LORD. jere. 37· c And the king said unto jeremy: I will axe the somewhat, but hide nothing fro me. Then jeremy answered Sedechias: If I be plain unto thee, thou will't 'cause me suffer death: if I give the council, thou will't not follow me. So the king sworn an oath secretly unto jeremy, saying: As truly as the LORD liveth, that made us these souls, I will not slay thee, ner give the in to the hands of them, that seek after thy life. Then said jeremy unto Sedechias: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: If case be, that thou will't go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, thou shalt save thy life, and this cite shall not be brent, jere. 27. b ye both thou and thy household shall escape with your lives. But if thou will't not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this cite be delivered in to the hands of the Caldees which shall set fire upon it, and thou shalt not be able to escape them. And Sedechias said unto jeremy: I am afraid for the jews, that are fled unto the Caldees, jest I come in their hands, and so they to have me in derision. But jeremy answered: Not, they shall not betray thee: O hearken unto the voice of the LORD (I beseek thee) which I speak unto thee, so shalt thou be well, and save thy life. But if thou will't not go forth, the LORD hath told me this plainly: Behold, all the women that are left in the king of judaes' house, shall go out to the king of Babylon's princes. For they think, that thou art deceived▪ and that the men in whom thou diddest put thy trust, have got the under, and set thy feet fast in the mire, and go their way from the. Therefore all thy wives with their children shall i'll unto the Caldees, and thou shalt not escape their hands, but shalt be the king of Babylon's prisoner, & this cite shall be brent. Then said Sedechias unto jeremy: look that no body know of these words, and thou shalt not die. But if the princes perceive, that I have talked with thee, and come unto thee, saying: O speak, what said the king to the hide it not from us, and we will not put the to death. Tell us (we pray thee) what said the king to thee? See thou give them this answer: I have humbly be sought the king, that he will let me lie no more in jonathas house, that I die not there? Then came all the princes unto jeremy, and axed him, And he told them, after the manner as the king bade him. 〈…〉 Then they held their peace, for they perceived nothing. So jeremy abode still in the fore entry of the preson, until the day that jerusalem was won. The XXXIX. Chapter. NOw when the cite of Jerusalem was taken (for in the ix. year of Sedechias king of juda in the tenth month, 〈…〉 came Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon and all his host, and besieged jerusalem. And in the xi. year of Sedechias in the fourth month the ix. day of the month, he broke in to the cite). Then all the king of Babylon's princes came in, & sat them down under the port: Nergall, Sarezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal, Sarezer, Rabmag, with all the other princes of the king of Babylon. And when Sedechias the king of juda with his soudyers saw them, they fled, 〈…〉 and departed out of the cite by night thorough the kings garden, and thorough the port that is between the two walls, and so they went toward the wilderness. But the Caldees host followed fast after them, and took Sedechias in the field of jericho, and brought him prisoner to Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon unto Reblatha, that lieth in the land of Hemath where he gave iugdment upon him. So the king of Babylon caused the children of Sedechias and all the nobles of juda be slain, before his face at Reblatha. And made Sedechias eyes be put out, and bound him with chains, and sent him to Babylon. moreover, the Caldees brent up the kings palace, with the other houses of the people, 〈…〉 and broke down the walls of jerusalem. As for the remnant of the people that were in the cite, and such as were come to help them (what so ever was left of the comen sort) Nabuzaradan the chief captain carried them to Babylon. But Nabuzaradan the chief captain let the rascal people (and those that had nothing) devil still in the land of juda, and gave them vynyardes and corn fields at the same tyme. Nabuchodonosor also the king of Babylon gave Nabuzaradan the chief captain a charge, concerning jeremy, saying: take and cherish him, and make much of him●se thou do him no harm, but entreat him after his own desire. So Nabuzaradan the chief captain, Nabusaszban the chief chamberlain, Nergalsarezer the treasurer and all the king of Babylon's lords, 〈…〉 sent for jeremy, & caused him be fet out of the fore entry of the preson, and committed him unto Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan: that he should carry him home, and so he dwelled among the people. 〈…〉 Now while jeremy lay yet bound in the fore entry of the preson, the word of the LORD came unto him saying: Go, and tell Abdemelech the Morian: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, the cruel and sharp plague that I have devised for this cite, will I bring upon them, that thou shalt see it: but I will deliver thee (sayeth the LORD) and thou shalt not come in the hands of those men, whom thou fearest. For doubtless I will save thee, so that thou shalt not perish with the sword: but thy life shallbe saved, and that because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD. The XL. Chap. THis is the manner, how the LORD entreated jeremy, when Nebuzaradan the chief captain had let him go free from Rama, 〈…〉 whither as he had led him bound, among all the presoners, that were carried from jerusalem and juda unto Babylon. The chief captain called for jeremy, and said unto him: The LORD thy God spoke mightily before of the misery upon this place: Now the LORD hath sent it, and performed it, as he had promised: For you have sinned against the LORD, and have not been obedient unto his voice, therefore cometh this plague upon you. Behold, I louse the bonds from thy hands this day: if thou will't now go with me unto Babylon, up then: For I will see to thee, and provide for thee: But if thou will't not go with me to Babylon, then remain here. Behold, all the land is at thy will: look where thou thinkest convenient & good for the to Abide, 〈…〉 there devil. If thou canst not be content to devil alone, then remain with Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of juda, 〈…〉 & devil with him among the people, or remain, where so ever it pleaseth ye. So the chief captain gave him his expenses with a reward, & let him go. Then went jeremy unto Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphat, 〈…〉 & dwelled there with him among the people that were left in the land. Now when the captains of the host of juda (which with their fellows were scattered abroad on every side in the land) understood, that the king of Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahican governor in the land, & that man, wife & child, ye & the poor men in the land (that were not led captive to Babylon) should be under his jurisdiction: They came to Godolias unto Masphat: Namely, Ishmael the son of Nathanias, johanna & jonathas the sons of Carea, Sareas' the son of Tanhorneth, the sons of Opheus the Netophetite, Iesanias the son of Machati, with their companions. And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, sworn unto them & their fellows on this manner: Be not afraid to serve the Caldees, devil in the land, 4. Re. 25. c & do the king of Babylon service, so shall you prosper. Behold, I devil at Masphat to be an officer in the Caldees behalf, & to satisfy such as corn to us. Therefore gather you wine, corn and oil, and keep them in your aware houses, and devil in your cities, that you have in keeping. Ye all the jews also that dwelled in Moab under the Ammonites, in Idumea & in all the countries, when they heard, that the king of Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, governor upon them that were left in juda: All the jews (I say) returned out of all places where they were fled unto: & came in to the land of juda to Godolias unto Masphat, & gathered wine and other fruits, and that very much. moreover johanna the son of Carea & all the captains of the host, that were scattered on every side in the land, came to Godolias in Masphat, & said unto him: knowest thou not that Baalis king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nathanias, to slay thee? But Godolias the son of Ahicam believed them not. Then said johanna the son of Carea unto Godolias in Masphat these words secretly: Let me go (I pray thee) & I will slay Ishmael the son of Nathanias, so that no body shall know it. Wherefore will he kill thee, that all the jews which resort unto thee, might be scattered, & the remnant in juda perish? Then said Godolias the son of Ahicam to johanna the son of Carea: Thou shalt not do it, for they are but lies, that men say of Ishmael. The XLI. Chap. But in the seventh month it happened, 4. Re. 25. d that Ishmael the son of Nathanias the son of Elisama (one of the kings blood) came with them that were greatest about the king, & ten men that were sworn with him: unto Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphat, and eat there together. And Ishmael the son of Nathanias with those ten men that were sworn to him, start up, and smote Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan with the sword, & slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor of the land. Ishmael also slew all the jews that were with Godolias at Masphat, and all the Caldees that he found there waiting upon him. The next day after that he had slain Godolias (the matter was yet unknown) there came certain men from Sichem, from Silo and Samaria, to the number of lxxx. which had shaven their beerdes, rend their clotheses, & were all heavy, bringing meatoffringes and incense in their hands, to offer it in the house of the LORD. And Ishmael the son of Nathanias went forth of Masphat weeping, to meet them. Now when he met them, he said: Go your way to Godolias the son of Ahicam. And when they came in the midst of the cite, Ishmael the son of Nathanias (with them that were sworn unto him) slew them, even at the midst of the pit. Among these lxxx. men there were ten, that said unto Ishmael: O slay us not, for we have yet a great treasure in the field, of wheat, barley, oil and honey. So he spared them, and slew them not with their brethren. Now the pit wherein Ishmael did cast the deed bodies of the men (whom he slew because of Godolias) had king Asa caused to be made, ●. Re. 15. for fear of Baasa the king of Israel, and the same pit did Ishmael fill with slain men. As for the remnant of th' people, the kings daughters and all the people that were yet left at Masphat, upon whom Nabusaradan the chief Captain had made Godolias the son of Ahicam governor: 4. Re. 25. c Ishmael the son of Nathanias carried them away presoners toward the Ammonites. But when johanna the son of Carea and all they which had been captains over the kings host with him, Gen. 14 ᶜ ●. Re. 30. b heard of all the wickedness that Ishmael the son of Nathanias had done: they took their companions, and went out for to fight with Ishmael the son of Nathanias, and found him by the waters of Rabim in Gabaon. Now when all the people, whom Ishmael led captive, saw johanna the son of Carea and all the other captains of the host, they were glad. So all the people that Ishmael had carried away from Masphat, were brought again. And when they returned, they came to johanna the son of Carea. But Ishmael the son of Nathanias fled from johanna with eight of his sworn companions, & went to the Ammonites. Then johanna the son of Carea and all the captains of the host that were with him, took the remnant of the people, whom Ishmael the son of Nathanias had led away (When he had slain Godolias the son of Ahicam) whom they also had rescued from him: fighting men, women & children, and gelded men, whom they brought again from Gabaon: and went from thence, and sat them down at Geruth Chimham, which lieth beside Bethleem, that they might go in to Egipte for fear of the Caldees: of whom they were afraid, because that Ishmael the son of Nathanias had slain Godolias Ahicams' son, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land. 〈…〉 The XLII. Chapter. SO all the rulers, and johanna the son of Carea, jesanias the son of Osias came with all the people from the least unto the most, & said unto jeremy the prophet: O hear our petition, 〈…〉 that thou mayest pray for us unto the LORD the God, and for the remnant, whereof there be very few left of many, as thou seist us: that the LORD thy God may show us a way to go in, & tell us, what we should do. Then jeremy the prophet said unto them: I have heard you. Behold, I will pray unto God your LORD, as you have required me: and look what answer the LORD giveth you, I shall certify you thereof, and keep nothing back from you. And they said unto jeremy: 〈…〉 The LORD of truth & faithfulness be our record, that we will do all, that the LORD thy God commandeth us, whether it be good or evil. We will hearken unto the voice of our LORD God, to whom we sendeth: that we may prosper, when we have followed the voice of the LORD our God. And after ten days came the word of the LORD unto jeremy. Then called he johanna the son of Carea, and all the captains of the people that were with him: Ye & all the people from the least to the most, & said unto them: Thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto whom you sent me, to say forth your prayers before him: If you well devil in this land, I shall build you up, & not break you down: I shall plant you, & not rote you out: for I am pacified, as concerning the trouble that I have done to you. Fear not the king of Babylon, of whom you stand in awe: O be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I will be with you, to help you, and deliver you from his hand. I will pardon you, I will have mercy upon you, and bring you again in to your own land. Nevertheless, if you purpose not to devil in this land, ner to follow the voice of the LORD your God: but will say thus: we will not devil here, but go in to Egipte: where we shall neither see war, hear the noise of battle, ner suffer hunger, there will we devil. Wherefore hear now the word of the LORD, oh you remnant of juda. Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: 〈◊〉. 27. a If you be whole purposed to go in to Egipte, and to be there as strangers: the sword that you fear, 〈◊〉. 41. c shall overtake you in Egipte: and the hunger whereof you be here afraid, shall hang upon you in to Egipte, and there you shall die. For all they, that of set purpose undertake to go in to Egipte, there to ease themselves of their misery, shall perish with the sword, with hunger and pestilence: not one of them shall remain, there shall none escape the plague, that I will bring upon them. For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: like as my wrath and indignation is come upon the inhabitors of Jerusalem, so shall my displeasure go forth upon you also, if you go in to Egipte: For there you shallbe reviled, abhorred, brought to shame and confusion: and as for this place, you shall never see it more. The LORD forbiddeth you (oh you remnant of juda) that you shall not go in to Egipte. And forget not that I have warned you earnestly this day else shall you beguile yourselves. 〈◊〉. 41. a For you sent me unto the LORD your God, and said: O pray thou the LORD our God for us: and look what answer the LORD our God giveth thee, that bring us again, and we shall do thereafter. Now have I showed, and declared unto you the voice of the LORD your God, for the which cause he hath sent me to you. 〈◊〉. 2●. c If you will not follow it, be sure, that you shall perish with the sword, with hunger & pestilence: even in the same place, where your lust was to go, and devil. The XLIII. Chapter. NOw when jeremy had ended all the words of the LORD God unto the people, (for their sakes to whom God had sent him) Asarias' the son of Osias, & johanna the son of Carea, with all the proud persons, said unto jeremy: Thou liest, jere. 42. ● the LORD our God hath not sent the to speak unto us, that we should not go in to Egipte, and devil there: But Baruch the son of Nerias' provoketh the against us, that he might bring us in to the captivity of the Caldees: that they might slay us, and carry us away presoners unto Babylon. So johanna the son of Carea, and all the captains of the host, and all the people followed not the commandment of the LORD: Namely, to devil in the land of juda: But johanna the son of Carea & all the captains of the host, carried away all the remnant in juda, that were come together again from the heathen (among whom they had been scattered) to devil in the land of juda: Men, women, children, jere 41. c the kings daughters: all those that Nabusaradan the chief captain had left with Godolias the son of Ahicam. They carried away also the prophet jeremy, Baruch the son of Nerias', and so came in to Egipte: for they were not obedient unto the commandment of God. Thus came they to Taphnis. And in Taphnis the word of the LORD happened unto jeremy, saying: Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in the brick brickwall, under the door of pharao's house in Taphnis, that all the men of juda may see, and say unto them: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, jere. 46. ● I will send and call for Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant, and will set his seat upon these stones that I have hid, and he shall spread his tent over them. And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egipte with slaughter, with prisonment and with the sword. He shall set fire upon the temples of the Egyptians gods, and burn them up, & take themselves presoners. moreover he shall array himself with the land of Egipte, like as a shepherd putteth on his cote, and shall depart his away from thence in peace. The pilers also of the temple of the Son that is in Egipte, shall he break in pieces, and burn the temples of the Egipcians gods. The LXIIII Chapter. THis is the word that was showed to jeremy concerning all the Jews, which dwelled in Egipte: at Magdal, at Taphnis, at Memphis, & in the land of Patures. Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: You have seen all the misery, that I have brought upon jerusalem, and upon all the cities of juda: so that this day they are desolate, and no man dwelling therein: & that because of the great blasphemies, which they committed, to provoke me unto anger: In that they went back to do sacrifice and worship unto strange gods: whom neither they, ner you, ner your fathers have known. Howbeit, I sent unto them my servants all the prophets: ●ere. 25. a 29. c I rose up early, I sent unto them, and gave them warning: O do no such abominable things, & things that I hate. But they would not follow ner hearken, to turn from their wickedness, and to do no more sacrifice unto strange gods. Wherefore my indignation & wrath was kindled, 〈…〉 and it brent up the cities of juda, the fields with the streets of jerusalem: so that they were made waist and desolate, as it is come to pass this day▪ Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: How happeneth it, that you do so great evil unto your own souls, thus to destroy the men and women, children and babes of juda? so that none of you is left, because you provoke me unto wrath with the works of your own hands: when you offer unto strange gods in the land of Egipte, where as you be go to devil: That you might utterly perish, and that you might be reviled and shamefully entreated of all nations. Or, have you now forgotten the wickedness of your forefathers, the wickedness of the kings of juda and their wives, the wickedness that you yourselves and your wives have done in the land of juda, in the cite and in the land of jerusalem? Yet are you not sorry this day, you fear not, neither walk you in my law and in my commandments, that I have given unto you and your forefathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: I am steadfastly advysed and determed, Amo 9 b to punish you, and to rote out all juda. As for the remnant of juda that purposely went in to Egipte, jere. 42. c 43. a there to ease them of their misery: I will take them, and they shall all be destroyed. In the land of Egipte shall they perish, being consumed with the sword and with hunger. For from the least unto the most, they shall perish with the sword and with hunger. moreover they shallbe reviled, abhorred, shamed, and confounded. For I will viset them that devil in Egipte, 〈…〉 as I have visited jerusalem: with the sword, with hunger and with pestilence: So that none of the remnant of juda, which are go to devil in Egipte, shall be left to come again in to the land of juda: all though they think to come thither again, and to devil there. For none shall come again, but such as are fled away. Then all the men which knew that their wives had offered unto strange gods, & a great sort of wives that stood there, ye and all the people that dwelled there in Egipte in the cite of Patures, answered jeremy, & said: As for the words that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will in no wise hear them: but what so ever goeth out of our own mouth, that will we do: We will do sacrifice, and offer oblations unto the Queen of heaven: Jere▪ 〈…〉 like as we and our forefathers, our kings and our heads have done in the cities of juda, and in the streets and fields of jerusalem. For than had we plenteousness of vytales, than were we in prosperity, and no myszfortune came upon us. But since we left of, to offer, and to do sacrifice unto the Queen of heaven, 〈…〉 we have had scarceness of all things, and perish with the sword and hunger. Last of all, when we women did sacrifice and offered unto the Queen of heaven, did we make her cakes and pour unto her drink offerings, to do her service, without our huszbondes wills? Then said jeremy unto all the people, to the men, to the women and to all the fol●●, which had given him that answer: Did not the LORD remember the sacrifices that you, your forefathers, 〈…〉 your kings & rulers (with all the people) have offered in the cities of juda, in the streets and land of jerusalem? and hath he not considered this in his mind? In so much, that the LORD might no longer suffer the wickedness of your inventions, and the abominable things which you did? 〈…〉 Is not your land desolate & void, ye and abhorred, so that no man dwelleth therein any more, as it is come to pass this day? Did not all this happen unto you, 〈…〉 because you made such sacrifice, and sinned against the LORD? You have not followed his voice, to walk in his law, 〈…〉 in his ordinances and statutes. Ye this is the cause, that all misfortune happened unto you, as it is come to pass this day. moreover, jeremy spoke unto all the people and to all the women: Hear the word of the LORD all juda, you that be in the land of Egipte: Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: You and your wives have spoken with your own mouth, the thing that you have fulfilled in deed. Ye thus have you said: We will not fail, but do the thing that pleaseth us: we will do sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of heaven. 〈◊〉. 44. c Purposely have you set up your own good meanings, & hastily have you fulfilled your own intent. And therefore, hear the word of the LORD all juda, you that devil in the land of Egipte. 〈◊〉. 22. a Behold, I have sworn by my great name (saith the LORD) that my name shall not be rehearsed thorough any man's mouth of juda, in all the land of Egipte: to say: The LORD God liveth, for I will watch, to plague them, and not for their wealth. And all the men of juda that be in the land of Egipte, 〈◊〉 42. c shall perish with the sword and with hunger, until they be utterly destroyed. Nevertheless, those that fled away for the sword, shall come again in to the land of juda (but there shall be very few of them) And all the remnant of juda, that are go in to Egipte, there to devil, shall know, whose words shallbe found true: there's or mine. Take this for a token, that I will viset you in this place (saith the LORD) and that you may know, how that I (without doubt) will perfourne my purpose upon you,) to punish you. Behold (saith the LORD I will deliver Pharaoh Ophram king of Egipte in to the hands of his enemies, that seek after his life: even as I gave Sedechias the king of juda in to the hands of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, Re. 25. a ●●re 39 b which sought after his life. The XLV. Chapter. THese are the words that jeremy the prophet spoke unto Baruch the son of Nerias', ●ere. 36. a after that he had written these Sermons in to a book at the mouth of jeremy, In the fourth year of joachim the son of josias king of juda. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto thee, O Baruch: In so much as thou thoughtest thus (when thou waste writing) Woe is me, the LORD hath given me pain for my travail: I have wearied myself with sighing, and shall I find no rest? Therefore tell him (O jeremy) that the LORD saith thus: Behold, The thing that I have builded, will I break down again, and rote out the thing, that I have planted, ye this whole land. And seekest thou yet promotion? Look not for it, and desire it not. For I will bring a miserable plague upon all flesh, saith the LORD. jere 21. ● But thy life will I give the for a pray, where so ever thou goest. The XLVI. Chapter. HEre follow the words of the LORD to the prophet jeremy, which he spoke unto the Gentiles. Esa. 19 ● 30. a Eze. 29▪ 30.31. 4. Re. ● b These words following preached he to the Egyptians concerning the host of Pharaoh Necho king of Egipte, when he was in Charcamis beside the water of Euphrates: what time as Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon slew him, In the fourth year of joachim the son of josias king of juda. You make ready buckler and shield, jere. 36 you go forth to fight: Ye harness your horses, & set yourselves upon them: You set your salettes fast on, you bring forth spears, you scour your sweardes, & put on your breast plates. But alas, how happeneth it, that I see you so afraid? why shrencke you back? where fore are your worthies slain? Ye they run so fast away, that none of them looketh behind him. Fearfulness is fallen upon everichone of them, saith the LORD. The lightest of foot shall not i'll away, and the worthies shall not escape. Toward the north by the water of Euphrates they shall stumble and fall. But what is he this, that swelleth up, as it were a flood, roaring & raging like the streams of water? It is Egipte that riseth up like the flood, and casts out the waters with so great noise. For they say: We will go up, and will cover the earth: we will destroy the cities, with them that devil therein. Get you to horse back, roll forth the Chariots, come forth you worthies: you Morions, you Libeans with your buclers, you Lideans with your bows: So shall this day be unto the LORD God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his enemies. The sword shall devour, it shall be satisfied and bated in their blood: For the LORD God of hosts shall have a slain offering toward the North, by the water of Euphrates. Go up (oh Galaad) & bring treacle unto the daughter of Egipte: But in vain shalt thou go to surgery, for thy wound shall not be stopped. The heathen shall hear of thy shame, and the land shallbe full of thy confusion: for one strong man shall stumble upon another, how then should they not fall both together? These are the words that the LORD spoke to the prophet jeremy, ●●re. 45. b concernyge the host of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, which was to destroy the land of Egipte: Preach out thorough the land of Egipte, and 'cause it be proclaimed at Migdal, Memphis and Taphnis, and say: stand still, make the ready, for the sword shall consume the round about. How happeneth it that thy mighty worthies are fallen? why stood they not fast? Even because the LORD thrust them down. The slaughter was great, for one fallen ever still upon another. One cried upon another: Up, let us go again to our own people, and to our own natural country, from the sword of our enemy. Cry even there: O Pharaoh king of Egipte, the time will bring sedition. As truly as I live (saith the king, ●sa▪ 48. a 11. ● whose name is the LORD of hosts) it shall come as the mount of Thabor, and as Libanus if it stood in the see. O thou daughter of Egipte, make ready thy gear to flit. For Memphis shallbe void and desolate, so that no man shall devil therein. The land of Egipte is like a goodly fair calf, but one shall come out of the north to drive her forward. her wagied soldiers that be with her, are like fat calves. They also shall i'll away together, and not abide: for the day of their slaughter and the time of their visitation shall come upon them. The cry of their enemies shall make a noise, as the blast of a trumpet. For they shall enter in with their host, and come with axes, as it were hewers down of wood. And they shall cut down her wood (saith the LORD) with out any discretion. For they shall be more in number then the greshoppers, so that no man shallbe able to tell them. The daughter of Egipte shallbe confounded. when she shallbe delivered in to the hands of the people of the north. moreover thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will visit that restless people of Alexandria, Pharaoh and Egipte, ye both their gods and their kings: even Pharaoh, and all them that litten unto him. 〈…〉 Ye I will deliver them in to the hands of those, that seek after their lives: Namely, in to the power of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and in to the power of his servants. 〈…〉 And after all these things, it shallbe inhabited as afore time, saith the LORD But be not thou afraid (oh my servant jacob) fear not thou, oh Israel. For lo, 〈…〉 I will help the from far, and thy seed from the land of thy captivity. jacob also shall come again, and be in rest: he shall be rich, and no man shall do him harm. 〈…〉 Fear thou not (oh jacob my servant) saith the LORD, for I am with thee: and will destroy all nations, among whom I have scattered the. Nevertheless I will not consume thee, but chasten the and correcke thee: ye and that with discretion: neither will I spare thee, as one that were faultless. The XLVII. Chapter. THese are the words, that the LORD spoke unto jeremy the prophet against the philistines, 〈…〉 before that Pharaoh smote the cite of Gaza. Thus saith the LORD: Behold, there shall waters arise out of the north: and shall grow to a great flood, running over and covering the land, the cities and them that devil therein And the men shall cry, and all they that devil in the land, shall mourn at the noise and stamping of their strong barded horses, at the shaking of their charettes, and at the remblinge of the wheels. The fathers shall not look to their children, so feeble and weighed shall their hands be: at the same time, when he shall be there, to destroy the whole land of the Phylistynes. He shall make waist both Tirus, Sidon and all other that are sworn unto them. For the LORD will destroy all Palestina, and the other Isles, that be divided from the country. Baldness is come upon Gaza, Ascalon with her other valleys shall keep her peace. How long will't thou slay, O thou sword of the LORD? Turn again in to the sheeths, rest, and leave of. But how can it cease, when the LORD himself hath given it a charge against Ascalon, and raised it up against the cities of the see coast? The XLVIII. Chapter. THus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel against Moab: 〈…〉 Woe be to the cite of Nebo, for it shall be laid waist, 〈◊〉. 25. b 〈◊〉. ●. b 〈◊〉. 1●. c brought to confusion and taken. Ye the strong cite of Cariatharim shallbe brought to shame, and afraid: Moab shall no more ●e had in honour: Wicked council shallbe taken upon Hesebon. Come (shall they say) let us rote them out, that they may be no more among the number of the Gentiles, ye that they may no more be thought upon: Thus the sword shall persecute ye. A voice shall cry from Horonaim: With great waistinge and destruction, is Moab made desolate. And this cry shallbe herd in all her cities. At the going up unto Luhtih there shall arise a lamentation: and down toward Horonaim, there shall be herd a cruel and a deadly cry: Get you away, save your lives & be like unto the heeth in the wilderness. For, 〈◊〉. 17. b 〈◊〉▪ ●9. a ●sa. ● b because thou hast trusted in thy strong holds and treasure, thou shalt be taken. Chamos with his priests and princes shall go away in to captivity. The destroyer shall come upon all cities, none shall escape. The valleys shallbe destroyed, and the fields shall be laid waist: like as the LORD hath determed. Make a token unto Moab, that she get her away speedily: for her cities shallbe made so desolate, that no man shall devil therein. Cursed be he that doth the work of the LORD necligently, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from shedding of blood. 〈◊〉 47. b Moab hath ever been rich and careless from her youth up, she hath sitten and taken her ease with her treasure. She was never yet put out of one vessel in to another (that is) she never went away in to captivity, therefore her taist remaineth, and her savour is not yet changed. But lo, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I shall send her trussers to truss her up, to prepare and season her vessels: ye her tankards rattle, and shake to & fro. And Moab shallbe ashamed of Chamos, like as Israel was ashamed of Bethel, wherein she put her trust. Wherefore do you think thus: we are mighty, Re▪ 13. ● and strong men of war? Moab shall be destroyed, ●e. 11. g and her city's brent up: her choose young men shall be slain, saith the king, whose name is the LORD of hosts. The destruction of Moab cometh on a pace, and her fall is at hand. All her neighbours shall mourn for her, and all they that know her name, shall say: O how happeneth it, that the strong staff and the goodly rod is thus broken? And thou daughter Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in poverty. For he that destroyeth Moab, shall come up to the also, and break down thy strong holds. And thou that dwellest in Aroer, get the to the street, & look about thee: axe them that are fled and escaped, and say: what thing is happened? O, Moab is confounded and overcome. Mourn and cry, tell it out at Arnon, that Moab is destroyed. And misery shall come upon the plain land: Namely, upon holon, and jaza: upon Mephat and Dibon, upon N●bo and the house of Diplathaim, upon Cariatharim and Bethgamul, upon Bethniaon and Carioth, upon Bosra and all the cities in the land of Moab, whether they lie far or near. The horn of Moab shall be smitten down, & her arm broken, saith the LORD. Make her drunken (for she magnified herself above the LORD:) that men may clap their hands at her vomit, and that she also may be laughed to scorn. O Israeli▪ shalt thou not laugh him to scorn, when he is taken among thieves? Nu. 27. a Ye because of thy words that thou hast spoken against him, thou shalt be driven away. You Moabites shall leave the cities, and devil in rocks of stone, and become like doves, that make their nests in holes. As for Moabs' pride, we have herd of it, she is very hie minded. Esa. 16. b jere. 49. ● I know her stoutness, her boostinge, her arogancy and the pride of her stomach, saith the LORD. For her furiousness may neither uphold her with strength, ner deed. Therefore shall there mourning be made for Moab, and every man shall cry for Moabs' sake: a lamentation shallbe made, to the men that stand upon the brickwall. So will I mourn for the also (oh jazer) and for thee, O thou vineyard of Sybma. Thy wine branches shall come over the see, and the branches of jazer but unto the see: the destroyer shall break in to thy harvest and grape gathering. Mirth and cheer shallbe taken away from the tymbre field, and from the whole land of Moab. There shall be no sweet wine in the press, the treader shall have no stomach to cry, ye there shall be none to cry unto him: which afore time were herd from hesebon to Eleale and joaz, which lifted up their voice from Zoar unto Horonaim, that bullock of three year old. The waters also of Nemrim shallbe dried up. moreover I will make Moab cease (saith the LORD) from the offerings and censinge that she hath made unto her gods in high places. Wherefore my heart mourneth for Moab, like a crowd playing an heavy song: and for the men's sake of the brick brickwall my heart mourneth also, Esa. 15. a even as a pipe, that pipeth a doleful song: for they shallbe very few, and destroyed. All heads shall be shaven, and all beerdes clipped of: all hands bound, and all loins girded about with sack clot. Upon all the house tops and streets of Moab, there shallbe mourning: For I will break Moab like an unprofitable vessel saieh the LORD O how fearful is she? O how mourneth she? O how doth Moab hang down her head, and is ashamed? Thus shall Moab be a laughing stock, and had in derision of all them, that be round about her. Deu. 28 c ●ere. 49. d For thus saith the LORD: Behold, the enemy shall come flying as an Eagle, and spread his wings upon Moab. They shall climb over the walls, and win, the strong holds. Then the mighty men's hearts in Moab, ●●re. 49. d shallbe like the heart of a woman traveling with child. And Moab shallbe made so desolate, that she shall no more be a people, because she hath set up herself against the LORD. Fear, pit, and snare shall come upon thee (oh Moab) saith the LORD. Who so escapeth the fear, shall fall in the pit: and who so getteth out of the pit, Esa. 24. c shall betaken in the snare. For I will bring a year of visitation upon Moab, saith the LORD. They that are able to i'll, shall stand under the shadow of Hesebon. For there shall go a fire out of Hesebon, and a flame from Zion, & shall burn up that proud people of Moab, both before and behind. Woe be unto thee (oh Moab) for thou people of Chamos shalt perish: Ye thy sons and daughters shall be led away captyne. Yet at the last will I bring Moab out of captivity again, saith the LORD. Thus far of the plague of Moab. The XLIX. Chapter. AS concerning the Ammonites, thus the LORD saith: Eze. 21 d 25. a ●mos. 1. a Hath Israel no children, or is he without an heir? Why hath your king then taken Gad in? wherefore doth his people devil in his cities? Behold therefore, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that I will bring a noise of war into Rabath of the Ammonites. Lahel shallbe desolate, and her cities brent up: and the Israelites shall be lords over those, that had them in possession afore, saith the LORD. Hesebon shall mourn, for it shall be rooted out of the ground, saith the LORD. The cities of Rabath shall cry out, and gird themselves with sack clot: they shall mourn, and run about the walls: for their king shall be led away prisoner: ye his preestes and princes with him. Wherefore trustest thou in the water streams, that flow to and fro, oh thou fierce daughter: and thinkest thou art so safe (by reason of thy treasure) that no man shall come to thee? Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the LORD God of hosts, from all those that be about thee: so that you shall be scattered every man from another, and no man shall gather them together again, that be fled. But after that, I will bring the Ammonites also out of captivity again. Upon the Edomites hath the LORD of hosts spoken on this manner: 〈…〉 Is there no more wisdom in Theman? Is there no more good council among his people? Is their wisdom then turned clean to nought? Get you hence, turn your backs, creep down into the deep, O you citesyns of Dedan. For I will bring destruction upon Esau, ye and the day of his visitation. if the grape gatherers came upon thee, should they not leave some grapes? if the night robbers came upon thee, should they not take so much, as they thought were enough? But I will make Esau bore, and discover his secrets, so that he shall not be able to hide them. His seed shallbe waisted away, ye his brethren and his neighbours, and he himself shall not be left behind. Thou shalt leave thy fatherless children behind thee, 〈…〉 and I will keep them and thy widows shall take their comforths in me. For thus hath the LORD spoken: Behold, they that men thought were unmeet to drink of the cup, have drunken with the first: and thinkest thou then to be free? Not, not: thou shalt neither be quite no fire, but thou must drink also: For why, I have sworn by myself (saith the LORD) that Bosra shall become a wilderness, an open shame, a laughing stock and cursing: and her cities shallbe a continual desert. For I am perfectly informed of the LORD, that he hath sent a message all ready unto the Hiethen. Gather you together, and go forth against them: make you ready to the battle, 〈◊〉. 1. a 〈◊〉 47. b 〈◊〉 4●. d for lo: I will make the but small among the heathen, and little regarded among men. Thy high stomach & the pride of thy heart have deceived thee, because thou will't devil in the holes of stony rocks, and have the high mountains in possession. Nevertheless though thy nest were as high as the eagles, yet will I cast the down, saith the LORD. moreover Idumea shall be a wilderness: who so goeth by it, 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉. ●0. b 〈◊〉. 19 c shallbe abashed, and wonder at all her miserable plagues. Like as Sodom, Gomor and the cities that lay there about, were turned upside down (saith the LORD) so shall no body devil in Idumea, and no man shall have his habitation there. Behold, like as the Lion cometh up from the pleasant meadows of jordane unto the green pastures of Ethan, so will I drive him, & make him run against her. But who is the young man that I will ordene thereto? Who is like, unto me? What is he that will strive with me? What shepherd may stand in my hands? Therefore hear the council of the LORD, 〈◊〉 136. b that he hath taken upon Idumea: & his purpose, that he hath devised upon the cite sins of Theman: The least of the flock shall tear them in pieces, & look what fair thing they have, they shall make it waist, & themselves also. At the noise of their fall the earth shall quake, the cry of their voice shallbe herd unto the reed see. Behold, the enemy shall come and i'll up hither, like as it were an Eagle, & spread his wings upon Bosra. Then shall the hearts of the worthies in Edom be as the heart of a woman traveling of child. 〈◊〉. 48. f 〈◊〉. 7. c 〈◊〉. 1. a Upon Damascus, Hemath and Arphad shall come confusion, for they shall hear evil tidings: they shall be tossed to and fro like the see that can not stand still. Damascus shallbe sore afraid, & shall i'll, trembling shall come upon her. Sorrow and pain shall over take her as a woman traveling of child. But how should so worshipful and glorious a cite be forsaken? Hear therefore: her young men shall fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be taken away in that time, saith the LORD of hosts. I will kindle a fire in the walls of Damascus, which shall consume the palace of Benadad. As for Cedar and the kingdom of Hasor, Esa. 21. c whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon smote down, the LORD hath spoken thus upon them: Arise, and get you up unto Cedar, and destroy the people toward the east. Their tents and their flocks shall they take away, ye their hangings and their vessel. Their Camels also shall they carry away with them. They shall come about them on every side with a fearful cry. flee, get you soon away, creep in to caves, that you may devil there: O you inhabitors of Hasor, saith the LORD: for Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon hath held a council concerning you, & concluded his device against you. Arise, & get you up against yonder rich & careless people (saith the LORD) which have neither gates ner door bars, & that devil not together. Their Camels shallbe stolen, & the droves of their cattles driven away. moreover, these that be shaven will I scatre toward all the winds, & bring them to destruction: Ye & that thorough their own familiars, saith the LORD. Hasor also shall be a dwelling for Dragons, and an everlasting wilderness: so that no body shall devil there, and no man shall have there his habitation. These are the words, that the LORD spoke to the prophet jeremy concerning Elam, Eze. 32. d Dan. 8. a in the beginning of the reign of Sedechias king of juda. Thus saith thee, LORD of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, and take away their strength: and upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, & will scatre them against the same four winds. And there shall be no people, but some of Elam shall i'll unto them. For I will 'cause Elam be afraid of their enemies, & of them that seek their lives: & will bring upon them the indignation of my wrath, saith the LORD. And I will persecute them with the sword so long till I have brought them to nought. I will set my stole in Elam, I will destroy both the king & the princes from thence, saith the LORD. But in process of time, I will bring Elam out of captivity again, saith the LORD. The L. Chapter. THe words that the LORD spoke unto the prophet jeremy, concerning Babylon, & the land of the Caldees: Esa. 15. a 47. a jere. 25. ● 31. a Esa. 46. a Dan. 5. a Preach among the Gentiles, let your voice be herd, make a token: cry out, keep no silence, but say: Babylon shall be won, Bel shalhe confounded, and Merodach shallbe overcome. Ye their gods shall be brought to shame, and their images shall stand in fear. For out of the north there shall come a people against her, which shall make her land so waist, that no body shall devil therein: neither man ner beast, for they shall i'll and depart from thence. In those days & at that time (saith the LORD) the children of Israel shall come, Esd. 1. a they & the children of juda, weeping & making haist, & shall seek the LORD their God. They shall axe the way to Zion, thither shall they tu●●e their faces, & come, and hang upon thee, in a covenant that never shall be broken. ●ere. 25. a ●ze▪ 36. f My people hath been a lost flock, my shepherds have deceived them, & have made them go astray upon the hills. They have go from the mountain to the little hill, & forgotten their fold. All they that came upon them, have devoured them: & their enemies said: We have made no fault against them, for they have displeased the LORD, ye even the LORD which is the beauty of their righteousness, & the defended their fathers. Yet shall you i'll from Babylon, & depart out of the land of the Caldees, and you shall be as the rams that go before the flock. ●●re. 50. g For lo, I will wake up an host of people from the northern land, & bring them upon Babylon: these shall say siege to it, & win it: Their arrows shall not miss, like as a cunning archer shuteth not wrong. And the Caldees shallbe spoiled, & all they that spoil them, shallbe satisfied, ●sa. 47. a saith the LORD: because you were so cheerful & glad, to tread down mine heritage, & fulfilled your pleasures, as the calves in the grass: and triumphed over them like the bulls, when you had got the victory. Your mothers shallbe sore confounded, and they that bore you, shall come to shame. She shall be the least set by among the nations, vyode, waist, & dried up. No man shall be able to devil there, for the fear of the LORD, but she shall be whole desolate. All they that go by Babylon, ●●re. 18. b 〈◊〉. b. 49. c shall stand still, & be abashed, & shall wonder at all her plagues. God forth in your array against Babylon round about, all you that can handle bows: shoot as her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the LORD. Cry out: upon her, upon her, against her round about: she shall yield herself, her foundations shall fall, & her walls shall come down, for it shallbe the vengeance of the LORD. ●xo. 21. b ●eu. 24. d ●hel. ●. b Ye vengeance shallbe taken of her, & as she hath done, so shall she be dealt withal. They shall rote out the sour from Babylon, & him that handleth the sickle in harvest. For fear of the sword of the enemy, every man shall get him to his own people, & every man shall i'll to his own land. Israel is a scattered flock, the Lions have dispersed them. 〈…〉 First the king of the Assyrians devoured them, last of all this Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath brussed all their bones. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel: Behold, I will viset the king of Babylon & his kingdom, 〈…〉 as I have visited the king of the Assyrians: and will bring Israel again to his pleasant pasture, that he may feed upon Charmel & Basan, and be satisfied upon the mount of Ephraim & Galaad. In those days and at the same time (saith the LORD) if the offence of Israel be sought for, 〈…〉 there shall none be found: If men inquire for the sin of juda, there shall be none: for I will be merciful unto them, whom I suffer to remain over. Go down (oh thou avenger) in to the enemy's land, & viset them that devil therein: down with them, and smite them upon the backs, saith the LORD: do according to all, that I have commanded the. There is go about the land a cry of a slaughter & great murder, namely on this manner: How happeneth it, that the hammer of the whole world is thus broken & brussed insunder? How chanceth it, that Babylon is become a wilderness among the heathen on this manner? I myself have laid wait for thee, & thou art taken: unawares art thou trapped & snared: for why, thou hast provoked the LORD unto anger: The LORD hath opened his house of ordinance, & brought forth the weapens of his wrath. For the thing that is done in the land of the Caldees, it is the LORD of hosts work. These things shall come upon her at the last, they shall break in to her privy chambers, they shall leave her as bore as stones, that be laid together upon heaps. They shall so destroy her, that nothing shall be left. They shall slay all her mighty soldiers, and put them to death. Woe be unto them, for the day & time of their visitation is at hand. Me think I hear already a cry, of them that be fled & escaped out of the land of Babylon, which show in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple: Ye a voice of them, that cry against Babylon: Call up all the archers against Babylon, pitch your tents round about her, that none escape. Recompense her, 〈…〉 as she hath deserved: and according as she hath done, so deal with her again: for she hath set up herself against the LORD, against the holy one of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall down in the streets, & all her men of war shall be rooted out in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I speak unto thee (oh thou proud) saith the LORD God of hosts: for thy day shall come, even the time of the visitation. And the proud shall stumble & fall, & no man shall help him up. I will burn up his cities with fire, & it shall consume all that is round about him. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: The children of Israel & juda suffer violence together. All they that have them in captivity, keep them fast, & will not let them go: but their avenger & redeemer is mighty, whose name is the LORD of hosts: he shall maintain their cause, he shall make the land shake, & judge them that devil therein, one with another. The sword shall come upon the Caldees (saith the LORD) upon them that devil in Babylon, upon their princes, & upon their wise men: The sword upon their soythsayers, (as for those, they shall become fools.) The sword upon their worthies, so that they shall stand in fear: The sword upon their horsemen and charettes, & upon all the common people that devil under them: so that they all shall become like women: The sword upon their treasure, so that it shall be stolen away: The sword upon their waters, so that they shallbe dried up: For the land worshippeth images, & delighteth in strange wonderful things. Therefore shall wild beestes, Apes & Ostriches devil therein: for there shall never man devil there, neither shall any man have his habitation there for evermore. 〈◊〉 19 d Like as God destroyed Sodom & Gomorre, with the cities that lay there about, saith the LORD: So shall noman devil there also, neither shall any man have there his habitation. 〈◊〉 ●0. b 〈◊〉 28. c Behold, there shall come a people from the north, with a great bond of men, & many kings shall stand up from the ends of the earth: They bear bows & buclers, cruel are they & unmerciful. Their voice roareth like the raging see, they ride upon horses, & come weapened to fight against thee: O Babylon. As soon as the king of Babylon heareth tell of them, his hands shall wax feeble: Sorrow and heaviness shall come upon him, as a woman traveling with child. Behold, like as the Lion cometh up from the pleasant meadows of jordane unto the green pastures of Ethan, 〈◊〉 49. c so will I drive them forth, and make them run against her. But whom shall I choose out, & ordene to such thing? job 41.. a For who is like me, or who will strive with me? or what shepherd may stand against me? Therefore hear the council that the LORD hath given upon Babylon, and the device that he hath taken upon the land of the Caldees. The least among the people shall tear them in pieces, & look what pleasant thing they have: they shall say it waist▪ The noise at the winning of Babylon sh●● move the earth, & the cry shallbe herd among the Gentiles. The LI. Chapter. THus hath the LORD said: Behold, jere. 25. b 50. a I will raise up a perilous wind against Babylon & her citesens, that bear evil will against me. I will send also in to Babylon fanners, to fan her out, & to 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, & to them that climb over the walls in breast plates: You shall not spare her yongemen, kill down all her host. Thus the slain shall fall down in the land of the Caldees, and the wounded in the streets. jere. 50. d As for Israel & juda, they shall not be forsaken of their God, of the LORD of hosts, of the holyone of Israel: not, though they have filled all their land full of sin. flee away from Babylon, Esa. 48. d every man save his life. Let no man hold his tongue to her wickedness, for the time of the lords vengeance is come, ye he shall reward her again. Babylon hath been in the LORDS hand a golden cup, jere. ●5. c that maketh all lands drunken. Of her wine have all people drunken, therefore are they out of their wits. But suddenly is Babylon fallen, Esa. 21. b Apo. 18. a 14. b and destroyed. Mourn for her, bring plasters for her wounds, if she may peradventure be healed again. We would have made Babylon whole (say they) but she is not recovered. Therefore will we let her alone, & go every man in to his own country. For her judgement is come in to heaven, & is go up to the clouds. And therefore come on, we will show Zion the work of the LORD our God. Make sharp the arrows, and fill the quivers: jud. 2. c 3 Re. 11. c for the LORD shall raise up the spirit of the king of the Medes, which hath already a desire to destroy Babylon. This shallbe 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 watch men in array, ye hold privy watches: & yet for all that shall the LORD go forth with the device, which he hath taken upon them that devil in Babylon. O thou that dwellest by the great waters, oh thou that hast so great treasure and riches, thine end is come: & the reckoning of thy wynnynges. Amos 6. c jere. 22. a The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, that he will overwhelm the with men like greshoppers in number, which with a courage shall cry Alarm Alarm against the. jere. 10. b Ye even the LORD of hosts, that with his power made the earth, with his wisdom prepared the round world, & with his discretion spread out the heavens. As soon as he letteth his voice be herd, the waters in the air wax fierce: He draweth up the clouds from the ends of the earth. Psal. 134. b He turneth the lightenynges to rain, he bringeth the winds out of their secret places. By the reason of wisdom, all men are become fools. Esa. 44. c Baru. 6. a Confounded be all the casters of images: for the thing that they make, is but deceit, & hath no breath. Vain is it, & worthy to be laughed at: & 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 weapens of war, & yet thorough the I have scattered the nations & kingdoms: Thorough the have I scattered horse & horse man, ye the charettes, & such as sat upon them: Thorough the I have scattered man & woman, old and young, bachelor & maiden. Thorough the I have scattered the shepherd & his flock, the husband man & his cattles, the princes & the rulers. Therefore will I reward the cite of Babylon & all her citesyns the Caldees, with all the evil which they have done unto Zion: Ye that you yourselves shall see it, saith the LORD. Behold, I come upon thee (thou noisome hill) saith the LORD, thou that destroyest all lands. I will stretch out my hand over thee, & cast the down from the stony rocks: & will make the a brent hill, so that neither corner stones, ner pinnacles, ner foundation stones shallbe taken any more out of the but waist & desolate shalt thou lie forevermore, saith 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 & Ascanes against her: number out Taphsar against her, bring as great a sort of horses against her, as if they were greshoppers. Prepare against them the people of the Medes with their kings, princes & all their chief rulers, ye and the whole land that is under them. The land also shall shake & be afraid, when the device of the LORD shall come forth against Babylon: to make the land of Babylon so waist, that no man shall devil any more therein. The Worthies of Babylon shall leave the battle, & keep themselves in strong holds, their strength hath failed them, they shallbe like women. Their dwelling places shall be brent up, their bars shallbe broken. One pursuivant shall meet another, ye one post shall come by another, to bring the king of Babylon tidings: that his cite is taken in on every side, the fords occupied, the fens brent 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 threszshinge 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, & the thing that was left me hath he carried unto Babylon, saith the daughter, that dwelleth in Zion: Ye & my blood also, unto the Caldees, saith jerusalem. Therefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will defend thy cause, & avenge thee: I will drink up her see, & dry up her water springs. Babylon shall become an heap of stones, 〈…〉 a dwelling place for dragons, a fearfulness & wondringe, because no man dwelleth there. They shall roar together like lions, & as the young lions when they be angry, so shall they bend themselves. In their heat I shall set drink before them, & they shallbe drunken for joy: Then shall they sleep an everlasting sleep, & never wake, 〈…〉 saith the LORD I shall carry them down to be slain like sheep, like wethers & gootes. O, how was Sesah won? O, how was the glory of the whole land taken? how happeneth it, that Babylon is so wondered at among the Heithen? The see is risen over Babylon, & hath covered her with his great wawes. Her cities are laid waist, the land lieth unbuilded and void: it is a land, where no man dwelleth, & where no man traveleth thorough. moreover▪ I will visit Bel at Babylon: 〈…〉 & 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, ye 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, & fear not at every rumour that shallbe herd in the land: for every year bringeth new tidings, ye strange wickedness and lordship. And lo, the time cometh that I will visit the images of Babylon, and the whole land shallbe confounded, ye and her slain shall lie in the midst of her. Heaven and earth with all that is therein, 〈…〉 shall rejoice over Babylon, when the destroyers shall come upon her from the north, saith the LORD. 〈…〉 Like as Babylon hath beaten down and slain many out of Israel, so shall there fall many, and be slain in all her kingdom. You that have escaped the sword, haist you, stand not still, remember the LORD afar of: and think upon jerusalem, for we were ashamed to hear the blasphemies: our faces were covered with shame, because the strange aleauntes came in to the Sanctuary of the LORD. Wherefore behold (saith the LORD) the time cometh, that I will visit the images of Babylon, and thorough the whole land they shall mourn and fall. 〈…〉 Though Babylon clymmed up in to heaven, and kept her power an high: yet shall I send her destroyers saith the LORD. A piteous cry shall be herd 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 & proud boostinge, where with they have been as furious, as the wawes 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 broke their bows: for God is disposed to avenge himself upon them, & sufficiently to recompense them. Ye (saith the LORD) I will make their princes, their wise men, their chief rulers & all their worthies, drunken: so that they shall sleep an everlasting sleep, and never wake: Thus saith the king, whose name is the LORD of hosts. moreover, thus saith the LORD of hosts: The thick brickwall of Babylon shall be broken, and her proud gates shallbe brent up. And the thing that the Gentiles and the people have wrought with great travail and labour, shall come to nought, and be consumed in the fire. This is the charge that jeremy gave unto Sarias' the son of Nerias', the son of Maasia, when he went toward Babylon with Sedechias the king of juda, in the fourth year of his reign. Now this Sarias' was a peaceable prince. jeremy written in a book, all the misery that should come upon Babylon, ye and all these sermons that be written against Babylon, and gave Sarias' this charge: When thou comest unto Babylon, see that thou read all these words, and say: O LORD, thou art determed to rote out this place, so that neither people ner cattles shall devil there any more, but to lie waist for ever: and when thou hast red out the book, bind a stone to it, and cast it in the midst of Euphrates, and say: Apoc. 18. ● Even thus shall Babylon sink, & 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. The LII. Chap. SEdechias was xxj. year old, when he was made king, 4. Re. 24 d 2. Par. 36. b & he reigned xj. year in jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamithal, jeremies' daughter of Lobna. He lived wickedly before the LORD even as joachim did. Wherefore the LORD was angry at jerusalem & juda, so long till he had cast them out of his presence. And Sedechias fell from the king of Babylon. But in the ix. year of his reign, jere. 39 a 4. Re. 25. a In the tenth month, the tenth day of the month it happened, that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon with all his host came before jerusalem, & besieged it, & made them bulwark round about it. And this beseginge of the cite endured unto the xj year of king Sedechias. And in the fourth month, the ix day of the month, there was so great hunger in the cite: that there were no more victuals for the people of the land. jere. 38. b 39 a So all the soldiers broke away, and fled out of the cite by night, thorough the way of the port between the two walls by the kings garden. Now the Caldees had compassed the cite round about, yet went these men their way toward the wilderness. And so the Caldees followed upon them, and took Sedechias the king in the field of jericho, when his host was run from him. So they carried the king away prisoner to Reblatha, unto the king of Babylon in the land of Hemath, where he gave judgement upon him. jere. ●● b The king of Babylon also caused Sedechias sons be slain before his face, ye & put all the princes of juda to death at Reblatha. moreover he put out the eyes of Sedechias, caused him be bound with chains, to be carried unto Babylon: & let him lie in preson, till he died. Now the tenth day of the fifth month in the nineteeen year of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, Nabusaradan the chief captain and the king of Babylon's servants came unto jerusalem, & brent up the house of the LORD. He brent up also the kings palace, all the houses & all the gorgeous buildings in Jerusalem. And the whole host of the Caldees that were with the chief captain, broke down all the walls of jerusalem round about. As for the poor people & such folk as yet was left in the cite, which also were fallen to the king of Babylon, ye & what people as yet remained: Nabusaradan the chief captain carried them away presoners. But the poor people of the country, did Nabusaradan the chief captain leave in the land, to occupy the vynyardes & fields. The Caldees also broke the brazen pilers, that were in the house of the LORD, ye the seat and the brazen laver that was in the house of the LORD: & carried all the metal of them unto Babylon. They took away also the Cauldrons, shovels, flesh hokes, sprinklers, spoons & all the brazen vessel that was occupied in the service: with the basins, colepannes, sprinklers, pots, candilstickes, spoons, and cups: whereof some were of gold, and some of silver. The chief captain took also the two pilers, the laver, the xij brazen bullocks that stood under the seat, 3. Re. 7. which king Solomon made in the house of the LORD: & all the vessel contained so much metal, that it might not be weighed. For every piler was xviij cubits high, & the rope that went about it, was xij cubits, & four fingers thick and round: Now upon the rope were brazen knoppes, & every knop was five cubits high: & upon the knoppes were whopes, & pomegranates round about of clean brass. After this manner were both the pilers fashioned with the pomegranates, whereof there were an hundredth and xcuj, which hanged upon the whoops round about. The chief captain also took Sarias' that high pre●● & Sophonias that was chief next him, and the three keepers of the treasury. He took out of the cite a chamberlain which was a captain of the soldiers, & seven men that were the kings servants, which were found in the cite: & Sepher a captain that used to muster the men of war: with lx men of the country that were taken in the cite. These Nabusaradan the chief captain took, & carried them to the king of Babylon unto Reblatha: and the king of Babylon caused them to be put to death at Reblatha in the land of Hemath. And thus juda was led away captive, out of his own land. This is the sum of the people, whom Nabuchodonosor led away captive. In the seventh year of his reign, he carried away of the Jews, three thousand three and twenty. In the xviij year Nabuchodonosor carried away from jerusalem eight hunderth & xxxij personnes. In the twenty-three year of Nabuchodonosor Nabusaradan the chief captain, took away seven hundredth xlv jews presoners. The whole sum of all the presoners, is four thousand and 〈◊〉 hundredth. In the xxxvij year after that Ioachi● the king of juda was carried away in the twenty-five day of the xij month, Euilmerodach king of Babylon (the same year that he reigned) gave joachim the king of juda his pardon, and let him out of preson, and spoke lovingly to him: And set his throne above the trones of the other kings that were with him in Babylon. He changed also the dothes of his preson, ye and he at with him all his life long. And he had a continual living given him of the king of Babylon, every day a certain thing allowed him, all the days of his life, until he died. The end of the prophet jeremy. The Lamentatations of jeremy. And it came to pass (after Israel was brought in to captivity, and jerusalem destroyed:) that jeremy the prophet sat weeping, mourning and making his moan in jerusalem: so that with an heavy heart he sighed, & sobbed, saying: The first Chapter. ALas, how sitteth the cite so desolate, that some time was full of people? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how is she become like a widow, which was the lady of all nations? 〈◊〉. 4. b 〈◊〉. 15. a How is she brought under tribute, that ruled all lands? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She weepeth sore in the night, so that the tears run down her cheeks: for among all her lovers, there is none, that giveth her any comfort: ye her next friends abhor her, & are become her enemies. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 juda is taken prisoner, because she was defiled: & for serving so many strange gods, she dwelleth now among the heathen. She findeth no rest, all they that persecuted her, took her, and so she dwelleth among her enemies. The streets of Zion mourn, because no man cometh more to the solemn feasts: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All her gates are desolate, her priests make lamentation, her maidens are careful, and she herself is in great heaviness. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Her enemies are fallen upon her head, & have put her to shame: because the LORD hath chastened her for her great wickedness: her children are led away captive before their enemy. 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All the beauty of the daughter of Zion is away, her princes are become like wethers, that find no pasture. They are driven away before their enemy, so that they have no more power. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now doth jerusalem remember the time of her misery & disobedience, ye the joy & pleasure that she hath had in times past: saying her people is brought down thorough the power of their enemy, & there is no man for to help her: her enemies stand looking at her and laugh her Sabbath days to scorn. jerusalem sinned ever more & more, therefore is she come in decay. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All they that had her in honour, despise her: for they have seen her filthiness. Ye she sigheth, and is a shamed of herself. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Her skyrtes are defiled, she remembered not what would follow: therefore is her fall so great, and there is no man to comfort her. O LORD, consider my trouble, for mine enemy hath the upper hand. The enemy hath put his hand to all the precious things that she had, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye even before her eyes came the heathen in and out of the Sanctuary: Deu. 23. a whom thou (nevertheless) hast forbidden to come within thy congregation. All her people seek their bread with heaviness, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Re. 6. f Tren. 2. c & look what precious thing every man hath, that giveth he for meat, to save his life. consider (O LORD) and see, how vile I am become. O you all that go fore by, behold and see, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if there be any sorrow like unto mine, wherewith the LORD hath troubled me, in the day of his fearful wrath. From above hath he sent down a fire, in to my bones and chastened me: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath laid a not for my feet, and thrown me wide open: he hath made me desolate, so that I must ever be mourning. The yoke of my transgression is come at the last, with his hand hath he taken it up, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and put it about my neck. My strength is go: the LORD hath delivered me into those hands, whereout I can not quite myself. The LORD hath destroyed all the mighty men, that were in me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath proclaimed a feast, to slaughter all my best men. The LORD hath trodden down the daughter of juda, like as it were in a wine press. Therefore do I weep, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jere. 14. c Tren. 2. ● and mine eyes gusshe out of water: for the comforter that should quicken me, is far fro me. My children are driven away, for why? the enemy hath got the over hand. Zion casts out her hands, and there is no man to comfort her. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD hath laid the enemies round about jacob, and jerusalem is as it were a menstruous woman, in the midst of them. The LORD is righteous, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dan. 9 a for I have provoked his countenance unto anger. O take heed all you people, and consider my heaviness: My maidens and my young men are led away in to captivity. I called for my lovers (but they beguiled me:) for my priests and councelers, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but they perished: even while they sought for meat, to save their lives. 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. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They hear my mourning, but there is none that will comfort me. All mine enemies have herd 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. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the shall come all their adversity: thou shalt pluck them away, even as thou hast plucked me, because of all my wickedness. For my sorrow is very great, and my heart is heavy. The II Chapter. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ALas, how hath the LORD darkened the daughter of Zion so sore in his wrath? ●ren. 4 b As for the honour of Israel, he hath casten it down from heaven: Par. 19 a ●sal 98. a How happeneth it, that he remembered not his own foot stolen, when he was angry? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD hath cast down all the glory of jacob without any favour: All the strong places of the daughter juda hath he broken in his wrath, & thrown them down to the ground: her kingdom & her princes hath he suspended. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the wrath of his indignation he hath broken all the horn of Israel: he hath with drawn his right hand from the enemy: ye a flame of fire is kindled in jacob, & hath consumed up all round about. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath bend his bow like an enemy, he hath fastened his right hand as an adversary: and every thing that was pleasant to see, he hath smitten it down. He hath poured out his wrath like a fire, in to the tabernacle of the daughter ●ion. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD● is become, like as it were an enemy, he hath cast down Israel & all his places: ye all his strong holds hath he destroyed, and filled the daughter of juda with much sorrow and heaviness .. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Her tabernacle (which was like a garden of pleasure) hath he destroyed: her high solemn feasts hath he put down. jere. 7. b The LORD hath brought it so to pass, that the hie solemn feasts and Sabbathes in Zion, are clean forgotten. In his heavy displeasure hath he made the king & priests to be despised. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD hath forsaken his own altar, & is wroth with his own Sanctuary, & hath given the walls of their towers in to the hands of the enemy. Their enemies made a noise in the house of the LORD, as it had been in a solemn feast day. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD thought to break down the walls of the daughter Zion, he spread out his line, & drew not in his hand, till he had destroyed them. Therefore mourn the turrettes and the broken walls together. Her ports are casten down to the ground, her bars are broken & smitten insunder: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her king & princes are carried away to the Gentiles. 〈…〉 They have neither law ner prophets, ner yet any vision from the LORD. The Senators of the daughter Zion sit upon the ground in silence, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they have strewed aszshes upon their heads, and girded themselves with sackcloth. The maidens of jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground. Mine eyes begin to fail me thorough weeping, my body is disquieted, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 my leveris poured upon the earth, for the great hurt of my people, saying the children and babes did swoon in the streets of the cite. Even when they spoke to their mothers: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where is meat and drink? for while they so said, they fallen down in the streets of the cite, like as they had been wounded, and some died in their mother's bosom. What shall I say of thee (O thou daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 jerusalem) to whom shall I licken thee? To whom shall I compare thee (oh thou daughter Zion) to comfort the withal? Thy hurt is like a main see, who may heal thee? Thy prophets have looked out vain & foolish things for thee, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 they have not showed the of thy wickedness, 〈…〉 to keep the from captivity: but have overladen thee, and thorough falsed scattered the abroad. All they that go by thee, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 clap their hands at thee: hissing and wagging their heads upon the daughter jerusalem, and say: is this the cite that men call so fair, wherein the whole land rejoiceth? All thy enemies gape upon thee, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whispering and biting their teeth, saying: let us devour, for the time that we looked for, is come: we have found and seen it. The LORD hath fulfilled the thing, 〈…〉 that he was purposed to do: and performed that he had devised long ago: he hath destroyed, and not spared. He hath caused thy adversary to triumph over thee, and set up the horn of thy enemy. Let thy heart cry unto the LORD, O thou cite of the daughter Zion: let thy tears run down like a river day & night: rest not, & let not the apple of thy eye leave of. stand up, and make thy prayer in the first watch of the night, pour out thy he●● like water before the LORD: lift up thy hands, for the lives of thy young children, that die of hunger in the streets. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold (O LORD) & consider, why hast thou gathered me up so clean? Shall the women than eat their own fruit, even children of a span long? Shall the priests and prophets be slain thus in the Sanctuary of the LORD? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 young & old lie behind the streets upon the ground, my maidens & young men are slain with the sword: whom thou in the day of thy wrathful indignation hast put to death: Ye even thou hast put them to death, & not spared them. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My neighbours that are round about me, hast thou called, as it were to a feast day: so that in the day of the lords wrath none escaped, neither was any left behind. Those that I had brought up & norisshed, hath mine enemy destroyed. The III Chapter. I Am the man, that (thorough the rod of his wrath) have experience of misery. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He drove me forth, and led me: ye into darkness, but not in to light. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Against me only he turneth his hand, & layeth it ever upon me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My flesh & my skin hath he made old, and my bones hath he brussed. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath builded round about me, & closed me in with gall and travail. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath set me in darkness, as they that be deed for ever. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath so hedged me in, that I can not get out, & hath laid heavy lynckes upon me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Though I cry & call piteously, yet heareth he not my prayer. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath stopped up my ways with four squared stones, & made my paths crooked. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He layeth wait for me like a Bear, and as a lion in a hole. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath marred my ways, and broken me in pieces, he hath laid me waist altogether. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath bend his bow, and made me as it were a mark to shoot at. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The arrows of his quiver hath he shot, even in to my reins. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am laughed to scorn of all my people, they make songs upon me all the day long. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath filled me with bitterness, & given me wormwood to drink. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hat● smitten my teeth in pieces, & rolled me in the dust. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath put my soul out of rest, I forget all good things. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I thought in myself: I am undone, there is no hope for me in the LORD. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O remember yet my misery and my trouble, the wormwood and the gall. Ye thou shalt remember them, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for my soul melteth away in me. While I consider these things in my heart, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I get a hope again. Namely, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the mercies of the LORD are not clean go, & that his loving kindness ceaseth not. His faithfulness is great, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and renueth itself as the morning. The LORD is my portion (saith my soul) therefore will I hope in him. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O how good is the LORD unto them, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that put their trust in him, and to the soul that seeketh after him? O how good is it with stillness to wait and tarry, for the health of the LORD? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O how good is it for a man, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to take the yock upon him from his youth up? He sitteth alone, he holdeth him still▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and dwelleth quietly by himself. He layeth his face upon the earth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if (percase) there happen to be any hope. He offereth his cheek to the smiter, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will be content with reproves. For the LORD will not forsake for ever. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But though he do cast of, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet (according to the multitude of his mercies) he receiveth to grace again. For he doth not plague, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & cast out the children of men from his heart. To tread all the presoners of the earth under his feet. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To move the judgement of man before the most highest. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To condemn a man in his cause: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The LORD hath no pleasure in such things. What is he then that saith: there should something be done without the lords commandment? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Out of the mouth of the most highest goeth not evil and good. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore them murmureth the living man? let him murmur at his own sin, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let us look well upon our own ways, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & remember ourselves, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto the LORD, that is in heaven. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have been dyssemblers & have offended, will't thou therefore not be entreated? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast covered us in thy wrath, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & persecuted us, thou hast slain us without any favour. Thou hast hid thyself in a cloud, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that our prayer should not go thorough. Thou hast made us outcasts, and to be despised among the heathen. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All our enemies gape upon us. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fear and snare is come upon us, ye despite and destruction. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whole rivers of water guszshe out of mine eyes, for the great hurt of my people. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mine eyes run, and can not cease, for there is no rest. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O LORD, when will't thou look down from heaven, and consider? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mine eye breaketh my heart, because of all the daughters of my cite. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mine enemies hunted me out sharply like a bird, ye and that with out a cause. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They have put down my life in to a pit, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and laid a stone upon me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They poured water upon my head, than thought I: now am I undone. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I called upon thy name (O LORD) out of the deep pit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast heard my voice, & hast not turned away thy ears fro my sighing and crying. Thou hast inclined thy self unto me, when I called upon thee, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & haist said: fear not. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou (O LORD) hast mayntened the cause of my soul, and hast redeemed my life. O LORD, thou hast seen my blasphemers, take thou my cause upon the. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thou hast well considered how they go about to do me harm, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & that all their counsels are against me. Thou hast heard their despiteful words (O LORD) ye and all their imaginations against me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The lips of mine enemies, & their devices that they take against me, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the day long. Thou seist also their sitting down and their rising up, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they make their songs of nothing but of me. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reward them (O LORD) according to the works of their hands. give them the thing, that their own heart is afraid of: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 even thy curse. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Persecute them, (O LORD) with thy indignation, & rote them out from under the heaven. The four Chapter. O How is the gold become so dim? How is the goodly colour of it so sore changed? 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the stones of the Sanctuary thus scattered in the corner of every street? The children of Zion that were allway in honour, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & clothed with the most precious gold: how are they now become like the earthen vessels which be made with the potter's hand? The Lamyes give their young one's suc● with bore breasts: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the daughter of my people is cruel, and dwelleth in the wilderness: like the Ostriches. The tongues of the sucking children, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cleave to the roof of their mouths for very thirst. The young children axe bread, but there is noman, that giveth it them. They that were wont to fair delicately, perish in the streets: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they that afore were brought up in purple, make now much of dung. The sin of the daughter of my people is become greater, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 then the wickedness of Sodom, that suddenly was destroyed, and not taken with hands. Her abs●●yners (or Nazarees) were whiter then the snow or milk: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their colour was fresh read as the Coral, their beauty like the Sapphire. But now their faces are very black: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 In so much, that thou shouldest not know them in the streets. Their skin cleaveth to their bones, It is withered, and become like a dry stock. They that be slain with the sword, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are happier, then such as die of hunger, and perish away famishing for the fruits of the field. The women (which of nature are pitiful) have sodden their own children with their hands: that they might be their meat, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in the miserable destruction of the daughter of my people. The LORD hath performed his heavy wrath: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 he hath poured out the furiousness of his displeasure. He hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath consumed the foundations thereof. neither the kings of the earth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ner all the inhabitors of the world, would have believed, that the enemy & adversary should have come in at the gates of the cite of Jerusalem. Which nevertheless is come to pass for the sins of her prophets, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for the wickedness of her priests, that have shed innocentes blood within her. So that these blind men went stumbling in the streets, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and stained themselves with blood, which else would touch no bloody clot. But they cried unto every man: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i'll the staining, away, get you hence, touch it not. Ye (said they) you must be brent, you must devil among the Gentiles, & bide no longer here. The countenance of the LORD hath banished them, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & shall never look more upon them: For they themselves neither regarded the priests, nor pitied their elders. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore yet our eyes fail us, while we look for vain help: saying we be ever waiting upon a people, that can do us no good, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They lay so sharp wait for us, that we can not go safe upon the streets: for our end is come, our days are fulfilled, our end is here. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the air: they followed upon us over the mountains, and laid wait for us in the wilderness. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 The very breath of our mouth: even the anointed LORD himself shallbe taken in our sins, of whom we say: Under his shadow we shall be preserved among the heathen. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thou (O daughter Edom) that dwellest in the land of Hus, be glad and rejoice: for the cup shall come unto the also, which when thou suppest of, thou shalt be drunken. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy sin is well punished (O thou daughter Zion) he shall not suffer the to be carried away any more. But thy wickedness (O daughter Edom) shall he visit, and for thy sins sake, he shall lead the in to captivity. The V Chapter. CAll to remembrance (O LORD) what we have suffered, consider and see our confusion. Our inheritance is turned to the strangers, & our houses to the aleauntes. We are become careful and fatherless, and our mothers are as the widows. We are fain to drink our own water for money, and our own wood must we buy with money. Our necks are under persecution, we are weighed, and have no rest. Afore time we yielded ourselves to the Egipcians, and now to the Assyrians, only that we might have bread enough. Our fathers (which now are go) have sinned, 〈◊〉 31. e 〈◊〉. 18. a & we must bear their wickedness. Servants have the rule of us, and no man delivereth us out of their hands. We must get our living with the apparel of our lives, because of the drought of the wilderness. Our skin is as it had been brent in an oven, for very sore hunger. The wives are raveshed in Zion, & the maidens in the cities of juda. The princes are hanged up with the hand of the enemies, they have not spared the old sage men, they have taken young men's lives from them, and the boys are hanged up upon trees. The elders sit no more under the gates, and the young men use no more playing of Music. The joy of our heart is go, our merry quere is turned in to mourning. The garland of our head is fallen: alas, that ever we sinned so sore. Therefore our heart is full of heaviness, & our eyes dim: because of the hill of Zion that is destroyed, In so much, that the foxes run upon it. But thou (O LORD) that remaynest for evermore, and thy feat world with out end: Wherefore will't thou still forget us, and forsake us so long? O LORD: Turn thou us unto thee, & so shall we be turned. Renew our days as in old time, jere. 31. e for thou hast now banished us long enough, and been sore displeased at us. The end of the Lamentations of jeremy. The Prophet Baruch. What Baruch containeth. Chap. I Baruch readeth the book before the king and all the people, which send money to jerusalem. Chap. II They knowledge, that they have deserved punishment: God promiseth them forgiveness. Chap. III They pray heartily being in preson, and he exorteth them to amend. Chap. four A sermon to the people, with an exhortation to patience. Chap. V He comforteth them, and showeth the vocation of the heathen Chap. VI A copy of the epistle, that jeremy sent to the jews, which were led away presoners unto Babylon. These are the words of the book, that Baruch the son of Nerias' the son of Maasia, the son of Sedechias, the son of Sedei, the son of Helchia, written at Babylon in the fifth year the seventh day of the month: 4. Re. 2 what time as the Caldees wan jerusalem and brent it. The first Chapter. ANd Baruch did read the words of this book, that jechonias the son of joachim king of juda might hear: and in the presence of all the people, that were come to hear the book: ye and before all the noble kings sons, before the lords of the council and elders: and before the whole people, from the lowest unto the highest: before all them that dwelled at Babylon, by the water of Sodi. Which when they heard it, wept, fasted, and prayed before the LORD. They made a collection also of money, according to every man's power, and sent it to jerusalem unto joachim the son of Helchia the son of Salon priest, with the other priests: and to all the people which were with him at Jerusalem, what time as they had got the ornaments of the temple of the LORD (that were taken away out of the temple) that they might bring them again in to the land of juda, the x. day of the month Siban: namely, silver vessel, (which Sedechias the son of josias king of juda had made.) After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had taken jechonias, with all his princes, lords, and all the people, and led them captive from jerusalem unto Babylon. And they said: Behold, we have sent you money, ●e●. 14. c to buy you burned offerings and incense withal: make you unleavened bread, & offer for sin upon the altar of the LORD our God. ●●re. 29. b Tim. ●. a And pray for the prosperity of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and of Balthasar his son: that their days may be upon earth, as the days of heaven: that God also may give us strength, and lighten our eyes: that we may live under the defence of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the protection of Balthasar his son: that we may long do them service, and find favour in their sight. Pray for us also unto the LORD our God, for we have sinned against the LORD our God, and unto this day is not his wrath turned yet away from us. And see that you read this book (which we have sent unto you to be rehearsed in the temple of the LORD) upon the high days, and at time convenient. Thus shall you say: The LORD our God is righteous, 〈…〉. b 〈…〉 a but we are worthy of confusion & shame: like as it is come to pass this day, unto all juda, & to every one that dwelleth at jerusalem: to our kings, princes, priests, prophets & to our fathers. We have sinned before the LORD our God, we have not put our trust in him, ner given him credence: we have not obeyed him, we have not herkened unto the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us. Sens the day that he brought our forefathers out of the land of Egipte unto this present day, we have been ever a misbelieving and an unfaithful people unto the LORD our God: destroying ourselves utterly, and shrenckinge back, that we should not hear his voice. Wherefore there are come upon us great plagues & diverse curses, 〈…〉 like as the LORD devised by Moses his servant: which brought our forefathers out of the land of Egipte, to give us a land, that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day. Nevertheless, we have not herkened unto the voice of the LORD our God, according to all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us and to our rulers: but every man followed his own mind and wicked imagination: to offer unto strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the LORD our God. The II Chapter. FOr the which cause the LORD our God hath performed his device, 〈…〉 whereof he certified us, and our heads that ruled in Jerusalem: ye and our kings, our princes, with all Israel and juda. And such plagues hath the lord brought upon us, as never came to pass under the heaven: like as it is fulfilled in Jerusalem, according as it is written in the law of Moses: 〈…〉 that a man should eat the flesh of his own son, & the flesh of his own daughter. moreover, he hath delivered them in to the hands of all the kings, that are round about us (to be confounded and desolate) & scattered them abroad in all lands & nations. Thus are we brought beneath & not above, for we have sinned against the LORD our God, & not been obedient unto his voice. Therefore the LORD our God is righteous, 〈…〉 & we with our fathers (as reason is) are brought to open shame, as it is to see this day And as for these plagues that are come upon us already, the LORD had devyced them for us: yet would we not pray unto the LORD our God, that we might every man turn from his ungodly ways. So the LORD hath caused such plagues to come upon us, for he is righteous in all his works, which he hath commanded us: which we also have not done, ner hearkened unto his voice, for to walk in the commandments of the LORD, that he had given unto us. And now oh LORD God of Israel, thou that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egipte with a mighty hand, 〈…〉 with tokens and wonders, with thy great power and outstretched arm: and hast got thyself a name, as it is come to pass this day: O LORD our God, we have sinned, we have done wickedly, 〈◊〉 9 c we have behaved ourselves ungodly in all thy rightuousnesses. Turn thy wrath from us (we beseek thee) for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us. Hear our prayers (oh LORD) & our petitions, bring us out of captivity, 〈…〉 for thy own sake: get us favour in the sight of them, which have led us away: that all lands may know, that thou art the LORD our God, and that Israel and his generation calleth upon thy name. 〈…〉 O LORD, look down from thy holy house upon us: incline thy ear, & hear us. For the deed, that be go down to their graves, & whose souls are out of their bodies, 〈…〉 ascribe unto the LORD neither praise ner rigtuous-making: but the soul that is vexed for the multitude of her sins, which goeth on heavily and weakly, whose eyes begin to fail: ye such a soul ascribeth praise and righteousness unto the LORD. O LORD, we pour out our prayers before thee, and require mercy in thy sight, O LORD our God: not for any godliness of our forefathers, but because thou hast sent out thy wrath & indignation upon us: according as thou didst threaten us, by thy servants the prophets, saying: 〈…〉 Thus sayeth the LORD: Bow down your shoulders and necks, and serve the king of Babylon, so shall you remain still in the land, that I gave unto your fathers. if you will not do this, ner hear the voice of the LORD your God, to serve the king of Babylon: I shall destroy you in the cities of juda, within jerusalem and without. I will also take from you the voice of mirth and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and there shall no man devil more in the land. But they would not hearken unto thy voice, to do the king of Babylon service: and therefore hast thou performed the words, that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets: namely, that the bones of our kings and the bones of our fathers should be translated out of their place. And lo, now are they laid out in the heat of the Son, & in the cold of the night, and deed in great misery: with hunger, with sword, with pestilence & are clean cast forth. As for the temple wherein thy name was called upon thou hast laid it waist, as it is to see this day: & that for the wickedness of the house of Israel & the house of juda▪ O LORD our God, thou hast entreated us after all thy goodness & according to all the great loving mercy of thine, like as thou spakest by thy servant Moses, in the day when thou diddest command him, to write thy law before the children of Israel, saying: If you will not hearken unto my voice, Deu. 4. d 28. d them shall this great multitude be turned in to a very small people, for I will scatre them abroad. Not withstanding I am sure, that this folk will not hear me: for it is an hardnecked people. But in the land of their captivity, they shall remember them selves, & learn to know, that I am the LORD their God: when I give them an heart to understand, & ears to hear. Then shall they praise me in the land of their captivity, & think upon my name. Then shall they turn them from their hard backs, & from their ungodliness: Then shall they remember the things, that happened unto their forefathers, which sinned against me. So will I bring them again in to the land, which I promised with an oath unto their fathers: Abraham, Isaac & jacob: & they shall be lords of it, ye I will increase them, and not minysh them. And I will make another covenant with them: Heb. 8. c Zach 8. b Apoc. 2●. ● such one as shall endure for ever: namely, that I will be their God, and they shallbe my people: and I will no more drive my people the children of Israel, out of the land that I have given them. The III Chapter. ANd now oh LORD almighty, thou God of Israel: our soul that is in trouble, & our spirit that is vexed, crieth unto thee: hear us (oh LORD) & have pite upon us, for thou art a merciful God: be gracious unto us, for we have sinned before ye. Thou endurest for ever, should we then utterly perish▪ O LORD almighty, thou God of Israel: Hear now the prayer of the deed Israelites & of their children, which have sinned before thee, Ephe. 2. a & not herkened unto the voice of the LORD their God, Dani. 3. c jere. 〈◊〉 3. c. 5. e for the which cause these plagues hang now upon us. O LORD, remember not the wickedness of our forefathers, but think upon thy power & name now at this time: for thou art the LORD our God, & thee (oh LORD) will we praise. For thou hast put the fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon the name, & praise the in our captivity: Nu. 1●. a Psal. 77. a and that we might turn from the wickedness of our forefathers, that sinned before the. Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where as thou hast scattered us, to be an abomination, curse, and sin: like as it hath happened unto our fathers also, Psal. 78. a because of all their wickedness and departing from the. O Israel, hear the commandments of life: ponder them well with thy ears, that thou mayest learn wisdom. But how happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemy's land? thou art waxed old in a strange country, and defiled with the deed. Why art thou become like them, that go down to their graves? Even because thou hast forsaken the well of wisdom. jere. 2. b For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, truly thou shouldest have remained still safe in thy own land. O learn then where discretion is, where virtue is, Pro. 1 a 3. a where understanding is: that thou mayest know also from whence cometh long life, Psal. 18. b 118. r a necessary living, the light of the eyes & quietness. Who ever found out her place? or who came ever in to her treasures? Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beestes upon the earth? They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, they that hoardward up silver and gold (wherein men trust so much) and made no end of their gathering? What is worth of them, that coined silver, and were so careful, and could not bring their works to pass? They be rooted out, and go down to hell, and other men are come up in their stead? Young men have seen light, and dwelled upon earth: but the way of reformation have they not known, ner understand the paths thereof: neither have their children received it, ye right far is it from them. It hath not been herd of in the land of Canaan, neither hath it been seen at Theman. The Agarenes sought after wisdom, but that which is earthly, like as the merchants of the land do. They of Theman are cunning also, & they labour for wisdom & understanding: but the way of true wisdom they know not, neither do they think upon the paths thereof. O Israel, how great is the house of God? and how large is the place of his possession? Deu. 4. f jere. 23. d Psa. 144. a great is he, and hath none end: high and unmeasurable. What is become of those famous giants, that were so great of bodies, and so worthy men of war? Those had not the LORD choose, neither have they found the way of reformation, therefore were they destroyed: and for so much as they had no wisdom, they perished because of their foolishness. Who hath go up in to heaven, to take wisdom there, & brought her down from the clouds? Who hath go over the see to find her, & hath choose her above gold, and so brought her hither? No man knoweth the ways of wisdom, neither is there any that can seek out her paths. But he that woteth all things, knoweth her, & he hath found her out with his foreknowledge. 〈…〉 This same is he which prepared the earth at the beginning, & filled it with all manner of fowls & beestes. When he sendeth out the light, it goeth: & when he calleth it again, it obeyeth him with fear. The stars keep their watch, & give their light, ye and that gladly. When he calleth them, they say: here we be. And so with cheerfulness they show light unto him that made them. This is our God, and there shall none other be compared unto him: It is he, that hath found out all wisdom, 〈…〉 and hath given her unto jacob his servant, & to Israel his beloved. 〈…〉 afterward did he show himself upon earth, and dwelled among men. The four Chapter. THis is the book of the commandments of God, and the law the endureth for ever. All they that keep it, shall come to life: but such as forsake it, shall come to death. Turn the oh jacob, and take hold of it: walk by this way, thorough his brightness and shine. give not thine honour to another, and thy worship to a strange people. O Israel, how happy are we, 〈…〉 seeing that God hath showed us such things as are pleasant unto him? Be of good cheer, thou people of God, oh thou awncient Israel. Now are you sold among the heathen, howbeit not for your utter destruction: but because you provoked God the LORD to wrath and displeasure, therefore were you delivered unto unto your enemies: For you displeased the everlasting God that made you, offering unto devils and not God. You have forgotten him that brought you up, and your nurse have you grieved, o. jerusalem. When she saw that the wrath of God was coming upon you: she said: hearken oh you that devil about Zion, for God hath brought me into great heaviness: and why? I see the captivity of my people, of my sons and daughters, which the everlasting God will bring upon them. With joy did I nourish them, but now must I leave them with weeping and sorrow. Let no man rejoice over me widow and forsaken: which for the sins of my children, am desolate of every man. For why, they departed from the law of God: they would not know his righteousness, ner walk in the way of his commandments: and as for the paths of the truth and godliness, they had no lust to go in them. O you dwellers about Zion: come, and let us call to remembrance the captivity, that the everlasting God hath brought upon my sons and my daughters. He hath brought a people upon them from far, an uncourteous people, 〈…〉 and of a strange language: which neither regard the old, ner pity the young, These have carried away the dear beloved of my widows, leaving me alone, both desolate and childless. But alas, what can I help you? Now he that hath brought these plagues upon you, deliver you also from the hands of your enemies. Go your way (O my children) go your way: for I am desolate and forsaken. I have put of the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sack clot of prayer, and for my time I will call upon the most highest. Be of good cheer, 〈…〉 oh my children: cry unto the LORD, and he shall deliver you from the power of the princes, your enemies. For verily, I have ever a good hope of your prosperous health: ye a very gladness is come upon me from the holy one, because of the mercy that you shall have of our everlasting saviour. With mourning and weeping did I let you go fro me, but with joy and perpetual gladness, shall the LORD bring you again unto me. Like as the neighbours of Zion saw your captivity from God, Even so shall they also see shortly your health in God, which shall come on you with great honour and everlasting worship. O my children, suffer patiently the wrath that shall come upon you, For the enemy hath persecuted thee, but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck. My derlinges have go rough hard ways, for they are led away as a flock that is scattered abroad with the enemies. But be of good comfort (oh my children) & cry unto the LORD: For he that led you away, hath you yet in remembrance: and like as you have been minded to swarm from your God, so shall you now endeavour yourselves x. times more, 〈◊〉▪ 33. b to turn again, and to seek him. For he that hath brought these plagues upon you, shall bring you everlasting joy again with your health. Take a good heart unto thee, o Jerusalem: for he which gave the that name, exorteth the so to do. The wicked doers that now put the to trouble, shall perish: jere. 50. a b. c and soch as have rejoiced at thy fall, shallbe punished. The cities whom thy children serve, and that have carried away thy sons, shall be correct. For like as they be now glad of thy decay, so shall they mourn in their own destruction. The joy of their multitude shallbe taken away and their cheer shallbe turned to sorrow. For a fire shall fall upon them from the everlasting God, long to endure: and it shallbe inhabited of devils for a great season. The V Chapter. O jerusalem, look about the toward the east, and behold the joy, that cometh unto the from God. For lo, thy sons, (whom thou hast forsaken, and that were scattered abroad) come gathered together from the east and west, rejoicing in the word of the holy one, unto the honour of God. Put of thy mourning clotheses (oh jerusalem) and thy sorrow, and deck the with the worship and honour, that cometh unto the from God, with everlasting glory. God shall put the cloak of righteousness upon thee, and set a crown of everlasting worship upon thy head: for upon the will God declare his brightness, that is under the heaven: Ye an everlasting name shallbe given the of God, with peace of righteousness, & the honour of God's fear. Arise oh jerusalem, stand up on high: look about the toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the east unto the west: which rejoice in the holy word, having God in remembrance. They departed from the on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but now shall the LORD bring them carried with honour, as children of the kingdom. For God is purposed to bring down all stout mountains, ye and all high rocks, to fill the valleys, & so to make them even with the ground: that Israel may be diligent to live unto the honour of God. The woods & all pleasant trees shall overshadow Israel, at the commandment of God. For hither shall God bring Israel with joyful mirth, and in the light of his majesty: with the mercy and righteousness, that cometh of himself. A copy of the epistle, that jeremy the prophet did send unto the jews, which were led away presoners by the king of Babylon. Wherein he certifieth them of the thing, that was commanded him of God. The VI Chapter. BEcause of the sins that you have done against God, ●er. 25 a. b you shall be led away captive unto Babylon, even of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon. So when you be come in to Babylon, you shall remain there many years, and for a long season: namely, seven. generations: & after that will I bring you away peaceably from thence. Now shall you see in Babylon, gods of gold, of silver, of wood and of stone: born upon men's shoulders, to cast out a fearfulness before the heathen. But look that you do not as the other: be not you afraid, and let not the fear of them overcome you. Therefore, when you see the multitude of people worshipping them behind & before, say you in your hearts: O LORD, it is thou, that oughtest only to be worshipped? Mine angel also shall be with you, Deu. 6. c and I myself will care for your souls. Asdrubal for the timber of those gods, the carpenter hath polisshed them: ye gylted be they, & laid over with silver, yet are they but vain things, & can not speak. Like as a wench that loveth peramours is trymly decked, even so are these made & hanged with gold. Crowns of gold verily have their gods upon their heads: so the priests themselves take the gold and silver from them, & put it to their own uses: ye they give of the same unto harlots, and trim their whores withal: Again, they take it from the whores, and deck their gods therewith. Yet can not these gods deliver themselves from rust and moths. jere. 10. a When they have covered them with clothing of purple, they wipe their faces for the dust of the temple, whereof their is much among them. One hath a sceptre in his hand, as though he were judge of the country: yet can he not slay such as offend him. Another hath a sword or an axe in his hand, for all that, is he neither able to defend himself from battle, ner f●o murderers. By this you may understand, that they be no gods: therefore see that you neither worship them, ner fear them. For like as a vessel that a man useth, is nothing worth when it is broken, even so is it with their gods. When they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust, thorough the feet of those that come in. And like as the doors are shut in round about upon him, that hath offended the king: Or as it were a deed body kept beside the grave: Even so the priests kept the doors with bars and locks, jest their gods be spoiled with robbers. They set up candles before them (ye verily and that many) whereof they can not see one, but even as blocks, so stand they in the temple. It is said, that the serpents and worms, which come of the earth, gnaw out their hearts, eating them & their clotheses also, and yet they feel it not. Their faces are black, thorough the smoke that is in the temple. The oules, swallows & birds i'll upon them, ye and the cats run over their heads. By this you may be sure, that they are not gods, therefore fear them not. The gold that they have, is to make them beautiful: for all that, except some body dight of their rust, they will give no shine: and when they were cast into a form, they felt it not. They are bought for money, and have no breath of life within them. They must be born upon men's shoulders, as those that have no feet: whereby they declare unto men, that they be nothing worth. Confounded be they then, that worship them. For if they fall to the ground, they can not rise up again of themselves: Ye though one help them up and set them right, yet are they not able to stand alone: but must have props set under them, like deed men. As for the thing that is offered unto them, their priests cell it, and abuse it: ye the priests wives take thereof, but unto the sick and poor they give nothing of it, the women with child & the menstruous lay hands of their offerings. By this you may be sure, that they are not gods, therefore be not you afraid of them. From whence cometh it them, that they be called gods? The women sit before the gods of silver, gold and wood, and the priests sit in their temples, having open clotheses, whose heads and beerdes are shaven, and have nothige upon their heads: roaring and crying upon their gods, as men do at the feast, when one is deed. The priests also take away the garments of the images, and deck their wives & children withal. Whether it be good or evil that any man do unto them, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, ner put him down. In like manner they may neither give riches, ner reward evil. Though a man make a vow unto them and keep it not, they will not require it. They can not restore a blind man to his sight, ner help any man at his need. They can show no mercy to the widow, ner do good to the fatherless. Their gods of wood, stone, gold & silver, are but even as other stones, that be hewn of the mountain. They that worship them, shall be confounded. How should they then be taken for gods? ye how dare men call them gods? And though the caldees worshipped them not, hearing that they were but dumb & could not speak: Yet they themselves offer unto Bel, and would fain have him to speak: as who say, they could feel, that may not move. But when these men come to understanding, they shall forsake them, for their gods have no feeling. A great sort of women girded with cords, sit in the streets, & burn olive berries. Now if one of them be conveyed away, & lie with any such as come by: she casts her neghburesse in the teeth, because she was not so worthily reputed, ner her coorde broken. What so ever is done for them, it is but in vain and lost: How may it then be thought or said, that they are gods? Carpenters & goldsmiths make them, neither be they any other thing, but even what the work men will make of them. Ye the goldsmiths themselves that make them, are of no long continuance: How should then the things that are made of them, be gods? Vain therefore are the things (ye very shame is it) that they leave behind them for their posterity. For as soon as there cometh any war or plague upon them, than the priests imagine, where they may hide themselves with them. How can men think then, that they be gods, which neither may defend themselves from war, ner deliver them fro misfortune? For saying they be but of wood, of stone, of silver and of gold: all people & kings shall know hereafter, that they be but vain things: ye it shallbe openly declared, that they be no gods: but even the very works of men's hands, & that God hath nothing to do with them. They can set no king in the land ner give rain unto men. They can give no sentence of a matter, neither defend the land from wrong: For they are not able to do so much as a crow, that flieth betwixt heaven and earth When there happeneth a fire into the house of those gods of wood, of silver and of gold, the priests will escape & save themselves, but the gods burn as the balks therein They can not withstand any king or battle: how may it then be thought or granted, that they be gods? moreover, these gods of wood, of stone, of gold & silver may neither defend themselves from thieves ner robbers: ye the very wicked are stronger than they. These stripe them out of their apparel, that they be clothed withal, these take their gold & silver from them, and so get them away: yet can they not help themselves. Therefore it is much better for a man, to be a king & so to show his power: or else a profitable vessel in a house, wherein he that oweth it, might have pleasure: ye or to be a door in a house, to keep such things safe as be therein: them to be such a vain god. The Son, the Moon & all the stars when they give their shine & light, are obedient, & do men good: When the lightning glistreth, all is clear: The wind bloweth in every country, & when God commandeth the clouds to go round about the whole world, they do as they are bidden: when the fire is sent down from above & commanded, it burneth up hills and woods: But as for those gods, they are not like one of these things, neither in beauty ner strength. Wherefore men should not think, ner say that they be gods, saying they can neither give sentence in judgement, ner do men good. For so much now as you are sure, that they be no gods, then fear them not: For they can neither speak evil ner good of kings. They can show no tokens in heaven for the heathen, neither shine as the Son, ner give light as the Moon: ye the unreasonable beasts are better than they: for they can get them under the roof, and do themselves good: So can you be certified by no manner of means, that they be gods: therefore fear them not. For like as a frayboggarde in a garden of Cucumbers keepeth nothing, even so are their gods of wood, of silver & gold: and like as a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon: ye like as a deed body that is cast in the dark, Even so is it with those gods of wood, silver and gold. By the purple and scarlet which they have upon them, and soon faydeth away, you may understand, that they be no gods: ye they themselves shall be consumed at the last, which shall be a great confusion of the land. Blessed is the godly man, that hath no images & worshippeth none, for he shallbe far from reproof. The end of the prophet Baruch which is not in the Canon of the Hebrew. The Prophet Ezechiel. What Ezechiel containeth. Chap. I The vision of the iiij. beestes and wheels. Chap. II The sending out of the prophet. Chap. III The office of a prophet. Chap. four A prophecy of the siege of jerusalem. Chap. V With what plagues God punished jerusalem. Chap. VI Punishment for Idolatry. Chap. VII. The long captivity of the people and causes thereof. Chap. VIII. Ezechiel saith great abomination thorough the hole in the brickwall. Chap. IX. The slaughter of the people. Soch as have the sign of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thau, are saved. Chap. X. The vision of the iiii. beestes again. Chap. XI. The vision of the twenty-five. men. Chap. XII. A prophecy of the captivity of juda. Chap. XIII. A sermon against false prophets Chap. XIIII. punishment for wilfulness and presumption of sin God letteth such people be deceived. Chap. XU. Against jerusalem that unfruitful vine. Chap. XVI. A marvelous goodly description of the Idolatry of jerusalem, for the which he calleth them whores. Chap. XVII. A prophecy of the destruction of jerusalem. A promise of Christ. Chap. XVIII. Every man shall bear his own sin, and not another's. Chap. XIX. The captivity of the kings of juda. The cruelty of kings and princes. Chap. XX. The great unthanfulnesse of the people. Again, the merciful long sufferance of God. Chap. XXI. The sword, prophesied to come upon Israel and the Ammonites, by the king of Babylon. Chap. XXII. The sins, wherefore Jerusalem was punished: both the prophets, priests, rulers and common people. Chap. XXIII. The Idolatry or whoredom of Samaria and jerusalem. Chap. XXIIII. The destruction of jerusalem and captivity of the people signified by the pot. Chap. XXV. Against Ammon, Moab, Seir, and the Palestynes. Chap. XXVI. He mourneth upon the cite of tire (otherwise called Zor) for the destruction that was to come upon her. Chap. XXVII. XXVIII. Against the prince of tire, and against Sidon. Chap. XXIX. XXX.XXXI.XXXII. Plagues upon Egipte and the kings thereof. Chap. XXXIII. The office of a preacher. The word of God must be followed in very 〈◊〉, and not only in mouth. Chap. XXXIIII. Against evil shepherds, Christ the only true shepherd is promised. Chap. XXXV. Against the mount Seir, that is, against the Edomites. Chap. XXXVI. A promise of the deliverance of Israel. Chap. XXXVII. A consolation for the Israelites, and a figure of the general resurrection, signified by the dry bones. Chap. XXXVIII. XXXIX. Of Gog and Magog, with their destruction. Chap. XL. From this chapter unto the end, the prophet seith in a vision the building again of Jerusalem, and the temple: Whereby is describe the mystery of the church of christ, and salvation of the faithful in hi●▪ The first Chapter. IT chanced, in the thirty. year the fifth day of the fourth month, that I was among the presoners by the river of Cobar: where the heavens opened, & I saw a vision of God. Now the fifth day of the month made out the fifth year of king joachims' captivity. At the same time came the word of the LORD unto Ezechiel the son of Buzi priest, in the land of the Caldees by the water of Cobar, where the hand of the LORD came upon him. 〈…〉 And I looked: & behold, a stormy wind came out of the north with a great doude full of fire, which with his glistre lightened all round about. And in the midst of the fire it was all clear, and as it were the likeness of four beasts, which were fashioned like a man: saving, that every one had four faces and four wings. Their legs were strait, but their feet were like bullocks feet, and they glistered, as it had been fair scoured metal. Under their wings upon all the four corners, they had mens hands. Their faces and the it wings were toward the four corners: yet were the wings so, that one ever touched another. When they went, they turned them not about: 〈…〉 but each one went strait forward. Upon the rightside of these four, their faces were like the face of a man and the fa of a Lion: But upon the left side, they had the face of an ox and the face of an Eagle. Their faces also and their wings werespred out above: so that two wings of one touched ever two wings of another, and with the other two they covered their body. Every one when it went, it went strait forward. Where as the spirit led them, thither they went, and turned not about in their going. 〈…〉 The fashion and countenance of the beestes was like hot coals of fire, even as though burning cresshettes had been among the beestes: and the fire gave a glistre, and out of the fire there went lightening. When the beestes went forward & backward, one would have thought it had lightened. Now when I had well considered the beestes, I saw a work of wheels upon the earth with four faces also like the beestes. The fashion & work of the wheels was like the see. The four wheels were joined and made (to look upon) as it had been one wheel in another. When one went forward, they went all four, and turned them not about in their going. They were large, great and horrible to look upon. Their bodies were full of eyes round about them all four. When the beestes went, the wheels went also with them: And when the beestes lift themselves up from the earth, the wheels were lift up also. Whither so ever the spirit went, thither went they also, & the wheels were lift up & followed them. for the spirit of life was in the wheels. When the beestes went forth, stood still, or lift themselves up from the earth: then the wheels also went, stood still, & were lift up, for the breath of life was in the wheels. Above over the heads of the beestes there was a firmament, which was fashioned as it had been of the most pure Crystal, & that was spread out above upon their heads: under the same firmament were their wings laid abroad, one toward another, and two wings covered the body of every be'st. And when thy went forth, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as it had been the voice of the great God, and a russhinge together as it were of an host of men. And when they stood still, they let down their wings. Now when they stood still, and had let down their wings, it thondred in the firmament, that was above their heads. Above the firmament that was over their heads, there was the fashion of a seat, as it had been made of Saphir. upon the seat there sat one like a man. I beheld him, and he was like a clear light, as it had been all of fire with in from his loins upward. And beneath when I looked upon him under the loins, me thought he was like a shining fire, that giveth light on every side. Ye the shine and glistre that lightened round about, was like a rainbow, which in a rainy day appeareth in the clouds. Even so was the similitude, wherein the glory of the LORD appeared. When I saw it, I fallen upon my face, and herkened unto the voice of him, that spoke. The II Chapter. THen said he unto me: stand up upon thy feet (O thou son of man) and I will talk with the. ●ze. 3. d And as he was commoning with me, the spirit came in to me, and set me up upon my feet: so that I marcked the thing, that he said unto me. And he said: Behold, thou son of man: I will send the to the children of Israel, to those runagates and obstinate people: for they have taken part against me, and are run a way fro me: both they, and their forefathers, Exo. 32. a unto this day. Ye I will send the unto a people that have rough visages and stiff stomachs: unto whom thou shalt say on this manner: This the LORD God himself hath spoken, that whether they be obedient or not (for it is a frauwarde household) they may know yet that there hath been a prophet among them. Therefore (thou son of man) fear them not, neither be afraid of their words: for they shall rebel against thee, jere. 1. c and despise ye. Ye thou shalt devil among scorpions: but fear not their words, be not abashed at their looks, for it is a frauwerde household. Se. that thou speak my words unto them, whether they be obedient or not, for they are obstinate. Therefore (thou son of man) obey thou all things, that I say unto thee, and be not thou stiffnecked, like as they are a stiffnecked household. Open thy mouth, and eat that I give the. So as I was looking up, behold, there was sent unto me an hand, wherein was a closed book: and the hand opened it before me, Apo. 5. a and it was written within and without, full of careful mournings: alas, and wo. The III Chapter. THen said he unto me: thou son of man, eat that, what so ever it be: Ye eat that closed book, and go thy way, jere. 15. c 4. Es. 14 ● Apo. 10. b and speak unto the children of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the book for to eat, and said unto me: Thou son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels shallbe filled with the book, that I give the. Then did I eat the book, 〈…〉 and it was in my mouth sweeter than honey. And he said unto me: thou son of man, get the soon unto the house of Israel, and show them the words, that I command thee: 〈…〉 for I send the not to a people that hath a strange, unknown or hard speech, but unto the house of Israel: Not to many nations, which have diverse speeches and hard languages, whose words thou understandest not: Nevertheless, 〈…〉 if I sent the to those people, they would follow thee: But the house of Israel will not follow thee, for they will not follow me: 〈…〉 Ye all the house of Israel have stiff foreheads and hard hearts. Behold therefore, I will make thy face prevail against their faces, and harden thy forehead against their foreheads: so that thy forehead shall be harder than an Adamant or flint stone: that thou mayest fear them that less, 〈…〉 and be less afraid of them, for they are a frauwerde household. He said moreover unto me: thou son of man, take diligent heed with thy ears, to the words that I speak unto thee, fasten them in thy heart: and go to the presoners of thy people, speak unto them, and say on this manner: Thus the LORD God hath spoken: Whether you hear, or hear not. With that, the spirit took me up. And I heard the noise of a great russhinge and removing of the most blessed glory of the LORD out of his place. I heard also the noise of the wings of the beestes, that rushed one against another, ye and the rattling of the wheels, that were by them, which russhinge & noise was very great. Now when the spirit took me up, and carried me away, 〈…〉 I went with an heavy and a sorrowful mind, but the hand of the LORD comforted me right soon. And so in the beginning of the month Abib, I came to the presoners, that dwelled by the water of Cobar, and remaynned in that place, where they were: 〈…〉 and so continued I among them seven days, being very sorry. And when the seven days were expired, the LORD said unto me: Thou son of man, 〈…〉 I have made the a watch man unto the house of Israel: therefore take good heed to the words, and give them warning at my commandment. if I say unto thee, concerning the ungodly man, that (without doubt) he must die, and thou givest him not warning, ner speakest unto him, that he may turn from his evil way, and so to live: Then shall the same ungodly man die in his own unrighteousness: but his blood will I require of thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou give warning unto the wicked, and he yet forsake not his ungodliness: then shall he die in his own wickedness, but thou hast discharged thy soul. Now if a righteous man go from his righteousness, 〈…〉 and do the thing that is evil: I will say a stumbling block before him, and he shall die, because thou hast not given him warning: Ye die shall he in his own sin, so that the virtue, which he did before, shall not be thought upon: but his blood will I require of thy hand. Nevertheless, if thou exhortest the righteous, that he sin not, and so the righteous do not sin: Then shall he live, because he hath received thy warning, and thou hast discharged thy soul. And there came the hand of the LORD upon me, and he said unto me: stand up, and go in to the field, that I may there talk with the. So when I had risen up, and go forth into the field: Behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, 〈…〉 like as I saw it afore, by the water of Cobar. 〈◊〉. 1. g Then fallen I down upon my face, and the spirit came in to me, which set me up upon my feet, and said thus unto me: Go thy way, and spar thyself in thine house. Behold (O thou son of man) there shall chains be brought for thee, to bind the with all, so that thou shalt not escape out of them. And I will make thy tongue cleave so the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and not be as a chider with them: for it is an obstinate household. But when I speak unto thee, then open thy mouth, and say: Thus saith the LORD God: who so heareth, let him hear: who so will not, let him leave: for it is a frauwarde household. The four Chapter. THou son of man: take a tile stone, and lay it before thee, and describe upon it the cite of jerusalem: how it is besieged, how bulwark and strong ditches are graven on every side of it: describe also tents, and an host of men round about it. moreover, take an iron pan, and set it betwixt the & the cite in stead of an iron brickwall, Then set thy face toward it, besiege it, and lay ordinance against it, to win it. This shall be a token unto the house of Israel. But thou shalt sleep upon thy left side, and lay the sin of the house of Israel upon the. Certain days appointed, thou shalt sleep upon that side, and bear their sins. Dan. 9 d Nevertheless I will appoint the a time (to put of their sins) and the number of the days: Three hundredth & xc. days must thou bear the wickedness of the house of Israel. When thou hast fulfilled these days, lie down again, and sleep upon thy right side xl. days, and bear the sins of the house of juda. A day for a year, a day (I say) for a year, will I ever lay upon the. Nu. 14. ● Therefore set now thy face against that besieged jerusalem, and discover thy arm, that thou mayest prophecy against it. Behold, I will say chains upon thee, that thou shalt not turn the from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege. Wherefore, take unto the wheat, barley beans, growell sede, milium and fitches': and put these together in a vessel, and make the loaves of bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou must lie upon that side: that thou mayest have bread to eat, for three hundredth and XC. days. And the meat that thou eatest, shall have a certain weight appointed: Namely, twenty sycles every day. This appointed meat shalt thou eat daily, from the beginning to the end. Thou shalt drink also a certain measure of water: Namely, the sixte part of an Hin shalt thou drink daily from the beginning to the end. Barley cakes shalt thou eat, yet shalt thou first struck them over with man's dung, that they may see it. And with that, said the LORD: Osec. 9 a Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread in the midst of the Gentiles, among whom I will scatre them. Then said I: O LORD God, Behold, my soul was yet never stained: for fro my youth up unto this hour, I did never eat of a deed carcase, or of that which was slain of wild beestes, neither came there ever any unclean flesh in my mouth. Where unto he answered me, and said: Well than, I will grant the to take cows dung, for the dung of a man, and to struck the bread over with all, before them. And he said unto me: Behold thou son of man, Eze. 5. d Eze. 14. d Re. 25. a I will minish all the provision of bread in jerusalem, so that they shall we you their bread, and eat it with scarcenesss. But as for water, they shall have a very little measure thereof, to drink. And when they have no more bred ner water, one shall be destroyed with another, and famish away for their wickedness. The V Chapter. TAke the then a sharp knife (O thou son of man) namely, a rasor. Take that, and shave the hair of thy head and beerd: Then take the scoales and the weight, and divide the hair asunder. And burn the third part thereof in the fire in the midst of the cite, and cut the other third part in pieces with a knife. jere 2. d As for the third part that remaineth, cast it in the wind, and then show the bore knife. Yet afterward take a little of the same, & bind it in they coat lap. Then take a courtesy of it, and cast it in the midst of the fire, and burn it in the fire. Out of the same fire shall there go a flame, upon the whole house of Israel. moreover, thus said the LORD God: This same is jerusalem. I set her in the midst of the heathen and nations, that are round about her, but she hath despised my judgements more than the Gentiles themselves, and broken my commandments more than the nations, that lie round about her: For they have cast out mine ordinances, and not walked in my laws. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: Levi. 28. d For so much as you with your wickedness far exceed the Heithen, that devil round about you: (For you have not walked in my laws, neither have you kept mine ordinances) Therefore thus saith the LORD God: I will also come upon thee, for in the midst of the will I sit in iugdment, in the sight of the heathen, and will handle the of such a fashion, as I never did before, and as I never will do from that time forth, and that because of all thy abominations. For in the the fathers shall be fain to eat their own sons, Deu. 28. e Trens 4. b 4. Reg. 6. f and the sons their own fathers. Soch a court will I keep in thee, and the whole remnant will I scatre in to all the winds. Wherefore, as truly as I live (saith the LORD God) saying thou hast defiled my Sanctuary, with all manner of abominations and with all thy shameful offences: For this cause will I also destroy thee▪ Mine eye shall not oversee thee, neither will I spare the. One third part within thee, 〈…〉 shall die of the pestilence and of hunger: Another third part shall be slain down round about thee, with the sword: The other third part that remaineth, will I scatre abroad toward all the winds, and draw out the sword after them. Thus will I perform my indignation and set my wrath against them, and ease myself. So that when I have fulfilled mine anger against them, they shall know, that I am the LORD, which with a fervent jealousy have spoken it. moreover I will make the waist and abhorred, before all the heathen that devil about thee, and in the sight of all them, that go by thee: so that when I punish the in my wrath, in mine anger, and with the plague of my hot displeasure: thou shalt be a very abomination, shame, a gasinge and wondringe stock, among the heathen that lie about the. Even I the LORD have spoken it, and it shall come to pass, when I shoot among them the perilous darts of hunger, which shallbe but death: 〈…〉 Ye therefore shall I shoot them, because I will destroy you. I will increase hunger, and minish all the provision of bread among you. Plagues and misery will I send you, ye and wild beestes also to destroy you. Pestilence and blood shedding shall come upon you, and the sword will I bring over you. Even I the LORD, have said it. The VI Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, turn thy face to the mountains of Israel, 〈…〉 that thou mayest prophecy unto them, and say: Hear the word of the LORD God, oh you mountains of Israel: Thus hath the LORD God spoken to the mountains, hills, valleys and dales: Behold, I will bring a sword over you, and destroy your high places: I will cast down your altars, and break down your temples. your slain men will I lay before your gods, and the deed carcases of the children of Israel will I cast before their images, your bones will I strow round about your altars, and dwelling places. The cities shallbe desolate, the hill chapels laid waist: your altars destroyed, & broken: your gods cast down, and taken away, your temples laid even with the ground, your own works clean rooted out. your slain men shall lie among you, that you may learn to know, how that I am the LORD. Those that among you have escaped the sword, will I leave among the Gentiles, for I will scatter you among the nations. And they that escape from you, 〈…〉 shall think upon me among the heathen, where they shallbe in captivity. As for that whorish and unfaithful heart of there's, wherewith they run away from, I will break it: ye & put out those eyes of there's, that commit fornication with their Idols. Then shall they be ashamed, and displeased with their selves, for the wickednesses and abominations, which they have done: and shall learn to know, how that it is not in vain, that I the LORD spoke, to bring such misery upon them. The LORD said moreover unto me: Smite thy hands together, and stamp with thy feet, and say: woe worth all the abominations and wickednesses of the house of Israel, for because of them, they shall perish with the sword, with hunger and with pestilence. Who so is far of, shall die of the pestilence: he that is nigh at hand, shall perish with the sword: and the other that are besieged, shall die of hunger. Thus will I satisfy my wrathful displeasure upon them. And so shall you learn to know, that I am the LORD, when your slain men lie among your gods, and about your altars: upon all high hills and tops of mountains, among all green trees, among all thick oaks: even in the places, where they did sacrifice to all their Idols. I will stretch mine hand out upon them, & will make the land waist: So that it shall lie desolate and void, from the wilderness of Deblat forth, thorough all their habitations: to learn them for to know, that I am the LORD. The VII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, on this manner: The I call, O thou son of man. Thus saith the LORD God unto the land of Israel: The end cometh, ye verily the end cometh upon all the four corners of the earth. But now shall the end come upon thee: for I will send my wrath upon thee, and will punish thee: according to thy ways, and reward the after all thy abominations. Mine eye shall not oversee thee, Eze. 7. b 9 c neither will I spare thee: but reward thee, according to thy ways, and declare thy abominations. Then shall you know, that I am the LORD. Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, one misery and plague shall come after another: the end is here. The end (I say) that waiteth for thee, is come already, the hour is come against thee, that dwellest in the land. The time is at hand, the day of sedition is hard by, & no glad tidings upon the mountains. Therefore, I will shortly pour out my sore displeasure over thee, and fulfil my wrath upon the. I will judge the after thy ways, and recompense the all thy abominations. Mine eye shall not oversee thee, Eze. 7. b 9 c neither will I spare thee: but reward the after thy ways, and show thy abominations: to learn you for to know, how that I am the LORD, that smiteth. Behold, the day is here, the day is come, the hour is run out, the rod flourisheth, wilfulness waxeth green, malicious violence is grown up, and the ungodly waxed to a staff. Yet shall there no complaint be made for them, ner for the trouble that shall come of these things. The time cometh, the day draweth nigh: Who so buyeth, let him not rejoice: 1. Cor. 7. ● he that selleth, let him not be sorry: for why, Trouble shall come in the midst of all rest: 2. Tess. 5. jere. 15. b so that the seller shall not come again to the bier, for neither of them both shall live. For the vision shall come so greatly over all, that it shall not be hindered: Not man also with his wickedness shall be able to save his own life. The trumpets shall you blow, and make you all ready, but no man shall go to the battle, for I am wroth with all the whole multitude. The sword shallbe without, pestilence and hunger within: so that who so is in the field, shallbe slain with the sword: and he that is in the cite, Deu. 32. d shall perish with hunger and pestilence. And such as escape and i'll from among them, shall be upon the hills, like as the doves in the field: every one shallbe afraid, because of his own wickedness. Esa 15. e All hands shallbe let down, and all knees shallbe weak as the water: they shall gird themselves with sack clot, fear shall fall upon them. Their faces shall be confounded, and their heads bald: their silver shall lie in the streets, and their gold shallbe despised: Soph. 1. c Ecc. 5 b Ye their silver and gold may not deliver them, in the day of the fearful wrath of the LORD. They shall not satisfy their hungry souls, neither fill their empty bellies therewith: For it is become their own decay thorough their wickedness: because they made thereof, not only costly jewels for their pomp and pride, Osee. 8. a but also abominable images and Idols. For this cause will I make them to be abhorred. moreover, I will give it in to the hands of the strangers to be spoiled: and to the wicked, for to be rob, and they shall destroy it. My face will I turn from them, my Treasury shall be defiled: for the thieves shall go in to it, and suspend it. I will make clean ryddaunse, for the land is whole defiled with unrightuous judgement of innocent blood, & the cite is full of abominations. Wherefore, I will bring the most cruel tyrants from among the heathen, to take their houses in possession. I will make the pomp of the proud to cease, and they shall take in their Sanctuary. When this trouble cometh, they shall seek peace, but they shall have none. One mischief and sorrow shall follow another, and one rumour shall come after another: Then shall they seek visions in vain at their prophets. The law shall be go from the priests, ere. 38. c and wisdom from the elders. The king shall mourn, the princes shallbe clothed with heaviness, and the hands of the people in the land shall tremble for fear. I will do unto them after their own ways, & according to their own judgements will I judge them: to learn them for to know, that I am the LORD. The VIII. Chapter. IT happened, that in the sixte year, the fifth day of the sixte month I sat in my house, and the LORDS of the council of juda with me: and the hand of the LORD God fallen even there upon me. And as I looked up, I saw as it were a likeness of fire from his loins downward, and from his loins upward it shined marvelous clear. Eze. 3. b 11. d This similitude stretched out an hand, and took me by the hairy locks of my head, and the spirit lift me up betwitte heaven and earth: and God brought me in a vision to jerusalem, in to the court of the inward port that lieth toward the north: there stood an image, with whom he that hath all things in his power, was very wroth. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was in the same place: 〈…〉 even as I had seen it afore in the field. And he said unto me: Thou son of man, O lift up thy eyes, and look toward the north. Then lift I up mine eyes toward the north, and behold: Beside the port northward, there was an altar made unto the image of provocation in the very entering in. And he said furthermore unto me: Thou son of man, Seist thou what these do? Seist thou the great abominations that the house of Israel commit in this place? which aught not to be done in my sanctuary? But turn the about, and thou shalt see yet greater abominations. And with that brought he me to the court gate: and when I looked, behold, there was an hole in the brickwall. Then said he unto me: Thou son of man, dig thorough the brickwall. And when I dig thorough the brickwall, behold, there was a door. And he said unto me: go thy way in, & look what wicked abominations they do there. So I went in, and saw: and behold, there were all manner images of worms & beasts, all Idols and abominations of the house of Israel painted everichone round about the brickwall. There stood also before the images lxx. lords of the council of the house of Israel: 〈…〉 and in the midst of them stood jaasanias the son of Saphan: And every one of them had a censor in his hand, & out of the incense, there went a smoke, as it had been a cloud. Then said he unto me: Thou son of man, 〈…〉 hast thou seen what the Senators of the house of Israel do secretly, every one in his chambre? For they say: Tush, the LORD seth us not, the LORD regardeth not the world. And he said unto me: Turn the yet again, and thou shalt see the great abominations that they do. And with that, he brought me to the door of the port of the lords house, toward the north. And behold, there sat women mourning for Thamus. Then said he unto me: hast thou seen this, thou son of man? Turn the about, & thou shalt see yet greater abominations. And so he brought me in to the inward court of the lords house: & behold, at the port of the lords house, betwixt the fore entry and the altar, there were five and twenty men, that turned their backs upon the Temple of the LORD, & their faces toward the east, and these worshipped the Son. And he said unto me: hast thou seen this, thou son of man? Thinketh the house of Israel, that it is but a trifle, to do these abominations here? Should they fill the land full of wickedness, and undertake to provoke me unto anger? Ye & purposely to cast up their noses upon me? Therefore will I also do some thing in my wrathful displeasure, so that mine eye shall not oversee them, neither will I spare them. 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉 1● c 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉. 3. a Ye and though they cry in mine ears with loud voice, yet will I not hear them. The IX. Chapter. HE cried also with a loud voice in mine ears, saying: Come here you rulers of the cite, every man with his weapened hand to the slaughter. Then came there six men out of the street of the upper port toward the north, and every man a weapon in his hand to the slaughter. There was one amongst them, that had on him a lynninge raiment, and a writers inkhorn by his side. These went in, and stood beside the brazen altar: 〈◊〉 ●0. e 〈◊〉 9 c 〈◊〉 1. b for the glory of the LORD was go away from the Cherub, and was come down to the threshold of the house, & he called the man, that had the linning raiment upon him, and the writer's inkhorn by his side, and the LORD said unto him: Go thy way thorough the cite of jerusalem, and set this mark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thau upon the foreheads of them, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that mourn, and are sorry for all the abominations, that be done therein. And to the other, he said that I might hear: Go you after him thorough the cite, slay, oversee none, 〈◊〉 2. a spare none: Kill, & destroy both old men and young, maidens, children, and wives. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Butt as for those, that have this mark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thau upon them: see that you touch them not, and begin at my Sanctuary. 〈◊〉 25. d 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉. 4. c Than they began at the elders, which were in the Temple, for he had said unto them: When you have defiled the Temple, and filled the court with the slain, then go your way forth. So they went out and slew down thorough the cite. Now when they had done the slaughter, & I yet escaped: I fallen down upon my face, & cried, saying: O LORD, will't thou then destroy all the residue of Israel, in thy sore displeasure, that thou hast poured upon jerusalem? Then said he unto me: The wickedness of the house of Israel and juda is very great: so that the land is full of blood, job 22. b Esa. 29. c Eccin. 23. c Ezec. 7. a and the cite full of unfaithfulness: For they say: Tush, the LORD regardeth not the earth, he saith us not. Therefore will I upon them, mine eye shall not oversee them, neither will I spare them, but will recompense their wickedness upon their heads. And behold, the man that had the linning raiment upon him, and the writers, ink horn by his side: told all the matter how it happened, and said: LORD, as thou hast commanded me, so have I done. The X. Chapter. ANd as I looked, behold, In the firmament that was above the Cherubins there appeared the similitude of a stolen of Saphir upon them: Eze. 9 a Then said he that sat therein, to him that had the linning raiment upon him: Creep in between the wheels that are under the Cherubins, and take thy hand full of hot coals out from between the Cherubins, and cast them over the cite. And he crept in, that I might se. Now the Cherubins stood upon the right side of the house, when the man went in, and the cloud filled the ynnermer court. 2. Par. 7 a But the glory of the LORD removed from the Cherubins, and came upon the threshold of the house: so that the Temple was full of clouds, and the court was full of the shine of the lords glory. Ye and the sound of the Cherubins wings was herd in to the forecourte, like as it had been the voice of the almighty God, when he speaketh. Now when he had bidden the man that was clothed in linning, to go and take the hot coals from the midst of the wheels, which were under the Cherubins: he went and stood beside the wheels. Then the one Cherub reached forth this hand from under the Cherubins, unto the fire that was between the Cherubins, and took thereof, and gave it unto him (that had on the linning raiment) in his hand: which took it, and went out. And under the wings of the Cherubins, there appeared the likeness of a man's hand: I saw also four wheels beside the Cherubins, so that by every Cherub there stood a wheel. And the wheels were (to look upon) after the fashion of the precious stone of Tharsis: Yet (unto the sight) were they fashioned & like, as if one wheel had been in another. When they went forth, they went all iiij together, not turning about in their going: But where the first went, thither went they after also, so that they turned not about in their going. ●ze. 1. b Their whole bodies, their backs, their hands & wings, ye & the wheels also, were all full of eyes round about them all four. And I heard him call the wheels, Galgal (that is) a round boull. Every one of them had four faces: so that the one face was the face of a Cherub, the second of a man, the third of a lion, the fourth of an Eagle, & they were lifted up above. This is the be'st, that I saw at the water of Cobar. Now when the Cherubins went, the wheels went with them: & when the Cherubins shaken their wings to lift themselves upward, the wheels remained not behind, but were with them also. Shortly, when they stood, these stood also: And when they were lift up, the wheels were lift up also with them, for the spirit of life was in the wheels. ●ze. 11. ᵈ ●. a Then the glory of the LORD was lift up from the threshold of the temple, and remained upon the Cherubins: And the Cherubins flackred with their wings, and lift themselves up from the earth: so that I saw when they went, and the wheels with them. And they stood at the east side of the port that is in the house of the LORD. So the glory of the LORD was upon them. This is the be'st that I saw under the God of Israel, by the water of Cobar. And I perceived, that it was the Cherubins. Every one had four faces, & every one four wings, & under their wings, as it were men's hands. Now the figure of their faces was, even as I had seen them, by the water of Cobar, & so was the countenance of them: Every one in his going went strait forward. The XI. Chapter. moreover, the spirit of the LORD lift me up, & brought me unto the east port of the lords house. And behold, there were twenty-five men under the door: among whom I saw jaasanias the son of Asur, & Pheltias the son of Banias, the rulers of the people. Then said the LORD unto me: Thou son of man: These men imagine mischief, and a wicked council take they in this cite, saying: Tush, there is no destruction at hand, let us build houses: This jerusalem is the cauldron, & we be the flesh. Therefore shalt thou prophecy unto them, ye prophecy shalt thou unto them, O son of man. And with that, fallen the spirit of the LORD upon me, and said unto me: Speak, thus saith the LORD: On this manner have ye spoken (O you house of Israel) and I know the imaginations of your hearts. Many one have you murthured in this cite, & filled the streets full of the slain. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: The slain men that you have laid on the ground in this cite, are the flesh, & this cite is the cauldron: 〈…〉 But I will bring you out of it: you have drawn out the sword, even so will I also bring a sword over you, saith the LORD God. I will drive you out of this cite and deliver you in to your enemy's hand, & will condemn you. You shall be slain in all the coasts of Israel, I will be avenged of you: to learn you for to know, that I am the LORD. This cite shall not be your cauldron, neither shall you be the flesh therein: but in the coasts of Israel will I punish you, that you may know, that I am the LORD: in whose commandments you have not walked, ner kept his laws: 〈…〉 but have done after the customs of the heathen, that lie round about you. Now when I preached, Pheltias the son of Banias died. Then fallen I down upon my face, & cried with a loud voice: O LORD God, will't thou then utterly destroy all the remnant in Israel? And so the word of the LORD came to me on this manner: Thou son of man: Thy brethren, thy kinsfolk, & the whole house of juda, which devil at jerusalem, say: They be go far from the LORD, but the land is given us in possession. Therefore tell them, thus saith the LORD God: I will send you far of among the Gentiles, & scatre you among the nations, & I will hallow you but a little, in the lands where you shall come. Tell them also, thus saith the LORD God: I will gather you again out of the nations, & bring you from the countries where you be scattered, & will give you the land of Israel again: & thither shall you come. And as for all impediments, & all your abominations: I will take them away. And I will give you one heart, & will plant a new spirit within your bowels. 〈…〉 That stony heart will I take out of your body, & give you a fleshy heart: that you may walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, & do them: that you may be my people, and I your God. But look whose hearts are disposed to follow their abominations and wicked livings: Those men's deeds will I bring upon their own heads, saith the LORD God. After this did the Cherubins lift up their wings, and the wheels went with them, and the glory of the LORD was upon them. 〈…〉 So the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the cite, 〈…〉 & stood upon the mount of the cite toward the east. But the wind took me up, & in a vision (which came by the spirit of God) it brought me again in to Caldea among the presoners. Then the vision that I had seen, vanyshed a way fro me. So I spoke unto the presoners, all the words of the LORD, which he had showed me. The XII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, 〈…〉 saying: Thou son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a frauwerde household: which have eyes to see, & yet see not: ears have they to hear, and yet hear they not, for they are an obstinate household. Therefore (O thou son of man) make thy gear ready to flit, and go forth by fair day light, that they may se. Ye even in their sight shalt thou go from thy place to another place: if peradventure they will consider, that they be an unobedient household. Thy gear that thou hast made ready to flit withal, shalt thou bear out by fair day light, that they may see: & thou thy self shalt go forth also at even in their sight, as a man doth when he flitteth. Dig thorough the brickwall, that they may see, and bear thorough it the same thing, that thou tookest up in their sight. As for thyself, thou shalt go forth in the dark. Hide thy face that thou see not the earth, for I have made the a show token unto the house of Israel. Now as the LORD commanded me, so I did: the gear that I had made ready, brought I out by day. At even I broke down an hole thorough the brickwall with my hand: & when it was dark, I took the gear upon my shoulders, and bore them out in their sight. And in the morning, came the word of the LORD unto me, saying: Thou son of man, if Israel, that frauwerde household axe thee, and say: what dost thou there? Then tell them: Thus saith the LORD God: This punishment toucheth the chief rulers at jerusalem, and all the house of Israel, that devil among them: Tell them: I am your show token: like as I have done, so shall it happen unto you: Flit shall you also, and go in to captivity. 〈◊〉 21. b The chiefest that is among you, shall lad his shoulders in the dark, and get him away. He shall break down the brickwall, to carry stuff there thorough: He shall cover his face, that he see not the ground, with his eyes. My line will I spread out upon him, and catch him in my net, Eze. 17. c 3●. a and carry him to Babylon, in the land of the Caldees: which he shall not see, & yet shall he die there. As for all his helpers, and all his hosts that be about him: I will scatre them toward all the winds, and draw out a sword after them. So when I have scattered them among the heathen, and strewed them in the lands: Eze. 1●. b b. 22 they shall know, that I am the LORD. But, I will leave a little number of them, from the sword, hunger & pestilence: to tell all their abominations among the heathen, where they come: that they may know, how that I am the LORD. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me saying: Thou son of man: with a fearful trembling shalt thou eat thy bread, with carefulness & sorrow shalt thou drink thy water. And unto the people of the land, speak thou on this manner: Thus saith the LORD God, to them that devil in jerusalem, and to the land of Israel: You shall eat your bread with sorrow, and drink your water with heaviness: Ye the land with the fullness thereof shallbe laid waist, for the wickedness of them that devil therein. And the cities that now be well occupied, shall be void, and the land desolate: that you may know, how that I am the LORD. Yet came the word of the LORD unto me again, saying: Thou son of man, what manner of byword is that, Ro. 2. a which you use in the land of Israel, saying: Tush, saying that the days are so slack in coming, 2. Pet. 3. b all the visions are of none effect: Tell them therefore, thus saith the LORD God: I will make that byword to cease, so that it shall no more be commonly used in Israel. Butler say this unto them: The days are at hand, that every thing which hath been prophesied, shallbe fulfilled. There shall no vision be in vain, neither any prophecy fail among the children of Israel: For it is I the LORD, that speak it: and what so ever I the LORD speak, it shall be performed, and not be slack in coming. Ye even in your days (O you frauwarde household) will I devise some thing, & bring it to pass, saith the LORD God. And the word of the LORD came unto me saying: Behold, thou son of man: The house of Israel say in this manner: Tush, as for the vision that he hath seen, it will be many a day or it come to pass: Is it far of yet, the thing that he prophesieth. Therefore say unto them: Thus saith the LORD God: All my words shall no more be slack: Look what I speak, that same shall come to pass, saith the LORD. The XIII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, Speak prophecy against those prophets, that preach in Israel: & sayeth thou unto them that prophecy out of their own her●es: Hear the word of the LORD, thus saith the LORD God: Eze. 34. a Woe be unto those foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and speak, where they see nothing. O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes upon the dry field: For they stand not in the gaps, neither make they an hedge for the house of Israel, jere. 27. a that men might abide the apparel in the day of the LORD. Vain things they see, & tell lies, to maintain their preachings withal. The LORD (say they) hath spoken it, when in very deed the LORD hath not sent them. Vain visions have you seen, & spoken false prophecies. when you say: the LORD hath spoken it, where as I never said it. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: Because your words be vain, & you seek out lies: Behold, I will upon you, saith the LORD. Mine hands shall come upon the prophets, that look out vain things, and preach lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, ner written in the book of the house of Israel, neither shall they come in the land of Israel: that you may know, how that I am the LORD God. And that for this cause: jere. 8. b they have deceived my people, & told them of peace, where no peace was. One setteth up a brickwall, & they daub it with louse clay. Matt. 7. c Therefore tell them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall. For there shall come a great shuwer of rain, great stones shall fall upon it, & a fore storm of wind shall break it, so shall the brickwall come down. Shall it not then be said unto you: where is now the mortar, that you daubed it withal? Therefore thus saith the LORD God: I will break out in my wrathful displeasure with a stormy wind, so that in mine anger there shall come a mighty shuwer of rain, & hale stones in my wrath, to destroy withal. As for the brickwall, that you have daubed with untempered mortar, I will break it down, & make it even with the ground: so that the foundation thereof shall remove, & it shall fall ye & you yourselves shall perish in the midst thereof: to learn you for to know, that I am the LORD. Thus will I perform my wrath upon this brickwall, & upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar, and then will I say unto you: The brickwall is go, & the daubers are away. These are the prophets of Israel, which prophecy unto the cite of jerusalem, & look out visions of peace for them, where as no peace is, saith the LORD God. Wherefore (oh thou son of men,) set thy face against the daughters of the people, which prophecy out of their own hearts: & speak thou prophecy against them, & say: Thus saith the LORD God: Woe be unto you, that sow pilowes under all arm holes, and bolsters under the heads both of young and old, to catch souls withal. For when you have got the souls of my people in your captivity, 〈…〉 you promise them life, and dishonour me to my people, for an handful of barley, & for a piece of bread: when you kill the souls of them that die not, & promise life to them, that live not: Thus you dissemble with my people, that believeth your lies. Wherefore thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will also upon the pillows, wherewith you catch the souls in flying: then will I take from your arms, & let the souls go, that you catch in flying. your bolsters also will I tear in pieces, & deliver my people out of your hand: so that they shall come no more in your hands to be spoiled, & you shall know, that I am the LORD. seeing that with your lies you discomfort the heart of the righteous, whom I have not discomforted: Again: 〈…〉 For so much as you courage the hand of the wicked, so that he may not turn from his wicked way, & live: therefore shall you spy out no more vanity, ner prophecy your own gessinges: for I will deliver my people out of your hand, that you may know, how that I am the LORD. The XIIII. Chapter. THere resorted unto me certain of the elders of Israel, & sat down by me, 〈…〉 Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying: Thou son of man, these men bear their Idols in their hearts, & go purposely upon the stumbling block of their own wickedness: how dare they then are council at me? Therefore speak unto them, & say: thus saith the LORD God: Every man of the house of Israel that beareth his Idols in his heart, purposing to stumble in his own wickedness, and cometh to a prophet, to inquire any thing at me by him: unto that man will I the LORD myself give answer, according to the multitude of his Idols: that the house of Israel may be snared in their own hearts, because they be clean go fro me, for their Idols sakes. Wherefore, tell the house of Israel: thus saith the LORD God: 〈…〉 Be converted, forsake your Idols, and turn your faces from all your abominations. For every man (whether he be of the house of Israel, or a stranger, that sogeourneth in Israel) which departeth fro me, and carrieth Idols in his heart, purposing to go still stomblinge in his own wickedness, and cometh to a prophet, for to axe council at me thorough him: unto that man will I the LORD give answer, by mine own self. I will set my face against that man, and will make him to be an example for other, ye and a common byword: and will rote him out of my people, that he may know, how that I am the LORD. 〈…〉 And if that prophet be deceived, when he telleth him a word: then I the LORD myself have deceived that prophet, and will stretch forth mine hand upon him, to rote him out of my people of Israel: and they both shall be punished for their wickedness. according to the sin of him that axeth, shall the sin of the prophet be: that the house of Israel be led no more fro me thorough error, and be no more defiled in their wickedness: but that they may be my people, and I their God, saith the LORD God. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, when the land sinneth against me, and goeth forth in wickedness: I will stretch out mine hand upon it, and destroy all the provision of their bread, and send dearth upon them, to destroy man & be'st in the land. 〈…〉 And though No, Daniel and job these three men were among them, 〈…〉 yet shall they in their righteousness deliver but their own souls, saith the LORD God. If I bring noisome beestes in to the land, to waste it up, and it be so desolate, that no man may go therein for beestes: if these three men also were in the land, as truly as I live (saith the LORD God) they shall save neither sons ner daughters, but be only delivered themselves: and as for the land, it shall be waist. Or, if I bring a sword in to the land, and charge it to go thorough the land: so that I slay down man and be'st in it, and if these three men were therein: As truly as I live (saith the LORD God) they shall deliver neither sons ner daughters, but only be saved themselves. If I send a pestilence in to the land, and pour out my sore indignation upon it in blood, so that I rote out of it both man and be'st, and if No, Daniel and job were therein: As truly as I live (saith the LORD God) they shall deliver neither sons ner daughters, but save their own souls in their righteousness. moreover, thus saith the LORD God: Though I send my four trublous plagues upon jerusalem: the sword, hunger, jere. 27. b perilous beestes and pestilence, to destroy man and be'st out of it: yet shall there a remnant be saved therein, which shall bring forth their sons and daughters. Behold, they shall come forth unto you, and you shall see their way, and what they take in hand, & you shall be comforted, as touching all the plagues that I have brought upon jerusalem. They shall comfort you, when you see their way and works: and you shall know, how that it is not without a cause, that I have done so against jerusalem, as I did, saith the LORD God. The XU. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man: What cometh of the vine among all other trees? and of the wine stock, among all other timber of the grove? Do men take wood of it, to make any work withal? Or may there a nail be made of it, to hang any thing upon? Behold, it is cast in the fire to be brent, the fire consumeth both the ends of it, the midst is brent to aszshes. Is it meet then for any work? No. seeing then, that it was meet for no work, being whole: much less may there any thing be made of it, when the fire hath consumed and brent it. And therefore thus saith the LORD God: Like as I cast the vine in to the fire for to be brent, as other trees of the wood: Even so will I do with them that devil in jerusalem, and set my face against them: they shall go out from the fire, and yet the fire shall consume them. Eze. 1●. ● 2●. b Then shall you know, that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them, and make the land waist: because they have so sore offended, saith the LORD God. The XVI. Chapter. Again, the word of LORD spoke unto me, saying: Thou son of man, show the cite of jerusalem their abominations, and say: thus saith the LORD God unto jerusalem: Thy progeny and kindred came out of the land of Canaan, thy father was an Amorite, thy mother a Cethite. In the day of thy birth when thou wast born, the string of thy navel was not cut of: thou wast not bathed in water to make the clean▪ Thou wast neither rubbed with salt, ner swedled in clouts: Not man regarded the so much, as to do any of these things for thee, or to show the such favour, but thou wast utterly cast out upon the field, ye despised waist thou in the day of thy birth. Then came I by thee, and saw the trodden down in thy own blood, & said unto thee: thou shalt be purged from thy own blood, from thy own blood (I say) shalt thou be cleansed. Esa. 5. a jere. 11. c So I planted thee, as the blossom of thy field: thou art grown up, & waxed great: thou hast got a marvelous pleasant beauty, thy breasts are come up, thy hair is goodly grown, where as thou wast naked and bore afore. Now when I went by thee, & looked upon thee: behold, thy time was come, ye even the time to woo the. Then spread I my clotheses over thee, to cover thy dishonesty: Ye I made an oath unto thee, jere. 3. a Ose. 2. c & married myself with thee (saith the LORD God) & so thou becamest mine own. Then waszshed I the with water, & purged thy blood from the. I anointed the with oil, I gave the change of raymentes, I made the shues of Taxus leather: I gyrthed the about with white silk, I clothed the with kerchues, I decked the with costly apparel, I put rings upon thy fingers: a chain about thy neck, spanges upon thy forehead, ear rings upon thine ears, & set a beautiful crown upon thy head. Thus wast thou decked with silver & gold, & thy raiment was of fine white silk, of needle work & of diverse colours. Thou diddest eat nothing but symnels, honey & oil: marvelous goodly waist thou & beautiful, ye even a very Queen wast thou: In so much, that thy beauty was spoken of among the heathen, for thou wast excellent in my beauty, which I put upon thee, saith the LORD God. But thou hast put confidence in thy own beauty, & played the harlot, when thou hadst got the a name. Thou hast committed whoredom, with all that went by thee, & hast fulfilled their desires: Ye thou hast taken thy garments of diverse colours, & decked thy altars therewith, 〈…〉 where upon thou mightest fulfil thy whoredom, of such a fashion, as never was done, ner shallbe. 〈…〉 The goodly ornaments & jewels which I gave the of mine own gold and silver, hast thou taken, & made the men's images thereof, and committed whoredom withal. Thy garments of diverse colours hast thou taken, and decked them therewith: mine oil & incense hast thou set before them. My meat which I gave thee, as symnels, oil & honey: (to feed the withal) that hast thou set before them, for a sweet savour. And this came also to pass, saith the LORD God▪ Thou hast taken thy own sons & daughters, whom thou hadst begotten unto me▪ 〈…〉 and these hast thou offered up unto them, to be their meat. Is this but a small whoredom of thy (thinkest thou) that thou slayest my children, and givest them over, to be br●● unto them? And yet in all thy abominations and whoredom, thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, how naked and bore thou wast at that time, & trodden down in thy own blood. After all these thy wickednesses (woe woe unto thee, saith the LORD) thou hast builded thy stews and bredel houses in every place: ye at the head of every street hast thou builded the an altar. Thou hast made thy beauty to be abhorred: thou hast laid out thy legs to every one that came by, and multiplied thy whoredom. 〈…〉 Thou hast committed fornication with the Egipcians thy neighbours, which had much flesh: & thus hast thou used thy whoredom, to anger me. Behold, I will stretch out mine hand over thee, and will minish thy store of food, and deliver the over in to the wills of the Philistynes thy enemies, which are ashamed of thy abominable way. 〈…〉 Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, which might not satisfy thee: Ye thou hast played the harlot, & not had enough. Thus hast thou still committed thy fornication from the land of Canaan unto the Caldees, and yet thy lust not satisfied. How should I circumcide thy heart (saith the LORD God) seeing thou dost all these things, thou precious whore: building thy stews at the head of every street, and thy brodel houses in all places? Thou hast not been as an other whore, that maketh booste of her winning: but as a wife that breaketh wedlock, & taketh other in stead of her huszbonde. Gifts are given to all other whores, but thou givest rewards unto all thy lovers: & offrest them gifts, to come unto the out of all places, & to commit fornicacio with the. It is come to pass with the in thy whoredoms, contrary to the use of other women: ye there hath no such fornication been committed after thee, seeing that thou profrest gifts unto other, & no reward is given thee: this is a contrary thing. Therefore hear the word of the LORD, oh thou harlot: Thus saith the LORD God: For so much as thou hast spent thy money, & discovered thy shame, thorough thy whoredom with all thy lovers, and with all the Idols of thy abominations in the blood of thy children, whom thou hast given them: 〈…〉 Behold therefore, I will gather together all thy lovers, unto whom thou hast made thyself common: ye & all them whom thou favourest, and every one that thou hatest: 〈…〉 and will discover thy shame before them, that they all may see thy filthiness. moreover, I will judge the as a breaker of wedlock and a murderer, and recompense the thy own blood in wrath and jealousy. I will give the over in to their power, that shall break down thy stews, and destroy thy brodel houses: they shall stripe the out of thy clotheses, all thy fair & beautiful jewels shall they take from thee, and so let the sit naked & bore: 〈…〉 Ye they shall bring the common people upon thee, which shall stone thee, & slay the down with their sweardes. They shall burn up thy houses, and punish the in the sight of many women. Thus will I make thy whoredom to cease, so that thou shalt give out no more rewards. Should I make my wrath to be still, take my jealousy from thee, be content, and no more to be displeased? seeing thou remember'st not the days of thy youth, but hast provoked me to wrath in all these things? Behold therefore, I will bring thy own ways upon thy head, saith the LORD God: how be it, I never did unto thee, according to thy wickedness and all thy abominations. Behold, all they that use common proverbs, shall use this proverb also against thee: Soch a mother, such a daughter. Thou art even thy mothers own daughter, that hath cast of her houszbonde and her children: Ye thou art the sister of thy sisters, which forsook their huszbondes and their children. 〈…〉 Your mother is a Cethite, and your father an Amorite. Thy elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell upon thy left hand. But thy youngest sister that dwelleth on the right hand, is Sodoma and her daughters. Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, ner done after their abominations: But in all thy ways thou hast been more corrupt than they. As truly as I live, Gen. 18. ● saith the LORD God: Sodoma thy sister with her daughters, hath not done so evil, as thou and thy daughters. Behold, the sins of thy sister Sodoma were these: Pride, fullness of meat, abundance and Idilnesse: these things had she and her daughters. Besides that, they reached not their hand to the poor and needy, but were proud, and did abominable things before me: Gene. 19 therefore I took them away, when I had seen it. jere. 3 c neither hath Samaria done half of thy sins, ye thou hast exceaded them in wickedness: In so much that in comparison of all the abominations which thou hast done, thou hast made thy sister's good women. Therefore bear thy own shame, thou that in sin hast overcome thy sisters: seeing thou hast done so abominably, that they were better than thou. Be ashamed therefore (I say) and bear thy own confusion, thou that makest thy sister's good women. As for their captivity, namely the captivity of Sodoma and her dougters: the captivity of Samaria and her daughters: I will bring them again, so will I also bring again thy captivity among them: that thou mayest take thy own confusion upon thee, and be ashamed of all that thou hast done, and to comfort them. Thus thy sisters (namely) Sodoma and her daughters: Samaria and her daughters with the self & thy daughters, shallbe brought again to your old estate. When thou wast in thy pride, and before thy wickedness came to light: thou wouldest not hear speak of thy sister Sodoma, until the time that the Syrians with all their towns, and the philistines with all that lie round about them, brought the to shame and confusion: that thou mightest bear thy own filthiness and abomination, saith the LORD. For thus saith the LORD God: I should (by right) deal with thee, as thou hast done. Thou hast despised the oath, and broken the covenant. Nevertheless, I will remember the covenant, that I made with them thy youth, in so much that it shall be an everlasting covenant: So that thou also remember thy ways, and be ashamed of them: then shalt thou receive of me thy elder and younger sisters, whom I will make thy daughters, and that beside thy covenant. 〈◊〉. 31. c 〈◊〉. 8. b And so I will renew my covenant with thee, that thou mayest know, that I am the LORD: that thou mayest think upon it, be ashamed, and excuse thy own confusion no more: when I have forgiven thee, all that thou hast done, saith the LORD God. The XVII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man: put forth a dark speaking and a parable, 〈◊〉. 24. a unto the house of Israel, and say: Thus saith the LORD God: 〈◊〉. 7. a There came a great Eagle with great wings, ye with mighty long wings, and full of feathers of diverse colours, upon the mount of Libanus, and took a branch from a cedar tree, and broke of the top of his twig, and carried it in to the land of Canaan, and set it in a cite of merchants. He took also a branch of the land, and planted it in a fruitful ground, he brought it unto great waters, & set it as a will you tree thereby. Then did it grow, and was a great wine stock, but low by the ground: thus there came of it a vine, and it brought forth blossoms, & spread out branches. But there was another Eagle, a great one, which had great wings and many feathers: and behold, the rotes of this vine had an hunger after him, and spread out his branches toward him, to water his fruits: Nevertheless it was planted upon a good ground beside great waters: so that (by reason) it should have brought out branches and fruit, and have been a goodly vine. Speak thou therefore, thus saith the LORD God: Shall this vine prosper? shall not his rotes be pluck out, his fruit broken of, his green branches wythereed and fade away? ye without either strong arm or many people, shall it be plucked up by the rotes. Behold, it was planted: shall it prosper therefore? Shall it not be dried up and withered, ye even in the shutinge out of his blossoms, as soon as the east wind bloweth? moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me saying: ●. Re. 24. c Speak to that frauwarde household: know you not, what these things do signify? Tell them: Behold, the king of Babylon came to jerusalem, and took the king & his princes, and led them to Babylon. He took of the kings seed, and made a covenant with him, and took an oath of him: The princes of the land took he with him also, that the land might be held in subjection, and not to rebel, but keep the covenant, and fulfil it. But he fallen from him, & sent his Embassitours in to Egipte, that he might have horses & much people. Should that prosper? Should he be kept safe, that doth such things? Or should he escape, that breaketh his covenant? As truly as I live, saith the LORD God: He shall die at Babylon, in the place where the king dwelleth, that made him king: whose oath he hath despised, and whose covenant he hat broken. neither shall Pharaoh with his great host and multitude of people, maintain him in the war: when they cast up ditches, and set up bulwark to destroy much people. For seeing he hath despised the oath, and broken the covenant (where as he yet gave his hand thereupon) and done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: As truly as I live, I will bring mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, upon his own head. 〈…〉 I will cast my net about him, and catch him in my yarn. To Babylon will I carry him, there will I punish him, because of the great offence that he made me. As for those that i'll from him out of the host, they shallbe slain with the sword. The residue shallbe scattered toward all the winds: and you shall know, that I the LORD have spoken it. Thus saith the LORD God: I will also take a branch from an high cedar tree, and will set it, and take the uppermost twig, that yet is but tender, and plant it upon an high hill: Namely, upon the high hill of Zion will I plant it: that it may bring forth twygges, and give fruit, and be a great cedar tree: so that all manner of fowls may bide in it, and make their nests under the shadow of his branches. And all the trees of the field shall know, that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, and set the low tree up: that I have dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree to flourish: Even I the LORD that spoke it, have also brought it to pass. The XVIII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, on this manner: what mean you by this common proverb, that you use in the land of Israel, saying: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, 〈…〉 and the children's teeth are set on edge? As truly as I live, saith the LORD God, you shall use this by word no more in Israel. 〈◊〉. 23. a Behold, all souls are mine. Like as the father is mine, so is the son mine also. The soul that sinneth, 〈◊〉. 1●. a shall die. If a man be godly, and do the thing that is equal & right, (he eateth not upon the hills: he lifteth not his eyes up to the Idols of Israel: he defileth not his neighbours wife: he meddleth with no menstruous woman: he grieveth no body: he giveth his debtor his pledge again: he taketh none other man's good by violence: he parteth his meet with the hungry: he clotheth the naked: he dareth nothing upon usury: 〈◊〉 25. c 〈◊〉 ●4. a he taketh nothing over: he withdraweth his hand from doing wrong: he handleth faith fully betwixt man & man: he walbeth in my commandments, & keepeth my laws, 〈…〉 & performeth them faithfully:) This is a righteous man, he shall surely live, saith the LORD God. If he now get a son, that is a murderer, a shedder of blood: if he do one of these things (though he do not all) he eateth upon the hills: 〈◊〉 2. b he defileth his neighbours wife: he grieveth the poor and needy: he robbeth and spoileth: he giveth not the debtor his pledge again: he lifteth up his eyes unto Idols, & meddleth with abominable things: he dareth upon usury, and taketh more over. Shall this man live? He shall not live. seeing he hath done all these abominations, he shall die: his blood shallbe upon him. Now if this man get a son also, that seith all this father's sins, which he hath done: and fears, neither doth such like: Namely, he eateth not upon the mountains: he lifteth not his eyes up to the Idols of Israel: he defileth not his neighbours wife: he vexeth no man: he keepeth no man's pledge: he neither spoileth, ner robbeth any man: he dealeth his meat with the hungry: he clotheth the naked: he oppresseth not the poor: he receiveth no usury, ner any thing over: he keepeth my laws, and walketh in my commandments: This man shall not die in his father's sin, but shall live without fail. As for his father: because he oppressed and spoiled his brother, and did wickedly among his people: lo, he is deed in his own sin. And yet say you: Wherefore then should not this son bear his father's sin? Therefore: because the son hath done equity and right, hath kept all my commandments, and done them: therefore, shall he live in deed. 〈◊〉 24. c 〈◊〉 14. c The same soul that sinneth, shall die. The son shall not bear the father's offence, nenether shall the father bear the sons offence. 2. Par. 25. ● jere. 18. a Ro. 1. b Abac. 2. ● The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself also. But if the ungodly will turn away, from all his sins that he hath done, and keep all my commandments, and do the thing that is equal & right: doubtless he shall live, and not die. As for all his sins that he did before, they shall not be thought upon: but in his righteousness that he hath done, he shall live. For have I any pleasure in the death of a sinner, saith the LORD God? 2. Pet. 3. b but rather that he convert, and live? Again: if the righteous turn away from his righteousness, and do iniquity, according to all the abominations, that the wicked man doth: shall he live? All the righteousness that he hath done, shall not be thought upon: but in the fault that he hath offended withal, and in the sin that he hath done, he shall die. And yet you say: Tush, Eze. 33. c the way of the LORD is not indifferent. Hear therefore you house of Israel: Is not my way right? Or, are not your ways rather wicked? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and meddleth with ungodliness: he must die therein: Ye for the unrighteousness that he hath done, must he die. Again: when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness, that he hath done, Esa. 55. b and doth the thing which is equal and right: he shall save his soul alive. For in so much as he remembreth himself, and turneth him from all the ungodliness, that he hath used, he shall live, and not die. And yet saith the house of Israel: Tush, the way of the LORD is not equal. Are my ways unright, oh you house of Israel? Are not your ways rather unequal? As for me, I will judge every man, according to his ways, O you house of Israel, saith the LORD God. Wherefore, be converted, Esa. 55. b Matt. 3. ● and turn you clean from all your wickedness, so shall there no sin do you harm. Cast away from you all your ungodliness, that you have done: make you new hearts and a new spirit. Eze. 11. d 33. c 36. c Wherefore will you die, O you house of Israel? saying I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the LORD God. Turn you then, and you shall live. The XIX. Chapter. But mourn thou for the princes of Israel, & say: Wherefore lay thy mother that lioness, among the lions? & nourished her young one's among the lions whelps? One of her whelps she brought up, & it become a lion: it learned to spoil, and to devour folk. The heathen heard of him, & took him in their nets, & brought him in chains unto the land of Egipte. Now when the dam saw, that all her hope & comforth was away, she took another of her whelps, and made a lion of him: which went among the lions, & become a fierce lion: learned to spoil and to devour folk: he destroyed their palaces, and made their city's waist: In so much that the whole land and every thing therein, were utterly desolate, thorough the very voice of his roaring. Then came the heathen together on every side out of all countries against him, laid their nets for him, and took him in their pit. ●e. 25. a ●e 39 c 〈◊〉 a So they bound him with chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: which put him in preson, that his voice should no more be herd upon the mountains of Israel. As for thy mother, she is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the water side: her fruits and branches are grown out of many waters: her stalks were so strong, that men might have made staves thereof for officers: she grew so high in her stalks. So when men saw that she exceaded the heith and multitude of her branches, she was rooted out in displeasure, and cast down to the ground. The East wind dried up her fruit, her strong stalks were broken of, withered and brent in the fire. But now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground. And there is a fire go out of her stalks, which hath brent up her branches and her fruit: so that she hath no more strong stalks, to be staves for officers. This is a piteous and miserable thing. The XX. Chapter. IN in the xvij year the x day of the five month, ●e. 14. a it happened, that certain of the elders of Israel came unto me for to axe council at the LORD, and sat them down by me. Then came the word of the LORD unto me on this manner: Thou son of man: Speak to the elders of Israel, and say unto them: Thus saith the LORD God: Are you come hither to axe any thing at me? As truly as I live (saith the LORD,) I will give you no answer. Will't thou not reprove them (thou son of man) will't thou not reprove them? Show them the abominations of their forefathers, & tell them: Thus saith the LORD God: 〈◊〉. 3. b In the day when I chose Israel, and lift up mine hand upon the seed of the house of jacob, & showed myself unto them in the land of Egipte: Ye when I lift up mine hand over them, and said: I am the LORD your God, even in the day that I lift up mine hand over them, to bring them out of the land of Egipte: in to a land that I had provided for them, which floweth with milk and honey, and is a pleasant land among all other: Then said I unto them: 〈…〉 Cast away every man the abominations that he hath before him, and defile not yourselves with the Idols of Egipte, for I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not follow me: to cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and to forsake the Idols of Egipte. Then I made me to pour my indignation over them, and to satisfy my wrath upon them: ye even in the midst of the land of Egipte. But I would not do it, for my name's sake: that it should not be unhallowed before the heathen, among whom they dwelled, and among whom I showed myself unto them, that I would bring them out of the land of Egipte. Now when I had carried them out of the land of Egipte, and brought them in to the wilderness: I gave them my commandments, 〈…〉 & showed them my laws: which who so keepeth shall live in them. I gave them also my holy days, to be a token betwixt me and them, and thereby to know, that I am the LORD, which halloweth them. And yet the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness, they would not walk in my commandments, they have cast away my laws: (which who so keepeth should live in them,) and my Sabbath days have thy greatly unhallowed. Then I made me to pour out my indignation upon them, 〈…〉 & to consume them in the wilderness. Yet I would not do it, for my name's sake: jest it should be dishonoured before the Heithen, from the which I had carried them away. But I sworn unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land, which I gave them: a land that floweth with milk & honey, & is a pleasure of all lands: & that because they refused my laws, & walked not in my commandments, but had unhallowed my Sabbathes, for their heart was go after their Idols. Nevertheless mine eye spared them, so that I would not utterly slay them, & consume them in the wilderness. moreover, I said unto their sons in the wilderness: 〈…〉 walk not in the statutes of your forefathers, keep not their ordinances, and defile not yourselves with their Idols, for I am the LORD your God. But walk in my statutes, keep my laws & do them, hallow my Sabbathes: 〈◊〉. 16. e 〈◊〉. 32. c for they are a token betwixt me & you, that you may know, how that I am the LORD. 〈…〉 Notwithstondinge, their sons rebelled against me also: they walked not in my statutes, they kept not my laws to fulfil them (which he that doth shall live in them) neither hallowed they my Sabbath days. 〈◊〉. 18. a 〈◊〉. 3. b 〈◊〉 ●0. a Then I made me again to pour out my indignation over them, and to satisfy my wrath upon them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I with drew my hand for my name's sake, jest it should be unhallowed among the Heithen, before whom I had brought them forth. I lift up mine hand over them also in the wilderness, that I would scatre them among the heathen, and strow them among the nations: because they had not kept my laws, but cast aside my commandments, unhallowed my Sabbathes, and lift up their eyes to their father's Idols. Wherefore I gave them also commandments not good, & laws thorough the which they should not live, & I unhallowed them in their own gifts: 〈◊〉. 13. a (when I appointed for myself all their first born) to make them desolate: that they might know, how that I am the LORD. Therefore (O thou son of man) tell the house of Israel, thus saith the LORD God: Beside all this, your forefathers have yet blasphemed me more, and greatly offended against me: For after I had brought them in to the land, that I promised to give them, when they saw every high hill & all the thick trees: they made there their offerings, and provoked me with their oblations, making sweet savours there, & poured out their drink offerings. Then I axed them▪ what have you to do with all, that you go thither? And therefore is it called the high place unto this day. Wherefore, speak unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD God: You are even as unclean as your forefathers, & commit whoredom also with their abominations. 〈◊〉. 1●. a 〈◊〉. 12. d In all your Idols, where unto you bring your oblations, 〈◊〉 16. c 〈◊〉. 17. c & to whose honour you burn your children: you defile yourselves, even unto this day: 〈◊〉 ●3. a how dare you then come, and axe any question at me? O you household of Israel? As truly as I live (saith the LORD God) you get no answer of me: & as for the thing that you go about, it shall not come to pass, where as you say: we will be as the heathen, & do as other people in the land, would & stone will we worship. As truly as I live (saith the LORD God) I myself, will rule you with a mighty hand, with a stretched out arm, and with indignation poured out over you: & will bring you out of the nations and lands, wherein you are scattered: and gather you together with a mighty hand, with a stretched out arm & with indignation poured out upon you: & will bring you in to the wilderness of the people, & there I will reason with you face to face. Like as I punished your forefathers in the wilderness, so will I punish you also, saith the LORD God. I will bring you under my iuriszdiction, and under the bond of the covenant. The forsakers also and the transgressors will I take from among you, & bring them out of the land of your habitation: as for the land of Israel, they shall not come in it: that they may know, how that I am the LORD. Go now then (saith the LORD God) you house of Israel, cast away, Esa. 2. c 80 d Eze. 14 and destroy every man his Idols: then shall you hear me, and no more blaspeme my holy name with your offerings and Idols. But upon my holy hill, even upon the high hill of Israel shall all the house of Israel and all that is in the land, worship me: and in the same place will I favour them, Deu. 12▪ 14. b and there will I require your heave offerings, and the first linges of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept your sweet savour, when I bring you from the nations, and gather you together out of the lands, wherein you be scattered: that I may be hallowed in you before the heathen, and that you may know, that I am the LORD, which have brought you in to the land of Israel: ye in to the same land, that I sworn to give unto your fore fathers. There shall you call to remembrance your own ways and all your imaginations, wherein you bave been defiled: and you shall be displeased with your own selves, jere. 8. ᵃ ●8 a. 31. c for all your wickedness, that you have done. And you shall know, that I am the LORD: when I entreat you after my name, not after your wicked ways, ner according to your corrupt works: oh you house of Israel, saith the LORD. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, set thy face toward the south, & speak to the south wind, and say to the wood toward the souht: Hear the word of the LORD, thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, that shall consume the green trees with the dry. No man shall be able to quench his flame, but all that ●oketh from the south to the north, shall be brent therein: & all flesh shall see, that I the LORD have kindled it, so that no man may quench it. Then said I: O LORD, 〈◊〉. 20. b they will say of me: Tush, they are but fables, that he telleth. The XXI. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came to me, saying: Thou son of man, set thy face toward jerusalem, speak against the Sanctuary, & prophecy against the land of Israel, say to the land of Israel: Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will upon thee, & will draw my sword out of the sheath, & rote out of the both the righteous & the wicked. seeing then that I will rote out of the both the righteous & wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of his sheth, against all flesh from the north to the south: that all flesh may know, how that I the LORD have drawn my sword out of the sheath, & it shall not be put in again. Mourn therefore (oh thou son of man) that thy loins crack withal, ye mourn bitterly for them: And if they say, wherefore mournest thou? Then tell them: for the tidings that cometh, at the which all hearts shall melt, all hands shall be let down, all stomachs shall faint, and all knees shall wax feeble. Behold, it cometh & shall be fulfilled, saith the LORD God. Again, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, prophecy, and speak: Thus saith the LORD God: speak, the sword is sharpened & well scoured. Sharpened is it for the slaughter, & scoured that it may be bright. 〈◊〉▪ 10. a O, the destroying staff of my son, shall bring down all wood. He hath put his sword to the dightinge, that good hold may be taken of it. This sword is sharpened & dight, that it may be given in to the hand of the manslayer. Cry (oh thou son of man) and howl, for this sword shall smite my people, & all the rulers in Israel, which with my people shall be slain down to the ground thorough this sword. Smite thou upon thy thee, for, wherefore should not the plague & staff of judgement come? Prophecy thou son of man, & smite thy hands together: make the sword two edged, ye make it three edged, that manslayers sword, that sword of the great slaughter, which shall smite them, even in their privy chambers: to make them abaszshed & faint at the hearts, & in all gates to make some of them fall. O how bright and sharp is it, how well dight & meet for the slaughter: Get the to some place alone, either upon the right hand or on the left, whither so ever thy face turneth. I will smite my hands together also, and satisfy my wrathful indignation: Even I the LORD have said it. The word of the LORD came yet unto me again, saying: Thou son of man, make the two streets, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. Both these streets shall go out of one land. He shall set him up a place, at the head of the street shall be choose him out a corner. Make the a street, that the sword may come toward Rabath of the Ammonites, and to the strong cite of jerusalem. For the king of Babylon shall stand in the turning of the way, at the head of the two streets: 〈…〉 to axe council at the soythsayers, casting the lots with his arrows, to axe council at the Idols, and to look in the liver. But the soythsayenge shall point to the right side upon jerusalem, that he may set men of war, to smite it with a great noise, to cry out Alarm, to set batellrammes against the gates, to grave up dyches, & to make bulwark. Nevertheless, as for the soythsayenge, they shall hold it but for vanity, even as though a jest were told them: Ye and they themselves remember their wickedness, so that by right they must be taken and won. Therefore saith the LORD God: For so much as you yourselves show your offence, and have opened your wickedness, so that in all your works men may see your sins: Yet in so much (I say) that you youreselues have made mention thereof, you shallbe taken by violence. O thou shameful wicked guide of Israel, whose day is come▪ even the time that wickedness shall have an end: Thus saith the LORD God: take away the mitre, and put of the crown, and so is it away: the humble is exalted, and the proud brought low. Punish, punish, ye punish them will I, and destroy them: and that shall not be fulfilled, until he come, to whom the judgement belongeth, and to whom I have given it. And thou (oh son of man) prophecy, & speak: 〈…〉 Thus saith the LORD God to the children of Ammon, & to their blasphemy, speak then: The sword, the sword, is drawn forth already to the slaughter, & s●●ured that it glistreth (because thou hast looked the out vanities, & prophesied lies) that it may come upon thy neck, like as upon the other ungodly, which be slain: whose day came, when their wickedness was full. Though it were put up again into the sheath, yet will I punish thee, in the land where thou wast nourished & born, and pour my indignation upon thee, and will blow upon the in the fire of my wrath, and deliver the unto cruel people, which are learned to destroy. Thou shalt feed the fire, and that blood shall be shed in the land, that thou mayest be put out of remembrance. Even I the LORD have spoken it. The XXII. Chapter. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, & said: Thou son of man, will't thou not reprove this bloudthurstie cite? Show them their abominations, & tell them: Thus saith the LORD God: O thou cite, that shedst blood in the midst of thee, that thy time may come also: and makest the Idols to defile the withal. Thou hast made thyself guilty, in the blood that thou hast shed: & defiled the in the idols, which thou hast made. Thou hast caused thy days to draw nigh, & made the time of thy years to come. Therefore will I make the to be confounded among the Heithen, & to be despised in all the lands, whether they be nigh or far from thee: they shall laugh the to scorn, thou that hast gotten the so foul a name, & art full of mischief. 〈◊〉 ●5. c 〈◊〉 ●5. c Behold, the rulers of Israel have brought every man his power, to shed blood in the. In the have they despised father & mother, in the have they oppressed the stranger, in the have they vexed the widow & the fatherless. Thou hast despised my Sanctuary, 〈…〉 and unhallowed my Sabbath. Murderers are there in thee, that shed blood, & eat upon the hills, and in the they use unhappiness. In the have they discovered their father's shame, in the have they vexed women in their sickness. 〈◊〉 3●. f 〈◊〉. 5. a Every man hath dealt shamefully with his neighbours wife, & abominably defiled his daughter in law. In the hath every man forced his own sister, 〈◊〉. 27. c 〈◊〉. ●3. d 〈…〉. c even his father's daughter: Ye gifts have been received in thee, to shed blood. Thou hast taken usury & increase, thou hast oppressed thy neighbours by extortion, and forgotten me, saith the LORD God. Behold, I have smitten my hands upon thy covetousness, that thou hast used, and upon the blood which hath been shed in the. Is thy heart able to endure it, or may thy hands defend themselves, in the time that I shall bring upon thee? Even I the LORD that speak it, will bring it also to pass. I will scatre the among the heathen, Eze. 1●. c 15. b & strow the about in the lands, and will 'cause thy filthiness to cease out of thee: ye and I will have the in possession in the sight of the heathen, that thou mayest know, that I am the LORD, And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, the house of Israel is turned to dross. Esa. 1. c All they that should be brass, tin, iron & lead, are in the fire become dross. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: For so much as you all are turned in to dross, behold: I will bring you together unto jerusalem, like as silver, brass, iron, tin and lead are put together in the furnace, and the fire blown there under to melt them: Even so will I gather you, put you in together, and melt you in my wrath and indignation. I will bring you together, and kindle the fire of my cruel displeasure under you, that you may be melted therein. Like as the silver is melted in the fire, so shall you also be melted therein: that you may know, how that I the LORD have poured my wrath upon you. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, tell her: Thou art an unclean land, which is not rained upon in the day of the cruel wrath: Mich. 3. c thy prophets that are in thee, are sworn together to devour souls, like as a roaring Lion, that liveth by his prey. They receive riches and good, and make many widows in ye. Thy priests break my law, and defile my Sanctuary. Levi. 10. ● They put no difference between the holy and unholy, neither discern between the clean and unclean: they turn their eyes fro my Sabbathes, and I am unhallowed among them. Thy rulers in the are like ravishing wolves, to shed blood, Mich. 3. d Soph. ●. ● Eze. 13. b and to destroy souls, for their own covetous lucre. As for thy prophets, they daub with untempered clay, they see vanities▪ and prophecy lies unto them, saying: the LORD God sayeth so, where as the LORD hath not spoken The people in the land useth wicked extortion and robbery. Exo. 2●. ● They vex the poor and needy: and oppress the stranger against right. And I sought in the land for a man, that would make up the hedge, and see himself in the gap before me in the lands behalf, that I should not utterly destroy it▪ but I could find none. Therefore will I pour out my cruel displeasure upon them, and burn them in the fire of my wrath: their own ways will I recompense upon their heads, saith the LORD God. The XXIII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, there were two women, that had one mother: Eze. ●0. a These (when they were young) began to play the harlots in Egipte. There were their breasts brussed, and the paps of their maidenhead destroyed. The elder of them was called Oola, and her youngest sister Ooliba. These two were mine, and bore sons and daughters. Their names were, Samaria, and that was Oola: and jerusalem, that was Ooliba. As for Oola, she began to go a whoring, when I had taken her to me. She was set on fire upon her lovers the Assyrians, which had to do with her: even the princes and lords, that were decked in costly array: ●. Re. 15. d fair young men, lusty riders of horses. Thus thorough her whoredom, she cleaved unto all the young men of Assiria: Ye she was mad upon them, and defiled herselff with all their Idols. neither ceased she from the fornication, that she used with the Egipcians: for in her youth they lay with her, they brussed the breasts of her maidenhead, and poured their wordome upon her. ●. Re. 17. ● Wherefore, I delivered her in to the hands of her lovers, even the Assyrians, whom she so loved. These discovered her shame, took her sons and daughters, Eze. 16. b and slew her with the sword: An evil name got she of all people, and they punished her. Her sister Ooliba saw this, and destroyed herself with inordinate love, jere. 3. ᵇ ●. Re. 16. b more than she, & exceaded her sister in whoredom: she loved the Assyrians (which also lay with her) namely, the princes & great lords, that were clothed with all manner of gorgeous apparel, all lusty horsemen and fair young personnes. Than I saw, that they both were defiled a like. But she increased still in whoredom: for when she saw men painted upon the brickwall, the images of the Caldees set forth with fresh colours, with fair girdles about them, and goodly bonettes upon their heads, looking all like princes (after the manner of the Babylonians and Caldees in their own land, where they be born) Inmediatly, as soon as she saw them, she brent in love upon them, and sent messengers for them in to the land of the Caldees. Now when the Babylonians came to her, they lay with her, and defiled her with their whoredom, and so was she polluted with with them. And when her lust was abated from them, 〈…〉 her whoredom and shame was discovered & seen: then my heart forsook her, like as my heart was go from her sister also. Nevertheless she used her whoredom en● the longer the more, and remembered the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egipte: she brent in lust upon them, 〈…〉 whose flesh was like the flesh of Asses, and their seed like the seed of horses. Thus thou hast renewed the filthiness of thy youth, when thy lovers bressed the paps, and marred thy breasts in Egipte. Therefore (oh Ooliba) thus saith the LORD God. I will raise up thy lovers (with whom thou hast satisfied thy lust) against thee, and gather them together round about thee: Namely, the babylonians, and all the Caldees: Pecod, Schoa and Coa, with all the Assyrians: all young and fair lovers: princes and lords, knights and gentlemen, which be all good horsemen: These shall come upon the with horses, charettes, & a great multitude of people: which shall be harnessed about the on every side, with breastplates, sheldes and helmettes. I will punish that before them, ye they themselves shall punish thee, according to their own judgement. I will put my jealousy upon thee, so that they shall deal cruelly with the. They shall cut of thy nose and thy ears, and the remnant shall fall thorough the sword. They shall carry away thy sons and daughters, & the residue shallbe brent in the fire. Thy shall stripe the out of thy clotheses, & carry thy costly jewels away with them. Thus will I make an end of thy filthiness & whoredom, which thou hast brought out of the land of Egipte: so that thou shalt turn thy eyes no more after them, & cast thy mind no more upon Egipte. For thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will deliver the in to the hands of them, whom thou hatest: ye even in to the hands of them, with whom thou hast fulfilled thy lust, which shall deal cruelly with thee: All thy labour shall they take with them, and leave the naked and bore, and thus the shame of thy filthy whoredom shall come to light. All these things shall happen unto thee, because of thy whoredom, which thou hast used among the Gentiles, with whose Idols thou hast defiled that self. Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister, therefore will I give the her cup in thy hand. Thus saith the LORD God: Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup, how deep & far so ever it be to the bottom. Thou shalt be laughed to scorn, and had as greatly in derision, as is possible. Thou shalt be full of drunkenness and sorrow, for the cup of the sister Samaria is a cup of destruction & waistinge: the same shalt thou drink, and sup it out even to the dregs, ye thou shalt eat up the broken pieces of it, and so tear thy own breasts: For even I have spoken it, saith the LORD God. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: For so much as thou hast forgotten me, & cast me aside, so bear now thy own filthiness & whoredom. The LORD said moreover unto me: Thou son of man, will't thou not reprove Oola & Ooliba? Shewethen their abominations: namely, that they have broken their wedlock, & stained their hands with blood: ye even with their Idols have they committed aduo●try, 〈…〉 & offered them their own children (to be devoured) whom they had born unto me. Ye & this have they done unto me also: 〈…〉 they have defiled my Sanctuary in that same day, & have unhallowed my Sabbath. For when they had slain their children for their Idols, they came the same day in to my Sanctuary, to defile it. Lo, this have they done in my house. Beside all this, thou hast sent that messeungers for men out of far countries: and when they came, thou hast bathed, trimmed and set forth thyself of the best fashion: thou sattest upon a goodly bed, 〈…〉 & a table spread before thee: whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil. Then was there great cheer with her, & the men that were sent from far countries over the desert: unto these they gave bracelets upon their hands, & set glorious crowns upon their heads. Then thought Imodonte, these will use their harlotry also with yonder old whore. And they went in to her, as unto a common harlot: Even so went they also to Oola & Ooliba, those filthy women. O you all that love virtue and righteousness, 〈…〉 judge them, punish them: as adulterers and murderers aught to be judged and punished. For they are breakers of wedlock, and the blood is in their hands. Wherefore thus saith the LORD God: bring a great multitude of people upon them, and make them be scattered and spoiled: these shall stone them, and gorre them with their sweardes. They shall slay their sons and daughters and burn up their houses with fire. Thus will I destroy all such filthiness out of the land: that all women may learn, not to do after your uncleanness. And so they shall say your filthiness upon your own selves, and you shallbe punished for the sins, that you have committed with your Idols: & you shall know, that I am the LORD. The XXIIII. Chapter. IN the ix. year, in the x. month. the x. day of the month, came the word of the LORD unto me, saying: O thou son of man, write up the name of this day, ye even the hour of this present day: when the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem. Eze. 17. a Eze 11. b Show that obstinate household a parable, & speak unto them: Thus sayet the LORD God: Get the a pot, set it on, & pour water in to it: put all the pieces together in it, all the good pieces: the loin and the shoulder, & fill it with the best bones. Take one of the best sheep, & an heap of bones withal: let it boil well, & let the bones saith well therein. With that, said the LORD God on this manner: Woe be unto the bloody cite of the pot, Nau. 3. ● Aba. 2. a whereupon the rustynesse hangeth, and is not yet scoured away. Take out the pieces that are in it, one after another: there need no lots be case therefore, for the blood is yet in it Upon a plain dry stone hath she poured it, and not upon the ground, that it might be covered with dust. And therefore have I let her pour her blood upon a plain dry stony rock, because it should not be hide, and that I might bring my wrathful indignation and vengeance upon her. Wherefore, thus saith the LORD God: O, woe be unto that bloudthurstie cite, for whom I will prepare a heap of wood: bear thou the bones together, kindle thou the fire, seethe the flesh, let all be well sodden, that the bones may be sucked out. moreover, set the potemptye upon the coals, that it may be warm and the metal hot: that the filth and rustynesse may be consumed. But it will not go of, there is so much of it: the rustiness must be brent out. Thy filthiness is abominable, for I would have cleansed thee, but thou wouldest not be cleansed. Thou canst not be purged from thy uncleanness, till I have poured my wrathful indignation upon the. Even I the LORD have so devised: Ye it is come thereto already, that I will do it. I will not go back, I will not spare, I will not be entreated: but according to thy ways and imaginations, thou shalt be punished, saith the LORD God. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, behold, I will take away the pleasure of thy eyes with a plague: yet shalt thou neither mourn ner weep, ner water thy cheeks therefore: thou mayest mourn by thself alone, but use no deadly lamentation. Hold on thy bonnet, and put on thy shues upon thy feet, cover not thy face, and eat no mourners bread. So I spoke unto the people bytymes in the morning, and at even my wife died: then upon the next morrow, I did as I was commanded. And the people said unto me: will't thou not tell us, what that signifieth, which thou dost? I answered them, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Tell the house of Israel, thus saith the LODDE God: behold, I will suspend my Sanctuary: even the glory of your power, the pleasure of your eyes, and the thing that you love: your sons and daughters whom you have left, shall fall thorough the sword. Like as I have done, so shall you do also: You shall not hide your faces, you shall eat no mourners bread: your bonettes shall you have upon your heads, & shues upon your feet You shall neither mourn ner weep, but in your sins you shall be sorrowful, and one repent with another. Thus Ezechiel is your show token. For look as he hath done, so (when this cometh) you shall do also: that you may learn to know, that I am the LORD God. But behold, O thou son of man: In the day when I take from them their power, their joy and honour, the lust of their eyes, the burden of their bodies: namely, their sons and daughters: Then shall there one escape, and come unto thee, for to show the. In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him, which is escaped, that thou mayest speak, and be no more dumb: Ye and thou shalt be their show token, that they may know, how that I am the LORD. The XXV. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, prophecy upon them, 〈◊〉. 21 d ●ere▪ 49. a and say unto the Ammonites: Hear the word of the LORD God, Thus saith the LORD God: for so much as thou speakest over my Sanctuary: A ha', I trow it be now suspended: and over the land of Israel, I trow it be now desolate: ye and over the house of juda, I trow they be now led away presoners: Behold, I will deliver the to the people of the east, that they may have the in possession: these shall set their castles and houses in the. They shall eat thy fruit, and drink up thy milk. As for Rabath, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and you shall know, that I am the LORD. For thus saith the LORD God: In so much as thou hast clapped with thy hands, and stamped with thy feet, ye rejoiced in thy heart over the land of Israel with despite: behold, I will stretch out mine hand over the also, and deliver thee, to be spoiled of the heathen, and rote the out from among the people, and 'cause the be destroyed out of all lands: ye I will make the be laid waist, that thou mayest know, that I am the LORD. Thus saith the LORD God: 〈…〉 For so much as Moab and Seir do say: As for the house of juda, it is but like as all other Gentiles be: Therefore behold, I will make the cities of Moab weapenlesse, and take away their strength: their cities and chief coasts of their land, which are the pleasures of the country: As namely. Betiesimoth, Baalmeon and Cariathaim: these will I open unto them of the east, that they may fall upon the Ammonites: and will give it them in possession: so that the Ammonites shall no more be had in remembrance among the heathen. Even thus will I punish Moab also, that they may know, how that I am the LORD. moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged & eased himself upon the house of juda, 〈…〉 therefore thus saith the LORD: I will reach out mine hand upon Edom, and take away man and be'st out of it. From Theman unto Dedan will I make it desolate, they shallbe slain with the sword. Thorough my people of Israel, will I avenge me again upon Edom: 〈…〉 they shall handle him, according to my wrath and indignation, so that they shall know my vengeance, saith the LORD God. Thus saith the LORD God: For so much as the Philistynes have done this: namely, 〈…〉 taken vengeance with despiteful stomachs, and of an old evil will set themselves to destroy: Therefore thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will stretch out mine hand over the philistines, and destroy the destroyer, and 'cause all the remnant of the see coast to perish. A great vengeance will I take upon them, and punish them cruelly: that they may know, how that I am the LORD, which have avenged me of them. The XXVI. Chapter. IT happened, that in the xi. year, the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: 〈…〉 Thou son of man, Because that tire hath spoken upon jerusalem: A ha', now I trow the ports of the people be broken, and she turned unto me, for I have destroyed my belly full. Ye therefore saith the LORD God: Behold O tire, I will upon thee, I will bring a great multitude of people against thee, like as when the see ariseth with his wawes: These shall break the walls of tire, and cast down her towers; I will scrape the ground from her, and mate her a bore stone: ye as the drying place, where the fishers hang up their nets by the see side. Even I have spoken it, sayeth the LORD God. The Gentiles shall spoil her: her daughters upon the field shall perish with the sword, that they may know, how that I am the LORD. For thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will bring hither Nabuchodonosor (which is the king of Babylon & a king of kings) from the North, upon tire, with horses, charettes, horsemen and with a great multitude of people. Thy daughters that are in the land, shall be slay with the sword: But against thee, he shall make bullworkes & grave up dyches about thee, & lift up his shield against ye. His slynges & batelrammes shall he prepare for thy walls, & with his wrapens break down thy towers. The dust of his horses shall cover thee, they shallbe so many: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horse men, charettes & wheels: when he cometh to thy ports, as men do into an open cite. With the hoffes of his horse feet, shall he tread down all thy streets. He shall slay thy people with the sword, & break down the pilers of thy strength. They shall waste away thy riches, & spoil thy merchandise. Thy walls shall they break down, & destroy thy houses of pleasure. Thy stones, thy timber & foundations, shall they cast in the water. Thus will I bring the melody of thy songs, 〈…〉 & the voice of thy minstrelsy to an end, so that they shall no more be herd. I will make a bore stone of thee, ye a drying place for nets, and shalt never be builded again: For even I the LORD have spoken it, sayeth the LORD God: thus hath the LORD God spoken concerning tire: The Isles shall be moved at the noise of thy fall, & at the cry of the slain, that shall be murthured in the. All kings of the see shall come down from their seats regal: they shall say away their robes, and put of their costly clothing: Ye with trembling shall they be clothed, they shall sit upon the ground: they shall be afraid at thy sudden fall, and be abashed at the. They shall mourn for thee, and say unto thee: O thou noble cite, that hast been so greatly occupied of old, Tren. 1. a. thou that hast been the strongest upon the see with thy inhabitors of whom all men stood in fear: How art thou now so utterly destroyed? Now at the time of thy fall the inhabitors of the Isles, ye and the Isles themselves shall stand in fear at thy end. For thus sayeth the LORD God: when I make the a desolate cite (as other cities be, that no man devil in) and when I bring the deep upon thee, that great waters may cover thee: Then will I cast the down unto them, that descend in to the pit: unto a people that hath been long deed, and set the in a land that is beneath, like the old wilderness, with them which go down to their graves, so that no man shall devil more in the. And I will make the to be no more in honour, in the land of the living. I will make an end of thee, and thou shalt be go. Though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou not be found for evermore, saith the LORD God. The XXVII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: O thou so●ane of man, make a lamentable complaint upon tire, say unto tire, which is a port of the see, that occupieth with much people: Eze. 26.28. and many Isles: thus speaketh the LORD God: O tire thou hast said: what, I am a noble cite. thy borders are in the midst of the see, and thy builders have made the marvelous goodly. All thy tables have they made of Cipre trees of the mount Senir. From Libanus have they taken cedar trees, to make the masts: & the Oaks of Basan to make the rowers. Thy boards have they made of ivory, & of costly would out of the isle of Cethim. Thy sale was of white small needle work out of the land of Egipte, to hang upon thy mast: & thy hangings of yellow silk & purple, out of the Isles of Elisa. They of Sidon & Arnad were thy mariners, & the wisest in tire were thy shypmasters. The elder and wisest at Gebal were they, that mended & stopped thy ships. All ships of the see with their shipmen occupied their merchandise in the. The Perses, Lydians and Lybians were in thine host, and helped the to fight: these hanged up their shields & helmettes with thee▪ these set forth thy beauty. They of Arnad were with thy host round about thy walls, & were thy watchmen upon thy towers: these hanged up their shields round about thy walls, and made the marvelous goodly. Tharsis occupied with the in all manner of wares, in silver, iron, tin and lead, and made thy market great. javan, Tubal and Mesech were thy merchants, which brought the men, & ornaments of metal for thy occupying. They of the house of Thogarma brought unto the at the time of thy Mart, horse, horsemen and mules. They of Dedan were thy merchants: Eze. 25. ● and many other Isles that occupied with thee, brought the wethers, elephant bones and Paycockes for a present The Syrians occupied with the, because of thy diverse works, and increased thy merchandise, with Smaragdes, with scarlet, with needle work, with white lynninge clot, with silk and with Crystal. juda and the land of Israel occupied with thee, and brought unto thy markets, wheat, balm, honey, oil, & treacle. Damascus also used merchandise with thee, in the best wine and white will: because thy occupy was so great, and thy wares so many. Dan, javan, and Meusal have brought unto thy markets, iron ready made, with Casia and Calamus, according to thyne-occupienge. Dedan occupied with thee, infayre tapestry work and quyszhyns. Arabia & all the princes of Cedar have occupied with thee, in sheep, wethers and goats. The merchants of Seba and Rema have occupied also with thee, in all costly spices, in all precious stones and gold, which they brought unto thy marckettes. Haran, Chene and Eden, the merchants of Saba, Assiria and Chelmad, were all doers with the and occupied with thee: In costly raiment, of yellow silk and needle work, (very precious, & therefore packte & bound together with ropes) Ye and in Cedre wood, at the time of the marckettes. The ships of Tharsis were the chief of thy occupy. Thus thou art full, and in great worship, even in the midst of the see. Thy mariners were ever bringing unto the out of many waters. But the east wind shall overbear the in to the midst of the see: so that thy wares, thy merchandise, thy riches, thy mariners, thy shipmasters, thy helpers, thy occupiers (that brought the things necessary) the men of war that are in thee: ye and all thy commons shall perish in the midst of the see, in the day of thy fall. The suburbs shall shake at the loud crie-off thy shippmen. All whirry men, and all mariners upon the see, shall leap out of their boots, and set themselves upon the land. They shall lift up their voice because of thee, and make a lamentable cry. They shall cast dust upon their heads, and lie down in the ashes. They shall shave themselves, & put sack clot upon them for thy sake. They shall mourn for the with hertfull sorrow, and heavy lamentation, ye their children also shall weep forth: Alas, what cite hath so been destroyed in the see, as tire is? When thy wares & marchaundies came from the seas. thou gavest all people enough. The kings of the earth hast thou made rich, thorough the multitude of thy wares and occupy: But now art thou cast down is to the deep of the see, all thy resort of people is perished with the. All they that devil in the Isles are abashed at thee, and all their kings are afraid, ye their faces have changed colour. The merchants of the nations wonder at thee, In that thou art so clean brought to nought, & comest no more up. The XXVIII. Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, tell the prince of tire: 〈…〉 Thus saith the LORD God: because thou hast a proud heart and hast said: I am a God, 〈…〉 I have my seat in the midst of the see like a god: where as thou art but a man & not God, & yet stondest in thy own conceit, that thou art God: Behold, thou thinkest thyself wiser than Daniel, that there is no secrets hid from ye. With thy wisdom & thy understanding, thou hast gotten the great wealthiness, and gathered treasure of silver & gold, With thy great wisdom and occupy, hast thou increased thy power, and because of thy great riches thy heart is proud. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: For so much as thou hast lift up thy heart, as though thou wert God: behold, I will bring enemies upon thee, even the tyrants of the Heithen: these shall draw out their sweardes upon thy beauty and wisdom, and shall defile thy glory. They shall cast the down to the pit, so that thou shalt die in the midst of the see, as they that be slain. Let se, if thou will't say then (before them that slay thee) I am God: where as thou art but a man, and not God, in the hands of them that slay the. Dye shalt thou, even as the uncircumcised in the hands of the enemies: for I myself have spoken it, saith the LORD God. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, make a lamentable complaint over the king of tire, & tell him: Thus saith the LORD God: Thou art a seal of a likeness, full of wisdom & excellent beauty. Thou hast been in the pleasant garden of God: thou art decte with all manner of precious stones: with Ruby, Topas, Crystal, hyacinth, Onyx, jaspis, Saphir, smaragd, Carbuncle, & gold. Thy beauty & the holes that be in the were set forth in the day of the creation. Thou art a fair Cherub, stretched wide out for to cover. I have set the upon the holy mount of God, there hast thou been, and walked among the fair glistering stones. From the time of thy creation thou hast been right excellent, till wickedness was found in the. Because of thy great merchandise, 〈◊〉▪ 2. b thy heart is full of wickedness, & thou hast offended. Therefore will I cast the from the mount of God, (O thou covering Cherub) and destroy the among the glistering stones. Thy heart was proud in the fair beauty, & thorough thy beauty thou hast destroyed thy wisdom. I will cast the down to the ground, & that in the sight of kings. Thou hast defiled thy Sanctuary, with the great wickedness of thy onrightuous occupying. I will bring a fire from the midst of thee, to consume thee: and will make the to ashes, in the sight of all them that look upon the. All they that have been acquaunted with the among the Heithen, shall be abashed at the: seeing thou art so clean brought to naugth, and comest no more up. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, set thy face against Sidon, Prophecy upon it, and speak. Thus saith the LORD God: 〈◊〉. 3. a 〈◊〉. 9 a Behold oh Sidon, I will upon thee, & get me honour in thee: that it may be known, how that I am the LORD, when I punish her, & get me honour in her. For I will send pestilence & blood shedding in to her streets, so that those which be slain with the sword, shall lie round about in the midst of her: & they shall know, that I am the LORD. She shall no more be a pricking thorn, & an hurting briar unto the house of Israel, ner unto them that lie round about her and hate her: and they shall know, that I am the LORD. Thus saith the LORD God: when I gather the household of Israel together again, from the nations among whom they be scattered: then shall I be sanctified in them, in the sight of the Gentiles: & they shall devil in the land, that I gave to my servant jacob. They shall devil safely therein, build houses, Deu. 28. c Esa. 65. d and plant vynyardes: Ye safely shall they devil therein, when I have punished all those, that despise them round about: and then shall they know, that I am the LORD their God. The XXIX. Chapter. IN the x. year, upon the xij. day of the x. month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Esa. 19 a 20. a jere. 46. Eze. 30.31.32. O thou son of man, set now thy face against Pharaoh the king of Egipte, prophecy against him and against the whole land of Egipte: Speak, and tell him, thus saith the LORD God: behold, oh Pharaoh thou king of Egipte, I will upon thee, thou great whale fish, that liest in thy waters: Thou that sayest: the water is mine, I have made it myself. I will put an hook in thy chaws, & hang all the fish in thy waters upon thy scales: after that I will draw the out of thy waters, ye & all the fish of the waters that hang upon thy scales. I will cast the out upon the dry land with the fish of thy waters, so that thou shalt lie upon the field. Thou shalt not be gathered ner taken up, but shalt be meat for the beestes of the field, & for the fowls of the air: that all they which devil in Egipte, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 4. Re. 18. ● Esa 30 a 31. a. 36. a When they took hold of the with their hand thou brakest and prycdest them on every side: and if they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and hurtdest the reins of their backs. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD: God: behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and rote out of the both man and be'st. Ye the land of Egipte shallbe desolate and waist, & they shall know, that I am the LORD: Because he said: the water is mine, I myself have made it. Behold therefore, I will upon thee, & upon thy waters: I will make the land of Egipte waist and desolate, from the tower of Syenes unto the borders of the Morions land: so that in xl. years there shall no foot of man walk there, neither foot of cattles go there, neither shall it be inhabited. I will make the land of Egipte to be desolate among other waist countries, and her cities to lie void xl. years, among other void cities: And I will scatter the Egipcians among the heathen and nations. Again, thus sayeth the LORD God: When the xl. years are expired, I will gather the Egipcians together again, jere. 46. ● out of the nations, among whom they were scattered, and will bring the presoners of Egipte again in to the land of Pathures their own native councre, that they may be there a lowly small kingdom: ye they shall be the smallest among other kingdoms, jest they exalt themselves above the heathen: for I will so minish them, that they shall no more rule the heathen. They shall no more be an hope unto the house of Israel, neither provoke them anymore to wickedness, to 'cause them turn back, and to follow them: and they shall know, that I am the LORD God. In the xxvij. year, the first day of the first month, came the word of the LORD unto me, saying: Thou son of man, Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon hath made his host, with great travail and labour to come before tire: that every head may be bald, and every shoulder bore. Yet hath tire given neither him ner his host any reward, for the great travail that he hath taken there. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: behold I will give the land of Egipte unto Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, that he may take away all her substance, rob her robberies, and spoil her spoils, to pay his host their wagies withal. I will give him the land of Egipte for his labour, that he took for me before tire. At the same time will I 'cause the horn of the house of Israel to grow forth, & open thy mouth again among them: that they may know, how that I am the LORD. The XXX. Chapter. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, prophecy & speak: thus saith the LORD God: Mourn, woe worth this day, Eze. 29.31.32. for the day is here, the day of the LORD is come: the dark day of the Heithen the hour is at hand, the sword cometh upon Egipte. When the wounded men fall down in Egipte, when her people are taken away, and when her foundations are destroyed: the Morions land shall be afraid, ye the Morions land, Lybia & Lydia, all their common people, & Chubb, & all that be confederate unto them, shall fall with them thorough the sword. Thus saith the LORD: The maynteyners of the land of Egipte shall fall, the pride of her power shall come down: even unto the tower of Syenes shall they be slain down with the sword, saith the LORD God: among other desolate countries they shall be made desolate, & among other waist cities they shallbe waisted. And they shall know, that I am the LORD, when I kindle a fire in Egipte, & when all her helpers are destroyed. At that time, shall there messaungers go forth from in ships, to make the careless Morions afraid: and sorrow shall come upon them in the day of Egipte, for doubtless it shall come. Thus saith the LORD God: I will make an end of the people of Egipte thorough the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon. He and his people with him, ye and the cruel tyrants of the heathen shallbe brought to destroy the land. They shall draw out their sweardes upon Egipte and fill the land full of slain men. I will dry up their floods of water, and cell the land in to the hands of wicked people. The land and all that is therein, will I destroy thorough the enemies. Even I the LORD have said it. And thus saith the LORD God: I will destroy the Idols, and bring the images of Noph to an end. 〈…〉 There shall no more be a prince of egypt, and a fearfulness will I send in to the Egipcians land. As for Pathures, I will make it desolate, and kindle a fire in Zoan. Alexandria will I punish, & pour my wroth full indignation upon Sin, which is the strength of Egipte. All the sustance of Alexandria will I destroy, and kindle a fire in Egipte. Sin shallbe in great heaviness, Alexandria shallbe rooted out, and Noph shall have daily sorrow. The best men of Heliopolis & Bubasto shallbe slain with the sword, and carried away captive. At Taphnis the day shallbe dark, when I break there the sceptre of the land of Egipte, and when the pomp of her power shall have an end. A clonde shall cover her, and her daughters shallbe led a way in to captivity. Thus will I punish Egipte, that they may know, how that I am the LORD. It happened in the xi. year, upon the seventh day of the first month, that the lords word came unto me, saying: Behold, thou son of man, I will break the arm of Pharaoh king of Egipte: and lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, neither shall any plays●re be laid upon it, for to ease it, or to make it so strong, as to hold a sword. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: behold, I will upon Pharaoh the king of Egipte, & brusse his strong arm (yet is it but a broken one) & will smite the sword out of his hand. As for the Egipcians, I will scatre them among the heathen, & strow them in the lands about. Again I will strength the arm of the king of Babylon, & give him my sword in his hand: but I will break pharao's arm, so that he shall hold it before him piteously, like a wounded man. Ye I will establish the king of Babylon's arm, & the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down: that it may be known, that I am the LORD, which give the king of Babylon my sword in his hand, that he may draw it out upon the land of Egipte: and that when I scatre the Egipcians among the Gentiles, and strow them in the lands about, they may know, that I am the LORD. The XXXI. Chapter. moreover, it happened in the xi. year the first day of the third month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, speak unto Pharaoh the king of Egipte, 〈◊〉 29· 〈◊〉▪ 32. and to all his people: Whom art thou like in that greatness? Behold, Assur was like a cedar tree upon the mount of Libanus, with fair branches: so thick, that he gave shadows, and shot out very high. His top reached unto the clouds. The waters made him great, and the deep set him up an high. Round about the rotes of him ran there floods of water, he sent out his little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore was he higher thou all the trees of the field, and thorough the multitude of waters that he sent from him, he obtained many and long branches. All fowls of the air made their nests in his branches, under his bows gendered all the beasts of the field, & under his shadow dwelled all people. Fair and beautiful was he in his greatness, and in the length of his branches, for his rote stood beside great waters: no Cedretre might hide him. In the pleasant garden of God, there was no fir tree like his branches, the plain trees were not like the bows of him. All the trees in the garden of God might not be compared unto him in his beauty: so fair and goodly had I made him with the multitude of his branches: In so much, that all the trees in the pleasant garden of God, had envy at him. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: For so much as he hath lift up himself so high, & stretched his top in to the clouds, & seeing his heart is proud in his highness: I will deliver him in to the hands of the mightiest among the Heithen, which shall rote him out. Acordinge to his wickedness will I cast him away, the enemies shall destroy him, & the mighty men of the heathen shall so scatre him, that his branches shall lie upon all mountains & in all valleys: his bows shall be broken down to the ground thorough out the land. Then all the people of the land shall go from his shadow, and forsake him. When he is fallen, all the fowls of the air shall sit upon him, and all wild beestes of the field shall go about among his branches: so that from hence forth, no tree in the water shall attain to his highness, nor reach his top unto the clouds, neither shall any tree of the water stand so high, as he hath done. For unto death shall they all be delivered under the earth, and go down to the grave, like other men. moreover, thus saith the LORD God: In the day when he goeth down to the grave, I will 'cause a lamentation to be made. I will cover the deep upon him, I will staunch his floods, and the great waters shallbe restrained. I shall cause Libanus to be sorrowful for his sake, and all the trees of the field shall be smitten. Esa. 14. c Eze. 32. c I will make the heathen shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell, with them that descend in to the pit. All the trees of Eden, with all the choose and besttrees of Libanus, ye and all they that are planted upon the waters, shall mourn with him also in the lower habitations: for they shall go down to hell with him, unto them that be slain with the sword, which dwelled afore under the shadow of his arm among the Heithen. To whom shalt thou be lickened, that art so glorious & great, among the trees of Eden? Yet art thou cast down under the earth (among the trees of Eden) where thou must lie among the uncircumcised, with them that be slain with the sword. Even thus is it with Pharaoh & all his people, saith the LORD God. The XXXII. Chapter. IN the xij. year, the first day of the xij. month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, take up a lamentation upon Pharaoh the king of Egipte, & say unto him: Eze. 29.30.31. Thou art reputed as a Lion of the heathen, & as a whalfish in the see. Thou castest that waters about thee, thou troublest the water's with thy feet, and stampest in their floods. Thus sayeth the LORD God: Eze. 12. b 17. c I will spread my net over thee, namely, a great multitude of people: these shall drive the into my yarn, for I will cast the upon the land, and let the lie upon the field, that all the fowls of the air may sit upon thee: I will give all the beasts of the field enough of the. Thy flesh will I cast upon the hills, and fill the valleys with thy highness. I will water the land with the abundance of thy blood even to the mountains, & the valleys shall be full of the. When thou art put out, I will cover the heaven, and make his stars dim. Eze. 13. ● loc. 3. c I will spread a cloud over the Son, and the Moon shall not give her light. All the lights of heaven will I put out over thee, and bring darkness upon thy land, saith the LORD God. I will trouble the hearts of many people, when I bring thy destruction among the heathen and countries, whom thou knowest not. Ye I will make many people with their kings so afraid thorough thee, that their hair shall stand up, when I shake my sword at their faces. Suddenly shall they be astonnyed, every man in himself, at the day of thy fall. For thus saith the LORD God: the king of Babylon's sword shall come upon thee, with the sweardes of the worthies will I smite down thy people. All they that be mighty among the Gentiles, shall waste the proud pomp of Egipte, and bring down all her people. All the cattles also of Egipte will I destroy, that they shall come no more upon the waters: so that neither man's foot ner beasts claw, shall steer them any more. Then will I make their waters clear, and 'cause their floods to run like oil, sayeth the LORD God: when I make the land of Egipte desolate, and when the country with all that is therein, shallbe laid waist: and when I smite all them which devil in it, that they may know, that I am the LORD. This is the mourning, that the daughters of the heathen shall make: Ye a sorrow and lamentation shall they take up, upon Egipte and all her people, saith the LORD God. In the xij. year, the xv. day of the month, came the word of the LORD unto me saying: Thou son of man. Take up a lamentation upon the people of Egipte, and cast them down, ye and the mighty people of the Heithen also, Esa. 14. c Eze. 31. c even with them that devil beneath: and with them that go down in to the grave. Down (how fair so ever thou be) and lay the with the uncircircumcised. Among those that be slain with the sword, shall they lie. The sword is given already▪ he shall be drawn forth and all his people. The mighty worthies and his helpers, that be go down and lie with the uncircumcised and with them that be slain with the sword: shall speak to him out of the hell. Assur is there also with his company, and their graves round about, which were slain and fallen all with the sword, whose graves lie beside him in the low pit. His commons are buried round about his grave: altogether wounded and slain with the sword, which men afore time brought fear into the land of the living. There is Elam also with all his people, 〈…〉 and their graves round about: which all being wounded and slain with the sword, are go down uncircumcised under the earth, which nevertheless sometime brought fear in to the land of the living: for the which they bear their shame, with the other that be go down to the grave. Their burial is given them and all their people, among them that be slain. Their graves are round about all them, which be uncircumcised, and with them that be slay▪ thorough the sword: for saying that in times past they made the land of the living afraid, they must now bear their own shame, with them that go down to the pit, and lie among them, that be slain. There is Mesech also and Tubal, and their people, and their graves round about. These all are among the uncircumcised, and them that be slain with the sword, because afore time they made the land of the living afraid. Should not they then lie also among the worthies, and uncircumcised Giants? which with their weapens are go down to hell: whose sweardes are laid under their heads, whose wickedness is upon their bones: because that as worthies, they have brought fear in to the land of the living? Ye among the uncircumcised shalt thou be destroyed, and sleep with them, that perished thorough the sword. There is the land of Edom with her kings and princes also, which with their strength are laid by them that were slain with the sword, ye among the uncircumcised, 〈…〉 and them which are go down in to the pit. moreover, there be all the princes of the north, with all the Sidonians, which are go down to the slain. With their fear and strength they are come to confusion, and lie there uncircumcised, among those that be slain with the sword: and bear their own shame, with them that be go down to the pit. Now when Pharaoh saith this, he shall be comforted over all his people, that is slain with the sword: both Pharaoh & all his host, saith the LORD God. For I have given my fear in the land of the living. But Pharaoh & all his people shall you among the uncircumcised, and among them that be slain with the sword, saith the LORD God. The XXXIII. Chapter. Again, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, Speak to the children of thy people, and tell them: When I send a sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their country, and set him to be their watchman: the same man (when he saith the sword come upon the land) shall blow the trumpet, Re. 9 d and warn the people. if a man now hear the noise of the trumpet & will not be warned, and the sword come and take him away: his blood shall be upon his own head: For he heard the sound of the trumpet, and would not take heed, therefore his blood be upon him. But if he will receive warning, he shall save his life. Again, if the watch man see the sword come, and show it not with the trumpet, so that the people is not warned: if the sword come then, and take any man from among them: the same shall be taken away in his own sin, but his blood will I require of the watchman's hand. And now (O thou son of man) I have made the a watchman unto the house of Israel: ●ze. 3. c that where as thou hearest any thing out of my mouth, thou mayest warn them on my behalf. if I say unto the wicked: thou wicked, thou shalt surely die: and thou givest him not warning, that he may beware of his ungodly way: then shall the wicked die in his own sin, but his blood will I require of thy hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the wicked of his way, to turn from it, where as he yet will not be turned from it: then shall he die because of his sin, but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore (O thou son of man) speak unto the house of Israel, You say thus: Our offences and sins lie upon us, and webe corrupt in them: how should we then be restored unto life? Tell them: As truly as I live (saith the LORD God) I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, ●ze. 18. ● but much rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn you, turn you from your ungodly ways, oh you of the house of Israel. O, wherefore will you die? Thou son of man, tell the children of thy people: ●ze. 18. d The righteousness of the righteous shall not save him, when so ever he turneth away unfaithfully: Again, the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, when so ever he converteth from his ungodliness: And the righteousness of the righteous shall not save his life, when so ever he sinneth. if I say unto the righteous, that he shall surely live, and so he trust to his own righteousness, and do sin: then shall his righteousness be no more thought upon, but in the wickedness that he hath done, he shall die. Again, if I say to the wicked: Esa. 55. b jere. 1● a thou shalt surely die: and so he turn from his sins, and do the thing that is lawful and right: In so much that the same wicked man giveth the pledge again, restoreth that he had taken away by robbery, walketh in the commandments of life, and doth no wrong: Then shall he surely live, and not die. Ye the sins that he had done, shall never be thought upon: For in so much as he doth now the thing that is lawful and right, he shall live. And yet the children of thy people say: Tush, the way of the LORD is not right, where as their own way is rather unright. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and doth the thing that is wicked, he shall die therefore. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, doing the thing that is lawful and right, Eze. 18. Ro 2. a he shall live therefore. Yet you say▪ he way of the LORD is not equal. O you house of Israel, I will judge every one of you after his ways. In the xij. year, the u day of the x. month of our captivity, it happened, that one which was fled out of jerusalem, came unto me, and said: the cite is destroyed. Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening, afore this man (which was escaped) came unto me, and had opened my mouth, until the morning that he came to me: Ye he opened my mouth, so that I was no more dumb. Then came the word of the LORD unto me, and said: Thou son of man, these that devil in the waisted land of Israel, say: Abraham was but one man, and he had the land in possession: now are we many, and the land is given us to possess also And therefore tell them: Thus saith the LORD: In the blood have you eaten, your eyes have you lift up to Idols, Levi. 17 ● Deu. 3. ● and have shed blood: shall you then have the land in possession? You lean upon your sweardes, you work abominations, every one defileth his neighbours wife: and shall you then possess the land? say thou these words unto them: Thus saith the LORD God: As truly as I live, all you that devil in this wilderness, shall be slain with the sword: what so is upon the field, will I give unto the beestes to be devoured: those that be in strong holds and dens, shall die of the pestilence. For I will make the land desolate and waist, and the pomp of her strength shall come to an end. The mountains in Israel shall be so waste that no man shall travail thereby. Then shall they learn to know, that I am the LORD, Eze. 25. c when I make the land waist and desolate, because of all their abominations, that they have wrought. Andrea thou son of man, the children of thy people that talk of thee, by the walls and in the doors of their houses, saying one to another: come, let us hear, what word is go forth from the LORD: These come unto thee, after the manner of a great people: ye my people sit down before thee, and hear thy words, but they do not thereafter: Esa. 29 c Mat. 15. a For in their mouths they show themselves, as though they were fervent, but their heart goeth after their own covetous lucre. And as a balet that hath a sweet tune, and is pleasant to sing, so shalt thou be unto them: thy words shall they hear, but they will not do thereafter. When this cometh to pass (for lo, it cometh in deed) then shall they know, that there hath been a prophet among them. The XXXIIII. Chapter. ANd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, prophecy against the shepherds of Israel, prophecy, and speak unto them: Thus saith the LORD God: Woe be unto the shepherds of Israel, Eze. 13. a ●re. 14. b 23. a▪ that feed them selves. Should not the shepherds fede the flocks? You have eaten up the fat, you have clothed you with the will: the best fed have you slain, but the flock have you not nourished: The weak have you not held up, ●uc. 4. b the sick have you not healed: the broken have you not bound together, the outcasts have you not brought again: the lost have you not sought, but churlishly and cruelly have you ruled them. ●. Pe. 5. a Thus are they scattered here and there without a shepherd: ye all the beasts of the field devour them, and they go astray. My sheep go wandering upon all mountains and upon every high hill, ye they be scattered abroad in all fields, and there is no man, that careth for them, or seeketh after them. Therefore oh you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD, Thus sayeth the LORD God: As truly as I live, for so much as my sheep are rob, and devoured of all the wild beestes of the field, having no shepherd: and saying that my shepherds take no regard of my sheep, but feed them selves only, and not my sheep: Therefore hear the word of the LORD, oh you shepherds: Thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, I myselff will upon the shepherds, and require my sheep from their hands, and make them cease from feeding of my sheep: ye the shepherds shall feed themselves no more: For I will deliver my sheep out of their mouths so that they shall not devour them after this. For thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will look to my sheep myselff, 〈…〉 and seek them. Like as a shepherd among the flock seeketh after the sheep that are scattered abroad, even so will I seek after my sheep, and gather them together out of all places, where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. I will bring them out from all people, and gather them together out of all lands. I will bring them in to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the places of the country. I will feed them in right good pastures, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall there folds be. There shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed: even upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep myselff, and bring them to their rest, sayeth the LORD God. Soch as be lost, will I seek: 〈…〉 soch as go astray, will I bring again: soch as be wounded, will I bind up: soch as be weak, will I make strong: soch as be fat and well liking, those will I preserve, and feed them with the thing that is lawful. And as for you (oh my sheep) sayeth the LORD God: I will put a difference among the sheep, 〈…〉 among the wethers and the goats. Was it not enough for you, to eat up the good pasture, but you must tread down the residue of your pasture with your feet also? Was it not enough for you to drink clear water, but you must trouble the residue also with your feet? Thus my sheep must be fain to eat the thing, that you have trodden down with your feet, and to drink it, that you with your feet have defiled. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD God unto them: Behold, I will sever the fat sheep from the lean: for so much as you have shot the weak sheep upon the sides & shoulders, and run upon them with your homes, so long till you have utterly scattered them abroad. I will help my sheep, so that they shall no more be spoiled: ye I will discern one sheep from another. I will raise up unto them one only shepherd: even my servant David, 〈◊〉 30. b 〈◊〉 c 〈◊〉 5. a he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David shall be their prince: Even I the LORD have spoken it. moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them, and drive all evil beasts out of the land: so that they may devil safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. Good fortune & prosperity will I give them, and unto all that be round about my hill. A prosperous shower and rain will I send them in due season, 〈…〉 b that the trees in the wood may bring forth their fruits, & the ground her increase. They shallbe safe in their land, and shall know, that I am the LORD, which have broken their yoke, and delivered them out of the hands of those, that held them in subjection. They shall no more be spoiled of the heathen, ner devoured with the beasts of the land: but safely shall they devil, & no man shall fray them. I will set up an excellent plant for them, so that they shall suffer no more hunger in the land, neither bear the reproof of the heathen any more. Thus shall they understand, that I the LORD their God am with them, & that they (even the house of Israel) are my people, saith the LORD God. You men are my flock, 〈◊〉 ●4. b you are the sheep of my pasture: and I am your God, saith the LORD God. The XXXV. Chapter. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, turn thy face toward the mount Seir, prophecy upon it, & say unto it: 〈◊〉 4. 〈…〉 49. b 〈◊〉 ●5. b 〈◊〉 ●6. a Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, (oh thou mount Seir) I will upon thee, I will reach out mine hand over thee, ye waist & desolate will I make the. Thy cities will I break down, & thou shalt lie void: that thou mayest know, how that I am the LORD. For so much as thou bearest an old enmity against the children of Israel, 〈◊〉 20. c 〈…〉. a & with a cruel hand hast made them afraid, what time as they were troubled & punished for their sin: Therefore, as truly as I live (saith the LORD God) I will prepare the unto blood, ye blood shall follow upon thee: seeing thou layest wait for blood, 〈◊〉. 5. a therefore shall blood persecute the. Thus will I make the mount Seir desolate & waist, and bring to pass, that there shall no man go thither, ner come from thence. His mountains will I fill with his slain men: thy hills, dales and valleys shallye full of them, that are slain with the sword. I will make the a perpetual wilderness, so that noman shall devil in thy cities: that you may know, how that I am the LORD. And because thou hast said: what, both these nations and both these lands must be mine, & I will have them in possession, Exo. 25. c where as the LORD was there. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God: As truly as I live, I will handle the according to thy wrath and jealousy, like as thou hast dealt cruelly with them: that I may be known among them, how I have punished the. Ye and that thou also mayest be sure, that I the LORD have heard all thy despyteful words, which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying: Lo, they are made waist, and given us to devour. Thus with your mouths you have made your boost against me, ye & multiplied your pronde words against me, which I have herd altogether. Where unto, thus saith the LORD God: when the whole world is in wealth, then will I make the waist. Eze. 22. ● 26. a And like as thou (oh mount Seir) wast glad, because the heritage of the house of Israel was destroyed: even so will I do unto the also, that thou and whole Edom shall be destroyed, & know, that I am the LORD. The XXXVI. Chapter. THou son of man, prophecy upon the mountains of Israel, & speak: Eze. 6. c Hear the word of the LORD, oh you mountains of Israel: Thus saith the LORD God: Because your enemy hath said upon you: A ha', the high everlasting places are now become ours: prophesy therefore, & speak: thus saith the LORD God: seeing you be waisted & trodden down on every side, & become a possession unto the residue of the Gentiles, which have b●ought you in to men's mouths & unto an evil name among the people: Therefore, hear the word of the LORD God, oh you mountains of Israel: Thus saith the LORD God unto the mountains and hills, valleys & dales, to the void wildernesses & desolate cities, which are spoiled, and had in de●ision on every side, among the residue of the Heithen: Ye even thus saith the LORD God: In the ●yre of my jealousy have I taken a device, against the residue of the Gentiles, and against all Edom: Ez●. 35. which have taken in my land unto themselves for a possession: which also rejoiced from their whole heart with a despiteful stomach, to waste it, and to spoil it. Prophecy therefore upon the land of Israel, speak unto the mountains and hills, to valleys and dales, thus saith the LORD God: Behold, this have I devised in my jealousy and terrible wrath: For so much as you have suffered reproof of the heathen, therefore thus saith the LORD God: I have sworn, that the Gentiles which lie about you, shall bear your confusion themselves. And as for you (oh mountains of Israel) you shall shoot out your branches, and bring forth your fruit to my people of Israel, for it is hard by, that it will come. Behold, I come unto you, and unto you will I turn me, that you may be tilled and sown. I will send you much people, which shallbe all of the house of Israel: the cities shallbe inhabited, and the decayed places shall be repaired again. I will provide you with much people and cattles, which shall increase & bring fruit. I will restore you also to your old estate, and show you more kindness than ever you had before: whereby you shall know, that I am the LORD. Ye people will I send unto you (oh my folk of Israel (which shall have the in possession, and thou shalt be their inheritance, so that thou shalt no more be without them. Again, thus saith the LORD God: For so much as they say unto you: thou art an eater up of men, and a waister of thy people: therefore thou shalt eat no more men, neither destroy thy people any more, saith the LORD God. And I will not suffer thee, for to hear thy own confusion among the Gentiles from henceforth. Thou shalt not bear the reproof of the nations, ner cast out thy own people anymore, saith the LORD God. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: O thou son of man, when the house of Israel dwelled upon their own ground, they defiled themselves with their own ways & imaginations: so that in my sight their way was like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. Wherefore I poured my wrathful displeasure upon them, because of the blood that they had shed in the land, & because of their Idols, wherewith they had defiled themselves. I scattered them also among the heathen, so that they were strewed about in the lands. according to their ways & after their own inventions, so did I punish them. Now when they were go unto the Hetthen, 〈◊〉. 2. c 〈◊〉. 52. b and come in among them, they dishonoured my holy name: so that it was said of them: Are these the people of God, & must go out of their own land? Then spared I my holy name, which the house of Israel had dishonoured among the Gentiles, to whom they came. Therefore tell the house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD God: I do not this for your sakes (O house of Israel) but for my holy names sake, which you dishonoured among the heathen, when you came to them. Therefore, I will hallow my great name again, which among the Gentiles is evil spoken of: for you yourselves have dishonoured it among them. And the Gentiles shall know, that I am the LORD, when I am honoured in you before their eyes, saith the LORD God. As for you, I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you together out of all countries, and bring you again into your own land. 〈…〉 Then will I pour clear water upon you, & you shallbe clean: Ye from all your uncleanness and from all your Idols shall I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, 〈…〉 and a new spirit will I put in to you: As for that stony heart, I will take it out of your body, and give you a fleszshy heart. 〈…〉 I will give you my spirit among you, and can see you to walk in my commandments, to keep my laws, and to fulfil them. And so you shall devil in the land, that I gave to your forefathers, & you shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will help you out of all your uncleanness, I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and will let you have no hunger. I will multiply the fruits of the trees and the increase of the field for you, so that you shall bear no more reproof of hunger among the Heithen. Then shall you remember your own wicked ways, and your imaginations, which were not good: so that you shall take displeasure at your own selves, by reason of your sins and abominations. But I will not do this for your sakes (saith the LORD God) be you sure of it. Therefore (oh you house of Israel) be ashamed of your sins. moreover, thus saith the LORD God: what time as I shall cleanse you from all your offences, then will I make the cities to be occupied again, and will repair the places that be decayed. The desolate land shall be builded again, which afore time lay waist, in the sight of all them, that went by. Then shall it be said: This waist land is become like a garden of pleasure, and the void, desolate and broken down cities, are now strong, and fenced again. Then the residue of the heathen that lie round about you, shall know, that I am the LORD, which repair that was broken down, and plant● again, that was made waist. Even I the LORD have spoken it, & will do it in deed. Thus saith the LORD God: I will yet once be found again of the house of Israel, & do this for them: I shall increase them as a flock of men. 〈…〉 Like as the holy flock and the flock of jerusalem are in the high solemn feasts: so shall also the wild waisted cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know, that I am the LORD. The XXXVII. Chapter. THe hand of the LORD came upon me, & carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, & let me down in a plain field, that lay full of bones, & he led me round about by them▪ & behold, the bones that lay upon the field, were very many, & marvelous dry also. Then said he unto me: Thou son of man: thinkest thou these benes may live again? I answered: O LORD God, thou knowest. And he said unto me: Prophecy thou upon these bones, & speak unto them: You dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD God unto these bones: Behold, I will put breath in to you, that you may live: I will give you sinews, & make flesh grow upon you, & cover you over with skin: & so give you breath, 〈…〉 that you may live, and know, that I am the LORD. 〈◊〉. 15. a So I prophesied, as he had commanded me. And as I was prophecienge, there came a noise and a great motion, so that the bones ran every one to another. Now when I had looked, behold, they had sinews, and flesh grew upon them: and above they were covered with skin, but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me: Thou son of man, prophecy thou toward the wind: prophecy, and speak to the wind: Thus saith the LORD God: Come (oh thou air) from the four winds, & blow upon these slain, that they may be restored to life. So I prophesied, as he had commanded me: Then came the brethtn to them, and they received life, and stood up upon their feet, a marvelous great sort. moreover, he said unto me: Thou son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. 〈…〉 Behold, they say: our bones are dried up, our hope is go, we are clean cut of. Therefore prophecy thou, & speak unto them. Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, I will open your graves (oh my people) & take you out of your sepulchres, & bring you in to the land of Israel again. So shall you know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, & bring you out of them. My spirit also will I put in you, & you shall live: I will set you again in your own land, and you shall know, that I am the LORD, which have said it, and fulfilled it in deed. The word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, take a stick and write upon it: Unto juda & to the children of Israel his companions. Then take another stick, and write upon it: Unto joseph the stock of Ephraim, and to all the household of Israel his companions. And than take both these together in thy hand, so shall there be one stick thereof. Now if the children of thy people say unto thee: will't thou not show us, what thou meanest by these? Then give them this answer: Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, Osee ●. b I will take the stock of joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and of the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them to the stock of juda, & make them one stock, and they shall be one in my hand. And the two sticks where upon thou wrytest, shalt thou have in thy hand, that they may see, and shalt say unto them: Thus saith the LORD God: behold, I will take away the children of Israel from among the heathen, unto whom they be go, and will gather them together on every side, and bring them again in to their own land: ye I will make one people of them in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and they all shall have but one king. They shall no more be two peoples from henceforth, neither be divided in to two kingdoms: they shall also defile themselves no more with their abominations, Idols and all their wicked-doinge. I will help them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned: & will so cleanse them, that they shallbe my people, and I their God. David my servant shallbe their king, Eze 34. ● Ioh 10. b & they all shall have one shepherd only. They shall walk in my laws, and my commandments shall they both keep & fulfil. They shall devil in the land, that I gave unto jacob my servant, where as your fathers also have dwelled. Ye even in the same land shall they, their children, & their childers children devil for evermore: and my servant David shall be their everlasting prince. moreover, I will make a bond of peace with them, which shall be unto them an everlasting covenant. I will sattle them also, and multiply them, my Sanctuary will I set among them for evermore. My dwelling shallbe with them, ye I will be their God, & they shallbe my people. Thus the heathen also shall know, that I the LORD am the holy maker of Israel: when my Sanctuary shall be among them for ever more. The XXXVIII. Chapter. ANd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thou son of man, turn thy face toward Gog in the land of Magog, which is the chief prince at Mesech and Tubal: prophecy against him, and say: ●ze. 39 Thus saith the LORD God: O Gog thou chief prince of Mesech and Tubal: ●po. 20. c behold, I will upon thee, and will turn the about, and put a bit in thy chaws: I will bring the forth and all thy host, both horse & horsemen, which be all weapened of the best fashion: a great people, that handle altogether spears, shyldes, and swords: the Perses, Moryans and with them the Lybians, which all bear shyldes and helmettes: Gomer, and all his hosts: the house of Thogorma out of the north quarters, and all his hosts, ye and much people with the. Therefore prepare thee, set thyself in array with all thy people, that are come unto the by heaps, and be thou their defence. After many days thou shalt be visited, and in the latter years thou shalt come in to the land, that hath been destroyed with the sword, & now is replenished again with diverse people upon the mountains of Israel, which have long lyen waist. Ye they be brought out of the nations, & devil all safe. Thou shalt come up like a stormy wether, to cover the land, and as it were a dark cloud: thou with all thy hosts, and a great multitude of people with the. moreover, thus saith the LORD God: At the same time shall many things come in to thy mind, so that thou shalt imagine mischief, and say: I will up to yonder plain land, seeing they sit at ease, and devil so safely (for they devil all without any walls, they have neither bars nor doors) to spoil them, to rob them, to say hand upon their so well inhabited wildernesses: against that people, that is gathered together from among the Heithen, which have got cattles and good, and devil in the midst of the land. Then shall Saba and Dedan and the merchants of Tharsis with all their Worthies, say unto thee: Art thou come to rob? Hast thou gathered thy people together, because thou will't spoil? to take silver and gold: to carry away cattles and good: and to have a great pray? Therefore, oh thou son of man, thou shalt prophecy, and say unto Gog: Thus saith the LORD God: In that day thou shalt know, that my people of Israel dwelleth safe: and shalt come from thy place, out of the north parts: thou and much people with thee, which ride upon horses, whereof there is a great multitude and an innumerable sort. Ye thou shalt come upon my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land. This shall come to pass in the latter days: I will bring the up in to my land, that the heathen may know me, when I get me honour upon thee (oh Gog) before their eyes. Thus saith the LORD God: Thou art he, of whom I have spoken afore time, by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days & years, that I should bring the upon them. At the same time, when Gog cometh up in to the land of Israel (saith the LORD God) shall my indignation go forth in my wrath. For in my jealousy and hot displeasure I have devised, 〈…〉 that there shallbe a great trouble in the land of Israel at that tyme. The very fyszshes in the see, the fowls of the air, the beestes of the field, and all the men that are upon the earth, shall tremble for fear of me. The hills also shallbe turned up side down, the stairs of stone shall fall, and all walls shall sink to the ground. I will call for a sword upon them in all my mountains, saith the LORD God: so that every man's sword shall be upon another. With pestilence and blood will I punish him: stormy rain and hale stones, fire and brimstone, will I 'cause to rain upon him and all his heap, ye and upon all that great people that is with him. Thus will I be magnified, honoured, and known among the heathen: that they may be sure, how that I am the LORD. The XXXIX Chapter. Therefore oh thou son of man, prophecy against Gog, and speak: Thus saith the LORD God: Behold, oh Gog: 〈…〉 thou chief prince at Mesech and Tubal, I will upon thee, and turn the about, & carry the forth, & lead that from the north parts, and bring the up to the mountains of Israel. As for thy bow, I will smite it out of thy left hand, and cast thy arrows out of thy right hand. Thou with all thy heap, and all the people that is with thee, must fall upon the mountains of Israel. Then will I give the unto the fowls and wild beasts of the field, to be devoured: there must thou lie upon the field: for even I the LORD have spoken it, saith the LORD God. In to Magog, and among those that sit so careless in the Isles: will I send a fire, and they shall know, that I am the LORD. I will make also the name of my holiness to be known among my people of Israel: and I will not let my holy name be evil spoken of anymore: but the very heathen also shall know, that I am the LORD, the holy one of Israel. Behold, it cometh, and shallbe fulfilled in deed, saith the LORD God. This is the day, whereof I have spoken: They that devil in the cities of Israel, shall go forth and set fire upon the weapens, and burn them: shyldes and spears, bows and arrows, bills and clubs: seven years shall they be burning thereof, so that they shall else bring no sticks from the field, neither have need to hue down any out of the wood: For they shall have weapens ynew to burn. They shall rob those that rob them, and spoil those that spoiled them, saith the LORD God. At the same time will I give unto Gog, a place to be buried in, in Israel: even the valley, where thorough men go from the east to the see ward. Those that travail thereby, shall abhor it. There shall Gog and all his people be buried: and it shallbe called the valley of the people of Gog. Seven months long shall the house of Israel be burienge of them, that they may cleanse the land: Ye all the people of the land shall bury them. O it shall be a glorious day, when I get me that honour, saith the LORD God. They shall ordene men also to be deed buriers, ever going thorough the land, and appoint them certain places to bury those in, which remain upon the field, that the land may be cleansed. From end to end shall they seek, and that v● months long. Now those that go thorough the land, where they see a man's bone, they shall set up a token by it, till the deed buriers have buried it also, in the valley of the people of Gog. And the name of the cite shallbe called Hamona: Thus shall they make the land clean. And thou son of man: thus saith the LORD God: Speak unto all the fowls and every bird, ye and to all the wild beasts of the field: heap you together and come, gather you round about upon my slaughter, that I have slain for you: even a great slaughter upon the mountains of Israel: eat flesh, 〈◊〉. 19 d. and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the worthies, and drink the blood of the princes of the land: of the wethers, of the lambs, of the goats, and of the oxen that be all slain at Basan. Eat the fat your belly full, and drink blood, till you be drunken of the slaughter, which I have slain unto you. Fill you at my table, with horses & strong horsemen: with captains and all men of war, saith the LORD God. I will bring my glory also among the Gentiles, that all the heathen may semi judgement, that I have kept, and my hand which I have laid upon them: that the house of Israel may know, how that I am the LORD their God, from that day forth. And the heathen shall know, that where as the house of Israel were led in to captivity: it was for their wickedness sake, because they offended me. For the which cause I hid my face from them, and delivered them in to the hands of their enemies, that they might all be slain with 〈…〉. according to their unto 〈◊〉 unfaithful dealings, so have I entreated them, and hid my face from them. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: Now will I bring again the captives of jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and be jealous for my holy names sake. All their confusion and offence that they have done against me, shall be taken away: and so safely shall they devil in their land, that no man shall make them afraid. And when I have brought them again from among the people, when I have gathered them together out of their enemy's lands, and am praised in them before many heathen: then shall they know, that I am the LORD their God, which suffered them to be led in to captivity among the heathen, but now have brought them again in to their own land, and not left one of them yonder. After that, will I hide my face no more from them, but will pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, Eze. 36. d saith the LORD God. The xl. Chapter. IN the twenty-five year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, the x day of the month: that is the xiv year, after that the cite was smitten down: the same day came the hand of the LORD upon me, and carried me forth: even in to the land of Israel brought 'em in the visions of God: and set me down upon a marvelous high mountain, whereupon there was a building (as it had been of a cite) toward the north. Thither he carried me, and behold, there was a man, whose similitude was like brass, which had a thread of flax in his hand, and a meterod also. He stood in the door, & said unto me: mark well with thy eyes, hearken to with thy ears, and fasten it in thy heart, whatso ever I shall show thee, for to the intent that they might be showed thee, therefore art thou brought hither. And what soever thou sayst, thou shalt certify the house of Israel thereof. Behold, there was a brickwall on the outside round about the house: the meterod that he had in his hand, was six cubits long & a span. So he measured the breadth of the building, which was a meterod, and the heyth also a meterod. Then came he unto the eastdore, and went up the stars, ● measured the posts of the door 〈…〉 was a meterod thick 〈…〉 was a meterod long 〈…〉 the chambers were 〈…〉 of the door within the 〈…〉 meterod. He measured als● 〈…〉 of the ●nnermer door, which 〈…〉 meterod. Then measured he the entry of 〈…〉 that contained eght cubits, and his pilers two cubits: and this entry stood inward. The chambers of the door eastward, were three on every side: alike broad and long. The pilers also that stood of both the sides, were of one measure. After this, he measured the wideness of the door: which was x cubits, & the height of the door xiij cubits. The edge before the chambers was one cubit b●ode upon both the sides, & the chambers six cubits wide of either side. He measured the door from the ridge of one chamber to another, whose wideness was twenty-five cubits, & one door stood against another. He made pilers also lx cubits high, round about the court door. Before the inward part unto the fore entry of the ynnermer door, were fifty cubits. The chambers and their pilers within, round about unto the door, had side windows: So had the fore entries also, whose windows went round about within. And upon the pilers there stood date trees. Then brought he me in to the fore court, where as were chambers & paved works, made in the fore court round about: thirty chambers upon one paved work. Now the paved work was a long beside the doors, and that was the lower paved work. After this, he measured the breadth from the lower door, unto the ynnermer court of the out side, which had an hundredth cubits upon the east & the north part. And the door in the uttermost court toward the north, measured he after the length and breadth: his three chambers also on either side, with his pilers & fore entries: which had even the measure of the first do●e. His height was fifty cubits, the breadth twenty-five cubits: his windows & porches with his date trees, had even like measure as the door toward the east: there where seven steps to go up upon, & their porch before them. Now the door of the ynnermer court stood strait over against the door, that was toward the north east. From one door to another, he measured an C cubits. After that; he brought me to the south side, where there stood a door toward the south: whose pilers and porches he measured, these had the first measure, & with their porches they had windows round about, like the first ●yndowes. The height was I cubits, the 〈◊〉 twenty-five, with steps to go up upon: his 〈◊〉 stood before him, with his pilers and da●● trees on either side. And the door of the ynnermer court stood toward the south, & he measured from one door to another an C cubits. So he brought me in to the ynnermer court, thorough the door of the south syd▪ which he measured, & it had the measure afore said. In like manner, his chambers, pilers and fore entries, had even the foresaid measure also. And he had with his porches round about, windows of l cubits high, & twenty-five cubits broad. The porches round about were twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits broad: and his porch reached unto the uttermost court: upon his pilers there were date trees, and viij steps to go up upon. He brought me also in to the ynmost court upon the east side, and measured the door, according to the measure afore said. His chambers, pilers and porches had even the same measure, as the first had: & with his porches he had windows round about. The heith was l cubits, the breadth twenty-five cubits: His porches reached unto the uttermost court: his pilers also had date trees on either side, and viij steps to go up upon. And he brought me to the north door, and measured it, which also had the foresaid measure. His chambers, pilers and porches had windows round about: whose height was l cubits, and the breadth twenty-five. His pilers stood toward the uttermost court, and upon them both were date trees, and viij steps to go up upon. There stood a chambre also, whose entrance was at the door pilers, and there the burned offerings were waszshed. In the door porch, there stood on either side two tables for the slaughtinge: to slay the brent offerings, sin offerings and trespass offerings thereupon. And on the out side as men go forth to the north door, there stood two tables. Four tables stood on either side of the door, that is viij tables, whereupon they slaughted. Four tables were of hewn stone for the burned offerings, of a cubit and a half long and broad, and one cubit high: whereupon were laid the vessels and ornaments, which were used to, the burned & slain offerings, when they were slaughted. And within there were hokes four fingers broad, fastened round about, to hang flesh upon, & upon the tables was laid the offering flesh. On the outside of the ynnermer door were the syngers chambers 〈◊〉 the inward court beside the north door 〈◊〉 against the south. There stood one also 〈…〉 side the east door north ward. And he said unto me: This chambre 〈◊〉 the south side belongeth to the priests, 〈◊〉. ●2. a 〈◊〉. 2. f 〈◊〉 keep the habitation: and this toward 〈◊〉 north, is the priests that wait upon the altar: which be the sons of Sadoch, that do service before the LORD in stead of the children of Levi. So he measured the fore court, which had in length an C cubits, and as much in breadth by the four corners. Now the altar stood before the house: And he brought me to the fore entry of the house, and measured the walls by the entry door: which were five cubits long on either side. The thickness also of the door on either side, was three cubits. The length of the porch was xx cubits. the breadth xj. cubits, and upon steps went men up to it: by the walls also were pilers, on either side one. The XLI. Chapter. AFter this he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts: which were of both the sides uj. cubits thick, according to the wideness of the tabernacle. The breadth of the door was x. cubits, & the walls of the door on either side five cubits. He measured the length thereof, which contained xl. cubits, and the breadth xx. Then went he in, and measured the door posts, which were two cubits thick: but the door itself was six cubits, and the breadth of the door was seven. cubits. He measured the length and breadth thereof, which were every one xx. cubits, before the temple. And he said unto me: this is the holiest of all. He measured also the brickwall of the house, which was six cubits. The chambers that stood round about the house, were every one four cubits wide, and one stood hard upon another, whereof there were xxxiij. And there stood posts beneath by the walls round about the house, to bear them up: but in the brickwall of the house they were not fastened: The side chambers were the higher the wider, and had steps thorough them round about the house. Thus was it wider above, that from the lowest men might go to the highest & mid chambers▪ I saw also that the house was very high round about. The foundation of the side chambers was a meterod (that is six cubits) broad. The thickness of the side brickwall without, contained five cubits, & so 〈…〉 of the chambers in the house. 〈…〉 chambers, was the 〈…〉 about the house. The 〈…〉 over against the out 〈…〉 was toward the north, the 〈…〉 south: and the thickness 〈…〉 cubits round abou●● 〈…〉 that was separated 〈…〉 west, was lxx. cubits wide: the brickwall 〈◊〉 building was v cubits thick round about, and the length four score cubits and ten. So he measured the house which was an HUNDRED cubits long, and the separated building with the brickwall were an HUNDRED cubits long also. The wydnesse before the house and of it that was separated toward the east, was an HUNDRED cubits. And he measured the length of the building before and behind with the chambers upon both the sides: and it contained an HUNDRED cubits. The ynnermer temple, the porch of the forecourte, the side posts, these three had side windows, and pilers round about over against the posts, from the ground up to the windows: The windows themselves were syled over with boards: & thus was it above the door, unto the ynmost house, and without also: Ye the whole brickwall on every side both within and without was syled over with great boards. There were Cherubins and date trees made also, so that one date tree stood ever betwixt two Cherubins: One Cherub had two faces, the face of a man looking aside toward the date tree, and a lions face on the other side. Thus was it made round about in all the house: Ye the Cherubins and date trees were made from the ground up above the door, and so stood they also upon the brickwall of the temple. The bypostes of the temple were four squared, and the fashion of the Sanctuary was, even as it appeared unto me afore in the vision. The table was of wood, three cubits high and two cubits long: his corners, the length and the walls were of wood. And he said unto me: This is the table, that shall stand before the LORD. The temple and the holiest of all had either of them two doors, and every door had two little wickettes which were folden in one upon another, on every side two. And upon the doors of the temple there were made Cherubins and date trees, like as upon the walls: and a great thick baulk of wood was before on the outside of the porch. Upon both the sides of the walls of the porch, there were made deep windows and date trees, having beams and balks, like as the house had. The XLII. Chapter. THen carried he me out in to therefore court toward the north, & brought me in to the chambre that stood over against the back building northward, which had the length of an 〈◊〉 cubits, whose door turned toward the north. The wideness contained L. cubits, over against the xx. cubits of the ynnermer court, & against the paved work that was in the fore court. Beside all these three there stood pilers, one over against another: And before this chamber there was a walking place of x. cubits wide, and within was a way of one cubit wide, and their doors toward the north. Thus the highest chambers were allway narrower than the lowest and myddelmost of the building: for they bore chambre upon chambre, and stood three together one upon another, not having pilers like the forecourt: therefore were they smaller than those beneath and in the midst, to reckon from the ground upward. The brickwall without that stood by the chambers toward the uttermost court upon the fore side of the chambers, was L. cubits long: for the length of the uttermost chambers in the fore court was L. cubits also: but the length thereof before the temple was an HUNDRED cubits. These chambers had under them an entrance of the east side, whereby a man might go into them out of the fore court, thorough the thick brickwall of the fore court toward the east, right over against the separated building. Before the same building upon this side there were chambers also which, had a way unto them, like as the chambers on the north side of the same length and wideness. Their entrance, fashion and doors were all of the same manner. Ye even like as the other chamber doors were, so were those also of the south side. And before the way toward the syngers steps on the east side, there stood a door to go in at. Then said he unto me: The chambers toward the north & the south, which stand before the back building: those be holy habitations, wherein the priests that do service before the LORD, must eat the most holy offerings: and there must they say the most holy offerings: meat offerings, sin offerings & trespass offerings, for it is an holy place. When the priests come therein, they shall not go out in to the fore court: but (saying they be holy) they shall leave the clotheses of their ministration, and put on other garments, when they have any thing to do with the people. Now when he had measured all the ynnermer house, he brought me forth thorough the east port, and measured the same round about. He measured the east side with the meterod, which round about contained v. C. meteroddes. And the north side measured he, which contained round about even so much. The other two sides also toward the south and the west (which he measured) contained either of them v. C. meteroddes. So he measured all the four sides where there went a brickwall round about u C. meteroddes long, and as broad also, which separated the holy from the unholy. The XLIII. Chapter. SO he brought me to the door, that turneth toward the east. Behold, them came the glory of the God of Israel from out of the east, whose voice was like a great noise of waters, and the earth was lightened with his glory. His sight to look upon was like the first, that I saw, 〈…〉 when I went in, what time as the cite should have been destroyed: and like the vision that I saw by the water of Cobar. 〈…〉 Then fallen I upon my face, but the glory of the LORD came in to the house thorough the east door. So a wind took me up, and brought me in to the ynnermer court: & behold, the house was full of the glory of the LORD. I heard one speaking unto me out of the house, and there stood one by me, that said unto me: O thou son of man, 〈…〉 this room is my seat, and the place of my fotesteppes: where as I will devil among the children of Israel for evermore: so that the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name▪ neither they, ner their kings, thorough their whoredom, thorough their high places, & thorough the deed bodies of their kings: which have builded their thresholdes in manner hard upon my thresholdes, and their posts almost at my posts: so that there is but a bore brickwall betwixt me and them. Thus have they defiled my holy name with their abominations, that they have committed. Wherefore I have destroyed them in my wrath: But now they shall put away their whoredom and the deed bodies of their kings out of my sight, that I may devil among them for evermore. 〈…〉 Therefore (oh thou son of man) show thou the household of Israel a temple, that they may be ashamed of their wickedness, and measure them selves an example thereat. And when they be ashamed of all their works, then show them the form and fashion of the temple: the coming in, the going out, all the manner and description thereof, ye all the uses and ordinances of it, that they may keep & fulfil all the fashions and customs thereof. This is the description of the house: Above upon the mount round about all the corners, it shallbe the holiest of all. Behold, that is the description and fashion of the house. This is the measure of the altar (after the true cubit,: which is a span longer than another cubit) his bottom in the midst was a cubit long and wide, and the ledge that went round about it, was a span broad. This is the height of the altar: From the ground to the lower steps the length is two cubits, and the breadth one cubit: and from the lower steps to the higher are four cubits, & the breadth but one cubit. 〈◊〉. ●7. a The altar was four cubits high, & from the altar upward stood four horns, and it was xij cubits long and xij cubits broad, upon the four corners: the covering of the altar was xiv cubits long and broad upon the four corners, and the ledge that went round about, had half a cubit: and the bottom thereof round about one cubit: his steps stood toward the east. And he said unto me: Thou son of man, thus saith the LORD God: these are the ordinances and laws of the altar, in the day when it is made, to offer burned offerings, and to sprinkle blood there upon. 〈◊〉. 44. c To the priests, to the Levites that be of the seed of Sadoch, and tread before me to do me service, saith the LORD God: Unto these give thou a young bullock, for a sin offering: & take the blood of him & sprenkle his four horns withal, & the four corners of the altar covering, with the ledge that goeth round about: Levi. 16▪ ● here with shalt thou cleanse it, and reconcile it. Thou shalt take the bullock also of the syn-offringe, & burn him in a several place with out the Sanctuary. The next day, take a gootbuck without blemish for a sin offering, to reconcile the altar withal: like as it was reconciled with the bullock. Now when thou hast made it clean, then offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish also: Offer them before the LORD, Levi. 22. c and let the priest cast salt thereupon, Levi. 2. b and give them so unto the LORD for a burnt-offering. Seven days shalt thou bring, every day a gootbucke. A young bullock & a ram of the flock (both without blemish) shall they offer. Seven days shall they reconcile and cleanse the altar, & offer upon it. When these days are expired, then upon the viij day and so forth, the priests shall offer their burned offerings and health offerings upon the altar: so will I be merciful unto you, saith the LORD God. The XLIIII. Chapter. 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 thorough it, but only for the LORD God of Israel: ye he shall go thorough it, else shall it be shut still. The prince himself shall come thorough it, that he may eat bread before the LORD. At the porch shall he come in, and there shall he go out again. Exo 40. ● 24. d Nu. 9 c 3 Reg. 8. b 2. Par. 7. ● 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 fallen down upon my face. So the LORD spoke unto me: O thou son of man, fasten this to thy 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 thy 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, you have now done enough with all your abominations, saying that you have brought in to my Sanctuary strangers, having uncircumcised hearts & flesh, where thorough my Sanctuary is defiled, when you offer my bread, fat, & blood. Thus with all your abominations you have broken my covenant, and not kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary▪ but set keepers of my Sanctuary, even after your own mind. Therefore thus saith the LORD God: Of all the strangers that devil among the children of Israel, no stranger (whose heart & flesh is not circumcised) shall come within my Sanctuary: Not ner the Levites that be go back fro me, and have deceived the people of Israel with errors, going after their Idols: therefore shall they 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 burned offerings and sacrifices for the people: to stand before them, and to serve them: saying the service that they do them, is before their Idols, and 'cause the house of Israel to stumble thorough wickedness? ●. Reg. 2. f For the which cause I have pluck out mine hand over them (saith the LORD) so that now they must bear their own iniquity, and not to come nigh me, to serve me with their preasheade, 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 the sons of Sadoch, Eze. 43. d 48. b that kept the holy ordinances of my Sanctuary, when the children of Israel were go fro 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 in to my Sanctuary, and tread before my table, to do me service, and to wait upon mine ordinances. Now when they go in at the doors of the ynnermer court, they shall put on linning clotheses, so that no wollyne come upon them: while they do service under the doors of the ynnermer court, and within. They shall have fair linning bonettes upon their heads, and linning breeches upon their loins, which in their labour they shall not put about them: And when they go forth to the people in to the outward court, they shall put of the clotheses, wherein they have ministered, and lay them in the habitation of the Sanctuary, & put on other apparel, jest they onhalowe the people with their clotheses. They shall not shave their heads, ner nourish the bush of their hair, Levi. 19 f 21. a but round their heads only. All the priests that go in to the ynmost court, Levi. 10. ᶜ ●1. b Ose. 1 a 3. a shall drink no wine. They shall marry no widow, neither one that is put from her huszbonde: but a maid 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, 〈…〉 betwixt 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 Sabbathes. 〈…〉 They shall come at no deed 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 into the Sanctuary again to do service, he shall bring a sin offering saith the LORD God. They shall have an heritage, 〈…〉 ye I myself willbe their heritage: else shall you give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. The meat offering, sin offering & trespass offering shall they eat, and every dedicated thing in Israel, shallbe there's. The firstlinges of all the first fruits, and all free will offerings shall be the priests. You shall give unto the priest also the firstlinges of your dough, that God may prosper the residue. 〈…〉 But no deed carrion shall the priest eat, ner such as is devoured of wild beestes, fowls or cattles. The XLV. Chapter. WHen you divide the land by the lot, you shall put aside one part for the LORD, 〈…〉 to be holy from other lands: namely, twenty-five M meteroddes long, and x M broad. This shallbe holy, as wide as it is round about. Of this part there shallbe long unto the Sanctuary v C meteroddes in all the four corners, and l cubits wide round about to the suburbs. And from this meausre, namely of twenty-five M metteroddes long, and x M broad, thou shalt measure, wherein the Sanctuary and the holiest of all may stand. The residue of that holy ground shall be the priests, which do service in the Sanctuary of the LORD, and go in before the LORD to serve him, that they may have room to devil in. As for the Sanctuary, it shall stand for itself: and to the Levites the serve in that house, there shallbe given xx habitations, of the twenty-five M length & x M breadth: you shall give also unto the cite a possession of v M meteroddes broad, & twenty-five M long, beside the part of the Sanctuary: that shall be for the whole house of Israel. 〈…〉 Upon both the sides of the Sanctuaries part, & by the cite, there shallbe given unto the prince, what so ever lieth over against the cite, as far as reacheth westward and eastward: which shallbe as long as one part, from the west unto the east. This shallbe his own land in Israel, that my princes be no more chargeable unto my people. And such as remaineth yet over in the land, shallbe given to the house of Israel according to their tribes. Thus saith the LORD God: O you princes, you have now oppressed and destroyed enough: now leave of, handle now according to the thing, that is equal and lawful: and thrust out my people no more, sayeth the LORD God. You shall have a true weight, a true Epha, & a true Bat. ●●ui. 19 g ●●ut 25. c 〈◊〉. 20. b The Epha & the Bat shallbe a like. One Bat shall contain the tenth part of an Homer, and so shall one Epha do: their measure shall be after the Homer. One Sycle maketh xx. Geras. 〈◊〉. 10. b 〈◊〉▪ 27. d 〈…〉 g So xx. Sycles, and twenty-five. & xv. Sycles make a pound. This is the Heave offering, that you shall give to be heaved: namely, the xuj. part of an Epha, out of an Homer of wheat: and the xuj. part of an Epha, out of an Homer of barley. The oil shall be measured with the Bat: even the x. part of one Bat out of a Cor. Ten Bats make one Homer: for one Homer maketh ten Bats. And one lamb from two hundredth sheep out of the pasture of Israel, for a meat offering, burned offering and health offering, to reconcile them, sayeth the LORD God. All the people of the land shall give this heave offering with a free-will. Again, it shall be the princes part to offer burned offerings, meat offerings and drink offerings unto the LORD, in the holy days, new Moons, Sabbathes, and in all the high feasts of the house of Israel. The sin offering, meat offering, brent offering & health offering shall he give, to reconcile the house of Israel. Thus sayeth the LORD God: The first day of the first month thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the Sanctuary. So the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and sprenkle it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the altar, with the door posts of the ynnermer court. And thus shalt thou do also the seventh day of the month (for such as have sinned of ignorance, or being deceived) to reconcile the house withal. Upon the xiv. day of the first month you shall keep Easter. Seven days shall the feast continue, ●xo. 12 a 〈◊〉▪ 23. a 〈◊〉. 16. a wherein there shall no sower ner leavended bread be eaten. Upon the same day shall the prince give for himself and all the people of the land, a bullock for a sin offering. And in the feast of the seven days he shall offer every day a bullock & a ram, that are with out blemish, for a burned offering unto the LORD: & an he gaote daily for a sin offering. For the meat offerings he shall give ever an Epha to a bullock, an Epha to a ram, & an Hin of oil to an Epha. Upon the xv. day of the seventh month, he shall keep the seven days holy one after another, even as the other seven. days: with the sin offering, burned offering, meat offering, and with the oil. The XLVI. Chapter. THus sayeth the LORD God: the door of the ynnermer court toward the east, shall be shut the uj. work days: but in the Sabbath and in the day of the new Moon, it shallbe opened. Then shall the prince come under the door porch, & stand still without by the door cheek. So the priests shall offer up his burned & health-offrynges. And he shall worship at the door post, and go his way forth again: but the door shall no more be shut till the evening. On the same manner shall the people of the land also do their worship before the LORD, without this door upon the Sabbathes and new Moons. This is now the burnt-offring, that the prince shall bring unto the LORD upon the Sabbath: six lambs without blemish, & a ram without blemish, and an Epha for a meat offering, with the ram. As for the lambs, he may give as many meat offerings to them, as he will, & an Hin of oil to an Epha. In the day of the new month, it shallbe a young bullock with out blemish, six lambs & a ram also without blemish. With the bullock he shall give an Epha, and with the ram an Epha also for a meatofferinge: but to the lambs, what he may come by: And ever an Hin of oil to an Epha. When the prince cometh, he shall go under the door porch, and even there depart forth again. But when the people of the land come before the LORD in the high solemn feast, as many as come in by the north door to do worship, shall go out again at the south door. And they that come in at the south door, shall go forth again at the north door. There shall none go out at the door where he came in, but shall go forth right over on the other side, and the prince shall go in and out among them. Upon the solemn and high feast days, this shallbe the meat-offering: An Epha to a bullock, and an Epha to a ram: and to the lambs, as many as he will, but ever an Hin of oil to an Epha. Now when the prince bringeth a burntoffering or an health offering with a free will unto the LORD, the east door shallbe opened unto him, that he may do with his burned & healthofferynges, as he doth upon the Sabbath: and when he goeth forth, the door shall be shut after him again. He shall daily bring unto the LORD a lamb of a year old without blemish for a burntoffering: this shall he do every morning. And for a meat-offering he shall give the sixte part of an Epha, & the third part of an Hin of oil (to mingle with the cakes) every morning. Ye this shallbe a daily meatofferinge unto the LORD, for an everlasting ordinance: & thus shall the lamb, the meat-offering and oil be given every morning, for a daily burntofferinge. moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, then shall it be his sons heritage perpetual, that he may possess it. But if he will give one of his servants some of his heritage, 〈◊〉. 25. b 〈◊〉. 36. c it shall be his to the free year, and then to return again unto the prince: for his heritage shallbe his sons only. 〈◊〉. 21. a 〈◊〉. 9 b The prince also shall take none of the people's inheritance, ner put them from their possession: but to his own sons shall he give his possession, that my people be not scattered abroad, but that every man may have his own. And he brought me thorough the entrance at the side of the door to the habitation of the Sanctuary, that belongeth to the priests and stood toward the north, & behold, there was a place upon the west side, than said he unto me: This is the place, where the priests shall dight the trespass and synofferynges, & bake the meatofferynges: that they need not bear them in to the outward court, and so to unhallow the people. So he brought me in to the uttermost court, round about all the four corners. Behold, in every corner of the fore court, there was yet a little court. Ye in all the four corners of the court, there was made a little court of xl. cubits long, and thirty. cubits broad: these four little courts were of one like measure, & there went a ridge brickwall round about them all four, under the which there were harthes' made round about. Then said he unto me: This is the kechin, where the ministers of the house shall dight the slain offerings of the people. The XLVII. Chapter. AFter this he brought me again before the door of the house: & behold, there guszshed out waters from under the posts of the house eastward (for the house stood toward the east) that ran down upon the right side of the house, which lieth to the altar south ward. Then carried he me out to the north door, and brought me forth there round about by the uttermost door, that turneth eastward. Behold, 〈…〉 there came forth the water upon the right side. Now when the man that had the meterod in his hand went out unto the east door, he measured a M. cubits, & then he brought me thorough the water, even to the ankles: so he measured yet a thousand, & brought me thorough the water again unto the knees: yet measured he a thousand, and brought me thorough the water unto the loins. After this he measured a thousand again, then was it such a river, that I might not wade thorough it: The water was so deep, that it was needful to have swymmed, for it might not be waded over. And he said unto me: hast thou seen this, oh thou son of man? and with that, he brought me to the river bank again. Now when I came there, there stood many trees upon either side of the river bank. Then said he unto me: This water that floweth out toward the east, and runneth down in to the plain field, cometh into the see: and from the see it runneth out, & maketh the waters whole. Ye all that live and move, where unto this river cometh, shall recover. And where this water cometh, there shallbe many fish. For all that cometh to this water, shall be lusty and whole. By this river shall the fyszshers stand from Engaddi unto En Eglaim, & there spread out their nets: for there shallbe great heaps of fish, like as in the main see. As for his clay and pits, they shall not be whole, for why, it shallbe occupied for salt. By this river upon both the sides of the shore, there shall grow all manner of fruitful trees, whose leaves shall not fall of, neither shall their fruit perish: 〈…〉 but ever be ripe at their months, for their water runneth out of the Sanctuary. His fruit is good to eat, and his leaf profitable for medicine. Thus sayeth the LORD God: Let this be the border, wherein you shall divide the land unto the xij. tribes of Israel, with the line. part it indifferently unto one as unto another: 〈…〉 of the which land I sworn unto your fathers, that it should fall to your inheritance. This is the border of the land upon the northside, from the main see, as men go to Zadada: namely, Hemath, Berotha, Sabarim: from the borders of Damascus and Hemath unto Hazar Tichon, that lieth upon the coasts of Haveran. Thus the borders from the see forth, shallbe Hazar evan, the border of Damascus the north, and the borders of Hemath: that is the north part. The east side shall you measure from Haveran and Damascus, from Galead and the land of Israel by jordane and so forth, from the see coast, that lieth eastward: and this is the east part. The south side is, from Thamar forth to the waters of strife unto Cades, 〈◊〉. 10. b 〈◊〉. 17. b the river, to the main see: and that is the south part. The west part: namely the great see from the borders thereof, till a man come unto Hemath: this is the west part. This land shall you part among you, according to the tribes of Israel, and divide it to be an heritage for you, and for the strangers that dwell among you, and beget children. 〈◊〉 19 g 〈◊〉. 10. d 〈◊〉 24 c For you shall take them among the children of Israel, like as though they were of your own household and country, and they shall have heritage with you among the children of Israel. Look in what tribe the stranger dwelleth, in the same tribe shall you give him his heritage, saith the LORD God. The XLVIII. Chapter. THese are the names of the tribes that lie upon the northside, by the way of Hetlon, till thou comest unto Hemath and Hazar Enam, the borders of Damascus toward the north beside Hemath: Dan shall have his portion from the east quarter unto the west. Upon the borders of Dan from the east side unto the west, shall Asser have his portion. Upon the borders of Asser from the east part unto the west, shall Nephtali have his portion. Upon the borders of Nephtali from the east quarter unto the west, shall Manasses have his portion. Upon the borders of Manasses from the east side unto the west, shall Ephraim have his portion. Upon the borders of Ephraim from the east part unto the west, shall Reuben have his portion. Upon the borders of Reuben from the east quarter unto the west, shall juda have his portion. Upon the borders of juda from the east part unto the west, you shall set a side one portion of twenty-five. M. meteroddes long and broad (like as another portion from the east side unto the west,) wherein the Sanctuary shall stand. As for the portion, that you shall separate out for the LORD, it shallbe twenty-five. M. long, Eze. 45. and x. M. broad. Which separated holy portion shall belong unto these: namely to the priests, toward the north twenty-five. M. & toward the west x. M. broad, toward the east x. M. broad also, & toward the south twenty-five. M. long, wherein the Sanctuary of the LORD shall stand. Ye this same place shall be the priests, that are of the children of Sadoch, Eze. 43. and 44. & have kept my holy ordinance: which went not astray in the error of the children of Israel, like as the Levites are go astray: and this separated piece that they have of the land, shallbe the most holy, hard upon the borders of the Levites. And next unto the priests, shall the Levites have twenty-five. M. long and x. M. broad. This shallbe on every side twenty-five. M. long, and x. M. broad. Of this portion they shall cell nothing, ner make any permutation thereof, jest the chief of the land fall unto other, for it is hallowed unto the LORD. The other u M. after the breadth, that lieth by the twenty-five. M, shallbe common: it shall belong to the cite and to the suburbs for habitations, and the cite shall stand in the midst thereof. Let this be the measure: toward the north part, u C. & iiij. M: toward the south part, u C. & iiij. M: toward the east part, u C. and iiij. M: toward the west part, u C. and iiij. M. The suburbs hard upon the cite, shall have toward the north, L. and ij. C: toward the south, L. and two C: toward the east, L. and two C: toward the west also, L. and two C. As for the residue of the length, that lieth hard upon the separated holy ground: namely, x. M. toward the east and x. M. toward the west, next unto the holy portion: it and the increase thereof shall serve for their meat, that labour in the cite. They that labour for the wealth of the cite, shall maintain this also, out of what tribe so ever they be in Israel. All that is separated of the twenty-five. M. long and twenty-five. M. broad on the four parts, that shall you put a side for the separated portion of the Sanctuary, & for the possession of the cite. The residue upon both the sides of the Sanctuary and possession of the cite, Eze. 45. a shall belong to the prince, before the place of the twenty-five. M. unto the east end, & before the place of the twenty-five. M. westward, unto the borders of the cite: this shallbe the princes portion. This shallbe the holy place, and the house of the Sanctuary shall stand in the midst. moreover, from the Levites and the city's possession, that lie in the midst of the princes part: look what remaineth betwixt the border of juda & the border of Ben jamin, it shall be the princes. Now of the other tribes. From the east part unto the west, shall Ben jamin have his portion. Upon the borders of Ben jamin from the east side unto the west, shall simeon have his portion. Upon the borders of Symeon from the east part unto the west, shall Isachar have his portion. Upon the borders of Isachar from the east side unto the west, shall Sabulon have his portion. Upon the borders of Sabulon from the east part unto the west, shall Gad have his portion. Upon the borders of Gad southward, the coasts shall reach from Thamar forth unto the waters of strife to Cades, and to the flood, even unto the main see. ●ume. 32 ●s. 13.14. This is the land with his portions, which you shall distribute unto the tribes of Israel, saith the LORD God. Thus wide shall the cite reach: upon the north part v C and iiij M measures. The ports of the cite, shall have the names of the tribes of Israel. Three ports of the northside: One Reuben, another juda, the third Levi. Upon the east side, v C & iiij M measures, with the three ports: The one joseph, another Ben jamin, the third Dan. Upon the south side v C and iiij M measures, with the three ports: the one simeon, another Isachar, the third Sabulon. And upon the west side v C and iiij M measures, with three ports also: the one Gad, another Asser, the third Nephtali. Thus shall it have xviij M measures round about. And from that time forth, the name of the cite shall be: the LORD is there. The end of the Prophet Ezechiel. The Prophet Daniel. What Daniel containeth. Chap. I Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Asarias' are choose to learn Caldeish, & to stand before the king. Chap. II Daniel expoundeth the kings dream. Chap. III The three children will not worship the image, they be cast in the fire, but God delivereth them. Chap. four Another dream expounded. Chap. V Daniel readeth the writing on the brickwall, and declareth it. Chap. VI Daniel is cast in the lions 〈◊〉. Chap. VII. The vision of the four beestes. Chap. VIII. Of the Ram and the goat. Chap. IX. The prophecy of the seventy we●es and of Christ. Chap. X. Another vision showed to Daniel. Chap. XI.XII. Certain revelations of things for to come: some, of the deliverance from the captivity of Babylon: some, of the destruction of jerusalem: some, concerning the latter days. The first. Chapter. IN the third year of the reign of joachim king of juda, came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon unto jerusalem, 〈◊〉 24 a 〈◊〉. ●6. c & besieged it: and the LORD delivered joachim the king of juda in to his hand, with certain ornaments of the house of God, which he carried away unto the land of Sennar, to the house of his god and there brought them in to his god's treasury. Andrea the king spoke unto Asphenes the chief chamberlain, that he should bring him certain of the children of Israel, that were come of the kings seed and of princes, young spryngaldes with out any blemish but fair and well favoured, instruct in all wisdom, cunning and understanding: which were able to stand in the kings palace, to read, and to learn for to speak Caldeish. Unto these the king appointed a certain portion of his own meat and of the wine, which he drank himself, so to nourish them three year: that afterward they might stand before the king. Among these now were certain of the children of juda: namely Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Azarias. Unto these the chief chamberlain gave other names, and called Daniel, Balthasar: Ananias, Sydrac: Misael, Misac: and Asarias', Abdenago. But Daniel was at a point with himself, that he would not be defiled thorough the kings meat, 〈◊〉 43. f 〈◊〉. 1. b 〈◊〉. 1●. a ner the wine which he drunk. And this he desired of the chief chamberlain, jest he should defile himself. So God gave Daniel favour and grace before the chief chamberlain, that he said unto him: I am afraid of my lord the king, which hath appointed you your meat and drink: jest he spy your faces to be worse liking then the other spryngaldes of your age, and so you shall make me lose my head unto the king. Then Daniel answered Melassar, whom the chief chamberlain had set over Daniel, Ananias, Misael and Asarias', and said: O prove but ten days with thy servants, and let us have pottage to eat, and water to drink: then look upon our faces, and there's that eat of the kings meat. And as thou sayst, so deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them x. days. And after the ten days, their faces were better liking & fatter, than all the young spryngaldes, which ate of the kings me●te. Thus Melassar took away their meat and wine, and gave them pottage therefore. God gave now these four spryngaldes cunning and learning in all scripture and wisdom: but unto Daniel specially, he gave understanding of all visions and dreams. Now when the time was expired, that the king had appointed to bring in these young springaldes unto him: the chief chamberlain brought them before Nabuchodonosor, and the king commoned with them. But among them all were found none such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Asarias'. Therefore stood they before the king, which in all wisdom and matters of understanding, that he enquered of them, found them ten times better, than all the soythsayers and charmers, that were in all his realm. And Daniel abode still, unto the first year of king Cyrus. The II Chapter IN the second year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, had Nabuchodonosor a dream, job. 7. b Dan. 4. a 5. a where thorough his spirit was vexed, and his sleep brake from him. Then the king commanded to call together all the soythsayers, charmers, witches and Caldees, for to show the king his dream. So they came, and stood before the king. And the king said unto them: I have dreamt a dream, & my spirit was so troubled therewith, that I have clean forgotten, what I dreamt. Upon this, the Caldees answered the king in the Syrians speech: O king, God save thy life for ever. Show thy servants the dream, and we shall show thee, what it means. The king gave the Caldees their answer, and said: It is go fro me: If you will not make me understand the dream with the interpretation thereof, you shall die, and your houses shall be prysed. But if you tell me the dream and the meaning thereof, you shall have of me gifts, rewards and great honour: only, show me the dream and the signification of it. They answered again, and said: the king must show his servants the dream, and so shall we declare, what it means. Then the king answered, saying: I perceive of a truth, that you do but prolong the time: for so much as yese, that the thing is go fro me. Therefore, if you will not tell me the dream, you shall all have one judgement. But you feign and dissemble with vain words, which you speak before me, to put of the tyme. Therefore tell me the dream, and so shall I know▪ if you can show me, what it means. Upon this, the Caldees gave answer before the king, and said: there is no man upon earth, that can tell the thing, which the king speaketh of: Ye there is neither king prince ner LORD, that ever axed such things at a soythsayer, charmer or Caldeer: for it is a very hard matter, that the king requireth. neither is there any, that can certify the king thereof, except the gods: whose dwelling is not among the creatures. For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation, and commanded to destroy all the wise men at Babylon: and the proclamation went forth, that the wise men should be slain. They sought also to slay Daniel with his companions. Then Daniel enquered Arioch the kings steward, of the judgement and sentence, that was go forth already to kill such as were wise at Babylon. He answered, and said unto Arioch being then the kings debit: Why hath the king proclaimed so cruel a sentence? So Arioch told Daniel the matter. Upon this, went Daniel up, and desired the king, the he might have leisure, to show the king the interpretation: and then came he home again & showed the thing unto Ananias, Misael & Asarias' his companions: that they should beseek the God of heaven for grace in this secret, that Daniel and his fellows with other such as were wise in Babylon, perished not. Then was the mystery showed unto Daniel in a vision by night. And Daniel praised the God of heaven, Daniel also cried loud, and said: O that the name of God might be praised for ever and ever, for wisdom and strength are his own: he changeth the times and ages: Dan. 7. d Luc. 1. c job. 34. b jere. 27. a Dan. 4. c job. 32. b he putteth down kings, he setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand he openeth the deep secrets: he knoweth the the thing that lieth in darkness, for the light dwelleth with him. 1. joh. 1. b I thank thee, and praise thee (O thou God of my fathers) that thou hast lent me wisdom and strength, & hast showed me the thing, that we desired of thee, for thou hast opened the kings matter unto me. Upon this went Daniel in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise at Babylon: he went unto him, and said: destroy not such as are wise in Babylon, but bring me in unto the king, and I shall show the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought Daniel into the king in all the haist, and said unto him: I have found a man among the presoners of juda, that shall show the king the interpretation. Then answered the king, and said unto Daniel, whose name was Balthasar: Art thou he, that canst show me the dream, which I have seen, & the interpretation thereof? Daniel answered the king to his face, and said: As for this secret, for the which the king maketh inquisition: it is neither the wise, the sorcerer, the charmer ner the devil conjuror, that can certify the king of it: Only God in heaven can open secrets, and he it is, 〈…〉 that showeth the king Nabuchodonosor, what is for to come in the latter days. Thy dream, and that which thou hast seen in thine head upon thy bed, is this▪ O king, thou diddest cast in thy mind, what should come hereafter: So he that is the opener of mysteries, telleth thee, what is for to come. As for me, this secret is not showed me, for any wisdom that I have, more than any other living: but only that I might show the king the interpretation, & that he might know the thoughts of his own heart. Thou king sawest, and behold: there stood before the a great image, whose figure was marvelous great, and his visage grim. The image head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his body and loins were of copper, his legs were of iron, his feet were part of iron, and part of earth. This thou sawest, till the time that (without any hands) there was hewn of a stone which smote the image upon the feet, 〈…〉 that were both of iron and earth, and broke them to powder: then was the iron, the earth, the copper, the silver and gold broken altogether in pieces: and become like the chaff of corn, that the wind bloweth away from the summer floors, that they can no more be found. But the stone that smote the image, become a great mountain, which fulfilleth the whole earth: This is the dream. And now will we show before the king, what it means. O king, thou art a king of kings: 〈…〉 For the God of heaven hath given the a kingdom, riches, strength and majesty: & hath delivered the all things, that are among the children of men: the beasts of the field, and the fowls under the heaven, and given the dominion over them all. Thou art that golden head. After that there shall arise another kingdom, which shall be less than thine. The third kingdom shall belike copper, and have domination in all lands. The fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron. For like as iron brusseth and breaketh all things: Ye even as iron beateth every thing down, so shall it beat down and destroy. Where as thou sawest the feet and toes, part of earth and part of iron: that is a divided kingdom, which nevertheless shall have some of the iron ground mixed with it, for so much as thou hast seen the iron mixed with the clay. The toes of the feet that were part of iron and part of clay, signifieeh: that it shallbe a kingdom partly strong and partly weak. And where as thou sawest iron mixed with clay: they shall mingle themselves with the seed of simple people, & yet not continue one with another, like as iron will not be soldered with a potsherd. 〈◊〉 9 b In the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up an everlasting kingdom which shall not perish, and his kingdom shall not be given over to another people: Ye the same shall break and destroy all these kingdoms, but it shall endure for ever. And where as thou sawest, that without any hands there was cut out of the mount a stone, 〈◊〉. 12. c which broke the iron, the copper the earth, the silver and gold in pieces: by that hath the great God showed the king, what will come after this. This is a true dream, and the interpretation of it is sure. Then the king Nabuchodonosor, fallen down upon his face, and bowed himself unto Daniel, and commanded that they should offer meat offerings and sweet odours unto him. The king answered Daniel, and said: Ye of a truth, your God is a God above all gods, a LORD above all kings, and an opener of secrets: saying thou canst discover this mystery. So the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many and great gifts. He made him ruler of all the countries of Babylon, and lord of all the nobles, that were at Babylon. Now Daniel entreated the king for Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, so that he made them rulers over all the offices in the land of Babylon: but Daniel himself remained still in the court by the king. The III Chapter. NAbuchodonosor the king caused a golden image to be made, which was lx. cubits high, and six cubits thick. This he made to be set up in the valley of Duran in the land of Babylon & sent out to gather together the dukes, lords & nobles, the judges and officers, the debites and shreves, with all the rulers of the land: that they might come to the dedication of the image which Nabuchodonosor the king had set up. So the dukes, lords and nobles, the judges and officers, debytes and shreves with all the rulers of the land gathered them together, and came unto the dedicating of the image, that Nabuchodonosor the king had set up. Now when they stood before the image, which Nabuchodonosor set up, the bedell cried out with all his might: O you people, kynreddes and tongues, to you be it said: that when you hear the noise of the trumpets, which shallbe blown, with that haps, shawms, Psalteries, Symphonies and all manner of Music: you fall down and worship the golden image, that Nabuchodonosor the king hath set up. Who so then falls not down and boweth himself, shall even the same hour be cast in to an hot burning oven. Therefore, when all the folk heard the noise of the trumpets that were blown, with the haps, shawms, Psalteries, Symphonies and all kind of Melody: them all the people, kynreddes and nations fallen down, and bowed themselves unto the golden image, that Nabuchodonosor the king had set up. Now were there certain men of the Caldees, that went even then and accused the Jews, and said unto king Nabuchodonosor: O king, God save thy life for ever. Thou being king hast given acommaundement, that all men when they hear the noise of the trumpets, haps, shawms, psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: shall fall down and bow them selves toward the golden image: who so then fallen not down and worshipped not, that he should be cast in to an hot burning oven. Now are there certain jews, whom thou hast set over the offices of the land of Babylon: namely, Sydrac, Dan. 2. g Misac and Abdenago. These men (oh king) regard not thy commandment, ye they will not serve thy gods, ner bow themselves to the golden image, that thou hast set up. Then Nabuchodonosor in a cruel wrath and displeasure, commanded, that Sidrac, Misac & Abdenago should be brought unto him. So these men were brought before the king. Then Nabuchodonosor spoke unto them, and said: what? oh Sidrac Misac and Abdenago, will not you serve my gods? nor bow yourselves to the golden image, that I have set up? well, be ready hereafter, when you hear the noise of the trumpets, blown with the haps, shawms, psalteries, symphonies and all the other melodies: that you fall down, and worship the image which I have made. But if you worship it not, you shall be cast immediately in to an hot burning oven. Let se, what god is there, that may deliver you out of my hands? Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago answered the king, and said: O Nabuchodonosor, we aught not to consent unto the in this matter, for why: our God whom we serve, is able to keep us from the hot burning oven (O king) and can right well deliver us out of thy hands. Nu. 16. g And though he will not, yet shalt thou know (oh king) that we will not serve thy gods, ner do reverence to the image, which thou hast set up. Then was Nabuchodonosor full of indignation, so that the countenance of his face changed upon Sidrac, Misac & Abdenago. Therefore he charched and commanded, that the oven should be made seven times hotter, than it was wont to be: and spoke unto the strongest worthies that were in his host, for to bind Sidrac, Misac and Abdenago, and to cast them in to the hot burning oven. So these men were bound in their coats, hosen, shues with their other garments, and castin to the hot burning oven: for the kings commandment was so strate, and the oven was exceeding hot. As for the men that put in Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, the flame of the fire destroyed them. And these three men Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago fallen down in the hot burning oven, Esa. 43. a being fast bound. Then Nabuchodonosor the king marveled, and stood up in all haist: he spoke unto his council and said: did not you cast these three men bound in to the fire? They answered, and said unto the king: Ye oh king. He answered and said: lo, for all that, yet do I see four men going louse in the midst of the fire, Actu. 9 a Dan. 10. b and nothing corrupt: and the fourth is like an angel to look upon. Upon this went Nabuchodonosor unto the mouth of the hot burning oven: he speak also, & said: O Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, you servants of the high God: go forth, and come hither. And so Sydrac, Misac, and Abdenago went out of the fire. Then the dukes, lords and nobles, and the kings council came together to see these men, upon whom the fire had no manner of power in their bodies: 〈…〉 In so much that the very hair of their head was not burned, and their clotheses unchanged: Ye there was no smell of fire felt upon them. Then spoke Nabuchodonosor, and said: Blessed be the God of Sidrac, 〈…〉 Misac & Abdenago: which hath sent his angel, 〈◊〉 defended his servants, that put their trust in him: that have altered the kings commandment, and jeopardy their bodies there upon ●●ther than they would serve or worship any other god, except their own God only. Therefore I will and command, that all people, kynreddes & tongues▪ which speak any blasphemy against the God of Sydrac, Misac and Abdenago, shall die, and their houses shallbe prysed: Because, 〈…〉 there is no God that may save, as this. So the king promoted Sidrac, Misac and Abdenago, in the land of Babylon. Nabuchodonosor king, unto all people, 〈…〉 kynreddes and tongues that devil upon the whole earth: peace be multiplied among you I thought it good to show the tokens & marvelous works, that the high God hath wrought upon me O how great are his tokens, 〈…〉 & how mighty are his wonders? His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power lasteth for ever and ever. The four Chapter. I Nabuchodonosor being at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace, saw a dream, which made me afraid: and the thoughts that I had upon my bed, with the visions of mine head, troubled me. Then sent I out a commission, 〈…〉 that all they which were of wisdom at Babylon should be brought before me, to tell me the interpretation of the dream. So there came the soythsayers, charmers, Caldees and conjurers of devils: to whom I told the dream, but what it betokened, they could not show me: till at the last, there came one Daniel (otherwise called Balthasar, according to the name of my God) which hath the spirit of the holy gods in him: to whom I told the dream, saying: O Balthasar, thou prince of saythsayers: For so much as I know, that thou hast the spirit of the holy gods, and no secret is hid from thee: tell me therefore, what the vision of my dream (that I have seen) may signify. I saw a vision in my head upon my bed: and behold, there stood a tree upon the ground, which was very high, great and mighty: the heyth reached unto the heaven, and the breadth extended to all the ends of the earth: his leaves were fair, he had very much fruit, so that every man had enough to eat therein. The beasts of the field had shadows under it, and the fowls of the air dwelled in the bows thereof. Shortly, all creatures fed of it. I saw in my head a vision upon my bed: & behold, a watcher (even an holy angel) came down from heaven, and cried mightily, saying: Hue down the tree, break of his branches, shake of his leaves, and scatre his fruit abroad: that all the beestes may get them away from under him, and the fowls from his branches. Nevertheless leave the ground of his rote still in the earth, and bind him upon the plain field, with chains of iron and steel. With the dew of heaven shall he be wet, and he shall have his part in the herbs of the ground with other wild beasts. That man's heart of his shall be taken from him, and a beasts heart shall be given him, till seven years be come and go upon him. This erande of the watcher, is a commandment grounded and sought out in the council of him, that is most holy: to learn men for to understand, that the highest hath power over the kingdoms of men, and giveth them, to whom it liketh him, and bringeth the very outcasts of men over them. This is the dream, that I king Nabuchodonosor have seen. Therefore oh Balthasar, tell thou me what it signifieth: for so much as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to show me, what it means. But thou canst do it, for the spirit of the holy Gods is in the. Then Daniel (whose name was Balthasar) held his peace by the space of an hour and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said: O Balthasar, let neither the dream ner the interpretation thereof fear the. Balthasar answered, saying: O my LORD, this dream happen to thine enemies, and the interpretation to thine adversaries. As for the tree that thou sawest which was so great & mighty, whose height reached unto the heaven, and his breadth in to all the world: whose leaves were fair, and the fruit much: under the which the beasts of the field had their habitation, and upon whose branches the fowls of the air did sit: Even thou (oh king) art the tree, great & strong. Thy greatness increaseth, & reacheth unto the heaven, so doth thy power to the ends of the earth. But where as the king saw a watcher even an holy angel, that came down from heaven, and said: hue down the tree, and destroy it: yet leave the groun-of the rote in the earth, and bind him upon the plain field with chains of iron and steel: He shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and his part shallbe with the beestes of the field, till seven years be come and go upon him: This (oh king) is the interpretation, ye it is the very device of him, that is highest of all, & it toucheth my LORD the king. Thou shalt be cast out fro men, and thy dwelling shallbe with the beestes of the field: with grass shalt thou be fed like an ox. Thou must be wet with the dew of the heaven: ye seven years shall come and go upon thee, till thou know, that the highest hath power upon the kingdoms of men, & giveth them, to whom he list. moreover, Dan. 2. c jere. 27. a where as it was said, that the rote of the tree should be be left still in the ground: it betokeneth, that thy kingdom shall remain whole unto thee, after thou hast learned to know, that the power cometh from heaven. Wherefore (oh king) be content with my council, that thou mayest louse thy sins with righteousness, and thine offences with mercy to poor people: for such things shall prolong thy peace. All these things touch the king Nabuchodonosor. So after xij. months, the king walked up and down in the paalace of the kingdom of Babylon, and said: This is the great cite of Babylon, which I myself (with my power & strength) have made a kings court, for the honour of my majesty. While these words were yet in the kings mouth, there fallen a voice from heaven, sayengt: O king Nabuchodonosor, to the be it spoken: Thy kingdom shall depart from thee, thou shalt be cast out of men's company: thy dwelling shallbe with the beestes of the field, so that thou shalt eat grass like as an ox, till seven years be come and go over thee: even until thou knowest, that the highest hath power upon the kingdoms of men, and that he may give them, unto whom it pleaseth him. The very same hour was this matter fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor: so that he was cast out of men's company, & ate grass like an ox. His body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were as great as eagle's feathers, and his nails like birds claws. When this time was past, I Nabuchodonosor lift up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding was restored unto me again. Then gave I thanks unto the highest. I magnified and praised him that liveth for evermore, whose power endureth all way, and his kingdom from one generation to another: in comparison of whom, all they that devil upon the earth, are to be reputed as nothing. Dan. 3. f He handleth according to his will, among the powers of heaven & among the inhabitors of the earth: Psal. 134. a and there is none that may resist his hand, job. 42. b or say: what dost thou? At the same time was mine understanding given me again, and I was restored to the honour of my kingdom, to my dignity, and to mine own shape again. My greatestates and princes sought unto me, and I was set in my kingdom again, so that I had yet greater worship. Then did I Nabuchodonosor, loave, magnify and praise the king of heaven: for all his works are true, and his ways right. As for those that go on proudly, he is able to brin bring them down. The V Chapter. BAlthasar the king made a great banquet to his thousand lords: withal these thousand he made great cheer, and when he was drunken with wine, he commanded to bring him the golden and silver vessel, which his father Nabuchodonosor had taken out of the temple at jerusalem: ●. Par. 46. c that the king and his lords (with his queen and concubines) might drink thereout. So they brought the golden vessel, that was taken out of the temple of the lords house at jerusalem. Then the king and his lords with his queen and concubines drunk out of them. They drunk wine, and praised their Idols of gold, silver, copper, iron, wood and stone. In the very same hour there appeared fingers, as it had been of a man's hand writing, right over against the candlestick upon the plain brickwall in the kings palace: and the king saw the palm of the hand that written. jere. 50. a Then changed the king his countenance, and his thoughts troubled him: so that the joints of his body shaken, and his knees smote one against the other. Wherefore the king cried mightily, Dan. 2. a that thy should bring him the charmers, Caldees and conjurers of devils. The king spoke also to the wisemen of Babylon, and said: Who so can read this writing, and show me the plain meaning thereof: shall be clothed with purple, have a chain of gold about his neck, and rule the third part of my kingdom. Upon this, came all the kings wise men: but they could neither read the writing, 〈◊〉 show the king what it signified. Then was the king sore afraid, in so much, that his colour changed, and his lords were so sorevexed. So by reason of this matter, that had happened to the king & his lords, the queen went up herself in to the banquet house, and spoke unto the king, saying: O king God save thy life for ever: Let not that thoughts trouble thee, and let not thy countenance be changed. For why: there is a man in the kingdom, that hath the spirit of the holy gods within him, as it was seen in thy father's days. He hath understanding and wisdom like the gods. Ye the king Nabuchodonosor thy father made this man chest of the soythsayers, charmers, Caldees and devil conjurers: because that such an abundant spirit, knowledge & wisdom (to expound dreams, to open secrets, and to declare hard dowtes) was found in him: ye even in Daniel, whom the king named Balthasar. Let this same Daniel be sent for, and he shall tell, what it means. Then was Daniel brought before the king. So the king spoke unto Daniel, and said: Art thou that Daniel, one of the presoners of juda, whom my father the king brought out of jewry? I have herd speak of thee, that thou hast the spirit of the holy gods, experience and understanding, and that there hath been great wisdom found in the. Now have there been brought me, wise and cunning charmers, to read this writing, and to show me the meaning thereof: But they could not tell me, what this matter signified. Then heard I say, that thou canst expound dark things, and declare hard doubts. Well than, if thou canst road this writing, and show me the meaning thereof: thou shalt be clothed with purple, have a chain of gold about thy neck, & rule the third part of my kingdom. Daniel answered, and said before the king: As for thy rewards, keep them to thyself, or give the rich gifts to another: 〈…〉 yet not the lesse, I will read the writing unto the king, and show him the interpretation thereof O king, God the highest gave unto Nabuchodonosor thy father, the dignity of a king, 〈…〉 with worship & honor: so that all people, kynreddes & tongues stood in awe & fear of him, by reason of the high estate, that he had lent him. For why: he slew, whom he would: he smoke, whom it pleased him. Again: whom he would, he set up: and whom he list, he put down. 〈◊〉 4. d But because his heart was so proud, and his stomach set fast unto wilfulness: he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his majesty was taken from him. He was shot out from among men, his heart was like a beestes heart, and his dwelling was with the wild Asses: he was fain to eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of the heaven: till he knew, that the highest had power upon the kingdoms of men, and setteth over them, whom he list. And thou his son (oh Balthasar) for all this, hast not submitted thy heart, though thou knewest all these things: but hast magnified thyself above the LORD of heaven, so that the vessels of his house were brought before thee: that thou, and thy lords, with thy queen and concubines, might drink wine thereout: And hast praised the Idols of silver and gold, copper and iron, of wood & stone: As for the God, in whose hand consists thy breath and all thy ways: thou hast not loaved him. 〈◊〉 17. c Therefore is the palm of this hand sent hither from him, to token up this writing, And this is the scripture, that is written up: Mane, Thetel, Phares. Now the interpretation of the thing is this: Mane, God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end: Thetel, Thou art weighed in the balance, and art found to light: Phares, Thy kingdom is dealt in parts, and given to the Medes and Perses. Then commanded Balthasar, to clot Daniel with purple, to hang a chain of gold about his neck, and to make a proclamation concerning him: that he should be the ruler of the third part of his kingdom. 〈◊〉 7. b 21 ᵃ ●. a The very same night was Balthasar the king of the Caldees slain, and Darius out of Media took in the kingdom, being lxij. year of age. The VI Chapter. IT pleased Darius to set over his kingdom an C and xx. lords, which should be in all his kingdom about. Above these he set three princes (of whom Daniel was one) that the lords might give accounts unto them, and the king to be undiseased. But Daniel exceaded all these princes and lords, for the spirit of God was plenteous in him: so that the king was minded to set him over the whole realm. Wherefore the princes and lords sought, to pike out in Daniel some quarrel against the kingdom: yet could they find none occasion ner fault upon him. For why: he was so faithful, that there was no blame ner dishonesty found in him. Then said these men: we will get no quarrel against this Daniel, except it be in the law of his God. Upon this, went the princes and lords together unto the king, and said thus unto him: king Darius, God save thy life for ever. All the great estates of the realm: as the princes, dukes, senators and judges, are determed to put out a commandment of the king, and to make a sure statute: namely, that who so desireth any petition, either of any god or man (with in this thirty. days) except it be only of thee, O king: the same person may be cast into the lions den. Wherefore, oh king, confirm thou this stature, and make a writing: that the thing which the Medes and Perses have ordained be not altered ner broken. So Darius made the writing, and confirmed it. Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went in to his house: and the windows of his hall toward jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore tyme. Then these men made search, and found Daniel making his petition, and praying unto his God. So they came to the king, and spoke before him concerning his commandment, saying: O king, hast thou not subscribed the statute, that within thirty. days who so requireth his petition of any god or man, but only of thyself, oh king: he shallbe cast in to the den of the Lions? The king answered, and said: ye, it is true. It must be as a law of the Medes and Perses, that may not be broken. Then answered they, and said unto the king: Daniel one of the presoners of juda (O king) regardeth neither the ner thy statute, that thou hast made, but maketh his petition three times a day. When the king heard these words, he was sore grieved, and would have excused Daniel, to deliver him, and put of the matter, unto the Son went down, to the intent that he might save him. These men perceiving the kings mind, said unto him: know this (oh king) that the law of the Medes and Perses is, that the commandment and statute which the king maketh, ●ani. 14. c may not be altered. Than the king bade them bring Daniel, and they cast him into the lions den. The king also spoke unto Daniel, and said: Thy God, whom thou allway servest, even he shall defend the. And there was brought a stone, and laid upon the hole of the den: this the king sealed with his own ring, and with the signet of his princes: that the kings commandment concerning Daniel, should not be broken. So the king went in to his palace, and kept him sober all night, so that there was no table spread before him, neither could he take any sleep. But be times in the morning at the break of the day, the king arose, and went in all haist unto the den of the Lions. Now as he came ny● unto the den, he cried with a piteous voice unto Daniel: Ye the king spoke, and said unto Daniel: O Daniel, thou servant of the living God, Is not thy God (whom thou allway servest) able to deliver the from the lions? Daniel said unto the king: O king, God save thy life for ever: Dan. 3. e Act. 12. c jud. 14. ᶜ ●. Re. 17. e Heb. 11. f My God hath sent his angel, which hath shut the lions mouths, so that they might not hurt me. For why: my ungiltynesse is found out before him. And as for thee (oh king) I never offended the. Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded to take Daniel out of the den. So Daniel was brought out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him For he put his trust in his God. And as for those men which had accused Daniel, the king commanded to bring them, and to cast them in the lions den: Hest. 2. b Dani▪ 14. g them, their children and their wives. So the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones asunder, or ever they came at the ground. Dan. 3. f After this, written king Darius unto all people, kynreddes and tongues, that dwelled in all lands: peace be multiplied with you: My commandment is, in all my dominion and kingdom, that men fear and stand in awe of Daniels God: Dani. 14. f 7. c For he is the living God, which abideth ever: his kingdom shall not fail, and his power is everlasting. It is he that delivereth, Esa. 43. b Osee. 13. b Dan. 3. f. and saveth: he doth wonders and marvelous works, in heaven and in earth: he hath preserved. Daniel from the power of the lions. 〈…〉 This Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and Cirus of Persia. The VII. Chapter. IN the first year of Balthasar king of Babylon, saw Daniel a dream, and a vision was in his head upon his bed. Which dream he written, and the sum of the matter is this: Daniel spoke, and said: I saw in my vision by night, and behold: the four winds of the heaven strove upon the see, and four great beestes came up from the see, one unlike another. The first was as a lion, and yet had he eagle's wings. I saw, 〈…〉 that his wings were plucte from him, and he taken away from the earth: that he stood upon his feet as a man, 〈…〉 and that there was given him a man's heart. Behold, the second be'st was like a Beer, and stood upon the one side. 〈…〉 Among his teeth in his mouth he had iij great long teeth and it was said unto him: Arise, eat up much flesh. Then I looked, & behold, there was another like unto a leopard: this had wings as a foul, even four upon the back. This be'st had four heads, and there was power given him. 〈…〉 After this I saw in a vision by night, & behold: the fourth be'st was grim and horrible, and marvelous strong. It had great iron teeth, it devoured, and destroyed, and stamped the residue under feet. It was far unlike the other beestes that we●● before it: for it had ten horns, 〈…〉 whereof I took good heed. And behold, there came up among them, another like horn, before whom there were three of the first horns pluck away. Behold, this horn had eyes like a man, & a mouth speaking presumptuous things. 〈…〉 I looked till the seats were prepared, and till the old aged sat him down. His clothing was as white as snow, and the hairs of his head like the pure will. His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as the burning fire. There drawn forth a fiery stream, & went out from him. A thousand times a thousand served him, x. M. times ten thousand stood before him. The judgement was set, and the books opened Then took I heed there unto, because of the voice of the proud words, which that horn spoke. I beheld, till the be'st was slain, and his body destroyed, 〈◊〉. 1●. d 〈◊〉. 19 d 20. c & given over to be brent in the fire. Asdrubal for the power of the other beestes also, it was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a time and season. I saw in a vision by night, and behold: there came one in the clouds of heaven like the son of a man, 〈◊〉. 13. c ●ct. 1. b 〈◊〉. 1. a which went unto the old aged, before whom they brought him: Then gave he him power and dignity regal, 〈◊〉. 2. a 〈◊〉. 28. c 〈◊〉. 12. d that all people, tribes and tongues should serve him. His power is an everlasting power, which shall never be put down: & his kingdom endureth uncorrupt. My heart was vexed, & I Daniel had a troubled spirit within me, 〈◊〉 ●4. f and the visions of my head made me afraid: till I got me unto one of them that stood by, 〈◊〉. 9 d to know the truth, concerning all these things. So he told me, and made me understand the interpretation of these things. These four great beasts, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth. These shall take in the kingdom of the saints of the most highest, and possess it still more & more for a long season. After this I required diligently to know the truth, concerning the fourth be'st, which was so far unlike the other beestes, and so horrible: whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass: which devoured and destroyed, and stamped the residue under his feet. 〈◊〉. 13. a 17. c. I desired also to know the truth, as touching the ten horns that he had upon his head, and this other which came up afterward, before whose face the● fallen down three: which horn had eyes and a mouth that spoke presumptuous things, and looked with a grimmer visage than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made battle against the saints, ye and got the victory of them: until the time, that the old aged come, that the judgement was given to the chiefest saints: and till the time, that the saints had the kingdom in possession. He gave me this answer: That fourth be'st shallbe the fourth kingdom upon earth: it shallbe more than all other kingdoms, it shall devour, tread down and destroy all other lands. ●ach. 1. e The ten horns, are ten kings that shall arise out of that kingdom, after whom there shall stand up another, which shall be greater than the first. He shall subdue three kings, and shall speak words against the highest of all: he shall destroy the saints of the most highest and think, that he may change times and laws. They shall be given under his power, until a time, two times, Dan. 2. c Apoc. 12. ● and halff a tyme. But the judgement shallbe kept, so that his power shallbe taken from him, for he shall be destroyed, and perish at the last. As for the kingdom, power and all might that is under the heaven: it shall be given to the holy people of the most highest, Luc. 1. c Dan. 14 f whose kingdom is everlasting, ye all powers shall serve and obey him. Thus far extend the words. Nevertheless, I Daniel was so vexed in my thoughts, that my countenance changed, Luc. 2. c but the words I kept still in my heart. The VIII. Chapter. IN the third year of the reign of king Balthasar, there appeared a vision unto me Daniel, after that I had seen the first. I saw in a vision, (and when I saw it, I was at Susis in the chief cite, Dan. 2. a which lieth in the land of Elam) and in the vision, me thought I was by the river of Vlai. Then I looked up, and saw: and behold there stood before the river, a ram, which had horns: and these horns were high, but one was higher than another, and the highest came up last. I saw that this ram puszhed with his horns, against the west, against the north, and against the south: so that no beestes might stand before him, ner defend them from his power: but he did as him listed, and waxed greatly. I took heed unto this, and then came there an hegoate from the west, over the whole earth, and touched not the ground. This goat had a marvelous goodly horn betwixt his eyes, and came unto the ram, that had the two horns (whom I had seen afore by the river side) and ran fiercely upon him with his might. I saw him draw nigh unto the ram, being very fierce upon him: ye he gave him such a stroke, that he broke his two horns: neither had the ram so much strength as to stand before him: but he kest him down, trod him under his feet: and no man was able to deliver the ram out of his power. The goat waxed exceeding great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken also. Then grew there other four such like in the stead, toward the four winds of the heaven. Dan. 7. a 11. a Mac. 1. a Ye out of one of the least of these horns, there came up yet another horn, which waxed marvelous great: toward the south, toward the east, and toward the fair pleasant land. It grew up to the host of heaven, whereof it did cast some down to the ground, and of the stars also, and trod them under feet. Ye it grew up unto the prince of the host, from whom the daily offering was taken, and the place of his Sanctuary casten down. And a certain season was given unto it, against the daily offering (because of wickedness) that it might cast down the verity to the ground, and so to prosper in all things, that it went about. Upon this I heard one of the saints speaking, which saint said unto one that axed this question: How long shall this vision of the daily sacrifice and of the waistinge abomination endure: that the Sanctuary and the power shall so be trodden under foot? And he answered him: Unto the evenyinge & the morning, even two thousand and three hundredth days: then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed again. Now when I Daniel had seen this vision, and sought for the understanding of it: behold, there stood before me a thing like unto a man. And I heard a man's voice in the river of Vlai, which cried, and said: O Gabriel, make this man understand the vision. So he came, and stood by me. But I was afraid at his coming, and fallen down upon my face. Then said he unto me: O thou son of man, mark well, for in the last time shall this vision be fulfilled. Now as he was speaking unto me, I waxed faint, so that I sunk down to the ground. But he took hold upon me, and set me up again, saying: Behold, I will show thee, what shall happen in the last wrath: for in the time appointed it shall be fulfilled. The ram which thou sawest with the two horns, is the king of the Medes and Perses: but the goat is the king of Greek land: the great horn that stood betwixt his eyes, that is the principal king. But where as it broke, and four other rose up in the stead: it signifieth, that out of this people shall stand up four kingdoms, but not so mighty as it. After these kingdoms (while ungodnesse is a growing) there shall arise a king of an unshamefast face, which shall be wise in dark speakinges. He shallbe mighty and strong, but not in his own strength. He shall destroy above measure, and all that he goeth about, shall prosper: he shall slay the strong and holy people. And thorough his craftiness, falsed shall prosper in his hand, his heart shall be proud, and many one shall he put to death in his wealthiness. He shall stand up against the prince of princes, but he shallbe destroyed without hand. 〈…〉 And this vision that is showed unto thee, is as sure as the evening and the morning. Therefore write thou up this sight, 〈…〉 for it willbe long or it come to pass. Upon this was I Daniel very faint, so that I lay sick certain days: but when I rose up, I went about the kings business, and marveled at the vision, nevertheless no man knew of it. The IX. Chapter. IN the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, 〈…〉 which was of the seed of the Medes, & was made king over the realm of the Caldees: Ye even in the first year of his reign, I Daniel desired to know the yearly number out of the books, 〈…〉 whereof the LORD spoke unto jeremy the prophet: that jerusalem should lie waist lxx. years: and I turned me unto God the LORD, 〈…〉 for to pray and make mine intercession, with fasting, sack clot and ashes I prayed before the LORD my God, and knowledged, saying: O LORD, thou great & fearful God, thou that keepest covenant and mercy with them, which love thee, and do thy commandments: We have sinned, we have offended, 〈…〉 we have been disobedient and go back: ye we have departed from all thy precepts and judgements. We would never follow thy servants the prophets, that spoke in thy name to our kings and princes to our forefathers, and to all the people of the land. 〈…〉 O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, unto us pertaineth nothing but open shame: as it is come to pass this day unto every man of juda, and to them that devil at jerusalem: Ye unto all Israel, whether they be far or nigh: thorough out all lands, wherein thou hast strewed them, because of the offences that they had done against the. Ye oh LORD, unto us, to our kings & princes, to our forefathers: even to us all, that have offended thee, 〈◊〉 105. a belongeth open shame. Butt unto the oh LORD our God, pertaineth mercy and forgiveness. As for us, we are go back from him, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he laid before us by his servants the prophets: 〈◊〉. 1. d 〈◊〉. 7. b ye all Israel have transgressed, and go back from thy law, so that they have not herkened unto thy voice. 〈…〉 Wherefore the curse and oath, that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God (against whom we have offended) is poured upon us. And he hath performed his words, 〈…〉 which he spoke against us, & against our judges that judged us: to bring upon us such a great plague, as never was under heaven, like as it is now come to pass in jerusalem. Ye all this plague, as it is written in the law of Moses, is come upon us. Yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn again from our wickedness, and to be learned in thy verity. Therefore hath the LORD made haist, to bring this plague upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous, in all his works which he doth: for why, we would not hearken unto his voice. And now, oh LORD our God, thou that with a mighty hand hast brought thy people out of Egipte, 〈◊〉. 2. b 〈◊〉. 14 to get thyself a name, which remaineth this day: we have sinned (oh LORD) & done wickedly against all thy righteousness: yet let thy wrathful displeasure be turned away (I beseek thee) from thy cite jerusalem thy holy hill. And why? for our sins sake and for the wickedness of our forefathers: is jerusalem and thy people abhorred, of all them that are about us. Now therefore (O our God) hear the prayer of thy servant, and his intercession: O let thy face shine over thy sanctuary, that lieth waist. O my God, incline thy ear, and hearken (at the least for thy own sake) open thy eyes: behold how we be desolated, ye and the cite also, which is called after thy name: For we do not cast our prayers before the in our own righteousness, no: but only in thy great mercies. O LORD, hear: O forgive LORD: O LORD consider, tarry not overlong: but for thy own sake do it, O my God: for thy cite and thy people is called after thy name. As I was yet speaking at my prayers, knowledging mine own sins and the sins of my people, making so mine intercession before the LORD my God, for the holy hills sake of my God: ye while I was yet speaking in my prayer, behold, the man Gabriel (whom I had seen afore in the vision) came flying to me, Dan. 2. c 8. a and touched me about the offering time in the evening. He informed me, and spoke unto me: O Daniel (said he) I am now come, to make the understand it: For as soon as thou begannest to make thy prayer, it was so devised, and therefore am I come to show the. And why? Dan. 10. c. d for thou art a man greatly beloved. Wherefore, ponder the matter well, that thou mayest learn, to understand the vision. Lxx. weeks are determed over thy people, & over thy holy cite: that the wickedness may be consumed, that the sin may have an end, that the offence may be reconciled, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to fulfil the visions and the prophets, and to anoint the most holy one. understand this then, and mark it well: 1. Par. 36. d 1. Esd. 1. a that from the time it shallbe concluded, to go and repair jerusalem again, unto Christ (or the anointed) prince: there shallbe seven weeks. Then shall the streets & walls be builded again lxij. weeks, but with hard troublous tyme. Afther these lxij. weeks, shall Christ be slain, & they shall have no pleasure in him. Then shall there come a people with the prince, and destroy the cite and the sanctuary: and his end shall come as the water flood. But the desolation shall continued till the end of the battle. He shall make a strong bond with many, for the space of a week: and when the week is half go, he shall put down the slain and meat offering. Matt. 24.13. Mar. 13. b And in the temple there shallbe an abominable desolation, till it have destroyed all. And it is concluded, that this waistinge shall continued unto the end. The X. Chapter. IN the third year of king Cirus of Persia, there was showed unto Daniel (otherwise called Balthasar) a matter, ye a true matter, but it is yet a long 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: Not, I did not once anoint myself, till the whole three weeks were out. Upon the xxiv. 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 linning, ●an. 7. b Apo. 1. c whose loins were girded up with fine gold of Araby: his body was like the chrysolite stone, his face (to look upon) was like lightening, his eyes as the flame of fire, his arms and feet were like fair glistering metal, but the voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude. Dan. 3. e Act. 9 a I Daniel alone saw this vision, the men that were with me, saw it not: but a great fearfulness fallen 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: Ye I lost my colour clean, I waisted away, and my strength was go. Yet heard I the voice of his words: & as soon as I heard it, faintness came upon me, and I fallen down flat to the ground upon my face. And behold, an hand touched me, which set me up upon my knees & upon the palms of my hands, saying unto me: O Daniel, Dan. 9 b thou well beloved man: take good heed of the words, that I shall say unto thee, & stand right up, for unto that 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, sense the first day that thou set thy heart to understand, and diddest chasten thyself before thy God: thy words have been herd. And I had come unto the when thou begannest to speak, had not the prince over the kingdom of thee▪ Perses with stand me xxj. days. But lo, Michael one of the chief princes, ●osu. 5. d Dan. 12. a came to help me, him have I left by the king of Persia, & am come to show thee, what shall happen unto thy people in the latter days: for it willbe long yet or the vision be fulfilled. Now when he had spoken these words unto me, I kest 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: How 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, & comforted me, Dan. 9 b 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, & said: Speak on my lord, for thou hast refreszshed me. Then said he: knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? now will I go again to fight with the prince of the Perses. As soon as I go forth, lo, the prince of Grekelonde shall come. Nevertheless, I will show the 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. The XI. Chapter. ANd in the first year of Darius of Media, I stood by him, to comfort him, & to strength him, and now will I show the the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia, but the forth shall be far richer than they all. And when he is in the chiefest power of his riches, he shall provoke every man against the realm of Grekelonde. Then shall there arise yet a mighty king, that shall rule with great dominion, and do what him list. 〈…〉 And as soon as his kingdom cometh up, it shallbe destroyed, 〈…〉 & divided toward the four winds of the heaven. They that come after him, shall not have such power & dominion as he: but his kingdom shallbe scattered, ye even among other than those. And the king of the south shallbe migthier, than his other princes. Against him there shall one make himself strong, & shall rule his dominion with great power. But after certain years they shallbe joined together, & the kings daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north, for to make friendship, but she shall not obtain the power of that arm, neither shall she▪ be able to endure thorough his might: but she, & such as brought her (ye & he that begat her, & comforted her for his time) shallbe delivered up. Out of the branches of her rote, there shall one stand up in his stead: which with power of arms shall go thorough the kings land of the north, & handle him according to his strength. As for their Idols & princes, with their costly jewels of gold & silver, he shall carry them away captives in to Egipte, and he shall prevail against the king of the north certain years. And when he is come into the kings realm of the south, he shall be fain to turn again in to his own land. Wherefore his sons shallbe displeased, and shall gather together a mighty great host of people: and one of them shall come, and go thorough like a waterfloude▪ then shall he return, and go forth with defying and boostinge unto his own land. Then the king of the south shallbe angry, and shall come forth to fight against the king of the north: Ye he shall bring a great multitude of people together, and a great heap shallbe given into his hand: these shall he carry away with great pride, for so much as he hath cast down so many thousands, nevertheless he shall not prevail. For the king of the north shall gather (of the new) a greater heap of people then afore, & come forth (after a certain time and years) with a mighty host & exceeding great good. At the same time there shall many stand up against the king of the south, so that the wicked children of thy people also shall exalt themselves (to fulfil the vision) and then fall. So the king of the north shall come to say siege, and to take the strong fenced cities: And the power of them of the south shall not be able to abide him, & the best men of the people shall not be so strong, as to resist him. Shortly, when he cometh, he shall handle him as he list, & no man shallbe so hardy as to stand against him. He shall stand in the pleasant country, which thorough him shallbe destroyed. He shall set his face with all his power to obtain his kingdom, & to be like it. Ye that shall he do, & give him unto the daughters among women, to destroy him. But he shall fail, neither shall he obtain his purpose. After this, shall he set his face unto the Isles, & take many of them. A prince shall stop him, to do him a shame, beside the confusion that else shall come unto him. Thus shall he turn again to his own land, stumble, & fall, and be no more found: so he that came upon him & did him violence, shall stand in his place, & have a pleasant kingdom: and after few days he shall be destroyed, & that neither in wrath ner in battle. In his stead there shall arise a vile person not held worthy of a kings dignity: this shall come in craftily, & obtain the kingdom with fair words: he shall fight against the arms of the mighty (& destroy them,) ye & against the prince of the covenant. So after that he hath taken truce with him, he shall handle disceatfully: that he may get up, & over come him with a small flock: & so with craftiness to get him to the fattest place of the land, and to deal otherwise, than either his fathers or grand fathers did. For he shall destroy the thing, the they had rob & spoiled, ye & all their substance: imagining thoughts against the strong holds, & that for a tyme. His power and heart shallbe sterred up with a great army against the king of the south: where thorough the king of the south shallbe moved then unto battle, with a great & mighty host also. Nevertheless, he shall not be able to stand, for they shall conspire against him. Ye they that eat of his meat, shall hurt him: so that his host shall fall, & many be slain down. These two kings shallbe minded to do mischief, & talk of deceit at one table: but they shall not prosper: for why, 2. Mac. 5. ● the end shall not come yet, unto the time appointed. Then shall he go home again in to his own land with great good, & set his heart against the holy covenant, he shallbe busy against it, & then return home. At the time appointed he shall come again, & go toward the south: So shall it happen otherwise then at the first, yet once again. And why, the ships of Cythim shall come upon him, that he may be smitten & turn again: Nu. 24. d that he may take indignation against the covenant of holiness, to meddle against it. Ye he shall turn him, & draw such unto him, as leave the holy covenant. He shall set mighty men to unhallow the sanctuary of strength, to put down the day lie offering, & to set up the abominable desolation. And such as break the covenant, shall he flatter with fair words. But the people that will know their God, shall have the overhande and prosper. Those also that have understanding among the people, shall inform the multitude: & for along season, they shallbe persecuted with sword, with fire, with captivity & with the taking away of their goods. Now when they fall, they shallbe set up with a little help: but many shall cleave unto them feignedly. Ye some of those which have understanding shall be persecuted also: that they may betrayed, purified & cleansed, till the time be out: for there is yet another time appointed. The king shall do what him list, he shall exalt and magnify himself against all, that is God. 2. ●he. 2 Ye he shall speak marvelous things against the God of all gods, wherein he shall prosper, Apoc. 15 so long till the wrath be fulfilled, for the conclusion is devised already. He shall not regard the God of his fathers, but his lust shall be upon women: Ye he shall not care for any God, for he shall magnify himself above all. In his place shall he worship the mighty Idols: & the god whom his fathers knew not, shall he honour with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant jewels. This shall he do, seeking help and succour at the mighty Idols and strange gods. Soch as will receive him, and take him for God, he shall give them great worship and power: ye and make them lords of the multitude, and give them the land with rewards. In the latter time, shall the king of the south strive with him: and the king of the north in like manner shall come against him with charettes, horsemen & with a great navy of ships. He shall come in to the lands, destroy and go thorough: he shall enter also in to the fair pleasant land. Many cities & countries shall decay, Apo. 12. c except Edom, Moab & the best of the children of Ammon, which shall escape from his hand. He shall stretch forth his hands upon the countries, & the land of Egipte shall not escape him. For thorough his going in, he shall have dominion over the treasures of silver & gold, & over all the precious jewels of Egipte, Lybia and Ethiopia Nevertheless the tidings out of the east and the north shall trouble him, Apo. 11. c for the which cause he shall go forth to destroy & curse a great multitude. The tents of his palace shall he pitch betwixt the two seas, upon the hill of the noble sanctuary, ●po. 19 d 〈◊〉. c for he shall come to the end of it, and then shall no man help him. The XII. Chapter. THe time will come also, that the great prince Michael, ●po 19 c which standeth on thy people's side, shall arise up, for there shall come a time of trouble, ●at. 24. b such as never was, since there began to be any people, unto that same tyme. Then shall thy people be delivered, ye all those that be found written in the book. ●oh. 5. ᶜ ● Cor. 15. c Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake: some to everlasting life, some to perpetual shame & reproof. ●att. 13. c The wise (soch as have taught other) shall glister, as the shining of heaven: and those that have instruct the multitude unto godliness, shallbe as the stars, world without end. Andrea thou oh Daniel, shut up these words, & seal the book, till the last tyme. Many shall go about here and there, and then shall knowledge increase. So I Daniel looked, and behold, there stood other two: one upon this shore of the water, the other upon yonder side. And one of them said unto him, which was clothed in linning, and stood above upon the waters of the flood: How long shall it be to the end of these wondrous works? Then heard I the man with the linning clotheses, 〈◊〉. 10. a which stood above upon the waters of the flood: when he held up his right and left hand unto heaven, & swore by him which liveth for ever: 〈…〉 that it shall tarry for a time, two times & half a time: & when the power of the holy people is clean scattered abroad, them shall all these things be fulfilled. I heard it well, but I understood it not. Then said I: O my lord, what shall happen after that? He answered: Go thy way Daniel, for these words shall be closed up & sealed, till the last time: & many shallbe purified, cleansed & tried. But the ungodly shall live wickedly, and those wicked (as many of them as they be) shall have no understanding. As for such as have understanding, 〈…〉 they shall regard it. And from the time forth that the daily offering shallbe put down & the abominable desolation set up, there shallbe a thousand two hundredth & xc. days. O well is him, that waiteth, & cometh to the thousand iij. C. & xxxv. days. Go thou thy way now, till it be ended: take thy rest, and bide in thy lot, till the days have an end. The end of the prophet Daniel. The Prophet Oseas What Oseas containeth. Chap. I God refuseth the jews, and maneth himself to the Gentiles. Chap. II Plague over the jews, that will not amend: A promise of mercy to those that will repent. Chap· III The merciful love of God, toward the same unthankful people. Chap. four The sins of the priests and of the people, with reproof for the same. Chap. V Against the priests that deceive the people. Chap. VI The unthankfulness of the People: Again, the loving kindness of God. Chap. VII. No medicine can help, so sore are they wounded with idolatry. Chap. VIII. Idolatry in Samaria and Israel. Chap. IX. Punyszhment upon Israel for Idolatry. Chap. X. The unthankfulness of Israel. The calf in Samaria, for the which and such like abominations, he telleth them of destruction. Cham XI.XII. God calleth them again, with rehearsing his benefits done to them afore. Chap. XIII. He showeth them their wickedness, and punyszhment for the same. Chap. XIIII. He crieth and exorteth the people to convert, promising sweetly and lovingly to receive them. This is the word of the LORD, that came unto Oseas the son of Beeri, 〈…〉 in the days of Osias, joathan, Achas & Ezechias kings of juda: and in the time of Jeroboam the son of joas king of Israel. The first Chapter. FIrst, when the LORD spoke unto Oseas, he said unto him: Go thy way, 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 4. d take an harlot to thy wife, and get children by her: for the ●ode hath committed great whoredom against the LORD. So he went, and took Gomer the daughter of Deblaim: which conceived, and brought forth a son. And the LORD said unto him: 〈…〉 call his name jesrael, for I will shortly avenge the blood of jesrael upon the house of jehu, and will bring the kingdom of the house of Israel to an end. Then will I break the bow of Israel, in the valley of jesrael. She conceived yet again, and bore a daughter. And he said unto him: Call her name Loruhama (that is, not opteyninge mercy) ofr I will have no pity upon the house of Israel, 〈…〉 but forget them, and put them clean out of remembrance. 〈…〉 Nevertheless I will have mercy upon the house of juda, & will save them, even thorough the LORD their God. But I will not deliver them thorough any bow, sword, battle, horses or horsemen. Now when she had weened Loruhama, she conceived again, & bore a son. Then said he: call his name Lo Ami (that is to say, not my people.) For why? you are not my people, therefore will not I be yours. And though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the see, 〈…〉 which can neither be measured ner told: Yet in the place where it is said unto them, you be not my people: even there shall it be thus reported of them: they be the children of the living God. Then shall the children of juda and the children of Israel be gathered together again, 〈…〉 & chose themselves one head, and then depart out of the land: for great shallbe the day of jesrael. The II Chapter. TEll your brethren, that they are my people: and your sisterens, that they have obtained mercy. As for your mother, you shall chide with her, and reprove her: for she is not my wife, jere. 3. a neither am I her huszbonde: unless she put away her whoredom out of my sight, and her adultery from her breasts. If no, I shall stripe her naked, & set her, even as she came in to the world: Eze. 16. a Ye I shall say her waist, and make her like a wilderness, and slay her for thirst. I shall have no pite also upon her children, joh. 8. d for they be the children of fornication. Their mother hath broken her wedlock, and she that bore them, is come to confusion. 4. Re. 17. For she said: I will go after my lovers, that give me my water and my bread, my will & my flax, my oil and my drink. But I will hedge her way with thorns, and stop it, that she shall not find her fotestoppes: and though she run after her lovers, yet shall she not get them: she shall seek them, Levi. 15. c but not find them. Then shall she say: well, I will go turn again to my first huszbonde, for at that time was I better at ease, than now. But this would she not know, where as I yet gave her corn, wine, oil, silver and gold, which she hath hanged upon Baal. Wherefore now will I go take my corn & wine again in their season, Eze. 16. b and fet again my will and my flax, which I gave her, to cover her shame. jere. 13. c And now will I discover her foolishness, even in the sight of her lovers, and no man shall deliver her out of my hands. moreover, I will take away all her mirth, her holy days, her newmoones, Deu. 16. c her Sabbathes and all her solemn feasts: I will destroy her vynyardes and fig trees. though she saith: lo, here are my rewards, that my lovers have given me. I will make it a wood, and the wild beestes shall eat it up: I will punish her also for the days of Baal, wherein she censed him, jud. ●. b 10. b decking him with her earynges and chains: when she followed her lovers, and forgot me, saith the LORD. Wherefore behold, I will call her again, bring her in to a wilderness, and speak friendly unto her: there will I give her her vynyardes again, josu. 7. d ye and the valley of Anchor also, to show her hope & comfort. Then shall she sing there as in the time of her youth, & like as in the day when she came out of the land of Egipte. judic. 5. a Exo. 15. a Then (saith the LORD) she shall say unto me: O my houszbande, & shall call me no more Baal: for I will take away those names of Baal from her mouth, ye she shall never remember their names any more. Levi. 26. a Then will I make a covenant with them, with the wild beasts, with the fowls of the air, & with everythinge that creepeth upon the earth. Esa. 2. a As for bow, sword and battle, I will destroy such out of the land, & will make them to sleep safely. Eze. 16. b Thus will I marry the unto mine own self for evermore: ye even to myself will I marry thee, in righteousness, in equity, in loving kindness and mercy. In faith also will I marry the unto myself, & thou shalt know the LORD. At the same time will I show myself friendly and gracious unto the heavens, saith the LORD: & the heavens shall help the earth, and the earth shall help the corn, wine and oil, and they shall help jesrael. I will sow them upon earth, for a seed to mine own self, & will have mercy upon her, that was without mercy. And to them which were not my people, Ro. 9 c 1. Pet. 2. b I will say: thou art my people. Andrea he shall say: thou art my God. The III Chapter. THen said the LORD to me: Go yet the way & woo an adulterous woman, Eze. 44. d whom thy neighbour loveth, as the LORD doth the children of Israel: how be it they have respect to strange gods, Esa. 28. a Amos 6. a and love the wine cans. So I got her for xv. silverlings, and for an Homer and an half of barley, & said unto her: Thou shalt bide with me along season, but see that thou playest not the harlot, and look thou meddle with none other man, & then will I keep myself for the. Thus the children of Israel shall sit a great while without king and prince, 2 Par. 25. a Dan. 3. d without offering and altar, without priest and revelation. But afterward shall the children of Israel convert, and seek the LORD their God, Eze. 34. d and David their king: and in the latter days they shall worship the LORD, and his loving kindness. The four Chapter. Hear the word of the LORD, oh you children of Israel: For the LORD must punish them, that dwell in the land. And why? There is no faith fullness, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the land: but swearing, dying, manslaughter, theft and adultery have got the overhand, & one blood giltynesse followeth another. Therefore shall the land be in a miserable case, and all they that devil therein, shall mourn. The beasts in the field, the fowls in the air, and the fish in the see shall die. Yet is there none, that will chasten nor reprove another. The priests which should reform other men, are become like the people. Therefore stomblest thou in the day time &▪ the prophet with the in the night. I will bring thy mother to silence, & why? 〈…〉 my people perish, because they have no knowledge. seeing then that thou hast refused understanding, therefore will I refuse the also: so that then shalt no more be my priest. And for so much as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God. I will also forget thy children. The more they increased in multitude, the more they sinned against me, therefore will I chaurge their honour in to shame. They eat up the sins of my people, & courage them in their wickedness. 〈…〉 Thus the priest is become like the people. Wherefore I will punish them for their wicked ways, & reward them according to their own imaginations▪ They shall eat, & not have enough: They have used whoredom, therefore shall they not prosper: & why? they have forsaken the LORD, & not regarded him. Whoredom, wine and drunkenness take the heart away. My people axe council at their stocks, their staff must tell them. For an whorish mind hath deceived them, so that they commit fornication against their God. They make sacrifice upon the high mountains, & burn their incense upon the hills, ye among the oaks, groves & buszshes, for there are good shadows. Therefore your daughters are become harlots, and your spouses have broken their wedlock I will not punish your daughters for being defiled, & your brides that become whores: 〈…〉 seeing the fathers themselves have meddled with harlots, and offered with unthrifts: but the people that will not understand, must be punished. Though thou Israel art disposed to play the harlot, yet shouldest not thou have offended, oh juda: 〈…〉 thou shouldest not have run to Galgala, ner have go up to Bethaven, nor have sworn: the LORD liveth. For Israel is go back, like a wanton cow. The LORD therefore shall make her feed, as the lamb that go●eth astray. And where as Ephraim is become partaker of Idols, well, let him go. Their drunkenness hath put them back, & brought them to whoredom. Their rulers love rewards, bring (say they,) to their own shame. A wind shall take hold of their feathers, & they shall be confounded in their offerings. The V Chapter. Hear this, oh you priests: take heed, oh thou household of Israel: give ear, oh thou kingly house: for this punishment will come upon you, that are become a snare unto Myspa, and a spread net unto the mount of Thabor. They kill sacrifices by heaps, to beguile the people therewith: therefore will I punish them all. Eze. 8. b 〈◊〉. 23. d I know Ephraim well enough, & Israel is not hid fro me: for Ephraim is become an harlot, and Israel is defiled. They are not minded to turn unto their God, for they have an whorish heart, so that they can not know the LORD. 〈◊〉 7. b But the pride of Israel will be rewarded him in his face, ye both Israel and Ephraim shall fall for their wickedness, and juda with them also. 〈◊〉. 3. b 〈◊〉. 4. 〈…〉. 14. a They shall come with their sheep & bullocks to seek the LORD, but they shall not find him, for he is go from them. As for the LORD, they have refused him, and brought up bastard children: a month therefore shall devour them with their portions. Blow with the shawms at Gabea, and with the trumpet in Rama, cry out at Bethaven upon the yonside of Ben jamin. In the time of the plague shall Ephraim be laid waist, therefore did I faithfully warn the tribes of Israel. 〈◊〉. 19 d 〈◊〉. ●7. b Yet are the princes of juda become like them, that remove the londemarckes, therefore will I pour out my wrath upon them like water. Ephraim is oppressed, and can have no right of the law: for why? they follow the doctrines of men. Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, & to the house of juda as a caterpillar. 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉. 28. c When Ephraim saw his sickness, and juda his disease: Ephraim went unto Assur, and sent unto king jareb: yet could not he help you, ner ease you of your pain. I am unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a lions whelp to the house of juda. Even I, I will spoil them, & go my way. I will take them with me, and no man shall rescue them. I will go, and return to my place, till they wax faint, and seek me. The VI Chapter. IN their adversity they shall seek me, and say: come, let us turn again to the LORD: 〈…〉 for he hath smitten us, and he shall heal us: He hath wounded us, & he shall bind us up again: after two days shall be quicken us, in the third day he shall raze us up, so that we shall live in his sight. Then shall we have understanding, & endeavour ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth. Pro. 16. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O juda, how shall I entreat thee? saying your love is like a morning cloud, & like a dew that goeth early away. Therefore have I cut down the prophets, & let them be slain for my words sake: so that thy punishment shall come to light. For I have pleasure in loving kindness, and not in offering: Matt. 9.12. a Ye in the knowledge of God, more than in burned sacrifice. But even like as Adam did, Gen. 3. b so have they broken my covenant, and set me at nought. Galaad is a cite of wicked doers, of malicious people and bloudshedders. The multitude of the priests is like an heap of thieves, murderers & blood thirsty: for they have wrought abomination. jere. 1●. b Horrible things have I seen in the house of Israel, there playeth Ephraim the harlot, and Israel is defiled: but juda shall have an harvest for himself, when I return the captivity of my people. The VII. Chapter. WHen I undertake to make Israel whole, than the ungraciousness of Ephraim and the wickedness of Samaria cometh to light: then go they about with lies. At home, they be thieves: and without, they fall to robbing. They consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness. They go about with their own ynuentions, but I see them well enough. They make the king and the princes, to have pleasure in their wickedness & lies. All these burn in adultery, as it were an oven that the baker heateth, when he hath left kneading, till the dough be levended. Even so goeth it this day with our kings and princes, for they begin to be wood drunken thorough wine: they use familiarity with such as deceive them. They with the imagination of their heart are like an oven, their sleep is all the night like the sleep of a baker, in the morning is he as hot as the flame of fire: they are altogether as hot as an oven. They have devoured their own judges, all their kings are fallen: yet is there none of them that calleth upon me. Therefore must Ephraim be mixed among the heathen. Ephraim is become like a cake, that no man turneth: strangers have devoured his strength, yet he regardeth it not: he waxeth full of grey hairs, yet will he not know it: & the pride of Israel is cast down before their face, Osee ●. a yet will they not turn to the LORD their God, ner seek him, for all this. Ephraim is like a dove, that is beguiled, and hath no heart. ●. Re▪ 1●. b Now call they upon the Egipcians, now go they to the Assyrians: but while they be going here and there, I shall spread my net over them, & draw them down as the fowls of the air: and according as they have been warned, so will I punish them. Esa. 1. a Woe be unto them, for they have forsaken me. They must be destroyed, for they have set me at nought. ●. Pet. 2. a Matt. 15. a Esa. 29. d Eze. 33. f I am he that have redeemed them, and yet they dissemble with me. They call not upon me with their hearts, but lie youlinge upon their beds. Where as they come together, it is but for meat & drink, and me will they not obey. I have taught them, and defended their arm, yet do they imagine mischief against me. They turn themselves, but not a right, & are become as a broken bow. Their princes shallbe slain with the sword, for the malice of their tongues, such blasphemies have they learned in the land of Egipte. The VIII. Chapter. SEt the horn to thy mouth, and blow: get the swiftly (as an Eagle) unto the house of the LORD: Deu. 31. d for they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law. Israel can say unto me: thou art my God, we know thee: but he hath refused the thing that is good, therefore shall the enemy follow upon him. ●. Re. 12. c They have ordained kings, but not thorough me: they have made princes, and I must not know of it. Of their silver and gold have they made them images, ●ze. 7. d to bring themselves to destruction. ●. Re. 12. d Thy calf (O Samaria) shallbe taken away. for my wrathful indignation is go forth against the. How long will it be, or they can be cleansed? For the calf came from Israel, the work man made it, therefore can it be no God, but even to a spiders web shall the calf of Samaria be turned. They have sown wind, therefore shall they reepe a storm. Their seed shall bear no corn, there shall no meel be made of their increase: though there be, yet shall strangers devour it up. Israel shall perish, the Gentiles shall entreat him as a foul vessel. Sens they went up to the Assyrians, they are become like a wild ass in the desert. ●. Re. ●7. a Eze. 16. b Ephraim giveth rewards to get lovers, therefore are they scattered among the Heithen, there will I gather them up. They shall soon be weighed of the burden of kings & princes. Ephraim hath made many altars to do wickedness, therefore shall the altars turn to his sin. Though I show them my law never so much, they count it but strange doctrine. Where as they do sacrifice, offering the flesh and eating it: the LORD will have no pleasure therein: but will remember their wickedness, and punish their sins. Israel turneth again into Egipte, 〈…〉 they have forgotten him that made them, they build churches, 〈…〉 and juda maketh many strong cities: therefore will I send a fire into their cities, and it shall consume their places. The IX. Chapter. DO not thou triumph (O Israel) make no boostinge more than the heathen, for thou hast committed aduo●try against the God: strange rewards hast thou loved, more than all corn floors. 〈…〉 Therefore shall they no more enjoy the cornefloores and wine presses, and their sweet wine shall fail them. They will not dwell in the lords land, 〈…〉 but Ephraim turneth again in to Egipte, & eateth unclean things among the Assyrians. They pour out no wine for a drinkofferinge unto the LORD, neither give they him their slain offerings: but they be unto them as mourner's meats, wherein all they that eat them, are defiled. For the bread that they have such lust unto, shall not come in the house of the LORD. What will you do then in the solemn days, and in the feast of the LORD? lo, they shall get them away for the destruction, egypt shall receive them, & Noph shall bury them. The nettles shall overgrow their pleasant goods, and burrs shallbe in their tabernacles. Be you sure (O Israel) the time of visitation is come, the days of recompencinge are at hand. As for the prophet, you hold him for a fool: and him that is rich in the spirit, for a mad man: so great is your wickedness and malice. Ephraim hath made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet that is become a snare to do hurt in every street, and abomination in the house of his God. They be go to far, 〈…〉 & have destroyed themselves, like as they did afore time at Gabaa. Therefore their wickedness shall be remembered, and their sins punished. I fande Israel like grapes in the wilderness, & saw their fathers as the first fyges in the top of the fig tree. But they are go to Baal Peor, 〈…〉 & run away fro me to thy shame full Idol, & are become as abominable as their lovers Ephraim flieth like a bird, so shall their glory also: In so much, that they shall neither beget, conceive ner bear children. And though they bring up any, yet will I make them childless among men. Ye woe shall come to them, when I depart from them. Ephraim (as me think) is planted in wealthiness, 〈…〉 like as Tyrus, but now must she bring her own children forth to the man slayer. O LORD thou shalt give them: what shalt thou give them? give them an unfruitful womb and dry breasts. 〈◊〉 4. d All their wickedness is done at Galgal, there do I abhor them. For the ungraciousness of their own inventions, I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more, for all their princes are unfaithful. Ephraim is hewn down, their rote is dried up, so that they shall bring no more fruit: ye and though they bring forth any, yet will I slay even the best beloved fruit of their body. My God shall cast them away, for they have not been obedient unto him, therefore shall they go astray among the heathen. The X. Chapter. ISrael was a goodly vine, but he hath brought forth unprofitable fruit: 〈…〉 ye the more fruit he had, the more altars he made: the more good I did to their land, the more friendship showed they to their images. Their heart is divided, therefore will they be destroyed. The LORD shall break down their images, he shall destroy their altars. Then shall they say: we have no king, for why? we have not feared the LORD. And what shall then the king do to us? They common together, and swear vain oothes: they be confederate together, therefore groweth their punishment, as the wedes in the forowes of the land. They that devil in Samaria have worshipped the calf of Bethaven: therefore shall the people mourn over them, ye and the priests also, that in their wealthiness rejoiced with them: and why? it shall pass away from them. It shallbe brought to the Assyrian, for a present unto king jareb. Ephraim shall receive full punishment: Israel shall be confounded for his own imaginations, Samaria with his king shall vanish away, as the scum upon the water. The high places of Aven where Israel do sin, shall be cast down: thistles and thorns shall grow upon their altars. Then shall they say to the mountains: 〈…〉 cover us, and to the hills: fall upon us. O Israel, thou hast sinned as Gabaa did afore time, 〈◊〉 ●9. a where they remained: should not the battle then come upon the wicked children, as well as upon the Gabaonites? I will chasten them, even after mine own desire, the people shall be gathered together over them, when I punish them for their great wickedness. Ephraim was unto me, as a cow that is used to go to plough, therefore I loved him, and fallen upon his fair neck. I drove Ephraim, juda ploughed, Matt. 11. ● & jacob played the huszbonde man: that they might sow unto righteousness, and reap the fruits of well-doing: that they might plough up their fresh land, and seek the LORD, till he came, and learned them righteousness. But now they have ploughed them wickedness, therefore shall they reepe sin, and eat the fruit of lies. seeing thou puttest thy confidence in thy own ways, and leanest to the multitude of thy worthies: there shall grow a sedition among thy people. All the strong cities shallbe laid waist, jud. 8. c even as Salmana was destroyed with his familiars, thorough him that was avenged of Baal, in the day of battle, where the mother perished with her children. Even so shall it go with you (oh Bethel) because of your malicious wickedness. Like as the morning goeth away, so shall the king of Israel pass. The XI. Chapter. WHen Israel was young, I loved him: and called my son out of the land of Egipte. Exo. 3 b 6. b Matt. 2. c But the more they were called, the more they went back: offering unto Idols, and censing images. Exo. 32. b 3 Re. 12. e 4. Re. 16. ● I learned Ephraim to go, and bore them in mine arms, but they regarded not me, that would have helped them. I led them with cords of friendship, & with bonds of love. I was even he, that laid the yoke upon their necks. I gave them their fodder myself, Exo. 16. c that they should not go again in to Egipte: And now is Assur their king: For they would not turn unto me. Therefore shall the sword begin in their cities, the store that they have lickened unto, shall be destroyed and eaten up: and that because of their own imaginations. My people hath no lust to turn unto me, their prophets lay the yoke upon them, Esa. 10. a 28. b Matt. 2●. Luc. 11. d but they ease them not of their burden. What great things have I given thee, oh Ephraim? how faithfully have I defended thee, oh Israel? Gen. 19 e Deu. 29. d have I dealt with the as with Adama? or have I entreated the like Seboim? Not, my heart is otherwise minded. Ye my mercy is to fervent: therefore have I not turned me to destroy Ephraim in my wrothful displeasure. For I am God and no man, I am even that holy one in the midst of thee, though I came not within the cite. The LORD roareth like a lion, that they may follow him: 〈◊〉. 5. a Ye as a lion roareth he, that they may be afraid, like the children of the see: that they may be scared away from Egipte, as men scar birds: & frayed away (as doves use to be) from the Assyrians land: and that because I would have them tarry at home, saith the LORD. But Ephraim goeth about me with lies, and the house of Israel dyssembleth. Only juda holdeth him with God, and with the true holy things. The XII. Chapter. EPhraim keepeth the air, and followeth after the east wind: he is ever increasinge lies & destruction. They be confederate with the Assyrians, their oil is carried in to Egipte. ●. Re. 16 b ●●a. 57 b The LORD hath a court to hold with juda, and will punish jacob: After their own ways and according to their own inventions, shall he recompense them. He took his brother by the heel, when he was yet in his mother's womb: ●en. 25 a ●en. 32. d ●en. 35. b and in his strength he wrestled with God. He strove with the Angel, and got the victory: so that he prayed and desired him. He fande him at Bethel, & there he talked with us. Ye the LORD God of hosts, even the LORD himself remembered him: Then turn to thy God, keep mercy and equity, and hope still in thy God. But the merchant hath a false weight in his hand, he hath a pleasure to occupy extortion. ●po. 3. c Ephraim thinketh thus: Tush, I am rich, I have good enough: In all my works shall not one fault be found, that I have offended. Yet am I the LORD thy God, even as when I brought the out of the land of Egipte, and set the in thy tents, and as in the high feast days. I have spoken thorough the prophets, and showed diverse visions, and declared myself by the ministration of the prophets. But at Galaad is the abomination, they are fallen to vanity. At Galgal they have slain oxen: Deu. 12. ᵃ ●4. b and as many heaps of stones as they had in their land forowes, so many altars have they made. jacob fled into the land of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. Gen. 28. a By a prophet the LORD brought them out of Egipte, and by a prophet he preserved them. But Ephraim hath provoked him to displeasure thorough his abominations: therefore shall his blood be poured upon himself, and the LORD his God shall reward him his blasphemies. The XIII. Chapter. THe abomination of Ephraim is come also in to Israel. He is go back to Baal, therefore must he die. Esa. 〈…〉 Eze▪ 〈…〉 Osee 〈…〉 Osee 〈…〉 And now they sin more and more: of their silver, they make them molten images, like the Idols of the heathen, and yet all is nothing but the work of the craftsman. Not withstanding they preach of the same: who so will kiss the calves, offereth to men. Therefore they shallbe as the morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away: and like as dust that the wind taketh away from the floor, and as smoke that goeth out of the chimney. I am the LORD thy God, 〈…〉 which brought the out of the land of Egipte: that thou shouldest know no God but me only, & that thou shouldest have no saviour but only me. 〈…〉 I took diligent heed of the in the wilderness that dry land. But when they were well fed and had enough, they waxed proud, and forgot me. 〈…〉 Therefore will I be unto them as a lion, and as a leopard in the way to the Assyrians. I will come upon them as a she beer, that is rob of her welpes, and I will break that stubborn heart of there's. There will I devour them as a lion: ye the wild beasts shall tear them. O Israel, thou dost but destroy thyself, 〈…〉 In me only is thy help. Where are thy kings now, that should help the in all thy cities? Ye and thy judges, of whom thou saidest: give me a king and princes? well, 〈…〉 I gave the a king in my wrath, and in my displeasure will I take him from the again. The wickedness of Ephraim is bound together, & his sin lieth hid. Therefore shall sorrows come upon him, as upon a woman that travaleth. An undiscrete son is he: for he considreth not, that he should not have been able to have endured in the time of his birth, had not I defended him from the grave, and delivered him from death. O death, I will be thy death: oh hell, 〈…〉 I will be thy sting. Yet can I see no comforth, for when he is now the goodliest among the brethren, the east wind (even the wind of the LORD) shall come down from the wilderness, and dry up his condytes, and drink up his wells: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. As for Samaria, they shallbe made waist, 〈…〉 & why? they are disobedient unto their God. They shall perish with the sword, their children shallbe slain, and their women bygg with child shallbe rypte up. The XIIII. Chapter. Turn the now (oh Israel) unto the LORD thy God, 〈…〉 for thou hast taken a great fall thorough thy wickedness. Take these words with you, when you turn to the LORD, & say unto him: O forgive us all our sins, receive us graciously, & then will we offer the bullocks of our lips unto the. 〈◊〉. 13. c ●sal 91. a Assur shallbe 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: ye with all my heart would I love them: so that my wrath should clean be turned away from them. Ye I would be unto Israel as the dew, and he should grow as the lylie, & his rote should break out as Libanus. His branches should spread out abroad, & be as fair as the olive tree, & smell as Libanus. They that dwell under his shadow, should come again, & grow up as the corn, & flourish as the vine: he should have as good a name, as the wine of Libanus. O Ephraim, what have I to do with Idols any more I will graciously hear him, & lead him forth. I will be unto the as a green fir tree, upon me shalt thou find thy fruit. Who so is wise, shall understand this: & he that is right instruct, 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 therein. The end of the prophet Oseas. The Prophet joel. What joel containeth. Chap. I He showeth Israel, that all their glory and outward ceremonies, shall be put down and cease. Chap. II The plagues are great, wherefore he would have them to mourn: yet if they will amend, they may hope for grace. Chap. III How the people are brought again, and their enemies punished. The first Chapter. THis is the word of the LORD, that came unto joel the son of Phatuel: Hear oh you elders: ponder this well, all you that devil in the land: if ever there happened such a thing in your days, or in the days of your fathers. Tell your children of it, & let them show it unto their children, & so they to certify their posterity thereof. Exo. 10. ● Look what the caterpillar hath left, that hath the grasshopper eaten up: what the grasshopper left, that hath the locust eaten up: & what the locust hath left, that hath the blasting consumed. Wake up you dronckardes, & weep: mourn all you wine suppers, because of your sweet wine, for it shall be taken away from your mouth. Ye a mighty & an innumerable people shall come up in to my land: these have teeth like the teeth of lions, & chaftbones like the lions. Deu. 32. ses. They shall make my vineyard waist, they shall pill of the barks of my fygetrees, stripe them bore, cast them away, and make the branches white. Make the moan as a virgin doth, that gyrdeth herself with sack, because of her bride groom. For the meat & drink-offering shallbe taken away from the house of the LORD: & the priests the LORDS ministers shall mourn. The field shallbe waisted, the land shallbe in a miserable case: for the corn shallbe destroyed, the sweet wine shall come to confusion, & the oil utterly desolate. The huszbonde men & the wine gardeners shall look piteously & make lamentation, for the wheat wine & barley, & because the harvest upon the field is so clean destroyed. The grape gatherers shall make great moan, when the vineyard & fygetrees be so utterly waisted. Ye all the pomgarnettes, palmtrees, apletrees, & the other trees of the field shall wither away. Thus the merry cheer of the children of men shall come to confusion. Gird you, & make your moan, oh you priests: mourn you ministers of the altar: go your way in, & sleep in sack clot, oh you officers of my God: for the meat & drink-offering shall be taken away from the house of your God. Proclaim a fasting, call the congregation, gather the elders & all the inhabiters of the land together into the house of the LORD your God, & cry unto the LORD: alas, joel. 2. c alas for this day. And why? the day of the LORD is at hand, and cometh as a destroyer from the almighty. Shall not the meats be taken away before our eyes, the mirth also & joy from the house of our God? The seed shall perish in the ground, the garners shall lie waist, the floors shallbe broken down, for the corn shallbe destroyed. 3. Re. 18. a O what a sighing make the cattles? the bullocks are very evil liking, because they have no pasture: and the sheep are fameszshed away. O LORD, to the will I cry: for the fire hath consumed the goodly pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath brent up all the trees of the field. Ye the wild beestes cry also unto thee: for the water rivers are dried up, and the fire hath consumed the pastures of the wilderness. The II Chapter. Blow out the trumpet in Zion, & cry upon my holy hill, that all such as dwell in the land, may tremble at it: for the day of the LORD cometh, ●●ph. 1. c ●mos 5. c & is hard at hand: a dark day, a glooming day, a cloudy day, ye & a stormy day, like as the morning spreadeth out upon the hills: Namely, a great & mighty people: soch as have not been since the beginning, neither shall be after them for evermore. Before him shall be a consuming fire, & behind him a burning flame. The land shall be as a garden of pleasure before him, but behind him shall it be a very waist wilderness, & there is no man, that shall escape him. They are to look upon like bayrded horses, & run like horse men. They skyppe up upon the hills, as it were the sound of charettes: as the flame of fire that consumeth the straw, and as a mighty people ready to the battle. The folk shallbe afraid of him, all faces shall be as black as a pot. These shall run like giants, & leap over the walls like men of war. Every man in his going shall keep his array, & not go out of his Path. There shall not one drive another, but each shall keep his own way. They shall break in at the windows, & not be hurt: They shall come into the cite, & run upon the walls: They shall climb up upon the houses, & slip in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before him, ye the heavens shallbe moved: 〈◊〉 3. c ●att. 24 c the Son & Moon shall be darckened, and the stars shall withdraw their shine. The LORD shall show his voice before his host, for his host is great, strong & mighty to fulfil his commandment. This is the great and marvelous fearful day of the LORD: And who is able to abide it? Now therefore saith the LORD: Turn you unto me with all your hearts, ●poc. 6. c 〈◊〉. 4. c ●. a with fasting, weeping and mourning: rent your hearts, & not your clotheses. Turn you unto the LORD your God, ●●al. 85. a 〈◊〉 4. a for he is gracious & merciful, long suffering & of great compassion: & ready to pardon wickedness. Then (no doubt) he also shall turn, & forgive: & after his chastening, he shall let your increase remain, for meat & drynck offerings unto the LORD your God? joel 〈…〉 Blow out with the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a fasting, call the congregation, & gather the people together: warn the congregation, gather the elders, bring the children & suclynges together. Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, & the bride out of her closet. Let the priests serve the LORD betwixt the porch & the altar, weeping & saying: be favourable (oh LORD) be favourable unto thy people: let not thy heritage be brought to such confusion, jest the heathen be lords thereof. Wherefore should they say among the heathen: 〈…〉 where is now their God? Then shall the LORD be jealous over his land, & spare his people: ye the LORD shall answer, & say unto his people: Behold, I will send you corn, wine & oil, so that you shall have plenty of them: & I will no more give you over to be a reproof among the heathen. Again, as for him of the north, I shall drive him far from you: & shoot him out in to a dry and waist land, his face toward the east see, and his hinder parts toward the uttermost see. The stink of him shall go up, and his filthy corruption shall fall upon himself, because he hath dealt so proudly. Fear not (oh land) but be glad and rejoice, for the LORD will do great things. Be not you afraid neither (oh you beasts of the field) for the pastures shall be green, and the trees shall bear their fruit: the fygetrees & vinyardes shall give their increase. Be glad then (oh you children of Zion) and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he hath given you the teacher of righteousness: & he it is that shall send you down shuwers of rain, early and late in the first month: 〈…〉 so that the garners shall be full of corn, and the presses plenteous in wine and oil. And as for the years that the greszshopper, locust, blasstinge & caterpillar (my great host, which I sent among you) have eaten up, I shall restore them to you again: so that you shall have enough to eat, and be satisfied: and praise the name of the LORD your God, that so marvelously hath dealt with you. And my people shall never be confounded any more: You shall well know, that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am your God: ye and that there is none other, and my people shall no more be brought to confusion. After this, will I pour out my spirit upon all flesh: 〈…〉 & your sons & your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams & your young men shall see visions: 〈…〉 Ye in those days I will pour out my spirit upon servants and maidens. I will show wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath: blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The Son shallbe turned in to darkness, & the Moon in to blood: before the great & notable day of the LORD come. And the time shall come: that who so ever calleth on the name of the LORD, 〈◊〉 10. b shallbe saved. For upon the mount Zion & at jerusalem, there shallbe a salvation, like as the LORD hath promised: ye & among the other remnant, whom the LORD shall call. The III Chapter. FOr take heed: In those days & at the same time, when I turn again the captivity of juda & Jerusalem: I shall gather all people together, & bring them in to the valley of josaphat: and there will I reason with them, because of my people & heritage of Israel: whom they have scattered about in the nations, & parted my land: ye they have cast lots for my people, the young men have they set in the brodel house, & sold the Damsels for wine, that they might have to drink. 〈◊〉 ●6. ᵃ ●7. 28. 〈◊〉▪ 1. b Thou Tirus and Sidon and all you borders of the Philistynes: what have you to do with me? Will you defy me? well: if you will needs defy me, I shall recompense you, even upon your head, & that right shortly: for you have taken away my silver & gold, my fair & goodly jewels, & brought them in to your gods houses. The children also of juda and jerusalem have you sold unto the Greeks, that you might bring them far from the borders of the ●rowne countries. Behold therefore: I will raise them out of the place, 〈…〉 where you have sold them, & will reward you even upon your head. your sons & your daughters will I cell thorough the hands of the children of juda, & so they shall give them forth to cell, unto them of Saba, a people of a far country: for the LORD himself hath said it. Cry out these things among the Gentiles, proclaim war, wake up the giants, let them draw nigh, let them come up all the lusty warryours of them. Make you sweardes of your ploweshares, 〈…〉 and spears of your syckles & scythes. Let the weak man say: I am strong. Muster you, and come, all you Heithen round about: gather you together, there shall the LORD lay all thy giants to the ground. Let the people arise, and get them to the valley of josaphat: for there will I sit, and judge all Heithen round about. Say to your scythes, Apo. 14. d for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down: the winepress is full, ye the wynepresses run over, for their wickedness is waxed great. In the valley appointed, there shallbe many, many people: for the day of the LORD is nigh in the valley appointed. The Son and Moon shall be darckened, joel. 2. b Esa. 13. b & the stars shall withdraw their light. The LORD shall roar out of Zion, & cry out of Jerusalem, jere. 25. d that the heavens & the earth shall quake withal. But the LORD shall be a defence unto his own people, and a refuge fo● the children of Israel. Thus shall you know, that I the LORD your God devil upon my holy mount of Zion. Then shall Jerusalem be holy, & there shall no strangers go thorough her any more. Then shall the mountains drop sweet wine, & the hills shall flow with milk, Amos. 9 c All the rivers of juda shall have water enough, & out of the lords house, there shall flow a spring, to water the broken of Sitim: but Egipte shallbe laid waist, & Edom shall be desolate: jere 46. a jere. 49. b because they have dealt so cruelly with the children of juda, and shed innocent blood in their land. Again, juda shallbe inhabited for evermore, & Jerusalem from generation to generation: for I will not leave their blood unavenged. And the LORD shall devil in Zion. The end of the prophet joel. The Prophet Amos. What Amos containeth. Chap. I He prophecyeth against Damascus, Gasa, tire, Edom and Ammon. Chap. II punishment upon Moab, juda, and Israel. Chap. III God warneth before he punish. Chap. four He showeth them their wickedness, and the plagues foe: the same, and exorteth them to amend. Chap. V He complaineth for the captivity of Israel. Chap. VI He reproveth the wealthy, ydyll and delicate people, telling them their destruction. Chap. VII. The punishment of the people showed by diverse visions. Chap. VIII. A vision against the covetous people and false weights. The hunger of God's word. Chap. IX. Plagues upon juda. The power of God. The receiving of the heathen. Conversion of the jews. The first. Chapter. THese are the sermons, that were showed unto Amos (which was one of the shepherds at Thecua) upon Israel, in the time of Osias king of juda, & in the time of jeroboam the son of joas king of Israel, 4. Re 15. a 4. Re. 14. c two year before the earthquake And he said: The LORD shall roar out of Zion, jere. 25. d joel. 3 c & show his voice from Jerusalem: so that the pastures of the shepherds shall be in a miserable case, & the top of Charmel dried up. Thus sayeth the LORD: for three & four wickednesses of Damascus, Esa. 17. a jere. 49. d I will not spare her: because they have throszhed Galaad with iron foals: But I will send a fire in to the house of Hazael, the same shall consume the palaces of Benadab. Thus will I break the bars of Damascus, & rote out the inhabiter from the field of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre, out of the pleasunt house: so that the people shallbe driven out of fair Syria▪ sayeth the LORD. Thus saith the LORD: For three & four wickednesses of Gaza, I will not spare her: Zach. 9 c because they make the presoners yet more captive, & have driven than in to the land of Edom. Therefore will I send a fire in to the walls of Gaza, which shall devour her houses. I will rote out them that devil at Asdod & him that holdeth the sceptre of Ascalon, and stretch out mine hand over Accaron, that the remnant of the Philistines shall perish saith the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD: For three and four wickednesses of the cite of tire, I will not spare her: joel. 3. a because they have increased the captivity of the Edomites, and have not remembered the brotherly covenant. Therefore will I send a fire into the walls of tire, 3. Re. 5. a that shall consume her palaces. Thus sayeth the LORD: For three and four wickednesses of Edom I will not spare him, Ab●. 1. a jere. 49. b Gen. 27. g because he persecuted his brother with the sword, destroyed his mother's womb, bore hatred very long, and so kept indignation all way by him. Therefore will I send a fire in to Theman, which shall devour the palaces of Bosra. Thus sayeth the LORD: For three and four wickednesses of the children of Ammon, ●ere. 49. a Eze. 21. d 25. a I will not spare them: because they rypte up the women great with child in Galaad, to make the borders of their lands the wider Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbath, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm: so that their king shall go in to captivity, he and his princes together, sayeth the LORD. The II Chapter. THus sayeth the LORD: For three and four wickednesses of Moab, ●sa. ●● 16 a jer. 〈…〉 I will not spare him: because he brent the bones of the king of Edom to ashes. Therefore will I send a fire in to Moab, which shall consume the palaces of Carioth: so that Moab shall perish with a noise, and the sound of a shawme. I will rote out the judge from among them, and slay all his princes with him, sayeth the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD: 〈…〉 for three and four wickednesses of juda, I will not spare him: because he hath cast aside the law of the LORD, and not kept his commandments: for why, they would needs be deceived with the lies, that their forefathers followed. Therefore will I send a fire in to juda, which shall consume the palaces of jerusalem. Thus sayeth the LORD: For three & four wickednesses of Israel, I will not spare him: because he hath sold the righteous for money, and the poor for shues. They tread upon poor men's heads in the dust of the earth, & croak the ways of the meek. The son and the father go to the harlot, to dishonour my holy name: they lie beside every altar upon clotheses taken to pledge, and in the house of their gods they drink the wine of the oppressed. 〈…〉 Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, that was as high as the cedar trees, and as strong as the oaks: notwithstanding I destroyed his fruit from above, and his rote from under. Again: I brought you out of the land of Egipte, 〈…〉 and led you xl. years thorough the wilderness, that you might have the Amoriters land in possession. I raised up prophets among your children, and absteyners among your young men. Is it not so, oh you children of Israel, sayeth the LORD? But you gave the absteyners wine to drink, 〈…〉 ye you commanded the prophets, saying: Prophecy not. Behold, I will crasshe you insunder, like as a wain crassheth, that is full of sheaves: so that the swift shall not escape, neither the strong be able to do any thing: not, the giant shall not save his own life. The archer shall not abide, and the swift of foot shall not escape. The horseman shall not save his life, & he that is as manly of stomach as a giant, shall in that day be fain to run his way naked, sayeth the LORD. The III Chapter. Hear, what the LORD speaketh unto to you (oh you children of Israel) namely, unto all the tribes, whom I brought out of Egipte, and said: You only have I accepted from all the generations of the earth: therefore will I visit you in all your wickednesses. May twain walk together except they be agreed among themselves? Doth a lion roar in the wood, except he have a prey? Or crieth a lions whelp out of his den, 〈◊〉 6. a except he have got something? Doth a bird fall in a snare upon the earth where no fouler is? Taketh a man his snare up from the ground, afore he catch somewhat? Cry they out Alarm with the trumpet in the cite, and the people not afraid? cometh there any plague in a cite, without it be the LORDS doing? Now doth the LORD God no manner of thing, but he telleth his secret before unto his servants the prophets. When a lion roareth, who will not be afraid? saying then that the LORD God himself speaketh, who will not prophesy? Preach in the palaces at Asdod, and in the palaces of the land of Egipte, and say: gather you together upon the mountains of Samaria, so shall you see great murder and violent oppression among them: for why, they regard not the thing that is right, sayeth the LORD: they gather together evil got goods, and lay up robbery in their houses. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD God: This land shallbe troubled and besieged round about, thy strength shallbe plucte from thee, and thy palaces rob. Thus saith the LORD: like as an hyrdeman taketh two legs or a piece of an ear out of the lions mouth: Even so the children of Israel (that devil in Samaria, having their couches in the corner, and their beds at Damascus) shallbe plucte away. Hear, and bear record in the house of jacob (sayeth the LORD God of hosts) that when I begin to visit the wickedness of Israel, 〈…〉 I will visit the altars at Bethel also: so that the horns of the altar shallbe broken of, & fall to the ground. As for the winter house and summer house, I will smite them down: and the houses of ivory, ye and many other houses shall perish, and be destroyed, sayeth the LORD. The four Chapter. Hear this word, oh you fat kine, that be upon the hill of Samaria: you that do poor men wrong, and oppress the needy: you that say to your lords: bring hither, let us drink. Therefore the LORD hath sworn by his holiness: The days shall come upon you, that you shallbe lift up upon spears, and your posterity carried away in fyssher pans. You shall get you out at the gaps one after another, and in Armon shall you be cast away, sayeth the LORD. You came to Bethel for to work ungraciousness, and have increased your sins at Galgal. josu. 16. a 3. Re. 12. c Osee. 4. c Osee. 9 c 12. b You brought your sacrifices in the morning, and your tithes unto the third day. You made a thankofferinge of leaven, you promised frewillofferinges, and proclaimed them. Soch lust had you, oh you children of Israel, sayeth the LORD God. Therefore have I given you idle teeth in all your cities, & scarcenesss of bread in all your places: yet will you not turn unto me, sayeth the LORD. When there were but three months unto the harvest, I withheld the rain from you: Deu. 11. b 28. b jere. 14. ● joel. 3. c ye I rained upon one cite, and not upon another one piece of ground was moystured with rain, and the ground that I rained not upon, was dry. Wherefore two (ye three) cities came unto one, to drink water: but they were not satisfied, yet will you not turn unto me, sayeth the LORD. I have smitten you with drought and blasting: and look how many orchards, vinyardes, fygetrees and olyvetrees you had: the catirpiller hath eaten them up. But yet will you not turn unto me, sayeth the LORD. Pestilence have I sent among you, as I did in Egipte: Exo. 9 b your young men have I slain with the sword, and caused your horses be taken captive: I made the stynckinge savour of your tents to come up in to your nostrils: Yet will you not turn unto me, sayeth the LORD. Some of you have I overthrown? Gen. 19 b 2. Pet. 2 b as I overthrew Sodom & Gomorre: so that you were as a brand plucte out of the fire. Yet will you not turn unto me, sayeth the LORD. Therefore, thus will I handle the again (O Israel) you even thus will I handle the. Make the ready then to meet thy God, oh Israel. For lo, he maketh the mountains, he ordeneth the wind, he showeth man what he is about to do: he maketh the morning and the darkness, he treadeth upon the high places of the earth: the LORD God of hosts is his name. The V Chapter. Hear this words (oh you house of Israel) and why? I must make this moan for you: The virgin Israel shall fall, & never rise up again: she shall be cast down upon her own ground, and no man shall help her up. For thus sayeth the LORD God: Where as there dwelled a M. in one cite, there shallbe left scarce an C. therein: and where there dwelled an C. there shall scarce ten be left for the house of Israel. Nevertheless, thus sayeth the LORD unto the house of Israel: Seek after me, and you shall live, but seek not after Bethel. Come not at Galgal, and go not to Bersaba: for Galgal shall be carried away captive, and Bethel shall come to nought Seek the LORD, that you may live: jest the house of joseph be brent with fire and consumed, and jest there be none to quench Bethel. You turn the law to wormwod, and cast down righteousness unto the ground. The LORD maketh the seven. stars and the Oryons, job. 9 a he turneth the night into day, and of the day he maketh darkness. He calleth the waters of the see, and poureth them out upon the plain ground: Am. 9 b the LORD is his name. Herayseth destruction upon the mighty people, & bringeth down the strong hold: but they own him evil will, that reproveth them openly: and who so telleth them the plain truth, they abhor him. For so much them as you oppress the poor, Deu. 28. c Soph. 1 c and rob him of his best sustenance: therefore, whereas you have builded houses of square stone, you shall not devil in them. Marvelous pleasant vynyardes shall you plant, but the wine of them shall you not drink: and why? as for the multitude of your wickednesses and your stout sins, Exo. 23. a Mich. 3. a I know them right well. Enemies are you of the righteous, you take rewards, you oppress the poor in judgement. Therefore the wise must now be fain to hold his tongue, so wicked a time is it. Seek after the thing that is good, & not evil, so shall you live: ye the LORD God of hosts shall be with you, according to your own desire. Hate the evil, and love the good: Psal. 96. b Deu. 17. a Ro. 12. b set up right again in the port: & (no doubt) the LORD God of hosts shall be merciful unto the remnant of joseph. if no (sayeth the LORD God, the God of hosts) there shall be mourning in all streets, ye they shall say in every street: alas, alas. They shall call the housbonde man to lamentation, and such as can mourn, to mourning. In all vynyardes there shall be heaviness, for I will come among you, sayeth the LORD. Woe be unto them that desire the day of the LORD: Wherefore would you have it? As for that day of the LORD, it shallbe dark and not clear: Ye like as when a man runneth from a lion, and a Beer meeteth with him: or, when he cometh into the house, and leeneth his hand upon the brickwall, a serpent biteth him▪ Shall not the day of the LORD be dark, 〈…〉 and not clear? shall it not be cloudy, and no shine in it? I hate and abhor your holy days, and where as you cense me when you come together I will not accept it. 〈…〉 And though you offer me brentofferinges and meatofferinges, yet have I no pleasure therein: As for your fat thankofferynges, I will not look upon them. Away with that noise of thy songs, I will not hear thy plays of music: but see that equity flow as the water, and righteousness as a mighty stream. O you house of Israel, gave you me offerings and sacrifices those xl. years long in the wilderness? 〈…〉 Yet have you set up tabernacles to your Moloch, and images of your Idols, Ye and the star of your god Rempha, 〈…〉 figures which you made to worship them. Therefore will I 'cause you be carried away beyond Damascus, sayeth the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. The VI Chapter. WOE be to the proud wealthy in Sion, to such as think them so sure upon the mount of Samaria? 〈…〉 which hold themselves for the best of the world, and rule the house of Israel, even as they list. Go unto Calne, and see: and from thence get you to Hemath the great cite, and so go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better at ease then these kingdoms, or the border of the it land wider than yours? You are taken out for the evil day, even you that sit in the stolen of wilfulness: You that lie upon beds of ivory, and use your wantonness upon your couches: you that eat the best lambs of the flock, and the fattest calves of the drove: you that sing to the lute, 〈…〉 and in playing of instruments compare yourselves unto David: you that drink wine out of goblettes, & anoint youreselues with the best oil, but no man is sorry for joseps' hurt. Therefore now shall you be the first of them, that shall be led away captive, and the lusty cheer of the wilful shall come to an end. The LORD God hath sworn even by himself (sayeth the LORD God of hosts: 〈…〉 ) I hate the pride of jacob, and I abhor his palaces: and I will give over the cite, with all that is therein: so that though there remain ten men in one house, they shall die. So their next kynszfolckes and the deed buriers shall take them, and carry away their bones, and say unto him, that is in the ynnermer house: is there yet any more by thee? And he shall answer: they are all go, hold thy tongue (shall he say) for they would not remember the name of the LORD. 〈…〉 Behold, the LORD is minded to smite the great houses, so that they shall decay: and the little houses, that they shall cleave asunder. Who can run with horses, or plough with oxen upon the hard rocks of stone? For why, you have turned true judgement in to bitterness, and the fruit of righteousness in to wormwood: Ye even you, that rejoice in vain things: you that say: have not we obtained horns in our own strength? Well, take heed, oh you house of Israel, sayeth the LORD God of hosts: I will bring a people upon you, which shall trouble you, from the way that goeth toward Hemath, unto the broken in the meadow. The VII. Chapter. THe LORD God showed me such a vision: behold, there stood one that made greszshoppers, even when the corn was shuting forth, after the king had clipte his sheep. Now when they undertook to eat up all the green things in the land, I said: O LORD God, be merciful, I beseek thee: who should else help up jacob, that is brought so low? So the LORD was gracious therein, and the LORD said: well, it shall not be. Again, the LORD showed me this vision: behold, the LORD God called the fire to punish withal, and it devoured the great deep: ye it consumed a part already. Then said I: O LORD God, hold thy ne hand: for who should else help up jacob that is brought so low? So the LORD was merciful therein, and the LORD God said: well, it shall not be. moreover, he showed me this vision: behold, the LORD stood upon a plastered brickwall, & 〈…〉 a masons trowel in his hand. And the LORD said unto me: Amos, what seist thou? I answered: a masons trowel. Then said the LORD: behold, I will say the trowel among my people of Israel, and will no more oversee them: but the high hilchapels of Isaac must be laid waist, and the churches of Israel made desolate: and as for the house of Jeroboam, I will stand up against it with the sword. 〈◊〉 17. a Upon this scent Amasias the priest to Bethel unto Jeroboam the king of Israel, 〈◊〉 17. a saying: Amos maketh the house of Israel to rebel against thee, the land can not away with his words. For Amos sayeth: Jeroboam shall die with the sword, and Israel shall be led away captive out of their own land. And Amasias said unto Amos: Get the hence (thou that canst see so well) and i'll in to the land of juda: get the there thy living, and prophecy there: Esa. ●0. b and prophecy no more at Bethel, for it is the kings chapel, and the kings court. Amos answered, and said to Amasias: As for me, I am neither prophet, ner prophets son: but a keeper of cattles. Zach. 13. a Now as I was breaking down molberies, and going after the cattles, the LORD took me, & said unto me: Go thy way, and prophecy unto my people of Israel. And therefore, hear thou now the word of the LORD: Thou sayest: prophesy not against Israel, and speak nothing against the house of Isaac. Wherefore thus sayeth the LORD: Thy wife shallbe defiled in the cite, that sons and daughters shallbe slain with the sword, and thy land shallbe measured out with the line: Thou thyself shalt die in an unclean land, and Israel shallbe driven out of his own country. The VIII. Chapter. THe LORD God showed me me this vision: and behold, there was a mand with summer fruit. And he said: Amos, what seist thou? I answered: a mand with summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me: the end cometh upon my people of Israel, I will no more oversee them. In that day shall the songs of the temple be turned in to sorrow, sayeth the LORD God. Many deed bodies shall lie in every place, & be cast forth secretly. Hear this, O you that oppress the poor, Esa. 5. b and destroy the needy in the land, saying: When will the new month be go, that we may cell vytale, and the Sabbath, that we may have scarcenesss of corn: to make the buszshel less, and the Sycle greater? We shall set up false weights, that we may get the poor under us with their money, and the needy also for shues: ye let us cell the chaff for corn. The LORD hath sworn against the pride of jacob: Am. 6. b these works of there's will I never forget. Shall not the land tremble, and all they that devil therein, mourn for this? Shall not their destruction come upon them like a water stream, & flow over them, as the flood of Egipte? At the same time (sayeth the LORD God) I shall 'cause the Son to go down at noon, jere. 15. b and the land to be dark in the clear day. Your high feasts will. Tob. 2. a I turn to sorrow, and your songs to mourning: I will bring sack clot upon all backs, & baldness upon every head: ye such a mourning will I send them, jere. 6. d as is made upon an only begotten son, and they shall have a miserable end. Behold, the time cometh (sayeth the LORD God) that I shall send an hunger in to the earth: not the hunger of bread, ner the thirst of water: but an hunger to hear the word of the LORD: so that they shall go from the one see to the other, ye from the north unto the cast, running about to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that time, shall the fair virgins and the young men perish for thirst, ye even they that swear in the offence of Samaria, and say: as truly as thy God liveth at Dan, and as truly as the God liveth at Bersaba. These shall fall, and never rise up again. The IX. Chapter. I Saw the LORD standing upon the altar, and he said: smite the door cheek, that the posts may shake withal. For their covetousness shall fall upon all their heads, and their posterity shallbe slain with the sword. They shall not i'll away, there shall not one of them escape, ner be delivered. Though they were buried in the hell, my hand shall fetch them from thence: Psal. 138. a Abd. 1. a 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 fro my sight in to the deep of the see, 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 hosts toucheth a land, it consumeth away, and all they that devil therein, must needs mourn: And why? their destruction shall arise as every stream and run over them, Am. 8. ᵃ ●. Re. 8. g as the flood in Egipte. He that hath his dwelling in heaven, and groundeth his tabernacle in the earth: He that calleth the waters of the see, Amos. 5. b and poureth them out upon the plain ground: his name is the LORD. O you children of Israel, are you not unto me, even as the Morions, sayeth the LORD? have not I brought Israel out of the land of Egipte, the philistines from Capthor, Gen. ●●. b and the Syrians from Cyr? Behold, the eyes of the LORD are upon the realm that sinneth, 〈…〉 to rote it clean out of the earth: Nevertheless, I will not utterly destroy the house of jacob, saith the LORD. For lo, this I promise: though I siffte the house of Israel among all 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 will I build again the tabernacle of David, 〈…〉 that is fallen down, and hedge up his gaps: and look what is broken, I shall repair it: Ye I shall build it again, as it was afore time, that they may possess the remnant of Edom, ye and all such people as call upon my name with them, saith the LORD, which doth these things▪ Behold, the time cometh (saith the LORD) that the ploughman shall overtake 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 waist cities, & have them in possession: they shall plant vinyardes, 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 rote them out again from their land, which I have given them sayeth the LORD thy God. The end of the prophet Amos. The Prophet Abdy. What Abdy containeth. Chap. I He prophecyeth against the proud stomachs of the Edomites, that vexed the Israelites in their adversity. He showeth, what plagues shall come upon them. The first Chapter. THis is the vision that was showed unto Abdy: Thus hath the LORD God spoken upon Edom: 〈…〉 We have herd of the LORD that there is an embassage sent among the heathen: Up, let us arise, and fight against them. Behold, I will make the small among the heathen, so that thou shalt be utterly despised. 〈◊〉. 49. c The pride of thy heart hath lift the up, thou that dwellest in the strong holds of stone, and hast made the an high seat: Thou sayest in thine heart: who shall cast me down to the ground? Butler though thou wentest up as high as the Eagle, 〈◊〉 9 a 〈◊〉. 2. b and maydest thy nest above among the stars: yet would I pluck the down from thence. If the thieves & robbers came to the bynight, thou taking thy rest: should they not steal, till they had enough? if the grape gatherers came upon thee, would they not leave the some grapes? But how shall they ripe Esau, and seek out his treasures? Ye the men that were sworn unto thee, shall drive the out of the borders of thine own land. They that be now at one with thee, shall deceive thee, and overcome thee: Even they that eat thy bread, shall betray thee, or ever thou perceive it. Shall not I at the same time destroy the wise men of Edom, ●sa. 29. ᶜ ● Cor. 1. c and those that have understanding, from the mount of Esau? Thy giants (oh Theman) shallbe afraid, for thorough the slaughter they shallbe all over thrown upon the mount of Esau. Shame shall come upon thee, for the malice that thou shewedest to thy brother jacob: ye for evermore shalt thou perish, & that because of the time, 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉. 20. c when thou diddest set thyself against him, even when the enemies carried away his host, and when the aleauntes came in at his ports, and cast lots upon jerusalem, and thou thyself wast as one of them. Thou shalt no more see the day of thy brother, thou shalt no more behold the time of his captivity: thou shalt no more rejoice over the children of juda, in the day of their destruction, thou shalt triumph no more in the time of their trouble. Thou shalt no more come in at the gates of my people, in the time of their decay: thou shalt not see their misery in the day of their fall. Thou shalt send out no man against their host, in the day of their adversity: neither shalt thou stand wayringe anymore at the corners of the streets, to murder such as are fled, or to take them presoners, that remain in the day of their trouble. For the day of the LORD is hard by upon all heathen. Like as thou hast done, 〈◊〉. ●0 c 〈◊〉. 3. b so shalt thou be dealt withal, ye thou shalt be rewarded even upon thy head. For like wise as you have drunken upon mine holy hill, so shall all heathen drink continually: ye drink shall they, and swallow up so that you shall be, as though you had never been. But upon the mount Zion, there shall a remnant escape: these shallbe holy, Zach. 2. and the house of jacob shall possess even those, that had themselves afore in possession. moreover, the house of jacob shallbe a fire, jere. 5. c the house of joseph a flame, & the house of Esau shallbe the straw: which they shall kindle and consume, so that nothing shallbe left of the house of Esau, for the LORD himself hath said it. They of the south shall have the mount of Esau in possession: and look what lieth upon the ground, that shall the Philistynes have: the plain fields shall Ephraim and Samaria possess: and the mountains of Galaad shall Ben jamin have. And this host shallbe the children of Israel's presoners: Now what so lieth from Canaan unto Sarphad, and in Sepharad, that shall be under the subjection of jerusalem: and the cities of the south shall enheret it. Thus they that escape upon the hill of Zion, shall go up to punish the mount of Esau, Zac. 14. b and the kingdom shallbe the LORDS. The end of the prophet Abdy. The Prophet jonas. What jonas containeth. Chap. I God sendeth jonas unto Ninive, he fleyth, and is cast in to the see. Chap. II A fish swaloweth up jonas, which crieth unto God, and praiseth him, and the fish casts him out again upon the land. Chap. III God sendeth him again to Ninive, to show them the punishment for to come, if they will not repent: they amend, and God is merciful to them. Chap. four jonas is angry, and complaineth of God, which refourmeth him. The first Chapter. THe word of the LORD came unto jonas the son of Amithai, saying: Arise, 4. Re. 14 jone 3 a Gen. 10. ● and get the to Ninive that great cite: and preach unto them, Gen. 18. ● how that their wickedness is come up before me. And jonas made him ready to i'll unto Tharsis from the presence of the LORD, and got him down to joppa: where he found a ship ready for to go unto Tharsis. So he paid his fare, and went aboard, that he might go with them unto Tharsis from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD hurled a great wind in to the see, and there was a mighty tempest in the see: so that the ship was in jeopardy of going in pieces. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god: and the goods that were in the ship, they cast in to the see, to lighten it of them. But jonas got him under the hatches, where he laid him down and slombred. So the master of the ship came to him and said unto him: why slomberest thou? Up, call upon thy God: if God (haply) will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said one to another: come, let us cast lots: that we may know, for whose cause we are thus troubled. ●osu. 7. c And so they cast lots, and the lot fallen upon jonas. Then said they unto him: tell us, for whose cause are we thus troubled? what is thy occupation? whence comest thou? what country man art thou, and of what nation? He answered them: I am an Ebrue, and I fear the LORD God of heaven, which made both the see and dry land. Then were the men exceadingly afraid, & said unto him: why diddest thou so? (for they knew, that he was fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them) and said moreover unto him: What shall we do unto thee, that the see may cease from troubling us? (for the see wrought and was troublous) he answered them: Take me, and cast me in to the see, so shall it let you be in rest: for I wot, it is for my sake, that this great tempest is come upon you. Nevertheless, the men assayed with rowing, to bring the ship to land: but it would not be, because the see wrought so, & was so troublous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said: O LORD, Deu. 21. b let us not perish for this man's death, neither lay thou innocent blood unto our charge: for thou (oh LORD) hast done, even as thy pleasure was. So they took jonas, and cast him in to the see, and the see left raging. And the men feared the LORD exceadingly, doing sacrifices and making vows unto the LORD. The II Chapter. But the LORD prepared a great fish, to swallow up jonas. So was jonas in the belly of the fish, Matt. 12. d three days and three nights. And jonas prayed unto the LORD his God, out of the fishes belly, and said: 〈…〉 In my trouble I called unto the LORD, and he heard me: out of the belly of hell I cried, and thou herdest my voice. Thou hadst cast me down deep in the midst of the see, and the flood compassed me about: 〈…〉 ye all thy wawes and rolls of water went over me, I thought that I had been cast away out of thy sight: but I will ye again look toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me, even to the very soul: the deep lay about me, and the wedes were wrappeth about mine head. I went down to the bottom of the hills, & was barred in with earth for ever. But thou (oh LORD my God) hast brought up my life again out of corruption. When my soul fainted within me, I thought upon the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, even in to thy holy temple, They that hold of vain vanities, will forsake his mercy. But I will do the sacrifice with the voice of thanksgiving, and will pay that I have vowed: for why? salvation cometh of the LORD. And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it cast out jonas again upon the dry land. The III Chapter. THen came the word of the LORD unto jonas again, saying: up, and get the to Ninive that great cite, 〈…〉 & preach unto them the preaching, which I bade the. So jonas arose, and went to Ninive at the lords commandment. Ninive was a great cite unto God, namely, of three days journey. And jonas went to, and entered in to the cite: even a days journey, and cried, saying: There are yet xl. days, and then shall Ninive be overthrown. 〈…〉 And the people of Ninive believed God, and proclaimed fasting▪ and arrayed themselves in sack clot, as well the great as the small of them. And the tidings came unto the king of Ninive, which arose out of his seat, and did his apparel of, and put on sack clot, and sat him down in ashes. And it was cried and commanded in Ninive, by the authority of the king and his lords, saying: see that neither man or be'st, 〈…〉 ox or sheep taist aught at all: and that they neither feed ner drink water: but put on sack clothe both man and be'st, and cry mightily unto God: ye see that every man turn from his evil way, and from the wickedness, 〈…〉 that he hath in hand. Who can tell? God may turn, and repent, and cease from his fierce wrath, that we perish not. And when God saw their works, how they turned from their wicked ways: 〈◊〉▪ 38. b he repented on the evil, which he said he would do unto them, and did it not. The four Chapter. Wherefore jonas was sore discontent, and angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said: O LORD, was not this my saying (I pray thee) when I was yet in my country? therefore I haisted rather to i'll unto Tharsis, for I know well enough that thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, long suffering, and of great kindness, and repentest when thou shouldest take punishment. And now oh LORD, take my life fro me (I beseek thee) for I had rather die then live. 〈◊〉. 19 a Then said the LORD: art thou so angry? And jonas got him out of the cite, and sat down on the east side thereof: and there made him a both, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see, what should chance unto the cite. And the LORD God prepared a wild vine, which sprang up over jonas, that he might have shadow above his head, to deliver him out of his pain. And jonas was exceeding glad of the wild vine. But upon the next morrow against the springe of the day, the LORD ordained a worm, which smote the wild vine, so that it wethered away. And when the Son was up God prepared a fervent east wind: and the Son beat over the head of jonas, that he fainted again, and wyszshed unto his soul, that he might die, and said: It is better for me to die, than to live. And God said unto jonas: Art thou so angry for the wild vine? And he said: ye very angry am I even unto the death. And the LORD said: thou hast compassion upon a wild vine, whereon thou bestowdest no labour, ner may dost it grow: which sprang up in one night and perished in another: And should not I then have compassion upon Ninive that great cite, wherein there are above an C. and xx. thousand personnes, that know not their right hand from the left, besides much cattles? The end of the prophet jonas. The Prophet Micheas. What Micheas containeth. Chap. I He reproveth the people of Israel and juda for their wickedness and Idolatry: he telleth them their punishment with mourning. Chap. II He rehearseth their abominations. Chap. III He reproveth the rulers and the prophets, as 'cause of the people's misery. Chap. four FIVE. He prophecyeth of the salvation of God's people in Christ, of his kingdom, and power of his gospel. Chap. VI Another reproof. Outward offerings are excluded, and here is declared what God requireth of man. Chap. VII. The sum of the things before said The little flock of the faithful. The first Chapter. THis is the word of the LORD, that came unto Micheas the Morastite, 4. Re. 15. ● 2. Pa. 27. ● 4. Re. 16. ● 4▪ Re. 18. and .19. in the days of joathan, Achas and Ezechias kings of juda: which was showed him upon Samaria and jerusalem. Hear all you people, Deu. 32. a Esa. 1. a mark this well oh earth, and all that therein is: Ye the LORD God himself be witness among you, even the LORD from his holy temple. For why? behold, the LORD shall go out of his place, & come down, and tread upon the high things of the earth. The mountains shall consume under him, Esa. 26. ● & the valleys shall cleave asunder: like as wax consumeth at the fire, & as the waters run downward. And all this shall be for the wickedness of jacob, and the sins of the house of Israel. But what is the wickedness of jacob? Is not Samaria? 3. Re. 12. ● 3. Re. 11. a 4. Re. 16 21. a Which are the high places of juda? Is not Jerusalem? Therefore I shall make Samaria an heap of stones in the field, to say about the vineyard: her stones shall I cast in to the valley, & discover her foundations. All her images shallbe broken down & all her wynnynges shall be brent in the fire: ye all her Idols will I destroy: for why, they are gathered out of the hire of an whore, Deu. 23. & in to an whore's hire shall they be turned again. Wherefore I will mourn & make lamentation, bore & naked will I go: I must mourn like the dragons, & take sorrow as the Ostriches: for their wound is past remedy: And why? it is come in to juda, & hath touched the port of my people at Jerusalem already. Weep not, jest they at Geth perceive it. ●. Re. 1. ● Thou at Betaphra, welter thyself in the dust and ashes. Thou that dwellest at Sephir, get the hence with shame. The proud shall boost no more for very sorrow: & why? her neighbour shall take from her what she hath. The rebellious cite hopeth, that it shall not be so evil: but for all that, the plague shall come from the LORD, even in to the port of jerusalem. The great noise of the charettes shall fear them, 4. Re. 18. c that devil at Lachis, which is an occasion of the sin of the daughter of Zion, for in the came up the wickednesses of Israel. Ye she sent her coursers in to the land of Geth. The houses of lies will deceive the kings of Israel. And as for thee (oh thou that dwellest at Morassa) I shall bring a possessioner upon thee, and the plague of Israel shall reach unto Odolla. Make the bald, and shave thee, because of thy tender children: Make the clean bald as an Eagle, for they shallbe carried away captive from the. The II Chapter. woe unto them, that imagine to do harm, and devise ungraciousness upon their beds, to perform it in the clear day: for their power is against God. When they covet to have land, they take it by violence, ●. Re. 21. a they rob men of their houses. Thus they oppress a man for his house, & every man for his heritage. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD: Behold, against this household have I devised a plague, Am. 5. b whereout you shall not pluck your necks: You shall no more go so proudly, for it will be a perilous time. In that day shall this term be used, and a mourning shall be made over you on this manner: We be utterly desolate, the portion of my people is translated. When will he part unto us the land, that he hath taken from us? Nevertheless there shallbe noman to divide the thy portion, in the congregation of the LORD. Nu. 33. f Tush, hold your tongue (say they) It shall not fall upon this people, we shall not come so to confusion, sayeth the house of jacob. Is the spirit of the LORD so clean away? or is he so minded? truth it is, my words are friendly unto them that live right: but my people doth the contrary, therefore must I take part against them: for they take away both cote and cloak from the simple. You have turned yourselves to fight, the women of my people have you shot out from their good houses, and taken away my excellent gifts from their children Up, get you hence, for here shall you have no rest. Because of their Idolatry they are corrupt, and shall miserably perish. if I were a fleshly fellow, and a preacher of lies and told them that they might sit bebbinge and bolling, and be drunken: O that were a prophet for this people. But I will gather the in deed (oh jacob) and drive the remnant of Israel all together. I shall carry them one with another, as a flock in the fold, and as the cattles in their stalls, that they may be disquieted of other men. Who so breaketh the gap, he shall go before. They shall break up the port, and go in and out at it. Their king shall go before them, and the LORD shallbe upon the head of them. The III Chapter. Hear, oh you heads of the house of jacob, and you leders of the house of Israel: Should not you know, 〈…〉 what were lawful and right? But you hate the good, and love the evil: you pluck of men's skins, and the flesh from their bones: You eat the flesh of my people, and flay of their skin: you break their bones, you chop them in pieces as it were in to a cauldron, and as flesh into a pot. Now the time shall come, 〈…〉 that when they call unto the LORD, he shall not hear them, but hide his face from them: because that thorough their own imaginations, they have dealt so wickedly. And as concerning the prophets that deceive my people, thus the LORD sayeth against them: 〈…〉 When they have any thing to bite upon, than they preach that all shallbe well: but if a man put not some thing in to their mouths, they preach of war against him. Therefore your vision shallbe turned to night, & your prophesying to darkness. 〈…〉 The Son shall go down over those prophets, & the day shallbe dark unto them. Then shall the vision seers be ashamed, & the saith sayers confounded: ye they shallbe fain (all the pack of them) to stop their mouths, for they have not God's word. As for me, I am full of strength, 〈…〉 & of the spirit of the LORD, full of judgement & boldness: to show the house of jacob their wickedness, & the house of Israel their sin. O hear this you rulers of the house of jacob, and you judges of the house of Israel: you that abhor the thing that is lawful, and wraist aside the thing that is strait: You that build up Zion with blood, A●a. ●. ᵇ ● Re. 8. a 〈◊〉. ●1. b 〈◊〉. 5. b 〈◊〉. 6. b and jerusalem with doing wrong. O you judges, you give sentence for gifts: O you preastes, you teach for lucre: O you prophets, you prophesy for money. Yet will they be taken as those that hold upon God, and say: Is not the LORD among us? Tush, there can no misfortune happen us. jere. ●6. d ●ere. 9 ᵇ ● Re 9 b L●c. 19 d 21▪ a Therefore shall Zion (for your sakes) be ploughed like a field: Jerusalem shall become an heap of stones, and the hill of the temple shall be turned to an high wood. The four Chapter. But in the latter days it will come to pass, Isa. ●. a ●eui. ●6. g that the hill of the lords house shallbe set up higher than any mountains or hills: Ye the people shall preese unto it, and the multitude of the Gentiles shall haist them thither, saying: Come, let us go up to the hill of the LORD, & to the house of the God of jacob: that he may teach us his way, and that we may walk in his paths. ●eui▪ 24. d Psal. 49. a For the law shall come out of Zion, and the word of God from jerusalem, and shall give sentence among the multitude of the heathen, and reform the people of far countries: so that of their swords they shall make plowshares, and scythes of their spears. One people shall not lift up a sword against another, Esa. 11. b Esa. 65. d ye they shall no more learn to fight: but every man shall sit under his vineyard and under his fig tree, and no man to fray him away: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. Therefore, where as all people have walked every man in the name of his own god, we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever. At the same time (sayeth the LORD) will I gather up the lame and the outcasts, ●●ph. 3. d and such as I have chastened: and will give issue unto the lame, and make of the outcasts a great people: Luc. 1. c and the LORD himself shall be their king upon the mount Zion, from this time forth for evermore. Gen. 3●. d And unto thee (O thou tower of Eder, thou strong hold of the daughter Zion) unto the shall it come: even the first lordship and kingdom of the daughter Jerusalem. Why then art thou now so heavy? is there no king in thee? are thy councelers away that thou art so pained, as a woman in her travail? And now (oh thou daughter Zion) be sorry, let it grieve the as a wife labouring with child: for now must thou get the out of the cite, and devil upon the plain field: Ye unto Babylon shalt thou go, there shalt thou be delivered, and there the LORD shall louse the from the hand of thy enemies. Now also are there many people gathered together against thee, saying: what, Mich. 5. ● Zion is cursed, we shall see our lust upon her. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, they understand not his council, Esa. 14. d that shall gather them together as the sheaves in the barn. Therefore get the up (oh thou daughter Zion) and throsshe out the corn: For I will make thy horn iron, and thy claws brass, that thou mayest grind many people: their goods shalt thou appropriate unto the LORD, and their substance unto the ruler of the whole world. The V Chapter. AFter that shalt thou be rob thy self, oh thou robbers daughter: they shall say siege against us, and smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. And thou Bethleem Ephrata, Matt. 2. joh. 7. ● art little among the thousands of juda, Out of the shall come one unto me, which shall be the governor in Israel: whose outgoing hath been from the beginning, and from everlasting. In the mean while he plageth them for a season, until the time that she (which shall bear) have born: then shall the remnant of his brethren be converted unto the children of Israel. He shall stand fast, and give food in the strength of the LORD, Eze. 34 joh. 10. Rom. 1 and in the victory of the name of the LORD his God: and when they be converted, he shall be magnified unto the farthest parts of the world. Then shall there be peace, so that the Assyrian may come in to our land, and tread in our houses. We shall bring up seven shepherds and viij. princes upon them: these shall subdue the land of Assur with the sword, Gen. 10 Mich. 4 and the land of Nymrod with their naked weapens. Thus shall he deliver us from the Assirian, when he cometh within our land, and setteth his foot within our borders. And the remnant of jacob shall be among the multitude of people, as the dew of the LORD, and as the drops upon the grass, that tarrieth for no man, and waiteth of no body. Ye the residue of jacob shallbe among the Gentiles and the multitude of people, Gen. 4 as the lion among the beestes of the wood, and as the lions whelp among a flock of sheep: which (when he goeth thorough) treadeth down, teareth in pieces, and there is no man that can help. Thine hand shallbe lift up upon thy enemies, and all thy adversaries shall perish. The time shall come also (sayeth the LORD) that I will take thy horses from thee, & destroy thy charettes. I will break down the cities of thy land, and overthrow all thy strong holds. Deu. 18. b All witchcrafts will I rote out of thine hand, there shall no more soythsayenges be within the. Thy Idols and thine images will I destroy out of that so that thou shalt no more bow thyself unto the works of thine own hands. Thy groves will I pluck up by the rotes, & break down thy cities. Thus will I be avenged also, upon all heathen that will not hear. The VI Chapter. hearken now what the LORD sayeth: Up, ●sa 58. a reprove the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. O Hear the punishment of the LORD, you mountains, and you 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. ●xo. 14▪ c Because I brought the from the land of Egipte, and delivered the out of the house of bondage? Because I made Moses, ●u. 12. a Aaron and Miriam to lead thee? Remember (oh my people) what Balach the king of Moab had imagined against thee, 〈◊〉 22.23 24.25. and what answer that Balaam the son of Be or gave him, from Sethim unto Galgal: that you may know the loving kyndnesses of the LORD. What acceptable thing shall I offer unto the LORD? shall I bow mykne to the high God? Shall I come before him with brent offerings, and with calves of a year old? Hath the LORD a pleasure in many thousand rams, or innumerable streams of oil? Or shall I give my firstborn for mine of fences, 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: ●sa. 1. d. that thou mayest be called a cite of the LORD, & that thy name may be righteousness. Hear (oh you tribes) who would else give you soch warning? Should I not be displeased, 〈◊〉. 19 g 〈◊〉. 25. c 〈◊〉. 20. b 〈◊〉. ●5. b for the unrightuous good in the houses of the wicked, and because the measure is minished? Or shield I ius●fie the false balances and the bag of deceitful weights, among those that be full of riches unrighteously got: where the citesyns deal with falsed, speak lies, and have deceitful tongues in their mouths? Therefore I will take in hand to punish thee, and to make the desolate, because of thy sins. Thou shalt eat, & not have enough: ye thou shalt bring thyself down. 〈…〉 Thou shalt i'll, 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 shalt thou not have, to anoint thyself withal: thou shalt tread out sweet must, but shalt drink no wine. You keep the ordinances of Amri, 〈…〉 & all the customs of the house of Achab: you follow their pleasures, therefore will I make the waist, & cause the inhabiters to be abhorred, O my people: & thus shalt thou bear thy own shame. The VII. Chapter. WOE is me: I am become as one, that goeth a gleening in the harvest. There are no more grapes to eat, yet would I fain (with all my heart) have of the best fruit. There is not a godlyman upon earth, there is not one righteous among men. 〈…〉 They labour all to shed blood, & every man hunteth his brother to death: yet they say they do well, when they do evil. As the prince will, so sayeth the judge: that he may do him a pleasure again. The great man speaketh what his heart desireth, & the hearers allow him. The best of them is but as a thistle, and the most righteous of them is but as a b●ere in the hedge. But when the day of thy preachers cometh, that thou shalt be vysited: them shall they be waisted away. Let no man believe his friend, 〈…〉 ner put his confidence in a prince. Keep the port of thy mouth, from her that lieth in thy bosom: 〈…〉 for the son shall put his father to dishonour, the daughter shall rise against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man's foes shallbe even they of his own household. Nevertheless I will look up unto the LORD, I will patiently abide God my saviour: my God shall hear me. O thou enemy of mine, rejoice not at my fall, for I shall get up again: and though I sit in darkness, 〈…〉 yet the LORD is my light. I will bear the punishment of the LORD (for why, I have offended him) till he sit in judgement upon my cause, and see that I have right. He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall see his rightuosnesse. She that is mine enemy shall look upon it, Re 1●. a & be confounded, which now saith: Where is thy LORD God? Mine eyes shall behold her, when she shallbe trodden down, as the clay in the streets. 〈…〉 The time will come, that thy gaps shall be made up, and the law shall go abroad: and at that time shall they come unto thee, from Assur unto the strong cities, and from the strong cities unto the river: from the one see to the other, from the one mountain to the other. Notwithstondinge the land must be waisted, because of them that devil therein, and for the fruits of their own imaginations. Therefore feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy heritage which devil desolate in the wood: that they may be fed upon the mount of Charmel, Basan & Galaad as afore tyme. marvelous things will I show them, 〈◊〉 14. a like as when they came out of Egipte. This shall the heathen se, and be aszshamed for all their power: 〈◊〉 ●9. d so that they shall say their hand upon their mouth, and stop their ears. 〈…〉 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, & as the worms of the earth, that tremble in their holes. They shallbe afraid of the LORD our God, & they shall fear ye. Where is there such a God as thou? that pardonest wickedness, and forgive the offences of the remnant of thy heritage? He keepeth not his wrath for ever. And why? his delight is to have compassion: 〈…〉 he shall turn again, & be merciful to us: he shall put down our wickednesses, & cast all our sins in to the bottom of the see. Thou shalt keep thy trust with jacob, and thy mercy for Abraham, like as thou hast sworn unto our fathers long ago. The end of the prophet Micheas. The Prophet Naum. What Naum containeth. Chap. I He praiseth the power and goodness of God: he reproveth the ninivites, because they despised the council and punishment of God. Chap. II He describeth unto them the terryblenesse of the plague. Chap. III He reproveth the abominations of the malicious cite, and ●●heweth them of their punishment. This is the heavy burden of Ninive, which Naum of Elchos did write, as he saw it. The first Chapter. THe LORD is a jealous God, and a taker of vengeance: ye a taker of vengeance is the LORD, and wrathful. Deu. 5. b The LORD taketh vengeance of his enemies, and reserveth displeasure for his adversaries. The LORD suffereth long, Ro. 2. a Exo. 34. a jere. 30. b he is of great power, & so innocent, that he leaveth no man faultless before him. The LORD goeth forth in tempest and stormy wether, the clouds are the dust of his feet. When he reproveth the see, he drieth it up, & turneth all the floods to dry land. Basan is desolate, Charmel and the pleasure of Libanus waisteth away. The mountains tremble for him, the hills consume. At the sight of him, the earth quaketh: ye the whole world, and all that devil therein. jere. 10. b Esa. 34. a Abac. 3. a Soph. ●. b Who may endure before his wrath? Or who is able to abide his grim displeasure? His anger taketh on like fire, and the hard rocks burst in sunder before him. Full gracious is the LORD, and a strong hold in time of trouble, he knoweth them that put their trust in him: when the flood runneth over, and destroyeth the place, and when the darkness followeth still upon his enemies. What do you imagine then against the LORD on this manner? (Tush, when he hath once made an end, there shall come no more trouble.) For like as the thorns that stick together, and as the dry straw, so shall the dronckardes be consumed together, even when they be full. There come out of the such as imagine mischief, and give ungracious council against the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD: Let them be as well prepared, ye and as many as they can, yet shall they be hewn down, and pass away. And as for thee, I will vex thee, but not utterly destroy the. And now will I break his rod from thy back, and burst thy bonds insunder. But the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that there shall come no more seed of thy name. The carved and casten images will I rote out of the house of thy god. Mich. 5. ● Thy grave shall I prepare for thee, and thou shalt be confounded. The II Chapter. Behold, upon the mountains come the feet of him, Esa. 52. b Ro. 10. c that bringeth good tidings, & preacheth peace. O juda, keep thy holy days, perform thy promises: for Belial shall come no more in thee, he is utterly rooted out. The scaterer shall come up against thee, & lay siege to the castle. Look thou well to the streets, make thy loins strong, arm thyself with all thy might: for the LORD shall restore again the glory of jacob, like as the glory of Israel. The destroyers have broken them down, & marred the wine branches. The shield of his giants glistereth, his men of war are clothed in purple. His charettes are as fire, when he maketh him forward, his archers are well decked & trimmed. The charettes roll upon the streets, & welter in the high ways. They are to look upon like cressettes of fire, and go swiftly, as the lightning. When he doth but warn his giants, they fall in their array, & haistely they climb up the walls: ye the engines of the war are prepared all ready. The water ports shall be opened, and the kings palace shall fall. The queen herself shall beled away captive, and her gentilwomen shall mourn as the doves, ●ob. 14. b ●oph. 2. c & groan within their hearts. Ninive is like a pole full of water, but then shall they be fain to i'll. stand, stand, (shall they cry) & there shall not one turn back. Away with the silver, away with the gold: for here is no end of treasure. There shallbe a multitude of all manner costly ornaments. Thus must she be spoiled, emptied & clean striped out: that their hearts may be melted away, their knees tremble, all their loins be weak, and their faces black as a pot. Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the pasture of the lions whelps? where the lion and the lioness went with the whelps, and no man frayed them away? But the lion spoiled enough for his young one's, and devoured for his lioness: he filled his dens with his prey, & his dwelling place with that he had ravyszshed. Behold, I will upon thee (saith the LORD of hosts) and will set fire upon thy charettes, that they shall smoke withal, and the sword shall devour thy young lions. I will make an end of thy spoiling from out of the earth, & the voice of thy messaungers shall no more be herd. The III Chapter. woe to that bloudthursty cite, which is all full of lies and robbery, ●ze. 24. a abac 2. b & will not leave of from ravyszshinge. There a man may hear scourging, ruszshinge, the noise of the wheels, the crying of the horses, & the rolling of the charettes. There the horse men get up with naked swords, and glistering spears: There lieth a multitude slain, and a great heap of deed bodies: There is no end of deed corpses, ye men fall upon their bodies: And that for the great and many fold whoredom, of the fair and beautiful harlot: which is a mistress of wychcraft, ye and selleth the people thorough her whoredom, and the nations thorough her witchcraft. Behold, 〈…〉 I will upon thee (saith the LORD of hosts) and will pull thy clotheses over thy head: that I may show thy nakedness among the heathen, and thy shame among the kingdoms. I will cast dirt upon that, to make the be abhorred, and a gazing stock: Ye all they that look upon thee, shall start back, & say: Ninive is destroyed. Who will have pity upon thee? where shall I seek one to comfort thee? Art thou better than the great cite of Alexandria? that lay in the waters, and had the waters round about it: which was strongly fenced & walled with the see? Ethiopia and Egipte were her strength, & that exceeding great above measure. Aphrica and Lybia were her helpers, yet was she driven away, & brought in to captivity: her young children were smitten down at the head of every street, the lots were cast for the most ancient men in her, and all her mighty men were bound in chains. Even so shalt thou also be drunken, and hide thyself, and seek some help against thy enemy. All thy strong cities shall be like fig trees with ripe fyges: which when a man shaketh, they fall in to the mouth of the eater. Behold, thy people with in the are but w●men: the ports of thy land shall be opened unto thy enemies, and the fire shall devour the bars. Draw water now against thou be besieged, make up thy strong holds, go in to the clay, tempre the mortar, make strong brick: yet the fire shall consume thee, 〈…〉 the sword shall destroy thee, ye as the locust doth, so shall it eat the up. It shall fall heavily upon the as the locusts, ye right heavily shall it fall upon thee, even as the greshoppers. Thy merchants have been more than the stars of heaven: but now shall they spread abroad as the locusts, and i'll their way: Thy lords are as the greshoppers, & thy captains as the multitude of greshoppers: which when they be cold, remain in the hedges: but when the Son is up, they i'll away, and no man can tell where they are become. Thy shepherds are asleep (oh king of Assur) thy worthies are laid down: the people is scattered abroad upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them together again. Thy wound can not be hid, thy plague is so sore. All they that hear this of thee, shall clap their hands over the. For what is he, to whom thou hast not allway been doing hurt? The end of the prophet Naum. The Prophet Abacuc. What Abacuc containeth. Chap. I He complaineth unto God of the wickedness of the people, and threateneth them with the plague of God. Chap. II He reproveth the cuvetous and unrightuous men. Chap. III A prayer of the prophet. The first Chapter. THis is the heavy burden, which the prophet Abacuc did se. 〈◊〉 2●. a O LORD, how long shall I cry, & thou will't not hear? 〈◊〉 ●3. a How long shall I complain unto thee, suffering wrong, and thou will't not help? Why lettest thou me see weariness and labour? Tyramny and violence are before me, power overgoeth right: for the law is torn in pieces, and there can no right judgement go forth. And why? the ungodly is more set by then the righteous: this is the cause, that wrong judgement proceedeth. Behold among the heathen, 〈…〉 and look well: wonder at it, and be abaszshed: for I will do a thing in your time, which though it be told you, you shall not believe. Forlo, I will raze up the Caldees, that bitter and swift people: 〈…〉 which shall go as wide as the land is, to take possession of dwelling places, that be not their own. A grim & boisterous people is it, these shall sit in judgement & punish. Their horses are swifter than the cats of the mountain, & bite sorer then the wolves in the evening. 〈…〉 Their horsemen come by great heaps from far, they i'll hastily to deuor as the Eagle. They come all to spoil: out of them cometh an east wind, which bloweth and gathereth their captives, like as the sand. They shall mock the kings, and laugh the princes to scorn. They shall not set by any strong hold, for they shall say ordinance against it, and take it. Then shall they take a fresh courage unto them, to go forth & to do more evil, & so ascribe that power unto their God. 〈◊〉 45. a 〈…〉. d But thou oh LORD my God, my holy one, thou art from the beginning, therefore shall we not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for a punishment, and set them to reprove the mighty. Thy eyes are clean, thou mayest not see evil, thou canst not behold the thing that is wicked. jere. 12. a Psal. 36. a Wherefore then dost thou look upon the ungodly, and holdest thy tongue, when the wicked devoureth the man that is better than himself? Thou makest men as the fish in the see, and like as the creeping beestes, that have no guide. They take up all with their angle, they catch it in their net, & gather it in their yarn: whereof they rejoice and are glad. Therefore offer they unto their net, and do sacrifice unto their yarn: because that thorough it their portion is become so fat, and their meat so pleteous. Wherefore they cast out their net again, & never cease to slay the people. The II Chapter. I Stood upon my watch, and set me upon my bulwark, to look & 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 of for a time, Dan. 9 d but at the last it shall come to pass, & not fail. And though he tarry, yet wait thou for him, Heb. 10. d 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. Ro. 1. b Like as the wine deceiveth the dronckarde, even so the proud shall fail & not endure. He openeth his desire wide up as the hell, & is as unsatiable as death. Pro. 30. b All heathen gathereth he to him, & heapeth unto him all people. Butt shall not all these take up a proverb against him, and mock him with a byword, and say: Woe unto him that heapeth up other men's goods? How long will he lad himself with thick clay? O how suddenly will they stand up, that shall bite thee, & awake, that shall tear the in pieces? ye thou shalt be their prey. Abdi. 1. c seeing thou hast spoiled many heathen, therefore shall the remnant of the people spoil thee: because of men's blood, & for the wrong done in the land, in the cite & unto all them that dwell therein. Woe unto him, Esa. 5. b that covetously gathereth evil got goods in to his house: that he may set his nest an high, Abdi. 1. a to escape from the power of misfortune. Thou hast devised the shame of thy own house, for thou hast slain to much people, and hast wilfully offended: so that the very stones of the brickwall shall cry out of it, ●uc. 19 d and the timber that lieth betwixt the joints of the building shall answer. ●ze. 24. a Naun 1. a Mich. 3. c Woe unto him, that buildeth the town with blood, and maynteneth the cite with unrighteousness. Shall not the LORD of hosts bring this to pass, that the labours of the people shall be brent with a great fire, and that the thing where upon the people have wearied themselves, shall be lost? For the earth shallbe full of knowledge of the lords honour, Exo. 9 c Nu. 14 c Esa. 11. b like as the waters that cover the see. Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, to get him wrathful displeasure for his drunkenness: Gen 9 d that he may see his preuyte●s. Therefore with shame shalt then be filled, in stead of honour. drink thou also, till thou slumber withal: for the cup of the LORDS right hand shall compass the about, and shameful spewing in stead of thy worship. For the wrong that thou hast done in Libanus, ●ere. 50. ● Abdi. 1. c shall overwhelm thee, and the wild beasts shall make the afraid: because of men's bleude, and for the wrong done in the land, in the cite, and unto all such as dwell therein. What help than will the image do, whom the workman hath fashioned? Or the vain cast image, wherein because the craftsman putteth his trust, therefore maketh he dumb Idols? woe unto him, that saith to a piece of wood: arise, and to a domine stone: stand up. For what instruction may such one give? Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, Psal. 10. a & there is no breath in it. But the LORD in his holy temple is he, whom all the world should fear. The III Chapter. A prayer of the prophet Abacuc for the ignorant. O LORD, when I heard speak of thee, I was afraid. The work that thou hast taken in hand, shalt thou perform in his time, O LORD: and when thy time cometh, thou shalt declare it. In thy very wrath thou thinkest upon mercy. God cometh from Theman, and the holy one from the mount of Pharan. Sela. His glory covereth the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise. His shine is as the son, & beams of light go out of his hands, there is his power hide. Destruction goeth before him, and burning cressettes go from his feet. He standeth, & measureth the earth: He looketh, & the people consume away, the mountains of the world fall down to powder, and the hills are fain to bow themselves, for his goings are everlasting and sure. I saw, that the pavilions of the Morions and the tents of the land of Madian were vexed for weariness. Wast thou not angry (oh LORD) in the waters? was not thy wrath in the floods, and thy displeasure in the see? yes, when thou sattest upon thy horse, and when thy charettes had the victory. Thou shewdest thy bow openly, like as thou hadst promised with an oath unto the tribes. Sela. 〈…〉 Thou diddest divide the waters of the earth. When the mountains see thee, they were afraid, the water stream went away: the deep made a noise at the lifting up of thy hand. 〈…〉 The Son and Moon remained still in their habitation. Thy arrows went out glistering, and thy spears as the shine of the lightning. 〈…〉 Thou trodest down the land in thy anger, and diddest thro●● she the heathen in thy displeasure. Thou calmest forth to help thy people, to help thi●● anointed. Thou smotest down the head in the house of the ungodly, & discoveredest his foundations, even unto the neck of him. Sela. Thou cursest his sceptres, the captain of his men of war: which come as a stormy wind to s●atre me abroad, & are glad when they may eat up the poor secretly. Thou makest a way for thy horses in the see, even in the mud of great waters. When I hear this, my body is vexed, my lips tremble at the voice thereof, my bones corrupt, I am afraid where I stand. O that I might rest in the day of trouble, that I might go up unto our people, which are already prepared. For the fig trees shall not be green, & the wines shall bear no fruit. The labour of the olive shallbe but jest, and the land shall br●nge no corn: the sheep shallbe taken out of the fold, and there shallbe no cattles in the stalls. But as for me, I will be glad in the LORD, and will rejoice in God my saviour. 〈…〉 The LORD God is my strength, he shall make my feet as the feet of hearts: & he which giveth the victory, shall bring me to my high places, synginge upon my psalms. The end of the prophet Abacuc. The Prophet Sophony. What Sophony containeth. Chap. I He prophesieth of plagues for to come upon juda. Chap. II He exorteth them to amend, that they may escape the wrath of God: and showeth the Gentiles their punishment. Chap. III punishment because of the wickedness of the jews: whom God therefore refused, and chose the heathen. The first Chapter. THis is the word of the LORD, which came unto Sophony the son of Chusi, the son of Gedolias, the son of Amarias' the son of Hezechias: in the time of josias the son of Amonkinge of juda. 〈…〉 I will gather up all things in the land (saith the LORD) I will gather up man and be'st: I will gather up the fowls in the air, and the fish in the see (to the great decay of the wicked) & will utterly destroy the men out of the land, saith the LORD. I will stretch out mine hand upon juda, and upon all such as dwell at jerusalem. Thus will I rote out the remnant of Baal from this place, and the names of the Kemuryns and priests: ye & such as upon their house tops worship & bow themselves unto the host of heaven: which swear by the LORD, 〈…〉 and by their Malchom also: which start a back from the LORD, and neither seek after the LORD, ner regard him. Be still at the presence of the LORD God, for the day of the LORD is at hand: 〈…〉 ye the LORD hath prepared a slain offering, and called his gests thereto. And thus shall it happen in the day of the LORDS a slaynoffering: 〈…〉 I will visit the princes, the kings children, & all such as were 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 falsed. At the same time (saith the LORD) there shall be herd a great cry from the fyshporte, and an howling from the other port, and a great murder from the hills. Howl you that dwell in the mill, for all the merchant people are go, and all they that were laden with silver, are rooted out. At the same time will I seek thorough jerusalem with lanterns, 〈…〉 and visit them that continue in their dregs, and say in their hearts: Tush, the LORD will do neither good ner evil. Their goods shallbe spoiled, and their houses laid waist. Amo● 5. b They shall build houses, and not dwell in them: they shall plant vynyardes, but not drink the wine thereof. joel. 2. a For the great day of the LORD is at hand, it is hard by, & 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 & heaviness, a day of utter destruction & misery, a dark & glooming day, a cloudy & stormy day, a day of the noise of trumpets and shawms, against the strong cities and high towers. I will bring the people into such vexation, that they shall go about like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood shallbe shed as the dust, & their bodies as the mire. Eze. 7. d neither their silver ner their gold shallbe able to deliver them in that wrathful day of the LORD, but the whole land shallbe consumed thorough the fire of his jealousy: Soph. 3. b for he shall soon make clean ryddaunce of all them that devil in the land. The II Chapter. COme together and gather you, O you frauwerde people: or the thing go forth that is concluded, & or the time be passed away as the dust: or the fearful wrath of the LORD come upon you, ye or the day of the LORDS sore displeasure come upon you. Seek the LORD all ye meek hearted upon earth, you that work after his judgement: 4. Re. 20. a john 3. a seek righteousness, seek lowliness: that you may be defended in the wrathful day of the LORD. For Gaza shall be destroyed, Esa. 14. ● jere. 47. a Eze. 25. c & Ascalon shall be laid waist: They shall cast out Aszdod at the noon day, and Accaron shall be pluck up by the rotes. Woe unto you that dwell upon the see coost, you murthurous people: the word of the LORD shall come upon you. O Canaan thou land of the philistines, I will destroy thee, so that there shall no man dwell in the any more: & as for the see coost, it shall be hyrdmens' cottages & sheep folds: ye it shallbe a portion for such as remain of the house of juda, to feed there upon. In the houses of Ascalon shall they rest toward night: for the LORD their God shall visit them, & turn away their captivity. I have heard the despite of Moab, & the blasphemies of the children of Ammon: Esa. 15. 1● jere. 48. a Eze. ●5. b how they have shamefully entreated my people, and magnified themselves within the borders of their land. Therefore as truly as I live (saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel) Moab shallbe as Sodom, & Ammon as Gomorra: even dry thorn hedges, salt pits and a perpetual wilderness. The residue of my folk shall spoil them the remnant of my people shall have them in possession. This shall happen unto them for their pride, Zach. 2. b because they have dealt so shamefully with the LORD of hosts people, and magnified themselves above them. The LORD shall be grim upon them, and destroy all the gods in the land. Esa. 2. c And all the Isles of the heathen shall worship him, every man in his place. You Morions also shall perish with my sword: Ye he shall stretch out his hand over the north, and destroy Assur. As for Ninive, he shall make it desolate, dry and waist. The flocks and all the beasts of the people shall lie in the midst of it, pelicans and storckes shall abide in the upper posts of it, fowls shall sing in the windows, and ravens shall sit upon the balckes, for the boards of cedar shallbe ryven down. This is the proud and careless cite, 4. Re. 19 f Esa 47. b 34. c that said in her heart: I am, and there is else none. O how is she made so waist, that the beestes lie therein? Who so goeth by, mocketh her, and pointeth at her with his finger. The III Chapter. woe to the abominable, filthy and cruel cite: which will not hear, ner be reformed. Her trust is not in the LORD, neither will she hold her to her God. Her rulers within her are as roaring lions: Eze. 22. c Mich. 3 c Abac. 1 b her judges are as wolves in the evening, which leave nothing behind them till the morrow. Her prophets are light personnes and unfaithful men: her priests unhalowe the Sanctuary, and do wrong under the pretence of the law. But the just LORD that doth no unright, was among them, every morning shewing them his law clearly, and ceased not. But the ungodly will not learn to be aszshamed. Therefore will I rote out this people, and destroy their towers: ye and make their streets so void, that no man shall go therein. Their cities shall be broken down, so that no body shall be left, ner dwell there any more. I said unto them: O fear me, and be content to be reformed. That their dwelling should not be destroyed, and that there should happen unto them none of these things, wherewith I shall visit them. But nevertheless they stand up early, to follow the filthiness of their own imaginations. Therefore you shall wait upon me (saith the LORD) until the time that I stand up: for I am determed, to gather the people and to bring the kingdoms together, that I may pour out mine anger, ye all my wrathful displeasure upon them. 〈…〉 For all the world shallbe consumed with the fire of my jealousy. And then will I cleanse the lips of the people, that they 〈◊〉 everichone call upon the name of the LORD, and serve him with one sh●lder. So●● as I have subdued, and my children also whom I have scattered abroad, shall bring me presents beyond the waters of Ethiopia. In that time shalt thou no more 〈◊〉 founded, because of all thy ymaginacion●, where thorough thou hadst offended me: 〈…〉 for I will take away the proud boosters of thy honour from thee, so that thou shalt no more triumph because of my holy h●ll. In the also will I leave a small poor simple people, which shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall do no wickedness, ner speakelyes: neither shall there any deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. For they shall be fed, and take their rest, and no man shall make them afraid. give th●●kes oh daughter Sion, be joyful o Israel: rejoice & be glad from thy whole heart, oh daughter jerusalem, for the LORD hath taken away thy punishment, and turned back thy enemies. The king of Israel, even the LORD himself is with thee: so that 〈…〉 no more to fear any myszfortune. In that time it shall be said to Ierusa●lem: fear not, and to Zion: let not thy hinds be slack, for the LORD thy God is with thee, it is he that hath power to save: he hath a special pleasure in thee, and a marvelous love toward thee: ye he rejoiceth over the 〈◊〉 gladness. Soch as have been in heuyn●sse, will I gather together, and take out of thy congregation: as for the shame and 〈◊〉 that hath been laid upon thee, it shall be f●●re from the. And lo, in that time will I destroys all those that vex thee: 〈…〉 I will help the 〈◊〉 and gather up the cast a way: ye I will get them honour and praise in all lands, where they have been put to shame. At the same time will I bring you in, and at the same time will I gather you. I will get you a name and a good report, among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD. The end of the prophet Sophony. The Prophet Aggeus. What Aggeus containeth. Chap. I He exorteth the people to build up the temple, and reproveth thei● long tarienge. Chap. II He giveth the rulers a courage. Of the ornaments and glory of the second temple, whereby is understand the church of the faith full. The first Chapter. In the second year of king Darius, Esd. 6. a ●an. 5. c 〈…〉 a in the uj. month the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD (by the prophet Aggeus) unto Zorobabel the son of Salathiel the prince of juda, Esd. ●. a Esd. ●. 3. ●. 5 and to jesua the son of josedec the ●ye priest, saying: Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, and saith: This people doth say: The time is not yet come to build up the lords house. Then spoke the LORD by the prophet Aggeus & said: Ye your selves can find time to devil in syled houses, ●ere. 2●. b and shall this house lie waist? consider now your own ways in your hearts (saith the LORD of hosts) you sow much, but you bring little in: Levi. 25. d ●ich. 6. b ●ice 4. b ●ala. 3. b You eat, but you have not enough: you drink, but you are not filled: you deck yourselves, but you are not warm: & he that earneth any wage, putteth it in a broken purse. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: consider your own ways in your hearts, get you up to the mountain, fetch wood, & build up to the house: ● Re. 8. d that it may be acceptable unto me, and that I may show mine honour, saith the LORD. You looked for much, and lo it is come to little: & though you bring it home, yet do I blow it away. And why so, saith the LORD of hosts? Even because that my house lieth so waist, ● Cor. 3. ᵇ ●. ᶜ ● Cor 6. c and you run every man unto his own house. Wherefore the heaven is forbidden to give you any dew, and the earth is forbidden to give you increase. ●eut. 28. d I have called for a drought, both upon the land & upon the mountains, upon corn, upon wine & upon oil, upon every thing that the ground bringeth forth, upon men and upon cattles, ye and upon all handy labour. Now when Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, & jesua the son of josedec the high priest with the remnant of the people, heard the voice of the LORD their God, & the words of the prophet Aggeus (like as the LORD their God had sent him) the people did fear the LORD, Then Aggeus the lords angel said in the lords message unto the people: I am with you, Deut. 7 ● 31. g Agg. 2. a jere. 46 1. Esd. 5 a saith the LORD. So the LORD waked up the spirit of Zorobabel the prince of juda, and the spirit of jesua the son of josedec the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of all the people: that they came & laboured, in the house of the LORD of hosts their God. The II Chaptyr. Upon the xxii●j. day of the sixte month, in the second year of king Darius, the xxi. 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 josedec the high priest, and to the residue of the people, & say: Who is left among you, 1. Esd. 3. ● that saw this house in her first beauty: But what think you now by it? Is it not in your eyes, even as though it were nothing? Nevertheless be of good cheer, Deu. 31. josu. 1. ● oh Zorobabel (saith the LORD) be of good comfort, oh jesua thou son of josedec, high priest: take good hearts unto you also, all you people of the land, saith the LORD of hosts, and do according to the word (for I am with you, Agg. 1. saith the LORD of hosts) like as I agreed with you, when you came out of the land of egypt: & my spirit shallbe among you, fear you not. For thus saith the LORD of hosts: Yet once more will I shake heaven and earth, Heb. 12 the see and the dry land: Ye I will move all heathen, & the comfort of all heathen shall come, & so will I fill this house with honour, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, & the gold is mine, Deut. ● saith the LORD of hosts. Thus the glory of the last house shallbe greater than the first, saith the LORD of hosts: & in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. The xxiv. day of the ix month in these conde year of king Darius, came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Aggeus' saying: Thus saith the LORD God of hosts: Axe the priests concerning the law, & say: jere. 11. If one bear holy flesh in his cote lap, & with his lap do touch the bread, pottage, wine, oil or any other meat: shall he be holy also? The priests answered, & said: No. Then said Aggeus: Now if one being defiled with a deed carcase, touch any of these: shall it also be unclean? The priests gave answer & said: ye, it shall be unclean. Levi. 5.11. d Nu. 19 Then Aggeus answered, and said: Even so is this people & this nation before me, saith the LORD: and so are all the works of their hands, ye and all that they offer, is unclean. And now (I pray you) consider from this day forth, and how it hath go with you afore: or ever there was laid one stone upon another in the temple of the LORD: that when you came to a corn heap of xx. busshels, ●gg. 1. a there were scarceten: and that when you came to the wine press for to pour out L. pots of wine, there were scarce xx. For I smote you with heat, blasting & hale stones in all the labours of your hands: yet was there none of you, that would turn unto me, saith the LORD. consider then from this day forth and afore, namely, from the xxiv. day of the ix. month, unto the day that the foundation of the lords temple was laid: ch. 8. b Marck it well, Is not the seed yet in the barn? have not the wines, the fygetrees, the pomegranates and olive trees been yet unfruitful? but from this day forth, I shall make them to prosper. moreover the xxiv. 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 overthrow the seat of the kingdoms, ye & destroy the mighty kingdom of the Heithen. I will overthrow the charettes, and those that sit upon them, so that both horse and man shall fall down, every man thorough his neighbours sword. And as for thee, oh Zorobabel (saith the LORD of hosts) thou son of Salathiel, my servant: I will take thee (saith the LORD) at the same time, and make the as a seale● for I have choose thee, saith the LORD of hosts. The end of the prophet Aggeus. The Prophet Zachary. What Zachary containeth. Chap. I He exorteth the people, not to be disobedient to the voice of God, as their forefathers were, but to convert: and he showeth them joyful things in visions. Chap. II Visions, signifying the deliverance out of the captivity of Babylon, and the redemption in Christ. Chap. III A vision in jesua, signifying the LORD jesus our high priest. Chap. four Another vision, wherein Zorobabel is comforted with his little number of people. The right mystery hereof belongeth unto Chap. V The wrath of God for thee (Christ▪ sins of the people. Chap. VI A vision, wherein is declared the almighty power of God, which giveth peace or war at his pleasure. Chap. VII. What the true fast is: namely, to keep judgement and justice, a man to do good to his neighbour, to defend the widow and the fatherless, to do no man wrong, &c. Chap. VIII. Cause of all the wrath of God: yet if men will turn, he is merciful. Chap. IX. The joyful calling of the Heithen. Chap. X. Thorough corporal promises, the prophet leadeth men unto the promises that are fulfilled in Christ: and threateneth punishment unto the false prophets and shepherds. Chap. XI. Of secret mysteries, and of the destruction of the second temple. God is a good shepherd. Chap. XII. The punishment which the LORD devised for Israel. Chap XIII. Of wells and cleansing, which belong to the time of Christ. Chap. XIIII. The plague of the jews. The taking up of jerusalem the church of God. The first Chapter. IN the eight month of the second year of king Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zachary the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, 〈…〉 the prophet, saying: The LORD hath been sore displeased at your forefathers. And say thou unto them: thus saith the LORD of hosts. Turn you unto me (saith the LORD of hosts) and I will turn me unto you, 〈…〉 saith the LORD of hosts. jere. 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 Be not you like your forefathers, unto whom the prophets cried afore time, saying: Thus saith the LORD God of hosts: 〈…〉 Turn you from your evil ways, & from your wicked imaginations. But they would not hear, 〈…〉 ner regard me, saith the LORD. What is now become of your forefathers and the prophets? are they yet still alive? But did not my words & statutes (which I commanded by my servants that prophets) touch your forefathers? Upon this, they gave answer & said: like as the LORD of hosts devised to do unto us, according to our own ways & imaginations, even so hath he dealt with us. Upon the xxiv. day of the xj. month (which is the month Sebat) in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zachary the son of Barachias, the son of Addo the prophet, saying: I saw by night, and lo, there sat one upon a read horse, 〈…〉 and stood still among the Myrte trees, that were beneath upon the ground: and behind him were there read, spreckled and white horses. Then said I: O my LORD, what are these? And the angel that talked with me, said unto me: I will show the what these be. And the man that stood among the Myrte trees, answered & said: These are they, whom the LORD hath sent to go thorough the world. And they answered the angel of the LORD, that stood among the Myrte trees, and said: We have go thorough the world: and behold, all the world devil at case, and are careless. Then the lords angel gave answer and said: O LORD of hosts, how long will't thou be unmerciful to Jerusalem and to the cities of juda, ●ere. 25. b 〈◊〉. b 〈◊〉. 1. a with whom thou hast been displeased now these lxx. years? So the LORD gave a loving and a comfortable answer, unto the angel that talked with me. And the angel that commoned with me, said unto me: Cry thou, and speak, thus saith the LORD of hosts: I am exceeding jealous over jerusalem and Zion, and sore displeased at the careless heathen: for where as I was but a little angry, they did their best that I might destroy them. Therefore thus saith the LORD: ●●ch. ●. a I will turn me again in mercy toward jerusalem, so that my house shallbe builded in it, saith the LORD of hosts: ye and the plummet shall be laid abroad in jerusalem, saith the LORD of hosts. Cry also, and speak: thus saith the LORD of hosts: My cities shall be in good prosperity again, the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and chose jerusalem. Then lift I up mine eyes and saw, and behold, four horns. And I said unto the angel, that talked with me: what be these? he answered me: 〈…〉 These are the horns, which have scattered juda, Israel and jerusalem abroad. And the LORD showed me iiij. carpenters. Then said I: what will these do? He answered, & said: Those are the horns, which have so strewed juda abroad, that no man dared lift up his head: But these are come to fray them away, and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lift up their horn over the land of juda, to scatre it abroad. The II Chapter. I Lift up mine eyes again, & looked: and behold, ●ze. 43. b Apo. ●1. c a man with a measure line in his hand. Then said I: whether goest thou? And he said unto me: To measure jerusalem, that I may see how long and how broad it is. And behold, the angel that talked with me, went his way forth. Then went there out another angel to meet him, & said unto him: Run, speak to this youngman, & say: jerusalem shall be inhabited without any wall, for the very multitude of people & cattles, that shall be therein. Deut. 4 Zach. ● Ye I myself (saith the LORD) will be unto her a brickwall of fire round about, & willbe honoured in her. O get you forth, O i'll from the land of the north (saith the LORD) you, jere. 23. ● whom I have scattered in to the four winds under heaven, saith the LORD. Save thyself, oh Zion: thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon, for thus saith the LORD of hosts: With a glorious power hath he sent me out to the Heithen, which spoiled you: jere. 2. a 20. d. 30 Psal. 1●. ● Esa. 14 ● for who so toucheth you, shall touch the apple of his own eye. Behold, I will lift up mine hand over them: so that they shall be spoiled of those, which afore served them: & you shall know, that the LORD of hosts hath sent me. Be glad, & rejoice, oh daughter of Zion: Exo. 25 Matt. 2● for lo, I am come to devil in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. At the same time there shall many heathen cleave to the LORD, & shall be my people. Thus will I dwell in the midst of thee, & thou shalt know, that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto the. The LORD shall have juda in possession for his part in the holy ground, & shall choose jerusalem yet again. Soph. ● Let all flesh be still before the LORD, for he is risen out of his holy place. The III Chapter. ANd he showed me jesua the high priest, standing before the angel of the LORD, Psal. 10 Matt. ● Jude 1. ● and Satan stood at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan: The LORD reprove thee (thou Satan) ye the LORD that hath choose jerusalem, reprove the. Is not this a brand taken out of the fire? Now jesua was clothed in unclean raiment, and stood before the angel: which answered & said unto those, that stood before him: take away the foul clotheses from him. And unto him he said: Behold, I have taken away thy sin from thee, & will deck the with change of raiment. He said moreover: set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, & put on clotheses upon him, and the angel of the LORD stood there. Then the angel of the LORD testified unto jesua, & spoke, thus sayeth the LORD of hosts: If thou will't walk in my ways, & keep my watch: thou shalt rule my house, & keep my courts, & I will give the place among these that stand here. Hear oh jesua thou high priest, thou & thy friends that devil before thee, for they are wondrous people. 〈◊〉. 47. a ●ach. 6. b ●ere. 2●. ᵃ ●▪ c ●sa. 28. c Pet. ●. a 〈◊〉. ●3. a Behold, I will bring forth the branch of my servant: for lo, the stone that I have laid before jesua: upon one stone shallbe seven. eyes. Behold, I will hew him out (saith the LORD of hosts) and take away the sin of that land in one day. Then shall every man call for his neighbour, under the vine & under the fygetre, saith the LORD of hosts. The four Chap. ANd the angel that talked with me, came again, & waked me up (as a man that is raised out of his sleep) & said unto me: What seist thou? And I said: I have looked, and behold: a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon it & his seven. lamps therein, 〈◊〉. 11 a & upon every lamp seven. stalks: And ij. olive trees thereby, one upon the right side of the bowl, & the other upon the left side. So I answered, & spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying: O my lord what are these? The angel that talked with me, answered & said unto me: knowest thou not what these be? And I said: Not, my lord. He answered, & said unto me: This is the word of the LORD unto Zorobabel, saying: neither thorough an host of men, ner thorough strength, 〈◊〉 11. a but thorough my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. What art thou (thou great mountain) before Zorobabel? thou must be made even. 〈◊〉. 28. c And he shall bring up the first stone, so that men shall cry unto him: good luck, good luck. moreover, the word of the LORD came unto me, 〈◊〉. 1. a saying: The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundation of this house, his hands also shall finish it: that you may know, ●eut. 18. d how that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For he that hath been despised a little season, shall rejoice, when he saith the tin weight in Zorobabels' hand. The seven. eyes are the LORDS, which go thorough the hole world. Then answered I, & said unto him: What are these two olive trees upon the right and left side of the candlestick? I spoke moreover, & said unto him: what be these ij. olive branches which (thorough the two golden pipes) empty themselves in to the gold? He answered me, & said: knowest thou not, what these be? And I said: Not, my lord. Then said he: These are the two olive branches, ●poc. 11. a that stand before the ruler of the whole earth. The V Chapter. SO I turned me lifting up mine eyes, & looked, & behold, a flying book. And he said unto me: what seist thou? I answered: I see a flying book of xx. cubits long & x. cubits broad. Then said he unto me: This is the curse, that goeth forth over the whole earth: For all thieves shallbe judged after this book, & all swearers shallbe judged according to the same. I will bring it forth (saith the LORD of hosts) so that it shall come to the house of the thief, 〈…〉 & to the house of him, that falsely sweareth by my name: & shall remain in his house, & consume it, with the timber & stones thereof. Then the angel that talked with me, went forth, & said unto me: lift up thy eyes & see, what this is that goeth forth. And I said: what is it? He answered: this is a measure going out. He said moreover: Even thus are they (that devil upon the whole earth) to look upon. And behold, there was lift up a talon of lead: & lo, a woman sat in the midst of the measure. And he said: This is ungodliness. So he cast her in to the midst of the measure, & threw the lump of lead up in to an hole. Then lift I up mine eyes, & looked: & behold, there came out ij. women, & the wind was in their wings (for they had wings like the wings of a Stork) & they lif● up the measure betwixt the earth & the heaven. Then spoke I to the angel, that talked with me: whither will these bear the measure? And he said unto me: 〈…〉 in to the land of Synear, to build them an house: which when it is prepared, the measure shall be set there in his place. The VI Chapter. moreover I turned me, lifting up mine eyes, & looked: & behold, there came iiij. charettes out from betwixt two hills, which hills were of brass: 〈…〉 In the first chariot were read horse, In the second chariot were black horse, In the third chariot were white horse, In the forth chariot were horses of diverse colours, & strong. Then spoke I, and said unto the angel that talked with me: O lord, what are these▪ The angel answered, & said unto me: 〈…〉 These are the iiij. winds of the heaven, which be come forth to stand before the ruler of all the earth. That with the black horse went in to the land of the north, & the white followed them, and the sprekled horses went forth toward the south. These horses were very strong, & went out: and sought to go and take their journey over the whole earth. And he said: get you hence, and go thorough the world. So they went thorough out the world. Then cried he upon me, and spoke unto me, saying: Behold, these that go toward the north, shall still my wrath in the north country. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Take of the presoners that are come from Babylon: namely, Heldai, Tobias and Idaia: & come thou the same day, and go in to the house of josias the son of Sophony. Then take gold and silver, and make crowns thereof, and set them upon the head of jesua the son of josedec, the hie priest, and speak unto him: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, the man whose name is the branch: ●ach 3. b ●sal. 126. a & he that shall springe up after him, shall build up the temple of the LORD: ye even he shall build up the temple of the LORD. Apo. 4. ᵇ ● b He shall bear the praise, he shall sit upon the lords throne, and have the domination. 〈◊〉. 109. a ●●b. 5.6 ●▪ 8.9.10 A priest shall he be also upon his throne, & a peaceable council shallbe betwixt them both. And the crowns shall be in the temple of the LORD, for a remembrance unto Helem, Tobias, Idaia and Hen the son of Sophony. And such as be far of, shall come and build the temple of the LORD: that you may know, how that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if you will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God. The VII. Chapter. IT happened also in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zachary in the fourth day of the ix. month, which is calleth Casle●: what time as Sarasar and Rogomelech and the men that were with them, sent unto Bethel for to pray before the LORD: and that they should say unto the priests, which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets: Should I weep in the fift month, Re. 25. b and abstain, as I have done now certain years? Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying: Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, and say: when you fasted and mourned in the five & seven. month (now this lxx. years) did you fast unto me? ●●re. 41. ᵃ ●▪ Re. ●5. d When you ate also and drunk, did you not eat and drink for your own selves? Are not these the words, which the LORD spoke by his prophets afore time, when jerusalem was yet inhabited and wealthy, she and the cities round about her: when there dwelled men, both toward the south and in the plain countries? And the word of the LORD came unto Zachary, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Execute true judgement: show mercy and loving kindness, Zach. ● Exo. 22. Levi. 19 job 24. a jere. 7. a every man to his brother: Do the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, and poor no wrong: and let no man imagine evil against his brother in his heart. jere. 7. ● Nevertheless they would not take heed, but turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. ye they made their hearts as an Adamant stone, jest they should hear the law & words, 2. Pet. 1. ● which the LORD of hosts sent in his holy spirit by the prophets afore tyme. Wherefore the LORD of hosts was very wroth at them. And thus is it come to pass, jere. 11. ● that like as he spoke and they would not hear: even so they cried, and I would not hear (saith the LORD of hosts) but scattered them among all Gentiles, whom they knew not. Thus the land was made so desolate, that there travaled no man in it neither to ner fro, for that pleasant land was utterly laid waist. The VIII. Chapter. SO the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: I was in a great jealousy over Zion, ye I have been very jealous over her in a great displeasure. thus saith the LORD of hosts: I will turn me again unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of jerusalem: Esa. 1. d so that jerusalem shallbe called a faithful and true cite, the hill of the LORD of hosts, ye an holy hill. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: There shall yet old men and women dwell again in the streets of jerusalem: ye and such as go with staves in their hands for very age. The streets of the cite also shallbe full of young boys and damsels, playing upon the streets. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: if the residue of this people think it to be unpossible in these days, should it therefore be unpossible in my sight, Mat. 1● sayeth the LORD of hosts? Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will deliver my people from the land of the east and west, and will bring them again: that they may dwell at jerusalem. They shallbe my people, jere. 3 f Heb. 8. ● Apo. 21. ● and I will be their God, in trenth and righteousness. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: let your hands be strong, you that now hear these words by the mouth of the prophets, which be in these days that the foundation is laid upon the LORD of hosts house, that the temple may be builded. For why? Agg. 1. ● before these days neither men ner cattle coude win any thing, neither might any man come in and out in rest, for trouble: but I let every man go against his neighbour. Nevertheless I will now entreat the residue of this people no more, as afore time (saith the LORD of hosts) but they shallbe a seed of peace. ●gg. 2. c The vineyard shall give her fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I shall 'cause the remnant of this people, to have all these in possession. And it shall come to pass, that like as you were a curse among the heathen (O you house of juda and you house of Israel) Even so will I deliver you, that you shallbe a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. For thus saith the LORD of hosts: like as I devised to punish you, what time as your fathers provoked me unto wrath (sayeth the LORD of hosts) and spared not: Even so am I determed now in these days, for to do well unto the house of juda and jerusalem, therefore fear you not. Now the things that you shall do, ●e. 4. c changed 7. b ●a. 2 b are these: Speak every man the truth unto his neighbour, execute judgement truly and peaceably within your ports, none of you imagine evil in his heart against his neighbour, and love no false oothes: for all these are the things that I hate, sayeth the LORD. And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying: thus sayeth the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be joy and gladness, & prosperous high feasts unto the house of juda: Only, love the truth and peace. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: There shall yet come people, and the inhabiters of many cities: and they that devil in one cite, 〈…〉 shall go to another, saying▪ Up, let us go, and pray before the LORD, ●●t us seek the LORD of hosts, I will go with you. Ye much people and mighty heathen shall come and seek the LORD of hosts at jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts: In that time shall ten men (out of all manner of languages of the Gentiles) take one jew by the hem of his garment, and say: we will go with you, for we have herd, that God is among you. The IX. Chapter. THe word of the LORD shallbe received at Adrach, & Damascus shall be his offering: for the eyes of all men and of the tribes of Israel shall look up unto the LORD. The borders of Hemath shall be hard thereby, Tyrus also & Sidon, for they are very wise. 〈…〉 Tyrus shall make hirself strong, heap up silver as the sand, and gold as the clay of the streets. Behold, the LORD shall take her in, and have her in possession: he shall smite down her power in to the see, 〈…〉 and she shallbe consumed with fire. This shall Ascalon see, and be afraid. Gaza shallbe very sorry, so shall Accaron also, 〈…〉 because her hope is come to confusion. For the king of Gaza shall perish, and at Ascalon shall no man dwell. Strangers shall dwell at Aszdod, & as for the pride of the philistines, I shall rote it out. Their blood will I take away from their mouth, 〈…〉 and their abominations from among their teeth. Thus they shall be left for our God, ye they shallbe as a prince in juda, & Accaron like as jebusi. And so will I compass my house round about with my men of war, going to and fro: that no oppressor come upon them any more. For that have I seen now with mine eyes. Rejoice thou greatly, oh daughter Zion: be glad, oh daughter jerusalem. For lo, Esa. 〈…〉 joh. 〈…〉 thy king cometh unto thee, even the righteous and saviour: Lowly and simple is he, he rideth upon an ass, and upon the foal of an ass. I will rote out the charettes from Ephraim, & the horse from jerusalem, the battle bows shallbe destroyed. He shall give the doctrine of peace unto the heathen, Psal. 〈…〉 and his dominion shallbe from the one see to the other, & from the floods to the ends of the world. Thou also thorough the blood of thy covenant: Esa 〈…〉 Apo. 〈…〉 shalt let thy presoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. Turn you now to the strong hold, you that be in preson, 〈…〉 & long sore to be delivered: And this day I bring the word, that I will reward the double again. For juda have I bend out as a bow for me, and Ephraim have I filled. Thy sons (oh Sion) will I raise up against the Greeks, and make the as a giants' sword: the LORD God shallbe seen above them, and his darts shall go forth as the lightning. The LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall come forth as a storm out of the south. The LORD of hosts shall defend them, 〈…〉 they shall consume and devour, and subdue them with sling stones. They shall drink & rage, as it were thorough wine. They shallbe filled like the basins, & as the horns of the altar. The LORD their God shall deliver them in the day, as the flock of his people: for the stonens of his Sanctuary shallbe set up in his land. O how prosperous and goodly a thing shall that be? The corn shall make the young men cheerful, and the new wine the maidens. The X. Chapter. Pray the LORD then bytymes to give you the latter rain, so shall the LORD make clouds, 〈…〉 and give you rain enough for all the increase of the field: For vain is the answer of Idols. The soythsayers see lies, and tell but vain dreams: the comforth that they give, is nothing worth. Therefore go they astray like a flock of sheep, and are troubled, because they have no shepherd. 〈…〉 My wrathful displeasure is moved at the shepherds, and I will visit the goats. For the LORD of hosts will graciously visit his flock (the house of juda) and hold them as a goodly fair horse in the battle. 〈◊〉. 12. d 〈◊〉. 1●. b Out of juda shall come the helmet, the nail, the batelbowe, and all the princes together. They shallbe as the giants, which in the battle tread down the mire upon the streets. They sha● fight, for the LORD shallbe with them, so that the horsemen shallbe confounded. I will comfort the house of juda, and preserve the house of joseph. I will turn them also, for I pity them: and they shall be like as they were, when I had not cast them of. For I the LORD am their God, and will hear them. Ephraim shallbe as a giant, and their heart shallbe cheerful as thorough wine: Ye their children shall see it, and be glad, and their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will blow for them & gather them together, for I will redeem them. They shall increase, as they increased afore. I will sow them among the people, that they may think upon me in far countries: they shall live with their children, and turn again. I will bring them again also from the land of Egipte, and gather them out of Assiria. I will carry them in to the land of Galaad and to Libanus, and they shall want nothing. He shall go upon the see of trouble▪ and smite the see wawes: so that all the deep floods shallbe dried up. The proud boostinge of Assur shallbe cast down, 〈◊〉 10. a ●at. 29 and the sceptre of Egipte shall be taken away. I will comfort them in the LORD, that they may walk in his name, saith the LORD. The XI. Chapter. OPen thy doors (oh Libanus) that the fire may consume thy cedar trees. Howl you Fyrre trees, for the cedar is fallen, ye all the proud are waisted away Howl (oh you oak trees of Baasan) for the mighty strong wood is cut down. Men may hear the shepherds mourn, for their glory is destroyed. Men may hear the lions whelps roar, for the pride of jordane is waisted away. Thus sayeth the LORD my God: Feed the sheep of the slaughter, which shallbe slain of those that possess them: yet they take it for no sin, but they that cell them, say: The LORD be thanked, I am rich: Ye their own shepherds spare them not. Therefore will I no more spare those that devil in the land (sayeth the LORD) but lo, I will deliver the people, every man in to his neighbours hand, and in to the hand of his king: that they may smite the land, and out of their hands will not I deliver them. I myself fed the slaughter sheep (a poor flock verily) and took unto me two staves: the one I called loving meekness, the other I called woe, and so I kept the sheep. Three shepherds destroyed I in one month, for I might not away with them, Apo. 22. ● neither had they any delight in me. Then said I: I will feed you no more, the thing that dieth, let it die: and that will perish, let it perish, & let the remnant eat, every one the flesh of his neighbour. I took also my loving meek staff, and broke it, that I might disanuil the convenant, which I made with all people, And so it was broken in that day. Then the poor simple sheep that had a respect unto me, knew thereby, that it was the word of the LORD. And I said unto them: if you think it good, bring hither my price: if no, then leave. So they weighed down thirty. silver pens, the value that I was prysed at. And the LORD said unto me: Matt. 27▪ ● cast it unto the potter (a goodly price for me to be valued at of them) and I took the thirty. syluers' pens, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. Then broke I my other staff also (namely woe) that I might louse the brother head betwixt juda and Israel. And the LORD said unto me: Take to the also the staff of a foolish shepherd: for lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not seek after the things that be lost, ner care for such as go astray: he shall not heal the wounded, he shall not nourish the thing that is whole: but he shall eat the flesh of such as be fat, and tear their claws in pieces. O Idols shepherd, that leaveth the flock. The sword shall come upon his arm and upon his right eye. His arm shallbe clean dried up, and his right eye shallbe sore blinded. The XII. Chapter. The heavy burden which the LORD hath devised for Israel. THus saith the LORD, which spread the heavens abroad, Esa. 40. c 4. c. 45. b Gen. 2. b laid the foundation of the earth, and giveth man the breath of life: Behold, I will make jerusalem a cup of surfeit, unto all the people that are round about her: Ye juda himself also shallbe in the siege against jerusalem. zac. 14. c At the same time will I make jerusalem an heavy stone for all people, so that all such as lift it up, shallbe toarne and rent, and all the people of the earth shallbe gathered together against it. In that day (sayeth the LORD) I will make all horses abashed, and those that ride upon them, to be out of their wits. I will open mine eyes upon the house of juda, and smite all the horses of the people with blindness. And the princes of juda shall say in their hearts: The inhabiters of jerusalem shall give me consolation in the LORD of hosts their God. In that time will I make the princes of juda like an hot burning oven with wood, Abd. 1. d ●mo●. 1. a and like a cress het of fire among the straw: so that they shall consume all the people round about them, both upon the right hand and the left. Jerusalem also shallbe inhabited again: namely, in the same place where jerusalem standeth. The LORD shall preserve the tents of juda like as afore time: so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the citizens of jerusalem, shallbe but little regarded, in comparison of the glory of juda. In that day shall the LORD defend the citesyns of jerusalem: so that the weakest then among them shallbe as David: and the house of David shallbe like as God's house, Re. 17. f and as the angel of the LORD before them. At the same time will I go about to destroy all such people as come against jerusalem. ●ze. 36. d ●oel. 2. f ●ct. 2. b moreover, upon the house of David and upon the citesyns of jerusalem, will I pour out the spirit of grace and prayer: so that they shall look upon me, 〈…〉 whom they have pierced: and they shall be weep him, as men mourn for their only begotten son: Ye and be sorry for him, as men are sorry for their first child. Then shall there be a great mourning at jerusalem, 〈…〉 like as the lamentation at Adremnon in the field of Maggadon. 〈…〉 And the land shall bewail, every kindred by themselves: The kindred of the house of David themselves alone, and their wives by themselves: 〈…〉 The kindred of the house of Nathan themselves alone, and their wives by themselves: The kindred of the house of Levi themselves alone, and their wives by themselves: The kindred of the house of Semei them selves alone, and their wives by themselves: In like manner, all the other generations, everichone by themselves alone, and their wives by themselves. The XIII. Chapter. IN that time shall the house of David and the citesyns of jerusalem have an open well, 〈…〉 to wash of sin and uncleanness. And then (sayeth the LORD of hosts) I will destroy the names of Idols out of the land: Esa. 〈…〉 so that they shall no more be put in remembrance. As for the false prophets also and the unclean spirit, 〈…〉 I shall take them out of the land: So that if any of them prophesy any more, his own father and mother that begat him, shall say unto him: Thou shalt die, 〈…〉 for thou speakest lies under the name of the LORD: Ye his own father and mother that begat him, shall wound him, when he prophecyeth. And then shall those prophets be confounded, every one of his vision when he prophesieth: neither shall they were sack clotheses any more, to deceive men with all. But he shall be fain to say: 〈…〉 I am no prophet: I am an husband man, for so am I taught by Adam fro my youth up. 〈…〉 And if it be said unto him: How came these wounds then in thy hands? He shall answer: Thus am I wounded in the house of mine own friends. Arise (oh thou sword) upon my shepherd, and upon the prince of my people, 〈…〉 sayeth the LORD of hosts: Smite the shepherd and the sheep shallbe scattered abroad, and so will I turn mine hand to the little one's. And it shall come to pass (sayeth the LORD) that in all the land two parts shallbe rooted out, 〈…〉 but the third part shall remain therein. And the same third part will I bring thorough the fire, 〈◊〉. ●3. a 〈◊〉. 43. a 〈◊〉. ●6. a 〈◊〉 6●. b 〈◊〉. 1. b 〈…〉. a 〈◊〉 3. a 〈◊〉 1. a and will cleanse them, as the silver is cleansed: Ye and try them, like as gold is tried. Then shall they call upon my name, and I will hear them: I will say: it is my people. And they shall say: LORD, my God. The XIIII. Chapter. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, that thou shalt be spoiled and rob: for I will gather together all the heathen, to fight against jerusalem: so that the cite shallbe won, the houses spoiled, and the women defiled. The half of the cite shall go away in to captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be carried out of the cite. After that shall the LORD go forth to fight against those heathen, as men use to fight in the day of battle. Then shall his feet stand upon the mount vite, that lieth upon the east side of Jerusalem. And the mount olyvete shall cleave in two, eastward, & westward so that there shall be a great valley: & the halff mount shall remove toward the north, and the other half toward the south. And you shall i'll unto the valley of my hills, for the valley of the hills shall reach unto Asal. Ye i'll shall you. like as yefled for the earthquake in the days of Osias king of juda. 〈◊〉 ●1. a And the LORD my God shall come, and all sanctes with him. In that day shall it not be light, 〈…〉. c but cold and frost. This shallbe that special day, which is known unto the LORD: neither day ner 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 see, and the other half toward the uttermost see, and shall continued both summer and winter. And the LORD himself shallbe king over all the earth. 〈…〉 At that time shall there be one LORD only, and his name shallbe but one. Men shall go about the whole earth, as upon a field: from Gibea to Remmon, and from the south to jerusalem▪ She shallbe 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 Hanael, unto the kings wine presses. There shall men devil, and there shall be no more cursing, but jerusalem shallbe safely inhabited. This shallbe the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite all people, that have fought against jerusalem: Namely, their flesh shall consume away, though they stand upon their feet: their eyes shall 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 neighbour. juda shall fight also against jerusalem, zach. 12. a and the goods of all the heathen shallbe gathered together round about: gold and silver and a very great multitude of clotheses. And so shall this plague go overhorses, 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. Nu. 29. b Levi. 23. f 3 Esd. 5. e 2. Mac. 1. b And look what generation upon 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 Egipte go not up & come not, it shall not rain upon them neither. This shallbe the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all heathen, that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles: Ye this shallbe the synneplage of Egipte and the synneplage of all people, that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. At that time shall the rydinge gear of the horses be holy unto the LORD, and the kettles in the lords house shall be like the basins before the altar: ye all the kettles in jerusalem and juda, shallbe holy unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that slay● offerings, shall come and take of them, and dight them therein. And at that time there shall be no more Canaanites in the house of the LORD. The end of the prophet Zachary. The Prophet Malachy. What Malachy containeth. Chap. I The benefits of God, showed specially unto Israel before all other: Again, the punishment of the unthanfulnesse, unfaithfulness and covetousness of the priests and the people. Chap. II He threateneth punishment and confusion unto the priests, and commandeth men to love their wives. Chap. III Of Christ's coming, and of him that maketh ready his way before him. of the abrogation of the old▪ levitical prest-heade. Of the power of the judge for to come and of that fearful day. The first Chapter. The heavy burden which the LORD showeth against Israel by Malachy. I Have loved you, sayeth the LORD: and yet you say: wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau jacob's brother, sayeth the LORD? yet have I loved jacob, Gen. 25. c Ro 9 b josu. 24. a Gen. 36. a and hated Esau: Ye I have made his hills waist, and his heritage a wilderness for dragons. And though Edom said: well, we are destroyed, we will go build up again the places that be waisted: yet (sayeth the LORD of hosts) what they builded, that broke I down: so that it was called a cursed land, Abd. 1. a and a people, whom the LORD hath ever been angry withal. Your eyes have seen it, and you yourselves must confess, that the LORD hath brought the land of Israel to great honour. Should not a son honour his father, and a servant his master? If I be now a father, where is mine honour? Exo. 20. a Deu. 32. a if I be the LORD, where am I feared? sayeth the LORD of hosts. Now to you priests, that despise my name. And if you say: wherein have we despised thy name? In this, that you offer unclean bread upon mine altar. And if you will say: wherein have we offered any unclean thing unto thee? In this that you say: the altar of the LORD is not to be regarded. If you offer the blind, is not that evil? And if you offer the lame and sick, Leu. 22. ● Eze. 43. c is not that evil? Ye offer it unto thy prince, shall he be content with thee, or accept thy person, sayeth the LORD of hosts? And now make your prayer before God, that he may have mercy upon us: for such things have you done. Shall he regard your personnes (think you) sayeth the LORD of hosts? Ye what is he among you, that will do so much as to shut the doors, or to kindle the fire upon mine altar for nought? I have no pleasure in you, sayeth the LORD of hosts: and as for the meatofferinge, I will not accept it at your hand. 〈…〉 For from the rising up of the son unto the going down of the same, 〈…〉 my name is great among the Gentiles: Ye in every place shall there sacrifice be done, and a clean meatofferinge offered up unto my name: for my name is great among the Heithen, sayeth the LORD of hosts. But you have unhallowed it, in that you say, the altar of the LORD is not to be regarded, and the thing that is set thereupon, not worthy to be eaten. Now say you: It is but labour and travail, and thus have you thought scorn at it, (sayeth the LORD of hosts) offering robbery, ye the lame and the sick. You have brought me in a meat-offering, should I accept it of your hand, sayeth the LORD? Cursed be the dissembler, which hath in his flock one that is male, and when he maketh a vow, offereth a spotted one unto the LORD. For I am a great king (sayeth the LORD of hosts) and my name is fearful among the heathen. The II Chapter. ANd now (oh you priests) this commandment toucheth you: if you will not hear it, ner regard it, to give the glory unto my name (sayeth the LORD of hosts) I will send a curse upon you, 〈…〉 & will curse your blessings: ye curse them will I if you do not take heed. Behold, I shall corrupt your seed, and cast dung in your faces: even the dung of your solemn feasts and it shall cleave fast upon you. And you shall know, that I have sent this commandment unto you: that my covenant which I made with Levi, might stand, sayeth the LORD of hosts. I made a covenant of life and peace with him: this I gave him, that he might stand in awe of me: and so he did fear me, and had my name in reverence. The law of truth was in his mouth, and there was no wickedness found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and equity, 〈…〉 and did turn many one away from their sins. For the priests lips should be sure knowledge, that men may seek the law at his mouth, for he is a messenger of the LORD of hosts. But as for you, you are go clean out of the way, and have caused the multitude to be offended at the law: you have broken the covenant of Levi, 〈…〉 sayeth the LORD of hosts. Therefore will I also make you to be despised, and to be of no reputation among all the people: because you have not kept my ways, but been partial in the law. Have we not all one father? Hath not one God made us? 〈◊〉. 4. a 〈◊〉. 7. ᵇ ●. c why doth every one of us then despise his own brother, and so break the covenant of our fathers? Now hath juda offended: ye the abomination is done in Israel and in Jerusalem, 〈◊〉. 9 a 〈◊〉▪ ●1. c for juda hath defiled the Sanctuary of the LORD, which he loved, and hath kept the daughter of a strange God. But the LORD shall destroy the man that doth this (ye both the master & the scolar) out of the tabernacle of jacob, with him that offereth up meat-offering unto the LORD of hosts. Now have you brought it to this point again, that the altar of the LORD is covered with tears weeping and mourning: so that I will no more regard the meat-offering, neither will I receive or accept any thing at your hands. And yet you say: wherefore? Even because that where as the LORD made a covenant betwixt the and the wife of thy youth, thou hast despised her: Yet is she thine own companion and married wife. So did not 〈…〉 the one, & yet had he an excellent spirit. What did then the one? He sought the seed promised of God. Therefore look well to your spirit, & let no man despise the wife of his youth. If thou hatest her, put her away, sayeth the LORD God of Israel and give her a clothing for the scorn, sayeth the LORD of hosts. Look well then to your spirit, and despise her not. You grieve the LORD with your words, and yet you say: wherewithal have we grieved him? In this, that you say: All that do evil are good in the sight of God, and such please him. Or else where is the God that punysheth?. The III Chapter. Behold, I will send my messenger, which shall prepare the way before me: 〈…〉 and the LORD whom you would have, shall soon come to his temple, ye even the messenger of the covenant whom you long for. Behold, he cometh, sayeth the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? Who shallbe able to endure, when he appeareth? For he is like a goldsmiths fire, and like wasshers' soap. He shall sit him down to try and to cleanse the silver, he shall purge the children of Levi, and purify them like as gold and silver: that they may bring meatofferinges unto the LORD in righteousness. Then shall the offering of juda and jerusalem be acceptable unto the LORD, like as from the beginning & in the years afore tyme. I will come & punish you, & I myself will be a swift witness against the witches, against the adulterers, against false swearers: ye and against those, that wrongeously keep back the hyrelynges duty: which vex the widows & the fatherless, & oppress the stranger, and fear not me, sayeth the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD that change not, & you (oh children of jacob) will not leave of: you are go away fro mine ordinances, Deu. ●1. f 4. Re. 17. c & since the time of your forefathers have you not kept them. Turn you now unto me, and I will turn me unto you, sayeth the LORD of hosts. Zach. 1. a You say: Wherein shall we turn? Should a man use falsed and deceit with God, as you use falsed and deceit with me? Yet you say: wherein use we disceate with thee? In Tithes and heave offerings. Levi. 27. d Agg. 1. a b Therefore are you cursed with penury, because you dissemble with me, all the sort of you. Bring every Tithe in to my barn, that there may be meat in mine house: and prove me withal (sayeth the LORD of hosts) if I will not open the windows of heaven unto you, and pour you out a blessing with plenteousness. Ye I shall reprove the consumer for your sakes, so that he shall not eat up the fruit of your ground, neither shall the vineyard be barren in the field, sayeth the LORD of hosts: In so much that all people shall say, that you be blessed, for you shall be a pleasant land, sayeth the LORD of hosts. You speak hard words against me, sayeth the LORD. And yet you say: What have we spoken against thee? You have said: It is but lost labour, to serve God: What profit have we for keeping his commandments, job. 21. b Psal. 72. b and for walking humbly before the LORD of hosts? Therefore may we say, job. 21. a jere. 12. ● that the proud are happy, and that they which deal with ungodliness, are set up: for they tempt God, and yet escape. But they that fear God, say thus one to another: The LORD considreth and heareth it. Ye it is before him a memorial book written for such as fear the LORD, and remember his name. And in the day that I will make (saith the LORD of hosts) they shallbe my own possession: and I will favour them, like as a man favoureth his own son, that doth him service. Turn you therefore, and consider what difference is betwixt the righteous and ungodly: betwixt him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not. For mark, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven: Psal. 17. a and all the proud, ye and all such as do wickedness, shallbe straw: and the day that is for to come, shall burn them up (sayeth the LORD of hosts) so that it shall leave them neither rote ner branch. Butt unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of righteousness arise, & health shall be under his wings. You shall go forth, & multiply as the fat calves. You shall treaded 〈◊〉 the ungodly: for they shallbe like the 〈◊〉 under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall make, sayeth the LORD of hosts. Remember the law of Moses my servant, 〈…〉 which I committed unto him in ●reb for all Israel, 〈…〉 with the statutes and ordinances. Behold, I will send you 〈◊〉 the prophet: before the coming of the day of the great and fearful LORD. He shall 〈◊〉 the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, 〈…〉 that I come not, and smite the earth with cursing. The end of the prophet Malachy. apocrypha The books and treatises which among the fathers of old are not reckoned to be of like authority with the other books of the bible, neither are they found in the Canon of the Hebrew. The third book of Eszdras. The fourth book of Eszdras. The book of Tobias. The book of judith. Certain chapters of Hester. The book of wisdom. Ecclesiasticus. The Story of Susanna. The Story of Bell. The first book of the Maccabees. The second book of the Maccabees. Unto these also belongeth Baruc, whom we have set among the prophets next unto jeremy, because he was his scribe, and in his tyme. The transzlatoure unto the reader. THese books (good reader) which be called Apocrypha, are not judged among the doctors to be of like reputation with the other scripture, as thou mayest perceive by S. Jerome in epistola ad Paulinum. And the chief cause thereof is this: there be many places in them, that seem to be repugnant unto the open and manifest truth in the other books of the bible. Nevertheless I have not gathered them together to the intent that I would have them despised, or little set by, or that I should think them false, for I am not able to prove it: Ye I doubt not verily, if they were equally conferred with the other open scripture (time, place, and circumstance in all things considered) they should neither seem contrary, ner be untruly & perversely alleged. truth it is: A man's face can not be seen so well in a water, as in a fair glass: neither can it be showed so clearly in a water that is stirred or moved, as in a still water. These & many other dark places of scripture have been sore stirred and mixed with blind and cuvetous opinions of men, which have cast soch a mist afore the eyes of the simple, that as long as they be not conferred with the other places of scripture, they shall not seem other wise to be understand, then as cuvetousnes expoundeth them. But who so ever thou be that readest scripture, let the holy ghost be thy teacher, and let one text expound another unto thee: As for such dreams, visions and dark sentences as be hid from thy understanding, commit them unto God, and make no articles of them: But let the plain text be thy guide, and the spirit of God (which is the author thereof) shall lead the in all truth. As for the prayer of Solomon (which thou findest not herein) the prayer of Azarias, and the sweet song that he and his two fellows song in the fire: the first (namely the prayer of Solomon) readest thou in the eight chapter of the third book of the kings, so that it appeareth not to be Apocryphum: The other prayer and song (namely of the three children) have I not found among any of the interpreters, but only in the old latin text, which reporteth it to be of Theodotios' translation. Nevertheless, both because of those that be weak and scrupulous, and for their sakes also that love such sweet songs of thanksgiving: I have not left them out: to the intent that the one should have no cause to complain, and that the other also might have the more occasion to give thanks unto God in adversity, as the three children did in the fire. Grace be with the. Amen. The third book of Eszdras. What this book containeth. Chap. I The virtuous king Osias renueth the service of God, setteth the priests in their order, and holdeth the feast of Easter. Of his death. Of jechonias his son. Of king joachim and Sedechias. Chap. II God moveth king Cyrus to deliver the presoners, like as he promised by the prophet jeremy. Of king Artaxerses, by whose authority the jews are forbidden to build up jerusalem. Chap. III Of the feast that king Darius made, and of the three young men that written every one his sentence, to prove who might say the best. The first showeth his mind. Chap. four The second goeth about to prove his sentence the wisest, but Zorobabel getteth the victory, for the truth beareth ever the bell. Darius commandeth to build up jerusalem again. Chap. V What they be & how many, that come again to jerusalem out of the captivity of Babylon. The temple and the altar are builded again. The heathen withstand them. Chap. VI The officers in Syria labour unto king Darius, to forbid the building of the temple at jerusalem: but he commandeth to keep the ordinance that king Cyrus made before. Chap. VII. The adversaries minds are satisfied, the building is finished, and the Passeover held. Chap. VIII. How Eszdras and the other (being discharged by the letters and commandment of king Artaxerses) go up to jerusalem. The complaint concerning those, that were defiled and unclean. Chap. IX. Of the council that was taken, as touching the unclean marriage. The first Chapter. ANd josias held the feast of Easter in jerusalem unto the LORD, 〈◊〉. 23. a Re. 23. c and slew the Passeover the xiv. day of the first month. He set the priests also in order (according to their daily courses) being arrayed in long garments in the temple of the LORD. And he spoke unto the Levites the holy ministers of Israel, that they should hallow themselves unto the LORD, to set the holy ark of the LORD, in the house that king Solomon the son of David had builded and said: You shall no more bear the Ark upon your shoulders. Now serve yoor LORD, & take the charge of his people of Israel, after your vyllagies and your tribes: according as king David the king of Israel hath ordained, & according as Solomon his son hath honourably prepared: Ye look that you all do service in the temple, according to the ordringe and distribution of the principal men which are appointed out of the tribes, to do service for the children of Israel. 〈◊〉. 12· d Kill the Passeover, & prepare offerings for your brethren, and do according to the commandment of the LORD, which he gave unto Moses. And unto the people that was found, josias gave thirty. thousand of sheep, lambs, kyddes and goats, & three thousand oxen. These the king (of his kingly liberality) gave unto the people, according as he had promised: & to the priests (for the Passeover) he gave two thousand sheep & an hundredth oxen. moreover jechonias & Semeias and Nathanael brethren, & Hasabias', jehiel and josabad, gave them to the Passeover, five thousand sheep and five hundredth bullocks. And when these things were brought to pass, the priests and the Levites stood goodly in their order, and had the unleavened bread thorough out the tribes. And after the ordringe of the principal men in the tribes, they offered unto the LORD in the sight of the people, according as it is written in the book of Moses, Exo. 12. & so they roasted the Easter-lambe as according was. As for the thankofferinges & the other, they dight than in kettles & pots, & set them before the people with good will, and afterward before themselves and the priests. For the priests offered the fat, until the time was expired, but the Levites prepared for themselves & for their brethren the children of Aaron. The syngers also the children of Asaph. stood in their order, according as David had devised. So did Asaph, Zachary & jedithun, which were appointed by the king. moreover the porters & dorekepers stood by the doors & that diligently, so that none went out of his stondinge & service: for their brethren (the Levites) prepared for them. Thus were all things performed, that belonged to the offering of the LORD. In that day they held the Passeover, & offered thankofferinges beside the sacrifice of the LORRDE, according to the commandment of king josias. So the children of Israel which were then present held an honourable Passeover, & the feast of sweet bread seven: days long. Ye such a Passeover was not kept in Israel, from the time of the prophet Samuel. And all the kings of Israel held not such an Easter, as this which king josias held, & the priests, the levites, the Jews & all Israel, of all them that were at Jerusalem. In the xviij: year of the reign of josias was this Passeover kept. And with a perfect heart did king josias order all his works (before the LORD) & the things that were written of him in times past, concerning those that sinned & were ungodly against the LORD before all people, & that sought not the word of the LORD upon Israel. After all these acts of king josias, Pharaoh the king of Egipte went up, 4. Re. 2●●. Par. 25. & came toward Carcamis by Euphrates, & josias went to meet him. Then sent the king of Egipte unto josias, saying: what have I to do with thee, oh king of juda? I am not sent of the LORD to fight against thee, for my war is upon Euphrates, go thou the way home again in all the haist. And josias would not turn again upon his chariot, but undertook to fight against him, & herkened not unto the word of the prophet, which he told him out of the mouth of God, but pitched a battle against him in the field of Mageddo. And the princes preassed to king josias. Then said the king unto his servants: 〈◊〉. 2●. f Carry me away out of the battle, for I am sore wounded. Andrea immediately his servants took him away out of the front of the battle. Then sat he up upon the second charet, came to Jerusalem, died, & was buried in his father's sepulchre. And in all jewry they mourned for josias, ye the rulers also with their wives made lamentation for him unto this day: And this was done ever still in Israel. These things are written in the book of of the stories of the kings of juda: namely, all the acts & works of king josias, his kingly power & majesty, his understanding in the law of God, & what he did, ye things which are not written in the book of the kings of Israel & juda. And the people took jechonias the son of josias, 〈◊〉. 23. f 〈◊〉. 36. a & made him king in the stead of josias his father, when he was xxxiij. year old. And he reigned over Israel three months. And the king of Egipte put him down, that he should not reign in Jerusalem, & raised up a taxing of the people: namely, an C. talentes of silver & one talon of gold. The king of Egipte also made joachim his brother king of juda & Jerusalem. As for them of the kings council with the king himself and Zaraceles his brother, he took than, & carried them away presoners in to Egipte. five & twenty year old was joachim, when he was made king in the land of juda and jerusalem, and he did evil before the LORD. After this, Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came up, bound him with bands of iron, Reg. ●. c & carried him unto Babylon. Nabuchodonosor also took all the vessel that were hallowed in the temple of the LORD, & all the jewels, & carried them unto Babylon, & brought them in to his own temple at Babylon. Of his uncleanness & ungodliness, it is written in the book of the acts of the kings. And joachim his son reigned in his stead: He was made king being xviij. year old, & reigned but three months & x. days in Jerusalem, & did evil before the LORD. So after a year, Nabuchodonosor sent & caused him be brought unto Babylon with the holy vessels of the LORD, & made Sedechias his brother king of juda and Jerusalem, when he was xxj. year old: and he reigned xj. year. And he did evil also in the sight of the LORD, & cared not for the words that were spoken unto him by the prophet jeremy at the mouth of the LORD. jere. 〈…〉 And where as he had made on ●oth unto king Nabuchodonosor, he manswor● himself, & fallen from him having a stiff neck & heart, & transgressed all the statutes & ordinances of the LORD God of Israel. The rulers also & heads of the people of the LORD did much evil, & become ungodly, more than the heathen, being defiled in all manner of abominations: Ye & defiled the holy temple of the LORD at Jerusalem. And the God of their fathers sent his messaungers unto them, to turn them back & to call them again from their sins: for he would fain have spared them for his holy tabernacles sake. Nevertheless, they had his messaungers in derision: & look what God spoke unto them by his prophets, they made but a sport of it. This drawn on so long, till the LORD was wroth with his people for their ungodliness, & till he caused the kings of the Caldees to come up, which slay their young men with the sword, ye even in the compass of their holy temple, & spared no body, neither young ner old, neither maiden ner young man: but they were all delivered in to the power of the kings of the Caldees, & all the holy vessels of the LORD and the kings treasures took they, & carried them unto Babylon. As for the house of the LORD, 〈…〉 they brent it, & broke down the walls of Jerusalem, set fire upon her towers, destroyed all her noble buildings and brought them to nought, and the people that were not slain with the sword, they carried unto Babylon. Thus become they the presoners & bondemen of the king of Babylon, till they were delivered & reigned for themselves, when the words of the LORD were fulfilled, which he promised them by the mouth of the prophet jeremy, and till the land had her rest: namely, all the time that it lay weigh'st, 〈…〉 had it rest & quietness lxxvij. years. The II Chapter. NOw when king Cyrus reigned over the Persians, 〈…〉 & when the LORD would perform the word that he had promised by the mouth of the prophet jeremy: the LORD raised up the spirit of Cyrus, the king of the Persians', so that he caused this writing to be proclaimed thorough out his whole realm, saying: Thus sayeth the king of the Persians: The LORD of Israel that high LORD hath made me king of the land, and commanded me to build him an house at jerusalem in jewry. If there be any now of your people, the LORD be with him, and go up with him to jerusalem. And all they that devil round about that place, shall help them, whether it be with gold, with silver, with gifts, with horses and necessary cattles, and all other things that are brought with a free will to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem. Then the principal men out of the tribes and villages of juda and Ben jamin stood up: so did the priests also & the levites (whom the LORD had moved) to go up, and to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem. And they that were about them, helped them with all manner of gold, and silver, and cattles also and with many liberal gifts, and this did many one, whose mind was stirred up thereto. King Cyrus also brought forth the vessels and ornaments, that were hallowed unto the LORD (which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away from jerusalem, and consecrated them to his Idol and image) and delivered them to Mithridatus his treasurer, and by him they were delivered to Salmanasar the debit in jewry. And this was the number of them: Two thousand and iiij. C. silver bowls, thirty. silver basins, thirty. basins of gold, ij. M. and iiij. C. vessels of silver, and a thousand beside. All the vessels of gold and silver were u M.viij. C. and lx. These were numbered unto Salmanasar, and them that were come again with him to Jerusalem out of the captivity of Babylon. Now in the time of king Artaxerses the king of Persia, these men: Balemus and Mithridatus, Sabellius, Rathimus, Balthemus, Semelius the scribe, and other that dwelled in Samaria & in other places under the dominion thereof, Written a letter unto king Artaxerses, wherein they complained unto the king of them in jewry and jerusalem. The letter was made after this manner: Sir, thy servants Rathimus the story writer, Sabellius the Scribe, & other judges of thy court in Celosyria and Phenices. Be it known and manifest to our lord the kin that the jews which are come up from you unto us into the rebellious and wicked cite, begin to build it again, and the walls about it, and to set up the temple of the new. Now if this cite and the walls thereof be set up again, they shall not only refuse to give trybutes and taxings, but also rebel utterly against the king. And for so much as they take this in hand now about the temple, we thought it reason, to think no scorn of it, but to show it unto our lord the king, & to certify him thereof: to the intent that if it please the king, he may 'cause it be sought in the books of old: and thou shalt find such warning written, and shalt understand, that this cite hath allway been rebellious and disobedient, that it hath subdued kings and cities, and that the jews which devil therein, have ever been a rebellious, obstinate, unfaithful and fighting people, for the which cause this cite is waysted. Wherefore now we certify our lord the king, that if this cite be builded and occupied again, & the walls thereof set up a new, thou canst have no passage in to Celosyria and Phenices. Then written the king to Rathimus the story writer, to Balthemus, to Sabellius the scribe, and to the other officers and dwellers in Syria and Phenices, after this manner: I have read the epistle which thou sentest unto me, and have commanded to make diligent search, and have found, that the cite hath ever resisted kings, that the same people are dishobedient, and have caused much war, & that mighty kings have reigned in jerusalem, which also have raised up taxings of Syria and Phenices. Wherefore, I have commanded those people, that they shall not build the cite, that they make no more in it, and that they proceed no further with the building: for so much as it might be the cause of war, and displeasure unto kings. Now when Rathymus and Sabellius the scribe and the rulers in the land had read the writing of king Artaxerses, they got them together, and came in all the haist to jerusalem with an host of horsemen, and with much people of foot, and forbade them to build. And so they left of from building of the temple, unto the second year of king Darius. The III Chapter. King Darius made a great feast unto his servants, unto all his court, & to all the officers of Media and Persia, ye and to all the debytes & rulers that were under him, from India unto Ethiopia, an hundredth & xxvij, countries. So when they had eaten, and drunken being satisfied, and were go home again, Darius the king went in to his chambre, laid him down to sleep, and so awaked. Then the three young men, that kept the kings person, and watched his body, commoned among themselves, and spoke one to another: Let every one of us say some thing, and look whose sentence is wiser and more excellent than the other, unto him shall king Darius give great gifts, and cloth him with purple. He shall give him vessels of gold to drink in, clotheses of gold and coverings: he shall make him a costly charet & a bridle of gold, he shall give him a bonnet of white silk and a chain of gold about his neck: ye he shall be the second & principal next unto king Darius, & that because of his wisdom, and shallbe called the kings kinsman. So every one written his meaning, sealed it and laid it under the kings pillow, and said: when the king ariseth, we will give him our writings: and look whose word the king and his chief lords judge to be the most wisely spoken, the same shall have the victory. One written: wine is a strong thing. The second written: The king is stronger. The third written: women have yet more strength, but above all things the truth beareth away the victory. Now when the king was risen up, they took their writings and delivered them unto him, and so hered them. Then sent he forth to call all his chief lords, all the debytes & rulers of the countries of Media and Persia. And when they were set down in the council, the writings were read before them. And he commanded to call for the young men, that they might declare their meanings themselves by mouth. So when they were sent for, and came in, the king said unto them: show us and make us to understand, what the things are that you have written. Then began the first (which had spoken of the strength of wine) & said: O you men, wine is marvelous strong, ●ro. 20. a and overcometh them the drink it: it deceiveth the mind, & bringeth both the poor man & the king to dotage and vanity. Thus doth it also with the bondman and with the fire, with the poor & rich: it taketh away their understanding, and maketh them careless and merry, so that none of them remembreth any heaviness, dett or duty: It causeth a man to think also that the thing which he doth, is honest and good: and remembreth not that he is a king, nor that he is in authority, & that he aught not to do such things. moreover, when men are drynckinge, they forget all friendship, all brotherly faithfulness & love: but as soon as they are drunken, they draw out the sword & will fight: & when they are laid down from the wine, & so risen up again, they can not tell what they did. judge you now, Is not wine the strongest? For who would else take in hand, to do such things? And when he had spoken this, he held his tongue. The four Chapter. THen the second (which had said, that the king was stronger) began to speak, saying: O you men, are not they the strongest & most excellent, that conquer the land & the see, & all that is in the see & in the earth? Now is the king lord of all these things, & hath dominion of them all: & look what he commandeth, it is done. If he send his men forth a warfare, they go and break down hills, walls & towers. They are slain, & slay (oher men) themselves, & over pass not the kings word. If they get the victory, they bring the king all the spoil. Likewise, the other that meddle not with wars & fighting, but till the ground: when they reap, they bring tribute unto the king. And if the king alone do but command to kill, they kill: if he command to forgive, they forgive: if he command to smite, they smite: if he bid drive away, they drive away: if he command to build, they build: if he command to break down, they break down: if he command to plant, they plant. The common people & the rulers are obedient unto him. And the king in the mean season sitteth him down, eateth and drinketh, & taketh his rest: them keep they watch round about the king, & not one of them dare get him out of the way, to do his own business, but must be obedient unto the king at a word. judge you now oh you men, how should not he go far above, unto whom men are thus obedient? And when he had spoken this, he held his tongue. The third (whose name was Zorobabel, which had spoken of women & of the truth) began to say after this manner: O you men, it is not the great king, it is not the multitude of men, neither is it wine that excels: Who is it them, that hath the lordship over them? Have not women born the king, & all the people that rule these things? Have not women born them, & brought them up, that plant the wines, where out the wine cometh? They make garments for all men, they give honour unto all men, & with out women can not men live. If they gather gold & silver & all precious things, & see a fair & well favoured woman, they leave all together, and turn their eyes only unto the woman, & gape upon her, & have more desire unto her, then unto the silver & gold, or any manner of precious thing. 〈…〉 A man leaveth his father that brought him up, he leaveth his own natural country, and cleaveth unto the woman: ye he ioperdeth his life with the woman, and remembreth neither father, ner mother, ner country. By this than you must needs know, that women have the dominion over you. Doth it grieve you? A man taketh his sword & goeth his way to steal, to kill, to murder, to sail upon the see, & saith a lion, and goeth in the darkness: and when he hath stolen, deceived & rob, he bringeth it unto his love. Again, a man loveth his wife better than father and mother: ye many one there be, that run out of their wits & become bondmen for their wives sakes: many one also have perished, & have been slain, & have sinned because of women. And now believe me, I know a king which is great in his power, & all lands stand in awe of him, & no man dare say hand upon him: yet did I see, that Apame (the daughter of the great king Bartacus) the kings concubine, sat beside the king upon the right hand, and took of his crown from his head, and set it upon her own head, and smote the king with her left hand. moreover, the king looked upon her with open mouth: if she laughed upon him, he laughed also: but if she took any displeasure with him, the king was fain to flatter her, & to give her good words, till he had got her favour again. O you men, are not women then stronger? great is the earth, and high is the heaven that do these things. Then the king & the princes looked one upon another. So he began to speak of the truth: O you men, are not women stronger? great is the earth, high is the heaven, swift is the course of the Son, he compaseth the heaven round about, 〈◊〉. 1. a and fetcheth his course again to his own place in one day. Is he not excellent that doth this? ye great is the truth, and stronger than all things. All the earth calleth upon the truth, the heaven praiseth it, all works shake and tremble at it, and with it is no unrighteous thing. Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous: all the children of men are unrighteous, ye all their works are unrighteous, and there is no truth in them, in their unrighteousness also shall they be destroyed and perish. 〈◊〉. 40. a 〈◊〉 116. a As for the truth, it endureth, and is allway strong: it liveth, and conquereth for evermore world without end. The truth accepteth no personnes, it putteth no difference betwixt rich or poor, betwixt the mighty or simple, but doth right unto every man, whether they be evil or good, & all men are lovingly dealt withal in the works of it. In the judgement of it there is no unrighteous thing, but strength, kingdom & power and majesty for evermore. Blessed be the God of truth. And with that he held his tongue, and all the people cried & said: great is the truth, and above all. Then said the king unto him: Axe what thou will't, more than is appointed in the writing, and I shall give it thee, for thou art found wiser than thy companions: thou shalt sit nexteme, and be my kinsman. Then said he unto the king: Remember thy promise and vow, which thou hast vowed and promised (in the day when thou camest to the kingdom) to build up jerusalem, and to send again all the vessels and jewels, that were taken away out of jerusalem: which Cyrus separated, when he offered in Babylon, and would send them again. And thy mind was to build up the temple, which the Edomites brent, when jerusalem was destroyed by the Caldees. This only (O king) is the thing that I require, this is the majesty, which, I desire & axe of thee: that thou perform the vow, which thou with thy own mouth hast made unto the king of heaven. Then Darius the king stood up, and kissed him, 2. Esd. 2 ● 3. Esd. 6. ● and written a letter unto all the debytes and shreves, to all the lords and nobles, that they should convey him forth, & all them that would go up with him. He written a letter also unto all the shreves that were in Celosyria & Phenices, & unto Libanus, that they should harle cedar trees from Libanus unto jerusalem, to build the cite withal. moreover he written unto all the Jews that were go out of his realm in to jewry because of the freedom, that no officer, no ruler ner shreve should come to their doors: and that all their land▪ which they had conquered, should be free and not tributary: And that the Edomytes should give over the cities and vyllagies of the jews, which they had taken in: ye & that they should yearly give xx. talents to the building of the temple, until the time that it were finished: and to the daily hallowing of the brent offerings (as it is commanded) ten talentes yearly also: And that all they which come from Babylon to build the cite, should have free liberty, they & their children, and all the priests. He written the greatness also, & commanded that the holy garment should be given them, wherein they ministered: and written that commandments should be given to the Levites, until the day, that the house were finished and jerusalem builded up: and commanded that all they that watched the cite, should have their portions and wagies. He gave over also all the vessel that Cyrus had separated from Babylon: & all that Cyrus had given in commandment, the same charged he also, that it should be done, & sent unto jerusalem. Now when this young man was go forth, he turned his face toward Jerusalem, & praised the king of heaven, & said: Of the cometh victory, 〈◊〉. 1. a of the cometh wisdom & clearness, & I am thy servant. Blessed art thou, which hast given me wisdom: the will I praise, O LORD, thou God of our fathers. And so he took the letters, & went unto Babylon: And when he came there, he told this unto all his brethren that were at Babylon, & they praised the God of their fathers, that he had given them refreszshinge & liberty to go up, & to build Jerusalem & the temple (which is there called after the name of the LORD) and they rejoiced with instruments & gladness, seven days long. The V Chapter. AFter this, were the prynciall men of all the vyllagies choose in the tribes & kinreddes, that they should go up with their wives and children, with their servants and maidens, with all their cattles & substance. And Darius the king sent with them a thousand horsemen, to convey them safely unto jerusalem: and their brethren were glad, playing upon instruments, and synginge. And these are the names of the men, which went up out of the vyllagies according to the tribes. Of the priests, the son of Phineas, the son of Aaron: jesus the son of josedec, ●att. 1. b joachim the son of Zorobabel the son of Salathiel (of the kindred of David, out of the kindred of Phares, of the tribe of juda) which spoke wonderful things under Darius the king of Persia, Esd. 4. b in the second year of his reign in the first month of Nisan. These also are they of jewry, which came up and turned Again unto jerusalem, out of the captivity that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had brought unto Babylon. And every man sought his portion again in jewry, his cite, they that came with Zorobabel, and with jesus, Nehemias, Saraias, Raelaias', Elimeus, Emmanius, Mardocheus, Beelserus, Mechpsa, Rochor, Oliorus, Emonias, one of their princes. And the number of them, according to their kynreddes & rulers, was. The children of Phares, two thousand, an hundredth & lxxij. The children of Ares, iij. M. an HUNDRED and lvij. The children of Femo, an C. and xlij. In the sons of jesus and joabes, a M.iij. C. and two. The sons of Beniu, ij. M.iiij. C. and lxx. The sons of Choroba, ij. C. and u The sons of Banica, an C. and lxviij. The sons of Rebech, iiij. C. and three. The sons of Archad, iiij. C. and xxvij. The sons of Cham, xxxvij. The son of Zoroar, ij. M. and lxvij. The sons of Adinu, iiij. C. and lxj. The sons of Adarectis an C. and viij. The sons of Ciaso and Zelas, an C. and seven. The sons of Azorec, iiij. C. and xxxix. The sons of jedarbone, an C. and xxxij. The sons of Hananias, an C. and thirty. The sons of Asoni, xc. The sons of Marsar, iiij. C. and xxij. The sons of Zabarus, xcv. The sons of Sepholemon, an C. and twenty-three. The sons of Nepopas, lv. The sons of Hechanatus, an C. and lviij. The sons of Zebethanus, an C. and xxxij. The sons of Crearpatros, (which is called also Enohadies and Modias) iiij. C. and twenty-three. Of them of Gramos and Gabea, an C. and xxj. Of them of Besselon and C●agge, lxv. Of them of Bastharus, an C. and xxij. Of them of Bechenobes, lv. Of the sons of Liptis, there were an C. and lv. Of the sons of Labonnus, iij. C. and lvij. Of the sons of Sichem, iij. C. and lxx. Of the sons of Suadon and Elimon, iij. C. and lxxviij. Of the sons of Ericus, ij. M. an HUNDRED and xlv. The sons of Anaas, three hundredth and lxx. The priests: The sons of jeddus: The sons of Euther: The sons of El jasib, iij. C. and lxxij. The sons of Emerus, ij. C. and lij. The sons of Fasurius, iij. C. & lvij. The sons of Carea, ij. C. & xxvij. The Levites: The sons of jesus in Caduhel and Banus, and Serebias, and Edeas, seventy and four. The whole number of these from xij. years, was iij. M.iiij. C. and lxij▪ Of the sons, daughters and wives, the whole sum was iiij. M.ij C. and xlij. The sons of the priests that praised God in the temple: The sons of Asaph, of whom there were an C. and xxviij. But the door keepers were: The children of Esmenus: The children of Aser: The children of Amon: The children of Acuba, Topa: The children of Tobi: an HUNDRED and xxxix. in all. The priests that served in the temple: The sons of Sel, the sons of Gaspha, the sons of Tobloch, the sons of Caria, the sons of Sub, the sons of Heliu, the sons of Labana, the sons of Armacha, the sons of Acub, the sons of Vtha, the sons of Cetha, the sons of Aggab, the sons of Obey, the sons of Anani, the sons of Canna, the sons of Geddu, the sons of An, the sons of Radin, the sons of Desanon, the sons of Nechoba, the sons of Caseba, the sons of Goza, the sons of Ozul, the sons of Sinona, the sons of Atra, the sons of Hastem, the sons of Asiana, the sons of Manei, the sons of Nasisin, the sons of Accufa, the sons of Agista, the sons of Azui, the sons of Favon, the sons of Phasalon, the sons of Meeda, the sons of Susa, the sons of Cared, the sons of Barcus, the sons of Sarea, the sons of Coesi, the sons of Nasit, the sons of Agista, the sons of Pedon: Solomon his sons, the sons of Asophot, the sons of Phazida, the sons of Celi, the sons of Dedon, the sons of Gaddahel, the sons of Zapheus, the sons of Aggia, the sons of Sacharet, the sons of Sabathen, the sons of Saroneth, the snones of Malsit, the sons of Ania, the sons of Sasus, the sons of Addus, the sons of Suba, the sons of Eura, the sons of Rahotis, the sons of Phasphat, the sons of Malmon. All these ministered in the Sanctuary, & were servants of Solomon: even iiij. C. and lxxxij. These following are they, that went up from Chelmellat Thelarsa (whose princes were Carmelan & Careth) & might not show forth their cities & kynreddes, how they were of Israel: The sons of Dalarus, the sons of Tuben, the sons of Nechodaicus. Of the priests that executed the office of the priesthood, & were not found: The sons of Obia, the sons of Achisos, the sons of Addin, which married one of the daughters of Phargeleu, & were named, after him. The writing of the same kindred was sought in the register of their generation, but it was not found: & therefore were they forbidden to execute the office of the priesthood. Unto these said Nehemias and Astharas, that they should have no portion in the Sanctuary, till there rose up an high priest, that were well instruct in the plain clearness & truth. Of all Israel (beside servants & maidens) there were xlij. M.iij. C. & xl. Now were there of servants & maidens, seven. M.iij. C. & xxxuj. Of synginge men & synginge women there were ij. C. & lxv. Four hundredth & xxxv. Camels. Seven thousand & xxxuj. horses. Two hundredth thousand & xlv. Mooles. five thousand and xxxv. Asses. Their heads also and the rulers in the tribes, when they came to jerusalem, & would build & set up the temple of God again in his place, they gave (after their ability) unto the temple, to the treasure & to the service of the Sanctuary, xij. M. pounds of gold, u thousand of silver, & an hundredth priests garments. And so dwelled the priests & the Levites, & the people that went out to Jerusalem & in the country there about, the syngers also & the porters, every one of Israel in his own land. So when the seventh month came, and when the children of Israel were every man at his business, 1. Esd. ●. a they came all with one consent in to the court, which was before the east door. And there stood jesua the son of josedec and his brethren the priests, & Zorobabel the son of Salathiel and his brethren, setting up an altar, to offer brent sacrifices upon it, as it is written in the law of Moses. There came people also of other countries, and the heathen out of all lands set up the altar in his place, and offered sacrifices & brent offerings unto the LORD in the morning. And so they held the feast of tabernacles, as it is commanded in the law. Leu●. 23. f And daily offered they as according was, and made the sacrifices appointed, the offerings also of the Sabbathes and of the new Moons, and all holy feasts. 1. Esd. 3 b And all they that vowed offerings unto the LORD, began at the new Moon of the seventh month to offer unto God, for the temple of the LORD was not yet builded. Andrea they gave unto the Masons and Carpenters, money, meat & drink with cheerfulness. Unto them of Sydon also and tire they gave carts, that they should carry cedar trees from Libanus to be jests and beams, and that they should make ships in the haven of joppa, according as it was appointed and ordained, by Cyrus' king of the Persians. And in the second year they came in to the temple of God at jerusalem. In the second month began Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, Eccl●. 49. and c and jesua the son of josedec, and their brethren the priests and Levites, and all they that were come unto jerusalem out of the captivity of Babylon, & laid the foundation of the temple, in the new Moon of the second month in the second year that they were come in to jewry and jerusalem. Andrea they appointed the Levites (that were above xx. year old) unto the service of the LORD: so jesua and his sons and his brethren all the Levites stood together, and performed the law & ordinance in the house of the LORD. And the priests stood and had their garments & trumpets, & the Levites, the sons of Asaph had Cymbals, giving thanks, and praises unto the LORD, according as David the king of Israel had ordained. 1. Par. 17. b And the song that they did sing unto the LORD, was after this manner: O sing unto the LORD, Psal. 135. a for he is gracious, and his goodness upon Israel endureth for ever. And all the people blew out with trumpets, and sung with loud voice, praising the LORD together in the rearing up of the house of the LORD. There came also from among the priests and Levites the rulers and elders, according to the tribes and kindred's (such as had seen the house afore) to the building of this temple with great cry and great mourning, many also with trumpets and great joy: In so much, that the trumpets might not well be herd for the weeping and mourning. For the common people blew goodly upon the trumpets. Then came the enemies of the tribes of juda and Ben jamin, ●. Esd. 4. a to know what that trompetting and noise of shawms might be. And they perceived that it was they which were come again out of captivity, & would build the temple a new unto the LORD God of Israel. So they went to Zorobabel and jesua and to the rulers of the villages, & said unto them: Shall we build with you also? for we like wise have heard your LORD, & we walk after the same manner, from the days of Aszbazareth the king of Assiria, which brought us hither. Then Zorobabel and jesua and the rulers of the villages of Israel said unto them: It is not meet, that you should build the temple of our God with us: we ourselves alone will build unto the LORD, Esd. ●. a like as Cyrus the king of the Persians hath commanded us, But the heathen in the land laid themselves against those that were in jewry, held up the building from them, laid wait upon them privily, stopped such as brought any thing to them, forbade them to build, & hindered those that made them passage, that the building should not be finished: & this continued so long as king Cyrus lived: & so they put of the building for the space of two year, until the reign of king Darius. The VI Chapter. NOt with standing, in the second year of the reign of Darius, Es. 5. a Aggeus & Zachary the son of Addo prophesied upon them in jewry and jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel. Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel and jesua the son of josedec stood up, 〈…〉 and began to build the house of the LORD at jerusalem, when the prophets of the LORD helped them. At the same time came Sysennes the under shreve in Syria and Phenices, with the landlords and his companions, and said unto them: Who hath bidden & commanded you to build the house? to make the roof and all other things again? And who are the work men, that build them? Nevertheless the elders of the jews had such grace of the LORD, that they would not be let (though they were provoked thereto) but builded on still, until the time that king Darius were certified thereof, and an answer received from him. The letter that these men sent unto king Darius, was after this manner: Sysennes the under shreve in Syria and Phenices, and the landlords with their companions, which are head rulers in Syria and Phenices, send their salutation unto Darius the king. We certify our lord the king, that we came in to the land of jewry, & went to jerusalem: where we found them building the great house of God and the temple, with great costly frestone and with goodly timber for the walls: ye they make great haist with the work, & help one another, and it goeth forth prosperously in their hands, and with great diligence & worship is it made. Then axed we the elders, who had commanded them to make up the house and the building: and this we did, to the intent that we might certify the perfectly, and write unto thee, the names of those that were the rulers of the work. So they gave us this answer: we are the servants of the LORD, which made heaven and earth: & as for this house, 〈…〉 it hath been builded and set up afore time by the great and mighty king of Israel. But when our fathers provoked God unto wrath, & sinned against the God of Israel, 〈…〉 he gave them over in to the power of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon the king of the Caldees, which broke down the house and brent it, and carried away the people presoners unto Babylon. Nevertheless, in the first year that king Cyrus reigned at Babylon, 〈…〉 Cyrus the king written and commanded to build up this house again: and all the ornaments that Nabuchodonosor carried away from jerusalem unto Babylon, and appropriated unto his own temple: those brought Cyrus forth again, and delivered them to Zorobabel & to Salmanasar the undershreve, commanding them, that they should bring those same ornaments again to Jerusalem in to the temple, & to begin from that time forth, to build the temple again in his own place. Then Salmanasar laid the foundation of the LORDS house at jerusalem, and ever sense have they builded, & yet is it not ended. And therefore (O king) if thou thinkest it good, let it be sought in the Lybraries & rolls of king Cyrus: if it be found them, that it is done with the council and consent of king Cyrus, and if our lord the king be so minded, let him write unto us thereof. Then commanded king Darius, to seek in the Lybraries: 〈…〉 and so at Egbathanis in a little cite in Media there was found soch a writing: In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, the same king Cyrus commanded, that the house of the LORD at jerusalem should be builded again (& odours to be made there continually unto the LORD) whose height shallbe ten cubits, the breadth lx. cubits & iiij. square with three hewn stones, with a loft of timber of the same country, ye with a new fit, & the expenses thereof to be given of the house of king Cyrus. And the ornaments of gold & silver, that Nabuchodonosor took out of the house of the LORD at jerusalem, shallbe set again in the temple at Jerusalem, where they were afore. Sysennes also the undershreve in Syria and Phenices, the princes and their companions, and the other that be head rulers in Syria and Phenices, shall not meddle ner have any thing to do with that place. I Cyrus have commanded also, that they shall build the house of the LORD whole up: & have ordained them, to help those that be come out of captivity, till the house of the LORD be finished: & out of the tribute and taxing that is yearly raised up in Syria and Phenices, diligently to give them a certain sum, to the offering of the LORD: and the same to be delivered unto Zorobabel the officer: that he therewithal may ordain oxen, rams, lambs, & corn, salt, wine and oil, and that continually every year: after the expenses which the priests that be at jerusalem, show to be made daily: 〈…〉 this shallbe given unto them without delay, that they may offer sacrifices daily to the highest God, for the king and for his servants, and to pray for their lives. Let it be proclaimed also on every side, that who oh ever breaketh or despiseth this commandment of the king, shallbe hanged upon a galow (made of his own good) & all his goods shallbe seasoned unto the king. The LORD therefore (whose name is there called upon) rote out and destroy all the kings and people, that undertake by violence to hinder the same, or to deal uncourteously with the house of the LORD at jerusalem. I Darius the king have ordained, that these things shallbe done with all diligence. The VII. Chapter. THen Sysennes the undershreve in Celosyria and Phenices, and the other landlords with their companions, obeyed the things that king Darius had ordained, were diligent in the holy works, & were fellow helpers with the old rulers of the jews. And so the work of the Sanctuary went forth and prospered, when Aggeus and Zachary prophesied. And they performed all things thorough the commandment of the LORD God of Israel, and after the device of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerses kings of Persia. And thus was our house finished, unto the twenty-three. day of the month Addar in the uj. year of king Darius. And the children of Israel the priests & the Levites, & the other that were come out of captivity, & such as were joined unto them, did according as it is written in the book of Moses. And in the dedication of the temple they offered an hundredth oxen, an HUNDRED rams, iiij. C. lambs, & xij. goats for the sins of all the people of Israel, after the number of the tribes of Israel. The priests also & the Levites stood arrayed in the priestly garments, after the tribes, over all the works of the LORD God of Israel, according to the book of Moses, and the porters by all the doors. And the children of Israel (with those that were come out of captivity) held the Passeover the xiv. day of the first month, when the priests and the Levites were sanctified. They that came out of captivity, were not all sanctified together: but the Levites were all sanctified together. And so all they that came out of captivity, killed the easter lamb, for their brethren, for the priests & for themselves. And the children of Israel that came out of captivity, & escaped from all the abominations of the Heithen, sought the LORD, and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven. days long, eating & drinking & were merry before the LORD: that the LORD had turned the device of the king of Assiria, & comforted their hands to the works of the LORD God of Israel. The VIII. Chapter. ANd after him, when Artaxerses the king of the Persians reigned, 1. Esd. 7. a there went unto him Eszdras the son of Saraias, the son of Azarias, the son of Helchia, the son of Sallun, 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 Eszdras 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 & done in deed.) And the king favoured him, & did him great worship and honour, after all his desires. There went up with him also certain of the children of Israel, of the priests, of the Levites, of the syngers, porters, and ministers of the temple at jerusalem. In the seven. year of the reign of king Artaxerses, in the u month, that is in the seven. year of the reign, they went from Babylon in the newmoone of the u month, & came the high way to Jerusalem after his commandment, like as the LORD had prospered their journey. For in these Eszdras got great instruction, that he should leave none of the things behind, which were in the law & commandments of God. And he taught whole Israel all righteousness & judgement. Then came the Secretaries of king Artaxerses, & delivered the writings (that were come from Artaxerses the king) to Eszdras' the priest & reder of the law of the LORD: And this is the copy of the letter: King Artaxerses sendeth his greeting unto Eszdras the priest & reder of the law of the LORD: Of friendship & good will I have ordained and charged, if there be any of the jews, of the priests & Levites in my realm, which desireth & is content to go with the unto Jerusalem, that he may do it. Therefore if any be minded to bear the company, let them come together, & go with thee (like as I am content & my seven. friends my councelers:) to see what they do at Jerusalem & in jewry, & keep the things according as thou hast in the law of the LORD: & to bring the gifts unto God the LORD of Israel, that I & my friends have promised to Jerusalem, & all the silver & gold 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: Ye that the same silver & gold may be gathered, and oxen, rams, sheep & 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 what so ever thou & thy brethren will do with the silver & gold, that do after the mind, & after the commandment of the LORD thy God: & like wise with all the holy vessels, that are given the for the service of the house of the LORD thy God: & other things what soever is necessary for the to the work of the temple, that shallbe given the of the kings treasure: & look what thou with thy brethren will't 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 what soever Eszdras the priest and reder of the law of the LORD doth write, it shallbe given him: till an C. talentes of silver, and of gold in like manner: Of corn also an HUNDRED measures, and till an hundredth 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 you requyne no taxing ner tribute of the priests, Levites, syngers, and ministers of the temple, ner of the writers: and that no man have authority to meddle any thing against them. As for thee (O Eszdras) set thou judges and arbitrers 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 Eszdras' 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 council, 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 chose out men of Israel, to go up with me. And these are the heads (after their kindred's & houses of their fathers) that went up with me from Babylon, Esd. ●. a 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 hundredth and fifty men. Of the sons of the captain of Moabilon, Zaraei, and with him ij. C. and l. men. Of the sons of Zachnes', jechonias Zecholi, and with him ij. C. and l. men. Of the sons of Salamaasias, Gotholie, and lxx. with him. Of the sons of Zaphacia, Zarias Miheli, and with him lxxx. Of the sons of job, Abdias jeheli, and with him ij. C. and xij. men. Of the sons of Bania, Salimoth the son of josaphia, and with him an C. and lx. men. Of the sons of Beer, Zachary Bebei, and with him ij. C. and viij. men. Of the sons of Esead, johannes Ezechan, and with him Cx. men. Of the sons of Adonican those that were the last, and these are their names: Eliphalam the son of Gebel and Semeias, & with him lxx. men. All these called I together by the water 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, & Eccelom, and Masman, & Malobam, and Enaathan, and Samea, and joribimathan, Eunagan, Zachary, Mosollamun (these were the leders and men of experience) & I sent them word, that they should come unto Loddeus, which was by the place of the treasury, & commanded them that they should speak unto Loddeus and to his brethren & 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 Moolius, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, Sebebeiam & the sons & his brethren Aszbin & Anim, of whom there were xviij. From among the children of the sons of Cananeus, & their sons were xx. 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, ij. C. and xx. men: whose names are all tokened up in writing. Then commanded I a fasting unto the young men before the LORD, 1. Esd. 8. ● that I might desire of him a prosperous journey & a good way for us, ye for us, for our children and for the cattles, because of the layenges await: & I dared not require of the king men of horse & of 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, & from the priests of the temple xij. men, & Sebeia & Asania, & ten men of their brethren with them. And I weighed them the gold & the silver & all the prestly ornaments of the house of our God, which the king & his council, & his princes & whole Israel had given. And when I had weighed it, I gave them an Cl. talents in silver, an C. talentes of silver vessel, an C. talentes of gold, & of golden vessel seven times twenty, and vessels of other metal (ye of good metal) xij. glistering as the gold, & said unto them: you also are holy unto the LORD, & the vessels are holy, & the gold & the silver is promised unto the LORD the God of our fathers. Be diligent now & keep it, until the time that you deliver it to the rulers of the people, to that priests, to the Levites & to the principal men of the cities of Israel in jerusalem, & in the chambre of the house of our God. So the priests & the Levites which received of me the gold, the silver & the vessel, 1. Esd. 8. d brought it to Jerusalem in to the temple of the LORD. And from Thia we broke up the xij. day of the first month, till we came to Jerusalem. And when the third day was past, the weighed gold & silver was delivered in the house of the LORD the fourth day, unto Marimoth the son of jor the priest, & with him was Eleazar the son of Phineas, and with them were Iosabdus the son of jesnet, Medea's & the son of Banus, & certain of the Levites to the number & to the weight: & the weight of them was written up the same tyme. As for those that were come out of captivity, they offered sacrifice unto the LORD the God of Israel: even xij. oxen for all Israel, lxxxuj. rams, lxxij. sheep, xij. goats for sin, xij. kine for a thankofferinge, all to the sacrifice of the LORD. And the kings commission delivered they unto the stewards and debytes of the king, and to the undershreves in Celosyria and Phenices. 1. Esd. 9 a 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, hittites, Pheresites, from the Moabites, Egipcians & Edomites. For both they and their sons have mingled themselves with the daughters of them, & the holy seed is mixed with the outlandish heathen, & since the beginning of their reign have the rulers and heads been partakers of their wickedness. As soon as I had heard these things, immediately I rend my holy garments, and pulled out the hair of my head & my beerd, & sat me down sorrowful & heavy. So all they that were moved thorough 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 clotheses & the holy garment, kneeled down upon my knees, held out my hands unto the LORD, & said: O LORD, I am confounded & ashamed before thy face, for our sins are become many upon our heads, & our wickednesses are exalted unto the heaven: for since the time of our fathers we are in great sin unto this day. And for the sins of us & our fathers, we with our brethren & with our priests have been delivered unto the kings of the earth, in to the sword, & in to captivity, & become a spoil with confusion & 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 rote & a name in the place of thy Sanctuary, to discover our light in the house of the LORD our God, & 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 & favourable unto us, so that they gave us vytayles & meat, ye & leave to build up the temple of our LORD God again, to repair the waisted places of Zion, and to devil in jewry & 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 you go unto, & that is given you for an heritage to have in possession, is defiled with the uncleanness & filthiness of the heathen, & with their abomination have they polluted it altogether. Therefore shall you not join your daughters unto their sons, 〈…〉 ner marry your sons unto their daughters: moreover, you shall never seek to make peace with them, that you may increase & eat the best in the land, & that you may denied 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 & great sins. yet hast thou given us such a rote, that we are come again in to our own land: and we are so wicked, that we have broken thy statutes & commandments again, & mingled our selves with the uncleanness of the outlandish heathen. O LORD, art thou angry with us? will't thou rote us clean out? that our rote & name remain no more? O LORD God of Israel, thou art true, for our rote endureth yet unto this present day. And behold, now are we before the in our sins, now can we not stand before the in them. And when Eszdras with this prayer had knowledged the sin, weeping, 〈…〉 & dying flat upon the ground before the temple, there gathered unto him from jerusalem a great multitude of men & women, of young men & maidens, for there was a very great weeping and mourning in the congregation. So when jechonias the son jeheli one of the children of Israel cried, he said unto Eszdras: we have sinned against the LORD, because we have married outlandish women of the Heithen. 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 Heithen, with their children: like as it is appointed the 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, & we will help thee, quite thyself manly. So Eszdras arose, and took an oath of the rulers of the priests & of the Levites & of all Israel, to do after these things, and they swore. The IX. Chapter. THen Eszdras stood up from the court of the temple without, 〈…〉 & went in to the chamber of jonathas the son of Nasabus, & remained there, & ate no meat ner drunk drink, for the multitude of the wickedness of the people. And there was made a proclamation in all jewry & at jerusalem, for all such as were gathered at Jerusalem out of captivity, that who so over came not to Jerusalem within two or three days (according to the judgement of the old lords of council) his goods should be taken from him, & he excluded from the congregation of the captivity. And in three days were all they of the tribe of juda & Ben jamin gathered together at jerusalem, the xx. day of the ix. month. And the whole multitude sat trembling in the court of the temple, for it was winter. So Eszdras arose up, & said unto them: you have done unrighteously, in that you have taken outlandish wives to marriage, & so to increase the sins of Israel. And now knowledge the same, & give praise unto the LORD God of our fathers, & perform his will, departing from the heathen of the land, & from the outlandish wives. Then cried the whole multitude with loud voice, & said: like as thou hast spoken, so will we do: But for so much as the people are many, & the winter here, we may not stand without the house: again, this work is not a thing, that can be finished in a day or two, for we be many that have sinned in these things: Ordene therefore, that the rulers of the multitude and all they that devil with us, and as many as have outlandish wives, the priests also and judges of every place, may stand in the time appointed, till they louse up the wrath of the LORD in this business. Then jonathas the son of Ezeli, & Ozias and Thecam received the charge of this matter, & Bozoramus, & Leius and Sabatheus helped them thereto. After this, all they stood up that were come out of captivity. And Eszdras the priest choose unto him the principal men from among the father's according to their names, & in the new moon of the tenth month they sat together, to examen this matter. And so the matter was a determing (concerning the men that had outlandish wives) until the new moon of the first month. And of the priests that had mixed themselves with outlandish wives, there were found: 〈◊〉. 10. d Of the sons of jesus the son of josedec & his brethren, Mazeas, Eleazar, joribus & joadeus, which offered themselves to put away their wives, & to offer a ram for their ignorance. And of the sons of Semmeri, Masseas, & Esses & jeelech Azarias. Of the sons of Fosera, Limosias, Hismaen, Nathanea, jussio, jeddus, & Talsas. And of the Levites, josabdus, Semeis and Colnis, Caletas, Facteas, Colnas and Elionas. Of the syngers of the Sanctuary, Eliarib, Zackarus. Of the porters, Sallumus & Tolbanes. And of Israel, of the children of Forobosco, Osi & Remias, & Geddias, & Melchias, Michelus, Eleazarus, jemmebias & Bannas. And of the children of jolaman, Chanias, Zachary, jetzrelus, joddius, Erimoth & Elias. And of the sons of jathoim. Eliadas, Liasamus, & Zochias, Larimoth, Sabdis & Tebedias. And of the sons of Zebes, johannes Amanias', Zabdias, & Emeus. And of the sons of Bannus, Olammus, Maluchus, jeddus, jasub, Asabus & jerimoth. And of the sons of Addin, Naatus & Moosias & Caleus & Raanas Maasuas, Mathathias, Besel, Bannus, and Manasses. And of the sons of Nave, Nones, Afeas, Melchias, Sameas, Simon, Ben jamin, Malchus & Marras. And of the sons of Asom, Carianeus, Mathathias, Bannus, Eliphalach, Manasses, Semei. Of the sons of Bannus, jeremy, Moodias, Abramas, johel, Baneas, Peliaas, jona, Marimoth, Eliasib, Mathaneus, Eliasis, Orizas', Dielus, Semedius. Zambris & joseph. Of the sons of Nobeus, Idelus, Mathathias, Sabadus, Zecheda, Sedmi, jesseus, & Baneas. All these had taken outlandish women to marriage, & they put them away with their children. The priests & Levites, & all they that were of Israel, dwelled at jerusalem & thorough out all the land, in the new moon of the seventh month, & the children of Israel were in their dwellynges. And the whole multitude came together upon the floor at the east side of the holy port of the temple. 2. Esd. 8. a And they spoke unto Eszdras' the hie priest & reder, that he would bring the law of Moses, which was given of the LORD God of Israel. So Eszdras the high priest brought the law unto the whole multitude, to man and woman, & to all priests, that they might hear the law, in the new moon of the seventh month. And he read in the floor that is before the holy port of the temple, from the morning early until the evening, before men & women. And they applied their mind all unto the law. And Eszdras the priest & reder of the law stood up upon a scaffold of wood, which was made therefore: & upon his right hand there stood by him Mathathias, Samus, Ananias, Azarias, Urias, Ozechias, & Balsamus: Upon his left hand stood Faldeus, Misael, Malachias, Abuschas, Sabus, Nabadias', & Zachary. Then took Eszdras' the book before the whole multitude, for he was the principal and had in most honor of them all. And when he had read out the law, they stood all strait up upon their feet. So Eszdras praised the LORD the most high God, the almighty God of hosts. And all the people answered, Amen: & held up their hands, fallen down flat upon the earth, & praised the LORD: jesus, Beneas, Sarebias, jaddimus, Accubus, Sabbatheus, Calithes', Azarias, joradus, Ananias, & Philias the Levites which taught the law of the LORD, & read the law of the LORD in the congregation, & every man set those before that understood the law. Then spoke Atharathes unto Eszdras the high priest & reder, & to the Levites that taught the multitude, saying: This day is holy unto the LORD: & all they that had heard the law, wept▪ So Eszdras said: ●. Esd. 8. c Depart your way then, & eat the best, & drink the sweetest, & send gifts unto them that have nothing: for this day is holy unto the LORD, and be not you sorry. Then went they their way everichone, ate and drunk and were merry, & sent rewards unto them that had nothing, that they also might eat with gladness: for they were exceadingly rejoiced, thorough the words that were read unto them in the law: And so they were all gathered together at jerusalem to hold the feast, according to the covenant of the LORD God of Israel. The end of the third book of Eszdras. The FOUR book of Eszdras. What this book containeth. Chap. I God reproveth the people for their unthankfulness, and rehearseth unto them his own loving mercy, that he may bring them again: if they will not amend, he will choose another people. Chap. II The synagogue complaineth upon her children▪ The calling of the heathen. Chap. III Eszdras showeth of the excellent works of God, done unto the people, and hath a friendly contention with God: because he suffereth the babylonians to have the dominion over them, where as they yet are sinners also. Chap. four The angel rebuketh Eszdras, for taking in hand to seek out the ground of God's judgement, and instructeth him with fair symilitudes. Chap. V A communication of Eszdras and the angel together. Chap. VI The angel enfourmeth Eszdras, and answereth him to his questions. Chap. VII. The angel showeth Eszdras many secret matters, and things for to come. Chap. VIII. Eszdras prayeth for the people, that God will rather look upon his own loving mercy and the godliness of few, them upon the wicked sins of many. Chap. IX. Tokens of the time and punishment for to come. Visions are showed unto Eszdras. Chap. X. A communication betwixt Eszdras, and the woman that appeared unto him. Chap. XI. XII.XIII. Of certain visions and the interpretations thereof. Chap. XIIII. God appeareth unto Eszdras in the bush, talketh with him, and commandeth him what he shall do. Chap. XU. God showeth Eszdras the punishment that he will send upon the sinful people, and commandeth him to tell them the same. Chap. XVI. punishment upon the heathen, and how the people of God shall behave themselves therein. The first Chapter. THe second book of the prophet Eszdras: (the son of Saraias, 〈…〉 the son of Azarias, the son of Helchia, the son of Sallun, the son of Sadoc, the son of Achitob, the son of Amerias, the son of Azarias, the son of Maraioth, the son of Sarahias, the son of Vzi, the son of Boccus, the son of Abisu, the son of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi) which was prisoner in the land of the Medes, in the reign of Artaxerses king of Persia. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: 〈…〉 Go thy way & show my people their sinful deeds, & their children their wickednesses, which they have done against me, that they may tell their childers children the same: for the sins of their fathers are increased in them. And why? they have forgotten me, & have offered unto strange gods. Am not I even he, that brought them out of the land of Egipte, from the house of bondage? But they have provoked me unto wrath, & despised my counsels. Pull thou out then the hair of thy head, and cast all evil over them, for they have not been obedient unto my law. It is a people without learning & nurture. How long shall I forbear them, unto whom I have done so much good? Many kings have I destroyed for their sakes: 〈…〉 Pharaoh with his servants and all his power have I smitten down and slain: 〈…〉 All the nations have I destroyed and rooted out before them, and in the east have I brought two lands and people to nought, even tire & Sydon, and have slain all their enemies. Speak thou therefore unto them, saying: Thus sayeth the LORD: 〈…〉 I led you thorough the see, and have given you sure streets sense the beginning. I gave you Moses to be your captain, and Aaron to be the priest: 〈…〉 I gave you light in a piler of fire, & great wonders have I done among you: yet have you forgotten me, sayeth the LORD. Thus sayeth the almighty LORD: I gave you quails to eat, Exo. 16. c and tents for your succour: Nevertheless you murmured, and ascribed not the victory of your enemies unto my name: ye this same day do you yet murmur. Where are the benefits, that I have done for you? When you were hungry in the wilderness, 〈◊〉. 14. a did you not cry unto me: Why hast thou brought us in to this wilderness, to kill us? It had been better for us, to have served the Egipcians, then to die in this wilderness. Then had I pity upon your mournings, and gave you Manna to eat. You ate angels food. When you were thirty, did not I hue the hardstone, 〈◊〉. ●0. b & caused water enough to flow thereout? For the heat, I covered you with the leaves of the trees. A good pleasant fat land gave I you: I cast out the Canaanites, the Pheresites and Philistynes before you. What shall I do more for you, saith the LORD? Thus sayeth the almighty LORD: When you were in the wilderness, Exo. 15. d in the water of the Amorites, being a thirst & blaspheming my name, I gave you not fire for your blasphemies, but cast a tree in to the water, and made the river sweet. What shall I do unto thee, O jacob? Thou juda wouldest not obey me. 〈◊〉. 32. b I will turn me to another people, & unto those will I give my name, that they may keep my statutes. seeing you have forsaken me, I will forsake you also. When you desire me to be gracious unto you, I shall have no mercy upon you. 〈…〉 When you call upon me, I will not hear you. For you have defiled your hands with blood, and your feet are swift to commit manslaughter. You have not forsaken me (in a manner) but your own selves, sayeth the LORD. Thus sayeth the almighty LORD: have I not prayed you, as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and as a nurse her young babes, that you would be my people, and I should be your God: that you would be my children, and I should be your own father? 〈◊〉. ●3. d I gathered you together, as an hen gathereth her chekens under her wings. But now what shall I do unto you? I shall cast you out fro my face. 〈…〉 When you offer unto me, I shall turn my face from you: for your solemn feast days, your new moons and your circumcisions have I forsaken. I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom you have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, sayeth the LORD. Thus sayeth the almighty LORD: your house must be desolate. I will cast you out as the wind doth the straw: your children shall not be fruitful, for they have despised my commandment, and done the thing that is evil before me. your houses will I give unto a people that shall come, Esa. 65. a Rom. 10 and they that never heard me, shall believe in me: & they unto whom I never showed token, shall do the thing that I command them. They have seen no prophets, yet shall they call their sins to remembrance, and knowledge them. I report me unto the grace, that I will do for the people which is to come, whose children rejoice in gladness: & though they have not seen me with bodily eyes, yet in spirit they believe the thing that I say. And now brother, behold what great worship, Esa. 41. c Luc. 13. ● Matt. ●. and see the people that cometh from the east, unto whom I will give the dukedom of Abraham, Isaac and jacob, of Oseas, Amos, and Micheas, of joel, Abdy, jonas, Naum and Abacuc, of Sophony, Aggeus, Zachary and Malachy, which is called also an angel (or messenger) of the LORD. The II Chapter. THus sayeth the LORD: I brought this people out of bondage, I gave them my commandments by my servants the prophets, whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels. The mother that bore them, sayeth unto them: Go your way you children, for I am a widow & forsaken: I brought you up with gladness, but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for you have sinned before the LORD your God, and done the thing that is evil before him. But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way (oh my children) and axe mercy of the LORD. As for me O father, I call upon the for a witness over the mother of these children, which would not keep my covenant: that thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that she bear no more. Let their names be scattered abroad among the heathen, let them be put out of the earth, for they have thought scorn of my covenant. Woe be unto the Assur, thou that hydest the unrighteous by the. Thou wicked people, Gen. 19 c remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorre, whose land is turned to pitch and aszshes. Even so also will I do unto all them, that hear me not, sayeth the almighty LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD unto Eszdras: Tell my people, that I will give them the kingdom of jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel. Their glory also will I take unto me, and give them the ever lasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for those. The tree of life shallbe unto them a sweet smelling ointment: they shall neither labour ner be weighed. Go you your way, & you shall receive it. Pray for your selves a few days, that they may devil therein. Now is the kingdom prepared for you, therefore watch. Take heaven and earth to witness, for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good, for I live sayeth the LORD. Mother embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness: make their feet as fast as a piler, for I have choose thee, sayeth the LORD. And those that be deed will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of the graves, for I have known my name in Israel. Fear not thou mother of the children, for I have choose thee, sayeth the LORD. And for thy help I shall send the my servants Esay and jeremy, after whose council I have sanctified & prepared for the, xij. trees with diverse fruits, and as many wells flowing with milk and honey, & seven mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, wherein I will fill my children with joy. Execute justice for the widow, be judge for the fatherless: give to the poor: defend the comfortless: cloth the naked: heal the wounded and sick: laugh not a lame man to scorn: defend the crepell, and let the blind come in to the sight of my clearness. Keep the old & young within thy walls: ●obi. 1. d where so ever thou findest the deed, token them, and bury them, and I shall give the the first place in my resurrection. Hold still (O my people) and take the rest, for thy quietness is come. Feed thy children O thou good nurse, establish their feet: As for the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not one of them perish, for I will seek them from thy number, vex not thyself. For when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, other shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shalt be merry and plenteous. The heathen shallbe jealous, but they shallbe able to do nothing against thee, sayeth the LORD. My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see the fire everlasting. Be joyful O thou mother with thy children, for I will deliver thee, sayeth the LORD. Remember thy deed children, for I shall bring them out of the earth, and show mercy unto them, for I am merciful, sayeth the LORD almighty. embrace thy children, until I come and show mercy unto them, for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail. I Eszdras received a charge of the LORD upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel. But when I came unto them, they set me at nought, and despised the commandment of the LORD. And therefore I say unto you O you heathen, that hear and understand: Look for your shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest: for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world. Be ready to the reward of the kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore. flee the shadow of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory. I testify my saviour openly: O receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him, that hath called you to the heavenly kingdom. Arise up, and stand fast: behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the LORD, which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the LORD. Take thy number O Zion, and shut up thy purified, which have fulfilled the law of the LORD. The number of thy children whom thou longedest for, is fulfilled: beseek the power of the LORD, that thy people which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed. I Eszdras saw upon the mount Zion a great people, whom I could not number, 〈…〉 & they all praised the LORD with songs of thanksgiving. And in the midst of them there was a young man of an high stature, more excellent than all they, and upon every one of their heads he set a crown, and was ever higher and higher, which I marveled at greatly. So I axed the angel, & said: Sir, what are these? He answered and said unto me: These be they, that have put of the mortal clothing and put on the immortal, and have testified & knowledged the name of God. Now are they crowned, and receive the reward. Then said I unto the angel: what young person is it, that crowneth them, & giveth them the palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me: It is the son of God, whom they have knowledged in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them, that stood so stiffly for the name of the LORD. And so the angel said unto me: Go thy way, and tell my people, what manner of things and how great wonders of the LORD thy God, thou hast sen●. The III Chapter. IN the thirty year of the fall of the cite, I was at Babylon & lay troubled upon my bed, & my thoughts came up over my heart: for I saw the desolation of Zion, & the plenteous wealth of them that dwelled at Babylon: & my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak fearful words to the most highest, and said: O LORD LORD, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou plantedst the earth (and that thyself alone) and gavest commandment unto the people, and a body unto Adam, which was a creature of thy hands, 〈◊〉. 2. b and hast breathed in him the breath of life: and so he lived before thee, and thou leddest him in to paradise, which garden of pleasure thy right hand had planted, or ever the earth was made. And unto him thou gavest commandment to love the way, which he transgressed, & immediately thou appoyntedest death in him, and in his generations. Of him came nations, tribes, people & kynreddes out of number. 〈◊〉 6. b And every people walked after their own will, and did nice things before thee: and as for thy commandments, they despised them. But in process of time thou broughtest the water flood, 〈◊〉. 7. b upon those that dwelled in the world, and destroydest them. And like as the death was in Adam, so was the water flood also in these. Nevertheless one of them thou leftest: namely, No with his household, of whom come all righteous men. And it happened that, when they that dwelled upon the earth, began to multiply, and had got many children, and were a great people, they began to be more ungodly than the first. Now when they all lived so wickedly before thee, 〈◊〉. 12.15 thou diddest choose the a man from among them, whose name was Abram. Him thou lovedest, and unto him only thou shewdest thy will, and maydest an everlasting covenant with him, promising him, that thou wouldest never forsake his seed. And unto him thou gavest Isaac, 〈◊〉. 21. a 〈◊〉 25. c 〈…〉 a unto Isaac also thou gavest jacob and Esau. As for jacob thou diddest choose him, and put back Esau. And so jacob become a great multitude. And it happened that when thou leddest his seed out of Egipte, thou broughtest them up to the mount Zion, 〈◊〉. 19 〈…〉 4. b bowing down the heavens, setting fast the earth, moving the ground, making the depths to shake, and troubling the world: And thy glory went thorough four ports of fire, and earth quakes, and winds and cold: that thou mightest give the law unto the sede of jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel. And yet tookest thou not away from them that wicked heart, that thy law might bring forth fruit in them. For the first Adam bore a wicked heart, transgressed, and was overcome, and so be all they that are born of him. Thus remained weakness with the law in the heart of the people, Rom. ●. a with the wickedness of the rote: so that the good departed away, and the evil abode still. So the times passed away, and the years were brought to an end. 1. Re. 16. c 2. Reg. 5. a Then diddest thou raise the up a servant: called David, whom thou commaundedst to build a cite unto thy name, and to offer up incense and sacrifice unto the therein. This was done now many years. Then the inhabiters of the cite forsook thee, and in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart. And so thou gavest thy cite over in to the hands of thy enemies. Are they of Babylon then better and more righteous than thy people, that they shall therefore have the dominion of Zion? For when I came there, and saw their ungodliness, and so great wickedness, that it could not be numbered: ye when my soul saw so many evil doers (in the thirty. year) my heart failed me, for I saw, how thou sufferest them in such ungodliness, and sparest the wicked doers: but thy own people hast thou rooted out, and preserved thy enemies, & this hast thou not showed me. I can not perceive how this happeneth. Do they of Babylon then better, than they of Zion? Or is there any other people, that knoweth thee, saving the people of Israel? Or what generation hath so believed the covenants, as jacob? And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labo hath no fruit. For I have go here and there thorough the Heithen, & I see, that they be rich & wealth, & think not upon the commandments. Weigh thou therefore our wickedness now in the balance, and there's also that devil in the world, and so shall thy name be nowhere found but in Israel. Or where is there a people upon earth, that hath not sinned before thee? Or what people hath so kept thy commandments? Thou shalt find, that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts, but not the other people and heathen. The four Chapter. ANd the angel that was sent unto me (whose name was Vriel) gave me answer, and said: Thy heart hath taken to much upon it in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Hyest. Then said I: ye my lord. And he answered me, and said: I am sent to show the three ways, and to set forth three symilitudes before thee: whereof if thou canst declare me one, I will show the also the way, that thou desirest to see, and I shall show the from whence the wicked heart cometh. And I said: tell on my LORD. Then said he unto me: Go thy way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past. Then answered I and said: What man born is able to do that? Why requyrest thou such of me? And he said unto me: If I should axe thee, how deep dwellings are in the see? Or how great water springs are upon the firmament? Or how great water springs are in the beginning of the deep? Or which are the out goings of Paradise? Peradventure thou wouldest say unto me: I never went down yet in to the deep ner hell, neither did I ever climb up in to heaven. Nevertheless now have I axed the but only of fire and wind and of the day, where thorough thou hast travailed, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and yet canst thou give me no answer of them. He said moreover unto me: Thy own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canst thou not know: how should thy vessel then be able to comprehend the way of the Hyest, and now outwardly in the corrupt world, to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight? Then said I unto him: It were better that we were not at all, than that we should live in wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore. He answered me, and said: I went in a wood, and the trees took such a device and said: jud. 9 b Par. 25. c Come let us go, and fight against the see, that it may depart away before us, and that we may make us yet more woods. The floods of the see also in like manner took this device. and said: Come, let us go up, and fight against the trees of the wood, that we may make our land the wider. The thought and device of the wood was but vain and nothing worth, for the fire came, and consumed the wood: The thought of the floods of the see came likewise to nought also, for the sonde stood up and stopped them. If thou were judge now betwixt these two, whom wouldest thou justify, or whom wouldest thou condemn? I answered and said: Verily it is a foolish thought that they both have devised. For the ground is given unto the wood, and the see also hath his place to bear his floods. Then answered he me & said: Thou hast given a right judgement, why judgest thou not thyself also? For like as the ground is given unto the wood, and the see to his floods: 〈…〉 even so they that devil upon earth, may understand nothing, but that which is upon earth: and he that dwelleth above the heavens, may only understand the things, that are above the heavens. Then answered I and said: I beseek thee (O LORD) let me have understanding: for it was not my mind to be curious of thy high things, but of such as we daily meddle with all: namely, wherefore that Israelis blasphemed of the heathen, and for what cause the people (whom thou ever hast loved) is given over, to be punished of ungodly nations: and why the law of our fathers is brought to nought, and the written covenants come to none effect, and we pass away out of the world as the greshopers, and our life is a very fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy. What will he do then unto his name, which is called upon over us? Of these things have I axed question. Then answered he me and said: The more thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel, for the world hasteth fast to pass away, and can not comprehend the things, that are promised for the righteous in time to come, 〈…〉 for this world is full of unrighteousness and weakness. But as concerning the things whereof thou axest me, I will tell the. The evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come. If the evil now that is sown, be not turned upside down, and if the place where the evil is sown, pass not away, then can not the thing come that is sown with the good. For the corn of evil seed hath been sown in the heart of man from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath he brought up unto this time? and how much shall he yet bring forth, until he come in to the barn? Pondre now by thyself, when the corn of evil seed is cut down, how great a barn shall it fill? I answered and said: How and when shall these things come to pass? Wherefore are oh years few & evil? And he answered me, saying: Haist not thou to much upon the Hyest, for thy haistynes to be above him is but in vain, thou makest to much a do. Did not the souls also of the righteous axe question of these things in their holiness, saying: How long shall I hope of this fashion? When cometh the fruit of my barn, and my reward? And upon this jeremiel the archangel gave them answer, and said: ●poc. 6. b Even when the number of the sedes is filled in you: for he hath weighed the world in the balance: in measure and number hath he measured the time, and moveth it not, until the same measure be fulfilled. Then answered I and said: O LORD LORD, now are we all full of sin, and for our sake peradventure it is not, that the barn of the righteous shall not be filled, because of the sins of them that devil upon earth. So he answered me, & said: Go that way to a woman with child, and axe her, when she hath fulfilled her ix. months, if her childeszbed may keep the birth any longer within her. Then said I: Not LORD, that can she not. And he said unto me: In hell the secret places of souls are like the privy chamber of a woman. For like as a woman that travaileth, maketh haist, when the time & necessity of the birth is at hand: Even so doth she haist to deliver it that is committed unto her. Look what thou desirest to see, it shallbe showed the from the beginning. Then answered I and said: If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet therefore, show me then, whether there be more to come than is passed, or more past than is for to come. What is past, I know: but what is for to come, I know not. And he said unto me: stand up upon the right side, and I shall expound the similitude unto the. So I stood, & behold, an hot burning oven went over before me: & it happened that when the flame was go by, the smoke had the upper hand. After this there went over before me a watery cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm: & when the stormy rain was past, the drops remained still. Then said he unto me: like as the rain is more than the drops, and as the fire exceadeth the smoke, even so the measure of the things that are past, hath the upper hand. Then went the drops and the smoke above: and I prayed and said: May I live (thinkest thou) until that time? Or what shall happen in those days? He answered me, and said: As for the tokens whereof thou axest me, I may tell the of them in a part: but as touching 〈…〉 the life, I may not show thee, for I am not sent therefore. The V Chapter. Nevertheless, as concerning the tokens, mark this: Behold, the days shall come, that they which devil upon earth, shallbe taken in a great number, & the way of the truth shallbe hid, and the land shallbe barren from faith: Mat. 〈…〉 but iniquity shall have the upper hand, like as thou hast seen now, and as thou hast heard long ago. And the land that thou seist now to have rule, shalt thou shortly see waist. But if God grant the to live, thou shalt see after the third trumpet, that the Son shall suddenly shine again in the night, and the Moon three times in the day, & blood shall drop out of wood, and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shallbe unquiet: and even he shall rule, whom they hope not that devil upon earth, and the fowls shall flit, and the Sodomitysh see shall cast out his fish, and make a noise in the night, which many shall not know, but they shall all hear the voice thereof. There shallbe a confusion also in many places, and the fire shall be often sent again, and the wild beasts shall go their way, & menstruous women shall bear monsters, and salt waters shallbe found in the sweet: one friend shall fight against another: then shall all wit and understanding be hid and put aside in to their secret places, & shallbe sought of many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and voluptuousness have the upperhand upon earth. One land also shall axe another, and say: Is righteousness go thorough thee? And it shall say: No. At the same time shall men hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labour, but their ways shall not prosper. To show the such tokens I have leave, and if thou wilt pray again, & weep as now, and fast seven days, thou shalt hear yet greater things. Then I awaked, and a fearfulness went thorough all my body, & my mind was feeble and careful, so that I almost swowned withal. So the angel that was come to talk with me, held me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet. And in the second night it happened, that Salathiel the captain of the people came unto me, saying: Where hast thou been? and why is thy countenance so heavy? Knowest thou not, that Israel is committed unto thee, in the land of their captivity? Up then, and eat, and forsake us not, as the shepherd that leaveth his flock in the hands of wicked wolves. Then said I unto him: Go thy way fro me, and come not nigh me: & he heard it, and as I said, so went he his way fro me. And so I fasted seven days, mourning and weeping, like as vriel the angel commanded me. And after seven days it happened, that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again, & my soul received the spirit of understanding, & I began to talk with the most highest again, and said: O LORD LORD, of every wood of the earth & of all the trees thereof, thou hast choose the one only vineyard: and of all lands of the whole world thou hast choose the one pit: and of all flowers of the ground thou hast choose the one lylie: and of all the depths of the see thou hast filled the one river: and of all builded cities thou hast hallowed Zion unto thyself: and of all the fowls that are created, thou hast named the one dove: and of all the cattles that are made, thou hast provided the one sheep: & among all the multitudes of folks thou hast got the one people, and unto this people whom thou lovedest, thou gavest a law, that is proved of all. And now O LORD, why hast thou given this one people over unto many? & upon the one rote thou hast prepared other, and why hast thou scattered the one only people among many? which tread them down, ye which have ever withstand the promises, & never believed the covenants? And though thou werest enemy unto the people, yet shouldest thou punish them with thy own hands. Now when I had spoken these words, the angel that came to me the night afore, was sent unto me, & said unto me: Hear me, & hearken to the thing that I say, & I shall tell the more. And I said: Speak on my LORD. Then said he unto me: Thou art sore vexed & troubled for Israel's sake. Lovest thou that people better, than him that made them? And I said: Not LORD, but of very grief & compassion have I spoken. For my reins pain me every hour, because I would have experience of the way of the most highest, and to seek out part of his judgement. And he said unto me: that thou mayest not. And I said: wherefore LORD? Where unto was I born then? Or why was not my mother's childesbed then my grave? So had I not seen the misery and trouble of jacob, and the travail of my people of Israel. And he said unto me: Number me the things, that are not yet come: gather me together the drops, that are scattered abroad: make me the flowers green again▪ that are withered: open me the thing that is closed: and bring me forth the winds, that are shut up: Show me the image of a voice, and then shall I declare the the thing, that thou labourest to know. And I said: O LORD LORD, who may know these things, but he that hath not his dwelling with men? As for me, I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things, whereof thou axest me? Then said he unto me: like as thou canst do none of these things that I have spoken of, Even so canst thou not find out my judgement, or in the end the love that I have promised unto my people. And I said: Behold oh LORD, yet art thou nigh unto them that have no end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we that be now, or they that shall come after us? And he said unto me: I will lycken my judgement unto a ring. Like as there is no slackness of the last, even so is there no swiftness of the first. So I answered & said: Couldst thou not make those (that have been made, and that be now, and that are fo● to come) in one, that thou mightest show thy judgement the sooner? Then answered 'em and said: The creature may not haist above the maker, neither may the world hold them at once, that shallbe created. And I said: How hast thou said then unto thy servant, that thou living maker hast made the creature living at once, & the creature bore it? even so might it now also bear them that be present, at once. And he said unto me: Axe the childeszbed of a woman, and say unto her: If thou bringest forth children, why dost thou it not together, but one after another? Pray her therefore, to bring forth ten children at once. And I said: she can not, but must do it one after another. Then said he unto me: Even so have I given a childeszbed unto the earth, for those that be sown upon it by process of tyme. For like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged, even so have I ordained the world which I made. And I axed and said: saying thou hast now given me a way, I will speak before thee: for our mother of whom thou hast told me, is yet young, & now she draweth nigh unto age. He answered me & said: Axe a woman that beareth children, & she shall tell the. Say unto her: wherefore are not they (whom thou hast now brought forth) like those that were before thee, but less of stature? And she shall answer thee: They that be born in the youth of strength, are of one fashion: and they that are born in the time of age (when the childeszbed faileth) are other wise. consider now thyself, how that you are less of stature, than those that were before you, and so are they that come after you, less than you, as the creatures which now begin to be old, and have passed over the strength of youth. Then said I: LORD I beseek thee, if I have found favour in thy sight, show thy servant, by whom dost thou visit thy creature? The VI Chapter. ANd he said unto me: In the beginning when the ground was made, before the world stood, or ever the winds blue, before it thondred and lightened, or ever the foundations of Paradise were laid, before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the movable powers were established, before the innumerable multitudes of angels were gathered together, or ever the highnesses of the air were lifted up, afore the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Zion were hot, and or the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin, were put aside, before they were sealed that now gather faith for a treasure: then did I consider and ponder all these things, and they all were made thorough me, and thorough none other: by me also they be ended, and by none other. Then answered I and said: which shall be the parting asunder of the times? Or when shallbe the end of the first, and the beginning of it that followeth? And he said unto me: From Abraham unto Isaac, when jacob & Esau were born of him, jacob's hand held first the heel of Esau: for Esau is the end of this world, and Iacobis the beginning of it that followeth. The hand of man betwixt the heel and the hand. Other question (Eszdras) axe thou not. I answered then and said: O LORD LORD, if I have found favour in thy sight, I beseek thee, show thy servant the end of thy tokens, whereof thou shewdest me part the last night. So he answered and said unto me: stand up upon thy feet, and hear the perfect voice and sound. There shall come a great motion, but the place where thou stondest shall not be moved. And therefore when thou hearest the words, be not afraid: for of the end shall the word and foundation of the earth be understand. And why? the word thereof trembleth and quaketh, for it knoweth, that it must be changed at the end. And it happened, that when I had heard it, I stood up upon my feet and herkened: and behold, there was a voice that spoke, and the sound of it was like the sound of many waters, and it said. Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw nigh, and to visit them that devil upon earth, and will begin to make inquisition of them, what they be that have hurt equity with unrighteousness, and when the low estate of Zion shallbe fulfilled: and when the world, that shall vanish away, shallbe oversealed, then will I do these tokens. The books shallbe opened before the firmament, and they shall see all together, & the children of a year old shall speak with their voices: the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up: & suddenly shall the sown places appear as the unsowne, the full store houses shall suddenly be found empty, and the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man heareth, they shallbe haistely afraid. Mat. 10. c Mich. 7. a At that time shall friends fight one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with them. The springs of the wells shall stand still, and in three hours they shall not run. Who so ever remaineth from all these thinger that I have told thee, shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world. And the men that are received, shall see it, they that have not taisted death from their birth: and the heart of the indwellers shallbe changed, and turned in to another meaning: for evil shallbe put out, and deceit shall be quenched. As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shallbe overcome: and the truth, which hath been so long without fruit, shall be declared. And it happened when he talked with me, that I looked demurely upon him, before whom I stood, and these words said he unto me: I am come to show thee, the time of the night for to come. If thou will't pray yet more, and fast seven days again, I shall tell the more things, & greater then before: for thy voice is herd before the Hyest: for why? the Mighty hath seen thy righteous dealing, he hath seen also thy chastity, which thou hast had ever sense thy youth: and therefore hath he sent me to show the all these things, and to say unto thee: Be of good comfort, and fear not, and haist not with the times that are past to think vain things, and make no haist of the latter times. And it happened after this, that I wept again, and fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfil the three weeks, which he told me. In the eight night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to speak before the Hyest: for my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was in distress, and I said: O LORD, thou spakest unto thy creature from the beginning (even the first day) and saidest: Gen. 1. a Let heaven and earth be made, and thy word was a perfect work. And then was there the spirit, and the darcknesses were yet on every side, and silence: there was no man's voice as yet from the. Then commaundedst thou a fair light to come forth out of thy treasures, that thy work might appear and be seen. Upon the second day thou maydest the spirit of the firmament, and commaundedst it to part asunder & to make a division betwixt the waters, that the one part might remain above, and the other beneath. Upon the third day thou broughtest to pass, that the waters were gathered in the seventh part of the earth: Six parts hast thou dried up, and kept them, to the intent that men might sow and occupy huszbandrie therein. As soon as thy word went forth, the work was made. For immediately there was great in numerable fruit, & many diverse pleasures & desires of temptation, flowers of changeable colour and smell, and this was done the third day. Upon the fourth day thou commaundedst that the Son should give his shine, and the Moon her light: the stars diddest thou set in order, and gavest them a charge, to do service even unto man, that was for to be made. Deu. 4. c Upon the fifth day thou saidest unto the seventh part (where the waters were gathered) that they should bring forth diverse beasts, fowls and fish. And so it came to pass, that the dumb water and without soul, brought forth living beasts at the commandment of God, that all people might praise thy wondrous works. Then diddest thou preserve two souls, the one thou calldest Enoch and the other Leviathan, and diddest separate the one from the other: for the seventh part (namely, where the water was gathered together) might not hold them both. Unto Enoch thou gavest one part, which was dried up the third day, that he should devil in the same part, wherein are a thousand hills. But unto Leviathan thou gavest the seventh part, namely the moist, and hast kept him to devour what th●● wilt, and when. Upon the sixte day thou gavest commandment unto the earth, that before the it should bring forth beasts, cattles and all the creep, & (besides this) Adam also, whom thou maydest lord of all thy creatures: Of him come we all, and the people also, whom thou hast choose specially unto thyself. All this have I said now and spoken before thee, that I might show, how that the world is made for our sakes. As for the other people which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like a spittle, and hast lickened the abundance of them unto a drop (that falls) from the roof of the house. And now (O LORD) the Heithen which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us: but we thy people (whom thou hast called the first born, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover) are given in to their hands and power. If the world now be made for our sakes, why have we not the inheritance in possession with the world? How long shall this endure? The VII. Chapter. ANd it happened after that I had spoken out these words, there was sent unto me an angel (which had been by me also the nights afore) and he said unto me: Up Eszdras, and hear the words that I am come to tell the. And I said: speak on LORD my God. Then said he unto me: The see is set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great: but the entrance is narrow and small like a river. For who would go in to the see, to look upon it, and to rule it? If he went not thorough the narrow, how might he come in to the broad? Item, another. A cite is builded and set upon a broad field, and is full of all goods: the entrance is narrow and sudden, like as if there were a fire at the right hand, and a deep water at the left, and as it were only one strate path betwixt them both, so small, that there could but one man go there. If this cite now were given to an heir, & he never went thorough this perilous way, how would he receive his inheritance? And I said: It is so, LORD. Then said he: Even so is Israel also a portion. And why? for their sakes have I made the world: & when Adam transgressed my statutes, than was the thing judged that was done▪ Then were the intraunces of the world made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: They are but few & evil, full of parels and labour. For the intraunces of the fore world were wide and sure, and brought immortal fruit. If they now which are entered in to this world, may not comprehend these straight and vain things, much less may they comprehend and understand the secret things: Why disquietest thou thyself then, saying thou art but a corruptible man? And what wouldest thou know, where as thou art but mortal? And why hast thou not received in to thy heart the thing that is for to come, but that is present? Then said I: O LORD LORD, thou hast ordained in thy law, ●eut. ●. a that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the unfaithful and ungodly should perish. Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer straight things, and hope for wide: for they that have lived ungodly & suffered straight things, shall not see the wide. And he said unto me: There is no judge above God, and none that hath understanding above the Hyest. For there be many that perish, because they despise the law of God that is set before them. For God hath given straight commandment to such as come, that they know what they do, and how they should live: and if they kept this, they should not be punished. Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him, but spoke against him: imagined vain things, & purposed to sin, and said moreover, that there was no God, & that God regarded it not. His ways have they not known, his law have they despised, & denied his promises: in his statutes & ordinances have they not been faithful & steadfast, and have not performed his works. And therefore Eszdras, unto the full, plenty: and to the empty, emptiness. Behold, the time shall come, that these tokens which I have told thee, shall come to pass, & the bride shall appear: & the earth that now passeth away, shallbe showed: & whoso ever is delivered from the foresaid evils, shall see my wonders. For my son jesus shall be openly declared, with those that be with him: & they that remain, shall be merry in four hundredth years. After these same years shall my son Christ die, and all men that have life: and the world shallbe turned in to the old silence seven days, like as in the fore judgements, so that no man shall remain. And after seven days, the world that yet awaketh not, shallbe raised up, & shall die corrupt. And the earth shall restore those that have slept in her, and so shall the dust those that devil in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those that be committed unto them. And ye●ost highest shall be openly declared upon the seat of judgement, & all misery shall vanish away, and long suffering shallbe gathered together. But the judgement shall continue, the truth shall remain, and faith shall wax strong, the work shall follow, and the reward shall be showed, the righteousnesses shall watch, and the unrighteousnesses shall bear no rule. Then said I: Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites, Gen. 18. ● Exo. 32. ● 2. Re. 24 ● 2. Par. 6. 3. Re. 17. 4. Re. 18 and 19 & Moses for the father's that sinned in the wilderness, & he that came after him for Israel, in the time of Achas and Samuel: and David for the destruction, and Solomon for them that came in to the Sanctuary, & Helias for those that received rain, and for the deed, that he might live: and Ezechias for the people in the time of Senna cherib: & diverse other in like manner, which have prayed for many. Even so now, saying the corrupt is grown up, and wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, wherefore shall it not be so now also? He answered me, and said: This present world is not the end, there remaineth much honour in it, therefore have they prayed for the weak. But the day of doom shallbe the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein all corruption vanysheth, all voluptuousness is loosed, all myszbeleve taken away, righteousness grown, and the verity sprung up. Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, ner to oppress him that hath gotten the victory. I answered them, & said: This is my first & last saying: that it had been better, not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else when it was given him, to keep him that he should not sin. For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, & after death to look for punyszment? O thou Adam, what hast thou done? For though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of the. For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, where as we meddle with deadly works? & that there is promised us an everlasting hope, where as we our selves are evil & vain? & that there are laid up for us dwellynges of health & freedom, where as we have lived evil? and that the worship of the Hyest is kept to defend them, which have led a patient life, where as we have walked in the most wicked ways of all? and that there shallbe showed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is freedom and medicine, where as we shall not go in? for we have walked in unpleasant places: And that the faces of them which have abstained, shall shine above the stars, where as our faces shallbe black and dark? For while we lived and did unrighteously, we considered not, that we should suffer therefore after death? Then answered he me, and said: This is the consideration & thought of the battle, which man hath upon earth: that if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said. But if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say. For this is the life, whereof Moses spoke unto the people, while he lived, ●eut. ●0. d saying: Chose the life, that thou mayest live. Nevertheless they believed him not, neither the prophets after him, Not ner me which have spoken unto them, that heaviness should not reach unto them to their destruction, like as joy is for to come over those, that have suffered themselves to be informed in salvation. I answered then & said: I know LORD, that the Hyest is merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them, which are not yet in the world, and upon those also that walk in his law: 〈◊〉. 2. a and that he is patient and long suffering toward those that have sinned in their works: and that he is liberal to give where as it requireth: and that he is of great mercy, for he multiplieth his loving kyndnesses toward those that are present, and that are past, and to them which are for to come. For if he multiply not his mercies, the world shall not be made living, with those that devil therein: He giveth also, for if he gave not of his goodness, that they which have done evil, might be eased, the ten thousand part of men should not be made living. And if the judge forgave not those that be healed with his word, and if he would destroy the multitude that striveth, there should be very few left in an innumerable multitude. The VIII. Chapter. ANd he answered me, saying: The most highest made this world for many, but the world to come for few. I will tell the a similitude, Eszdras: As when thou axest the earth, it shall say unto thee, that it giveth much mould, whereof earthen vessels are made, but little of it that gold cometh of. Even so is it with the work of this world. There be many created, 〈…〉 but few shall be preserved. Then answered I & said: Then swallow up the wit (thou soul) and devour the understanding, for thou art agreed to hearken and to give ear, and willing to prophecy: for thou hast no longer space given thee, but only to live. O LORD, will't thou not give thy servant leave, that we may pray before thee, and that thou mayest give seed unto our heart, and build our understanding, that there may come fruit of it: and that every one which is corrupt, and beareth the state and place of a man, may live? For thou art alone, and we all are one workmanship of thy hands, like as thou hast said, and like as the body is fashioned now in the childeszbed, and thou givest the membres, and thy creature is preserved in fire and water: & ix. months doth thy work suffer thy creature, which is fashioned in her: but the thing that preserveth and it that is preserved, shall both be kept together: & when time is, the childeszbedd delivereth the thing, that is kept and grown in her. For thou hast commanded the breasts to give milk unto the fruit, that the thing which is created and fashioned, may be nourished for a time: and then thou disposest and ordrest it with thy mercy, bryngest it up with thy righteousness, nurturest it in thy law, and refourmest it with thy understanding, mortifiest it as thy creature, and makest it living as thy work. seeing then that thou destroyest him, which with so great labours is created and fashioned thorough thy commandment, thou couldst lightly ordene also, that the thing which is made, might be preserved. And this I speak now of all men in general, as thou knowest: but of thy people, for whose sake I am sorry: and of thy inheritance, for whose cause I mourn: and of Israel, for whom I am woeful: and for jacob, for whose sake I am grieved: therefore begin I to pray before thee, for myself and for them, for I see the fall of us, even of us, that devil upon earth. But I have heard the swiftness of the judge, which is to come: therefore hear my voice, and understand my words, and I shall speak before the. This is the beginning of the words of Eszdras, before he was received: O LORD, thou that dwellest in everlastingness, whose eyes are lift up in the air, whose stole is exceeding high, whose glory and majesty may not be comprehended, before whom the hosts of heaven stand with trembling, whose keeping is turned in wind and fire, whose word is true, whose talking is steadfast, whose commandment is strong, whose ordinance is fearful, whose look drieth up the depths, whose wrath maketh the mountains to melt away, & whose truth beareth witness: O hear the prayer of thy servant, and mark with thy ears the petition of thy creature. For while I live, I will speak: and so long as I have understanding, I will answer. O look not upon the sins of thy people, which serve that in the truth. Have no respect unto the wicked studies of the heathen, but to the desire of those that keep thy testimonies with sorrows. Think not upon those that have walked feignedly before thee, but upon them, which with will have known thy fear. Let it not be thy will to destroy them, which have had beastly manners, but to look upon them that have clearly taught thy law. Take thou no indignation at them, which are worse than beasts: but love them, that allway put their trust in the righteousness and glory: for we and our fathers have all the same sickness and disease, but because of our sins thou shalt be called merciful. For if thou hast mercy upon us, thou shalt be called merciful, where as we have no works of righteousness: for the righteous which have laid up many good works together, shall out of their deeds receive reward. For what is man, that thou shouldest take displeasure at him? Or what is the corruptible mortal generation, that thou shouldest be so rough toward him? 〈◊〉. 8. g Pa●. 6. f ●oh. 1. b For of a truth there is no man among them that be born, but he hath dealt wickedly: and among the faithful there is none, which hath not done amiss. For in this (O LORD) thy righteousness & thy goodness shallbe praised and declared, if thou be merciful unto them, which are not rich in good works. Then answered he me and said: Some things hast thou spoken a right, and according unto thy words it shall be. For I will not verily consider the work of them, which have sinned before death, before the judgement, 〈◊〉 4. a before destruction but I will rejoice over the work and thought of the righteous. I will remember also the pilgramege, the holymaking and the reward. Like as I have spoken now, so shall it come to pass. For as the huszband man soweth much seed upon the ground, and planteth many trees, and yet allway the thing that is sown or planted is not all kept safe, neither doth it all take rote: Even so is it of them that are sown in the world, they shall not all be preserved. I answered then & said: If I have found grace, then let me speak. Like as the husband man's seed perisheth, if it receive not rain in due season, or if there come to much rain upon it: Even so perisheth man also, which is created with thy hands, and is like unto thy own image and to thyself, for whose sake thou hast made all things, and lickened him unto the husband man's seed. Be not wroth at us (O LORD) but spare thy people, and have mercy upon thy own inheritance: O be merciful unto thy creature. Then answered he me and said: Things present are for the present, and things to come for such as be to come. For thou wantest yet much, saying thou mayest love my creature above me: I have often times drawn nigh unto thee, but never to the unrighteous. In this also thou art marvelous before the Hyest, in that thou hast humbled thyself, as it becometh thee, and hast not regarded thy own self, that thou art had in such honour among the righteous. Therefore shall great wrechidnes and misery come upon them, that in the latter time shall devil in the world, for they have walked in great pride. But understand thou for thyself, and seek out glory for such as be like thee: for unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness made ready: a cite is builded for you, and a rest is prepared, ye perfect goodness and wisdom. The rote of evil is marked from you, the weakness and moth is hid from you, & in to hell flieth corruption in forgetfulness. Sorrows are vanyshed away, and in the end is showed the treasure of immortality. And therefore axe thou no more questions, concerning the multitude of them that perish. For they have taken liberty, despised the Hyest, thought scorn of his law, and forsaken his ways. moreover, they have trodden down his righteous, and said in their heart, Psal. 13. a that there is no God, ye and that wittingly, for they die. For like as the thing that I have spoken of, is made ready for you: Even so is thirst and pain prepared for them. For it was not his will that man should come to nought: but they which be created, have defiled the name of him that made them, and are unto full unto him, which prepared life for them. And therefore is my judgement now at hand. These things have I not showed unto all men, but unto few: namely, unto thee, and to such as be like the. Then answered I and said: Behold O LORD, now hast thou showed me the multitude of the tokens, which thou will't begin to do at the last: but at what time and when, thou hast not showed me. The IX. Chapter. HE answered me then and said: Measure thou the time diligenly in itself, when thou seist that one part of the tokens come to pass, which I have told the before: so shalt thou understand, that it is the very same time, wherein the Hyest will begin to visit the world, which he made. And when there shallbe seen earthquake and uproar of the people in the world, then shalt thou well understand, that the most highest spoke of those 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 Hyest have plain beginnings in wonders and signs, and the end in working and in tokens. And every one that shallbe saved, and shall be able to escape by his works & by faith (wherein you have believed) shall be preserved from the said parels, and shall see my saviour 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 despytefully, shall devil 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 conversion, & understood not, but despised it: the same must know it after death in pain. And therefore be thou no more careful, how the ungodly shallbe punished, & how the righteous shallbe saved, and whose the world is, and for whom the world, and when it is. Then answered I and said: Esd. ●. a I have talked before & now I speak, and will speak also hereafter, that there be many moo of them which perish, then shall be saved, like as the flood is greater than the drops. And he answered me, saying: like as the field is, so is also the seed: as the flowers be, so are the colours also: such as the workman is, such is also the work: and as the huszband man is himself, so is his huszbandrye also, for it was the time of the world. And when I prepared for them that are now, or ever the world was made, where in 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 ceaseth not, and the law which is unsearchable, their manners were corrupt. So I considered the world, and behold, there was apparel, because of the thoughts that were come in to it. And I saw, and spared them greatly, and have kept me a wynebery of the grapes, and a plant from among many generations. Let the multitude perish them, which are grown up in vain, and let my grape & wynebery be kept: even my plant: for with great labour have I made it up. Nevertheless if thou will't take upon the yet seven days more (but thou shalt not fast in them) go thy way then in to the field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only of the flowers of the field, taist not flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only. Pray unto the Hyest continually, so will I come, and talk with the. 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, & my heart was vexed within me like as afore: and I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Hyest, and said: O LORD, thou that showest thyself unto us, 〈…〉 thou hast declared and opened thyself unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egipte, and thou spakest, saying: Hear me O Israel, and mark my words thou seed of jacob. Behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, & you shallbe honoured in it for ever. For our fathers which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances and statutes, & the fruit of the law was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was thy. 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 see a ship, or a vessel meat and drink, that, when it perisheth or is broken wherein a thing is sown, or wherein any thing is put: the things also perish & 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 our heart also which received the law: notwithstanding the law perisheth not, 〈◊〉. 40. ᵃ ●. Tim. 2. a but remaineth in his labour. And when I considered these things in my heart after this manner, I looked about me with mine eyes, 〈◊〉. 10. d and upon the right side I saw a woman, which mourned sore, made great lamentation, and wept with loud voice: her clotheses were rend in pieces, & she had aszshes upon her head. Then let I my thoughts go, that I was in, & turned me unto her, & said: wherefore wepest thou? why art thou so sorry & discomforted? And she said unto me: Sir, let me bewail myself & take yet more sorrow: for I am sore vexed in my mind, & brought very low. And I said unto her: what aileth that? Or who hath done any thing to thee? tell me. She said: I have been unfruitful and barren, and have had an huszband thirty years. And these thirty. years I do nothing else day and night and all hours, but make my prayer to the Hyest. 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 huszband also and all my neighbours, and we gave great honour unto the Mighty. And I nourished him with great travail. So when he grew up, & came to the time, that he should have a wife, I made a feast. The X. Chapter. ANd it happened that when my son went in to his chamber, he fallen down, and died: them ovethrew we all the lights, and all my neighbours rose up to comfort me. Then took I my rest unto the second day at night: & when they had all rested, that they might comfort me, I rested also, and rose up by night, and fled, and am come hither in to this field, as thou seist: and am purposed not to come in the cite, but to remain here, and neither to eat ner drink, but continually to mourn and to fast, until I die. Then let I my meditations and thoughts fall, that I was in, and spoke to her in displeasure: Thou foolish woman, seist thou not our heaviness and mourning, and what happeneth unto us? how Zion our mother is all woeful and sorry, and how she is clean brought down and in misery? seeing we be all now in heaviness, & make our moan (for we be all sorrowful.) As for the heaviness that thou takest, it is but for one son. Demand the earth, and she shall tell thee, that it is she which aught (by reason) to mourn, for the fall of so many that grow upon her. For from the beginning all men are born of her, & other shall come: and behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and many of them shallbe rooted out. Who should then (by reason) make more mourning, than she, that hath lost so great a multitude? and not thou, which art sorry but for one. But if thou wouldest say unto me: My mourning is not like the mourning of the earth, for I have lost the fruit of my body, which I bore with heaviness: as for the earth, according to the ordinance of the earth only, so that many are go away in her, as it is come to pass: Then say I unto thee: like as thou hast born with travail & sorrow, even so the earth also from the beginning giveth her fruit unto man, for him that made her. And therefore withhold thy sorrow and heaviness by thyself, and look what happeneth unto thee, bear it strongly. Heb. 12. ● For if thou judgest the mark & end of God to be righteous and good, and receivest his council in time, thou shalt be commended therein. Go thy way then in to the cite to thy husband. And she said unto me: that will I not do, I will not go in to the cite, but hear will I die. So I commoned more with her, and said: Do not so, but be counceled, and follow me: for how many falls hath Zion? Be of good comfort because of the sorrow of jerusalem. For thou seist that our Sanctuary is laid waist, our altar broken, our temple destroyed, our playing of instruments and synginge laid down, the thanksgiving put to silence, our mirth is vanished away, the light of our candelstick is quenched, the Ark of the covenant is taken from us, all our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called upon over us, is dishonoured, our children are put to shame, our priests are brent, our Levites are carried away in to captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished, our righteous men spoiled, and our children destroyed, our young men are brought in bondage, and our strong worthies are become weak: and Zion (which seal is the greatest of all) is loosed up from her worship: for she is delivered into the hands of them that hate us. And therefore shake of the great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows: that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee, and that the Hyest may give the rest from the labour and travail. And it happened, that when I was talking with her, her face did shine & glister, so that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be. And immediately she cast out a great voice, very fearful, so that the earth shaken at the noise of the woman: and I looked, and behold, the woman appeared unto me no more: but there was a cite builded, and a place was showed from the ground and foundation. Then was I afraid, and cried with loud voice, and said: where is Vriel the angel, Es. 4. a which came to me at the first? For he hath caused me to come in many considerations and high thoughts, and mine end is turned to corruption, and my prayer to rebuke. And as I was speaking these words, he came unto me, and looked upon me, and I lay as one that had been deed, and mine understanding was altered, and he took me by the right hand, and comforted me, and set me up upon my feet, and said unto me: what aileth thee? and why is thy understanding vexed? and the understanding of thy heart, and wherefore art thou sorry? And I said: Because thou hast forsaken me: and I have done according unto thy words, Esd. 9 a I went in to the field, and there have I seen things, that I am not able to express. He said unto me: stand up and be manly, and I shall give the exhortation. Then said I: Speak on to me my LORD, forsake me not, jest I die in vain: for I have seen that I knew not, & heard that I do not know. Or shall my understanding be deceived, and my mind? But now I be seek thee, that thou will't show thy servant of this wonder. He answered me then and said: hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell the wherefore thou art afraid, for the Hyest hath opened many secret things unto the. He hath seen that thy way is right, and that thou takest sorrow continually for thy people, and makest great lamentation for Zion: and therefore understand the vision which thou sawest a little while ago after this manner: Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou hast comforted her: Nevertheless now seist thou the likeness of the woman no more, but thou thoughtest there was a cite builded: and like as she told the of the fall of her son, so is this the answer: The woman whom thou sawest, is Zion: and where as she told thee, that she hath been thirty years unfruitful and barren, those are the thirty. years, wherein there was no offering made in her. But after thirty. years Solomon builded her, and offered, and then bore the barren a son. And where as she told thee, that she nourished him with labour, that was the dwelling of jerusalem. But where as the son died in her chamber, that is the fall of jerusalem. And thou sawest her lickenesse, how she mourned for her son: and what else happened unto her, I have showed ye. And now God saith, that thou art sorry in thy mind, and sufferest from the heart for her: and so hath he showed the her clearness, and the faymes of her beauty. And therefore I bade the remain in the field, where no house is builded. For I known that the Hyest would show this unto thee, therefore I commanded the to go in to the field, where no foundation ner building is. For in the place where the Hyest will show his cite, there shall be no man's building. And therefore fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid, but go thy way in, and see the glorious and fair building, and how great it is, and how great thou thinkest it after the measure of thy eyes, & then shalt thou hear as much as thy ears may comprehend. For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Hyest, as the few. But tomorrow at night thou shalt remain here, and so shall the Hyest show the visions of high things, which he will do unto them that devil upon earth in the last days. So I slept the same night like as he commanded me. The XI. Chapter. THen saw I a dream: and behold, there came up from the see an Eagle, which had xij. wings and three heads: And I saw, and behold, he spread his wings over all the earth, and all the winds of the air blew in them, and so they were put together again. And I beheld, and out of his feathers there grew other little contrary feathers: the heads rested, the head in the midst was greater than the other, yet rested it with the residue. moreover I saw, that the Eagle flew with his wings, and reigned upon earth, & over all them that devil upon the earth: and I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto him, and no man spoke against him, not not one creature upon earth. I saw also that the Eagle stood up upon his claws, & gave a sound with his feathers, & a voice saying after this manner: watch not all together, sleep every man in his own place, & watch for a time, but let the heads be preserved at the last. Nevertheless I saw, that the voice went not out of his heads, but from the midst of his body. And I numbered his contrary feathers, & behold, there were eight of them. And I looked, & behold, upon the right side there arose one feather, & reigned over all the earth. And it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came, & the place thereof appeared no more. So the next following stood up, & reigned, & had a great time: & it happened, that when it reigned, the end of it came also like as the first, so that it appeared no more. Then came there a voice unto it, & said: Hear thou that hast kept in the earth so long, this I say unto thee, before thou beginest to appear no more: There shall none after the attain unto thy tyme. Then arose the third, & reigned as the other afore, & appeared no more also. So went it with all the residue one after another, so that every one reigned, & then appeared no more. Then I looked, & behold, in process of time the feathers that followed were set up upon the right side, that they might rule also: and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more: for some of them were set up, but ruled not. After this I looked, & behold, the xij. feathers appeared no more, and the two wings: & there was no more upon the eagle's body, but two heads that rested, & six feathers. Then saw I also, that the six feathers were parted in two, & remained under the head, that was upon the right side, for the four continued in their place. So I looked, and behold, they that were under the wings, thought to set up themselves, and to have the rule. Then was there one set up, but shortly it appeared no more, and the second were sooner away then the first. And I beheld, and lo, the two thought also by themselves to reign: & when they so thought, behold, there waked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst, for that was the greater of the two heads. And then I saw, that the two heads were filled with him, and the head was turned with them that were by him, & ate up the two under wings, that would have reigned. But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bore rule in it, over all those that dwelled upon earth with much labour, and he had the governance of the world, over all the fowls that have been. After this I looked, and behold, the head that was in the midst, suddenly appeared no more, like as the wings: then came the two heads, which ruled upon earth, & over those that dwelled therein. And I beheld, & lo, the head upon the right side, devoured it that was upon the left side. And I heard a voice, which said unto me: look before thee, and consider the thing that thou seist. Then I saw, and behold, as it were a lion that roareth, running haistely out of the wood, and he sent out a man's voybe unto the Eagle, and said: Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Hyest shall say unto thee: Is it not thou that hast the victory of the four beasts, whom I made to reign upon earth and in my world, and that the end of their times might come thorough them? And the fourth came, and overwanne all the beasts that were passed, and had power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of the earth with the most wicked labour, and so long time dwelled he upon the earth with deceit, & the earth hast thou judged not with truth. For thou hast troubled the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable and quiet, thou hast loved liars, and destroyed the dwellynges of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did the no harm. Therefore is thy wrongeous dealing and blasphemy come up unto the Hyest, and thy pride unto the Mighty. The Hyest also hath looked upon the proud times, and behold, they are ended, and their abominations are fulfilled. And therefore appear no more thou Eagle, and thy horrible wings, and thy wicked feathers, and thy ungracious heads, and thy sinful claws, and all thy vain body: that the earth may be refreshed, and come again to herself, when she is delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgement and mercy of him that made her. The XII. Chapter. ANd it happened when the Lyon spoke these words unto the Aegle, read, * I saw and behold, the head that afore had the vpperhande, appeared no more: neither did the four wings appear any more, that came to him, & were set up to reign, & their kingdom was small & full of uproar. And I saw, & behold, they appeared no more, & the whole body of the Aegle was brent, & the earth was in great fear. Then awaked I out of the trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit: Lo, this hast thou given me, in that thou searchest out the ways of the Hyest: lo, yet am I weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit, and little strength is there in me, for the great fear that I received this night. Therefore will I now beseek the Hyest, that he will comfort me unto the end, & I said: LORD LORD if I have found grace before thy sight, and if I am justified with the before many other, & if my prayer be come up before thy face, comfort me then, and show me thy servant the interpretation & plain difference of this horrible sight, that thou mayest perfectly comfort my soul: for thou hast judged me worthy, to show me the last oft-times. And he said unto me: this is the interpretation of this sight, The Eagle whom thou sawest come up from the see, is the kingdom which was seen in the vision of thy brother Daniel, Dan 7. but it was no expounded unto him, for now I declare it unto the. Behold, the days come, that there shall rise up a kingdom upon earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms that were before it. In the same kingdom shall xij. kings reign, one after another. For the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than the other, & this do the xij. wings signify, which thou sawest. As for the voice that spoke, and that thou sawest go out from the heads but not from the body, it betokeneth, that after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great strivings, and it shall stand in apparel of falling: nevertheless it shall not yet fall, bot shall be set in to his beginning. And the eight underwynges which thou sawest hang unto the wings of him, betoken, that in him there shall arise eight kings, whose time shallbe but small, & their years swift, & two of them shall bear. But when the midst time cometh, there shall be four kept in the time, when his time beginneth to come that it may be ended, but two shall be kept unto the end. And where as thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation: In his last shall the Hyest raise up three kingdoms, and call many again into them, & they shall have the dominion of the earth, and of those that devil therein, with much labor above all those that were before them. Therefore are they called the heads of the Eagle: for it is they that shall bring forth his wickedness again, & that shall perform & finish his last. And where as thou sawest, that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth, that one of them shall die upon his bed, & yet with pain, for the two that remain, shallbe slain with the sword. For the sword of the one shall devour the other, but at the last shall he fall thorough the sword himself. And where as thou sawest two vnder●●●ges upon the head that is on the right side, it signifieth, that it is they, whom the Hyest hath kept unto their end: this is a small kingdom, & full of trouble. The Lion whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood and roaring, and speaking unto the Eagle, and rebuking him for his unrighteousness, is the wind, which the Hyest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and rent them asunder before them. For he shall set them living before the judgement, and shall rebuke them: for the residue of my people shall he deliver with trouble, those that be preserved over mine ends: and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgement, whereof I have spoken unto the from the beginning. This is the dream that thou sawest, and this is the interpretation. Thou only hast been meet to know the secret of the Hyest. Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and hide them, and teach them the wise in the people, whose hearts thou knowest may comprehend and keep these secrets. But wait thou here thy self yet seven days moo, that it may be showed thee, what so ever it pleaseth the Hyest to declare unto thee, and with that he went his way. And when all the people perceived, that the seven days were passed, & I not come again in to the cite, they gathered them altogether from the lest unto the most, & came unto me, and said: what have we offended thee? and what evil have we done against thee, that thou forsakest us, & sittest here in this place? For of all people thou only art left us, as a grape of the vine, and as a candle in a dark place, and as an haven & ship preserved from the tempest. Have we not else adversity enough, but thou must forsake us? Were it not better for us, that we had been brent with Zion? For we are no better, than they that died there: and they wept with loud voice. Then answered I then & said: Be of good comfort O Israel, & be not heavy thou house of jacob: for the Hyest hath you in remembrance, & the Mighty hath not forgotten you in tentacion. As for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come in to this place to pray, because of the misery of Israel, that I might seek mercy for the low estate of your Sanctuary. And now go your way home every man, and after these days will I come unto you. So the people went their way in to the cite, like as I commanded them: but I remained still in the field seven days, as the angel bade me, and I ate only of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of the herbs in those days. The XIII. Chapter. ANd it happened after the seven days, that I dreamt a dream by night. And behold, there arose a wind from the see, that it moved all the floods thereof. And I looked, and behold, the man was strong and increased with the clouds of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to consider, all the things trembled that were seen under him: and when the voice went out of his mouth, all they brent that heard him, like as the earth when it feeleth the fire. After these I saw, & behold, there was gathered together a multitude of men out of number from the four winds of the heaven, to fight against the man, that came out from the see. And I looked, & behold, he graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it. But I would have seen the border or place, whereout the hill was graven, & I could not. I saw after these, that all they which came to fight against him, were sore afraid, and yet dared they fight. Nevertheless when he saw the fierceness and violence of the people, he neither lift up his hand ner held sword, ner any weapon: but only (as I saw) he sent out of his mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his lips the wind of the flame: and out of his tongue he cast out sparks and storms, and they were all mixed together: the blast of fire, the wind of the flames, and the great storm, & fallen with a rush upon the people, which was prepared to fight & brent them up everichone: so that of the innumerable multitude there was nothing seen, but only dust & smoke. When I saw this, I was afraid. afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and calling unto him another peaceable people: and there came much people unto him: some were glad some were sorry, some of them were bound, so that they were carried and brought forth. Then was I sick thorough great fear, and I awaked, and said: thou hast showed the servant all the wonders from the beginning, & hast counted me worthy, that thou mightest receive my prayer: show me now yet the interpretation of this dream. For thus I consider in my understanding: Woe unto them that shall be left in those days, & much more woe unto than that are not left behind: for they that were not left, were in heaviness. Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter days, which shall happen unto them, and to those that are not left behind. Therefore are they come in to great parells, and many necessities, like as these dreams declare. Yet is it easier, that he which suffereth hurt, come in these, then to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and now to see the things that shall happen in the last. Then answered he me, and said: The interpretation of the sight shall I show thee, and I will open unto thee, the thing that thou hast required. For thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, and this is the interpretation. He that taketh away the apparel in that time, hath kept himself. They that be fallen in to harm, are such as have works & says unto the Most mighty. Know this therefore, that they which be left behind, are more blessed, than they that be deed. This is the meaning of the vision. Where as thou sawest a man coming up from the deep of the see, the same is he whom God the Hyest hath kept a great season, which by his own self shall deliver his creature, & he shall order them that are left behind. And where as thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came a blast of wind, fire & storm, & how that he lift up neither sword ner weapon, but that the ruszshinge in of him destroyed the whole multitude, that came to fight against him: it signifieth, that the days come, when God will deliver them that are upon earth, & in a trance of mind shall he come upon them, that devil in the earth. And one shall undertake to fight against another, one cite against another, one place against another, Mat. 24. ● one people against another, & one realm against another. When this cometh to pass, then shall the tokens come, that I showed the before: and then shall my son be declared, whom thou sawest climb up as a man. And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle, that they have one against another, and an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as they that be willing to come and to over come him by fighting. But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Zion. Nevertheless Zion shall come, & shall be showed, being prepared & builded for all men, like as thou sawest the hill graven forth without any hands. But my son shall rebuke the people that are come for their wickedness, with the tempest, and for their evil imaginations: and their pains wherewith they shall be punished, are lickened unto the flame: and with out any labour shall he destroy them, even by the law, which is compared unto the fire. And where as thou sawest, that he gathered another peaceable people unto him: those are the ten tribes, which were carried away presoners out of their own land, in the time of Oseas the king, 4. Re. 17. a whom Salmanasar the king of Assiria took prisoner, and carried them over the water, and so came they in to another land. But they gave them this council, that they should leave the multitude of the Heithen, and to go forth in to a farther country, where never mankind dwelled: that they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. And so they entered in at the narrow passages of the water of Euphrates, ●xo. 14. e ●●su 3. d and God showed tokens for them, and held still the flood till they were passed over: for thorough that country there was a great way, namely of a year and an half journey, for the same region is called Asareth. Then dwelled they there unto the latter time: and when they come forth again, the Hyest shall hold still the springs of the stream again, that they may go thorough, therefore sawest thou the multitude with peace. And they that be left behind of thy people, are those that be found within my border. Now when he destroyeth the multitude that is gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain, and then shall he show them great wonders. Then said I: O LORD LORD, show me this: wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the deep of the see? And he said unto me: Like as thou canst neither seek out ner know these things that are in the deep of the see, even so mayest thou not see my son, or those that be with him, but in the time of the day. This is the interpretation of the dream which thou sawest, therefore thou only art here lightened: for thou hast forsaken thy own law, and applied thy diligence unto mine, and sought it. Thy life hast thou ordered in wisdom, Reg. 3. ●●ou. 7. a and hast called understanding thy mother, and therefore have I showed the the treasure of the Hyest. After three days I will show the more, and talk with the at more large, ye heavy and wondrous things will I declare unto the. Then went I forth in to the field, giving praise and thanks greatly unto God, because of his wonders which he did in time, and because he governeth the same, and such 〈◊〉 is in time, and there I sat three days. The XIIII. Chapter. Upon the third day I sat under an oak tree, then came there a voice unto me out of the bush, & said: Eszdras, Eszdras. And I said: here I am LORD, and stood up upon my feet. 〈…〉 Then spoke he unto me: In the bush did I appear unto Moses, & talked with him, when my people served in Egipte, and I sent him, and led my people out of Egipte, & brought him upon the mount Zion, where I held him by me a long season, and told him my wondrous works, and showed him the secrets of the times, and the end, and commanded him, saying: These words shalt thou declare, & not hide them. And now I say unto thee, that thou lay up in thy heart the dreams that thou hast seen, and the interpretations which I have showed thee: for thou shalt be received of all, thou shall be turned and remain with my council, and with such as be like thee, until the times be ended. For the world hath lost his youth, and the times begin to wax old. For the time is divided in to twelve parts, and ten parts of it are go all ready, and half of the tenth part: yet remaineth there that, which is after the half of the tenth part. Therefore prepare and order thy house, and reform thy people: comfort such of thou as be in trouble: and tell now of the destruction: let go from the mortal thoughts: cast away the burdens of man: put of the weak nature: lay up in some place the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haist the to flit from these times: for such evil & wickedness as thou hast now seen hap, shall they do yet much worse. For the weaker that the world and the time is, 〈…〉 the more shall 〈…〉 wickedness increase, in them that devil upon earth. For the truth is fled far away, & losing is hard at hand. For now ha●●teth the vision to come, that thou hast seen. Then answered I and said: Behold LORD, I will go as thou hast commanded me, and reform the people which are present. But they that shall be born afterward, who will exhort or rebuke them? Thus the world is set in darkness, and they that dwell therein, are without light: for thy law is kindled, because no man knoweth the things that are done of thee, or that shallbe done. If I have found grace before thee, send the holy ghost in to me, and I shall write all that hath been done in the world seen the beginning, which was written in thy law, that men may find the path, and that they which will live in the latter days, may live. And he answered me, saying: Go that way, gather thy people together, & say unto them, that they seek the not for xl. days, but look thou gather the many box trees, and take with the Sarea, Dabria, Selemia, Echanus and Asial, these five, which are ready to write swiftly, and come hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in thy heart, which shall not be put out, till the things be performed which thou shalt begin to write. And then shalt thou declare some things openly unto the perfect, and some things shalt thou show secretly unto the wise. tomorrow this hour shalt thou begin to write. Then went I forth (as he commanded me) and gathered all the people together, and said: Hear these words oh Israel: Our fathers from the beginning were straunges in Egipte, from whence they were delivered, and received the law of life, 〈…〉 which they kept not, which you also have transgressed after them. Then was this land and the land of Zion parted among you by the lot to possess. But your fathers and you your selves also have done unrighteousness, & have not kept the ways which the Hyest commanded you. And for so much as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that had given you. And now are you here and your brethren among you. Therefore if so be that you will subdue your own understanding, and reform your heart, you shall be kept alive, & after death shall you obtain mercy. For after death shall the judgement come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest, and the names of the ungodly with their works shallbe declared. Let no man therefore come now unto me, ner axe any question at me these xl. days. So I took the five men (as he commanded me) and we went in to the field, and remained there. The next day a voice called me saying: Eszdras, Open thy mouth, & drink that I give the. 〈…〉 Then opened I my mouth, & behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full of water, but the color of it was like fire. And I took it and drank. And when I had drunken it, my heart had understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast: for my spirit was kept in remembrance, and my mouth was opened and shut no more. The Hyest gave understanding unto the five men, that they written the high things of the night, which they understood not. But in the night they ate bread: as for me, I spoke in the day, and held not my tongue by night. In xl. days, they written two hundredth & four books. And it happened when the xl. days were fulfilled, that the Hyest spoke, saying: The first that thou hast written, speak openly, that the worthy and unworthy may read it. But keep the lxx. last, that thou mayest show it only to such as be wise among thy people. For in them is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of knowledge. And I did so. The XU. Chapter. Beheld, speak thou in the ears of my people the words of prophecy, which I will put in the mouth, saith the LORD: and 'cause them to be written in a letter, for it is the truth. Fear not the imaginations against that, let not the unfaithfulness of them trouble thee, that speak against the. For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness. Behold saith the LORD, I will bring plagues upon the world: the sword, hunger, death and destruction, for wickedness hath the upper hand in all the earth, and their shameful works are fulfilled. Therefore saith the LORD: I will hold my tongue no more unto their wickedness, which they do so ungodly: neither will I suffer them in the things, that they deal with all so wickedly. Behold, Apo. 6. b and 19 a the innocent blood of the troubled crieth unto me, and the souls of the righteous complain continually: and therefore (saith the LORD) I will surely avenge, and receive unto me all the innocent blood from among them. Behold, my people, Psal. 43. c Rom. 8. c 1. Co. 4. b is led as a flock of sheep to be slain, I will not suffer them now to dwell in Egipte, but will bring them ou● with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite it with plagues as afore, and will destroy all the land of it. Egipte shall mourn, and the foundations of it shallbe smitten with the plague and punishment, that God shall bring upon it. They that till the ground, shall mourn, for their sedes shall be destroyed thorough the blasting and hale, and an horrible star. woe worth the world and them that devil therein, for the sword & their destruction draweth nigh: & one people shall stand up to fight against another, & swords in their hands. For men shall be unsteadfast, and some shall do violence unto other: they shall not regard their king and princes, the ways of their doings and handelinges in their power. A man shall desire to go in to the cite, & shall not be able. For because of their pride the cities shallbe brought in fear, the houses shall shake, and men shallbe afraid. A man shall have no pity upon his neighbour, but one shall provoke another unto battle, to spoil their goods because of the hunger of bread, and because of the great trouble. Behold, I gather & call together all the kings of the earth which are from the uprysinge, from the south, from the east and Libanus to turn unto them, and restore the things that they have given them. Like as they do yet this day unto my choose, so will I do also, and recompense them in their bosom. Thus sayeth the LORD God: My right hand shall not spare the sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them, that shed the innocent blood upon earth. The fear is go out from his wrath, and hath consumed the foundations of the earth, and the sinners like the straw that is kindled. woe worth them that sin, and keep not my commandments, saith the LORD. I will not spare them. Go your way you children from violence, defile not my Sanctuary: for the LORD knoweth all them that sin against him, and therefore delivereth he them unto death and destruction: For now are the plagues come upon the world, & you shall remain in them. For God shall not deliver you, because you have sinned against him. Behold, an horrible vision cometh from the east, where generations of Dragons shall come out, and the people of the Arabes with many charettes, and the multitude of them shallbe as the wind upon earth, that all they which hear them raging in their wrath, may fear and be afraid: and as the wild bores out of the wood, so shall they go out, and with great power shall they come, and stand fighting with them, and shall waste the portion of the land of the Assyrians. And then shall the Dragons have the upper hand, not remembering their birth, and shall turn about swearing together in great power, to persecute them. But these shallbe afraid, and keep silence at their power, and shall i'll: and one out of the land of the Assyrians shall besiege them, and consume one of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and strife among their kings. Behold clouds from the east, and from the north unto the south, and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and storm. They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite at the great star upon earth and their star, and the blood shallbe from the sword unto the belly, and the smoke of man unto the Camels litter: And there shallbe great fearfulness and trembling upon earth, and they that see the wrath, shall be afraid, and a trembling shall come upon them. And then shall there come great rains from the south and from the north, and part from the west, and from the stormy wind from the east, and shall shut them up again, & the cloud which he raised up in wrath, and the star to 'cause fear toward the east and west wind, shallbe destroyed, & the great clouds shallbe lift up, and the mighty clouds full of wrath, and the star, that they may make all the earth afraid and then that devil therein, and that they may pour out over all places an horrible star, fire and h●le and flying swords, and many waters: that all fields may be full, and all rivers, & they shall break down the cities & walls, mountains & hills, all trees, wood, and the grass of the meadows, and all their fruit. And they shall go steadfast unto Babylon, and m●ke her afraid, they shall come to her and besiege her: the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her. Then shall the dust and smoke go up unto the heaven, and all they that be about her, shall bewail her: and they that remain under her, shall do service unto them that have put her in fear. And thou Asia that comfortest thyself also upon the hope of Babylon, and art a worship of her person: Woe be unto the thou wretch, because thou hast made thyself like unto her, & hast decte the daughters in whoredom, that they might triumph and please thy lovers, which have allway desired to commit whoredom with thee: thou hast followed the abominable cite in all her works and inventions. Therefore sayeth God: I will send plagues upon thee, wyddowhode, poverty, hunger, wars, and pestilence, to waste thy houses with destruction and death, and the glory of thy power shall be dried up as a flower, when the heat ariseth that is sent over the. Thou shalt be sick as a poor wife that is plagued & beaten of women: so that the mighty and lovers shall not be able to receive the. Would I so hat● the saith the LORD? If thou hadst not allway slain my choose, exalting the stroke of thy hands, and said over their death, when thou wast drunken: set forth the betwit of thy countenance. The reward of thy whoredom shallbe recompensed the in thy bosom, therefore shalt thou receive 〈…〉 reward. Like as thou hast done unto my choose (sayeth the LORD) even so shall God do unto thee, and shall deliver the in to the plague. Thy children shall die of hunger, & thou shalt fall thorough the sword. Thy cities shallbe broken down, & all thy shall perish with the sword in the field. They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, & eat their own flesh, & drink their own blood for very hunger of bread & thirst of water. Thou unhappy shalt come thorough the see, & receive plagues again. In the passage they shall cast down the slain cite, & shall rote out one part of the land, & consume the portion of thy glory. They shall tread the down like stubble, & they shall be thy fire and shall consume thee: thy cities and thy land, thy wood & thy fruitful trees shall they burn up with the fire. Thy children shall they carry away captive, and look what thou hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of thy face. The XVI. Chapter. woe unto the Babylon & Asia, woe unto the Egipte & Syria: gird your selves with clotheses of sack & hair, and mourn for your children, be sorry, for your destruction is at hand. A sword is sent upon you, & who will turn it back? A fire is kindled among you, & who will quench it? Plagues are sent unto you, & what is he that will drive them away? May any man drive away an hungry lion in the wood? Or may any man quench the fire in the stubble, when it hath begun to burn? May one turn again the arrow, that is shot of a strong archer? The mighty LORD sendeth the plagues, & what is he that will drive them away? The fire is kindled & go forth in his wrath, & what is he that will quench it? He shall cast lightenynges, & who shall not fear? He shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid? The LORD shall threaten, & who shall not utterly be beaten to powder at his presence? The earth quaketh, & the foundations thereof: the see ariseth up with wawes from the deep, and the floods of it are unquiet, & the fish thereof also before the LORD, & before the glory of his power. For strong is his right hand that holdeth the bow, his arrows that he shuteth, are sharp, & shall not miss, when they begin to be shot in to the ends of the world. Behold, the plagues are sent, & shall not turn again, till they come upon earth. The fire is kindled, & shall not be put out, till it consume the foundations of the earth. Like as an arrow which is shot of a mighty archer, returns not backward, even so the plagues that shall be sent upon earth, shall not turn again. Woe is me, woe is me, who will deliver me in those days? The beginning of sorrows & great mourning: the beginning of dearth & great death: the beginning of wars, & the powers shall stand in feare● the beginning of evils, & they shall tremble every one. What shall I do in these things, when the plagues come? Behold, hunger and plague, trouble & anguish are sent, as scourges for amendment. But for all these things they shall not turn from their wickednesses, ner be allway mindful of the scourges. Behold, victuals shallbe so good cheap upon earth, that they shall think themselves to be in good case: and even then shall mischief grow upon earth, wars, dearth & great disquietness. For many of them that devil upon earth shall perish of hunger, & the other that escape the hunger, shall the sword destroy: & the deed shallbe cast out as dung, & there shallbe no man to comfort them. For the earth shallbe waisted, & the cities shallbe cast down: there shallbe no man left to till the earth & to sow it. The trees shall give fruit, & who shall pluck them of & gather them? The grapes shall be ripe, & who shall tread them? For all places shallbe desolate of men, so that one man shall desire to see another, or to hear his voice. For of one whole cite there shallbe ten left, & two in the field, which shall hide themselves in the thick buszshes, & in the cliffs of stones: like as when there remain three or four olives upon the olive tree, or as when a vineyard is gathered, there are left some grapes, of them that diligently sought thorough the vineyard. Even so in those days there shallbe three or four left, for them that search their houses with the sword. And the earth shallbe left waist, & the fields thereof shall wax old: and her ways and all her paths shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travail there thorough. The daughters shall mourn, having no bridegroom's: the women shall make lamentation, having no huszbandes, their daughters shall mourn, having no help of their bridegroom. In the wars shall they be destroyed, & their huszbandes shall perish of hunger. O you servants of the LORD, hear these things, & mark them. Behold, the word of the LORD, O receive it: behold, the plagues draw nigh, & are not slack in tarrying. Like as a travailing woman, which after the ix. month bringeth forth a son, when the hour of the birth is come, an hour two or three afore that the pains come upon her body, & when the child cometh to the birth, they tarry not the twinkling of an eye: Even so shall not the plagues be slack to come upon earth, & the world shall mourn, & sorrows shall come upon it on every side. O my people, hear my word, make you ready to the battle: & in all evil be even as pylgrems upon earth. He that selleth, let him be as he that flieth his way: & he that buyeth, as one that will lose. Cor. 7. d Who so occupieth merchandise, as he that winneth not: & he that buildeth, as he that shall not devil therein: he that soweth, as one that shall not reap: he that twysteth the vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes: they that marry, as they that shall get no children: & they that marry not, ●sal. 126. a ●ro. 10 c ●ccli. 11. b as the widows: & therefore they that labour, labor in vain. For strangers shall reap their fruits, & spoil their goods, over throw their houses, & take their children captive, for in captivity & hunger shall they get children. And they that occupy their merchandise with robbery, how long deck they their cities, their houses, their possessions & personnes? the more will I punish them for their sins, sayeth the LORD. Like as an whore envieth an honest woman, so shall righteousness hate iniquity, when she decketh herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he cometh that defendeth, which shall make inquysition for all sin upon earth. And therefore be not you like there unto, ner to the works thereof: for or ever it be long, iniquity shallbe taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall reign among you. Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coals of fire shall burn upon his head, which saith before the LORD God & his glory: I have not sinned. Behold, the LORD knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts & their hearts. Gene. 1. a For he spoke but the word: let the earth be made, & it was made: let the heaven be made, & it was made. In his word were the stars made, & he knoweth the number of them. He searcheth the ground of the deep, & the treasures thereof: he hath measured the see, & what it containeth. He hath shut the see in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters. He spreadeth out the heaven like a vowte, upon the waters hath he founded it. In the desert and dry wilderness hath he made springs of water, and poles upon the top of the mountains, that the floods might pour down from the stony rocks to water the earth. He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him breath, life and understanding, ye and the spirit of the almighty God, which made all things, and hath searched the ground of all the secrets of the earth. He knoweth your imaginations & inventions, and what you think when you sin, & would hide your sins. Therefore hath the LORD searched and sought out all your wo●kes, and he shall bewray you all. And when your sins are brought forth, you shallbe ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day. What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before God and his angels? Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him, leave of from your sins, and forget your unrighteousnesses, and meddle no more with them: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble. For behold, the heat of a great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idle with Idols: and they that consent unto them, shall be had in derision, laughed to scorn, & trodden under foot. For unto the places there shallbe a place, and in the next cities a great insurrection upon those that fear the LORD. They shall be like mad men, they shall spare no man: they shall spoil and waist such as fear the LORD, their goods shall they take from them, and shoot them out of their houses. Then shall it be known who are my choose, & they shallbe tried as the gold in the fire. Hear O you my beloved, saith the LORD: behold, the days of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same. Be not you afraid, despair not, for God is your captain. Who so keepeth my commandments and precepts (sayeth the LORD God) let not your sins weigh you down, & let not your unrighteousnesses be lift up. Woe be unto them that are subdued unto their sins, and tangled in their wickednesses: like as a field is hedged in with buszshes, and the path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travail thorough: and so is he taken, and cast in the fire, and brent. The end of the four book of Eszdras. The book of Tobias. What this book containeth. Chap. I Of the kindred, life and godly conversation of Tobias. Chap. two, The loving compassion that Tobias showeth in buryenge the deed, for the which cause he is hated and persecuted. God nurtoureth him with blindness. His wife casts him in the teeth. Chap. III Tobias prayeth heartily unto God, for the trouble and captivity of himself and the people. Of Sara the daughter of Raguel. Chap. four Tobias teacheth his son in the fear of God. Chap. V The son obeyeth the father, and goeth his earande. God provideth mercifully for him, and sendeth his angel to be his guide. Chap. VI In their journey they take a fish, whereof the angel commandeth him to keep the heart, the gall and the liver, and telleth him whereto it is good. Chap. VII. They come to Raguel, which receiveth them lovingly, and marrieth his daughter Sara unto Tobias. Chap. VIII. Tobias going to bed with his wife, ordereth himself as the angel bade him, and so both he and his wife are preserved from evil. Chap. IX. Tobias sendeth the angel unto Gabelus for the money. Chap. X. Tobias father and mother long sore for his coming: And Raguel saying that he can keep him no longer, sendeth him away with his wife. Chap. XI. They return home, and are welcomed joyfully. Old Tobias hath his sight again. They rejoice altogether, and give thanks unto God. Chap. XII. The father and the son would fain reward the angel. He will have nothing: but showeth them what he is. Chap. XIII. Tobias the elder praiseth God, & exorteth other men, to be thankful unto him. Chap. XIIII. Tobias being now old, prophesieth the destruction of Ninive, and the prosperous health of Israel. The son forsaketh the sinful cite, as his father bade him, & goeth to his father in law. The first Chapter. TObias was of the tribe and cite of Nephtali, which lieth in the high countries of Galilee above Naason the way toward the west, having the cite of Sephet upon the left side. Though he was taken prisoner in the days of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, 〈◊〉. 17. a nevertheless being in captivity, he forsook not the way of truth: In so much that what so ever he might get, he parted it daily with his felowpresoners & brethren, that were of his kindred. And though he were younger than all in the tribe of Nephtali, yet did not he behave himself childeshly in his works. And when all the other went to the golden calves, 3. Re. 12. ● which Jeroboam the king of Israel had made, he himself alone fled all their companies, and got him to jerusalem unto the temple of the LORD, and there worshipped the LORD God of Israel, Exo. 22. d and 23. c Deut. 12. a 18. a. 26. a faithfully offering all his first fruits and tithes, so that in the third year he ministered all the tithes unto the strangers and converts. These and such like things did he according to the law of God, when he was yet but young. But when he was a man, he took out of his own tribe a wife called Anna, Nu. 36. c and of her he begat a son, whom he called after his own name, and taught him from his youth up, to fear God, and to refrain from all sin. Now when he with his wife, his son and with all his kindred was come in captivity unto Ninive, what time as they all are of the meats of the Heithen, Gen. 43. ● Iudit. 12. ● he kept his soul, and was never defiled in their meats. And for so much as he was mindful of the LORD in all his heart, jere. 40. ● God gave him favour in the presence of Salmanasar the king, which gave him power to go where he would, and so had he liberty to do what him list. So went Tobias unto all them that were in preson, and comforted them, Matt. 25. and gave them wholesome exhortations. And when he came to Rages a cite of the Medes, having Some read: * ten talons of gold. ten talents of silver (of the things where with the king had honoured him) and saw among a great company of people of his kindred, one Gabelus (which was of his own tribe) being in necessity, he gave him the said weight of silver under an handwriting. After a long season when Salmanasar the king was deed, and Sennacherib his son reigned in his stead, which hated the children of Israel, Tobias went daily thorough out all his kindred, and comforted them, and gave of his goods to every one of them, as much as he might: he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and buried the deed and slain, and that diligently. And when Sennacherib the king came again and fled out of jewry (what time 4. Re. 19 ● as God punished him for his blasphemy) & in his wrath slay many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies. 4. Esd. 2. c But when it was told the king, he commanded to slay him, and took away all his goods. Nevertheless Tobias with his son & with his wife fled his way, and was hid naked, for there were many that loved him. But after xlv. days the king was slain of his own sons. Then came Tobias again to his house, and all his goods were restored unto him. The II Chapter. AFter these things upon a solemn day of the LORD Tobias made a good feast in his house, & said unto his son: Go that way & bring hither some of our tribe, such as fear God, that they may make merry with us. And when he was go, he came again, and told his father, that one of the children of Israel lay slain upon the street. And immediately he leap from his table, left the feast, came fasting to the deed coarse, took him & bore him privily in to his house, that when the Son was down, he might safely bury him. And when he had hid the coarse, he ate his meat with mourning and fear, remembering the words, that the LORD sayeth by the prophet Amos: ●mos 8. b ● Mac. 1. b your high feasts shallbe turned to sorrow and heaviness. But when the Son was down, he went his way & buried him. Then all his neighbours reproved him, saying: It is not long, since it was commanded to slay the because of this matter, ●obi. 1. d and hast scarce escaped the danger of death, and buriest thou the deed again? Nevertheless Tobias fearing God more than the king, took the bodies of the slain, hid them in his house, & buried them at midnight. It happened upon a day, that he had buried the deed, & was weighed, came home, & laid him down by the brickwall & slept. And while he was a sleep, there fallen down upon his eyes warm dung out of the swallows nest, so that he was blind. ●eu. 8. a 〈◊〉. 13. a 〈◊〉. 9 a 〈…〉. a This tentation did God suffer to happen unto him, that they which came after, might have an example of his patience, like as of holy job. For in so much as he ever feared God from his youth up, & kept his commandments, he was not heavy against God, that the plague of blindness chanced unto him, but remained steadfast in the fear of God, and thanked God all the days of his life. For like as blessed job was had in derision of kings, even so was he laughed to scorn of his elders & kynsfolkes, which said unto him: where is thy hope, job 4. ● for the which thou hast done allmes and buried the deed? But Tobias rebuked them, & spoke: Say not so, for we are the children of holy men, Tobi▪ ● & look for the life, which God shall give unto them, that never turn their believe from him. Anna his wife went daily to the weeving work, Ephe ● & look what living she could get with the labor of her hands, she brought it. And it happened that she took a kid and brought it home. And when her huszband herd it cry, he said: look that it be not stolen, 〈…〉 restore it again to the owners: for it is not lawful for us, to eat or to touch any thing of theft. Then was his wife angry, and said: job 1. ● Now is thy hope become vain openly, & thy allmes deeds are manifest. With these & such like words did she cast him in the teeth. The III Chapter. THen Tobias took it heavily, & with tears began to make his prayer, saying: O LORD, thou art righteous, & all thy judgements are true, ye all the ways are mercy, faithfulness & judgement. Psal. ●● And now O LORD be mindful of me, & take no vengeance of my sins, neither remember my myszdedes ner the myszdedes of my elders. For we have not been obedient unto the commandments, therefore are we spoiled, brought in to captivity, in to death, in to derision & shame unto all nations, among whom thou hast scattered us. And now O LORD, the judgements are great, for we have not done according to the commandments, neither have we walked innocently before ye. And now O LORD, de●le with me according to thy will, & command my spirit to be received in peace, for mere erpedient were it for me to die, them to live. At the same time it happened, that Sara the daughter of Raguel at Rages a cite of the Medes was slandered of one of her father's handmaids, namely, that she should have had seven huszbandes, which as soon as they were go in unto her, were slain of the devil called Asmodeus. Therefore when she reproved the maiden for her fault, she answered her, saying: God let us never see son ner daughter of the more upon earth, thou killer of thy huszbandes. Will't thou slay me also, as thou hast slain seven men? At this voice went Sara in to an high chamber of her house, and three days and three nights she neither ate ner drank, but continued in prayer, and besought God with tears, that he would deliver her from this rebuke. Upon the third day it chanced, that when she had made an end of her prayer, she praised the LORD, saying: Blessed be thy name O God of our fathers, which when thou art wroth, showest mercy, and in the time of trouble thou forgivest the sins of them, that call upon the. Unto the O LORD turn I my face, unto the lift I up mine eyes. I beseek the O LORD, louse me out of the bonds of this rebuke, or else take me utterly away from of the earth. Thou knowest LORD, that I never had desire unto man, and that I have kept my soul clean from all uncleanly lust. I have not kept company with those that pass their time in sport, neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in light behaviour. Nevertheless an husband have I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy fear. Now peradventure either I have been unworthy of them, or else were they unmeet for me, for thou haply hast kept me to another huszband. 〈…〉 For why? thy council is not in the power of man. But who so ever loveth the and serveth the a right, is sure, that if his life be tempted and proved, it standeth in the trying: and if he endure in patience, he shall have a reward and be hylie crowned: and if he be in trouble, that God (no doubt) shall deliver him: and if his life be in chastening, that he shall have leave to come unto thy mercy. For thou hast no pleasure in our damnation: & why? after a storm thou makest the wether fair and still: after weeping and heaviness thou givest great joy. Thy name O God of Israel, be praised for ever. At the same time were both their prayers heard in the sight of the majesty of the Hyest God. And Raphael the holy angel of the LORD was sent to help them both, whose prayers came together before God. The four Chapter. SO when Tobias thought his prayer to be herd, that he might die, he called unto him his son Tobias, & 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, & hold thy mother in honour all the days of her life. For thou oughtest to remember, what and how great parels she suffered for the 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, & beware, jest at any time thou consent unto sin, Rom. 6. b and jest thou let slip the commandments of the LORD our God. give allmes of thy goods, and turn never thy face from the poor: and so shall it come to pass, that the face of the LORD shall not be turned away from the. Be merciful after the power. If thou hast much, give plenteously: if thou hast little, do thy diligence, gladly to give of that little. For so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity. For allmes delivereth Some reader * from all sin & from donath. from death, & suffereth not the soul to come in darkness. A great comfort is allmes before the high God, unto all them that do it. My son, keep the well from all whoredom, 1. Tess. 4. ● and (beside thy wife) see that no fault be known of the. Let never pride have rule in thy mind ner in thy word, Gen. 3. a for in pride began all destruction. Who so ever worketh any thing for thee, immediately give him his hire, Deu. 24. ● and look that thy hired servant wagies remain not by the over night. Matt. 7. a Look that thou never do unto another man, the thing that thou wouldest not another man should do unto the. Eat thy bread with the hungry and poor, Luc. 14. ● and cover the naked with thy clotheses. Set thy bread and wine upon the burial of the righteous, and do not thou eat and drink thereof with the sinners. Axe ever council at the wise. Be allway thankful unto God, and be seek him, that he will order thy ways, & that what: so ever thou devisest or takest in hand, it may remain in him. I certify the also my son, that (when thou wast yet but a bab) I delivered ten talentes of silver unto Gabelus, at Rages a cite of the Medes, Tobi. 1. ● & his handwriting have I by me. And therefore seek some means, how thou mayest come by him, & receive of him the said weight of silver, and give him his handwriting again. My son, be not afraid: truth it is, we lead here a poor life: Rom. 8. ● but great good shall we have, if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do well. The V Chapter. THen answered Tobias his father, & said: father, all that thou hast commanded me, will I do, and that diligently. But how I shall require this money, I can not tell. neither doth he know me, ner I him. What token shall I give him▪ And as for the way thither, I never known it. Then his father answered him, and said: I have his handwriting by me, which when thou showest him, immediately he shall pay the. But go thy way now, & get the some faithful man to go with the for an hire, that thou mayest receive the money, while I am yet living. Then went Tobias out, & upon the street he found a fair young man standing, girded up, and as it were one ready to take his journey. And he known not that it was an angel of God, but saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, thou good young man? He answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said unto him? knowest thou the way, that leadeth unto the country of the Medes? He answered: I know it well, and all those streets have I go often times, and have lodged with our brother Gabelus, that dwelleth in Rages a cite of the Medes, which lieth upon the mount Egabthanis. Tobias said unto him: I pray thee, tarry for me, till I have told my father these things. Then went Tobias in, and told his father all. At the which his father marveled, & prayed, that he would come in unto him. Now when the angel came in, he saluted him, and said: joy be with the for evermore. And old Tobias said: what joy can I have, that sit here in darkness, & see not the light of heaven? The young man said unto him: Be of good cheer, God shall help the shortly. And Tobias said unto him: Canst thou bring my son to Gabelus, unto the cite of Rages in Media? And when thou comest again, I shall pay the thy hire. And the angel said unto him: I shall lead thy son, and bring him to the again. Then Tobias answered him: Tell me I pray thee, of what house, or of what tribe art thou? The angel Raphael said unto him: Axest thou after the kindred of an hireling, or seekest thou a guide for thy son to go with him? But that I make the not careful, I am Azarias the son of great Hananias. And Tobias answered: Thou art come of a great kindred, but I pray thee, be not displeased, that I desired to know thy kindred. The angel said unto him: Thy son shall I lead forth safely, and bring him whole to the again. Then answered Tobias, and said: well, go on your way, and God be in your journey, and his angel bear you company. So when they had prepared all things, that they would take with them in their journey, Tobias bade his father & his mother far well, and they went on their way both together. Now when they were go, his mother began to weep, and said: 〈…〉 The staff of our age hast thou taken away, and sent him from us. Would God that money had never been, for the which thou hast sent him away. If we had been content with our poverty, this had been great riches unto us, that we saw our son here. Then said Tobias unto her: weep not, our son shall come to us again safe and sound, & thy eyes shall see him. For I trust, that the good angel of God shall bear him company, and order well all the things that he doth: so that he shall come to us again with joy. At these words his mother left of from weeping, & held her tongue. The VI Chapter. SO Tobias went on his way, and a dog followed him, and the first night they abode by the water of Tigris. Then went he out to wash his feet, and behold, there came forth an horrible fish to devour him. Of whom Tobias was afraid, and cried with a loud voice, saying: LORD, he cometh upon me. And the angel said unto him: Take him by the cheek shoulder-blade, and draw him to the. And he did so, and drawn him upon the land, and the fish began to leap at his feet. Then said the angel unto him: Take out the bowels of this fish, and as for the heart, the gall and the liver, keep them by the. For these things are necessary and good for medicine. Tobias did so, and roasted the fish, and they took him with them in their journey: the residue they salted, as much as was sufficient for them, till they came to Rages. Then Tobias axed the angel, and said unto him: I pray the brother Azarias, tell me, where to are these things good of the fish, that thou hast bidden me keep? The angel answered him and said: If thou layest a piece of the heart upon the coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all manner of evil spretes, whether it be from man or from woman, so that from thence forth the same shall come no more unto them. The gall is good to anoint or to struck the eyes withal, where as there is any blemish in them, so shall they be whole. And Tobias said unto him: where will't thou that we remain? 〈…〉 The angel answered and said: Here is a nigh kinsman of thy, one Raguel by name, which hath a daughter called Sara, & hath neither son ner daughter but her. All his good belongeth unto thee, and thou must marry his daughter: and therefore desire her at her father, and he shall give her the to wife. Then answered Tobias & said: As I understand, she hath been married unto seven huszbandes, and they all are deed: and I have herd say, that the devil slay them. I am afraid therefore, jest such things happen unto me also: which if it came to pass (seeing I am the only son of my father and my mother) I should bring than in their age with sorrow to their graves. Then said the angel Raphael unto him: Hear me, and I will tell thee, what they be of whom the devil hath power. Namely, they that receive marriage of such a fashion, that they shut God out from them and from their heart, ●ess. 4. a 〈…〉 b and give themselves to their own lust, even as it were an horse and Moole, which have no understanding: upon such hath the devil power. But when thou takest her, and art come in to the chamber, withhold thyself from her three days, and give thy diligence unto nothing but unto prayer with her. ●obi. 8. b And in the first night roast the liver of the fish, and the devil shallbe driven away. The second night shalt thou be received in to the company of the holy patriarchs. The third night shalt thou obtain the blessing of God, so that whole children shallbe born of you. After the third night take the maiden in the fear of God, and more for the desire of children, then for any fleshly lust: that in the sede of Abraham thou mayest obtain the blessing in children. The VII. Chapter. THen went they in to Raguel, which received them joyfully. And when Raguel looked upon Tobias, he said unto Anna his wife: How like is this young man unto my sister's son. And when he had spoken this, he said: whence be you good brethren? They said: Of the tribe of Nephtali, out of the captivity of Ninive. Then said Raguel unto them: know you my brother Tobias? They said: ye, we know him well. And when he had spoken much good of him, the angel said unto Raguel: Tobias of whom thou axest, is this young man's father. Then Raguel bowed himself down, and wept, took him about the neck and kissed him, ●obi. 9 b and said: Gods blessing have thou my son, for thou art the son of a good virtuous man. And Anna his wife and Sara his daughter wept also. Now when they had talked together, Raguel bade kill a wether, and to make a feast. And when he prayed them to sit down to dinner, Tobias said: I will neither eat ner drink here this day, except thou first grant me my petition, & promise me to give me thy daughter Sara. When Raguel heard this, he was astonnyed, for he known, what had happened unto the other seven men, that went in unto her: and he begannne to fear that it should chance unto him also in like manner. And while he stood so in doubt, and gave the young man no answer, the angel said unto him: Fear not to give him thy daughter, for unto this man that fears God, belongeth thy daughter to wife, therefore might none other have her. Then said Raguel: I doubt not, but God hath accepted my prayers and tears in his sight: and I trust he caused you to come unto me for the same intent, that this daughter of mine might be married in her own kindred, according to the law of Moses. And now doubt thou not, Tob. 6 but I will give her unto thee: So he took the right-hand of his daughter, and gave her in to the right hand of Tobias, and said: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of jacob be with you, join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you. And they took a letter and made a writing of the marriage. And then made they merry, and praised God. And Raguel called Anna his wife unto him, and bade her prepare another chamber, and thither he brought Sara his daughter, and she wept. Then said he unto her: Be of good cheer my daughter, the LORD of heaven give the joy, for the heaviness that thou hast suffered. The VIII. Chapter. NOw after that they had supped, they brought the young man in to her. Then thought Tobias upon the words of the angel, and took out of his bag a piece of the liver of the fish, and laid it upon the hot coals. So the angel Raphael took hold of the devil, and sent him away, and bound him in the wilderness of the higher Egipte. Then spoke Tobias unto the virgin, and said: Up Sara, let us make our prayer unto God to day, tomorrow, 1. Cor. ● and overmorow: for these three nights will we reconcile ourselves with God: and when the third holy night is past, we shall join together in the duty of marriage. For we are the children of holy men, and we may not come together as the heathen, that know not God. Then stood they up both together, and be sought God earnestly, 〈◊〉. 6. d that he would preserve them. And Tobias said: O LORD God of oh fathers, praised be thou of heaven & earth of the see, wells, & floods, & of all the creatures tures that be therein. Thou maydest Adam of the mould of the earth, 〈◊〉. 2. b & gavest him Eva for an helper. And now LORD thou knowest that it is not because of voluptuousness, that I take this sister of mine to wife, but only for the love of childen, in whom thy name be blessed for ever. And Sara said: have mercy upon us (O LORD) have mercy upon us, and let us both come whole and sound to a good age. And about the cock crow, it happened, that Raguel called his servants, and they went with him, to make a grave. For he said: it is chanced unto him peradventure, as it did unto the other seven men, that went in unto her. Now when they had made the grave, Raguel came again to his wife, and said unto her: send one of thy maidens, to look if he be deed, that I may bury him afore it be light day. So she sent a maiden to see, which when she came in to the chamber, she found them whole and sound, sleeping together. And so she came again, & brought good tidings. Then Raguel and Anna his wife praised the LORD, and said: Praised be thou oh LORD God of Israel, For it is not happened unto us, as we thought. For thou hast dealt mercifully with us, and put away from us the enemy that persecuted us, and hast showed mercy unto yonder two beloved. O LORD, 'cause them to magnify the more perfectly, and to offer the the sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health: that all people may know, that thou only art God in all the earth. And immediately Raguel commanded his servants, to fill the grave, that they had made, with earth, afore it was light: and bade his wife prepare a feast, & to make ready all things that were necessary for meat, to such as went by the way. He caused two fat kine also and four wethers to be slain, & meats to be prepared for all his neighbours and friends. And Raguel charged Tobias, to remain with him two weeks. As for all the good that he had, he gave Tobias the one half of it, and made this writing, that the half which remained, should fall unto Tobias after their death. The IX. Chapter. THen Tobias called unto him the angel, whom he thought to have been a man, and said unto him. Brother Azarias, I pray the hearken unto my words: If I should give myself to be the servant, I shall not deserve the providence. Nevertheless I beseek thee, that thou wilt take the beasts and the servants, and go unto Gabelus in Rages the cite of the Medes, and deliver him his handwrytinge, and receive the money of him, and pray him to come to my marriage. For thou knowest thyself, that my father telleth the days: and if I tarry one day to long, he will be sorry in his mind. Now seist thou how earnestly Raguel hath required me, so that I can not say him nay. Then took Raphael four of Raguels' servants, and two Camels, & went unto Rages the cite of the Medes: and when he had found Gabelus, he gave him his handwryting, & received all the money. He told him also of Tobias the son of Toby, how all things had happened, & caused him to come with him to the marriage. Now when he came in to the house of Raguel, he found Tobias sitting at the table: & he leap up, & they kissed one another, and Gabelus wept, and praised God, and said: the blessing of the God of Israel have thou, Tob. ● for thou art the son of a right virtuous & just man, & of one that fears God, & giveth great allmes. And blessing have the wife, and your elders, that you may see your children, and your childers children, unto the third and fourth generation, and that your seed may be blessed of the God of Israel, which reigneth world without end. And when they all had said Amen, they went to the feast, but with the fear of the LORD held they the feast of the marriage. The X. Chapter. NOw while young Tobias made long tarienge by reason of the marriage, his father was full of care and heaviness, and thought: what should be the cause, that my son tarrieth so long? Or why should he be kept so long there? Peradventure Gabelus is deed, and no man will give him the money. Thus began he to be very sorrowful, he & Anna his wife with him, & began to weep both together, because their son was not come again unto them at the day appointed. As for his mother, she wept with uncomfortable tears, and said: Woe is me, my son: O what ailed us to send the away into a strange country, thou light of our eyes, thou staff of our age, Tob ● thou comfort of our life, thou hope of our generation? seeing all the things that we have are only in thee, we should not have sent the away from us. Then Tobias comforted her, and said: hold thy tongue, and be not discomforted, our son is whole and sound: the man that we sent him withal, is faithful enough. Nevertheless she might in no wise be comforted: but daily went out, looked about, and went about all the streets, whereby she thought he should come again: that (if it were possible) she might see him coming afar of. But Raguel said unto his son in law: O tarry here, and I shall send a messenger unto thy father Tobias, to tell him that thou art in good health. Tobias said unto him: I am sure, that my father and my mother count every day, and that their hearts are sorry. So when Raguel prayed Tobias with many words, & he would in no wise hear him, he delivered Sara unto him, & the half part of all his good: in servants and handmaidens, in sheep, in camels, and in kine and much money, and so sent him away from him with peace and joy, and said: The holy angel of the LORD be with you in your journey, and bring you forth safe & sound, that you may find all things in good case with your elders, and that mine eyes may see your children, afore I die. So the elders embraced their daughter, kissed her, and let her go, exortinge her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to rule well her huszsholde, to keep her house in good order, and to show herself faultless. The XI. Chapter. NOw as they were going homeward again, upon the xj. day they came to Charra, which lieth in the half way toward Ninive. And the angel said: Brother Tobias, thou knowest how thou hast left thy father: therefore if it please thee, we two will go before, and let the household with thy wife and the cattles come soft & fayrly after us. And when Tobias was content that they should go before, Raphael said unto him: Take of the gall of the fish with thee, for it shall be necessary. So Tobias took of the g●ll, and they went their way. But Anna the mother of Tobias sat daily by the way side upon the top of an hill, from whence she might see far about her. And while she was waiting there for his coming, she looked a far of, and anon she perceived her son coming, and ran and told her buszbande, saying: behold, thy son cometh. And Raphael said unto Tobias: As soon as thou comest in to the house, immediately worship the LORD thy God, and give thanks unto him: then go to thy father, and kiss him, & struck his eyes over with the gall of the fish, that thou hast brought with the. For be sure, that his eyes shall strait way be opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice at the sight of the. Then the dog that had been with them in their journey, ran before, and came as a messenger, and wagged with his tail for gladness. So the blind father arose, and began to run, and stumbled with his feet, and gave a servant his hand, ran to meet his son, received him, and kissed him, he and his wife, and began to weep for joy. Now when they had worshipped & thanked God, they sat down. Then took Tobias of the fish gall, and anointed his father's eyes: and tarried half an hour, and then began the blemish to go out of his eyes, like as it had been the white szkynne of an egg: which Tobias took and drawn from his eyes, and immediately he received his sight. Then they praised God, he and his wife, and all they that known him. And Tobias said: O LORD God of Israel, I give the praise and thanks, for thou hast chastened me, and made me whole. And lo, now do I see my son Tobias. After seven days came Sara his sons wife also whole and sound with all the household and cattles, with camels and much money of his wives, and with the money that he had received of Gabelus: and he told his father and his mother all the benefits, which God had done for him, by the man that led him. Achior also and Nabath Tobias sister sons came and were glad, & rejoiced with him, by reason of all the good that God had showed unto him. And so for the space of seven days they made merry, and were right joyful everyone. The XII. Chapter. THen Tobias called his son unto him & said: What may we give this holy man, that went with thee? Tobias answered his father and said: Father, what reward shall we give him? Or what thing can deserve his benefits? He hath been my guide, and brought me safe again: he received the money from Gabelus, he caused me to get my wife, he drove the evil spirit from her, he hath been occasion of gladness to her father and mother: he delivered me, that I was not devoured of the fish, he hath made the to see the light of heaven, ye we all have received great good of him. How should we worthily deserve these things unto him? But I pray the my father, that thou will't desire him, if happy he will vouchsafe, to take with him the half of all that we have brought. So the father and the son called him, took him aside, and began to pray him, that he would be content to take in good worth, the half part of all that they had brought. Then said he secretly unto them: Praise the God of heaven, and give thanks unto him before all men living, for he hath showed his mercy Some read * unto you. unto us. It is good to hide the Kings secret, but to show and to praise the works of God, it is an honourable thing. Prayer is good with fasting, and to give allmes is better, then to hoard up treasures of gold. Tob. 4. b Dani. 4. d For allmes delivereth from death, cleanseth sin, and causeth to find everlasting life, But they that do sin and unrighteousness, are the enemies of their own souls. Wherefore I tell you the truth, and will hide nothing from you. Tob. 2. a When thou praydest with tears, and burydest the deed, and leftest thy dinner, and hyddest the deed in thy house upon the day time, that thou mightest bury them in the night, I offered thy prayer before the LORD. And because thou wast accept and beloved of God, it was necessary, that tentation should try the. And now hath the LORD sent me to heal thee, Prou. 3. b and to deliver Sara the sons wife from the evil spirit. For I am Raphael an angel, one of the seven that stand before God. When they heard this, they were sore afraid, and trembled, and fallen down upon their faces unto the ground. Then said the angel: Peace be with you, fear not. Where as I have been with you, it is the will of God, give praise and thanks unto him. You thought that I did eat and drink with you, Gen. 18. a and 19 a jud. 13. c but I use meat that is invisible, and drink that can not be seen of men. Now therefore is the time that I must turn again, unto him that sent me: but be you thankful unto God, and tell out all his wondrous works. And when he had spoken these words, he was taken away out of their sight, so that they saw him no more. Then fallen they down flat upon their faces by the space of three hours, and praised God: and when they rose up, they told all his wondrous works. Then XIII. Chapter. THen old Tobias opened his mouth, and praised the LORD and said: great art thou oh LORD for evermore, and thy kingdom world without end: for thou scourgest and healest, 〈…〉 thou ledest unto hell, and bryngest out again, and there is none that may escape thy hand. O give thanks unto the LORD you children, of Israel, and praise him in the sight of the Heithen. For among the heathen which know him not hath he scattered you, to the intent that you should show forth his marvelous works: & 'cause them for to know, that there is none other God almighty but he. He hath chastened us for our myszdedes, and for his own mercy sake shall he save us. consider then, how he hath dealt with you, & praise him with fear and dread, and magnify the everlasting king in your works. I will praise him even in the land of my captivity, for he hath showed his majesty unto a sinful people. Turn you therefore O you sinners, and do righteousness before God, and be you sure, that he will show his mercy upon you. As for me & my soul, we will rejoice in God. O praise the LORD all you his choose, hold the days of gladness, and be thankful unto him. 〈…〉 O jerusalem thou cite of God, the LORD hath punished the for the works of thy own hands. O praise the LORD in thy good things, & give thanks to the everlasting God, that he may build up his tabernacle again in thee, that he may call again unto thee, all such as be in captivity, and that thou mayest have joy for evermore. With a fair light shalt thou shine, & all the ends of the world shall honour the. 〈…〉 The people shall come unto the from far, 〈…〉 they shall bring gifts, and worship the LORD in thee, and thy land shall they have for a Sanctuary, for they shall call upon the great name in the. Cursed shall they be that despise thee, & all they that blaspheme thee, shall be condemned: but blessed shall they be, that build the up. As for thee, thou shalt rejoice in thy children, for they all shallbe blessed, and gathered together unto the LORD. Blessed are they all that love thee, and be glad of thy peace. Praise thou the LORD oh my soul, for the LORD our God hath delivered his cite jerusalem from all her troubles. I will count myself happy, if my seed remain to see the clearness of Jerusalem. The gates of jerusalem shallbe builded with Sapphire and smaragd, and all the compass of her walls with precious stones. 〈…〉 All her streets shallbe paved with white Marblestone, and in all her streets shall hallelujah be sung. Praised be the LORD, which hath exalted her, that his kingdom may be upon her for evermore, Amen. And so Tobias made an end of his talking. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd after that Tobias had gotten his sight again, 〈◊〉 42. c 〈…〉. a he lived two and xl. years, & saw his childers children. Now when he was an hundredth and two year old, he died, & was buried honourably in Ninive. For when he was six and fifty years of age, he lost the sight of his eyes, and when he was three score year old, he got his sight again. The residue of his life led he in joy, and increased well in the fear of God, & departed in peace. But in the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias, & seven young springaldes his sons children, and said unto them: The destruction of Ninive is at hand, 〈◊〉 23 〈…〉 c for the word of the LORD can not fail, and our brethren that are scattered out of the land of Israel, shall come thither again. And the whole land of it that hath been waist, 〈…〉 shallbe filled: and the house of God that was brent in it, shallbe builded again, & all such as fear God shall return thither: the heathen also shall forsake their Idols, & come to jerusalem, and devil there, and all the kings of the earth shallbe glad of her, and worship the LORD God of Israel. And therefore my children, hear your father: 〈…〉 Serve the LORD in faithfulness, seek after his will, and do the thing that pleaseth him. Command your children that they do right, give allmes, be mindful of God, and ever to be thankful unto him in truth and with all their power. Hear me therefore my children, and abide not here: but in what day so ever you have buried your mother beside me, get you from hence. For I see, that the wickedness of it shall bring it to destruction and end. After the death of his mother, Tobias departed away from Ninive, with his wife and children, and with his childers children, & came again to his father and mother in law, and found them whole and in a good age, and took the care of them. And he closed their eyes, and was heir unto all Raguels' goods, and saw the fifth generation and childers children. And when he was xcix. year of age, he died in the fear of the LORD, and his kynsfolkes buried him. And all his posterity continued in a good life, and holy conversation: so that they were loved & accepted both of God and men, and of all the people of the land. The end of the book of Tobias. The book of judith. What this book containeth. Chap. I Of the noble cite Egbathanis. Of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians, of his victory and power. Chap. II The unsatiable desire that Nabuchodonosor had to reign: of his host & tyranny. Chap. III diverse kings and princes yield themselves for fear. The tyranny of Holofernes and pride of the king. Chap. four The jews are afraid and careful for jerusalem and the temple, make their land strong, prepare themselves to the battle, call upon God, and Eliachim the priest comforteth them. Chap. V Holofernes taketh indignation at the children of Israel, because they go about to defend themselves. Achior beareth witness to the truth. Chap. VI Achior for telling the truth is taken▪ and delivered unto the people of the jews: unto whom he telleth all the matter, which moveth the people to cry upon God. Chap. VII. Holofernes layeth siege to Bethulia. The children of Israel cry upon God Holofernes taketh the water from them, so that they in the cite have great thirst, and are unpatient. Osias comforteth them, and appointeth five days to the grace of God. Chap. VIII. judith reproveth the elders that set● a time to the mercy of God: she exorteth the people to amendment & to prayer, rehearseth the benefits of God, and telleth them her device. Chap. IX judith goeth in to her oratory, and prayeth fervently unto God, for the deliverance of her people. Chap. X. judith decketh herself of the best fashion, taketh her maiden with her, & goeth forth by night in to Holofernes tent. Chap. XI. judith telleth Holofernes the cause of her coming, which pleaseth him well Chap. XII. Holofernes commandeth to entreat her well, and giveth her liberty to go in and out to her prayer, maketh a great supper, biddeth her to it, and is drunken. Chap. XIII. judith seeketh opportunity, prayeth unto God for strength, smiteth of the head of drunken Holofernes, and bringeth it in to the cite, where the people rejoice and praise God. Chap. XIIII. Holofernes head is sticked up upon the walls, the children of Israel fall upon their enemies, which take their flight. Achior cometh in to the number of the people of God. Chap. XU. Holofernes host are out of their wits after his death, the Israelites follow upon them, the other cities of Israel help them, they win great spoils, & commend judith. Chap. XVI. judith singeth praise unto the LORD. The people come together unto Jerusalem to give thanks and praise unto the LORD How judith made her end. The first Chapter. ARphaxat the king of the Medes subdued many people unto his dominion, & builded a noble strong cite, which he called Egbathanis. The walls of it made he of free stone, four squared, seventy cubits high, and thirty cubits broad. He made towers thereupon of an hundredth cubits high. But upon the four corners every side was twenty foot broad. He made the ports in the heith, like as the towers. This king trusted in his mighty host, & in his glorious charettes. So in the twolft year of his reign it happened, that Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians (which reigned in the great cite of Ninive) fought against Arphaxat, and overcame him in the great field called Ragau, beside Euphrates and Tigris and Jadason in the field of Erioth the king of the Elikes. Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, ●. Mac. 1. a and his heart was lift up: and he sent unto all them that dwelled in Celicia, in Damascus, in Libanus, and unto the heathen that dwelled in Carmel and Cedar, and to such as dwelled in Galilee in the great field of Eszdrelon, to all them that were in Samaria, and beyond the water of jordane unto jerusalem and the whole land of jesse unto the mountains of Ethiopia. Unto all these did Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians send messaungers. But they all with one consent would not agreed unto him, and sent the messaungers again empty, and put them away without honour. Then Nabuchodonosor the king took indignation at all those lands, and swore by his throne & by his kingdom, that he would be avenged of all these countries. The II Chapter. IN the xiij. year of king Nabuchodonosor, upon the xxij. day of the first month, it was devised in the court of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians, that he would defend himself. So he called unto him all the elders, all his captains and men of war, and showed them his secret council, and told them, that his purpose was, to bring the whole earth under his dominion. Now when they were all content with this saying, Nabuchodonosor the king called Holofernes the chief captain of his wars and said unto him: Go thy way forth against all the kingdoms of the west and specially against those that have despised my commandment. 〈…〉 Thou shalt spare no realm, all strong cities shalt thou bring in subjection unto me. Then Holofernes called together all the captains & rulers of all the power in Assiria, and mustered the soudyers unto the host (like as the king commanded him) namely, an hundredth and twenty thousand fighting men upon foot, and twelve thousand archers upon horseback. All his ordinance sent he before with an innumerable multitude of camels, so that the host was well provided for with oxen, and small cattles, and that without number. He caused corn to be prepared out of all Syria for his host. Much gold and silver also took he out of the kings house. So he took his journey, he and all his host, with charettes, horsemen, and archers: of whom there were so many, that they covered the ground of the land, like the greshoppers. And when he was go past the borders of the Assyrians, he came toward the great mountains of Ange, which lie upon the left side of Celicia: and so he went up in to all their castles, and wan every strong hold. As for the wealthy cite of Melothus, he broke it down, & spoiled all the children of Tharsis and the Ismaelites, which lay toward the wilderness and upon the south side of the land of Chelon. He went over Euphrates also, and came in to Mesopotamia, and broke down all the high cities that were there, from the broken of Mambre till a man come to the see: and he took the borders in from Celicia unto the coasts of japhet toward the south. He carried away all the Madianites, and spoiled all their goods: & who so ever withstood him, he slay them with the sword After this he went down in to the field of Damascus in the time of harvest, and brent up all the corn and all the trees, and caused the wines to be cut down. And the fear of him fallen upon all them that dwelled in the earth The III Chapter. SO the kings & princes of all cities & lands sent their Embassitours: namely, they of Syria and Mesopotamia, Syria Sobal & Lybia & Celicia, which came to Holofernes, & said: Let thy wrath cease toward us: It is better for us to serve the great king Nabuchodonosor with our lives, and to be subject unto thee, then that we should die and be slain, and receive greater hurt. All our cities and possessions, all mountains and hills, all fields, great and small cattles, sheep, goats, horses, and camels, all our goods and households, be in thy power, under thy subjection be it altogether. We ourselves also and our children willbe thine own, come unto us a peceable lord, and use our service at thy pleasure. Then came Holofernes down from the mountains with horsemen & great power, and conquered all strong fenced cities, and all that dwelled in the land. And out of all cities he took strong men, & such as were mere for the war, to help him. There came such a fear also upon those countries, that the in dwellers of all the cities, the princes and rulers & the people together, 〈◊〉. 5. a went forth to meet him as he came, & received him honourably with garlands & torches, with daunses, tabrettes and pipes. Nevertheless though they did this, yet might they not suage his rigorous stomach: but he destroyed their cities, & hewed down their woods. For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him, that he should rote out all the gods of the land: to the intent that he only might be called and taken for God, of the nations which Holofernes with his power brought under him. So went he thorough Syria Sobal, and thorough all Appamia, and all Mesopotamia, came to the Idumeans in the land of Gabaa and Septopoli, and took their cities, and remained there thirty days, wherein he caused all the whole multitude of his host to be gathered together. The four Chapter. When the children of Israel that dwelled in jewry heard this, they were sore afraid of him. There came such trembling also and fear upon them, that they sorrowed he should do unto the cite of jerusalem and the temple of the LORD, as he had done to other cities & their temples. So they sent in to all Samaria round about unto jericho, took in and occupied all the tops of the mountains, made fast the towns with walls, and prepared corn for them against the battle. Eliachim also the priest wrote unto all them that dwelled toward Eszdrelon (which lieth over against the great field by Dotha In) & unto all those by whom men might have passage unto them, that they should take in the ways of the mountains, whereby there might be any way and passage to jerusalem, & that they should hold diligent watch, where any strate way was betwixt the mountains. And the children of Israel did, as Eliachim the priest of the LORD had commanded them. And all the people, Eccli. 35. cried earnestly, and humbled their souls with fastings and prayers, they and their wives. The priests put on hairy clotheses, and laid the young babes before the temple of the LORD, and covered the altar of the LORD with an hairy cloth. And with one accord cried they unto the LORD God of Israel, that their children should not be given in to a pray, and their wives in to a spoil, that their cities should not be laid waist, & that their Sanctuary should not be unhallowed, and so they to be a shame and rebuke unto the heathen. Then Eliachim the high priest of the LORD went round about all Israel, and spoke unto them, saying: Be you sure, that the LORD will hear your petitions, if you continue steadfast in fastings and prayers in the sight of the LORD. Remember Moses the servant of the LORD, Exo. 17. which overthrew the Amalechites (that trusted in their might & power, in their host, in their shields, in their charettes & horsemen) not with weapens, but with holy prayers. Even so shall all the enemies of Israel be, if you continue in this work, that you have begun. So upon this exhortation they continued in prayer before the LORD: In so much that they which offered brent sacrifices unto the LORD, offered the offerings unto the LORD, being arrayed in hairy clotheses, and had aszshes upon their heads. And they all besought God from their whole heart, that he would visit his people of Israel. The V Chapter. ANd word came to Holofernes the prince of the wars of the Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared themselves to make resistance▪ & how they had stopped the wa●es betwixt the mountains. Then was he exceeding wrath▪ & called all the princes of Moab, & the captains of Ammon, & said unto them: Tell me, what people is this, that keepeth in the mountains? Or what manner of cities are they? What is their power? Or what manner of host have they? Who is their captain? And why do they despise us (more than all those that devil in the east) and come not forth to meet us, judit. ●. b that they might receive us with peace? judit. 11. b Then Achior the captain of all the Ammonites answered, and said: Sir, if it please the to hear me, I will tell the truth before the concerning this people that devil in the mountains, and there shall no lie go out of my mouth. This people is of the generation of the Caldees, Gen. 11. d they dwelled first in Mesopotamia, for they would not follow the gods of their fathers that were in the land of the Caldees, & so forsook they the customs of their forefathers (which had many gods) and worshipped one God, that made heaven and earth: which also commanded them that they should go from thence, and devil at Haran. Gen. 41. g ●nd 46. a Exodi 1. a ●nd 12. f Galat. 3 c Now when there came a dearth in to the whole land, they went down to Egipte, & there they dwelled four hundredth years, in the which they multiplied so greatly, that their host might not be numbered. And when the king of Egipte oppressed them, ●xodi 1. b ●nd 5. b and subdued them in building of his cities with making of clay & brick, they cried unto God their LORD, which punished the whole land of Egipte with diverse plagues. Now when the king of Egipte let them go their way, ●xo. 12. c ●nd 14. b & the plague ceased, & then followed after them, to take them, & to bring them again in to his service, while they were flying away, the God of heaven opened the see, so that the waters stood fast upon both the sides as a brickwall, & these went thorough the bottom of the see dry shod, In the which place when an innumerable people of the Egipcians followed upon them, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there remained not one, to tell them that came after, how it happened. So when this people was passed thorough the reed see, they came in to the wilderness of the mount Sinai, where never man might devil afore, & where the son of man had never rested. ●xo. 15. d ●xo. 1●. f ●eut. 8. a There were the bitter waters made sweet for them, that they might drink, & xl. years had they meat from heaven. Where so ever they went (without bow & arrow, without buckler or sword) their God fought for them, & caused them to have the victory. Ye no man was able to hurt this people, except it were so, that they departed unfaithfully from the worshipping of the LORD their God. 〈…〉 But as often as they worshipped any other beside their God, he gave them over to be spoiled, to be slain, & to be put to confusion. Nevertheless as often as they were sorry for departing from the worship of their God, the same God of heaven gave them power & strength to withstand their enemies. moreover they slay the king of the Canaanites, jebusites, Pherezites, Ethites, Eu●tes & Amorites, & all the mighty in Hesebon, 〈…〉 & took their lands & cities in possession: and so long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it went well with them, for their God hateth unrighteousness. For in times past when they went out of the way, 〈…〉 which God had given them, that they should walk in it, they were destroyed in diverse battles of many nations, & many of them were carried away presoners into a strange country. But now lately they have turned themselves again unto the LORD their God, 〈…〉 & are come together again out of the countries where they were scattered abroad: and thus have they conquered these mountains & devil therein: & as for jerusalem where their Sanctuary is, they have it again in possession. And therefore my lord, make diligent inquisition, if this people have done wickedness in the sight of their God, then let us go up against them, for doubtless their God shall deliver them in to thy hands, & subdue them unto that power. But if this people have not displeased their God, we shall not be able to withstand them, 〈…〉 for their God shall defend them, & so shall we be a shame to all the world. Now when Achior had spoken out these words, all the princes of Holofernes were wroth, & thought to slay him, & said one to another: what is he this, which dare say, that the children of Israel are able to withstand Nabuchodonosor the king & his host? where as they are an unwapened people, without strength or understanding of the fettes of war? That Achior therefore may know, that he hath deceived us, we will go up in to the mountains: & when the mighty men of them are taken, he also shallbe sticked with the sword, that all people may know, that Nabuchodonosor is the God of the earth, and that there is none other without him. The VI Chapter. SO when they had left of speaking, Holofernes took sore indignation, & said unto Achior. For so much as thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: 〈…〉 that the people of Israel shallbe defended of their God, I will show thee, that there is no God but Nabuchodonosor. Ye when we slay them all as one man, 〈…〉 thou also shalt perish with them thorough the sword of the Assyrians, & all Israel shall be destroyed with thee, & then shalt thou feel, that Nabuchodonosor is the LORD of the whole earth. Then shall the sword of my knighthood go thorough the sides, & thou shalt fall down sticked among the wounded of Israel, & shalt not come to thyself again, but be utterly destroyed with them. But if thou thinkest thy prophecy to be true, why dost thou then change thy colour? why art thou afraid? thinkest thou that my words are not able to be performed? But that thou mayest know, that thou shalt feel these things with them, behold, from this hour forth will I send the unto yonder people, that when the punishment of my sword (which they have worthily deserved) falls upon them, thou mayest be punished with them. So Holofernes commanded his servants to take Achior, & to carry him unto Bethulia, and to deliver him in to the hands of the children of Israel. Then Holofernes servants took him, & went thorough the plain field. But when they drawn nigh unto the mountains, the sling casters came out against them: Nevertheless they got them away by the side of the mountain, & bound Achior hand & foot to a tree, & so left him bound with wythies, & turned again unto their lord. notwithstanding the children of Israel went down from Bethulia, came unto him, loosed him, brought him to Bethulia, set him in the midst of the people, and axed him what the matter was, that the Assyrians had left him bound. Osias the son of Micha of the tribe of simeon, & Charmim (which is also called Gothoniel) were the principal rulers at the same tyme. Now when Achior stood in the midst of the Senators, & before them all, he told them, 〈◊〉. 5. b what answer he gave Holofernes, to the thing that he axed him, and how Holofernes people would have slain him for so saying, & how Holofernes himself was wroth, & commanded him for the same cause to be delivered unto the Israelites: that when he over came the children of Israel he might command Achior also to be put to death with diverse torments, because he said: 〈◊〉. 5. f the God of heaven is their defender. And when Achior had plainly told out all these things, all the people fallen down upon their faces, praising the LORD, and poured out their prayers together unto the LORD, with a general complaint & weeping, & said: O LORD God of heaven & earth, behold their pride, & look upon our lowliness, & consider how it standeth with thy saints, & make it to be known, that thou forsakest not those, which hold them fast by thee, & how that thou bringest them low, that presume of themselves, & make their boast in their own strength. So when the weeping and prayer of the people (which they had made the whole day long) was ended, they comforted Achior, saying: the God of our fathers, whose power & strength thou hast praised, shall so reward thee, that thou shalt rather see their destruction. When the LORD our God then shall give his servants this liberty, God be with the also among us: so that if it please that, thou with thine mayest devil with us. Now when Osias had ended the council, he took him in to his house, and made a great supper, called all the elders to it, & so they refreszshed themselves after the fasting. And afterward was all the people called together, which made their prayers all the night long in the congregation, and be sought the God of Israel for help. The VII. Chapter. THe next day Holofernes commanded his host, to go up against Bethulia. judit. 2. ● There were an C. & xx. thousand fighting men on foot, & two & twenty thousand horsemen, beside the preparing of them that were won, & came to them on every side out of the countries & cities which he had taken. All these prepared themselves unto the battle against the Israelites, and came on by the hill side, unto the top that looketh over against Dothaim, from the place which is called Belma, unto Chelmon that lieth toward Eszdrelon. Now when the children of Israel saw so great a multitude of the Assyrians, they fallen down flat upon the ground, strewed aszshes upon their heads, & prayed with one accord, that the God of Israel would show his mercy upon his people. And so they took their weapens, & sat betwixt the mountains in the narrow place, & kept the way day & night. But while Holofernes was going about, he found the water springe, which from the south side was conveyed in to the cite by a conduit: this commanded he to be direct another way, & to cut their condite in sunder. There were wells also not far from the walls, which they used secretly, more for pleasure then for necessity. Then went the Ammonites & the Moabites unto Holofernes, and said: The children of Israel trust neither in spear ner arrow, but have taken in, and keep the mountains and hills. That thou mayest overcome them therefore without the striking of any battle, set men to keep the wells, that they draw no water out of them: so shalt thou destroy them without sword, or at the lest they shall be so feeble, that they must be fain to give over the cite, which they think not able to be won, for so much as it lieth in the mountains. These words pleased Holofernes well and all his men of war, and he set an hundredth men at every well round about. judit. 16. a And when this watch had endured twenty days, the Cisterns and all that had water, failed them that dwelled in the cite of Bethulia, so that in the whole cite they had not drink enough for one day, for the people had water given them daily in a measure. Then came the men and women, young personnes and children all unto Osias, and said all with one voice: Exo. 17. a God be judge betwixt us and thee, for thou hast dealt evil with us: thou wouldest not speak peaceably with the king of the Assyrians, therefore hath God sold us in their hands, and there is no man to help us, where as we are brought down before their eyes in thirst and great destruction. Therefore gather now together all the people that be in the cite, that we may all yield ourselves willingly unto the people of Holofernes: for better it is that we be captive and praise the LORD with our lives, then to be slain and perish, and to be laughed to scorn & shamed of every man when we see our wives and children die before our eyes. We take heaven & earth this day to record, and the God of our fathers (which punysheth us according to the deserving of our sins) and give you warning, that you give up the cite now in to the power of Holofernes host, that our end may be short with the sword, which else shall endure long for want of water and for thirst. When they had spoken out these words, there was a great weeping and howling in the whole congregation, and that of every man, and they cried an whole hour long unto God with one voice, saying: we have sinned with our fathers, we have done amiss, ●sal. 105. a we have dealt wickedly. Thou that art gracious, have mercy upon us, punish our unrighteousness with thy own scourge, and give not those over that knowledge thee, unto a people which knoweth the not, jest they say among the heathen: Psal▪ 〈…〉 where is their God? And when they were so weighed with this crying and weeping, that they held their tongues, Osias stood up with watery eyes, and said: 〈…〉 O take good hearts unto you (dear brethren) and be of good cheer, and let us wait yet these five days for mercy of the LORD: peradventure he shall cut away his indignation, and give glory unto his name. But if he help us not when these five days are past, we shall do as you have said. The VIII. Chapter. ANd it happened when these words came to the ears of judith a widow, which was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of joseph, the son of Osias, the son of Elai, the son of jammor, the son of jedeon, the son of Raphoim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchia, the son of Euam, the son of Nathania, the son of Salathiel, the son of simeon, the son of Reuben. And her husband was called Manasses, which died in the days of the barley harvest. For while he was binding the sheaves together in the field, the heat came upon his head, and he died at Bethulia his cite, and there was he buried beside his fathers. Now was judith his desolate widow three years & six months. And in the higher parts of her house she made hirself a privy chambre, where she dwelled, being closed in with her maidens. She wore a smock of hair, and fasted all the days of her life, except the Sabbathes, and new moons & the solemn days that the people of Israel kept. She was a very fair and beautiful person. Her husband also had left her great riches, a plenteous household, great unmovable possessions and many cattles. This judith was a woman of a very good report with every one, for she feared the LORD greatly, and there was no body that speak an evil word of her. When this judith herd, how Osias had promised the people, 〈…〉 that after the fyffte day he would give up the cite unto the Assyrians, she sent for the elders Chambri and Charmin: and when they came to her, she said: what thing is this, wherein Osias hath consented, that if God help not within five days, he will give over the cite to the Assyrians? What are you, that you tempt the LORD? This device optayneth no mercy of God, but provoketh him unto wrath and displeasure. Will you set the mercy of the LORD a time, & appoint him a day after your will? Nevertheless for so much as the LORD is patient, let us rather amend ourselves, pouring out tears, and beseeking him of grace. 〈…〉 For God threateneth not as a man, neither will he be provoked unto wrath as the children of men. And therefore let us heartily fall down before him, and serve him with a meek spirit, and with weeping eyes say unto the LORD, that he deal with us according to his own will and mercy: that like as our heart is now vexed, & brought low thorough the pride of them, it may so be comforted thorough his grace: in so much as we follow not the sins of our fathers, which forsook their God, & worshipped other gods: 〈…〉 for the which sin they perished with the sword, were spoiled & brought to shame of all their enemies. As for us, we know none other God but only him, for whose comfort let us tarry with meekness. He shall require and make inquisition for our blood, from the vexations of our enemies: 〈…〉 he shall bring down all the heathen, that rise up against us, and put them to dishonour, even the LORD our God. Therefore dear brethren, seeing you are the honourable and elders in the people of God, unto whom all the people have respect, and upon whom the life of the people standeth, lift up their hearts with your exhortation, that they may call to remembrance, how our fathers also in times past were tempted, 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 32. f that they might be proved, if they worshipped their God a right. They aught to remember, how our father Abraham being tempted, 〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉 1●. a and tried thorough many tribulations, was found a lover and friend of God. So was Isaac, 〈…〉 28. b 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 ●2. a so was jacob, so was Moses, and all they that pleased God, being tried thorough many troubles, were found steadfast in faith. Again, they that received not their tentations with the fear of God, but put them selves forth with unpaciency and murmuring against God, 〈◊〉 11. a 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 1●. a perished of the destroyer, and were slain of serpents. And therefore should not we undertake to be avenged, for the thing that is done unto us: but to consider, that all these punishments are far less than our sins & myszdedes: believing also, that this correction cometh unto us (as to the servants of God) for amendment, ●om. 5. d and not for our destruction. Then said Osias & the elders unto judith: All that thou speakest, is true, and no man can reprove the words. Pray thou for us now therefore unto God, for thou art an holy woman, and fearest God. And judith said unto them: saying you know, 1. cor. 14. d 1. joh. 4. a 1. Tess. 5. c that my words are of God, then prove my council and device, if it be of God: and beseek God, that he will bring my council to a good end. Thus have I devised: judit. 10. b You shall stand this night before the port, and I will go forth with Abra my maiden: Pray you therefore unto God, that he will graciously remember his people of Israel within five days, as you have said. As for the thing that I go in hand withal, axe you no questions of it, till jopen it unto you myself: do you nothing else, but pray unto the LORD your God for me. Then Osias the prince of the people of juda said unto her: Go thy way in peace, the LORD be with thee, that we may be avenged of our enemies, And so they went from her again. The IX. Chapter. NOw when they were go their way, judith went in to her oratory, put on an hairy smock, strewed aszhes upon her head, fallen down before the LORD, and cried unto him, saying: O LORD God of my father simeon, Gen. 34. ● which gavest him a sword for a defence against the enemies, that used violence and wilfulness, and that ravished the virgin and put her to dishonesty. Thou that gavest their wives in to a pray, and their daughters in to captivity, and all their pray for a spoil unto thy servants, which bore a zeal unto thee, help me widow, O LORD my God, I beseek ye. For thou hast done all things from the beginning, and look what thou hast taken in hand and devised, it came ever to pass. For all thy ways are prepared, & thy judgements are done in thy everlasting foreknowledge. O look now upon the armies of the Assyrians, like as it was thy pleasure sometime to look upon the host of the Egipcians, when they being weapened, Exo. 14. ● persecuted thy servants, & put their trust in their charettes, horsemen, and in the multitude of their men of war. But thou lokedest upon their host, casting a thick darkness before them: and when they came in to the deep, the waters overwhelmed them. Even so LORD let it go with these, that trust in the power and multitude of their men of war, Psal. 45. b in their charettes, arrows & spears, and know not, that thou only art our God, which destroyest wars from the beginning, and that thou art the LORD. O lift up thy arm now like as ever from the beginning, and in thy power bring their power to nought, cause their might to fall in thy wrath. They make their boast, that they will unhallow and defile thy Sanctuary, and to waste the tabernacle of the name, and to cast down the horn of thy altar with their sword. Bring to pass (O LORD) that the pride of the enemy may be cut down with his own sword: that he may be taken with the snare of his eyes in me, and that thou mayest smite him with the lips of my love. O give me a steadfast mind, that I may despise him and his strength, and that I may destroy him. This shall bring thy name an everlasting remembrance, ●udic. 4. d and 5. d ●. Par. 14. c 16. b. 20. a ●udic. 7. a Psal. 146. b if the hand of a woman overthrow him. For thy power (O LORD) standeth not in the power of men, neither hast thou any pleasure in the strength of horses. There was never proud person that pleased thee, but in the prayer of the humble and meek hath thy pleasure been evermore. O thou God of the heavens, thou maker of the waters, and LORD of all creatures, hear me poor woman, calling upon thee, and putting my trust in thy mercy. Remember thy covenant O LORD, ●ccli. 36. a and minister words in my mouth, & stablish this device in my heart, that thy house may continue still in holiness, and that all the heathen may know and understand, that thou art God, and that there is none other but thou. The X. Chapter. ANd when she had left of crying unto the LORD, she rose up from the place, where she had lyen flat before the LORD, and called her maid, went down in to her house, laid the hairy clot from her, audit. 16. b put of the garments of her wyddowhode, waszshed her body, anointed herself with precious things of sweet savour, broided and picked her hair, set an houve upon her head, and put on such apparel as belongeth unto gladness, slippers upon her feet, armelettes, spangs, earynges, finger rings, and decked herself with all her best array. The LORD gave her also a special beauty and fairness (for all this decking of herself was not done for any voluptuous and pleasure of the flesh, but of a right discretion and virtue, therefore did the LORD increase her beauty) so that she was exceeding amiable and well-favoured in all men's eyes. She gave her maid also a bottle of wine, a pot with oil, pottage, cakes, bread & cheese, and went her way. Now when she came to the port of the cite, she found Osias and the elders of the cite waiting there. Which when they saw her, they were astonnyed, & marveled greatly at her beauty, nevertheless they axed no question at her, but let her go, saying: The God of our fathers give the his grace, and with his power perform all the device of thy heart: that jerusalem may rejoice over thee, and that thy name may be in the number of the holy & righteous. And all they that were there, said with one voice: so be it, so be it. judith made her prayer unto the LORD, & went out at the port, she & her maid. And as she was going down the mountain, it happened that about the spring of the day, the spies of the Assyrians met with her, and took her, saying: whence comest thou? Or whither goest thou? She answered: I am a daughter of the hebrews, and am fled from them, for I know, that they shallbe given unto you to be spoiled: because they thought scorn to yield themselves unto you, that they might find mercy in your sight. Therefore have I devised by myself after this manner: I will go before the prince Holofernes, and tell him all their secrets, and will show him, how he may come by them, and win them, so that not one man of his host shall perish. And when these men had herd her words, & considered her fair face, they were astonnyed (for they wondered at her excellent beauty) & said unto her: Thou hast saved the life by finding out this device, that thou wouldest come down to our lord: & be thou sure, that when thou comest unto him, he shall entreat the well, & thou shalt please him at the heart. So they brought her in to Holofernes pavilion, and told him of her. Now when she came in before him, immediately he was overcome & taken with her beauty. Then said his servants: who would despise the people of the Jews, that have so fair women? Should we not by reason fight against them for these? So when judith saw Holofernes sitting in a canapye, that was wrought of purple, silk, gold, smaragd and precious stones, she looked fast upon him, & fallen down upon the earth. And Holofernes servants took her up again, at their lords commandment. The XI. Chapter. THen said Holofernes unto her: Be of good cheer, and fear not in thy heart, for I never hurt man, that would serve Nabuchodonosor the king. As for thy people, if they had not despised me, I should not have lift up a spear against them. But tell me now, what is the cause that thou art departed from them, and wherefore art thou come unto us? And judith said unto him: Sir, under stand the words of thy handmaiden: for if thou will't do after the words of thy handmaiden, the LORD shall bring thy matter to a prosperous effect. As truly as Nabuchodonosor a lord of the land liveth, & as truly as his power liveth, which is in the to the punishment of all men that go wrong, all men shall not only be subdued unto him thorough thee, but all the beestes also of the field. For all people speak of thy prudent activyte, and it hath ever been reported, how thou only art good and mighty in all his kingdom, and thy discretion is commended in all lands. The thing is manifest also, that Achior spoke, 〈◊〉. 5▪ a and it is well known, what thou commaundedst to do unto him. For this is plain and of a surety, that our God is so wroth with us (by the reason of our sins) that he hath showed by his prophets unto the people, how that for their sins he will deliver them over unto the enemy. And for so much as the children of Israel know that they have so displeased their God, they are sore afraid of the. They suffer great hunger also, & for want of water, they are deed now in a manner. moreover, they are appointed to slay all their cattles, that they may drink the blood of them: and are purposed to spend all the holy ornaments of their God (which he hath forbidden them to touch) for corn, wine and oil. seeing now that they do these things, it is a plain case, that they must needs be destroyed. Which when I thy handmaiden perceived, I fled from them, and the LORD hath sent me unto thee, to show the these things. For I thy handmaiden worship God even here now beside thee, and thy hand maiden shall go forth, and I will make my prayer unto God, and he shall tell me, when he will reward them their sin: then shall I come and show thee, & bring the thorough the midst of jerusalem, so that thou shalt have all the people of Israel, as the sheep without a shepherd: there shall not so much as one dog bark against thee, for these things are showed me by the providence of God: and for so much as God is displeased with them, he hath sent me to tell the the same. These words pleased Holofernes and all his servants, which marveled at the wisdom of her, and said one to another: there is not such a woman upon earth, in beauty and discretion of words. And Holofernes said unto her: God hath done well, that he hath sent the hither before thy people, that thou mayest give them into our hands. And for so much as the promise is good, if thy God perform it unto me, he shall be my God also, and thou shalt be excellent and great in the court of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shallbe spoken of in all the land. The XII. Chapter. THen commanded he her to go in, where his treasure lay, and charged that she should have her dwelling there, and appointed, what should be given her from his table. judith answered him, and said: Gen. 34. f As for the meat that thou hast commanded to give me, I may not eat of it as now (jest I displease my God) but will eat of such as I have brought with me. Then said Holofernes unto her: If these things that thou hast brought with the fail, what shall we do unto thee? And judith said: As truly as thou livest my lord, thy hand maiden shall not spend all this, till God have brought to pass in my hand, the things that I have devised. So his servants brought her in to the tent, where as he had appointed. And as she was going in, she desired that she might have leave to go forth by night & before day, to her prayer and to make intercession unto the LORD. Then commanded Holofernes his chamberlains, that she should go out and in at her pleasure, to pray unto her God those three days. And so in the night season she went forth in to the valley of Bethulia, and wasszhed hirself in the wellwater. Then went she up, and besought the LORD God of Israel that he would prosper her way, for the deliverance of his people. And so she went in, and remained clean in her tent, till she took her meat in the evening. Upon the fourth day it happened, that Holofernes made a costly supper unto his servants, and said unto Vagao his chamberlain: Go thy way, and council this Hebruesse, that she may be willing to consent to keep company with me. For it were a shame unto all the Assyrians, that a woman should so laugh a man to scorn, that she were come from him unmeddled withal. Then went Vagao unto judith, and said: Let not the good daughter be afraid, to come in to my lord, that she may be honoured before him, that she may eat and drink wine, and be merry with him. Unto whom judith answered: Who am I, that I should say my lord nay? what so ever is good before his eyes, I shall do it: and look what is his pleasure, that shall I think well done, as long as I live. So she stood up, and decked hirself with her apparel, and went in, and stood before him. And Holofernes heart was whole moved, so that he brent in desire toward her. And Holofernes said unto her: drink now and sit down, and be merry, for thou hast found favour before me. Then said judith: Sir, I will drink, for my mind is merrier to day, than ever it was in all my life. And she took and ate and drank before him, the things that her maiden had prepared for her. And Holofernes was merry with her, and drank more wine, than ever he did afore in his life. The XIII. Chapter. NOw when it was late in the night, his servants made haist, every man to his lodging. And Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way, for they were all overladen with wine. ●ccli. 31. c So was judith alone in the chamber. Asdrubal for Holofernes, he lay upon the bed all drunken, and of very drunkenness fallen a sleep. 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. Strength me O LORD God of Israel, and have respect unto the works of my hands in this hour, that thou mayest set up thy cite of jerusalem, like as thou hast promised: O grant that by the I may perform the thing, which I have devised thorough the believe that I have in the. And when she had spoken this, she went to the bedstead, and loosed the sword that hanged upon it, and drawn it out. Then took she hold of the hairy locks of his head, and said: Strength me oh LORD God in this hour, and with that, she gave him two strokes upon the neck, and smote of his head. Then took she the canapy away, and rolled the deed body aside. Immediately she got her forth, and delivered the head of Holofernes unto her maiden, and bade her put it in her walett. And so these two went forth together after their custom, as though they would pray, and so passed by the host, and came thorough the valley unto the port of the cite. And judith cried a far of unto the watch men 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 cite together. And they came all to meet her, little & great, young & old, for they thought not that she should have come so soon. So they lighted candles, and gathered about her evaerichone: 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, ner forsaken them, that put their trust in him: and in me his hand maiden he hath performed his mercy, which he promised unto the house of Israel: ye in my hand this same night hath he slain the enemy of his people. And with that she took forth the head of Holofernes out of the walett, and showed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the captain of the Assyrians, and this is the canapy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness: where the LORD our God hath slain him by the hand of a woman. But as truly as the LORD liveth, his angel hath kept me, going thither, 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: & that with great victory, so that I am escaped, and you delivered. O give thanks unto him everichone, 〈…〉 for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever. So they praised the LORD altogether, and gave thanks unto him. And to her they said: The LORD hath blessed the in his power, for thorough the he hath brought our enemies to nought. And Ozias the chief ruler of the people of Israel, said unto her: Blessed art thou of the LORD the high God, above all women upon earth. Blessed be the LORD the maker of heaven and earth, which hath gyded the a right to wound and to smite of the head of the captain of our enemies. For this day he hath made thy name so honourable, that thy praise shall never come out of the mouth of men, which shall all way remember the power of the LORD: seeing thou hast not spared thy own self, but put the 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, & 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 thorough my hand smitten of 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 the with destruction, saying: when the people of Israel is taken, I shall 'cause the also to be sticked with the sword. 〈◊〉▪ 16. a When Achior saw Holofernes head▪ he fallen down upon his face to the ground for very anguish & fear, so that he swowned with all. But after that he was come again to himself, he fallen down before her & 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 the. The XIIII. Chapter. IVdith said unto all the people: Brethren hear me, Styck up this head upon our walls, and when the Son ariseth, take every man his weapon, and fall out violently: not as though you would go beside them, but to run upon them with violence. When the spies in the tents see this, they shall of necessity be compelled to i'll backward, and to raise up their captain to the battle. So when their captains come in to Holofernes pavilion, and find the deed body wrapped in the blood, fearfulness shall fall upon them: and when you perceive that they i'll, follow them without all care, for God shall deliver them unto you to be destroyed. Then Achior saying the power of God which he had showed unto the people of Israel, fallen of from his Heithenish believe, and put his trust in God, and let himself be circumcided: and so was he numbered among the people of Israel, he and all his posterity unto this day. Now as soon as it was day, they sticked up Holofernes head upon the walls, and every man took his weapon, and so they went out with an horrible cry. When the spies saw that, they ran unto Holofernes tent. And they that were within the tent, came before his chamber, and made a great russzhinge to wake him up, because they thought with the noise to have raised him. For there dared not one of the Assyrians knock, go in, ner to open. But when the captains and princes and all the chief in the king of the Assyrians host came together, they said unto the chamberlains: Go your way in, and wake him up, for the mice are crept out of their holes, and dare provoke us unto battle. 1. Re. 14. ● Then went Vagao in to his chamber, stood before the bed, and clapped with his hands, for he thought he had been sleeping with judith. But when he had herkened perfectly with his ears, and could perceive no steering, he went nigher to the bed, and lift it up, and then saw he the deed body of Holofernes dying there without a head, weltered in his blood upon the earth. Then cried he with loud voice, and with weeping rent his clotheses, and went in to judiths' tent, and found her not: And so he leapt out unto the people, and said: one woman of the Jews, hath brought all Nabuchodonosors people to shame. For lo, Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and hath no head. When the chief of the assyrians host herd that, they rent their clotheses, and there fallen an intolerable fear and trembling upon them, so that their minds were sore afraid. And there was an exceeding great cry in the whole host. The XU. Chapter. NOw when all the host heard that Holofernes was headed, their mind and council fallen from them: and such a fear came upon them, that they undertook to defend themselves by flying away: one spoke not to another, but hanged down their heads, left all behind them, and made haist to escape from the Hebrews: for they heard, that they were haistinge to come after with their weapens, and so they fled by the ways of the fields, and thorough all the foot paths of the dales. And when the children of Israel saw that they fled, they followed upon them, and went down with trumpets, blowing and making a great cry after them. As for the Assyrians, they had no order, and kept not themselves together, but fled their way. Nevertheless the children of Israel fallen upon them with one company and order, and discomfited as many as they might get. And Osias sent messaungers unto all the cities and countries of Israel. So all the regions and every cite sent out their best men after them in harness, & smote them with the sword, till they came to the uttermost part of their borders. And the other that were in Bethulia came into the tents of the Assyrians, and took all that they which were fled, had left behind them, and so they found great good. And they that came again to Bethulia from the battle, took with them such things as had been there's: there was no number of the cattles, and of all costly jewels, so that from the lowest unto the highest, they were all made rich of the spoils of them. And joachim the high priest at Jerusalem, came to Bethulia with all the elders, that they might see judith. Now when she came out unto them, they began all to praise her with one voice, saying: thou worship of the cite of jerusalem, thou joy of Israel, thou honor of our people, thou hast done manly, and thy heart is comforted, because thou hast loved cleanliness and chastity, & hast known no man but thy own husband: therefore hath the hand of the LORD comforted thee, and blessed shalt thou be for ever. And all people said: so be it, so be it. In thirty days could the people of Israel scarce gather up the spoils of the Assyrians. But all that belonged unto Holofernes, and had been his specially, (whether it were of gold, of silver, precious stones, clothing and all ornaments) they gave it unto judith. And all the people rejoiced, both women, maidens, and young people, with pipes and haps. The XVI. Chapter. THen sang judith this song unto the LORD: Begin unto the LORD upon the tabrettes, sing unto the LORD upon the cymbals. O sing unto him a new song of thanksgiving, be joyful and call upon his name. Psal. 〈…〉 It is the LORD that destroyeth wars, even the LORD is his name. Which hath pitched his tents in the midst of his people, that he might deliver us from the hand of all our enemies. Assur came out of the mountains in the multitude of his strength. His people stopped the water brokes, 〈…〉 and their horses covered the valleys. He purposed to have brent up my land, and to slay my young men with the sword. He would have carried away my children and virgins in to captivity, but the almighty LORD hurt him, and delivered him in to the hands of a woman, which brought him to confusion. For their mighty was not destroyed of the young men. It was not the sons of Titan that slay him, neither have the great giants set themselves against him: but judith the daughter of Merari with her fair beauty hath discomfited him, and brought him to nought. 〈…〉 For she laid away h●r widows garment, and put on the appared of gladness in the rejoicing of the children of Israel. She anointed her face, and bound up her hair in an houve, to beguile him. Her slippers ravished his eyes, her beauty captivated his mind, 〈…〉 with the sword smote she of his neck. The Persians were astonnyed at her stead fastness, and the Medes at her boldness. Then howled the armies of the Assyrians, when my simple appeared, dry of thirst. The sons of the daughters have pierced them thorough, and slain them as fugitive children: they perished in the battle, for the very fear of the LORD my God. Let us sing a song of thanksgiving unto the LORD, a new song of praise will we sing unto our God. LORD, LORD, thou art a great God, mighty in power, whom no man may overcome. All thy creatures should serve thee, for thou spakest but the word, 〈…〉 & they were made: thou sent thy spirit, & they were created, and no man may withstand thy voice. The mountains shall move from the foundations with the waters, the stony rocks shall melt before the like wax. But they that fear thee, shall be great with the in all things. woe unto the people that rise up against my generation, for the almighty LORD will avenge himself of them, & in the day of judgement will he visit them. For he shall give fire & worms in to their flesh, that they may burn and feel it for evermore. After this it happened, that after the victory all the people came to jerusalem, to give praise and thanks unto the LORD. And when they were purified, they offered all their brent sacrifices and their promised offerings. And judith offered all Holofernes weapon's, and all the jewels, that the people had given her, 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉. 13 b and the canapy that she took from his bed, and hanged them up unto the LORD. The people was joyful, as the use is: & this joy by reason of the victory, with judith, endured three months. So after these days every man went home again, and judith was in great reputation at Bethulia, and right honourably taken in all the land of Israel. Unto her virtue also was chastity joined, so that after her huszbonde Manasses died, she never known man all the days of her life. Upon the high solemn days she went out with great worship. She dwelled in her huszbandes' house an hundredth and five year, & left her honda maiden fire, and died, and was buried beside her husband in Bethulia. And all the people mourned for her seven days. 〈…〉 So long as she lived, there was none that troubled Israel, and many years also after her death. The day wherein this victory was got, was solemnly held, and reckoned of the jews in the number of the holy days, and is yet greatly held of the jews ever sense, unto this day. The end of the book of judith. The chapters in the book of Hester, which are not found in the text of the Hebrew, but in the Greek and latin. The XI. Chapter after the latin. In this chapter is describe the dream of Mardocheus. MArdocheus the son of jair, the son of Semei, 〈…〉 the son of Cisei of the tribe of Ben jamin a jew: which had his dwellling in Susis, a man of great reputation, & excellent among all them that were in the kings court (Nevertheless he was one of the presoners, 4. Reg. 24 d jere. 24. a whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away from jerusalem unto Babylon with jechonias the king of juda.) In the second year of the reign of great Artaxerses in the first day of the month Nisan, had this Mardocheus such a dream: He thought he heard a great tempest, horrible thunder claps, erthquakes, & great vpror in the land: & that he saw two great dragons, ready to fight one against another. Their cry was great. At the which roaring and cry all heathen were up, to fight against the righteous people. And the same day was full of darkness & very unclear, full of trouble & anguish, ye a great fearfulness was there in all the land. The righteous were amazed, for they feared the plague & evil that was devised over them, & were at a point with themselves to die. So they cried unto God. and while they were crying, the little well grew in to a great river & in to many waters. And with that it was day, & the son rose up again. And the lowly were exalted, and devoured the glorious and proud. Now when Mardocheus had seen this dream, he awoke, and mused steadfastly in his heart, what God would do: and so he desired to know all the matter, and his mind was there upon until the night. The XII. Chapter. In this chapter is declared, how Mardocheus uttereth the treason of the two servants against the king, and therefore doth the king reward him. AT the same time dwelled Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thares the kings chamberlains and porters of the palace. But when he heard their device, and had diligently considered their imaginations, he perceived that they went about, Hest. 2. d and 6. a to say their cruel hands upon the king Artaxerses: and so he certified the king thereof. Then caused the king to examen the two gelded with torments. And when they had granted it, they were put to death. This the king caused to be put in the Chronicles for an everlasting remembrance, and Mardocheus written up the same matter. So the king commanded, that Mardocheus should do service in the court, and for this faithfulness of his, he gave him a reward. But Aman the son of Amadathu the Agagite, which was held in great honour and reputation in the kings court, undertook to hurt Mardocheus & his people, because of the two chamberlains that were put to death. The XIII. Chapter. The copy of the commandment, which king Artaxerses (by the entisinge of Aman) sent out in to all countries, for the destruction of the jews. The prayer of Mardocheus. THe great king Artaxerses which reigneth from India unto Ethiopia, Hest. 1. a and 16. a over an hundredth and seven and twenty lands, sendeth his friendly salutation unto all the princes and debytes of the countries, which be subject unto his dominion. When I was made lord over many people, and had subdued the whole earth unto my dominion, my mind was not with cruelty and wrong to exalt myself by the reason of my power: but purposed with equity allway and gentleness, to govern those that be under my iuriszdiction, and wholly to set them in a peaceable life, and thereby to bring my kingdom unto tranquylite, that men might safely go thorough on every side, and to renew peace again, which all men desire. Now when I axed my councelers, how these thines might be brought to a good end, there was one by us, excellent in wisdom, whose good will, truth & faithfulness hath often been showed & proved (which was also the principal & next unto the king) Aman by name, which certified us, how that in all lands there was crept in a rebellious folk, that made statutes & laws against all other people, & have allway despised the proclaimed commandments of kings: and how that for this cause it were not to be suffered, that such rule should continue by you & not to be put down. seeing now we perceive the same, that this people alone are contrary unto every man, using strange and other manner of laws, & withstand our statutes and doings, and go about to establish shrewd matters, that our kingdom should never come to good estate and steadfastness: Therefore have we commanded, that all they that are appointed in writing and showed unto you by Aman (which is ordained and set over all our business, and the most principal next unto the king, and in manner as a father shall with their wives & children be destroyed and rooted out with the sword of their enemies and adversaries: & that there shallbe no mercy showed, & no man spared. And this shallbe done the xiv. day of the month called Adar) of this year, that they which of old (and now also) have ever been rebellious, may in one day with violence be thrust down in to the hell, to the intent that after this manner, our empire may have peace and tranquylite. But Mardocheus thought upon all the works and noble acts of the LORD, & made his prayer unto him, saying: O LORD LORD, thou valiant and almighty king (for all things are in thy power, and if thou will't help and deliver Israel, there is no man that can withstand ner let thee: for thou hast made heaven & earth, and what wondrous thing so ever is under the heaven: thou art LORD of all things, and there is no man, that can resist the O LORD) Thou knowest all things, thou wottest LORD, that it was neither of malice, ner presumption, ner for any desire of glory, that I would not bow down myself ner worship yonder proud presumptuous Aman (for I would have been content, and that with good will, if it might have done Israel any good, to have kissed even his fotesteppes) but that I did it, because I would not set the honour of a man in the stead of the glory of God, and because I would worship none but only the my LORD. And this have I done in no pride ner presumption. And therefore O LORD thou God and king, have mercy upon thy people for they imagine how they may bring us to nought, ye their mind and desire is to destroy and to overthrow the people, that hath ever been thy inheritance of old. O despise not thy portion, which thou hast delivered & brought out of Egipte for thy own self. Hear my prayer, and be merciful unto the people, whom thou hast choose for an heritage unto thyself. Turn our complaint and sorrow in to joy, that we may live O LORD, and praise thy name. O LORD, suffer not the mouths of them that praise thee, to be destroyed. All the people of Israel in like manner cried as earnestly as they could unto the LORD, for their death and destruction stood before their eyes. The XIIII. Chapter. Of the sorrow, complaint and prayer of queen Hester. QVene Hester also being in the battle of death, resorted unto the LORD, laid away her glorious apparel, and put on the garments that served for sighing and mourning. In the stead of precious ointment, she scattered ashes and dung upon her head: and as for her body, she humbled it, and brought it very low, All the places where she was wont to have joy afore, those filled she with the hair, that she pluc●● out hirself. She prayed also unto the LORD God of Israel with these words: O my LORD, thou only art our king, help me desolate woman, which have no helper but thee, for my misery and destruction is hard at my hand. from my youth up I have herd out of the kindred of my father, 〈◊〉. 4. c 〈◊〉 7. d that thou tookest Israel from among all people (and so have our fathers of their fore elders) that they should be thy perpetual inheritance, and look what thou diddest promise' them, thou hast made it good unto them. Now well LORD, we have sinned before thee, 〈◊〉. 12. c therefore hast thou given us in to the hands of our enemies, because we worshipped their gods. LORD thou art righteous. Nevertheless it satisfieth them not, that we are in bitter and heavy captivity and oppressed among them, but thou hast laid their hands upon the hands of their gods: so that they begin to take away, the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordained and appointed: to destroy thine inheritance, to shut and to stop the mouths of them that praise thee, to quench the glory and worship of thy house and thy altar, and to open the mouths of the heathen, that they may praise the power & virtue of the gods, and to magnify the fleshly king for ever. O LORD, give not thy sceptre unto them that be nothing, jest they laugh us to scorn in our misery and fall: but turn their device upon themselves, and punish him, that hath begun the same over us, and set him to an exampls. Think upon us O LORD, and show thyself in the time of our distress and of our trouble. Strength me O thou king of gods, thou LORD of all power, give me an eloquent and pleasant speech in my mouth before the Lyon. 〈…〉 Turn his heart in to the hate of our enemy, to destroy him, and all such as consent unto him. But deliver us with thy hand, and help me desolate woman, which have no defence ner helper but only ye. LORD thou knowest all things, thou wottest that I love not the glory and worship of the unrighteous, and that I hate and abhor the bed of the uncircumcyded and of all heathen. Thou knowest and wottest my necessity, that I hate the token of my pre-eminence & worship, which I bear upon my head, what time as I must show myself and be seen, & that I abhor it as an unclean clot, and that I were it not when I am quiet and alone by myself. Thou knowest also that I thy hand maiden have not eaten at Amans table, and that I have had no pleasure ner delight in the kings feast, that I have not drunk the drink offerings, and that I thy hand maiden have had not joy since the day that I was brought hither unto this day: but only in the O LORD. O thou God of Abraham, O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of them, that have none other hope, and deliver us out of the hand of the wicked, & deliver me out of my fear. The XU. Chapter. Queen Hester appeareth before the king, with an heavy heart for the trouble of her people, and God turneth the kings heart. ANd upon the third day it happened, that Hester laid away the mourning garments, Hester. 5. a and put on her glorious apparel, and decte hirself goodly (after that she had called upon God, which is the beholder & saviour of all things) took two maids with her: upon the one she leaned herself, as one that was tender: the other followed her, and bore the train of her vesture. The shine of her beauty made her face rose coloured. The similitude of her face was cheerful and amiable, but her heart was sorrowful for great fear. She went in thorough all the doors, and stood before the king. The king sat upon the throne of his kingdom, and was clothed in his goodly array, all of gold, and set with precious stones, and he was very terrible. He lift up his face, that shone in the clearness, and looked grymly upon her. Then fallen the Queen down, was pale and faint, leaned herself upon the head of the maid that went with her. Nevertheless God turned the kings mind, that he was gentle, Prou. 21. a that he leap out of his seat for fear, and got her in his arms, & held her up till she came to herself again. He gave her loving words also, & said unto her: Hester, what is the matter? I am the brother, be of good cheer, thou shalt not die: for our commandment toucheth the commons, not the. Come nigh. And with that he held up his golden wand, and laid it upon her neck, and embraced her friendly, and said: talk with me. Then said she: Gen. 33. b 2. Re 19 c I saw thee (O lord) as an angel of God, & my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty and clearness. For excellent and wonderful art thou (O lord) and thy face is full of amity. But as she was thus speaking unto him, she fallen down again for faintness: for the which cause the king was afraid, and all his servants comforted her. The XVI. Chapter. A copy of the commandment, which king Artaxerses caused to be proclaimed in all the countries of his dominion, for the wealth of the jews. THe great king Artaxerses, which reigneth from India unto Ethiopia, over an hundredth and xxvij. lands, sendeth unto the princes & rulers of the same lands, such as love him, his friendly salutation. There be many, that for the sundry frendshipes and benefits which are diversly don● unto them for their worship, be ever the more proud and high minded, and undertake not only to hurt our subjects (for plenteous benefits may they not suffer, and begin to imagine some thing against those that do them good, and take not only all unthankfulness away fro men) but in pride and presumption (as they that be unmindful and unthankful for the good deeds) they go about to escape the judgement of God, that saith all things, which (judgement) hateth & punysheth all wickedness. It happeneth often also, that they which be set in office by the higher power, and unto whom the business and causes of the subjects are committed to be handled, wax proud, and defile themselves with shedding of innocent blood, which bringeth them to intolerable hurt. Which also with false and deceitful words and with dying tales, deceive and betray the innocent goodness of princes. Now is it profitable and good, that we take heed, make search thereafter, and consider, not only what hath happened unto us of old, but the shameful, unhonest, and noisome things, that the debites have now taken in hand before our eyes: and thereby to beware in time to come, that we may make the kingdom quiet & peaceable for all men, and that we might some time draw it to a change: and as for the thing that now is present before our eyes, to withstand it, and to put it down, after the most friendly manner. Hester 3. a What time now as Aman the son of Amadathu the Macedonyan (a stranger verily of the Persians blood, and far from our goodness) was come in among us as an alient, and had obtained the friendship that we bear toward all people, so that he was called our father, and had in high honour of every man, as the next and principal unto the king, he could not forbear himself from his pride, hath undertaken not only to rob us of the kingdom, but of our life. With manifold deceit also hath he desired to destroy Mardocheus our helper and preserver, which hath done us good in all things: and innocent Hester the like partaker of our kingdom, with all her people. For his mind was (when he had taken them out of the way, and rob us of them) by this means to translate the kingdom of the Persians unto them of Macedonia. But we find, that the jews (which were accused of the wicked, that they might be destroyed) are no evil doers, but use reasonable & right laws, and that they be the children of the most high living God, by whom the kingdom of us and our progenitors hath been well ordered hither to. Wherefore, as for the letters and commandments, that were put forth by Aman the son of Amadathu, you shall do well, if you hold them of none effect: for he that set them up and invented them, hangs at Susis before the port, with all his kindred, and God (which hath all things in his power) hath rewarded him after his deserving. And upon this you shall publish and set up the copy of this letter in all places, that the jews may freely and without hindrance hold themselves after their own statutes, and that they may be helped, and that upon the xiij. day of the xij. month Adar they may● be avenged of them, which in the time of their anguish and trouble would have oppressed them. For the God that governeth all things, hath turned to joy, the day wherein the choose people should have perished. moreover, among the high solemn days that you have, you shall hold this day also with all gladness: that now and in time to come, this day may be a remembrance to good, for all such as love the prosperity of the Persians: but a remembrance of destruction to those that be seditious unto us. All cities and lands that do not this, shall horribly perish and be destroyed with the sword and fire, and shall not only be no more inhabited of men, but be abhorred also of the wild beasts & fowls. The book of wisdom. What this book containeth. Chap. I An exortation for judges and rulers to love wisdom. The spirit of wisdom hateth falsed, disfimulation and hypocrisy, rebuketh unrighteousness and abhorreth wicked doers. Chap. II The imaginations and thoughts of the ungodly, how they give themselves over unto sin, and persecute all virtue and truth. Chap. III The felicity and health of godly people, though they be put here to trouble and heaviness: Again, what sorrow shall happen to the ungodly and their children. Chap. four To live chaste & godly withal, is commendable. A dispraise of the wicked. The honour of virtuous age. The shameful death of the ungodly. Chap. V How the just men shall stand against the wicked, that have put them here to trouble & what sorrow shall come upon the ungodly. Again, what joy shall happen to the righteous, which have God himself for their defence. Chap. VI An exhortation unto such as be in rule and authority, to receive wisdom. A commendation of wisdom. Chap. VII. All men have like entrance in to the world: yet who so calleth upon God for wisdom, shall have his desire The profit that cometh by wisdom passeth all other things. Chap. VIII. Wiszdome should be received in youth. He that marrieth himself unto her, shall obtain love of God and men. Chap. IX. A prayer unto God for the gift of wisdom. Chap. X. What profit and good came by wisdom in the old tyme. Chap. XI. How wisdom leadeth the righteous, & how the ungodly are punished thorough the mighty hand of God. Chap. XII. God is merciful and suffereth long, to the intent that sinners should amend. Chap. XIII. Vain are they that have not the knowledge of the living God, but turn unto to the creatures: unhappy are they that honour images. Chap. XIIII. The worshipping of images. The power of God. punishment of them that make images, and of such as worship them. How images came up first. The honouring of images is the cause, beginning, and end of all mischief. Chap. XU. The faithful have respect unto God and not unto images. Chap. XVI. God punisheth the wicked, but defendeth the godly, & that by great wonders. Chap. XVII. Of the great darkness in Egipte, and blindness of the ungodly. Chap. XVIII. How God destroyed the firstborn of Egipte. God's people eat the easter lamb joyfully, the Egyptians mourn, God punysheth the sinners in the wilderness, Moses entreateth for the people. Chap. XIX. Like as the wicked are ever sinning more and more, so doth the wrath of God never cease, till they be destroyed. Of them that were punished in the time of Loth. The first Chapter. O Set your affection upon wisdom, 3. Reg. 3 Psal. 2. b you that be judges of the earth. Have a good opinion of the LORD, & seek him in the singleness of heart. 2. Par. 15. For he will be found of them that tempt him not, and appeareth unto such as put their trust in him. As for froward thoughts, they separate from God, but virtue (if it be allowed) refourmeth the unwise. And why? wisdom shall not enter in to a froward soul, ner devil in the body that is subdued unto sin. For the holy ghost abhorreth feigned nurture, & withdraweth himself from the thoughts that are without understanding: & where wickedness hath the upper hand, he flieth from thence. Galat. 5. For the spirit of wisdom is loving, gentle and gracious, and will have no pleasure in him that speaketh evil with his lips. For God is a witness of his reins, a true searcher out of his heart, and an hearer of his tongue. isaiah 6. a jere. 23. d Acto. 7. ● For the spirit of the LORD filleth the round compass of the world, and the same that upholdeth all things, hath knowledge also of the voice. Therefore he that speaketh unrighteous things, can not be hid, 3. Re. 2. g Matt. 6. a Heb. 4. b neither may he escape the judgement of reproof. And why? inquisition shall be made for the thoughts of the ungodly, and the report of his words shall come unto God, so that his wickedness shallbe punished. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the noise of the grudginges shall not be hid. Therefore beware of murmuring, which is nothing worth, and refrain your tongue from slander. For there is no word so dark and secret, Luce 12. a that it shall go for nought: and the mouth that speaketh lies, slayeth the soul. O seek not your own death in the error of your life, Deut. 4. c destroy not yourselves thorough the works of your own hands. For God hath not made death, neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the living. For he created all things, that they might have their being: ye all the people of the earth hath he made that they should have health, that there should be no destruction in them, and that the kingdom of hell should not be upon earth (for righteousness is everlasting and immortal, but unrighteousness bringeth death.) Nevertheless, the ungodly call her unto them both with words & works, & while they think to have a friend of her, they come to nought: for the ungodly that are confederate with her and take her part, are worthy of death. The II Chapter. FOr the ungodly talk & imagine thus among themselves (but not right:) The time of our life is but short & tedious, 〈◊〉 7. a ●at. 22 b Cor. 15. d & when a man is once go, he hath no more joy ner pleasure, neither know we any man that turneth again from death: for we are born of nought, & we shall be hereafter as though we had never been. For our breath is as a smoke in our nostrils, & the words as a sparck to move our heart. As for our body, it shallbe very aszshes that are quenched, & our soul shall vanish as the soft air. Our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, & come to nought as the mist that is driven away with the beams of the Son, & put down with the heat thereof. Our name also shallbe forgotten by little & little, & no man shall have our works in remembrance. For our time is a very shadow that passeth away, Par. 30. c ●sa. 22. b 〈◊〉 56. c ●ap. 5. b & 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, & let us soon use the creature like as in youth. We will fill ourselves with good wine & ointment, there shall no flower of the time go by us. We will crown our selves with roses afore they be withered. There shall be no fair meadow, but our lust shall go thorough it. Let every one of you be partaker of our voluptuousness. Let us leave some token of our pleasure in every place, for that is our portion, else get we nothing. Let us oppress the poor righteous, let us not spare the widow ner old man, let us not regard the heads that are grey 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, & which is not for our profit, ye he is clean contrary to our doings. He checketh us for offending against the law, & slandereth us as transgressors of all nurtor. He maketh his boost to have the knowledge of God, ye he calleth himself God's son. He is the bewrayer of our thoughts: joh. 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 It grieveth us also to look upon him, for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion. He counteth us but vain personnes, he with draweth himself from our ways as from filthiness: he commendeth greatly the latter end of the just, & maketh his boast that God is his father. Let us see then if his words be true, let us prove what shall come upon him: so shall we know what end he shall have. For if he be the true son of God, Psal. 〈…〉 he will receive him & deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examen him with despiteful rebuke and tormenting, that we may know his dignity & prove his patience. 〈…〉 Let us condemn him with the most shameful death: for like as he hath spoken, so shall he be rewarded. Soch things do the ungodly imagine, & 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, ye after the image of his own likeness made he him. Gen. 〈…〉 Gen. 〈…〉 Nevertheless thorough envy of the devil came death in to the world, and they that hold of his side, do as he doth. 〈…〉 The III Chapter. But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, 〈…〉 & the pain of death shall not touch them. 〈…〉 In the sight of the unwise they appear to die, & their end is taken for very destruction. The way of the righteous is judged to be utter destruction, but they are in rest. And though they suffer pain before men, 〈…〉 yet is their hope full of immortality. They are punished but in few things, nevertheless in many things shall they be well rewarded. For God proveth them, & findeth them meet for himself: ye as the gold in the furnace doth he try them, & receiveth them as a brent offering, and when the time cometh they shallbe looked upon. The righteous shall shine as the sparks that run thorough the red bush. 〈…〉 They shall judge the nations, & have dominion over the people, & their LORD shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him, shall understand the truth, & such as be faithful, will agreed unto him in love: for his choose shall have gifts & peace. 〈…〉 But the ungodly shallbe punished according to their own imaginations, for they have despised the righteous, & forsaken the LORD. Whoso despiseth wisdom & nurtor, he is unhappy, and as for the hope of such, it is but vain, their labours unfruitful, and their works unprofitable. Their wives are undiscrete, and their children most ungodly. Their creature is cursed. Blessed is rather the barren & undefiled, which hath not known the sinful bed: she shall have fruit in the reward of the holy souls. And blessed is the gelded, 〈…〉 which with his hands hath wrought no unrighteousness, ner imagined wicked things against God. For unto him shall be given the special gift of faith, and the most acceptable portion in the temple of God. For glorious is the fruit of good labour, & the rote of wisdom shall never fade away. As for the children of adulterers, they shall come to an end & the seed of an unrighteous bed shall be rooted out. And though they live long, yet shall they be nothing regarded, & their last age shallbe without honour. If they die haistely, they have no hope, neither shall they be spoken to in the day of knowledge. For horrible is the death and end of the unrighteous. The four Chapter. O How fair is a chaste generation with virtue? The memorial thereof is immortal, for it is known with God and men. When it is present, men take example there at: and if it go away, yet they desire it. It is always crowned & held in honor, & winneth the reward of the undefiled battle. But the multitude of ungodly children is unprofitable, and the things that are planted with whoredom, shall take no deep rote, ner lay any fast foundation, 〈◊〉. 17. b 〈◊〉 1 a 〈◊〉. 7. c Though they be green in the branches for a time, yet shall they be shaken with the wind: for they stand not fast, & thorough the vehemence of the wind they shallbe rooted out. For the unperfect branches shallbe broken, their fruit shallbe unprofitable & sour to eat, ye meet for nothing. And why? all the children that are born of the wicked, must bear record of the wickedness against their fathers & mothers, when they be axed. But though the righteous be overtaken with death, yet shall he be in rest. Age is an honourable thing: nevertheless it standeth not only in the length of time, ner in the multitude of years: but a man's wisdom is the grey hair, and an undefiled life is the old age. He pleased God, & was beloved of him: so that where as he lived among sinners, 〈◊〉. 11. a he translated him. Ye suddenly was he taken away, to the intent that wickedness should not altar his understanding, & that hypocrisy should not beguile his soul. For the crafty bewitching of lies make good things dark, the unsteadfastness also & wickedness of voluptuous desire, turn aside the understanding of the simple. Though he was soon deed, yet fulfilled he much tyme. For his soul pleased God, therefore haisted he to take him away from among the wicked. This the people see, & understand it not: they lay not up such things in their hearts, how that the loving favour & mercy of God is upon his saints, & that he hath respect unto his choose. Thus the righteous that is deed, condemneth the ungodly which are living: & the youth that is soon brought to an end, the long life of the unrighteous. For they see the end of the wise, but they understand not what God hath devised for him, & wherefore the LORD hath taken him away. And why? they see him & despise him, therefore shall God also laugh them to scorn: So that they themselves shall die here after (but without honour) ye in shame among the deed for evermore. For without any voice shall he burst those that be puffed up, & remove them from the foundations, so that they shallbe laid waist unto the highest. They shall mourn, and their memorial shall perish. So they being afraid shall remember their sins, and their own wickedness shall bewray them. The V Chapter. THen shall the righteous stand in great steadfastness against such as have dealt extremely with them, Matt. 19 & taken away their labours. When they see it, they shallbe vexed with horrible fear, & shall wonder at the haistynesse of the sudden health: groninge for very distress of mind, & shall say within themselves (having inward sorrow, and mourning for very anguish of mind): These are they, whom we sometime had in derision, & jested upon. We fools thought their life very madness, Sap. 3. a & their end to be with out honour. But lo, how they are counted among the children of God, & their portion is among the saints. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the Son of understanding rose not up upon us. We have wearied our selves in the way of wickedness & destruction. Tedious ways have we go: but as for the way of the LORD, we have not known it. What good hath our pride done unto us? Or, what profit hath the pomp of riches brought us? 1. Par. 30. Sap. 2. b All those things are passed away like a shadow, & as a messenger running before: as a ship that passeth over the wawes of the water, which when it is go by, the trace thereof can not be found, Pro. ●0. b neither the path of it in the floods. Or as a bird that flieth thorough the air, & no man can see any token where she is flown, but only heareth the noise of her wings, beating the light wind, parting the air thorough the vehemence of her going, & flieth on shaking her wings, where as afterward no token of her way can be found. Or like as when an arrow is shot at a mark, it parteth the air, which immediately cometh together again, so that a man can not know where it went thorough. Even so we in like manner as soon as we were born, began immediately to draw to our end: & have showed no token of virtue, but are consumed in our own wickedness. Soch words shall they that have sinned, speak in the hell: for the hope of the ungodly is like a dry thistle flower (or dust) that is blown away with the wind: ●ob 8. a Psal. 1 b Pro. 10. d and 11. a ●ac. 1. b like as thin scum that is scattered abroad with the storm: like as the smoke which is dispersed here & there with the wind, & as the remembrance of a stranger that tarrieth for a day, & then departeth. ●sal. 39 a But the righteous shall live for evermore: their reward also is with the LORD, & their remembrance with the Hyest. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom & a beautiful crown of the lords hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, & with his own arm shall he defend them. His jealousy also shall take away the harness, & he shall wapen the creature to be avenged of the enemies. He shall put on righteousness for a breast plate, ●phe. 6. b & take sure judgement in stead of an helmett. The invyncible shield of equity shall he take, his cruel wrath shall he sharpen for a spear, & the whole compass of the world shall fight with him against the unwise. Then shall the thunder bolts go out of the lighteninges, & come out of the rain bow of the clouds to the place appointed: out of the hard stony indignation there shall fall thick hales, & the water of the see shallbe wroth against them, & the floods shall run roughly together. Ye a mighty wind shall stand up against them, & a storm shall scatter them abroad. Thus the unrighteous dealing of them shall bring all the land to a wilderness, & wickedness shall overthrow the dwellings of the mighty. The VI Chapter. wisdom is better than strength, & a man of understanding is more worth than one that is strong. Eccls. 9 d Hear therefore (O you kings) & understand: O learn you that be judges of the ends of the earth. give are you that rule the multitudes, & delight in much people. Rom. 13. a For the power is given you of the LORD, & the strength from the Hyest: which shall try your works and search out your imaginations: How that you being officers of his kingdom, have not executed true judgement, have not kept the law of righteousness, ner walked after his will. Horribly & that right soon shall he appear unto you: for an hard judgement shall they have that bear rule. Mercy is granted unto the simple, Eccl●. 〈…〉 but they that be in authority shallbe sore punished. For God which is LORD over all, shall except no man's person, neither shall he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he hath made the small and great, & careth for all alike. But the mighty shall have the sorer punishment. Unto you therefore (oh you kings) do I speak, that you may learn wisdom and not go amiss: for they that keep righteousness shallbe righteously judged: and they that are learned in righteous things, shall find to make answer. Wherefore set your lust upon my words, & love them, so shall you come by nurtor. wisdom is a noble thing, & never faydeth away: ye she is easily seen of them that love her, & found of such as seek her. She preventeth them that desire her, that she may first show herself unto them. Who so awaketh unto her by times, shall have no great travail, for he shall find her sitting ready at his doors. To think upon her, is perfect understanding: & who so watcheth for her, shallbe safe, & that soon. For she goeth about, seeking such as are meet for her, showeth herself cheerfully unto them in their goings, & meeteth them with all diligence. For the unfeigned desire of reformation is her beginning: to care for nurtor is love, and love is the keeping of her laws. 〈…〉 Now the keeping of the laws is perfection & an uncorrupt life, & an uncorrupt life maketh a man familiar with God. And so the desire of wisdom leadeth to the kingdom everlasting. If your delight be then in royal seats & cepters (oh you kings of the people) set your lust upon wisdom, 〈…〉 that you may reign for ever more. O love the light of wisdom, all you that be rulers of the people. As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide the mysteries of God from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of the nativity, and bring the knowledge of her in to light, and will not keep back the truth: neither will I have to do with consuming envy, for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom. But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world, and a wise king is the upholding of the people. O receive nurture then thorough my words, and it shall do you good. The VII. Chap. I Myself also am a mortal man, like as all other, & am come of the earthy generation of him that was first made, 〈…〉 & in my mother's womb was I fashioned to be flesh: In the time of ten months was I brought together in blood thorough the seed of man, & the commodious appetite of sleep. When I was born, I received like air as other men, & fallen upon the earth (which is my nature) crying & weeping at the first, as all other do. I was wrapped in swaddling clotheses, & brought up with great cares. For there is no king that hath had any other beginning of birth. All men than have one entrance unto life, 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉. 6. b & one going out in like manner. Wherefore I desired, and understanding was given me: I called, & the spirit of wisdom came in to me. I set more by her than by kingdoms & royal seats, & counted riches nothing in comparison of her. 〈…〉 As for precious stone I compared it not unto her: for all gold is but gravel unto her, & silver shallbe counted but clay before her sight. I loved her above welfare & beauty, & purposed to take her for my light, for her shine can not be quenched. All good things came to me with her, 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 6. d & innumerable riches thorough her hands. I was glad in them all, for this wisdom went before me, & I known not that she is the mother of all good things. Now as I myself learned unfeignedly, so do I make other men partakers of her, & hide her riches from no man: for she is an infinite treasure unto men, which who so use, become partakers of the love & friendship of God, and are accepted unto him for the gifts of wisdom. God hath granted me to talk wisely, & conveniently to handle the things that he hath graciously lent me. For it is he, that leadeth unto wisdom, & teacheth to use wisdom a right. In his hand are we & our words: ye all our wisdom, 〈◊〉. 3. a our understanding & knowledge of all our works. For he hath given me the true science of these things: so that I know how the world was made, & the powers of the elements: the beginning, ending & midst of the times: how the times altar, how one goeth after another, and how they are fulfilled: the course of the year: the ordinances of the stars: the natures & kinds of beasts: the furiousness of beasts: the power of the winds: the imaginations of men: the deversities of young plants: the virtues of roots, & all such things as are secret & not looked for, have I learned. For the worckmaster of all things hath taught me wisdom. In her is the spirit of understanding, which is holy, manifold, one only, subtle, courteous, discrete, quick, undefiled, plain, sweet, loving the thing that is good, sharp, which forbiddeth not to do well, gentle, kind, steadfast, sure, free: having all virtues, circumspect in all things: receiving all spretes of understanding being clean & sharp. For wisdom is neembler than all neemble things: she goeth thorough & attaineth to all things, because of her cleanness. For she is the breath of the power of God, & a pure clean expressing of the clearness of almighty God. Therefore can no undefiled thing come in to her: Heb. 1. a for she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the undefiled mirror of the majesty of God, & the image of his goodness. And for so much as she is one, she may do all things: & being steadfast herself she renueth all, & among the people conveyeth she herself in to the holy souls. She maketh God's friends & prophets: for God loveth no man, but him in whom wisdom dwelleth. For she is more beautiful than the Son, and giveth more light than the stars, and the day is not to be compared unto her: for upon the day cometh night. But wickedness can not over come wisdom, and foolishness may not be with her. The VIII. Chapter. wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily, & lovingly doth she order all things. I have loved her and laboured for her even fro my youth up: I did my diligence to marry myself with her, such love had I unto her beauty. Who so hath the company of God, commendeth her nobility, ye the LORD of all things himself loveth her. For she is the scolemastresse of the nurtor of God, & the chooser out of his works. If a man would desire riches in this life, what is richer than wisdom, the worketh all things? (Thou will't say:) understanding worketh. What is it among all things, that worketh more than wisdom? If a man love virtue & righteousness, let him labor for wisdom, for she hath great virtues. And why? she teacheth soberness & prudence, righteousness & strength, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in their life. If a man desire much knowledge, she can tell the things that are past, & discern things for to come: she knoweth the sotilties of words, & can expound dark sentences. She can tell of tokens & wondrous things, or ever they come to pass, & the ends of all times & ages. So I purposed after this manner: I will take her unto my company, & common lovingly with her: no doubt she shall give me good council, & speak comfortably unto me in my carefulness & grief. For her sake shall I be well and honestly taken among the commons & lords of the council. Though I be young, yet shall I have sharp understanding: so that I shall be marvelous in the sight of great men, & the faces of princes shall wonder at me. When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure: job. 2●. ● when I speak, they shall look upon me: & if I talk much, they shall say their hands upon their mouth. moreover, by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial, among them that come after me. I shall set the people in order, & the nations shallbe subdued unto me. Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me: among the multitude I shall be counted good, & mighty in battle. When I come home, I shall find rest with her: for her company hath no bitterness, & her felashipe hath no tediousness, but mirth & joy. Now when I considered these things by myself, & pondered them in my heart, how that to be joined unto wisdom is immortality, & great pleasure to have her friendship: how that in the works of her hands are infinite riches: how that, who so keepeth company with her shallbe wise: and that he which talketh with her, shall come to honour: I went about seeking, to get her unto me. For I was a lad of a ripe wit, and had a good understanding. But when I grew to more understanding, I came to an undefiled body. Nevertheless when I perceived that I could not keep myself chaste, except God gave it me (& that was a point of wisdom also, to know whose gift it was) I stepped unto the LORD, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said after this manner: The IX. Chapter. O God of my fathers, & LORD of mercies, 3. Reg. 3. b Gen. 1 (thou that hast made all things with thy word, & ordained man thorough thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creature, which thou hast made: that he should order the world according to equity & righteousness, & execute judgement with a true heart) give me wisdom, which is ever about the seat. & put me not out from among the children: for I thy servant & son of the handmaiden, Psal. 115. b am a feeble person, of a short time, and to young to the understanding of judgement and the laws. And though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded. 1. Par. 29. b 2. Par. 1. a But thou hast choose me to be a king unto the people, and the judge of thy sons and daughters. Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon the holy mount, & an altar in the cite wherein thou dwellest: a likeness of thy holy tabernacle which thou hast prepared from the beginning, and thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth the works: P●o. 8. c 〈◊〉. 1. a which also was with the when thou maydest the world, & known what was acceptable in thy sight, & right in thy commandments. O send her out of thy holy heavens and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, & labour with me: that I may know, what is acceptable in the sight. For she knoweth and understandeth all things: and she shall lead me soberly in my works, and preserve me in her power. So shall my works be acceptable, & then shall I govern thy people righteously, & be worthy to sit in my father's seat. For what man is he, 〈…〉 that may know the council of God? Or, who can think what the will of God is? For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, & our forecastes are but uncertain. And why? a mortal and corruptible body is heavy unto the soul, 〈…〉 and the earthy mansion keepeth down the understanding that museth upon many things. Very hardly can we discern the things that are upon earth, and great labor have we, or we can find the things which are before our eyes: Who will then seek out the ground of the things that are done in heaven? O LORD, who can have knowledge of the understanding and meaning, except thou give wisdom and send thy holy ghost from above? that the ways of them which are upon earth may be reformed: that men may learn the things that are pleasant unto thee, and be preserved thorough wisdom. The X. Chapter. wisdom preserved the first man, whom God made a father of the world, 〈…〉 when he was created alone, brought him out of his offence, took him out of the mould of the earth, & gave him power to rule all things. When the unrighteous went away in his wrath from this wisdom, the brotherhood perished thorough the wrath of murder. Again, 〈…〉 when the water destroyed the whole world, 〈…〉 wisdom preserved the righteous thorough a poor tree, whereof she was governor herself. moreover when wickedness had got the upperhand, so that the nations were puffed up with pride, 〈…〉 she knew the righteous, preserved him faultless unto God, and laid up sure mercy for his children. She preserved the righteous, 〈…〉 when he fled from the ungodly that perished, what time as the fire fallen down upon the v. cities: Like as yet this day the unfruitful, waist and smoking land giveth testimony of their wickedness: ye the unripe and untimely fruits that grow upon the trees. And for a token of a remembrance of the unfaithful soul, there standeth a piler of salt. For all such as regarded not wisdom, got not only this hurt, that they knew not the things which were good, but also left behind them unto men, a memorial of their foolishness: so that in the things wherein they sinned, they could not be hid. But as for such as take heed unto wisdom, she shall deliver them from sorrow. When the righteous fled because of his brother's wrath, 〈…〉 wisdom led him the right way, showed him the kingdom of God, gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his labours, and brought to pass the things that he went about. In the deceitfulness of such as defrauded him, she stood by him, & made him rich. She saved him from the enemies, and defended him from the deceivers. She made him strong in battle, and gave him the victory, that he might know, how that wisdom is stronger than all things. 〈◊〉. ●7. c 〈◊〉. 7. b When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but delivered him from sinners. She went down with him in to the dungeon, and failed him not in the bands: 〈◊〉 41 f till she had brought him the sceptre of the realm, and power against those that oppressed him. As for them that had accused him, she declared them to be liars, & brought him to perpetual worship. She delivered the righteous people and faultless seed, 〈◊〉. 1. b 〈◊〉. 45. from the nations that oppressed them. She entered in to the soul of the servant of God, and stood by him in wonders and tokens against the horrible king. She gave the righteous the reward of their labours, & led them forth a marvelous way: on the day time she was a shadow unto them, and a light of stars in the night season. 〈◊〉. ●4. f She brought them thorough the reed see, and carried them thorough the great water. She drowned their enemies in the see, and brought them out of the deep. So the righteous took the spoils of the ungodly, and praised thy holy name (oh LORD) and magnified thy victorious hand with one accord. 〈…〉 For wisdom openeth the mouth of the dumb, & maketh the tongues of babes to speak. The XI. Chapter. SHe ordered their works in the hands of the holy prophet: 〈◊〉. 1●. a so that they went thorough the wilderness that was not inhabited, & pitched their tents in the waist desert. They stood against their enemies, & were avenged of their adversaries. 〈◊〉 17. b 〈…〉 a When they were thirsty, they called upon thee, & water was given them out of the rock, & their thirst slockened out of the hard stone. For by the things, where thorough their enemies were punished, were they helped in their need. For unto the enemies thou gavest man's blood in stead of living water. And where as they had scarcenesss in the rebuke when the children were slain, thou gavest unto thy own a plenteous water unlooked for: declaring by the thirst that was at that time, how thou wouldest bring thy own unto honour, & slay their adversaries. For when they were tried & nurtured with fatherly mercy, Deut. 8. a they knowledged how the ungodly were judged, and punished thorough the wrath of God. These hast thou exorted as a father, & proved them: but unto the other thou hast been a boisterous king, laid hard to their charge, & condemned them. Whether they were absent or present, their punishment was alike. For their grief was double: namely, mourning, and the remembrance of things past. But when they perceived that their punishments did them good, they thought upon the LORD, & wondered at the end. For at the last they held much of him, of whom in the out casting they thought scorn, as of an abject. Nevertheless the righteous did not so when they were thirsty: but evenlike as the thoughts of the foolish were, so was also their wickedness. Where as certain men now (thorough error) did worship dommeserpentes & vain beestes, Sap. 12. e Rom. 1. c thou sendedst a multitude of dumb beasts upon them for a vengeance: that they might know, that look where withal a man sinneth, by the same also shall he be punished. For unto thy almighty hand, that made the world of nought, it was not unpossible, Levi. 26. d Sap. 16. a jere. 8. c to send among them an heap of Beeres, or wood lions, or cruel beasts of a strange kind, such as are unknown, or spout fire, or cast out a smoking breath, or shoot horrible sparks out of their eyes: which might not only destroy them with hurting, but also kill them with their horrible sight. Ye without these beestes might they have been slain with one wind, being persecuted of their own works, and scattered abroad thorough the breath of thy power. Nevertheless thou hast ordered all things in measure, number & weight. For thou hast ever had great strength & might, & who may withstand the power of thy arm? And why like as the small thing that the balance weigheth, so is the world before thee: ye as a drop of the morning dew, that falls down upon the earth. Thou hast mercy upon all, for thou hast power of all things: and makest the as though thou sawest not the sins of men, Rom. 2. ● because they should amend. For thou lovest all the things that are, and hatest none of them whom thou hast made: neither diddest thou ordain or make any thing of evil will. How might any thing endure, if it were not the will? Or how could any thing be preserved, except it were called of thee? But thou sparest all, for all are thy, oh LORD, thou lover of souls. The XII. Chapter. O LORD, how gracious & sweet is thy spirit in all things? Therefore chastenest thou then measurably that go wrong, and warnest them, concerning the things wherein they offend: thou speakest unto them (oh LORD) and exortest them to leave their wickedness, and to put their trust in the. Deut. 9 a 12. d. 18. b As for those old inhabiters of thy holy land, thou mightest not away with them, for they committed abominable works against thee: as wytch craft, sorcery and Idolatry: they slay their own children without mercy: they ate up men's bowels, and devoured the blood: Ye because of such abominations, myszbeleves & offerings, thou slewest the fathers of the desolate souls by the hands of our fathers: that the land which thou lovest above all other, might be a dwelling for the children of God. Nevertheless thou sparedest them also (as men) & sendedst the forerunners of thine host, even hornettes to destroy them out by little & little. Not that thou wast unable to subdue the ungodly unto the righteous in battle, Exo. 23. d Deut. 7. d or with cruel beestes, or with one rough word to destroy them together: But the mind was to drive them out by little & little, giving them time & place to amend: knowing well, that it was an unrighteous nation & wicked of nature, & that their thought might never be altered. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning, & feared no man: Yet hast thou pardoned their sins. For who will say unto thee: why hast thou done that? Or who will stand against thy judgement? Or who will come before the face an avenger of unrighteous men? Or who will blame thee, if the people perish, whom thou hast made? 1. Pet. 5. a For there is none other God but thou, that carest for all things: that thou mayest declare how that the judgement is not unright. There dare neither king, ner tyrant in the sight require accounts of them, whom thou hast destroyed. For so much them as thou art righteous the self, thou ordrest all things righteously, & punishest even him that hath not deserved to be punished, ●ob 9 b & takest him for a stranger & an alient in the land of the power. For the power is the beginning of righteousness: and because thou art LORD of all things, therefore art thou gracious unto all. When men think the not to be of a full strength, thou declarest the power: & boldly deliverest thou them over that know the not. But thou LORD of power judgest quietly, and ordrest us with great worship, for thou mayest do as thou will't. By such works now hast thou taught thy people, that a man also should be just and loving: and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: for even when thou judgest, thou givest room to amend from sins. For in so much as thou hast punished, and with such diligence delivered the enemies of thy servants, which were worthy to die (where thorough thou gavest them time & place of amendment that they might turn from their wickedness) with how great diligence than punyshest thou thy own children, unto whose fathers thou hast sworn & made covenants of good promises? So where as thou dost but chasten us, thou punyshest our enemies diverse ways: to the intent that when we punish, we should remember the goodness: & when we our selves are punished, to put our trust in thy mercy. Wherefore where as men have lived ignorantly & unrighteously, thou hast punished them sore, 〈…〉 even thorough the same things that they worshipped. For they went astray very long in the way of error, & held the beestes (which even their enemies despised) for gods, living as children of no understanding. Therefore hast thou sent a scornful punishment among them, as among the children of ignorance. As for such as would not be reformed by those scorns & rebukes, they felt the worthy punishment of God. For the things that they suffered, they bore them unpaciently, being not content in them but unwilling. And when they perished by the same things that they took for gods, they knowledged then, that there was but one true God, whom afore they would not know: therefore came the end of their damnation upon them. The XIII. Chapter. Vain are all men, which have not the knowledge of God: as were they that out of the good things which are seen, knew not him, 〈…〉 that of himself is everlasting. neither took they so much regard of the works that are made, as to know, who was the craftsman of them: but some took the fire, some the wind or air, some the course of the stars, some the water, some took Son and Moon, or the lights of heaven which rule the earth, for gods. 〈…〉 But though they had such pleasure in their beauty, that they thought them to have been gods: yet should they have known, how much more fairer he is that made them. For the maker of beauty hath ordained all these things. Or if they marveled at the power and works of them, they should have perceived thereby, that he which made these things, is mightier than they. For by the greatness & beauty of the creature, the maker thereof may plainly be known. notwithstanding they are the less to be blamed, that sought God & would have found him, and yet myssed. And why? for so much as they went about in his works and sought after them, it is a token, that they regarded and held much of his works that are seen: howbeit they are not wholly to be excused. For if their understanding and knowledge was so great, that they could discern the world and the creatures, why did they not rather find out the LORD thereof? But unhappy are they, and among the deed is their hope, that call them God which are but the works of men's hands: gold, silver and the thing, that is found out by cunning, the similitude of beasts, or any vain stone that hath been made by hand of old. 〈◊〉 44. b 〈◊〉. 10. a Or as when a carpenter cutteth down a tree out of the wood, and pareth of the bark of it connyngly: and so with the one part maketh a vessel to be used, and dighteth meat with the residue. As for the other part that is left, which is profitable for nothing (for it is a crooked piece of wood and full of knobs) he carueth it diligently thorough his vanity, and (according to the knowledge of his cunning) he giveth it some proportion, fashioneth it after the similitude of a man, or maketh it like some be'st, straketh it over with reed and painteth it, and look what foul spot is in it, he casts some colour upon it. Then maketh he a convenient tabernacle for it, setteth it in the brickwall and maketh it fast with iron, providing so for it, jest it hap to fall: for it is well known, that it can not help itself: And why? it is but an image, and must of necessity be helped. Then goeth he and offereth of his goods unto it for his children and for his wife: he seeketh help at it, he axeth council at it: he is not ashamed to speak unto it that hath no soul: for health, he maketh his petition unto him that is sick: for life, he prayeth unto him that is deed: he calleth upon him for help, that is not able to help himself: & to send him a good journey, he prayeth him that may not go. And in all the things that he taketh in hand (whether it be to obtain any thing or to work) he prayeth unto him that can do manner of good. The XIIII. Chapter. Again, another man purposing to sail & beginning to take his journey thorough the raging see, calleth for help unto a stock, that is far weaker, them the tree that beareth him. For as for it, covetousness of money hath found it out, & the craftsman made it with his cunning. But the providence (O father) governeth all things from the beginning, for thou hast made a way in the see, Exo. 14. d & a sure path in the midst of the wawes: declaring thereby, that thou hast power to help in all things, ye though a man went to the see without ship. Nevertheless, that the works of the wisdom should not be vain, thou hast caused an ark to be made: Gen. 6. c & therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood passing over the see in a ship, & are saved. For in the old time also when the proud giants perished, Gen. 7. b he (in whom the hope was left to increase the world) went in to the ship, which was governed thorough thy hand, & so left sede behind him unto the world. For happy is the tree where thorough righteousness cometh: but cursed is the image of wood, that is made with hands, ye both it & he that made it: He, because he made it: & it, because it was called God, where as it is but a frail thing. For the ungodly & his ungodliness are both like abominable unto God. Psal. 7. a Even so the work & he that made it also shall be punished together. Therefore shall there a plague come upon the images of the heathen: for out of the creature of God they are become an abomination, a temptation unto the souls of men, and a snare for the feet of the unwise. And why? the seeking out of images is the beginning of whoredom, and the bringing up of them is the destruction of life. For they were not from the beginning, neither shall they continued for ever. The wealthy idleness of men hath found them out upon earth, therefore shall they come shortly to an end. When a father mourned for his son that was taken away from him, he made him an image (in all the haist) of his deed son: & so began to worship him as God, which was but a deed man & ordained his servants to offer unto him. Thus by process of time & thorough long custom, this error was kept as a law, & tyrants compelled men by violence to honor images. As for those that were so far of, that men might not worship them presently, their picture was brought from far (like the image of a king whom they would honour) to the intent that with great diligence they might worship him which was far of, as though he had been present. Again, the singular connyn be of the craftsman gave the ignorant also a great occasion to worship images. For the workman willing to do him a pleasure that set him a work, laboured with all his cunning to make the image of the best fashion. And so (thorough the beauty of the work) the common people was deceived, in so much that they took him now for a God, which a little afore was but honoured as a man. And this was the error of man's life, when men (either for to serve their own affection, or to do some pleasure unto kings) ascribed unto stones and stocks the name of God, which aught to be given unto no man. moreover, this was not enough for them that they erred in the knowledge of God: but where as they lived in the great wars of ignorance, those many and great plagues called they peace. Deut. 1●. b ●ere. 7. a ●nd 19 a For either they slew their own children and offered them, or did sacrifice in the night season, or else held unreasonable watches: so that they kept neither life ner marriage clean: but either one slew another to death maliciously, or else grieved his neighbour with adultery. And thus were all things mixed together: blood, manslaughter, theft, dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, sedition, perjury, disquyetinge of good men, unthankfulness, defylinge of souls, changing of birth, unsteadfastness of marriage, misorder of adultery and uncleanness. And why? the honouring of abominable images, is the cause, the beginning and end of all evil. For they that worship Idols, either they are mad when they be merry, or prophecy lies, or live ungodly, or else lightly man-sweare themselves. For in so much as their trust is in the Idols (which have neither soul ner understanding) though they swear falsely, yet they think it shall not hurt them. Therefore cometh a great plague upon them, and that worthily: for they have an evil opinion of God, giving heed unto Idols, swearing unjustly to deceive, and dispysinge righteousness. For their swearing is no virtue, but a plague of them that sin, and goeth ever with the offence of the ungodly. The XU. Chapter. But thou (O our God) art sweet, long suffering and true, and in mercy ordrest thou all things. Though we sin, yet are we thy, for we know thy strength. If we sin not, then are we sure, that thou regardest us. For to know thee, is perfect righteousness: Ye to know the righteousness and power, is the rote of immortality. As for the thing that men have found out thorough their evil science, it hath not deceived us: as the painting of the picture (an unprofitable labour) and carved image, with diverse colours, whose sight enticeth the ignorant: so that he honoureth and loveth the picture of a deed image, that hath no soul. Nevertheless, they that love soche evil things, are worthy of death: they that trust in them, they that make them, they that love them, and they that honour them. The potter also taketh & tempereth soft earth, laboureth it, and giveth it the fashion of a vessel, what so ever serveth for our use: and so of one piece of clay he maketh some clean vessel for service, and some contrary. But where to every vessel serveth, that knoweth the potter himself. So with his vain labour he maketh a god of the same clay: this doth even he, which a little afore was made of earth himself, and within a little while after (when he dieth) turneth to earth again. Notwithstanding, he careth not the more because he shall labor ner because his life is short: but striveth to excel goldsmiths, the silver smiths & copper smiths, and taketh it for an honour to make vain things. For his heart is ashes, his hope is but vain earth & his life is more vile than clay: for so much as he knoweth not his own maker, that gave him his soul to work, and breathed in him the breath of life. They count our life but a pastime, and our conversation to be butt a market, and that men should ever be getting, ye and that by evil means. Now he that of earth maketh frail vessel and images, knoweth himself to offend above all other. All the enemies of thy people and that hold them in subjection, are unwise, unhappy and exceeding proud unto their own souls: 〈…〉 for they judge all the Idols of the Heithen to be gods, which neither have eyesight to see, ner noses to smell, ner ears to hear, ner fingers of hands for to grope: & as for their feet, they are to slow to go. For man made them, and he that hath but a borrowed spirit, fashioned them. But no man can make a God like unto him: for seeing he is but mortal himself, it is but mortal that he maketh with unrighteous hands. He himself is better than they whom he worshippeth, for he lived though he was mortal, but so did never they. Ye they worship beestes also▪ which are most miserable: for compare things that can not feel unto them, & they are worse than those. Yet is there not one of these beestes, that with his sight can behold any good thing, neither have they given praise ner thanks unto God. The XVI. Chapter. FOr these and such other things have they suffered worthy punishment, & thorough the multitude of beestes are they rooted out. Instead of the which punishments thou hast graciously ordered thy own people, & given them their desire that they longed for: a new & strange taist, preparing them quails to be their meat: 〈◊〉. 11. g to the intent that (by the things which were showed and sent unto them) they that were so greedy of meat, might be withdrawn even from the desire that was necessary. But these within short time were brought unto poverty, and taisted a new meat. For it was requisite that (without any excuse) destruction should come upon those which used tyranny, & to show only unto the other, how their enemies were destroyed. 〈◊〉. ●1. a For when the cruel woodness of the beestes came upon them, they perished thorough the stings of the cruel serpents▪ notwithstanding thy wrath endured not perpetually, but they were put in fear for a little season, that they might be reformed, having a token of salvation, to remember the commandment of thy law. For he that converted, was not healed by the thing that he saw, but by thee, O savio of all. So in this thou shewdest thy enemies, that it is thou, which deliverest from all evil. As for them when they were bitten with greshoppers and flies, 〈◊〉. 10. d they died, for they were worthy to perish by such: But neither the teeth of dragons ner of venomous worms over came the children, for thy mercy was ever by them & helped them. Therefore were they punished to remember thy words, but hastily were they healed again: jest they should fall in to so deep forgetfulness, that they might not use thy help. It was neither herb ner plaster that restored them to health, but thy word (oh LORD) which heals all things. It is thou (oh LORD) that hast the power of life & death: 〈◊〉. 32. f 〈…〉. b thou ledest unto deaths door, & bringest up again. But man thorough wickedness slayeth his own soul, & when his spirit goeth forth, it turneth not again, neither may he call again the soul that is taken away: It is not possible to escape thy hand. For the ungodly that would not know thee, were punished by the strength of thy arm: 〈◊〉 9 c with strange waters, hales and rains were they persecuted, & thorough fire were they consumed. For it was a wondrous thing that fire might do more than water which quencheth all things: but the world is the avenger of the righteous. Some time was the fire so tame, that the beestes which were sent to punish the ungodly, brent not: & that because they should see & know, that they were persecuted with the punishment of God. And sometime brent the fire in the water on every side, that it might destroy the unrighteous nation of the earth. Again, thou hast fed thy own people with angels food, Exo. 16. ● & sent them bread ready from heaven (without their labo) being very pleasant & well gusted. And to show thy riches & sweetness unto thy children, thou gavest every one their desire, so that every man might take what liked him best. But the snow & ice abode the violence of the fire, & melted not: that they might know, that the fire burning in the hale & rain, destroyed the fruit of the enemies: the fire also forgot his strength again, that the righteous might be nourished. For the creature that serveth thee (which art the maker) is fierce in punyshinge the unrighteous, but it is easy & gentle to do good, unto such as put their trust in the. Therefore did all things altar at the same time, & were all obedient unto thy grace, which is the norse of all things, according to the desire of them that had need thereof: that the children (O LORD) whom thou lovest, Deut. 8. ● Matt. 4 ● might know, that it is not nature & the growing of fruits that feedeth men, but that it is the word, which preserveth them that put their trust in the. For look what might not be destroyed with the fire, as soon as it was warmed with a little Son beam, it melted: that all men might know, that thanks aught to be given unto the before the Son rise, & that thou oughtest to be worshipped before the day spring. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter ice, & perish as water, that is not necessary. The XVII. Chapter. great are thy judgements (oh LORD) & thy counsels can not be expressed: Rom. 11. ● therefore men do err, that will not be reformed with thy wisdom. For when the unrighteous thought to have thy holy people in subietion, they were bound with the bands of darkness & long night, shut under the roof, Exo. 10. ● thinking to escape the everlasting wisdom. And while they thought to be hid in the darkness of their sins, they were scattered abroad in the very midst of the dark covering of forgetfulness, put to horrible fear & wondrously vexed. For the corner where they were, might not keep them from fear: because the sound came down and vexed them: ye many terrible and strange visions made them afraid. No power of the fire might give them light, neither might the clear flames of the stars lighten that horrible night. For there appeared unto them a sudden fire, very dreadful: At the which (when they saw nothing) they were so afraid, that they thought the thing which they saw, to be the more fearful. As for the sorcery & enchauntement that they used, ●●od. 7. b it came to derision, and the proud wisdom was brought to shame. For they that promised to drive away the fearfulness & dread from the weak souls, were sick for fear themselves, and that with scorn. And though none of the wonders feared them, yet were they afraid at the beestes which came upon them, & at the Hissing of the serpents: In so much that with trembling they swowned, & said they saw not the air, which no man yet may escape. For it is an heavy thing, when a mans own conscience beareth record of his wickedness & condemneth him. And why? a vexed & wounded conscience, taketh ever cruel things in hand. 〈◊〉. 45. a Fearfulness is nothing else, but a declaring that a man seeketh help & defence, to answer for himself. And look how much less the hope is within, the more is the uncertainty of the matter, for the which he is punished. But they that came in the mighty night, slept the sleep that fallen upon them from under & from above: sometime were they afraid thorough the fear of the wonders, & sometime they were so weak, that they swowned withal: for an hasty & sudden fearfulness came upon them. afterward, if any of them had fallen, he was kept & shut in preson, but without chains. But if any dwelled in a village, if he had been an hyrd or huszbandman, he suffered intolerable necessity: for they were all bound with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a blazing wind, or a sweet song of the birds among the thick branches of the trees, or the vehemence of hasty running water, or great noise of the falling down of stones, or the playing & running of beasts whom they saw not, or the mighty noise of roaring beestes, or the sound that answereth again in the high mountains: it made them swoon for very fear. For all the earth shined with clear light, & no man was hindered in his labor. Only upon them there fallen a heavy night, an image of darkness that was to come upon them. Ye they were unto themselves the most heavy & horrible darkness. The XVIII. Chapter. Nevertheless thy saints had a very great light (and the enemies heard their voice, but they saw not the figure of them.) And because they suffered not the same things, they magnified thee: and they that were vexed afore (because they were not hurt now) thanked thee, and besought thee (oh God) that there might be a difference. Therefore had they a burning piler of fire to lead them in the unknown way, 〈…〉 & thou gavest them the Son for a free gift without any hurt. Reason it was, that they should want light & to be put in the preson of darkness, which kept thy children in captivity, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law of the world was for to be given. When they thought to slay the babes of the righteous (one being laid out, 〈…〉 and yet preserved to be leader unto the other) thou broughtest out the whole multitude of the children, 〈…〉 and destroydest these in the mighty water. Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that they knowing unto what oothes they had given credence, might be of good cheer. Thus thy people received the health of the righteous, but the ungodly were destroyed. For like as thou hast hurt our enemies, so hast thou promoted us whom thou calledest afore. For the righteous children of the good men offered secretly, & ordered the law of righteousness unto unite: that the just should receive good and evil in like manner, singing praises unto the father of all men. Again, there was herd an unconvenient voice of the enemies, & a piteous cry for children that were bewailed. The master and the servant were punished alike, the mean man and the king suffered in like manner. For they all together had innumerable that died one death. neither were the living sufficient to bury the deed, for in the twinkling of an eye, 〈…〉 the noblest nation of them was destroyed. As often as God helped them afore, yet would it not make them believe: but in the destruction of the first born they knowledged, that it was the people of God. For while all things were still, & when the night was in the midst of her course, thy almighty word (oh LORD) leapt down from heaven out of the royal throne, as a rough man of war, in the midst of the land that was destroyed: & the sharp sword performed thy strait commandment, standing & fyllinge all things with death: ye it stood upon the earth & reached unto the heaven. Then the sight of the evil dreams vexed them suddenly, and fearfulness came upon them unawares. Then lay there one here, another there half deed half quick, and showed the cause of his death. For the visions that vexed them, showed them these things afore: so that they were not ignorant, wherefore they perished. The tentation of death touched the righteous also, and among the multitude in the wilderness there was insurrection, but thy wrath endured not long. For the faultless man went in all the haist, 〈◊〉 16 g and took the battle upon him, brought forth the weap● of his ministration: even prayer and the censors of reconcilinge, set himself against the wrath, and so brought the misery to an end: declaring thereby, that he was thy servant. For he overcame not the multitude with bodily power, ner with weapens of might: but with the word he subdued him that vexed him, putting the in remembrance of the oath & covenant made unto the fathers. For when the deed were fallen down by heaps one upon another, he stood in the midst, pacified the wrath, and parted the way unto the living. 〈…〉. b. c And why● in his long garment was all the beauty, and in the four rows of the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy majesty was written in the crown of his head. Unto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for it was only a tentation worthy of wrath. The XIX. Chapter. AS for the ungodly, the wrath came upon them without mercy unto the end. For he known before what should hap unto them: how that (when they had consented to let them go, and had sent them out with great diligence) they would repent, & follow upon them. For when they were yet mourning and making lamentation by the graves of the deed, 〈◊〉▪ 14. a they devised another foolishness: so that they persecuted them in their flienge, whom they had cast out afore with prayer. Worthy necessity also brought them unto this end, for they had clean forgotten the things that happened unto them afore. But the thing that was wanting of their punishment, was requisite so to be fulfilled upon them with torments: that thy people might have a marvelous passage thorough, and that these might find a strange death. Then was every creature fashioned again of the new according to the will of their maker, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might be kept without hurt. For the cloud overshadowed their tents, & the dry earth appeared, where afore was water: so that in the reed see there was a way without impediment, and the great deep become a green field: where thorough all the people went that were defended with thy hand, seeing thy wondrous & marvelous works. For as the horses, so were they fed, & leapt like lambs, praising thee (oh LORD) which hadst delivered them. And why? they were yet mindful of the things, that happened while they dwelled in the land: how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattles, and how the river scrauled with the multitude of frogs in stead of fyszshes. But at the last they saw a new creation of birds, Exo. 16. c Nu. 11. g what time as they were deceived with lust, and desired delicate meats. For when they were speaking of their appetite, the quails came up unto them from the see, and punishments came upon the sinners, not without the tokens which came to pass afore by the vehemence of the streams: for they suffered worthily according to their wickednesses, they dealt so abominably & churlishly with strangers. Some received no unknown gests, some brought the strangers in to bondage that did them good. Beside all these things there were some, that not only received no strangers with their wills, but persecuted those also, ●. ●oh. b and did them much evil, that received them gladly. Therefore were they punished with blindness, like as they that were covered with sudden darkness at the doors of the righteous: Gen. 19 ● 4. Re. 6. ● so that every one sought the entrance of his door. Thus the elements turned in to them selves, like as when one tune is changed upon an instrument of music, and yet all the residue keep their melody: which may easily be perceived, by the sight of the things that are come to pass. The dry land was turned in to a watery, & the thing that afore swam in the water, went now upon the dry ground. The fire had power in the water (contrary to his own virtue) and the water forgatt his own kind to quench. Again, the flames of the noisome beasts hurt not the flesh of them that went with them, neither melted they the ice, which else melteth lightly. In all things hast thou promoted thy people (oh LORD) and brought them to honour: thou hast not despised them, but allway and in all places hast thou stand by them. The end of the book of wisdom. Ecclesiasticus called jesus Syrac The prologue of jesus the son of Syrac unto his book. MAny and great men have declared wisdom unto us out of the law, out of the prophets & out of other that followed them. In the which things Israel aught to be commended, by the reason of doctrine and wisdom: Therefore they that have it & read it, should not only themselves be wise there thorough, but serve other also with teaching and writing. After that my grandfather jesus had given diligent labour to read the law, the prophets and other books that were left us of our fathers, and had well exercised himself therein: he purposed also to write some thing of wisdom and good manners, to the intent that they which were willing to learn and to be wise, might have the more understanding, and be the more apt to lead a good conversation. Wherefore I exhort you to receive it lovingly, to read it with diligence, and to take it in good worth: though our words be not so eloquent as the famous orators. For the thing that is written in the Hebrew tongue, soundeth not so well when it is translated in to another speech. Not only this book of mine, but also the law, the prophets, and other books sound far other wise, than they do, when they are spoken in their own language. Now in the XXXVIII. year when I came in to Egipte in the time of Ptolemy Euerges, and continued there all my life, I got liberty to read and write many good things. Wherefore I thought it good and necessary, to bestow my diligence and travail to interpret this book. And considering that I had time, I laboured and did my best to perform this book, and to bring it unto light: that the strangers also which are disposed to learn, might apply themselves unto good manners, & live according to the law of the LORD. What this book containeth. Chap. I All wisdom cometh of God, for he only is wise The fruit of God's fear. Chap. II An exhortation unto patience & to the fear of God. Chap. III A doctrine for children, how they should honour father and mother: & how men aught to be gentle and lowly. Chap. four wisdom learneth to be merciful and loving unto every man. What reward wisdom giveth, to them that love her and seek her. Chap. V Let no man trust in his riches, let no man lean upon his own power, let no man despise the mercy & long suffering of God. Chap. VI Of true & false friendship. An exhortation to hearken unto wisdom. Chap. VII. Many goodly lessons and documents. Chap. VIII. He teacheth to beware of strife, to think scorn of no man, to avoid suerryshipp, to beware of branelesse and cruel people. Chap. IX. How men should behave themselves with their wives, & how old friendship aught nor to be broken &c. with many other good lessons. Chap. X. Of judges & rulers of the people. How pride aught to be eschewed. Chap. XI. Many good instructions. Chap. XII. How and to whom a man should do good. Chap. XIII. How the poor should keep himself from the rich. Chap. XIIII. The unfaithfulness and wickedness of rich nygardes. An exhortation to do good & to cleave unto wisdom. Chap. XU. The profit that cometh of the fear of God & of wisdom, which the wicked will not receive. Chap. XVI. The multitude of evil children is not good, for the grace of God is not among the ungodly. The patience, mercy, and wisdom of God. Chap. XVII. How God made man, endued him with gifts, opening his will & law unto him: but chose Israel out of all people. Chap. XVIII. The wisdom of God and order of his works, which no man may comprehend. The days of man are short. God suffereth long, rebuketh and teacheth all such as will receive nurture. Chap. XIX. Many good lessons of wisdom. Chap. XX. Men aught to give warning, to exhort and to rebuke: but not to be cruel, violent or malicious. Of silence, and speaking, & how to beware of lies. Chap. XXI. All manner of sins aught to be eschewed The difference of the wise and foolish. Chap. XXII. A fool will not be reformed nor rebuked. Be faithful unto thy neighbour and friend. Chap. XXIII. A faithful prayer unto God, to preserve the mouth and tongue from noisome words and oothes, & the heart from evil thoughts. How great abomination adultery is. Chap. XXIIII. A commendation of wisdom. Chap. XXV. There is nothing better, than an honest virtuous woman. Again, there is nothing worse than an evil, ungodly, & froward woman. Chap. XXVI. A commendation and praise of a good honest woman, and how noisome an evil wife is. Chap. XXVII. Many goodly sentences. Chap. XXVIII. Men aught not to take vengeance, but every man to forgive his neighbour, & not to bear evil will ner to strive. What harm cometh of false tongues & slanderers. Chap. XXIX. How men should have compassion and lend unto their neighbours: and how they that borrow, aught to behave themselves again. Of unadvised suertieshipe. How every man aught to be content with that he hath, and not to be chargeable unto other. Chap. XXX. Who so loveth his children, teacheth them, nurtoreth them and chasteneth them. Health is a noble gift. Chap. XXXI. The misery of the cuvetous. How one should be have himself at the table, and be measurable in meat and drink. What harm cometh of drinking to much wine. Chap. XXXII. To be set in rule & dignity, should not make a man proud and high minded, but to fear, to be diligent and faithful unto them, that are committed unto him &c. with other good lessons. Chap. XXXIII. How God aught to be feared, & his law kept. The difference of days and of men. The ordringe of children and household. Chap. XXXIIII. The hope of the ungodly is vain: the righteous shallbe preserved, for he putteth his trust in God, which will not be reconciled with offerings, but with an innocent life. Chap. XXXV. The offering that pleaseth God is to keep his commandments, to be thankful, merciful, and to cease from sin God is the defender of widows, fatherless, and oppressed, and heareth their prayer. Chap. XXXVI. An earnest prayer unto God for help against the enemies. The praise of an honest woman. Chap. XXXVII. Of true & false friendship. Good council aught to be sought at them, which are virtuous and fear God, but first at God himself. Of wisdom and soberness. Chap. XXXVIII. Physicians and medicyns aught not to be despised, but used as a gift of God: nevertheless God himself is first to be sought in all sickness. Men should be measurable in mourning for the deed, & prepare themselves also unto death. Every workman aught to be diligent in his labour, and to please God with keeping his commandments. Chap. XXXIX. wisdom and the fear of God excel all other things. All things are made to serve the faithful. Chap. XL. The life of man is a battle. All things pass away, but the truth abideth for ever. The liberal and loving conditions of the righteous. The unfaithfulness and niggardness of the ungodly. Chap. XLI. Death is fearful unto the wicked, but a joy unto the righteous. The cursing of the ungodly. A good name is a noble thing. What the things be, whereof a man aught to be ashamed. Chap. XLII. Where one aught not to be ashamed. The care and bringing up of children. The power and wisdom of God. Chap. XLIII. The beauty of the firmament, where by the power and wisdom of God is known, & should by right be praised. Chap. XLIIII. A commendation and praise of the old fathers. Chap. XLV. Of the faithful worthies, and their noble acts. Of the priesthood and offerings. The punishment of the seditious. Chap. XLVI. The manliness of joshua & Caleb. Of the rulers in Israel, unto the time of faithful Samuel. Chap. XLVII. Of Nathan, David and Solomon. Chap. XLVIII. Of Elyas, Ezechias and Esay. Chap. XLIX. The acts of good josias. The decay of jerusalem. Of the prophets and patriarchs. Chap. L. A commendation of Simeon the son of Onias. Chap. LI. A prayer of jesus Syrac. wisdom calleth the ignorant unto her. The first Chapter. ALl wisdom cometh of God the LORD, 3. Re. 3. ● and 4. c job 28. c Jacobi 1. & hath been ever with him, and is before all tyme. Who hath numbered the sonde of the see, the drops of the rain & the days of time? Who hath measured the height of heaven, the breadth of the earth & the deepness of the see? Who hath sought out the ground of God's wisdom, which hath been before all things? Wiszdome hath been before all things, Rom. 11. and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. (God's word in the height is the well of wisdom, and the everlasting commandments are the entrance of her.) Unto whom hath the rote of wisdom been decla●red? Or who hath known her wit? Unto whom hath the doctrine of wisdom been discovered and showed? and who hath understand the many fold entrance of her? There is one: even the Hyest, the maker of all things, the almighty, the king of power (of whom men aught to stand greatly in awe) which sitteth upon his throne, being a God of dominion: He hath created her thorough the holy ghost: he hath seen her, numbered her, and measured her: He hath poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh according to his gift: he giveth her richly unto them that love him. The fear of the LORD is worship and triumph, gladness & a joyful crown. The fear of the LORD maketh a merry heart, giveth gladness, joy and long life. Who so fears the LORD, it shall go well with him at the last, & in the day of his death he shall be blessed. The love of God is honourable wisdom: look unto whom it appeareth, they love it, for they see what wondrous things it doth. The fear of LORD is the beginning of wisdom, ●●al. 110. b 〈◊〉. 9 b and was made with the faithful in the mother's womb: it shall go with the choose women, and shallbe known of the righteous and faithful. The fear of the LORD is the right God's service, that preserveth and justifieth the heart, and giveth mirth & gladness. Who so fears the LORD, shall be happy: and when he hath need of comfort, he shall be blessed. To fear God is the wisdom that maketh rich, and bringeth all good with her. She filleth the whole house with her gifts, & the garners with her treasure. The fear of the LORD is the crown of wisdom, and giveth plenteous peace & health. He hath seen her & numbered her: knowledge and understanding of wisdom hath he poured out as rain: and them that held her fast, hath he brought unto honor. The fear of the LORD is the rote of wisdom, and her branches are long life. (In the treasures of wisdom is understanding and devotion of knowledge, but wisdom is abhorred of sinners.) The fear of the LORD driveth out sin, for he that is without fear, can not be made righteous, & his wilful boldness is his own destruction. A patient man will suffer unto the time, and then shall he have the reward of joy. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and many men's lips shall speak of his wisdom. In the treasures of wisdom is the declaration of doctrine, but the sinner abhorreth the worship of God. My son, if thou desire wisdom, keep the commandment, and God shall give her unto thee: for the fear of the LORD is wisdom & nurture, he hath pleasure in faith and loving meekness, and he shall fill the treasures thereof. Be not obstinate and unfaithful to the fear of the LORD, and come not unto him with a double heart. Be not an hypocrite in the sight of men, and take good heed what thou speakest. Marck well these things, jest thou happen to fall and bring thy soul to dishonour, and so God discover thy secrets, and cast the down in the midst of the congregation: because thou wouldest not receive the fear of God, and because thy heart is full of faynednes and deceit. The II Chapter. MY son, if thou will't come in to the service of God, Matt. 〈…〉 Tim. 〈…〉 2. Pe●. 〈…〉 stand fast in righteousness and fear, & arm thy soul to tentation: sattle thy heart, and be patient: bow down thy ear, receive the words of understanding, and shrencke not away, when thou art enticed. Hold the fast upon God, join thyself unto him & suffer, that thy life may increase at the last. What so ever happeneth unto thee, receive it: suffer in heaviness, and be patient in thy trouble. Sap. 3 ● Pro. 〈…〉 For like as gold and silver are tried in the fire, even so are acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Believe in God, and he shall help thee: order thy way a right, and put thy trust in him. Hold fast his fear, and grow therein▪ O you that fear the LORD, take sure hold of his mercy: shrencke not away from him, that you fall not. O you that fear the LORD, believe him, and your reward shall not be empty. O you that fear the LORD, put your trust in him, & mercy shall come unto you for pleasure. O you that fear the LORD, set your love upon him, & your hearts shall be lightened. consider the old generations of men (oh you children) and mark them well: Psal 〈…〉 Esa▪ 〈…〉 was there ever any one confounded, that put his trust in the LORD? Who ever continued in his fear, and was forsaken? Or whom did he ever despise, that called faithfully upon him? For God is gracious and merciful, he forgiveth sins in the time of trouble, and is a defender for all them that seek him in the truth. Woe be unto him that hath a double heart, wicked lips and evil occupied hands, & to the sinner that goeth two manner of ways. Woe be unto them that are louse of heart, which put not their trust in God, and therefore shall they not be defended of him. Woe be unto them that have lost patience, forsaken the right ways, and are turned back in to froward ways. What will they do, when the LORD shall begin to visit them? They that fear the LORD, will not mistrust his word: and they that love him, 〈…〉 will keep his commandment. They that fear the LORD, will seek out the things that are pleasant unto him: and they that love him, shall fulfil his law. 〈…〉 They that fear the LORD will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight. (They that fear the LORD, keep his commandments, and will be patient, 〈◊〉 24. c 〈…〉 d till they see himself) saying: better it is for us to fall in to the hands of the LORD, then in to the hands of men: for his mercy is as great as himself. The III Chapter. THe children of wisdom are a congregation of the righteous, and their exercise is obedience and love. Hear me your father (oh my dear children) and do there after, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉. 5. a that you may be safe. For the LORD will have the father honoured of the children, and look what a mother commandeth her children to do, he will have it kept. Who so honoureth his father, his sins shall be forgiven him: and he that honoureth his mother, is like one that gathereth treasure together. Who so honoureth his father, shall have joy of his own children: & when he maketh his prayer, he shall be herd. He that honoureth his father, 〈◊〉 5. a shall have a long life: & he that is obedient for the LORDS sake, his mother shall have joy of him. He that fears the LORD, honoureth his father and mother, and doth them service, as it were unto the LORD himself. Honour thy father in deed, in word and in all patience, 〈◊〉 ●7. d 〈◊〉 49. a 〈…〉. a that thou mayest have his blessing: for the blessing of the father buildeth up the houses of the children, but the mother's curse roteth out the foundations. Rejoice not when thy father is reproved, for it is no honour unto thee, but a shame. For the worship of a man's father is his own worship, and where the father is without honour, it is the dishonesty of the son. My son, make much of thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, & despise him not in thy strength. For the good deed that thou showest unto thy father, shall not be forgotten: and when thou thyself wantest, it shall be rewarded thee (and for thy mother's offence thou shalt be recompensed with good, ye it shall be founded for the in righteousness) and in the day of trouble thou shalt be remembered: thy sins also shall melt away, like as the ice in the fair warm wether. He that forsaketh his father, shall come to shame: & he that defyeth his mother, is cursed of God. My son, perform the works with loving meekness, so shalt thou be loved above other men. 〈…〉 The greater thou art, the more humble thyself (in all things) and thou shalt find favour in the sight of God. For great power belongeth only unto God, & he is honoured of the lowly. Seek not out the things that are above thy capacity, Pro. 25. d Rom. 12. a and search not the ground of such things as are to mighty for thee: but look what God hath commanded thee, Deut. 4. a think upon that allway, and be not curious in many of Some read * thy works. his works. For it is not needful for thee, to see with thy eyes, the things that are secret. Make not thou to much search in superfluous things, and be not curious in many of his works: for many things are showed unto the already, which be above the capacity of men. The meddling with such hath beguiled many a man, and tangled their wits in vanity. Now he that loveth apparel, shall perish therein. An hard heart shall fair evil at the last (an heart that goeth two ways, shall not prosper: & he that is froward of heart, will ever be the worse and worse) A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the ungodly sinner will heap one sin upon another. The council of the proud hath no health, for the plant of sin shall be rooted out in them. The heart of h●m that hath understanding, shall perceive high things, and a good ear will gladly hearken unto wisdom. An heart that is wise & hath understanding, will abstain from sins, and increase in the works of righteousness. Water quencheth burning fire, Psal. 40. a Dan. 4. d Math. 5. a & mercy reconcileth sins. God hath respect unto him that is thankful: he thinketh upon him against the time to come: so that when he falls, he shall find a strong hold. The four Chapter. MY son, defraud not the poor of his alms, Deut. 15. a Mat. 25. c and turn not away thy eyes from him that hath need. Despise not an hungry soul, and defy not the poor in his necessity: grieve not the heart of him that is helpless, and withdraw not the gift from the needful. Refuse not the prayer of one that is in trouble, and turn not away thy face from the needy. Cast not thy eyes aside from the poor, that thou give him not occasion to speak evil of the. For if he complain of that in the bitterness of his soul, his prayer shall be herd: even he that made him, shall hear him. Be courteous unto the company of the poor, humble thy soul unto the elder, & bow down the head to a man of worship. Let it not grieve the to bow down thy ear unto the poor, but pay thy debt, and give him a friendly answer, and that with meekness. deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor, Gen. 14. ● Exo. 2. b & be not faint hearted when thou sittest in judgement. Be merciful unto the fatherless as a father, & be in stead of an husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as an obedient son of the Hyest, and he shall love the more than thy mother doth. Wiszdome bretheth life in to her children, receiveth them that seek her, & will go before them in the way of righteousness. He that loveth her, loveth life: & they that seek her diligently, shall have great joy. They that keep her, shall have the heritage of life: for where she entereth in, there is the blessing of God. They that honour her, shall be the servants of the holy one: and they that love her, are beloved of God. Who so giveth ear unto her, shall judge the Heithen: and he that hath respect unto her, shall devil safely. He that believeth her, shall have her in possession, and his generation shall endure: for when he falls, she shall go with him before all. ●eare, dread and tentation shall she bring upon him, and try him in her doctrine: till she have so proved him in his thoughts, that he commit his soul unto her. Then shall she establish him, bring the right way unto him, make him a glad man, show him her secrets, and heap upon him the treasures of knowledge, understanding and righteousness. But if he go wrong, she shall forsake him, and give him over in to the hands of his enemy. My son, make much of the time, eschew the thing that is evil, ●phe. 5. b and for the life shame not to say the truth. For there is a shame that bringeth sin, ●ath. 10. e and there is a shame that bringeth worship and fauor. ●eui. 19 d Accept no person after thy own will, that thou be not confounded to thy own decay. Be not ashamed of the neghbor in his adversity, & keep not back the council when it may do good, neither hide the wisdom in her beauty. For in the tongue is wisdom known, so is understanding, knowledge and learning in the talking of the wise, & steadfastness in the works of righteousness. In no wise speak against the word of truth, but be ashamed of the lies of thy own ignorance. Shame not to confess thy error, and submit not thyself unto every man because of sin. Withstand not the face of the mighty, and strive not against the stream. But for the truth strive thou unto death, and God shall fight for the against thy enemies. Be not haystie in thy tongue, neither slack and negligent in thy works. Be not as a lion in thy own house, destroying thy household folks, and oppressing them that are under the. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, Act. 20. c and shut when thou shouldest give. The V Chapter. TRust not unto thy riches, and say not: tush, I have enough for my life. 〈…〉 (For it shall not help in the time of vengeance and temptation) Follow not the lust of thy own heart in thy strength, and say not: tush, how should I, or who will cast me down because of my works? for doubtless God shall avenge it. And say not: I have committed more sins, butt what evil hath happened me? For the almighty is a patient rewarder. 〈…〉 Because that sin is for given thee, be not therefore without fear, neither heap one sin upon another. And say not: tush, the mercy of the LORD is great, 〈…〉 he shall forgive my sins, be they never so many. For like as he is merciful, 〈…〉 so goeth wrath from him also, and his indignation cometh down upon sinners. Make no tarienge to turn unto the LORD, & put not of from day to day: for suddenly shall his wrath come, & in the time of vengeance he shall destroy ye. 〈…〉 Trust not in wicked riches for they shall not help in the day of punishment and wrath. Be not carried about to every wind, and go not in to every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue (stand fast in the way of the LORD) be steadfast in thy understanding, abide by the word, and follow the word of peace and righteousness. Be gentle to hear the word of God, that thou mayest understand it, and make a true answer with wisdom. 〈…〉 Be swift to hear, but slow and patient in giving answer. If thou hast understanding, shape thy neghbor an answer: If no, lay thy hand upon the mouth: jest thou be trapped in an undiscrete word, & so confounded. Honor & worship is in a man's wise talking, but that tongue of the undiscrete is his own destruction. 〈…〉 Be not a privy accuser as long as thou livest, and use no slander with thy tongue. For shame and sorrow goeth over the thief, and an evil name over him that is double-tongued: but he that is a privy accuser of other men, shallbe hated envied and confounded. See that thou justify the small and great alike. The VI Chapter. BE not the neighbours enemy for the friends sake: for who so is evil shall be the heir of rebuke & dishono, & who soever beareth envy and a double tongue, offendeth. 〈…〉 Be not proud in the device of thine own understanding, jest the leaves wither, and the fruit be destroyed, & so thou be left as a dry tree▪ For a wicked soul destroyeth him that hath it, maketh him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies, (and bringeth him to the portion of the ungodly. 〈…〉 ) A sweet word multiplieth friends, and pacifieth them that be at variance, and a thankful tongue will be plenteous in a good man. Hold friendship with many, nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand. 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 3●. b 〈◊〉. 7. a 〈…〉 c If thou gettest a friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to give him credence. For some man is a friend but for a time, and will not abide in the day of trouble. And there is some friend that turneth to enemyte, and taketh part against thee: and if he know any hurt by thee, he telleth it out. Again, some friend is but a companion at the table, 〈…〉 and in the day of need he continueth not. But a sure friend will be unto that even as thine own self, and deal faithfully with thy household folk. If thou suffer trouble and adversity, he is with thee, and hideth not himself from the. Depart from thy enemies, ye and beware of thy friends. A faithful friend is a strong defence: who so finds such one, findeth a noble treasure. A faithful friend hath no pear, the weight of gold and silver is not to be compared to the goodness of his faith. A faithful friend is a medicine of life, & they that fear the LORD, shall find him. Who so fears the LORD, shall prosper with friends: and as he is himself, so shall his friend be also My son, receive doctrine from thy youth up, so shalt thou find wisdom till thou be old. Go to her as one that ploweth, and soweth, and wait patiently for her good fruits. 〈…〉 For thou shalt have but little labour in her work, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon. O how exceeding sharp is wisdom to unlearned men? an unsteadfast body will not remain in her. Unto such she is as it were a twichstone, & he casts her from him in all the haist: for wisdom is with him but in name, there be but few that have knowledge of her. (But with them that know her, she abideth even unto the appearing of God) give ear (my son) receive my doctrine, and refuse not my council. Put thy foot in to her lynckes, 〈◊〉. 11. c and take her yock upon thy neck: bow down thy shoulder under her, bear her patiently, and be not weighed of her bands. Come unto her with the whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power. Seek after her, and she shallbe showed thee: and when thou hast her, forsake her not. For at the last thou shalt find rest in her, and that shall be turned to thy great joy. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, & her yock a glorious raiment. For the beauty of life is in her, and her bands are the coupling together of salvation. Ye a glorious raiment is it, thou shalt put it on, and the same crown of joy shalt thou were. My son, if thou will't take heed, thou shalt have understanding: and if thou will't apply the mind, thou shalt be wise. If thou will't bow down thy ear, thou shalt receive doctrine: and if thou delight in hearing, thou shalt be wise. stand with the multitude of such elders as have understanding, and consent unto their wisdom with thy heart: Eccli. 8. a that thou mayest hear all godly sermons, and that the worthy sentences escape the not. And if thou seist a man of discrete understanding, get the soon unto him, and let thy foot tread upon the steps of his doors. Psal. 1. a Let thy mind be upon the commandments of God, & be earnestly occupied in his laws: so shall he establish the heart, and give the wisdom at thy own desire. The VII. Chapter. DO no evil, so shall there no harm happen unto the. Depart away from the thing that is wicked, and no misfortune shall meddle with the. My son, sow no evil things in the sorrows of unrighteousness, so shalt thou not reap them sevenfold. Labo not unto man for any lordship, neither unto the king for the seat of honour. Psal. 142. Eccls. 7. c job 9 a. c Luc. 19 b justify not thyself before God (for he knoweth the heart) and desire not to be reputed wise in the presence of the king. Make no labour to be made a judge, except it so were, that thou couldst mightily put down wickedness: for if thou shouldest stand in awe of the presence of the mighty, thou shouldest fail in giving sentence. Offend not in the multitude of the cite, and put not thyself among the people. Eccli. 12. Bind not two sins together, for in one sin shalt thou not be unpunished. say not: tush, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the highest God, he will accept it. Be not faint hearted when thou makest the prayer, neither slack in giving of allmesse. Laugh no man to scorn in the heaviness of his soul, for God (which saith all things) is he that can bring down, 1 Reg. 2. ● and set up again. Accept no losing against thy brother, neither do the same against thy friend. Use not to make any manner of lie, for the custom thereof is not good. Make not many words, when thou art among the elders: and when thou prayest, make not much babbling. Mat. 6. b Eccli. 1. c Ro. 12. b Let no laborious work be tedious unto thee, neither the huszbandrie which the almighty hath created. Make not thy boast in the multitude of thy wickedness, but humble thyself even from thy heart: and remember that the wrath shall not be long in tarrying, and that the vengeance of the flesh of the ungodly is a very fire and worm. Ge●e not over thy friend for any good, ner thy faithful brother for the best gold. Depart not from a discrete and good woman, that is fallen unto the for thy portion in the fear of the LORD, for the gift of her honesty is above gold. ●eui. 19 c Where as thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil, ner the hireling that is faithful unto the. Love a discrete servant as thy own soul, defraud him not of his liberty, neither leave him a poor man. ●eut. 25. a If thou have cattles, look well to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them. If thou have sons, bring them up in nurtor and learning, ●ccli. 30. a & hold them in awe from their youth up. If thou have daughters, keep their body, & show not thy face cheerful toward them. mary the daughter, and so shalt thou perform a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding. If thou have a wife after thy own mind, forsake her not: (but commit not thyself to the hateful.) ●ccli. 3. a ●obi. 4. a Honour thy father from thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrowful travail that thy mother had with thee: remember that thou wast born thorough them, and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee? Fear the LORD with all the soul, & honour his ministers. love thy maker with all thy strength, ●eut. 12. c and forsake not his servants. Fear the LORD with all thy soul, 〈◊〉. 18. b. c & honour his priests. give them their portion of the first fruits and increase of the earth, like as it is commanded thee: give them the shoulders, and their appointed offerings, and firstlinges, Reach thy hand unto the poor, that God may bless the with plenteousness. ●alat. 6. b Be liberal unto all men living, yet let not but do good even to them that are deed. 〈◊〉. 1. d 〈◊〉. 12. b Let not them that weep be without comfort, but mourn with such as mourn. Let it not grieve the to visit the sick, 〈◊〉. 25. c for that shall make the to be loved. What so ever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss. The VIII. Chapter. strive not with a mighty man, jest thou chance to fall in to his hands. Make no variance with a rich man, ●att. 5. e jest he happen to bring up an hard quarrel against ye. 〈…〉 For gold & silver hath undone many a man, ye even the hearts of kings hath it made to fall. strive not with a man that is full of words, & lay no sticks upon his fire. Keep no company with the unlearned, jest he give thy kindred an evil report. 〈…〉 Despise not a man that turneth himself away from sin, and cast him not in the teeth withal: but remember that we are frail everichone. 〈…〉 Think scorn of no man in his old age, for we wax old also. Be not glad of the death of thy enemy, but remember that we must die all the sort of us (and fain would we come in to joy. 〈…〉 ) Despise not the sermons of such elders as have understanding, but acquaunte thyself with the wise sentences of them: for of them thou shalt learn wisdom and the doctrine of understanding, and how to serve great men without complaint. Go not from the doctrine of the elders, for they have learned it of their fathers. For of them thou shalt learn understanding, so that thou mayest make answer in the time of need. Kindle not the coals of sinners, jest thou be brent in the fiery flames of their sins Resist not the face of the blasphemer, that he lay not wait for thy mouth. Lend not unto him that is mightier than thyself: 〈…〉 If thou lendest him, count it but lost. Be not surety above the power: if thou be, then think surely to pay it. Go not to law with the judge, for he will judge according to his own honour. Travail not by the way with him that is branelesse, jest he do the evil: 〈…〉 for he followeth his own wilfulness, & so shalt thou perish thorough his folly. strive not with him that is angry and cruel, 〈…〉 and go not with him in to the wilderness: for blood is nothing in his sight, and where there is no help, he shall murder ye. Take no council at fools, 〈…〉 for they love nothing but the things that please themselves. Make no council before a stranger, for thou canst not tell what will come of it. Open not thy heart unto every man, jest he be unthanfull to thee, and put the to reproof. The IX. Chapter. BE not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, that she show not some shrewed point of wicked doctrine upon the. give not the power of thy life unto a w●man, jest she come in thy strength, and so thou be confounded. Look not upon a woman that is desirous of many men, jest thou fall in to her snares. Use not the company of a woman that is a player and dancer, & hear her not, jest thou perish thorough her entysinge. Behold not a maiden, that thou be not hurt in her beauty. 〈◊〉 5. a Cast not thy mind upon harlots in any manner of thing, jest thou destroy both thyself and thy heritage. Go not about gasing in every lain of the cite, neither engender thou abroad in the streets thereof. Turn away thy face from a beautiful woman, 〈◊〉 5. c and look not upon the fairness of other. Many a man hath perished thorough the beauty of women, 〈◊〉 34. a 〈◊〉 11 a 〈◊〉 10. 〈…〉 12 for thorough it the desire is kindled as it were a fire. (An adulterous woman shallbe trodden under foot as mire, of every one that goeth by the way. Many a man wondering the beauty of a strange woman, have been cast out, for her words kindle as a fire.) Sytt not with another man's wife by any means, lie not with her upon the bed, make no words with her at the wine: jest thy heart consent unto her, & so thou with thy blood fall in to destruction. Forsake not an old friend, for the new shall not be like him. A new friend is new wine: let him be old, & thou shalt drink him with pleasure. Desire not the honour and riches of a sinner, for thou knowest not what destruction is for to come upon him. delight not thou in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in: being sure, that the ungodly shall not be accepted until their grave. Keep the from the man that hath power to slay, so needest thou not to be afraid of death. And if thou comest unto him, make no fault, jest he happen to take away thy life. Remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and upon the bulwark of the cite. beware of thy neighbour as nigh as thou canst, 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 2. b and meddle with such as be wise and have understanding. Let just men be thy gests, let thy mirth be in the fear of God, let the remembrance of God be in thy mind, and let all thy talking be in the commandments of the Hyest. In the hands of craftsmen shall the works be commended, so shall the princes of the people in the wisdom of their talking. A man full of words is perilous in his cite: and he that is temerarious and past shame in his talking, is to be abhorred. The X. Chapter. A wise judge will order his people with discretion, and where a man of understanding beareth rule, there goeth it well. As the judge of the people is himself, even so are his officers: and look what manner of man the ruler of the cite is, such are they that devil therein also. ●. Re. 12. a An unwise king destroyeth his people, but where they that be in authority are men of understanding, there the cite prospereth. The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and when his time is, he shall set a profitable ruler upon it. In the hand of God is the power of man, and upon the scribes shall he say his honour. Remember no wrong of thy neighbour, Levi. 19 c and meddle thou with no unrighteous works. Pride is hateful before God and men, and all wickedness of the heathen is to be abhorred. jere. 27. a Dan. 4. c Because of unrighteous dealing, wrong, blasphemies and diverse deceit, a realm shall be translated from one people to another. There is nothing worse than a cuvetous man. What prydest thou thee, oh thou earth and aszshes? There is not a more wicked thing, then to love money. And why? soch one hath his soul to cell: yet is he but filthy dung while he liveth. And though the physician show his help never so long, yet in conclusion it goeth after this manner: to day a king, tomorrow deed. For when a man dieth, he is the heir of serpents, beasts and worms. The beginning of man's pride, is to fall away from God: and why? his heart is go from his maker, for pride is the origenall of all sin. Who so taketh hold thereof, shallbe filled with cursings, and at the last it shall over throw him. Therefore hath the LORD brought the congregations of the wicked to dishonour, and destroyed them unto the end. God hath destroyed the seats of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead. Sap. 6. b Luc. 1 d 14. b 18. b God hath withered the rotes of the proud heathen, and planted the lowly among them. God hath overthrown the lands of the heathen, Gen. 19 ● and destroyed them out of the ground. He hath caused them to wither away, he hath brought them to nought, and made the memorial of them to cease from out of the earth. (God hath destroyed the name of the proud, and left the name of the humble of mind.) Pride was not made for man, neither wrothfulnes for men's children. The seed of men that fears God, shallbe brought to honour: but the sede which transgresseth the commandments of the LORD shallbe shamed. He that is the ruler among brethren, is held in honour among them, and he regardeth such as fear the LORD. The glory of the rich, of the honourable and of the poor is the fear of God. Despise not thou the just poor man, and magnify not the rich ungodly. great is the judge and mighty in hono, yet is there none greater, than he that fears God. Unto the servant that is disceete, Pro. 17. a shall the fire do service. He that is wise and well nurtoured, will not grudge when he is reformed, & an ignorant body shall not come to honour. 2. Re. 12. c Be not proud to do thy work, and despair not in the time of adversity. Pro. 12. b Better is he that laboureth, and hath plenteousness of all things, than he that is gorgeous, and wanteth bread. My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give her her due honour. Who shall justify him, that sinneth against himself? Who will honour him, that dishonoureth his own life? The poor is honoured for his faithfulness and truth, but the rich is had in reputation because of his goods. He that ordereth himself honestly in poverty, how much more shall he behave himself honestly in riches? And who so ordereth himself unhonestly in riches, how much more shall he behave himself unhonestly in poverty? The XI. Chapter. THe wisdom of him that is brought low, Gen. 41. f Dan. 6. a shall lift up his head, and shall make him to sit among great men. Commend not a man in his beauty, neither despise a man in his utter appearance. The Bey is but a small beast among the fowls, yet is her fruit exceeding sweet. Be not proud of thy raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of thy honour: Acto. 12. d for the works of the Hyest only are wonderful: ye glorious, secret and unknown are his works. Many tyrants have been fain to sit down upon the earth, 1. Reg. 15. f Hest. 6.7 & the unlickly hath worn the crown Many mighty men have been brought low, and the honourable have been delivered in to other men's hands. Deut. 13. b and .17. b josu. 7. c and .22. c Condemn no man, before thou have tried out the matter: and when thou hast made enquisition, then reform righteously. give no sentence before thou hast heard the cause, Pro. 18. b but first let men tell out their tails. strive not for a matter that toucheth not thyself, and stand not in the judgement of sinners. My son, meddle not with many matters: Mat. 19 c 1. Ti. 6. b & if thou wilt be rich, thou shalt not get it: and though thou rennest the way afore, yet shalt thou not escape. There is some man that laboureth, Pro. 10. c and the more he weerieth himself, the less he hath. Again, some man is slothful, hath need of help, wanteth strength, and hath great poverty, and God's eye looketh upon him to good, setteth him up from his low estate, 〈…〉 and lifteth up his head: so that many men marvel at him, and give honour unto God. prosperity and adversity, life and death, poverty and riches come all of the LORD. 〈…〉 (wisdom, nurture and knowledge of the law are with God: love and the ways of good are with him. error and darkness are made for sinners: and they that exalt them selves in evil, wax old in evil.) The gift of God remaineth for the righteous, and his good will shall give prosperity for ever. Some man is rich by living nygardly, and that is the portion of his reward, in that he sayeth: now have I got rest, and now will I eat and drink of my goods myself alone. 〈…〉 And yet he considereth not, that the time draweth nigh, that he must leave all these things unto other men, and die himself. stand thou fast in thy covenant, and exercise thyself therein, and remain in the work unto the age. Continue not in the works of sinners, but put thy trust in God, and bide in thy estate: for it is but an easy thing in the sight of God, to make a poor man rich, and that suddenly. The blessing of God haisteth to the reward of the righteous, and maketh his fruits soon to flourish and prosper. say not: what helpeth it me? and what shall I have the while? Again, say not: I have enough, how can I want? When thou art in welfare, forget not adversity: 〈…〉 and when it goeth not well with thee, have a good hope, that it shall be better. For it is but a small thing unto God, in the day of death to reward every man according to his ways. The adversity of an hour maketh one to forget all pleasure, and when a man dieth, his works are discovered. Praise no body before his death, for a man shallbe known in his children. Bring not every man in to thy house, for the deceitful layeth wait diversly. Like as a partridge in a mand, so is the heart of the proud: and like as a spy, that looketh upon the fall of his neighbour. For he turneth good unto evil, and slandereth the choose. Of one sparck is made a great fire, & an ungodly man layeth wait for blood. beware of the deceitful, for he ymagineth wicked things, to bring that in to a perpetual shame. If thou takest an aleaunt unto thee, he shall destroy the in unquietness, and drive the from thy own ways. The XII. Chapter. When thou wilt do good, know to whom thou dost it, & so shalt thou be greatly thanked for thy benefits. Do good unto the righteous, ●alat. 6. ᵇ ●. Tim. 5. a and thou shalt find great reward: though not of him, yet (no doubt) the LORD himself shall reward the. He standeth not in a good case, that is allway occupied in evil, & giveth no allmes: for the Hyest hateth the sinners, and hath mercy upon them that show the works of repentance. give thou unto such as fear God, and receive not a sinner: As for the ungodly and sinners, he shall recompense vengeance unto them, and keep them to the day of wrath. give thou unto the good, and receive not the sinner: do well unto him that is lowly, but give not to the ungodly. Let not the bred be given him, that he be not mightier than thyself therein. For so shalt thou receive twice as much evil, in all the good that thou dost unto him: And why? the Hyest hateth sinners, and shall reward vengeance to the ungodly. In prosperity a friend shall not be known, & in adversity an enemy shall not be hid. For when a man is in wealth, it grieveth his enemies: but in heaviness and trouble a man shall know his friend. Trust never thy enemy, for like as an iron rusteth, so doth his wickedness. And though he make much croutchinge and kneeling, yet keep well thy mind, and beware of him. Set him not by that, neither let him sit at thy right hand: jest he turn him, get in to thy place, take thy room and seek thy seat, and so thou at the last remember my words, and be pricked at my sayings. Bind not two sins together, for there shall not one be unpunished. 〈◊〉 7. a Who will have pite of the charmer, that is stinged of the serpent, or of all such as come nigh the beasts? Even so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, & lappeth himself in his sins. For a season will he bide with thee, but if thou stumble, 〈◊〉 4●. b he tarrieth not. An enemy is sweet in his lips, he can make many words & speak many good things: Ye he can weep with his eyes, but in his heart he ymagineth, how to throw the in to the pit: & if he may find opportunity, he will not be satisfied with blood. If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first: & though he pretend to do the help, yet shall he undermine ye. He shall shake his head, & clap his hands over that for very gladness, & while he maketh many words, he shall disguise his countenance. The XIII. Chapter. WHo so toucheth pitch, shallbe filed withal: 〈◊〉 7. a and he that is familiar with the proud, shall cloth himself with pride. He taketh a burden upon him, that accompanieth a more honourable man then himself. Therefore keep no familiarity with one that is richer than thyself. How agreed the ketell & the pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken. The rich dealeth unrighteously, & threateneth withal: but the poor being oppressed and wrongeously dealt withal, suffereth scarcenesss, & giveth fair words. If thou be for his profit, he useth thee: but if thou have nothing, he shall forsake the. As long as thou hast any thing of thy own, he shall be a good fellow with thee: Ye he shall make the a bore man, and not be sorry for the. If he have need of thee, he shall defraud thee: & (with a privy mock) shall he put the in an hope, and give the all good words, and say: what wantest thou? Thus shall he shame that in his meat, until he have supped the clean up twice or thrice, and at the last shall he laugh the to scorn. afterward, when he saith that thou hast nothing, he shall forsake thee, and shake his head at the. beware, that thou be not deceived and brought down in thy simpleness. (Be not to humble in thy wisdom, jest when thou art brought low, thou be deceived thorough foolishness.) If thou be called of a mighty man, absent thyself, so shall he call the to him the more often. Press not thou unto him, that thou be not shot out: but go not thou far of, jest he forget the. Withdraw not thy self from his speech, but believe not his many words. For with much communication shall he tempt thee, and (with a privy mock) shall he question the of thy secrets. The unmerciful mind of his shall mark the words, he shall not spare to do the hurt & to put that in preson. beware, & take good heed to thy self, for thou walkest in apparel of that overthrowing. (Now when thou hearest his words, make the as though thou werest in a dream, & wake up. Love God all thy life long, & call upon him in thy need.) Every beast loveth his like, even so let every man love his neighbour. All flesh will resort to their like, and every man will keep company with such as he is himself. But as the wolf agreeth with the lamb, so doth the ungodly with the righteous. 2. Cor. 6. ● What felishippe should an holy man have with a dog? How can the rich and the poor agreed together? The wild ass is the lions pray in the wilderness, even so are poor men the meat of the rich. Like as the proud may not away with lowliness, even so doth the rich abhor the poor. If a rich man fall, his friends set him up again: but when the poor falls, his friends forsake him. If a rich man fall in to an error, he hath many helpers: he speaketh proud words, and yet men justify him. But if a poor man go wrong, he is punished: ye though he speak wisely, yet can it have no place. When the rich man speaketh, every body holdeth his tongue: and look what he sayeth, they praise it unto the clouds. But if the poor man speak, they say: What fellow is this? and if he do amiss, they shall destroy him. Riches are good unto him that hath no sin in his conscience, and poverty is a wicked thing in the mouth of the ungodly. The h●rt of man changeth his countenance, whether it be in good or evil. A cheerful countenance is a token of a good heart, for else is it an hard thing to know the thought. The XIIII. Chapter. BLissed is the man, that hath not fallen with the word of his mouth, ●ccli. 19 c ●nd 25. c 〈◊〉. ●. a and is not pricked with the conscience of sin. Happy is he that hath had no heaviness in his mind, and is not fallen from his hope. It becometh not a cuvetous man and a niggard, to be rich: and what should a niggard do with gold? He that with all his carefulness heapeth together unrighteously, gathereth for other folks, and another man shall make good cheer with his goods. He that is wicked unto himself, how should he be good unto other men? How can such one have any pleasure of his goods? There is no thing worse, than when one disfavoureth himself, & this is a reward of his wickedness. If he do any good, he doth it not knowing thereof, and against his will, and at the last he declareth his ungraciousness. A niggard hath a wicked eye, he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul. A covetous man's eye hath never enough in the portion of wickedness, 〈◊〉. 27. c eccle. 1. a until the time that he wither away, and have lost his own soul. A wicked eye spareth bread, & there is scarcenesss upon his table. My son, do good to the self of that thou hast, & give the LORD his due offerings. Remember that death tarrieth not, & how that the covenant of the grave is showed unto thee: (for the covenant of this world shall die the death. Eccli. 4. a ●obi. 4. b ●uc. 16. b ) Do good unto that friend before thou die, and according to thy abylite reach out thy hand, and give unto the poor. Be not dispointed of the good day, & let not the portion of the good day overpass the. Shalt thou not leave thy travails and labours unto other men? In the devydinge of the heritage give and take, and sanctify thy soul. Work thou righteousness before thy death, for in the hell there is no meat to find. All flesh shall fade away like grass, Esa. 4●. ● Pet. ● jacob. ● & like a flourishing leaf in a green tree. Some grow, some are cast down: even so is the generation of flesh and blood: one cometh to an end, another is born. All transitory things shall fail at the last, and the worker thereof shall go withal. Every choose work shall be justified, and he that meddleth withal, shall have honour therein. Blessed is the man that keepeth him in wisdom, and exercyseth himself in understanding, & with discretion shall he think upon the fore knowledge of God. Which considereth the ways of wisdom in his heart, hath understanding in her secrets, goeth after her (as one that seeketh her out) & continueth in her ways. He looketh in at her windows, & herkeneth at her doors: He taketh his rest beside her house, & festeneth his stake in her walls: He shall pitch his tent nigh unto her hand, and in his tent shall good things rest for evermore: He shall set his children under her covering, & shall devil under her branches. Under her covering shall he be defended from the heat, and in her glory shall he rest. The XU. Chapter. HE that fears God, will do good: and who so keepeth the law, shall obtain wisdom. As an honourable mother shall she meet him, and as a virgin shall she receive him. 〈…〉 With the bread of life and understanding shall she feed him, 〈…〉 and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink. If he be constant in her, he shall not be moved: and if he hold him fast by her, he shall not come to confusion. She shall bring him to honour among his neighbours, and in the midst of the congregation shall she open his mouth. With the spirit of wisdom and understanding shall she fill him, and cloth him with the garment of glory. She shall heap the treasure of mirth & joy upon him, and give him an everlasting name to heritage. Foolish men will not take hold upon her, but such as have understanding, will meet her, for she is far from pride and deceit. Men that go about with lies, will not remember her: (but men of truth shall be found in her, even unto the beholding of God) Praise is not seemly in the mouth of the ungodly, for he is not sent of the LORD. For of God cometh wisdom, & the praise shall stand by the wisdom of God, and shall be plenteous in a faithful mouth, and the LORD shall give her unto him. say not thou: It is the lords fault that I am go by, for thou shalt not do the thing that God hateth. say not thou: he hath caused me to go wrong, for he hath no need of the ungodly. God hateth all abomination of error, & they that fear God will love no such. 〈…〉 God made man from the beginning, & left him in the hand of his council. He gave him his commandments and precepts: if thou will't observe the commandments, & keep acceptable faithfulness for ever, they shall preserve ye. He hath set water and fire before thee, 〈…〉 reach out thy hand unto which thou will't. Before man is life and death, good and evil: look what him liketh, shallbe given him. For the wisdom of God is great and mighty in power, and beholdeth all men continually. 〈◊〉 33. b The eyes of the LORD are upon them that fear him, and he knoweth all the works of man▪ He hath commanded no man to do ungodly, neither hath he given any man leave to sin. The XVI. Chapter. delight not thou in the multitude of ungodly children, and have no pleasure in them, if they fear not God. Trust not thou to their life, and regard not their labours: for one son that fears God is better, than a thousand ungodly. And better it is for a man to die without children, them to leave behind him such children as are ungodly. For by one that hath understanding, may a whole cite be upholden, but though the ungodly be many, yet shall it be waysted thorough them. Many such things hath mine eye seen, and greater things than these have I heard with mine ears. In the congregation of the ungodly shall a fire burn, 〈…〉 & among unfaithful people shall the wrath be kindled. The old giants obtained no grace for their sins, 〈…〉 which were destroyed, trusting to their own strength. neither spared he them, among whom Loth was a stranger: but smote them and abhorred them because of the pride of their words. 〈◊〉 19 c He had no pity upon them, but destroyed all the people, that were so stout in sin. 〈◊〉 ●4. c 〈◊〉 2● f And for so much as he oversaw not the six hundredth thousand, that gathered themselves together in the hardness of their heart: it were marvel if one being hardnecked, should be free. For mercy & wrath is with him: 〈…〉 he is both mighty to forgive, and to pour out displeasure. Like as his mercy is great, even so is his punishment also, he judgeth a man according to his works. The ungodly shall not escape in his spoil, and the long patience of him that showeth mercy, shall not bide behind. All mercy shall make place unto every man according to the deserving of his works, (and after the understanding of his pilgrimage.) say not thou: I will hide myself from God, for who will think upon me from above? I shall not be known in so great a heap of people, for what is my soul among so many creatures? Behold, the heaven, ye the heaven of heavens, the deep, the earth and all that therein is, shall be moved at his presence: the mountains, the hills and the foundations of the earth shall shake for fear, when God vysiteth them. These things doth no heart understand, but he understandeth every heart, and who understandeth his ways? No man saith his storm, and the most part of his works are secret. Who will declare the works of his righteousness? Or who shall be able to abide them? for the covenant is far from some, and the trying out of men is in the fulfilling. He that is humble of heart, thinketh upon such things: but an unwise and erroneous man casts his mind unto foolish things. My son, hearken thou unto me, & learn understanding, and mark my words with thy heart: I will give the a sure doctrine, & plainly shall I enstrucke the. God hath set his works in good order from the beginning, and part of them hath he sundered from the other. He hath garnished his works from everlasting, and their beginnings according to their generations. None of them hindered another, neither was any of them dishobedient unto his word. After this, God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his goods. With all manner of living beasts hath he covered the ground, and they all shallbe turned unto earth again. The XVII. Chapter. BOd shope man of the earth, and turned him unto earth again. Gene. 1. c He gave him the number of days and certain time, ye and gave him power of the things that are upon earth. He clothed him with strength, and made him after his own likeness. He made all flesh to stand in awe of him, so that he had the dominion of all beasts & fowls. Gen. 2. d He made out of him an helper like unto himself, and gave them discretion and tongue, eyes and ears, and a heart to understand, and filled them with instruction & understanding. He created for them also the knowledge of the spirit, filled their heart with understanding, and showed them good and evil. He set his eye upon their hearts, declaring unto them his great and noble works: (that they should praise his holy name together, rejoice of his wonders, & be telling of his noble acts. ●xo. 20. a ●eut. 4.5. ●nd 9 ) Besides this, he gave them instruction, and the law of life for an heritage. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his righteousness & judgements. They saw his glory with their eyes, and their ears heard the majesty of his voice. And he said unto them: beware of all unrighteous things. He gave every man also a commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are ever before him, and are not hid from his eyes. ●om. 13. a ●eut. 4. c ●nd 10. c He hath set a ruler upon every people, but Israel is the LORDS portion. All their works are as the Son in the sight of God, & his eyes are allway looking upon their ways. All their unrighteousnesses are manifest unto him, & all their wickednesses are open in his sight. The mercy that a man showeth is as it were a purse with him, ●ccli. 29. b and a man's good deed preserveth him as the apple of an eye. At the last shall he awake, ●att. 25. c & reward every man upon his head as he hath deserved, and shall turn them together in to the nethermost parts of the earth. ●cto. 3. c But unto them that will repent, he hath given the way of righteousness. Asdrubal for such as be weak, he comforteth them, suffereth them, and sendeth them the portion of the verity. O turn then unto the LORD, forsake thy sins, make thy prayer before the LORD, do the less offence, turn again unto the LORD, forsake thy unrighteousness, be an utter enemy to abomination (learn to know the righteousness and judgements of God, stand in the portion that is set forth for the & in the prayer of the most high God. Go in to the portion of the holy world, with such as be living and give thanks unto God) Who will praise the LORD in the hell? Abide not thou in the error of the ungodly, ●sal. 6. a ●sa. 38. d but give him thanks before death. As for the deed, thankfulness perisheth from him as nothing. give thou thanks in thy life, ye while thou art living & whole shalt thou give thanks, and praise God and rejoice in his mercy. O how great is the loving kindness of the LORD, and his merciful goodness unto such as turn unto him? For all things may not be in man: & why? the son of man is not immortal, and he hath pleasure in the vanity of wickedness. What is more clear than the Son? yet shall it fail. Or what is more wicked, than the thing that flesh and blood hath imagined? and that same shall be reproved. The LORD saith the power of the high heaven, and all are but earth and aszshes. The XVIII. Chapter. HE that liveth for evermore, made all things together. 〈…〉 God only is righteous, & remaineth a victorious king for ever. Psal 〈…〉 Ecc● 〈…〉 Who shallbe able to express the works of him? Who hath sought out the ground of his noble acts? Who shall declare the power of his greatness? Or, who will take upon him to tell out his mercy? As for the wondrous works of the LORD, there may nothing be taken from them, nothing may be put unto them, neither may the ground of them be found out. But when a man hath done his best, he must begin again: and when he thinketh to be come to an end, he must go again to his labour. What is man? Whereto is he worth? What good or evil can he do? 〈…〉 If the number of a man's days be almost an hundredth year, it is much. Like as the drops of rain are unto the see, and as a gravel stone is in comparison of the sonde: 〈…〉 so are these few years to the days everlasting. Therefore is the LORD patient with them, and poureth out his mercy upon them. He saw and perceived the thoughts and imaginations of their heart, that they were evil: therefore heaped he up his merciful goodness upon them, and showed them the way of righteousness. The mercy that a man hath, reacheth to his neighbour: but the mercy of God is upon all flesh. He chasteneth, he teacheth and nourtureth: ye even as a shepherd turneth again his flock, so doth he all them that receive chastening, nurture and doctrine. Merciful is he unto them, 〈…〉 that stand in awe of his judgements. My son, when thou dost good, make no grudging at it: and what so ever thou givest, speak no uncomfortable words. Shall not the dew cool the heat? Even so is a word better than a gift. Is not a friendly word a good honest gift? 〈…〉 but a gracious man giveth them both. A fool shall cast a man in the teeth, and that roughly, 〈…〉 & a gift of the niggard putteth out the eyes. Get the righteousness before thou come to judgement: Learn before thou speak, and go to physic or ever thou be sick: ● Cor. 11. d examen and judge thyself, before the judgement come, and so shalt thou find grace in the sight of God. Humble thyself afore thou be sick, and in time of thy disease show thy conversation. Let not to pray allway, and stand not in fear to be reformed unto death, for the reward of God endureth for ever. Before thou prayest, prepare thy soul, and be not as one that tempteth God. Think upon the wrathful indignation that shallbe at the end, and the hour of vengeance, when HE shall turn away his face. 〈…〉 When thou hast enough, remember the time of hunger: and when thou art rich, think upon the time of poverty and scarcenesss. From the morning until the evening the time is changed, and all such things are soon done in the sight of God. A wise man fears God in all things, and in the days of transgression he keepeth himself from sin. A discrete man hath pleasure in wisdom, and he that findeth her, maketh much of her. They that have had understanding, have dealt wisely in words, have understand the truth and righteousness, and have sought out wise sentences and judgements. 〈◊〉. 6. b 〈◊〉 13. b Follow not thy lusts, but turn the from thy own will. For if thou givest thy soul her desires, it shall make thy enemies to laugh the to scorn. Take not thy pleasure in great voluptuousness, & meddle not to much withal. Make not to great cheer of the thing that thou hast won by advantage: jest thou fall in to poverty, and have nothing in thy purse. The XIX. Chapter. A Labouring man that is given unto drunkenness, shall not be rich: and he that maketh not much of small things, 〈◊〉. 19 ᵍ ● ●eg. 11 a shall fall by little and little. Wine and women make wise men rennagates, and put men of understanding to reproof: and he that accompanieth adulterers shall become a wicked man. Moths and worms shall have him to heritage, ye he shall be set up to a greater example, and his soul shallbe rooted out of the number. 〈◊〉 22. c He that is hasty to give credence, is light minded, and doth against himself. Who so rejoiceth in wickedness, shall be punished: he that hateth to be reformed, his life shallbe shortened: and he that abhorreth babbling of words, quencheth wickedness. (He that offendeth against his own soul, shall repent it: and he that rejoiceth in wickedness, shallbe punished.) Rehearse not a wicked and churlish word twice, and thou shalt not be hindered. Show thy secrets neither to friend ner foo, & if thou hast offended, tell it not out. For he shall hearken unto the and mark thee: and when he findeth opportunity, he shall hate the. Eccli. 22 and ●7. If thou hast heard a word against the neighbour, let it be deed within thee: and be sure, thou shalt have no harm thereby. A fool travaileth with a word, like as a woman that is pained with bearing of child. Like as an arrow shot in a dogs thy, so is a word in a fools heart. Levi. 19 Matt. 18 Tell thy friend his fault, jest he be ignorant, and say: I have not done it, or if he have done it, that he do it no more. Reprove thy neighbour, that he keep his tongue: and if he have spoken, that he say it no more. Tell thy neighbour his fault, for often times an offence is made, and give not credence to every word. A man falls sometime with his tongue, but not with his will. Eccli. 14 and 25. ● jacob. ● For what is he, that hath not offended in his tongue? give thy neighbour warning, before thou threaten him, and give place unto the law of the LORD. The fear of God is all wisdom, & he that is a right wise man keepeth the law. As for the doctrine of wickedness, it is no wisdom, and the prudence of sinners is no good understanding: it is but wickedness and abomination & a blaspheming of wisdom. A simple man of small understanding that fears God, is better than one that hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the Hyest. A crafty sotell man can be wise, but he is unrighteous, and with gifts he wraysteth the open and manifest law. A wicked man can behave himself humbly, and can duck with his head, and yet is he but a deceiver within. He hideth his face, Matt. 6. ● and disguyseth it: & because he should not be known, he preventeth the. And though he be so weak that he can do the no harm, yet when he may find opportunity, he shall do some evil. A man may be known by his face, and one that hath understanding, may be perceived by the look of his countenance. A man's garment, laughter & going, Eccli. 21. declare what he is. The XX. Chapter. SOme man reproveth his neighbour often times, but not in due season: Eccli. 31. ● Again, some man holdeth his tongue, and he is wise and discrete. It is much better to give warning and to reprove, then to bear evil will: for he that knowlegeth himself openly, shallbe preserved from hurt and destruction. Like as when a chamberlain thorough desire and lust defileth a maiden, even so is it with him that useth violence and unrighteousness in the law: (O how good a thing is it, a man that is reproved, to show openly his repentance? for so shalt thou escape wilful sin.) Some man keepeth silence, and is found wise: but he that is not ashamed what he sayeth, is hateful. Some man holdeth his tongue, because he hath not the understanding of the language: and some man keepeth silence, 〈◊〉 3. a ●ccli. 32. a waiting a convenient tyme. A wise man will hold his tongue till he see opportunity, but a wanten and an undiscrete body shall regard no tyme. He that useth many words, shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority upon him unrighteously, shallbe hated. Some man hath often times prosperity in wicked things: Again, some man getteth much, and hath harm and loss. There is some gift that is nothing worth: Again, there is some gift, whose reward is double. Some man getteth a fall for being to proud, and some cometh to worship from low estate. Some man bieth much for a little price, and must pay for it seven fold. A wise man with his words maketh himself to be loved, 〈◊〉. 6. a but the favours of fools shallbe poured out. The gift of the unwise shall do the no good, for his eyes are seven fold. ●ccli. 18. c He shall give little, & say he gave much: he openeth his mouth and crieth out, as it were one that crieth out wine. To day he dareth, tomorrow he axeth it again, and such a man is to be hated. The fool sayeth: I have no friend, I have no thank for all my good deeds: ye even they that eat my bread, speak no good of me. O how often, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn? He taketh a more perilous fall by such words, then if he fallen upon the ground: even so shall the falls of wicked men come haistely. In the mouth of him that is untaught, are many unconvenient and unmeet words. A wise sentence shall not be allowed at the mouth of the fool, for he speaketh it not in due season. Some man sinneth not, because he hath not wherewithal, and in his rest he shall be stinged. Some man there is that destroyeth his own soul with shame, and for an unwise bodies sake destroyeth he it, (and with accepting of personnes shall he undo himself.) Some man promises his friend a gift for very shame, and getteth an enemy of him for nought. A lie is a wicked shame in a man, yet shall it be ever in the mouth of the unwise. A thief is better, than a man that is accustomed to sin, but they both shall have destruction to heritage. The conditions of liars are unhonest, and their shame is ever with them. A wise man shall bring himself to honour with his words, 〈…〉 and he that hath understanding shall be set by among great men. He that tylleth his land, Pro. 〈…〉 shall increase his heap of corn: he that worketh righteousness, shall be exalted, & he that pleaseth great men, shall escape much evil. 〈…〉 Rewards and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and make him dumb, that he can not tell men their faults. wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoardward up, 〈…〉 what profit is in them both? Better is he that keepeth his ignorance secret, than a man that hideth his wisdom. The XXI. Chapter. MY son, if thou hast sinned, do it no more: 〈…〉 but pray for thy foresynnes, that they may be for given the. flee from sin, even as from a serpent: for if thou comest to nigh her, she will bite the. The teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, to slay the souls of men. The wickedness of man is as a sharp two edged sword, which maketh such wounds that they can not be healed. Strife and wrongeous dealing shall waste away a man's goods, & thorough pride a rich house shallbe brought to nought: so the riches of the proud shallbe rooted out. The prayer of the poor goeth out of the mouth, and cometh unto the ears, 〈…〉 and his vengeance (or defence) shall come, and that haistely. Who so hateth to be reformed, it is a token of an ungodly person: but he that fears God, will remember himself. A mighty man is known afar of by his tongue, but he that hath understanding, perceiveth that he shall have a fall. Who so buildeth his house with other men's cost, is like one that gathereth stones in winter. 〈…〉 The congregation of the ungodly is like stubble gathered together, their end is a flame of fire. The way of the ungodly is set with stones, but in their end is hell, darkness, and pains. He that keepeth the law, will hold fast the understanding thereof, and the end of the fear of God is wisdom. He that is not wise, will not be taught in good: but the unwise man aboundeth in wickedness: and where bitterness is, there is no understanding. The knowledge of the wise shall flow like water that runneth over, and his council is like a fountain of life. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, he can keep no wisdom. When a man of understanding heareth a wise word, he shall commend it, and make much of it. But if a voluptuous man hear it, he shall have no pleasure therein, but cast it behind his back. The talking of a fool is like an heavy burden by the way: but to hear a wise man speak, it is a pleasure. Where a doubt is in the congregation, it is axed at the mouth of the wise, and they shall ponder his words in their hearts. Like as a house that is destroyed, even so is wisdom unto a fool: As for the knowledge of the unwise, it is but dark words. Doctrine is unto him that hath no understanding, even as fetters about his feet, and like mannicles upon his right hand. 〈◊〉 19 d A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter, but a wise man shall scarce laugh secretly. learning is unto a wise man a jewel of gold, and like an armlett upon his right arm. A foolish man's foot is soon in his neighbours house, but one that hath experience, shall be ashamed at the person of the mighty. A fool will peep in at the window in to the house, but he that is well nurtured, will stand without. A foolish man standeth harkening at the door, but he that is wise, will be ashamed. The lips of the unwise willbe telling foolish things, but the words of such as have understanding, shallbe weighed in the balance. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of the wise is in their heart. When the ungodly curseth the blasphemer, he curseth his own soul. 〈◊〉 19 d A privy accuser of other men shall defile his own soul, and be hated of every man: (but he that keepeth his tongue and is discrete, shall come to honour.) The XXII. Chapter. A Slothful body is moulded of a stone of clay: he that toucheth him, must wash his hands again. A mysnurtored son is the dishonour of the father. A foolish daughter shallbe little regarded. A wise daughter is an heritage unto her husband: but she that cometh to dishonesty, bringeth her father in heaviness. A daughter that is past shame, dishonoureth both her father & her husband: the ungodly shall regard her, but they both shall despise her. the playing of Music is not meet where heaviness is, even so is the correction & doctrine of wisdom ever unpleasant unto fools. Who so teacheth a fool, is even as one that gleweth a potsherd together: as one that telleth a tail to him that heareth him not, and as one that raiseth a man out of an heavy sleep. Who so telleth a fool of wisdom, is even as a man, which speaketh to one that is a sleep. When he hath told his tail, he sayeth: what is the matter? When one dieth, lamentation is made for him, because the light faileth him: even so let men mourn over a fool, for he wanteth understanding. Make but little weeping because of the deed. for he is come to rest: but the life of the fool is worse than the death. Gen. 50. b Seven days do men mourn for him that is deed, but the lamentation over the unwise and ungodly should endure all the days of their life. Talk not much with a fool, and go not with him that hath no understanding. beware of him, jest it turn the to travail, & thou shalt not be defiled with his sin. Depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, & shalt not be drawn back in to his foolishness. What is mightier than lead? And what should a fool be called else, but lead? Sonde, Pro. 27. a salt & a lump of iron is easier to bear, than an unwise, foolish, and ungodly man. Like as the band of wood bound together in the foundation of the house can not belowsed, even so is it with the heart that is established in the thought of council. The thought of the wise, shall neither fear ner be offended at any tyme. Like as a fair playstred brickwall in a winter house, & an high building, may not abide the wind & storm: even so is a fools heart afraid in his imagination: he fears at every thing, and can not endure. He that nyppeth a man's eye, bringeth forth tears: and he that pricketh the heart, bringeth forth the meaning & thought. Who so casts a stone at the birds, frayeth them away: & he that blasphemeth his friend, breaketh the friendship▪ though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not, for thou mayest come again to the friend. If he speak sourly, fear not, for you may be agreed together again: except it be so that thou blaspheme him, dyszdayne him, open his secrets and wound him tratorously: for all such things shall drive away a friend. Be faithful unto the neghbo in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice with him also in his prosperity. Abide steadfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage. Like as the vapour and smoke goeth out at the oven before the fire, even so evil words, rebukes and threatenings go before bloudsheddinge. Be not ashamed to defend thy friend: as for me, I will not hide my face from him, though he should do me harm. Who so ever heareth it, shall beware of him. Who shall set a watch before my mouth, ●●al. 140 & a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not with them, & that my tongue destroy me not? The XXIII. Chapter. O LORD, father and governor of my life, leave me not in their imagination & council. O let me not fall in such reproof. Who will keep my thought with the scourge, and the doctrine of wisdom in mine heart? that he spare not mine ignorance, that I fall not with them, jest mine ignoraunces increase, that mine offences be not many in number, and that my sins exceed not: jest I fall before mine enemies, and so my adversary rejoice. O LORD, thou father & God of my life, leave me not in their imagination. O let me not have a proud look, but turn away all voluptuousness fro me. Take fro me the lusts of the body, let not the desires of uncleanness take hold upon me, and give me not over in to an unshamefast and obstinate mind. Hear me (oh you children) I will give you a doctrine, how you shall order your mouth: who so keepeth it, shall not perish thorough his lips, ner be hurt thorough wicked works (As for the sinner, he shallbe taken in his own vanity: he that is proud and cursed, shall fall therein. ●xo. 20. b ●ccli. 27. d ●att. 5. d ) Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing, for in it there are many falls. Let not the naming of God be continually in the mouth: for like as a servant which is often punished can not be without some sore, even so what so ever he be that sweareth and nameth God, shall not be clean purged from sin. A man that useth much swearing, shallbe filled with wickedness, and the plague shall never go from his house. If he beguile his brother, his fault shallbe upon him: if he knowledge not his sin, he maketh a double offence: and if he swear in vain, he shall not be found righteous, for his house shallbe full of plagues. The words of the swearer bringeth death (God grant that it be not found in the house of jacob. ●eui. 24. c ) But they that fear God, eschew all such and lie not weltringe in sin. Use not the mouth to unhonest and filthy talking, for in it is the word of sin. Ephe 〈…〉 Remember thy father and thy mother, when thou art set among great men: jest God forget that in their sight, and jest thou doting in thy custom, suffer rebuke. and wish not to have been born, and so curse the day of thy nativity. The man that is accustomed with the words of blasphemy, 〈…〉 will never be reformed all the days of his life. To sin twice is to much, but the third bringeth wrath and destruction. An hot stomach can not be quenched (even like a burning fire) till it have swallowed up something: even so an unchaste man hath no rest in his flesh, till he have kindled a fire. All bread is sweet to an whoremonger, he will not leave of, till he have his purpose. A man that breaketh wedlock, & regardeth not his soul, but sayeth: Tush, who saith me? Esa 〈…〉 I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me, no body saith me: whom need I to fear? The Hyest will not remember my sins. (He understandeth not that his eyes see all things, for all such fear of men driveth away the fear of God from him: for he fears only the eyes of men, and considereth not that the eyes of the LORD are clearer than the Son, beholding all the ways of men and the ground of the deep, and looking even to men's hearts in secret places. The LORD God knew all things or ever they were made, and after they be brought to pass also he looketh upon them all. 〈…〉 The same man shallbe openly punished in the streets of the cite, and shallbe chased abroad like a young horse foal: and when he thinketh least upon it, he shallbe taken, Thus shall he be put to shame of every man, because he would not understand the fear of the LORD. And thus shall it go also with every wife that leaveth her husband, & getteth enheretaunce by a strange marriage. First, she hath been unfaithful unto the law of the Hyest: Secondly, she hath forsaken her own husband: 〈…〉 Thirdly, she hath played the whore in adultery, & gotten her children by another man. She shallbe brought out of the congregation, and her children shallbe looked upon. Her children shall not take rote: & as for fruit, her branches shall bring forth none. A shameful report shall she leave behind her, & her dishono shall not be put out. And they that remain, shall know, that there is nothing better, than the fear of God: & that there is nothing sweeter, then to take heed unto the commandments of the LORD. A great worship is it to follow the LORD, for long life shallbe received of him. The XXIIII. Chapter. wisdom shall praise hirself, & be honoured in God, & rejoice in the midst of his people: In the congregations of the Hyest shall she open her mouth, & triumph in the beholding of his power: In the midst of her people shall she be exalted, & wondered at in the holy fullness: In the multitude of the choose she shallbe commended, & among such as be blessed she shallbe praised, & shall say: I am come out of the mouth of the Hyest, first born before all creatures. I caused the light that faileth not, to arise in the heaven, & covered all the earth as a cloud. My dwelling is above in the height, & my seat is in the piler of the cloud. I myself alone have go round about the compass of heaven, & pierced the ground of the deep: I have walked in the floods of the see, & have stand in all lands: my dominion is in every people and in every nation, & with my power have I trodden down the hearts of all, both high and low. In all these things also I sought rest, & a dwelling in some inheritance. So the creator of all things gave me a commandment: & he that made me, appointed me a tabernacle, and said unto me: Let thy dwelling be in jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, & rote thyself among my choose. I was created from the beginning and before the world, 〈…〉 & shall not leave of unto the world to come. 〈…〉 In the holy habitation have I served before him, and so was I established in Zion. 〈◊〉. 13●. b In the holy cite rested I in like manner, & in jerusalem was my power. I took rote in an honourable people, even in the portion of the LORD & in his heritage, & kept me in the fullness of the saints. I am set up an high like a Cedar upon Libanus, & as a Cypers tree upon the mount Hermon: I am exalted like a palm tree in Cades, & as a rose plant in jericho: As a fair olive tree in the field, & am exalted like as a plantain tree by the water side. I have given a smell in the streets, as the cinnamon and Balm, that hath so good a savour: ye a sweet odour have I given, as it were Myrrh of the best. I have made my dwellings to smell as it were of rosin, Galbanum, of Clowes and Incense, & as Libanus when it is not hewn down, & mine odour is as the pure Balm. As the Terebynte have I stretched out my branches, and my branches are the branches of honour and loving favour. 〈…〉 As the vine have I brought forth fruit of a sweet savour, and my flowers are the fruit of hono and riches. I am the mother of beauty, of love, of fear, of knowledge & of holy hope. In me is all grace of life and truth: joh. 14. a In me is all hope of life and virtue. O come unto me, all you that be desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits: for my spirit is sweeter than honey, & so is my inheritance more than the honey comb: the remembrance of me endureth for evermore. They that eat me, shall have the more hunger: and they that drink me, shall thirst the more. Who so herkeneth unto me, shall not come to confusion: and they that work in me, shall not offend. They that make me to be known, shall have everlasting life. All these things are the book of life, the covenant of the Hyest, and the knowledge of the truth. Exo. 20. ● and 24. a Moses commanded the law in the precepts of righteousness for an heritage unto the house of jacob, and committed the promises unto Israel (Out of David his servant HE ordained to raise up a most mighty king, Psal. 131. ● Act. 2. d sitting in the seat of honour for evermore. Deut. 4. ● and 29. b ) This filleth with wisdom like as the flood of Phison, & as the flood of Tigris, when the new fruits are a growing. This bringeth a plenteous understanding, like Euprates: & filleth it up, josu. 3. ● as jordane in the time of harvest. This maketh nurtor to break forth as the light, & as the water Gihen in the harvest. The first hath not known her perfectly, no more shall the last seek out the ground of her. For her thought is fuller than the see, and her council is profounder than the great deep. I wisdom have cast out floods. I am as a great waterbroke out of the river. I am as the river Dorix, and as a water conduit am I come out of the garden of pleasure. I said: I will water the garden of my young plants, and fill the fruit of my birth. So my waterbroke become exceeding great, and my river approached unto the see. For I make doctrine to be unto all men as light as the fair morning, and I shall make it to be ever the clearer. (I will pierce thorough all the lower parts of the earth, I will look upon all such as be a sleep, and lighten all them that put their trust in the LORD.) I shall yet pour out doctrine, like as prophecy, and leave it unto such as seek after wisdom, and their generations shall I never fail, unto the holy everlasting world. Behold, how that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all them that seek after the truth. Eccli. ●3. b The XXV. Chapter. Three things there are, that my spirit favoureth, ●en. 13. b ●om. 12. a which be also allowed before God and men: The unyts of brethren, the love of neighbours, and man & wife that agreed well together. ●ccl. 40. d Three things there be which my soul hateth, and I utterly abhor the life of them: A poor man that is proud. A rich man that is a liar, ●en. 18. b and an old body that doteth and is unchaste. If thou hast gathered nothing in thy youth, what wilt thou find them in thy age? O how pleasant a thing is it, when grey headed men are discrete, & when the elders can give good council? O how comely a thing is wisdom unto aged men? ye understanding and council is a glorious thing. The crown of old men is to have much experience, & the fear of God is their worship. There be ix. things, which I have judged in my heart to be happy, and the tenth will I tell forth unto men with my tongue. A man that while he liveth, hath joy of his children, and seith the fall of his enemies. Well is him, that dwelleth with an housewife of understanding, ●ccli. 14. a ●nd 19 c ●aco. 3. a and that hath not fallen with his tongue, and that hath not been feign to serve such as are unmeet for him. well is him, that findeth a faithful friend: & well is him, which talketh of wisdom to an ear that heareth him. O how great is he, that findeth wisdom & knowledge? Yet is he not above him, that fears the LORD. The fear of God hath set itself above all things. Blessed is the man, unto whom it is granted to have the fear of God. Unto whom shall he be lickened, that keepeth it fast? The fear of God is the beginning of his love, and the beginning of faith is to cleave fast unto it. The heaviness of the heart is all the punishment, and the wickedness of a woman goeth above all. All punishment & plague is nothing in comparison of the plague of the heart, even so all wickedness is nothing to the wickedness of a woman. What so ever happeneth unto a man, is nothing in comparison of it, that his evil willers do unto him: and all vengeance is nothing to the vengeance of the enemy. There is not a more wicked head then the head of the serpent, and there is no wrath above the wrath of a woman. Pro. 21. c I will rather devil with a lion and dragon, then to keep house with a wicked wife. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face, she shall moffell her countenance as it were a Beer, & as a sack shall she show it among the neighbours. Her husband is brought to shame among his neighbours, & when he heareth it, it maketh him to sigh. All wickedness is but little to the wickkednes of a woman, the portion of the ungodly shall fall upon her. Like as to climb up a sondy way is to the feet of the aged, even so is a wife full of words to a still quiet man. 〈…〉 Look not to narrowly upon the beauty of a woman, jest thou be provoked in desire toward her. The wrath of a woman is dishonour and great confusion. If a woman get the mastery, then is she contrary to her husband. A wicked wife maketh a sorry heart, an heavy countenance and a deed wound. 〈…〉 Of the woman came the beginning of sin, and thorough her we all are deed. give thy water no passage, not not a little, neither give a wicked woman her will. If she walk not after thy hand, she shall confound the in the sight of thy enemies. Cut her of then from thy flesh, that she do not allway abuse the. The XXVI. Chapter. Happy is the man that hath a virtuous wife, for the number of his years shallbe double. An honest woman maketh her husband a joyful man, & she shall fill the years of his life in peace. A virtuous woman is a noble gift, which shallbe given for a good portion unto such as fear God. Whether a man be rich or poor, he may have ever a merry heart, & a cheerful countenance. There be three things that my heart fears, and my face is afraid of the fourth. Treason in a cite, a seditious people, and noisome tongues, all these are mightier than the death. But when one is jealous over his wife, it bringeth pain and sorrow unto the heart: and a woman that telleth out all things, is a scourge of the tongue. When one hath an evil wife, it is even as when an unlike par● of oxen must draw together: he that getteth her, getteth a scorpion. 〈…〉 A drunken woman is a great plague, for she can not cover her own shame. The whoredom of a woman may be known in the pride of her eyes and eyelydlyddes. If thy daughter be not shamefast, 〈…〉 hold her straightly, jest she abuse hirself thorough overmuch liberty. beware of all the dishonesty of her eyes, and marvel not if she do against the. Like as one that goeth by the way and is thirty, so shall she open her mouth, and drink of every next water that she may get. By every hedge shall she sit her down, & open her quiver against every arrow. A loving wife rejoiceth her husband, and feedeth his bones with her wisdom. A woman of few words is a gift of God, and to a well nurtured mind may nothing be compared. An honest and mannerly woman is a gift above other gifts, and there is no weight to be compared, unto a mind that can rule itself. Like as the Son when it ariseth, is an ornament in the high heaven of the LORD, so is a virtuous wife the beauty of all her house. Like as the clear light is upon the holy candelstick, so is the beauty of the face upon an honest body. 〈◊〉 5. d Like as the golden pilers are upon the sockettes of silver, so are the fair legs upon a woman that hath a constant mind. (Perpetual are the foundations that be laid upon a whole stony rock, so are the commandments of God upon an holy woman.) There be two things that grieve my heart, and in the third is a displeasure come upon me. When an expert man of war suffereth scarceness and poverty, When men of understanding and wisdom are not set by: And when one departeth from righteousness unto sin. Who so doth such, the LORD hath prepared him unto the sword. There be two manner of things, which me think to be herd and perilous. A merchant can not lightly keep him from wrong, neither a taverner himself from sin. The XXVII. Chapter. BEcause of poverty have many one offended: and he that seeketh to be rich, turneth his eyes aside. Like as a nail in the brickwall sticketh fast betwixt two stones, even so doth sin stick betwixt the buyer and the seller. If he hold him not diligently in the fear of the LORD, his house shall soon be overthrown. Like as when one sifteth, the filthiness remaineth in the sieve: So, remaineth there some unclean thing in the thought of man. The oven proveth the potter's vessel, 〈…〉 so doth tentation of trouble try righteous men. The tree of the field is known by his fruit, so is the thought of man's heart known by his words. Praise no man except thou have hard him, for a man is known by his words. If thou folowest righteousness, thou shalt get her, and put her upon that as a fair garment. (And thou shalt devil with her, and she shall defend the for ever, and in the day of knowledge thou shalt find steadfastness.) The birds resort unto their like, so doth the truth turn unto them that be occupied withal. The lion waiteth for the pray: so do the sins lurk upon the works of wickedness. The talking of him that fears God, is nothing but wisdom: as for a fool, he changeth as the Moon. If thou be among the undiscrete, keep thy word to a convenient time, but among such as be wise, speak on hardly. Ro. 12. b Col. 4. a The talking of fools is abomination, and their spo●te is voluptuous and mysnurtoure. Much swearing maketh the hair to stand up, and to strive with such, Eccli. 23. b stoppeth the ears. The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, & their blaspheming is heavy to hear. Who so discovereth secrets, Eccli. 19 b and 22. d loseth his credence, and findeth no friend after his will. Love thy friend, and bind thyself in faithfulness with him: but if thou bewrayest his secrets, thou shalt not get him again: For like as the man is that destroyeth his enemy so is he also that dealeth falsely in the friendship of his neighbour. Like as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, can not take her again: Even so thou, if thou give over thy friend, thou canst not get him again: Ye thou canst not come by him, for he is to far of. He is unto the as a roe escaped out of the snare, for his soul is wounded. As for wounds, they may be bound up again, and an evil word may be reconciled: but who so bewrayeth the secrets of a friend, there is no more hope to be had unto him. He that wyncketh with the eyes, Pro. 10. b ymagineth some evil, and no man shall take him from it. When thou art present, he shall hylie commend and praise thy words: but at the last he shall turn his tail, and slander thy saying. Many things have I hated, but nothing so evil, for the LORD himself also abhorreth such one. Who so casts a stone an high, it shall fall upon his own head: Exo. 21. b and he that smiteth with guile, woundeth himself. Who so diggeth a pit, shall fall therein: Hest. 7. b Psal. 7. b Pro. 26. c Eccle. 10. a and he that layeth a snare, shall be taken in it himself. Who so giveth a wicked noisome council, it shall come upon himself, and he shall not know from whence. The proud blaspheme and are scornful, but vengeance lurketh for them as a lion. They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous, shall be taken in the snare, anguish of heart shall consume them before they die Anger and rigorousness are two abominable things, and the ungodly hath them both upon him. The XXVIII. Chapter. HE that seeketh vengeance, shall find vengeance of the LORD, Deut. 32. c Rom. 12. c Mat. 5. ᵇ ●. b. 1●. b which shall surely keep him his sins. forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee, and so shall thy sins be forgiven the also, when thou prayest. A man that beareth hatred against another, how dare he desire forgiveness of God? He that showeth no mercy to a man which is like himself, how dare he axe forgiveness of his sins? If he that is but flesh, beareth hatred and keepeth it, who will entreat for his sins? Remember the end, & let enmity pass, which seeketh death and destruction, and abide thou in the commandments. Remember the commandment, so shalt thou not be rigorous over the neighbour. Think upon the covenant of the Hyest, and forgive thy neighbours ignorance. Eccli. 8. a beware of strife, and thou shalt make the sins fewer. For an angry man kyndleth variance, and the ungodly disquyeteth friends, and putteth discord among them that be at peace. The more wood there is, the more vehement is the fire: Pro. 26. c and the mightier that men be, the greater is the wrath: and the longer the strife endureth, the more it burneth. An hasty brawling kyndleth a fire, and an hasty strife sheds blood. If thou blow the spark: it shall burn: If thou spytt upon it, it shall go forth, and both these go out of thy mouth. Eccli. 21. d The slanderer and double tongued is cursed, for many one that be friends setteth he at variance. The third tongue hath disquieted many one, and driven them from one land to another. Strong cities hath it broken down, and overthrown the houses of great men. The third tongue hath cast out many an honest woman, and rob them of their labours. Who so hearkeneth unto such, shall never find rest, and never devil safely. The stroke of the rod maketh yedders, but the stroke of the tongue smiteth the bones in sunder. There be many that have perished with the sword, but many more thorough the tongue. Well is him that is kept from an evil tongue, & cometh not in the anger thereof: which draweth not the yock of such, and is not bound in the bonds of it. For the yock thereof is of iron, and the bond of it of steel. The death thereof is a very evil death: hell were better for one, then such a tongue. But the fire of it may not oppress them that fear God, and the flame thereof may not burn them. Soch as forsake the LORD, shall fall therein: and it shall burn them, and no man shall be able to quench it. It shall fall upon them as a Lion, and devour them as a leparde. Thou hengest the goods with thorns: why dost thou not rather make doors and bars for the mouth? Thou weiest thy gold and silver: why dost thou not weigh thy words also upon the balance? beware, that thou slide not in thy tongue, and so fall before thy enemies, that lay wait for the. The XXIX. Chapter. WHo so will show mercy, let him lend unto his neighbour: 〈…〉 and he that is able, let him keep the commandment. Lend unto thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. Keep thy word, & deal faithfully with him, & thou shalt allway find the thing that is necessary for the. There have been many, that when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found: and made them travail and labour, that had helped them. While they receive any thing, they kiss the hands of such as give them, and for their neighbours good they humble their voice. But when they should pay again they keep it back, and give evil words, and make many excuses by reason of the time: & though he be able, yet giveth he scarce the half again, and reckoneth the other to be found. And if he with old not his money, yet hath he an enemy of him, and that undeserved. He payeth him with cursing and rebuke and giveth him evil words for his good deed. There be many one which are not glad for to lend, not because of evil, but they fear to lose the thing that they lend. Yet have thou patience with the simple, and with hold not mercy from him. Help the poor for the commandments sake, and let him not go empty from the because of his necessity. Lese thy money for thy brother and neighbours sake, and bury it not under a stone, where it rusteth and corruppeth. 〈…〉 Gather thy treasure after the commandment of the Hyest, and so shall it bring the more profit than gold. Say up the allmes in the hand of the poor, and it shall keep the from all 〈◊〉. (A man's allmes is as a purse with him, 〈◊〉 shall keep a man's favour as the apple of an eye: and afterward shall it arise, & pay every man his reward upon his head.) It shall fight for the against thy enemies, better than the shield of a giant, or spear of the mighty. A good honest man is surety for his neighbour, but a wicked person letteth him come to shame. Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his soul for ye. The ungodly despiseth the good deed of his surety, & the unthankful and ignorant leaveth his surety in danger. (Some man promiseth for his neighbour: & when he hath lost his honesty, he shall forsake him.) Suertishipe hath destroyed many a rich man, & removed them as the wawes in the see. Mighty people hath it driven away, and caused them to wander in strange countries. An ungodly man transgressing the commandment of the LORD, shall fall in to an evil suertishipe: and though he force himself to get out, yet shall he fall in to judgement. Help thy neighbour out after thy power, and beware, that thou thyself fall not in such dett. The chief thing that keepeth in the life, 〈…〉 is water and bread, clothing and lodging, to cover the shame. Better is it to have a poor living in a man's own house, 〈◊〉 36. b 〈◊〉. 6. b 〈◊〉. 13. a then delicate fair among the strange. Be it little or much that thou hast, hold the content withal (& thou shalt not be blamed as a vagabond:) for a miserable life is it, to go from house to house: and where a man is fremde, he dare not open his mouth. Though one be lodged, and have meat and drink, yet shall he be taken as unworthy, & hear many bitter rough words, namely thus: Go thy way thou stranger, and prepare a table (for thyself) and feed me also of that thou hast. Away thou stranger (so, that he regardeth his honour no more) my brother cometh in to my house, & so he telleth him the necessity of his house. These things are heavy to a man that hath understanding: namely, the forbidding of the house, & that the lender casts him in the teeth. The XXX. Chapter. WHo so loveth his child, holdeth him still under correction, 〈◊〉 ●3. c 〈◊〉 2●. b that he may have joy of him afterward (and that he grope not after his neighbours doors. 〈◊〉. 6. a ) He that teacheth his son, shall have joy in him, & need not be ashamed of him among his aquantaunce. Who so informed & teacheth his son, grieveth the enemy, ●nd before his friends he may have joy of him. Though the father die, yet is he as though he were not deed: for he hath left one behind him that is like him. In his life he saw him, & had joy in him, & was not sorry in his death, (neither was he ashamed before the enemies.) For he left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and a good doer unto the friends. For the life of children he shall bind the wounds together, and his heart is grieved at every cry. An untamed horse willbe hard, and a wanton child will be wilful. If thou bring up thy son delicately, he shall make the afraid: and if thou play with him, he shall bring the to heaviness. Laugh not with him, jest thou weep with him also, and jest thy teeth be set on edge at the last. give him not liberty in his youth, & excuse not his folly. Eccli. 7. ● Bow down his neck while he is young, hit him upon the sides while he is yet but a child, jest he wax stubborn, & give no more force of thee (and so shalt thou have heaviness of soul.) Teach thy child, & be diligent therein, jest it be to thy shame. Better is the poor being whole & strong, them a man to be rich, & not to have his health. Health and welfare is above all gold, and an whole body above all treasure. There is no riches above a sound body, & no joy above the joy of the heart. Death is better than a wretched life, or continual sickness. The good things that are put in a close mouth, are like as when meat is laid upon the grave. What good doth the offering unto an Idol? For he can neither eat, taist ner smell. Bel. ● Even so is it also with the rich, whom God maketh seek: he seith it with his eyes, & groaneth thereafter, and is even as a gelded man, that lieth with a virgin and sygheth. Pro. 12. d 15. b. 17. d Eccli 38. Pro. 14. give not over thy mind in to heaviness, & vex not thyself in thy own council. The joy & cheerfulness of the heart is the life of man, and a man's gladness is the prolonging of his days. love thy own soul, and comfort thy heart: as for sorrow and heaviness, drive it far from thee, 2. Cor. 7. for heaviness hath slain many a man, and bringeth no profit. Zele and anger shorten the days of the life: carefulness and sorrow bring age before the time. Unto a merry heart every thing hath a good taist, that he eateth. The XXXI. Chapter. Travail and carefulness for riches taketh away the sleep, 1. Tim. 6. b and maketh the flesh to consume. When one lieth and taketh care, he waketh ever up, like as great sickness breaketh the sleep. The rich hath great labor in gathering his riches together, and then with the pleasure of his riches he taketh his rest & is refreshed. But who so laboureth and prospereth not, he is poor: and though he leave of, yet is he a beggar. He that loveth riches, shall not be justified: and who so followeth corruption, shall have enough thereof. Eccli. 8. a Many one are come in great misfortune by the reason of gold, & have found their destruction before them. It is a tree of falling unto them that offer it up, and all such as be foolish fall therein. Blessed is the rich, which is found without blemish, and hath not go after gold, ner hoped in money and treasures. Where is there such one? and we shall commend him, and call him blessed, for great things doth he among his people. Who so is tried, & found perfect in such things, shallbe commended and praised. Who might offend, & hath not offended? Who could do evil, and hath not done it? Therefore shall his good be established, and the whole congregation shall declare his allmesses. If thou sit at a great man's table, open not thy mouth wide upon it, and make not many words. Remember, that an evil eye is a shrew. What thing created is worse than a wicked eye? therefore weepeth it before every man's face? Say not thy hand upon every thing that thy eye saith, and strive not with him in the dish. ●att. 7. a Ponder by thyself what thy neighbour would fain have, & be discrete in every point. Eat the thing that is set before thee, mannerly, as it becometh a man: ●ccli 37. d and eat not to much, jest thou be abhorred. Leave thou of first of all because of nurture, jest thou be he whom no man may satisfy, which may turn to thy decay. When thou sittest among many men, reach not thy hand out first of all. O how well content is a wise man with a little wine? so that in sleep thou shalt not be seek thereof, ner feel any pain. A sweet wholesome sleep shall such one have, and feel no inward grief. He riseth up by times in the morning, and is well at ease in himself. But an unsatiable eater sleepeth unquyetly, and hath ache and pain of the body. If thou feelest that thou hast eaten to much, arise, go thy way, cast it of thy stomach, and take thy rest. My son, hear me, and despise me not: and at the last thou shalt find as I have told the. ●om. 12. b In all thy works be diligent and quick, so shall there no sickness happen unto the. ●ro. 22. a Who so is liberal in dealing out his meat, many men shall bless him and praise him with their lips: and the same is a sure token of his love and faithfulness. But he that is unfaithful in meat, the whole cite shall complain of him: and that is a sure experience of his infidelity and wickedness. ●phe. 5. b audit 13. a Be not thou a wine bebber, for wine hath destroyed many a man. The fire proveth the hard iron, even so doth wine prove the hearts of the proud, when they be drunken. Wine sorbely drunken, quyckeneth the life of man. If thou drynckest it measurably, Psal. 〈…〉 Pro. 〈…〉 thou shalt be temperate. What life is it, that may continue without wine? Wine was made from the beginning to make men glad (and not for drunkenness) Wine measurably drunken is a rejoicing of the soul and body. But if it be drunken with excess, it maketh bitterness and sorrow unto the mind. Drunkenness filleth the mind of the foolish with shame and ruin, mynisheth the strength, and maketh wounds. 〈…〉 Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth. give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with contrary sayings. The XXXII. Chapter. IF thou be made a ruler, pride not thy self therein, 〈…〉 but be thou as one of the people. Take diligent care for them, 〈…〉 and look well thereto: and when thou hast done all thy duty, sit the down, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown of honour. Talk wisely & honestly, for wisdom becometh the right well. hinder not musyck. Speak not, where there is no audience: 〈…〉 and pour not forth wisdom out of time, at an importunity. Like as the Carbuncle stone shineth, that is set in gold, so doth a song garnish the wine feast: and as the smaragd that is set in gold, so is the sweetness of Musyck by the mirth of wine. Thou young man, speak that becometh thee, & that is profitable, and yet scarce when thou art twice axed. Comprehend much with few words. In many things be as one that is ignorant, give ear, and hold thy tongue withal. If thou be among men of higher authority, desire not to compare thyself unto them: and when an elder speaketh, make not thou many words therein. Before the thunder goeth lightning, and before nurture and shamefastness goeth love and favour. stand up by times, and be not the last: but get the home soon, & there take thy pastime, & do what thou will't: so that thou do no evil, and defy no man. But for all things give thanks, unto him that hath made thee, and replenished the with his goods. Who so fears the LORD, will receive his doctrine: and they that get them to him by times, shall find grace. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled withal: As for him that is but feigned, he will be offended thereat. They that fear the LORD, shall find the judgement, & their righteousness shallbe kindled as a light. An ungodly man will not be reformed, but can help himself with the example of other in his purpose. A man of understanding despiseth no good council: but a wild and proud body hath no fear. My son, do nothing without advisement, so shall it not repent the after the deed. Go not in the way where thou mayest fall, ner where thou mayest stumble against the stone. give not thy self in to a laborious slypery way, and beware of thy own children. In all thy works put thy trust in God from thy whole heart, for that is the keeping of the commandments. Who so believeth God's word, taketh heed to the commandments: & he that putteth his trust in the LORD, shall want nothing. The XXXIII. Chapter. THere shall no evil happen unto him that fears God: but when he is in tentation, the LORD shall deliver him. A wise man hateth not the law, but an hypocrite is as a ship in a raging water. A man of understanding giveth credence unto the law of God, and the law is faithful unto him. Be sure of the matter, then talk thereof: Be first well instruct, them mayest thou give answer. The heart of the foolish is like a cartwhele, and his thoughts run about like the axle tree. Like as a wild horse that neyeth under every one that sitteth upon him, so is it with a scornful friend. Why doth one day excel another, saying all the days of the year come of the Son? The wisdom of the LORD hath so parted them asunder, and so hath he ordained the times and solemn feasts. Some of them hath he choose and hallowed before other days. And all men are made of the ground, & out of the earth of Adam. In the multitude of science hath the LORD sundered them, and made their ways of diverse fashions. Some of them hath he blessed, made much of them, hallowed them, & claimed them to himself. But some of them hath he cursed, brought them low, & put them out of their estate. 〈◊〉 9 c Like as the clay is in the potter's hand, & all the ordering thereof at his pleasure: so are men also in the hand of him that made them, so that he may give them as it liketh him best. Against evil is good, and against death is life: so is the ungodly against such as fear God. Behold thus all the works of the Hyest, & there are ever 〈…〉 two against two, and one set against another. I am awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after in harvest. In the gifts of God and in his blessing I am increased, & have filled my wine press, like a grape gatherer. Behold, Ecclesia●●tici. 24. ● how I have not laboured only for myself, but for all such as love nurture and wisdom. Hear me O you great men of the people, & hearken with yo ears you rulers of the congregation. give not the son & wife, the brother & friend power over thee, while thou livest: & give not away thy substance and good to another, jest it repent thee, & thou be fain to beg therefore thyself. As long as thou livest & hast breath, let no man change thee: For better it is thy children to pray thee, than that thou shouldest be fain to look in their hands. In all thy works be excellent, that thy honour be never stained. At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thy inheretaunce. The fodder, the whip, and the burden belongeth unto the Ass: Meat, correction, and work unto the servant. If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest. But if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty. The yock & the whip bow down the neck, but tame thou thy evil servant with bonds & correction. Send him to labour, that he go not idle: For Idylnesse bringeth much evil. Set him to work, for that belongeth unto him and becometh him well. If he be not obedient, bind his feet: but do not to much unto him in any wise, & without discretion do nothing. If thou have a (faithful) servant, Eccli. 7. c let him be unto the as thy own soul, for in blood hast thou got him. If thou have a servant, hold him as thyself, for thou hast need of him as of thyself. If thou entreatest him evil, and keepest him hard, and makest him to be proud, and to run away from thee, thou canst not tell, what way thou shalt seek him. The XXXIIII. Chapter. Unwise people beguile themselves with vain and deceitful hope, and fools trust in dreams. Who so regardeth dreams, is like him that will take hold of a shadow, and follow after the wind: Even so is it with the appearinges of dreams. Before the face is the likeness of a face. Who can be cleansed of the unclean? Or what truth can be spoken of a liar? Soythsayenge, witchcraft, sorcery and dreaming is but vanity: like as when a woman travaileth with child, and hath many fantasies in her heart. Where as such visions come not of God, set not thy heart upon them: For dreams have deceived many a man, and they failed, that put their trust therein. The law shallbe fulfilled without lies, & wisdom is sufficient to a faithful mouth. A wise man that is well instruct, understonstondeth much: & he that hath good experience, can talk of wisdom. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: & he that erreth, causeth much wickedness. When I was yet in error, I learned much also: ye I was so learned, that I could not express it all, and came often in apparel of death thereover, till I was delivered from it. Now I see, that they which fear God, have the right spirit: for their hope standeth in him, that can help them. Who so fears the LORD, standeth in awe of no man, and is not afraid, for the LORD is his hope and comfort. Blessed is the soul of him that fears the LORD: In whom putteth he his trust? who is his strength? For the eyes of the LORD have respect unto them, that love him. He is their mighty protection, & strong ground: A defence for the heat, a refuge for the hot noon day, a sucore for stumbling, & an help for falling. He setteth up the soul, and lighteneth the eyes: He giveth health life, and blessing. He that giveth an offering of unrighteous good, his offering is refused: and the scornful dealings of the unrighteous please not God. God hath no delight in the offerings of the ungodly, ●ro. 15. a neither may sin be reconciled in the multitude of oblations. Who so bringeth an offering out of the goods of the poor, doth even as one that killeth the son before the father's eyes. The bread of the needful is the life of the poor: he that defraudeth him thereof, is a man, of blood. Who so robbeth his neghbor of his living, doth as great sin as though he slay him to death. Deu. 24. c ●ccli. 7. c He that defraudeth the labourer of his hire, is a blood shedder. When one buildeth, and another breaketh down, what profit have they then but labour? When one prayeth, & another curseth, whose voice will the LORD hear? Nu. 1●. b He that washeth himself because of a deed body, & then toucheth the deed again, what doth his waszshinge? Pro. 26. ᵇ ●. Pet. 2. b So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth them again: who will hear his prayer? Or what doth his fasting help him? The XXXV. Chapter. WHo so keepeth the law, bringeth offerings enough. jere. 7. c He that holdeth fast the commandment, offereth the right health offering. He that is thankful & recompenseth, offereth fine flower. 〈…〉 Who so is merciful & giveth allmes, that is the right thank offering. God hath pleasure, when one departeth from sin: & to forsake unrighteousness reconcileth us with him. Thou shalt not appear empty before the LORD, 〈…〉 for all such is done because of the commandment. The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, & a sweet smell is it before the Hyest. The offering of the righteous is acceptable unto God, & shall never be forgotten. 〈…〉 give God his hono with a cheerful eye, & keep not back the firstlinges of the hands. In all thy gifts show a merry countenance, 〈…〉 & hallow thy tithes unto God with gladness. give unto God, 〈…〉 according as he hath enriched & prospered their look what thy hand is able, that give with a cheerful eye: for the LORD recompenseth, & giveth the seven times as much again. give no unrighteous gifts, for such will not he receive. beware of wrongeous offerings, for the LORD is a righteous judge, 〈…〉 & regardeth no man's person: He accepteth not the person of the poor, but he heareth the prayer of the oppressed. 〈…〉 He despiseth not the desire of the fatherless, ner the widow, when she poureth out her prayer before him. Doth not God see the tears, that run down the cheeks of the widow? Or heareth he not the complaint, over such as make her to wept▪ Who so serveth God after his pleasure, shallbe accepted, & his prayer reacheth unto the clouds. The prayer of him that humbleth himself, 〈…〉 goeth thorough the clouds, till she come nigh. She will not be comforted, ner go her way, till the highest God have respect unto her, give true sentence, & perform the judgement. And the LORD will not be slack in coming, ner tarry long: till he have smitten insunder the backs of the unmerciful, & avenged himself of the heathen: till he have taken away the multitude of the cruel, & broken the sceptre of the unrighteous: till he give every man after his works, & reward them as they have deserved: till he have delivered his people, mayntened their cause, & rejoiced them in his mercy. O how fair a thing is mercy, in the time of anguish & trouble? It is like a cloud of rain, that cometh in the time of a drought. The XXXVI. Chapter. Have mercy upon us O LORD, thou God of all things. Have respect unto us (show us the light of thy mercies, & send the fear among the Heithen & strangers, which seek not after thee: that they may know, how that there is no God but thou, and that they may show thy wondrous works.) Lift up thy hand over the outlandish heathen, that they may learn to know thy might & power. Like as thou art hallowed in us before them, so bring to pass, that thou mayest be magnified also in them before us: that they may know thee, like as we know the. For there is none other God, but only thou O LORD. Renew the tokens, & change the wondrous works. Show thy hand and thy right arm gloriously. Raise thy indignation, & pour out thy wrath. Take away the adversary, & smite the enemy. Make the time short, remember thy covenant, that the wondrous works may be praised. Let the wrath of the fire consume them, that live so careless: and let them perish, that do the people hurt. Smite insunder the head of the princes, that be our enemies, and say: there is none other but we. Gather all the tribes of jacob together again, that they may know, how that there is none other God but only thou, that they may show thy wondrous works, and be thy people & heritage, like as from the beginning. O LORD have mercy upon the people that hath the name, 〈◊〉 4. f & upon Israel, whom thou hast lickened to a first born son. O be merciful unto Jerusalem the cite of thy Sanctuary, the cite of thy rest. 〈◊〉 6. g Fill Zion with thy unspeakable virtues, & thy people with thy glory. give witness unto the creature, whom thou maydest from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies that have been showed in thy name. Reward them that wait for thee, that thy prophets may be found faithful. O LORD hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people: that all they which devil upon earth, 〈◊〉 6. d may know, that thou art the LORD the eternal God, which is from everlasting. The belly devoureth all meats, yet is one meat better than another. Like as the tongue taisteth venison, 〈◊〉. 2. b so doth an heart of understanding mark false words. A froward heart giveth heaviness, but a man of experience lifteth him up again. The woman receiveth every man, yet is one daughter better than another. A fair wife rejoiceth her husband, and a man loveth nothing better. If she be loving & virtuous withal, then is not her husband like other men. He that hath got a virtuous woman, hath a goodly possession: she is unto him an help and piler where upon he rests. Where no hedge is, there the goods are spoiled: and where no houszwife is, there the friendless mourneth. Like as there is no credence given to a robber, that goeth from one cite to another: So is not the man believed, that hath no nest, and must turn in, where he may abide in the night. The XXXVII. Chapter. EVery friend sayeth: I will be friendly unto him also. But there is some friend, which is only a friend in name. Remaineth there not heaviness unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy? O most wicked presumption: From whence art thou sprung up, to cover the earth with falsed & deceit? Eccli. 6. b There is some companion, which in prosperity rejoiceth with his friend: but in the time of trouble, he taketh part against him. There is some companion, that mourneth with his friend for the belly sake: but when trouble cometh, he taketh hold of the shield. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, & think upon him in thy riches. Every counsellor bringeth forth his council: Nevertheless there is some, that counceleth but for his own profit. Eccli. 8. ● and 9 c beware of the counsellor, & be advised afore whereto thou will't use him, for he will give council for himself. Jest he cast the lot upon thee, & say unto thee: Thy way and purpose is good, and afterward he stand against thee, and look what shall become of the. Axe no council at him, that suspecketh the for an enemy, & hide the council from such as hate ye. Axe no council at a woman, concerning the things that she longeth for: ner at a fearful & fainthearted body, in matters of war: or at a merchant, how dear he will cheap thy wares toward his: or at a bier, of selling: Or at an envious man, of thanksgiving: Or at the unmerciful, of loving kindness: Or at the slothful, of working: Or at an hireling which hath no house, of profit or wealth. (An idle body would not gladly hear speak of much labo.) Take no such folks to council, but be diligent to seek council at a virtuous man, that fears God, such one as thou knowest to be a keeper of the commandments, which hath a mind after thy own mind, & is sorry for the when thou stomblest. And hold thy council fast in thy heart: for there is no man more faithful to keep it, than thou thyself. For a man's mind is sometime more disposed to tell out, then seven watchmen that sit above in an high place looking about them. And above all this pray the Hyest, that he will lead thy way in faithfulness & truth. Before all thy works axe council first: and or ever thou dost any thing, be well advised. There be four things that declare a changed heart, whereout there springeth evil & good, death & life, & a masterfull tongue that babbleth much. Some man is apt and well instruct in many things, and yet very unprofitable unto himself. Some man there is, that can give wise and prudent council, and yet is he hated, & continueth a beggar: for that grace is not given him of God, to be accepted. Another is rob of all wisdom, yet is he wise unto himself, and the fruit of understanding is faithful in his mouth. A wise man maketh his people wise, & the fruits of his wisdom fail not. A wise man shall be plenteously blessed of God: & all they that see him, shall speak good of him. The life of man standeth in the number of the days, but the days of Israel are innumerable. A wise man shall obtain faithfulness & credence among his people, & his name shallbe perpetual. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: & if thou see any evil thing, give it not unto her. ● Cor. 6. c ●nd 10. c For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing. Be not greedy in every eating, ●ccli. 31. b and be not to haistye upon all meats. For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and gluttony cometh at the last to an unmeasurable heat. Thorough gluttony have many one perished: but he that dyeteth himself temperately, prolongeth his life. The XXXVIII. Chapter. Honour the Physician: honour him because of necessity. God hath created him (for of the Hyest cometh medicine) and he shall receive gifts of the king. The wisdom of the physician bringeth him to great worship, & in the sight of the great men of this world, he shallbe honourably taken. The LORD hath created medicine of the earth, and he that is wise, will not abhor it. Exo. 15. d 4. Re. 4. c Was not the bitter water made sweet with a tree? that men might learn to know the virtue thereof. The LORD hath given men wisdom & understanding, that he might be honoured in his wondrous works. With such doth he heal men, & taketh away their pains: Of such doth the apothecary make a confection, yet can no man perform all his works. For of the LORD cometh prosperous wealth over all the earth. My son, despise not this in thy sickness: but pray unto the LORD, Esa. 38 ᵃ ●. Pa●. 16. c & he shall make the whole. Leave of from sin, & order thy hands a right: cleanse thy heart from all wickedness. give a sweet savoured offering, & the fine flower for a token of remembrance: make the offering fat, as one that giveth the first fruits, & give room to the Physician▪ For the LORD hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him. The hour may come, that the seek may be helped thorough them, when they pray unto the LORD, that he may recover, & get health to live longer. He that sinneth before his maker, shall fall in to the hands of the Physician. My son, bring forth thy tears over the deed: and begin to mourn, 〈…〉 as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself: & then cover his body after a convenient manner, & despise not his burial. Enforce thyself to weep, & provoke thyself to mourn, & make lamentation expediently, 〈…〉 and that a day or two, jest thou be evil spoken of: & then comfort thyself because of the heaviness. 〈…〉 For of heaviness cometh death, the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength. heaviness and poverty grieveth the heart in tentation & offence. Take no heaviness to heart, drive it away, and remember the last things. Forget it not, for there is no turning again. Thou shalt do him no good, but hurt thyself. Remember his judgement, thy also shallbe likewise: unto me yesterday, unto the to day. Let the remembrance of the deed cease in his rest, 〈…〉 and comfort thyself again over him, saying his spirit is departed from him. The wisdom of the scribe is at convenient time of rest: & he that ceaseth from exercise & labo, shallbe wise. He that holdeth the plough, & hath pleasure in prodding & driving the oxen, & goeth about with such works, he can speak of oxen. He setteth his heart to make forowes, & is diligent to give the kine fodder. So is every carpenter also & work master, that laboureth still night & day: he carueth, graveth & cutteth out, & his desire is in sundry cunning things, and his heart ymagineth, how he may conyngly cast an image, his diligence also & watching performeth the work. The yronsmyth in like manner bideth by his stythie, & doth his diligence to labour the iron. The vapour of the fire brenneth his flesh, and he must fight with the heat of the furnace. The noise of the Hammer soundeth ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the thing that he maketh. He hath set his mind there upon, that he will make out his work, and therefore he watcheth, how he may set it out, and bring it to an end. So doth the potter sit by his work, he turneth the wheel about with his feet, he is diligent & careful in all his doings, & his labour and work is without number. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and with his feet he tempereth it. His heart ymagineth how he may make it pleasant, & his diligence is to cleanse the oven. All these hope in their hands, & every one thinketh to be cunning in his work. Without these may not the cities be manteyned, inhabited ner occupied: yet come they not high in the congregation: they understand not the covenant of the law: they can not declare equity & judgement: they can not find out the dark sentences: but thorough them shall the creature of the world be manteyned: their prayer concerneth only the work & labor of cunning. The XXXIX. Chapter. But he that applieth his mind to understand the law of God, doth diligently seek out the wisdom of them of the old time, & exercyseth himself in the prophets. He keepeth the sayings of famous men, and preasseth to the understanding of dark sentences of wisdom. He seeketh out the mystery of secret sayings, and exercyseth himself therein continually. He doth service among great men, & appeareth before the prince. He goeth in to a strange country, & travaileth thorough it: look what good or evil is among men, he proveth it & seeketh it out. He purposeth in his heart, to resort early unto the LORD that made him, & to pray before the highest God. He openeth his mouth in prayer, & prayeth for his sins. When the great LORD will, he shallbe filled with the spirit of understanding, that he may then pour out wise sentences, & give thanks unto the LORD in his prayer. He shall order his device, and lead his knowledge aright, & give him understanding of secret things. He shall show forth the science of his learning, & rejoice in the covenant of the law of the LORD. The whole congregation shall commend his wisdom, & it shall never be put out. The remembrance of him shall never be forgotten, & his name shall continue from one generation to another. 〈◊〉 44. b His wisdom shallbe spoken of, & the whole congregation shall openly declare his praise. while he liveth, he hath a greater name than a thousand beside: & after his death, the same name remaineth unto him. Yet will I speak of more men of understanding, for I am full as the Moon. hearken unto me (you holy virtuous children) bring forth fruit, as the rose that is planted by the brokes of the field, and give you a sweet smell as Libanus. Flourish as the rose garden, sing a song of praise. O give thanks unto God over all his works. give glory and honour unto the LORD, show his praise with your lips. Ye even with the song of your lips, with haps & playing, and in giving thanks unto him, say after this manner: Gen. 1. d All the works of the LORD are exceeding good, and all his commandments are meet and convenient in due season. A man need not to say: what is that? what is that? Gen. 7. d for at time convenient they shall all be sought. At his commandment the water was as a brickwall, & at the word of his mouth the waters stood still. In his commandment is every thing acceptable and reconciled, and his health can not be minished. The works of all flesh are before him, & there is nothing hid from his eyes. He seith from everlasting to everlasting, and there is nothing to wonderful or high unto him. A man need not to say then, what is this, or that? For he hath made all things to do good unto man. His blessing shall run over as the stream, and moisture the earth like a flood of water. Like as he maketh the water for drought, so shall his wrath fall upon the heathen. His ways are plain and right unto the just, but the ungodly stumble at them. Ose. 14. ● Rom. 8. ● For the good are good things created from the beginning, and evil things for the ungodly. All things necessary for the life of man are created from the beginning: water, fire, iron and salt, meel, Eccli. 29. ● 1. Ti. 4. a wheat and honey milk and wine, oil and clothing. All these things are created for the best to the faithful: But to the ungodly shall all these things be turned to hurt and harm. There be spretes that are created for vengeance, and in their rigorousness have they fastened their torments. Matt. 2●. In the time of the end they shall pour out their strength, and pacify the wrath of him that made them. Fire, hail, Eccli 40. hunger and death: all these things are created for vengeance. The teeth of wild noisome beestes, the scorpions, serpents, and the sword are created also for vengeance, to the destruction of the ungodly. They shall be glad to do his commandments: and when need is, they shallbe ready upon earth: and when their hour is come, they shall not overpass the commandment of the LORD. Therefore have I taken a good courage unto me from the beginning, and thought to put these things in writing, and to leave them behind me. 〈◊〉. 1. d All the works of the LORD are good, and he giveth every one in due season, and when need is, So that a man need not to say: this is worse than that. For in due season they are all pleasant and good: And therefore praise the LORD with whole heart and mouth, & give thanks unto his name. The XL. Chapter. A great travail is created for all men, and an heavy yock upon all men's children, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till they be buried in (the earth) the mother of all things: namely, their thoughts and imaginations, fear of the heart, council, meditations, longing and desire, the day of death: from the highest that sitteth upon the glorious seat, unto the lowest and most simple upon the earth: from him that is gorgeously arrayed, and weereth a crown, until him that is but homely and simple clothed. There is nothing but wrath, zeal, fearfulness, unquietness, and fear of death, rigorous anger and strife. And in the night when one should rest and sleep upon his bed, the sleep changeth his understanding and knowledge. A little as nothing is his rest, in the sleep as well as in the day of labour. He fears and is disquyted in the vision of his heart, as one that runneth out of a battle: and in the time of health he awaketh, and marueleth that the fear was nothing. Soch things happen unto all flesh, both man and best: but sevenfolde to the ungodly. moreover death, bloudsheddinge, strife & sword, oppression, hunger, destruction and punishment: ●ccli. 39 c ●en. 7. d ●en. 3. d ●ccli. 41 b these things are all created against the ungodly, and for their sakes came the flood also. All that is of the earth, shall turn to earth again: and all waters ebb again in to the see. All bribes and unrighteousness shallbe put away, but faithfulness and truth shall endure for ever. The substaununce and goods of the ungodly shallbe dried up and sink away as a water flood, and they shall make a sound like a great thunder in the rain. Like as the righteous rejoiceth when he openeth his hand, so shall the transgessours be faint, when their goods vanish and consume away. The children of the ungodly shall not obtain many branches: ●ccli. 41 b and the unclean rotes upon the high rocks shallbe rooted out before the grass by the water side & upon the river banks. friendliness and liberality in the increase and blessing of God, is like a paradise & garden of pleasure: such mercy also & kindness endureth for ever. ●. Tim. ● Ph●●. 4 ● To labo & to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet pleasant life: & that is to find a treasure above all treasures. To beget children and to repair the cite, maketh a perpetual name: but an honest woman is more worth than they both. Wine and mynstrals you rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both. Pypinge and harping make a sweet noise, but a friendly tongue goeth beyond them both. Thy eye desireth favour and beauty but a green sede time rather than they both. A friend and companion come together at opportunity, Eccl. ●● but above them both is a wife that agreeth with her husband. One brother helpeth another in the time of trouble, but allmes shall deliver more than they both. Gold and silver fasten the feet, but a good council is more pleasant than they both. Temporal substance and strength lift up the mind: but the fear of the LORD more than they both. The fear of the LORD wanteth nothing, and needeth no help. The fear of the LORD is as a pleasant garden of blessing, and nothing so beautiful as it is. My son, lead not a beggars life, for better it were to die than to beg. Who so looketh to another man's table, taketh no thought for his own living how to uphold his life, for he feedeth himself with other men's meat. But a wise and well nurtoured man will beware thereof. Begging is sweet in the mouth of the unshamefast, but in his belly there burneth a fire. The XLI. Chapter. O Death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee, to a man that seeketh rest and comfort in his substance and riches, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things, ye unto him that yet is able to receive meat? O death, how acceptable and good is thy judgement unto the needful, and unto him whose strength faileth, & that is now in his last age, and that in all things is full of care and fearfulness: unto him also that is in despair, and hath no hope ner patience? Be not thou afraid of death: remember them that have been before thee: and that come after thee: this is the judgement of the LORD over all flesh. 〈…〉 And why wouldest thou be against this pleasure of the Highest▪ Whether it be ten, an hundredth, or a thousand years: death axeth not how long one have lived. The children of the ungodly are abominable children, and so are they that keep company with the ungodly. The inheretaunce of ungodly children shall come to nought, ●ccli 40. c and their posterity shall have perpetual shame and confusion. The children complain of an ungodly father: and why? for his sake they are rebuked and despised. Woe be unto you (O you ungodly) which have forsaken the law of the highest God: If you be born, you shall be born to cursing: if you die, the curse shall be your portion. 〈◊〉 40. b All that is of the earth, shall turn to earth again: so go the ungodly also out of the curse in to destruction. The sorrow of men is in their body: but the name of the ungodly shall be put out, for it is nothing worth. Labour to get the a good name, 〈◊〉 22. a for that shall continue su●er by thee, than a thousand great treasures of gold. A good life hath a number of days, but a good name endureth ever. My children, keep wisdom in peace: for wisdom that is hid and a treasure that is not seen, 〈◊〉 ●0. d what profit is in them both? A man that hideth his foolishness, is better than a man that hideth his wisdom. Therefore be you turned at my words: for it is not good, in all things and always to be ashamed. True faith must prove and measure it. Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: Be ashamed of losing before the prince and men of authority: Of sin, before the judge and ruler: Of offence, before the congregation and people: Of unrighteousness, before a companion and friend: Of theft, before the neighbours. As for the truth of God and his covenant, be not ashamed thereof. 〈◊〉. 1. b Be ashamed to lie with thine elbows upon the bread: Be ashamed to look upon harlots: Be ashamed to turn away thy face from thy friend: Be ashamed to take & not to give: Be ashamed also to look upon another's man's wife, and to make many tryflinge words with her maiden, or to stand by her bedsyde. Be ashamed to upbrade thy friend: and when thou givest any thing, cast him not in the teeth withal. The XLII. Chapter. EEhearse not a thing twice, and disclose not the words, that thou hast herd in secret. Be shamefast & well mannered in deed, so shall every man favour the. Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to offend. Namely, of these things be not ashamed: Of the law of God, of the covenant, of judgement: to bring the ungodly from his ungodliness unto righteousness, and to make him a good man: to deal faithfully with neighbour & companion: to distribute the heritage unto the friends: to be diligent to keep true measure and weight: to be content, whether thou gettest much or little: to deal truly with temporal goods in buying and selling: to bring up children with diligence: to correcke an evil servant: to keep that thy is from an evil wife: to set a lock where many hands are: what thou deliverest and givest out to be kept, to tell it, and to weigh it: to write up all the out giving and receiving: to inform the unlearned and unwise: Of the aged, that are judged of the young. If thou be diligent in these things, truly thou shalt be learned and wise and accepted of all men. The daughter maketh the father to watch secretly: and the carefulness that he hath for her, taketh away his sleep: ye in the youth, jest she should overgrow him: And when she hath an husband, jest she should be hated: jest she should be defiled or ravished in her virginity, or got with child in her father's house: Or (when she cometh to the man) jest she behave herself not right, or concontynue unfruitful. If thy daughter be wanton, keep her strately, Eccli. 26 b jest she 'cause thy enemies laugh the to scorn, & the whole cite to give that an evil report, and so thou be fain to hear thy shame of every man, and be confounded before all the people. Eccli. 25. d Behold not every body's beauty, & have not much dwelling among women. For like as the worm and moth cometh out of clothing, Gen. 3. b so doth wickedness come of women. It is better to be with an evil man, than with a friendly wife that putteth one to shame and rebuke. I will remember the works of the LORD, and declare the thing that I have seen. In the words of the LORD are his works. The Son overloketh all things with his shine, & all his works are full of the clearness thereof. Hath not the LORD brought to pass, that his saints should tell out all his wondrous works, which the almighty LORD hath stablished? All things endure in his glory. He seeketh out the ground of the deep and the heart, and he knoweth all their imagination & wisdom. For the LORD knoweth all science, and he looketh in to the token of the time. He declareth the things that are past and for to come, job. 24. a Esa. 29. c & discloseth things that are secret. Not thought may escape him, neither may any word be hid from him. He hath garnished the high excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting. Unto him may nothing be added neither can he be mynished, he hath no need also of any council. O how amiable are all his works, & as a spark to look upon? They live all, and endure for ever: and when so ever need is, they are all obedient unto him. They are all double, one against another: he hath made nothing that hath fault or blemish. Deut. 3●. a He hath stablished the goods of everichone: and who may be satisfied with his glory, when he seith it? The XLIII. Chapter. THe glory of the height, is the fair and clear firmament, ●sal. 8. a the beauty of the heaven in his glorious clearness. The son when it appeareth, declareth the day in the going out of it, a marvelous work of the Hyest. At noon it burneth the earth, and who may abide for the heat thereof? Who so keepeth an oven when it is hot, three times more doth the Son burn upon the mountains, when it bretheth out the fiery beams and shineth: with the brightness of it, it blindeth the eyes. great is the LORD that made it, and in his commandment he causeth it to run haistely. Gen. 1. b The Moon also is in all, and at convenient season it showeth the times, and is a token of the tyme. The token of the solemn feast is taken of the Moon, ●xo. 12. a a light that mynisheth and increaseth again. The month is called after the Moon, it groweth wondrously in her changing. The army of heaven also is in the Heith, in the firmament of heaven it giveth a clear and glorious shine. This is the clearness of the stars, the beautiful apparel of heaven, the apparel that the LORD lighteneth in the height. In his holy work they continued in their order, and not one of them faileth in his watch. Gen. 9 b Look upon the rain bow, and praise him that made it: very beautiful is it in his shine. He compaseth the heaven about with his clearness & glory, the hands of the Hyest have bended it. Thorough his commandment he maketh the snow to fall, & the thunder of his judgement to smite hastily. Thorough his commandment the treasures are opened, and the clouds i'll as the fowls. In his power hath he strengthened the clouds, and broken the hail stones. The mountains melt at the sight of him, the wind bloweth according to his will. The sound of his thunder beateth the earth, and so doth the storm of the north: the whirl wind also lighteth down as a feathered foul, casts out and spreadeth the snow abroad: and as the greshoppers that destroy all, so falls it down. The eye marueleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is afraid at the rain of it. He poureth out the frost upon earth, like salt, and when it is frozen, it is as sharp as the prick of a thistle. When the cold northwind bloweth, hard Crystal cometh of the water. He lighteth down upon all the gatheringes together of water, and putteth on the waters as a breast plate. He devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wyldernesses: and look what is green, he putteth it out like fire. The medicine of all these is, when a cloud cometh hastily: and when a dew cometh upon the heat, it shallbe refreszshed again. (In his word he stylleth the wind,) In his council he setteth the deep, and (the LORD) jesus planted it. They that sail over the see, tell of his parels and harms: and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat. For there be strange wondrous works, diverse manner of nice beestes and whale fish. Thorough him are all things set in good order and performed, & in his word all things endure. I speak much, but I can not sufficiently attain unto it, for he himself only is the perfection of all words. We should praise the LORD after all oh power, for he is great in all his works. Psa● ● The LORD is to be feared ye very great is he, and marvelous is his power. Praise the LORD, and magnify him as much as you may, yet doth he far far exceed all praise. 〈…〉 O magnify him with all your power, and labour earnestly, yet are you in no wise able sufficiently to praise him. Who hath seen him, 〈…〉 that he might tell us? Who can magnify him so greatly as he is? For there are hid yet greater things than these be: as for us, we have seen but few of his works. For the LORD hath made all things, and given wisdom to such as fear God. The XLIIII. Chapter. A commendation of the old virtuous fathers. LEt us commend the noble famous men, and the generation of our foreelders and fathers. Many more glorious acts hath the LORD done, and showed his great power ever since the beginning. The noble famous men reigned in their kingdoms, and bore excellent rule. In their wisdom and understanding, they followed the council showed in the prophecies. 〈…〉 They led the folk thorough the council and wisdom of the scribes of the people. wise sentences are found in their instruction. They sought the sweetness and melody of Music, and brought forth the pleasant songs in scripture. They were rich also, & could comfort and pacify those that dwelled with them. All these were very noble and honourable men in their generations, and were well reported of in their times. These have left a name behind them, so that their praise shall allway be spoken of. afterward there were some, whose remembrance is go. 〈…〉 They came to nought and perished, as though they had never been: and become as though they had never been born, ye & their children also with them. Nevertheless these are loving men, whose righteousness shall never be forgotten, but continue by their posterity. Their children are an holy good heritage: Their seed endured fast in the covenant. For their sakes shall their children & seed continue for ever, & their praise shall never be put down. Their bodies are buried in peace, but their name liveth for evermore. The people can speak of their wisdom, & the congregation can talk of their praise. 〈◊〉 49. c 〈…〉 c Enoch walked right & acceptably before the LORD: therefore was he translated for an example of amendment to the generations. 〈◊〉 6. b 〈…〉. Noe was a steadfast & righteous man: & in the time of wrath he become a reconcylinge. Therefore was he left a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came. An everlasting covenant was made with him, 〈…〉 that all flesh should perish no more with the water. Abraham was a great father of many people, 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 a in glory was there none like unto him. He kept the law of the Hyest, & came in to a covenant with him. He set the covenant in his flesh, 〈◊〉 22. a and when he was tempted, he was found faithful. Therefore sworn God unto him with an oath, that he would bless all people in his seed, that he would multiply and increase him as the dust of the earth, and to exalt his seed as the stars: ye and that his seed should have the possession and inheretaunce of the land from see to see, and from the river unto the borders of the land. With Isaac did he establish the same covenant, for Abraham his father's sake. Gen. 26· a Ye that gracious blessing and health of all men, and covenant did he stablish with Isaac, and made it to rest upon the head of jacob. He known him, Gen. 28. c 29.30. in that he prospered him so well and richly, and gave him an heritage, and sundered his portion by itself, josu. 18.19 and parted it among the twelve tribes. Merciful men brought he out of him, which found favour before all flesh. The XLV. Chapter. MOses beloved of God and men, whose remembrance is in high praise: Exo. 11. a Act. 7. c him hath the LORD made like in the glory of the saints, and magnified him so that the enemies stood in awe of him, thorough his words he did great wonders. He made him great in the sight of kings, gave him commandment before his people, and showed him his glorious power. He stablished him with faithfulness and meekness, Num. 12. a and chose him out of all men. For he heard his voice, and led him in the dark cloud, and there he gave him the commandments, ye the law of life and wisdom, Exo. 19.20 that he might teach jacob the covenant, and Israel his laws. He chose Aaron his brother also out of the tribe of Levi, exalted him, Exo. 4. c & made him such like. An everlasting covenant made he with him, Exo. 28. a and gave him the priesthood in the people. He made him glorious in beautiful array, and clothed him with the garment of honour. He put perfect joy upon him, and girded him with strength. He decked him with side clotheses and a tunicle, with an overbody cote also and girdle. Round about made he him bells of gold, and that many: that when he went in, Exo. 28. f the sound might be herd, that they might make a noise in the Sanctuary, and give the people warning. The holy garment was wrought & broderd with gold, yellow silk and purple. And in the breastlap there was a goodly work, Exo. 28. c wherein was fastened light and perfectness. Upon the same also there was a work fastened and set with costly precious stones, all bound with gold: and this he brought in his ministration. The stones also were fastened for a remembrance, after the twelve tribes of Israel. Upon his mitre there was a plate of pure gold, a graven image of holiness, a famous and noble work, garnished, and pleasant to look upon. Before him were there seen no such fair ornaments, and these it behoved him allway to use: There might none other put them on, but only his children and his childers children perpetually. Daily performed he his burned offerings two times. Levi. 8. a Moses filled his hands, and anointed him with holy oil. This was now confirmed him with an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, as the days of heaven: namely, that his children should allway minister before him, and perform the office of the priesthood, and wish the people good in his name. Before all men living choose he him, that he should offer before the LORD, and make odours for a sweet savour and remembrance, that he should reconcile the people of the LORD with him again. Deu. 17. c and 21. a Mal. 2. a He gave him authority also in his commandments and in the covenant, that he should teach jacob the statutes and testimonies, and to inform Israel in his law. Therefore there stood up certain against him, Num. 16. a and had envy at him in the wilderness: namely, they that were of Dathan & Abirams side, and the furious congregation of Chore. This the LORD saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed. A great wonder did he upon them, and consumed them with the fire. Num. 17. b Besides this, he made Aaron yet more honourable and glorious. He gave him an heritage, and parted the first fruits unto him. Exo. 25. f Levi. 24. b Unto him specially he appointed the bread for sustenance (for the priests ate of the offerings of the LORD) this gave he unto him & his seed. Deut. 12. b and 18. a Eze. 44. d Else had he no heritage ner portion in the land and with the people. For the LORD himself is his portion and inheritance. The third noble and excellent man is Phineas the son of Eleazar, which pleased the God of Israel, Num. 25. c because he had the zeal & fear of the LORD. For when the people were turned back, he put himself forth right soon, & that with a good will, to pacify the wrath of the LORD toward Israel. Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the principal among the righteous and the people, that he and his posterity should have the office of the priesthood for ever (Like as there was made a covenant with David of the tribe of juda, that from among his sons only there should be a king: And that Aaron also & his seed should be the heritage, to give us wisdom in oh heart, to judge his people in righteousness: that his goods should not come in to forgetfulness, and that their honour might endure for ever. The XLVI. Chapter. MAnly & strong in battle was jesus the son of Nave, 〈…〉 which in stead of Moses the prophet was given to be captain of the people (which according unto his name was a great saviour unto the elect of God) to punish the enemies, that rose up against Israel, that Israel might obtain their inheritance. O how great, noble and excellent was he, 〈…〉 when he lift up his hand, and drawn out his sword against the cities? Who stood so manly before him? For the LORD himself brought in the enemies. 〈…〉 Stood not the Son still at his commandment, and one day was as long as two? He called upon the Hyest & most mighty, when the enemies preassed upon him on every side: and the LORD heard him with the hail stones. They smote the Heithenish people mightily, & in falling down they slay all the adversaries, so that the Heithen knew his host, and all his defence, that the LOR- himself fought against them, for he followed upon the mighty men of them. In the time of Moses also he and Caleb the son of jephune, did a good work, 〈…〉 which stood against the enemies, withheld the people from sin, and stylled the wicked murmuring. And of six hundredth thousand people of foot, they two were preserved, 〈…〉 when they were brought in to the heritage, namely, a land that floweth with milk & honey. The LORD gave strength also unto Caleb, 〈…〉 which remained with him unto his age: so that he went up in to the high places of the land, and his seed conquered the same for an heritage: that all the children of Israel might see, how good a thing it is, to be obedient unto the LORD. And the judges or rulers (every one after his name) whose heart went not a whoring, ner departed from the LORD, and that forsake not the LORD unfaithfully, whose remembrance hath a good report: Ye their bones flourish out of their place, and their name shall never be changed. Samuel the prophet beloved of the LORD, ordained a king, 〈…〉 and anointed the princes over the people. In the law of the LORD ruled he, and judged the congregation, & the LORD had respect unto jacob. The prophet was found diligent in his faithfulness: ye in his faithfulness was the faithfulness of the vision known. He called upon the LORD the mighty, 〈…〉 when the enemies preassed upon him on every side, what time as he offered the sucking lambs. And the LORD thondred from heaven, and maid his voice to be herd with a great noise. He discomfited the princes of tire, & all the rulers of the philistines. Re. 12. a Before his last end he made protestation in the sight of the LORD & his anointed, that he took neither substance ner good of any man, not not so much as a shoe: & no man might accuse him. After this he told, that his end was at hand, and showed the king also his end and death: & from the earth lift he up his voice in the prophecy, that the ungodly people should perish. The XLVII. Chapter. afterward in the time of king David, Re. 12 a there rose up a prophet called Nathan: For like as the fat is taken away from the offering, so was David choose out of the children of Israel. He took his pastime with the lions as with kyddes, and with bears like as with lambs. Slay he not a giant when he was yet but young, 〈◊〉 17. f & took away the rebuke from his people? what time as he took the stone in his hand, & smote down proud Goliath with the sling? For he called upon the highest LORD, which gave him strength in his right hand, so that he overthrew the mighty giant in the battle, that he might set up the horn of his people again. Thus brought he him to worship above all princes, 〈…〉 and made him to have a good report in the praise of the LORD, that he should were a crown of glory. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, 〈…〉 rooted out the Philistynes his adversaries, & broke their horn in sunder, like as it is broken yet this day. In all his works he praised the Hyest & Holiest, & ascribed the honour unto him. With his whole heart did he praise and love him that made him. 〈◊〉 25. a He set syngers also before the altar, and in their tune he made sweet songs. He ordained to keep the holy days worship fully, and that the solemn feasts thorough the whole year should be honourably held, with praising the name of the LORD, & with synginge by times in the morning in the Sanctuary. The LORD took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever. 〈◊〉 ●2. c He gave him the covenant of the kingdom, and the throne of worship in Israel. After him there rose up the wise son called Solomon, 〈…〉 and for his sake he drove the enemies away far of. This Solomon reigned with peace in his time (for God gave him rest from his enemies on every side, that he might build him an house in his name, & prepare the Sanctuary for ever) like as he was well instruct in his youth & filled with wisdom and understanding, as it were with a water flood. He covered and filled the whole land with similitudes and wise prudent sentences. His name went abroad in the Isles, because of his peace he was beloved. All lands marveled at his songs, proverbs, symilitudes, and at his peace, and at the name of the LORD God, which is called the God of Israel. He gathered gold as tin, 3. Re. 10. & he had as much silver as lead. He was moved in unordinate love toward women, 3. Re. 11. a and was overcome in affection. He stained his hono and worship, ye his posterity defiled he also, in bringing the wrath of the LORD upon his children, and sorrow after his joy: so that his kingdom was divided, 3. Re. 12. & Ephraim become an unfaithful & an unconstant kingdom. 2. Re. 7. ● Nevertheless God forsook not his mercy, neither was he utterly destroyed because of his works, that he should leave him no posterity. As for the sede that came upon him (which he loved) he brought it not utterly to nought, but gave yet a remnant unto jacob, and a rote unto David out of him. Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and out of his seed he left behind him a very foolishness of the people, and such one as had no understanding: namely, 3. Re. 12. 3. Re. 12. Roboam which turned away the people thorough his council, and Jeroboam the son of Nabat, which caused Israel to sin, and showed Ephraim the way of ungodliness: In so much that their sins & myszdedes had the upper hand so sore, that at the last they were driven out of the land for the same: Ye he sought out & brought up all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them. The XLVIII. Chapter. THen stood up Elias the prophet as a fire, 3. Re. 17. a and his word br●●t like a creshett. He brought an hunger upon them and in his zeal he made them few in number. (For they might not away with the commandments of the LORD.) Thorough the word of the LORD he shut the heaven, and three times brought he the fire down. 3. Re. 18. ● 4. Re. 1. c Thus become Elias honourable in his wondrous deeds. Who may make his boost to be like him? 3. Re. 17. c One that was deed raised he up from death, & in the word of the Hyest he brought him out of the grave again. He cast down kings and destroyed them, and the honourable from their seat. Upon the mount Syna he heard the punishment, & upon Horeb the judgement of the vengeance. He prophesied recompensing unto kings, and ordained prophets after him. Re. 19 ᶜ ● Re. 2. c He was taken up in the storm of fire, in a charet of horses of the LORD. He was ordained in the reprovings in time, to pacify the wrath, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, Luc. ●. a & to set up the tribes of jacob again. Blessed were they that see thee, and were garnished in love: for we live in life. Elias was covered in the storm, but Heliseus was filled with his mouth. ●. Re. 2. ᶜ ●. 4. While he lived he was afraid of no prince, and no man might overcome him. There could no word deceive him, ●. Re. 13. ᵃ ●. Re. 56. ●. 13. ●. Re. 18. b & after his death his body prophesied. He did wonders in his life, & in death were his works marvelous. For all this, the people amended not, neither departed they from their sins: till they were carried away presoners out of the land, and were scattered abroad in all countries, so that of them there remained but a very little people, and a prince unto the house of David. Howbeit some of them did right, & some heaped up ungodliness. Ezechias made his cite strong, conveyed water in to it, ●. Par. 32. a digged thorough the stony rock with iron, & made up a well by the water side. ●. Re. 18. c ●sa. ●6. a In his time came Sennacherib up, and sent Rabsaches, lift up his hand against Zion, & defied them with great pride. Then trymbled their hearts and hands, so that they sorrowed like a woman travailing with child. So they called upon the LORD, which is merciful, & lift up their hands before him. Immediately the LORD heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Esay. ●. Re. 19 g He smote the host of the Assyrians, & his angel destroyed them. For Ezechias had done the thing that pleased the LORD, & remained steadfastly in the way of David his father. Which Esay was great & faithful in his visions. ●. Re. 20 b ●sa. 38. b In his time the Son went backward, & he lengthened the kings life. With a right spirit prophesied he, what should come to pass at the last: & to such as were sorrowful in Zion he gave consolation, wherwhith they might comfort themselves for evermore. He showed things that were for to come & secret, or ever they came to pass. The XLIX. Chapter. THe remembrance of josias is like as when the apothecary maketh many precious sweet smelling things together. ●. Re. 22. a ●nd 23. ●. Pa. 34. a His remembrance shallbe sweet as honey in all mouths, and as the playing of Music by the wine. He was appointed to turn the people again, & to take away all abominations of the ungodly. He directed his heart unto the LORD, & in the time of the ungodly he set up the worship of God again. All kings (except David, Ezechias & josias) committed wickedness: for even the kings of juda also forsook the law of God. For they gave their horn unto other, their hono & worship also to a strange people. Therefore was the elect cite of the Sanctuary brent with fire, 〈…〉 and the streets thereof lay desolate & waist: for they entreated jeremy evil, which nevertheless was a prophet ordained from his mother's womb, that he might rote out, break of, & destroy: 〈…〉 & that he might build up, & plant again. Ezechiel saw the glory of the LORD in a vision, which was showed him upon the chariot of the Cherubins. For he thought upon the enemies in the rain, to do good unto such as had ordered their ways a right. And the bones of the twelve prophets flourish from out of their place: for they gave comfort & consolation unto jacob, and delivered them faithfully. How shall we praise Zorobabel, 〈…〉 which was as a ring in the right hand? So was jesus also the son of josedec: these men in their times builded the house, 〈…〉 & set up the Sanctuary of the LORD again, which was prepared for an everlasting worship. 〈…〉 And Nehemias is allway to be commended, which set up for us the walls that were broken down, made the ports & bars again, and builded our houses of the new. 〈…〉 But upon earth is there no man created like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth. And joseph, which was lord of his brethren, & the upholder of his people: His bones were covered & kept. Seth & Sem were in great honour among the people: and so was Adam above all the beasts, when he was created. The L. Chapter. SYmon the son of Onias the high priest, 〈…〉 which in his life set up the house again, & in his days made fast the temple. The height of the temple also was founded of him, the double building, & the high walls of the temple. In his days the wells of water flowed out, and were exceeding full as the see. He took care for his people, & delivered them from destruction. He kept his cite & made it strong, that it should not be besieged. He dwelled in honour and worship among his people, and enlarged the entrance of the house and the court. He giveth light as the morning star in the midst of the clouds, and as the Moon when it is full. He shineth as the Son in the temple of God. He is as bright as the rain bow in the fair clouds, & flourisheth as the flowers and roses in the spring of the year, & as the lilies by the rivers of water: Like as the branches upon the mount Libanus in time of Summer: as a fire & incense that is kindled: Like as an whole ornament of pure gold, set with all manner of precious stones: and as an olive tree that is fruitful: & as a Cypress tree which groweth up an high. When he put on the garment of honour, & was clothed withal beauty: when he went to the holy altar, to garnish the covering of the Sanctuary: when he took the portions out of the priests hand, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, and his brethren round about in order. As the branches of cedar tree upon the mount Libanus, so stood they round about him. And as the branches of the olive tree, so stood all the sons of Aaron in their glory. And that he might sufficiently perform his service upon the altar, & garnish the offering of the highest God, he stretched out his hand and took of the drink offering, & poured in of the wine: so he poured upon the bottom of the altar a good smell unto the highest prince. Then began the sons of Aaron to sing, and to blow with trumpets, & to make a great noise, for a remembrance & praise unto the LORD. Then were the people afraid, & fallen down to the earth upon their faces, to worship the LORD their God, & to give thanks to almighty God. They sung goodly also with their voices, so that there was a pleasant noise in the great house of the LORD. And the people in their prayer besought the LORD the Hyest, that he would be merciful, till the honour of the LORD were performed. Thus ended they their ministration and service. Then went he down, and stretched out his hands over the whole multitude of the people of Israel, that they should give praise & thanks out of their lips unto the LORD, and to rejoice in his name. He began yet once also to pray, that he might openly show the thanksgiving before the Hyest, namely thus: O give praise & thanks (you all) unto the LORD our God, which hath ever done noble and great things: which hath increased our days from our mothers womb, and dealt with us according to his mercy: that he will give us the joyfulness of heart, & peace for our times in Israel. Which faithfully keepeth his mercy for us evermore, & allway delivereth us in due season. There be two manner of people, that I abhor fro my heart: as for the third, whom I hate, it is no people: They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, the philistines, & the foolish people that devil in Sichimis. I jesus the son of Sirac Eleazarus of jerusalem, have tokened up these informations and documents of wisdom and understanding in this book, and poured out the wisdom out of my heart. Blessed is he that exerciseth himself therein: and who so taketh such to heart, shall be wise. If he do these things, he shall be strong in all. For the light of the LORD leadeth him. The LI. Chapter. A prayer of jesus the son of Sirac. I Thank the O LORD and king, and praise the O God my saviour, I will yield praise unto the name: for thou art my defender and helper, & hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of traitorous tongues, and from the lips that are occupied with leyes. Thou hast been my helper, from such as stood up against me, and hast delivered me after the multitude of thy mercy, and for thy holy names sake. Thou hast delivered me from the roaring of them, that prepared themselves to devour me, out of the hands of such as sought after my life: from the multitude of them that troubled me, & went about to set fire upon me on every side, so that I am not brent in the midst of the fire: From the deep of hell, from an unclean tongue, from dying words, from the wicked king, and from an unrighteous tongue. My soul shall praise the LORD unto death, for my life drawn nigh unto hell. They compassed me round about on every side, & there was no man to help me. I looked about me, if there were any man that would succour me: but there was none. Then thought I upon thy mercy O LORD, and upon thy acts that thou hast done ever of old: namely, that thou deliverest such as put their trust in thee, and ryddest them out of the hands of the heathen. Thus lift I up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death. I called upon the LORD my father, that he would not leave me with out help, in the day of my trouble & in the time of the proud. I praised thy name continually, yielding honour and thanks unto it: and so my prayer was herd. Thou savedst me from destruction, and deliverdest me from the unrighteous tyme. Therefore will I acknowledge and praise thee, and magnify the name of the LORD. When I was yet but young, or ever I went astray, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer. I came therefore before the temple, & sought her unto the last. Then flourished she unto me, as a grape that is soon ripe. My heart rejoiced in her, than went my foot the right way, ye from youth up sought I after her: I bowed down mine ear and received her. I found me much wisdom, and prospered greatly in her. Therefore will jascrybe the glory unto him, that giveth me wisdom: for I am advised to do thereafter. I will be jealous to cleave unto the thing that is good, so shall I not be confounded. My soul hath wrestled with her, and I have been diligent to be occupied in her. I lift up mine hands an high, than was my soul lightened thorough wisdom, that I knowledged my foolishness. I ordered my soul after her, she & I were one heart from the beginning, and I found her in cleanness. And therefore shall I not be forsaken. My heart longed after her, and I got a good treasure. Thorough her the LORD hath given me a new tongue, wherewith I will praise him. O come unto me you unlearned, & devil in the house of wisdom: withdraw not your selves from her, but talk & common of these things, for your souls are very thirsty. I opened my mouth, Esa. 35. a and spoke: O come & buy wisdom without money, bow down your neck under her yock, and your soul shall receive wisdom. She is hard at hand, & is content to be found. Behold with your eyes, Eccli. 6. c how that I have had but little labour, and yet have found much rest. O receive wisdom, and you shall have plenteousness of silver and gold in possession. Let your mind rejoice in his mercy, & be not ashamed of his praise. Wyrke his work by times, & he shall give you your reward in due tyme. The end of Ecclesiasticus, other wise called jesus the son of Syrac. The prayer of Azarias and the song of the three children after Theodotios' translation: which words are written in the third chapter of Daniel after the old text in latin. ANd they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God and magnifienge the LORD. Asarias' stood up, and prayed on this manner, Even in the midst of the fire opened he his mouth, & said: Blessed be thou (oh LORD God of our fathers) right worthy to be praised and honoured is that name of thy for evermore: for thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: Ye faithful are all the works, the ways are right, & the judgements true. In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, & upon the holy cite of our fathers (even jerusalem) thou hast executed true judgement: Ye according to right and equity hast thou brought these things upon us, because of our sins. For why? we have offended, & done wickedly, departing from thee: In all things have we trespassed, 〈…〉 & not obeyed thy commandments, ner kept them, neither done as thou hast bidden us, that we might prosper. Wherefore, all that thou hast brought upon us, 〈…〉 & every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done them in true judgement: As in delivering us in to the hands of our enemies, among ungodly & wicked abominations, & to an unrighteous king, ye the most froward upon earth. And now we may not open our mouths, we are become a shame & reproof unto the servants, & to them that worship the. Yet for thy name's sake (we beseek thee) give us not up for ever, break not thy covenant, & take not away thy mercy from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Isaac's sake, & for thy holy Israel's sake: to whom thou hast spoken & promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, & as the land that lieth upon the se● shore. For we (oh LORD) are become less than any people, & be kept under this day in all the world, because of our sins: So there now we have neither prince, duke, prophet, burned offering, sacrifice, oblation, incēse●●● Sanctuary before the. Nevertheless, in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be received, that we may obtain thy mercy. Like as in the burned offering of rams & bullocks, and like as in thousands of fat lambs: so let our offering be in thy sight this day, 〈…〉 that it may please thee, for there is no confusion unto them, that put there trust in the. And now we follow the with all our heart, we fear thee, & seek thy face. Put us not to shame, but deal with us after thy loving kindness, & according to the multitude of thy mercies. deliver us by thy miracles (oh LORD) & get thy name an honour: that all they which do thy servants evil, may be confounded. Let them be ashamed thorough thy almighty power, and let their strength be broken: that they may know, how that thou only art the LORD God, & honor worthy thorough out all the world. And the kings servants that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with wild fire, dry straw, pitch & fagottes: so that the flame went out of the oven upon a xlix. cubits: ye it took away, & brent up those Caldees, that it got hold upon beside the oven. But the angel of the LORD came down in to the oven to Asarias' and his fellows, & smote the flame of the fire out of the oven, & made the midst of the oven, as it had been a cool wind blowing: so that the fire neither touched them, grieved them, ner did them hurt. Then these three (as out of one mouth) praised, honoured, and blessed God in the furnace, saying: 〈…〉 Blessed be thou, oh LORD God of our fathers: for thou art praise & honour worthy, 〈…〉 ye & to be magnified for evermore. Blessed be the holy name of thy glory, for it is worthy to be praised, and magnified in all worlds. Blessed be thou in the holy temple of the glory, for above all things thou art to be praised, ye & more than worthy to be magnified for ever. Blessed be thou in the throne of the kingdom, for above all thou art worthy to be well spoken of, & to be more then magnified for ever. Blessed be thou, that lookest thorough the deep, 〈…〉 & sittest upon the Cherubyns: for thou art worthy to be praised, & above all to be magnified for ever. Blessed be thou in the firmament of heaven, for thou art praise and honour worthy for ever. O all you works of the LORD: speak good of the LORD, praise him, and set him up for ever. 〈…〉 O you angels of the LORD, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you heavens, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O all you waters that be above the firmament, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O all you powers of the LORD, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you Son & Moon, Psal. 148. a speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you stars of heaven, Psal. 1●5. a speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you schowers & dew, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O all you winds of God, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you fire & heat, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you winter and summer, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you dews & frosts, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you frost and cold, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you ice and snow, speak good of the LORD: praise him and set him up for ever. O you nights and days, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you light and darkness, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set up him for ever. O you lightenynges and clouds, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O let the earth speak good of the LORD: ye let it praise him, and set him up for ever. O you mountains and hills, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O all you green things upon the earth, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you wells, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you seas and floods, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you whales and all that live in the waters, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O all you fowls of the air, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O all you beasts & cattles, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you children of men, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O let Israel speak good of the LORD, praise him, and set him up for ever. O you priests of the LORD, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. Psal. 112. a 134. a. & 133. a Apo. 19 a O you servants of the LORD, speak good of the LORD: praise him, & set him up for ever. O you spretes and souls of the righteous, speak good of the LORD: praise him, and set him up for ever. O you holy and humble men of heart, speak you good of the LORD: praise you him, & set him up for ever. O Ananias, Asarias' and Misael, speak you good of the LORD: praise you him, and set him up for ever. jere. 20. c Which hath delivered us from the hell, kept us from the hand of death, rid us from the midst of the burning flame, Esa. 43. a 1. Mac. 2. f and saved us even in the midst of the fire. Psal. 104. a 103. a. 106. a. 116. a & 13●. a O give thanks therefore unto the LORD: for he is kind hearted, and his mercy endureth for ever. O all you devout men, speak good of the LORD, even the God of all gods: O praise him, and give him thanks, for his mercy endureth world without end. The story of Susanna which is the XIII. chapter of Daniel after the latin. THere dwelled a man in Babylon, called joachim: that took a wife, whose name was Susanna, (the daughter of Helchias) a very fair woman, & such one as feared God. Her father & her mother also were godly people, & taught their daughter according to the law of Moses. Now joachim (her huszbonde) was a great rich man, & had a fa●re orchard joining unto his house. And to him resorted the jews commonly, because he was a man of reputation among them. The same year were there made two judges, such as the LORD speaketh of: All the wickedness of Babylon, cometh from the elders (that is) from the judges, which seem to rule the people. These came oft to joachims' house, & all such as had any thing to do in the law, came thither unto them. Now when the people came again at after noon, Susanna went in to her huszbondes orchard, to walk. The elders saying this, that she went in daily & walked: they burned for lust to her, ye they were almost out of their wits, & cast down their eyes, that they should not see heaven, ner remember, that God is a righteous judge. For they were both wounded with the love of her, neither dared one show another his grief. And for shame, they dared not tell her their inordynate lust, that they would fain have had to do with her. Yet they laid wait for her earnestly from day to day, that they might (at the least) have a sight of her. And the one said to the other: Up, let us go home, for it is dinner time. So they went their way from her. When they returned again, they came together, enqueringe out the matter betwixt themselves: ye the one told the other of his wicked lust. Then appointed they a time, when they might take Susanna alone. It happened also that they spied out a convenient time, when she went forth to walk (as her manner was) & no body with her, but two maidens, 〈…〉 & thought to wash herself in the garden, for it was an hot season: And there was not one person there, except the two elders, that had hid themselves, to behold her. So she said to her maidens: go set me oil & soap, & shut the orchard door, that I may wash me. And they did as she bade them, & shut the orchard door, & went out themselves at a back door, to fet the thing that she had commanded: but Susanna knew not, that the elders lay there hid within. Now when the maidens were go forth, the two elders got them up, & ran upon her, saying: now, the orchard doors are shut, that no man can see us: we have a lust unto thee, therefore consent unto us, and lie with us. If thou will't not, we shall bring a testimonial against thee: that there was a young fellow with thee, and that thou hast sent away thy maidens from the for the same cause. Susanna sighed, and said: Alas, I am in trouble on every side. Though I follow your mind, it will be my death: and if I consent not unto you, I can not escape your hands. Well, it is better for me, to fall in to your hands without the deed doing, then to sin in the sight of the LORD: and with that, she cried out with a loud voice the elders also cried out against her. Then ran there one to the orchard door, & smote it open. Now when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, they ruszshed in at the back door, to see what the matter was. So when the elders told them, the servants were greatly ashamed, for why, there was never such a report made of Susanna. On the morrow after came the people to joachim her houszbonde, and the two elders came also, full of mischievous imaginations against Susanna, to bring her unto death, & spoke thus before the people: Send for Susanna the daughter of Helchias, joachims' wife. And immediately they sent for her. So she came with her father & mother; her children & all her kindred. Now Susanna was a tender person, & marvelous fair of face. Therefore the wicked men commanded to take of the clotheses from her face (for she was covered) that at the least, they might so be satisfied in her beauty. Then her friends, ye & all they that knew her, began to weep. These two elders stood up in the midst of the people, 〈…〉 & laid their hands upon the head of Susanna: which wept, and looked up toward heaven, for her heart had a sure trust in the LORD. And the elders said: As we were walking in the orchard alone, this woman came in with her two maidens: whom she sent away from her, & sparred the orchard doors. With that, a young fellow (which there was hid) came unto her, & lay with her. As for us, we stood in a corner of the orchard. And when we saw this wickedness, we ran to her: & perceived, that they had meddled together. But we could not hold him, for he was stronger than we: thus he opened the door, & got him away. Now when we had taken this woman, we axed her, what young fellow this was: but she would not tell us. This is the matter, & we be witnesses of the same. The common sort believed them, as those that were the elders & judges of the people, & so they condemned her to death. Susanna cried out with a loud voice, & said: O everlasting God, 〈…〉 thou searcher of secrets, thou that knowest all things afore they come to pass: thou wottest, that they have born false witness against me: & behold, I must die, where as I never did any such things, as these men have maliciously invented against me. And the LORD heard her voice. For when she was led forth to death, the LORD raised up the spirit of a young child, whose name was Daniel, 〈…〉 which cried with a loud voice: I am clean from this blood. Then all the people turned them toward him, & said: What mean these words, that thou hast spoken▪ Daniel stood in the midst of them, & said: Are you such fools (O you children of Israel) that you can not discern? You have here condemned a daughter of Israel unto death, and know not the truth wherefore: Go sit on judgement again, for they have spoken false witness against her. Wherefore the people turned again in all the haist. And the elders (that is, the principal heads) said unto him: come sit down here among us, and show us this matter, saying God hath given the as great honour, as an elder. And Daniel said unto them: 3. Reg. 3. d Put these two aside one from another and then shall I hear them. When they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him: O thou old canckerde carl, that hast used thy wickedness so long: thy ungracious deeds which thou hast done afore, are now come to light. For thou hast given false judgements, thou hast oppressed the innocent, and let the guilty go free, where as yet the LORD saith: Exo. 23. a Pro. 17. c The innocent and righteous see thou slay not. well than, if thou hast seen her, tell me, under what tree sawest thou them talking together? He answered: Under a Molbery tree. And Daniel said: very well, Now thou leist even upon thy head. Lo the messenger of the LORD hath received the sentence of him, to cut the in two. Then put he him aside, and called for the other, and said unto him: O thou seed of Canaan, but not of juda: fairness hath deceived thee, and lust hath subverted thy heart. Thus dealt you afore with the daughters of Israel, and they (for fear) consented unto you: but the daughter of juda would not abide your wickedness. Now tell me than, under what tree diddest thou take them speaking together? He answered: under a pomegranate tree. Then said Daniel unto him: very well, now thou leyst also even upon thy head. The messenger of the LORD standeth waiting with the sword, to cut the in two, and to slay you both. With that, all the whole multitude gave a great shout, and praised God, which allway delivereth them that put their trust in him. And they came upon the two elders, Psal. 1●. a (whom Daniel had convict with their own mouth: that they had given false witness) and dealt with them, Deu. 19 d Prou. 19 a even likewise as they would have done with their neghbouresse: Ye they did according to the law of Moses, and put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day. Then Helchias & his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with joachim her huszbonde and all the kinrede: that there was no dishonest found in her. From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people. The end of the story of Susanna. The story of Bel, which is the xiv. Chapter of Daniel after the Latin. THere was at Babylon an image, called Bel: and there were spent upon him every day, xij. cakes, xl. sheep, and six great pots of wine. Him did the king worship himself, and went daily to honour him: but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him: Why dost not thou worship Bel? Deut. 4. c and 5. a Exo. 20. a Deut. 6. d Matt. 4. a he answered and said: Because I may not worship things, that be made with hands, but the living God, which made heaven and earth, and hath power upon all flesh. The king said unto him: thinkest thou not, that Bel is a living God? Or seist thou not, how much he eateth and drinketh every day? Daniel smiled, and said: O king, deceive not thyself: This is but made of clay within, and of metal without, neither eateth he ever any thing. Eccle 30. e Then the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said unto them: If you tell me not who this is, that eateth up these expenses, you shall die: But if you can certify me, that Bel eateth them, than Daniel shall die, Leu. 24. c for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the king: let it so be, according as thou hast said. The priests of Bel were lxx. beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel in to the temple of Bel. So Bells priests said: Lo, we will go out, & set thou the meat there (O king) & pour in the wine: then shut the door fast, and seal it with thy own signet: and tomorrow when thou comest in, if thou findest not, that Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death: or else daniel, that hath lied upon us. The priests thought them selves sure enough, for under the altar they had made a privy entrance, & there went they in ever, and ate up what there was. So when they were go forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring aszshes and these he siffted thorough out all the temple, that the king might se. Then went they out, & spar the door, sealing it with the kings signet, and so departed. In the night came the priests with their wives and children (as they were wont to do) and ate and drunk up all. In the morning be times at the break of the day, the king arose, & Daniel with him. And the king said: Daniel, are the seals whole yet? He answered: Ye (oh king) they be whole. Now as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked unto the altar, and cried with a loud voice: Great● art thou oh Bel, and with the is no deceit. Then laughed Daniel, and held the king, that he should not go in, and said: Behold the pavement, mark well, whose fotesteppes are these? The king said: I see the fotesteppes of men, women and children. Therefore the king was angry, and took the priests, with their wives and children, & they showed him the privy doors, where they came in, & ate up such things as were upon the altar. 〈…〉 For the which cause the king slew them, & delivered Bel in to Daniels power, which destroyed him and his temple. And in that same place there was a great dragon, which they of Babylon worshipped. And the king said unto Daniel: sayest thou, that this is but a god of metal also? lo, he liveth, he eateth & drinketh: so that thou canst not say, that he is no living God, therefore worship him. Daniel said unto the king: I will worship the LORD my God, 〈…〉 he is the truelyving God: as for this, he is not the God of life. But give me leave (oh king) & I shall destroy this dragon without sword or staff. The king said: I give the leave. Then Daniel took pitch, fat and hairy will, and did saith them together, and made lompes thereof: this he put in the Dragon's mouth, and so the dragon barst insunder: and Daniel said: lo, there is he whom you worshipped. When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and gathered them together against the king, saying: The king is become a jew also, he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the Dragon, and put the priests to death. So they came to the king, & said: let us have Daniel, or else we w●l destroy the and thy house. Now when the king saw, that they rushed in so sore upon him, & that necessity constrained him, 〈…〉 he delivered Daniel unto them: which cast him in to the lions den, where he was six days. In the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two bodies and two sheep: which then were not given them, that they might devour Daniel. There was in jewry a prophet called Abacuc, which had made pottage, and broker bread in a deep platter, and was going in to the field, for to bring it to the mowers. But the angel of the LORD said unto Abacuc: go carry the meat that thou hast in to Babylon, unto Daniel, which is in the lions den. And Abacuc said: LORD, I never saw Babylon: and as for the den, I know it not. 〈…〉 Then the angel of the LORD took him by the top, and bore him by the hair of the head, and (thorough a mighty wind) set him in Babylon upon the den. And Abacuc cried, saying: O Daniel thou servant of God, 〈…〉 have, take the breakfast, that God hath sent ye. And Daniel said: O God, hast thou thought upon me? well, thou never faylest them that love the. So Daniel arose, & ate: and the angel of the LORD set Abacuc in his own place again immediately. Upon the seventh day, the king went to bewep Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in: and behold, Daniel sat in the midst of the lions. Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying: great art thou, 〈…〉 oh LORD God of Daniel: & he drew him out of the den. As for those that were the cause of his destruction, 〈…〉 he did cast them in to the den, and they were devoured in a moment before his face. After this, written the king unto all people, kynreddes and tongues, that dwelled in all countries, saying: peace be multiplied with you. My commandment is, in all the dominion of my realm: that men fear and stand in awe of Daniels God, 〈…〉 for he is the living God, which endureth ever: his kingdom abideth uncorrupt, Luc. 1. c Esa 43. b Ose. 13. b Dan. 3. f and his power is everlasting. It is he that can deliver and save: he doth wonders and marvelous works in heaven and in earth, for he hath saved Daniel from the power of the Lions. The end of the Story of Bel. The first book of the Maccabees, What this book containeth. Chap. I Of the power of Alexander king of Macedonia. Of certain unfaithful Israelites. Of the great tyranny of Antiochus, & how miserably he destroyeth Jerusalem: which God suffereth to be plagued, because they have forsaken him. Chap. II How fervently Matathias and his sons strive for the honour of God and welfare of the people: How sweetly he exorteth his sons (even in the hour of his death) to be stead fast in the law of God. Chap. III Of judas Machabeus that worthy captain, and of his noble acts against Antiochus. Chap. four FIVE. Of the glorious victory, that God gave judas against Gorgias and Lisias: how they win the cite, and cleanse the temple again, & how they fight afterward against the heathen. Chap. VI Antiochus besegeth Elymas in Persia. judas layeth siege to the castelar jerusalem, the king goeth about to help them that are therein. Chap. VII. The tyranny of Demetrius. They take truce with the people of God, & keep it not. Chap. VIII. judas hearing how reasonable the Romans are, seeketh for to make peace with them. Chap. IX. How judas was slain in the battle and how there came up dearth after his death. jonathas was captain after him, and got the victory of Bachides. Chap. X. Of Alexander the son of Antiochus. Demetrius maketh peace with jonathas, & so doth Alexander afterward. Ptolemy giveth his daughter Cleopatra unto Alexander. Demetrius defyeth jonathas. Chap. XI. Ptolemy riseth against Alexander and jonathas, and promiseth to give Demetrius his daughter, whom he had given already unto Alexander. The death of Alexander and Ptolemy▪ the reign of Demetrius. Demetrius and jonathas are friends. Alexander's son taketh the kingdom upon him. Chap. XII. The jews write unto the Romans and Sparcians to renew the old friendship. Triphon receiveth jonathas with fair words, and then causeth him and his to be slain. Chap. XIII. After the death of jonathas is Simon his brother made Captain of the people which goeth forth against Triphon, and burieth his brother. Triphon slayeth Antiochus heinously. Simon maketh peace with Demetrius, and layeth siege to Gaza. Chap. XIIII. Demetrius seeketh help against Triphon. Demetrius is taken. Peace in jewry. Simon ruleth well. The Romans and they of Sparta renew the peace with Simon. Chap. XU. Antiochus writeth lovingly unto the jews, and persecuteth Triphon. He breaketh the bond with the jews. Chap. XVI. The faithfulness of Simon & his sons. Ptolemy szlayeth them disceatfully, and betrayeth the land. The first Chapter. AFter that Alexander the son of Philippe, king of Macedonia went forth of the land of Cethim, and slew Darius' king of the Persians' and Medes: It happened, that he took great wars in hand, wan very many strong cities, and slay many kings of the earth: going thorough to the ends of the world, and getting many spoils of the people: In so much, that the world stood in great awe of him, & therefore was he proud in his heart. audit. 1. b Now when he had gathered a mighty strong host, & subdued the lands and people with their princes, so that they become tributaries unto him: he fallen sick. And when he perceived that he must needs die, he called for his noble estates (which had been brought up with him of children) & parted his kingdom among them, ●an. 7. a ●nd 8. b while he was yet alive. So Alexander reigned xij. year, and then died. After his death fallen the kingdom unto his princes, and they obtained it every one in his room, and caused themselves to be crowned as kings: and so did their children after them many years, & much wickedness increased in the world. Out of these came that ungracious rote, noble Antiochus the son of Antiochus the king (which had been a pledge at Rome) & he reigned in the Cxxxvij. year of the reign of the Greeks. ●. Mac. 8. a In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, which moved much people with their council, Deut. 7. a ●udic. 2. a saying: Let us go & make a covenant with the heathen, that are round about us: for sense we departed from them, we have had much sorrow. ●ere. 44. c So this device pleased them well, and certain of the people took upon them for to go unto the king, which gave them licence to do after the ordinance of the heathen. 〈…〉 Then set they up an open school (at jerusalem) of the laws of the Heithen, and were no more circumcised: but forsook the holy Testament, and joined themselves to the Heithen, & were clean sold to do mischief. 〈…〉 So when Antiochus began to be mighty in his kingdom, he went about to obtain the land of Egipte also, that he might have the dominion of two realms. Upon this entered he in to Egipte with a strong host, with charettes, elephants, 〈…〉 horsemen & a great number of ships, and began to war against Ptolemy the king of Egipte. But Ptolemy was afraid of him, and fled: and many of his people were wounded to death. Thus Antiochus wan many strong cities, and took away great good out of the land of Egipte. And after that Antiochus had smitten Egipte, he turned again in the Cxliij. year & went toward Israel, 〈…〉 and came up to jerusalem with a mighty people: and entered proudly into the Sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, the candlestick and all the ornaments thereof: the table of the shewbred the pouring vessel, the chargers, the golden spoons, the vale, the crowns and golden apparel of the temple, and broke down all. He took also the silver and gold, the precious jewels, and the secret treasures that he found. And when he had taken away altogether, caused a great murder of men, and so fulfilled his malicious pride, he departed in to his own land. Thus there arose great heaviness and misery in all the land of Israel. The princes and the elders of the people mourned, the young men and the maidens were defiled, and the fair beauty of women was changed: the bridegroom and the bride took them to mourning: the land and those that dwelled therein, was moved: for all the house of jacob was brought to confusion. After two years the king sent his chief treasurer unto the cities of juda, 〈◊〉. 5. c which came to jerusalem with a great multitude of people, speaking peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fallen suddenly upon the cite, and smote it sore, and destroyed much people of Israel. 〈…〉 And when he had spoiled the cite, he set fire on it, casting down houses and walls on every side. 〈…〉 The women & their children took they captive, and led away their cattles. Then builded they the castle of David with a great and thick brickwall, and with mighty towers, & made it a strong hold for them. Beside all this they set wicked people and ungodly men to keep it, stoared it with weapens and vytales: gathered the goods of jerusalem, and laid them up there: thus become it a thievish castle. And this was done to say wait for the people that went in to the Sanctuary, and for the cruel destruction of Israel. Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the Sanctuary, and defiled it: In so much that the citesyns were fain to depart, and the cite become an habitation of strangers, being desolate of her own seed, for her own natyves were fain to leave her. Her Sanctuary was clean waisted, her holy days were turned in to mourning, 〈…〉 her Sabbathes were had in derision, and her honour brought to nought. Look how great her glory was afore, so great was her confusion, and her joy turned in to sorrow. Antiochus also the king sent out a commission unto all his kingdom, 〈…〉 that all the people should be one. Then they left every man his law, and all the heathen agreed to the commandment of king Antiochus: Ye many of the Israelites consented there unto, offering unto Idols, and defylinge the Sabbath. So the king Antiochus sent his messaungers with his commission unto jerusalem, and to all the cities of juda: that they should follow the laws of the Heithen, and for bad either burned offering, meat offering or peace offering to be made in the temple of God, & that there should no Sabbath ner high feast day be kept: but commanded, that the Sanctuary and the holy people of Israel should be defiled. He commanded also that there should be set up other altars, temples and Idols: to offer up swines flesh and other unclean beasts: that men should leave their children uncircumcised, to defile their souls with all manner of uncleanness & abominations: that they might so forget the law, and change all the holy ordinances of God: and that who so ever would not do according to the commandment of king Antiochus, should suffer death. In like manner commanded he thorough out all his realm, and set rulers over the people, for to compel them to do these things, commanding the cities of juda to do sacrifice unto Idols. Then went the people unto the heathen by heaps, forsook the law of the LORD, and committed much evil in the land: ye and chased out the secret Israelites, which had hid themselves in corners and privy places. The xv. day of the month Casleu, in the Cxlu. year, set king Antiochus an abominable Idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they builded altars thorough out all the cities of juda on every side, before the doors of the houses, and in the streets: where they brent incense, and did sacrifice. And as for the books of the law of God, jere. 36. c they brent them in the fire, and rent them in pieces. What so ever he was that had a book of the Testament of the LORD found by him, ye who so ever endeavoured himself to keep the law of the LORD, the kings commandment was, that they should put him to death. And thorough his anctorite they executed these things every month, upon the people of Israel that were found in the cities. The five and twenty day of the month, 2. Ma. ●. b what time as they did sacrifice upon the altar (which stood in the stead of the altar of the LORD) according to the commandment of king Antiochus, they put certain women to death, which had caused their children to be circumcised: Not only that, but they hanged up the children by the necks thorough out all their houses, and slew the circumcisers of them. Yet were there many of the people of Israel, which determed in themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: but chose rather to suffer death, then to be defiled with unclean meats. So because they would not break the blessed law of God, they were cruelly slain. And this great tyranny increased very sore upon the people of Israel. The II Chapter. IN those days there did stand up one Matathias the son of simeon the priest (out of the kindred of joaris) from je jerusalem, and dwelled upon the mount of Modin, and had u sons: John called Gaddis: Simon, called Thasi: judas, other wise called Machabeus: Eleazar, other wise called Abaron: and jonathas, whose surname was Apphus. These saw the evil, that was done among the people of juda and jerusalem. And Matathias said: Woe is me, alas that ever I was born, to see this misery of my people, and the piteous destruction of the holy cite: & thus to sit so still, it being delivered in to the hands the enemies, Her Sanctuary is come in to the power of strangers, 1. Mac. 1. b her temple is, as it were a man that hath lost his good name. Her precious ornaments are carried away captive, her old men are slain in the streets, and her young men are fallen thorough the sword of the enemies. What people is it, that hath not some possession in her kingdom? Or who hath not got some of her spoils? All her glory is taken away. She was a Queen, and now she is become an handmaid. Behold our Sanctuary, our beauty and honour is waisted away, and defiled by the Gentiles. What helpeth it us then to live? And Matathias rent his clotheses, he and his sons, and put sack clot upon them, & mourned very sore. Then came the men thither which were sent of king Antiochus, to compel such as were fled in to the cite of Modin, for to do sacrifice and to burn incense unto Idols, and to forsake the law of God. So, many of the people of Israel consented and inclined unto them, but Matathias and his sons remained steadfast. Then spoke the commissioners of king Antiochus, & said unto Matathias: Thou art a noble man, of high reputation and great in this cite, having fair children and brethren. Come thou therefore first, and fulfil the kings commandment, like as all the heathen have done, ye and the men of juda, and such as remain at jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy children be in the kings favour, and enriched with gold, silver and great rewards. Matathias answered, and spoke with a loud voice: Though all nations obey the king Antiochus, and fall away every man from keeping the law of their fathers: though they consent to his commandments, yet will I & my sons and my brethren, not fall from the law our fathers. God forbid we should: that were not good for us, that we should forsake the law and ordinances of God, and to agree unto the commandment of king Antiochus. Therefore we will do no such sacrifice, neither break the statutes of our law, to go another way. 〈…〉 And when he had spoken these words, there came one of the jews, which openly in the sight of all, did sacrifice unto the Idols upon the altar in the cite of Modin, according to the kings commandment. When Matathias saw this, it grieved him at the heart, so that his reins sho●e withal, and his wrath kindled for very zeal of the law. With that he gave a szkippe forth, and killed the jew beside the altar: Ye and slew the kings commissioner, that compelled him to do sacrifice, & destroyed the altar at the same time: such a zeal had he unto the law of God, 〈…〉 like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salomi. And Matathias cried with a loud voice thorough the cite, saying: Who so is fervent in the law, & will keep the covenant, let him follow me. So he and his sons fled in to the mountains and left all that ever they had in the cite. 〈…〉 Many other godly men also departed in to the wilderness with their children, their wives and their cattles, and remained there: for the tyranny increased so sore upon them. Now when the kings servants and the host, which was at jerusalem in the cite of David herd, that certain men had broken the kings commandment and were go their way to the wilderness in to secret places, and that there were many departed after them: they followed upon them to fight against them in the Sabbath day, and said: Will you yet rebel? Get you hence & do the commandment of king Antiochus, and you shall live. They answered: We will not go forth, neither will we do the kings commandment, to defile the Sabbath day. 〈…〉 Then began they to fight against them nevertheless they gave them none other answer, neither cast they one stone at them, ner made fast their privy places, but said: We will die all in our innocency, heaven & earth shall testify with us, that you put us to death wrongeously. Thus they fought against them upon the Sabbath, & slew both men and cattles, their wives and their children, to the number of a thousand people. When Matathias and his friends heard this, they mourned for them right sore, and said one to another: If so be that we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives & for our laws against the heathen: then shall they the sooner rote us out of the earth. So they concluded among themselves at the same time, saying: What so ever he be that cometh to make battle with us upon the Sabbath day, we will fight against him, & not die all, as our brethren that were murthured so heinously. Upon this came the synagogue of the jews unto them: strong men of Israel, all such as were fervent in the law. And all they that were fled for persecution, came to help them, and to stand by them: In so much that they gathered an host of men, and slew the wicked doers in their jealousy, and the ungodly men in their wrath. Some of the wicked fled unto the heathen, and escaped. Thus Matathias and his friends went about, and destroyed the altars, and circumcided the children, that had not yet received circumcision: as many as they found within the coostes of Israel: and followed mightily upon the children of pride, and this act prospered in their hands: In so much, that they kept the law against the power of the Gentiles and the kings, and gave not over their dominion unto wicked doers. After this when the time drawn on fast, that Matathias should die, he said unto his sons: Now is pride and persecution increased, now is the time of destruction and wrathful displeasure: Wherefore (oh my sons) be you fervent in the law, and jeopardy your lives for the Testament of the fathers: call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time, so shall you receive great honour and an everlasting name. 〈◊〉. ●. e 〈◊〉. 11. d 〈◊〉. 4. d 〈◊〉. ●●. a 〈◊〉. 44. c 〈◊〉. 41. f 〈◊〉. 21. c 〈◊〉. 4●. f Remember Abraham, was not he found faithful in tentation, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness? joseph in time of his trouble kept the commandment, and was made a lord of Egipte. Phinees our father was so fervent for the honour of God, that he obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 〈◊〉. ●7. d 〈◊〉. 1▪ a joshua for fulfilling the word of God, was made the captain of Israel. 〈◊〉 14. a Caleb bore record before the congregation, and received an heritage. 〈◊〉. 24 c David also in his merciful kindness, obtained the throne of an everlasting kingdom. 〈…〉 Elias being jealous and fervent in the law, was taken up in to heaven. Hananias, Asarias' and Misael remained steadfast in faith, 〈…〉 and were delivered out of the fire. In like manner Daniel being unguilty, 〈…〉 was saved from the mouth of the Lions. And thus you may consider thorough out all ages since the world began, Heb. 11. b that who so ever put their trust in God, were not over come. Mat. 10. ● Esa. 51. c and 40. ● 1. Pet. 1. d jacob. 1. ● Eccll. 14. ● Psal. 26. and 30. d Fear not you then the words of an ungodly man, for his glory is but dung and worms: to day is he set up, and to morrow is he go: for he is turned in to earth, and his memorial is come to nought. Wherefore (oh my sons) take good hearts unto you, and quite yourselves like men in the law: for if you do the things that are commanded you in the law of the LORD your God, you shall obtain great honour therein. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of wisdom: see that you give ear unto him allway, he shall be a father unto you. As for judas Machabeus, he hath ever been mighty and strong from his youth up: let him be your captain, and order the battle of the people: Thus shall you bring unto you all those that favour the law, and see that you avenge the wrong of your people, and recompense the heathen again, and apply yourselves whole to the commandment of the law. So he gave them his blessing, and was laid by his fathers: and died in the Cxluj, year at Modin, where his sons buried him in his father's sepulchre, & all Israel made great lamentation for him. The III Chapter. THen stood up judas Machabeus in his father's stead, josephus cap. 8.9. ● 12. Antiq and all his brethren helped him: and so did all they that held with his father, and fought with cheerfulness for Israel. So judas got his people great honour: He put on a breast plate as a giant, and arrayed himself with his harness, and defended the host with his sword. In his acts he was like a lion, & as a lions whelp roaring at his pray. He was an enemy to the wicked, Psal 100 ● 2. Mac. 8. ● and hunted them out: and brent up those, that vexed his people: So that his enemies fled for fear of him, and all the workers of ungodliness were put to trouble: such luck and prosperity was in his hand. This grieved diverse kings, but jacob was greatly rejoiced thorough his acts, and he got himself a great name for ever. He went thorough the cities of juda, destroying the ungodly out of them, turning away the wrath from Israel, and receiving such as were oppressed: and the fame of him went unto the uttermost part of the earth. Then Appollonius (a prince of Syria) gathered a mighty great host of the heathen & out of Samaria, to fight against Israel. Which when judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, fought with him, slew him, and a great multitude with him: the remnant fled, and he took their substance. judas also took Appollonius own sword, and fought with it all his life long. Now when Seron (another prince of Syria) heard say, that judas had gathered unto him the congregation and church of the faithful, he said: I will get me a name and a praise thorough out the realm: for I will go fight with judas and them that are with him, as many as have despised the kings commandment. So he made him ready, and there went with him a great mighty host of the ungodly, to stand by him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel. And when they came nigh unto Bethoron, judas went forth against them with a small company. And when his people saw such a great host before them, they said unto judas: How are we able (being so few) to fight against so great a multitude and so strong? seeing we be so weighed, and have fasted all this day? Re. 14. a But judas said: It is a small matter for many to be overcome with few: Ye there is no difference to the God of heaven, to deliver by a great multitude or by a small company: Par. 25. b for the victory of the battle standeth not in the multitude of the host, but the strength cometh from heaven. Behold, they come against us with a presumptuous and proud multitude: to destroy us, our wives and our children, and to rob us. But we will fight for our lives and for our laws, and the LORD himself shall destroy them before our face: therefore be not you afraid of them. As soon as he had spoken these words, he leapt suddenly upon them. Thus was Seron smitten, and his host put to flight▪ and judas followed upon them beyond Bethoron unto the plain field: where there were slain eight hundredth men of them, and the residue fled in to the land of the philistines. Then all the heathen on every side were afraid for judas and his brethren: so that the rumour of him came unto the kings ears, for all the Gentiles could tell of the wars of judas. So when king Antiochus heard these tidings, he was angry in his mind: wherefore he sent forth and gathered an host of his whole realm, very strong armies: and opened his treasury, and gave his host a years wagies in hand, commanding them to be ready at all times. Nevertheless when he saw, that there was not money enough in his treasuries, and that thorough the discord and persecution, which he made in the land (to put down the laws that had been of old time) his customs and tributes of the land were my niszshed: he feared that he was not able for to bear the costs and charges any longer, ner to have such gifts, to give so liberally as he did afore, more than the kings that were before him. Wherefore he was heavy in his mind, and thought to go in to Persides, 〈…〉 for to take tributes of the land, and so to gather much money. So he left Lysias (a noble man of the kings blood) to oversee the kings businesses, from the water Euphrates unto the borders of Egipte: and to keep well his son Antiochus, till he came again. moreover, he gave him half of his host and elephants, committed unto him every thing of his mind, concerning those which dwelled in juda, and jerusalem: that he should send out an army against them, to destroy and to rote out the power of Israel and the remnant of jerusalem: to put out their memorial from that place, to set strangers for to inhabit all their quarters, and to part their land among them. 〈…〉 Thus the king took the other part of the host, and departed from Antioch (a cite of his realm) over the water of Euphrates, in the hundredth and xlvij. year, and went thorough the high countries. And Lysias chose unto him Ptolemy the son of Doriminus, 〈…〉 Nycanor and Gorgias mighty men, & the kings friends. These he sent with xl. thousand foot men and seven. thousand horsemen, for to go in to the land of juda, and to destroy it, as the king commanded. So they went forth with all their power, and came to Emmaus in to the plain field. When the merchants herd the rumour of them, they and their servants took very much silver and gold, for to buy the children of Israel to be their bond men. There came unto them also yet moo men of war on every side, out of Syria & the from the Palestynes. Now when judas and his brethren saw that trouble increased, and that the host drawn nigh unto their borders: considering the kings words which he commanded unto the people: namely, that they should utterly waste and destroy them: They said one to another: Let us redress the decay of our people, let us fight for our folk and for our Sanctuary. Then the congregation were soon ready gathered to fight, to pray and to make supplication unto God for mercy and grace. ●●ac 3. d As for jerusalem, it lay void, and was as it had been a wilderness. There went no man in nor out at it, and the Sanctuary was trodden down. The aleauntes kept the castle, there was the habitation of the heathen. The mirth of jacob was taken away, the pipe & the harp was go from among them. The Israelites gathered them together, and came to Maspha before jerusalem: for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime. 〈◊〉. 7. b So they fasted that day, and put sack clotheses upon them, cast aszshes upon their heads, rent their clotheses, and laid forth the books of the law (whereout the heathen sought the likeness of their images) and brought the priests ornaments, the firstlinges and the Tithes. They set there also the absteyners (which had fulfilled their days) before God, 〈◊〉 6. a and cried with a loud voice toward heaven, saying: what shall we do with these? and whither shall we carry them away? For thy Sanctuary is trodden down and defiled, thy priests are come to heaviness and dishonour: and behold, the heathen are come together for to destroy us. Thou knowest what things they imagine against us. How may we stand before them, except thou (oh God) be our help? They blue out the trumpets also with aloud voice. Then judas ordained captains over the people: 〈◊〉. 1●. d over thousands, over hundreds, over fifty, and over ren. But as for such as builded them houses, married wives, planted them vynyardes, and those that were fearful: Deu. 20 judic. 7 he commanded them every man to go home, according to the law. So the host removed, and pitched upon the South side of Emmaus. And judas said: Arm yourselves, be strong (oh my children) make you ready against tomorrow in the morning, that you may fight with these people, which are agreed together to destroy us & our Sanctuary. Better is it for us to die in battle, then to see our people and our Sanctuary in such a miserable case. Nevertheless, Matt. 6. ● Luc. 11. a as the will is in heaven, so be it. The four Chapter. THen took Gorgias five thousand men of foot, josephu ubisupr● and a thousand of the best horsemen: and removed by night, to come nigh where the Jews host say, and so to slay them suddenly. Now the men that kept the castle, were the conveyors of them. Then arose judas to smite the chief and principal of the kings host at Emmaus, for the army was not yet come together. In the mean season came Gorgias by night in to judas tents: & when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains, and thought they had been fled away because of him. But when it was day, judas showed himself in the field with three thousand men only, which had neither harness ner sweardes to their minds. But on the other side, they saw that the heathen were mighty and well harnessed, and their horsemen about them, and all these well expert in fettes of war Then said judas to the men that were with him: Fear not you the multitude of them, Deu. 20. be not afraid of their violente running: remember how our fathers were delivered in the reed see, Exo. 14. ● when Pharaoh threatened them with a great host. Even so let us also cry now toward heaven: 1. Mac. 9 ● and the LORD shall have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, ye and destroy this host before our face this day: And all heathen shall know, that it is God himself, which delivereth and saveth Israel. Then the heathen lift up their eyes: and when they saw that they were coming against them, they went out of their tents in to the battle: and they that were with judas, blue up the trumpets. So they buckled together, Mac. 8. d and the heathen were discomfited, and fled over the plain field: but the hynmost of them were slain. For they followed upon them unto Assaremoth, and in to the fields of Idumea toward Azot and jamnia: so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men. So judas turned again with his host, and said unto the people: Be not greedy of the spoils, we have yet a battle to fight: for Gorgias & his host are here by us in the mountains, but stand you fast against our enemies, and overcome them: then may you safely take the spoils. As judas was speaking these words, there appeared one part of them upon the mount. But when Gorgias saw that they of his party were fled, and the tents brent up (for by the smoke they might understand what was done) they perceiving this, were very sore afraid: and when they saw also that judas and his host were in the field ready to strike battle, they fled everichone in to the land of the heathen. So judas turned again to spoil the tents, where they got much gold and silver, precious stones, purple & great riches. Thus they went home, and sung a Psalm of thanksgiving and praised God in heaven: audit. 13. c ●sal. 106. a 17. a. 135. a ●nd 105. a for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever: And so Israel had a great victory in that day. Now all the heathen that escaped, came and told Lysias every thing as it happened. Wherefore Lysias was sore afraid and grieved in his mind, because Israel had not gotten such misfortune as he would they should, ●. Mac. 3. c neither as the king commanded. The next year following, gathered Lysias three score thousand choose men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, to fight against them. So they came in to jewry, and pitched their tents at Bethoron, where judas came against them with ten thousand men. And when he saw so great mighty an host, he made his prayer and said: Blessed be thou (oh saviour of Israel) which didst destroy the violent power of the giant, ●. Re. 7. g in the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of the Heithen in to the hand of jonathas (the son of Saul) and of his weapon bearer. 〈…〉 Putskie this host now in to the hand of the people of Israel, and let them be confounded in their multitude and horsemen. Make them afraid, & discomforth the boldness of their strength, that they may be moved thorough their destruction. Cast them down thorough the sword of thy lovers, then shall all they that know thy name, praise the with thanksgiving. So they struck the battle, and there were slain of Lysias host, five thousand men. Then Lysias saying the discomfeting of his men, and the manliness of the jews, how they were ready, either to live or to die like men: He went unto Antioch and chose out men of war: that when they were gathered together, they might come again in to jewry. Then said judas and his brethren: behold, our enemies are discomfited: Let us now go up, to cleanse and to repair the Sanctuary. Upon this, all the host gathered them together, and went up unto mount Zion. 〈…〉 Now when they saw the Sanctuary laid waist, the altar defiled, the doors brent up, the shrubs growing in the courts, like as in a wood or upon mountains, ye and that the priests Cells were broken down: They rent their clotheses, made great lamentation, cast aszshes upon their heads, fallen down flat to the ground, made a great noise with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven. Then judas appointed certain men to fight against those which were in the castle, till they had cleansed the Sanctuary. So he chose priests that were undefiled, such as had pleasure in the law of God: and they cleansed the Sanctuary, & bore out the defiled stones in to an unclean place. And for so much as the altar of bourn offerings was unhallowed, he took advisement, what he might do withal: so he thought it was best to destroy it (jest it should happen to do them any shame) for the heathen had defiled it, & therefore they broke it down. As for the stones, they laid them up upon the mountain by the house in a convenient place: till there came a prophet to show, what should be done with them. So they took whole stones according to the law, 〈◊〉. ●0 d 〈◊〉. 27. a 〈◊〉. ●. g and builded a new altar such one as was before, and made up the Sanctuary within and without, and hallowed the courts. They made new ornaments, & brought the candilsticke, the altar of incense, and the table in to the temple. The incense laid they upon the altar, & lighted the lamps which were upon the candlestick, that they might burn in the temple. They set the shewbred upon the table, and hanged up the vale, and set up the temple, as it was afore. And upon the twenty-five. day of the ix. month (which is called the month of Casleu) in the C. xlviij. year: 〈◊〉 10. a they rose up by times in the morning for to do sacrifice (according to the law) upon the new burned offering altar, that they had made: after the time and season that the heathen had defiled it. The same day was it set up again, with songs pipes, haps and cymbales. And all the people fallen upon their faces, worshipping and thanking the God of heaven, which had given them the victory. So they kept the dedication of the altar viij. days, 〈◊〉. 7. b offering burnt-sacrifices and thank offerings with gladness. They deck to the temple also with crowns and shyldes of gold, and hallowed the ports and cells, and hanged doors upon them. Thus was there very great gladness among the people, because the blasphemy of the Heithen was put away. So judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel, ordained, that the time of the dedication of the altar should be kept in his season from year to year, 〈◊〉. 10. c by the space of viij. days, from the twenty-five. day of the month Casleu: ye and that with mirth and gladness. And at the same time builded they up the mount Zion with high walls and strong towers round about: jest the Gentiles should come and tread it down, as they did afore. 〈…〉 Therefore judas set men of war in it, to keep it: and made it strong, for to defend Bethsura: that the people might have a refuge against the Edomites. The V Chapter. IT happened also that when the heathen round about herd, Iosephu● cap. 12. ● bro 12. how that the altar and the Sanctuary were set up in their old estate: it displeased them very sore, wherefore they thought to destroy the generation of jacob that was among them: In so much that they began to slay and to persecute certain of the people. Then judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, Eze. 25. c and 35. a and against those which were at Arabathane (for they dwelled round about the Israelites) where he slew & spoiled a great multitude of them. 2. Ma. 10. He thought also upon the malice and unfaithfulness of the children of Bean, how they were a snare and stop unto the people, and how they laid wait for them in the high way: wherefore he shut them up in to towers, and came unto them, condemned them, and brent up their towers, with all that were in them. afterward went he against the children of Ammon, whereof he found a mighty power and a great multitude of people, with Tymothy their captain. So he struck many battayls with them, which were destroyed before him. And when he had slain them, he wan Gazer the cite, with the towns belonging thereto, and so turned again in to jewry. The heathen also in Galaad gathered them together, against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to slay them: but they fled to the castle of Datheman, and sent letters unto judas and his brethren, saying: The heathen are gathered against us on every side, to destroy us, and now they make them for to come and say siege to the castle, whereunto we are fled, & Timothy is the captain of their host: come therefore, and deliver us out of their hands: for there is a great multitude of us slain all ready. Ye and our brethren that were at Tubin, are slain and destroyed (well nigh a thousand men) and their wives, their children and their goods have the enemies led away captive. While these letters were yet a reading, behold, there came other messengers from Galilee, with rent clotheses: which told even the same tidings, and said, that they of Ptolomais, of Tirus and of Sidon were gathered against them, and that all Galilee was filled with enemies to destroy Israel. When judas and the people heard this, they came together (a great congregation) to devise, 2. Mac▪ 8. what they might do for their brethren, that were in trouble and besieged of their enemies. And judas said unto Simon his brother: chose the out certain men, and go deliver thy brethren in Galilee: As for me and my brother jonathas, we will go in to Galaadithim. So he left josephus the son of Zachary, and Asarias', to be captains of the people and to keep the remnant of the host in jewry, & commanded them, saying: Take the oversight of this people, and see that you make no war against the heathen, until the time that we come again. And unto Simon he gave three thousand men for to go into Galilee, but judas himself had eight thousand in to Galaadithim. Then went Simon in to Galilee, and struck diverse battles with the heathen: whom he discomfited, and followed upon them unto the port of Ptolomais. And there were slain of the heathen almost iij. thousand men. So he took the spoils of them, and carried away the Israelites (that were in Galilee and Arbatis) with their wives, their children and all that they had, and brought them in to jewry with great gladness. judas Machabeus also and his brother jonathas, went over jordane, and travailed iij. days journey in the wilderness: Where the Nebuthees met them, and received them lovingly, and told them every thing that had happened unto their brethren in Galaadithim, and how that many of them were besieged in Barasa, Bosor, Alimis, Casphor, Mageth and Carnaim (all these are strong walled and mighty great cities) and that they were kept in other cities of Galaad also: and tomorrow they are appointed to bring their host unto these cities, to take them and to win them in one day. So judas and his host turned in all the haist in the wilderness toward Bosor, and wan the cite, slew all the males with the sword, took all their goods, and set fire upon the cite. And in the night they took their journey from thence, and came to the castle. And by times in the morning when they looked up, behold, there was an innumerable people bearing laders and other instruments of war, to take the castle and to overcome them. When judas saw that the battle began, and that the noise thereof went up and range in to the Heaven, and that there was so great a cry in the cite: He said unto his host: fight this day for your brethren. And so came behind their enemies in three companies, and blue up the trumpets, and cried in their prayer to God. But as soon as Tymothis' host perceived that Machabeus was there, they fled from him, and the other slew them down right sore: so that there were killed of them that same day, almost eight thousand men. Then departed judas unto Maspha, laid siege unto it and wan it, slew all the males in it, spoiled it, and set fire upon it. From thence went he and took Casbon, Mageth, Bosor and the other cities in Galaad. After this gathered Timothy another host, 〈…〉 which pitched their tents before Raphon beyond the water. judas sent to spy the host, and they brought him word again, saying: All the heathen that be round about us, are gathered unto him, and the host is very great: Ye they have hired the Arabians to help them, & have pitched their tents beyond the water, and are ready to come and fight against the. So judas went on to meet them. And Timothy said unto the captains of his host: when judas and his host come nigh the river: if he go over first, we shall not be able to withstand him: for why, he will be to strong for us. But if he dare not come over, so that he pitch his tent beyond the water: then will we go over, for we shallbe strong enough against him. Now as soon as judas came to the river, he appointed certain scribes of the people, and commanded them, saying: see that you leave none behind upon this side of the river, but let every man come to the battle. So he went first over unto them, and his people after him. And all the heathen were discomfited before him, and let their weapens fall, and ran in to the temple that was at Carnaim. Which cite judas wan, and brent the temple with all that were in it: So was Carnaim subdued, and might not withstand judas. Then judas gathered all the Israelites that were in Galaadithim, from the least unto the most, with their wives and their children (a very great host) for to come in to the land of juda. So they came unto Ephron, which was a mighty, great and strong cite, 〈…〉 and lay in their way. For they could not go by it, neither of the right hand ner of the left, but must go thorough it. Nevertheless they that were in the cite, would not let them go thorough, but walled up the ports with stones. And judas sent unto them with peaceable words, saying: Let us pass thorough your land, 〈◊〉. 10. c that we may go in to our own country: there shall no body do you harm, we will but only go thorough. But they would not let them in. Wherefore judas commauded a proclamation to be made thorough out the host, that every man should keep his order: and so they did their best like valiant men. And judas besieged the cite all that day and all that night, and so wan it: where they slew as many as were males, and destroyed the cite, and spoiled it, and went thorough all the cite over them that were slain. Then went they over jordane in to the plain field before Bethsan. And judas helped those forward that came behind, and gave the people good exhortation all the way thorough, till they were come in to the land of juda. Thus they went up unto the mount Zion, where they offered with mirth and thanksgiving: 〈…〉 because there were none of them slain, but came home again peaceably. Now what time as judas and jonathas were in the land of Galaad, and Simon their brother in Galilee before Ptolomais: Then josephus the son of Zachary and Asarias' the captains, hearing of the acts that were done and of the battles that were strooken, said: Let us get us a name also, and go fight against the heathen that are round about us. So they gave their host a commandment, and went toward jamnia. Then came Gorgias and his men out of the cite, to fight against them: josephus also and Asarias' were chased unto the borders of jewry, & there were slain that day of the people of Israel ij. M. men: so that there was a great misery among the people, & all because they were not obedient unto judas & his brethren, but thought they should quite themselves man fully. 〈◊〉. 5. b Nevertheless they came not of the seed of these men, by whom Israel was helped. But the men that were with judas, were greatly commended in the sight of all Israel and all heathen, where so ever their name was herd upon, and the people came unto them biding them welcome. After this went judas forth with his brethren, and fought against the children of Esau, in the land that lieth toward the south where he wan the cite of Hebron and the towns that lie beside it: and as for the walls and towers round about it, he brent them up. Then removed he to go in to the land of the Philistines, and went thorough Samaria. At the same time were there many priests slain in the battle, which wilfully & without advysement went out for to fight to get them honour. And when judas came to Azot in the philistines land, he broke down their altars, Deut. 7. brent the images of their Idols, spoiled the cities, and came again in to the land of juda. The VI Chapter. NOw when king Antiochus travailed thorough the high countries, Iosephu● cap. 13. ● 12. anti. 2. Ma. 9 he heard that Elymas in Persia was a noble and plenteous cite in silver and gold, & that there was in it a very rich temple: where as were clotheses, cote armours and shyldes of gold, which Alexander the son of Philippe king of Macedonia had left behind him. Wherefore he went about to take the cite and to spoil it, but he was not able: for the citizens were warned of it, & fought with him. And so he fled, and departed with great heaviness, & came again in to Babylon. moreover there came one which brought him tidings in Perside, 1. Mac. 3. and. 4. that his hosts which were in the land of juda, were driven away, and how that Lisias went forth first with a great power, and was driven away of the jews: how they had won the victory, and got great goods out of the hosts that perished: how they had broken down the abomination, which he set up upon the altar at jerusalem, 1. Mac. 1. and fenced the Sanctuary with high walls, like as it was afore: ye and Bethsura his cite also. So it chanced, that when the king had herd these words, he was afraid and grieved very sore. Wherefore he laid him down upon his bed, and fallen sick for very sorrow: and all because it had not happened as he had devised. And there continued he long, for his grief was ever more and more, so that he saw he must needs die. Therefore he sent for his friends, & said unto them: the sleep is go fro mine eyes, for the very sorrow & vexation of heart that I have. For when I consider in my mind the great adversity that I am come unto and the floods of heaviness which I am in, where as afore time I was so merry, and so greatly set by (by reason of my power) Again, considering the evil that I have done at Jerusalem, from whence I took all the riches of gold and silver that were in it, & sent to fetch away the inhabitors of jewry without any reason why: I know, that these troubles are come upon me for the same cause. And behold, I must die with great sorrow in a strange land. Then called he for one Philippe a friend of his, whom he made ruler of all his realm and gave him the crown, his rob and his ring: that he should take his son Antiochus unto him and bring him up, till he might reign himself. Mac. 9 b. c. d. e So the king Antiochus died there, in the Cxlix. year. When Lysias knew that the king was deed, ●●sephus ●●pi. 14 〈◊〉. 12 Mac. ●. d he ordained Antiochus his son (whom he had brought up) to reign in his father's stead) and called him Eupator. Now they that were in the castle (at jerusalem) kept in the jews round about the Sanctuary, and sought ever still to do them harm, for the strengthening of the heathen. Wherefore judas thought to destroy them, and called all the people together, that they might say siege unto them. So they came together in the Cl. year, and besieged them laying forth their ordinance and instruments of war. Then certain of them that were besieged went forth (unto whom some ungodly men of Israel joined themselves also) and went unto the king, saying: How long will it be, or thou punish and avenge our brethren? We have been ever minded to do thy father service, to walk in his statutes, and to obey his commandments: Therefore our people fallen from us, and where so ever they found any of us, they slew them: and they have not only meddled with us, but with all our countries: and behold, this day are they beseginge the castle at jerusalem, and have made up the strong hold in Bethsura: Ma. 4. g And if thou dost not prevent them right soon, they will do more than these, and thou shalt not be able to overcome them. When the king heard this, he was very angry, Ma. 13. a and called all his friends, the captains of his foot men and of all his horse men together. He hired men of war also out of other realms and out of the Isles of the see, which came unto him. And the number of his host was an hundredth thousand foot men, and twenty thousand horsemen, & xxxij. Elephants well exercised to battle These came thorough Idumea unto Bethsura, and besieged it a long season, 〈…〉 and made diverse instruments of war against it. But the jews came out and brent them, and fought like men. Then departed judas from the castle at jerusalem, and removed the host toward Bethza caran over against the kings army. So the king arose before the day, and brought the power of his host in to the way to Bethzacaran, where the hosts made them to the battle, blowing the trumpets. 〈…〉 And to provoke the Elephants for to fight, they showed them the sap of reed grapes and molberies. And divided the Elephants among the host: so that by every Elephante there stood a M. men well harnessed, and helmettes of steel upon their heads: Ye unto every one of the Elephants also, were ordained v. C. horsemen of the best, which waited of the Elephante, going where so ever he went, and departed not from him. Every Elephant was covered with a strong tower of wood, where upon were xxxij. valiant men with weapens to fight, & within it was a man of Ind to rule the be'st. As for the remnant of the horsemen, he set them upon both the sides in two parts with trumpets, to provoke the host, and to steer up such as were slow in the army. And when the Son shone upon their shyldes of gold and steel, the mountains glistered again at them, & were as bright as the creszshettes of fire. The kings host also was divided, one part upon the high mountains, the other low beneath: so they went on, taking good heed, and keeping their order. And all they that dwelled in the land, were afraid at the noise of their host, when the multitude went forth, and when the the weapens smote together, for the host was both great & mighty. judas also and his host entered in to the battle, and slew uj. C. men of the kings army. Now when Eleasar the son of Saura did see one of the Elephants decked with the kings badge, and was a more goodly be'st than the other: He thought the king should be upon him, and jeopardy himself to deliver his people, and to get him a perpetual name. Wherefore he ran with a courage unto the Elephante in the midst of the host, smytinge them down of both the sides, and slew many about him. So went he to the elephants feet, and got him under him, and slew him: then fallen the Elephante down upon him, and there he died. judas also and his men seeing the power of the king and the mighty violence of his host, departed from them. And the kings army went up against them toward jerusalem, and pitched their tents in jewry beside mount Zion. moreover the king took truce with them that were in Bethsura. 〈◊〉. 4. g But when they came out of the cite (because they had no vytales within, 〈…〉 and the land lay untiled) the king took Bethsura, and set men to keep it, & turned his host to the place of the Sanctuary, and laid siege to it a great while. Where he made all manner ordinance: handbowes, fiery darts, rackettes to cast stones, scorpions to shoot arrows, and slynges. The jews also made ordinance against there's, and fought a long season. But in the cite there were no vytayles, for it was the seventh year of the wars, and those heathen that remained in jewry had eaten up all their store. And in the Sanctuary were few men left, for the hunger came so upon them, that they were scattered abroad every man to his own place. So when Lysias heard, that Philippe (whom Antiochus the king while he was yet living, 〈…〉 had ordained to bring up Antiochus his son, that he might be king) was come again out of Persia and Media with the kings host, and thought to obtain the kingdom: He got him to the king in all the haist and to the captains of the host, and said: we decrease daily, and our vytales are but small: Again, the place that we lay siege unto, is very strong, and it were our part to see for the realm. Let us agree with these men and take truce with them, and with all their people, and grant them to live after their law, as they did afore. For they be grieved and do all these things against us, because we have despised their law. So the king and the princes were content, and sent unto them to make peace, and they received it. Now when the king and the princes had made an oath unto them, they came out of the castle, and the king went up to mount Zion. But when he saw that the place was well fenced, he broke the oath that he had made, and commanded to destroy the brickwall round about. Then departed he in all the haist, and returned unto Antioch, where he found Philippe having dominion of the cite. So he fought against him, and took the cite again in to his hands. The VII. Chapter. IN the Clj. year came Demetrius the son of Seleucus from the cite of Rome with a small company of men, 2. Ma. 14. ● unto a cite of the see coast, and there he bore rule. And it chanced, that when he came to Antioch the cite of his progenitors, his host took Antiochus and Lysias, to b●ynge them unto him. But when it was told him, he said: let me not see their faces. So the host put them to death. Now when Demetrius was set upon the throne of his kingdom, there came unto him wicked and ungodly men of Israel: whose captain was Alcimus, that would have been made high priest. These men accused the people of Israel unto the king, saying: judas and his brethren have slain thy friends, and driven us out of our own land. Wherefore send now some man (to whom thou givest credence) that he may go and see all the destruction, which he hath done unto us and to the kings land, and let him be punished with all his friends and favourers. Then the king chose Bachides a friend of his, which was a man of great power in the realm (beyond the great water) and faithful unto the king: and sent him to see the destruction that judas had done. And as for that wicked Alcimus, he made him high priest, and commanded him to be avenged of the children of Israel. So they stood up, and came with a great host in to the land of juda, sending messengers to judas & his brethren, & speaking unto them with peaceable words: but under deceit. Therefore judas & his people believed not their saienge, 1. Mac. 1. ● for they saw that they were come with a great host After this came the scribes together unto Alcimus & Bachides, trusting the best unto them. And first, the Assideans required peace of them, saying: Alcimus the priest is come of the seed of Aaron, how can he deceive us? So they gave them loving words, & sworn unto them, and said: we will do you no harm, neither your friends: and they believed them. But the very same day took they lx. men of them, & slew them: according to the words that are written: Psal. 78. ● They have cast the flesh of the sanctes, & shed their blood round about Jerusalem, & there was noman that would bury them. So there came a great fear and dread among the people, saying: there is neither truth nor righteousness in them, for they have broken the appointment and oath that they made. And Bachides removed his host from jerusalem, and pitched his tent at Bethzecha: where he sent forth, and took many of them that had forsaken him: He slew many of the people also, and cast them in to a great pit. Then committed he the land unto Alcimus, and left men of war with him to help him, and Bachides himself went unto the king. And thus Alcimus defended his high priesthood, and all such as vexed Israel, resorted unto him: In so much that they obtained the land of juda, and did much evil unto the Israelites. Now when judas saw all the mischief that Alcimus and his company had done (ye more than the Heithen themselves) unto the Israelites: He went forth round about all the borders of jewry, and punished those unfaithful rennagates, so that they came no more out in to the country. So when Alcimus saw, that judas and his people had got the upperhand, and that he was not able to abide them: he went again to the king, and said all the worst of them that he could. Then the king sent Nicanor, one of his chief princes (which bore evil will unto Israel) and commanded him, that he should utterly destroy the people. So Nicanor came to jerusalem with a great host, and sent unto judas and his brethren with friendly words (but under deceit) saying: ●. Ma. 15. a there shall be no war betwixt me and you: I will come with a few men, to see how you do, with frenshipe. Upon this he came unto judas, and they saluted one another peaceably: but the enemies were appointed to take judas by violence. Nevertheless it was told judas, that he came unto him but under deceit: wherefore he got him away from him, and would see his face no more. When Nicanor perceived that his council was bewrayed, he went out to fight against judas, beside Capharsalama: Where there were slain of Nicanors host, u M. men: the residue fled unto the castle of David. After this came Nicanor up unto mount Zion: and the priests with the elders of the people went forth to salute him peaceably, & to show him the burned sacrifices that were offered for the king. But he laughed them to scorn, mocked them, defiled their offerings, and spoke diszdanedly, ye and sworn in his wrath, saying: If judas and his host be not delivered now in to my hands, 〈…〉 as soon as ever I come again (and fair well) I shall burn up this house. With that, went he out in a great anger. Then the priests came in, and stood before the altar of the temple, weeping & saying: For so much as thou (oh LORD) hast choose this house, 〈…〉 that thy name might be called upon therein, and that it should be an house of prayer and petition unto thy people: 〈…〉 Be avenged of this man & his host, and let them be slain with the sword: remember the blasphemies of them, & suffer them not to continued any longer. When Nicanor was go from jerusasalem, he pitched his tent at Bethoron, and there an host met him out of Syria. And judas came to Adarsa with iij. M. men, & made his prayer unto God, saying: O LORD, because the messaungers of king Senacherib blasphemed thee, the angel went forth, and slew an Clxxxu. thousand of them: 〈…〉 Even so destroy thou this host before us to day that other people may know, how that he hath blasphemed thy Sanctuary: and punish him, according to his maliciousness. And so the hosts struck the field, the thirtente day of the month Adar: and Nicanors host was discomfited, and he himself was first slain in the battle. When Nicanors men of war saw that he was killed, 〈…〉 they cast away their weapens and fled: but the jews followed upon them an whole days journey, from Adazer unto Gazara, blowing with the trumpets, and making tokens after them. So the jews came forth of all the towns there about, and blue out their horns upon them, and turned against them: Thus were they all slain, and not one of them left. Then they took their substance for a pray, and smote of Nicanors head & his right hand (which he held up so proudly) and brought it with them, 〈…〉 and hanged it up afore jerusalem. Wherefore the people were exceadingly rejoiced, and passed over that day in great gladness. And judas ordained, that the same day (namely the xiij. day of the month Adar) should be kept in mirth every year. Thus the land of juda was in rest a little while. The VIII. Chapter. IVdas heard also the fame of the Romans, that they were mighty and valiant men, agreeable to all things that are required of them, & make peace with all men, which come unto them, and how they were doughty men of strength. Besides that, it was told him of their battayls & noble acts which they did in Galacia, how they had conquered them and brought them under tribute: and what great things they had done in Spain, how that with their wisdom and sober behaviour they had won the mines of silver and gold that are there, and obtained all the land, with other places far from than: how they had discomfited and slain down the kings that came upon them from the uttermost part of the earth, and how other people give them tribute every year: How they had slain and overcome Philippe and Perses king of Cethim and other more (in battle,) which had brought their ordinance against them: how they discomfited great Antiochus' king of Asia (that would needs fight with them) having an hundredth and xx. Elephants, with horsemen, charettes, and a very great host: how they took himself alive, and ordained him (with such as should reign after him) to pay them a great tribute, 〈…〉 ye and to find them good sureties and pledge: Besides all this, how they had taken from him India, Media and Lydia (his best lands) and given them to king Eumenus. Again, how they perceaving that the Greeks were coming to vex them: sent against them a captain of an host which gave them battle, slew many of them, led away their wives and children captive, spoiled them, took possession of their land, destroyed their strong holds, and subdued them to be their bond men unto this day: moreover, how that as for other kingdoms & Isles, which sometime withstood them, they destroyed them, and brought them under their dominion: But helped ever their own friends and those that were confederate with them, & conquered kingdoms both far & nigh: & that who so ever heard of their renown, was afraid of them: for whom they would help to their kingdoms, those reigned: & whom it liked not them to reign, they put him down: And how they were come to great pre-eminence: having no king among them, neither any man clothed in purple, to be magnified there thorough: but had ordained themselves a perlament, where in there sat iij. C. and xx. Senators daily upon the council, to dispatch ever the business of the people, and to keep good order: And how that every year they chose a Mayor, to have the governaun-of all their land: to whom every man was obedient, and that there was neither evil will ner dissension among them. Then judas chose Eupolemus the son of John the son of jacob, & jason the son of Eleazar, & sent them unto Rome for to make frenshipe & a bond of love with them: that they might take from them the bondage of the Greeks, for the Jews saw that the Greeks would subdue the kingdom of Israel. So they went unto Rome (a very great journey) & came in to the Perlament, & said: judas Machabeus with his brethren & the people of the Jews hath sent us unto you, to make a bond of friendship & peace with you, & you to note us as your lovers & friends. And the matter pleased the Romans right well, wherefore it was written up: of the which the Romans made a writing in tables of Laton & sent it to Jerusalem: that they might have by them a memorial of the same peace & bond of friendship, after this manner: God save the Romans' & the people of the jews both by see & by land, & keep the sword & enemy from them for evermore. If there come first any war upon the Romans or any of their friends thorough out all their dominion the people of the Jews shall help them (as the time requireth) & that with all their hearts. Also they shall neither give nor send unto their enemies vitales, weapens, money ner ships: but fulfil this charge at the Romans pleasure, & take nothing from them therefore. Again if the people of the jews hap first to have war, the Romans shall stand by them with a good will, according as the time will suffer: neither shall they give unto the jews enemies, vytales, weapens, money ner ships. Thus are the Romans content to do, & shall fulfil their charge without any deceit. according to these articles, the Romans made the bond with the jews. Now after these articles (said they) if any of the parties will put to them, or take any thing from them: they shall do it with the consent of both: and what so ever they add then unto them or take from them, it shall stand fast. And as touching the evil that Demetrius hath done unto the jews, we have written unto him, saying: Wherefore layest thou thy heavy yoke upon the jews our friends and lovers? If they make any complaint of the again unto us, we shall defend them, and fight with the by see and by land. The IX. Chapter. IN the mean season when Demetrius heard that Nicanor & his host was slain in the field, 1. Mac. 7. f ●ose. ca 17 libro 32. he proceeded further to send Bachides and Alcimus again in to jewry, and those that were in the right wing of his host, with them. So they went forth by the way that leadeth unto Galgala, and pitched their tents before Mesaloth which is in Arbellis, and wan the cite, and slew much people. In the first month of the Clij. year, they brought their host to jerusalem, and rose up and came to Berea, with xx. M. foot men, and ij. M. horsemen. Now judas had pitched his tent at Laisa, with three thousand choose men. And when they saw the multitude of the other arm that it was so great, they were sore afraid, & many conveyed themselves out of the host, In so much that there abode no more of them but viij. C. men. When judas saw that his host failed him, and that he must needs fight: it broke his heart, that he had no time to gather them together: wherefore the man was in extreme trouble. Nevertheless he said unto them, that remained with him: Up, let us go against our enemies, peraduanture we shall be able to fight with them. But they would have stopped him, saying: we shall not be able, therefore let us now save our lives, and turn again to our brethren, and then will we fight against them, for we are here but few. And judas said: God forbid, that we should i'll from them. Wherefore if our time be come, let us die manfully for our brethren, and let us not stain our honour. Then the host removed out of the tents, & stood against them. The horsemen were divided in two parts: the sling casters and the archers went before the host, and all the mighty men were formest in the field. Bachides himself was in the right wing of the battle, & the host drew nigh in two parts, and blue the trumpets. They of judas side blue the trumpets also, & the earth shaken at the noise of the hosts, and they struck a field from the morrow till night. And when judas saw that Bachides host was strongest of the right side, he took with him all the hardy men, and broke the right wing of their order, and followed upon them unto the mount Azot. Now when they which were of the left wing, saw that the right side was discomfited, they persecuted judas and them that were with him. Then was there a sore battle, for many were slain and wounded of both the parties, judas also himself was killed, and the remnant fled. So jonathas and Simon took judas their brother, and buried him in his father's sepulchre in the cite of Modin. And all the people of Israel made great lamentation for him, and mourned long, saying: Alas, that this worthy should be slain, which delivered the people of Israel. As for other things pertaining to the battayls of judas, the nobles acts that he did and of his worthiness: they are not written, for they were very many. And after the death of judas, wicked men came up in all the coasts of Israel, 〈…〉 and there arose all such as work ungodliness. In those days was there a great dearth in the land, and all the country gave over them selves & there's unto Bachides. So Bachides those wicked men, and made them lords in the land. These sought out and made search for judas friends, and brought them unto Bachides: which avenged himself upon them with great despite. And there came so great trouble in Israel, as was not since the time that no prophet was seen there. Then came all judas friends together, and said unto jonathas: For so much as thy brother judas is deed, there is none like him to go forth against our enemies, against Bachides, and such as are adversaries unto our people. Wherefore this day we chose the for him, to be our prince and captain to order our battle. And jonathas took the governance upon him at the same time, and ruled in stead of his brother judas. When Bachides got knowledge thereof, he sought for to slay him: But jonathas and Simon his brother, perceiving that, fled in to the wilderness of Thecua with all their company, and pitched their tents by the water pole of Asphar. Which when Bachides understood, he came over jordane with all his host upon the Sabbath day. Now had jonathas sent his brother John (a captain of the people) to pray his friends the Nabuthites, that they would lend them their ordinance, for they had much. So the children of Jambry came out of Madaba, & took John & all that he had, & went their way withal. Then came word unto jonathas & Simon his brother, that the children of jambri made a great marriage, & brought the bride from Madaba with great pomp: for she was daughter to one of the noblest princes of Canaan. Wherefore they remembered the blood of John their brother, and went up, and hid themselves under the shadow of the mountain. So they lift up their eyes, and looked: and behold, there was much a do, & great repair: for the bridegroom came forth, & his friends and his brethren met them with tympanies, instruments of music, and many weapons. Then jonathas and they that were with him, rose out of their skoukinge places against them, and slew many of them. As for the remnant, they fled in to the mountains, and they took all their substance. Thus the marriage was turned to mourning, and the noise of their melody in to lamentation. And so when they had avenged the blood of their brother, they turned again unto jordane. Bachides hearing this, came unto the very border of jordane with a great power upon the Sabbath day. And jonathas said to his company: let us get up, & fight against our enemies: for it standeth not with us to day, as in times past: Behold, our enemies are in our way, the water of jordane upon the one side of us, with banks, fens and woods of the other side, so that there is no place for us to depart unto. 〈◊〉. ●0. a 〈◊〉. 4. b Wherefore cry now unto heaven, that you may be delivered from the power of your enemies. So they struck the battle. And jonathas stretched out his hand to smite Bachides, but he fled backward. Then jonathas and they that were with him leapt in to jordane, & swymmed over jordane unto him, & there were slain of Bachides side that day, a thousand men. Therefore Bachides with his host turned again to jerusalem, & built up the castles & strong holds that were in jewry, jericho, Emaus, Bethoron, Bethel, Thamnata, Phara & Thopo, with high walls, with ports & with locks: & set men to keep them, that they might use their malice upon Israel. He walled up Bethsura, Gazara & the castle at Jerusalem also, & provided them with men & vytales: He took also the chiefest men's sons in the country for pledges, and put them in the castle at jerusalem to be kept. afterward in the C.liij year in the second month, Alcimus commanded, that the walls of the ynmost Sanctuary should be destroyed, & the buildings of the prophets also. And when he began to destroy them, the things that he went about, were hindered: for he was smitten with a palsy, & his mouth shut, so that he could no more speak ner command any of his house concerning his business. Thus died Alcimus in great misery at the same tyme. And when Bachides saw that Alcimus was deed, he turned again to the king, & so the land was in rest ij. years. Then all the ungodly men held a council, saying: Behold, jonathas and his company are at ease, & devil without care. Wherefore let us bring Bachides hither, & he shall take them all in one night. So they went & gave Bachides this council, which arose to come with a great host, & sent letters privily to his adherentes which were in jewry, to take jonathas & those that were with him: but they might not, for the other had got knowledge of their device. And jonathas took L. men of the country (which were the ryngleders of them) & slew them. Then jonathas and Simon with their company departed unto the cite Bethbessen, which lieth in the wilderness, and repaired the decay thereof, & made it strong. When Bachides knew this, he gathered all his host, and sent word to them that were of jewry. Then came he and laid siege to Bethbessen, and fought against it a long season, and made instruments of war. Now jonathas left his brother Simon in the cite, and went forth himself in to the country, and came with a certain number, and slew Odares and his brethren and the children of Phaseron in their tents: so that he began to be strong, & to increase in power. As for Simon and his company, they went out of the cite, and brent up the instruments of war, and fought against Bachides, and discomfited him. And Bachides was sore vexed, because his council and travail was in vain. Wherefore he was wroth at the wicked men (that gave him council to come in to their land) and slay many of them. Then purposed he with his company to go away in to his own country: whereof when jonathas had knowledge, he sent embassitours unto him, for to make peace with him, & that he should deliver him his presoners again. To the which Bachides consented gladly, and did according to his desire: ye and made an oath, that he should never do him harm all the days of his life. So he restored unto him all the presoners that he had taken out of the land of juda, and then turned and went his way in to his own land, neither proceeded he any further to come unto the borders of juda. Thus Israel had no more war. And jonathas dwelled at Machmas, and began there to govern the people, and destroyed the ungodly men out of Israel. The X. Chapter. IN the C.lx year came Alexander the son of noble Antiochus, ●osephus ●ap. 2.3. li●ro 13. and took Ptolomais, whose citizens received him, and there he reigned. When Demetrius heard thereof, he gathered an exceeding great host, and went forth against him to fight. Wherefore Demetrius sent letters unto jonathas with loving words, and praised him greatly. For he said: we will first make peace with him, before he bind himself with Alexander against us: else he shall remember the evil that we have done against him, his brother & his people. And so he gave jonathas leave to gather an host, to make weapens, Mac. 9 c and to be confederate with him, and commanded the pledges that were in the castle, to be delivered unto him. Then came jonathas to jerusalem, and read the letters in the audience of all the people, and of them that were in the castle. And therefore were they sore afraid, because they heard, that the king had given him licence to gather an host. Thus were the pledges delivered unto jonathas, which restored them to their elders. jonathas also dwelled at jerusalem, and began to build up and to repair the cite: commanding the work men, to brickwall it, and the mount Zion round about with free stone, to be a strong hold, and so they did. As for the heathen that were in the castles which Bachides had made up, they fled: so that every man left the place, and went in to his own country. Only at Bethsura remained certain of the jews, which had forsaken the law and commandments of God, for Bethsura was their refuge. Now when king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made unto jonathas, and when it was told him of the battles and noble acts, which he and his brethren had done, and of the great travails that they had taken: he said: where shall we find such a man? well, we will make him our friend, & be confederate with him. Upon this he written a letter unto him, with these words: king Alexander saluteth his brother jonathas. We have herd of thee, that thou art a valiant man, & meet to be our friend: wherefore this day we ordene the to be the high priest of thy people, and to be called the kings friend. Upon this, he sent him a purple clothing & a crown of gold) that thou mayest consider what is for our profit, & keep friendship toward us. So in the seven. month of the C.lx year upon the solemn feast day of the tabernacles, jonathas put the holy raiment upon him. Then gathered he an host, & made many weapons. Which when Demetrius heard, he was marvelous sorry, & said: Alas, what have we done, that Alexander hath prevented us in getting the friendship of the jews, for his own defence? Yet will I write lovingly unto them also, ye & promise' them dignities & rewards, that they may be of my side. Whereupon he written unto them these words: King Demetrius sendeth greeting unto the people of the jews. Where as you have kept your covenant toward us, & continued in our friendship, not enclyninge to our enemies we were glad, when we heard thereof. Wherefore remain still & be faithful to us: & we shall well recompense you for the things, that you have done on our party: we shall release you of many charges, and give you rewards. And now I discharge you & all the Jews from tributes, I forgive you the customs of salt, and release you of the crown taxes, of the third part of sede, and half of the fruit of trees, which is mine own duty. These I leave for you, from this day forth: so that they shall not be taken of the land of juda ner of the three cities which are added thereunto out of Samaria and Galilee, from this day forth for evermore. Jerusalem also with all things belonging thereto, shall be holy and free, ye that tithes & tributes shall pertain unto it. As for the power of the castle which is at jerusalem, I remit & give it unto the high priest, that he may set in it such men, as he shall choose to keep it. I freely deliver all the jews that are presoners thorough out all my realm: so that every one of them shallbe free from paying any tribute, ye even of their cattles. All the solemn feasts, Sabbathes, New moans, the days appointed, the three days before and after the feast shall be free for all the jews in my realm: so that in them no man shall have power to do any thing, or to move any business against any of them in any manner of cause. There shall thirty. M. also of the jews be written up in the kings host, and have their wages paid, as all other men of war of the kings should have: and of them shallbe ordained certain, to keep the kings strong holds: ye and some of them shallbe set over the kings business, that they may faithfully deal with the same. The jews also shall have princes of their own, & walk in their own laws, as the king hath commanded in the land of juda. And the three cities that are fallen unto jewry from the country of Samaria and Galilee: shallbe taken as jewry, and be under one: neither be subject to any strange lord, but to the high priest. As for Ptolomais and the land pertaining thereto, I give it unto the Sanctuary at jerusalem, for the necessary expenses of the holy things. moreover, I will give every year xv. M. Sycles of silver out of the kings chequer (which pertaineth unto me) to the work of the temple: ye & look what remaineth (which they that had our matters in hand in times past, have not paid) that same shall they give unto them also. And besides all this, the u M. sycles which they took yearly of the rents of the Sanctuary, shall belong unto the priests that do service. Item, who so ever they be that i'll unto the temple at jerusalem or within the liberties thereof, where as they are fallen in to the kings danger for any manner of business, they shall be pardoned, and all the goods that they have in my realm, shallbe free. For the building also & repairing of the work of the Sanctuary, expenses shallbe given out of the kings chequer: Ye and for the making of the walls round about jerusalem, for the breaking down of the old, and for the setting up of the strong holds in jewry, shall the costs and charges be given out of the kings chequer. But when jonathas and the people heard these words, 1. Mac. 7. b they gave no credence unto them, neither received them: for they remembered the great wickedness that he had done unto Israel, and how sore he had vexed them. Wherefore they agreed unto Alexander, for he was a prince that had dealt friendly with them, and so they stood by him allway. Then gathered king Alexander a great host, and brought his army against Demetrius. So the two kings struck battle together, josephus ca 5. lib. 1● but Demetrius host fled, and Alexander followed after and fallen upon them. A mighty sore field was it, continuing till the Son went down, and Demetrius was slain the same day. And Alexander sent embass●tours unto Ptolemy the king of Egipte with these words, saying: For so much as I am come again to my realm, and am set in the throne of my progenitors, and have got the dominion, over come Demetrius, conquered the land, and stricken a field with him, so that we have discomfited both him and his host, and sit in the throne of his kingdom: Let us now make friendship together, give me thy daughter to wife: so shall I be thy son in law, and both give the rewards, and her great dignity. Ptolemy the king gave answer, saying: Happy be the day wherein thou art come again to the land of thy progenitors, and set in the throne of their kingdom. And now will I fulfil thy writing: but meet me at Ptolomais, that we may see one another, and that I may marry my daughter unto the according to thy desire. So Ptolemy went out of Egipte with his daughter Cleopatra, & came unto Ptolomais in the Clxij. year: where king Alexander met him, & he gave Alexander his daughter Cleopatra, and married them at Ptolomais with great worship, like as the manner of kings is to be. Then written king Alexander unto jonathas, that he should come and meet him. So he went honourably unto Ptolomais, & there he met the two kings, and gave them great presents of gold and silver, & found favour in their sight. And there came together against jonathas certain wicked men and ungracious personnes of Israel, making complaints of him, but the king regarded them not. As for jonathas, the king commanded to take of his garments, and to cloth him in purple: and so they did. Then the king appointed him to sit by him, and said unto his princes: Go with him in to the midst of the cite, and make a proclamation, that no man complain against him of any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause. So it happened that when his accusers saw the worship which was proclaimed of him, & that he was clothed in purple: they fled everichone. And the king made much of him, written him among his chief friends, made him a duke, and partaker of his dominion. Thus jonathas went again to jerusalem with peace and gladness. josephus ●ap. 6. lib. 〈◊〉. Antiq. In the Clxu. year came Demetrius the son of Demetrius from Creta in to his father's land: whereof when Alexander heard tell, he was right sorry, and returned unto Antioch. And Demetrius chose Appollonius (which had the governance of Celosyria) to be his captain. ●. Mac. 3. a So he gathered a great host and came unto jamnia, and send word unto jonathas the high priest, saying: Darrest thou with stand us thyself alone? As for me, I am but laughed to scorn and shamed, because thou provest thy strength against us in the mountains. Now therefore if thou trustest in thine own strength, come down to us in to the plain field, and there let us prove our strength together: thou shalt find, that I have valiant men of war with me: and shalt know who I am, & the other that stand by me. Which say, that your foot is not able to stand before our face, for thy fathers have been twice chased in to their own land. And now, how wilt thou be able to abide so great an host of horsemen and footmen in the field, where as is neither rock, stone ner place to i'll unto? When jonathas heard the words of Appollonius, he was moved in his mind: wherefore he chose x. thousand men and went out of jerusalem, and Simon his brother met him for to help him: And they pitched their tents at joppa, but the cite kept him forth, for joppa was an hold of Appollonius. Then jonathas laid siege to it, and they that were in the cite, for very fear let him in: and so jonathas wan joppa. Appollonius hearing of this, took three thousand horsemen, with a great host of foot, and went as though he would go to Azotus, & came Immediately in to the plain field: because he had so many horsemen, and put his trust in them. So jonathas followed upon him to Azotus, & there they struck the battle. Now had Appollonius left a M. horsemen behind them privily in the tents. And when jonathas knew that such wait was laid behind them, they went round about the enemy's host, and shot darts at the people from the morning to the evening. As for jonathas people, they kept their order as he had commanded them, & the enemy's horses were ever labouring. Then brought Simon forth his host, and set them against the foot men. For the horsemen were weighed already. So he discomfited them, and they fled. And they that were scattered in the field, got them to Azotus, and came in to the temple of Dagon their Idol, that they might there save their lives. But jonathas set fire upon Azotus and all the cities round about it, & took their goods, 〈…〉 and brent up the temple of Dagon with all them that were fled in to it. Thus were slain and brent well nigh viij. thousand men. So jonathas removed the host from thence, and brought them to Ascalon: where the men of the cite came forth, and met him with great worship. After this went jonathas and his host again to jerusalem, with great substance of good. And when king Alexander heard the senior things, he thought to do jonathas more worship, & sent him a collar of gold, as the use is to be given unto such as are of the kings next blood. He gave him also the cite of Accaron (with the lands belonging thereto) in possession. The XI. Chapter. ANd the king of Egipte gathered an host, 〈…〉 (like the sonde that lieth upon the see shore) and many ships: and went about thorough deceit to obtain the kingdom of Alexander, & to join it unto his own realm. Upon this he took his journey in to Syria, & was let in to the cities, and men came forth to meet him: for king Alexander had commanded them so to do, because he was his father in law. Now when Ptolemy entered in to any cite, he left men of war to keep it, and this he did thorough out all the cities. And when he came to Azotus, they showed him the temple of Dagon and Azotus that was brent up, Mac. 10. i with the other things which were destroyed, the deed bodies cast abroad, and the graves that they had made by the way side, for such as were slain in the field: And told the king that jonathas had done all these things, to the intent they might get him evil will. But the king said not a word thereto. And jonathas met the king with great honor at joppa, where they saluted one another, and took their rest. So when jonathas had go with the king, unto the water that was called Eleutherus, he turned again to jerusalem. Now Ptolemy had got the dominion of the cities unto Selencia upon the see coost, imagining wicked counsels against Alexander, & sent embassitours unto Demetrius, saying: Come, let us make a bond betwixt us, so shall I give the my daughter that Alexander hath, and thou shalt reign in thy father's kingdom. I repent that I gave Alexander my daughter, for he goeth about to slay me. And thus he slandered Alexander, because he would have had his realm. Thus he took his daughter from him, gave her unto Demetrius, and forsook Alexander, so that his malice was openly known. And Ptolemy came to Antioch, where he set two crowns upon his own head: the crown of Egipte and of Asia. In the mean season was king Alexander in Cilicia, for they that dwelled in those places, had rebelled against him. But when Alexander heard of this, he came to war against him. So king Ptolemy brought forth his host and met him with a mighty power, and chased him away. Then fled Alexander in to Araby, there to be defended, and king Ptolomys honour increased. And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexander's head, and sent it unto Ptolemy. But the third day after, died king Ptolemy himself: and they whom he had set in the strong holds, were slain of those that were within the cities. And Demetrius reigned in the hundredth and seven and sixty year. At the same time gathered jonathas them that were in jewry to say siege unto the castle which was at jerusalem, and so they made many instruments of war against it. Then went there certain ungodly personnes (which hated their own people) unto king Demetrius, and told him, that jonathas besieged the castle. So when he heard it, he was angry, and Immediately came to Ptolomais, and written unto jonathas, that he should not say siege to the castle, but come and speak with him in all the haist. Nevertheless when jonathas heard this he commanded to besiege it. He chose also certain of the elders and priests of Israel, and put himself in the apparel, and took with him gold, silver, clothing and diverse presents▪ and went to Ptolomais unto the king, and found him gracious. And though certain ungodly men of his own people made complaints upon him, yet the king entreated him, 1. Ma. 10. ● like as his predecessors had done before: and promoted him in the sight of all his friends, confirmed him in the high priesthood with all the worship that he had afore, and made him his chief friend. jonathas also desired the king that he would make jewry free, with the three head cities of Samaria and the lands pertaining thereto: 1. Ma. 10. upon this did jonathas promise him three C. talentes. Where unto the king consented, and gave jonathas writing of the same, containing these words: king Demetrius sendeth greeting unto his brother jonathas and to the people of the Jews. We send you here a copy of the letter which we did write unto our elder Lasthenus, concerning you, that you should know it. King Demetrius sendeth greeting unto Lasthenus his elder. For the faithfulness that our friends the people of the jews keep unto us, and for the loving kindness which they bear toward us: we are determed to do them good. Wherefore we ordene all the coostes of jewry with the three cities, Lyda and Ramatha (which are added unto jewry from Samaria) & all the lands pertaining there unto, to be freely separated for such as do sacrifice in Jerusalem: both concerning the payments which the king took yearly afore time, & the fruits also of the earth & trees. As for other tithes & tributes that belonged unto us, we discharge them thereof from this time forth. In like manner we grant unto them all the customs of salt and crown taxes, which were brought unto us. And this freedom shall they have firm & steadfast, from this time forth for evermore. Therefore see that you make a copy of these our letters, and deliver it unto jonathas: that it may be kept upon the holy mount in a convenient place. After this, when Demetrius the king saw that his land was in rest, and that no resistance was made him: he sent away all his host every man to his own place, except an army of strangers, whom he brought from the Isles of the heathen, wherefore all his father's host had evil will at him. ● Mac. 12. c Now was there one Triphon (that had been of Alexander's part afore) which when he saw that all the host murmured against Demetrius: he went to Emalcuel the Arabian (that brought up Antiochus the son of Alexander) and lay sore upon him, to deliver him this young Antiochus: that he might reign in his father's stead. He told him also what great evil Demetrius had done, & how his men of war loved him not: & so remained there a long season. And jonathas sent unto king Demetrius, to drive them out which were in the castle at jerusalem and in the other refugies, for they did Israel great harm. So Demetrius sent word unto jonathas, saying: I will not only do these things for the and thy people, but at time convenient I will do both the & thy people great worship. But now thou shalt do me a pleasure, if thou will't send me men to help me: for all mine army is go fro me. So jonathas sent him iij. M. strong men unto Antioch, and they came unto the king, wherefore the king was very glad at their coming. But they that were of the cite (even an Cxx. thousand men) gathered them together, & would have slain the king, which fled in to his court: & the citesyns kept the streets of the cite, and began to fight. Then the king called for the jews help, which came unto him all together, & went abroad thorough the cite, and slew the same day an C.M. men: set fire upon the cite, got many spoils in that day, and delivered the king. So when the citesyns saw that the jews had got their will of the cite, and they themselves dispointed of their purpose: they made their supplication unto the king, saying: Grant us peace, and let the jews cease from troubling us and the cite, and upon this they cast away their weapens. Thus they made peace, and the Jews got great worship in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that were in his realm, and were spoken of thorough out the kingdom: and so they came again to jerusalem with great goods. So the king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom, and had peace in his land Nevertheless he dyssembled in all that ever he spoke, & with drew himself from jonathas, neither rewarded him according to the benefits which he had done for him, but troubled him very sore. After this came Triphon again with young Antiochus, which reigned & was crowned king. Then there gathered unto him all the men of war, whom Demetrius had put away: these fought against Demetrius, which fled & turned his back. So Triphon took the Elephants, & wan Antioch. And young Antiochus written unto jonathas, saying: I confirm the in thy priesthood, & make the ruler of iiij. countries, that thou mayest be a friend of the kings. Upon this he sent him golden vessel to be served in, and gave him leave to drink in gold, to be clothed in purple, and to were a collar of gold, He made his brother Simon also captain, from the coostes of Tyrus unto the borders of Egipte. Then jonathas took his journey, & went thorough the cities beyond the water (of jordane) and all the men of war of Syria gathered them unto him for to help him. So he came unto Ascalon, and they of the cite received him honourably: & from thence went he unto Gaza, but they would not let him in: wherefore he laid siege unto it, burning up and spoiling the places that were about the cite. And the citesyns of Gaza submytted themselves unto jonathas, which made peace with them, but took of their sons to pledge, sent them to Jerusalem, & went thorough the country unto Damascus. Now when jonathas heard that Demetrius princes were come in to Cades (which is in Galile●) with a great host, purposing to put Demetrius out from meddling in the realm: he came against them, and left Simon his brother in the land: which came to Bethsura, and laid siege to it a long season, and discomfited them. So they desired to have peace with him, which he granted them, & afterward put them out from thence, took the cite, and set men to keep it. And jonathas with his host came to the water of Genesar, & by times in the morning got them to the plain field of Azor. And behold, the hosts of the heathen met them in the field, & laid watch for them in the mountains: so that when jonathas came against them, the other (which were laid to watch) rose out of their places, & fought, & they that were of jonathas side, fled every man: & there was not one of them left, except Matathias the son of Absalomus, and judas the son of Calphi the captain of the host. Then jonathas rent his clotheses, laid earth upon his head, made his prayer, & turned again to them in the field: where they fought together, and he put them to flight. Now when his own men that were fled, saw this: they turned again unto him, & helped him to follow upon all their enemies unto their tents at Cades. So there were slain of the heathen the same day, iij. M. men, & jonathas turned again to jerusalem. The XII. Chapter. IOnathas saying that the time was meet for him, chose certain men and sent them unto Rome for to establish & to renew the friendship with them. He sent lettres also unto Sparta, 〈…〉 and to other places in like manner. So they went unto Rome and entered in to the council, & said: jonathas the high priest & the people of the Jews sent us unto you, for to renew the old friendship & bond of love. Upon this the Romans gave them free pasportes, that men should lead them home in to the land of juda peaceably. And this is the copy of the lettres that jonathas written unto the Sparcians: jonathas the high priest with the elders, priests, & the other people of the Jews, send greeting unto the Sparcians their brethren. There were lettres sent long ago unto Onias the high priest, from Arius which than reigned among you: that you are our brethren, as the writing made thereupon specifieth. And Onias entreated the embassitoure that was sent, honourably, and received the lettres: wherein there was mention made of the bond of love & friendship. But as for us, we need no such writings: for why, we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to our comfort. Nevertheless we had rather send unto you, for the re●uynge of the brotherhood and friendship: jest we should be strange unto you, for it is long, since the time that you sent word unto us. Wherefore in the sacrifices that we offer & other ceremonies upon the high solemn days and other we allway remember you without ceasing (like as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren) ye and are right glad of your prosperous honour. And though we have had great troubles and wars, so that the kings about us have fought against us: yet would we not be grievous unto you ner to other of our lovers and friends in these wars. For we have had help from heaven, so that we are delivered, and our enemies subdued. Wherefore we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus and Antipater the son of jason, and sent them unto the Romans, for to renew the old bond of friendship and love with them. We commanded them also to come unto you, to salute you, and to deliver you our lettres, concerning the renovation of our brotherhood. And now you shall do right well, to give us an answer there unto. And this is the copy of the writing, which Arius the king of Sparta sent unto Onias: Arius king of the Sparcians sendeth greeting unto Onias the high priest. It is found in writing, that the Sparcians and jews are brethren, and come of the generation of Abraham. And now for so much as this is come to our knowledge, you shall do well, to write unto us of your prosperity. As for us, we have written oh mind unto you: Our cattles and goods are yours and yours, ours. These things have we commanded to be showed unto you. When jonathas heard, that Demetrius princes were come forth to fight against him with a greater host than afore, he went from jerusalem, & met them in the land of Hemath, for he gave them not space to come in to his own country. And he sent spies unto their tents, which came again and told him, that they were appointed to come upon him in the night season. Wherefore when the Son was go down, jonathas commanded his men to watch all the night, & to be ready with weapens for to fight: and set watchmen round about the host. But when the adversaries herd that jonathas was re●●y with his men to the battle, they feared & were afraid in their hearts, & kindled fires in their tents, broke up, and got them away. Nevertheless jonathas and his company knew it not till the morning, for they saw the fires burning. Then jonathas followed upon them, but he might not overtake them, for they were go over the water Eleutherus. So jonathas departed unto the Arabians (which were called Zabadei) slew them, & took their goods. He proceeded furthur also, and came unto Damascus, & went thorough all that country. But Simon his brother took his journey and came to Ascalon and to the next strong holds: departing unto joppa, and wan it. For he heard, that they would stand of Demetrius party: wherefore he sent men of war in the cite, to keep it. After this came jonathas home again, & called the elders of the people together: and devised with them for to build up the strong holds in jewry, and the walls of jerusalem, to set up an high brickwall betwixt the castle and the cite, for to separate it from the cite, that it might be alone, and that men should neither buy nor cell in it. Upon this they came together for to build up the cite: and for much as the brickwall upon the broken of the west side (called Caphetheta) was fallen down, they repaired it. And Simon set up Adiada in Sephela, and made it strong, setting ports & locks upon it. Now when Triphon purposed to reign in Asia. ● Ma. 11. c ●osephus ●api. 19 ●●bro. 13. to be crowned, and to slay the king Antiochus: he was afraid that jonathas would not suffer him, but fight against him. Wherefore he went about to take jonathas, and to kill him. So he departed, and came unto Bethsan. Then went jonathas forth against him to the battle with forty thousand choose men, and came unto Bethsan also. But when Triphon saw that jonathas came with so greae an host to destroy him, he was afraid: and therefore he received him honourably, commended him unto all his friends, gave him rewards, and commanded his men of war to be as obedient unto him as to himself. And said unto jonathas: why hast thou caused this people to take such travail, saying there is no war betwixt us? Therefore send them home again, & chose certain men to wait upon thee, & come thou with me to Ptolomais: for I will give it thee, with the other strong holds, men of war and their officers: As for me, I must depart, this is only the cause of my coming. jonathas believed him, & did as he said, putting away his host, which went in to the land of juda. He kept but iij. M. by him, whereof he sent ij. M. in to Galilee, & one M. went with himself. Now as soon as jonathas entered in to Ptolomais, the citesyns sparred the gates of the cite, and took him, and slew all them with the sword, that came in with him. Then sent Triphon an host of foot men and horsemen in to Galilee and in to the great plain field, to destroy all jonathas company. But when they known that jonathas was taken, and all they slain that waited upon him: they took council together, and came forth ready to the battle. So when they which followed upon them, saw, that it was a matter of life, they turned back again. As for the other, they went in to the land of juda peacealy, & bewailed jonathas, & them that were with him right sore. And Israel made great lamentation. Then all the heathen that were round about them, sought to destroy them. For they said: now have they no captain, nor any man to help them. Therefore let us overcome them, and rote out their name from among men. The XIII. Chapter. NOw when Simon heard that Triphon gathered a great host, to come in to the land of juda, and to destroy it: and saw that the people was in great fearfulness and care: He came up to jerusalem, and gathered the people together, & gave them exhortation, saying: You know what great battayls I and my brethren & my father's house have stricken for the law & the Sanctuary, and what manner of troubles we have seen: thorough occasion whereof, all my brethren are slain for Israel's sake, 〈…〉 and I am left alone. And now let not me spare mine own life in any manner of trouble, for I am no better than my brethren: but will avenge my people and the Sanctuary, our children and our wives: for all the heathen are gathered together, to destroy us of very malice. At these words the hearts of the people were kindled together, so that they cried with a loud voice, saying: Thou shalt be oh captain in stead of judas & jonathas thy brethren, order thou our battle, & what so ever thou commandest us, we shall do it. So he gathered all the men of war, making haist to finish all the walls of jerusalem, which he made strong round about. Then sent he jonathas the son of Absalomus with a fresh host unto joppa, which drove them out that were in the castle, and remained there himself. Triphon also removed from Ptolomais with a great army, to come in to the land of juda, and jonathas with him in ward. And Simon pitched his tents at Addus before the plain field. But when Triphon knew that Simon stood up in stead of his brother jonathas, and that he would war against him: he sent messaungers unto him, saying: Where as we have kept jonathas thy brother, it is for money that he is owing in the kings account, concerning the business that he had in hand. Wherefore send now an C. talents of silver and his two sons for surety, that when he is let forth he shall not forsake us: and we shall send him again. Nevertheless Simon knew, that he dyssembled in his words: yet commanded he the money & children to be delivered unto him: jest he should be the greater enemy against the people of Israel, and say: because he sent him not the money and the children, therefore is jonathas deed. So Simon sent him the children and an hundredth talentes, but he dyssembled, & would not let jonathas go. afterward came Triphon in to the land, to destroy it, and went round about by the way, that leadeth unto Ador. But where so ever they went, thither went Simon and his host also. Now they that were in the castle, sent messaungers unto Triphon, that he should make haist to come by the wilderness, and to send them vytales: And Triphon made ready all his horsemen to come that same night. Nevertheless it was a very great snow, so that he came not in Galaadithim. And when he drew nigh Baschama, he slew jonathas and his sons there, and then turned for to go home in to his own land. Then sent Simon for to fet his brother's deed coarse, and buried it in Modin his fathers cite. So all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, and mourned for him very long. And Simon made upon the sepulchre of his father and his brethren a building high to look unto of free stone behind and before: and set up seven pylers, one against another (for his father, his mother and four brethren) and set great pilers round about, with arms upon them for a perpetual memory, and carved ships beside the arms: that they might be seen of men sailing in the see. This sepulchre which he made at Modin, standeth yet unto this day. Now as Triphon went forth to walk with the young king Antiochus, josephus capite 10● libro 1● he slew him traitorously, and reigned in his stead, crowned himself king of Asia, and did much evil in the land. Simon also built up the castles in jewry, making them strong with high towers, great walls, ports and locks, and laid up vytales in the strong holds. And Simon chose certain men, and sent them to king Demetrius: to desire him, that he would discharge the land from all bondage, for Triphon had spoiled it very sore. Where upon Demetrius the king answered him, & written unto him after this manner: Demetrius the king sendeth greeting unto Simon the high priest his friend, with the elders and people of the jews. The golden crown and precious stone that you sent unto us, have we received: and are ready to make a steadfast peace with you, ye and to write unto our officers, for to release you, concerning the things wherein we made you free: and the appointment that we make with you, shallbe firm and stable. The strong holds which you have builded, shall be your own. As for any over sight or fault committed unto this day, we forgive it, and the crown tax that you aught us also. And where as was any other tribute in jerusalem, it shall now be no tribute: and look who are meet among you to be in our court, let them be written up, that there may be peace betwixt us. Thus the yock of the heathen was taken from Israel, in the hundredth and seventy year. And the people of the jews began to writ in their lettres and acts on this manner: In the first year of Simon the high priest, 1. Mach●. 14. d and prince of the jews. In those days went Simon unto Gaza, and besieged it round about, where he set up ordinance of war. And wan a tower, which he took. So they that got in to the tower leapt into the cite, which was in a great fear: In so much that the people of the cite rent their clotheses, and clymmed up upon the walls with their wives and children, beseeking Simon to be at one with them, saying: O reward us not after oh wickedness, but be gracious unto us, and we shall do the service. Then Simon for very pite, would fight no more against them, but put them out of the cite, and caused the houses (wherein the images were) to be cleansed: and so entered the cite with Psalms of praise, giving thanks unto the LORD. So when he had cast all abominations out of the cite, he set such men in it as kept the law of God, and made the cite strong, and builded a dwelling place for himself. Now when they in the castle at jerusalem were kept so strately, that they could not come forth ner in to country, and might neither buy ner cell: they were very hungry, and many of them famished to death: In so much that they besought Simon to be at one with them, which he granted them. So he put them out from thence, and cleansed the castle from filthiness. And upon the twenty-three. day of the second month in the Clxxj. year they entered in to it with thanksgiving and branches of palm trees, with haps, crowds, cymbals, and lutes, synginge psalms and songs of praise unto God, for that the great enemy of Israel was over come. And Simon ordained that the same day should be kept every year in gladness, and made strong the hill of the temple that was beside the castle, where he dwelled himself with his company. Simon also perceiving that John his son was a mighty man of arms, made him captain of all the hosts, and caused him to devil at Gaza. The XIIII. Chapter. IN the Clxxij. year gathered king Demetrius his host, and departed unto Media, to get him help for to fight against Triphon. Now when Arsaces' the king of Persia and Media heard, that Demetrius was entered within his borders: he sent one of his princes to take him alive, and to bring him unto him. So he went and slew Demetrius host, took himself, brought him to Arsaces, which kept him in ward. And all the land of juda was in rest, so long as Simon lived: for he sought the wealth of his people, therefore were they glad to have him for their ruler, and to do him worship allway. Simon wan the cite of joppa also for an haven town, and made it an entrance in to the Isles of the see. He enlarged the borders of his people, and conquered them more land: He gathered up many of their people that were presoners: he had the dominion of Gaza, Bethsura and the castle, which he cleansed from filthiness, and there was no man that resisted him: So that every man tilled his ground in peace, the land of juda and the trees gave their fruit and increase. The elders sat all in judgement, and took their device for the wealth of the land: the young men put on worship and harness upon them. He provided vytayles for the cities, and made goodly strong holds of them: so that the fame of his worship was spoken of unto the end of the world. 〈…〉 For he made peace thorough out the land, and Israel was full of mirth and joy. Every man sat under his vine & fig trees and there was no man to fray them away. There was none in the land to fight against them, for then the kings were overcome. He helped those that were in adversity among his people, he was diligent to see the law kept: as for such as were ungodly and wicked he took them away. He set up the Sanctuary, & increased the holy vessels of the temple. When the Romans and Sparcians had got word, that jonathas was deed, they were right sorry. But when they heard that Simon his brother was made high priest in his stead, and how he had won the land again with the cities in it: they written unto him in tables of laton, to renew the friendship & bond of love, which they had made afore with judas & jonathas his brethren. 〈…〉 Which writings were read before the congregation at jerusalem. And this is the copy of the lettres, that the Sparcians sent: The Senators and citesyns of Sparta send greeting unto Simon the great priest with the elders, priests, & the other people of the jews their brethren: When you embassitours that were sent unto oh people, certified us of your worship, honour and prosperous wealth: we were glad of their coming, and have written the earande which they spoke before the council of the people: namely, that Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of jason the jews embassitours are come unto us, for to renew the old friendship with us. Upon this the people consented, that the men should be honourably entreated, and that the copy of their earande should be written in the special books of the people, for a perpetual memory unto the Sparcians: ye and that we should send a copy of the same unto Simon the great priest. After this did Simon send Numenius unto Rome, with a golden shield of a thousand pound weight, to confirm the friendship with them: which when the Romans understood, they said: what thanks shall we recompense again unto Simon & his children? For he hath established his brethren, and overcome the enemies of Israel. Wherefore they granted him to be free. And all this written the jews in tables of laton, and naled it unto the pilers upon the mount Zion. The copy of the writing is this: The xviij. day of the month Elul in the Clxxij. year in the third year of Simon the high priest, in the great congregation of the priests, rulers of the people, and elders of the country at Asaramel, were these words openly declared: For so much as there was much war in our land, therefore Simon the son of Matathias (come of the children of jareb) and his brethren, put themselves in apparel, and resisted the enemies of their people: that their Sanctuary and law might be manteyned, and did their people great worship. jonathas in like manner, after that he had governed his people and been their high priest: died, and lieth buried beside his elders. After that would their enemies have trodden their holy things under foot, destroyed their land, and utterly waisted their Sanctuary. Then Simon withstood them, and fought for his people, spent much of his own money, weapened the valiant men of his people, gave them wages, made strong the cities of juda, with Bethsura that lieth upon the borders of jewry, (where the ordinance of their enemies lay sometime) & set Jews there for to keep it. He made fast joppa also, which lieth upon the see, and Gaza that bordreth upon Azotus, (where the enemies dwelled afore) and there he set jews to keep it: and what so ever was meet for the subduing of the adversaries, that laid he therein. Now when the people saw the noble acts of Simon. and what worship he purposed to do for them, his godly behaviour, and faithfulness which he kept unto them, & how he sought by all ways the wealth of his people, because he did all this, therefore they chose him to be their prince & high priest. And in his time they prospered well by him, so that the Heithen were taken out of their land: & they also which were in the cite of David at Jerusalem in the castle (where they went out and defiled all things that were about the Sanctuary, and did great harm unto cleanliness) and Simon put men of the jews in it, for the defence of the land and the cite, and set up the walls of jerusalem. And king Demetrius confirmed him in his high priesthood, made him his friend, and did him great worship. For he heard that the Romayns called the Jews their friends, lovers and brethren: how honourably they received Symons embassitours: how the Jews and priests consented that he should be their prince and high priest perpetually (till God raised up the true prophet) and that he should be their captain, to care for the Sanctuary, and to set officers upon the works thereof, over the land, over the weapens, over the houses of defence, to make provision for the holy things, and to be obeyed of every man, and all the writings of the land to be made in his name: that he should be clothed in purple and gold, and that it should be lawful for none of the people nor priests to break any of these things, to withstand his words, ner to call any congregation in the land without him: that he should be clothed in purple, and were a collar of gold: And if there were any which disobeyed or broke this ordinance, that he should be punished. So all the people consented to allow Simon, and to do according to these words. Simon also himself took it upon him, and was content to be the high priest, the captain and prince of the jews and priests, and to govern them all. And they commanded to make this writing in tables of laton, and to fasten it unto the compass of the Sanctuary in an open place: and to say up a copy of the same in the treasury, that Simon and his posterity might have it. The XU. Chapter. moreover, king Antiochus the son of Demetrius sent lettres from the Isles of the see, unto Simon the high priest and prince of the jews, and to all the people, containing these words: Antiochus the king sendeth greeting unto Simon the high priest and to the people of the jews. For so much as certain wicked men have got the kingdom of our progenitors, I am purposed to challenge the realm again, and to restore it to the old estate. Wherefore I have gathered a great host and made ships of war: that I may go thorough the country, and be avenged of them which have destroyed our land, and waysted many cities in my realm. And therefore now I make the fire also from all the tributes, whereof all kings my progenitors have discharged thee, and from other customs (where from they have released thee) what so ever they be: Ye I give the leave to smite money of thy own within thy land. As for jerusalem, I will that it be holy and free: and all the weapens and houses of defence which thou hast builded and keepest in thy hands, shall be thy. Where as any thing is or shall be owing unto the king, I forgive it thee, from this time forth for evermore. And when we have obtained our kingdom, we shall do the, thy people and the temple great worship: so that your honour shall be known thorough out the whole world. In the Clxxiiij. year went Antiochus in to his father's land, and all the men of war came together unto him, so that few were left with Triphon. So the king Antiochus followed upon him, but he fled unto Dora, which lieth by the see side: for he saw that there was mischief coming unto him, and that his host had forsaken him. Then came Antiochus unto Dora with an hundredth & twenty thousand men of arms upon foot, and eight thousand horsemen. So he compassed the cite round about, and the ships came by the see. Thus they vexed the cite by land and by water, in so much that they suffered no man to go in nor out. In the mean season came Numenius (& they that had been with him) from the cite of Rome, 1. Ma. 14. d having lettres written unto the kings and provinces, wherein were contained these words: Lucius the Mayor of Rome sendeth greeting unto Ptolemy the king. The embassitours of the jews our friends being sent from Simon the high priest and from the people of the jews, came unto us, for to renew the old friendship and bond of love, and brought a shield of gold weyenge a thousand pound, which we were content to receive of them. Wherefore we thought it good to write unto the kings & provinces, to do them no harm, nor to take part against them, their cities ner countries neither to maintain their enemies against them. If there be any wicked personnes therefore fled from their country unto you, dely-them unto Simon the high priest, that he may punish them according to their own law. The same words written the Romans also unto Demetrius the king, to Atta●us, Araba, Arsaces and to all regions: as Samsanes, to them of Sparta, Delo, Mio●, Sydon, Caria, Samos, Pamphilia, Lycia, Alicarnassum, and to the Rhodes: to Faselis, Coo, Sida, Arado, Gortyna, Gnydum, to Cypress and to Cyren. And of every letter they sent a copy to Simon the high priest and to the people of the jews. So Antiochus the king brought his host unto Dora the second time, to take it: where he made diverse ordinance of war, and kept Triphon in, that he should not come forth. Then Simon sent Antiochus two thousand choose men to help him with gold, silver and other plenteous ge●● Nevertheless he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant which he made with Simon afore, & withdrew himself from him. He sent Athenobius also a friend of his unto Simon, for to reason with him, saying: You withhold fro me joppa and Gaza (with the castle that is at Jerusalem) which are cities of my realm, whose borders you have destroyed, and done great evil in the land, having the domination in many other places of my kingdom. Wherefore deliver now the cities which you have taken, with the tributes of the places that you have rule upon without the borders of jewry: Or else give me five hundredth talentes of silver, ye and for the harm that you have done in the cities and for the tributes of the same, other five hundredth talents. If no, we shall come and fight against you. So Athenobius the kings friend came to Jerusalem, and when he saw the great worship and honour of Simon in gold, silver and so great plenty of ornaments: he marveled, and told Simon as the king commanded him. Then answered Simon and said unto him: As for us, 〈…〉 we have neither taken other men's land, ner witholden them, but only our father's heritage, which our enemies had unrighteously in possession a certain tyme. This heritage of our fathers have we challenged in process of tyme. And where as thou complainest concerning joppa and Gaza, they did great harm to our people and in oh land, yet will we give an C. talentes for them. Nevertheless Athenobius answered him not one word, but turned again wrothfully unto the king, and told him all these words, and the great dignity of Simon with all that he had seen, and the king was very angry. In the mean time fled Triphon by ship unto Orthosaida. Then the king made Cendebeus captain of the see coost, & gave him an host of foot men and horsemen, commanding him to remove the host toward jewry, & to build up the cite of Cedron, to make up the ports, & to war against the people of the jews. As for the king himself, he followed upon Triphon. So Cendebe us came unto jamnia, & began to vex the people, to tread down jewry, to take the people presoners, 〈◊〉. 16. b to slay them & to build up Cedron: where he set horsemen & other men of war, that they might come forth and go thorough the streets of jewry, like as the king had commanded him. The XVI. Chapter. THen came John up from Gaza, and told Simon his father, 〈◊〉. 13. f what Cendebeus had done among their people. Upon this called Simon two of his elder sons, judas & John, and said unto them: I and my brethren & my father's house, have ever from our youth up unto this day, fought against the enemies of Israel, & God gave us good fortune to deliver Israel often times. And now for so much as I am old, be you in stead of me & my brother, to go forth & fight for our people, & the help of God be with you. So he chose xx. M. fightingemen of the country, with horsemen also, which went forth against Cendebeus and rested at Modin. In the morning they arose, & went in to the plain field: and behold, a mighty great host came against them, both of footmen & horsemen. Now was there a water broken betwixt them, & John removed the host toward them. And when he saw that the people was afraid to go over the water broken, he went over first himself: and the men saying this, followed him. Then John set his horsemen & foot men in order, the one by the other, for their enemy's horsemen were very many. But when they blue up the priests trumpets, Cendebeus fled with his host, whereof many were slain, and the remnant got them to their strong hold. judas also Ihons' brother whas wounded at the same tyme. And John followed still upon the enemies, till he came to Cedron which he builded. 1. Ma● The enemies fled also unto the towers that were in the fields of Azotus, & those did John burn up. Thus there were slain ij. M. men of them, & John turned again peaceably in to jewry. And in the field of jericho was Ptolemy the son of Abobus made captain: which because he had abundance of silver & gold, (for he had married the daughter of Simon the high priest) waxed proud in his mind, & thought to conquer the land, ymageninge falsed against Simon & his sons, to destroy them. Now as Simon was going about thorough the cities, that were in that country of jewry, and caring for them: he came down to jericho, with Matathias & judas his sons, in the Clxxvij. year, in the xj. month called Sabat. Then Ptolemy the son of Abobus received them (but with deceit) into a strong house of his called Doch, which he had builded, where he made them a banquet. So when Simon & his sons were merry & had drunken well, Ptolemy stood up with his men (whom he had hid there) & took their weapens, entered in to the banckethouse, & slew Simon with his two sons, & certain of his servants. Soch great unfaithfulness did Ptolemy in Israel, and recompensed evil for good. Then written this Ptolemy the same unto king Antiochus, requiring him that he should send him an host to help him: & so should he deliver him the land, with the cities & tributes of the same. He sent other men also unto Gaza, for to take John: & written unto the captains to come to him, & he should give them silver, gold and rewards. And to jerusalem he sent other, to take it and the Sanctuary. Then ran there one before, & told John in Gaza, that his father & his brethren were slain, and how that Ptolemy had sent to slay him also. When John heard this, he was sore abaszshed, and laid hands of them that were come to destroy him, and slew them: for he know, that they went about to kill him. As for other things concerning John: of his wars, of his noble acts (wherein he behaved himself manfully) of the building of walls which he made, and other of his deeds: They are written in the chronicles of his priesthood, from the time forth that he was made high priest after his father. The end of the first book of the Maccabees. The second book Of the Maccabees. What this book containeth. Chap. I The jews write unto Aristobolus of the cleansing of the temple, and of the feast of tabernacles. Of the fire that was hid in the pit. Chap. II What jeremy required of the jews that were in preson, and of their stories. Chap. III The Heithen kings held the temple at jerusalem in honour. The variance betwixt Simon and Onias. What Appollonius & Heliodorus did at jerusalem. The punishment of Heliodorus. Chap. four The wickedness of Simon. The faithfulness of Onias. jason laboureth to be high priest. Of his wickedness, and how he was driven away. The alteration of the priesthood. Andronicus destroyeth Onias, and God striketh him therefore. Chap. V Wondrous things done at jerusalem. jason falls upon the cite, handleth abominably, and yet is fain to fleat the last. The king of Egipte taketh the cite again with great bloodshedding. Chap. VI The king proceedeth forth in his tyranny, as well in other cities where the law of God is kept, as at jerusalem. All this sendeth God for the wickedness of the people. The steadfastness of Eleazar. Chap. VII. The death of the seven. brethren & their mother. How constant they are to suffer, rather than to obey the wicked king. Chap. VIII. The manliness of judas Machabeus, and how Philippe meddleth against him judas comforteth his people, and overcometh Nicanor. Chap. IX. Of Antiochus and his pride, & how God punished him. Chap. X. Machabeus winneth the holy cite again, and cleanseth it. Eupator followeth his father Antiochus. judas Machabeus ordereth himself well. Chap. XI. What Lysias purposeth. judas with standeth him, God taketh his part. Lysias & judas are at one. Chap. XII. Timotheus, Appolonius and other, imagine treason. judas Machabeus punysheth them, winneth Caspin & other cities. Chap. XIII. Antiochus & Lysias make them forth against the jews. judas gathereth the people, & biddeth them call upon God, goeth on, and beside Modin striketh a great battle. Chap. XIIII. Of Demetrius the son of Seleucus. The traitorous dealing of Alcimus. Nicanor breaketh falsely the bond made with judas Machabeus. Of the manlynes of Razis. Chap. XU. Nicanors wicked purpose. judas giveth his people godly consolation Of his dreams and visions, and how Nicanor perished. The first Chapter. THe brethren of the Jews which be at jerusalem & in the land of jewry, wish unto those brethren of the Jews that are thorough out Egipte: good fortune, health and peace. God the LORD be gracious unto you, & think upon his covenant that he made with Abraham, Isaac & jacob his faithful servants: and give you all such an heart, 〈…〉 that you may love and serve him, ye and perform his will with an whole heart and of a willing mind: He open your hearts in his law and in his commandments, send you peace: hear your prayers, be at one with you, and never forsake you in time of trouble. This is hear our prayer for you. What time as Demetrius reigned, in the Clxix. year, we Jews written unto you in the trouble and violence that came upon us. In those years after that jason departed out of the holy land and kingdom, they brent up the ports, and shed innocent blood. Then made we our prayer unto the LORD, and were herd: we offered, and lighted the candles, setting forth cakes and bread. And now come you unto the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu. 〈…〉 In the Clxxxviij. year the people that was at jerusalem and in jewry, the council and judas himself, sent this wholesome salutation unto Aristobolus king Ptolomys master, which came of the generation of the anointed priests: and to the jews that were in Egipte: In so much as God hath delivered us from great parels, we thank him hylie, In that we resisted so mighty a king. And why? he brought men out of Persis by heaps, to fight against us and the holy cite. For as he was in Persis (namely, the captain with the great host) he perished in the temple of Naneas, being deceived thorough the device of Naneas priests. For as he was purposed to have dwelled there, Antiochus & his friends came thither, to receive much money for a dowry. So when Naneas priests had laid forth the money, he entered with a small company in to the compass of the temple, and so they shut the temple. Now when Antiochus entered by opening the privy entrance of the temple, the priests stoned the captain to death, hewed them in pieces that were with him, smote of their heads, and threw them out. In all things God be praised, which hath delivered the wicked in to our hands. Where as we now are purposed to keep the purification of the temple upon the twenty-five. day of the month Casleu, we thought necessary to certify you thereof: that you also might keep the tabernacles feast day, & the day of the fire, which was given us when Nehemias offered, after that he had set up the temple & the altar. For what time as our fathers were led away unto Persis, the priests (which then sought the honor of God) took the fire privily from the altar, & hid it in a valley, where as was a deep dry pit: & therein they kept it, because the place was unknown to every man. Now after many years when it pleased God, that Nehemias should be sent from the king of Persia: he sent the childers children of those priests (which had hid the fire) to seek it. 〈◊〉. 6. a 〈◊〉. 16. c And as they told us, they found no fire, but thick water. Then commanded he them to draw it up, & to bring it him, & the offerings withal. Now when the sacrifices were laid on & ordered, the priest Nehemias commanded to sprinkle them & the wood with the water. When this was done, & the time come that the Son shone, which afore was hid in the cloud: there was a great fire kindled, In so much that every man marveled. Now all the priests prayed, while the sacrifice was a making. jonathas prayed first, and the other gave answer. And Nehemias prayer was after this manner: O LORD God maker of all things, thou fearful & strong, thou righteous & merciful, thou that art only a gracious king, only liberal, only just, almighty and everlasting, thou that delyverest Israel from all trouble, thou that hast choose the fathers & hallowed them: receive the offering for the whole people of Israel, preserve thy own portion, & hallow it. Gather those together, that are scattered abroad from us: deliver them that are under the Heithens bondage, look upon them which are despised & abhorred, that the heathen may know & see, how that thou art our God: punish them that oppress, and proudly put us to dishonour. Set the people again in thy holy place, 〈…〉 like as Moses hath spoken. And the priests song Psalms of thanksgiving, so long as the sacrifice endured. Now when the sacrifice was brent, Nehemias commanded the great stones to be sprenkled with the residue of the water. 〈…〉 Which when it was done, there was kindled a flame of them also: but it was consumed thorough the light, that shined from the altar. So when this matter was known, it was told the king of Persia, that in the place where the priests (which were led away) had hid fire, there appeared water in stead of fire, & that Nehemias & his company had purified the sacrifices withal. Then the king considering & pondering the matter diligently, made him a temple, to prove the thing that was done. And when he found it so in deed, he gave the priests many gifts & diverse rewards: ye he took them with his own hand, & gave them. And Nehemias called the same place Nephthar, which is as much to say as a cleansing: but many men call it Nephi. The II Chapter. IT is found also in the writings of jeremy the prophet, that he commanded them which were carried away, to take fire, as it is said afore. 2. Mac. 1. He commanded them also, jere 29. b that they should not forget the law & commandments of the LORD, & that they should not err in their minds, Baruc. 6. when they see images of silver & gold with their ornaments. These & such other things commanded he them, & exorted them, that they should not let the law of God go out of their hearts. It is written also, how the prophet (at the commandment of God) charged them, to take the tabernacle & the ark with them: & he went forth unto the mountain, where Moses clymmed up, & saw the heritage of God. Deu. ●4. And when jeremy came there, he found an open cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, the ark & the altar of incense, & so stopped the hole. There came certain men together also following him, to mark the place, but they could not find it. Which when jeremy perceived, he reproved them, saying: As for that place, it shallbe unknown, until the time that God gather his people together again, & receive them unto mercy. Then shall God show them these things, & the majesty of the LORD shall appear, & the cloud also, like as it was showed unto Moses: Exo. 13. d & like as when Solomon desired that the place might be sanctified, & it was showed him. 3. Re. 8. b For he being a wise man, handled honourably & wisely: offering unto God in the hallowing of the temple, when it was fynisshed. Levi. 9 d Andrea like as when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire came down from heaven, & consumed the burned offering: Even so prayed Solomon also, 2. Par. 7. a & the fire came down from heaven, & consumed the burned offering. And Moses said: because the sin offering was not eaten, therefore it is consumed. In like manner Solomon kept the dedication (or hallowing) eight days. In the Annotations & writings of Some read: * Nehemias. jeremy, were these things put also: & how he made a library, & how he gathered out of all countries the books of the prophets, of David, the epistles of the kings, and of the presents. Even so judas also, look what he learned by experience of war, & such things as hath happened unto us, he gathered them all together, & so we have them by us. If you now desire to have the same, send some body to fetch them unto you. Whereas we then are about to celebrated the purification, we have written unto you. Therefore you shall do well, if you keep the same days. We hope also, that the God (which delivered his people, & gave them all the heritage, kingdom, priesthood & Sanctuary that he promised them in the law) shall shortly have mercy upon us, ●eut. 30. a & gather us together from under the heaven in to his holy place: for he hath saved us from great parels, & hath cleansed the place. As concerning judas Machabeus & his brethren, the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the altar, ye & of the wars that concern noble Antiochus and Eupator his son, Mac. 6. a of the shyninges that came down from heaven upon those, which manfully defended the jews. (For though they were but few, yet defended they the whole land, drove away the enemies host, recovered again the temple, that was spoken of thorough out all the world, delivered the cite, doing their best that the law of the LORD which was put down, might with all tranquillity be restored again unto the LORD, that was so merciful unto them.) As touching jason also of Cyren, we have under taken compendiously to bring in to one book, the things that were comprehended of him in five. For we considering the multitude of the books, and how hard it should be for them that would meddle with stories and acts (and that because of so diverse matters) have under taken so to comprehend the stories: that such as are disposed to read, might have pleasure and pastime therein: and that they which are diligent in such things, might the better think upon them: ye and that who so ever read them, might have profit thereby. Nevertheless we ourselves that have meddled with this matter for the shortening of it, have taken no small labour, but great diligence, watchings and travail. Like as they that make a feast, would fain do other men pleasure: Even so we also (for many men's sakes) are very well content to take the labour, where as we may shortly comprehend, the things that other men have truly written▪ For he that buildeth an house a new, must provide for many things to the whole building: but he that painteth it afterward, seeketh but only what is comely, meet and convenient to garnish it withal. Even so do we also in like manner. And why? He that beginneth to write a story for the first, must with his understanding gather the matter together, set his words in order, and diligently seek out every part: But he that afterward will shorten it, useth few words, and toucheth not the matter at the largiest. Let this be sufficient for a prologue, now will we begin to show the matter: for it is but a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the story itself. The III Chapter. WHat time as the holy cite was inhabited in all peace and wealth, & when the laws were yet very well kept. (For so was it ordained by Onias the high priest and other godly men, that were enemies to wickedness:) It came thereto, that even the kings and princes themselves did the place great worship, 〈…〉 and garnished the temple with great gifts: Inso much that Seleucus king of Asia of his own rents bore all the costs belonging to the service of the offerings. 〈…〉 Then Simon of the tribe of Ben jamin, a ruler of the temple, laboured to work some mischief in the cite: but the high priest resisted him. Nevertheless when he might not overcome Onias, 〈…〉 he got him to Appolonius the son of Thersa (which then was chief lord in Celosyria and Phenices) and told him, that the treasury in jerusalem was full of innumerable money, and how that the commons goods (which belonged not unto the offerings) were exceeding great also: ye and how it were possible, that all these might come under the kings power. Now when Appollonius had showed the king of the money, as it was told him: the king called for Heliodorus his steward, and sent him with a commandment, to bring him the said money. Immediately Heliodorus took his journey, but under a colour, as though he would go thorough Celosyria and Phenices to visit the cities, but his purpose was to fulfil the kings pleasure. So when he came to jerusalem, and was lovingly received of the high priest in to the cite: he told what was determed concerning the money, and showed the cause of his coming: he axed also, if it were so in deed. Then the high priest told him, that there was such money laid up for the upholding of weddowes and fatherless children, and how that a certain of it belonged unto Hyrcanus Tobias a noble man: and that of all the money (which that wicked Simon had bewrayed) there were iiij. hundredth talentes of silver, and ij. hundredth of gold: ye & that it were unpossible for those men's meaning to be deceived, that had laid up their money in the place and temple (which is had in worship thorough the whole world) for the maintenance and honour of the same. Whereunto Heliodorus answered, that the king had commanded him in any wise, to bring him the money. So at the day appointed, Heliodorus entered into the temple to order this matter. But there was no small fear thorough out the whole cite. The priests fallen down before the altar in their vestiments, and called unto heaven upon him, which had made a law concerning stuff given to keep, 〈◊〉. 22. b that they should be safely preserved, for such as commit them unto keeping. Then who so had looked the high priest in the face, it would have grieved his heart: For his countenance and the changing of his colour, declared the inward sorrow of his mind. The man was all in heaviness, and his body in fear: whereby they that looked upon him, might perceive the grief of his heart. The other people also came out of their houses by heaps unto the common prayer, because the place was like to come in to confusion. The women came together thorough the streets, with hairy clotheses about their breasts. The virgins also that were kept in, ran to Onias, some to the walls, other some looked out at the windows: ye they all held up their hands toward heaven, & prayed. A miserable thing was it, to look upon the common people, & the high priest being in such trouble. But they besought Almighty God, that the goods which were committed unto them, might be kept whole, for those that had delivered them unto their keeping. Nevertheless the thing that Heliodorus was determed to do, that performed he in the same place, he himself personally being about the treasury with his men of war. But the spirit of almighty God showed himself openly, so that all they which presumed to obey Heliodorus, fallen thorough the power of God in to a great fearfulness & dread. For there appeared unto them an horse, 2 Ma. 10. ● and 11. b with a terrible man sitting upon him, decked in goodly array, and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his fore feet. Now he that sat upon the horse, had harness of gold upon him. moreover there appeared ij. fair and beautiful young men in goodly array, which stood by him, scourged him of both the sides, & gave him many stripes without ceasing. With that, fell Heliodorus suddenly unto the ground. 2. Mac. 5. ● So they took him up (being compassed about with great darkness) and bore him out upon a bear. Thus he that came with so many runners and men of war in to the said treasury, was born out, where as no man might help him: and so the power of God was manifest and known. He lay still dumb also by the power of God, destitute of all hope and life. And they praised the LORD, that he had showed his power upon his place and temple, which a little afore was full of fear & trouble: and that thorough the revelation of the almighty LORD it was filled with joy and gladness. Then certain of Heliodorus friends prayed Onias, that in all haist he would call upon God, to grant him his life, which was giving up the ghost. So the high priest considered the matter, and jest the king should suspect that the jews had done Heliodorus some evil: he offered an health offering for him. Now when the high priest had obtained his petition, the same young men in the same clothing appeared, & stood beside Heliodorus, saying: Thank Onias the high priest, for for his sake hath the LORD granted the thy life: therefore saying that God hath scourged thee, Act. 27. c give him praise & thanks, and show every man his might & power. And when they had spoken these words, they appeared no more. So Heliodorus offered unto God, made great vows unto him which had granted him his life, thanked Onias, took his host, & went again to the king. Then testified he unto every man, of the great works of God, that he had seen with his eyes. And when the king axed Heliodorus who were meet to be sent yet once again to jerusalem, he said: If thou hast any enemy or adversary unto thy realm, send him thither, & thou shalt have him punished, if he escape with his life: for in that place (no doubt) there is a special power & working of God. For he that dwelleth in heaven, vysiteth & defendeth that place: & all that come to do it harm, he punysheth & plageth them. This is now the matter concerning Heliodorus, & the keeping of the treasury at Jerusalem. The four Chapter. THis Simon now (of whom we spoke afore) being a bewrayer of the money and of his own natural country, ●. Ma. ●. a reported the worst of Onias: as though he had moved Heliodorus unto this, and as though he had been a bringer up of evil. Thus was he not ashamed to call him an enemy of the realm, that was so faithful an overseer & defender of the cite & of his people: ye & so fervent in the law of God. But when the malice of Simon increased so far, that thorough his friends there were certain manslaughters committed: Onias considered the apparel that might come thorough this strife, and how that Appollonius (namely the chief lord in Celosyria and Phenices) was all set upon tyranny, and Symons malice increased the same: He got him to the king, not as an accuser of the citesyns, but as one that by himself intended the common wealth of the whole multitude. For he saw it was not possible to live in peace, neither Simon to leave of from his foolishness, except the king did look thereto. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus (which is called the noble) took the kingdom: jason the brother of Onias laboured to be high priest: For he came unto the king, and promised him three hundredth & lx. talentes of silver, & of the other rents lxxx. talentes. Besides this he promised him yet an C. & L, if he might have the school of the children, and that he might call them of jerusalem Antiochians. Which when the king had granted, & he had got the superiority: he began immediately to draw his kinsmen to the custom of the heathen, put down the things, that the jews had set up of love, by John the father of Eupolemius (which was sent embassitoure unto Rome, for to make the bond of friendship and love.) He put down all the jaws & Liberties of the jews, and set up wicked statutes. He dared make a fighting school under the castle, and set fair young men to learn the manners of whores and brodels. This was now the beginning of the Heithenish & strange conversation, brought in thorough the ungracious and unherde wickedness of jason (which should not be called a priest, but an ungodly person.) In so much, that the priests were now no more occupied about the service of the altar, but despised the temple, regarded not the offerings: ye gave their diligence to learn to fight, to wristle, to leap, to dance, & to put at the stone: not setting by the honour of the fathers, but liked the glory of the Greeks best of all▪ for the which they strous perlously, and were greedy to follow their statutes, ye their lust was in all things to be like them, which afore were their enemies & destroyers. Howbeit to do wickedly against the law of God, shall not escape unpunished: but of this we shall speak here after. What time as the * Olympiades' sports were played at Tyrus (the king himself being present) this ungracious jason sent wicked men, bearing from them of jerusalem (which now were called Antiochians) iij. C. drachmas of silver for an offering to Hercules. These had they that carried them, desired under such a fashion, as though they should not have been offered, but bestowed to other uses. Nevertheless he that sent them, sent them to the intent that they should be offered unto Hercules. But because of those that were present, they were given as to the making of ships. And Appollonius the son of Nesteus was sent in to Egipte, because of the noble men of king Ptolemy Philometor. Now when Antiochus perceived that he was put out from meddling in the realm, he sought his own profit, departed from thence, came to joppa, & then to jerusalem: where he was honourably received of jason & the cite, & was brought in with torch light and with great praise: and so he turned his host unto Phenices. After iij. year jason sent Menelaus (the foresaid Symons brother) to bear the money unto the king, 〈…〉 & to bring him answer of other necessary matters. But he (when he was praised of the king for magnifienge of his power) turned the high priesthood unto himself, laying up iij. C. talents of silver for jason. So when he had got commandments from the king, he came, having nothing that becometh a priest, but bearing the stomach of a cruel tyrant, & the wrath of a wild brute be'st. 〈…〉 Then jason (which had deceived his own brother) saying that he himself was beguiled also, was fain to i'll in to the land of the Ammonites, & Menelaus got the dominion. But as for the money that he had promised unto the king, he did nothing therein, when Sostratus the ruler of the castle required it of him. (For Sostratus was the man, that gathered the customs) wherefore they were both called before the king. Thus was Menelaus put out of the priesthood, & Lysimachus his brother came in his stead. Sostratus also was made lord of the Cyprians. It happened in the mean season, that the Tharsians & Mallocians made insurretion, because they were given for a present unto king Antiochus' concubine. Then came the king in all the haist, to still them again and to pacify the matter, leaving Andronicus there to be his debit, as one meet therefore. Now Menelaus supposing that he had got a right convenient time, stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, and gave them to Andronicus for a present: and some he sold at Tyrus and in the cities thereby. Which when Onias knew of a surety, he reproved him: but he kept him in a sanctuary beside Daphnis, that lieth by Antioch. Wherefore Menelaus got him to Andronicus, and prayed him that he would slay Onias. So when he came to Onias, he counciled him craftily to come out of the sanctuary, giving him his hand with an oath (how be it he suspect him) and then he slew Onias, without any regard of righteousness. For the which cause not only the jews, but other nations also took indignation, and were displeased for the unrightuous death of so godly a man. And when the king was come again from Cilicia, the jews and certain of the Greeks went unto him, complaining for the unrightuous death of Onias. Ye Antiochus himself also was sorry in his mind for Onias, so that it pitied him, and he wept, remembering his soberness and mannerly be havour. Wherefore he was so kindled in his mind, that he commanded Andronicus to be striped out of his purple clothing, & so to be led thorough out all the cite, ye and the ungracious man to be slain in the same place, where he committed his wickedness upon Onias Thus the LORD rewarded him his punishment, as he had deserved. Now when Lysimachus had done many wicked deeds in the temple thorough the council of Menelaus, and the voice came abroad: the multitude gathered them together against Lysimachus, for he had carried out now much gold. So when the people arose and were full of displeasure, Lysimachus armed iij. M. unthrifts to defend him: a certain tyrant being their captain, which was grown both in age & woodness. But when the people understood the purpose of Lysimachus, some got stones, some good strong clubs, & some cast aszshes upon Lysimachus. Thus there were many of them wounded, some being slain, & all the other chased away. But as for that wicked churchrobber himself, they killed him beside the treasury. Of these matters therefore there was kept a court against Menelaus. Now when the king came to Tyrus, they made a complaint unto him of Menelaus, concerning this business, & the embassitours were three. But Menelaus went & promised Ptolemy to give him much money, if he would persuade the king. So Ptolemy went to the king in to a court (where as he was set to cool him) & brughte him out of that mind In so much that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations, that not withstanding was cause of all mischief: and those poor men (which if they had told their cause, ye before the Scythians, they should have be judged innocent) them he condemned to death. Thus were they so one punished, which followed upon the matter for the cite, for the people, & for the holy vessel. Wherefore they of Tyrus took indignation, & buried them honourably. And so thorough the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus remained still in authority, increasing in malice, to the hurt of the citesyns. The V Chapter. AT the same time Antiochus made him ready to go again in to Egipte. Then were there seen at jerusalem (xl. days long) horsemen running to and fro in the air, which had raiment of gold, & spears. There were seen also whole hosts of men weapened, & horses running in an order, how they came together, how they held forth their shields, how the harnessed men drawn out their sweardes, & shot their darts. The shine of the golden weapons was seen, & of all manner of armure. Wherefore everyman prayed, that those tokens might turn to good. Now when there was go forth a false rumo, as though Antiochus had been deed: jason took a M. men, & came suddenly upon the cite. The citesyns ran unto the walls, at the last was the cite taken, and Menelaus fled in to the castle. As for jason, he spared not his own citesyns in the slaughter, neither considered he what great evil it were, to destroy the prosperity of his own kinsmen: but did as one that had got the victory of his enemies, and not of his friends. For all this got he not the superiority, but at the last received confusion for his malice, and fled again like a vagabond in to the land of the Ammonites. 2. Ma. 4. Finally (for a reward of his wickedness) he was accused before Aretha the king of the Arabians: In so much that he was fain to i'll from cite to cite, being despised of every man as a forsaker of the laws, and an abominable person. And at the last (as an open enemy of his own natural country and of the citesyns,) he was driven in to Egipte. Thus he that afore put many out of their own native land, perished from home himself. He went to Lacedaemon, thinking there to have got succour by reason of kindred. And he that afore had casten many one out unburied, was thrown out himself, no man mourning for him, ner putting him in his grave: so that he neither enjoyed the burial of a stranger, neither was he partaker of his father's sepulchre. Now when this was done the king suspect, that the jews would have fallen from him: wherefore he came in a great displeasure out of Egipte, & took the cite by violence. He commanded his men of war also, Mac. 1. c that they should kill & not spare, but slay down such as with stood them, or clymmed up upon the houses. Thus was there a great slaughter of young men, old men, women, children and virgins. In iij. days were there slain lxxx. M, forty thousand put in preson, & no less sold. Yet was he not content with this, but dared go in to the most holy temple (Menelaus that traitor to the laws & to his own natural country, being his guide) & with his wicked hands took the holy vessel, which other kings & cities had given thither for the garnishing & hono of the place: them took he in his hands unworthily, & defiled them. So mad was Antiochus, that he considered not, how that God was a little wrath for the sins of them that dwelled in the cite, for the which such confusion came upon that place. ●dit. 5. d And why? if it had not happened them to have been lapped in many sins, this Antiochus (as soon as he had come) had suddenly been punished, and shot out for his presumption: Ma. ●. d like as Heliodorus was, whom Seleucus the king sent to rob the treasury. Nevertheless God hath not choose the people for the places sake, but the place for the people's sake: and therefore is the place become partaker of the people's trouble, but afterward shall it enjoy the wealth of them. And like as it is now forsaken in the wrath of almighty God, so when the great God is reconciled, it shall be set up in high worship again. So when Antiochus had taken a M. and viij. C. talentes out of the temple, he got him to Antioch in all the haist, thinking in his pride, that he might make men sale upon the dry land, and to go upon the see, such an high mind had he. He left debites there to vex the people: At jerusalem left he Philippe a Phrygian, in manners more cruel than himself that set him there: At Garisim he left Andronicus & Menelaus, which were more grievous to the citisyns than other. Now as he was thus set in malice against the jews, he sent Appollonius an hated prince, with xxij. M. commanding him to slay all those that were of perfect age, and to cell the women, maids & children. When he came now to jerusalem, he feigned peace, & kept him still until the Sabbath day. And then he commanded his men to take them to their weapens (for the Jews kept holy day) and so he slew all them that were go forth to the open play, running here and there thorough the cite with his men wapened, and murthured a great number. But judas Machabeus which was the tenth, fled into the wilderness, 1. Mac. ●● led his life there with his company among the wild beestes and upon the mountains: dwelling there and eating grass, jest they should be partakers of the filthiness. The VI Chapter. NOt long after this, sent the king a messenger of Antioch, 1. Mac. ●● for to compel the Jews to alter the ordinances of the fathers & the law of God, to defile the temple that was at jerusalem, & to call it the temple of jupiter Olympus: & that they should be in Gazarim, as those which devil at the place of jupiter the harberous. This wicked sedition of the ungodly was heavy upon all the people: For the temple was full of voluptuousness bebbinge & bollinge of the Heithen, of ribaudes & harlots together. The women went in to the holy place, & bore in that was not lawful. The altar also was full of unlawful things, which the law forbiddeth to say upon it. The Sabbathes were not kept, the other solemn feasts of the land were not regarded To be plain, there dared no man be a known that he was a jewe. In the day of the kings buyeth they were compelled perforce to offer: & when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were constrained to were garlands of yven, and so to go about for the honour of Bacchus. moreover thorough the council of Ptolemy, there went out a commandment in the next cities of the heathen, that they should entreat the jews in like manner: namely, to compel them for to do sacrifice after the laws of the Gentiles: and who so would not, to put them to death. A piteous thing was it to se. There were ij. women accused to have circumcided their sons, ●. Mac. 1. f whom when they had led round about the cite (the babes hanging at their breasts) they cast them down headlinges over the walls. Some that were crept in to dens and had kept the Sabbath, were accused unto Philippe, and brent in the fire: because that for the fear of God they kept the commandment so stiffly, and would not defend themselves. Now I beseek all those which read this book, that they refuse it not for these falls of adversity: & judge the things (that are happened) for no destruction, but for a chastening of oh people. And why? When God suffereth not sinners long to follow their own mind, 〈◊〉 3. b but shortly punysheth them, it is a token of his great loving kindness. For this grace have we of God more than other people, that he suffereth not us long to sin unpunished like other nations, that when the day of judgement cometh, he may punish them in the fullness of their sins. If we sin, he correcketh us, but he never withdraweth his mercy from us: & though he punish with adversity, yeth doth he never forsake his people. But let this that we have spoken now with few words, be for a warning & exortation of the Heithen. Now will we come to the declaring of the matter. Eleazar one of the principal scribes, an aged man & of a well-favoured countenance, was constrained to gape with open mouth & to eat swines flesh. 〈…〉 But he desiring rather to die gloriously than to live with shame, offered himself willingly to the martyrdom. Now when he saw that he must needs go to it; he took it patiently: for he was at a point with himself, that he would consent to no unlawful thing for any pleasure of life. They that stood by being moved with pity (but not a right) for the old friendship of the man, took him aside privily, and prayed him that he would let such flesh be brought him as were lawful to eat, & then to make a countenance as though he had eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice like as the king commanded, for so he might be delivered from death: & so for the old friendship of the man, they showed him this kindness. But he began to consider his discrete and honourable age, his noble and worshipful stock, and how that from his youth up he had been of an honest and good conversation, ye & how constantly he had kept the ordinances and laws commanded by God, wherefore he gave them this answer, and said: Yet had I rather first be laid in my grave. 1. Tess. 5. c For it becometh not mine age (said he) in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young personnes might think, that Eleazar being lxxx. year old and ten, were now go to a strange life: and so thorough mine hypocrisy (for a little time of a transitory life) they might be deceived: by this means also should I defile mine age, & make it abominable. For though I were now delivered from the torments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of almighty God, Amos. 1. a neither alive ner deed. Wherefore I will die manfully, & do as it becometh mine age: Whereby I may peradventure leave an example of steadfastness for such as be young, if I with a ready mind & manfully die an honest death, for the most worthy and holy laws. When he had said these words, immediately he was drawn to the torment. Now they that led him and were mild a little afore, began to take displeasure, because of the words that he said: for they thought he had spoken them of an high mind. But when he was in his martyrdom, he mourned and said: Thou (O LORD) which hast the holy knowledge, knowest openly: that where as I might be delivered from death, I suffer these sore pains of my body: but in my mind I am well content to suffer them, because I fear the. Thus this man died, leaving the memorial of his death for an example, not only unto young men, but unto all the people, to be steadfast and manly. The VII. Chapter. IT happened also that there were seven brethren (with their mother) taken, levit. 11. ● & compelled by the king against the law, to eat swines flesh: namely with scourges and leathern whips. And one of them which was the chief, said: What seekest thou, and what requyrest thou of us? As for us, we are ready rather to suffer death, then to offend the laws of God and the fathers. Then was the king angry, and bad hear cauldrons and brazen pots. Which when they were made hot, immediately he commanded the tongue of him that spoke first, to be cut out, to pull the skin over his head, to pair of the edges of his hands and feet: ye and that in the sight of his mother and the other of his brethren. Now when he was clean marred, he commanded a fire to be made, & so (while there was any breath in him) to be fried in the cauldron, In the which when he had been long pained, the other brethren with their mother exorted him to die manfully, saying: The LORD God shall regard the truth, and comfort us, like as Moses testifieth and declareth in his song, Deut. 18. ● saying: and he will have compassion on his servants. So when the first was deed after this manner, they brought the second to have him in derision, pulled the skin with the hair over his head, and axed him, if he would eat swines flesh, or he were pained in the other membres also thorough out his body. But he answered boldly, and said: I will not do it. And so was he tormented like as the first. And when he was even at the giving up of the ghost, he said: Thou most ungracious person puttest us now to death, but the king of the world shall raise us up (which die for his laws) in the resurrection of everlasting life. After him, was the third had in derision: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully, and spoke with a steadfast faith: These have I of heaven, but now for the law of God I despise them: for my trust is, that I shall receive them of him again. In so much that the king and they which were with him, marveled at the young man's boldness, that he nothing regarded the pains. Now when he was deed also, they vexed the fourth with torments in like manner. So when he was now at his death, he said: It is better that we being put to death of men, have our hope and trust in God, for he shall raise us up again. joh. 5. c As for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life. And when they had spoken to the fifth, they tormented him. Then looked he unto the king, & said: Thou hast power among men (for thou art a mortal man also thy self) to do what thou will't, but think not, that God hath forsaken our generation. Abide thee, tarry still a while, & thou shalt see the great power of God, how he will punish the & thy seed. After him they brought the sixte, which being at the point of death, said: Be not deceived (oh king) for this we suffer for our own sakes, because we have offended our God, & therefore marvelous things are showed upon us. But think not thou (which takest in hand to strive against God) that thou shalt escape unpunished. This excellent mother (worthy to be well reported of, and had in remembrance) saw her seven sons die in one day, and suffered it patiently, because of the hope that she had in God: Ye she exorted every one of them in especial, and that boldly and steadfastly, with perfect wisdom, waking up her wivish thought with a manly stomach, and said unto them: I can not tell how you came in my womb, for I neither gave you breath ner soul, not ner life. It is not I that joined that members of you bodies together, but the maker of the world, which fashioned the birth of man, & began all things. Even he also of his own mercy shall give you breath and life again, like as you now regard not your own selves for his laws sake. Now thought Antiochus that she had despised him, therefore he let her go with her reproves, and began to exhort the youngest son (which yet was left) not only with words but sworn unto him with an oath, that he should make him a rich & wealthy man (if he would forsake the laws of his fathers) ye and that he should give him, what so ever were necessary for him. But when the young man would not be moved, for all these things, he called his mother, & counciled her to save her sons life. And when he had exorted her with many words, she promised him, that she should speak unto her son. So she turned her unto him (laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn) & spoke with a boiled voice: O my son, have pite upon me, that bare the ix. months in my womb, that gave the suck, nourished the and brought the up unto this age. I beseek thee (my son) look upon heaven and earth and all that is therein, and consider, that God made them and man's generation of nought: so shalt thou not fear this hangman, but suffer death steadfastly, like as thy brethren have done: that I may receive the again in the same mercy with thy brethren. While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: Whom look you for▪ Wherefore do you tarry? I will not obey the kings commandment, but the law that God gave us by Moses. 〈…〉 As for the that ymaginest all mischief against the jews, thou shalt not escape the hand of God: for we suffer these things, because of our sins. And though God be angry with us a little while (for our chastening & reformation,) yet shall he be at one again with his servants. But thou. (O shameful & most abominable person.) Pride not thyself thorough vain hope, in being so malicious upon the servants of God: for thou hast not yet escaped the judgement of the God, which is all mighty, & saith all things. My brethren that have suffered a little pain, are now under the covenant of everlasting life: but thorough the judgement of God, thou shalt be punished righteously for thy pride. As for me (like as my brethren have done) I offer my soul & my body for the laws of oh fathers, calling upon God, that he will soon be merciful unto oh people: ye & with pain & punishment to make the grant, 〈…〉 that he only is God. In me now & in my brethren the wrath of almighty God is at an end, which righteously is fallen upon all oh people. Then the king being kindled in anger, was more cruel upon him then upon all the other, & took indignation, that he was so lighty regarded. So this young man died undefiled, & put his trust still in the LORD. Last of all after the sons, was the mother put to death also. Let this now be enough spoken, concerning the offerings, & extreme cruelness. The VIII. Chapter. THen judas Machabeus and they that were with him, went privily in to the towns, called their kinsfolks & friends together, took unto them all such as continued yet in the faith & law of the Jews, and brought forth uj. M. men. So they called upon the LORD, that he would have an eye unto his people, which was trodden down of every man: to be gracious unto the temple, that was defiled of the ungodly: to have compassion upon the destruction of the cite, (which was shortly like to be laid waist) to hear the voice of the blood that cried unto him: to remember the most unrighteous deaths of young innocent children, the blasphemies also done unto his name, & to punish them. Now when Machabeus had gathered this multitude together, 〈…〉 he was to mighty for the heathen (for the wrath of the LORD was turned in to mercy) he fallen upon the towns & cities unawares, brent them, took the most commodious places, & slew many of the enemies. But specially he made such chases by night, in so much that his manliness was spoken of every were. So when Philippe saw that the man increased by little and little, and that the matter prospered with him for the most part: he written unto Ptolemy (which was a captain in Celosiria & Phenices) help him in the kings business. Then sent he Nicanor Patrocli (a special friend of his) in all the haist, 1. Mac. 3. ● & gave him of the common sort of the heathen no less than xx. M. harnessed men, to rote out the whole generation of the jews, having to help him one Gorgias a man of war, which in matters concerning battayls had great experience. Nicanor ordained also the tribute (which the Romans should have had) to be given unto the king, out of the captivity of the jews, namely ij. M. talentes. And immediately he sent to the cities of the see coost, requiring them for to buy jews to be their servants & bond men, promising to cell them lxxx. and ten for one talent: but he considered not the wrath of almighty God, that was to come upon him. When judas knew of this, he told the jews that were with him, of Nicanors coming. Now were there some of them fearful, not trusting unto the righteousness of God and fled their way. But the other that remained, came together & besought the LORD, to deliver them from that wicked Nicanor, which had sold them or ever he came nigh them: and though he would not do it for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he made with their fathers, & because they called upon his holy & glorious name. 1. Mac. 5. b And so Machabeus called his men together, namely about vi. M. exortinge them not to agreed unto their enemies, neither to be afraid for the multitude of their adversaries coming against them unrighteously: but to fight manly, Deut. ●0. ● 2. Pa. ●0. c considering the reproof that they had done to the holy place without cause, how they had despised and oppressed the cite, ye and destroyed the laws of the fathers. For they (said he) trust in their weapens and boldness, jere. 17. b Psal. 19 b but our confidence is in the almighty LORD, which in the twinkling of an eye may both destroy them that come against us, and all the world. He exorted them also to call to remembrance the help, that God showed unto their fathers: 4. Re. 19 g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. ● as when there perished an C. & lxxxum of Sennacheribs' people: And of the battle that they had in Babylon against the Galacians: how that all the Macedonians that came to help them, stood in fear: & how they being but only uj. M. slew an C. & xx. M. thorough the help that was given them from heaven, whereby they also had received many benefits. Thorough these words the men took good hearts unto them, ready to die for the law & the country. So he set upon every company a captain, one of his own brethren: Simon, joseph and jonathas: giving each one xv. C. men. He caused Eszdras also to read the holy book unto them, and to give them a token of the help of God. Then he himself being captain in the fore front of the battle, 1. Ma. 4. b buckled with Nicanor And God was there help, in so much that they slew above ix. M. men & compelled the more part of Nicanors host to i'll, they were so wounded and feeble. Thus they took the money from those that came to buy them, and followed upon them on every side. But when the time came upon them, they returned, for it was the Sabbath, and therefore they followed no more upon them. So they took their weapens and spoils & kept the Sabbath, giving thanks unto the LORD, which had delivered them that day, and showed them his mercy. After the Sabbath they distributed the spoils to the sick, to the fatherless, Num. 31. d 1. Re. 30. e Deu. 20. b and to widows, and the residue had they themselves with there's. When this was done, and they all had made a general prayer: they besought the merciful LORD to be at one with his servants. Of those also that were with Timotheus and Bachides, which fought against them, they slew xx. M. wan high and strong holds, and divided moo spoils: ever giving an equal portion unto the sick, to the fatherless to widows & to aged people. And when they had diligently gathered their weapens together, they laid them all in convenient places, & the remnant of the spoils brought they to jerusalem. They slew Philarches that wicked person, which was with Timotheus, and had vexed many jews. And when they held the thanksgiving▪ at jerusalem for the victory, they brent those that had set fire on the ports of the temple: namely Calisthenes, which was fled in to an house: and so they got a worthy reward for their wickedness. As for that most ungracious Nicanor, which had brought a thousand merchants, to buy the jews, he was thorough the help of the LORD brought down, even of them whom he regarded not: in so much that he put of his glorious raiment, fled by see, and came alone to Antioch with great shame & dishonour, which he got thorough the destruction of his host. Thus he that promised the Romans to pay them their tribute, when he took jerusalem: began now to say plainly, that God was the defender of the jews, & therefore not possible to wound them, because they followed the laws which God had made. The IX. Chapter. AT the same time came Antiochus again with dishonour out of Persis. 〈…〉 For when he came to Persepolis, and undertook to rob the temple and to subdue the cite, the people ran together and defended themselves, in so much that he and his were fain to i'll with shame. And so after that flight, it happened, that Antiochus came again with dishonour. But when he came to Egbathana, he got knowledge what was happened unto Nicanor & Timotheus. Now as he was advancing himself in his wrath, he thought he was able to avenge the injury that was done to them, upon the jews: and therefore commanded to make ready his chariot, haistinge on his journey without ceasing: the judgement of God provoking him, because he had spoken so proudly, that he would come to jerusalem, and make it a grave of the jews. But the LORD God of Israel, that seith all things, 〈…〉 smote him with an invisible plague, which no man could heal. For as soon as he had spoken these words, there came upon him an horrible pain of his bowels, & a sore grief of the tharmes. And that was but right: for he had martyred other men's bowels with diverse and strange torments, how be it he would in no wise cease from his malice. Ye he was yet the prouder, and more malicious against the jews: But while he was commanding to make haist in the matter, it happened that he fallen down violently from the chariot, so that it brussed his body, & did him great pain. And so he that thought he might command the floods of the see (so proud was he beyond the condition of man) and to weigh the high mountains in a pair of scoales, was now brought down to the ground, & carried upon an horszlytter, knowledging the manifest power of God upon him: so that that wicked body of his was full of worms, 〈…〉 which in his pain fallen quick out of his flesh: In so much that his host was grieved with the smell and stink of him. Thus he that a little afore thought he might reach to the stars of heaven, him might no man now abide ner bear, for the vehemence of stink. Therefore he being brought from his great pride, began for to come to the knowledge of himself: for the punishment of God warned him, & his pain increased ever more & more. And when he himself might not abide his own stink, he said these words: It is reason to be obedient unto God, & that a man desire not to be like unto him. This wicked person prayed also unto the LORD, of whom he should have optained no mercy. And as for the cite that he came unto so haistely, to bring it down to the ground, & to make it a grave for deed men: now he desireth to deliver it free. And as touching the Jews, whom he had judged not worthy to be buried, but would have cast them out for to be devoured of the fowls and wild beasts, saying, that he would have destroyed both old and young: Now he promises, to make them like the citesyns of Athens. And where as he had spoiled the holy temple afore, now he maketh promise to garnish it with great gifts, to increase the holy ornaments, and of his own rents to bear the costs and charges belonging to the offerings: ye and that he would also become a jew himself, to go thorough every place of the world, and to preach the power of God. But when his pains would not cease, (for the righteous iudgmet of God was come upon him) out of a very despair he written unto the jews a letter of intercession, containing these words: The king and prince Antiochus wisheth unto the virtuous citesyns of the jews, much health and good prosperity. If you and your children far well, and if all things go after your mind: we give great thanks. In my sickness also do I remember you lovingly: for as I came out of Persia, and was taken with sore disease: I thought it necessary to care for the common wealth. neither despair I in myself, but have a good hope to escape this sickness. But considering that my father led an host some time in the higher places, & showed who should reign after him, that (if there happened any controversy, or any hard thing were declared,) they in the land might know their chief lord, that there should be no insurrection: Again, when I ponder by my self, how that all the mighty men and neighbours round about, are laying wait, and look but for oportunyte to do harm: I have ordained that my son Antiochus shall reign after me, whom I often commended to many of you, when I was in the higher kingdoms, and have written unto him as it followeth hereafter. Therefore I pray you and require you, to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally and in especial. For I hope that he shall be of sober & loving behaviour, and if he follow my device, he shall be indifferent unto you. Thus that murderer and blasphemer of God was sore smitten: 〈…〉 and like as he had entreated other men, so he died a miserable death in a strange country upon a mountain. And his body did Philippe (that went with him) carry away: which fearing the son of Antiochus, went in to Egipte to Ptolemy Philometor. The X. Chapter. MAchabeus now & his company (thorough the help of the LORD) wan the temple and the cite again, 1. Mac. 4. destroyed the altars and chapels that the Heithen had builded thorough the streets: Exo. 20. cleansed the temple, made another altar of brick stone, and after ij. years they offered sacrifices, set forth the incense, the lights and show bread. When that was done, they fallen down flat upon the ground, and besought the LORD, that they might come no more in to such trouble: but if they sinned any more against him, he himself to chasten them with mercy, and not to come in the hands of those aleauntes and blasphemous men. Now upon the same day that the strangers polluted the temple, it happened that on the very same day it was cleansed again namely, 1. Mac. 4. ● the xxij. day of the month called Casleu. They kept viij. days in gladness, like as in the feast of the tabernacles: remembering that not long afore, they held the feast of the tabernacles upon the mountains and in dens like beasts. And to the same token they bore green bows, branches and palms before him that had given them good fortune to cleanse his place. They agreed also together, and made a statute, that every year those days should be solemnly kept of all the people of the jews. How Antiochus then (that was called the noble) died, it is sufficiently told. Now will we speak of Nicanor the son of that wicked Antiochus, how it happened with him: and so with few words to comprehend the adversity that chanced in the wars. When he had taken in the kingdom, he made one Lysias (which had been captain of the host in Phenices and Syria) ruler over the matters of the realm. For Ptolemy that was called Macron, being a ruler for the jews (and specially, to sit in judgement for such wrong as was done unto them) undertook to deal peaceably with them. For the which cause he was accused of the friends before Eupator: and when he was suspect to be a traitor (because he had left Cypers, that Philometor had committed unto him: and because he departed from noble Antiochus, that he was come unto) he poisoned himself, and died. Now when Gorgias was governor of the same places, he took strangers and undertook often times to war with the Jews. moreover the Idumeans that held the strong holds, received those that were driven from jerusalem, and took in hand to war also. But they that were with Machabeus, besought and prayed unto the LORD, ● Mac. 5. a that he would be their helper: and so they fallen in to the strong holds of the Idumeans, & wan many places by strength: Soch as came against them they slay, and killed no less (of all together) then twenty thousand. Nevertheless some (no less than nyn● thousand) were fled in to two strong towers, having all manner of ordinance to withstand them. Now Timotheus whom the jews had overcome afore, 〈…〉 gathered a multitude of strange people, brought an host also of horsemen of the Asians, to win jewry by strength. But when he drew nigh, Machabeus and they that were with him fallen to their prayer, sprencled aszshes upon their heads, 〈…〉 being girded with hairy clot about their loins, fell down before the altar, & besought the LORD that he would be merciful to them, but an enemy unto their enemies, and to take part against their adversaries, according as it is promised in the law. So after the prayer, 〈…〉 they went on further from the cite: and when they came nigh the enemies, they prepared themselves against them. And by times in the morning at the break of the day, both the hosts buckled together. The one part had the LORD for their refuge, 〈…〉 which is the giver of prosperity, strength and victory. The other had a manly stomach, which is a captain of war. The battle now being great, there appeared unto the enemies from heaven u men, ●eg. 6 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 1●. b upon horszback with brydels of gold, leading the jews, and two of them having Machabeus betwixt them, that kept him safe on every side with their weapens, but shot darts and lighteninges upon the enemies. where thorough they were confounded with blindness and so sore afraid, that they fallen down. There were slain of foot men twenty thousand and five hundredth, and six hundredth horsemen. As for Timotheus himself, he fled unto Gazar a very strong hold, wherein Cereas was captain. But Machabeus and his company laid siege to it cheerfully iiij. days. Now they that were within, trusting to the strength of the place, cursed & banned exceadingly, and made great craking with wicked words. Nevertheless upon the fifth day in the morning, xx. yongemen of Machabeus company, being set on fire in their minds because of the blasphemy: came manfully unto the brickwall, and with bold stomachs they and their other companions clymmed up upon the towers, undertaking to set fire upon the ports, & to burn those blasphemous personnes quick. Two days were they destroying the castle, which when they found Timotheus (that was crept in to a corner) they killed him, and slew Cereas his brother in like manner with Appollophanes. When this was done, they sung Psalms, with praises and thanksgivings unto the LORD, which had done so great things for Israel, & given them the victory. The XI. Chapter. NOt long after this, Lysias the kings steward and a kinsman of his, (which had the governance of his matters,) took sore displeasure for the things that had happened: and when he had gathered lxxx. M. men of foot with all the host of the horsemen, he came against the jews, thinking to win the cite, to make it an habitation for the heathen, and the temple would he have to be an house of lucre, 〈…〉 like as the other god's houses of the Heithen are, & to cell the priests office every year: Not considering the power of God, but was wild in his mind, trusting in the multitude of foot men, 〈…〉 in thousands of horsemen, and in his lxxx. Elephants. So he came in to jewry & then to Bethsura (a castle of defence dying in a narrow place, u furlongs from Jerusalem) and wan it. Now when Machabeus and his company known that the strong holds were taken, 2. Ma. 10. e they fallen to their prayers with weeping and tears before the LORD: and all the people in like manner besought him, that he would send a good angel to deliver Israel. Machabeus himself was the first that made him ready to the battle, exhorting the other that were with him, to jeopardy themselves and to help their brethren. And when they were goyenge forth of jerusalem together with a ready and willing mind, 2. Mac. 3. d there appeared before them upon horszbacke a man in white clothing with harness of gold, shaking his spear. Than they praised the LORD all together, which had showed them mercy, and were comforted in their minds: in so much that they were ready, not only to fight with men, but with the most cruel beestes, ye and to run thorough walls of iron. Thus they went on willingly having an helper from heaven, and the LORD merciful unto them. They fallen mightily upon their enemies like lions, brought down xj. M. foot men, xuj. C. horsemen, put all the other to flight, many of them being wounded, and some got away naked. Ye Lysias himself was fain to i'll shamefully, and so to escape. Nevertheless the man was not with out understanding, but considered by himself that his power was mynished, and pondered how the Jews being defended by the help of Almighty God, were not able to be overcome: wherefore he sent them word, and promised, that he would consent to all things which were reasonable, and to make the king their friend. To the which prayer of Lysias Machabeus agreed, seeking in all things the common wealth: and what so ever Machabeus written unto Lysias concerning the jews, the king granted it. For there were lettres written unto the Jews from Lysias containing these words: Lysias sendeth greeting to the people of the jews. John and Absalon which were sent from you, delivered me writings, and required me to fulfil the things concerning their earande. Therefore look what might be granted, I certified the king thereof: and what so ever was convenient, I agreed thereto. If you now will be faithful in the matters, I shall endeavour myself hereafter also to do you good. As concerning other things by every article thereof: I have committed them to your messaungers, and to those whom I sent unto you, to common with you of the same, far you well, In the hundredth and xlviij. year, the xxiv. day of the month Dioscorinthius. Now the kings letter contained these words: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto his brother Lysias. 2. Ma. 9 b For so much as our father is now deed, our will is, that they which are in our realm, live without any insurrection, and every man to be diligent in his own matters. We understand also, that the jews would not consent to our father, for to be brought unto the custom of the Gentiles, but stiffly to keep their own statutes: for the which cause they require of us also, to let them remain still by their own laws. Wherefore our mind is, that this people shallbe in rest: we have concluded and determed also, to restore them their temple again: that they may live according to the use & custom of their forefathers. Thou shalt do us a pleasure therefore, if thou send unto them & agree with them: that when they are certified of our mind, they may be of good cheer, and look to their own wealth. And this was the letter, that the king written unto the jews: King Antiochus sendeth greeting unto the council and the other people of the jews. If you far well, we have our desire: as for us, we are in good health. Menelaus came and told us, how that your desire was to come down to your people, which are with us. Wherefore those that will come, we give them free liberty, unto the thirty. day of the month of April, that they may use the meats of the jews and their own laws, like as afore: and none of them by any manner of ways to have harm, for things done in ignorance. Menelaus whom we have sent unto you, shall common with you at large, far you well. In the Cxlviij. year, the xv. day of the month of April. The Romans also sent a letter, containing these words: Quintus Mennius & Titus Mamlius embassatours of the Romans, send greeting unto the people of the jews. Look what Lysias the kings kinsman hath granted you, we grant you the same also. But as concerning the things which he referred unto the king, send hither some with speed: and wonder the mat●er diligently among yourselves, that we may cast the best to your profit, for we must depart now unto Antioch. And therefore write shortly again, that we may know your mind. Far well. In the hundredth xlviij. year, the xv. day of the month of April. The XII. Chapter. WHen these covenants were made, Lysias went unto the king, and the Jews tilled their ground. But Timotheus, Appollonius the son of Gemei, Jerome and Demophon the proud, Nicanor the captain of Cypers, and they that lay in those places: would not let them live in rest and peace. They of joppa also did even such a shameful deed: They prayed the Jews that dwelled among them, to go with their wives and children in to the ships which they had prepared, & did with them, as though they had aught them no evil will. For so much then as there was go forth a general proclamation thorough the cite because of peace, they consented thereto, and suspect nothing: but when they were go forth in to the deep, they drowned no less than ij. C. of them. When judas known of this cruelty showed unto his people, he commanded those that were with him to make them ready, exortinge them to call upon God the righteous judge: went forth against those murthurers of his brethren, set fire in the haven by night, brent up the ships, and those that escaped from the fire, he slew with the sword. And when he had done this, he departed as though he would come again, and rote out all them of joppa. But when he had gotten word that the jamnites were minded to do in like manner unto the Jews which dwelled among them, he came upon the jamnites by night, and set fire in the haven with the ships: so that the light of the fire was seen at jerusalem, upon a two. C. & xl. furlongs. They that were within it, put such trust in the strength of the walls, & in their store of vytales: that they were the slacker in their doings, cursing and reviling judas with blasphemies, and speaking such words as it becometh not. But Machabeus calling upon the great prince of the world (which without any battle rams or ordinance of war, did cast down the walls of jericho, 〈…〉 in the time of joshua) fallen manfully upon the walls, took the cite, and (thorough the help of the LORD) made an exceeding great slaughter: In so much that a lake of ij. furlongs broad which lay thereby, seemed to flow with the blood of the slain. Then departed they from thence seven. C. and L. furlongs, and came to Taraca unto the Jews that are called Tubianei. But as for Timotheus, they could not get him there: for (not one matter dispatched,) he was departed from thence, and had left certain men in a very strong hold. But Dositheus and Sosipater which were captains with Machabeus, slew those that Timotheus had left in the house of defence, even x. M. men. And Machabeus prepared him with the uj. M. men that were about him, set them in order by companies, and went forth against Timotheus, which had with him an C. and xx. M. men of foot, ij. M. and v. C. horsemen. When Timotheus had knowledge of judas coming, he sent the women, children and the other baggage unto a castle called Carnion. (For it could not be won, & was hard to come unto, the ways of the same places were so narrow) and when judas company came first in sight, the enemies were smitten with fear, thorough the presence of God, which saith all things: In so much that they fleeing one here, another there, were rather discomfited of their own people, judit. 7. f 1. Re. 14. ● 2. Pa. 20. ● & wounded with the strokes of their own sweardes. judas also was very earnest in following upon them and punyshinge those ungodly, and slew thirty. M. men of them. Timotheus also himself fallen in to the hands of Dositheus & Sosipater, whom he besought with many prayers, to let him go with his life: because he had many of the jews fathers and brethren in preson, which (if they put him to death) might be disappointed. So when he had promised faithfully to deliver them again according to the condition made, they let him go without harm. for the health of the brethren. And when judas had slain twenty-five. M, he went from Carnion. Now after that he had chased away and slain his enemies, he removed the host toward Ephron a strong cite, 1. Mac. 5. ● wherein dwelled many diverse people of the heathen, and the strong young men kept the walls, defending them mightily. In this cite was much ordinance, and provision of darts. 2. Ma. 10. ● But when judas and his company had called upon Almighty God, (which with his power breaketh the strength of the enemies) they wan the cite, and slay twenty-five. M. of them that were within. From thence went they to the cite of the Scythians, which lieth uj. C. furlongs from jerusalem. But when the Jews which were in the cite testified, that the cite sins dealt lovingly with them, ye and entreated them kindly in the time of their adversity, judas and his company gave them him (which made them his people, and ever defended his own portion with evident tokens) that he would preserve them still. So at the commandment of the captain, they removed from thence, and came to a town called Dessasan. And Simon judas brother fallen in hand with Nicanor, but thorough the sodane coming of the enemies, he was afraid. Nevertheless Nicanor hearing the manliness of them that were with judas, and the bold stomachs that they had to fight for their natural country, dared not prove the matter with bloudsheddinge. Wherefore he sent Possidonius, Theodocius & Mathias before, to give and to take peace. So when they had taken long advysement there upon, and the captain showed it unto the multitude: they were agreed in one mind, to have peace. And they appointed a day to sit upon these matters quietly among themselves, the stoles also were brought and set forth. Nevertheless judas commanded certain men of arms to wait in convenient places, jest there should suddenly arise any evil thorough the enemies. And so they commoned reasonably together. Nicanor, while he abode at jerusalem, ordered himself not unreasonably, but sent away the people that were gathered together. He loved judas ever with his heart, and favoured him. He prayed him also to take a wife, and to bring forth children. So he married, lived in rest, and they led a common life. But Alcimus perceiving the love that was betwixt them, and how they were agreed together, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor had taken strange matters in hand, and ordained judas (an enemy of the realm) to be the kings successor. Then the king was sore displeased, and thorough the wicked accusations which Alcimus made of Nicanor, he was so provoked, that he written unto Nicanor, saying: that he was very angry for the friendship and agreement, which he had made with Machabeus. Nevertheless he commanded him in all the haist, that he should take Machabeus prisoner, and send him to Antioch. Which lettres when Nicanor had seen, he was at his wits end, and sore grieved, that he should break the things, wherein they had agreed: specially, saying Machabeus was the man, that never did him harm. But because he might not withstand the king, he sought opportunity to fulfil his commandment. notwithstanding when Machabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlish unto him, and that he entreated him more rughly than he was wont, he perceived that such unkindness came not of good, and therefore he gathered a few of his men, and withdrew himself from Nicanor. Which when he knew that Machabeus had manfully prevented him, he came in to the great and most holy temple: and commanded the priests (which were doing their usual offerings) to deliver him the man. And when they swore that they could not tell, where the man was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand, and made an oath, saying: If you will not deliver me judas captive, 〈…〉 I shall remove this temple of God in to the plain field, I shall break down the altar, and consecrated this temple unto Bacchus. After these words he departed. Then the priests lift up their hands toward heaven, and besought him that was ever the defender of their people, saying: Thou oh LORD of all, which hast need of nothing, wouldest that the temple of thy habitation should be among us. Therefore now (oh most holy LORD) keep this house ever undefiled, which lately was cleansed. 〈…〉 Now was there accused unto Nicanor, one Razis an Alderman of jerusalem, a lover of the whole cite, and a man of good report: which for the kind heart that he bore unto the people, was called a father of the Jews. This man often times (when the jews were minded to keep themselves undefiled) defended and delivered them, being content steadfastly to spend his body and his life for his people. So Nicanor willing to declare the hate, that he bore to the jews, sent five hundredth men to take him: for he thought, if he got him, he should bring the jews in great decay. Now when the people began to ruszshe in at his house, to break the doors, and to set fire on it: he being now taken, would have defended himself with his sword: choosing rather to die manfully, then to yield himself to those wicked doers: and because of his noble stock, he had rather have been put to extreme cruelty. notwithstanding what time as he myssed of his stroke for haist, and the multitude fallen in violently betwixt the doors: he ran boldly to the brickwall, & cast himself down manfully among the heap of them, which gave soon place to his fall, so that he fallen upon his belly. Nevertheless while there was yet breath within him, he was kindled in his mind: and while his blood guszshed out exceadingly (for he was very sore wounded) he ran thorough the midst of the people, and got him to the top of a rock. So when his blood was now go, he took out his own bowels with both his hands, and threw them upon the people: calling upon the LORD of life and spirit, to reward him this again, and so he died. The XU. Chapter. NOw when Nicanor knew that judas was in the country of Samaria, 〈…〉 he thought with all his power to strike a field with him upon a Sabbath day. Nevertheless the jews that were compelled to go with him, said: O do not so cruelly and unkindly, but hallow that Sabbath day, and worship him that saith all things. For all this, yet said the ungracious person: 〈◊〉. ●0. c Is there a mighty one in heaven, that commanded the Sabbath day to be kept? Andrea when they said: ye the living God, the mighty LORD in heaven commanded the seventh day to be kept, 〈…〉 he said: And I am mighty upon earth, to command them for to arm them selves, and to perform the kings business. notwithstanding he might not have his purpose. Nicanor had devised with great pride to overcome judas, and to bring away the victory. But Machabeus had ever a fast confidence and a perfect hope in God that he would help him, and exorted his people, not to be afraid at the coming of the heathen: but allway to remember the help that had been showed unto them from heaven, ye and to be sure now also, that almighty God would give them the victory. He spoke unto them out of the law and prophets, putting them in remembrance of the battayls, that they had stricken afore, & made them to be of a good courage. So when their hearts were plucte up, he showed them also the disceatfulnesse of the heathen, and how they would keep no covenant ner oath. Thus he weapened them not with the armour of shield and spear, but with wholesome words and exhortations. He showed them a dream also, wherethrough he made them all glad, which was this: He thought that he saw Onias (which had been high priest, a virtuous & loving man, sad, and of honest conversation, well spoken, and nee that had been exercised in godliness from a child) holding up his hands toward heaven, and praying for his people. After this there appeared unto him another man, which was aged, honourable and glorious. And Onias said: This is a lover of the brethren, and of the people of Israel. This is he that prayeth much for the people, and for all the holy cite: jeremy the prophet of God. He thought also that jeremy held out his right hand, and gave him (namely unto judas) a sword of gold, saying: Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt smite down the enemies of the people of Israel. And so they were well comforted thorough the words of judas, and took courage unto them, so that the young men were determed in their minds to fight, & to bide stiffly at it: In so much that in the things which they took in hand, their boldness showed the same, because the holy cite and the temple were in apparel: for the which they took more care, then for their wives, children, brethren and kynsfolkes. Again, they that were in the cite, were most careful for those which were to fight. Now when they were all in a hope that the judgement of the matter was at hand, and the enemies drawn nigh, the host being set in array, the Elephants and horsemen every one standing in his place: Machabeus considered the coming of the multitude, the ordinance of diverse weapens, the cruelness of the beestes, and held up his hands toward heaven, calling upon the LORD that doth wonders, which giveth not the victory after the multitude of weapens and power of the host (but ●o them that please him) according to his own will. 2. Pa. 14. judic. 7. Therefore in his prayer he said these words: O LORD, 4. Reg. 19 g Esa. 37. f 1. Mac. 7. 2. Ma. ●. thou that didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias king of juda, and in the host of Sennacherib slewest an hundredth and five and four score thousand: send now also thy good angel before us (oh LORD of heavens) in the fearfulness and dread of thy mighty arm, that they which come against thy holy people to blaspheme them, may be afraid. And so he made an end of his words. Then Nicanor and they that were with him, drawn nigh with shawms and songs: but judas and his company with prayer and calling upon God. With their hands they smote, but with their hearts they prayed unto the LORD, and slew no less than xxxv. M. men: For thorough the present help of God they were gloriously comforted. Now when they left of, and were turning again with joy, they understood that Nicanor himself was slain with the other. Then they gave a great shout and a cry, praising the almighty LORD with a loud voice. And judas (which was ever ready to spend his body and life for his citesyns) commanded to smite of Nicanors head, with his arm and hand, and to be brought to jerusalem. When he came there, he called all the people, and the priests at the altar with those that were in the castle, and showed them Nicanors head, and his wicked hand, which he had presumptuously held up against the temple of God. He caused the tongue also of that ungodly Nicanor to be cut in little pieces, and to be cast to the fowls, and the cruel man's hand to be hanged up before the temple. So every man gave thanks unto the LORD, saying: blessed be he, that hath kept his place undefiled. As fo: Nicanors head, he hanged it up upon the high castle, for an evident and plain token of the help of God. And so they agreed all together, to keep that day holy: namely the xiij. day of the month Adar, which in the Syrians language is called the next day before Mardocheus day. Thus was Nicanor slain, and from that time forth the jews had the cite in possession: And here will I now make an end. The end● of the second book of the Maccabees. The new testament. The gospel of S Matthew. The gospel of S. Mark. The gospel of S. Luke. The gospel of S. Ihon. The Acts of the Apostles The epistles of S. Paul. The epistle unto the Romans. The first and second epistle to the Corinthians The epistle to the Galathians. The epistle to the Ephesians. The epistle to the Philippians. The epistle to the Colossians. The first and second epistle to the Tessalonians The first and second epistle unto Tymothy. The epistle unto Titus. The epistle unto Philemon. The first and second epistle of S. Peter. The three epistles of S. Ihon. The epistle unto the Hebrews. The epistle of S. James. The epistle of S. jude. The Revelation of S. Ihon. The gospel of S. Matthew. What S. Matthew containeth. Chap. I The genealogy of Christ, and marriage of his mother Mary. The angel satisfieth joseph's mind. Chap. II The time & place of Christ's birth. The wise men ofre their presents, Christ flieth in to Egipte, the young children are slain Christ turneth in to Galilee. Chap. III The baptism, preaching and office of John, and how Christ was baptized of him in jordan. Chap. four Christ fasteth and is tempted: he calleth Peter, Andrew, james and John, & heals all the sick. Chap. V In this Chapter and in the two next following is contained the most excellent and loving Sermon of Christ in the mount: Which sermon is the very key that openeth the understanding in to the law. In this fifth chapter specially he preacheth of the VIII. beatitudes or blessings, of manslaughter, wrath and anger: of adultery, of swearing, of suffering wrong, and of love even toward a man's enemies. Chap. VI Of Alms, prayer and fasting. He forbiddeth the careful seeking of worldly things. Chap. VII. He forbiddeth fooliszh and temerarious judgement, reproveth hypocrisy, exorteth unto prayer, warneth to beware of false prophets, and so concludeth his sermon. Chap. VIII. Christ cleanseth the leper, heals the captains servant and many other diseases: helpeth Peter's mother in law, stilleth the see and the wind, and driveth the devils out of the possessed in to the swine. Chap. IX. He heals the palsy, calleth Matthew from the custom, answereth for his disciples, heals the woman of the blood issue, helpeth jairus daughter, giveth ij. blyndmen their sight, maketh a dumb man to speak, driveth out a devil. Chap. X. Christ sendeth out his Xij Apostles to preach in jewry, giveth them a charge, teacheth them, & comforteth them against persecution and trouble. Chap. XI. John baptist sendeth his disciples unto Christ, which giveth them their answer, rebuketh the unthankful cities, and lovingly exorteth men to take his yock upon them. Chap. XII. The disciples pluck the ears of corn, he excuseth them, heals the dried hand, helpeth the possessed that was blind and dumb, rebuketh the unfaithful that would needs have tokens, and showeth who is his brother, sister and mother. Chap. XIII. The parable of the seed, of the tars, of the mustard sede, of the leaven, of the treasure hid in the field, of the pearls, and of the net. Chap. XIIII. John is taken and headed, Christ feedeth five thousand men with u loaves and two fish, and appeareth by night unto his disciples upon the see. Chap. XU. Christ excuseth his disciples, and rebuketh the scribes and Pharisees for transgressing God's commandment thorough their own traditions. The thing that goeth in to the mouth defileth not the man He delivereth the woman of Cananees daughter, heals the multitude, and with seven. loaves and a few little fish feedeth iiijM. men, beside women & children. Chap. XVI. The Pharisees require a token. jesus warneth his disciples of the Pharisees doctrine▪ The confession of peter. The keys of heaven. The faithful must bear the cross after Christ. Chap. XVII. The transfiguration of Christ upon the mount of Tabor He heals the lunatic and payeth tribute. Chap. XVIII. He teacheth his disciples to be humble, and harmless, to avoid occasions of evil, and one to forgive another's offence. Chap. XIX. Christ giveth answer concerning marriage, & teacheth not to be careful ner to love worldly riches. Chap. XX. Christ teacheth by a similitude that God is debtor unto no man, and how he is allway calling men to his labour He teacheth his disciples to be lowly, & giveth ij. blind men their sight. Chap. XXI. He rideth in to jerusalem, driveth the merchants out of the temple, curseth the fig tree, and rebuketh the Pharisees with the similitude of the ij. sons and of the huszbandmen, that slay such as were sent unto them. Chap. XXII. The marriage of the kings son. Tribute to be given to the Emperor Christ confuteth the opinion of the Saducees concerning the resurrection, and answereth the scribe unto his question. Chap. XXIII. Christ crieth woe over the Pharisees scribes and hypocrites, and prophesieth the destruction of jerusalem. Chap. XXIIII. Christ showeth his disciples the destruction of the temple, the end of the world, the tokens of the latter days, and warneth them to wake, for the world shall suddenly perish. Chap. XXV. The X. virgins. the talentes delivered to the servants, and of the general judgement. Chap. XXVI. The Magdalene anoynteth Christ. They eat the easter lamb and the supper of the LORD, Christ prayeth in the garden, judas betrayeth him, Peter smiteth of Malcus' ear, Christ is accused by false witnesses. Peter denieth him. Chap. XXVII. Christ is delivered unto Pilate judas hangs himself. Christ is crucified among thieves, he dieth and is buried. Watchmen keep the grave. Chap. XXVIII. The resurrection of Christ. The high priests give the soldiers large money, to say that Christ was stolen out of his grave. Christ appeareth to his disciples, and sendeth them forth to preach and to baptize. The gospel of S. Matthew. The first Chapter. THis is the book of the generation of jesus Christ the son of David, 〈…〉 the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac: 〈…〉 〈…〉 Isaac begat jacob: 〈◊〉. 29. f jacob begat judas & his brethren: judas begat Phares & Zaran of Thamar: 〈…〉 Phares begat Hesrom: 〈◊〉. 46. b Hesrom begat Aram: 〈◊〉 4. d Aram begat Aminadab: 〈…〉 Aminadab begat Naasson: 〈◊〉. 1. a Naasson begat Salmon: Salmon begat Boos of Rahab: Boos begat Obed of Ruth: Obed begat jesse: jesse begat David the king: 〈…〉 〈…〉 David the king begat Solomon, of her that was the wife of Vry: Solomon begat Roboam: Roboam begat Abia: Abia begat Asa: Asa begat josaphat: josaphat begat joram: joram begat Osias: Osias begat joatham: 〈◊〉. ●6. d joatham begat Achas: 〈◊〉. ●7. b Achas begat Ezechias: 〈◊〉. 28. d Ezechias begat Manasses: 〈◊〉. 20. c Manasses begat Amon: 〈…〉 Amon begat josias: 〈◊〉. 21. c josias begat jechonias and his brethren about the time of the captivity of Babylon. 〈…〉 〈…〉. c 〈◊〉. 1. a 〈◊〉. 2. a And after the captivity of Babylon, jechonias begat Salathiel: Salathiel begat Zorobabel: Zorobabel begat Abiud: Abiud begat Eliachim: Eliachim begat Azor: Azor begat Sadoc: Sadoc begat Achin: Achin begat Eliud: Eliud begat Eleasar: Eleasar begat Matthan: Matthan begat jacob: jacob begat joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born that jesus, which is called Christ. All the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations: From David unto the captivity of Babylon, are fourteen generations. From the captivity of Babylon unto Christ, are also fourteen generations. The birth of Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary was married to joseph Some 〈◊〉 * befo●● they 〈◊〉 at hom●● together before they came together, Luc. 1. b she was found with child by the holy ghost, But joseph her husband was a perfect man, and would not bring her to shame, but was minded to put her away secretly. Nevertheless while he thus thought, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying: joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto the Mary thy wife. For that which is conceived in her, is of the holy ghost. She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name jesus. Phi. 2. a Act. 4. ● For he shall save his people from their sins. All this was done, that the thing might, be fulfilled, which was spoken of the LORD by the Prophet, saying: Behold, a maid shall be with child, Esa. 7. c and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which is by interpretation, God with us. Now when joseph awoke out of sleep he did as the angel of the LORD bade him, and took his wife unto him, and knew her not, till she had brought forth her first born son, and called his name jesus. Luc. 2. ● The II Chapter. WHen jesus was born at Bethleem in jury, in the time of Herode▪ the king, Behold, there came wisemen from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is the new born king of the jews? We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herode the king had herd this, he was troubled, & all Jerusalem with him, and he gathered all the high priests and Scribes of the people, & axed of them, where Christ should be born. And they said unto him: at Bethleem in Jewry. For thus it is written by the Prophet: And thou Bethleem in the land of jury, Mich. 5. a art not the least among the Princes of juda. ●ohan. 7. d For out of the shall come unto me the captain, that shall govern my people Israel. Then Herod privily called the wise men, and diligently inquired of them, what time the star appeared, and sent them to Bethleem, saying: Go, and search diligently for the child. And when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had herded the king, they departed: and lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came, and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were marvelously glad: and went into the house, and found the child with Mary his mother, and kneeled down and worshipped him, & opened their treasures, Psal. 71. b ●sa. 60. a and offered unto him gifts: gold, franckynsence and myrrh. And after they were warned of God in a dream, that they should not go again to Herod, they returned into their own country another way. When they were departed: behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to joseph in a dream, saying: arise, and take the child▪ and his mother, and fly into egypt, and abide there till I bring the word. ●xo. 4. d For He rod will seek the child to destroy him. Then he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into egypt, and was there unto the death of Herod, that the thing might be fulfilled which was spoken of the LORD, by the Prophet, which sayeth: ●zeae. 11. a ●u. ●4. b out of egypt have I called my son. Then Herod perceiving that he was deceived of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethleem, and in all the coasts there of, as many as were two year old and under, according to the time which he had diligently searched out of the wise men. ●ere. 31. c Then was that fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet jeremy saying: On the hills was a voice heard, great mourning, weeping, & lamentation: Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not. When Herode was deed: behold, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to joseph in egypt, saying: arise and take the child and his mother, & go into the land of Israel. For they are deed, which sought the chyldes' life. And he arose up, and took the child and his mother, & came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in jury, in the room of his father Herode, he was afraid to go thither. notwithstanding after he was warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parties of Galilee, and went and dwelled in a cite called Nazareth, 〈…〉 to fulfil that which was spoken by the Prophets: he shallbe called a Nazarite. The III Chapter. IN those days John the baptist came and preached in the wilderness of jury, saying: Amend yourselves, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Ma●● ●● Ioha● ●● isaiah. 〈…〉 This is he, of whom it is spoken by the Prophet Esay, which sayeth: The voice of a crier in the wilderness, prepare the lords way, and make his paths strait. This John had his garment of camels here, and a leathern gerdell about his loins. 〈…〉 His meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him jerusalem, and all jury, and all the region round about jordan, and were baptized of him in jordan, confessing their sins. Now when he saw many of the Pharisees and of the Saducees come to his baptism, 〈…〉 he said unto them: you generation of vipers, who hath certified you, that you shall escape the vengeance to come? beware, bring forth due fruits of penance. Think not now, to say in yourselves, we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Even now is the axe put unto the rote of the trees: 〈…〉 therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, shallbe hewn down, and cast into the fire. I baptize you with water to repentance: but he that cometh after me, 〈…〉 is mightier than I, whose shues I am not worthy to bear. He shall baptize you with the holy ghost & with fire: which hath also his fan in his hand, and will purge his floor, and gather the wheet into his garner, & will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. Luc. ●● Then came jesus from Galilee to jordan, 〈…〉 unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying: I have need to be baptized of thee: and comest thou to me? jesus answered & said unto him: Let it be so now. For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Ma●. ●● Luc ●● Ioha●● ●● And jesus assoon as he was baptized, came strait out of the water. And lo, heaven was open over him: and John saw the spirit of God descend like a dove, and light upon him. And lo, 〈◊〉 4●. a Ma●. 17. a ●ac. 9 ᵈ ●. Pet. 1. d there came a voice from heaven saying: This is that my beloved son, in whom is my delight. The four Chapter. THen was jesus led away of the spirit in to wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 〈◊〉. 1. b ●uc. 4 a And the tempter came to him and said: if thou be the son of God, command, that these stones be made breed. He answered & said: it is written: 〈…〉 Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy cite, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him: if thou be the son of God, 〈◊〉 ●0. b cast thy self down. For it is written: he shall give his angels charge over the and with their hands they shall hold the up, that thou●dashe not thy foot against a stone. And jesus said unto him: it is written also: 〈◊〉 ●. c Thou shalt not tempt thy LORD God. Again, the devil took him up and led him into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and all the glory of them, and said unto him: all these will I give thee, if thou will't fall down and worship me. 〈◊〉. ●. c ●eg. 7. a Then said jesus unto him: Avoid Satan. For it is written: thou shalt worship the LORD thy God and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil left him, and behold, the angels came and ministered unto him. 〈◊〉 1. b 〈◊〉 4. b When jesus had herd that John was taken, he departed into Galilee and left Nazareth, and went and dwelled in Capernaum, which is a cite upon the see, in the coostes of zabulon and Neptalim, that the thing might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esay the Prophet, 〈◊〉. d 〈◊〉 ● a saying: The land of zabulon and Neptalim, the way of the see beyond jordan, and Galilee of the gentiles, the people which sat in darkness, saw a great light, & to them which sat in the region & shadow of death, light is begun to shine. From that time forth began jesus to preach, and to say: amend yourselves, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. As jesus walked by the see of Galilee, he saw two brethren: Simon which was called Peter, & Andrew his brother, casting a net into the see, for they were fiszhers, and he said unto them: follow me, & I will make you fiszhers of men. jere. 16. c Eze. 47. ● And they straight way left their nets, and followed him. And when he went forth from thence, he saw other two brethren, james the son of zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with zebedee their father, mending their nets, and called them. And they without tarrying left the ship and their father, Mat. 19 d Luc. 5. b and followed him. Andrea jesus went about all Galilee, Marc. 1. c teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healed all manner of sickness, & all manner diseases among the people. Andrea his fame spread abroad through out all Syria. And they brought unto him all sick people, that were taken with divers diseases and gripinges, and then that were possessed with devils, & those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy: & he healed them. And there followed him a great number of people, from Galilee, & from the ten cities, and from jerusalem, Marc. 3 a Luc. 6. b and from the regions that lie beyond jordan. The V Chapter. WHen he saw the people, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came to him, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying: Luc. 6. c Blessed are the poor in spirit: for there's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: Esa. 61. a and 66. for they shallbe comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. jere. 31. d Blessed are they which hunger & thirst for rightewesnes: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shallbe called the children of God. Blessed are they which suffer persecution for rightwesnes sake: for there's is the kingdom of heaven. 1. Pet. 4. ● 1. Pe. 2. c and 3. c Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and falsely say all manner of evil sayings against you for my sake. Act. 5. c Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before your days. You are the salt of the earth, but and if the salt have lost his saltness, Marc. 9 ● Luc. 14. ● Marc. 4. b Luc. ●. b and 11. c what can be salted therewith? It is thence forth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A cite that is set on an hill, can not be hide: neither do men light a candle, and put it under a buszhell, but on a candelstick, and it lighteth all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, ●ath. 6. a Pet. 2. b that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. Think not, that I am come to destroy the law, or the Prophets: not, I am not come to destroy them, ●at. 1. c c. d ●uc. 16. c ●uc. 18. d a. 40. a but to fulfil them. For truly I say unto you: till heaven and earth periszhe, one jot or one tittle of the law shall not escape, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever breaketh one of these lest commandments, ●co. ●. b ●zec. 18. b and teacheth men so, he shallbe called the least in the kingdom of heaven, But whosoever observeth and teacheth the same shallbe called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you: except your rightewesnes exceed the righetewesnes of the Scribes and Pharisees, you can not enter in to the kingdom of heaven. You have herd, how it was said to them of the old time: ●co. 20. ᶜ ●●. b ●eu. 24. d ●eut. 5. c Thou shalt not kill. For whosoever killeth, shall be in danger of judgement. But I say unto you: whosoever is angry with his brother, is in danger of the judgement. Whosoever sayeth unto his brother: Racha, is in danger of the counsel. But whosoever sayeth: thou fool, is in danger of hell fire. 〈◊〉 42. b ●ala. 2. b Therefore when thou offrest thy gift at the altar, and there remember'st that thy brother hath aught against thee: leave there thine offering before the altar, and go thy way first, and reconcile thyself to thy brother, & then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thy adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him, ●uc. 12. f ●rou. 25. b jest that adversary deliver the to the judge, and the judge deliver the to the minister, and then thou be cast in to preson. I say unto the verily: thou shalt not come out thence, till thou have paid the utmost farthing. ●xo. 20. c ●ccl. 41. c ●●b. 31. a You have herd, how it was said to them of old time: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a wife lusting after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Wherefore if thy right eye offend thee, pluck him out, and cast him from the. Better it is for thee, ●eut. 13. a ●arc. 9 c that one of thy membres periszhe, then that thy whole body should be cast in to hell. Also if thy right hand offend thee, cut him of, and cast him from the. Better ●t is that one of thy members periszh, than that all the body should be cast in to hell. It is said: whosoever putteth away his wife, Deu. 24. a Math. ●●. b let him give her a testimonyall of the divorcement. But I say unto you: Marc. 10. ● Luc. 16. c whosoever putteth away his wife (except it be for fornication) causeth her to break matrimony. And whosoever marrieth her that is divorced, breaketh wedlock. Again, you have herd, levit. ●● Exo. ●● Deu. ●● jaco. 5. c 2. Para. ●● Esa. 65. a Mat. 〈…〉 how it was said to them of old time: Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform thine oath to God. But I say unto you: swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is God is seat: nor yet by the earth, for it is his foot stolen: neither by jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king: neither shalt thou swear by thy heed, because thou canst not make one here white or black: But your communication shallbe, ye, ye: nay, nay. Ephe● ●● For what soever is more than that, cometh of evil. You have herd how it is said: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Exod. ●● Deu. ●● Levi. ●● Luc. ●● But I say unto you: that you resist not evil. But whosoever giveth the a blow on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue the at the law, & take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And who so compelleth the to go a mile, go with him twain. give to him that axeth: and from him that would borrow, turn not away. You have herd, how it is said: Levi. 4● thou shalt love thine neighbour, & hate thine enemy. But I say unto you: love your enemies: Bless them that curse you: Do good to them that hate you: Rom. ●● Pray for them which do you wrong and persecute you, that you may be the children of your father which is in heaven: Deut. ●● for he maketh his son to arise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth his rain on the just and unjust. Luc. ●● For if you love them which love you, what reward shall you have? Do not the Publicans even so? And if you be friendly to your brethren only: what singular thing do you? Do not the Publicans also like wise? You shall therefore be perfect, Levi. ●● even as your father in heaven is perfect. The VI Chapter. TAke heed to your alms, that you give it not in the sight of men, Luc. ●● to the intent that you would be seen of them: or else, you get no reward of your father which is in heaven. When soever therefore thou givest thy alms, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blown before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, for to be praised of men. Verily I say unto you: they have their reward. But when thou dost alms, let not thy left, hand know, what thy right hand doth, that thy alms may be secret: and thy father which seith in secret, shall reward the openly. ●. Re. 18. d Esa. 29. c 〈…〉 a And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the ypocrytes are. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, to be seen of men. Verily I say unto you: they have their reward. But when thou prayest, enter in to thy chamber, ●. Re. 4. d 〈◊〉. 1● a and shut thy door to thee, & pray to thy father which is in secret: and thy father which seith in secret, shall reward the openly. And when you pray, babble not much, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be herd, 〈…〉 for their much bablynges sake. Be not you like them therefore. For your father knoweth where of you have need, Rom. 8. d before you axe of him. After this manner therefore shall you pray: 〈…〉 O our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled upon earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our dettes, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not in to temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. For if you forgive other men their treaspases, your heavenly father shall also forgive you. But and you will not forgive men their trespases, 〈…〉 28. d 〈◊〉 ●1. c nomo, re shall your father forgive you your trespases. 〈…〉 Moreover when you fast, be not sad as the ypocrytes are. For they disfigure their faces, that they might be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you: they have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine heed, and wash thy face, that it appear not unto men, that thou fastest: but unto thy father which is in secret: and thy father which saith in secret, shall reward the openly. Seth at you gather you not treasure upon the earth, 〈…〉. d 〈◊〉. 29. b 〈…〉. a 〈…〉. a where rust and moths corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But gather you treasure together in heaven, where neither rust nor moths corrupt, and where thieves neither break up nor yet steal. For where your treasure is, there is your heart also. 〈…〉 The eye is the light of the body. If thine eye then be single, all thy body shallbe full of light: But and if thine eye be wicked, all thy body shallbe full of darkness: Wherefore if the light that is in thee, be darkness, how great then shall that darkness be? No man can serve two masters. For either he shall hate the one and love the other: Luc. 16. b or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other: You can not serve God and mammon. Luc. 12. c Psal. 54. c 1. Pet. 5. a Therefore I say unto you: be not you careful for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more worth than meat, and the body more of value then raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither reepe, nor yet carry in to the barns: and yet your heavenvly father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you (though he took thought therefore) could put one cubit unto his stature? why care you then for raiment? consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They labour not, neither spin. And yet for all that I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his royalty was not arrayed like unto one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow shallbe cast in to the furnace: shall he not much more do the same unto you, oh you of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying: what shall we eat, or what shall we drink? or where with shall we be clothed? After all such things do the heathen seek. For your heavenly father knoweth, that you have need of all these things. Seek you first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof, 3. Reg. 3 so shall all these things be ministered unto you. Care not then for the morrow, for the morrow shall care for itself: Every day hath enough of his own travail. The VII. Chapter. judge not, that you be not judged: For as you judge, so shall you be judged. Luc. 6. d Rom. 2. Marc. 4. And with what measure you meet, with the same shall it be measured to you again. Why seist thou a moat in thy brother's eye, and perceivest not the beam that is yn thy own eye? Or why sayest thou to the brother: hold, I will pluck the moat out of thine eye, and behold, a beam is in thine own eye. Ypocryte, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, Prou. 18. and then shalt thou see clearly, to pluck out the moat out of thy brother's eye. give not that which is holy, to dogs: neither cast you your pearls before swine, 〈◊〉. 136. c jest they tread them under their feet, & the other turn again and all to rent you. 〈◊〉 29. c ●an. 16. c Axe, and it shallbe given you: Seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shallbe opened unto you. For whosoever axeth, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, 〈◊〉 11. b it shall opened. Is there any man among you, which if his son axed him bread, would offer him a stone? Or if he axed fyszhe, would he proffer him a serpent? if you then which are evil, 〈◊〉. 6. a can give your children good gifts: how moche more shall your father which is in heaven, give good things to them that axe him? Therefore what soever you would that men should do to you, 〈◊〉 31. b b. 4. c 〈◊〉 6. c even so do you to them. This is the law and the Prophets. Enter in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, 〈◊〉. 13. c and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction: & many there be, which go in thereat. Butler straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ●●ut. 13. a ●●hā. 4. a 〈◊〉 6. c Beware of false Prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves, You shall know them by their fruits. Doo men gather grapes of thorns? or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. But a corrupt tree, bringeth forth evil fruit, A good tree can not bring forth bad fruit: ●●th. 12. d nother can a rotten tree bring forth good fruit. 〈◊〉. 11. c ●●th. 3. a c. 3. b Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shallbe hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. ●●th. 25. a 〈◊〉 6. c 〈◊〉 13. c Not all they that say unto me, LORD LORD, shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my father which is in heaven. 〈◊〉. 19 b Many shall say to me in that day: LORD, LORD: have we not prophesied in thy name? Have we not cast out devils in thy name? Have we not done many great deeds in thy name? And then will I knowledge unto them: 〈◊〉 6. b ●●th. 25. d I never knew you, Depart fro me, you workers of iniquity. Whosoever therefore heareth of me these sayings, 〈◊〉. 6. e 〈◊〉. 2. b and doth the same, I will lycken him unto a wise man, which buylthies house upon a rock: Now when abundance of rain descended, and the winds blue and bet upon that same house, it fell not, because it was grounded on the rock. And who soever heareth of me these sayings, & doth them not, shallbe lyckened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sonde: Iaco ●. b Now when abundance of rain descended, & the winds blue, & bet upon that house, Eze. 1● b it f●ll, and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, Marc. ●. b Luc. 4. c that when jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonnyed at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having power, and not as the Scribes. The VIII. Chapter. WHen he was come down from the mountain, Marc. ●. ● Luc. 4. b much people followed him. Andrea lo, there came a leper, and worsheped him, saying: LORD, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And jesus put forth his hand, & touched him, saying: I will, be thou clean: & immediately his leprosy was cleansed? And jesus said unto him: See thou tell no man, but go and show thyself to the pressed, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, 〈…〉 in witness to them. When jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a Captain, Luc. ● a johan. ●● & besought him, saying: Sir, my servant lieth sick at home of the palsy, and is grievously pained. jesus said unto him: I will come & heal him. The Captain answered and said: Sir, I am nor worthy, that thou shouldest come under my roof, Psal. ●● but speak the word only, and my servant shallbe healed. For I myself also am a man subject to the authority of another, & have sowdiers under me. Yet when I say to one: go, he goeth, and to another: come, he cometh: & to my servant: do this, he doth it. When jesus heard that, he marveled, and said to them that followed him: Verily I say unto you: I have not found so great faith: no not in Israel. But I say unto you: Many shall come from the east and west, Esa. ●● Luc. ●● and shall rest with Abraham, Isaac and jacob in the kingdom of heaven: and the children of the kingdom shallbe cast out in to utter darkness: there shallbe weeping & gnaszhing of teeth. And jesus said unto the Captain: go thy way, and as thou believest, so be it unto the. And his servant was healed the same hour. And jesus went in to Peter's house, 〈…〉 and saw his wives mother lying sick of a fever: so he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. When the even was come, 〈…〉 they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils. And he cast out the spirits with a word, & healed all that were sick, that the thing might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Esay the Prophet, saying: He took on him our infirmities, 〈…〉 and bore our s●●●●neses. When jesus saw much people about him, he commanded to go over the water. 〈◊〉 9 f And there came a scribe and said unto him: master, I will follow thee, whither so ever thou goest. And jesus said unto him: the foxes have holes, and the byrddes of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not whereon to rest his heed. Another that was one of his disciples, 〈…〉 said unto him: Sir, give me leave first, to go & bury my father. But jesus said unto him: follow thou me, and let the deed bury their deed. And he entered in to a ship, & his disciples followed him. 〈…〉 And behold, there arose a great tempest in the see, in so much that the ship was covered with wawes, & he was a sleep. And his disciples came unto him, and awoke him, saying: LORD, save us, we perish. And he said unto them: why are you fearful, oh you of little faith? Then he arose, 〈…〉 and rebuked the winds and the see, & there followed a great calm. And the men marveled and said: what man is this, that both winds and see obey him? And when he was come to the other side, into the country of the Gergesites, 〈…〉 there met him two possessed of devils, which came out of the graves, and were out of measure fierce, so that no man might go by that way. And behold, they cried out saying: O jesus thou son of God, what have we to do with thee? 〈…〉 Art thou come hither to torment us, before the time be come? And there was a good way of from them a great herd of swine feeding. 〈…〉 Then the devils besought him, saying: if thou cast us out, suffer us to go our way in to the heerd of swine. And he said unto them: go your ways. Then went they out, and departed in to the heerd of swine. And behold, the whole herd of swine was carried with violence headlinge in to the see, and perished in the water. Then the heerdmen fled and went their ways in to the city, and told every thing, & what had fortuned unto the possessed of the devils. And behold, all the city came out and met jesus. And when they saw him, they besought him, 〈…〉 for to depart out of their coostes. The ix. Chapter. THen entered he into a ship, and passed over and came in to his own cite. And lo, Marc. 2. a Luc. 5. c johan. 5. a they brought unto 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: my son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven the. And behold, certain of the scribes said in them selves: this man blasphemeth. But when jesus saw their thoughts, he said: wherefore think you evil in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say: thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say: arise and walk? But that you may know, that the son of man hath power to forgive sins in earth, them said he unto the sick of the palsy: arise, take up thy bed, and go home. Act. 9 ● And he arose and went home. When the people saw it, they marveled, & glorified God, which had given soch power unto men. And as jesus passed forth from thence, Mar. 2. b Luc. 5. d. 15. a he saw a man sit a receiving of custom, named Matthew, & said unto 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 come 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 means: I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering. Ose. 6. b Math. 1●. a 1. Tim. 1. c 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 & the Pharisees fast so often: Mar. 2. b Luc. 5. c and thy disciples fast not? Andrea jesus said unto them: Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom shallbe taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man peceth an old garment with a piece of new cloth. For than taketh he away the piece again from the garment, & the rent is made greater. Act. 2. b neither do men put new wine in to old vessels, for then the vessels break, and the wine runneth out, & the vessels perish, But they pour new wine in to new vessels, and so are both saved together. while he thus spoke unto them, behold there came a certain ruler, Marc. ●. c Luc 8. c and worshipped him, saying: My daughter is even now deceased, but come and lay the hand on her, and she shall live. jesus arose and followed him with his disciples. ●ar. 5. c ●uc. 8. e ●euit. 15. d And behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood xij. years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his vesture. For she said in her self: if I may touch but even his vesture only, I shallbe safe. Then jesus turned him about, and beheld her, saying: Daughter be of good comfort, thy faith hath made that safe. And she was made whole, even that same hour. And when jesus came into the ruler's house, Mar. ●. d Luc. ●. f and saw the minstrels and the people raging, he said unto them: Get you hence, for the maid is not deed, but sleepeth. Andrea they laughed him to scorn. johan. 11. b But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And this was noised through out all that land. And as jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying and saying: O thou son of David, have mercy upon us. And when he was come home, the blind came to him, And jesus said unto them Believe you, that I am able to do this? And they said unto him: ye, LORD. Then touched he their eyes, saying: according to your faith, Mat. 8. b be it unto you. Andrea their eyes were opened. And jesus charged them, saying: See that no man know of it. But they departed, & spread abroad his name through out all the land. When these were go out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed of a devil. Mar. 7. d Luc. 11. b And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spoke: And the people merueled saying: it was never so seen in Israel. Butler the Pharisees said: he casts out devils, thorough the chief devil. Mat. 12. c Mar 3 b And jesus went about in all cities and towns, Mar. 6. a Luc. 13. b teaching in their synagogues & preaching the gospel of the kingdom, & healing all manner sickness & all manner disease among the people. And when he saw the people, he had compassion on them, Mar. 6. d 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 labourers are few. Wherefore pray the LORD of the harvest, Luc. 10. a 2. Tes 3. a to send forth labourers into his harvest. The x. Chapter. ANd he called his twelve. disciples unto him, Mar. 3. b Luc. 6. b 9 a. 10. a & gave them power over unclean spretes, to cast them out, & to heaale all manner of sicknesses, and all manner of diseases. The names of the twelve. apostles are these: The first, Simon called Peter: & Andrew his brother. james the son of zebedee, and John his brother. Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas, and Matthew the Publican. james the son of Alphe, and Lebbeus other wise called Taddeus. Simon of Cane, and judas Iscarioth, which also betrayed him. These twelve sent jesus, and commanded them, saying: Luc. ●● Go not in to the ways that lead to the heathen, and in to the cities of the Samaritans enter you not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 〈…〉 Go and preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. heal the sick, cleanse the lepers raise the deed, cast out the devils. Act ●● Ma. ● Lu. 5. ● and ●● Freely you have received, freely give again. Possess not gold, nor silver, nor brass yn your gerdels, nor yet scrip towards your journey: neither two coats, neither shues, nor yet a staff. 〈…〉 For the workman is worthy of his meat. In to what soever cite or town you shall come, inquire in it, who is meet for you, and there abide, till you go thence. And when you come in to an house, salute the same. And if the house be meet for you, yo peace shall come upon it. But if it be not meet for you, yo peace shall turn to you again. And if no man will receive you, ner hear your preaching, depart out of that house or that cite, and shake the dust of your feet. Truly I say unto you: 〈…〉 it shall be easier for the land of Sodoma and Gomorra in the day of judgement, then for that cite. Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Be you therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. Beware of men, 〈…〉 for they shall deliver you up to the counsels, and shall scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before princes and kings for my sake, in witness to them and to the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak, 〈…〉 for it shallbe given you, even in that same hour, what you shall say. For it is not you that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. The brother shall deliver the brother to death, and the father the son. And the children shall arise against their fathers & mothers, & shall help them to death: & you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that endureth to the end, shallbe saved. 〈…〉 When they persecute you in one cite, 〈…〉 fly in to another. I tell you for a truth, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the son of man come. The disciple is not above the master, 〈…〉 neither the servant above the LORD. It is enough for the disciple, to be as his master, and the servant as his LORD. If they have called the good man of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household so? Fear them not therefore. There is nothing hid, that shall not be openly showed: 〈…〉 and nothing secret, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you upon the house tops. And fear you not them that kill the body, 〈…〉 and be not able to kill the soul. But rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in to hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet doth there none of them light upon the ground without your father. And now are all the hairs of your head told. Fear you not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. 〈…〉 Therefore whosoever knowlegeth me before men, him will I knowledge also before my father which is in heaven. But who soever denieth me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace upon earth. 〈…〉 I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, 〈…〉 & the daughter in law against her mother in law: and a man's foes shallbe they of his own household. 〈…〉 Who so loveth father and mother more than me, is not meet for me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not meet for me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not meet for me. Who so findeth his life, 〈…〉 shall loose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. He that receiveth you, receiveth me: & who so receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, 〈…〉 shall receive a prophets reward. He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward: And who soever giveth unto one of the lest of these a cup of cold water only to drink, 〈◊〉 4. c in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you: he shall not loose his reward. The XI. Chapter. ANd it came to pass, when jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence. to teach and to preach in their cities. When John being in preson herd of the works of Christ, Luc. 7. b 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 than: Go your way and tell John again, what you see and hear. The blind see, and the lame go: Esa. 35. a the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear: the deed arise again, Esa. 61. a and the gospel is preached to the poor: and blessed is he, that is not offended at me. When they went their way, Luc. 7. c jesus began to speak unto the people, concerning John: What are you go out for to see in the wilderness? Would you see a reed shaken with the wind? Or what are you go out for to see? Would you see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing, are in kings houses, But what are you go out for to see? A prophet? Ye I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written: Behold, Mal. 3. a Marc. 1. a I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before the. Verily I say unto you: Among the children of women arose there not a greater than John the baptist. Not withstanding he that is Some read: * lest. less in the kingdom of Heaven, is greater than he. From the time of John baptist hither to, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, Luc. 16. c and the violent pluck it unto them. For all the prophets and the law prophesied unto Ihon. Also if you will receive it, this is Helias, Luc. 1. a Mala. 3 d Ihon. 1 b Luc. 7. d which should come. Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. But where unto shall I licken this generation? It is like unto children which sit in the market, and call unto their fellows, & say: we have pyped unto you, and you would not dance: We have mourned unto you, & you would not weep. For John came neither eating nor drinking, & they say: he hath the devil. The son of man came eating and drinking, & they say: lo what a glutton and wine bebber this man is, and a companion of publicans & sinners? And wiszdome is justified of her children. Then began he to upbrade the cities, in the which most of his miracles were done, because they amended not. Luc. 10. b woe unto the Chorasin, Woe unto the Bethsaida: for if the miracles which have been showed among you, had been done in tire and Sidon, they had repent long ago in sack clot and aszhes. Nevertheless I say unto you: It shallbe easier for tire and Sidon in the day of judgement, then for you. And thou Capernaum which art lift up unto heaven, shalt be brought down unto hell. For if the miracles which have been done in thee, had been showed in Sodom, they had remained unto this day. Nevertheless I say unto you: It shallbe easier for the land of Sodom in the day of judgement, them for the. At the same time jesus answered, and said: Luc. 10. c Prou. 11. a I praise thee (O father and LORD of heaven and earth) that thou hast hide these things from the wise and prudent, and opened them unto babes. Even so father, for so it pleased the. Mat. 28. c Luc. 10. c johan. 3 e johan. 7. c 8. b. 10. b All things are given over unto me of my father: and no man knoweth the son, but the father: neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whom the son will open it. Come unto me all you that labour and are laden, and I will ease you. Eccli. 6. d jere. 6. c Take my yock upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, & you shall find rest unto your souls: for my yock is easy, ●. johan. 5. a and my burden is light. The XII. Chapter. AT the same time went jesus thorough the corn upon the Sabbath, and his disciples were hungry, Marc. 2. e Luc. 6. a Dut. 23. d and began to pluck of the ears of the corn, and to eat. When the Pharisees saw th●t, they said unto him: Behold, thy disciples do that, which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath. He said unto them: have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, & they also that were with him? How he entered in to the house of God, ●. Re. 21. b & ate the show breeds which were not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law how that the priests in the temple break the Sabbath, and yet are blameless? But I say unto you: that here is one greater than the temple. Ose. 6. b Mat. 9 b But if you wist what this were (I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering) you would not have condemned innocentes: For the son of man is LORD even over the Sabbath. Andrea he departed thence, and went in to their synagogue: Marc. 3. a Luc. 6. a and behold, there was a man which had his hand dried up. And they axed him, saying: Is it lawful to heal, upon the Sabbath? Luc. 14. b because they might accuse him. But he said unto them: Which of you is it, if he had a sheep fallen in to a pit upon the Sabbath, 〈…〉 that would not take him, and lift him out? And how much is a man better than a sheep? Therefore it is leeful to do good upon the Sabbath. Then said he to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth: and it was whole again like unto the other. Then went the Pharisees out, 〈…〉 and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when jesus known thereof, he departed thence, & much people followed him: and he healed them all, and charged them, that they should not make him known: that the thing might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Esay the prophet, which sayeth: Behold, this is my servant, 〈…〉 whom I have choose: and my beloved, in whom my soul delighteth: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgement unto the Heithen. He shall not strive, ner cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A brosed reed shall he not break, and flax that beginneth to burn shall he not quench, till he send forth judgement unto victory. And in his name shall the heathen trust. Then was there brought unto him one possessed (of a devil) the which was blind and domne, and he healed him: 〈…〉 in so much that the blind and domne both spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said: Is not this the son of David? 〈…〉 But when the Pharisees heard that, they said: He driveth the devils out none other wise, but thorough Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Nevertheless jesus known their thoughts, and said unto them: Every kingdom divided within itself, shallbe desolate: and every cite or house divided in itself, may not continue. So if one Satan cast out another, than is he at variance within himself: how may then his kingdom endure? But if I cast out devils thorough Beelzebub, thorough whom do your children cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I cast out the devils by the spirit of God than is the kingdom of God come upon you. Or how can a man enter in to a strong man's house, 〈…〉 and violently take away his goods, except he first bind the strong man, & then spoil his house? He that is not with me, is against me: & he that gathereth not with me, scatereth abroad. Therefore I say unto you: 〈…〉 All sin and blasphemy shallbe forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the spirit shall not be forgiven unto men: And whosoever speaketh a word against the son of man, it shallbe forgiven him. 〈…〉 But whosoever speaketh against the holy ghost it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, ner in the world to come. Either make the tree good and his fruit good also, 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 6. c or else make the tree evil & his fruit evil also. For the tree is known by the fruit. O you generation of vipers, how can you speak good, when you yourselves are evil? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 〈…〉 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things: & an evil man out of his evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, that of every idle word that men have spoken, they shall give accounts at the day of judgement. Out of thy words thou shalt be justified, L●c. ●9. ᵇ ● Reg. 1. c & out of thy words thou shalt be condemned. Then answered certain of the scribes and Pharisees, and said: Master, we would fain see a token of the. And he answered and said unto them: 〈◊〉. 1●. a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉. 11. c This evil and adulterous generation seeketh a token: and there shall no token be given them, but the token of the prophet jonas. 〈…〉 For as jonas was three days and three nights in the Whales belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Ninyve shall rise in the last judgement with this generation, 〈◊〉. 3. b and shall condemn it: for they did penance according to the preaching of jonas. And behold, here is one greater than jonas. The queen of the south shall arise in the last judgement with this generation, 〈◊〉. 10. a 〈◊〉. 9 a and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth, to hear the wisdom of Solomon: And lo, here is one greater than Solomon. When the unclean spirit is go out of man, 〈◊〉 11. c he walketh thorough dry places, seeking rest, & findeth none. Then saith he: I will turn again in to my house, from whence I went out. And when he cometh, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he his way, & taketh unto him seven other spretes worse than himself: and when they are entered in, 〈…〉 they devil there: And the end of that man is worse than the beginning. Even so shall it go with this evil generation. While he yet talked unto the people, behold, his mother & his brethren stood without desiring to speak with him. Then said one unto him: 〈…〉 Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, & would speak with the. Nevertheless he answered & said unto him that told him: Who is my mother? & who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand over his disciples, & said: Behold my mother and my brethren. For who soever doth the will of my father which is in heaven, johan. 15. the same is my brother, sister and mother. The XIII. Chapter. THe same day went jesus out of the house, and sat by the see side, Marc. 4. ● Luc. 8. a & much people resorted unto him: so that he went in to a ship and sat him down, and all the people stood upon the shore. And he spoke many things unto them in symilitudes, saying: Behold, The sour went forth to sow: and as he sowed, some fallen by the way side: Then came the fowls, & ate it up. Some fallen upon stony ground, & anon it sprung up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the Son arose, it caught heat: and for so much as it had no rote, it withered away. Some fallen among the thorns, & the thorns grew up, and choked it. Some fallen upon good ground, & gave fruit: some an hundredth fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold. Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came unto him, and said: Why speakest thou to them by parables? Marc. 4. ● Luc. 8. b He answered and said unto them: Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, 2. Cor. 3. Mat. 25. c Marc. 4. ● Luc. 8. b and 19 c but unto them it is not given. For whoso hath, unto him shall be given, and he shall have abundance. But who so hath not, from him shallbe taken away, even that he hath. Therefore speak I unto them by parables, for with saying eyes they see not, & with hearing ears they hear not, for they understand it not. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esay, which sayeth: Esa. 6. b Marc. 4. Luc. 8. b johan. 12. c Act. 28. d Rom. 11. You shall hear in deed, and shall not understand: and with seeing eyes shall you see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, & their ears are thick of hearing, & their eyes have they closed, jest they should once see with the eyes, & hear with the ears, & understand with the heart, & turn, that I might heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: & your ears, for they hear. Verily I say unto you: Luc. 10. c 1. Pet. 1. b Many prophets & righteous men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to hear the things that you hear, and have not herd them. Hear you therefore the parable of the sour. Marc. 4. b Luc. 8. b When one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, the evil man cometh, and plucketh it away that is sown in his heart: & this is he that is sown by the way side. But he that is sown in the stony ground, is this: when one heareth the word, & anon with joy receiveth it: nevertheless he hath no rote in him, but endureth for a season: when trouble & persecution ariseth because of the word, immediately he his offended. As for him that is sown among the thorns, this is he: When one heareth the word, & the carefulness of this world, & the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, & so he becometh unfruitful. But he that is sown in the good ground, is this: when one heareth the word, and understandeth it, and bringeth forth fruit: and some giveth an hundredth fold, some sixty fold, and some thirty fold. Another parable put he forth unto than, & said: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man, ●arc. 4. c that sowed good seed in his field. But while men slept, there came an enemy, and sowed tars among the wheat, & went his way. Now when the shoulder-blade was sprung up & brought forth fruit, then the tars appeared also. Then came the servants to the householder, & said unto him: Sir, sowdest not thou good seed in the field? From whence then hath it tars? He said unto them: that hath the enemy done. Then said the servants: will't thou then that we go & weed them out? He said: Not, jest while you weed out the tars, you pluck up the wheat also with them. Let them both grow together till the harvest, and in time of harvest I will say unto the reapers: Gather the tars first, & bind them in sheaves to be brent: but gather the wheat in to my barn. Another parable put he forth unto than, and said: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, Marc. 4. c Luc. 33. b and sowed it in his field. Which is the least among all sedes. But when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and is a tree: so that the birds under the heaven come and devil in the branches of it. Another parable spoke he unto than: The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, Luc. 13. b which a woman took, and mixed it among three pecks of meele, till all was levended. All such things spoke jesus unto the people by parables, Marc. 4. d & without parables spoke he nothing unto them: that the thing might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, and will speak out the secrets from the beginning of the world. Psal. 77. a Then sent jesus the people away, and came home. And his disciples came unto him, and said: Declare unto us the parable of the tars of the field. jesus answered, and said unto them: He that soweth the good seed, is the son of man: the field is the world: the good sede are the children of the kingdom: The tars are the children of wickedness: the enemy that soweth them, is the devil: the harvest is the end of the world: the reapers are the angels. For like as the tars are wedded out, Apo. 14 ● and brent in the fire, even so shall it go in the end of this world. The son of man shall send forth his angels, & they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, & them that do iniquity, & shall cast them in to a furnace of fire, there shallbe wailing and gnaszhinge of teeth. Dan. ●●. a Sap. 3. b 2. Cor. 〈…〉 Then shall the righteous shine as the Son, in the kingdom of their father. Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in the field, which a man found and hide it, and for joy thereof he went & sold all that he had, and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant, that sought good pearls: & when he had found a precious pearl, he went and sold all that he had, & bought it. Phil. ●. ● Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net cast in to the see, wherewith are taken all manner of fishes: & when it is full, men draw it out unto the shore, & sit & gather the good in to the vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be also in the end of the world. Mat. 〈…〉 The angels shall go out, & sever the bad from the righteous, & shall cast them in to a furnace of fire, there shallbe wailing & gnaszhinge of teeth. Mat. ●● And jesus said unto them: Have you understand all these things? They said: 〈…〉 Luc. 4. ● Ye LORD. Then said he unto them: Therefore every scribe taught unto the kingdom of heaven, is like an houszholder, which bringeth out of his treasure things new and old. And it came to pass when jesus had ended these parables, he departed thence, and came into his own country, and taught them in their synagogues: in so much, that they were astonnyed and said: Whence cometh such wisdom & power unto him? 〈…〉 Is not this the carpenters son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren james & joses, and Simon and Jude? And are not all his sisters here with us? Whence hath he then all these things? And they were offended at him. But jesus said unto them: Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 A prophet is nowhere less set by, than at home & among his own. And he did not many miracles there, because of their unbelieve. The XIIII. Chapter. AT that time Herode the Tetrarcha herd of the fame of jesus, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 & said unto his servants: This is John the baptist. He is risen again from the deed, therefore are his deeds so mighty. 〈…〉 For Herode had taken John bound him, & put him in preson for Herodias sake his brothers Philip's wife. For John said unto him: * It is not lawful for that to have her. And fain would he have put him to death, but he feared the people, because they held him for a Prophet. 〈◊〉 21. b Gen. 40. c But when Herode held his birth day, the daughter of Herodias daunsed before-then, Marc. 6. c and that pleased Herode well, wherefore he promised her with an oath, that he would give her, whatsoever she would axe. Andrea she (being instruct of her mother afore) said: give me John Baptist's head in a platter. And the king was sorry. Nevertheless for the oath sake, & them that sat with him at the table, he commanded it to be given her, and sent, & beheaded John in the preson. And his heed was brought in a platter, and given to the damsel, & she brought it unto her mother. Then came his disciples, and took his body, and buried it, and went and told jesus. When jesus hetde that, he departed thence by ship in to a desert place alone. Marc. 6. d 〈◊〉. 9 b ●ohan. 6. a And when the people heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And jesus went forth, and saw much people, and had pity upon them, and healed their sick. But at even his disciples came unto him, & said: This is a desert place, and the night falls omlet the people depart from thee, that they may go in to the towns, and buy them vytayles. But jesus said unto them: They need not go away, give you them to eat. Then said they unto him: We have here but five loaves and two fishes. And he said: bring them hither. And he commanded the people to sit down upon the grass, and took the five loaves and two fiszhes, and looked up toward heaven, and gave thanks, and broke and gave the loaves unto the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. And they all ate, and were sufficed. And they gathered up of the broken meat that remained over, twelve baszkettes full. And they that ate, were about a five thousand men, beside women and children. And strait way jesus made his disciples to enter in to a ship, Marc. 6. c 〈◊〉 6. b & to go over before him, till he had sent the people away. And when he had sent the people away, he went up in to a mountain alone, to make his prayer. 〈◊〉 6. b And at even he was there himself alone. And the ship was already in the midst of the see, & was tossed with wawes, for the wind was contrary. But in the fourth watch of the night jesus came unto them, walking upon the see. And when his disciples saw him going upon the see, they were afraid, saying: It is some spirit, and cried out for fear. But strait way jesus spoke unto them, and said: Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. Peter answered him, & said: LORD, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the water. And he said: come on the way. And Peter stepped out of the ship, & went upon the water, to come unto jesus. But when he saw a mighty wind, he was afraid, & began to sink, & cried, saying: LORD, help me. And immediately jesus stretched forth his hand, & caught him, & said unto him: O thou of little faith, wherefore doutest thou? And they went in to the ship, Marc. 6. ● & the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship, came & fallen down before him, & said: Of a truth thou art the son of God. And they shipped over, & came in to the land of Genazereth. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out in to all that country round about, & brought unto him all that were sick, & besought him, that they might but touch the hem of his vesture only: & as many as touched it, were made whole. The XU. Chapter. THen came unto him the scribes and Pharisees from jerusalem, saying: Marc. 7 Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. He answered & said unto them: Why do you transgress the commandment of God, because of your own traditions? For God commanded, saying: Honour father & mother: & he that curseth father & mother, shall die the death. Exo. 20. ● Deu. 5. b and 27. ● But you say: Every man shall say to father or mother: The thing that I should help the withal, is given unto God. Pro. 28. ● By this is it come to pass, that no man honoureth his father or his mother any more. And thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect, for your own traditions. You hypocrites, full well hath Isaiah prophesied of you, & said: This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, & honoureth me with their lips, Esa. 29. c Ezec. 33. ● howbeit, their heart is far fro me. But in vain do they serve me, while they teach such doctrines as are nothing but the commandments of men. And he called the people to him, & said unto them: Hear & understand: That which goeth in to the mouth, defileth not the man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, defileth the man. Then came his disciples, & said unto him: knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying? He answered, and said: All plants which my heavenly father hath not planted, Act. ●. ● shall be pluck up by the rotes. Let them go, they are the blind leaders of the blind. ●●a. 42. c ●uc. 6. d When one blind leadeth another, they fall both in the diche. ●arc. 7. b Then answered Peter & said unto him: Declare unto us this parable. Andrea jesus said unto them: Are you yet then without understanding? Perceive you not, that what soever goeth in at the mouth, descendeth down in to the belly, & is cast out in to the draft? But the thing that proceedeth out of the mouth, cometh from the heart, & that defileth the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts murder, breaking of wedlock, whoredom theft, false witness, blasphemy. The fear the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwaszhen hands, defileth not a man. And jesus went out from thence, & departed in to the coasts of tire of Sidon. Marc. 7. c And behold, a woman of Canaan went out of the same coasts, & cried after him, saying: O LORD, thou son of David, have mercy upon me. My daughter is sore vexed with a devil. And he answered her never a word. Then came his disciples unto him, & besought him, saying: Send her away, for she crieth after us. But he answered, & said: I am not sent, ●uc. 19 a but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. notwithstanding she came & fallen down before him, & said: LORD, help me. He answered & said: It is not good, to take the children's bread, & to cast it unto dogs. It is truth LORD (said she) Nevertheless the whelps eat of the crumbs, that fall from their lords table. Then answered jesus & said unto her: O woman, great is the faith be it unto thee, even as thou desirest. And her daughter was made hole at the same hour. And jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the see of Galilee, and went up in to a mountain, and sat down there, And there came unto him much people, having with them, lame, blind, dumb, crepell, and other many, and cast them down at jesus feet. And he healed them, ●sa 35. a in so much that the people wondered, to seethe dumb speak, the crepell whole, the halt to go, & the blind to se. And they praised the God of Israel. And jesus called his disciples unto him, & said: Marc. 8. a I have compassion upon the people, for they have continued with me now three days, & have nothing to eat, & I will not let them depart fasting, jest they perish in the way. And his disciples said unto him: Whence should we get so much bread in the wilderness, that we might satiszfie so much people? And jesus said unto them: How many loaves have you? They said: seven, & a few little fishes. And he commanded the people to sit down upon the ground, and took the seven loaves, & the fishes, & gave thanks & broke them, & gave them to his disciples, & the disciples gave them unto the people. And they all ate, & were suffused. And they took up of the broken meat that was left, seven baszkettes full. And they that ate, were four thousand men, beside women and children. And when he had sent away the people, he went in to a ship, & came in to the parties of Magdala. The XVI. Chapter. THen came the Pharisees & Saducees unto him, & tempted him, Marc. ●● Iohan ●● requiring him to show them a token from heaven. But he answered, & said: At even you say: Luc. ●●. ● I● will be fair wedder. for the szkye is reed. And in the morning, you say: It will be foul wedder to day, for the szkye is reed, & gloometh. O you ypocrytes, you can discern the fashion of the szkye: can you not then discern the tokens of these times also? This evil and adulterous generation seeketh a token, Ma●. ●●● & there shall no token be given them, but the token of the prophet jonas. So he left them, and departed. 〈…〉 And when his disciples were come to the other side of the water, Marc ●● they had forgotten to take bread with them. jesus said unto them: Take heed & beware of the leaven of the Pharisees & of the Saducees. 〈…〉 Then thought they in themselves, saying: We have taken no bread with us. When jesus perceived that, he said to them: O you of little faith, why are you cumbered (in your minds (because you have taken no bread with you? Do you not yet perceive? Remember you not those five loaves, Mat. 〈…〉 when there were five thousand men, and how many baszkettes took you up? Mat. 〈…〉 neither the seven loaves when there were four thousand men, & how many baskets took you up? Why perceive you not then, that I spoke not to you of bread, when I said: beware of the leaven of the Pharisees & of the Saducees? Then understood they, how that he bade not then beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Saducees. Then came jesus in to the coasts of the cite Caesarea Philippi, & axed his disciples & said: Whom do men say, 〈…〉 that the son of man is? They said: Some say, that thou art John the baptist, Some that thou art Elias, Some that thou art jeremy, or one of the prophets. He said to them: But whom say you that I am? Then answered Simon Peter and said: Thou art Christ the son of the living God. 〈…〉 And jesus answered, & said unto him: Blessed art thou Simon the son of jonas, for flesh & blood hath not opened that unto thee, 〈…〉 but my father that is in heaven. And I say to thee: Thou art Peter, & * upon this rock will I build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 18. b M●●. 18. b johan. 20. c And the keys of heaven will I give unto thee: Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, shallbe bound also in heaven: & whatsoever thou shalt louse upon earth, shallbe loosed also in heaven. Then charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was jesus Christ. From that time forth began jesus to show unto his disciples, Marc. 8. d ●uc. 9 c how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and of the high priests, and of the scribes, and be put to death, and rise again the third day. Butler Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying: LORD, favour thyself, let not this happen unto the. Nevertheless he turned him about, 〈…〉 19 d & said unto Peter: Avoid fro me Satan, thou hind'rest me, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but of men. Ma●. ●0. c ●arc. ●. c 〈◊〉. 9 c 〈◊〉 14. d ●●hā. 12. c Then said jesus unto his disciples: If any man will follow me, let him forsake himself, & take up his cross, and follow me. For who so will save his life, shall loose it: but who so loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. What helpeth it a man though he wan the whole world, and yet suffered harm in his soul? Or what can a man give, to redeem his soul withal? For it will come to pass, that the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels, and then shall he reward every one according to his deeds. 〈…〉 Verily I say unto you: there stand here some, ●arc. 8. e 〈◊〉 9 c which shall not taist of death, till they se the son of man come in his kingdom. The XVII. Chapter. ANd after six days jesus took Peter james, ●arc. 9 a 〈◊〉 9 d and John his brother, and brought them up in to an high mountain out of the way, and was transfigured before them: & his face shone as the Son, and his clotheses were as white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto jesus: LORD, here is good being for us. If thou will't, let us make here three tabernacles: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spoke, 〈◊〉 42. a 〈◊〉 3. b behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and lo, there came a voice out of the cloud, ●●rc. 1. a 〈◊〉 1. d 〈◊〉 13. c saying: This is my dear son, in whom I delight, hear him. When the disciples herd that, they fallen upon their faces, and were sore afraid. But jesus came and touched them, and said: Arise, and be not afraid. And when they looked up, they saw no man, but jesus only. And when they came down from the mountain, jesus charged them, and said: Marc. 9 Tell no man of this vision, till the son of man be risen again from the deed. And his disciples axed him, and said: Why say the scribes then, that Elias must first come? jesus answered and said unto them: Mal. 3. d Elias shall come first in deed, and bring all things to r●●ht again. But I say unto you: Elias is come all ready, & they knew him not, but have done unto him what they would. Even so shall also the son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples perceived, that he spoke unto them of John the baptist. And when they were come to the people, Marc. 9 Luc. 9 d there came unto him a certain man, and kneeled unto him, and said: LORD, have mercy upon my son, for he is lunatic, & sore vexed. He falls often times in to the fire, and often in to the water: and I brought him unto thy disciples, and they could not heal him. jesus answered, and said: O thou faithless and froward generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hitherto me. And jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was healed, even that same hour. Then came the disciples unto jesus secretly, & said: Marc. 9 ● Why could not we cast him out? jesus said unto them: Because of your unbelieve. For I say verily unto you? Mat. 21. c Luc. 17. a If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you may say unto this mountain: Remove hence to yonder place, and he shall remove, neither shall any thing be unpossible unto you. How beit this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting. While they occupied in Galilee, jesus said unto them: it will come to pass, that the son of man shallbe delivered in to the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and the third day shall he arise again. And they were very sorry. Now when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the tribute money, came to Peter, and said: Doth your master pay tribute? He said: ye▪ And when he was come home, jesus prevented him, and said: What thinkest thou Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? Of their children, or of strangers? Then said Peter to him: Of strangers. jesus said unto him: Mat. 22. c Then are the children free. Nevertheless jest we offend them, go thy way to the see, and cast thy angle, and take the fish that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of twenty pens, take that, and give it them form and the. The XVIII. Chapter. AT the same time came the disciples unto jesus, Marc. 9 d ●uc. 9 c and said: Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Andrea jesus called a child unto him, and set him in the midst among them, and said: Verily I say unto you: Except you turn and become as children, you shall not enter in to the kingdom of heaven. ●. Pet. ●. a Whosoever therefore humbleth himself as this child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And who so receiveth such a child in my name, receiveth me. But who so offendeth one of these little one's which believe in me, Marc. 9 c Luc. 17. a it were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he drowned in the depth of the see. Woe unto the world because of slanders. Ye there must slanders come: ●. Cor. 11. b but woe unto that man, by whom slander cometh. Butler if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, Mat. 5. d Marc. 9 c cut him of, and cast him from the. It is better for that to enter in unto life lame or crepell, than that thou shouldest have two hands or too feet, and be cast in to everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, Deu. 13. a pluck it out, & cast it from the. Better it is for the to enter in unto life with one eye, them to have two eyes, and to be cast in to hell fire. Take heed, that you despise not one of these little one's. For I say unto you: their angels do alway behold the face of my father which is in heaven: for the son of man is come to save that which is lost. How think you? If a man have an hundredth sheep, and one of them be go astray, Luc. 15. a doth not he leave the nyentie and nyene in the mountains, and goeth, and seeketh that one which is go astray? And if it happen that he find it, verily I say unto you: he rejoiceth more over it, then over the nyentie & nyene which went not astray. Even so is it not the will before your father in heaven, that one of these little one's should perish. If thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between the and him alone. Luc. 17. a Eccli. 17. b Deut. 19 d If he hear thee, thou hast won thy brother. But if he hear the not, then take yet with the one or two, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, Num. 25. d Deut. 17. b and 19 ᶜ ●. Cor. 13. a every matter may be stablished. If he hear not them, tell it unto the congregation. If he hea●e not the congregation, hold him as an heathen and Publican. Verily I say unto you: what soever you shall bind upon earth, Mat. 16. c shallbe bound also in heaven: & what soever you louse upon earth, shallbe loosed also in heaven. Again, I say unto you: If two of you shall agreed upon earth (for what thing soever it be that they would desire) they shall have it of my father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, Luc. ●4 b there am I in the midst among them. Then came Peter unto him, & said, LORD, how often shall I forgive my brother, Mat. 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 1●. a that trespaceth against me? Seven times? jesus said unto him: I say not unto the seven times, but seventy times seven times. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven lickened unto a king which would reckon with his servants. And when he began to reckon, one was brought unto him, which aught him ten thousand pound. Now when he had nothing to pay his lord commanded him to be sold, & his wife & his children, & all that he had, & payment to be made. Then the servant fallen down, & besought him, saying: Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay the all. Then had the lord pity on that servant, & discharged him, and forgave him the det●. And the same servant went out, & found one of his fellows, which aught him an hundredth pens, and laid hand upon him, and took him by the throat, and said: pay me that thou owest. Then his fellow fallen down, and besought him, saying: have patience with me, and I will pay the all Nevertheless, he would not, but went and cast him into preson, till he should pay the debt. When his fellows saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told their lord all that had happened. Then his lord called for him, and said unto him: jaco. 4. ● O thou wicked servant, I forgave the all this debt, because thou praydest me: shouldest not thou then have had compassion also upon thy fellow, even as I had pity upon thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him unto the jailers, till he paid all that he aught. Mat. ●. ● Marc. ●● So shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if you every one of you from your hearts, forgive not his brother his trespasses. The XIX. Chapter. ANd it came to pass, when jesus had ended these sayings, 〈…〉 he got him from Galilee, & came in to the coasts of jewry beyond jordane, & much people followed him, and he healed them there. Then came unto him the Pharisees & tempted him, & said unto him: Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any manner of cause? He answered & said unto them: Have you not read, how that he which made (man) at the beginning, made them man & woman, & said: Gen. 2. d For this cause shall a man leave father & mother, & cleave unto his wife, & they two shallbe one flesh. Now are they not twain then, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put asunder, that which God hath coupled together. Then said they: Why did Moses then command to give a testimonyall of divorcement, 〈◊〉 24. a 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 c & to put her away? He said unto them: Moses (because of the hardness of you hearts) suffered you to put away your wives: Nevertheless from the beginning it hath not been so. 〈◊〉 3. d ●●c. 10. a 〈◊〉 16. d But I say unto you: Whosoever putteth away his wife (except it be for fornication) and marrieth another, breaketh wedlock. And who so marrieth her that is divorced, committeth adultery. Then said his disciples unto him: If the matter be so between man and wife, then is it not good to marry. But he said unto them: All men can not comprehend that saying, save they to whom it is given. 〈…〉 For there be some gelded, which are so born from their mother's womb: and there be some gelded, which are gelded of men: & there be some gelded, which have gelded themselves for the kingdom of heavens sake. He that can comprehend it, let him comprehend it. ●●rc. 10. b 〈…〉 b Then were brought unto him young children, that he should put his hands upon them, & pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But jesus said: Suffer the children, & forbid them not to come unto me, for unto such belongeth the kingdom of heaven. And when he had laid his hands upon them, he departed thence. And behold, one came unto him, and said: 〈◊〉 10. b 〈◊〉 11. c Good master, what good shall I do, that I may have the ever lasting life? He said unto him: Why callest thou me good? there is none good, 〈…〉 but God only. Nevertheless if thou will't enter into life, keep the 〈◊〉 20. d 〈◊〉 4. a 〈◊〉 5. a commandments. Then said, he unto him: Which? jesus said: Thou shalt not kill: thou shalt not break wedlock: thou shalt not steal: thou shalt bear no false witness: 〈◊〉 13. b Honour father and mother: and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 〈…〉 Then said the young man unto him: All these have I kept fro my youth up: what lack I yet? jesus said unto him: If thou will't be perfect, go thy way and cell that thou hast, 〈…〉 & give it unto the poor, and thou shalt have a treasure in heaven, 〈…〉 and come and follow me. When the young man heard that word, he went away sorry, for he had great possessions. jesus said unto his disciples: Verily I say unto you: Marc. 10. c Luc. 1●. c it shallbe hard for a rich man to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Andrea moreover I say unto you: It is easier for a Camel to go thorough the eye of a needle, them for a rich man to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. When his disciples heard that, they were exceadingly amazed, and said: Who can then be saved? Nevertheless jesus beheld them, and said unto them: With men it is unpossible, but with God all things are possible. Zach. 8. a Then answered Peter & said unto him: Marc. 10. c Luc. 18. c Mat. 4. c Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee: What shall we have therefore? jesus said unto them: Verily I say unto you: that when the son of man shall sit in the seat of his majesty, Luc. 21. b you which have followed me in the new birth, shall sit also upon twelve seats, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Sap. 5. a And who so ever forsaketh houses or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, Deu. 33. b or children, or lands, for my name's sake, the same shall receive an hundredth fold, and inherit everlasting life. But many that be the first, shallbe the last: Mat. 20. b Luc. 13. c and the last shallbe the first. The XX. Chapter. THe kingdom of heaven is like unto an householder, which went out early in the morning, to hire labourers in to his vyniarde. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them in to his vineyard. And about the third hour he went out, and saw other stondinge idle in the market place, and said unto them: Go you also in to my vineyard, & what so ever is right, I will give it you. And they went their way. Again, he went out about the sixte and ninth hour, and did likewise, And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found other standing idle, and said unto them: Why stand you here all the day idle? They said unto him: because no man hath hired us. He said unto them: Go you also in to my vineyard, and look what is right, you shall have it. Now when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward: Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Then they that were hired about the eleventh hour, came and received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the householder, and said: These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have born the burden and heat of the day. He answered and said unto one of them: friend, I do the no wrong: didst not thou agreed with me for a penny? Take that thy is, and go thy way. I will give unto this last also, like as unto the. Or have I not power, Rom. 11. c to do as me listeth with mine own? Is thy eye evil, because I am good? So the last shallbe the first, & the first the last. Mat. 19 d Marc. 10. c Luc. 13. c Mat. 22. b For many are called, but few are choose. Andrea jesus went up to jerusalem, and took the twelve disciples aside in the way, Mar. 10. d Luc. 18. d and said unto them: Behold, we go up to jerusalem, and the son of man shallbe delivered unto the high priests and scribes: & they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the heathen, to be mocked to be scourged, and to be crucified. And the third day he shall rise again. Then came unto him the mother of Zebedes children with her sons, fallen down before him, Mar. 10. d and desired a certain thing of him. And he said unto her: What will't thou? She said unto him: Let these two sons of mine sit in thy kingdom: the one upon thy right hand, & the other upon thy left hand. But jesus answered, and said: You wot not what you axe. May you drink the cup, that I shall drink? & to be baptized with the baptism, that I shallbe baptized withal? They said unto him: Ye that we may. And he said unto them: My cup truly shall you drink, & with the baptism that I shall be baptized withal, shall you be baptized: Nevertheless to sit upon my right hand & on my left, is not mine to give, but unto them for whom it is prepared of my father. Mat. 25. c When the ten herd that, they disdained at the two brethren. Marc. 9 d and 10. e Luc. 9 c and ●2. b Butler jesus called them unto him, and said: You know that the princes of the world have domination of the people, and the greatest Some read * The greatest deal with violence exercise power among them. It shall not be so among you. But who so ever will be great among you, let him be your minister: & who soever will be chief, let him be your servant: Even as the son of man came, not to be served, but to do service, and to give his life to a redemption for many. And when they departed from jericho, much people followed him: Marc. 10. e Luc. 18. d and behold, two blyndemen sat by the way side: And when they heard that jesus passed by, they cried & said. O LORD, thou son David, have mercy upon us. But the people rebuked them, that they should hold their peace. Nevertheless they cried the more, & said: O LORD, thou son of David, have mercy upon us. And jesus stood still, and called them, and said: What will you, that I shall do unto you? They said unto him: LORD, that our eyes may be opened. And jesus had compassion upon them, and touched their eyes: & immediately their eyes received sight. And they followed him. The XXI. Chapter. NOw when they drawn nigh unto jerusalem, Marc. ●●. ● Luc. 19 c and were come to Bethphage unto mount Oliuete, jesus sent two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go in to the town that lieth before you, & anon you shall find an Ass bound, and hi● foal with her: louse them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say aught unto you, say you: the LORD hath need of them, And strait way he will let them go. But all this was done, that the thing might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Zion: Zac●. 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 behold, thy king cometh unto the meek, sitting upon an Ass and a foal of the Ass used to the yoke. The disciples went, and did as jesus commanded them, and brought the Ass and the foal, & laid their clotheses upon them, and set him thereon. But many of the people spread their garments in the way: johan. 〈…〉 other cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. As for the people that went before and that came after, they cried and said: Hosianna unto the son of David, Psal. 〈…〉 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD, Hosianna in the height. And when he was come into jerusalem, all the cite was moved, and said: Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 Who is this? And the people said: This is jesus the prophet of Nazareth out of Galilee. And jesus went in to the temple of God, and cast out all them that bought and sold in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money chaungers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them: It is written: My house shallbe called the house of prayer, 〈…〉 but you have made it a den of murthurers. The blind also and the lame came unto him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the high priests and the scribes saw the wonders that he did, and the children crienge in the temple and sayenge● Hosianna unto the son of David, they disdained, and said unto him: Hearest thou what these say? jesus said unto them: 〈…〉 Ye. Have you never read: Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast ordained praise? And he left them there, and went out of the cite unto Bethania, 〈…〉 and there abode over night. 〈◊〉 11. c But in the morning as he returned in to the cite, he hungered. And in the way he saw a fig tree, and came unto it, and found nothing thereon, 〈…〉 but leaves only, and said unto it: Never fruit grow on the from hence forth. And immediately the fig tree withered away. And when his disciples saw that, they marveled, and said. How is the fig tree withered away so soon? jesus answered and said unto them: Verily I say unto you: 〈◊〉 17. c 〈◊〉 1● a If you have faith & doubt not, you shall not only do this with the fig tree, but if you shall say unto this mountain: Avoid, and cast thyself in to the see, it shall be done. 〈◊〉. 11. c 〈◊〉 14. b 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉. 20. a 〈…〉 d And what soever you axe in prayer, if you believe, you 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) & said: 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 d By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave the this authority? jesus answered and said unto them: I will axe a word of you also: which if you tell me, I in like wise will tell you, by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? Then thought they among themselves, and said: If we say it was from heaven, then shall he say unto us: Why did you not then believe him? But if we say it was of men, them fear we the people: 〈◊〉 14. a For every man held John for a prophet. And they answered jesus, & said: We can not tell. Then said he unto them: neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things. But what think you? A certain man had two sons, and came to the first, and said: Go thy way my son, & work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said: I will not, but afterward he repented, and went. He came also unto the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said: I will sir. And went not. Whether of them twain did the will of the father? They said unto him: the first. jesus said unto them: Verily I say unto you: The publicans and harlots shall come in to the kingdom of God before you. 〈…〉 For John came unto you, and taught you the right way and you believed him not: but the publicans & harlots believed him. As for you, though you saw it, yet were you not moved with repentance, that you might afterward have ●●leued him. Hear another parable. There was a certain houszholder which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, Gen. 9 c Esa 5. a jere. 12. b Marc. 12. b Luc. 20. a and digged a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out unto huszbandmen, and went in to a strange country. Now when the time of the fruit drawn near, he sent his servants to the huszbandmen, to receive the fruits of it. Then the huszbandmen caught his servants: one they bet, another they killed, the third they stoned. Again, he sent other servants, moo then the first, and they did unto them in like manner. At the last he sent his own son unto them, and said: they will stand in awe of my son. But when the huszbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves: This is the Heir, come, Gen. ●7. ● let us kill him, and take his inheritance unto our selves. And they caught him, and thrust him out of the vineyard, & slay him. Now when the lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do with those huszbandmen? They said unto him: He will cruelly destroy those evil personnes, & let out his vyniarde unto other huszbandmen, which shall deliver him the fruit at times convenient. jesus said unto them: Did you never read in the scriptures: Psal. 117. ● Act. 4. a 1. Pet. 2. a The same stone which the builders refused, is become the head stone in the corner? This was the LORDS doing, & it is marvelous in our eyes Therefore I say unto you: The kingdom of God shallbe taken from you, & shallbe given unto the Heithen, which shall bring forth the fruits of it. And who so falls upon this stone, Zach. 12. ● shallbe broken in pieces: & look upon whom it falls, it shall grind him to powder. Dan. 2. ● And when the high priests & Pharisees heard his parables, Marc 11. ● Luc. 19 a and 20. b they perceived, that he spoke of them. And they went about to take him, but they feared the people, because they held him for a prophet. johan. 7. d The XXII. Chapter. ANd jesus answered, and spoke unto them again by parables, & said: The kingdom of heaven is like unto a king, which married his son. Luc. 14. b Apo. 19 b And sent forth his servants, to call the gests unto the marriage, & they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, and said: Tell the gests: Behold, I have prepared my dinner, mine oxen and my fed cattles are killed, and all things are ready, come to the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways: one to his huszbandrye, another to his merchandise. As f●● the remnant, they took his servants, and entreated them shamefully, and slay them. When the king heard that, he was wroth, and sent forth his warryers', and destroyed those murderers, and set fire upon their cite. Then said he unto his servants: The marriage in deed is prepared, but the gests were not worthy. Go your way out therefore into the high ways, and as many as you find, bid them to the marriage. And the servants went out in to the high ways, and gathered together as many as they could find, both good and bad, & the tables were all full. Then the king went in, to see the gests, and spied there a man that had not on a wedding garment, and said unto him: Friend, how camest thou in hither, & hast not on a weddyinge garment? And he was even speechless. Then said the king unto his servants: Mat. 1●. f and 25. c Take and bind him hand and foot, & cast him into the utter darkness: there shall be wailing and gnaszhinge of teeth. Mat. 20. b For many be called, but few are choose. Then went the Pharisees, and took council, Marc. 12. a Luc. 20. c ●ohan. 7. d how they might tangle him in his words, and sent unto him their disciples with Herodes officers, and said: Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God truly, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the outward appearance of men. Tell us therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto the Emperor, or not? Now when jesus perceived their wickedness, he said: O you hypocrites, why tempt you me? Show me the tribute money. And they took him a penny. And he said unto them: Whose is this image and superscription? They said unto him: The Emperors. Then said he unto them: give therefore unto the Emperor, Mat. 17. d Rom. 13. b that which is the Emperors: and give unto God, that which is Gods. When they heard that, they marveled, and left him, & went their way. The same day there came unto him the Saducees (which hold that there is no resurrection) and axed him, Mar. 12. b Luc. 20. d Act. 23. a and said: Master, Moses said: If a man die, having no children, Deut. 25. a his brother shall marry his wife, & raise up seed unto his brother. Now were there with us seven brethren. The first married a wife, and died: & for somuch as he had no seed, he left his wife unto his brother. Like wise the second, and third unto the seventh. Last of all the woman died also. Now in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her. jesus answered, and said unto them: You err, and understand not the scriptures, ner the power of God. In the resurrection they shall neither marry, ner be married, but are as the angels of God in heaven. As touching the resurrection of the deed, have you notred, what is spoken unto you of God, which sayeth: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, Exod. 〈…〉 Heb. 〈…〉 and the God of jacob? Yet is not God a God of the deed, but of the living. And when the people heard that, they were astonnyed at his doctrine. When the Pharisees herd, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 that he had stopped the mouth of the Saducees, they gathered themselves together. And one of them (a Scribe) tempted him, and said: Master, which is the chiefest commandment in the law? jesus said unto him: Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, Deu. ●● and ●● with all thy soul, and with all thy mind: this is the principal and greatest commandment. As for the second, it is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 〈…〉 In these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, jesus axed them, and said: 〈…〉 What think you of Christ? Whose son is he? They said unto him: David's. He said unto them: How then doth David in spirit, call him LORD, saying: Psal. 〈…〉 The LORD said unto my LORD: Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy foot stolen. If David now call him LORD, how is he then his son? And no man could answer him one word, neither dared any man axe him any more questions, from that day forth. The XXIII. Chapter. THen spoke jesus unto the people and to his disciples, and said: The scribes & Pharisees are set down upon Moses seat. Therefore what soever they bid you observe, that observe and do, 〈…〉 but after their works shall you not do, for they say & do not. 〈…〉 For they bind heavy and intolerable burdens, and lay them upon men's shoulders: But they themselves will not heave at them with one of their fingers. All their works do they to be seen of men. They set abroad their * Philateries, and make large borders upon their garments, and love to sit uppermost at the table, and to have the chief seats in the synagogues, and love to be saluted in the market, and to be called of men Rabbi. But you shall not suffer yourselves to be called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ, and all you are brethren. And call no man father upon earth, for one is your father, which is in heaven. And you shall not suffer yourselves to be called masters, for one is your master, namely, Christ. He that is greatest among you, shallbe your servant. For who so exalteth himself, 〈◊〉 14. b 〈…〉 b shall be brought low: and he that humbleth himself, shallbe exalted. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you ypocrytes, 〈…〉 that shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: You come not in your selves, neither suffer you them to enter, that would be in. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you ypocrytes, that devour widow's houses, and that under the culoure of praying long prayers, therefore shall you receive the greater damnation. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you ypocrytes, which compass see and land to make one 〈…〉 Proselyte: and when he is become one, you make of him a child of hell, two fold more than you yourselves are. woe unto you blyndegydes, which say: Who so ever sweareth by the temple, that is nothing: but who so ever sweareth by the gold of the temple, he is guilty. You fools and blind, whether is greater? the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And who so ever sweareth by the altar, that is nothing: but who so ever sweareth by the offering that is upon it, he is guilty. You fools and blind, whether is greater? the offering, or the altar that sanctifieth the offering? Therefore who so sweareth by the altar, sweareth by the same, and by all that is thereon: and who so sweareth by the temple, sweareth by the same, and by him that dwelleth therein. And who so sweareth by heaven, 〈…〉 sweareth by the seat of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you ypocrytes, 〈…〉 which tithe Mint, Anise and common, and leave the weightier matters of the law behind: namely, judgement, mercy, and faith. These aught to have been done, and not to leave the other behind. O you blind guides, which strain out a gnat, but swallow up a Camel. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you Ypocrytes, which make clean the utter side of the cup and platter, but within are you full of robbery and 〈…〉 excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the out side may be clean also. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, which be like unto painted sepulchres, that appear beautiful outward, but within they are full of deed men's bones and all filthiness. Even so are you also: Outward you appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, which build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say: If we had been in our father's time, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Therefore you be witnesses unto your selves, that you are the children of them, 1. Tess. ●. c which slay the prophets. Go to fulfil you also the measure of your fathers. O you serpents, O you generation of vipers, how will you escape the damnation of Hell? Therefore behold, I send unto you prophets and wisemen, and scribes, Mat. 10. b Luc. 11. c johan. 16. a Act. 5. e and 7. g and some of them shall you kill and crucify, and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from cite to cite: that upon you may come all the righteous blood which hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, Gen. 4. b unto the blood of Zachary the son of Barachias, whom you slay between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you: 2. Pa. 24. d All these things shall light upon this generation. O jerusalem jerusalem, Luc. 13. d thou that slayest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee: How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as the hen gathereth her chekens under her wings, 4. Esdr▪ 1. c and you would not? Behold, Psal. 68 d your habitation shallbe left unto you desolate. For I say unto you: You shall not see me hence forth, till you say: Blessed be he, Psal. 117. c that cometh in the name of the LORD. The XXIIII. Chapter. ANd jesus went out and departed from the temple, Marc. 13. a Luc. 21. a and his disciples came unto him, to show him the building of the temple. But jesus said unto them: See you not all these things? Verily I say unto you: Luc. 19 d there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be cast down. And as he sat upon the mount Oliuete, his disciples came unto him secretly, & said: Tell us, when shall these things come to pass? and which shall be the token of thy coming, and of the end of the world? jesus answered and said unto them: Take heed, that no man deceive you. For there shall many come in my name, Col. 2. c and say: I am Christ, and shall deceive many. You shall hear of wars, and of the noise of wars: take heed, and be not you troubled. All these things must first come to pass, but the end is not yet. For one people shall rise up against another, and one real me against another: 4. Esd 13. c and there shallbe pestilence, hunger, and earthquakes here & there. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Mat. 10. b Marc. 13. b Luc. 21. b johan. 16. a Then shall they put you to trouble, & shall kill you, and you shallbe hated of all people for my name's sake. Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one the other. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many: and because iniquity shall have the upper hand, 4. Es. 14. b the love of many shall abate. But who so endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shallbe preached in all the world for a witness unto all people, Mat. 10. c Marc. 13. b and then shall the end come. When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation (where of it is spoken by Daniel the prophet) stand in the holy place (who so readeth it, Marc. 13. b Luc. 21. c Dan. 9 c let him mark it well) then let them which be in jewry, fly unto the mountains: and let him which is on the house top, not come down to fet any thing out of his house: and let him which is in the field, not turn back to fetch his clotheses. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. But pray you, that your flight be not in the winter, Dan. 12. a ner on the Sabbath. For then shall there be great trouble, such as was not from the beginning of the world unto this time, ner shallbe. Ye and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the chosen's sake those days shallbe shortened. Marc. 13. c Luc. 17. c Then if any man shall say unto you: lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ's and false prophets, ●. Tess. 2. b Deut. 13. a and shall do great tokens and wonders: In so much, that (if it were possible) the very choose should be brought in to error. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you: Behold, he is in the wilderness, go not you forth: Behold, he is in the chamber, believe it not. For like as the lightning goeth out from the East, and shineth unto the west, so shall the coming of the son of man be. For where so ever a deed carcase is, job. 3●● there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the trouble of the same time, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 joel. 〈…〉 shall the Son and Moon loose their light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall move: and then shall appear the token of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the kindred's of the earth mourn, and they shall see the son of man come in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. Act. 〈…〉 And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trump, 〈…〉 & they shall gather together his choose from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other. Learn a similitude of the fig tree. 〈…〉 When his branch is yet tender, and his leaves sprung, you know that Summer is nigh. So likewise you, when you see all things, be you sure, that it is nigh even at the doors Verily I say unto you: This generation shall not pass, till all these be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall perish, but my words shall not perish. 〈…〉 Nevertheless of that day & hour knoweth no man, not not the angels of heaven, but my father only. Even as it was in the time of No, so shall the coming of the son of man be also. 〈…〉 For as they were in the days before the flood (they ate, they drunk, they married, and were married, even unto the day that No entered in to the ship, and they regarded it not, till the flood came and took them all away) So shall also the coming of the son of man be. Then shall two be in the field: 〈…〉 the one shall be received, and the other shallbe refused: Two shall be gryndinge at the Mill, the one shallbe received, and the other shallbe refused:) Two in the bed, the one shallbe received, and the other refused.) Watch therefore, 〈…〉 for you know not what hour your LORD will come. But be sure of this, that if the good man of the house knew what hour the thief would come, 〈…〉 he would surely watch, and not suffer his house to be broken up. Therefore be you ready also, for in the hour that you think not, shall the son of man come. 〈…〉 Who is now a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his houszholde, that he may give them meat in due season? 〈…〉 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord (when he cometh) shall find so doing. Verily. I say unto you: he shall set him over all his goods. But and if the evil servant shall say in his heart: Tush, it will be long or my lord come, and begin to smite his fellows, ye and to eat and drink with the drunken: The same servants lord shall come in a day, when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not ware of, and shall hue him in pieces and give him his reward with ypocrytes: there shall be wailing and gnaszhinge of teeth. The XXV. Chapter. THen shall the kingdom of heaven be like unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the brydegome. But five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took their lamps, nevertheless they took none oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom tarried, they slombred all and slept. But at midnight there was a cry made: Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go your way out for to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and prepared their lamps. But the foolish said unto the wise: give us of your oil, for our lamps are go out. Then answered the wise, and said: Not so, jest there be not enough for us and you, but go rather unto them that cell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him unto the marriage, and the gate was shut up. At the last came the other virgins also, and said: LORD LORD, 〈◊〉 7. b opon unto us. But he answered, and said: Verily I say unto you: I know you not. Luc. 6. c Ma●. 24. d Marc. 13. d Luc. 12. d ●●od. 2●. d Watch you therefore, for you know neither the day ner yet the hour, when the son of man shall come. Like wise as a certain man ready to take his journey in to a strange country, called his servants, 〈◊〉. 13. d ●uc. 19 a and delivered his goods unto them. And unto one he gave five talentes, to another two, and to another one: unto every man after his ability, and strait way departed. Then he that had received the five talentes, went and occupied with the same, and wan other five talentes. Likewise he that received two talentes, wan other two also. But he that received the one went and digged a pit in the earth, and hid his lords money. After a long season the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. Then came he that had received five talentes, and brought other five talentes, and said: Sir, thou deliverdst unto me five talentes: Behold, with them have I won five talents mother. Then said his lord unto him: 〈◊〉 24. d well thou good & faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over little, I will set the over much: enter thou in to the joy of thy lord. Then came he also that had received two talentes, and said: Sir, thou deliverdst unto me two talentes: Behold, I have won two other talents with them. His lord said unto him: Well thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over little, I will set the over much: enter thou in to the joy of thy lord. Then he that had received the one talon, came and said: Sir, I known that thou artan hard man: thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed, and so I was afraid, and went and hid thy talon in the earth: lo, there thou hast thy own. But his lord answered, and said unto him: Thou evil and slothful servant, knewest thou that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I strawed not? Thou shouldest therefore have had my money to the chaungers, and then at my coming should I have received mine own with vantage. Therefore take the talon from him, and give it unto him that hath ten talentes. For who so hath, Ma●. 13. Marc. 4. Luc. 8. and 19 to him shallbe given, and he shall have abundance. But who so hath not, from him shallbe taken away even that he hath. And cast the unprofitable servant in to utter darkness: Mat. 13. there shallbe wailing and gnaszhinge of teeth. But when the son of man shall come in his glory, and all holy angels with him, 2. Tess. ● then shall he sit upon the seat of his glory. And all people shallbe gathered before him: and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats. Ezec. 34▪ ● And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on the left. Then shall the king say unto them that shallbe on his right hand: Come hither you blessed of my father, inherit you the kingdom, which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry, Mat. 20. ● and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was harbourless, Esa. 58. b Ezec. 18. and you lodged me: I was naked, & you clothed me: I was sick, and you vysited me: I was in preson, Eccli. 7. d 2. Tim. 1. and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, & say: LORD, when saw we the hungry, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave the drink? When saw we the herbourlesse, and lodged thee? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we the sick or in preson, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them: Verily I say unto you: Look what you have done unto one of the lest of these my brethren, the same have you done unto me. Then shall he say also unto them that shallbe on the left hand: 〈◊〉 6. b 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 13. c 〈◊〉 30. f 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 19 d 〈◊〉 20. c Depart fro me you cursed in to the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: I was herbourlesse, and you lodged me not: I was naked, and you clothed me not: I was sick and in preson, and you vysited me not. Then shall they also answer him, and say: LORD, when saw we the hungry, or thirty, or herbourlesse, or naked, or sick, or in preson, and have not ministered unto thee? Then shall he answer them, and say: Verily I say unto you: 〈◊〉 2. b 〈◊〉 30. c 〈◊〉 14. p 〈◊〉 17. a ●●hā. 5. c Look what you have not done unto one of the least of these, the same have you not done unto me. And these shall go in to everlasting pain, but the righteous in to everlasting life. The XXVI. Chapter. ANd it came to pass when jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his disciples: You know, that after two days shallbe Easter, 〈◊〉. 14. a 〈◊〉 22. a ●●hā 18. a and the son of man shallbe delivered to be crucified. Then assembled together the high priests and the scribes, ●●hā. 11. e and the elders of the people in to the palace of the high priest which was called Caiphas, and held a council, how they might take jesus by deceit, and kill him. But they said: Not on the holy day, jest there be an uproar in the people. Mar. 14. a ●uc. 7. d ●ohan. 12. a Now when jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman, which had Some ●eade: A glass ●ith pre●ious wa●er a box with precious ointment, and poured it upon his head, as he sat at the table. When his disciples saw that, they diszdayned, and said: Where to serveth this waist? This ointment might have been well sold, and given to the poor. When jesus perceived that, he said unto them: Why trouble you the woman? She hath wrought a good work upon me for you have allway the poor with you, but me shall you not have always. Deut. 15. b Where as she hath poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to bury me. Verily I say unto you: where so ever this gospel shallbe preached thorough out all the world, there shall this also that she hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve (called judas Iscarioth) went unto the high priests, and said: What will you give me, Mar. 14. b Luc. 2●. a johan. 13. ● and I shall deliver him unto you? And they offered him thirty silver pens. And from that time forth, he sought opportunity to betray him? The first day of sweet bread came the disciples to jesus, and said unto him: Marc. 14. ● Luc. 〈…〉 Where will't thou that we prepare for thee, to eat the Easter lamb? He said: Go in to the cite to such a man, and say unto him: The Master sendeth the word: My time is a● hand, I will keep mine Easter by the with my disciples. And the disciples did as jesus had appointed them, and made ready the Easter lamb. And at even he sat down at the table with the twelve. And as they ate, he said: Marc. 14. ● Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 Verily I say unto you: One of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him: Sir, is it I? He answered and said: He that deppeth his hand with me in the dyszhe, the same shall betray me. The son of man goeth forth, as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the son of man shallbe betrayed: It had been better for that man, if he had never been born. Then judas that betrayed him, answered and said: Master, is it I? He said unto: him Thou hast said. And as they ate, jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 1. Cor. 〈…〉 and gave it to the disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and thanked, and gave it them, and said: Drink you all thereof, this is my blood of the new testament, that shallbe shed for many for the remission of sins. I say unto you: I will not drink hence forth of this fruit of the vine tree, until that day that I shall drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. And when they had said grace, Ma●. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 they went forth unto mount Oliuete. Then said jesus unto them. * 〈…〉 Zach. 〈…〉 Ma●. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 This night shall you all be offended in me. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shallbe scattered abroad. But after that I rise again, Act. ●● I will go before you in to Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him: * Ma●. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 Though all men should be offended in thee, yet will I never be offended. jesus said unto him: Verily I say unto thee: This same night before the cock crow, shalt thou deny me thrice. Peter said unto him: And though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny the. Likewise also said all the disciples. Then came jesus with them into a field which is called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples: 〈◊〉. 14. d Sit you here, while I go yonder & pray. And he took with him Peter, and the two sons of zebedee, and began to wax sorrowful and to be in an agony. Then said jesus unto them: My soul is heavy even unto the death. ●●hā. 1●. c Tarry you here, and watch with me. Andrea he went forth a little, Luc. ●2. c and fallen flat upon his face, and prayed saying: O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass fro me: nevertheless not as I will but as thou will't. Andrea he came to his disciples, and found them a sleep, & said unto Peter: What? could you not watch with me one hour? Watch & pray, that you fall not in to temptation. 〈…〉 The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again, he went forth the second time and prayed, 〈◊〉 14. c saying: O my father, if this cup can not pass away fro me (except I drink of it) thy will be fulfilled. Andrea he came, and found them a sleep again, and their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went forth again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then came he to his disciples, and said unto them: sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is come, that the son of man shallbe delivered in to the hands of sinners: Arise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand, that betrayeth me. While he yet spoke, lo, judas one of the twelve came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, 〈◊〉 ●4. b 〈◊〉 22. d ●●●ā. 28. a sent from the high priests and elders of the people. And he that betrayed him, had given them a token, saying: Whom so ever I kiss, that same is he, lay hands upon him. And forth withal he came to jesus, and said: Hail master, and kissed him. And jesus said unto him: Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands upon jesus, and took him. And behold, one of them that were with jesus, stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priests, & smote of his ear: Then said jesus unto him: Put up the sword in to his place. 〈◊〉 9 a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 1●. b For all that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. Or thinkest thou that I can not pray my father now, to send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled? 〈◊〉 14. d For thus must it be. In the same hour said jesus unto the multitude: 〈◊〉 14. f 〈◊〉 22. d You are come out as it were to a murderer with swords and staves for to take me. I sat daily teaching in the temple among you, and you took me not. But all this is done, Esa. 35. d Psal. 21. 6● that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. * Mat. 26. ● Then all the disciples left him, and fled. But they that took jesus, led him to Caiphas the high priest, Marc. 14. johan. 18 ● where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. As for Peter, he followed him a far of unto the high priests palace, & went in, and sat with the servants, that he might see the end. But the high priests and the elders, Marc. 14. ● Act. 6. b and the whole council sought false witness against jesus, that they might put him to death, and found none. And though many false witnesses stepped forth, yet found they none. At the last there stepped forth two false witnesses, & spoke: He said: I can break down the temple of God, and build it again in three days. johan. 2. c And the high priest stood up, Mar 14. ● and said unto him: Answerest thou nothing, unto it, that these testify against thee? Nevertheless jesus held his tongue. And the high priest answered, and said unto him: Luc. 22. ● I charge the by the living God, that thou tell us, if thou be Christ the son of God. jesus spoke: Thou hast said it. Nevertheless I say unto you: johan. 6. g Act. 1 b From this time forth it shall come to pass, that you shall see the son of man sitting upon the right hand of the power (of God) and coming in the clouds of the heaven. Than the high priest rent his clotheses, and said: He hath blasphemed, Mar. 14. g Luc. 22. e what need we any more witnesses? Lo, now have you heard his blasphemy: What think you? They answered, & said: He is guilty of death. Levi. 24. ● Then * Esa. 50. b ●ohan. 18. c spytted they in his face, & smote him with fists. Some smote him upon the face, and said: Prophecy unto us thou Christ, who is it, that smote thee? As for Peter, Mar. 14. g Luc. 22. ● Iohan. 18. b he sat without in the palace. And there came unto him a damsel, and said: And thou wast with jesus of Galilee also. Nevertheless he denied before them all, and said: I can not tell what thou sayest. But when he went out at the door, another damsel saw him. and said unto them that were there: This was also with jesus of Nazareth. And he denied again, and swore also: I know not the man. And after a little while, they that stood there, stepped forth, and said unto Peter: Of a truth thou art one of them also, for thy speech be wrayeth the. Then began he to curse and to swear: I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Then thought Peter upon the words of jesus, which said unto him: Mat. 26. c before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Andrea he went out, and wept bitterly. The XXVII. Chapter. Upon the morrow, all the high priests and elders of the people held a council against jesus, Mal 2. a Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a ●ohan. 19 d that they might put him to death, and bound him, and led him forth, and delivered him unto Pontius Pilate the debit. ●ct. 3. b When judas which betrayed him, saw this that he was condemned unto death, it repented him, and brought again the thirty silver pens to the high priests and the elders, and said: I have done evil, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. They said: What have we to do with that? See thou thereto. And he cast the silver pens in the temple, and got him away, and went and hanged himself. ●. Re. 17. d Act. 1. c So the high priests took the silver pens, and said: It is not lawful to put them in to the God's chest, for it is bloudmoney. Nevertheless they held a council, and bought with them a potter's field, for to bury strangers in. Wherefore the same field is called the bloudfelde unto this day. Then was that fulfilled, which was spoken by jeremy the prophet saying: ●ere. 32. b Zach. 11. c And they took thirty silver pens, the price of him that was sold, whom they bought of the children of Israel: and these they gave for a potter's field, as the LORD commanded me. Asdrubal for jesus, he stood before the debit, and the debit axed him, Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a johan. 28. d and said: Art thou the king of the jews? And jesus said unto him: Thou sayest it. And when he was accused of the high priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said pilate unto him: Hearest thou not, how sore they accuse thee? And * Esa. 53. b he answered him not one word: in so much that the debit marveled exceadingly. At that feast, the debit was wont to deliver a prisoner free unto the people, Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. b johan. 18. e whom they would. And at the same time he had a notable prisoner called Barrabas. And when they were gathered together, pilate said unto them: Whether will you, that I give louse unto you? Barrabas, or jesus which is called Christ? For he knew well that they had delivered him of envy. And when he sat upon the judgement seat, his wife sent unto him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the high priests and the elders persuaded the people, Mar. 〈…〉 that they should axe Barrabas, and destroy jesus. Then answered the debit, & said unto them: Luc. 〈…〉 Whether of these two will you that I give louse unto you? They said: Barrabas: pilate say●● unto them: 〈…〉 What shall I do then with jesus, which is called Christ? They said all: let him be crucified. The debit said: What evil hath he done them? Nevertheless they cried yet more and said, let him be crucified. So when Pilate saw, that he could not help, but that there was a greater uproar, he took water, and waszhed his hands before the people, and said: I am unguilty of the blood of this righteous man. See you thereto. Then answered all the people, and said: His blood come upon us, and upon our children. 〈…〉 Then gave he Barrabas louse unto them, but caused jesus be scourged, and delivered him to be crucified▪ Then the debites soudyers took jesus, in to the common hall, 〈…〉 and gathered the whole multitude over him, and stryped him out of his clotheses, and put a purple rob upon him, and plated a crown of thorn, & set it upon his head, and a reed in his hand, and kneeled before him, and mocked him, and said: hail king of the jews. And spytted upon him, and took the reed, & smote him upon the head. And when they had mocked him, they took the rob of him again, & put his own clotheses upon him, and led him forth, that they might crucify him. 〈…〉 And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyren called Simon: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they came unto the place called Golgatha (that is to say by interpretation a place of deed men's skulls) they gave him to drink, vinegar mixed with gall. 〈…〉 And when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. So when they had crucified him, 〈…〉 they parted his garments, and cast lots therefore: that the thing might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet: 〈…〉 They have parted my garments among them, & cast lots upon my vesture. And there they sat, and watched him. And above over his head, they put up the cause of his death in writing: namely: This is the king of the jews. Then were there two murthurers crucified with him, Esa. ●. ● the one of the right hand, and the other on the left. They that went by, reviled him, and wagged their heads and said: Thou that breakest down the temple of God, and buyldest it in three days, help thyself. If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross. The high priests also in like manner with the scribes & elders, laughed him to scorn, and said: he hath helped other, and can not help himself: 〈…〉 If he be the king of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him 〈…〉 He trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him. For he hath said: I am the son of God. The murderers also that were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. And from the sixte hour there was darkness over the whole earth unto the ninth hour. 〈…〉 And about the nyenth hour, jesus cried with a loud voice, and said: Eli, Eli, Lamma asabthani? that is, My God, my God, 〈…〉 why hast thou forsaken me? But some of them that stood there, when they heard that said: He calleth Elias. And immediately one of them ran, 〈◊〉 ●5. d 〈◊〉 19 c and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it upon a reed, and gave him to drink. Butler the other said: hold, let see whether Elias will come, and deliver him. jesus cried again with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And behold, the vale of the temple was rent in two pieces, from above till beneath, and the earth quaked, and the stones rend, and the graves opened, and many bodies of the saints that slept, arose, and went out of the graves after his resurrection, and came in to the holy cite, and appeared unto many. 〈◊〉 15. d ●uc. 23. c But the captain and they that were with him, and kept jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, they were sore afraid, and said: Verily this was God's son. And there were many women there looking to afar of, ●arc. 13. ● which had followed jesus from Galilee, and had ministered unto him: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of james and joses, and the mother of the children of zebedee. At even there came a rich man of Arimathia, called joseph, which was also a disciple of jesus. Marc. 15. c Luc. 23. c ●ohan. 19 c He went unto pilate, and axed the body of jesus. Then commanded pilate that the body should be given him. And joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen clot, and laid it in his own new sepulchre, which he had hewn out in a rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and went his way. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Marry, sitting over against the sepulchre. Marc. 15. ● The next day that followeth the day of preparing, the high priests and Pharisees came together unto pilate, and said: Sir, we have called to remembrance, that this deceiver said while he was yet alive: * Mat. 16.17. c. d Marc. 9 Luc. 18. d After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be kept unto the third day, jest peradventure his disciples come, and steal him away, and say unto the people: He is risen from the deed, and so shall the last error be worse than the first. pilate said unto them: There have you watchmen, go your way, and keep it as you can. They went and kept the sepulchre with watchmen, and sealed the stone. The XXVIII. Chapter. Upon the evening of the Sabbath holy day, Marc. 16 Luc. 24. johan. 20 which dawneth the morrow of the first day of the Sabbathes, came Mary Magdalene and the other Marry, to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was made a great earthquake: for the angel of the LORD descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as the lightning, and his clothing white as snow. But the watch men were troubled for fear of him, and become as though they were deed. The angel answered, Marc. 1● Luc. 24 and said unto the women: Be not you afraid. I know that you seek jesus that was crucified. He is not here. He is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place, where the LORD was laid, and go your way soon, and tell his disciples, that he is risen from the deed. And behold, he will go before you in to Galilee, there shall you see him. Lo, I have told you. And they departed from the grave in all the haist with fear and great joy, Mar. 16▪ Luc. 24▪ 1. Cor. 1● & ran to bring his disciples word. And as they were going to tell his disciples, behold, jesus met them, and said: God speed you. And they went unto him, and held his feet, and fallen down before him. Then said jesus unto them: Be not afraid: go your way and tell my brethren, that they go in to Galilee, there shall they see me. Act. 1. b And when they were go, behold, certain of the watchmen came in to the cite, & told the high priests every thing that had happened. Andrea they came together with the elders, and held a council, and gave the sonders money enough, and said: Say you: his disciples came by night, and stolen him away, while we were a sleep. And if this come to the debytes ears, we will still him, and bring it so to pass, that you shall be safe. And they took the money, and did as they were taught. And this saying is noised among the jews unto this day. The eleven disciples went unto Galilee in to a mountain, where jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they fallen down before him: but some of them doubted. And jesus came unto them, talked with them, Mat. 11. e ●ohan. 17. a ●hil. 2. a Mar. 16. b and said: Unto me is given all power in heaven and in earth. Go you your way therefore, and teach all nations, and baptize them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost: and teach them to keep all things, what soever I have commanded you. ●ohan. 14. b And lo, I am with you every day unto the end of the world. The end of the gospel of S. Matthew. The gospel of S. Mark. What S. Mark containeth. Chap. I The office of John the baptist, The baptism of Christ, his fasting, his preaching, and the calling of Peter, Andrew, james and Ihon. Christ heals the man with the unclean spirit, helpeth Peter's mother in law, and cleanseth the leper. Chap. II He heals the man of the palsy, calleth Levi the customer, eateth with open sinners, and excuseth his disciples. Chap. III He helpeth the man with the dried hand, chooseth his apostles, and casts out the unclean spirit, which the Pharisees ascribe unto the devil. The brother, sister and mother of Christ. Chap. four The parable of the sour. Christ stilleth the tempest of the see, which obeyeth him. Chap. V He delivereth the possessed from the unclean spirit, the woman from the bloody issue, and raiseth the captains daughter. Chap. VI Christ preacheth at home, and is not regarded. He sendeth out his disciples. John baptist is taken and headed. Christ feedeth five thousand men with five loaves and two fiszhes. He walketh upon the see. Chap. VII. The Pharisees are not content, that the disciples eat with unwaszhen hands: but Christ rebuketh themselves for breaking the commandments of God, heals the woman of Canaan's daughter, and maketh the dumb to speak. Chap. VIII. He feedeth four thousand men with seven loaves, reproveth the Pharisees that are so desirous of tokens, warneth his disciples to beware of their leaven, maketh a blind man to see, axeth his disciples what men hold of him, reproveth Peter, telleth his disciples of his passion, and exorteth them to follow him▪ Chap. IX. The transfiguration of Christ, which heals the child that was possessed of a dumb spirit, teacheth his disciples to be lowly, and to avoid occasions of evil. Chap. X. Christ giveth his answer concerning marriage, and that it is hard for th● rich to come in to heaven: reproveth the disdain of his disciples, learneth them to be meek, and restoreth blind Barthimeus to his sight. Chap. XI. Christ rideth in to jerusalem, driveth the merchants out of the temple, curseth the fig tree, and confoundeth the Pharisees. Chap. XII. He rebuketh the sin and unthankfulness of the jews with a goodly similitude, taketh them in their own deceitful questions, exorteth to beware of their doctrine and living, and commends the good will of the poor widow. Chap. XIII. He warneth his disciples to beware of false teachers and deceivers, comforteh them against the trouble for to come, telling them of the horrible destruction of jerusalem, of his coming, and end of the world. Chap. XIIII. The Magdalene anoynteth Christ. They eat the easter lamb, and the supper of the LORD. Christ is taken, and brought in to Caiphas house. Peter denieth him. Chap. XU. The crucifienge of Christ, and how he was buried. Chap. XVI. The resurrection of Christ, which appeareth unto Mary Magdalene and to his disciples, whom he sendeth forth in to the world to preach the gospel, and ascendeth up in to heaven himself. The gospel of S. Mark. The first Chapter. THis is the beginning of the gospel of jesus Christ the son of God, as it is written in the prophets. 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 7. c Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before the. The voice of a crier is in the wilderness: 〈…〉 Prepare the way of the LORD, make his paths strait. John was in the wilderness, and baptized, 〈◊〉 3. d and preached the baptism of amendment, for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him the whole land of jewry, and they of jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in jordan, and knowledged their sins. John was clothed with Camels here, and with a lethron gerdell about his loins, 〈◊〉. 3. a and ate locusts and wild honey, and preached, and said: There cometh one after me, 〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 3 c 〈…〉. c which is stronger than I: before whom I am not worthy to stoop down, and to louse up the lachet of his shoe. I baptize you with water, but he shall baptize you with the holy ghost. 〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 3 c ●●●ā 1. d And it happened at the same time, that jesus came out of Galilee from Nazareth, and was baptized of John in jordan. And as soon as he was come out of the water, he saw that the heavens opened, and the ghost as a dove coming down upon him. And there came a voice from heaven: Thou art my dear son, 〈…〉 in whom I delight. And immediately the spirit drove him in to the wilderness: and he was in the wilderness forty days, 〈◊〉 4. a 〈◊〉 4. a and was tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beestes. And the angels ministered unto him. But after that John was taken, jesus came in to Galilee, Mat. 4. b Luc. 4. b and preached the gospel of the kingdom of God, and said: the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: amend yourselves, and believe the gospel. So as he walked by the see of Galilee, Mat. 4. c Luc. 5. a he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting their nets in the see, for they were fyszhers. And jesus said unto them: Follow me, and I will make you fyszhers of men. jere. 16. c Eze. 47. b And immediately they left their nets, and followed him. And when he was go a little further from thence, he saw james the son of zebedee, and John his brother, as they were in the ship mending their nets. And anon he called them. And they left their father zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and followed him. And they went in to Capernaum, Luc. 4. d johan 2 b and immediately upon the Sabbathes, he entered in to the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonnyed at his doctrine: Mat. 7. c for he taught them as one having power, and not as the scribes. And in their synagogue there was a man possessed with a foul spirit, Luc. 4. d which cried and said: O what have we to do with thee, thou jesus of Nazareth. Art thou come to destroy us? I know that thou art even that holy one of God. And jesus reproved him, and said: hold thy tongue, and depart out of him. And the foul spirit tare him, and cried with a loud voice, and departed out of him. And they were all astonnyed, in so much that they axed one another among themselves, & said: What is this? What new learning is this? For he commandeth the foul spretes with power, and they are obedient unto him. And immediately the fame of him was noised round about in the coasts and borders of Galilee. And forth with they went out of the synagogue, Mat. 8. b Luc. 4. d and came in to the house of Simon and Andrew, with james and Ihon. And Symons mother in law lay, & had the fevers, and anon they told him of her. And he came to her, and set her up, and took her by the hand, and the fever left her immediately. And she ministered unto them. At even when the Son was go down, Mat. 8. b Luc. 4. e they brought unto him all that were sick and possessed, and the whole cite was gathered together at the door, and he healed many that were diseased with diverse sicknesses, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to speak, because they known him. And in the morning before day, he arose, and went out. And jesus departed in to a desert place, and prayed there. Peter also and they that were with him, followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him: Every man seeketh the. And he said unto them: Let us go in to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for thereto am I come. And he preached in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and drove out the devils. Mat. 8. a Luc. 5. b And there came unto him a leper, which besought him, and kneeled before him, & said unto him: If thou will't, thou canst make me clean. And it pitied jesus, and he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and said: I will, be thou clean. And when he had so spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, Marc. 7. d and 9 a and he was cleansed. And jesus forbade him strately, and forth with sent him away, and said unto him: Take heed, that thou say nothing to any man, but go thy way, and show thyself unto the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses commanded, Levi. 14. a for a witness unto them. But he when he was departed, began to speak much of it, and made the deed known: in so much that jesus could no more go into the cite openly, but was without in desert places, & they came unto him from all quarters. The II Chapter. ANd after certain days he went again unto Capernaum, Mat. 9 a Luc. 5. c johan. 5 a and it was noised that he was in the house. And immediately there was gathered a great multitude, in so much that they had no room, not not without before the door. And he spoke the word unto them. And there came unto him certain, which brought one sick of the palsy born of four. And when they could not come nigh him for the people, they uncovered the roof of the house where he was. And when they had made a hole, they let down the bed (by cords) wherein the sick of the palsy say. But when jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy: My son, thy sins are forgiven the. Nevertheless there were certain scribes which sat there, & thought in their hearts: How speaketh this man such blasphemy? Who can forgive sins, Esa. 43. d but only God? And immediately jesus known in his spirit, that they thought so in themselves, and said unto them: Why think you such things in your hearts? Whether is easier to say to the sick of the palsy: Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say: arise, take up thy bed and walk. But that you may know, that the son of man hath power to forgive sins upon earth, he said unto the sick of the palsy: I say unto thee, arise, take up thy bed, and go home. And immediately he arose, took his bed, and went forth before them all: Act. ● in so much that they were all astonied, and praised God, and said: We never saw such. And he went forth again unto the see, and all the people came unto him, 〈…〉 and he taught them. And as jesus passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him: Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass as he sat at the table in his house, there sat many publicans & sinners at the table with jesus and his disciples: For there were many that followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw that he ate with publicans & sinners, they said unto his disciples: Why doth he eat and drink with the publicans and sinners? When jesus heard that, he said unto them: The whole need not the Physician, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance. 〈…〉 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees faste●. And there came certain, 〈…〉 which said unto him: Why fast the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees, and thy disciples fast not? And jesus said unto them: How can the wedding children fast, while the bridegroom is with them? So long as the bridegroom is with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come, that the bridegroom shallbe taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man soweth a piece of new clot unto an old garment, for else he taketh away the new piece from the old, and so is the rent worse. And no man putteth new wine in to old vessels, else the new wine breaketh the vessels, and the wine is spylt, and the vessels perish: but new wine must be put in to new vessels. And it chanced that upon the Sabbath he went thorough the corn fields, 〈…〉 and his disciples began to make a way thorough, and to pluck the ears of the corn. And the Pharisees said unto him: Behold, what thy disciples do, which is not lawful upon the Sabbath. And he said unto them: Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was anhongred, both he and they that were with him: how he went in to the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the shewbreds (which was lawful for no man to eat, 〈◊〉. 21. b but for the priests) and he gave them unto him, and to them that were with him? And he said unto them: The Sabbath was made for man's sake, and not man for the Sabbathes sake. Therefore is the son of man LORD even over the Sabbath. The III Chapter. HE went again also in to the synagogue, and there was there a man that had a withered hand. 〈…〉 And they marked him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, that they might accuse him. And he said unto the man with the withered hand: Step forth here. And he said unto them: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath? Or is it lawful to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their tongue. And he looked round about upon them with wrath, and was sorry for the hard hearts of them, and said unto the man: Stretch out thy hand. And he stretched it out. And his hand was made whole like as the other. 〈◊〉 15. b And the Pharisees went out, and strait way they held a council with Herodes officers against him, 〈◊〉 12. b 〈◊〉 10. d how they might destroy him. But jesus departed away with his disciples unto the see. And there followed him much people out of Galilee, 〈…〉 and from jewry, and from Jerusalem, and out of Idumea, and from beyond jordan, and they that dwelled about tire and Sydon, a great multitude which had herd of his noble acts, and came unto him. And he spoke unto his disciples that they should keep a ship for him because of the people, jest they should thrunge him: for he healed many of them, in so much, that all they which were plagued, pressed upon him, that they might touch him. And when the foul spretes saw him, 〈◊〉. 4. c they fallen down before him, and cried, and said: Thou art the son of God. And he charged them strately, that they should not make him known. 〈◊〉 10. a 〈◊〉 6. b 〈◊〉 ●. a 〈…〉 b Andrea he went up in to a mountain, and called unto him whom he would, and they came unto him. And he ordained the twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them out to preach, and that they might have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. And unto Simon he gave the name Peter, and james the son of zebedee, and John the brother of james, and gave than the name Bonarges, that is to say, the children of thunder: and Andrew, and Philippe, and Bartylmew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and james the son of Alpheus, and Taddeus, and Simon of Cana, and judas Iscarioth which betrayed him. And they came to house. Then assembled the people together again, in so much that they had no leisure to eat. And when they that were about him heard of it, they went out to hold him. For they said: Some read: * He will go out of his wit. he taketh to much upon him. But the scribes that were come down from jerusalem, said: He hath Belzebub, and thorough the chief devil casts he out devils. And he called them together, Mat. 9 d and 12. c Luc. 11. b and spoke unto them in symilitudes: How can one Satan drive out another? And if a realm be divided in itself, how can it endure? And if a house be divided against itself, it can not continue. If Satan now rise against himself, and be at variance with himself, he can not endure, but is at an end. No man can enter in to a strong man's house, and take away his goods, except he first bind the strong man, and then spoil his house. Verily I say unto you: Mat. 12. c Luc. 12. a 1. joh. 5. c All sins shallbe forgiven the children of men, and the blasphemy also wherewith they blaspheme. But who so blasphemeth the holy ghost, hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of the everlasting judgement. For they said: he hath an unclean spirit. And there came his mother and his brethren, and stood without, and sent unto him, Mat. 12. c Luc. 8. c and called him. And the people sat about him, and said unto him: Behold, thy mother and thy brethren axe after the without. And he answered, and said: Who is my mother and my brethren? And he looked round about him upon his disciples, which sat round in compass about him, and said: Behold, my mother and my brethren. For who so ever doth the will of God the same is my brother, and my sister and my mother. The four Chapter. ANd he began again to teach by the see side. Mat. 1●. a Luc. 8. b And there gathered much people unto him, so that he went in to a ship, and sat upon the water. And all the people stood upon the land by the see side. And he preached long unto them by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine: hearken to, behold, there went out a sour to sow: & it happened while he was sowing, that some fallen by the way side. Then came the fowls under the heaven, and ate it up. Some fallen upon stony ground, where it had not much earth: and anon it came up, because it had not deep earth. Now when the Son arose, it caught heat: and in so much as it had no rote, it withered away. And some fell among the thorns, & the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it gave no fruit. And some fallen upon a good ground, which gave fruit, that came up and grew. And some bore thirty fold, and some sixty fold, and some an hundredth fold, And he said unto them: Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve, Mat. 1●. b Luc. 8. b axed him concerning this parable. Andrea he said unto them: Unto you it is given, to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things happen by parables, Esa. 6. b Iohan. 12. c Act. 28. d Rom. 11. b that with saying eyes they may see, and not discern: and that with hearing ears they may hear, and not understand, jest at any time they turn, and their sins be forgiven them. Andrea he said unto them: understand you not this parable? How will you then understand all other parables? The sower soweth the word. These be they that are by the way side? where the word is sown, Mat. 13 c and as soon as they have heard it, immediately cometh Satan, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And likewise are they that are sown on the stony ground: which when they have heard the word, receive it with joy, and have no rote in them: but endure for a tyme. When trouble and persecution ariseth for the words sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they that are sown among the thorns: which hear the word, and the carefulness of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and many other lusts enter in, and choke the word, and so is it made unfruitful. And these are they that are sown upon a good ground: Which hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit: some thirty fold, and some sixty fold, and some an hundredth fold. Mat. 5. b Luc. 8. b and 11. c And he said unto them: Is a candle lighted to be put under a buszhell, or under a table? Is it not lighted, to be set upon a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, that shall not be openly showed: and there is nothing secret, that shall not be known. Mat. 10. ● Luc. ● and 12. ● Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them: Take heed what you hear. With what measure you meet, with the same shall it be measured unto you again. And unto you that hear this, Mat. 7 ● Luc. ●. ● shall more be given. For who so hath, unto him shall be given: and who so hath not, Ma●. ● and ● Luc. ● and ● from him shallbe taken away, even that he hath. And he said: The kingdom of God is after this manner, as when a man casts seed upon the land, and sleepeth, and standeth up night and day, Mat. ● and the seed springeth up, & groweth, he not knowing of it. (For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself: first the grass, afterward the ear, than the full wheat in the ear) But when she hath brought forth the fruit, he putteth to the syckell, because the harvest is come. And he said: Where unto will welicken the kingdom of God? Or by what similitude will we compare it? Mat▪ ● Luc▪ ● It is like a grain of mustard seed, which when it is sown upon the land, is the least among all sedes of the earth. And when it is sown, it groweth up, and is greater than all herbs, and getteth great branches, so that the fowls under the heaven may devil under the shadow thereof. And by many such parables he spoke the word unto them, there after as they might hear it, 〈…〉 & without parables spoke he nothing unto them: but unto his disciples he expounded all things privately. And the same day at even he said unto them: Mat. ● Luc▪ ● let us pass over. And they let the people go, and took him as he was in the ship, and there were more ships with him. And there arose a great storm of wind, and daszhed the wawes in to the ship, so that the ship was full. And he was behind in the ship and slept upon a pillow. And they awoke him & said unto him: Master, Carest thou not, that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the see: Peace, and be still, And the wind was laid, & there followed a great calm. And he said unto them: Why are you so fearful? How is it, that you have no faith? And they feared exceadingly, & said one to another: What is he this? For wind and see are obedient unto him. The V Chapter. ANd they came over unto the other side of the see in to the country of the Gaderenites. 〈…〉 And when he went out of the ship, there met him a man possessed of an unclean spirit, which had his dwelling in the graves. And no man could bind him, not not with chains: for he was often bound with fetters & chains, and pluck the chains in sunder, and broke the fetters in pieces, and no man could tame him. And he was allway both day and night upon the mountains and in the graves crying, and beating himself with stones. But when he saw jesus afar of, he ran, and fallen down before him, and cried loud, and said: 〈…〉 What have I to do with the O jesus thou son of the Hyest God? I charge the by God, that thou torment me not. Nevertheless he said unto him: Go out of the man thou foul spirit. And he axed him: What is thy name? And he answered and said: My name is Legion, for there be many of us. And he prayed him instantly, that he would not send them away out of that country. And even there in the mountains there was a great herd of swine feeding, 〈…〉 and all the devils prayed him, and said: Let us depart in to the swine. And anon jesus gave them leave. Then the foul spretes went out, and intred in to the swine. And the herd of swine, ran heedlinges in to the see with a storm. They were about a two thousand swine, and were drowned in the see. And the swine herds fled, and told it in the cite, and in the country. And they went out for to see what had happened, and came to jesus, and saw him which was possessed and had had the legion, that he sat, and was clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And they that had seen it, told them what had happened to the possessed, and of the swine. And they began to pray him, that he would depart out of their coasts. And when he came in to the ship, the possessed prayed him, that he might be with him. Nevertheless jesus would not suffer him, but said unto him: Go in to the house & to thy own, and tell them how great benefits the LORD hath done for thee, and how he hath had mercy upon the. And he went his way, and began to publish in the ten cities how great benefits jesus had done for him. And every man marveled. And when jesus passed over again by ship, there gathered much people unto him, 〈…〉 and was by the see side. And behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, whose name was jairus. And when he saw him, he fallen down at his feet, and besought him greatly, & said: My daughter is at the point (of death) let it be thy pleasure to come and lay thy hand upon her, that she may be whole and live. And he went with him, and much people followed him, and thronged him. And there was a woman, which had had the blood issue twelve years, Mat. 9 c Luc. 8. c and had suffered much of many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not helped, but rather in worse case. When she heard of jesus, she came behind among the people, and touched his garment. For she said: If I may but touch his clotheses, I shall be whole. And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body, that she was healed of the plague. And forth with jesus felt in himself the power that was go out of him, and turned him about among the people, and said: Who hath touched my clotheses? And his disciples said unto him: Thou seist that the people thrusteth thee, and sayest: Who hath touched me? And he looked about to see her, that had done it. As for the woman, she feared and trembled (for she known, what was done in her) and came and fallen down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said unto her: Daughter, Luc. 7. c thy faith hath made the whole: go thy way in peace, & be whole of thy plague. while he yet spoke, Mat. 9 c Luc. 8. f there came certain from the ruler of the synagogues house, and said: Thy daughter is deed, why troublest thou the master any more? Butler jesus heard right soon the word that was spoken, and said unto the ruler of the synagogue: Be not thou afraid, believe only. And he suffered no man to follow him, but Peter and james and John his brother. And he came in to the ruler of the synagogues house, and saw the business, and them that wept and wailed greatly: and he went in, and said unto them: Why make you this a do, and weep? The maid is not deed, but sleepeth. johan. 11. b And they laughed him to scorn * 4. Re. 4. d And he drove them all out, and took the father and mother of the maid, and them that were with him, and went in where the maiden lay. And he took the maiden by the hand, and said unto her: Thabith a Cumi (which is by interpretaeion) Maiden, I say unto thee: Arise. * johan. 5. c Act. 9 f And immediately the maiden arose, and walked. She was twelve year old, and they were astonnyed out of measure. And he charged them strately, that no man should know of it, and said unto them, that they should give her to eat. The VI Chapter. ANd he departed thence, and came in to his own country, Mat. 13. a Luc. 4. b and his disciples followed him. And when the Sabbath came, he began to teach in their synagogue. And many that heard it, marveled at his learning, and said: From whence hath he these things? And what wisdom is this, that is given him: & such acts as are done by his hands? Is not this the Carpenter the son of Mary, and the brother of james and joses, and of Jude and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us also? And they were offended at him. But jesus said unto them: A prophet is nowhere less set by, Mat. 13. g Luc. 4. c johan. 4. c than in his own country, & at home among his own. Andrea he could not show one miracle there, but laid his hands upon a few sick, and healed them. And he marveled at their unbelieve. And he went about in the towns on every side, and taught them. And called the twelve, and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over the unclean spretes. And commanded them, that they should take nothing with them toward their journey, save only a rod: no scrip, no bread, no money in the gerdell, but should be shod with sandales, and that they should not put on two coats. And he said unto them: Where so ever you shall enter in to an house, there abide, till you go thence. And who so ever will not receive you, ner hear you, Mat. 10. b Luc. 9 a depart out from thence, and shake of the dust from your feet, for a witness unto them. I say unto you verily: It shall be easier for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of judgement, Mat. 11. d Luc. 10. a then for that cite. Mat. 10. a And they went forth, and preached, that men should amend themselves, and they cast out many devils: and many that were sick anointed they with oil, and healed them. And it came to king Herod's ears (for his name was now known) and he said: Mat. 14. a Luc. 9 a John the baptist is risen again from the deed, and therefore are his deeds so mighty. But some said: It is Elias. Some said: It is a prophet, or one of the prophets. But when Herode heard it, he said: It is John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the deed. This Herode had sent forth, and taken John, and put him in preson, because of Herodias his brother Philippes wife, for he had married her. Nevertheless John said unto Herode 〈…〉 It is not lawful for the to have the brothers wife. But Herodias laid wait for him, and would have slain him, and could not. Notwithstondinge Herode feared John, for he known that he was a just and holy man: and he kept him, and herkened unto him in many things, and heard him gladly. And there came a convenient day, that Herode on his birth day made a supper to the lords, 〈…〉 captains and chief estates of Galilee. Then the daughter of Herodias came in, and daunsed, and pleased Herode, and them that sat at the table. Then said the king unto the damsel: Axe of me what thou will't, I will give it the. And he swore unto her: What soever thou shalt axe of me, I will give it thee, even unto the one half of my kingdom. She went forth, and said unto her mother: what shall I axe? She said: John Baptist's head. And immediately she went in to the king with haist, and said: I will that thou give me strait way in a platter the heed of John the baptist. Then the king was sorry: Yet for the oothes sake and then that sat at the table, he would not say her nay. And immediately he sent the hangman, and commanded his head to be brought in. So he went, and heeded him in the preson, and brought his head in a platter, and gave it unto the damsel, and the damsel gave it unto her mother. And when his 〈◊〉 heard that, they came and took his body, & laid it in a grave. And the Apostles came together unto jesus, and told him all, 〈…〉 and what they had done and taught. And he said unto them: Let us go out of the way in to the wilderness, and rest a little. For there were many comers and goers, and they had not time enough to eat. And there he passed by ship out of the way in to a desert place. And the people saw them departing away, and many knew of it, & ran thither together of foot out of all cities, & came before them, & came unto him. And jesus went out, 〈…〉 and saw much people, and had compassion upon them: for they were 〈…〉 as the sheep, that have no shepherd, and he began a long sermon. Now when the day was far passed, his disciples came unto him, and said: This is a desert place, 〈◊〉 14. b let them depart, that they may go in to the vyllagies and towns round about, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat. But jesus answered and said unto them: give you them to eat. And they said unto him: Shall we go then, and buy two hundredth penny worth of bread, and give them to eat? He said unto them: 〈◊〉. 8. a How many loaves have you? Go and se. And when they had searched, they said: five, and two fiszhes. And he commanded them all to sit down by table fulles upon the green grass. And they sat down here arrow and there arrow by hundreds and by fifties. And he took the five loaves and two fiszhes, and looked up unto heaven, and gave thanks, and broke the loaves, and gave to the disciples, to set before them. And the two fiszhes parted he among them all. And they all ate, and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces and of the fiszhes. And they that ate, were about five thousand men. And anon he caused his disciples to go in to the ship, 〈◊〉 ●4. c 〈◊〉. 6. b and to pass over before him unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And at even was the ship in the midst of the see, and he alone upon the land. And he saw that they were in apparel with rowing, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, and walked upon the see, and would have go over by them. And when they saw him walking upon the see, they thought it had been asprete, and cried out, for they saw him all, and were afraid. But immediately he talked with them, and said unto them: Be of good comfort, it is I, 〈◊〉. 14. d be not afraid. And he went unto them in to the ship, and the wind ceased. And they were astonnyed, and marveled exceadingly: for they had forgotten the 〈◊〉. 6. e loaves, and their heart was blinded. And when they were passed over, they came in to land of Genezareth, and drew up in to the haven. And when thy were come out of the ship, immediately they knew him, and ran thorough out all the region about, and began on every side to bring unto him in beds such as were sick, where they heard that he was. And whither so ever he entered in to towns, cities or vyllagies, there laid they the sick in the market place, and prayed him, that they might but touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched him, were made whole. The VII. Chapter. ANd there came unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, Mat 15. a that were come from Jerusalem. And when they saw certain of his disciples eat bread with common (that is, with unwashen) hands, they complained. For the Pharisees & all the jews eat not, except they wash their hands often times: observing so the traditions of the elders. And when they come from the market, they eat not, except they waszhe. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses, and brazen vessels and tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes axed him: Why walk not thy disciples after the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwaszhen hands? But he answered & said unto them: Full well hath Esay prophesied of you Ypocrytes, as it is written: Esa. 29. c This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far fro me. But in vain do they serve me, while they teach such doctrines as are nothing but the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and keep the traditions of men, as the washing of cruses and cups, & many such things do you. And he said unto them: How goodly have you cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions? Exo. 20. b Deut. 5. a For Moses said: Honour father & mother. * Exo. 21. b Who so curseth father and mother, shall die the death. But you say: A man shall say to father or mother: Corban, that is, The thing that I should help the withal, is given unto God. And thus you suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother, & make God's word of none effect, thorough your own traditions that you have set up. And many such things do you. And he called unto him all the people, Mat. 15. b and said unto them: hearken unto me you all, and understand me. There is nothing without a man, that can defile him, when it entereth in to him. But that goeth out of him, that is it that maketh the man unclean. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he came from the people in to the house, his disciples axed him of this similitude. And he said unto them: Are you so then without understanding? Perceive you not yet, that every thing which is without, and goeth into the man, can not defile him? For it entereth not in to his heart, but in to the belly, and goeth out in to the draft, that purgeth all meats. And he said: The thing that goeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within out of the heart of man proceed evil thoughts, adultery, whoredom, murder, theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, a wicked eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things go from within, and defile the man. Mat. 15. c And he arose, and went from thence in to the borders of tire and Sydon, & entered into an house, and would let no man know of it, and yet could he not be hid: For a certain woman (whose daughter had a foul spirit) heard of him, and came and fallen down at his feet (and it was in Heithen woman of Syrophenices) and she besought him, that he would drive out the devil from her daughter. Butler jesus said unto her: Let the children be fed first: It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto dogs. She answered and said unto him: Ye LORD, nevertheless the whelps also eat under the table, of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her: Because of this saying go thy way, the devil is departed out of thy daughter. And she went unto her house, & found that the devil was departed, and her daughter dying on the bed. Mat. 9 d Luc. 11. b And when he went out again from the coasts of tire and Sydon, he came unto the see of Galilee, thorw the mids of the coasts of the ten cities. Andrea they brought unto him one that was deaf, and had impediment in his speech. And they prayed him, that he would say his hand upon him. And he took him a side from the people, and put his fingers in his ears, and did spit, and touched his tongue, and looked up unto heaven, sighed, and said unto him: Ephatha, that is, be opened. And immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right. And he charged them, Marc. 1. d and 9 a that they should tell noman. But the more he forbade them, the more they published it, & marveled out of measure, and said: * Gen. 1. d Eccli. 39 c He hath done all things well. The deaf hath he made to hear, and the dumb to speak. The VIII. Chapter. AT the same time when there was much people there, and had nothing to eat, jesus called his disciples to him, and said unto them: I have compassion upon the people, for they have tarried with me now three days, & have nothing to eat. And if I let them go home fro me fasting, they should faint by the way. * Tob. 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 For some of them were come from far. And his disciples answered him: Where should we get bread here in the wilderness, to satisfy them? And he axed them: Marc. ● How many loaves have you? They said: Seven. And he commanded the people to sit down upon the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them unto his disciples to set them before the people. And they set them before the people. And they had a few small fishes, and when he had given thanks, he bade set the same before the people. They ate, and were satisfied, & took up seven baszkettes full of the broken meat that was left. And they that ate, were upon a four thousand. And he sent them away. And forth with he went in to a ship with his disciples, 〈…〉 and came in to the coasts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees went out, and began to dispute with him, and tempted him, and desired a token of him from heaven. And he sighed in his spirit, and said: 〈…〉 Why doth this generation seek a token? Verily I say unto you: There shall no token be given unto this generation. And he left them, and went again into the ship, and passed over. And they forgot to take bread with them, 〈…〉 and had no more with them in the ship but one loaf. And he commanded them, and said: Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herode. And their minds wavered here and there, and said among themselves: This is it, that we have no bread. And jesus understood that, and said unto them: Why trouble you yourselves, that you have no bread? Are you yet without understanding? Have you yet a blinded heart in you? Have you eyes, & see not? and have you ears, and hear not? and remember you not, 〈…〉 that I broke five loaves among five thousand, how many baszkettes full of broken meat took you then up? They said: twelve. And * when I broke the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken meat took you then up? They said: Seven. And he said unto them: Why are you then without understanding? And he came to Bethsaida, & they brought one blind unto him, and prayed him to touch him. And he took the blind by the hand, and led him out of the town, and spat in his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, and axed him whether he saw aught. And he looked up, and said: I see men going as if I saw trees. After this he laid his hands upon his eyes again, and made him to se. And he was brought to right again, and saw all clearly. And he sent him home, and said: Go not in to the town, and tell it also unto noman therein. And jesus went out and his disciples into the towns of the cite Caesarea Philippi, 〈◊〉. 16. b 〈◊〉 9 c And in the way he axed his disciples and said unto them: What do men say, that I am? They answered: They say, thou art John the baptist: Some say thou art Elias, some that thou art one of the prophets. And he said unto them: But whom say you that I am? Then answered Peter and said unto him: 〈◊〉 26. g Thou art very Christ. And he charged them strately, that they should tell no man of him. Andrea he began to teach them: 〈◊〉 16. c 〈◊〉. 20. b The son of man must suffer many things, and be cast out of the elders & high priests and scribes, and be put to death, and after three days rise again. And that word spoke he free openly. And Peter took him unto him, and began to rebuke him. But he turned him about, and looked upon his disciples, and reproved Peter, and said: Go after me thou Satan, for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but of men. And he called unto him the people with his disciples, 〈◊〉. 16. d 〈◊〉. 9 c and said unto them: Who so ever will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For who so ever will save his life, 〈◊〉. 17. d 〈◊〉. 12. c shall loose it: and who so ever loseth his life for my sake and the gospels, the same shall save it. What helpeth it a man though he wan the whole world, and yet took harm in his soul? Or, what can a man give, to redeem his soul withal? Who so ever is ashamed of me and of my words among this adulterous and sinful generation, 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉 9 c 〈…〉 ●4. b of him shall the son of man also be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his father with the holy angels. 〈◊〉. 16. d 〈◊〉 9 c And he said unto them: Verily I say unto you: There stand here some, which shall not taist of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power. The IX. Chapter. ANd after six days jesus took unto him Peter, james and John, Mat. 17. a Luc. 9 d and brought them up in to an high mountain out of the way alone, and was ttansfigured before them, and his clotheses were bright and very white as the snow, so white as no fuller can make upon earth. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses, and they talked with jesus. And Peter answered, and said unto jesus: Rabbi, here is good being for us. Let us make three tabernacles: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he knew not what he said, and they were very fearful. And there was a cloud, which overshadowed them. And out of the cloud there came a voice, Mat. 3. b Marc. 1 a Luc. 3. c and said: This is my dear son, * Deu 18 hear him. And immediately they looked about them, and saw noman more than jesus only with them. But when they went down from the mountain, jesus charged them, Mat. 17. ● that they should tell no man what they had seen, till the son of man were risen again from the deed. And they kept that saying by them, and axed one another: What is that rising again from the deed? And they axed him, and said: Why say the scribes then, that * Mala. 3. ● Elias must first come? He answered and said unto them: Elias shall come first in deed, and bring all things to right again. The son of man also shall suffer many things, and be despised, * Esa. 53. Psal. 21. a as it is written. But I say unto you: Elias is come, and they have done unto him what they would, according as it is written of him? And he came to his disciples, and saw much people about them, Mat. 17. ● Luc. 9 d and the scribes disputing with them. And as soon as the people saw, they were astonnyed, and ran unto him, and saluted him. And he axed the scribes: What dispute you with them? And one of the people answered, and said: Master, I have brought unto the my son, which hath a dumb spirit: and when so ever he taketh him, he teareth him, and he foameth, and gnaszheth with the teeth, and pineth away, & I have spoken to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not. He answered him, and said: O thou unfaithful generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me. And they brought him unto him. And as soon as the spirit saw him, he tare him, and fallen upon the earth, and weltered and foamed. And he axed his father: How long is it, since this happened unto him? He said: Of a child, and often times hath he cast him in to the fire and water, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have mercy upon us, and help us. jesus said unto him: If thou couldst believe: All things are possible unto him that believeth. And immediately the father of the child cried with tears, and said: LORD I believe: O help thou mine unbelieve. Now when jesus saw that the people ran to, he rebuked the foul spirit, and said unto him: Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, depart out of him, and enter no more in to him from hence forth. And he cried, and rend him sore, and departed. And he was as though he had been deed, in so much that many said: he is deed. But jesus took him by the hand, and set him up. And he arose. And when he came home, his disciples axed him secretly: Mat. 17. c Why could not we cast him out? Andrea he said: This kind can go out by no means, but by prayer and fasting. And they departed thence, and took their journey thorough Galilee, Mat. 17. d Marc. 8. d ●nd 10. d ●uc. 18. d ●nd 9 c and he would not that any man should know of it. But he taught his disciples, and said unto them: The son of man shallbe delivered in to the hands of men, and they shall put him to death: and when he is put to death, he shall rise again the third day. But they understood not that word, and were afraid to axe him. And he came to Capernaum. And when he was at home, Mat. 18. a he axed them? What disputed you among yourselves by the way? But they held their tongues: For they had disputed by the way among themselves, Marc. 10. e who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them: If any man will be the first, Mat. 20. d the same shall be the last of all, and the servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them, and took him in his arms, and said unto them: Luc. 9 e ●nd 10. b ●ohan. 13. c Who so ever receiveth such a child in my name, receiveth me: and who so ever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that hath sent me. John answered him, and said: Master, we saw one drive out devils in thy name, but he followeth not us, and we forbade him because he followeth us not. But jesus said: Forbid him not: for 1. Co. 12. a there is no man that doth a miracle in my name, and can soon speak evil of me. For who so ever is not against us, the same is for us. And whosoever ever giveth you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong unto Christ, Mat. ●● verily I say unto you: he shall not loose his reward. Mat. ●● Luc. ● And who so offendeth one of these little one's that believe in me, it were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast in to the see. Mat. 5. ● and ●● If thy hand offend thee, cut him of. Better it is for the to enter in to life lame, them having two hands to go in to hell in to the everlasting fire, where their worm dieth not, and their fire goeth not out. If thy foot offend thee, cut him of. Better it is for the to enter into life crepell, them having two feet to be cast into hell in the fire everlasting, where their worm dieth not, and their fire goeth not out. If thy eye offend thee, cast him from the. Better it is for the to enter in to the kingdom of God with one eye, then having two eyes to be cast in to the fire of hell: Esa. ● Eze● ● where their worm dieth not, and their fire goeth not out. For every man must be salted with fire, & * every offering shallbe seasoned with salt. Ma●. ● 〈◊〉 ● The salt is good: but if the salt be unsavoury, wherewith all shall it be salted? Have salt in you, & peace among you selves one with another. The X. Chapter. ANd he rose up, and came from thence in to the places of jewry beyond jordan. And the people went again unto him by heaps, and as his manner was he taught them again. And the Pharisees came unto him, and axed him, if it were lawful for a man to put away his wife, and tempted him withal. But he answered and said: What hath Moses commanded you? They said: 〈…〉 Moses suffered to write a testimonial of divorcement, and to put her away. jesus answered, and said unto them: Because of the hardness of you heart did Moses write you this commandment. But from the first creation God made them man and woman. 〈…〉 For this cause shall a man leave his father & mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they two shallbe one flesh. Now are they not twain then, but one flesh. Let not man therefore put asunder that, which God hath coupled together. And at home his disciples axed him again of the same. And he said unto them: Whoso ever putteth away his wife, 〈…〉 & marrieth another, breaketh wedlock to her ward. And if a woman forsake her husband, & be married to another, she committeth adultery. And they brought children unto him, that he might touch them. 〈◊〉. 19 b 〈◊〉. 1●. b But the disciples reproved those that brought them. Nevertheless when jesus saw it, he was displeased, and said unto them: Suffer the children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you: Who so ever receiveth not the kingdom of God as a child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, and laid his hands upon them, and blessed them. And when he was go forth upon the way, there came one running, and kneeled unto him, 〈◊〉. 19 c 〈◊〉 1●. c & axed him: Good Master, what shall I do, that I may inherit everlasting life? Butler jesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? 〈…〉 There is no man good, but God only, Thou knowest the commandments: 〈◊〉 ●0. b Thou shalt not break wedlock: thou shalt not kill: thou shalt not steal: thou shalt bear no false witness: thou shalt beguile no man: Honour thy father and mother. But he answered, and said unto him: Master, all these have I kept fro my youth up. And jesus beheld him, and loved him, & said unto him: Thou wantest one thing: Go thy way, and 〈◊〉. 2. c 〈◊〉 4. d cell all that thou hast, and give it unto the poor: so shalt thou have a treasure in heaven, and come & follow me, and take the cross upon ye. And he was disconforted at the saying, & went away sorry, for he had great possessions. And jesus looked about him, and said unto his disciples: 〈◊〉 19 c 〈◊〉 1●. c O how hardly shall the rich come into the kingdom of God? Andrea the disciples were astonnyed at his words. But jesus answered again, and said unto them: Dear children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to come in to the kingdom of God? It is easier for a Camel to go thorough the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter in to the kingdom of God. Yet were they astonnyed the more, and said among themselves: Who can then be saved? But jesus beheld them, and said: With men it is unpossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 〈…〉 Then said Peter unto him: Behold, we have forsaken all, 〈◊〉. 19 d 〈◊〉. 1●. c and followed the. jesus answered & said: Verily I say unto you: There is no man that forsaketh house, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospels, that shall not receive an hundredth fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers and children, and lands with persecutions, and in the world to come everlasting life. But many that are the first, shall be the last: and the last the first. Luc. 1●. c They were in the way going up to jerusalem, and jesus went before them. Mat. 20. b Luc. 18. d Andrea they were astonnyed, and followed him, and were afraid. And jesus took the twelve again, and told them what should hap unto him. Behold, we go up to jerusalem, and the son of man shallbe delivered unto the high priests and scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and deliver him unto the heathen. And they shall mock him, and scourge him, and spit upon him, and put him to death, and on the third day shall he rise again. Then went unto him james and John the sons of zebedee, and said: Master, Mat. 10. c We desire, that whatsoever we axe of thee, thou will't do it for us. He said unto them: What desire you that I shall do to you? They said unto him: Grant us, that we may sit one at thy right hand, and one at thy left hand in thy glory. But jesus said unto them: You wot not what you axe. May you drink the cup, that I shall drink? and be baptized with the baptism that I shall be baptized withal? They said unto him: Ye that we may. jesus said unto them: The cup that I drink, shall you drink in deed: and be baptized with the baptism that I shall be baptized withal. Nevertheless to sit at my right hand and at my left, is not mine to give you, but unto them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten herd that, they disdained at james and Ihon. But jesus called them, and said unto them: You know that the princes of the world have domination of the people, Mat. 20. ● Marc. 9 ● Luc. 9 c and 22. b and the mighty exercise authority among them. So shall it not be among you: but who so ever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and who so will be chiefest among you, shallbe servant of all. For the son of man also came not to be served, but to do service, and * joh. 10. ● to give his life to a redemption for many. And they came unto jericho. Mat. 20. d Luc. 18. d And when he went out of jericho, and his disciples, and much people, there sat one blind Barthimeus the son of Thimeus by the way, and begged. And when he heard that it was jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry and say: jesus thou son of David have mercy upon me. And many reproved him, that he should hold his tongue. But he cried much more: Thou son of David have mercy upon me. And jesus stood still, and bad call him. And they called the blind, and said unto him: Be of good comfort, arise, he calleth the. And he cast away his garment from him, stood up, and came to jesus. And jesus answered, & said unto him: What will't thou that I do unto thee? The blind said unto him: Master, that I might se. jesus said unto him: Go that way, thy faith hath helped ye. And immediately he had his sight and followed him in the way. The XI. Chapter. ANd when they came nigh jerusalem to Bethphage and Bethanye unto mount Oliuete, Mat. 21. a Luc. 19 c he sent two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go in to the town that lieth before you, and as soon as you come in, you shall find a foal bound, where upon no man hath sitten: louse it, and bring it hither. And if any man say unto you: wherefore do you that? Then say you: The LORD hath need thereof, and forth with he shall send it hither. They went their way and found the foal tied by the door without at the parting of the way, and loosed it. And certain of those that stood there, axed them: What do you, that you louse the foal? But they said unto them, like as jesus had commanded them. And so they let them alone. And they brought the foal unto jesus, and laid their clotheses thereon, and he sat thereon. But many spread their garments in the way: ●ohan. 12. c some cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. Andrea they that went before, and that followed after, cried, and said: Hosyanna, blessed be he, Psal. 117. c that cometh in the name of the LORD: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, which cometh in the name of the LORD. Hosyanna in the height. And the LORD entered in to jerusalem, and went in to the temple, and looked upon all. And at even he went out unto Bethany with the twelve: and on the morrow when they departed from Bethanye, he hungered, and saw a fig tree afar of, Mat. 21. b which had leaves. Then came he nigh, (to see) if he could find any thing thereon. Luc. 13. a And when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves (for the time of figs was not yet) And jesus answered, and said unto it: Never man eat fruit of the for evermore. And his disciples heard it. And they came to jerusalem. And jesus went in to the temple, and began to drive out the sellers and byers in the temple, Marc. ●● Luc. ●● Ioh●. ●● & overthrew the tables of the money chaungers, and the stoles of the dove sellers, and suffered not any man to carry a vessel thorough the temple. And he taught and said unto them: Is it not written: Esa. ●● jere. 3. ● 5. Re. ●● My house shallbe called a house of prayer for all people? But you have made it a den of murthurers. And the scribes and high priests heard of it. Mat. ●● Iohan. ●● And they sought how they might destroy him, but they were afraid of him, for all the people marveled at his doctrine. And at even he went out of the cite. And on the morrow they passed by, Mat. ●● and saw the fig tree, that it was withered unto the rote. And Peter thought thereon, and said unto him: Master, behold, the fig tree that thou cursedest, is withered away. jesus answered, and said unto them: Mat. ●● Luc. ● Have faith in God. Verily I say unto you: Who so ever saith unto this mountain: Avoid, and cast thyself in to the see, and * doubteth not in his heart, but believeth that the things shall come to pass which he saith, then look what he sayeth, it shall come to pass. Therefore I say unto you: johan. ●● 15. ᵃ ●● What so ever you desire in your prayer, believe that you shall receive it, and you shall have it. Mat. ●● 1●. c. ● Luc. ●● And when you stand and pray, forgive if you have aught against any man, that your father also in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. And they came again unto jerusalem and when he went in the temple, Mat. ●● Luc. ●● there came unto him the high priests and scribes and the elders, and said unto him: By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave the this authority to do such? But jesus answered and said unto them: I will axe you a word also, answer me, and I will tell you, by what authority I do these. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me. And they thought in themselves: if we say, it was from heaven, then shall he say: Why did you not then believe him? But if we say: It was of men, then fear we the people, for they all held that John was a true prophet. And they answered, and said unto him: We can not tell. And jesus answered, and said unto them: neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things. The XII. Chapter. ANd he began to speak unto them by parables: A certain man planted a vineyard, 〈◊〉 2●. d 〈◊〉 20. a and made a hedge about it, and digged a win press, and builded a tower, and let it out unto husband men, and went in to a strange country. And when the time was come, he sent a servant to the husband men, that he might receive of the huszbandmen, of the fruit of the vineyard. But they took him, and bet him, and sent him away empty. Again, he sent unto them another servant, whom they stoned, and broke his head, and sent him away shamefully dealt withal. Again he sent another, whom they slay, and many other: some they b●tt, and some they put to death. Then had he yet one son only, whom he loved, him he sent also unto them at the last, and said: they will stand in awe of my son. But the same huszbandmen said among themselves: This is the heir, Come, let us kill him, so shall the inheritance be ours. And they took him, and slew him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall now the lord of the vineyard do? He shall come and destroy the husband men, and give the vineyard unto other. Have you not read this scripture: 〈◊〉 117. c The same stone which the builders refused, is become the headstone in the corner? This was the LORDS doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. And they went about to take him (but they feared the people) for they perceived, 〈◊〉 22. b 〈◊〉 20. b that he had spoken this parable against them. And they left him, and went their way. And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees and Herodes officers to take him in his words. 〈◊〉 20. c And they came, and said unto him: Master, we know that thou art true and carest for no man. For thou regardest not the outward appearance of men, but teachest the way of God truly. Is it lawful to give tribute unto the Emperor, or not? Aught we to give it, or aught we not to give it? But he perceived their hypocrisy, and said unto them: Why tempt you me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it him. Then said he: Whose image and superscription is this? They said unto him: The Emperors. Then answered jesus and said unto them: 〈◊〉 17. d 〈◊〉 13. b give therefore unto the Emperor that which is the Emperors, and unto God that which is Gods. And they marveled at him. Then came unto him the Saducees (which hold that there is no resurrection) these axed him, ●at. 12 c ●uc. 20. d 〈◊〉 2● a and said: Master, Moses written unto us. If any man's brother die, Deut. 25. a and leave a wife, and leave no children, his brother shall take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now were there seven brethren: the first took a wife, and died, and left no seed: and the second took her, and died, and left no seed also: the third in like manner. And they all seven took her, and left no seed. At the last after them all, the wife died also. Now in the resurrection when they shall rise again, whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife. Then answered jesus, and said unto them: Do not you err? because you know not the scriptures ner the power of God? When they shall rise again from the deed, they shall neither mary ner be married, but they are as the angels in heaven. As touching the deed, that they shall rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, how God spoke unto him in the bush, and said: Exod. 3. a Act. 7. d I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, & the God of jacob? Yet is not God a God of the deed, but of the living. Therefore you err greatly. And there came unto him one of the scribes, Mat. 22. d that had herkened unto them how they disputed together, and saw that he had answered them well, and axed him: Which is the chiefest commandment of all? jesus answered him: The chiefest commandment of all commandments is this: Deut. 6. ● and 30. b Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one God, and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the chiefest commandment, and the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Levi. 19 Ro. 13. b There is none other greater commandment than these. And the scribe said unto him: Master, Verily thou hast said right: for there is but one God, & there is none other without him, and to love him with all the heart, with all the mind, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love a man's neighbour as himself, is more than brent sacrifices and all offerings. But when jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And after this dared no man axe him any more questions. And jesus answered, and said, when he taught in the temple: How say the scribes, Mat. 22. d Luc. 20. c that Christ is the son of David? Butler David himself saith thorough the holy ghost: The LORD said unto my LORD: Psal. 109. a Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thy enemy's the footstool. There David calleth him his LORD. How is he then his son? And many people heard him gladly. And he taught them, and said unto them: beware of the scribes, Mat. 23. a Luc. 20. c that love to go in long garments, and love to be saluted in the market, and sit gladly above in the synagogues and at the table: they devour widow's houses, and under a colour they make long prayers. These shall receive the more damnation. Luc. 21. a And jesus sat over against the * 4. Reg. 12. b God's chest, and beheld how the people put money into the God's chest. And many that were rich: put in much. And there came a poor widow, and put in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them: Verily I say unto you: this poor widow hath put more in the Godschest, than all they that have put in: For they all have put in of their superfluity, but she of her poverty hath put in all that she had, even her whole living. The XIII. Chapter. ANd when he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said unto him: Mat. 24. a Luc. 21. a Master, see, what stones and what a building is this? And jesus answered and said unto him: Seist thou all this great building? There shall not one stone be left upon another, that shall not be broken down. And when he sat upon mount Olivete over against the temple, Peter and james, and John, and Andrew axed him privately: Tell us, When shall all these come to pass? And what shallbe the token, when all these shallbe fulfilled? jesus answered them, and began to say: Take heed, that no man deceive you, for there shall many come under my name, and say: I am Christ, & shall deceive many. But when you shall hear of the noise of wars, be not you afraid: for so must it be, but the end is not yet. One people shall rise against another, Isa. 19 a and one realm against another, and there shall be earth quakes here and there, and dearth shall there be and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows. But take you heed to yourselves. For they shall deliver you up to the Some ●eade: coūcell-●ouses. counsels, Mat. 10. b and synagogues, and you shall be beaten, and shallbe brought before princes and kings for my namessake, for a witness unto them. Andrea the gospel must first be preached among all people. Nowwhan they shall lead you and deliver you up, Mat. ●● Luc. ●● and ●● take you no thought afore what you shall say: and imagine you nothing afore hand, but what so ever shall be given you at the same hour, that speak: for it is not you that speak, but the holy ghost. One brother shall deliver another unto death, and the father the son, & the children shall rise against their fathers and mothers, and shall help them to death, and you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But who so endureth to the end, shallbe saved. When you shall see the abomination of desolation (whereof it is spoken by Ma●● ●● Luc. ●● D●● ●● Daniel the prophet) stand where it aught not (who so readeth it, let him mark it well) then let them which be in jewry, fly unto the mountains: and let him that is on the house top not descend into the house, ner come therein, to fetch any thing out of the house. And let him that is in the field, not turn back to fetch his clotheses. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. Nevertheless pray you, that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days there shall be such trouble as was not from the beginning of the creatures which God created, unto this time, neither shall be. And if the LORD had not shortened those days, there should no man be saved. But for the elects sake whom he hath choose, he hath shortened those days. Now if any man shall say unto you at that time: Lo, here is Christ: lo, he is there, 〈…〉 Luc. ●● believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, which shall do tokens & wonders, to deceive even the very choose, if it were possible. But take you heed, Behold, I have told you all before. But at the same time after this trouble, Ma●● ●● Luc. ●● Io●●. ●● the Son and Moon shall loose their light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall move: * and then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his choose from the four winds, from one end of the earth to the other. Learn a similitude of the fig tree: When his branch is yet tender, 〈…〉 and hath brought forth leaves, you know that the Summer is nigh. So likewise when you see all these things come to pass, be you sure, that it is nigh even at the doors. Verily I say unto you: this generation shall not pass, till all these be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall perish, but my words shall not perish. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 〈…〉 neither the angels in heaven, not not the son himself, but the father only. Take heed, watch, & pray, for you know not when the time is. 〈◊〉 24. b 〈◊〉 ●● a 〈◊〉 22. d 〈◊〉 ●9. a Like as a man that went in to a strange country, and left his house, and gave his servants authority, unto every one his work, and commanded the porter, that he should watch. Watch you therefore, for you know not when the master of the house cometh, whether he cometh in the evening, or at midnight, or about the cock crowing, or in the morning, that he come not suddenly, and find you sleeping. Look what I say unto you, that say I unto all. Watch. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd after two days was Easter, and the days of sweet bread. 〈◊〉 ●●. a 〈◊〉 ●●. a 〈◊〉 ●●. c And the high priests & scribes sought how they might take him with deceit, & put him to death. Butler they said: Not in the feast day, jest there be an uproar in the people. 〈◊〉 26. a 〈◊〉 ●. d 〈◊〉 12. a And when he was at bethany in the house of Simon the leper, and sat at the table, there came a woman, which had a box of pure and costly Nardus ointment. And she broke the box, & poured it upon his head. Then were there some, that disdained and said: Where to serveth this waist? This ointment might have been sold for more than three hundredth pens, & been given to the poor. And they grudged against her. But jesus said: let her be in rest. Why trouble you her? She hath done a good work upon me. You have allway the poor with you, and when so ever you will, you may do them good: but me have you not always. She hath done what she could, she is come before, to anoint my body for my burial. Verily I say unto you: Where so ever this gospel shall be preached in all the world, there shall this also that she hath now done, be told for a remembrance of her. And judas Iscarioth one of the twelve went unto the high priests, 〈◊〉. 2●. b 〈◊〉 22. a 〈◊〉 13. a to betray him unto them. When they heard that, they were glad, & promised that they would give him money. And he sought, how he might conveniently betray him. And upon the first day of sweet bread, when the Easter jambe was offered, 〈◊〉 12 c 〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 2●. a his disciples said unto him? Where will't thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the Easter lamb? And he sent two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go your way into the cite, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher with water, follow him, & where so ever he goeth in, there say you to the good man of the house: The Master sendeth the word: Where is the gest house, wherein I may eat the Easter lamb, with my disciples? And he shall show you a great parlour, which is paved & prepared, there make ready for us. And the disciples went forth, & came in to the cite, & found it as he had said unto them. And they prepared the Easter lamb. At even he came with the twelve. And as they sat at the table & ate, jesus said: Mat. 26. b Luc. 22. b johan. 13. c Verily I say unto you: One of you that eateth with me, shall betray me. Andrea they were sorry, & said unto him one after another: Is it I? & another (said:) is it I? He answered & said unto them: One of the twelve, even the same that dyppeth with me in the platter. The son of man truly goeth forth, as it is written of him. But woe unto that man, by whom the son of man is betrayed. It were better for the same man, that he had never been born. And as they ate, jesus took the bread, Mat. 26. c Luc. 22. b 1. Cor. 11. c gave thanks, & broke it, and gave it them, & said: Take, eat, this is my body. Andrea he took the cup, thanked, and gave it them, and they all drank thereof. And he said unto them: This is my blood of the new Testament, which shallbe shed for many. Verily I say unto you, that from hence forth I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had said grace, they went forth unto mount Oliuete. And jesus said unto them: This night shall you all be offended in me, Mat. 26. c for it is written: * Zac. 13. b I will smite the shepherd, & the sheep shall be scattered abroad. Nevertheless after that I am risen again, I will go before you in to Galilee. But Peter said unto him: Act. 1. a And though all men should be offended, yet would not I be offended. Andrea jesus said unto him: Verily I say unto thee: Todaye in this same night, before the cock crow two times, shalt thou deny me thrice. But he said yet more: Ye though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny ye. So said they all in like manner. And they came in to the field called Gethsemane, and he said unto his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder, and pray. And he took with him Peter & james, & John, and began to wax fearful, & to be in an agony, & said unto them: My soul is heavy even unto the death: tarry you here and watch. And he went forth a little, fallen upon the ground and prayed, that, (if it were possible) the hour might pass from him, and said: Abba, my father, all things are possible unto thee, take this cup away fro me: Nevertheless not what I will, but what thou will't. And he came unto them, and found them sleeping, and said unto Peter: Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that you fall not in to temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. And he went forth again, and prayed, and spoke the same words, and returned, and found them sleeping again: for their eyes were heavy, & they knew not what they should answer him. And he came the third time, and said unto them: sleep on now, and take your rest, It is enough, the hour is come: behold, the son of man shallbe delivered into the hands of sinners: arise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand, that betrayeth me. Mat. 26. d Luc. 22. d johan. 18. a And immediately while he yet spoke, came judas one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude, with swords and staves from the high priests and scribes and elders. And the traitor had given them a token, and said: Whom so ever I kiss, that same is he, lay hands upon him, and lead him away warily. And when he was come, he went strait way unto him, and said unto him: O master, master, and kissed him. Then laid they their hands upon him, & took him. But one of them that stood by, drawn out his sword, and smote the high priests servant, and cut of his ear. And jesus answered, and said unto them: You are come forth as it were to a murderer with swords and with staves to take me. Mat. 26. f Luc. 22. d I was daily with you in the temple, and taught, and you took me not. * Esa. 53. b Marc. 15. c But this is done, hat the scripture may be fulfilled. And all the disciples forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a young man, which was clothed in linen upon the bore skin, and the young men took hold of him. But he let the linen go, and fled naked from them. Mat 26. f Luc. 22. d joh. 18. b And they led jesus unto the high priest, where all the high priests, and elders and scribes were come together. Asdrubal for Peter, he followed him afar of into the high priests palace. And he was there, and sat with the servants, and warmed him. Mat. 26. f But the high priests and the whole council sought witness against jesus, that they might bring him to death, and they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their witnesses agreed not together. And some stood up, and gave false witness against him, and said: We heard him say: I will break down this temple that is made with hands, johan. ●● and in three days build another not made with hands. But their witness agreed not together. And the high priest stood up among them, and axed jesus, and said: 〈…〉 Answerest thou nothing unto it, that these testify against thee? But he held his tongue, and answered nothing. 〈…〉 Then the high priest axed him again, and said unto him: Art thou Christ the son of the blessed? jesus said: I am. And you shall see the son of man sit at the right hand of power, 〈…〉 and come in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rend his clotheses, & said: What need we any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What think you? They all condemned him, that he was guilty of death. Then began there some to spit upon him, and to cover his face, and to smite him with fists, and to say unto him Prophecy unto us. 〈…〉 And the servants smote him on the face. And Peter was beneath in the palace. Then came one of the wenches of the high priest: 〈…〉 And when she saw Peter warming him, she looked upon him, and said: And thou wast with jesus of Nazareth also. But he denied, & said: I know him not, neither can I tell what thou sayest. And he went out in to the fore court, and the cock. And a damsel saw him, and began again to say unto them that stood by: This is one of them. And he denied it again. And after a little while they that stood by, said again unto him: Of a truth thou art one of them for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech soundeth even alike. But he began to curse and swear: I know not the man, that you speabe of. And the cock crew again. Then thought Peter upon the word, that jesus said unto him: 〈…〉 Before the cock crow two times, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he began to weep. The XU. Chapter. ANd soon in the morning the high priests held a council with the elders and scribes and the whole council, Psalms ●● Ma● ●● Lu● 〈…〉 Ma●● ●● & bound jesus, and led him away, and delivered him unto pilate. And pilate axed him: Art thou the king of the jews? He answered, and said unto him: Thou sayest it. And the high priests accused him sore. But pilate axed him again, and said: Answerest thou nothing? Behold, how sore they lay to the charge. Nevertheless jesus answered no more, in so much that pilate marveled. At that feast of Easter he was wont to deliver unto them a prisoner, 〈◊〉 17. b whom so ever they would desire. There was in preson with the seditious, one called Barrabas, which in the uproar had committed murder. And the people went up, and prayed him, that he would do, as he was wont. pilate answered them: will you that I give louse unto you the king of the jews? For he known, that the high priests had delivered him of envy. But the high priests moved the people, 〈…〉 that he should rather give Barrabas louse unto them. pilate answered again, and said unto them: 〈◊〉 ●7. c 〈…〉 b What will you then that I do unto him, whom you accuse to be king of the jews? They cried again: Crucify him. pilate said unto them: What evil hath he done? But they cried yet much more: Crucify him. So pilate thought to satisfy the people, and gave Barrabas louse unto them, and delivered them jesus, to be scourged & crucified. 〈◊〉 ●7. d 〈◊〉 ●9. a And the soudyers led him in to the common hall, and called the whole multitude together, and clothed him with purple, and plated a crown of thorn, and crowned him withal, and began to salute him: Hail king of the jews. And smote him upon the head with a reed, and spytted upon him, and fallen upon the knee, & worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, 〈◊〉 19 b they took the purple of him, and put his clotheses upon him, & led him out, that they might crucify him. And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyren (which came from the field, 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 c and was the father of Alexander and Ruffus) to bear his cross. And they brought him to the place Golgatha, which is by interpretation: a place of deed men's skulls. And they gave him wine myxted with myrrh, to drink, & he took it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, 〈…〉 b 〈◊〉 27. d 〈…〉 c & cast lots therefore, what every one should take. And it was about the third hour, & they crucified him. And the title of his cause was written over above him (namely:) The king of the jews. And they crucified him with two murthurers, one at the right hand, and one at the left. Then was the scripture fulfilled, 〈…〉 14. f which sayeth: He was counted among the evil doers. 〈◊〉 27. c 〈◊〉 23. d Andrea they that went by, reviled him, and wagged their heads, and said: Fie upon thee, how goodly breakest thou down the temple, & buyldest it again in three days? help the self now, & come down from the cross. The high priests also in like manner laughed him to scorn among themselves, with the scribes, & said: He hath helped other, himself can he not help. If he be Christ and the kyge of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, that we may see it, & believe. And they that were crucified with him, checked him also. And when it was about the sixte hour, there was a darkness over the whole land, till about the ninth hour. Mat. 27. c Luc. 23. d And about the ninth hour jesus cried loud, and said: Eli, Eli, lamma asabthani? which is interpreted: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some that stood by, Psal. 21. a when they heard that, they said: Behold, he calleth Elias. Then ran there one, & filled a sponge with vinegar, & sticked it upon a reed, Mat. 27. c joh. 19 c & gave him to drink, & said: Hold still, let see, whether Elias will come, and take him down. Butler jesus cried loud, and gave up the ghost. And the vale of the temple rend in two pieces, from above till beneath. The captain that stood thereby over against him, Mat 27. f Luc. 23. c when he saw that he gave up the ghost with such a cry, he said: Verily this man was God's son. And there were women there also, which beheld this afar of, johan▪ 19 c among whom was Mary Magdalene, & Mary of james the little, & the mother of joses, & Salome, which had followed him when he was in Galilee, and ministered unto him: & many other that went up with him to jerusalem. And at even (for so much as it was the day of preparing, Mat. 27. g Luc. 23. c johan 19 d which is the fore Sabbath) there came one joseph of Arimathia, a worshipful senator (which looked also for the kingdom of God) & went in boldly unto Pilate, & axed the body of jesus. But pilate marveled that he was deed already, & called the captain, & axed him, whether he had long been deed. And when he had got knowledge of the captain, he gave joseph the body. And he bought a linen clot, & took him down, & wrapped him in the linen cloth, & laid him in a sepulchre, which was hewn out of a rock, & rolled a stone before the door of the sepulchre. But Marry Magdalene and Mary joses beheld, Mat. 27. g where he was laid. The XVI. Chapter. ANd when the Sabbath was past, Marry Magdalene, & Mary james, Mat. 28. a Luc 24. a johan. 20. a and Salome, bought spices, that they might come, & anoint him. And they came to the sepulchre upon a day of the Sabbathes very early, when the Son arose, & said one to another: Who shall roll us the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw, that the stone was rolled away: for it was a very great one. And they went in to the sepulchre, and on the right hand they saw a young man sitting, which had a long white garment upon him, and they were abaszhed. But he said unto them: Be not you afraid, you seek jesus of Nazareth which was crucified: he is risen, he is not here. Behold, the place, where they laid him. But go you your way, and tell his disciples and Peter, that he will go before you into Galilee, Act. 1. a there shall you see him * Mar. 14. d as he said unto you. And they went forth in all the haist, and fled from the sepulchre: for there was a trembling & fear come upon them, neither said they any thing to any man, for they were afraid. But jesus, when he was risen up early upon the first day of the Sabbathes, Mat. 28. a Luc. 24. ᵃ ●. Cor. 15. a he appeared first unto Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast out seven devils. And she went and told them that were with him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that he lived, and had appeared unto her, they believed it not. After ward as two of them were walking, he showed himself under another figure, Luc. 24. b when they were going upon the field. Andrea they went, and told the other: these they believed not also. At the last, as the eleven sat at the table, he showed himself unto them, Luc. 24. c and rebuked their unbelieve, and the hardness of their heart, because they believed not them which had seen him risen. Andrea he said unto them: Go you your way in to all the world, Mat. 28. c johan. 20. c and preach the gospel unto all creatures. Who so believeth and is baptized, shallbe saved: but who so believeth not, shallbe damned. As for the tokens, which shall follow them that believe, Act. 5. b. ●. 2.16. c. 19 a these are they: In my name shall they cast out devils: * Act. 2. a Luc. 10. b Act. 28. a Speak with new tongues: drive away serpents: And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: * Act. 14. b and 28. a Luc. 24. d Act. 1. b and 7. g They shall say their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. And the LORD, after that he had spoken unto them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God. And they went out, and preached every where. And the LORD wrought with them, and confirmed the word with tokens following. The end of the gospel of S. Mark. The gospel of S. Luke. What S. Luke containeth. Chap. I The conception and birth of John the baptist. The conception of Christ. The thankful songs of Mary, and Zachary▪ Chap. II The birth & circumcision of Christ. How he was received in to the temple, how simeon and Anna prophecy of him, and how he was found in the temple among the doctors. Chap. III The preaching, baptism, and prisonment of Ihon. The baptism of Christ, and a rehearsal of the generation of the fathers. Chap. four jesus is led into the wilderness, & fasteth all the time of his temptation, overcometh the devil, goeth in to Galilee, preacheth at Nazareth and Caphernaun: the jews despise him, the devils knowledge him: he cometh into Peter's house, heals his mother in law, and doth great miracles. Chap. V Christ preacheth in the ship: The disciples forsake all, and follow him. He cleanseth the leper, heals the man of the palsy, calleth Matthew the customer, and eateth with open sinners. Chap. VI He excuseth the disciples, that pluck the ears of corn, he heals the man with the withered hand, chooseth his twelve Apostles, maketh a sweet sermon, and teacheth to do good for evil. Chap. VII. He heals the captains servant raiseth up the widow's son from death to life, enfourmeth the disciples whom John baptist sent unto him, commends John, and reproveth the jews for their unthankfulness. He eateth with the pharisee. The woman waszheth his feet with her tears, and he forgiveth her her sins. Chap. VIII. Christ with his apostles goeth from town to town and preacheth, showeth the parable of the seed, telleth who is his mother and his brother, stilleth the raging of the see delivereth the possessed, and driveth the devils in to the heerde of swine, helpeth the sick woman and jairus daughter. Chap. IX. He sendeth out the twelve Apostles to preach, Herode heareth tell of him, He feedeth five thousand men with five loaves and two fish, the disciples confess him to be the son of God, he transfigureth himself upon the mount, delivereth the possessed, and teacheth his disciples to be lowly. They desire vengeance, but he reproveth them. Chap. X. He sendeth the seventy before him for to preach, and giveth them a charge how to behave themselves, praiseth his heavenly father, answereth the scribe that tempted him▪ and (by the example of the Samaritane) showeth who is a man's neighbour. Martha receiveth the LORD into her house, Marry Magdalene is fervent in hearing his word. Chap. XI. He teacheth his disciples to pray, driveth out a devil, and rebuketh the blasphemous Pharisees. They require signs and tokens. He eateth with the pharisee, and reproveth the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, scribes and hypocrites. Chap. XII. The leaven of the Pharisees. Christ comforteth his disciples against persecution warneth them to beware of cuvetousnesse, by the similitude of a certain rich man: he will not have them to hang upon earthly things, but to watch and to be ready against his coming. Chap. XIII. Of the Galileans whom Pilate slay and of those that died in Syloe. The similitude of the fig tree. Christ heals the sick woman. The parable of the mustard sede and leaven. Few enter in to the kingdom. Christ reproveth Herode and jerusalem. Chap. XIIII. jesus eateth with the pharisee, heals the dropsy upon the Sabbath, teacheth to be lowly, telleth of the great supper, and warneth them that will follow him, to say their accounts before, what it will cost them. The salt of the earth. Chap. XU. The loving mercy of God openly set forth in the parable of the hundredth sheep, and of the son that was lost. Chap. XVI. The parable of the wicked Mammon Not one title of God's word shall perish. Of the rich man, and of poor Lazarus. Chap. XVII. Christ teacheth his disciples to avoid occasions of evil, one to forgive another, steadfastly to trust in God, and no man to presume in his own works. He heals the ten lepers, speaketh of the latter days, and of the end of the world. Chap. XVIII. He teacheth to be fervent in prayer continually. Of the pharisee and the publican. The kingdom of God belongeth unto children. Christ answereth the ruler, and promises reward unto all such as suffer loss for his sake and follow him. The blind man is restored to his sight. Chap. XIX. Of Zacheus, and the ten servants to whom the ten talents were delivered. Christ rideth to jerusalem, and weepeth over it. Chap. XX. They axe Christ one question, and he axeth them another. The parable of the vineyard. Of tribute te be given unto the Emperor, & how Christ stoppeth the mouths of the Saducees. Chap. XXI. Christ commends the poor widow, telleth of the destruction of jerusalem, of false teachers, of the tokens and troubles for to come, of the end of the world, and of his own coming. Chap. XXII. Christ is betrayed, they eat the easter lamb. The institution of the sacrament. They strive who shallbe greatest, he reproveth them: He prayeth three times upon the mount. They take him and bring him to the high priests house: Peter denieth him thrice, and they bring him before the council. Chap. XXIII. jesus is brought before Pilate and Herode. The women make lamentation for him. He prayeth for his enemies, forgiveth the sinner upon his right hand, dieth on the cross, and is buried. Chap. XXIIII. The women come to the grave, Christ appeareth unto the two disciples that go toward Emaus, standeth in the midst of all his disciples, openeth their understanding in the scriptures, giveth them a charge, and ascendeth up into heaven. The gospel of S. Luke. The prologue of S. Luke. FOR so much as many have taken in hand, to set forth the words of the acts that are come to pass among us, like as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning saw them their selves, and were ministers of the word, I thought it good (after that I had diligently searched out all from the beginning) to write the same orderly unto thee (good Theophilus) that thou mightest know the certente of the words, whereof thou art informed. The first Chapter. IN the time of Herode king of jewry, there was a priest named Zachary of the * 1. Pa. 25. b course of Abia: and his wife of the daughters of Aaron, & her name Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, and walked in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD unreproveably. And they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well strike in age. And it came to pass as he executed the priests office before God when his course came (according to the custom of the priesthood) it fallen to his lot to burn incense. And * Exo. 30. b Heb. 9 a he went into the temple of the LORD, and the whole multitude of the people was without in prayer, while the incense was aburning. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and stood on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zachary saw him, he was abaszhed, & there came a fear upon him. But the angel said unto him: Fear not Zachary, for thy prayer is herd. And the wife Elizabeth shall bear the a son, whose name thou shalt call John, & thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall be great before the LORD. Wine and strong drink shall he not drink. And he shallbe filled with the holy ghost, even in his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the LORD their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Mala. 3 d Matt. 11. b Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the unfaithful unto the wisdom of the righteous, to make the people ready for the LORD. Andrea Zachary said unto the Angel: Whereby shall I know this? Gen. 17. c and 18. b Iud●c. 13. b For I am old, and my wife well strike in age. The angel answered, and said unto him: I am Gabriel that stand before God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show the these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that this come to pass, because thou hast 4. Re. 7. a not believed my words, which shallbe fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zachary, and marveled, that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he went out, he could not speak unto them. And they perceived, that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it fortuned when the time of his office was out, he went home in to his house. And after those days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, & said: Thus hath the LORD done unto me in the days, wherein he hath looked upon me, to take away from my rebuke among men. Matt. 1. c And in the sixte month was the angel Gabriel sent from God in to a cite of Galilee, called Nazareth, unto a virgin that was spoused unto a man, whose name was joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said: Hail thou full of grace, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among women. When she saw him, she was abaszhed at his saying, and thought: What manner of salutation is this? And the angel said unto her: Esa. 7. c Mat. 4. c Fear not Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, & bear a son Luc. ●● & shalt call his name jesus: he shallbe great, & shallbe called the son of the Hyest. And the LORD God shall give him the seat of David his father, Esa. ●● & he shall be king over the house of jacob for ever 〈…〉 & there shallbe no end of his kingdom. Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? The angel answered, & said unto her: The holy ghost shall come upon thee, & the power of the Hyest shall over shadow the. Therefore that Holy also which shallbe born (of thee) shallbe called the son of God. And behold, thy cozen Elizabeth she also hath conceived a son in her old age, & this is the sixte month of her, which is reported to be barem: 〈…〉 for with God is nothing unpossible. And Mary said: Behold, here am I the hand 〈◊〉 of the LORD: be it unto me, as thou hast said. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went in to the mountains with haist, into 〈…〉 the cite of jewry, and came in to the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it fortuned as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, & cried loud, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of the womb. And how happeneth this to me, that the mother of my LORD cometh unto me? Behold, when I heard the voice of thy salutation, the babe sprang in my womb with joy, And blessed art thou that hast believed, for the things shallbe performed, which were told the from the LORD. And Mary said: My soul magnifieth the LORD. 〈…〉 And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour. For he hath looked upon the low degree of his hand maid. Behold, from hence forth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is Mighty, hath done great things unto me, and holy is his name. And his mercy endureth thorough out all generations, upon them that fear him. He showeth strength with his arm, and scatreth them that are proud in the imagination of their heart. He putteth down the mighty from the seat, and exalteth them of low degree. 〈…〉 He filleth the hungry with good things, and letteth the rich go empty. He remembreth mercy, and helpeth up his servant Israel. Even as he promised unto our fathers, 〈…〉 Abraham and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and then returned home again. And Elizabethes' time was come, that she should be delivered, & she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and kynsfolkes heard, that the LORD had showed great mercy upon her, & they rejoiced with her. And it fortuned upon the eight day, 〈◊〉 19 b 〈…〉 a they came to circumcise the child, and called him Zachary after his father: And his mother answered, and said: Not, but he shallbe called Ihon. And they said unto her: There is none in the kin, that is so called. And they made signs unto his father, how he would have him called. And he axed for writing tables, written & said: His name is Ihon. And they marveled all. And immediately was his mouth and his tongue opened, and he spoke, & praised God. And there came a fear upon all their neighbours. And all this act was noised abroad thorough out all the hill country of jewry: And all they that heard thereof, took it to heart, and said: What manner of man will this child be? For the hand of the LORD was with him. And Zachary his father was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied, and said: Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for he hath vysited and redeemed his people. And hath set up an 〈…〉 horn of salvation in the house of his servant David. Even as he promised afore time, by the mouth of his holy prophets. That he would deliver us from our enemies, & from the hand of all such as hate us. And that he would show mercy unto our fathers, & think upon his holy 〈◊〉 22. c covenant. Even the oath that he swore unto our father Abraham, for to give us. 〈…〉 That we delivered out of the hand of oh enemies, might serve him without fear all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness as is accept before him. And thou child shalt be called a prophet of the Hyest: for thou shalt go before the LORD, to prepare his ways. And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of their sins. Thorough the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from an high hath vysited us. That he might give light unto them that sit in darkness and 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 the wilderness, till the time that he should show himself unto the people of Israel. The II Chapter. IT fortuned at the same time, that there went out a commandment from Augustus the Emperor, that the whole world should be taxed. And this taxing was the first that was executed, when Syrenius was leftenaunt in Syria. And they went all, every one to his own cite to be taxed. Then joseph got him up also from Galilee, out of the cite of Nazareth, into jewry, to the cite of David, 1. Reg. 15.16. a. 20. b which is called Bethleem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David) that he might be ●axed with Mary his spoused wife, which was with child. And it fortuned while they were there, the time was come, that she should be delivered. Mat. 1. c And she brought forth her first begotten son, & wrapped him inswadlinge clotheses, and laid him in a manger: for they had else no room in the in. And there were in the same region shepherds in the field by the folds, and watching their flock by night. And behold, the angel of the LORD stood by them, and the brightness of the LORD shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them: Be not afraid. Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall happen unto all people: for unto you this day is born the saviour, even Christ the LORD, in the cite of David. And take this for a token: You shall find the babe swaddled, and laid in a manger. And strait way there was by the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, which praised God, and said: Glory be unto God an high, & peace upon earth, and unto men a good will. And it fortuned when the angels were go from them in to heaven, the shepherds said one to another: let us go now even unto Bethleem, and see this thing that is happened, which the LORD hath showed unto us. And they came with haist, & found both Mary and joseph, & the babe laid in the manger. And when they had seen it, they published abroad the saying, that was told them of this child. And all they that heard it, wondered at the words, which the shepherds had told them. But Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, praising and lauding God, for all that they had herd and seen, even as it was told them. And when eight days were ended, Gen. 17. b that the child should be circumcised, his name was called jesus, * Luc. 1 c which was named of the angel, before he was conceived in his mother's womb. And when the days of their purification after the law of Moses, levit. 12. ᵇ ●. Reg. 1. d were come, they brought him to Jerusalem, that they might present him unto the LORD (As it is written in the law of the LORD: * Exo. 13. a Num. 8. c Every manchild that first openeth the Matrix, shallbe called holy unto the LORD) and that they might give the offering, as it is written in the law of the LORD (namely) a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. Andrea behold, there was a man (at Jerusalem) whose name was simeon, and the same man was just, and feared God, and longed for the consolation of Israel, and the holy ghost was in him. And an answer was given him of the holy ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORDS Christ. And he came by inspiration into the temple. And when the elders brought the child jesus into the temple, to do for him after the custom of the Levi. 12. b law, than took he him up in his arms, and praised God, and said: LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy promise. For mine eyes have seen thy saviour, whom thou hast prepared before all people. Esa 49. b Act. 13. e A light for the lightning of the heathen, & for the praise of the people of Israel. And his father and mother marveled at the things that were spoken of him. And simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother: Behold, this (child) shallbe set to a fall, and to an uprising again of many in Israel, and for a token, which shallbe spoken against. And the sword shall pierce thy soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened. And there was a prophetess, one Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser, which was of a great age, and had lived seven years with her husband from her virginity, & had now been a widow about four score & four years, which came never from the temple, serving God with fasting and praying, day and night: the same came forth also the same hour, and praised the LORD, and spoke of him unto all that looked for the redemption at jerusalem. And when they had performed all according to the law of the LORD, thy into Galilee, to their own cite Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, full of wisdom, & the grace of God was with him. And his elders went to jerusalem every year at the feast of Easter. And when he was twelve year old, they went up to jerusalem, 〈…〉 after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, and were go home again, 〈…〉 the child jesus abode still at jerusalem. And his elders knew it not, but thought he had been in the company, and they came a days journey, and sought him among their kynszfolkes & acquamtaunce. And when they found him not, they went again to Jerusalem, and sought him. And it fortuned after three days, that they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, hearing them, and opposing them. And all they that heard him; wondered at his understanding and answers. 〈…〉 And when they saw him, they were astonnyed. And his mother said unto him: My son, why hast thou done this unto us? Behold, thy father and I have sought the sorrowing. And he said unto them: Ioh● ●● What is it, that you have sought me? Wist you not, that I must go about my father's business? And they 〈…〉 understood not the saying that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient unto them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And jesus increased in wisdom, age and favour with God and men. The III Chapter. IN the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius the Emperor, when Pontius Pilate was leftenaunt in jewry and Herode one of the four princes in Galilee, 〈…〉 and his brother Philippe one of the four princes in Iturea, & in the coasts of Traconites, and Lysanias one of the four princes of Abilene, when Hannas and Caiphas were high priests, them came the word of God unto John the son of Zachary in the wilderness. And he came into all the coasts about jordan, and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 〈…〉 As it is written in the book of the sayings of Isaiah the prophet, which sayeth: The voice of a crier in the wilderness: 〈…〉 prepare the way of the LORD, and make his paths strait. Every valley shallbe filled, and every mountain & hill shallbe brought low. And what so is crooked, shallbe made strait: and what rough is, shallbe made smooth, and all flesh shall see the saviour of God. Then said he unto the people, that went out to be baptized of him: 〈…〉 You generation of vipers, who hath certified you, that you shall escape the wrath to come? Take heed, bring forth due fruits of repentance, & begin not to say: We have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you: God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. The axe is put unto the tree already: so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, 〈◊〉. ●. a 〈◊〉 7. b shallbe hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people axed him, and said: ●ct. 2. d What shall we do then? He answered, & said unto them: He that hath two coats, let him part with him that, hath none: and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. The publicans came also, to be baptized and said unto him: Master, what shall we do? He said unto them: Require no more, then is appointed you. Then the soudyours axed him likewise, and said: What shall we do then? And he said unto them: Do no man violence ner wrong, and be content with your wages. But when the people were in a doubt, & thought all in their hearts, whether he were Christ, John answered, and said unto them all: I baptize you with water, but after me there cometh one stronger than I, whose shoe lachet I am not worthy to louse: 〈◊〉 ●. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 1. c ●●c. 36 he shall baptize you with the holy ghost and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he shall purge his floor, and shall gather the wheat in to his barn, 〈◊〉 3. b and shall burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. And many other things more exorted he, & preached unto the people. 〈◊〉 14. a But Herode the Tetrarcha (when he was rebuked of him because of Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evils that Herode did) besides all this he laid John in preson. 〈◊〉 3. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 1. d And it fortuned when all the people received baptism, and when jesus also was baptized and prayed, that heaven opened, and the holy ghost came down in a bodily shape like a done upon him. And out of heaven there came a voice, which said: Thou art my dear son, in whom I delight. And jesus was about thirty years when he began. ●at. 13. d 〈◊〉 6. a And he was taken for the son of joseph, which was the son of Eli, 〈◊〉 4. ● 〈◊〉 1. c which was the son of Mathat. Which was the son of Levi▪ Which was the son of Melchi. Which was the son of janna. Which was the son of joseph. Which was the son of Mathathias. Which was the son of Amos. Which was the son of Nahum. Which was the son of Eszli. Which was the son of Nange. Which was the son of Maath. Which was the son of Mathathias. Which was the son of Simei. Which was the son of joseph. Which was the son of juda. Which was the son of johanna. Which was the son of Resia. Which was the son of Zorobabel. Which was the son of Salathiel. Which was the son of Neri. Which was the son of Melchi. Which was the son of Abdi. Which was the son of Cosam. Which was the son of Elmadam. Which was the son of Herald Which was the son of jeso. Which was the son of Eliezer. Which was the son of jorem. Which was the son of Mattha. Which was the son of Levi. Which was the son of Simeon. Which was the son of juda. Which was the son of joseph. Which was the son of Ionam. Which was the son of Eliachim Which was the son of Melca. Which was the son of Menam. Which was the son of Mathathan. Which was the son of Nathan. Which was the son of David. Which was the son of jesse. Which was the son of Obed. Which was the son of Boos. Which was the son of Salmon. Which was the son of Naasson. Which was the son of Aminadab. Which was the son of Aram. Which was the son of Esrom. Which was the son of Phares. Which was the son of juda. Which was the son of jacob. Which was the son of Isaac. Which was the son of Abraham. Which was the son of Thara. Which was the son of Nahor. Which was the son of Serug. Which was the son of Regu. Which was the son of Peleg. Which was the son of Eber. Which was the son of Salah. Which was the son of Caynan. Which was the son of Arphachsad. Which was the son of Sem. Which was the son of Noe. Which was the son of Lamech. Which was the son of Mathusalah. Which was the son of Henoch. Which was the son of Jared. Which was the son of Mahaleel. Which was the son of Renan. Which was the son of Enos. Which was the son of Seth. Which was the son of Adam. Which was the son of God. The fourth Chapter. Jesus full of the holy ghost, came again from jordane, Mat. 4. a Marc. 1. b and was led of the spirit into wilderness, & forty days long was he tempted of the devil. Exo. 34 ᵈ ●. Re. 19 b And in those days ate he nothing. And when they were ended, he hongred afterward. And the devil said unto him: If thou be the son of God, command this stone, that it be bread. And jesus answered & said unto him: It is written: Deut. 8 b Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word of God. And the devil took him up into an high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the whole world in the twinkling of an eye, & said unto him: All this power will I give unto thee, and the glory thereof, for it is given over unto me, and I give it, to whom I wil If thou now will't worship me, they shall all be thy. jesus answered him, and said: Avoid fro me thou Satan. It is written: Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, ●eut. 6. c and him only shalt thou serve. Andrea he carried him to jerusalem, and set him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him: If thou be the son of God, cast thyself down from hence. For it is written: He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee, ●sal. 90. b and with their hands they shall hold the up, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone. Andrea jesus answered, and said unto him: ●eut. 6. c It is said: Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptations, he departed from him for a season. ●at. 4. b ●arc. 1. c Andrea jesus came again in the power of the spirit into Galilee. And the fame of him was noised thorough out all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, and was commended of every man. ●at. 13. g ●arc. 6. a And he came unto Nazareth where he was nursed, and as his custom was, he went in to the synagogue upon the Sabbath, and stood up for to read. Then was there delivered him the Esd. 8. b book of the prophet Esay. And when he had turned over the book, he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the LORD is with me, because he hath anointed me: 〈◊〉. 61. a to preach the Gospel unto the poor hath he sent me: to heal the broken hearted: to preach deliverance to the captive, and sight to the blind: and freely to set at liberty them that are bruised: and to preach the acceptable year of the LORD. And when he had closed the book, he gave it again to the minister, & sat him down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them: This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 〈…〉 And they all gave him witness, and wondered at the gracious words, which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said: Is not this joseph's son? johan. ●● And he said unto them: Doubtless you will say unto me this proverb: Physician, heal thyself. For how great things have we heard done at Capernaum? Do the same here also in thy own country. But he said: Ma●● ●● Ma●● ●● johan. ●● Verily I say unto you: There is no prophet accepted in his own country. Nevertheless of a truth I say unto you: * There were many wedowes in Israel in the time of Elias, when the heaven was shut three years and six months, and when there was a great dearth in all the land: & to none of them was Elias sent, but only unto Sarepta of the Sydonyans to a widow. 〈…〉 And many lepers were there in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, save only Naaman of Syria. And as many as were in the synagogue, when they heard that, were filled with wrath. And they rose up, and thrust him out of the cite, and led him up to the edge of the hill whereupon their cite was builded, that they might cast him down headlong. But he went his way even thorough the midst of them, Ma●● ●● Ma●● ●● johan. ●● and came to Capernaum a cite of Galilee, and taught them upon the Sabbathes. And they wondered at his doctrine, * Ma●● ●● Luc. ●● for his preaching was with power. And in the synagogue there was a man possessed with a foul devil, & he cried loud, and said: Let me alone, what have we to do with the thou jesus of Nazareth? Ma●● ●● Art thou come to destroy us? I know the who thou art, even the Holy of God. And jesus rebuked him and said: hold thy tongue, and depart out of him. And the devil threw him in the midst among them, and departed from him, and did him no harm. And there came a fear over them all, and they spoke among themselves, and said: What manner of thing is this? He commandeth the foul spretes with authority and power, and they depart out. And the fame of him was noised thorough out all the places of the country round about. And he rose up out of the synagogue, Ma●● ●● Ma●● ●● and came into Symons house. And Symons mother in law was taken with a great fever, & they prayed him for her. And he went unto her, & commanded the fever. And it left her, & immediately she rose up, & ministered unto them. And when the Son was go down all they that had sick of diverse diseases, brought them unto him. ●at. ●. b 〈◊〉 ●. c And he laid his hands upon every one of them, & made them whole. ●●rc. 3. b The devils also departed out of many, crienge and saying: Thou art Christ the son of God. And he rebuked them, & suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. But when it was day, he went out into a desert place. And the people sought him, and came unto him, & kept him, that he should not depart from them. But he said unto them: I must preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God to other cities also: for there to am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee. The V Chapter. IT came to pass, that the people preassed upon him to hear the word of God, 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 1. b and he stood by the lake of Genazereth, and saw two ships stand by the lake side, but the fishers were go out of them, and had waszhed their nets. Then went he into one of the ships, which was Symons, and prayed him, that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat him down, and taught the people out of the ship. And when he had left of talking, he said unto Simon: Launch out in to the deep & let slip yo nets, to make a draft. And Simon answered and said unto him: Master, we have laboured all the night, and taken nothing. But upon thy word, I will louse forth the net. And when they had so done, they took a great multitude of fiszhes, & their net broke. And they made signs to their fellows which were in the other ship, that they should come, & help them. And they came, & filled both the ships full, so that they sunk. When Simon Peter saw that, he fallen down at jesus knees, & said: LORD, go from, for I am a sinful man: For he was astonnyed and all that were with him, at this draft of fish which they took, and so were james and John also the sons of zebedee, which were Symons companions. And jesus said unto Simon: Fear not, for from hence forth thou shalt take men. And they brought the ships to land, 〈◊〉 4. c and left all, and followed him. 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 4. d And it fortuned as he was in a cite, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw jesus, he fallen upon his face, & besought him, and said: LORD, if thou will't, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said: I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him, that he should tell no man, but go thy way (said he) and show thyself unto the priest, and offer for the cleansing, Levi. 14 as Moses commanded, for a witness unto them. But the fame of him went out farther abroad, & there came much people together, to hear him, & to be healed by him from their sicknesses. And he departed into the wyldernesses, & gave himself to prayer. And it fortuned upon a day, that he taught, and there sat the Pharisees and scribes, which were come out of all the towns of Galilee, Mat. 9 a Marc. 2. a and jewry, and from Jerusalem, and the power of the LORD went from him, & healed every man. And behold, certain men brought upon a bed, a man that had the palsy, and they sought how they might bring him in, and lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in (for the people) they clymmed up to the top of the house, & let him down thorough the tylinge with the bed, among them before jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him: Man, thy sins are forgiven ye. And the scribes and pharyses began to think, & said: What is he this, that speaketh blasphemy. Esa. 45. d and 44. ● Who can forgive sins, but only God? Nevertheless when jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered, and said unto them: What think you in your hearts? Mat. 9 a Marc. 2. a johan. 5. a Whether is easier to say: Thy sins are forgiven thee, Or to say: Arise, and walk? But that you may know, that the son of man hath power to forgive sins upon earth, he said unto the sick of the palsy: I say unto thee: Arise, take up the bed, and go home. And immediately he rose up before them, & took up the bed that he had lyen upon, and went home, and praised God. And they were all astonnyed, and gave God the praise, and were filled with fear, and said: We have seen marvelous things to day. And afterward he went out, and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, & he said unto him: Follow me. Mat. 9 a Marc. 2. b Luc. 15. a And he left all, rose up, & followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And many publicans & other sat with him at the table. And the scribes and pharisees murmured against his disciples, & said: Wherefore do you eat & drink with publicans & sinners? Luc. 7. e and 15. a And jesus answered, & said unto them: The whole need not the physician, but they that are sick. I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 1. Tim. 1. c But they said unto him: Wherefore fast the disciples of John so of, & pray so much, & the disciples of the Pharisees likewise, but the disciples eat and drink? Andrea he said unto them: Can you make the wedding children fast, so long as the bridegroom is with them? But the time will come that the bridegroom shallbe taken from them, then shall they fast. And he said unto them a similitude: No man putteth a piece of new clot in to an old garment: for else he renteth the new, and the piece of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine in to old vessels, for else the new wine barsteth the vessels, and runneth out itself, and the vessels perish. But new wine must be put in to new vessels, and so are they both preserved. And there is no man that drinketh the old, and would strait way have the new, for he sayeth: the old is pleasant. Mat. 12. a ●arc. 2. c The VI Chapter. ANd it fortuned upon an after principal Sabbath, that he went thorough the corn field, & his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and ate, and rubbed them with their hands. But certain of the Pharisees said unto them: Wherefore do you that, which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath? And jesus answered, and said unto them: Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him, how he went in to the house of God, and took the Reg. 21. c Exo 25. c shewbred, and ate, and gave also unto them that were with him, which was lawful for no man to eat, but for the priests only? Andrea he said unto them: The son of man is LORD even over the Sabbath. Mat 12. b Marc. 3. a It came to pass upon another Sabbath, that he went in to the synagogue, and taught and there was a man, whose right hand was withered. Butt the scribes and Pharisees marked him, whether he would heal upon the Sabbath, that they might find an occasion against him. Nevertheless he perceived their thoughts, and said unto the man with the withered hand: Arise, and step forth here. And he arose, and stepped forth. Then said jesus unto them: I will axe you a question: What is it lawful to do upon the Sabbath? good, or evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And he beheld them all round about, and said unto the man: Stretch out thy hand. And he did so. Then was his hand restored him to right, even as whole as the other. But they were filled full of madness, and commoned together, what they would do to him. Mat. 14. Marc. ●● And it fortuned at the same time, that he went out in to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. * Mat. ●● Marc. ●● and ●● Luc. ●● Act. ●● And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he called also apostles. Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, james and John, Phylippe and Bartylmew, Matthew and Thomas, james the son of Alpheus, Simon called zealots, judas the son of james, and judas Iscarioth, which was the traitor. And he went down with them, Mat. ●● Marc. ●● and stood upon a plain in the field, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people, from all jewry, and Jerusalem, and from tire and Sydon by the see coast, which were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases, and they that were vexed with foul spretes, were healed. And all the people sought to touch him, for there went virtue from him, and healed them all. Ma●● ●● And he lift up his eyes upon his disciples, and said: Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger here, for you shallbe satisfied. Blessed are you that weep here, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you, when men hate you, and put you out of their companies, and revile you, and cast out your name as an evil thing, for the son of man's sake. Rejoice you then, and be glad: for behold, your reward is great in heaven. 〈…〉 Even thus did their fathers unto the prophets also. But woe unto you rich, for you have your consolation already. woe unto you that are full, for you shall hunger. woe unto you that laugh here, for you shall weep and wail. woe unto you when every man praiseth you, Even so did their fathers unto the false prophets also. But I say unto you that hear: Love your enemies: do good unto them that hate you: bless them that curse you: pray for them that wrongfully trouble you. And who so smiteth the on the one cheek, offer him the other also. And who so taketh away thy cloak, forbid him not that coat also. Who so ever axeth of thee, give him: and who so taketh away thine, axe it not again. * And as you would that men should do unto you, even so do you unto them likewise. 〈…〉 And if you love them that love you, what thank have you therefore? For sinners also love their lovers. And if you do good for your good doers, what thank have you therefore? For sinners also do even the same. And if you lend unto them, of whom you hope to receive what thank have you therefore? For sinners also lend unto sinners, that they may receive as much again. But rather love you your enemies, do good, and lend, looking for nothing thereof again: so shall your reward be great, and you shallbe the children of the Hyest, for he is kind, even to the unthankful and to the evil. 〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 12. c Be you therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful. judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. forgive, and you shall be forgiven. 〈…〉 give, and to you shallbe given. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with what measure you meet, with the same shall it be measured to you again. 〈◊〉 7. a 〈◊〉 4 c And he said a similitude unto them: Can the blind show the way to the blind? 〈◊〉 15. b Doo they not both them fall in to the dyche? The disciple is not above his master. But whosoever is perfect, 〈◊〉. 10. c 〈◊〉. 13. b the same shallbe as his master. But why seist thou a moot in thy brother's eye, and considerest not the beam, that is in thy own eye? Or how canst thou say unto thy brother: hold still brother, I will pluck the moat out of thine eye, 〈◊〉 7. a and thou thyself seist not the beam in thy own eye? Thou ypocryte, first cast the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull the moot out of thy brother's eye. For it is no good tree, that bringeth forth evil fruit: 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 ●2. d and no evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. Every tree is known by his fruit. For men gather not figs of thorns, ner grapes of buszhes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil. For of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. But why call you me LORD LORD, & do not that I say unto you? 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 23. a 〈◊〉 7. c 〈◊〉 1. c Who so ever cometh unto me, and heareth my words and doth them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like unto a man which builded an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock. When the waters came, the floods bet upon that house, and could not move it: for it was grounded upon the rock. But he that heareth and doth not, is like unto a man that builded his house upon the earth without foundation, and the streams bet upon it, and it fallen immediately, and great was the fall of that house. The VII. Chapter. When he had ended his talking unto the people, Mat. 8. a johan. 4. f he went in to Capernaum: and a captains servant lay deed sick, whom he loved. When he heard of jesus, he sent the elders of the jews unto him, and prayed him, that he would come, and make his servant whole. But when they came to jesus, they besought him instantly, & said: He is worthy that thou shouldest show this for him, for he loveth our people, & hath builded us the synagogue. And jesus went with them. Now when they were not far from the house, the captain sent friends unto him, saienge unto him: O LORD, trouble not thyself, I am not worthy, that thou shouldest enter under my roof, and therefore I thought not myself worthy to come to thee: but speak the word, & my servant shallbe whole. For I myself also am a man, subject to the higher authority, & have soudyers under me. And I say unto one: Go, & he goeth. And to another: Come, & he cometh. And to my servant: Do this, & he doth it. When jesus heard that, he marveled at him, & turned him about, & said unto the people that followed him: I say unto you: So great faith have I not found, not not in Israel. And when they that were sent, came home again, they found the servant that was sick, whole. And it fortuned afterward, that he went into a cite called Naim, and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. When he came nigh to the gate of the cite, behold, there was carried out one deed, which was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the cite went with her. And when the LORD saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her: Weep not. And he came nigh, and touched the Coffin. And they that bore him, stood still. And he said: Young man, I say unto thee: Arise. And 3. Re. 17. ● 4. Re. 4● ● Act. 9 f and 20. b the deed sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him unto his mother. And there came a fear on them all, and they praised God, and said: * johan. 4. and 6. b A great prophet is risen among us, and God hath vysited his people. And this fame of him was noised in all jewry, and in all the regions that lay 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 unto jesus saying: Art thou he that shall come, or shall we look for another? When the men came to him, they said: John the baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying: Art thou he that shall come, or shall we look for another? At the same hour healed he many from sicknesses & plagues, and from evil spretes, and unto many that were blind, he gave sight. And jesus answered, & said unto them: Go your way, show John, what you have seen & heard. ●sa. 35. a The blind see, the halt go, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the deed arise, Esa 61. a the Gospel is preached unto the poor, and blessed is he, that is not offended at me. Mat. 11. a When the messaungers of John were departed, jesus began to speak unto the people concerning John: What are you go out for to see in the wilderness? Would you see a reed, that is shaken with the wind? Or what are you go out for to see? Would you see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously arrayed, & live delicately, are in kings courts. Or what are you go out for to see? Would you see a prophet? Ye I say unto you: one that is more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before the face, ●al. 3. a ●arc. 1. a which shall prepare thy way before the. For I say unto you: Among then that are born of women, there is no greater prophet than John the baptist. Notwith standing he that is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, and were baptized with the baptism of Ihon. But the Pharisees and scribes despised the council of God against themselves, & were not baptized of him. But the LORD said: Where unto shall I licken the men of this generation? ●at. 11. c And whom are they like? They are like unto children which sit in the market, and cry one to another, and say: We have pyped unto you, and you have not daunsed: we have mourned unto you, & you have not wept. For John the baptist came, and ●at. 3. a ate no bread, and drank no wine, and you say: he hath the devil. The son of man is come, eateth and drinketh, & you say: This man is a glutton and a wine bebber, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified of all her children. ●at. 26. a ●ar. 14. a And one of the Pharisees desired him, that he would eat with him. And he went in to the Pharisees house, and sat him down at the table. ●●hā. 1●. a And behold, there was in the cite a woman, which was a sinner. When she knew that jesus sat at the table in the Pharisees house, she brought a box with ointment, & stood behind at his feet, and wept, and began to water his feet with tears, and to dry them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, & anointed them with ointment. But when the Pharisee which had called him saw that, he spoke within himself, 〈…〉 and said: If this man were a prophet, he would know who, & what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, for she is a sinner. And jesus answered, and said unto him: Simon, I have somewhat to say unto the. He said: Master say on. A certain lender had two debtors, the one aught five hundredth pens, the other fifty: but when they had no thing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me which of them will love him most? Simon answered, and said: He, (I suppose) to whom he forgave most. Then said he unto him: Thou hast judged right. And he turned him to the woman, and said unto Simon: Seist thou this woman? I am come in to thy house, thou hast given me no water unto my feet, but she hath watered my feet with tears, and dried them with the hairs of her head: Thou hast given me no kiss, but she (since the time she came in) hath not ceased to kiss my feet: Thou hast not anointed my head with oil, but she hath anointed my head with ointment. Therefore I say unto thee: Many sins are forgiven her, for she hath loved much. But unto whom less is forgiven, the same loveth the less. And he said unto her: Thy sins are forgiven the. Then they that sat at the table with him, began to say within themselves: What is he this, that forgiveth sins also? But he said unto the woman: Thy faith hath saved thee, Go thy way in peace. The VIII. Chapter. ANd it fortuned afterward, that he went thorough the cities and towns, and preached, and showed the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and the twelve with him. And certain women also, 〈…〉 whom he had healed from evil spretes and infirmities: Namely, Marry 〈…〉 which is called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and joanna the wife of Chusa Herodes steward, and Susanna, and many other, that ministered unto them of their substance. Now when much people were gathered together, 〈…〉 and haisted unto him out of the cities, He spoke by asymilitude: There went out a sour to sow his seed, & while he was sowing, some fallen by the way side, and was trodden under foot, and the fowls of the air ate it up. And some fallen on stone, and when it was sprung up, it withered away; because it had no moistness. And some fallen among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And some fallen upon a good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit an hundredth fold. When he said this he cried: Who so hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples axed him, and said: What similitude is this? 〈◊〉 ●3. b 〈◊〉. 4. a And he said: Unto you it is given, to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but unto the other in parables, that though they see it, they should not see it, and though they hear it, they should not understand. 〈…〉 This is the parable: The seed is the word of God: As for those that are by the way side, they are they that hear it, afterward cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, that they should not believe, and be saved. But they on the stone, are such as when they hear it, receive the word with joy, and these have no rote: they believe for a while, and in the time of temptation they fall away. As for it that fell among the thorns, are such as hear it, and go forth among the cares, riches and volupteousnesses of this life, and are choked and bring forth no fruit. But that on the good ground, are they that hear the word, and keep it in a pure good heart, and bring forth fruit in patience. No man lighteth a candle, and covereth it with a vessel, 〈…〉 or putteth it v●der a table, but setteth it upon a candlestick, that such as go in may see light. 〈…〉 For there is nothing hid, that shall not be openly showed: and there is nothing secret, that shall not be known, and come to light. Take heed therefore how you hear. 〈◊〉. 13. b 〈◊〉 5. c 〈◊〉 4. c 〈◊〉 ●. c For who so hath, unto him shallbe given: but who so hath not, from him shallbe taken away, even the same that he thinketh to have. There went unto him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the people. And it was told him. Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, 〈…〉 and would see the. But he answered, & said unto them: My mother and my brethren are these, which hear the word of God, and do it. 〈…〉 And it fortuned upon a certain day, that he went in to a ship, and his disciples with him, & he said unto them: Let us pass over to the other side of the lake. And they thirst of from the land. And as they sailed, he slept. And there came a storm of wind upon the lake, and the wawes fallen upon them, and they stood in great jeopardy. Then went they unto him, and waked him up, & said: Master master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind, and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it waxed calm. But he said unto them: Where is your faith? Nevertheless they were afraid, and wondered, and said one to another: What is he this? For he commandeth the winds and the water, and they are obedient unto him. Mat. 8 d Marc. 5. ● And they sailed forth in to the country of the Gadarenites, which is over against Galilee. And when he went out to land, there met him out of the cite a man, which had a devil long time, & wore no clotheses, & tarried in no house, but in the graves. Neuertheles● when he saw jesus, he cried, and fallen down before him, and cried loud, & said: What have I to do with the jesus, thou son of the Hyest God? I beseek thee, that thou will't not torment me. For he commanded the foul spirit, that he should depart out of the man, for he had plagued him a long season. And he was bound with chains, and kept with fetters, and he broke the bonds insunder, and was carried of the devil in to the wilderness. And jesus axed him, and said: What is thy name? He said: Legion. For there were many devils entered in to him. And they besought him, that he would not command them to go in to the deep. Mat. 8. d Marc. 5. b But there was there a great herd of swine feeding upon the mountain, and they besought him, that he would give them leave, to enter in to the same. Andrea he gave them leave. Then departed the devils out of the man, and entered in to the swine. And the heerd ruszhed headlynges with a storm in to the lake, and were drowned. But when the herdsmen saw what had chanced, they fled, and told it in the cite and in the vyllagies. Then went they out, for to see what was done, and came to jesus, and found the man (out of whom the devils were departed) sitting at jesus feet, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And they that had seen it, told them how the possessed was healed. And the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenites besought him, that he would depart from them, for there was a great fear come upon them. Marc. 5. b And he got him in to the ship, and turned again. And the man out of whom the devils were departed, besought him, that he might be with him. But jesus sent him away, and said: Go home again, and show how great things God hath done for the. And he went his way, & preached thorough out all the cite, how great things jesus had done for him. Mat. 9 c Marc. 5. c And it fortuned when jesus came again, the people received him, for they waited for him. Andrea behold, there came a man named jairus (and he was a ruler of the synagogue) and fallen at jesus feet, Mat. 9 c Marc. 5. c & besought him, that he would come in to his house. For he had but one daughter (upon a twelve year of age) and she lay at the point of death. And as he went, the people thronged him. And a woman having the bloudyssue twelve years, (which had spent all her substaunte upon physicians, and could be healed of none) came behind, & touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood was staunched. And jesus said: Who hath touched me? But when they all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him: Master, the people throng the and thrust thee, and thou sayest: Who hath touched me? jesus said: Some body hath touched me, for Ifele, that there is virtue go out fro me. But when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, Mat 9 c Marc. 5. d and fallen down before him, and told him before all the people, for what cause she had touched him, & how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her: Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith hath made the whole, go thy way in peace. While he yet spoke, there came one from the ruler of the synagogues house, and said unto him: Thy daughter is deed, disease not the master. When jesus heard that, he answered him, johan. 11. b and said: Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole. But when he came in to the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and james and John, and the father and mother of the maiden. They wept all, and sorrowed for her. But he said: Weep not, for she is not deed, but * sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn, knowing well that she was deed. But he thrust them all out, and took her by the hand, and cried, and said: Maiden arise. And her spirit came again, & she arose strait way. And he commanded to give her meat. Mat. 10. a Marc. 3. b and 6. a Luc. 6. b And her elders were astonnyed. But he charged them, that they should tell no man, what was done. * Mar. 6. a Luc. 10. a The IX. Chapter. ANd he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and that they might heal diseases. And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick, and said unto them: 〈…〉 You shall take nothing with you by the way, neither staff, ner scrip, ner bread, ner money: ner have two coats. And into what house so ever you enter, there abide, till you go thence. 〈…〉 And who so ever receive you not, depart out of the same cite, and shake of the dust from your feet, for a witness over them. And they departed, and went thorough the towns, preaching the Gospel, & healing every where. Herode the Tetrarcha heard of all that was done by him. And he took care, for so much as it was said of some: John is risen again from the deed: of some, Elias hath appeared: of some, * One of the old prophets is risen again. And Herode said: John have I beheaded, who is this then, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. And the Apostles came again, and told him how great things they had done. And he took them to him, and went aside into a solitary place by the cite called Bethsaida. When the people known of it, they followed him. And he received them, and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed such as hade need thereof. But the day began to go down. Then came the twelve to him, and said unto him: let the people depart from thee, that they may go in to the towns round about, and in to the vyllagies, where they may find lodging & meat, for we are here in the wilderness. But he said unto them: give you them to eat. They said: We have no more but five loaves and two fyszhes. Except we should go & buy meat for so much people (for there were upon a five thousand men) But he said unto his disciples: 'Cause them to sit down by fifties in a company. And they did so, and made them all to sit down. Then took he the five loaves and two fiszhes, and looked up toward heaven, and said grace over them, broke them, 〈…〉 and gave them to the disciples, to set them before the people. And they ate, and were all satisfied. And there were taken up of that remained to them, twelve baskets full of broken meat. And it fortuned when he was alone, and at his prayer, and his disciples with him, he axed them, and said: Whom say the people that I am? They answered, and said: They say, thou art John the baptist: 〈…〉 Some, that thou art Elias: Some, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 〈…〉 But he said unto them: Whom say you that I am? Then answered Peter and said: Thou art the Christ of God. And he charged them strately, 〈◊〉. 6. g and commanded them, that they should tell this unto no man, and said: 〈◊〉. 16. c 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉. ●. d 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉. 18. d For the son of man must suffer many things, and be cast out of the Elders and of the high priests, and scribes, and be put to death, and rise again the third day. 〈…〉 Then said he unto them all: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross daily, & follow me. 〈◊〉. 17. d For who so ever will save his life, shall loose it. But who so loseth his life for my sake, shall save it. For what advantage hath a man, though he wan the whole world, and loseth himself, or runneth in damage of himself? 〈◊〉 10. d 〈◊〉. 8. c 〈◊〉 12. a Who so is ashamed of me and of my sayings, of him shall the son of man also be ashamed, when he cometh in his glory, and in the glory of his father, and of the holy angels. I say unto you of the truth: 〈◊〉. 16. d 〈◊〉 8. c there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taist of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it fortuned, that about an eight days after these words, 〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉. 9 a he took unto him Peter, John and james, and went up in to amount for to pray. 〈◊〉. 1. d And as he prayed, the shape of his countenance was changed of another fashion, and his garment was white, and shined: and behold, two men talked with him, Which were Moses and Elias, that appeared gloriously, and spoke of his departing, which he should fulfil at jerusalem. As for Peter and them that were with him, they were full of sleep. But when they awoke, they see his glory, and the two men standing with him. 〈◊〉 17. a 〈◊〉. 9 a And it chanced, when they departed from him, Peter said unto jesus: Master, here is good being for us. Let us make three tabernacles: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias, and wist not what he said. But while he thus spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them. And they were afraid, when the cloud covered them. And out of the cloud there came a voice, which said: This is my dear son, 〈…〉 hear him. And while this voice came to pass, they found jesus alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen. 〈…〉 And it chanced on the next day after, when they came down from the mount. much people met him, and behold, a man among the people cried out, and said: Master, I beseek thee, look upon my son, for he is my only son: behold, the spirit taketh him, and suddenly he crieth, and he teareth him, that he foameth, and with pain departeth he from him, when he hath rent him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not. Then answered jesus, and said: O thou unfaithful and crooked generation, how long shall I be with you, & suffer you? Bring hither thy son. And when he came to him, the devil rent him and tare him. But jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him unto his father again. Marc. 1. c Luc. 4. d And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. And while they wondered every one at all things which he did, he said unto his disciples: Comprehend these sayings in your ears. Mat. 16. c and 20. b Marc. 8. d and 9 d Luc. 2. g and 18. d For the son of man must be delivered in to the hands of men. But they wist not what that word meaned, and it was hid from them, that they understood it not. And they were afraid to axe him of that word. * Mat. 18. ● Marc. 9 d Luc. 22. b There came a thought also among them, which of them should be the greatest. But when jesus saw the thoughts of their heart, he took a child, & set him hard by him, and said unto them? Mat. 10 e Marc. 9 c Luc. 10. b johan. 13. c Whosoever receiveth this child in my name, receiveth me: and who so ever receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. * Mat. 20. ● Marc. 9 ● and 10. e Luc. 22. b But who so is least among you all, the same shall be great. Then answered John, and said: Master, we saw one drive out devils in thy name, and we forbade him, for he followed the not with us. And jesus said unto him: For bid him not, for he that is not against us, is for us. And it fortuned when the time was fulfilled that he should be received up from hence, he turned his face to go strait to jerusalem, and before him he sent messaungers, which went their way, and came in to a town of the Samaritans, to prepare lodging for him. And they would not receive him, because he had turned his face to go to Jerusalem. But when his disciples james and John saw that, they said: LORD, will't thou, that we command, that fire fall down from heaven, and consume them, 4. Re. 1. c as Elias did? Nevertheless jesus turned him about, and rebuked them, and said: Know you not, what manner of spirit you are of? The son of man is not come to destroy men's souls, but to save them. And they went in to another town. Mat. 8. c And it fortuned as they went by the way, one said unto him: I will follow thee, whither so ever thou go. Andrea jesus said unto him: The foxes have holes, and the birds under the heaven have nests: but the son of man hath not whereon to say his head. Mat. 8. c And he said unto another: Follow me. He said: Sir, give me leave first to go, and bury my father. But jesus said unto him: * Leu. 21. b Let the deed bury their deed. Butler go thou thy way, and preach the kingdom of God. And another said: Sir, I will follow thee, * 3. Re. 19 but give me leave first, to go bid them farwele, which are at home in my house. jesus said unto him: Who so putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is not meet for the kingdom of God. 3. Pet. 2 d The X. Chapter. afterward the LORD appointed out other seventy, and sent them two and two before him in to every cite and place, whither he himself would come, and said unto them: The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Mat. 9 d Pray therefore the LORD of the harvest, to send forth labourers in to his harvest. Go your way: behold, Mat. 10. a ●arc 6. a ●uc. 9 a I send you forth as the lambs among the wolves. Bear neither wallet, ner scrip, ner shues, and ●. Re. 4. d salute no man by the way. In to what so ever house you enter, first say: Peace be in this house. And if the child of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him. If no, then shall your peace turn to you again. But tarry you still in the same house, eating and drinking such as they have. For the labourer is worthy of his reward. Go not from house to house. And in to what so ever cite you enter, and 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 unto you. Mat. 10. b Marc. 6. b ●uc. 9 a ●ct. 13. c ●nd 1●. a But in to what so ever cite you come, and they receive you not, go your way out in to the streets of the same, and say: Even the very dust which cleaveth upon us of your cite, wipe we of upon you. But of this you shall be sure, that the kingdom of God was come nigh unto you. I say unto you: It shallbe easier for Sodom in that day, then for that cite. woe unto the Chorazin, woe unto the Bethsaida: Mat. 11. b for if the miracles which have been done among you had been done at tire and Sidon, they had done penance long ago, sitting in sack clot and in ashes. Nevertheless it shallbe easier for tire and Sidon at the judgement, then for you. And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto the heaven, shalt be thrust down unto hell. He that heareth you, heareth me: 〈…〉 and he that despiseth you, despiseth me: but who so despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me. The seventy came again with joy, and said: LORD, the devils also are subdued unto us in thy name. But he said unto them: I saw Satan fall down from heaven as a lightning. Behold, Esa● 〈…〉 Ap●. ● * 〈◊〉 Act ● I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, rejoice not you in this, that the spretes are subdued unto you: but rejoice, * that your names are written in heaven. At the same hour rejoiced jesus in spirit, and said: 〈…〉 I praise thee (O father and LORD of heaven and earth) that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them unto babes. Even so father, for so it pleased the. 〈…〉 All things are given over unto me of my father: * and no man knoweth who the son is, but only the father: neither who the father is, save only the son, and he to whom the son will open it. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said in especial: Blessed are the eyes, which see that you se. For I say unto you: Many prophets and kings, 〈…〉 would have seen the things that you see, and have not seen them: and to have heard the things that you hear, and have not herd them. And behold, there stood up a scribe and tempted him, and said: Master, what must I do, to inherit everlasting life? He said unto him: What is written in the law? How readest thou? He answered and said: 〈…〉 Thou shalt love thy LORD God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and 〈…〉 thy neighbour as thyself. He said unto him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he would have justified himself, & said unto jesus: Who is then my neighbour? Then answered jesus, and said: A certain man went down from jerusalem unto jericho, and fallen among murthurers, which stryped him out of his clotheses, and wounded him, and went their way, and left him half deed. And by chance there came down a priest the same way: and when he saw him, he passed by. And likewise a Levite, when he came nigh unto the same place and saw him, he passed by. But a Samaritane was going his journey, and came that way, and when he saw him, he had compassion upon him, went unto him, bound up his wounds, and poured oil and wine therein, and lift him up upon his beast, and brought him in to the in, and made provision for him. Upon the next day when he departed, he took out two pens, and gave them to the host, and said unto him: Take cure of him, and what so ever thou spendest more, I will pay it thee, when I come again. Which of these three now thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him, that fallen among the murderers? He said: He that showed mercy upon him Then said jesus unto him: Go thy way then, and do thou likewise. It fortuned as they went, that he entered in to a town, where there was a woman named Martha, which received him in to her house. And she had a sister, called Mary, 〈◊〉 33. a which sat her down at jesus feet, and herkened unto his word. But Martha made herself much to do, for to serve him. And she srepte unto him, and said: LORD, carest thou not, that my sister letteth me serve alone? Bid her therefore, that she help me. But jesus answered, and said unto her: Martha Martha, thou takest thought, and combrest thyself about many things: 〈◊〉 25. a there is but one thing needful. Mary hath choose a good part, which shall not be taken away from her. The XI. Chapter. ANd it fortuned that he was in a place, and prayed. And when he had ceased, one of his disciples said unto him: LORD, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. He said unto them: When you pray, say: O our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be fulfilled upon earth, as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive all them that are debtors unto us. And lead us not in to temptation, but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them: Which of you is it that hath a friend, and should go to him at mydinght, and say unto him: friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine is come to me out of the way, and I have nothing to set before him: and he within should answer and say: Disquyete me not, the door is shut already, and my children are with me in the chamber, I can not rise, and give the. I say unto you: and though he would not arise and give him, because he is his friend, Yet because of his unshame fast begging he would arise, and give him as many as he needed. And I say unto you also: Axe, and it shall be given you: Seek, and you shall find: Pro. 8. b Mat. 7. a johan. 14. ● 15. a. 16. c knock, and it shallbe opened unto you. For who so ever axeth, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, shall it be opened. If the son axe bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone therefore? Or if he axe a fyszhe, will he for the fish offer him a serpent? Or if he axe an egg, will he proffer him a scorpion? If you then which are evil, can give your children good gifts, how much more shall the father of heaven give the holy spirit unto them that axe him? And he drove out a devil that was dumb: Mat. 9 ● and 12 ● and it came to pass when the devil was departed out, the dumb spoke, and the people wondered. But some of them said: He driveth out the devils, thorough Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Marc. ● The other tempted him, and desired a token of him from heaven. But he knew their thoughts, and said unto them: Every kingdom divided within itself, shall be desolate, and one house shall fall upon another. If Satan then be at variance within himself, how shall his kingdom endure? Because you say, that I drive out devils thorough Beelzebub. And if I drive out devils thorough Beelzebul, by whom then do your children drive them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I cast out the devils by the finger of God, then is the kingdom of God come unto you. When a strong harnessed man keepeth his house, that he possesseth is in peace: Mat. 12. * Col. 2 but when a stronger than he cometh upon him, and overcometh him, he taketh from him all his wapens, wherein he trusted, and divideth the spoil. He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scatereth abroad. Mat. 12. c When the unclean spirit is go out of a man, he walketh thorough dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then sayeth he: I will turn again in to my house, from whence I went out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh unto him seven other spretes, worse than himself. And when they are entered in, they devil there. And the end of that man is worse than the beginning. And it fortuned when he spoke such, a certain woman among the people lift up her voice, and said unto him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that thou hast sucked. But he said: Ye blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. When the people were gathered thick together, he began to say: This is an evil generation, ●arc. 8. b they desire a token, and there shall no token be given them, but the token of the prophet jonas. ●onae 3. a 〈◊〉 3. b For like as jonas was a token unto the Ninivites, so shall the son of man be unto this generation▪ The queen of the south shall arise at the judgement with the men of this generation, Re. 10. a Par. 9 a ●at. 12. d and shall condemn them: for she came from the end of the world, to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold, here is one more than Solomon. The men of Ninive shall arise at the judgement with this generation, and shall condemn them: for they did penance after the preaching of jonas: and behold, here is one more than jonas. ●at. 5. b ●arc. 4. b 〈◊〉. 8. b No man lighteth a candle, and putteth it in a privy place, neither under a buszhell, but upon a candlestick, that they which come in, may see the light. Mat. 6. c The eye is the light of the body. If thy eye then be single, all thy body shall be full of light: but if thy eye be wicked, then shall all thy body be full of darkness. Take heed therefore, that the light which is in thee, be not darkness. If thy body now be light, so that it have no part of darkness, then shall it be all full of light, and shall light the even as a clear lightning. But while he yet spoke, a certain Pharisee prayed him, that he would dine with him. And he went in, and sat him down at the table. When the Pharisee saw that, he marveled, that he waszhed not first before dinner. But the LORD said unto him: Now do you Pharisees make clean the out side of the cup and platter, 〈…〉 but your inward parts are full of robbery and wickedness. You fools, is a thing made clean within, because the outside is cleansed? Nevertheless give alms of that you have, and behold, all is clean unto you. But woe unto you Pharisees, you that tithe mint and rue, and all manner herbs, 〈…〉 and pass over judgement and the love of God. These aught to have been done, and not to leave the other undone. woe unto you Pharisees, Mat. ● Ma●. ● Luc. ● for you love to sit uppermost in the synagogues, and to be saluted in the market. woe unto you scribes and pharisees, you hypocrites, for you are like covered sepulchres, where over men walk, and are not aware of them. Then answered one of the scribes, and said unto him: Master, with these words thou puttest us to rebuke also. But he said: And woe unto you also you scribes, for you lad men with untolerable burdens, and you yourselves touch them not with one of you fingers. 〈…〉 woe unto you, for you build the sepulchres of the prophets, 〈…〉 but your fathers put them to death. Doubtless you bear witness, and consent unto the deeds of you fathers: for they slew them, and you build their sepulchres. Therefore said the wisdom of God: 〈…〉 I will send prophets and Apostles unto them: and some of them shall they put to death and persecute, that the blood of all the prophets which hath been shed since the foundation of the world was laid, may be required of this generation: 〈…〉 from the blood of Abel, unto the blood of * Zachary, which perished between the altar and the temple. Ye I say unto you: it shallbe required of this generation. woe unto you scribes, 〈…〉 for you have received the key of knowledge. You are not come in yourselves, and have forbidden them that would have been in. When he spoke thus unto them, the scribes and pharisees began to press sore upon him, and to stop his mouth with many questions, and laid wait for him, and sought to hunt out some thing out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. The XII. Chapter. THere were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, in so much that they trod one another: Then began he, and said first unto his disciples: beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is ypocrisye. ●at. 16. a ●arc. 8. a ●ap. 1. b ●at. 10. d ●arc. 4. b 〈◊〉. ●. b But there is nothing hid, that shall not be discovered: neither secret, that shall not be known. Therefore what soever you have spoken in darkness, that same shall be herd in light: and that you have spoken in to the ear in the chambers, shallbe preached upon the house tops. But I say unto you my friends: Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 〈◊〉. 10. d 〈◊〉 ●0. c But I will show you, whom you shall fear. Fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power also to cast in to hell: Ye I say unto you: Fear him. Are not five sparrows bought for two farthinges? Yet is not one of them forgotten before God. The very hairs of your head also are numbered every one. Fear not therefore, for you are better than many sparrows. 〈◊〉. 10 d ●●rc. ●. e 〈◊〉. 9 c 〈◊〉 ●. a I say unto you: Who so ever knowlegeth me before men, him shall the son of man also knowledge before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God. And who so ever speaketh a word against the son of man, 〈◊〉. 11. c 〈◊〉. 3. c it shallbe forgiven him: But who so blasphemeth the holy ghost, it shall not be forgiven him. When they bring you in to their synagogues, 〈◊〉. 10. c 〈◊〉. 13. b 〈◊〉. 21. b and to the rulers & officers, take you no thought, how or what you shall answer, or what you shall speak: for the holy ghost shall teach you in the same hour, what you aught to say. But one of the people said unto him: Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me. Nevertheless he said unto him: Man, who hath set me to be a judge or heritage parter over you? And he said unto them: Take heed, and beware of covetousness, for no man liveth thereof, that he hath abundance of goods. And he told them a similitude, and said: There was a rich man, whose field had brought forth fruits plenteously, and he thought in himself, and said: What shall I do? I have nothing where into gather my fruits. And he said: This will I do, I will break down my barns, & build greater, and therein will I gather all mine increase, & my goods, & will say unto my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up in store for many years, 〈◊〉 ●1. c take now thy ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Butler God said unto him: Thou fool, jere. 17. ● this night shall they require thy soul from thee, Psal. 38. ● and whose shall it be that thou hast prepared? Thus goeth it with him that gathereth treasure for himself, and is not rich in God. But he said unto his disciples? Therefore I say unto you: Psal. 54. Mat. 6. ● 1. Pet. 5. a Take you no thought for your life, what you shall eat: neither for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. consider the ravens, they neither sow ner reap, they have also neither stoarehouse ner barn, and yet God feedeth them. But how much better are you then the fowls? Which of you (though he took thought therefore) could put one cubit unto his stature? Mat. 6. ● seeing then you be not able to do that which is lest, why take you thought for the other? consider the lilies upon the field, how they grow: they labour not, they spin not. But I say unto you: that even Salomen in all his royalty was not clothed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass, that is to day in the field, and tomorrow shallbe cast into the furnace, how much more shall he cloth you, oh you of little faith? Axe not you therefore what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, and climb not up an high: The heathen in the world seek after all such things. But seek you the kingdom of God, and all these shall be ministered unto you. Fear not thou little flock, for it is your father's pleasure to give you the kingdom. Deut 1. c and 20. a Cell that you have, and give alms. Make you bags, which wax not old: even a treasure that never faileth in heaven, where no thief cometh, Mat. 6. c and 19 c and no moth corruppeth: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Letoy your loins be gerded about, Ephe. 6. ● 1. Pet. 1. c and your lights burning, and be you like unto men that wait for their lord, against he return from the marriage, that when he cometh & knocketh, they may strait way open unto him. Blessed are those servants, whom the LORD (when he cometh) shall find waking. Verily I say unto you: Luc. 22. b He shall gird up himself, and make them sit down at the table, and shall go by them, and minister unto them. And if he come in the second watch, and in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But be sure of this, Mat. 24. d Marc. 13. d that if the good man of the house knew, what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and not suffer his house to be broken up. Therefore be you ready also, for at an hour when you think not, shall the son of man come. ●at. 25. a But Peter said unto him: LORD, tellest thou this similitude unto us, or to all men also? The LORD said: How great a thing is a faithful and wise steward, whom his lord setteth over his houszholde, to give them their duty in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord (when he cometh) shall find so doing. ●po. 16. c Verily I say unto you: he shall set him over all his goods. Mat. ●4. d Butler if the same servant shall say in his heart: Tush, it will be long or my lord come, and shall begin to smite the servants and maidens, ye & to eat and drink, & to be drunken: the same servants lord shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not ware of, & shall hue him in pieces, and give him his reward with the unbelievers. ●aco. 4. b The servant that knew his lords will and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes: But he that knew it not, and yet did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For look unto whom much is given, of him shall much be sought: and look to whom much is committed, of him shall much be required. I am come to kindle fire upon earth, and what would I rather, than that it were kindled already. notwithstanding I must first be baptized with a baptism, and how am I pained till it be ended? Think you, that I am come to bring peace upon earth? Mat. 10. c Mich. 7. a I tell you nay, but rather debate. For from hence forth there shall be at variance in one house: three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against the daughter, & the daughter against the mother: the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And he said unto the people: When you see a cloud rise out of the west, Mat. 1●. a strait way you say: there cometh a shower, and so it is: and when you see the southwind blow, you say: It will be hot, and it cometh so to pass. O you ypocrytes, you can discern the fashion of the sky and of the earth: Why can you not discern this time also? Ye and why judge you not of yourselves, what is right? While thou goest with thy adversary unto the Prince, give diligence by the way, that thou mayest be quite of him, jest he bring the before the judge, and the judge deliver the to the iaylar, and the iaylar cast the in to preson. I tell thee, thou shalt not come out thence, till thou pay the uttermost mite. The XIII. Chapter. THere were present at the same season certain, that showed him of the Act. 1● Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their own sacrifice. And jesus answered, and said unto them: Suppose you, that these Galileans were greater sinners then all the other Galileans, because they suffered such punishment? I tell you nay, but except you amend yourselves, you shall all perish likewise. Or think you that the eighteen (upon whom the tower in Siloe fallen and slew them) were guilty above all men that devil at jerusalem? I tell you nay: but except you amend yourselves, you shall all perish likewise. And he told them this similitude: A certain man had a fig tree, which was planted in his vineyard, & he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the wine gardener: Behold, This three year long have I come every year, and sought fruit upon this fig tree, and find none: cut it down, why hindereth it the ground? But he answered, and said: Sir, let it alone yet this year, till I dig round about it and dung it, if it will bring forth fruit: If no▪ then cut it down afterward. And he taught in a synagogue upon the Sabbath: and behold, there was a woman, which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was crooked, and could not well look up. When jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her: Woman, be delivered from thy disease. And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made strait, and praised God. Then answered the ruler of the synagogue, and took indignation (because jesus healed upon the Sabbath) and said unto the people: There are six days, wherein men aught to work, in them come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath. Then the LORD answered him, and said: Thou ypocryte, doth not every one of you louse his ox or ass from the crib upon Sabbath, and lead him to the water: But should not this (which is Abraham's daughter) whom Satan hath bound now eighteen years, be loosed from this bond upon the Sabbath? And when he thus said, all his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced over all the excellent deeds, that were done by him. 〈◊〉. 13. d 〈◊〉. 4. a And he said: What is the kingdom of God like? Or where unto shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast in his garden: and it grew, and waxed a great tree, and the fowls of the air dwelled among the branches of it. 〈◊〉. 13. c And again he said: Where unto shall I licken the kingdom of God? It is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and mixed it among three pecks of meele, 〈◊〉. 1●. a till it was all levended. And he went thorough cities and towns, and taught, and took his journey toward jerusalem. And one said unto him: LORD, are there few (thinkest thou) that shallbe saved? But he said unto them: 〈◊〉. 7. b strive you to enter in at the straight gate, for many (I say unto you) shall seek to come in, and shall not be able. From that time forth, when the good man of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, then shall you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, and say: LORD LORD, 〈◊〉. ●5. a open unto us. And he shall answer, and say unto you: I know you not whence you are. Then shall you begin to say: We have eaten and drunken before thee, and thou hast taught us upon the streets. And he shall say: I tell you, I know you not whence you are. Depart fro me all you workers of iniquity. 〈◊〉. 6. b 〈◊〉. 7. b 〈◊〉 25. d There shallbe weeping and gnaszhinge of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out, And when they shall come from the east and from the west, 〈…〉 from the north and from the south, which shall sit at the table in the kingdom of God. 〈◊〉. 19 d 〈◊〉 20. b 〈◊〉 20. c And behold, there are last, which shall be first: and there are first, which shallbe last. Upon the same day there came certain of the Pharisees, and said unto him: Get the out of the way, and depart hence, for Herode will kill the. And he said unto them: Go you and tell that fox: behold, I cast out devils, and heal the people today and tomorrow, and upon the third day shall I make an end: for it can not be, that a prophet perish without jerusalem. 〈…〉 O jerusalem Jerusalem, thou that kyllest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as the hen gathereth her nest under her wings, and you would not? Behold, you habitation shall be left unto you desolate. For I say unto you: you shall not see me, till the time come that you shall say: blessed be he, Luc. 19 d Psal. 117. ● that cometh in the name of the LORD. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd it fortuned that he came in to the house of one of the chief Pharisees upon a Sabbath, to eat bread, & they watched him. And behold, there was a man before him, which had the dropsy. And jesus answered, & spoke unto the scribes and Pharisees, & said: Luc. 6. a and 13. b Mat. 12. b Marc. 3 a Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? But they held their tongue. And he took him, and healed him, & let him go, and answered, and said unto them: Which of you shall have an ox or an ass fallen in to a pit, Exo. 23. a Deut. 22. ● and will not strait way pull him out on the Sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to that. And he told a similitude unto the gests, when he marked how they chose the highest seats, & said unto them: When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room, jest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him, and he that bade both the and him, come & say unto thee: give this man room, and thou then begin with shame to take the lowest room. But rather when thou art bidden, go and sit in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee, cometh, he may say unto thee: Friend, sit up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at the table. Pro. 25. a For who so ever exalteth himself, shallbe brought low: Mat. 23. b. Luc. 18. b and he that humbleth himself, shallbe exalted. He said also unto him that had bidden him: When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, ner thy brethren, ner thy kynsfolkes, ner the rich neighbours, jest they call the again, and recompense be made ye. But when thou makest a feast, Tob. 4. ● call the poor, the crepell, the lame, the blind, than art thou blessed, for they can not recompense ye. But it shallbe recompensed the in the resurrection of the righteous. When one of them that sat by at the table heard this, he said unto him: Blessed is he, that eateth bread in the kingdom of God. But he said unto him; Mat. 22. ● Apo. 19 b A certain man made a great supper, and called many there to. And in the hour of the supper he sent his servant, to say unto them that were bidden: Come, for now are all things ready. And they began all together to excuse themselves one after another: The first said unto him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go forth and see it, I pray the have me excused. And the second said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and now I go to prove them, I pray the have me excused, And the third said: I have married a wife, therefore can I not come. And the servant came, and brought his lord word again thereof. Then was the good man of the house displeased, and said unto his servant: Go out quickly in to the streets and quarters of the cite, and bring in hither the poor and crepell, and lame and blind. And the servant said: lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and there is yet more room. And the lord said unto the servant: Go out into the high ways, and to the hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. But I say unto you: that none of these men which were bidden, shall taist of my supper. There went much people with him, and he turned him about and said unto them: ●eut. 13. b ●at. 10. c ●nd 16. d If any man come unto me, and hate not his father, mother, wife, children, brethren, sisters, ye and his own life also, he can not be my disciple. And whosoever beareth not his cross, and followeth me, can not be my disciple. Which of you is it, that will build a tower, and sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to perform, it? jest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to perform it, all they that see it, begin to laugh him to scorn, & to say: This man began to build, and is not able to perfurme it. Or what king will go to make battle against another king, and sitteth not down first, and casts in his mind, whether he be able with ten thousand, to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way of he sendeth embassage, and desireth peace. So likewise every one of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, can not be my disciple. Mat. 5. b Marc. 9 c Salt is a good thing: but if the salt be unsavoury, what shall they season withal? It is neither good upon the land, ner in the dung hill, but shall be cast away. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. The XU. Chapter. THere resorted unto him all the publicans and sinners, that they might hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, and said: Mat. 9 a Marc. 2. b Luc. 5. d Luc. 5. d ●nd 7. c This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. But he told them this similitude, and said: What man is he among you, that hath an hundredth sheep, and if he lose one of them, that leaveth not the nine and nyentye in the wilderness, Mat. 〈…〉 and goeth after that which is lost till he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it upon his shoulders with joy: and when he cometh home, he calleth his friends and neighbours, and sayeth unto them: Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, that was lost. I say unto you: Even so shall there be joy in heaven over one sinner that doth penance, more than over nine and nyentye righteous, which Luc. 〈…〉 need not repen●taunce. Or what woman is it that hath ten groats, if she lose one of them, that lighteth not a candle, and swepeth the house, and seeketh diligently, till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends & neghbouresses, and sayeth: Rejoice with me, for I have found my groat, which I had lost. Even so (I tell you) shall there be joy before the angels of God, over one sinner that doth penance. And he said: A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said unto the father: Father, give me the portion of the goods, that belongeth unto me. And he divided the good unto them. And not long thereafter, gathered the younger son all together, & took his journey in to a far country, and there waisted he his goods with riotous living. Now when he had spent all that he had, there was a great dearth thorough out all the same land. And he began to lack, and went his way, and clave to a cytesin of that same country, which sent him in to his field, to keep swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the cods, that the swine ate. And noman gave him them. Then came he to himself, and said: How many hired servants hath my father, which have bread enough, and I perish of hunger? I will get up, and go to my father, and say unto him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son, make me as one of thy hired servants. And he got him up, & came unto his father. But when he was yet a great way of, 〈…〉 his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fallen about his neck, and kissed him. Then said the son unto him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said unto his servants: Bring forth the best garment, and put it upon him, and give him a ring upon his hand, and shues on his feet, and bring hither a fed calf, and kill it, let us eat and be merry: for this my son was deed, and is alive again: he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. But the elder son was in the field. And when he came, and drew nigh to the house, he heard the mynstrelsye and dancing, and called one of the servants unto him, and axed what it was. He said unto him: Thy brother is come, and thy father hath slain a fed calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. Then was he angry, and would not go in. Then went his father out, and prayed him. But he answered, and said unto his father: Lo, thus many years have I done the service, neither have I yet broken thy commandment, and thou gavest me never one kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But now that this thy son is come, which devoured his goods with harlots, thou hast slain a fed calf. But he said unto him: My son, thou art allway with me, and all that is mine, is thy: thou shouldest be merry and glad, for this the brother was deed, and is alive again: he was lost, and is found again. The XVI. Chapter. HE said also unto his disciples: There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, that was accused unto him, that he had waisted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him: How is it, that I hear this of thee? give a comptes of the stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward. The steward said within himself: What shall I do? My lord will take away the stewardship fro me. I can not dig, and to beg I am ashamed. I wot what I will do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me in to their houses. And he called unto him all his lords debtors, and said unto the first: How much owest thou unto my lord? He said: an hundredth tons of oil. And he said: Take the bill, sit down quickly, & write fifti●. Then said he unto another: How much owest thou? He said: an hundredth quarters of wheat. And he said unto him: Take thy bill, and write four score. And the lord commended the unrighteous steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this world are in their kind wiser, them the children of light. And I say unto you: Make you friends with the unrighteous Mammon, that when you shall have need, they may receive you in to everlasting Tabernacles. He that is faithful in the lest, is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in the lest, is unrighteous also in much. If you then have not been faithful in the unrighteous Mammon, who will believe you in that which is true? And if you have not been faithful in another's man's business, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: Mat. 6. c for either he shall hate the one, and love the other: or else he shall lean to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and Mammon. All these things heard the Pharisees, which were covetous, and they mocked him. And he said unto them: You are they that justify your selves before men, but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is high among men, is an abomination before God. The law and the prophets prophesied unto John, Mat. 11. b and from that time forth is the kingdom of God preached thorough the Gospel, and every man p●easseth in to it by violence. But easier is it, for heaven and earth to perish, than one tittle of the law to fall. Who so ever putteth away his wife, & marrieth another, breaketh matrimony: Mat. 5. d and 19 b Marc. 10. a and he that marrieth her which is divorced from her husband, breaketh wedlock also. There was a certain rich man, which clothed himself with purple and costly linen, and fared deliciously every day. And there was a poor man named Lazarus which lay at his gate full of sores, and desired to be filled with the crumbs, that fallen from the rich man's table. Yet came the dogs, and licked his sores. But it fortuned, that the poor man died, and was carried of the angels in to Abraham's bosom. The rich man died also, and was buried. Now when he was in the hell, he lift up his eyes in the pain, and saw Abraham afar of, and Lazarus in his bosom: and he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, & cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said: Remember son, that thou hast received good in the life, & contrary wise Lazarus received evil. But now is he comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, there is a great space set between us and you: so that they which would go down from hence unto you, can not: neither may they pass over from thence unto us. Then said he: I pray the then father, that thou will't send him unto my father's house, for I have yet five brethren, that he may warn them, jest they also come in to this place of torment. Abraham said unto him: They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. But he said: Nay father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the deed, they would do penance. Nevertheless he said unto him: If they hear not Moses & the prophets, then shall they not believe also, though one rose again from the deed. The XVII. Chapter. HE said unto his disciples: It is unpossible that offences should not come: Mat. 18. a Marc. 9 e but woe unto him by whom they come: It were better for him, that amylstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast in to the see, then that he should offend one of these little one's. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him: Mat. 18. b and if he amend, forgive him. And though he sin against the seventimes in a day, and come seven times in a day to the again, and say: It repenteth me, forgive him. And the Apostles said unto the LORD: Increase our faith. The LORD said: If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, Mat. 17. c and 21. c and say unto this Molbery tree: Pluck thyself up by the rotes, and plant thyself in the see, it shallbe obedient unto you. Which of you is it, that hath a servant (which ploweth, or feedeth the cattles) when he cometh home from the field, that he will say unto him: Go quickly, and sit the down to meat? Is it not thus? that he sayeth unto him: Make ready, that I may sup, gird up thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken, afterward shalt thou eat and drink also. Thanketh he the same servant also, because he did that was commanded him? I trow not. So likewise you, when you have done all that is commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants, we have done that we were bound to do. And it fortuned, when he took his journey toward jerusalem, he went thorough the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he came in to a town, there met him ten leprous men, which stood afar of, and lift up their voice, and said: jesus master, have mercy upon us. And when he saw them, he said unto them: Levit 〈…〉 Go, and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them when he saw that he was cleansed, he turned back again, and praised God with loud voice, and fallen down on his face at his feet, and gave him thanks. And the same was a Samaritane. jesus answered and said: Are there not ten cleansed? But where are those nine? There were else none found, that turned again, and gave God the praise, save only this stranger. And he said unto him: Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made the whole. But when he was demanded of the Pharisees: When cometh the kingdom of God? He answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with outward appearance, neither shall it be said: lo, here or there is it. For behold, the kingdom of God is inward in you. And he said to the disciples: The time shall come, when you shall desire to see one day of the son of man, and shall not see it. And they shall say unto you: See here, See there. 〈…〉 Go not you, neither follow, for as the lightning shineth above from the heaven, and lighteth over all that is under the heaven, so shall the son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, 〈…〉 and be refused of this generation. And as it came to pass in the time of No, 〈…〉 so shall it come to pass also in the days of the son of man. They ate, they drank, they married, and were married, even unto the day that No went in to the Ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it came to pass in the time of Lot, they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded. But even the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, 〈…〉 it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. After this manner also shall it go, in the day when the son of man shall appear. In that day, who so is upon the roof, and his stuff in the house, 〈…〉 let him not come down to fetch it: Likewise he that is in the field, let him not turn back, for it that is behind him. * Remember Lot's wife. Who so ever goeth about to save his life, shall loose it: and who so ever shall loose it, shall save it. I say unto you: In that night shall two lie upon one bed, the one shallbe received, the other shallbe forsaken. Two shallbe gryndinge together, 〈◊〉▪ 14. d the one shallbe received, the other shallbe forsaken. And they answered, and said unto him: Where LORD? He said unto them: Where so ever the deed carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together. The XVIII. Chapter. HE told them a similitude, signifying, 〈◊〉 5. c that men aught always to pray, & not to leave of, & said: There was a judge in a cite, which feared not God, and stood in awe of no man. And in the same cite there was a widow, which came unto him, and said: deliver me fro mine adversary. Andrea he would not a great while. But afterward he thought within himself: Though I fear not God, & stand in awe of no man, yet saying this weddowe is so importune upon me, I will deliver her, jest she come at the last, and rail upon me. Then said the LORD: Hear what the unrighteous judge sayeth. But shall not God also deliver his choose, that cry unto him day and night, though he differre them? I say unto you: He shall deliver them, and that shortly. Nevertheless, when the son of man cometh, suppose you, that he shall find faith upon earth? And unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were perfect, and despised other, he spoke this similitude: There went up two men in to the temple, to pray: the one a Pharisee, the other a publican. The Pharisee stood, and prayed by himself after this manner: 〈…〉 I thank the God, that I am not as other men, robbers, unrighteous, advouters, or as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give the tithes of all that I have. And the publican stood afar of, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, and said: God be thou merciful unto me sinner. I tell you: This man went down in to his house justified more than the other. 〈◊〉 23. b 〈◊〉 4. b For who so ever exalteth himself, shallbe brought low: and he that humbleth himself, shallbe exalted. 〈…〉 They brought young children also unto him, that he should touch them. But when the disciples saw that, they rebuked them. Nevertheless jesus called them unto him, and said: Suffer children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you: Whosoever receiveth not the kingdom of God as a child, shall not enter therein. And a certain ruler axed him, and said: Good master, what must I do, Mat. 19 ● Mar. 10. b that I may enheret everlasting life? Butler jesus said unto him: Why callest thou me good? There is no man good, but God only. Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not break wedlock: Thou shalt not kill: Exo. ●0. c Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Honour thy father and the mother. Butler he said: All these have I kept fro my youth up. When jesus heard that, he said unto him: Yet lackest thou one thing, cell all that thou hast, and give it unto the poor, and thou shalt have a treasure in heaven, and come & follow me. When he heard that, he was sorry, for he was very rich. When jesus saw that he was sorry, he said: Mat. 19 c Marc. 10. c How hardly shall the rich come in to the kingdom of God? It is easier for a Camel to go thorough the eye of a needle, them for a rich man to enter in to the kingdom of God. Then said they that heard that: Who can then be saved? But he said: look what is unpossible with men, is possible with God. Then said Peter: Behold, Luc. 1. c we have forsaken all, and followed the. He said unto them: Mat. 19 d Mar. 10. c Verily I say unto you: There is no man that forsaketh house, or elders, or brethren, or wife, or children for the kingdom of God's sake, which shall not receive much more in this time, and everlasting life in the world to come. He took unto him the twelve, and said unto them: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, Mat. 20. b Marc. 10▪ d and it shall all be fulfilled, that is written by the prophets of the son of man. For he shall be delivered unto the heathen, and shallbe mocked, and despytefully entreated, Luc. 23. a and spitted upon: and when they have scourged him, they shall put him to death, and upon the third day shall he arise again. Luc. 2. g And they understood nothing of these things. And this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were spoken. And it came to pass, Mat. 20. d Marc. 10. c when he came nigh unto jericho, there sat one blind by the way, and begged. And when he heard the people pass by, he axed what it was. Then said they unto him, that jesus of Nazareth passed by. And he cried, and said: jesus thou son of David, have mercy upon me. But the people that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his tongue. Nevertheless he cried much more: Thou son of David have mercy upon me. jesus stood still, & commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he axed him and said: What will't thou, that I do unto thee? He said: LORD, that I may receive my sight. And jesus said unto him: Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved the. And immediately he saw, and followed him, & praised God. And all the people that saw it, gave God the praise. The XIX. Chapter. ANd he entered in, and went thorough jericho: & behold, there was a man named Zacheus, which was a ruler of the publicans, and was rich, and desired to see jesus what he should be, and he could not for the people, for he was low of stature. And he ran before, and clymmed up in to a wild fig tree, that he might see him: for he should come that way. And when jesus came to the same place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him: Zache, come down haistely, for today must I turn in to thy house. And he came down hastily, and received him Act. 16. c with joy. When they saw that, they murmured all, and said, that he was go in, to a sinner. But Zacheus stood forth, and said unto the LORD: Behold LORD, the half of my goods give I to the poor: and if I have defrauded any man, I restore him four fold. jesus said unto him: This day is health happened unto this house, for so much as he also is Abraham's son. Mat. 15. c For the son of man is come, to seek and to save that which was lost. Now while they herkened, he told a similitude also, because he was nigh unto jerusalem, and because they thought, that the kingdom of God should appear immediately. And he said: A certain noble man went in to a far country, Mat. 25. a Marc. 13. d to receive him a kingdom, and then to come again. This man called ten of his servants, and delivered them ten pound, and said unto them: occupy, till I come again. But his citesyns hated him, and sent a message after him, and said: We will not have this man to reign over us. And it fortuned when he came again, after that he had received the kingdom, he bade call for the servants, unto whom he had given his money, that he might know, what every one had done. Then came the first and said: Sir, thy pound hath won ten pound. And he said unto him: Well thou good servant, for so much as thou hast been faithful in the lest, thou shalt have authority over ten cities. The second came also, and said: Sir, thy pound hath won five pound. And to him he said: And thou shalt be over five cities. And the third came, and said: Lo sir, here is thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin. I was afraid of thee, for thou art an hard man, thou takest up that thou hast not laid down, and reapest that thou hast not sown. He said unto him: 〈…〉 Of thy own mouth judge I the thou evil servant. Knewest thou thou that I am an hard man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? Wherefore then hast thou not delivered my money to the exchange bank? And at my coming might I have required mine own with vantage? And he said unto them that stood by: Take the pound from him, and give it unto him that hath ten pound. And they said unto him: Sir, he hath ten pound already. But I say unto you: Whosoever hath, 〈…〉 unto him shallbe given: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that he hath. As for those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me. And when he had thus said, he went on forward, and took his journey up to jerusalem. And it fortuned when he came nigh to Bethphage and Bethany unto mount Oliuete, he sent two of his disciples, and said: 〈…〉 Go in to the town that lieth over against you, and assoon as you are come in, you shall find a foal tied, whereon yet never man sat, louse it, and bring it hither. And if any man axe you wherefore you louse it, say thus unto him. The LORD hath need thereof. And they that were sent, went their way and found even as he had said. But when they loosed the foal, the owners thereof said unto them: Why louse you the foal? They said: The LORD hath need thereof. And they brought it unto jesus, and cast their clotheses upon the foal, and set jesus thereon. Now as he went, 〈…〉 they spread their garments in the way. And when he went down fro mount Olivete, the whole multitude of his disciples began joyfully to praise God with loud voice, over all the miracles that they had seen, and said: Blessed be he, 〈…〉 that cometh a king in the name of the LORD. * Peace be in heaven, and praise in the height. And some of the Pharisees among the people said unto him: Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them: I tell you, 〈…〉 if these hold their peace, yet shall the stones cry. And when he was come near, he beheld the cite, and 〈◊〉 11. d wept upon it, and said: If thou knewest what were for the peace, thou shouldest remember it even in this present day of thy. But now is it hid from thy eyes. For the time shall come upon thee, 〈…〉 that thy enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and about thy children with thee, and besiege thee, and keep the in on every side, and make the even with the ground, and shall not leave in the one stone upon another, because thou hast not known the time, wherein thou hast been visited. And he went in to the temple, and began to drive out them that bought and sold therein, 〈…〉 and said unto them: It is written: 〈…〉 My house is an house of prayer, but you have made it a den of murthurers. And he taught daily in the temple. But the high priests and the scribes and the chiefest of the people went about to destroy him, 〈…〉 and found not, what to do unto him. For all the people stack by him, and gave him audience. The XX. Chapter. ANd it fortuned one of those days, when he taught the people in the temple, 〈◊〉 ●1. c 〈◊〉. 11. d and preached the Gospel, the high priests and scribes came to him with the Elders, and spoke unto him, and said: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? Or who gave the this authority? But he answered, & said unto them: I will axe you a word also, tell it me: The baptism of John was it from heaven, or of men? But they thought in themselves, and said: If we say, from heaven, then shall he say: Why did you not then believe him? But if we say, of men, then shall all the people stone us, for they be persuaded, that John is a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell, whence it was. And jesus said unto them: neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things. And he began to tell the people this similitude: 〈…〉 A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it out unto huszbandmen, and went himself in to a strange country for a great season. And when his time was come, he sent a servant to the huszbandmen, that they might give him of the fruit of the vineyard. But the huszbandmen bet him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent yet another servant: but they bet him also, and entreated him shamefully, & sent him away empty. And besides this, he sent the third: but they wounded him also, and thrust him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard: What shall I do? I will send my johan. 3. c Rom. 8. Phil. 2. a dear son, peradventure they will stand in awe of him, when they see him. But when the husband men saw the son, they thought in themselves, and said: This is the heir, come, Gen. 37. let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. And they thrust him out of the vineyard, and slay him. What shall now the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come, and destroy those huszbandmen, and let out his vineyard unto other. When they heard that, they said: God forbid. But he beheld them, and said: What is this then that is written: Psal. 117. Esa. 28 c The same stone which the builders refused, is become the head corner stone? Who so ever falls upon this stone, shallbe broken in sunder: but upon whom so ever he falls, he shall grind him to powder. Mat. 21 c Marc. 12. Luc. 19 c And the high priests and scribes went about to say hands upon him the same hour, and they feared the people: for they perceived, that he had spoken this similitude against them. Andrea they watched him, & sent forth spies, which should fain themselves perfect, Mat. 2● Marc. 12. that they might take him in his words, to deliver him unto the power and authority of the debit. And they axed him, & said: Master, we know that thou sayest & teachest right, and regardest the outward appearance of no man, but teachest the way of God truly. Is it lawful, that we give tribute unto the Emperor, or not? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them: Why tempt you me? Show me the penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered, and said: The Emperors. Then said he unto them: give them unto the Emperor, that which is the Emperors: & unto God, that which is Gods. And they could not reprove his word before the people, and marveled at his answer, and held their peace. Then came unto him certain of the Saducees (which hold that there is no resurrection) and axed him, and said: Master, Mat. 22. c Marc. 12. ● Moses written unto us, if any man's brother die having a wife, and dieth without children, Deut. 25. a then shall his brother take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now were there seven brethren: the first took a wife, and died childless: and the second took the wife, and deyed without children also: and the third took her, likewise all the seven, and left no children behind them, and died. At the last after them all, the woman died also. Now in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of them For seven had her to wife. And jesus answered and said unto them: The children of this world marry, & are married, but they that shallbe worthy to enjoy that world and the resurrection from the deed, shall neither mary ner be married, for they can die no more. For they are like unto the angels, and are the johan. 3. a children of God, in so much as they are children of the resurrection. But that the deed rise again, hath Moses also signified besides the bush, when he called the LORD, exod 3. a the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of jacob. But God is not a God of the deed but of the living, for they live all unto him. Then answered certain of the scribes, and said: Master, thou haist said well. And from that time forth they dared axe him no more questions. Mat. ●2. d Marc 12. d But he said unto them: How say they that Christ is David's son? And David himself sayeth in the book of the Psalms: The LORD said unto my LORD: Psal. 109. a Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy foot stolen. David calleth him LORD, how is he then his son? Mat. 23. a Marc. 12. d ●uc. 11. d Now while all the people gave audience, he said unto his disciples: beware of the scribes, which will go in long garments, and love to be saluted upon the market, and desire to sit highest in the synagogues, and at the table. They devour wedowes houses and that under a culoure of long praying: These shall receive the greater damnation. The XXI. Chapter. ANd he looked up, and beheld the rich, how they put in their offerings in to the God's chest. Marc. 12. d He saw also a poor widow, which put in two mites, and he said: Verily I say unto you: 1. Cor. 8. b This poor widow hath put in more than they all: For these all have of their excess put in unto the offering of God, but she of her poverty hath put in all her living that she had. Mat. 24. a Marc. 13. a And when some spoke of the temple, that it was garnished with goodly stones and jewels, he said: 3. Re. 9 b jere. 7. b Luc. 19 d The time shall come, where in of all this that you see, there shall not be left one stone upon another, which shall not be broken down. They axed him, and said: Master, when shall these be? and what shallbe the token, when these shall come to pass? He said: Take heed, that you be not deceived: 1. joh. 4. a For many shall come in my name, and say, I am he, & the time is come hard by. Follow them not. But when you hear of wars and insurrections, be not you afraid, for such must come to pass, but the end is not yet there so soon. Then said he unto them: One people shall rise against another, Esa. ●9 a and one realm against another, & shall be great earthquakes here and there, pestilence, and dearth, and fearful things. And great tokens shall there be from heaven. But before all these, Mat. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Iohan. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉. they shall say hands upon you, and persecute you, and deliver you up in to their synagogues and presons, and bring you before kings & princes for my name's sake. But this shall happen unto you for a witness. Be at a point therefore in your hearts, that you take no thought, how you shall answer: for I will give you mouth & wisdom, Exo● 〈…〉 Esa. 〈…〉 Act 〈…〉 against the which all your adversaries shall not be able to speak ner to resist. But you shall be delivered up even of your elders, brethren, Mich. 〈…〉 kynszfolkes and friends, and some of you shall they put unto death, and you shall be hated of every man for my name's sake, and yet shall not one hair of your head perish. Hold fast your souls with patience. But when you shall see jerusalem besieged with an host, then understand, 〈…〉 that the desolation of it is nigh. Then let them which be in jewry, fly unto the mountains▪ ●nd let such as be in the midst thereof, depart out: and let such as be in the countries, not come therein. For these are the days of vengeance, that every thing which is written, may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days: for there shallbe great trouble upon earth, and wrath over this people, and they shall fall thorough the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations. 〈…〉 And Jerusalem shallbe trodden down of the heathen▪ until the time of the heathen be fulfilled. And there shallbe tokens in the Son and Moon, and stars, 〈…〉 and upon earth the people shallbe in such perplexite, that they shall not tell which way to turn them selves. And the see and the waters shall roar, and men shall pine away for fear, and for looking after the things which shall come upon earth. For even the very powers of heaven shall move. And then shall they see the son of man coming in the cloud with power and great glory. 〈…〉 But when these things begin to come to pass, them look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. And he told them a similitude: Behold the fig tree, 〈◊〉. ●4. c 〈◊〉. 1●. d and all tree trees, when they now shoot forth their buds, you see by them, and perceive, that Summer is now at hand. So likewise you, when you see all these things come to pass, be sure that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily I say unto you: This generation shall not pass, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass. 〈…〉 But take heed unto yourselves, that you hearts be not overladen with excess of eating and with drunkenness, and with taking of thought for living, and so this day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that devil upon earth. Watch therefore continually, 〈◊〉. 14. d 〈◊〉. 1● d 〈◊〉. 5. b and pray, that you may be worthy to escape all this that shall come, & to stand before the son of man. And on the day time he taught in the temple, but in the night season he went out and abode all night upon mount Oliuete. And all the people got them up early unto him in the temple, for to hear him. The XXII. Chapter. THe feast of sweet bred (which is called Easter) drew nigh. And the high presstes and scribes sought how they might put him to death, and were afraid of the people. But 〈◊〉 2●. a 〈◊〉. 14. a 〈◊〉. 7. ᶜ ● and f 〈◊〉. 11. a 〈◊〉 8. c Satan was entered in to judas, named Iscarioth (which was of the number of the twelve) and he went his way, and talked with the high priests and with the officers, how he would betray him unto them. Andrea they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he consented, & sought opportunity, that he might betray him without any rumour. 〈◊〉 25. b 〈◊〉 14. b Then came the day of sweet bread, wherein the Easter lamb must be offered. And he sent Peter and John, and said: Go your way, prepare us the Easter lamb, that we may eat. But they said unto him: Where will't thou, that we prepare it? He said unto them: Behold, when you come in to the cite, there shall meet you a man, bearing a pitcher of water, follow him in to the house that he entereth in, and say unto the good man of the house: The master sendeth the word: Where is the gesthouse, wherein I may eat the Easter lamb with my disciples? And he shall show you a great parlour paved. They went their way, and found as he had said unto them, and made ready the Easter lamb. And when the hour came, he sat him down, and the twelve Apostles with him, and he said unto them: I have heartily desired to ●ate this Easter lamb with you before I suffer. For I say unto you: that hence forth I will eat no more thereof, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Mat. 26. Mar. 14. 1. Cor. 11. And he took the cup, gave thanks, and said: Take this and divide it among you. For I lay unto you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God come. And he took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it them, and said: This is my body, johan. 6. f which shallbe given for you. This do in the remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup, after they had supped, and said: This cup is the new Testament in my blood, which shallbe shed for you. But lo, Mat. 26. Mar. 14. the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table. And the son of man truly goeth forth, as it is appointed. But woe unto that man, by whom he is betrayed. And they began to axe among themselves, which of them it should be, that should do that. There rose a strife also among them, Mat. 20. Marc. 9 and 10. c Luc. 9 c which of them should be taken for the greatest. But he said unto them: The kings of the world have dominion over the people, and they that bear rule over them, are called gracious lords. 1. Pet. 5. a But you shall not be so: But the greatest among you, shallbe as the youngest: and the chiefest, as a servant. For which is the greatest? he that sitteth at the table, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at the table? Luc. 12. ● But I am among you as a minister. As for you, you are they, that have bidden with me in my temptations. And I will appoint the kingdom unto you, even as my father hath appointed me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, Mat. 19 d Apoc. 3 d and sit upon seats, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. But the LORD said: Simon Simon, behold, Satan hath desired after you, that he might siffte you even as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strength thy brethren: But he said unto him: LORD, Mat. 26. Marc. 14. johan. 13. ● I am ready to go with the in to preson, and in to death. Nevertheless he said: Peter, I say unto thee: The cock shall not crow this day, till thou have thrice denied, that thou knewest me. And he said unto them: Mat. 10. a Marc. 6. ● Luc. 9 a When I sent you without wallet, without scrip, and without shues, lacked you any thing? They said: No. Then said he unto them: But now, he that hath a wallet, let him take it up, likewise also the scrip. But he that hath not, let him cell his coat, & buy a sword. For I say unto you: It must yet be fulfilled on me, that is written: Esa. 53. c He was counted among the evil doers. For look what is written of me, it hath an end. But they said: LORD, Behold, here are two swords. He said unto them: It is enough. Mat. 26. c johan. 18. a And he went out (as he was wont) unto mount Oliuete. But his disciples followed him unto the same place. And when he came thither, he said unto them: Mat. 6. b Pray, that you fall not in to temptation. Andrea he got him from them about a stones cast, and kneeled down, prayed, & said: Father, if thou will't, take away this cup fro me: Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be fulfilled. And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, ●ohan. 6. d and comforted him. And it came so, that he wrestled with death, and prayed the longer. And his sweat was like drops of ●loude, running down to the ground. And he rose up from prayer, and came to his disciples, and found them sleeping for heaviness, and said unto them: What, sleep you? rise up and pray, that you fall not in to tentation. But while he yet spoke, behold, the multitude, Mat. 26. e Marc 14. e ●ohan. 18. a and one of the twelve called judas went before them, and he came nigh unto jesus, to kiss him. But jesus said unto him: judas, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss? When they that were about him, saw what would follow, they said unto him: LORD, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them stroke a servant of the high priests, & smote of his ear. But jesus answered, and said: Suffer them thus far forth. And he touched his ear, & healed him. But jesus said unto the priests and rulers of the temple, Mat. 26. f Marc. 14. f and to the Elders that were come unto him: You are come forth as it were to a murderer with swords, & with staves. I was daily with you in the temple, and you laid no hands upon me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Nevertheless they took him, and led him, johan. 18. b and brought him in to the high priests house. As for Peter, he followed him a far of. Then kindled they a fire in the midst of the palace, and sat them down together. And Peter sat him down among them. Then a damsel saw him sitting by the light, and beheld him well, and said unto him: This same was also with him. But he denied him, and said: Woman, I know him not. And after a little while, another saw him, and said: Thou art one of them also. But Peter said: Man, I am not. And about the space of an hour after, another affirmed, & said: Verily this was with him also, for he is a Galilean. But Peter said: Man, I wot not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet spoke, the cock crew. And the LORD turned him about and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the words of the LORD, how he said unto him: Luc. 〈…〉 Mat. 〈…〉 Mar. 〈…〉 Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. The men that held jesus, mocked him, Mat. 〈…〉. and struck him, blindfolded him, and smote him on the face, and axed him, and said: Prophecy, who is it that smote thee? And many other blasphemies said they unto him. And when it was day, there gathered together the Elders of the people, Mat. 〈…〉 Mat. 〈…〉 the high priests and scribes, and led him up before, their council, and said: Art thou Christ? Tell us. But he said unto them: If I tell you, you will not believe: But if I axe you, you will not answers me, neither will you let me go. Col. 〈…〉 Heb. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 From this time forth shall the son of man sit at the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all: Art thou then the son of God? He said unto them: You say it, for I am. They said: What need we any farther witness? Ma●. 〈…〉 We ourselves have herd it of his own mouth. The XXIII. Chapter. ANd the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate, 〈…〉 and began to accuse him, and said: We have found this fellow perverting the people, and forbidding to give tribute unto the Emperor, and sayeth, that he is Christ a king. But Pilate axed him, and said: 〈…〉 Art thou the king of the jews? He answered him, and said: Thou sayest it. Pilate said unto the high priests and to the people: I find no cause in this man. But they were the more fierce, and said: He hath moved the people, in that he hath taught here & there in all the land of jewry, and hath 〈…〉 begun at Galilee unto this place. When Pilate heard mention of Galilee, he axed whether he were of Galilee. And when he perceived that he was under 〈…〉 He roads jurisdiction 〈…〉 he sent him to Herode, which was also at Jerusalem in those days. When Herode saw jesus, he was exceeding glad, for he had long been desirous to see him: because 〈…〉 he had herd much of him, & hoped to see a miracle of him. And he axed him many things. Nevertheless he answered him nothing. The high priests and scribes stood, and accused him sore. But Herode with his men of war despised him, and mocked him, put a white garment upon him, and sent him again unto Pilate. Upon the same day were Pilate and Herode made friends together, for afore they had been at variance. Pilate called the high priests, and the rulers, and the people together, and said unto them: 〈◊〉. 27. b 〈◊〉. ●5. a 〈◊〉 28. c You have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people, and behold, I have examined him before you, & find in the man none of the causes, whereof you accuse him: Nor yet Herode: for I sent you to him, and behold, there is brought upon him nothing, that is worthy of death. 〈◊〉. ●9. a Therefore will I chasten him, and let him louse: For he must have let one louse unto them after the custom of the feast. 〈◊〉. 27. c 〈◊〉. 1●. b Then cried the whole multitude, and said: Away with him, and deliver unto us Barrabas, which for insurrection made in the cite, and because of a murder, was cast in to preson. Then called Pilate unto them again, & would have let jesus louse. But they cried, and said: crucify him, crucify him. Yet said he unto them, the third time: What evil them hath he done? I find no cause of death in him, therefore will I chasten him, and let him go. But they lay still upon him with great cry, and required that he might be crucified. And the voice of them and of the high preastes prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence, that it should be as they required, 〈◊〉. ●7. c 〈◊〉 3 b and let louse unto them, him, that for insurrection and murder was cast in to preson, whom they desired, but gave jesus over unto their will. And as they led him away, 〈◊〉. ●●. d 〈◊〉 19 b they took one Simon of Cyren (which came from the field) and laid the cross upon him, to bear it after jesus. 〈◊〉. 12. c And there followed him a great multitude of people and of women, which bewailed and lamented him. Butler jesus turned him about unto them, and said: You daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me: but weep over yourselves, and over your children. For behold, the time will come, wherein it shall be said: Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not born, and the paps that have not given suck. 〈…〉 Then shall they begin to say unto the mountains: Fall upon us. And to the hills: Cover us. For if this be done to a green tree, what shall be done then to the dry? 〈…〉 And two other (which were myszdoers) were led out also, to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place, which is called calvary, they crucified him even there, and the two myszdoers with him, the one on the right hand, the other on the left. But jesus said: Father, forgive them, Act. 7. ● for they wot not what they do. * Psal. 2 Mat. 27 Marc. 1 johan. 19 And they parted his garments, and cast lots therefore. And the people stood and beheld. And the rulers mocked him with them, and said: He hath helped other, let him help himself now, if he be Christ the choose of God. The soudyers also mocked him, went unto him, & brought him vinegar, and said: If thou be the king of the jews, then help thyself. And above over him was this superscription written with letters of Greek, latin, and Hebrew: Mat. 27 ● Iohan. 19 ● This is the king of the jews. And one of the myszdoers that hanged there, blasphemed him, and said: If thou be Christ, then help thyself and us. Then answered the other, rebuked him, and said: And thou fearest not God also, which art yet in like damnation. And truly we are therein be right, for we receive according to our deeds. As for this man, he hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto jesus: LORD, remember me, when thou comest in to thy kingdom. And jesus said unto him: Verily I say unto thee: To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixte hour, Mat. 25 Marc. 1● and there was darkness over the whole land until the nyenth hour. And the Son was darkened, and the veil of the temple rent in two even thorough the mids. And jesus cried loud, & said: Father, Psal. 30 Act. 7. g in to thy hands I commend my spirit. And when he had so said, he gave up the ghost. Mat. 27 ● Marc. 15 ● But when the Captain saw what had happened, he praised God, and said: Verily this was a just man. And all the people that stood by & beheld, when they saw what was done, smote upon their breasts, & turned back again. But all his acquantaunce, and the women that had followed him out of Galilee, stood afar of, and beheld all these things. And behold, a man named joseph, Mat. 27. ● Marc. 15. ● Iohan. 19 ● a Senator, which was a good just man, the same had not consented unto their council, and deed, which was of Arimathia a cite of the jews, which same also waited for the kingdom of God: he went unto Pilate, and axed the body of jesus. And the took him down, wrapped him in a linen clot, and laid him in a hewn sepulchre, wherein never man was laid. And it was the day of preparing, and the Sabbath drew on. 〈…〉 The women that were come with him out of Galilee, followed him, and beheld the Sepulchre, & how his body was laid. But they returned, and made ready the spices & anontmentes. And upon the Sabbath they rested, according to the law. The XXIIII. Chapter. But upon one of the Sabbathes very early in the morning, Mat. 28. a ●arc. 16. a ●●hā. 20. a they came unto the Sepulchre, and brought the spices which they had prepared, and certain women with them. Nevertheless they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre, and went in, and found not the body of the LORD Iesu. ●●hā. ●0. b And it happened as they were amazed thereat, behold, there stood by them two men in shining garments. And they were afraid, and cast down their faces to the earth. Then said they unto them: What seek you? the living among the deed? He is not here. He is risen up. Remember, how that he told you when he was yet in Galilee, and said: 〈◊〉. 9 c The son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinners, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Andrea they remembered his words, and went from the sepulchre, ●at. 28. b ●arc 16. b ●●hā. 20. b and told all this unto the eleven, and to all the other. It was Mary Magdalene, and johanna, and Mary james, and the other with them, that told this unto the Apostles. And their words seemed unto them, as though they had been but fables, and they believed them not. But Peter arose, and ran to the sepulchre, and stooped in, and saw the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed. And he wondered within himself at that which had happened And behold, two of them went that same day, ●at. 1●. b to a town (which was three score furlongs from jerusalem) whose name was called Emaus. And they talked together of all these things that had happened. And it chanced as they were thus talking and reasoning together, Mat. 1●. c jesus himself drew nigh, and went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know him. And he said unto them: What manner of communicacions are these that you have one to another as you walk, and are sad? Then answered the one, whose name was Cleophas, and said unto him: Art thou only a stranger at Jerusalem, not knowing what is come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them: What? They said unto him: That of jesus of Nazareth, Mat. ●1. c which was a prophet, mighty in deed and word, before God and all the people, how our high priests and rulers delivered him to the condemnation of death, and crucified him. Butler we hoped that he should have delivered Israel. And besides all this, todaye is the third day that this was done. Luc. 24. ● Iohan. 〈…〉 Ye & certain women also of our company which were early at the Sepulchre, and found not his body, came and told, that they had seen a vision of angels, which said he was alive. And certain of them that were with us, went unto the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women said, but him found they not. And he said unto them: O you fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken? Esa. 〈…〉 Aught not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter in to his glory? And he began at Moses and at all the prophets, and expounded unto them all the scriptures, that were spoken of him. And they drew nigh unto the town, which they went unto, and he made as though he would have go farther. Gen. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And they compelled him, and said: Abide with us, for it draweth towards night, and the day is far passed. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass when he sat at the table with them, he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it them. Then were their eyes opened, and they knew him. And he vanyshed out of their sight. And they said, between themselves: Did not our heart burn with in us, when he talked with us by the way, while he opened the scriptures unto us? And they rose up the same hour, turned again to jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, which said: The LORD is risen of a truth, and hath appeared unto Simon. And they told them what had happened by the way, and how they knew him in breaking of the bread. But while they were talking thereof, 〈…〉 jesus himself stood in the mids among them, and said: Peace be with you. But they were abashed and afraid, supposing that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them: Why are you abashed? & wherefore rise there such thoughts in you hearts? Behold my hands & my feet, it is even I myself. Handle me, and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. But while they yet believed not for joy and wondered, 〈…〉 he said unto them: Have you any thing here to eat? And they set before him a piece of a broiled fish, and an honey comb. And he took it, and ate it before them. And he said unto them: 〈◊〉. 1●. c These are the words, which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you. For it must all be fulfilled that was written of me in the law of Moses, in the prophets, & in the Psalms. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them: 〈…〉 Thus is it written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, & the third day to rise again from the deed, and to let repentance and remission, of sins be preached in his name among all nations, 〈◊〉. 4. a and to begin at Jerusalem. As for all these things, you are witnesses of them. And behold, I will send upon you the 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 1 a ●●●ā 14. c 〈…〉 a promise of my father: but you shall tarry in the cite of jerusalem, till you be endued with power from above. 〈…〉. c 〈…〉 b But he led them out unto Bethany, and lift up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass when he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up in to heaven. And they worshipped him, and turned again to jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, giving praise and thanks unto God. Amen. The end of the gospel of S. Luke. The gospel of S. Ihon. What S. Ihons' gospel containeth. Chap. I The everlasting birth of the son of God, and how he become man. The testimony of John and of his baptism. The calling of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael. Chap. II Christ turneth the water unto wine at the marriage in Cana, and driveth the merchants out of the temple. Chap. III The sweet talking of Christ with Nicodemus. The doctrine & baptism of John, and what witness he beareth of Christ. Chap. four The loving communication of Christ with the woman of Samaria by the wells side. How he cometh into Galilee, and heals the ruler's son. Chap. V He heals the man that was sick eight & thirty year. The jews accuse him as a breaker of the Sabbath: he answereth for himself, and reproveth them Chap. VI jesus feedeth five thousand me● with five barley Loaves, departeth away, that they should not make him king, goeth upon the see, and reproveth the fleshly hearers of his word. The carnal are offended at him, and forsake him. Chap. VII. jesus cometh to Jerusalem at the feast, teacheth the jews and reproveth them: The Pharisees & the high priests hearing that the people begin to favour Christ and to believe in him, send out officers to take him. There are diverse opinions of him among the people. The Pharisees rebuke the officers because they have not taken him, and chide with Nicodemus for taking his part. Chap. VIII. A woman is taken in adultery: Christ delivereth her. The freedom of such as follow Christ, whom they accuse to have the devil within him, and go about to stone him. Chap. IX. Christ maketh the man to see that was born blind, where thorough he getteth himself more displeasure among the jews and Pharisees. Chap. X. Christ is the true shepherd, and the door of the sheep. Some say: Christ hath the devil, and is mad, some say: he speaketh not the words of one that hath the devil. Because he telleth the truth, the jews take up stones to cast at him, call his preaching blasphemy, and go about to take him. Chap. XI. Christ raiseth Lazarus from death. The high priests & the pharyses gather a council, and cast their heads together against him, therefore he getteth him out of the way. Chap. XII. Mary anoynteth Christ's feet, judas murmureth, Christ excuseth her, rideth in to jerusalem, and is lovingly received of the thankful, but utterly despised of the ungodly. Chap. XIII. Christ washeth the disciples feet, telleth them of judas the traitor, and commandeth them earnestly to love one another. Chap. XIIII. He armeth his disciples with consolation against trouble for to come, taketh from them the heaviness that they had because of his departing, and promises them the holy ghost, the spirit of comfort. Chap. XU. The true vine, the huszbandman & the branches. A doctrine of love, and a sweet comfort against persecution. Chap. XVI. Consolation against trouble. Prayers are herd thorough Christ. Chap. XVII. The most heartily & loving prayer of Christ unto his father, for all such as receive the truth, and be his own. Chap. XVIII. Christ is betrayed. The words of his mouth smite the officers to the ground. Peter smiteth of Malchus ear. jesus is brought before Anna, Caiphas, and Pilate. Chap. XIX. Christ is crucified. He commends his mother unto John, sheds his blood, and is buried. Chap. XX. The resurrection of Christ, which appeareth to Mary Magdalene and to all his disciples, to their great comfort. Chap. XXI. He appeareth to his disciples again by the see of Tyberias, and commandeth peter earnestly to feed his sheep. The gospel of S. Ihon. The first Chapter. IN the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and God was the word. The same was in the beginning with God. Gen. 1. a ●ro. 8. b All things were made by the same, and without the same was made nothing that was made. In him was the johan. 14. b johan. 8. b ●●a. 12. c life, and the life was the johan. 14. b johan. 8. b ●●a. 12. c light of men: and the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was sent from God a man, whose name was Ihon. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that thorough him they all might believe. ●ohan. 5. d He was not that light, but that he might bear witness of the light. That was the true light, which lighteth all men, that come in to this world. He was in the world, & the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came in to his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, ●●se. 1. b ●om. 8. b ●●al. 4. a to them gave he power to be the children of God: even such as believe in his name. Which are not born of blood, ner of the will of the flesh, ner of the will of man, but of God. And the word become flesh, and dwelled among us: ●aruc. 2. e Mat. 17. ᵃ ●. Pet. 1. ᶜ ●. johan. 1. a and we saw his glory, a glory as of the only begotten son of the father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of him, cried, and said: Mat. ●. b Marc. 1. a It was this, of whom I spoke: After me shall he come, that was before me, For he was or ever I: and Col. ●. b of his fullness have all we received grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by jesus Christ. Deut. 〈…〉 1. johan. 〈…〉 Not man hath seen God at any tyme. The only begotten son which is in the bosom of the father, he hath declared the same unto us. And this is the record of John, when the jews sent priests and Levites from jerusalem, to axe him: Who art thou? And johan. 〈…〉 he confessed and denied not. And he confessed, and said: I am not Christ. And they axed him: What then? Art thou Elias? He said: I am not. Art thou the Deut. 〈…〉 Prophet? And he answered: No. Then said they unto him: What art thou then, that we may give answer unto them that sent us? What sayest thou of the self? He said: Mat. 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 I am the voice of a crier in the wilderness. Make strait the way of the LORD. * Esa 〈…〉 As the prophet Esay said: And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees. And they axed him, & said unto him: Why baptysest thou then, if thou be not Christ, ner Elias, ner a prophet? John answered them, and said: Ma● 〈…〉 Marc. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 I baptize with water, but there is one come in among you, whom you know not. It is he that cometh after me, which was before me: whose shoe lachet I am not worthy to unlowse. This was done at Bethabara beyond jordane, Iohan 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 where John did baptize. The next day after, John saw jesus coming unto him, and said: Behold the Esa. 〈…〉 1. Co● 〈…〉 lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he, of whom I said unto you: After me cometh a man, which was before me. For he was or ever I, and I knew him not: but that he should be declared in Israel, therefore am I come to baptize with water. And John bore record, & said: I saw the spirit descend from heaven like unto a dove, and abode upon him, 〈…〉 & I knew him not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me: Upon whom thou shalt see the spirit descend and tarry still on him, the same is he, that baptyseth with the holy ghost. And I saw it, and bore record, that this is the son of God. The next day after, John stood again, and two of his disciples. And when he saw jesus walking, he said: Behold the 〈…〉 lamb of God. And two of his disciples heard him speak, and followed jesus. And jesus turned him about, and saw them following, and said unto them: What seek you? They said unto him: Rabbi, (which is to say by interpretation, Master.) Where art thou at lodging? He said unto them: Come and see it. They came and saw it, & abode with him the same day. It was about the tenth hour. One of the two, which heard John speak, and followed jesus, was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter: the same found first his brother Simon, and said unto him: We have found Messiah (which is by interpretation, the Anointed) and brought him to jesus. When jesus beheld him, he said: Thou art Simon the son of jonas, 〈…〉 thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone. The next day after, would jesus go again in to Galilee, and found Philippe, and said unto him: 〈…〉 Follow me. Philippe was of Bethsaida the cite of Andrew and Peter. Philippe found Nathanael, and said unto him: We have found him, of whom 〈…〉 Moses in the law, and the 〈…〉 prophets have written, even jesus the son of joseph of Nazareth. And nathanael said unto him: 〈…〉 What good can come out of Nazareth? Philippe said unto him: Come, and se. jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him: Behold, a right Israelite, in whom is no guile. Nathanael said unto him: From whence knowest thou me? jesus answered, and said unto him: Before that Philippe called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw the. nathanael answered, and said unto him: Rabbi, thou art the son of God, thou art the king of Israel. jesus answered, & said unto him: Because I said unto thee, that I saw the under the fig tree, thou believest: thou shalt see yet greater things than these. And he said unto him: Verily verily I say unto you: From this time forth shall you see the heaven open, 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 d and the angels of God going up & down over the son of man. The II Chapter. ANd upon the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of jesus was there. jesus also and his disciples was called 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 〈◊〉 His mother said unto the ministers: Whatsoever he sayeth unto you, do it. There were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, every one containing two or three measures. 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, & bring unto the Master of the feast. And they bore it. When the master of the feast had taisted the wine which had been water, and knew not whence it came (but the ministers that drew the water, knew it) the Master of the feast called the bridegroom, and said unto him: Every man at the first giveth the good wine: & when they are drunken, than that which is worse. But thou hast kept back the good wine until now. This is the first token that jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and showed his glory, and his disciples believed on him. afterward went he down to Capernaum, he, Mat. 4. b Marc. 1 b Luc. 4 d his mother, his brethren, and his disciples, and tarried not long there. And the jews Easter was at hand. Mat. 21. b Marc. 11. b Luc. 19 d And jesus went up to jerusalem, and found sitting in the temple, those that sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and chaungers of money. And he made a scourge of small cords, and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and oxen, and poured out the chaungers' money, and overthrew the tables, and said unto them that sold the doves: Have these things hence, and make not my father's house an house of merchandise. His disciples remembered it, that is written: Psal. 68 b The zeal of thy house hath even eaten me. Then answered the jews, and said unto him: What token showest thou unto us, Mat. 16. a johan. 6. d that thou mayest do these things? jesus answered & said unto them: * Mat. 26. f Break down this temple, and in three days will I set it up again. Then said the jews: 1. Esd. 5.6 Six and forty year was this temple abvyldinge, and will't thou set it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. Now when he was risen again from the deed, his disciples remembered that he thus said, and they believed the scripture, and the words which jesus spoke. When he was at Jerusalem at Easter in the feast, many believed on his name, when they saw the tokens that he did. But jesus committed not himself unto them, for he knew them all, & needed not that any man should testify of man, jere. 17. b Apo. 2. d for he knew well what was in ma●▪ The III Chapter. THere was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus a ruler among the jews. johan. 7. e and 19 d The same came unto jesus by night, & said unto him: Master, we know that thou art come a teacher from God: for johan. 9 b no man can do these tokens that thou dost, except God be with him. jesus answered, and said unto him: Verily verily I say unto thee: Except a man be born a new, he can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him: How can a man be born, when he is old? Can he enter into his mother's womb, and be born again? jesus answered: Verily verily I say unto thee: ●ohan. 4. b ●nd 7. d Tit. 3. a Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he can not come in to the kingdom of God. Rome 8. a That which is born of flesh, is flesh: & that which is born of the spirit, is spirit. Marvel not, that I said unto thee: You must be born of new. The wind bloweth where he will, and thou hearest his sound: Eccls. 11. a but thou canst not tell whence he cometh, and whither he goeth. So is every one, that is born of the spirit. Nicodemus answered, and said unto him: How may these be? jesus answered, & said unto him: Art thou a Master in Israel, & knowest not these? Verily I say unto thee: We speak that we know, and testify that we have seen, and you receive not our witness. If you believe not when I tell you of earthly things, how should you believe, when I speak unto you of heavenly things? Ephe. 4. a And noman ascendeth up in to heaven, but he that is come down from heaven, (namely) the son of man which is in heaven. And like as Moses lift up the serpent in the wilderness, Num. 21. b johan. 8. c and 12. d even so must the son of man be lift up, that who so ever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, Rom. 5. ᵃ ●. johan. 4. b that who so ever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. * Luc. 19 a For God sent not his son in to the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved by him. He that believeth on him, shall not be condemned. But he that believeth not, is condemned already: because he believeth not on the name of the only son of God. But this is the condemnation, johan. 1. a and 12. f that the light is come in to the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light: for their works were evil. Whosoever doth evil, hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his deeds should not be reproved. But he that doth the truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be known: for they are done in God. afterward came jesus & his disciples in to the land of jewry, and had his being there with them, johan. 4. a and baptized * Mat. 3. a Marc. 1. a Luc. 3. a Mat. 4. b John baptized also in Enon beside Salem: for there was much water there. Andrea they came thither, and were baptized: for John was not yet put in preson. Then arose there a question among the disciples of John with the jews about the purifying, and they came unto John, and said unto him: Master, he that was with the beyond jordan, of whom thou barest witness, behold, * he baptyseth, and every man cometh unto him. John answered and said: A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses, how Iohan 〈…〉 that I said, I am not Christ, but am sent before him. He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom standeth, and herkeneth unto him, and rejoiceth greatly ou●r the voice of the bridegroom, this same joy of mine is now fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from an high, is above all. He that is of the earth, is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven, is above all, and testifieth what he hath seen & heard, and no man receiveth his witness. But he that receiveth it, hath set to his seal, 〈…〉 that God is true. For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: Esa 〈…〉 for God giveth not the spirit (unto him) by measure. The father loveth the son, Mat 〈…〉 Luc 〈…〉 and hath given him all things in to his hand. * Iohan 〈…〉 1. Iohan 〈…〉 He that believeth on the son, hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the son, shall not see the life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him. The four Chapter. NOw when jesus had knowledge, that it was come to the ears of the Pharisees, that jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (howbeit jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples) 〈…〉 he left the land of jewry, and departed again in to Galilee. But he must needs go thorough Samaria. Then came he in to a cite of Samaria, called Sichar, nigh unto the piece of land, 〈…〉 that jacob gave unto joseph his son. And there was Jacob'S well. Now when jesus was weary of his journey, he sat him down so upon the well. And it was about the sixte hour. Then came there a woman of Samaria to draw water. jesus said unto her: give me drink. (For his disciples were go their way in to the cite, to buy meat.) So the woman of Samaria said unto him: How is it that thou axest drink of me, saying thou art a jew, and I a woman of Samaria? For the jews meddle not with the 〈…〉 Samaritans. jesus answered, and said unto her: If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that sayeth unto thee, give me drink, thou wouldest axe of him, and he would give thee, the water of life. 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 7. d The woman said unto him: Sir, thou hast nothing to draw withal, and the well is deep, from whence hast thou then that water of life? Art thou greater than our father jacob, which gave us this well? And he himself drank thereof, and his children, and his cattles. jesus answered, and said unto her: Who so ever 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: 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 a but the water that I shall give him, shallbe in him a well of water, which springeth up in to everlasting life. The woman said unto him: 〈…〉 Sir, give me that same water, that I thirst not, neither need to come hither to draw. jesus said unto her: Go, call they husband, and come hither. The woman answered, and said unto him: I have no husband. jesus said unto her: Thou hast said well, I have no husband: for thou hast had five huszbandes, and he whom thou hast now, is not thy husband: there saidest thou right. The woman said unto him: Sir, I see, that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped upon this mountain, and 〈◊〉. 9 a 〈◊〉. 7. c you say, that at jerusalem is the place, where men aught to worship. jesus said unto her: Woman, believe me, the time cometh, that you shall neither upon this mountain ner at jerusalem worship the father. You wot not what you worship, but we know what we worship, for 〈◊〉 ●1. c Salvation cometh of the jews. But the time cometh, and is now already, that the true worshippers shall worship the father in 〈◊〉 1. a spirit and in the truth: For the father will have such so to worship him. 〈◊〉. 3. c God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship in spirit and in the truth. The woman said unto him: I wot that Messiah shall come, which is called Christ. When he cometh, he shall tell us all things. jesus said unto her: I that speak unto thee, am he. And in the mean season came his disciples, and they marveled that he talked with the woman. Yet said no man: What axest thou, or what talkest thou with her? Then the woman let her pot stand, and went in to the cite, and said unto the people: Come, see a man, which hath told me all that ever▪ I did, Is not he Christ? Then went they out of the cite, and came unto him: In the mean while his disciples prayed him, and said: Master, eat. But he said unto them: I have meat to eat, that you know not of. Then said the disciples among themselves: Hath any man brought him meat? jesus said unto them: My meat is this, that I do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. say not you yourselves: There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I say unto you: lift up your eyes, and look upon the field, Mat. 9 d Luc. 10. a for it is white already unto the harvest. And he that reapeth, receiveth reward, and gathereth fruit to everlasting life, that both he that soweth and he that reapeth, may rejoice together. For herein is the proverb true: One soweth, another reapeth. I have sent you to reap that, whereon you bestowed no labour. Other have laboured, and you are come in to their labours. Many Samaritans of the same cite believed on him, for the saying of the woman, which testified: He hath told me all that ever I did. Now when the Samaritans came to him, they besought him, that he would tarry with them. And he abode there two days, and many more believed because of his word, and said unto the woman: We believe now hence forth, not because of thy saying, johan. 17. b we have heard him ourselves, and know, that this of a truth is Christ the saviour of the world. After two days he departed thence, and went in to Galilee. Mat. 13. g Mar 6. a Luc. 4. c For jesus himself testified, that a prophet is nothing set by at home. Now when he came in to Galilee, the Galileans received him, which had seen all that he did at jerusalem in the feast: for they also were come thither in the feast. And jesus came again unto Cana in Galilee, johan. 2. a where he turned the water unto wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son lay sick at Capernaum. This herd that jesus came out of jewry in to Galilee, and went unto him, and besought him, that he would come down, and help his son, for he lay deed sick. And jesus said unto him: Except you see tokens and wonders, you believe not. The ruler said unto him: Come down Sir, or ever my child die. jesus said unto him: Go thy way, thy son liveth. The man believed the word, that jesus said unto him, and went his way. And as he was going down, his servants met him, and told him, and said: Thy child liveth. Then inquired he of them the hour, wherein he began to amend. And they said unto him: yesterday about the seventh hour the fever left him. Then the father perceived, that it was about the same hour, wherein jesus said unto him: Thy son liveth. Act. 18. a And he believed with his whole house. This is now the second token that jesus did, when he came from jewry in to Galilee. The V Chapter. afterward, there was a feast of the jews, and jesus went up to jerusalem. There is at jerusalem by the slaughter house a pole, which in Hebrew is called Bethseda, & hath five porches, wherein lay many sick, blind, lame, withered, which waited, when the water should move. For the angel went down at his time in to the pole, and stirred the water. Who so ever now went down first, after that the water was stirred, the same was made whole, what soever disease he had. And there was a man, which had lyen sick eight and thirty years. When jesus saw him lie, & knew that he had lyen so long, he said unto him: Will't thou be made whole? The sick answered him: Sir, I have no man, when the water is moved, to put me in to the pole. And when I come, another steppeth down in before me. jesus said unto him: Arise, take up thy bed, and go thy way. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed and went his way. Mat. 9 a Marc. 2. a ●uc. 5. c Mat. 12. a Marc. 2. c ●nd 3 a ●uc. 6. a ●●b. 14. a ●ohan. 7. b ●nd 9 b But upon the same day it was the Sabbath. Then said the jews unto him that was made whole: To day is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for the to carry the bed. He answered them: He that made me whole, said unto me: Take up thy bed, and go the way. Then axed they him: What man is that, which said unto thee: Take up thy bed, and go the way? But he that was healed, wist not who he was: for jesus ●ohan. 6. b had gotten himself away, because there was much people. afterward found jesus him in the temple, and said unto him: Behold, thou art made whole, ●ohan. 8. a sin no more, jest a worse thing happen unto the. The man departed, and told the jews, that it was jesus, which had made him whole. Therefore did the Jews persecute jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done this upon the Sabbath. But jesus answered them: ●. Cor. 12 a My father worketh hither to, and I work also. Therefore sought the jews the more to slay him: because he broke not only the Sabbath, but said also, that God was his father, and made himself equal with God. Then answered jesus, and said unto them: Verily verily I say unto you: Iohan 〈…〉 The son can do nothing of himself, but that he saith the father do. For what soever he doth, that doth the son also. The father loveth the son, & showeth him all that he doth, and will show him yet greater works, so that you shall marvel. For as the father raiseth up the deed, and maketh them live, even so the son also maketh living whom he will. For the father judgeth no man, but 〈…〉 hath given all judgement unto the son, that they all might honour the son, even as they honour the father. Who so honoureth not the son, the same honoureth not the father, which hath sent him. Verily verily I say unto you: Who so heareth my word, Iohan 〈…〉 and believeth him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and Luc. 〈…〉 cometh not in to damnation, but is passed thorough from death unto life. Verily verily I say unto you: 〈…〉 johan 〈…〉 The hour cometh, & is now already, that the deed shall hear the voice of the son of God: and they that hear it, shall live. For Iohan 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 as the father hath life in himself, so likewise hath he given unto the son, to have life in himself: & hath given him power also to execute judgement because he is the son of man. Marvel not you at this: 〈…〉 for the hour cometh, in the which all that are in the graves, shall hear his voice, and shall go forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: but they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can do nothing of myself. As I hear, so I judge: & my judgement is just. For I seek not mine own will, but the will of the father which hath sent me. 〈…〉 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me, and I am sure, that the witness which he beareth of me, is true. 〈…〉 You sent unto John, and he bore witness of the truth. As for me, I take no record of man, but these things I say, that you might be saved. He was a burning and shining light, but you would have rejoiced a little while in his light. Nevertheless I have a greater witness than the witness of Ihon. 〈…〉 For the works which the father hath given me to finish, the same works which I do, bear witness of me, that the father hath sent me. And the father himself which hath sent me, beareth witness of me. 〈…〉 You have neither heard his voice at any time, ner seen his shape: and his word have you not abiding in you, for you believe not him, whom he hath sent. 〈…〉 Search the scripture, for you think you have everlasting life therein: 〈◊〉. 1●. c and the same is it that testifieth of me, and you will not come unto me, 〈…〉 that you might have life. I receive not praise of men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my father's name, and you receive me not. 〈…〉 c 〈…〉 a If another shall come in his own name, him will you receive. How can you believe which receive praise one of another, and seek not the praise, that is of God only? You shall not think that I will accuse you before the father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom you trust. If you believed Moses, you should believe me also: For he hath written of me. 〈…〉 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words? The VI Chapter. AFter this went jesus over the see unto the cite Tiberias in Galilee. 〈◊〉 ●4. b 〈◊〉. 6. d 〈◊〉 9 b And much people followed him, because they saw the tokens that he did upon them which were diseased. But jesus went up in to a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And Easter the feast of the jews was nigh. Then jesus lift up his eyes, and saw that there came much people unto him, and he said unto Philippe: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? But this he said to prove him, for he himself knew, what he would do. Philippe answered him: Two hundredth penny worth of bread is not enough among them, that every one may take a little. Then said unto him one of his disciples, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter: There is a lad here, that hath five barley loaves, and two fish, but what is that among so many? 〈…〉 jesus said: Make the people sit down. There was much grass in the place. Then they sat them down, about a five thousand men. jesus took the loaves, thanked, and gave them to the disciples: the disciples (gave) to them that were set down. Likewise also of the fish as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples: Gather up the broken meat that remaineth, that nothing be lost. Then they gathered, and filled twelve baskets with the broken meat, that remained of the five barley loaves, unto them which had eaten. Now when the men saw the token that jesus did, they said: Luc. 7. b joh. 4. c This is of a truth the Prophet, that should come in to the world. When jesus now perceived that they would come, and take him up, to make him king, johan. 5. a he got him away again in to a mountain himself alone. At even went his disciples down to the see, and entered in to the ship, Mat. 14. c Marc. 6. ● and came to the other side of the see unto Capernaum. And it was dark already. And jesus was not come to them. And the see arose thorough a great wind. Now when they had rowed upon a five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they saw jesus going upon the see, and came nigh to the ship. And they were afraid. But he said unto them: It is I, be not afraid. Then would they have received him in to the ship. And immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The next day after, the people which stood on the other side of the see, saw that there was none other ship there save that one, wherinto his disciples were entered: and that jesus went not in with his disciples in to the ship, but that his disciples were go away alone. Howbeit there came other ships from Tiberias, nigh unto the place where they had eaten the bread, after that the LORD had given thanks. Now when the people saw that jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they took ship also, and came to Capernaum, and sought jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the see, they said unto him: Master, when camest thou hither? jesus answered them, & said: Verily verily I say unto you: You seek me not because you saw the tokens, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth but that endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give you: For him hath God the father sealed. Then said they unto him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? jesus answered, and said unto them: This is the work of God, that you believe on him, whom he hath sent. Then said they unto him: Mat. 16. a Marc. 8. b johan. 2. c What token dost thou then, that we may see and believe thee? What workest thou? Our fathers ate Mamna in the wilderness, as it is written: Exo. 16. a Psal. 77. c He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then said jesus unto them: Verily verily I say unto you: Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven: For this is that bread of God, which cometh from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him: joh. 4. b Sir, give us allway such bread. Butler jesus said unto them: I am that bread of life. He that cometh unto me, shall not hunger: & he that believeth on me, shall never thirst. But I have said unto you, that you have seen me, and yet you believe not. All that my father giveth me, cometh unto me: and who so cometh unto me, him will not I cast out: for I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that hath sent me. L●c. 22. c This is the will of the father, which hath sent me, johan. 10 c and 18. a that of all that he hath given me, I should loose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. This is the will of him which hath sent me, that, who soever saith the son and believeth on him, johan. 5. c have everlasting life, and I shall raise him up at the last day. Then murmured the jews thereover, that he said: I am that bread which is come down from heaven, and they said: Is not this jesus, joseph's son, whose father and mother we know? How sayeth he then, I am come down from heaven? jesus answered, and said unto them: Murmur not among yourselves. Mar. 16. c ●oh 6. ᵍ ●. Tess. 3. a No man can come unto me, except the father which hath sent me, draw him. And I shall raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught of God. Who so ever now heareth it of the father, and learneth it, cometh unto me. Esa. 54. c ere. 31 f Mat. 11. c Luc. 10. c Deut. 5. c Not that any man hath seen the father, save he which is of the father, the same hath seen the father. Verily verily I say unto you: ●oh. 3. ᵉ ●. joh. 5. b He that believeth on me, hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. your fathers ate Manna in the wilderness, and are deed. This is that bred which cometh from heaven, that who so eateth thereof, should not die. I am that living bread, which came down from heaven: Who so eateth of this bread, shall live for ever. And the bread that I will give, is my flesh Luc. 22. b which I will give for the life of the world. Then strove the jews among them selves, and said: How can this follow give us his flesh to eat? jesus said unto them: Verily verily I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I shall raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is the very meat, and my blood is the very drink. Who so eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 1. joh. 4. ● abideth in me, and I in him. As the living father hath sent me, and I live for the father's sake: Even so he that eateth me, shall live for my sake. This is the bread which is come from heaven: Not as your fathers ate Manna, and are deed. He that eateth of this bread, shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, when he taught at Capernaum. Many now of his disciples that heard this, said: This is an hard saying, who may abide the hearing of it? But when jesus perceived in him self, that his discipes murmured thereat he said unto them: Doth this offend you? What and if you shall see the son of man ascend up thither, where he was afore? It is the spirit that quyckeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak, are spirit, and are life. But there are some among you, that believe not. For jesus knew well from the beginning, which they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said: Therefore have I said unto you: joh. ● Not man can come unto me, except it be given him of my father. From that time forth, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said jesus unto the twelve: Will you also go away? Then answered Simon Peter: LORD, Wither shall we go? Thou hast the words of everlasting life: and we have believed & known, that thou art Christ the son of the living God. jesus answered them. Have I not choose you twelve, and one of you is a devil? But he spoke of judas Simon Iscarioth: the same betrayed him afterward, and was one of the twelve. The VII. Chapter. AFter that went jesus about in Galilee, for he would not go about in jewry, because the jews sought to kill him. 〈…〉 But the jews feast of Tabernacles was at hand. Then said his brethren unto him: Get the hence, and go into jewry, that thy disciples also may see thy works, that thou dost. He that seeketh to be openly known, doth nothing in secret. If thou do such things, them show thy self before the world: For his own brethren also believed not in him. Then said jesus unto them: My time is not yet come, but your time is allway ready. joh. ●● The world can not hate you, * but me it hateth: because I testify of it, that the works of it are evil. Go you up unto this feast, I will not go up yet unto this feast, for my time is not yet fulfilled. When he said this unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But as soon as his brethren were go up, then went he up also unto the feast, not openly, but as it were secretly. Then sought him the Jews at the feast, and said: 〈…〉 Where is he? And there was a great murmur of him among the people. Some said: He is good. But other said: Not, he doth but deceive the people. Howbeit no man spoke freely of him, 〈…〉 for fear of the jews. But in the mids of the feast went jesus up in to the temple, and taught. And the jews marveled and said: How can he the scripture, saying he hath not learned it? jesus answered them, and said: My doctrine is not mine, but his that hath sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know, whether this doctrine be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own praise: but he that seeketh the praise of him that sent him, the same is true, & there is no unrighteousness in him. 〈…〉 Hath not Moses given you the law. and none of you keepeth the law? Why go you about to kill me? The people answered, and said: Thou hast the devil, who goeth about to kill thee? jesus answered and said: 〈…〉 One work have I done, and you all marvel. Moses gave you the circumcision, (not because it cometh of Moses, but of the 〈◊〉▪ 7. b fathers:) Yet do you circumcise a man upon the Sabbath. If a man receive circumcision upon the Sabbath, that the law of Moses should not be broken, diszdayne you then at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath? judge not after the utter appearance, 〈…〉 but judge righteous judgement. Then said some of them of jerusalem: Is not this he, whom they go about to kill? And behold, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do our rulers know in deed, that he is very Christ? howbeit 〈…〉 we know, whence this is. But when Christ cometh, no man shall know whence he is. Then cried jesus in the temple as he taught, and said: Ye you know me, and whence I am you know, 〈…〉 and of myself am I not come, but he that sent me, is true, whom you know not. But I know him, for I am of him, and he hath sent me. Then sought they to take him, but no mamlayed hands upon him, for his hour was not yet come. 〈…〉 But many of the people believed on him, and said: When Christ cometh, shall he do more tokens, than this doth? And it came to the Pharisees ears, that the people murmured such things of him. And the Pharisees and high priests sent out servants, to take him. 1. Re. 19 d Mat. 22. b Marc. 12. b Luc. 20. c joh. 16. b Then said jesus unto them: I am yet a little while with you and then go I unto him that hath sent me. You shall seek me, & not find me: jere. 29. c Ioh 8. b and 13. d and where I am, thither can you not come. Then said the jews among themselves: Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go among the Greeks that are scattered abroad, and teach the Greeks? What manner of saying is this, that he sayeth: you shall seek me, and not find me: and where I am, thither can not you come? But in the last day which was the most solemn day of the feast, jesus stood up, cried, and said: Who so thyrsteth, Esa. 55. a Esa 12 a joel. 2. f joh. 3 a and 4. b let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture sayeth, out of his body shall flow rivers of the water of life. (But this spoke he of the Act. 2. a spirit, which they that believe on him, should receive. For the holy ghost was not yet there, because jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people now when they heard this saying, said: This is a very prophet. Other said: Mat. 21. b * Mat. 16. ● joh. 1. e He is Christ. But some said: Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Sayeth not the scripture, Psal. 131. b that Christ shall come of the seed of David, and out of the town of * Mich. 5. a Mat. ●. a Bethleem, where David was? Thus was there dissension among the people for his sake. Some of them would have taken him, but no man laid hands on him. The servants came to the high priests and Pharisees, and they said unto them: Why have you not brought him? The servants answered: Never man spoke as this man doth. Then answered them the Pharisees: Are you also deceived? joh. 12. f 1. Cor. 1. d Doth any of the rulers or Pharisees believe on him? But the common people which know not the law, are cursed. Ioh 3. a Nicodemus said unto them, he that came to him by night, which was one of them: Exo. 23. a Levi. 19 ● Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he hath done? They answered and said unto him? Art thou a Galilean also? joh. 1. ● Search and look, out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And so every man went home. The VIII. Chapter. Jesus went unto mount Oliuete, and early in the morning came he again in to the temple, Mat. 21. b Marc. 11. b and all the people came unto him. Andrea he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and set her there openly, and said unto him: Master, this woman was taken in adultery, even as the deed was adoing. Levi. 20. b Moses in the law commanded us to stone such. What sayest thou? This they said, to tempt him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But jesus stooped down, and written with his finger upon the ground. Now while they continued axing him he lift himself up, and said unto them: He that is among you without sin, let him cast the first stone at her. And he stooped down again, and written upon the ground. But when they heard that, they went out, one after another: the elder first, and left jesus alone, and the woman standing before him. jesus lift himself up, and when be saw noman but the woman, he said unto her: Woman, where are thy accusers? Hath noman condemned thee? She said: LORD, no man. jesus said: neither do I condemn thee, Go thy way, and sin no more. johan. 5. b Then spoke jesus again unto them, and said: joh. 1. ᵃ ●. a. 1●. ● I am the light of the world. He that followeth me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Then said the Pharisees unto him: Thou bearest record of thyself, thy record is not true. jesus answered, and said unto them: Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but you can not tell whence I come, and whither I go. You judge after the flesh, I judge no man: but if I judge, my judgement is true: for I am not alone, but I and the father that hath sent me. It is written also in your law, Deut. 17. a and 19 c that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself: And the father that sent me, Mat. 17. a beareth witness of me also. Then said they unto him: Where is thy father? jesus answered: You neither know me ner yet my father. Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c ●oh. 7. c If you knew me, you should know my father also. These words spoke jesus upon the God's chest, as he taught in the temple. And noman took him, joh. 7. c for his hour was not yet come. joh. 7. d and. 13. d Then said jesus again unto them: I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, thither can not you come. Then said the jews: Will he kill himself then, that he sayeth: whither I go, thither can not you come? And he said unto them: You are from beneath, I am from above: You are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore have I said unto you, that you shall die in your sins. 〈…〉 joh. 〈…〉 For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him: Who art thou then? And jesus said unto them: Even the very same thing that I say unto you. I have many things to say and to judge of you. But he that sent me, is true: and look what I have herd of him, joh. 〈…〉 that speak I before the world, Howbeit they understood not, that he spoke of the father. Then said jesus unto them: When you have lift up an high the son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself: Ioh.▪ 〈…〉 but as my father hath taught me, even so I speak. And he that sent me, is with me. The father leaveth me not alone, for I do alway that pleaseth him. When he thus spoke, Ioh.▪ 〈…〉 many believed on him. Then said jesus unto the jews, that believed on him: If you continue in my word, then are you my very disciples, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you 〈…〉 free. Then answered they him: We are Abraham's seed, we were never bond to any man, how sayest thou then: You shall be free? jesus answered them, and said: Verily verily I say unto you: 〈…〉 Who so ever doth sin, is the servant of sin: As for the servant, he abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever. If the son therefore make you free, then are you free in deed. I know that you are Abraham's seed, but you seek to kill me. For my word taketh not among you. I speak that I have seen of my father, & you do that you have seen of your father. They answered, and said unto him: Abraham is our father. jesus said unto them: If you were Abraham's children, you would do the deeds of Abraham. But now you go about to kill me, a man, that have told you the truth, 〈…〉 which I have herd of God, this did not Abraham. You do the deeds of your father. Then said they unto him: We are not born of fornication, we have one father, even God. jesus said unto them: If God were your father, then would you love me. For I am proceeded forth, and come from God. For I am not come of myself, but he hath sent me. Why know you not then my speech? Even because you can not abide the hearing of my word. You are of the father the devil, and after the lusts of your father will you do. 〈…〉 The same was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth: for the truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, then speaketh he of his own: for he is a liar, and a father of the same. But because I say the truth, you believe me not. Which of you can rebuke me of one sin? If I say the truth, why do you not believe me? 〈…〉 He that is of God, heareth God's word. Therefore hear you not, because you are not of God. Then answered the jews, and said unto him: Say we not right, that thou art a Samaritane, 〈…〉 and hast the devil? jesus answered: I have no devil, but I honour my father, and you have dishonoured me. I seek not mine own praise, but there is one that seeketh it, and judgeth. Verily verily I say unto you: 〈…〉 If any man keep my word, he shall never see death. Then said the jews unto him: Now know me, that 〈…〉 thou hast the devil. Abraham is deed and the prophets, and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall never taist of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham? which is deed, and the prophets are deed? Whom makest thou thyself? jesus answered: 〈…〉 If I praise myself, then is my praise nothing. But it is my father that praiseth me, which you say is your God, and you know him not: but I know him. And if I should say, I know him not▪ I should be a liar, like unto you. But I know him, and keep his word. Abraham your father was glad, that he should see my day, 〈…〉 And he saw it, and rejoiced. 〈…〉 Then said the jews unto him: Thou art not yet fifty year old, and hast thou seen Abraham? jesus said unto them: Verily verily I say unto you: Or ever Abraham was, 〈◊〉 3. c I am. Then took they up stones, to cast at him. But jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. The IX. Chapter. ANd jesus passed by, and saw a man that was born blind. And his disciples axed him, & said: Master, Who hath sinned? this, or his elders, that he was born blind? jesus answered: neither hath this sinned, ner his elders, 〈…〉 but that the works of God should be showed on him. I must work the works of him that hath sent me, while it is day. The night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the johan. 1. a 8. b. 12. e light of the world. When he had thus said, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and rubbed the clay on the eyes of the blind, and said unto him: Go thy way to the pole of Esa. 8. b Syloha (which is interpretated, sent) and wash the. Then went he his way and waszhed him, and came saying. The neighbours and they that had seen him before, that he was a beggar, said: Is not this he that sat, and begged? Some said: It is he. Other said: he is like him. But he himself said: I am even he. Then said they unto him: How are thy eyes opened? He answered, and said: The man that is called jesus, made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said: Go thy way to the pole of Siloha, and wash the. I went my way, & washed me, and received my sight. Then said they unto him: Where is he? He said: I can not tell. Then brought they unto the Pharisees, him that a little before was blind Mat. 1●. a Marc. 1. c Luc. 6. a johan. 5. a and 7. b It was the Sabbath, when jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also axed him, how he had received his sight. He said unto them: He put clay upon mine eyes, and I waszhed me, & now I se. Then said some of the Pharisees: This man is not of God, saying he keepeth not the Sabbath. johan. 7. d 10. b. 12. b But the other said: How can a sinful man do such tokens? And there was a strife among them. They said again unto the blind: What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thy eyes? He said: he is a prophet. The jews believed not him, that he was blind, and had received his sight, till they called the elders of him, that had received his sight, and they axed them, and said: Is this your son, whom you say, was born blind? How doth he now see then? His elders answered them, and said: We know▪ that this is our son, and that he was born blind. But how he now seyeth, we can not tell: or who hath opened his eyes, can we not tell. He is old enough himself, 〈◊〉 him, let him speak for himself. This said his elders, because they feared the 〈…〉 Therefore said his elders: He is old enough, are him. Then called they the man again that was blind, and said unto him: joshua. 7. c Act. 1●. d give God the praise, we know that this man is a sinner. He answered, & said: Whether he be a sinner or not, I can not tell: one thing am I sure of, that I was blind, and now I se. Then said they unto him again: What did he unto thee? How opened he thy eyes: He answered them: I told you right now. Heard you it not? What, will you hear it again? Will you also be his disciples? Then rayted they him, and said: Thou art his disciple. We are sure that God spoke with Moses: As for this fellow, we know not whence he is. The man answered, and said unto them: This is a marvelous thing, that you wot not whence he is, and he hath opened mine eyes. For we know that God heareth not the sinners: but if any man be a fearer of God, and doth his will, him heareth he. Sens the world began was it not herd, that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could have done nothing. They answered, and said unto him: Thou art altogether born in sin, and teachest thou us? And they thrust him out. jesus herd, that they had thrust him out, and when he had found him, he said unto him: believest thou on the son of God? He answered, and said: LORD, who is it, that I might believe on him? jesus said unto him: Thou hast seen him, and he it is, that talketh with the. He said: LORD, I believe. And he worshipped him. And jesus said: I am come to judgement in to this world, that they which see not, might see: and that they which see, might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees that were with him, heard this, and said unto him: Are we then blind also? jesus said unto them: ●ohan. 15. c If you were blind, you should have no sin. But now that you say, we see, therefore your son remaineth. The X. Chapter. Verily verily I say unto you: He that entereth not in at the door in to the sheepfold, but clymmeth up some other way, the same is a thief & a murderer. But he that goeth in at the door, is the shepherd of the sheep: to him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he * calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he 〈…〉 forth his twne sheep, he 〈…〉, and the 〈…〉 is voice. As for a stranger, they follow him not, but fly from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This proverb spoke jesus unto them, but they understood & not what it was, that he said unto them. Then said jesus unto them again: Verily verily I say unto you: joh. ● I am the door of the sheep. All they that are come before me, are thieves and murthures'. But the sheep hearkened not unto them. I am the door. If any man enter in by me, he shallbe saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. A thief cometh not, but for to steal, kill, and destroy. I am come, that they might have life, and have it more abundantly. I am a good shepherd. A good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But an hired servant, which is not the shepherd, 〈…〉 neither the sheep are his own, saith the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth. And the wolf catcheth & scatereth the sheep. But the hired servant flieth, because he is an hired servant, and careth not for the sheep. I am a good shepherd, 〈…〉 and know mine, and am known of mine. Even as my father knoweth me, and I know the father. And 〈…〉 I give my life for my sheep. And I have yet other sheep, which are not of this fold, and those same must I bring also, and they shall hear my voice, and there shallbe one flock and one shepherd. Therefore doth my father love me, because I leave my life, that I may take it again. Noman taketh it fro me, but I leave it of myself. I have power to leave it, and have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my father. Then was there descension among the jews for these sayings. Many of them said: 〈…〉 He hath the devil, and is mad, why hear you him? Other said: * These are not words of one that is possessed. Can the devil also open the eyes of the blind? It was the dedication of the temple at Jerusalem, & was winter, 〈…〉 and jesus walked in * Salomon'S porch. Then came the Jews round about him, & said unto him: How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be Christ, tell us plainly. jesus answered them: I told you, & you believe not. The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, & I know them, & they follow me. And I give them everlasting life, & they shall never perish, and noman shall pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me, is greater than all: & noman is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. 〈…〉. a 〈…〉▪ c I and the father are one. Than the jews took up stones again, to stone him. jesus answered them: Many good works have I showed you fro my father, for which of them stone you me? The jews answered him, and said: For the good work sake we stone the not, 〈…〉 but for the blasphemy: and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God. jesus answered them: Is it not written in your law: 〈…〉 I have said, You are Gods? If he call them Gods, unto whom the word of God came (& the scripture can not be broken) say you then unto him, whom the father hath sanctified & sent in to the world: thou blasphemest God, because I said: I am the son of God? 〈◊〉 ●6. g 〈◊〉. 14. b 〈…〉. c 〈…〉 a 〈…〉. c If I do not the works of my father, believe me not: but if I do them, them (if you believe not me) yet believe the works, that you may know & believe, that the father is in me, & I in the father. 〈…〉 3. a 〈…〉. b They went about again to take him, but he escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond jordane, in to the place 〈…〉 where John had baptized before, & there he abode. And many came to him, and said: John did no tokens, but all that John spoke of this man, is true. And many believed on him there. The XI. Chapter. THere lay one sick, named Lazarus of Bethania, in the town of Mary & her sister Martha 〈◊〉. 7. c It was that Mary which anointed the LORD with ointment, & dried his feet with her here, whose brother Lazarus lay sick.) Then sent his sisters unto him, & said: LORD, behold, he whom thou lovest lieth sick. When jesus heard that, he said: This sickness is not unto death, but for the praise of God, 〈◊〉▪ 9 a that the son of God may be praised there thorough. jesus loved Martha & her sister, & Lazarus. Now when he heard that he was sick, he abode two days in the place where he was. After ward said he unto his disciples: Let us go again in to jewry. His disciples said unto him: Master, 〈◊〉▪ 7. c 〈◊〉 10. c lately would the Jews have stoned thee, & will't thou go thither again▪ jesus answered: Are there not twelve hours in the day? He that walketh in the day, stombleth not, for he seyeth the light of this world. But he that walketh in the night, stumbleth: for there is no light in him. This he spoke, & after ward said he unto them: Lazarus oh friend 〈…〉 sleepeth, but I go to wake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples: LORD, if he sleep, he shall do well enough (howbeit jesus spoke of his death but they thought that he had spoken of the bodily sleep.) Then said jesus unto them plainly: Lazarus is deed, & I am glad for you sakes, that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas (which is called Didimus) unto the disciples: Let us go also, that we may die with him. johan. 20. c Then came jesus, & found that he had lyen in the grave four days already. Bethanye was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs. And many of the jews were come to Martha & Mary, to comfort them over their brother. Now when Martha heard that jesus came, she went to meet him. But Mary sat still at home. Then said Martha unto jesus: LORD, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been deed. joh. 11. ● But nevertheless I know also, what soever thou axest of God, that God will give it the. jesus said unto her: Thy brother shall rise again. Martha said unto him: I know, that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. jesus said unto her: I am the resurrection & the life Rom. 1. b joh. 3 b and 6. f He that believeth on me, shall live, though he were deed already: & whosoever liveth and believeth on me, shall never die. believest thou this? She said unto him: Ye LORD, I believe, that thou art Christ the son of God, which should come in to the world. And when she had said this, she went her way, & called Mary her sister secretly, & said: The master is come, & calleth for the. She when she heard that, rose up quickly, and came unto him: For jesus was not yet come in to the town, but was yet in the place, where Martha met him. The jews that were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up haistely, & went out, they followed her, & said: She goeth to the grave, to weep there. Now when Mary came where jesus was & saw him, she fallen down at his feet, & said unto him: LORD, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not been deed. joh. 11. c When jesus saw her weep, & the jews weeping also that came with her, he groaned in the spirit, & was sorry with in himself, & said: Where have you laid him? They said: LORD come, & see it. And * jesus wept. Then said the Jews: Behold how he loved him. But some of them said▪ Could not he * which opened the eyes of the blind, have made also, that this man should not have died? But jesus groaned again i● himself, and came to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone laid on it. jesus said: Take away the stone. Martha the sister of him ● was deed, said 〈…〉 already, for 〈…〉 jesus said unto her: Said I not unto thee, that if thou didst believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then took they away the stone, where the deed lay. jesus lift up his eyes, and said: Father, I thank thee, that thou hast heard me. Howbeit I know, that thou hearest me allway: but juh. 12. d because of the people that stand by, I said it, that they may believe, that thou hast sent me. When he had said this, he cried loud: Lazarus come forth. And the deed came forth bound hand & foot with grave clotheses, & his face bound with a napkin. jesus said unto them: Louse him, & let him go. Many now of the Jews which mere come unto Mary, and saw what jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their way unto the Pharisees, and told them what jesus had done. Then the high priests, and the Pharisees gathered a counceil, and said: Psal. 2. a Act. 4. b What do we? This man doth many tokens. If we let him go thus, all men will believe in him: ●an. 9 c them shall the Romans come, and take away our land and people. But one of them, named Caiphas, which was high priest that same year, said unto them: You know nothing neither consider you any thing at all. 〈◊〉. 18. b It is better for us that one man die for the people, then that all the people should perish. This spoke he not of himself, but for so much as he was high priest of the same year, he prophesied. For jesus was for to die for the people, and not for the people only, but that he should gather together the children of God, which were scattered abroad: From that day forth they took council, how they might put him to death. jesus walked no more openly among the jews, but went from thence in to a country by the wilderness, to a cite called Ephraim, & there had he his being with his disciples. The jews Easter was nigh at hand. And there went up many to Jerusalem out of that country before the Easter, to purify themselves. Then stood they up, and axed after jesus, and spoke among themselves in the temple: * What think you, that he cometh not to the feast? The high priests & pha●ises had given a commandment, that if ●ny man knew where he were, he should h●we it, that they might take him. The XII. Chapter. Six days before Easter came jesus unto Bethanye, where Lazarus was, which was deed, whom jesus 〈◊〉 from the deed. There they made him a supper, and Martha served. But Lazarus was one of them, that sat at the table with him. Luc. ● Then took Mary a pound of ointment of pure and costly Nardus, and anointed jesus feet, & dried his feet with her here. The house was full of the sanoure of the ointment. Then said one of his disciples, judas Iscarioth Symons son, which afterward betrayed him: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundredth pens, and given to the poor? (This said he not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and joh. 〈…〉 had the bag, and bore that which was given.) Then said jesus: Let her alone, this hath she kept against the day of my burying. For the poor have you allway with you, but me have you not allway. Then much people of the jews had knowledge, that he was there, and they came not for jesus sake only, but also that they might see Lazarus, 〈…〉 whom he had raised from the deed. But the high priests were advised to put Lazarus to death also: because that for his sake many of the jews went away and believed on jesus. Upon the next day much people which were come unto the feast, 〈…〉 when they heard that jesus came toward jerusalem, they took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried: Hosianna, Psal 〈…〉 Blessed be he, that in the name of the LORD cometh king of Israel. jesus got a young Ass, and road thereon, As it is written: Esa 〈…〉 Zac● 〈…〉 Fear not thou daughter of Zion, behold, thy king cometh riding upon an Asses foal. Nevertheless his disciples understood not these things at the first, but when jesus was glorified, then remembered they that such things were written of him, and that they had done such things unto him. The people that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the grave and raised him from the deed, commended the act. Therefore the people met him, because they heard, that he had done such a miracle. But the Pharisees said among themselves: You see, that we prevail nothing, behold, all the world runneth after him. There were certain Greeks (among them that were come up to Jerusalem to worship at the feast) the same came unto Philippe, 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 * which was of Bethsaida out of Galilee, & prayed him, and said: Sir, we would fain see jesus. Philippe came, & told Andrew. And again, Philippe and Andrew told jesus. jesus answered them, and said: The hour is come, 〈…〉 that the son of man must be glorified. Verily verily I say unto you: Except the wheatcorne fall in to the ground, 〈…〉 and die, it bideth alone: But if it die, it beyngeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, 〈…〉 shall loose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life everlasting. He that will serve me, let him follow me. And where I am, there shall my servant be also: and he that serveth me, him shall my father honour. 〈…〉. d 〈◊〉 ●4. d 〈◊〉 22. c Now is my soul heavy, and what shall I say? Father, help me out of this hour. But therefore am I come in to this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven: I have glorified it, and will glorify it again. Then said the people that stood by and heard: It thondereth. Other said: An angel spoke unto him. jesus answered, and said: 〈…〉 This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now goeth the judgement over the world. Now shall the prince of this world be thrust out. And I when I am life up from the earth, will draw all unto me. (But this he said, to signify, what death he should die.) Then answered him the people: We have herd in the 〈…〉 law, that Christ endureth for ever: and how sayest thou then, that the son of man must be lift up? Who is this son of man? Then said jesus unto them: The light is yet a little while with you, 〈…〉 walk while you have the light, that the darkness fall not upon you. He that walketh in the darkness, woteth not whither he goeth. Believe you on the light, while you have it, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke jesus, and departed away, and hid himself from them. And though he had done such tokens before them, yet believed they not on him, that the saying of Esay the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: 〈…〉 LORD, who believeth our preaching? Or to whom is the arm of the LORD opened? Therefore could they not believe, 〈…〉 for Esay said again: He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with the eyes, ner understand with the heart, & should be converted, and he should heal them. This said Esay, when he saw his glory, and spoke of him. Nevertheless many of the chief rulers believed on him, 〈◊〉 7. c but because of the Pharisees they would not be aknowne of it, jest they should be excommunicate, joh. 9 c * johan. 5. d For they loved more the praise with men, then with God. jesus cried and said: He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that saith me, saith him that sent me. I am come a light in to the world, johan. 3. ● 8. b. 9 a that whosoever believeth on me, should not bide in darkness. And he that heareth my words and believeth not, I judge him not, for I am not come to judge the world, joh. 3. c but to save the world. He that refuseth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one already that judgeth him. Deut. 18. ● The word that I have spoken, that shall judge him at the last day, For I have not spoken of myself: joh. 16. b but the father that sent me, hath given me a commandment, what I should do and say. Andrea I know that his commandment is life everlasting. Therefore look what I speak, that speak I even so, as the father hath said unto me. The XIII. Chapter. BEfore the feast of Easter when jesus knew that his time was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the father, as he loved his which were in the world, even so loved he them unto the end. And after supper, Mat. 26. b Mar 14. b Luc. 22. a when the devil had already put into the heart of judas Iscarioth Symons son, to betray him, jesus knowing that the father had given all things in to his hands, Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c & that he was come from God, and went unto God, he rose from supper, and laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel, and gird it about him. afterward poured he water in to a basin, and began to wash the disciples feet, and dried them with the towel, that he was girded withal. Then came he unto Simon Peter, and the same said unto him: LORD, shalt thou wash my feet? jesus answered and said unto him: What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know it hereafter. Then said Peter unto him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. jesus answered him: If I wash the not, thou shalt have no part with me. Simon Peter said unto him: LORD, not the feet only, but the hands also and the head. jesus said unto him: He that is waszhen, needeth not, save to wash the feet, but is clean every whit. And you are clean Ioh 6 g. but not all. For he knew his betrayer, therefore said he: you are not all clean. Now when he had waszhen their feet, and taken his clotheses, he sat him down again, and said unto them: Wot you what I have done unto you? You call me master and LORD, and you say right therein, for so I am. If I then your LORD and master have waszhen your feet, you aught also to wash one another's feet. Ephe. 5. a 1. Pet. 2. c I have given you an ensample, that you should do as I have done unto you. Verily verily I say unto you: Mat. 10. c Luc. 6. d joh. 15. b the servant is not greater than his lord, neither is the apostle greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. Mat. 3. b I speak not of you all, I know whom I have choose, but that the scripture might be fulfilled: Psal. 40. b He that eateth my bread, hath lift up his heel against me. joha. 14. c and 16. a I tell it you now, before it come, that when it is come to pass, you may believe, that I am he. Verily verily I say unto you: He that receiveth whom so ever I send, Mat. 10. e Mat. 9 d Luc. 10. b receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. When jesus had thus said, he was heavy in spirit, and testified, and said: Mat. 26. b Marc. 14. c Luc. 22. a Verily verily I say unto you: One * 1. Io 2. c Act. 20. d among you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one upon another, & were in doubt, of whom he spoke. But there was one among his disciples, that leaned at the table on jesus bosom, johan. ●0. a whom jesus loved: to him beckoned Simon Peter, that he should axe, who it was, of whom he spoke. For the same leaved upon jesus breast, and said unto him: LORD, who is it? jesus answered: It is he, unto whom I dip the sop & give it. And he dypte in the sop, and gave it unto judas Iscarioth Symons son. And after the sop the devil entered in to him. Then said jesus unto him: That thou boest, do quickly. But the same wist no man at the table, for what intent he said it unto him. Some thought (for so much as judas had the bag) that jesus had said unto him: johan. 12. a Buy that is necessary for us against the feast: Or that he should give some thing unto the poor. When he had received the sop, he went out immediately, and it was night. When he was go forth, jesus said: Now is the son of man glorified, ●ohan. 12. c and 17. a and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, them shall god glorify him also in himself, & strait way shall he glorify him. Dear children, I am yet a little while with you. You shall seek me, joh. 7. d ●nd 8. b and (as I said unto the Jews) whither I go, thither can you not come. And now I say unto you, Iohan 〈…〉 A new commandment give I you, that you love together as I have loved you, that even so you love one another. By this shall every man know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another. 〈…〉 Simon Peter said unto him: LORD, whither goest thou? jesus answered him: Wither I go, thou canst not follow me now, 〈…〉 but thou, halt follow me hereafter. Peter said unto him: LORD, why cannot I follow the ●ow? I will give my life for that sake. jesus answered him: Will't thou give thy life for my sake? Verily verily I say unto ye.. 〈…〉 The cock shall not crow, till thou have denied me thrice. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd he said unto his disciples: Let not your heart be afraid. If you believe on God, them believe also on me. In my father's house are many dwellings. If it were not so. I would have told you: I go to prepare the place for you. And though I go to prepare the place for you, yet will I come again, and receive you unto myself, that you may be where I am. And whither I go, you know, and the way know you also. Thomas said unto him: LORD, we know not whither thou goest, & how can we know the way? jesus said unto him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Noman cometh to the father but by me. 〈…〉 If you knew me, you knew my father also. And from hence forth you know him, & have seen him. Philippe said unto him: LORD, show us the father, and it sufficeth us. jesus said unto him: Thus long am I with you, and hast thou not known me? Philippe, he that saith me, saith the father. And how sayest thou then: Show us the father? believest thou not that I am in the father, 〈…〉 and that the father is in me? 〈…〉 The words that I speak unto you, those speak not I of myself: but the father that dwelleth in me, he doth the works. Believe me, that I am in the father, and that the father is in me: Or else, believe me at the least for the works sake. Verily verily I say unto you: He that believeth on me, shall do the works that I do, and shall do greater than these: for I go to the father. 〈…〉 And what soever you axe the father in my name, that will I do, that the father may be praised in the son. If you axe any thing in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may bide with you for ever: even the spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, for it saith him not, neither doth it know him: but you know him, for he abideth with you, & shallbe in you 〈…〉 I will not leave you comfortless, I come unto you. It is yet a little while, them shall the world see me no more, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 b but you shall see me: for I live, and you shall live also. In that day shall you know, that I am in the father and you in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, 〈…〉 and keepeth them, the same is he that loveth me: and he that loneth me, shallbe loved of my father: & I will love him, and will show mine own self unto him. 〈…〉 judas said unto him: (not that: Iscarioth) LORD, What is the cause them, that thou will't show thyself unto us, and not unto the world? jesus answered, and said unto him: He that loveth me, will keep my word, and my father will love him: and we will come unto him, and will make our dwelling with him. But he that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings. And the word that you hear, is not mine, but the fathers which hath sent me. This have I spoken unto you, while I was with you. 〈…〉 But that comforter even the holy ghost, whom my father shall send in my name, he shall teach you all things, & bring all to your remembrance, what soever I have told you. Peace I leave unto you, my peace I give you: I give not unto you, as the world giveth. Let not you heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have herd, that I said unto you: I go, & come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the father: for the father is greater than I 〈…〉 And now have I told you, before it come, that when it is come to pass, you may believe: Here after will not I talk much with you. 〈…〉 For the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the father. And as the father hath commanded me, so do I Arise, let us go hence. The XU. Chapter. I Am a true 〈◊〉 4. c vine, and my father is an husband man. Every branch that bringeth not forth fruit in me, shall he cut of: and every one that bringeth forth fruit, shall he purge, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now are you clean, because of the word, that I have spoken unto you. Bide you in me, and I in you. Like as the branch can not bring forth fruit of itself except it bide in the vine, Even so neither you also, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me can you do nothing. He that abideth not in me, is cast out as a vine branch, and it withereth, and men gather it up, and cast it in to the fire, and it burneth. Mat. 21. e Marc. 11. c Ioh 14. b and. 16. c If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall axe what you will, & it shall be done unto you. Herein is my father praised, that you bring forth much fruit, and become my disciples. Like as my father hath loved me, even so have I loved you. Continue you in my love. joh. 14. d If you keep my commandments, you shall continue in my love: like as I have kept my father's commandments, and continue in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be perfect. joh. 13. d 1. joh. 3. c This is my commandment, that you love together, as I have loved you. Not man hath greater love, then to set his life for his friend. Mat. 12. e You are my friends, if you do that I command you. Hence forth call I you not servants, for a servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have said that you are friends: For all that I have herd of my father, have I showed unto you. Ephe. 1. a You have not choose me, but I have choose you, and ordained you, that you go, and * Col. 1. a bring forth fruit, and that your fruit contynne, that what soever you axe the father in my name, he should give it you. This I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, then know, that it hath hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own. Howbeit because you are not of the world, but I have choose you from the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember my word, that I said unto you: The servant i● not greater than his lord. Mat. 10. c Luc. 6. d joh. 13. b If they have persecuted me, they shall persecute you also: If they have kept my word, they shall keep yours also. But all this shall they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come & spoken unto them, then should they have no sin But now have they nothing to cloak their sin withal. He that hateth me, hateth my father also. If I had not done among them the works which no other man did, they should have no sin. But now have they seen it, and yet have they hated both me & my father. Nevertheless that the saying might be fulfilled, which is written in their law: They have hated me without a cause. Psal. 34. c and 68 a But when the comforter cometh, whom I shall send you from the father even the spirit of truth which proceedeth of the father, joh. 14. c and 16. a Act. 2. a he shall testify of me * Act. ●. a and ●. d and you shall bear witness also: for you have been with me from the beginning. The XVI. Chapter. THese things have I said unto you, that you should not be offended. They shall excommunicate you. The time cometh, that who soever putteth you to death, shall think that he doth service unto God. Act. 9 a johan. 15. c 1. Cor. 2. a And such things shall they do unto you, because they have neither known the father ner yet me. But these things have I said unto you, joh. 13. b and 14. c that when the time cometh you may think thereon, that I told you. But these things have I not said unto you from the beginning: For I was with you. But now I go unto him that sent me, & none of you axeth me: Wither goest thou? but because I have said these things unto you, your heart is full of sorrow. Nevertheless I tell you the truth, It is better for you that I go away: For if I go not away that comforter cometh not unto you: but if I depart, Ioh 14. c and 15. c I will send him unto you. And when he cometh, he shall rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, & of judgement. Of sin, because they believe not on me. O frighteousnes, because I go to the father, and you shall see me no more. Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged already. joh. 12. d I have yet much to say unto you, but you can not now bear it away: howbeit when he (the spirit of truth cometh) he shall lead you in to all truth. joh. 14 c johan. 12. f For he shall not speak of himself, but what soever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall show you, what is for to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show unto you. Mat. 11. e Luc. 10. c joh. 3 e All that the father hath, is mine. Therefore have I said: he shall receive of mine, and show unto you. After a little while, and you shall not see me: and again after a little while, and you shall see me: for I go to the father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves: What is this that he sayeth unto us, After a little while, and you shall not see me: & again after a little while, & you shall see me: for I go to the father? Then said they: What is this, that he sayeth: After a little while? We can not tell what he sayeth. Then perceived jesus that they would axe him, and he said unto them: You inquire of this among your selves, that I said: After a little while, and you shall not see me: & again after a little while, and you shall see me. Verily verily I say unto you: You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: You shall be sorry, but your sorrow shall be turned in to joy. A woman when she travaileth, hath sorrow, for her hour is come. But when she is delivered of the child, she thinketh no more of the anguish, for joy that a man is born in to the world. And now have you sorrow also: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and you reioye shall noman take from you. And in that day shall you axe me no question. 〈…〉 Verily verily I say unto you: If you axe the father aught in my name, he shall give it you. Hither to have you axed nothing in my name. Axe, and you shall receive, that your joy may be perfect. These things have I spoken unto you by 〈…〉 proverbs. Nevertheless the time cometh, that I shall speak no more by proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of my father. In that day shall you axe in my name. And I say not unto you, that I will pray unto the father for you: for the father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, & believed that I am come out from God. 〈…〉 I went out from the father, and came into the world: Again, I leave the world, and go to the father. His disciples said unto him: Behold, now talkest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should axe the. Therefore believe we, that thou camest out from God: jesus answered them: Now you do believe: Behold, 〈…〉 the hour draweth nigh, and is come already, that you shallbe scattered, every man in to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet am I not alone, 〈…〉 for the father is with me. These things have I spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. 〈…〉 In the world have you trouble, but be of good comfort, I have overcome the world. The XVII. Chapter. THese things spoke jesus, and lift up his eyes toward heaven, and said: Father, the hour is come, 〈…〉 that thou glorify thy son, that thy son also may glorify the. Like as thou hast given him power over all flesh, 〈…〉 that he should give everlasting life to as many as thou hast given him. 〈…〉 But this is the life everlasting, that they know thee (that thou only art the true God) and whom thou hast sent, jesus Christ. I have glorified the upon earth, & 〈…〉 finished the work, that thou gavest me to do. And now glorify me thou father by thy own self with the glory which I had or ever the world was. I have declared thy name unto the men, whom thou gavest me from the world. They were thy, and thou gavest them unto me, and they have kept thy word. Now know they, that all things what so ever thou hast given me, are of the. For the words which thou gavest me, have I given unto them, 〈…〉 and they have received them, & known of a truth, that I am come forth from thee, and have believed, that thou hast sent me. I pray for them, and pray not for the 〈…〉 world, but for them whom thou hast given me, for they are thy. And all that is mine, is thy: and what thy is, that is mine. And I am glorified in them. And now am I no more in the world, and they are in the world, and I come to the. Holy father, keep in thy name, those whom thou 〈…〉 hast given me, that they may be one, like as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, have I kept, and none of them is lost, but that lost child, that the 〈…〉. a 〈◊〉 40. b 〈…〉 a scripture might be fulfilled. But now come I unto thee, and this I speak in the world, that they may have my joy perfect in them. I have given them thy word, 〈…〉 b 〈…〉. c and the world hateth them: for they are not of the world, even as I also am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, 〈…〉 but that thou keep them from evil. They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. Sanctify them in thy truth. Thy word is the truth. Like as thou hast sent me in to the world, so have I sent them in to the world: and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth. Nevertheless I pray not for them only, but also for those, which thorough their word shall believe on me, that they all may be one, like as thou father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be 〈…〉 one in us: that the world may believe, that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me, have I given them: that they may be one, like as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one, and that the world may know, that thou hast sent me and haste loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will, joh. 12. e and 14. a that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou hast loved me, or ever the world was made. Righteous father, Mat. 11 e joh. 15. c and. 16. a the world hath not known that, but I have known thee: and these have known, that thou hast sent me. And I have declared thy name unto them, & will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, & I in them. The XVIII. Chapter. When jesus had thus spoken, he went forth with his disciples over the broken Cedron, Mat. 26. a Mar. 14. ● Luc. 22. ● where there was a garden, in to the which jesus entered and his disciples. But judas that betrayed him, knew the place also. For jesus resorted thither often times with his disciples. Mat. 26. ● Mar. 14. ● Luc. 22. d Now when judas had taken unto him the company, & ministers of the high priests and Pharisees, he came thither with creshettes, with lanterns, and with weapens. jesus now knowing all that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them: Whom seek you? They answered him: jesus of Nazareth. jesus said unto them: I am he. judas also which betrayed him, stood with them. Now when jesus said unto them: I am he, they went bacwardes, and fallen to the ground. Then axed he them again: Whom seek you? They said: jesus of Nazareth. jesus answered: I have told you, that I am he. If you seek me, then let these go their way. That the word might be fulfilled, which he said: joh. 17. b Of them whom thou gavest me, have I not lost one. Then had Simon Peter a sword, and drew it out, and smote the high priests servant, and cut of his right ear. And the servants name was Malchus. Then said jesus unto Peter: Put up thy sword in to the sheeths. Shall I not drink of the cup, which my father hath given me? Then the company and the captain & the officers of the jews took jesus, and bound him, & led him away first unto Annas, that was fatherlawe unto Caiphas, which was high priest that same year. joh. 11. e It was Caiphas, which gave council unto the Jews that it were good, that one man should die for the people. As for Simon Peter, he and another disciple followed jesus. The same disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with jesus in to the high priests palace. But Peter stood without at the door. Then that other disciple which was known unto the high priest, went out, and spoke to the damsel that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then the damsel that kept the door, said unto Peter: Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He said: I am not. The servants & officers stood, and had made a fire of coals (for it was cold) & warmed themselves. Peter also stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest axed jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. jesus answered him: joh. 7. b I have spoken openly before the world, I have ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither all the jews resorted, & in secret have I spoken nothing. Why axest thou me? Axe them that have herd, what I have spoken unto them: behold, they can tell what I have said. But when he had thus spoken, jere. 30. a Mat. 26. g Act. 33. a one of the officers that stood by, smote jesus on the face, and said: Answerest thou the high priest so? jesus answered him: If I have evil spoken, them bear witness of evil: but if I have well spoken, why smytest thou me? And Annas sent him bound unto Caiphas the high priest. Mat. 26. g Mar 14. g Luc. 22. d Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Then said they unto him: Art not thou one of his disciples? He denied, and said: I am not. A servant of the high priests, a kynszman of his, whose ear Peter had smitten of, said unto him: Did not I see the in the garden with him? Then Peter denied again. And immediately the cock crew. joh. 13. d * Mat. 27 a Marc 15. a Luc. 2●. a Then led they jesus from Caiphas in to the common hall. And it was early in the morning. And they themselves went not in to the common hall, jest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Paschal lamb. Then went Pilate out unto them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man? They answered, and said unto him: If he were not an evil doer, we had not delivered him unto the. Then said Pilate unto them: Take you him, and judge him after you law. Then said the Jews unto him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death. That the word of jesus might be fulfilled, joh. 12. d which he spoke, when he signified, what death he should die. Mat. 27. b Marc. 15. a Luc. 23. a Then entered Pilate in to the common hall again, and called jesus, & said unto him: Art thou the king of the jews? jesus answered: Sayest thou that of thyself, or have other told it the of me? Pilate answered: Am I a jew? Thy people and the high priests have delivered the unto me. What hast thou done? jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my ministers would fight therefore, that I should not be delivered unto the jews. joh. ● But now is my kingdom not from hence. Then said Pilate unto him: Art thou a king them? jesus answered: Thou sayest it, for I am a king. For this cause was I born, and came in to the world, that I should testify the truth. Who so ever is of the truth, heareth my voice. Pilate said unto him: What is the truth? Ma●▪ 〈…〉 Ma●. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And when he had said that he went out again to the jews, and said unto them: I find no guiltiness in him: * Ma●. 〈…〉 Ma●. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 But you have a custom, that I should give one unto you louse at Easter. Will you now that I louse unto you the king of the Jews? Then cried they again altogether, and said: Not him, but Barrabas. Yet was Barrabas a murderer. The XIX. Chapter. THen Pilate took jesus, and scourged him. 〈…〉 Luc. 〈…〉 And the soudyers plaited a crown of thorns, and set it upon his head, and put a purple garment upon him, and said: Hail king of the jews. And they smote him on the face. Then went Pilate forth again, and said unto them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know, that I find no fault in him. So jesus went out, & wore a crown of thorn and a purple rob. And he said unto them: Behold, the man. When the high priests & the ministers saw him, they cried, & said: crucify, crucify. Pilate said unto them: Take you him, and crucify him, for I find no giltynesse in him. The jews answered him: We have a law, 〈…〉 & after our law he aught to die, * because he made himself the son of God. When Pilate heard that word, he was the more afraid, and went again in to the common hall, and said unto jesus: Whence art thou? But jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate unto him: Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not, that I have power to crucify thee, & have power to louse thee? jesus answered: Thou shouldest have no power upon me, if it were not 〈…〉 given the from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee, hath the more sin. From that time forth Pilate sought means to louse him. But the jews cried, & said: If thou let him go, thou art not the emperors friend. For whosoever maketh himself king, 〈…〉 is against the Emperor. When Pilate heard that word, 〈…〉 he brought jesus forth, & sat him down upon the iugdment seat, in the place which is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the day of preparing of the Easter about the sixte hour. And he said unto the jews: Behold you king. But they cried: Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them: Shall I crucify you king? The high priests answered: We have no king but the Empero. Then delivered he him unto them, to be crucified. They took jesus, and led him away. And he bore his cross, 〈…〉 and went out to the place called the place of deed men skulls, which in Hebrew is named Golgatha, where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, but jesus in the mids 〈◊〉 ●7. d 〈◊〉. ●5. c 〈◊〉. 23. d Pilate written a superscription, and set upon the cross. And there was written: jesus of Nazareth, king of the jews. This superscription read many of the jews. For the place where jesus was crucified, was nigh unto the cite. And it was written in Hebrew, Greek & latin. Then said the high priests of the jews unto Pilate: Write not king of the jews, but that he said, I am king of the jews. Pilate answered: What I have written, that have I written. The sondyers, when they had crucified jesus, 〈…〉. d 〈◊〉. ●5. c took his garments, and made four parts, to every soudyer one part, and the cote also. As for the cote, it was unsewed from above, wrought thorough and thorough. Then said they one to another: Let us not divide it, but cast lots for it, who shall have it, that the scripture might be fulfilled, which sayeth: 〈◊〉 ●1. b They have parted my garments among them, and on my cote have they cast lots. This did the soudyers in deed. There stood by the cross of jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. Now when jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother: Woman, behold, that is thy son. Then said he to the disciple: behold, that is thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her unto him. After that when jesus knew that all was performed, 〈◊〉 28. c that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said: I am a thirst. There stood a vessel full of vinegar. They filled a sponge with vinegar and wound it about with ysope, 〈…〉 and held it to his mouth. Now when jesus had received the vinegar, he said: It is finished, and bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The jews then, for so much as it was the day of preparing, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath, (for the same Sabbath day was great) besought Pilate, that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken down. Then came the soudyers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But when they came to jesus, and saw that he was deed already, they broke not his legs, but one of the soudyers opened his side with a spear. Zach. 1●. And immediately there went out blood and water. And he that saw it, bore record, and his record is true. And he knoweth that he sayeth true, that you might believe also. For this is done, that the scripture might be fulfilled: Exod. 12. You shall not break a bone of him. And again, another scripture sayeth: Zach. 12 They shall see him, whom they have pierced. After that, joseph of Arimathia, which was a disciple of jesus (but secretly for fear of the jews) besought Pilate, Marc. 15. Mat. 27. Luc. 23. c that he might take down the body of jesus. Andrea Pilate gave him licence. There came also joh. ●. a Nicodemus, (which afore came unto jesus by night) & brought of Myrrh & Aloes mingled together, about an hundredth pound weight. Then took they the body of jesus, & wound it with linen clotheses, and with the spices, as the manner of the jews is to bury. And by the place where jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, where in was never man laid: there laid they jesus, because of the preparing day of the Jews, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. The XX. Chapter. Upon one day of the Sabbath, came Mary Magdalene early (when it was yet dark) unto the sepulchre, & saw that the stone was taken from the sepulchre. Then ran she, & came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, joh. 13. c 19 c. 21. a whom jesus loved, and said unto them: They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, & we can not tell where they have laid him. Then went Peter forth and the other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. They ran both together, and that other disciple outramne Peter, and came first to the sepulchre, and looked in, and saw the linen clothes laid. But he went not in. Then came Simon Peter after him, and went in to the sepulchre, & saw the linen clotheses lie, and the napkin that was bound about jesus head, not laid with the linen clotheses, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, & he saw & believed: for as yet they knew not the scriptures, Psal. 15. b Act. 2. ᶜ ●3. d. 17. a that it behoved him to rise again from the deed. Then went the disciples again together. As for Mary, she stood before the sepulchre & wept without. Now as she wept▪ she looked in to the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white garments sitting, the one at the head, & the other at the feet, where they had laid the body of jesus. And they said unto her: Woman, why wepest thou? She said unto them: They have taken away my LORD, & I wot not where they have laid him. And when she had said that, she turned herself back, & saw jesus standing, & knew not that it was jesus. jesus said unto her: Woman, why wepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She thought that it had been the gardener, & said unto him: Sir, if thou hast born him hence: then tell me where thou hast laid him? and I will fetch him. jesus said unto her: Mary. Then turned she her about, & said unto him: Rabboni, that is to say: Master. jesus said unto her: touch me not, for I am not yet ascended unto my father. But go thou the way unto my Psal. 21. c brethren & say unto them: I ascend up unto my father and yo father: ●ohan. 16. d to my God, & yo God. Mary Magdalene came, & told the disciples: I have seen the LORD, Luc. 42. a & such things hath he spoken unto me. The same Sabbath at even when the disciples were gathered together, Luc. 24. c and the doors were shut for fear of the Jews, came jesus, and stood in your mids, & said unto them: Peace be with you. And when he had so said, he showed them his hands & his side. joh. 16. c Then were the disciples glad, that they saw the LORD. Then said jesus unto them again: Peace be with you. Esa. 61. a Mar. 16. b Luc. 4. a joh. 17. c Like as my father sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said that, he breathed upon them, and said unto them: Receive the holy ghost. Whose sins soever you remit, they are remitted unto them: and whose sins so ever you retain, they are retained. But Thomas one of the twelve joh. 11. b which is called Didimus, was not with them when jesus came. Then said the other disciples unto him: We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them: Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand in to his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again were his disciples with in, & Thomas with them. Then came jesus (when the doors were shut) & stood in the mids, & said: Peace be with you. After that said he unto Thomas: Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands, and reach hither thy hand, & put it in to my side, & be not faithless, but believe. Thomas answered, & said unto him: My LORD, and my God. jesus said unto him: Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they, that see not, and yet believe. Many other tokens did jesus before his disciples, which are not written in this book, But these are written, that you should believe, that jesus is Christ the son of God, & that you thorough believe might have life in his name. The XXI. Chapter. AFter that showed jesus himself again at the see of Tiberias. But on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, & Thomas which is called Didimus, & Ioh.▪ ● Nathanael of Cana a cite of Galilee, & the sons of zebedee, & two other of his disciples. Simon Peter said unto them: I go a fyshinge. They said unto him: We also will go with the. They went out, & entered into a ship strait way. And that same night took they nothing. But when it was now morrow, jesus stood on the shore, but his disciples knew not that it was jesus. jesus said unto them: Children, have you any thing to eat? They answered him: No. He said unto them: 〈…〉 Cast out the net on the right side of the ship, & you shall find. Then they cast out, & could no more draw it for the multitude of fish. Then said the disciple 〈…〉 whom jesus loved, unto Peter: It is the LORD. When Simon Peter heard that is was the LORD, he gird his mantel about him (for he was naked) and sprang in to the see. But other disciples came by ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundredth cubytes) and they drew the net with the fiszhes. Now when they were come to land, they saw coals laid, and fish thereon, and bread. jesus said unto them: Bring hither of the fishes, 〈…〉 that you have taken now. Simon Peter stepped forth, and drawn the net to the land, full of great fyszhes, and hundredth and three and fifty. And for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. jesus said unto them: Come, and dine. But none of the disciples dared axe him: Who art thou? For they knew, that it was the LORD. Then came jesus, and took the bread, and gave it them: and the fyszhe likewise. This is now the third time that jesus appeared unto his disciples, after that he was risen again from the deed. Now when they had dined, jesus said unto Simon Peter: Simon johanna, lovest thou me more than these do? He said unto him: Ye LORD, thou knowest that I love the. He said unto him: Feed my lambs. He said unto him again the second time: Simon johanna, lovest thou me? He said unto him: Ye LORD, thou knowest, that I love ye. He said unto him: Feed my sheep. He said unto him the third time: Simon johanna, lovest thou me? Peter was sorry, because he said unto him, lovest thou me? And he said unto him: 〈◊〉. ●5. d LORD, thou knowest all things, thou knowest, that I love ye. jesus said unto him: Feed my sheep. Verily verily I say unto thee: When thou wast young, thou gerdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest. 〈…〉 But when thou art old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, 〈…〉 and another shall gird thee, and lead the whither thou wouldest not. But this he said, to signify with what death he should glorify God. When he had spoken this, he said unto him: Follow me. Peter turned him about, and saw the disciple following, whom jesus loved, ( 〈…〉 which also leaned upon his breast at the supper, and said: LORD, who is it that betrayeth thee)? When Peter saw him, he said unto jesus: LORD, but what shall he do? jesus said unto him: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went there out a saying among the brethren: This disciple dieth not. And jesus said not unto him: He dieth not, but: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the same disciple, which testifieth of these things, and written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many other things also that jesus did, which, if they should be written every one, I suppose the world should not contain the books, that were to be written. The end of the Gospel of S. Ihon. The Acts of the Apostles, written by S. Luke the Evangelist. What the Acts contain. Chap. I The ascension of Christ. Mathias is choose in the stead of judas. Chap. II The coming of the holy ghost. The sermon of Peter before the congregation at jerusalem, and the increase of the faithful. Chap. III The halt is restored to his feet. Peter preacheth Christ unto the people. Chap. four The Apostles are taken and brought before the council. They are forbidden to preach, but they turn them unto prayer, and are more obedient unto God then unto men. Chap. V The dissembling of Ananias and Saphira is punished. Miracles are done by the Apostles, which are taken, but the angel of God bringeth them out of preson. They are brought before the council, The sentence of Gamaliel. The apostles are bet, they rejoice in trouble. Chap VI Ministers (or deacons) are ordained in the congregation to do service in necessary things of the body, that the Apostles may wait only upon the word of God. Steven is accused. Chap. VII. Steven maketh answer to his accusation, rebuketh the hardnecked jews, and is stoned unto death. Chap. VIII. Saul persecuteth the Christian, The Apostles are scattered abroad. Philip cometh in to Samaria. Simon magus is baptized, he dyssembleth. Philip baptizeth the chamberlain. Chap. IX. Paul is converted, and confoundeth the jews▪ Peter raiseth Tabytha. Chap. X. The vision that Peter saw. How he was sent to Cornelius. The heathen also receive the spirit, and are baptized. Chap. XI. Peter showeth the cause wherefore he went to the heathen. Barnabas and Paul preach unto the heathen. Agabus prophesieth dearth for to come. Chap. XII. Herode persecuteth the christian, killeth james, and putteth Peter in preson, whom the LORD delivereth by an angel. The shameful death of Herode. Chap. XIII. Paul and Barnabas are called to preach among the heathen▪ Of Sergius Paulus and Elymas the sorcerar. Paul preacheth at Antioch. Chap. XIIII. Paul and Barnabas preach at I●●nium: some believe, some steer up sedition. A● Listra they would do sacrifice to Barnabas and Paul, which refuse it, and exhort the people to worship the true God Paul is stoned, after that cometh he to Derba, lystra, I conium and to Antioch. Chap. XU. Variance about circumcision, The Apostles pacify the matter at Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas preach at Antioch. Chap. XVI. Timothy is circumcised, Paul preacheth at Philippos, and there is he put in preson. Chap. XVII. Paul cometh to Thessalonica, where the jews set the cite on a roar Paul escapeth, and cometh to Athens, where he preacheth the true and unknown God. Chap. XVIII. Paul preacheth at Corinthum, continuing there a year and a half, goeth again in to Syria, cometh to Ephesus, Caesarea and Antioch. Of Apollo's, Aquila and Priscilla. Chap. XIX. Of the xij. men whom Paul baptized at Ephesus, and what miracles were done by him. Demetrius moveth sedition in the cite. Chap. XX. Paul goeth in to Macedonia and in to Grekelonde. At Troas he raiseth up a deed body. At Ephesus he calleth the elders of the congregation together, committeth the keeping of God's flock unto them, warneth them for false teachers, maketh his prayer with them, and departeth to ship. Chap. XXI. Paul's journey by ship. Of Philippe the Evangelist, and Agabus the Prophet, which warneth Paul not to go to jerusalem. He remaineth steadfast in his purpose, and is taken in the temple. Chap. XXII. Paul answereth the jews, is scourged, and laid in preson again. Chap XXIII. Paul cometh before the council. Debate ariseth among the people, the captain delivereth him, God comforteth him. Chap. XXIIII. Paul is accused before felix, he answereth for himself. Chap. XXV The jews accuse Paul before Festus, he appealeth unto the Emperor, and is sent unto Rome. Chap. XXVI. King Agrippa heareth Paul, which telleth him his calling from the beginning. Chap. XXVII. Paul's shiping toward Rome, julius the captain entreateth Paul courteously, at the last they suffer shipwreck. Chap. XXVIII. The viper hurteth not Paul's hand, he heals Publius father, and preacheth Christ at Rome. The Acts of the Apostles. The first Chapter. THE first treatise (dear Theophilus) have I made of all that jesus began to do and to teach, until the day that he was taken up, after that he (thorough the holy ghost) had given commandments to to the Apostles, whom he had choose: to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion, by many tokens, Io● ● and appeared unto them forty days long, and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God. And when he had gathered them together, he commanded them that they should not depart from jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father, whereof (said he) you have herd of me: 〈…〉 * For John baptized with water, but you shallbe baptized with the holy ghost, & that within this few days. Now when they were come together, they axed him, and said: LORD, shalt thou at this time set up the kingdom of Israel again? But he said unto them: It belongeth not unto you to know the times or seasons, 〈…〉 which the father hath kept in his own power, but you shall receive the power of the holy ghost, which shall come upon you, and you shallbe my witnesses at jerusalem, Luc. 〈…〉. Act. 〈…〉 Act. 〈…〉 and in all jewrye and Samaria, and unto the end of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their fight. 〈…〉 And while they looked after him, as he went in to heaven, behold, there stood by them two men in white garments, which also said: you men of Galilee, Why stand you gazing up in to heaven? This jesus which is taken up from you in to heaven 〈◊〉 7. b 〈◊〉 24. c 〈◊〉 13. c 〈◊〉▪ 17. c 〈◊〉 21. d shall come even so as you have seen him go in to heaven. Then turned they again from the mount that is called Olivete, which is nigh to jerusalem, and hath a Sabbath days journey. And when they came in, they went up in to a parlour, 〈◊〉. 10. a 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉▪ 5. b 〈◊〉 9▪ a where abode Peter and james, John and Andrew, Philippe and Thomas, Bartilmew and Matthew, james the son of Alpheus, and Simon zealots, and judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of jesus and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the mids among the disciples, and said: (The company of the names together, was about an hundredth and twenty.) You men and brethren, this scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the holy ghost by the mouth of David spoke before of judas, which was a guide of them that took jesus: 〈◊〉 10. a for he was numbered with us, and had obtained the fellowship of this ministration. This same truly possessed the 〈◊〉 ●7. a field for the reward of unrighteousness, and hanged himself, and braced asunder in the mids, and all his bowels guszhed out. And it is known unto all them that devil at jerusalem, in so much that the same field is called in their mother tongue Acheldema, that is to say, the blood field. For it is written in the book of psalms: His habitation be void, and noman be dwelling therein. And: 〈◊〉 ●3. d 〈◊〉 103. a His biszhoprike another take. Wherefore among these men which have been gathered together with us (all the time that the LORD jesus went out and in among us, beginning from the baptism of John, until the day that he was taken up from us) must one be a witness with us of his resurrection. 〈…〉 And they appointed two (joseph called Barsabas, whose surname was justus, and Mathias.) making their prayer and saying: 〈◊〉 19 c Thou LORD, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast choose, that the one may take the room of this ministration and apostleship, from the which judas by transgression fallen, that he might go away in to his own place. Andrea they gave forth the lots over them, and the lot fallen upon Mathias. And he was counted with the eleven Apostles. The II Chapter. ANd when the Deut. 16. ● Levi. 24. ● Whit sondaye was fulfilled, 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 the whole house where they sat. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as they had been of fire. And he sat upon each one of them, and they were all filled with the holy ghost. Mat. 16. c And they began to preach with other tongues, even as the spirit gave them utterance. There were dwelling at jerusalem jews, men that feared God, out of every nation that is under heaven. Now when this voice came to pass, the multitude came together, and were astonied: For every one herd, that they spoke with his own tongue. They wondered all and marveled, and said among themselves: Behold, are not all these which speak, of Galilee? How hear we then every one his own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and we that devil in Mesopotamia, and in jewry and Capadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrigia and Pamphilia, Egipte, and in the parts of Lybia by Cyren, and strangers of Rome, jews and Mat. 23. Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians: we hear them speak with our own tongues the great works of God. They were all amazed, and wondered, and said one to another: What will this be? But other mocked them, and said: They are full of sweet wine. Then stood Peter up with the eleven, and lift up his voice, and said unto them: You men of jewry, and all you that devil at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and let my words enter in at your ears. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, for it is yet but the third hour of the day: but this is it, that was spoken before by the prophet joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, sayeth God, Ioel ●. f I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions * Act. 10. and 16. b and your old men shall dream dreams, Luc. 2. f Act. 21. b and on my servants and on my handmaidens will I pour out of my spirit in those days, & they shall prophecy. Andrea I will show wonders in heaven above, and tokens on the earth beneath, Mat. 27. f Luc. 23. d blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The Son shallbe turned in to darkness, and the Moon in to blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, ●o. 10. b Who so ever shall call upon the name of the LORD, shallbe saved. You men of Israel, hear these words: jesus of Nazareth, the man approved of God among you with miracles, and wonders and tokens, which God did by him in the mids among you, as you yo selves know also, Mat. 27. c him (after that he was delivered by the determinate council and foreknowledge of God) have you taken by the hands of unrighteous personnes, and crucified him, & slain him, ●ct. 10. e whom God hath raised up, and loosed the sorrows of death, for so much as it was unpossible that he should be held of it. ●sal. 15. b For David speaketh of him: Afore hand have I set the LORD 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: For my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither shalt thou suffer the Holy to see corruption. Thou hast showed me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. You men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David: For he is deed and buried, Reg. 2. b and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Wherefore now seeing that he was a prophet, and knew that God had promised him with an oath, that the fruit of his loins should sit on his seat, ●al. 131. b he saw it before, and spoke of the resurrection of Christ: for his soul was not left in hell, neither hath his flesh seen corruption. This jesus hath God raised up, ●ct. 1 a 〈◊〉. 15. c whereof we all are witnesses. saying now that he by the right hand of God ●hilip. 2. a is exalted, and hath received of the father the promise of the holy ghost, he hath shed forth this, that you see and hear. For David is not ascended in to heaven, but he said: ●●al. 109. a The LORD said unto my LORD: Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy enemy's that foot stolen. So therefore let all the house of Israel know for a surety, that God hath made this same jesus (whom you have crucified) LORD and Christ. ●ach. 1●. c When they heard this, their heart pricked them, and they said unto Peter and to the other Apostles: You men and brethren, 〈◊〉. 3. b ●ct. 9 a 〈◊〉 16. d What shall we do? Peter said onto them: Amend yourselves, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. For this ●el. ●. f promise was made unto you and your children, and to all that are far of, whom so ever the LORD our God shall call. Andrea with many other words bore he witness, and exorted them, and said: Save yourselves from this untoward generation. They that gladly received his preaching, were baptized, & the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. They continued in the Apostles doctrine, and in the fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and tokens were done by the Apostles. But all they that believed, were together, Act. ● and had all things comen. They sold their goods and possessions, and parted them out among all, according as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and Esa ● broke bread in every house: they took their meat with joy & 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. The III Chapter. PEter and John went up together in to the temple about the nyenth hour to pray. And there was a certain man halt from his mother's womb, whom they brought and laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called, the Beautiful, that he might axe alms of them that went in to the temple. Now when he saw Peter and John, that they would in to the temple, he desired to receive an alms. Peter beheld him with John, and said: Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, hoping to receive something of them. Howbeit Peter said: Silver and gold have I none: but such as I have give I the. Act. ● In the name of jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up & walk. And he took him by the right hand and lift him up. Immediately his legs & ankle bones were made strong, and he sprang, stood and walked, and entered with them in to the temple, walking, and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walk and praise God. And they knew him, that it was he, which sat for alms at the beautiful gate of the temple. And they were filled with wondering, and were astonnyed at that, which had happened unto him. But as this halt which was healed held him to Peter and John, all the people ran unto them in to the 〈…〉 porch, which is called Salomon'S, and wondered. When Peter saw that, he answered unto the people: You men of Israel, why marvel you at this, or why look you so at us, as though we by our own power or deserving, had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac, and of jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his child jesus, 〈…〉 whom you delivered and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had judged him to be loosed. But you denied the holy and just, and desired the murderer to be given you, but you slew the prince of life, whom God hath raised from the deed, of the which we are witnesses. And thorough the faith in his name, hath he confirmed his name upon this man, whom you see and know: and faith thorough him, hath given this man this health before your eyes. Now dear brethren, I know that you have done it 〈…〉 thorough ignorance, as did also your rulers. But God, which by the mouth of all his prophets had showed before, that his Christ should suffer, hath so fulfilled it. Do penance now therefore and turn you, that your sins may be done away, when the time of refreshing shall come before the presence of the LORD, and when he shall send him, which now before is preached unto you, even jesus Christ: which must receive heaven until the time that all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets sense the world began, be restored again. For Moses said unto the fathers: A prophet shall the LORD your God raise up unto you, 〈…〉. c 〈…〉. c even from among your brethren, like unto me: him shall you hear, in all that he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, what soul soever shall not hear the same prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. And all the prophets from Samuel and thence forth as many as have spoken, have likewise told of these days. You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant, which God made unto our fathers, when he said unto Abraham: Thorough the sede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. 〈◊〉 12. a 〈◊〉 22. c 〈◊〉. 10. a First unto you hath God raised up his child jesus, & sent him unto you, to bless you: that every one should turn from his wickedness. The four Chapter. But as they spoke to the people, there came unto them the priests and the rulers of the temple, and the Saducees, whom it grieved that they taught the people, & preached in jesus the resurrection from the deed and they laid hands upon them, and put them in hold till the morrow: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word, believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it chanced on the morrow, that their rulers and Elders and scribes (as Annas the high priest and Caiphas, and John & Alexander, and as many as were of the high priests kindred) gathered themselves together at jerusalem, and set them before them, and axed them: By what authority, Or in what name have you done this? Mat. ●1. c Peter full of the holy ghost, said unto them: You rulers of the people, and you Elders of Israel, If we this day be examined concerning this good deed upon the sick man, by what means he is made whole, be it known then unto you and to all the people of Israel, Act. 3 a that in the name of jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised up from the deed, standeth this man here before you whole. Psal. 117. c Mat. 21. e 1. Pet. 2. a This is the stone refused of you builders, which is become the head corner stone, neither is there salvation in any other: * Mat. 1. c Phil. 2. a Ne'er yet also is there given unto men any other name, wherein we must be saved. They saw the boldness of Peter & John and marveled, for they were sure that they were unlearned men and lay people. And they knew them also, that they were with Iesu. As for the man that was made whole, they saw him standing by them, & could not say against it. Then commanded they them to stand aside out of the council, & commened among themselves, & said: joh. 11. c What shall we do to these men? for a manifest token is done by them, and is openly known unto them that devil at jerusalem, and we can not deny it. Butler that it break out no farther among the people, let us threaten them earnestly, that hence forth they speak of this name unto noman. And they called them, and commanded them, that in any wise they should not speak ner teach in the name of Iesu. But Peter & John answered, and said unto them: judge you yourselves, whether it be right before God, that we should be more obedient unto you, then unto God. We can not choose, but speak that we have seen & heard. But they threatened them, and let them go, and found nothing how to punish them because of the people: for they all praised God because of that, Act. ●. which was done. For the man, upon whom this token of health was done, was above forty year old. And when they were let go they came to their follows, and told them what the high priests and Elders said unto them. When they heard that, they lift up their voice with one accord unto God, and said: LORD, thou that art the God which made heaven and earth, and the see, and all that therein is thou that by the mouth of David thy servant hast said: Why do the heathen rage? and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stand up, Psal. 2. a and the princes have gathered themselves together against the LORD, and against his. Christ. Of a truth against thy holy child jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herode & Pontius Pilate with the Heythen and people of Israel, have gathered themselves together, to do what soever thy hand and thy council determined before to be done. And now LORD, behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants with all steadfast boldness to speak thy word: and stretch out thy hand, that healing and tokens and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child jesus. And when they had prayed, the place moved where they were gathered together, & they were all filled with the holy ghost, & spoke the word of God boldly. The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart and of one soul. Also none of them said of his goods, that they were his own, but had all things comen. And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the LORD jesus, and great grace was with them all. neither was there any among them that lacked. For as many as were possessers of lands or houses, sold them and brought the money of the goods that were sold, and laid it at the Apostles feet. And distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need. joses which was also called of the Apostles, Barnabas (that is to say, the son of consolation) a Levite, of the country of Cypers, had land, and sold it, & brought the money, and laid it at the Apostles feet. The V Chapter. But a certain man named Ananias with Saphira his wife, sold his possession, and kept away part of the money (his wife knowing of it) and brought one part, & laid it at the Apostles feet. But Peter said: Ananias, Wherefore hath Satan filled thy heart, that thou shouldest lie unto the holy ghost, and withdraw away part of the money of the livelihood? Mightest thou not have kept it, when thou hadst it? And when it was sold, the money was also in thy power: Why hast thou then conceived this thing in thy heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. When Ananias heard these words, he fallen down, & gave up the ghost. And there came a great fear upon all them that heard of this. The young men rose up, and put him aside, and carried him out, and buried him. And it fortuned as it were about the space of three hours after, his wife came in, and knew not what was done. But Peter answered unto her. Tell me, sold you the land for somuch? She said: Ye, for so much. Peter said unto her: Why have you agreed together, to tempt the spirit of the LORD? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband, are at the door, & shall carry the out. And immediately she fallen down at his feet, and gave up the ghost. Then came in the young men, and found her deed, and carried her out, and buried her by her husband. And there came a great fear over the whole congregation, and over all them that heard it. Many tokens and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the Apostles (and they were all together with one accord in 〈…〉 Salomons porch: but of other there dared no man join himself unto them, nevertheless the people held much of them. The multitude of the men and women that believed in the LORD, grew more and more) In so much that they brought out the sick in to the streets, and laid them upon beds and barrows, that at the least way the shadow of Peter (when he came by) might overshadow some of them. There came many also out of the cities round about unto jerusalem, and brought the sick and then that were vexed with unclean spretes, and they were healed every one. But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, 〈…〉 which is the sect of the Saducees, and were full of indignation, & laid hands on the Apostles, and put them in the common preson. But the angel of the LORD by night opened the preson doors, 〈…〉 and brought them out, and said: Go your way and step up, and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. When they heard that, they entered in to the temple early in the morning: and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, & all the Elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the preson to fet them. The ministers came and found them not in the preson, ●ame again, and told, and said: The preson found we shut with all diligence, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found noman therein. When the high priest, and the rulers of the temple and the other high priests heard these words, they doubted of them, whereunto this would grow. Then came there one, which told them: Behold, the men that you put in preson, are in the temple, standing and teaching the people. Then went the rulers with their ministers, and fetched them without violence: 〈…〉 for they feared the people, jest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest axed them, and said: Did not we 〈…〉 command you strately, that you should not teach in this name. And behold, you have filled jerusalem with your doctrine, 〈…〉 and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the Apostles answered, and said: We aught more to obey God then men. The God of our fathers hath raised up jesus, whom you slew, and hanged on tree. Him hath the right hand of God exalted, to be a prince and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins unto Israel. And we are his records of these words, and the holy ghost, whom God hath given unto them that obey him. When they heard that, it went thorough the hearts of them, and they thought to slay them. Then stood there up in the council a pharisee, 〈…〉 named Gamaliel, a scribe, had in great reputation before all the people, and bade put the Apostles aside a little, and said unto them: You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves, what you do as touching these men. Before these days rose up one Theudas, boostinge himself. (And there cleaved unto him a number of men, about a four hundredth) which was slain, and all they that inclined unto him, were scattered abroad, and brought to nought. 〈…〉 After this stood up judas of Galilee in the days of tribute, and drew away much people after him, & he also perished, & all they that inclined unto him, are scattered abroad. And now I say unto you: refrain yo selves from these men, and let them go. 〈…〉 If this council or work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, you are not able to destroy it, jest you be found to be the men, that will strive against God. Then they agreed unto him, and called the Apostles, and bet them, and commanded them, that they should speak nothing in the name of jesus, and let them go. But they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing, Mat. 5. ● that they were worthy to suffer rebuke for his name's sake. And daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not, to teach and to preach the Gospel of jesus Christ. The VI Chapter. IN those days when the number of the disciples increased, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were not looked upon in the daily handreachinge. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples together, and said: It is not meet that we should leave the word of God, and to serve at the tables. Wherefore brethren, look out among you seven men, 1. Tim. 3. b that are of honest report, and full of the holy ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to this needful business. Butler we will give ourselves unto prayer, and to the ministration of the word of God. And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Steven, a man full of faith and of the holy ghost, and Philippe, and Procorus, and Nicanor, and Thimon, and Parmenas', and Nicolas the Proselyte of Antioch. Nu. 27. d Act. 1. d 1. Ti. 4. b 2. Tim. 1. b These they set before the Apostles, and they prayed, and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly at jerusalem. And there were many priests also obedient unto the faith. Steven full of faith and power, did wonders and great tokens among the people. Then arose there certain of the synagogue, which is called (the synagogue) of the Libertynes, & of the Cyrenites, and of the Alexandrines, and of them that were of Celicia and Asia, & disputed with Steven, Luc. 21. b and they could not resist the wisdom and the spirit, out of the which he spoke. Then sent they in certain men, that said: Mat. 26. f We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they moved the people, and the Elders and the scribes, and came upon him, & caught him, and brought him before the council, and set false witnesses there, which said: This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. For we heard him say: jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and change the ordinances which Moses gave us. And all they that sat in the council, looked upon him and saw his face as the face of an angel. The VII. Chapter. Then said the high priest: Is it even so? He said: Dear brethren and fathers, hearken to, The God of glory appeared unto oh father Abraham, while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelled in Haran, and said unto him: Get that out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come in to a land which I will show ye. Then went he out of the land of the Caldees, Gen. 11. d and dwelled in Haran. * Gen. 12. a And from thence, when his father was deed, he brought him over in to this land (where you devil now) and gave him no inheritance therein, not not the breadth of a foot: and promised him, that he would give it him to possess, Gen. 13. d and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. Gen. 15. c But thus said God unto him: Thy seed shallbe a stranger in a strange land, and they shall make bond men of them, and entreat them evil four hundredth years: and the people whom they shall serve, will jiudge, said God. And after that shall they go forth, and serve me in this place. Andrea he gave him the covenant of circumcision. Gen. 17. b And he begat Isaac, Gen. 21. a Gen. 25. c and circumcised him the eight day. Andrea Isaac begat jacob * Gen. 29. f and jacob begat the twelve patriarchs. And the patriarchs had indignation at joseph, Gen. 37. e Sap. 10. c and sold him in to Egipte. Andrea God was with him, and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egipte Gen. 41. f which made him prince over Egipte and over all his house. But there came a dearth over all the land of Egipte and Canaan, Gen. 41. g and 42. a and a great trouble, and our fathers found no sustenance. But jacob heard that there was corn in Egipte, and sent our fathers out the first tyme. Gen. 45. a And at the second time was joseph known of his brethren, and joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. But joseph sent out, and caused his father and all his kindred to be brought, even three score and fifteen souls. Gen. 46. a G●n. 49. ● And jacob went down in to Egipte, and died, both he and our fathers * Goe 50. b joshua. 24 f and were brought over unto Sichem, and laid in the sepulchre, that Abraham bought for money of the children of Hemor at Sichem. Gen. 23. d Now when the time of the promise druenye (which God had sworn unto Abraham) the people grew and multiplied in Egipte, Exod. 1. a Psal. 104. a till there rose another king, which knew not of joseph. The same dealt suttely with our kindred, and entreated our father's evil and made them to cast out the young children, that they should not remain alive. At the same time was Moses born, 〈…〉 and was a proper child before God, and was nourished three months in his father's house. But when he was cast out, pharao's daughter took him up, and nourished him up for her own son. And Moses was learned in all manner wisdom of the Egipcians, and was mighty in deeds & words. But when he was forty year old, it came in to his mind to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he helped him, and delivered him, that had the harm done unto him, and slew the Egipcian. But he thought that his brethren should have understand, how that God by his hand should save them, howbeit they understood it not. And on the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove together, and would have set them at one again, and said: Sirs, you are brethren, why hurt you one another? But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust him away, and said: 〈…〉 Who made the a ruler and judge over us? Will't thou slay me also, as thou slewest the Egipcian yesterday? But Moses fled at that saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. And after forty years, 〈…〉 the angel of the LORD appeared unto him upon mount Sina, in a flame of fire in a buszhe. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. But as he drew nigh to behold, the voice of the LORD came unto him: I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of jacob. howbeit Moses trembled, and dared not behold. But the LORD said unto him: 〈…〉 Put of thy shues from thy feet, for the place where thou stondest, is an holy ground. I have well seen the trouble of my people in Egipte, and have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send the in to Egipte. This Moses, whom they refused, and said: Who made the a ruler and judge over us? 〈…〉 him had God sent to be a ruler & deliverer by the hand of the angel, that appeared unto him in the buszhe. The same brought them out, and did wonders and tokens in Egipte, and in the reed see, and in the wilderness forty years. This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel: 〈◊〉. 18. c ●ct. 3. d A prophet shall the LORD your God raise up unto you even from among your brethren, like unto me. Him shall you hear. This is he, 〈◊〉. 19 a 〈◊〉 3. c that was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel, which talked with him, upon mount Sina, and with our fathers. This man received the word of life to give unto us, unto whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again in to Egipte, and said unto Aaron: Make us gods to go before us, 〈…〉 for we can not tell what is become of this Moses, that brought us out of the land of Egipte. And they made a calf at the same time, and offered sacrifice unto the image, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. But God turned himself, & 〈◊〉 1. d gave them up, so that they worshipped the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 〈◊〉 3. d 〈◊〉 ●. c O you house of Israel, gave you me sacrifices and cattle those forty years in the wilderness? And you took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, images which you your selves made to worship them. And I will cast you out beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, like as he appointed them, 〈◊〉 25. d 〈◊〉. ●. a when he spoke unto Moses, that he should make it (according to the patron, that he had seen.) which our fathers also received, and brought it with joshua into the land that the heathen had in possession, 〈…〉 whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, until the time of David, which found favour with God, and desired that he might find a tabernacle for the God of jacob. But Solomon built him an house. 〈◊〉 6. a 〈◊〉 17. d Howbeit the Hyest of all dwelleth not in temples that are made with hands: As he sayeth by the prophet: 〈…〉 Heaven is my seat, and the earth is my foot stolen. What house then wily build unto me? sayeth the LORD: Or which is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? 〈…〉 You stiffnecked & of uncircumcised hearts and ears, you allway resist the holy ghost: Even as you fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not you fathers persecuted? And they slew them, which told before of the coming of that righteous, whose traitors and murthurers you are now become. You received the law by the ministration of angels, 〈…〉. b 〈◊〉 15. b and have not kept it. When they heard this, it went thorough the hearts of them, and they gnaszhed upon him with their teeth. But he being full of the holy ghost, looked up toward heaven, Mat. 16. and saw the glory of God, and jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said: Behold, I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice, & Psal. 57 stopped their ears, and ran violently upon him all at once, and thrust him out of the cite, and stoned him. Act. 22. And the witnesses laid down their clotheses at the feet of a young man, which was called Saul. And they stoned Steven, which cried, & said: LORD jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, & cried with a loud voice: LORD, Luc. 2●. lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he fallen a sleep. The VIII. Chapter. SAul had pleasure in his death. At the same time there was a great persecution over the congregation at Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad in the regions of jewrye & Samaria, except the Apostles. As for Steven, men that feared God dressed him, and made great lamentation over him. Act. 9 ● 22. a. 26 1. Cor. ● Gal. 1. b But Saul made havoc of the congregation, entered in to every house, and drew out men & women, & delivered them to preson. They now that were scattered abroad went about & preached the word. Then came Philippe in to a cite of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people gave heed with one accord unto the things that Philip spoke, hearing him, and saying the tokens that he did. For the unclean spretes cried loud, and departed out of many that were possessed. And many that were sick of the palsy and lame, were healed. And there was great joy in the same cite. But afore there was in the same cite a certain man, called Simon, which used witch craft, and bewitched the people of Samaria, saying, that he was a man which could do great things. And they all regarded him from the least unto the greatest, & said: This is the power of God which is great. But they regarded him, because that of long time he had bewitched them with his sorcery. Howbeit when they believed Philip's preaching of the kingdom of God, and of the name of jesus Christ, they were baptized both men & women. Then Simon himself believed also, and was baptized, and cleaved unto Philippe. And when he saw the deeds and tokens that were done, he wondered. When the Apostles which were at jerusalem, herd, that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and Ihon. Which, when they were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the holy ghost. For as yet he was come upon none of them but they were baptized only in the name of Christ Iesu. ●ct. 13. a ●nd 19 a Tim. 4. b ●nd 5. c Tim. 1 b Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the holy ghost. But when Simon saw, that by the laying on of the Apostles hands that holy ghost was given, he offered them money, and said: give me also this power, that, on whomsoever I put the hands, he may receive the holy ghost. Howbeit Peter said unto him: Perish thou with thy money, Mat. 10. a because thou thinkest that the gift of God may be obtained with money. Thou shalt have neither part ner felashipe in this word, for the heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this the wickedness, and pray unto God, if haply the thought of thy heart may be forgiven ye.. For I see, that thou art full of bitter gall, and wrapped in with unrighteousness. Then answered Simon, & said: 〈◊〉. 21. b Pray you unto the LORD for me, that none of these things whereof you have spoken, come upon me. And they, when they had testified and spoken the word of the LORD, turned again to jerusalem, and preached the Gospel in many towns of the Samaritans. But the angel of the LORD spoke unto Philippe, and said: Arise, & go toward the South, unto the way that goeth down from jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he rose, and went on. And behold, a man of the Morions land (a chamberlain and of authority with Candace the queen of the land of the Morions) which had the rule of all her treasuries, the same came to Jerusalem to worship. And returned home again, and sat upon his chariot, and read the prophet Esay. The spirit said unto Philippe: Go near, and join thyself to yonder chariot. Then ran Philippe unto him, and heard him read the prophet Esay, and said: Vnderstondest thou what thou readest? He said: How can I, except some man inform me? And he desired Philippe, that he would come up, and sit with him. The tenor of the scripture which he read, was this: Esa. 53. b He was led as a sheep to be slain, and as a lamb voycelesse before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humbleness is his judgement exalted. Who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken away from the earth. Then answered the chamberlain unto Philippe, and said: I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Philippe opened his mouth, and began at this scripture, and preached him the Gospel of jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a water. And the chamberlain said: Behold, here is water, what hindereth me to be baptized? Philippe said: If thou believe from thy whole heart, thou mayest. He answered, and said: I believe, that jesus Christ is the son of God. And he commanded to hold still the chariot, and they went down in to the water, both Philippe and the chamberlain. And he baptized him. But when they were come up out of the water, the spirit of the LORD took Philippe away. And the chamberlain saw him no more. But he went on his way rejoicing. As for Philippe, he was found at Aszdod, and walked about, and preached the Gospel unto all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. The IX. Chapter. SAul was yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the LORD. Act. 〈…〉 1. Cor● 〈…〉 And went unto the high pressed, and desired of him letters to Damascon unto the synagogues, that if he found any of this way (whether they were men or women) he might bring them bound unto jerusalem. And as he was going on his journey, it fortuned, that he came nigh unto Damascon, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven, and he fallen to the earth, and heard a voice, which said unto him: Saul Saul 〈…〉 why persecutest thou me? He said: LORD, who art thou? The LORD said: I am jesus, whom thou persecutest. It shallbe hard for the to kick against the prick. And he both trembling and astonnyed, said: LORD 〈…〉 what will't thou that I shall do? The LORD said unto him: Arise, and go into the cite, there shall it be told the what thou shalt do. As for the men that journeyed with him, they stood and were amazed: for they heard a voice, but saw noman. Saul rose from the earth, and when he had opened his eyes, he saw noman. Nevertheless they took him by the hand, & brought him to Damascon: and he was three days without sight, and neither ate ner drank. At Damascon there was a disciple named Ananias, and unto him said the LORD in a vision: Ananias And he said: behold, here am I LORD. The LORD said unto him: Arise, and go into the street which is called strait, and are in the house of juda after one called Saul of 〈…〉 Tharsis: for behold, he prayeth, & hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming unto him, & laying the hand upon him, that he might receive his sight. Ananias answered: LORD, I have herd by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem. And here hath he authority of the high priests, to bind all those that call upon thy name. The LORD said unto him: Go thy way, 〈…〉 for this man is a choose vessel unto me, that he may bear my name before the Heythen, and before kings, and before the children of Israel. I will show him, how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and came into the house, 〈◊〉 22. b and laid the hands upon him, and said: Brother Saul, the LORD which appeared unto the in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy ghost. And immediately there fallen from his eyes as it had been scales, and he received his sight, and rose, and was baptized, and took meat, and was comforted. Then was Saul a certain days with the disciples that were at Damascon. And strait way he preached Christ in the synagogues, how that he was the son of God. But all they that heard him, were amazed, and said: Is not this he, which at jerusalem spoiled all those that called on his name? and came hither to the intent that he should bring them bound unto the high priests? But Saul increased in strength, & confounded the Jews which dwelled at Damascon, and affirmed that this was very Christ. And after many days the jews held a council together to kill him. But it was told Saul, that they laid wait for him. And they waited at the gates day & night, 〈◊〉. 11. d that they might kill him. 〈◊〉. 2. c. 〈◊〉. 19 c Then the disciples took him by night, & put him thorough the brickwall, and let him down in a baslrett. 〈◊〉 2. b But when Saul came to jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, and believed not, that he was a disciple. Nevertheless Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and told them how he had seen the LORD in the way, and how he spoke to him, & how he had done boldly at Damascon in the name of Iesu. And he was with them, and went out and in at Jerusalem, and quite himself boldly in the name of the LORD Iesu. He spoke also, and disputed with the Greeks. But they went about to slay him. When the brethren knew that, Act. 22. b they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tharsis. So the congregations had rest thorough out all jewry, and Galilee, and Samaria, & were edified, and walked in the fear of the LORD, and were filled with the comfort of the holy ghost. It chanced that as Peter walked thorough all quarters, he came also unto the saints which dwelled at Lydda. There found he a man named Aeneas, which had lyen upon his bed eight years sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him: Aeneas, jesus Christ make the whole, arise, and make thy bed for the self. And he arose immediately. And all they that dwelled at Lydda and at Sarona, saw him, and turned unto the LORD. At joppa there was a certain woman that was a disciple, named Tabytha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: the same was full of good works and alms deeds, which she did. But it chanced at the same time, that she was sick, and died. Then waszhed they her, and laid her in a chamber. But for so much as Lydda was nigh unto joppa, and the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men unto him, and desired him, that he would take it for no grief to come unto them. Peter rose, and came with them. And when he was come, they brought him in to the chamber, and all the widows stood round about him, weeping, and showed him the coats and garments, which Dorcas made while she was with them. And when Peter had put them all forth, he kneeled down, made his prayer, and turned him unto the body, and said: Tabytha, rise up. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter Some read: * She 〈◊〉 up she sat her down again. But he gave her the hand, and lift her up, and called the saints and the wedowes, and showed her there alive. And it was known thorough out all joppa, & many believed on the LORD. And it fortuned, that he tarried a long season at joppa by one Simon, which was a tanner. The X. Chapter. THere was a man at Caesarea, named Cornelius (a captain of the company, which is called the I●alianysh) a devout man, & one that feared God with all his house, & gave much alms to the people, and prayed God allway. The same saw in a vision openly (about the nyenth hour of the day) an angel of God entering in to him, and saying unto him: Cornelius. He looked upon him, and was afraid, and said: LORD, what is it? He said unto him: Eccli. 35. b Thy prayers & thy allmesses are come up in to remembrance before God. And now send men unto joppa, & call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, which is at lodging with one Simon a tanner, whose house lieth by the see side: he shall tell thee, what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spoke to Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his household servants, & a devout soudyer, of them that waited upon him: and told them all, and sent them to joppa. On the next day after when these were going on their journey, and came nigh unto the cite, Peter 4. Re. 4. d Mat 6. a Luc. 6. b went up in to a chamber to pray about the sixte hour. And when he was hungry, he would have eaten. But while they made ready for him, he fallen into a trance, and saw heaven open, and a vessel coming down unto him, as it had been a great linen cloth, knit at the four corners, and was let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four footed beestes of the earth, & wild beestes, and worms, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice unto him: Rise Peter, slay, & eat. But Peter said: O not, LORD, levit. 11. a Deut. 14. a for I never ate any comen or unclean thing. And the voice spoke unto him again the second time: * Mat 15. b Ro 14. ᵇ ● Tim 4. a Tit. 1. c What God hath cleansed, that make not thou unclean. This was done thrice. And the vessel was received up again into heaven. But while Peter was cumbered in himself, what manner of vision this should be which he had seen, behold, the men that were sent from Cornelius, enquered after Simon'S house, and stood before the door, and called, and axed whether Simon (whose surname was Peter) were lodged there. While Peter was musing of the vision, the spirit said unto him: behold, the men seek the. Arise therefore, and get the down, & go with them, and doubt not, for I have sent them. Then went Peter down to the men, that were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said: lo, I am he whom you seek: what is that cause, wherefore you are come? They said: Cornelius the captain, a just man and one that fears God, and of good report among all the people of the jews, was warned by an holy angel, to send for the in to his house, and to hear words of the. Gen. 19 a and. 24. ᵈ ●. Pet. 4. b Then called he them in, and lodged them. The next day after went Peter forth with them, and certain brethren of joppa bore him company. And the day following came they to Caesarea. Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kynszfolkes and special friends. And as it chanced that Peter came in, Cornelius met him, and fallen down at his feet, & worshipped him. But Peter took him up, and said: Act. ●●. Apo. ●● and ●● stand up, I am a man also. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together, and he said unto them: You know, Deu. ●● that it is not lawful for a man being a jew to join himself or to come to a stranger. But God hath showed me, that I should call no man comen or unclean. Therefore have I not doubted to come, as soon as I was sent for. I axe you therefore, for what intent have you sent for me? Cornelius said: It is now four days ago, then fasted I, and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, there stood a man before me in a bright clothing, and said: Cornelius, thy prayer is herd, and thy allmesse deeds are had in remembrance in the sight of God. Send therefore to joppa, and call for one Simon (whose surname is Peter) which is at lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, by the seaside: the same when he cometh, shall speak unto ye. Then sent I unto the immediately, and thou hast done well, that thou art come. Now are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded the of God. Peter opened his mouth, & said: 〈…〉 Now perceive I of a truth, that God hath no respect of personnes, * but in all people he that fears him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted unto him. You know of the preaching that God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching thorough jesus Christ (which is LORD over all) which preaching was published thorough out all jewry, 〈…〉 and began in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God 〈…〉 anointed the same I●sus of Nazareth with the holy ghost and with power, which went about, & did good, and healed all those that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in the land of the jews, & at jerusalem. Whom they slew, and hanged on tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and caused him be openly showed, not to all the people, but to the choose witnesses of God even unto us, which ate & drunk with him, 〈…〉 after he was risen up from the deed. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, 〈…〉 and to testify, that it is he which is ordained of God a judge of the living and of the deed. 〈◊〉 4●. d 〈◊〉 53. c 〈◊〉 30. d 〈◊〉 4. d Of him bear all the prophets witness, that thorough his name all they that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins. while Peter was yet speaking these words, the holy ghost fallen upon all them that herkened unto the word. And the faithful of the circumcision which came with Peter, were astonnyed, because that the gift of the holy ghost was shed out also upon the Heythen. For they heard that they spoke with tongues, and magnified God. Then answered Peter: 〈◊〉 3. d May any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the LORD. Then prayed they him, that he would tarry there certain days. The XI. Chapter. THe Apostles and the brethren that were in jewrye, heard say, that the Heythen also had received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision, chode with him, and said: 〈◊〉 7. a Thou wentest into men that are uncircumcised, and hast eaten with them. But Peter began, and expounded the thing in order unto them and said: I was in the cite of joppa praying, 〈◊〉 10. b and in a trance I saw a vision, a vessel comining down, as it had been a great linen cloth with four corners, and let down from heaven, and came unto me. In to the which I looked, and considered, and saw four footed beestes of the earth, and wild beestes, and worms, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice, which said unto me: Rise Peter, slay, & eat. But I said: O not, LORD, for there never entered any comen or unclean thing in to my mouth. Nevertheless the voice answered me again from heaven: What God hath cleansed, that call not thou unclean. This was done three times, and all was taken up again into heaven. And behold, immediately stood there three men before the door of the house that I was in, sent from Caesarea unto me. But the spirit said unto me, that I should go with them and doubt nothing. ●ct. 10. c These six brethren also came with me, and we entered in to the man's house. Andrea he showed us, how he had seen an angel standing in his house, which said unto him: Send men to joppa, and call for Simon (whose surname is Peter) he shall tell the words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. But when I began to speak, the holy ghost fallen upon them, Act. 2. a like as upon us at the beginning. Then thought I upon the word of the LORD, how he said: Act. 1. a John baptized with water, but you shallbe baptized with the holy ghost. For as much then as God hath given them like gifts, as unto us, which believe on the LORD jesus Christ, who was I, that I should be able to withstand God? When they heard this, they held their peace, and praised God, and said: Then hath God also to the heathen granted repentance unto life. They that were scattered abroad thorough the trouble that rose about Steven, Act 8. a walked on everysyde until Phenices, and Cipers, and Antioch, and spoke the word unto noman but only unto the Jews. Nevertheless some of them were men of Cipers and Cyren, which came to Antioch, and spoke also unto the Greeks, & preached the Gospel of the LORD Iesu. And the hand of the LORD was with them. And a great number believed, and turned unto the LORD. This tidings of them came to the ears of the congregation at jerusalem. And they sent Barnabas, that he should go unto Antioch. Which when he was come thither, & saw the grace of God, he was glad, Act. 13. d and exorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would continue in the LORD. For he was a good man, full of the holy ghost and faith. And there was a great multitude of people added unto the LORD. But Barnabas departed unto Tharsus, to seek Saul And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It chanced, that a whole year they were there conversant together in the congregation, & taught much people, so that the disciples at Antioch were first called christian. In those days came there prophets from jerusalem unto Antioch. And one of them (whose name was Act. 21. b Agabus) stood up, and declared by the spirit a great dearth, that should come over the whole compass of the earth: which came to pass under the Emperor Claudius. But the disciples concluded (every one according to his ability) to send 1. Cor. 16. 2. Cor. 8. and 9 a an handreachinge unto the brethren that were in jewry: which thing they also did, and sent it by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. The XII. Chapter. AT the same time laid king Herode hands upon certain of the congregation, to vex them. As for Mat. 4. c james the brother of John, him he slew with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the jews, he proceeded farther to take Peter also. But it was Easter. Now when he had taken him, he put him in preson, and delivered him unto four quaternions of soudyers, to keep him: and thought after Easter to bring him forth to the people. And Peter was kept in the preson Act. 4. c But prayer was made without ceasing of the congregation, unto God for him. And when Herode would have brought him out unto the people, in the same night slept Peter between two soldiers, bound with two chains. And the keepers before the door kept the preson. And behold, the angel of the LORD was there present, and a light shined in the habitation, and he smote Peter on the side, and waked him up, and said: Arise up quickly. And the chains fallen of from his hands. And the angel said unto him: Gird thee, and put on thy shues. And he did so. And he said unto him: Cast thy mantle about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him, and wist not, that it was truth that was done by the angel, but thought he had seen a vision. Nevertheless they went thorough the first and second watch, and came to the iron gate, that leadeth unto the cite, which opened to them by his own accord. And they went out, and passed thorough one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said: Now I know of a truth, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and delivered me out of the hand of Herode, and from all the waiting for of the people of the jews. And as he considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of one John, (which after his surname was called Mark) where many were gathered together, Act. 1. b and prayed. Asdrubal Peter knocked at the entry door, there came forth a damsel to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the entry for gladness, but ran in, and told, that Peter stood before the entry. But they said unto her: Thou art mad. Nevertheless she abode by it, that is was so. They said: it is his angel. But Peter continued knocking. When they opened the door, they saw him, and were astonnyed. Act. 13. b But he beckoned unto them with the hand, to hold their peace, & told them, how the LORD had brought him out of the preson. Andrea he said: Show this unto james, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went in to another place. When it was day, there was not a little a do among the soudyers, what was become of Peter. When Herode had called for him, and found him not, he caused the keepers to be examined, and commanded them to be carried away, and he went down from jewry unto Caesarea, and there abode. But he was displeased with them of tire and Sidon. Nevertheless they came unto him with one accord, and made intercession to Blastus the kings chamberlain, and desired peace, because their country was nourished by the kings land. But upon a day appointed, Herode put on the kingly apparel, sat him down upon the judgement seat, and made an oration unto them. As for the people, they cried thereto: This is a voice of God, and not of a man. Immediately the angel of the LORD smote him, because he gave not God the honour: And he was eaten up of worms, 〈…〉 and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew, and multiplied. As for Barnabas and Saul, they came again to jerusalem, and delivered Act 〈…〉 the handreachinge, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark. The XIII. Chapter. THere were at Antioch in the congregation, prophets and teachers, as Barnabas, and Simon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyren, and Manahen Herodes the Tetrachas norsfelowe, and Saul. As they served the LORD, and fasted, the holy ghost said: Separate me out Barnabas and Saul for the work, Act 〈…〉 where unto I have called them. Then fasted they and prayed, and laid the hands on them, and let them go. And they being sent of the holy ghost, came unto Seleucia, from thence they sailed unto Cypers. And when they were come in to the cite Salamin, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had 〈…〉 John to their minister. And when they had go thorough out the isle unto the city of Paphos, they found a certain Sorcerer and false prophet, a jew (whose name was Bariesu) which was with Sergius Paulus the ruler of the country, a man of understanding. The same called Barnabas and Saul unto him, and desired to hear the word of God. Then the 〈…〉 Sorcerer Elimas (for so was his name by interpretation) withstood them, and sought to turn away the ruler from the faith. But Saul which is also called Paul, being full of the holy ghost, looked upon him, and said: O thou child of the devil, full of all suttyl●ie and all disceatfulnesse, and enemy of all righteousness, thou ceassest not to pervert the strait ways of the LORD. And now behold, the hand of the LORD cometh upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, and not see the Son for a season, And immediately there fallen on him a mist and darkness, and he went about, and sought them that should lead him by the hand. When the ruler saw what was done, he believed, and wondered at the doctrine of the LORD. When Paul and they that were with him, were departed by ship from Paphos, they came to Perga in the land of Pamphilia. 〈…〉 But John departed from them, and went again to jerusalem. Nevertheless they wandered thorough from Perga, and came to Antioch in the land of Pisidia, and went in to the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, and sat down. But after the lecture of the law and of the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying: Good brethren, if you have any sermon to exhort the people, say on. Then stood Paul up, and 〈…〉 beckoned with the hand (that they should hold their peace) and said: Yemen of Israel, and you that fear God, hearken to: The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people, when they were strangers in the land of Egipte, and with a mighty arm brought he them out of it. 〈…〉 And by the space of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness, and destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, 〈◊〉. 13. b and parted their land among them by lot. 〈◊〉. 1. a After that gave he them judges by the space of four hundredth and fifty years, unto the prophet Samuel. And after that they desired a king, 〈…〉 and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, 〈…〉 a man of the tribe of Ben jamin, forty years long. 〈…〉 And when he had put him down, he set up David to be their king, of whom he reported, saying: 〈…〉 I have found David the son of jesse, a man after my heart, he shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God ( 〈◊〉. 131. a 〈◊〉 7. c according to the promise) brought forth unto the people of Israel, the saviour jesus: when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance unto Israel. But when John had fulfilled his course, he said: I am not he, that you take me for. But behold, there cometh one after me, whose shues of his feet I am not worthy to louse. You men and brethren, you children of the generation of Abraham, and they that fear God among you, Mat. 10. a unto you is the word of this salvation sent. For the inhabiters of jerusalem, and their rulers, for somuch as they knew him not, ner yet the voices of the prophets (which are read every Sabbath) have fulfilled them in condemning him. 1. Cor 2▪ a Luc. 23. a And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilot to kill him. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. Luc. 23. ● But on the third day God raised him up from the deed, and he appeared many days unto them, that went up with him from Galilee unto jerusalem, which Act. 1. a are his witnesses unto the people. And we also declare unto you the promise, which was made unto our fathers, how that God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he raised up jesus again. As it is written in the second Psalm: Thou art my son, this day have I begotten the. But that he hath raised him up from the deed, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise: The grace promised to David, Esa. 55. ● will I faithfully keep unto you. Therefore sayeth he also in another place: Thou shalt not suffer thy Holy tose corruption. For David, Psal. 15. b when he in his time had served the will of God, 3 Reg. 2. b he fallen a sleep, and was laid by his fathers, & saw corruption. But he whom God raised up again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore you men and brethren, that thorough this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, Luc. 24. d and from all the things, whereby you might not be justified in the law of Moses. But whosoever believeth on this man, is justified. beware therefore, that it come not upon you, which is spoken in the prophets: Behold you despisers, and wonder at it, and perish, Abac. 1. a for I do a work in your time, which you shall not believe, if any man tell it you. When the jews were go out of the synagogue, the Heythen besought them, that they would speak the word unto them between the Sabbath days. And when the congregation of the synagogue was broken up, many jews and Proselytes that served God, followed Paul and Barnabas, which spoke to them, and Act. 11. c exorted them, that they should continue in the grace of God. On the Sabbath following, came almost the whole cite together, to hear the word of God. But when the jews saw the people, they were full of indignation, and spoke against that which was spoken of Paul, speaking against it, & blaspheming. But Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said: Mat. 10. a ●nd. 15. c It behoved first the word of God to be spoken unto you: but now that you thrust it from you, and count yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, Mat. ●1. c we turn to the gentiles. For so hath the LORD commanded us: Esa. 49. b Mat. 5. b Luc. 3 c I have set the to be a light unto the gentiles, that thou be the Salvation unto the end of the earth. When the gentiles heard that, they were glad, and praised the word of the LORD, and believed, even as many as were ordained to everlasting life. And the word of the LORD was spread abroad thorough out all the region. Howbeit the jews moved the devout and honourable women, 1. Tim. ●. b and the chefemen of the city, and raised up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them out of their coasts. But they Mat. 10 b Mar. 6. b Luc. 9 a shaken of the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the holy ghost. The XIIII. Chapter. IT fortuned at Iconium, that they went both together in to the synagogue of the jews, and spoke so, that a great multitude of the jews & of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving jews moved and disquyeted the souls of the heathen against the brethren. So they had their being there a long season, and quite themselves boldly in the LORD, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and caused tokens and wonders to be done by their hands. Marc. 16. c howbeit the multitude of the cite was divided, some held with the jews, and some with the Apostles. But when there rose up an insurrection of the heathen and of the Jews, and of their rulers, to put them to shame, and to stone them, they perceived it, and Mat. 10. c fled unto lystra and Derba cities of the country of Licaoni●● and unto the region that lieth round about, and there they preached the Gospel. And among them of Lystra, there was a man, which sat being impotent of his feet, and was crepell from his mother's womb●, and had never walked, the same herd Paul speak. And when he beheld him, and perceived that he had faith to be made whole, he said with a loud voice: stand upright on thy feet. And he sprang up and walked. But when the people saw what Paul had done, they lift up their voice, and said in the speech of Lycaonia: The gods are become like unto men, and are come down unto us. And they called Barnabas jupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the preacher. But jupiter's priest which dwel● before their cite, brought oxen and garlands before the gate, and would have done sacrifice with the people. When the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard that, they rend their clotheses, and ran in among the people, crying and saying: Ye men, Why do you this? Act 〈…〉 We are mortal men also like unto you, & preach unto you the Gospel, that you should turn from these vain things unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the see, 〈…〉 and all that therein is, which in times past suffered all the heathen to walk after their own ways. Nevertheless he hath not left him self without witness, in that he hath showed his benefits, and given us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And when they said this, they scarce refrained the people, that they did not sacrifice unto them. But there came thither certain jews from Antioch and Iconium, and persuaded the people, and 〈…〉 stoned Paul, and drew him out of the cite, supposing he had been deed. howbeit as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, & came in to the cite. And on the next day he departed with Barnabas unto Derba, and preached the Gospel unto the same cite, and taught many of them. And they went again unto Lystra, and Iconium and Antioch, strengthing the souls of the disciples, and exortinge them to continue in the faith: and that we thorough much tribulation must enter in to the kingdom of God. 〈…〉 And when they had ordained them Elders by election thorough all the congregations, they prayed and fasted, and commended them unto the LORD, on whom they believed. And they went thorough Pisidia, and came to Pamphilia, and spoke the word at Perga, and went down to Attalia, and from thence departed they by ship unto Antioch: from whence they were delivered to the grace of God unto the work, which they had fulfilled. When they came there, they gathered the congregation together, & showed them, how great things God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the heathen. And there they abode a long time with the disciples. The XU. Chapter. ANd there came certain from jewry, and taught the brethren: 〈…〉 Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you can not be saved. Now when there rose a descension, and Paul and Barnabas had set themselves hard against them, 〈…〉 they ordained, that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders, about this question. And they were brought on their way by the congregation, & went thorough Phenices and Samaria, and declared the 〈…〉 conversation of the Heythen, and brought great joy unto all the brethren. When they came to Jerusalem, they were received of the congregation, & of the Apostles, and of the Elders, & they told how great things God had done with them. Then rose there up certain of the sect of the Pharisees (which believed) and said: They must be circumcised and commanded, to keep the law of Moses. But the Apostles and Elders came together, to reason upon this matter. Now when there was much disputing Peter rose up, and said unto them: You men and brethren, you know that a good while ago, God chose among us, that the heathen by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. And God the knower of hearts bore witness over them, 〈…〉 and gave them the holy ghost, like as unto us, & put no difference betwixt us & them, and purified their hearts thorough faith. Now therefore why tempt you God, with laying upon the disciples necks the yoke, 〈…〉 which neither oh fathers ner we were able to bear? But we believe to be saved thorough the grace of the LORD jesus Christ, 〈…〉 like as they also. The● all the multitude held their peace, and gave audience unto Paul and Barnabas, which told how great tokens and wonders God had done by them among the Heythen. afterward when they held their peace, james answered, and said: You men and brethren, hearken unto me, Simon hath told, how God at the first vysited to receive a people unto his name from among the Heythen. And unto this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written: 〈…〉 After this will I return and will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and that which is fallen in decay thereof, will I build again, and will set it up, that the residue of men may seek after the LORD: & also the Heythen/ upon whom my name is named, sayeth the LORD, which doth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that they which from among the Heythen are turned unto God, be not disquyeted, but to write unto them, that they abstain themselves from filthiness of Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9 a Idols, from Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9 a whoredom, and from Exo. 20. a Ephe. 5. a Gen. 9 a strangled, and blood. For Moses hath of old time in every cite them that preach him: and he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath day. And the Apostles and Elders with the whole congregation thought it good, to choose out men of them, and to send them unto Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely joh. 14. b judas, whose surname was Barsabas, and Sylas (which were chief men among the brethren) and gave them letters in their hands after this manner: We the Apostles and Elders & brethren, wish health unto the brethren of the heathen which are at Antioch, and Syria and Celicia. For so much as we have herd that certain of ours are departed, and have troubled you, and cumbered your minds, Gal. ●. ● saying: you must be circumcised, and keep the law (to whom we gave no such commandment) it seemed good unto us, being gathered together with one accord, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have Act. 13. e and. 14. ● ioperded their lives for the name of our LORD jesus Christ. Therefore have we sent judas and Sylas, which shall also tell you the same with words. For it pleased the holy ghost and us, to say no charge upon you, more than these necessary points: That you abstain from the 1. Cor. 8. a and. 10. c offerings of Idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from whoredom. From the which if you abstain yourselves, you shall do well. Far you well. When these were sent forth, they came unto Antioch, and gathered the multitude together, and delivered the epistle. When they had read it, they were glad of that consolation. As for judas & Sylas (which were prophets also) they exorted the brethren with much preaching, and strengthened them. And when they had tarried there for a season, they were let go of the brethren in peace unto the Apostles. notwithstanding Sylas thought it good to bide there still. But Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the LORD, with other many. Nevertheless after certain days Paul said unto Barnabas: let us go again, and visit our brethren thorough all the cities (wherein we have showed the word of the LORD) how they do. But Barnabas gave council, that they should take with them John, whose surname was Mark. Howbeit Paul thought it meet, not to take him with them, Act. 1●. b which departed from them in Pamphilia, and went not with them unto the work. And so sharp was the strife between them, that they departed asunder the one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark unto him, and sailed unto Cypers. But Paul chose Sylas, and departed, being committed of the brethren unto the grace of God. He went thorough Syria and Celicia, stablishing the congregations. The XVI. Chapter. HE came unto Derba and to Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus, the son of a jewish woman, which believed, but his father was a Greek: the same had a good report among the brethren of Lystra and at Iconium. Paul would that the same should go forth with him, and took and Gal. 2. a. circumcised him because of the jews that were in those quarters. For they knew all, that his father was a Greek. But as they went thorough the cities, they delivered them the sentence to keep, Act. ●5. d which was concluded of the Apostles and Elders at jerusalem. Then were the congregations stablished in the faith, and increased in number daily. But as they went thorough Phrygia and the land of Galacia, they were Rom. 1. b forbidden of the holy ghost, to preach the word in Asia. Howbeit as they came in to Mysia, they proved to take their journey in to Bithynia, and the spirit suffered them not. Nevertheless when they had passed thorough Mysia, they came down to Troada, and there appeared a Act. 18. a and 23. b vision unto Paul by night, that there was a man of Macedonia which stood and prayed him, and said: Come down to Macedonia, and help us. When he had seen the vision, we sought immediately to go, unto Macedonia, being certified, that the LORD had called us thither, to preach the Gospel unto them. Then departed we from Troada, and came the strait course unto Samothracia, on the next day to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippis, which is the chief cite of the land of Macedonia, and a fire cite. In this cite abode we certain days. On the day of the Sabbathes went we out of the cite beside the water, where men were wont to pray, and we sat down, and spoke unto the women that resorted thither. And a devout woman (named Lydia) a seller of purple, out of the cite of Thiatira, herkened to, whose heart the LORD opened that she gave heed unto the things that Paul spoke. When she was baptized and her household, she besought us, and said: If you think that I believe on the LORD, then come in to my house, and a bide there. And she 〈…〉 constrained us. It fortuned when we went to prayer, that there met us a damsel, which had a spirit of soythsayenge, and brought her master and mistress great vantage with soyth saying: the same followed Paul and us, and cried, and said: These men are the servants of the most high God, which show us the way of salvation. This did she many days. But Paul was not content with it, and turned him about, and said unto the spirit: I command the in the name of jesus Christ, that thou depart out of her. 〈…〉 And he departed out at the same hour. But when her master and mistress saw that the hope of their vantage was go, 〈…〉 they took Paul and Sylas, drew them in to the market place before the rulers, & brought them unto the officers, and said: These men trouble our city, & are Jews, and preach an ordinance, which is not lawful for us to receive, ner to observe, saying we are Romans. And the people ran on them, and the officers rent their clotheses, and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 〈…〉 And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them in preson, and commanded the jailer, to keep them diligently. Which when he had received such commandment, he cast them in to the inner preson, and put their feet in the stocks. But at midnight prayed Paul and Sylas, and praised God. And the presoners heard them. Suddenly was there a great earth quake, so that the foundations of the preson were shaken. And immediately were all the doors open, & all their bonds loosed When the keeper of the preson waked out of sleep, and saw the preson doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself: for he thought the presoners had been fled. But Paul cried loud, and said: Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. He called for a light, and sprang in, and trembled, and fallen at the feet of Paul and Sylas, and brought them out, and said: Sirs, what must I do, to be saved? They said: 〈…〉 Believe on the LORD jesus, and so shalt thou and thy household be saved. And they preached the word of the LORD unto him, and to all that were in his house. And he took them to him in the same hour of the night, and waszhed their stripes. And immediately was he baptized, and all his. And he brought them in to his house, and set them a table, and 〈…〉 rejoiced with all his household, that he was become a believer on God. And when it was day, the officers of the cite sent ministers, and said: Let those men go. And the keeper of the preson told this saying unto Paul: The officers have sent hither, that you should be louse. Now therefore get you hence, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them: They have beaten us openly uncondemned (where as we are yet Romans) and have cast us in preson, and should they now thrust us out privily? Not so, but let them come themselves, and bring us out. The ministers told these words unto the officers. And they feared, when they heard that they were Romans, and came and besought them, and prayed them to depart out of the cite. Then went they out of the preson, and entered in to the house of Lydia. And when they had seen the brethren and comforted them, they departed. The XVII. Chapter. AS they made their journey thorough Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the jews. And Paul (as his manner was) went in unto them, and upon three Sabbathes he spoke unto them of the scripture, opened it unto them, and alleged, 〈◊〉 4. d 〈…〉. c 〈…〉. d that Christ must needs have suffered, & rise again from the deed: and this jesus, whom I preach unto you (said he) is the same Christ. And some of them believed, and were joined unto Paul and Sylas, a great multitude also of the devout Greeks, and of the chief women not a few. But the stiffnecked jews had indignation, and took unto them certain evil men which were vagabundes, and gathered a company, and set the cite in a roar, and preassed unto the house of jason, and sought to bring them out unto the common people. But when they found them not, they drew jason, and certain brethren unto the rulers of the cite, and cried: These that trouble all the world, are come hither also, whom jason hath received privily. And these all do contrary to the decrees of the Emperor, saying, joh. 18. ● and. 19 a that there is another king, one jesus. They troubled the people, and the rulers of the cite, that heard this. And when they had received a sufficient answer of jason and of the other, they let them go. But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Sylas by night unto Berea. When they came there, they went in to the synagogue of the jews (for they were the Elder among them at Thessalonica) which received the word marvelous willingly, and joh. 5. d searched the scriptures daily, whether it were even so. Then believed many of them, and worshipful women of the Greeks, and men not a few. 1. Tess. 2. c But when the jews of Thessalonica had knowledge, that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came, and moved the people there also. Howbeit the brethren sent Paul away then immediately, to go unto the see. As for Sylas and Timotheus, they abode there still. They that conveyed Paul, brought him unto Athens. And when they had received a commandment unto Sylas and Timotheus, that they should come unto him in all the haist, they went their way. But while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him, when he saw the cite given so to the worshipping of images. And he spoke unto the jews and devout personnes in the synagogue, & in the market daily unto them that came to him. But certain Philosophers of the Epicurees and stoics disputed with him. And some said: What will this babbler say? But some said: He seemeth to be a tidings bringer of new Some read: * devils. gods (That was, because he had preached unto them the Gospel of jesus, & of the resurrection.) And they took him, and brought him before the council house, and said: May we not know, what new doctrine this is that thou teachest? For thou bryngest strange tidings to our ears? We would know therefore, what this means. As for all they of Athens, and strangers & gests, they gave themselves to nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some news. Paul stood on the mids of the common place, and said: You men of Athens, I see that in all things you are superstitious. I have go thorough, & seen your god's service, and found an altar, where upon was written: To the unknown God. Now show I unto you the same, whom you worship ignorantly. God which made the world, and all that therein is, Psal. 145. a Act. 14. c for so much as he is LORD of heaven and earth, * Esa. 66. a Act. 7. f dwelleth not in temples made of hands, neither is he worshipped with men's hands, as though he had need of any man, saying he himself giveth life and breath unto all men every where: Gen. 2. b and hath made of one blood all the generation of men to devil upon all the face of the earth: and hath assigned borders appointed before, how long and far they should devil, that they should seek the LORD, if they might feel and find him. Andrea truly he is not far from every one of us. For in him we live, move, and have our being, as certain of your own Poetes also have said: We are his generation. For as much then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold or silver, or imagery work of the craft or imagination of man. Rom. 2. a And truly God hath overseen the time of ignorance: * Lu. 24. d But now he commandeth all men every where to repent, because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the compass of the world, with righteousness, by that one man in whom he hath appointed it: and offered faith unto all men, after that he had raised him up from the deed. When they heard of the resurrection of the deed, some mocked. But some said: We will hear the again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom was Dionysius, one of the council: and a woman named Damaris, and other with them. The XVIII. Chapter. AFter that departed Paul from Athens, and came to Corinthum, and found a jew named Ro. 16. a 3. Tim. 4. c Aquila, born in Pontus, which was lately come out of Italy: and his wife Priscilla (because the Empero Claudius had commanded all jews to depart from Rome) and he drew unto them. Andrea because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought. Their craft was to make tents. And he preached in the synagogue every Sabbath day, and exhorted the jews and the Greeks. When Sylas and Timotheus were come fro Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the spirit to testify unto the jews, that jesus was very Christ. But when they said contrary and blasphemed, 〈…〉 he shaken his raiment, and said unto them: Your blood be upon your own head. From hence forth I go blameless unto the gentiles. And he departed thence, and came in to the house of a man named justus, which feared God, and his house was next unto the synagogue. Howbeit Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the LORD with all his household. And many of the Corinthians that gave audience, believed, and were baptized. The LORD spoke unto Paul by a vision in the night: Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace, for I am with thee: and noman shall invade the that shall hurt thee, for I have much people in this cite. He continued there a year and six months, and taught them the word of God. But when Gallio was ruler of the country of Achaia, the jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, & brought him before the judgement seat, and said: This fellow counceleth men to worship God contrary to the law. When Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews: If it were a matter of wrong or an evil deed (O you Jews) reason would that I should hear you: but if it be a question of words, and of names, and of the law among you, look you to it yourselves, I think not to be judge there over. And he drove them from the judgement seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, and smote him before the judgement seat. And Gallio cared for none of though things. Paul after that he had tarried a good while, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed in to Syria, Priscilla & Aquila bearing him company. And he shore his head at Cenchrea (for he had a 〈…〉 vow) & came down to Ephesus, & left them there. But he himself went in to the synagogue, and reasoned with the jews. And they desired him, that he would tarry with them a longer season. And he consented not, but bade them farwele, and said: I must needs in any wise keep this feast that cometh, at jerusalem: but 〈…〉 if God will, I will return again unto you. And he departed from Ephesus, and came to Caesarea, and went up, and saluted the congregation, and took his journey down to Antioch, and tarried there a certain time, and departed, and walked thorough all the country of Galatia and Phrigia by order, and strengthened all the disciples. There came unto Ephesus a certain jew, named 〈…〉. b 〈…〉. b Apollo (born at Alexandria) an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures: the same was informed in the way of the LORD, and spoke fervently in the spirit, and taught diligently the things of the LORD, and knew but the baptism of John only. The same began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded the way of God, unto him more perfectly. But when he would go in to Achaia, the brethren written, and exorted the disciples to receive him. And when he was come thither, he helped them much which believed thorough grace. For he overcame the jews mightily, and showed openly by the scripture, that jesus was Christ. The XIX. Chapter. But it fortuned when Apollo was at Corinthum, that Paul walked thorough the upper coasts, and came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples, unto whom he said: Have you received the holy ghost, sense you believed? They said unto him: We have not herd, whether there be an holy ghost. He said unto them: Where with then were you baptized? They said: With the baptism of Ihon. Paul said: John baptized with the baptism of repentance, 〈◊〉 3. b 〈…〉 a 〈…〉▪ c 〈…〉▪ c and spoke unto the people, that they should believe on him, which should come after him, that is, on jesus, that the same is Christ. When they heard that, they were baptized in the name of the LORD Iesu. And when Paul laid the hands on them, the holy ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. He went in to the synagogue, and preached boldly three months long, teaching, and giving them exhortations of the kingdom of God. But when diverse waxed herd hearted, and believed not, and spoke evil of the way of the LORD before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, and disputed daily in the school of one called Tyrannus. And this was done two years long, so that all they which dwelled in Asia, heard the word of the LORD jesus, both jews & Greeks. And God wrought no small miracles by the hands of Paul, so that from his body there were brought napkins or partlettes unto the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spretes went out of them. But certain of the vagabounde Jews which were conjurers, undertook to name the name of the LORD jesus, over those that had evil spretes, and said: We charge you by jesus whom Paul preacheth. They were seven sons of one Sceva a jew the high priest, which did so. The evil spirit answered, and said: jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you? And the man in whom the evil spirit was, ran upon them, and overcame them, and cast them under him, so that they fled out of the same house naked and wounded. This was known unto all the jews and Greeks which dwelled at Ephesus, and there fallen a fear upon them all. And the name of the LORD jesus was magnified. Mat. 3. a Many of them also that believed, came and confessed, and showed their works. But many of them that had used curious crafts, brought the books together, and burnt them openly: and they counted the price of them, and found it of money fifty thousand pens. So mightily grew the word of the LORD, and prevailed. When this was done, Paul purposed in spirit to take his journey thorough Macedonia and Achaia, and to go to Jerusalem, and said: After that I have been there, I must see Rome also. And he sent into Macedonia two that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus. But he himself remained in Asia for a season. At the same time there rose no little a do about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius a goldsmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, and brought them of the craft no small vantage. Them he gathered together, and the fellow workmen of the same occupation, and said: Sirs, you know that by this craft● we have vantage, and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost also thorough out all Asia, this Paul turneth away much people with his persuading, and sayeth: Psal. 113. ● They be not gods that are made with hands. Howbeit it shall not only bring our occupation to this point to be set at nought, but also the temple of great Diana shall from hence forth be despised, and her majesty also shallbe destroyed, whom nevertheless all Asia and the world worshippeth. When they heard this, they were full of wrath, cried out, and said: great is Diana of the Ephesians. And all the cite was on a roar, and they ruszhed in with one assent in to the open place, and took Gaius and Aristarchus of Macedonia, Paul's companions. When Paul would have go in among the people, the disciples suffered him not. Certain also of the chief of Asia which were Paul's good friends, sent unto him, and desired him, that he should not press in to the open place. Some cried one thing, some another. And the congregation was out of quiet, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Some of the people drew forth Alexander, when the jews thrust him forward. Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have given the people an answer. But when they knew that he was a jew, there arose a shout of all, and cried the space of two hours: great is Diana of the Ephesians. When the town clerk had stylled the people, he said: You men of Ephesus, what man is it which knoweth not, that the cite of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the heavenly image? seeing now that this can not be said against, you aught to be content, and to do nothing without advisement. You have brought hither these men, which are neither church-robbers ner blasphemers of your goddess. But if Demetrius and they that are craftsmen with him, have aught to say unto any man, the law is open, and there are rulers, let them accuse one another. But if you will go about any other thing, it may be determined in a lawful congregation. For we stand in jeopardy to be accused of this days uproar: and yet is there no man guilty, of whom we might give a reckoning of this uproar. And when he had said this, he let the congregation depart. The XX. Chapter. NOw when the uproar was ceased, Paul called the disciples unto him, and took his leave of them, and departed 1. Tim. 1. a to go in to Macedonia. And when he had go thorough those parts, and exhorted them with many words, he came in to Grekelonde, and there abode three months. But when the jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail in to Syria, he purposed to turn again thorough Macedonia. There accompanied him in to Asia, Sopater of Berrea: and of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus: and Gaius of Derba, and Timotheus: but of Asia, Tychicus and Act. 〈…〉. Tim. 〈…〉 Trophimus. These went before, and tarried for us at Troada: but we sailed after the Easter days from Philippos, unto the fifth day, and came to them unto Troada, and tarried there seven days. Upon one of the Sabbathes, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, willing to depart on the morrow, and continued the preaching unto midnight. And there were many lights in the chamber, where they were gathered together. There sat a young man named Eutychos, in a window, and fallen in to a deep sleep (while Paul was speaking) and was overcome with sleep, and fallen down from the third loft, and was taken up deed. But Paul went down, and fallen on him, and embraced him, and said: Make nothing a do, for his soul is in him. Then went he up, and broke the bread, and ate, and talked much with them, till the day broke, and so departed. As for the young man, they brought him alive, and were not a little comforted. But we went afore in to the ship, and sailed toward Asson, willing there to receive Paul. For so had he appointed, and would himself go on foot. When he was come to us unto Asson, we took him in, and came to Mitylenes, and sailed from thence, and came on the next day over against Chios, and on the day following we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Tragilion, and on the next day came we to Mileton: for Paul had determed to sail over by Ephesus, that he need not to spend the time in Asia: for he haisted to be at jerusalem upon the whitsunday, if it were possible for him. But from Mileton he sent unto Ephesus, and called for the Elders of the congregation. When they were come to him, he said unto them: You know sense the first day Act▪ 〈…〉 that I came in to Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all time, and served the LORD with all humbleness of mind, and with many tears and tentations, which happened unto me by the layenges of wait of the jews, how that I have kept back nothing that was profitable, but that I have showed you, and taught you openly, and privately from house to house. And have testified both unto the jews & to the Greeks * the repentance toward God, and faith toward our LORD jesus. And now behold, I go bound in the spirit unto jerusalem, not knowing what shall happen there unto me, but that the holy ghost 〈…〉 witnesseth in every cite, and sayeth, that bonds and troubles abide me there. But 〈…〉 I regard none of them, neither count I my life bearer then myself, that I may fulfil my course with joy, and the office that I have received of the LORD jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that you shall see my face no more, all you, thorough whom I have go, and preached the kingdom of God. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men: For I have kept nothing back, but have showed you all the council of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, among the which the holy ghost hath set you to be Bishops, to feed the congregation of God, which he hath purchased thorough his own blood. For this I know, 〈…〉 that after my departing there shall enter in among you grievous wolves, which shall not spare the flock. Ye even 〈…〉 from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse doctrine, to draw disciples after them. Therefore awake, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you both night and day with tears. And now brethren I commend you unto God, and to the word of his grace, which is mighty to edify you, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified. 〈…〉 I have not desired silver, gold or raiment of any of you. For you yourselves know, that 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 b 〈…〉 these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to receive the weak, and to remember the word of the LORD, how that he said: It is more blessed to give, then to receive. And when he had said this, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. But there was much weeping among them all, and they fallen about Paul's neck, and kissed him, and were sorry, most of all because of the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. The XXI. Chapter. NOw when it fortuned that we had launched forth and were departed from them, we came with a strait course unto Coon, and on the day following unto the Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. And when we found a ship ready to sail unto Phenices, we went aboard and set forth. But when we came within the sight of Cypers, we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and came unto tire: for there the ship should say forth the ware. And when we had found disciples, we tarried there seven days. And they told Paul thorough the spirit, that he should not go up to jerusalem. And it fortuned when we had fulfilled those days, we departed, and went our ways, and they all brought us on our way with wives and children, till we were come out of the cite, and wekneled down upon the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship, but they turned again unto there's. As for us we ended the course from tire, and came to Ptolomaida, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. On the next day we that were with Paul, departed, and came unto Caesarea, & entered in to the house of Act. 6. a and. ●. a Philippe the Evangelist (which was one of the seven) and abode with him. The same had four daughters, which were virgins, joel. 2. f and prophesied. Andrea as we tarried there more days, there came down from jewry a prophet, named Act. 11. c Agabus. When he was come unto us, he took Paul's gerdell, and bound his hands and feet, and said: Thus sayeth the holy ghost: Act. 10. c The man whose gerdell this is, shall the jews bind thus at jerusalem, and shall deliver him in to the hands of the heathen. When we herhe this, both we and they that were of the same place, besought him, that he would not go up to jerusalem. Then answered Paul and said: What do you, weeping, and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at jerusalem for the name of the LORD Iesu. But when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, and said: Mat. ●. b The will of the LORD be fulfilled. And after those days we were ready, & went up to jerusalem: There came with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one of Cypers, named Mnason, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge. Now when we came to jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. But on the next day Paul went in with us unto james, and all the Elders came together. And when he had saluted them, he told by order, what God had done among the Heythen by his ministration. When they heard that, they praised the LORD, and said unto him: Brother, thou sayst how many thousand jews there are which believe, and are all Zealous over the law. But they are informed against thee, that thou teachest all the jews which are among the heathen, to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their children, ner to walk after the same custom. What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together, for they shall hear that thou art come. Do this therefore that we say unto thee: We have four men, which have a Num. 6. b Act. 13. b vow on them, take them unto thee, and purify thyself with them, and do the cost on them, that they may shave their heads: and they shall know, that it is nothing, whereof they are informed against thee, but that thou also walkest and keepest the law. For as touching them that believe among the Heythen, Act. 15. d we have written, and concluded, that they should observe no such, but only to keep themselves from the offerings of Idols, from blood, from strangled, Act. 24. b and from whoredom. Then Paul took the men unto him, and was purified with them on the next day, and entered in to the temple, declaring that he fulfilled the days of purification, till there was an offering offered for every one of them. But when the seven days were almost fulfilled, the jews of Asia saw him in the temple, and moved all the people, laid hands upon him, and cried: You men of Israel, help, this is the man, that teacheth all men every where against our people, the law, and this place. He hath brought Greeks also in to the temple, and hath defiled this holy place. For they had seen Act. 20. a 2. Tim. 4. c Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the cite, him they thought that Paul had brought in to the temple. And all the cite was moved, and the people ran together. And they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple, and forth with the doors were shut to. But when they went about to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain of the company, that all jerusalem was moved. Which immediately took soudyers and captains unto him, and ran in among them. When they saw the captain and the soudyers, they left smytinge of Paul. When the captain came nigh, he took him, and commanded him Act. 〈…〉 to be bound with two chains, and axed what he was, and what he had done. One cried this, another that among the people. But when he could not know the certente because of the rumour, he commanded him to be carried in to the castle. And when he came to the steps, it fortuned that he was born of the soudyers because of the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, and cried: Luc. 〈…〉 Away with him. When Paul was now to be carried in to the castle, he said unto the captain: May I speak unto thee? He said: Canst thou Greek? Art not thou the Egipcian, which before these days maydest an uproar, & leddest out in to the wilderness four thousand privy murthurers? Paul said: I am a man which am a jew of Act. ● and ● Tharsis, a citesyn of a famous cite in Celicia: I beseek thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. When he had given him licence, Paul stood on the steps, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. Now when there was made a great silence, he spoke unto them in Hebrew, and said: The XXII. Chapter. YOU men, brethren, and fathers, hear mine answer which I make unto you. When they heard that he spoke unto them in the Hebrew, they kept the more silence. And he said: I am a man which am a jew, born at Tharsis in Celicia, and brought up in this cite at the feet of Act▪ 〈…〉 Gamaliel, informed diligently in the law of the fathers, and was fervent minded to God ward, as you all are also this day, Act▪ 〈…〉 and 1. Co● 〈…〉 Gal. 〈…〉 and I persecuted this way unto the death. I bound them and delivered them unto preson, both men and women, as the high priest also doth bear me witness, and all the Elders: of whom I received letters unto the brethren, and went toward Damascon, that I might bring them which were there, bound to jerusalem, to be punished. But it fortuned as I made my journey, and came nigh unto Damascon, about noon, suddenly there shone a great light about me from heaven, and I fallen to the earth, and heard a voice which said unto me: saul saul, why persecutest thou me? I answered: Who art thou LORD? And he said unto me: I am jesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest. As for them that were with me, they saw the light and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me. I said: LORD, what shall I do? The LORD said unto me: Arise, and go in to Damascon, there shall it be told that of all that is appointed the to do. But when I saw nothing for the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand of them that were with me, and came to Damascon. There was one Ananias, a devout man after the law, 〈◊〉 9 b which had a good report of all the jews that dwelled there, the same came, and stepped unto me, and said: Brother Saul, look up. And I looked up upon him the same hour. He said: The God of our fathers hath ordained the before, that thou shouldest know his will, and see the thing that is rightful, and hear the voice out of his mouth: for thou shalt be his witness unto all men, of though things which thou hast seen and heard. And now why tariest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wasze away thy sins, and 〈…〉 call upon the name of the LORD. But it fortuned, that when I was come again to Jerusalem, and prayed in the temple, I was in a trance, and saw him. Then said he unto me: Make haist, 〈◊〉 ●0. b 〈◊〉 9 d and get the soon out of jerusalem, for they will not receive the witness that thou bearest of me. And I said: LORD, they themselves know that I put in preson and bet in every synagogue them that believed on the. 〈…〉 And when the blood of Steven thy witness was shed, I stood by also, & consented unto his death, and kept the clotheses of them that slew him. And he said unto me: Go thy way, for 〈◊〉 13. a 〈◊〉 1. c 〈◊〉. 3. a I will send the far among the Heythen. They gave him audience unto this word, and lift up their voice, & said: Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not reason that he should live. But as they cried, and cast of their clotheses, & threw dust in to the air, the captain bade bring him in to the castle, and commanded him to be beaten with rods and to be examined, that he might know, for what cause they cried so upon him. And when he bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the undercaptain that stood by: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the undercaptain heard that, he went to the upper captain, and told him, and said? What will't thou do? This man is a Roman. Then came the upper captain, and said unto him: Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said: Ye. And the upper captain answered: With a great sum obtained I this freedom. But Paul said: As for me, I am a Roman born. Then strait way departed from him, they that should have examined him. And the chief captain was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. On the next day would he know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the jews, and he loosed him from the bonds, and commanded the high priests and all their council to come together, and brought Paul forth, and set him among them. The XXIII. Chapter. PAul beheld the council, and said: You men and brethren, Act. 24. I have lived with all good conscience before God unto this day: jere. 20. ● joh. 18. a But the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood about him, to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him: God shall smite the thou painted brickwall. Deut. 17 Sittest thou and judgest me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood about him, said: Revylest thou Gods high priest? And Paul said: Brethren, I wist not that he was the high priest. For it is written: Exo. 22. The ruler of thy people shalt thou not curse. But when Paul knew that the one part was Saducees, and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the council: You men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, and the son of a Pharisee, Phil. ●. a Act. 4. a 26. a. 28. Of hope and resurrection of the deed am I judged. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Saducees, and the multitude was divided: Mat. ●2. ● Marc. 12 Luc. 20. ● for the Saducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, ner spirit: but the Pharisees grant both. And there was made a great cry. And the scribes of the pharisees sect, stood up, and strove, and said: We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel have spoken unto him, let us not strive against God. But when the descension was great, the upper captain feared, that Paul should have been pluck asunder of them, and commanded the soudyers to go down, and to take him from them, and to bring him in to the castle. But in the night following, the LORD stood by him, and said: Be of good cheer Paul, for as thou hast testified of me at jerusalem Ephe. 3. a 2. Tim. 1. ● so must thou testify at Rome also. Now when it was day, certain of the jews gathered themselves together, and made a vow neither to eat ner drink, till they had killed Paul. They were more than forty, which had made this conspiration. These came to the high priests and Elders, and said: We have bound ourselves with a vow, that we will eat nothing, till we have slain Paul. Now therefore give you knowledge to the upper captain and to the council, that he may bring him forth unto you tomorrow, as though you would hear him yet better: As for us, we are ready to kill him, or ever he come nigh you. But when Paul's sisters son heard of their laying await, he came, and entered in to the castle, and told Paul. So Paul called unto him one of the under captains, and said: Bring this young man to the upper captain, for he hath somewhat to say to him. He took him, and brought him to the upper captain, and said: Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring to the this young man, which hath somewhat to say unto the. Then the high captain took him by the hand, and went a side with him out of the way, and axed him: What is it, that thou hast to say unto me? He said: The jews are agreed together, to desire thee, to let Paul be brought forth tomorrow before the council, as though they would yet hear him better. But follow not thou their minds, for there lay wait for him more than forty men of them, which have bound themselves with a vow, neither to eat ner drink, till they have slain Paul: and even now are they ready, and look for thy promise. Then the upper captain let the young man depart, and charged him to tell noman, that he had showed him this. And he called unto him two undercaptains, and said: Make ready two hundredth soudyers, that they may go to Caesarea, and three score and ten horsemen, and two hundredth spear men at the third hour of the night, and deliver them beasts, that they may set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the debit, and he written a letter on this manner: Claudius Lysias, unto the most mighty debit Felix, greeting. 〈◊〉 21. d The jews had taken this man, and would have slain him, than came I with soudyers, and rescued him, and perceived that he is a Roman. And when I would have known the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him in to their council: then perceived I, that he was accused about questions of their law. But there was no accusation worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was showed me, that certain jews laid wait for him, I sent him strait way unto thee, and commanded the accusers also, that look what they had against him, they should tell the same before the. Far well. The soudyers (as it was commanded them) took Paul, and brought him to Antipatras'. But on the next day, they left the horse men to go with him, and turned again to the castle. When these came to Caesarea, they delivered the letter unto the debit, & presented Paul before him also. When the debit had read the letter, he axed of what country he was. And when he understood that he was of Celicia, he said: Deut. 〈…〉 I will hear thee, when thy accusers are come also. And he commanded him to be kept in Herodes judgement house. The XXIIII. Chapter. After five days the high priest Ananias came down with the Elders, and with the Orator Tertullus, which appeared before the debit against Paul. When Paul was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, and said: saying that we live in great peace by the means of that, and that many good things are done for this people thorough thy providence (most mighty Felix) that allow we ever and in all places with all thanks. notwithstanding that I be no more tedious unto thee, I pray thee, that of thy courtesy thou wouldest hear us a few words. We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a sterer up of sedition among all the jews thorough out all the world, and a manteyner of the sect of the Nazaretes, Act. 〈…〉 and hath taken in hand also to suspend the temple, whom we took, and would have judged him according to our law. But Lysias the high captain came upon us, and with great violence delivered him out of our hands, and commanded his accusers to come unto thee: of whom (if thou will't inquire) thou mayest have knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. The jews likewise affirmed and said, that it was even so. But Paul (when the debit had beckoned unto him, that he should speak) answered: saying I know that thou hast been judge now many years among this people, I will not be afraid to answer for myself, because that thou mayest know, that there are yet no more but twelve days sense I came up to jerusalem for to worship, and that they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, or making any uproar among the people, ner in the synagogues, ner in the cite: neither can they prove the things, whereof they accuse me. But this I 〈…〉 confess unto thee, that after this way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, that I believe all that is written in the law and in the prophets, and have hope towarded God, that the same resurrection of the deed (which they themselves look for also) shallbe, both of the just and unjust. Therefore study I to have allway a clear conscience toward God and toward men. 〈…〉 But after many years I came and brought allmesse unto my people, and offerings: 〈…〉 whereupon they found me purified in the temple without any manner of rumour or unquietness. Howbeit there were certain jews out of Asia, which should be here present before thee, and accuse me, if they had ought against me: or else let● these same here say, if they have found any unrighteousness in me, while I stand here before the council: except it be for this one word, that I cried standing among them: 〈…〉 Of the resurrection of the deed am I judged of you this day. When Felix heard this, he dyfferred them (for he knew very well of that way) and said: When Lysias the upper captain cometh down, I will know the uttermost of your matter 〈…〉 But he commanded the undercaptain to keep Paul, and to let him have rest, and that he should forbid none of his acquauntaunce to minister unto him, or to come unto him. But after certain days came Felix with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, and called for Paul, and heard him of the faith in Christ. Howbeit when Paul spoke of righteousness, and of chastity and of the judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered: Go thy way for this tyme. When I have a convenient time, I will send for the. He hoped also, that money should have been given him of Paul, therefore called he often for him, and commened with him. But after two years came Portius Festus in to felix room. Yet Felix willing to show the jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. The XXV. Chapter. NOw when Festus was come in to the country, over three days he went up from Caesarea to jerusalem. Then appeared the high priests and the chief of the jews before him against Paul, and entreated him, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to jerusalem, and laid wait for him, that they might slay him by the way. Then answered Festus, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, but that he himself would shortly go thither again. Let them therefore (said he) which are able among you, come down with us to accuse the man, if there be aught in him. When he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And on the next day he sat down on the judgement seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. When he was come, the Jews which were come down from jerusalem, stood round about him, and brought up many and grievous quarrels against Paul, which they could not prove, while he answered for himself: I have neither offended aught against the law of the jews, ner against the temple, ner against the Emperor. But Festus willing to show the jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said: Will't thou go up to jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? But Paul said: I stand at the emperors judgement seat, where I aught to be judged: to the jews have I done no harm, as thou also knowest very well. If I have hurt any man, or committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there are no such things as they accuse me of, then may no man deliver me unto them. I appeal unto the Emperor. Then spoke Festus with the Council, and answered: Thou hast appealed unto the Emperor, to the Emperor shalt thou go. After certain days came king Agrippa and Bernice to Caesarea to welcome Festus. And when they had tarried there many days, Festus rehearsed Paul's cause unto the king, and said: There is a man left bound of Felix, for whose cause the high priests and Elders of the jews appeared before me when I was at jerusalem, and desired a sentence against him. Unto whom I answered: Deut. 17. ● It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man that he should perish, before that he which is accused, have his accusers present, and receive liberty to answer for himself to the accusation. When they were come hither together, I made no delay, but sat the next day in judgement, and commanded the man to be brought forth. Of whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstitions, and of one jesus deed, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Howbeit because I understood not the question, I axed him, whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed, that he might be kept unto the knowledge of the Emperor, I commanded him to be kept, till I might send him to the Emperor. Agrippa said unto Festus: I would fain hear the man also. He said: Tomorrow shalt thou hear him. And on the next day came Agrippa & Bernice with great pomp, and went in to the common hall with the captains & chief men of the cite. And at Festus commandment, Paul was brought forth. And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all you men which are here with us, you see this man, about whom all the multitude of the jews have entreated me, both at Jerusalem and here also, and cried, that he aught not to live any longer. But when I perceived that he had done nothing worthy of death, and that he himself also had appealed unto the Emperor, I determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing ●o ●●ryte unto my lord. Therefore have I caused him to be brought forth before you, specially before thee (O king Agrippa) that after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. For me think it an unreasonable thing to send a prisoner, and not to show the causes which are laid against him. The XXVI Chapter. AGrippa said unto Paul: Thou hast leave to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy (O king Agrippa) because I shall answer this day before thee, of all the things whereof I am accused of the jews: specially forsomuch as thou art expert in all customs and questions, which are among the jews. Wherefore I beseech thee, to hear me patiently. My living truly from youth up (how it was led from the beginning among this people at Jerusalem) know all the jews which knew me afore at the first, if they would testify, for after the most straight sect of our jewish law, I lived a Pharisee. Act 〈…〉 Phil. 〈…〉 And now stand I, and am judged because of the hope of the * 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 Deut▪ 〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 promise, that was made of God unto our fathers, unto the which (promise) our twelve tribes hope to come, serving God instantly day and night. For the which hope's sake (O king Agrippa) I am accused of the jews. Wherefore is this judged among you not to be believed, that God raiseth up the deed? I also verily thought by myself, that I ought to do many contrary things clean against the name of jesus of Nazareth, Act. 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 which I did at jerusalem, when I shut up many saints in preson, whereupon I received authority of the high priests. And when they should be put to death, I brought the sentence. And thorough all the synagogues I punished them often, and compelled them to blaspheme, and was exceeding mad upon them, and persecuted them even unto strange cities. About which things as I went toward Damascon with authority and licence of the high priests, even at midday (O king) I saw in the way, that a light from heaven (clearer than the brightness of the Son) shined round about me, and them that journeyed with me. But when we were all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in Hebrew: Saul Saul, why persecutest thou me? It shallbe hard for the to kick against the prick. But I said: LORD, who art thou? He said: I am jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise up, and stand upon thy feet, for therefore have I appeared unto thee, that I might ordain the to be a minister and witness of it that thou hast seen, and that I will yet 'cause to appear unto the. And I will deliver the from the people, and from the Heythen, among whom I will now send thee, to open their eyes, that they may turn from the darkness unto the Esa▪ 〈…〉 light, and from the power of the devil unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and the inheritance with them that are sanctified by faith in me. Wherefore (O king Agrippa) I was not faithless unto the heavenvly vision, but showed it first unto them at Damascon, and at Jerusalem, and in all the coasts of jewry, and to the Heythen, that they should 〈…〉 do penance, and turn unto God, and to do the right works of penance. For this cause the jews took me in the temple, and went about to kill me. But thorough the help of God lent unto me, I stand unto this day, and testify both unto small and great, and say no other thing, than that the prophets have said (that it should come to pass) and Moses, that Christ should suffer, and be the first of the resurrection from the deed, and show light unto the people, and to the Heythen. When he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art besides thyself, much learning maketh the mad. But Paul said: I am not mad (most dear Festus) but speak the words of truth and soberness: for the king knoweth this well, unto whom I speak freely. For I think that none of these things is hid from him: for this was not done in a corner. believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest. Agrippa said unto Paul: Thou persuadest me in a part to become a Christian. Paul said: I would to God, that (not only in a part but altogether,) I might persuade not the only, but all them that hear me this day, to be such I am, these bonds except. And when he had spoken this, the king rose up, and the debit, and Bernice, and they that sat with them, and went aside, and talked together, and said: This man hath done nothing that is worthy of death or of bonds. But Agrippa said unto Festus: This man might have been loosed, if he had not appealed unto the Emperor. The XXVII. Chapter. When it was concluded that we should sail in to Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other presoners to the undercaptain named julius, of the emperors soudyers. And when we were entered in to a ship of Adramitium, to sail by Asia, we loosed from land. And there was with us one 〈…〉 Aristarchus out of Macedonia of Thessalonica, and on the next day we came unto Sidon. And julius entreated Paul courteously, and gave him liberty to go to his friends, and to refresh himself. And from thence launched we, and sailed hard by Cypers (because the winds were against us) and sailed over the see of Celicia and Pamphilia, and came to Myra in Lycia. And there the undercaptain found a ship of Alexandria, ready to sail in to Italy, and put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly, and in many days were scarcely come over against Gnydon (for the wind with stood us) we sailed by Candy nigh unto the cite of Salmo, and came scarcely beyond it. Then came we to a place, which is called Goodhaven, nigh where unto was the cite Lasea. Now when much time was spent, and sailing was now ioperdous, because that they also had fasted overlong, Paul exhorted them, and said unto them: Sirs, I see that this sailing will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and of the ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the undercaptain believed the governor of the ship and the master, more than it that was spoken of Paul. And for somuch as the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part of them took council to depart thence, if by any means they might come to Phenices to winter there, which is an haven of Candy, toward the south-west and Northwest wind. When the South wind blue, they supposing to have had their purpose, loosed unto Asson, and sailed past all Candy. But not long after, there rose against their purpose a flaw of wind, which is called the North-east. And when the ship was caught, and could not resist the wind, we let her go, and drove with the wedder. But we came to an isle named Claudia, where we could scarce get a boat. Which they took up, and used help, and bound it under hard to the ship, fearing jest they should have fallen in to the * Syrtes are perilous places in the see. Syrtes, and let down the vessel, and so were carried. And when we had bidden a great tempest, on the next day they made an outcastinge. And on the third day with our own hands we cast out the tackling of the ship. But when neither Son ner stars appeared in many days, and no small tempest lay upon us, all the hope of our life was taken away. And after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the mids of them, and said: Sirs, you should have herkened unto me, and not to have loosed from Candy, and not to have brought us this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for there shall none of our lives perish, but the ship only. For this night stood by me the angel of God (whose I am, & whom I serve) & said: Fear not Paul, thou must be brought before the Emperor. And lo, God hath given unto the all them that sail with the. Wherefore sirs be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall come so to pass, as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast in to a certain island. But when the fourteenth night came, as we were carried in Adria about midnight, the shipmen deemed that there appeared some country unto them, and they cast out the lead, and found it twenty feddoms: and when they were go a little farther, they cast out the lead again, and found fifteen feddoms. Then fearing jest they should fall on some rock, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wyszhed for the day. When the shipmen were about to fly out of the ship, and let down the boat in to the see, (under a colour as though they would cast anchors out of the fore ship) Paul said to the under captain and to the soudyers: Except these bide in the ship, you can not be saved. Then the soudyers cut of the rope from the boat, and let it fall. And when it began to be day, Paul exhorted them all to take meat, and said: To day is the fourteen day that you have tarried and continued fasting, and have received nothing: Wherefore I pray you to take meat, for your health: Mat. 10. d Luc. 12. a for there shall not one here fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and * Mar. 6. c and 8. a joh. 6. ᵃ ● Tim 4. a gave thanks to God before them all, and broke it, and began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and took meat also. We were all together in the ship two hundredth three score and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat in to the see. When it was day, they knew not the land. But they spied an haven with a bank, in to which they were minded (if it were possible) to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves to the see, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoyssed up the main sail to the wind, and drew toward land. And when we chanced on a place which had the see on both the sides, the ship daszhed upon it. And the fore part abode fast unmoved, but the hinder part broke thorough the violence of the wawes. The soudyers council was to kill the presoners, jest any of them when he had swymmed out, should fly away. But the undercaptain willing to save Paul, keped them from their purpose, and commanded that they which could swim, should cast themselves first in to the see, and escape unto land: and the other, some on boards, some on broken pe●es of the ship. And so it came to pass, that all the souls came safe unto land. The XXVIII Chapter. ANd when we were escaped, we knew that the isle was called Melite. As for the people, they showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us all because of the rain that was come upon us, and because of the cold. When Paul had gathered a bondell of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and leap on Paul's hand. When the people saw the be'st hang on his hand, they said among themselves: This man must needs be a murderer, whom vengeance suffereth not to live, though he have escaped the see. But he shaken of the be'st in to the fire, and Luc▪ 〈…〉 and felt no harm. Howbeit they waited, when he should have swollen, or fallen down deed suddenly. But when they had looked a great while, and saw that there happened no harm unto him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a God. In the same quarters the chief man of the Isle whose name was Publius had a lordship: the same received us, and lodged us three days courteously. It fortuned when Publius' father lay sick of the fevers and of a bloody flux, Paul went in unto him, and prayed, and laid the hands on him, and healed him. When this was done, other also which had diseases in the isle, came, and were healed. And they did us great honour. And when we departed, they jaded us with things necessary. After the months we sailed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wyntred in the isle, and had a badge of Castor and Pollux. And when we came to Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And when we had sailed about, we came to Rhegium: and after one day when the south wind blue, we came to Putiolus, where we found brethren and were desired of them to tarry there seven days, and so came we to Rome. And from thence when the brethren heard of us, they came forth to meet us to Apiforum and to the Three taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God, and waxed bold. But when we came to Rome, the undercaptain delivered the presoners to the chief captain. As for Paul, he had leave to bide alone with one soudyer that kept him. After three days it fortuned, that Paul called the chief of the Jews together. And when they were come, he said unto them: You men & brethren 〈…〉▪ b 〈…〉▪ b I have committed nothing against oh people, ner against the laws of the fathers, yet was I bound, delivered out of Jerusalem in to the Romans hands: which when they had examined me, would have let me go, for so much as there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke the contrary, I was constrained to appeal unto the Empero: not as though I had aught to accuse my people of. For this cause have I called you, even to see you, & to speak with you: because that 〈…〉 for the hope of Israel, I am bound with this chain. They said unto him: We have neither received letter out of jewry concerning thee, neither came there any of the brethren, that showed or spoke any harm of the But we will hear of thee, what thou thinkest: for we have herd of this sect, that every where 〈…〉 it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him aday, there came many unto him in to his lodging: unto whom he expounded the kingdom of God & preached unto them of jesus, out of the law and out of the prophets, even from morning until the even. And some believed the thing that he said, but some believed not. But when they agreed not among them selves, they departed, when Paul had spoken one word: Full well hath the holy ghost spoken by the prophet Esay unto oh fathers, 〈…〉 & said: Go unto this people, and say: With ears you shall hear, & not understand: & with eyes shall you see, & not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, & they hear hardly with their ears: & their eyes have they closed, that they should not once see with their eyes, & hear with their ears, & understand in their hearts, and be converted, that I might heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Heythen, and they shall hear it. And when he said that, the Jews departed, & had a great disputation among themselves. But Paul abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, & received all them that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the LORD jesus with all boldness, unforbydden. The end of the Acts of the Apostles, written by S. Luke, which was present at the doings of them. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Romans. The Sum of this Epistle. Chap. I Paul declareth his love toward the Romans, showeth what the gospel is with the fruit thereof, and rebuketh the beestlynesse of the flesh. Chap. II He rebuketh the jews, which as touching sin are like the heathen, ye worse than they. Chap. III He showeth what preferment the jews have, and that both the jews and Gentiles are under sin, and are justified only by the grace of God in Christ. Chap. four He declareth by the example of Abraham, that faith justifieth, and not the law, ner the works thereof. Chap. V The power of faith, hope and love▪ and how death reigned from Adam unto Christ▪ by whom only we have forgiveness of sins. Chap. VI For so much as we be delivered thorough christ from sin, we must fashion ourselves to live as the servants of God, and not after our own lusts. The unlike reward of righteousness and sin. Chap. VII. Christ hath delivered us from the law and death Paul showeth what the flesh and outward man is, and calleth it the law of the membres. Chap. VIII. The law of the spirit giveth life. The spirit of God maketh us Gods children and heirs with Christ. The abundant love of God can not be separated. Chap. IX. Paul complaineth upon the hard hearts of the jews, that would not receive Christ, and how the Heythen are choose in their stead. Chap. X. The unfaithfulness of the jews. Two manner of righteousnesses. Chap. XI. All the jews are not cast away, therefore Paul warneth the Gentiles that be called, not to be high minded, ner to despise the jews, for the judgements of God are deep and secret. Chap. XII. The sweet conversation, love, and works of such as believe in Christ. Chap. XIII. The obedience of men unto their rulers. Love fulfilleth the law. It is now no time to follow the works of darkness. Chap. XIIII. The weak aught not to be despised No man should offend another's conscience. Again, for outward things should no man condemn another. Chap. XU. The infirmity and frailness of the weak aught to be born with all love and kindness, after the ensample of Christ. Chap. XVI. A chapter of salutations He warneth them to beware of men's doctrine, and commends unto them certain godly men, that were lovers and brethren in the truth. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Romans. The first. Chapter. PAUL the servant of jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, Act. 13. a put apart to preach the Gospel of God (which Deut. 18. c Act. 26. d he promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures) of his son, which was begotten Mat. 1. ᵃ ●. Tim. 2. a of the sede of David after the flesh: and mightily declared to be the son of God after the spirit which sanctifieth, sense the time that he rose again from the deed, namely, jesus Christ our LORD, by whom we have Act. 9 c received grace and apostleship among all Heythen, to set up the obedience of faith under his name, of whom you are a part also, which are called of jesus Christ. To all you that be at Rome, beloved of God, and saints by calling 1. Cor. 1. a Gal. 1. a Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and the LORD jesus Christ. First, I thank my God thorough jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of thorough out all the world. For God is my witness ( joh. 4. c 2. Tim. 1. a whom I serve in my spirit in the Gospel of his son) that without ceasing I make mention of you * Phil. 1. a Col. 1. a besekinge always in my prayers, that I might once have a prosperous journey ( jere. 10. d by the will of God) to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I might bestow upon you some spiritual gift to strength you (that is) that I might be comforted with you, thorough yo faith & mine, which we have together. But I would you should know (brethren) how that I have often times purposed to come unto you (but have been Act. 16. a let hither to) that I might do some good among you, like as among other gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the ungrekes, to the wise and to the unwise. Wherefore (as much as in me is) I am ready to preach the Gospel unto you at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the 〈…〉 power of God, which saveth all that believe thereon, the jew first & also the Greek: for in it the righteousness that is of value before God, is opened, which cometh out of faith in to faith. As it is written: The just shall live by his faith. 〈…〉 For the wrath of God is declared from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, which withhold the truth of God in unrighteousness: because that it, which may be known of God, is manifest with them. For God hath showed it unto them, that the invisible things of God (that is, his everlasting power and godhead) might be seen 〈…〉 while they are considered by the works from the creation of the world: so that they are without excuse, in as much as they knew, that there is a God, and have not praised him as God ner thanked him, but become vain in their imaginations, and 〈…〉 their foolish heart was blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they become fools: and 〈…〉 turned the glory of the incorruptible God in to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, & of birds, & of four footed, 〈…〉 & of creeping beestes 〈…〉 Wherefore God likewise gave them up unto their hearts lusts in to uncleanness, to defile their own bodies in themselves, which turned the truth of God unto a lie, & worshipped and served the creature more than the maker, which is blessed for ever. Amen. Therefore God gave them up unto shameful lusts. 〈…〉 For their women changed the natural use in to the unnatural: likewise the men also left the natural use of the woman, and brent in their lusts one on another, and man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according. 〈…〉 And as they regarded not to know God, even so 〈…〉 God gave them up in to a lewd mind, to do those things which were not comely, being full of all unrighteousness, whoredom, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil conditioned whisperers, backbyters, despisers of God, doers of wrong, proud, boosters, bryngers up of evil things, disobedient to their Elders, without understanding, covenant breakers, unloving, stubborn, unmerciful: which men, though they know the righteousness of God (that they which do such, are worthy of death) yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in those that do them. The II Chapter. Therefore canst thou not excuse thyself (O man) who soever thou be that judgest: for 〈…〉 look wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, in so much as thou that judgest, dost even the same. For we are sure that the judgement of God is (according to the truth) over them that do such. But thinkest thou this O thou man, that judgest them which do such things, and dost even the very same thyself, that thou shalt escape that judgement of God? Or despysest thou the riches of his goodness, patience, and long suffering? 〈…〉 Knowest thou not, that the loving kindness of God leadeth the to repentance? But thou after thy hard and impenitent heart, heapest unto thyself a treasure of wrath, against the day of wrath and of the opening of the righteous judgement of God, 〈…〉 which shall reward every man according to his deeds: namely, praise & honour, and uncorruption, unto them that with patience in doing good, seek everlasting life: But unto them that are contentious 〈…〉 & not obedient unto the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall come indignation and wrath, trouble and anguish upon all the souls of men that do evil, of the jew first and also of the Greek: But unto all them that do good (shall come) praise and honour, and peace, unto the jew first, and also to the Greek. 〈…〉 For there is no respect of personnes before God: Who so ever have sinned without law, shall perish also without law: and whosoever have sinned in the law, shallbe judged by the law. 〈…〉 For before God; they are not righteous, which hear the law: but they that do the law, shallbe justified. For if the gentiles which have not the law, do of nature the things contained in the law, than they having not the law, are a law unto themselves, in that they show, that the work of the law is written in their hearts: while their conscience beareth witness unto them, and also the thoughts which accuse or excuse them among themselves, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by jesus Christ, according to my Gospel. But take heed, 〈…〉 thou art called a jew, and trustest in the law, & makest thy boost of God, and knowest his will: & for so much as thou art informed out of the law, thou provest what is best to do, and presumest to be a leader of the blind: a light of them that are in darkness: an enformer of the unwise: a teacher of the simple: which hast the ensample of knowledge & of the truth in the law. Now teachest thou other, and teachest not thyself. Thou preachest that a man should not steal, and thou stealest. Thou sayest, that a man should not break wedlock, and thou breakest wedlock. Thou abhorrest images, and robbest God of his honour. Thou makest thy boost of the law, and thorough breaking of the law thou dishonourest God. For thorough you is the name of God evil spoken of among the gentiles, * as it is written. The circumcision verily availeth, Esa. 52. a Eze. 36. if thou keep the law: but if thou break the law, then is thy circumcision become uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the right things contained in the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And so it that of nature is uncircumcision, and fulfilleth the law shall judge thee, which under the letter and circumcision transgressest the law. For he is not a jew which is a jew outward: neither is that circumcision which is done outwardly in the flesh: But he is a jew, joh. 8. d Rom. 9 which is hid within. And * Col. ●. b the circumcision of the heart is the circumcision, which is done in the spirit and not in the letter: Whose praise is not of men, but of God. The III Chapter. WHat furtherance then have the jews? Or what avauntageth circumcision? Surely very much. First Rom. 9 Unto them was committed what God spoke. But where as some of them did not believe thereon, what then? should their unbelieve make the promise of God of none effect? God forbid. Let it rather be thus, that God is true, * Psal. 115 Psal. 50. a and all men liars. joh. 3. c As it is written: That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings, and shouldest overcome, when thou art judged. Butler if it be so, that our unrighteousness praiseth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God then unrighteous, that he is angry therefore? (I speak thus after the manner of men) God forbid. How might God then judge the world? For if the truth of God be thorough my lie the more excellent unto his praise, why should I then be judged yet as a sinner? & not rather to do thus (as we are evil spoken of, and as some report, that we should say) Let us do evil, that good may come thereof. Whose damnation is inste. What say we then? Are we better than they? Not, in no wise: for we have proved afore, that both the jews and Greeks are all under sin. Psal. 13. a ●nd. 52. a As it is written: There is none righteous, not not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all go out of the way, they are altogether become unprofitable: there is none that doth good, not not one. Psal. 5. b Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have deceived, Psal. 139. a the poison of Asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Pro. 1. a ●sa. 59 a Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction & wrechidnes are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. Psal. 35. a There is no fear of God before their eyes. But we know, that, what soever the law sayeth, it sayeth it unto them which are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, & that all the world may be debtor unto God, Gal. 2. c because that by the deeds of the law no flesh may be justified in his sight. Heb. 7. c For by the law cometh but the knowledge of sin. But now without adding to of the law is the righteousness which availeth before God, declared, having witness of the law and the prophets: but I speak of the righteousness before God, which cometh by the faith on jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe. For here is no difference. For they are all sinners, and want the praise that God should have of them, but without deserving are they made righteous even by his grace, thorough the redemption that is done by Christ jesus, whom God hath set forth for a Exo. 25. c Heb. 5. a mercyseat thorough faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which availeth before him, in that he forgiveth the sins, which were done before under the sufferance of God, which he suffered, that at this time he might show the righteousness which availeth before him: that he only might be righteous, & the righteous maker of him which is of the faith on jesus. Where is now then thy rejoicing? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. We hold therefore that a man is justified Some ●eade: By ●aith only. by faith, without the works of the law. Or is God the God of the jews only? Is he not also the God of the Heythen? Yes verily the God of the Heythen also, for so much as he is the God only that justifieth the circumcision which is of faith, and the uncircumcision thorough faith. Destroys we then the law thorough faith? God forbid. But we maintain the law. The fourth Chapter. WHat shall we say then, that Abraham oh father as pertaining to the flesh did find? This we say: If Abraham were made righteous thorough works, then hath he wherein to rejoice, but not before God. But what sayeth the scripture? Gen. 〈…〉 Gal. ●. a jacob▪ 〈…〉 Abraham believed God, & that was counted unto him for righteousness. Unto him that goeth about with works, is the reward not reckoned of favour, but of duty: Howbeit unto him, that goeth not about with works, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, is his faith counted for righteousness. Even as David sayeth also, that blessedness is only that man's, unto whom God counteth righteousness without adding to of works, where he sayeth: Blessed are they, whose unrighteousnesses are forgiven, Psal 〈…〉 and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man, unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin. Now this blessedness, goeth it over the circumcision, or over the uncircumcision? We must needs grant, that Abraham's faith was counted unto him for righteousness. How was it then reckoned unto him? In the circumcision, or in the uncircumcision? Doubtless Gen. 〈…〉 not in the circumcision, but in the uncircumcision. As for the token of circumcision Gen. 〈…〉 he received it for a seal of the righteousness of faith, which he had yet in the uncircumcision, that he should be a father of all them that believe, being in the uncircumcision, that it might be counted unto them also for righteousness: & that he might be a father of circumcision, not only of them that are of the circumcision, but of them also that walk in the fotesteppes of the faith, which was in the uncircumcision of our father Abraham. For the promise (that he should be the heir of the world) was not made unto Abraham or to his seed thorough the law, but thorough the righteousness of faith. Gal. 〈…〉 For if they which are of the law be heirs, them is faith vain, and the promise of none effect, for so much as the law causeth but wrath. For where the law is not, there is also no transgression. Therefore was the promise made thorough faith, that it might come of favour, whereby the promise might be made sure unto all the seed: not only unto him which is of the law, but also unto him that is of the faith of Abraham 〈◊〉 5●. a 〈◊〉▪ 13 b 〈◊〉 19 a 〈◊〉 ●. c ●al. ● a Goe 17. a which is the father of us all. As it is written: 〈◊〉 5●. a 〈◊〉▪ 13 b 〈◊〉 19 a 〈◊〉 ●. c ●al. ● a Goe 17. a I have made the a father of many heathen before God, whom thou hast believed: which quyckeneth the deed, and calleth it which is not, that it may be. And he believed upon hope, where nothing was to hope, that he should be a father of many heathen. according as it was said unto him: 〈◊〉 1●. a Even so shall thy seed be. And he was not faint in faith, neither considered his own body, which was deed already, while he was almost an hundredth year old, neither the deed womb of Sara. For he doubted not in the promise of God thorough unbelieve, but was strong in faith, and gave God the praise: & was sure, that look what God promiseth, he is able to make it good. And therefore was it reckoned unto him for righteousness. 〈◊〉. 15. a But this is not written only for his sake, that it was counted unto him, but also for our sakes: unto whom it shallbe counted, if we believe on him, that raised up our LORD jesus from the deed. Which 〈◊〉. 2. a was given for our sins, and raised up for our righteousness sake. The V Chapter. BEcause therefore that we are justified by faith, we have peace with God thorough our LORD jesus Christ, by whom also we have an entrance in faith unto this grace, wherein we stand, & 〈◊〉 3. a rejoice in the hope of the glory for to come, which God shall give. Not only that, but we rejoice also in troubles, for so much as we know, that 〈◊〉 1. a trouble bringeth patience, patience bringeth experience, experience bringeth hope: As for hope, is letteth us not come to confusion, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet weak according to the time, Christ died for us ungodly. Now dieth there scace any man for the righteous sake: 〈◊〉 3 a 〈◊〉 1. b 〈◊〉 3. b Peradventure for a good man dared one die. 〈◊〉 3. c 〈◊〉. 3. c 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 9 c. d Therefore doth God set forth his love toward us, in that Christ died for us, when we were yet sinners: Much more than shall we be saved from wrath by him saying we are now made righteous thorough his blood. For if we were reconciled unto God by the death of his son, when we were yet enemies: much more shall we be saved by him, now that we are reconciled. Not only that, but we rejoice also in God thorough our LORD jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore Gen. 3. a as by one man sinned entered in to the world, and death by the means of sin: even so went death also over all men, in so much as they all have sinned. For sin was in the world unto the law: but where no law is, there is not sin regarded. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam unto Moses, even over them also that sinned not with like transgression as did Adam, which is the image of him that was to come. But it is not with the gift as with the sin: for if thorough the sin of one many be deed, yet much more plenteously came the grace and gift of God upon many joh. 1. b by the favour that belonged unto one man jesus Christ. And the gift is not only over one sin, as death came thorough one sin of one that sinned. For the judgement came of one sin unto condemnation, but the gift to justify fro many sins. For if by the sin of one, death reigned by the means of one, much more shall they which receive the abundance of grace and of the gift unto righteousness, reign in life by the means of one jesus Christ. Likewise then as by the sin of one, condemnation came on all men, even so also by the righteousness of one, came the iustififienge of life upon all men. For as by the disobedience of one, many become sinners, even so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. But the law in the mean time entered, Gal. 3. ● that sin should increase. Luc. 7. ● Nevertheless where abundance of sin was, there was yet more plenteousness of grace: that, like as sin had reigned unto death, even so might grace reign also thorough righteousness to everlasting life by the means of jesus Christ. The VI Chapter. WHat shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that there may be abundance of grace? God forbid. How shall we live in sin, that are deed from it? Gal. 3. d Col. 2. b 1. Pet. 3. ● Know you not, that all we which are baptized in to jesus Christ, are baptized in to his death? Therefore are we buried with him by baptism in to death, that, like as Christ was raised up from the deed by the glory of the father, Ephe. 4. Col. 3. a Heb. 9 c even so we also should walk in a new life. For if we be grafted with him unto like death, then shall we be like the resurrection also: For so much as we know, that our old man is crucified with him, that the sinful body might cease, that hence forth we should serve sin no more. Pet. 4. a For he that is deed, is made righteous from sin. But if we be deed with Christ, we believe, that we shall live also with him, Tim. 2. b and are sure, Apoc. 1 d that Christ raised from the deed, dieth no more: Death shall have no more power over him. For as touching that he died, he died concerning sin once: but as touching that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise you also, count yourselves to be even deed concerning sin, and to live unto God thorough jesus Christ our LORD. Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal body, that you should obey unto the lusts of it. neither give you over your membres unto sin to be wapens of unrighteousness, but give over yourselves unto God, as they that of deed are become living, and your membres unto God to be wapens of righteousness. For sin shall not have power over you, in so much as you are not under the law, but under grace. How then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. ●oh 8. c Pet. 2. d Know you not, that look unto whom you give over yourselves as servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that though you have been the servants of sin, you are now yet obedient of heart to the ensample of the doctrine, whereunto you are committed. For now that you are made free from sin, you are become the servants of righteousness. I will speak grossly, because of the weakness of your flesh. Like as you have given over your membres to the service of uncleanness, from one wickedness to another: Even so now also give over your membres to the service of righteousness, that they may be holy. For when you were the servants of sin, you were louse from righteousness. What fruit had you at that time in those things, whereof you are now ashamed? For the end of such things is death. But now that you be free from sin, and are become the servants of God, you have your fruit that you should be holy: but the end is everlasting life. Gen. 2. c ●om 5. b For death is the reward of sin, but the gift of God is everlasting life. The VII. Chapter. Know you not brethren (for I speak unto them that know the law) how that the law hath power upon a man as long as he liveth? 1. Cor. 〈…〉 For the woman that is in subjection to the man, is bound unto the law while the man liveth: but if the man die, then is she loosed from the law that concerneth the man. Nat. 〈…〉 If she be now with another man, while the manlyneth, she shall be called a wedlock breaker. But if the man be deed, then is she free from the law, so that she is no wedlock breaker, if she be with another man. Even so my brethren, you also are deed unto the law by the body of Christ, that you should be with another (namely with him which is raised up from the deed) that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful lusts (which were stirred up by the law) were mighty in our membres to bring forth fruit unto death. But now are we loosed from the law, and deed unto it, that held us captive, so that we should serve in a new conversation of the spirit, and not in the old conversation of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid: Nevertheless I knew not sin, but by the law. For I had known nothing of lust, if the law had not said: Exo. 〈…〉 Deut. 〈…〉 Thou shalt not lust. But than took sin occasion at the commandment, and stirred up in me all manner of lust. For without the law sin was deed. As for me, I lived some time without law. Howbeit when the commandment came, sin renyved, but I was deed. And the very same commandment that was given me unto life, was found to be unto me on occasion of death. For sin took occasion at the commandment, and deceived me, and slew me by the same commandment. Esa. 〈…〉 The law in deed is holy, and the commandment holy, just and good. Is that than which is good, become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear how that it is sin, hath wrought me death thorough good: that sin might be out of measure sinful by the commandment. For we know, that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, 〈…〉 sold under sin: because I know not what I do. For I do not that I will, but what I hate, that do I If I do now that which I will not, them grant I, that the law is good. So than it is not I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me: for I know that in me (that is, in my 〈…〉 flesh) there dwelleth no good thing. To will is present with me, but to perform that which is good, I find not. For the good that I will, do I not: but the evil which I will not, that do I If I do now that I will not, then is it not I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Thus find I now by the law, that when I will do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my membres, which striveth against the law of my mind, and taketh me prisoner in the law of sin, which is in my membres. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God thorough jesus Christ our LORD. So than with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. The VIII. Chapter. THen is there now no damnation unto them that are in Christ jesus, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit (that bringeth life in Christ jesu) hath made me 〈…〉 free from the law of sin & death. 〈…〉 For what unpossible was unto the law (in as much as it was weak because of the flesh) that performed God, & sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, & by Cor. 3. c sin damned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness required of the law, might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For they that are fleshly, are fleshly minded: but they that are ghostly, are ghostly minded. To be fleshly minded, is death: but to be ghostly minded, is life and peace. For to be fleshly minded is enemyte against. God, 〈…〉 sith it is not subdued unto the law of God, for it can not also. As for them that are fleshly, they can not please God. Howbeit you are not fleshly, but ghostly, if so be that the spirit of God devil in you. But who so hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is not his. Nevertheless if Christ be in you, than is the body deed because of sin. But the spirit is life for righteousness sake. Wherefore if the spirit of him, that raised up jesus from the deed, devil in you, then shall even he also that raised up Christ from the deed, quicken your mortal bodies, because that his spirit dwelleth in you. Therefore brethren we are now debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: for if you live after the flesh, you must die: but if you mortify the deeds of the body thorough the spirit, you shall live. For who so ever are led by the spirit of God, 〈◊〉. 4. ᵃ ● Tim. 1. a are God's children: for you have not received the spirit of bondage to fear any more, but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry: Abba, dear father. 2. Cor. 1. and 5. a Eph. 1. b The same spirit certifieth our spirit, that we are the children of God. If we be children, then are we heirs also, namely the heirs of God, and heirs annexed with Christ, if so be that we suffer together, that we may be also glorified together. For I suppose, that the afflictions of this time, are not worthy of the glory, 2. Cor. 4 which shallbe showed upon us. * 2. Co. ● For the fervent longing of the creature looketh for the appearing of the children of God, because the creature is subdued unto vanity against her will, but for his will that hath subdued her upon hope. For the creature also shall be free from the bondage of corruption, unto the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know, that every creature groaneth, and joh. 16. travaileth with us in pain unto the same tyme. Not they only, but we ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the spirit, groan within in ourselves for the childshippe, and look for the deliverance of our body. For we are saved in deed, howbeit in hope: but the hope that is seen, is no hope: for how can a man hope for that which he seyeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, them do we thorough patience abide for it. Likewise the spirit also helpeth our weakness: for we know not what we should desire as we ought: Esa. 26. nevertheless the spirit itself maketh intercession mightily for us with unoutspeakable gronynges. Howbeit he that searcheth the heart, knoweth what the mind of the spirit is: for he maketh intercession for the saints according to the pleasure of God. But sure we are, that all things serve for the best unto them that love of God, which are called of purpose. For those whom he knew before, hath he ordained also before, that they should be like fashioned unto the shape of his son, that he might be the first begotten among many brethren. As for those whom he hath ordained before, them hath he called also: and whom he hath called, them hath he also made righteous: and whom he hath made righteous, them hath he glorified also. What shall we say then unto these things? if God be on our side, Nu. 14. ● Esa. 50. b who can be against us. * Goe 22 Esa. 53. c Which spared not his own son, but hath given him for us all: how shall he not with him give us all things also? Who will lay enythinge to the charge of Gods choose? Here is God that maketh righteous, who will then condemn? Here is Christ that is deed, ye rather which is raised up again, which is also on the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for us. Who will separate us from the love of God? Trouble? or anguish? or persecution? or hunger? or nakedness? or apparel? or sword? ●al. 43. c As it is written: For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep appointed to be slain. Nevertheless in all these things we overcome far, for his sake that loved us. For sure I am, that neither death ner life, neither angel, ner rule, neither power, neither things present, neither things to come, neither height, ner loweth, neither any other creature shallbe able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ jesus our LORD. The IX. Chapter. I Say the truth in Christ, and lie not (whereof my conscience beareth me witness in the holy ghost) that I have great heaviness & continual sorrow in my heart. 〈◊〉. 31. g I have wyszhed myself to be cursed from Christ for my brethren, that are my kinsmen after the flesh, which are of Israel: 〈◊〉. 19 a 〈◊〉. 7. a unto whom pertaineth the childshippe, and the glory, and the covenants and law, and the service of God, and the promises: whose are also the fathers, of whom (after the flesh) cometh Christ, ●om. 1. c which is God over all, blessed for ever, Amen· But I speak not these things, as though the word of God were of none effect: for they are not all Israelites, ●om. 2. c which are of Israel: ●al. 4. c neither are they all children, because they are the seed of Abraham: ●en. 21. b but in Isaac shall the seed be called unto thee, that is, They which are children after the flesh, are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is a word of the promise, where he sayeth: About this time will I come, ●en. 18. b and Sara shall have a son. Howbeit it is not so with this only, but also when Rebecca was with child by one (namely by our father Isaac) or ever the children were born, ●en. 25. c & had done neither good ner bade (that the purpose of God might stand according to the election, not by the deserving of works, but by the grace of the caller) it was said thus unto her: The greater shall serve the less. As it is written: ●●al. 1. a jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is God then unrighteous? God forbid. For he sayeth unto Moses: I show mercy, to whom I show mercy: and have compassion, Exo. 〈…〉 on whom I have compassion. So lieth it not then in any man's will or running, but in the mercy of God. For the scripture sayeth unto Pharaoh: Exo. 〈…〉 For this cause have I stirred the up, even to show my power on thee, that my name might be declared in all lands. Thus hath he mercy on whom he will: and whom he will, he hardeneth. Thou will't say then unto me: Why blameth he us yet? For who can resist his will? O thou man, who art thou, that disputest with God? Sayeth the work to his workman: Why hast thou made me on this fashion? Hath not the potter power, jere. 〈…〉 Eccli. 〈…〉. Tim. 〈…〉 out of one lump of clay to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Therefore when God would show wrath, and to make his power known, he brought forth with great patience the vessels of wrath, which are ordained to damnation: that he might declare the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he hath prepared unto glory, whom he hath called (namely us) not only of the jews, but also of the gentiles. As he sayeth also by Osee: Osee▪ 〈…〉 and▪ ●▪ c 1. 〈…〉 I will call that my people, which is not my people: and my beloved, which is not the beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place, where it was said unto them: You are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God. But Esay crieth over Israel: Esa. 〈…〉 Zach. 〈…〉 Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the see, yet shall there but a remnant be saved. For there is the word, that fynisheth and shorteneth in righteousness: for a short word shall God make upon earth. And as Esay said before: Except the LORD of Sabbaoth had left us feed, Esa. ● b we should have been as Sodoma, and like unto Gomorra. What shall we say then? This will we say: The Heythen which followed not righteousness, have overtaken righteousness: but I speak of the righteousness that cometh of faith. Again, Israel followed the law of righteousness, and attained not unto the law of righteousness. Why so? Even because they sought it not out of faith, but as it were out of the deserving of works. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone. As it is written: Behold, Esa. 〈…〉 I lay in Zion a stone to stumble at, and a rock to be offended at: and who so ever believeth on him, Esa. 〈…〉 shall not be confounded. The X. Chapter. BRethren, my hearts desire, & prayer unto God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record, that they are zealous for God's cause, but not with understanding. For they know not the righteousness which availeth before God, and go about to maintain their own righteousness: and thus they are not subdued unto the righteousness, that is of value before God. 〈…〉 For Christ is the end of the law, unto righteousness for every one that believeth. ●para Moses writeth of the righteousness which cometh of the law, that the man which doth the same, shall live therein. But the righteousness which cometh of faith, speaketh on this wise: 〈…〉 Say not in thy heart: Who will go up in to heaven? (that is nothing else then to fetch Christ down) Or who will go down in to the deep? (that is nothing else them to fetch up Christ from the deed.) But what sayeth the scripture? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. This is the word of faith that we preach. For if thou knowlegest jesus with thy mouth, that he is the LORD, and believest in thy heart, that God hath raised him up from the deed, thou shalt be saved. For if a man believe from the heart, he shallbe made righteous: and if a man knowledge with the mouth, he shall be saved. For the scripture sayeth: 〈…〉 Who so ever believeth on him, shall not be confounded. Here is no difference, neither of the jew ner of the gentle. For one is LORD of all, which is rich unto all that call upon him. * For who so ever shall call upon the name of the LORD, shallbe saved. But how shall they call upon him, on whom they believe not? How shall they believe on him, of whom they have not herd? How shall they hear without a preacher? But how shall they preach, except they be sent? 〈…〉 As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach peace, that bring good tidings? But they are not all obedient unto the Gospel. For Isaiah sayeth: LORD, who believeth our preaching? So then faith cometh 〈…〉 by hearing, but hearing cometh by the word of God. But I say: Have they not herd? No doubt their sound went out in to all lands, 〈…〉 and their words in to the ends of the world. But I say: Hath not Israel known? First, 〈…〉 Moses sayeth: I will provoke you to envy, by them that are not my people: & by a foolish nation will I anger you. 〈…〉 Isaiah after him is bold, and sayeth: I am found of them, that sought me not: & have appeared unto them, that axed not after me. But unto Israel he sayeth: Esa ●. 6●. All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a people that believeth not, but speaketh against me. The XI. Chapter. I Say then: Hath God thrust out his people? God forbid: jere 31. ● for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham out of the tribe of Ben jamin. God hath not thrust out his people, whom he knew before. Or wot you not what the scripture sayeth of Elias, how he maketh intercession unto God against Israel, and sayeth: 3. Re. 19 ● LORD, they have slain thy prophets, & dydged down thy altars, and I am left over only, and they seek my life? But what sayeth the answer of God unto him? 3. Re. 19 ● I have reserved unto me seven thousand men, which have not bowed their knee before Baal. Even so goeth it now at this time also with this remnant after the election of grace. Deut. 9 a If it be done of grace, them is it not of deserving: else were grace no grace. Butt if it be of deserving, then is grace nothing: else were deserving no deserving. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he sought, but the election hath obtained it. As for the other, they are blinded. As it is written: God hath given them the spirit of unquietness, Esa. 6. b eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, even unto this day. And David sayeth: Let their table be made a snare to take them with all, & an occasion to fall, Psal. 6●. d & a reward unto them. Let their eyes be blinded that they see not, and ever bow down their backs. I say then: Have they therefore stumbled, that they should clean fall to naught? God forbid: but thorough their fall is salvation happened unto the heathen, that he might provoke them to be zealous after them. For if their fall be the riches of the world, and the mynishinge of them the riches of the Heythen: how much more should it be so, if their fullness were there? I speak unto you heathen: for in as much as Rom. 1. a 1. Tim. 2. ● 2. Tim. 1. b I am the Apostle of the Heythen, I will praise mine office, if I might provoke them unto zeal, which are my flesh, and save some of them. For if the loss of them by the reconcylinge of the world, what were that else, then as if life were taken of the deed? If the beginning be holy, then is all the dow holy: Esa. 65. b and if the rote be holy, then are the branches holy also. But though some of the branches now be broken, and thou, when thou wast a wild olive tree, art graft in among them, and made partaker of the rote and sap of the jere. 11. c olive tree, boost not thyself against the branches. If thou boost thyself against them, than bearest not thou the rote, but the rote beareth the. Thou will't say then: the branches are broken of, that I might be grafted in. Thou sayest well. They are broken of because of their unbelieve, but thou stondest thorough believe Eccl. 7. c Be not thou high minded, but fear, saying God hath not spared the natural branches, jest he also spare not the. Behold therefore the kindness and rigorousness of God: on them which fallen, rigorousness: but toward thee, kindness, if thou continue in the kindness. Else shalt thou be hewn of: ●. Cor. 3. c and they, if they bide not still in unbelieve, shall be grafted in again. For God is of power to graft them in again. For if thou be cut out of the natural wild olive tree, and grafted (contrary to nature) in the good olive tree, how much more shall they that are natural, be grafted in their own olive tree again? I would not that this secret should be hid from you brethren (jest you should be wise in your own conceits) that partly blindness is happened unto Israel, Luc. 21. c so long till the fullness of the heathen be come in, and so all Israel shallbe saved. As it is written: There shall come out of Zion he that doth deliver, Psal. 13. a Esa. 59 c and shall turn away ungodliness from jacob. And this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the Gospel, I hold them as enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, I love them for the father's sakes. For verily the gifts & calling of God are such, that it can not repent him of them. For likewise as you also in time passed have not believed, but now have obtained mercy thorough their unbelieve: Even so now have they not believed on the mercy which his happened unto you, that they also may obtain mercy. For God hath closed up all under unbelieve, that he might have mercy on all. O the deepness of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God? How incomprehensible are his judgements, Sap. 17. a and his ways unsearchable? * Sap. 9 b Esa. 40. ᵇ ●. Cor 2. b Esa. 44. e For who hath known the mind of the LORD? Or who hath been his council gever· Or who hath given him aught afore hand, that he might be recompensed again? For of him, and thorough him, and in him are all things. To him be praise for ever, Amen. The XII. Chapter. I Beseke you brethren by the mercifulness of God, that you give over your bodies for a * sacrifice, that is quick holy, and acceptable unto God, which is you reasonable serving of God. And fashion not yourselves like unto this world, but be changed thorough the renewing of you mind, that you may prove, what thing that good, that acceptable, & perfect will of God is. For I say thorough the grace that is given me, unto every man among you: Ecc●●. 〈…〉 that no man esteem of himself more, than it becometh him to esteem: but that he discreetly judge of himself, according as God hath dealt unto every man the measure of faith. 1. Cor. 〈…〉 Eph. 〈…〉 For like as we have many membres in one body, but all the membres have not one manner of operation: Even so we being many are one body in Christ. But among ourselves every one is the member of another, and have divers gifts, according to the grace that is given unto us 1. Co. 〈…〉 If any man have the gift of prophesying, let it be according to the faith. 1. Pet▪ 〈…〉 Let him that hath an office, wait upon the office: let him that teacheth, take heed to the doctrine: Let him that exhorteth, give attendance to the exhortation. If any man giveth, let him give with singleness. Let him that ruleth, be diligent. Ecc●●▪ 〈…〉 * If any man show mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hate that which is evil: Cleve unto that which is good. Be kind one to another with brotherly love. In giving honour go one before another. Ecc● 〈…〉 Be not slothful in the business that you have in hand. Be fervent in the spirit. Apply yourselves unto the time. Rejoice in hope, be patient in trouble. Continued in prayer. Distribute unto the necessities of the saints. Heb▪ 〈…〉 Be glad to harbarow. Bless them that persecute you. Bless, & curse not. Be merry with them that are merry and weep with them that weep. Be of one mind among yourselves. Be not proud in your own conceits, but make yourselves equal to them of the low sort. Be not wise in your own opinions Pro. 〈…〉 1. 〈…〉 Recompense unto no man evil for evil. provide honesty afore hand toward every man. If it be possible (as much as in you is) have peace with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but give room unto the wrath of God. For it is written: Vengeance is mine, 〈…〉 and I will reward, sayeth the LORD. Therefore if thy enemy hunger, feed him: If he thirst, 〈…〉 give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome thou evil with good. The XIII. Chapter. LEt every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers. 〈…〉 For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God: so that who so ever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not to be feared for good works, but for evil. If thou will't be without fear of the power, do well then, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God for thy wealth. But if thou do evil, then fear, for he beareth not the sword for naught. For he is the minister of God, a taker of vengeance, to punish him that doth evil. Wherefore you must needs obey, not only for punishment, but also because of conscience. For this cause must you give tribute also. For they are Gods ministers, which manteyne the same defence. give to every man therefore his duty: tribute, 〈…〉 to whom tribute belongeth: custom, to whom custom is due: fear, to whom fear belongeth: honour, to whom honour pertaineth. Own nothing to any man, but to love one another. 〈…〉 For he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the law. For where it is said: ( 〈◊〉 ●0. c 〈◊〉▪ 5. c Thou shalt not break wedlock: thou shalt not kill: thou shalt not steal: thou shalt not bear false witness: thou shalt not lust) and if there be any other commandment, it is comprehended in this word: 〈…〉 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love doth his neighbour no evil. Therefore is love the fulfilling of the law. And for so much as we know this, namely the time 〈◊〉 5. a that the hour is now for us to rise from sleep (For now is our salvation nearer, than when we believed: the night is past, but the day is come nigh.) Let us therefore cast away the works of darkness, 〈…〉 and put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, 〈…〉 not in excess of eating and in drunkenness, not in chamburing and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put you on the LORD jesus Christ, 〈…〉 and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts of it. The XIIII. Chapter. HIm that is weak in the faith, receive unto you, and trouble not the consciences. One believeth that he may eat all thing: but he that 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. jaco. 4. b Who art thou, that judgest another man's servant? He standeth or falls unto his LORD: Ye he may well stand, for God is able to make him stand. Some man putteth difference between day & day, but another man counteth all days alike. Col. 2. c Let every man be sure of his meaning. He that putteth difference in the day, doth it unto the LORD: & he that putteth no difference in the day, doth it unto the LORD also. He that eateth, eateth unto the LORD, for he giveth God thanks: and he that eateth not, eateth not unto the LORD, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. If we live, we live unto the LORD: If we die, we die unto the LORD. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the LORDS. For thereto died Christ, and rose again, and revived, that he might be Act. 2. d Phil. ●. a LORD both of deed and quick. But why judgest thou the brother? Or thou other, why despysest thou the brother? We shall all be brought before the judgement seat of Christ. Gal. 6. a For it is written: As truly as I live, (sayeth the LORD) all knees shall bow unto me, Esa. 45. c Phil. 2. a & all tongues shall knowledge unto God. Thus shall every one of us give acomptes for himself unto God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that noman put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 1. Cor. 8. ● I know, & am full certified in the LORD jesus, that there is nothing comen of itself: but unto him that judgeth it to be comen, to him is it comen. But if the brother be grieved over the meat, than walkest thou not now after charity. Destroy not with thy meat, him, for whom Christ died, See therefore that your treasure be not evil spoken of. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, & peace, and joy in the holy ghost. He that in these things serveth Christ, pleaseth God, & is commended of men. Let us therefore follow those things which make for peace, & things wherewith one may edify another. Destroy not the work of God for any meats sake. All things truly are clean, Tit. 1. c but it is evil for that man, which eateth with hurt of his conscience 1. Cor. 8. b It is much better that thou eat no flesh, and drink no wine, nor any thing, whereby thy brother stombleth, or falls, or is made weak. Hast thou faith, have it with the self before God happy is he, that condemneth not himself in that thing which he aloweth. But he that maketh conscience of it and yet eateth, is dampened: because he doth it not of faith. For 'tis 1. c what so ever is not of faith, that same is sin. The XU. Chapter. WE that are strong Gal. 6. a aught to bear the frailness of them which are weak, and not to stand in our own conceits. Let every one of us order himself so, that he please his neighbour unto his wealth, and edifienge: For Christ pleased not himself, but as it is written: The rebukes of them which rebuked thee, are fallen upon me. Psal. 68 b * Ro. 4. d What so ever things are written afore time, are written for our learning, that we thorough patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. The God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another, according unto jesus Christ, that you being of one mind, may with one mouth praise God the father of our LORD jesus Christ. Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ hath received you to the praise of God. But I say that Christ jesus was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and that the Heythen might praise God because of mercy, as it is written: 2 Re. 22. g Psal. 17. c For this cause will I praise the among the gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he sayeth: Deu. 32. f Rejoice you heathen with his people. And again: * Psa. 116. a Praise the LORD all you Gentiles, and laud him all you nations. And again Esay sayeth: There shallbe the rote of jesse, and he that shall rise to rule the gentiles, in him shall the gentiles trust. The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may be plenteous in hope thorough the power of the holy ghost. I myself am full certified of you (my brethren) that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, so that you are able to exhort one another. Nevertheless (brethren) I have somewhat more boldly written unto you, as one that putteth you in remembrance, for the grace that is given me of God▪ that I should be a minister of jesus Christ among the Heythen, to declare the gospel of God, that the heathen might be an acceptable offering unto God, sanctified by the holy ghost. Therefore may I boost myself thorough jesus Christ, that I meddle with things pertaining unto God. For I dared not speak aught, except Christ had wrought the same by me, to make the Heythen obedient thorough word and deed, thorough the power of tokens and wonders, and thorough the power of the spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricon, I have filled all with the Gospel of Christ. So have I enforced my self to preach the Gospel, not where Chr●stes name was known, jest I should build on another man's foundation, but as it is written: To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not herd, Esa. 〈…〉 shall understand. This is also the cause, wherefore I have been often times let to come unto you. But now sith I have no more place in these countries, having yet a desire many years sense to come unto you, when I shall take my journey in to Spain, I will come to you: for I trust that I shall pass that way and see you, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you: but so, that I first refresh myself a little with you. But now go I to jerusalem, to minister unto the saints. For they of Macedonia and Achaia have willingly prepared a comen collection together, Act 〈…〉 1. Co. 〈…〉 2 Cor 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 for the poor saints at jerusalem. They have done it willingly, and their debtors are they. * 1. 〈…〉 Gal▪ 〈…〉 For if the heathen be made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to minister unto them in bodily things. Now when I have performed this, and have brought them this fruit sealed, I will take my journey by you in to Spain. But I am sure when I come unto you, that I shall come with the full blessing of the Gospel of Christ. I beseek you brethren thorough our LORD jesus Christ, and thorough the love of the spirit, that you help me in my business with your prayers unto God for me, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in jewrye and that this my service which I do to jerusalem, may be accepted of the saints, that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and refresh myself with you. The God of peace be with you all. Amen. The XVI. Chapter. I Commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchrea, that you receive her in the LORD, as it be cometh the saints, and that you help her in what soever business she hath need of you. For she hath succoured many, and mine own self also. great Prisca and 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉. 4. c Aquila my helpers in Christ jesus, which for my life have laid down their own necks: unto whom not I only give thanks, but all the congregations of the Heythen. Grete the congregation also in their house. Salute Epenetoes my beloved, which is the first fruit among them of Achaia in Christ. great Mary, which hath bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus & junia my cousins, & fellow presoners, which are ancient Apostles, & were before me in Christ. great Amplias my beloved in the LORD. Salute Vrban oh helper in Christ, & Stachis my beloved. Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobolus household. Salute Herodion my kynszman. great them which are of Narcissus household in the LORD Salute Tryphena & Tryphosa, which have laboured in the LORD. Salute my beloved Persi●●, which hath laboured much & the LORD. Salute Ruffus the choose in the LORD: & his mother & mine. great Asyncritus, Phlegon, Herman, Patrobas, Hermen, & the brethren with them. Salute Philologus & julia, Nerius & his sister, & Olympa, & all the saints. with them Salute one another with an holy kiss. The congregations of Christ salute you. 〈…〉 I beseek you brethren, mark them which cause division & give occasions of evil, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, & avoid them. For they that are such, serve not the LORD jesus Christ, 〈…〉 but their own belly: & thorough sweet preachings & flattering words, they deceive the hearts of the innocentes. For your obedience is published among all men, therefore am I glad of you. But yet I would have you wise in that which is good, 〈…〉 & simple in evil. The God of peace tread Satan under you feet shortly. The grace of oh LORD jesus Christ be with you 〈…〉 Timotheus my helper, & 〈…〉 Lucius, & 〈…〉 jason, & 〈…〉 Sopater my kinsmen salute you. I Tertius which have written this epistle in the LORD, salute you 〈…〉 Gaius mine ooste & the host of the whole congregation saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the cite saluteth you & Quartus a brother saluteth you. The grace of oh LORD jesus Christ be with you all Amen, To him that is of power to stablish you, according to my Gospel & preaching of jesus Christ, whereby is uttered the mystery which hath been kept secret, sense the world began, but now is opened, & showed by the scriptures of the prophets, at the commandment of the everlasting God, to set up the obedience of the faith among all Heythen: 〈…〉 to the same God, which alone is wise, be praise thorough jesus Christ for ever, Amen. To the Romans. Scent from Corinthum, by Phebe, which was a minister of the congregation at Cenchrea. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I He commends the Corinthians▪ exhorteth them to be of one mind, & rebuketh the division that was among them. Worldly wisdom is foolishness before God, ye there is no wisdom but in the despised cross of Christ. Chap. II It is not eloquence and glorious painted words of worldly wisdom, that can edify and convert souls unto Christ: but the plain words of the scripture, for, they make mention of him and his cross. Chap. III Paul rebuketh the sec●es and authores thereof. Christ is the foundation of his church No man aught to rejoice in men, but in God. Chap. four The preachers are but ministers. judgement belongeth only unto God. Chap. V After what manner Paul curseth the man, that had committed fornication with his mother in law. Chap. VI He rebuketh them for going to law together before the heathen, and reproveth uncleanness. Chap. VII. Of marriage, virginity and wyddowheade. Chap. VIII. He rebuketh them that use their liberty to the slander of other, & showeth how men aught to behave them toward such as be weak. Chap. IX. Love forbeareth the thing that she may do by the law. He exorteth them to run on forth in the course that they have begun. Chap. X. He fears them with the ensamples of the old Testament, and exorteth them to a godly conversation. Chap. XI. He rebuketh them for the abuse and murder that they had about the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and bringeth them again to the first institution. Chap. XII. The diversity of the gifts of the holy ghost, given to the comfort and edifienge of one another, as the membres of a man's body serve one another. Chap. XIII. The nature and conditions of love. Chap. XIIII. Paul showeth that the gift of prophecy, interpreting, or preaching, excels the gift of tongues, and how they aught both to be used. Chap. XU. The resurrection of the deed. Chap. XVI. He putteth them in remembrance of the gathering for the poor christian at Jerusalem, and concludeth his epistle with the salutations of certain loving brethren. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The first Chapter. PAul, called to be an Apostle of jesus Christ thorough the will of God, and brother Act. 18. b Sosthenes, unto the congregation of God which is at Corinthum, to them that are joh. 17. c Heb. 9 c sanctified in Christ jesus, saints by calling, with all them that call upon the name of our LORD jesus Christ, in every place both of there's and ours. ●. Cor. 1. a Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the LORD jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the favour of God which is given you in jesus Christ, that in all points you are made rich by him, in every word, and in all manner of knowledge (even as the preaching of Christ is confirmed in you) so that you want nothing in any gift, and wait but for the appearing of our LORD jesus Christ: which shall strength you also unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our LORD jesus Christ. Num. 23. c 1. Co 10. b 1 Tess. 5. c For God is faithful, by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his son jesus Christ our LORD. But I beseek you brethren thorough the name of our LORD jesus Christ, that you all speak one thing, and let there be no descension among you, but that you be perfect in one meaning. For it is showed me (my brethren) of you, by them which are of the household of Cloes, that there is strife among you. I speak of that, which every one of you sayeth: I hold of Paul. Another, I hold of Act. 18. c Apollo▪ The third, I hold of Cephas. The forth, I hold of Christ. Is Christ then divided in parts? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I have baptized none of you, but * Crispus and Gaius: jest any should say, that I in mine own name had baptized. I baptized also the household of Stephana. furthermore know I not, whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, jest the cross of Christ should have been made of none effect. For the word of the cross is foolishness to them that perish 〈…〉 but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: 〈…〉 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, & will cast away the understanding of the prudent. 〈…〉 Where are the wise? Where are the scribes? where are the disputers of this world? Hath not God made the wisdom of this world foolishness? For in so much as the world by the wisdom thereof knew not God in his wisdom, it pleased God thorough foolish preaching to save them that believe. For 〈…〉 the jews require tokens, and the Greeks axe after wisdom. But we preach Christ the crucified: to the jews an occasion of falling, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them that are called (both jews and Greeks) we preach Christ the power of God and 〈…〉 the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men: and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Brethren look on your calling, how that 〈…〉 not many wisemen after the flesh, not many mighty, not many of high degree are called: but that foolish is before the world, hath God choose, that he might confound the wise: And that weak is before the world, hath God choose, that he might confound the mighty. And the vile and despised before the world hath God choose, ye and that which is nothing, that he might destroy that which is ought, that no flesh should rejoice in his presence. Of the same are you also in Christ jesus, which of God is made unto us wisdom and 〈…〉 righteousness, and 〈…〉 sanctifying and redemption, that, according as it is written: 〈…〉 He that rejoiceth, should rejoice in the LORD. The II Chapter. ANd I brethren, when I came unto you came not with high words or high wisdom, to show unto you the preaching of Christ. For I showed not forth myself among you that I knew any thing, save only jesus Christ, even the same that ewas crucified. And I was among you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling: 〈…〉 and my word and my preaching was not with entysinge words of man's wisdom, but in shewing of the spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. That we speak of, is wisdom among them that are perfect: not the wisdom of this world, neither of the rulers of this world which go to naught: but we speak of the wisdom of God, which is in secret and lieth hid: which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 〈…〉 which none of the rulers of this world knew. For if they had known it, they had not crucified the LORD of glory, but as it is written: 〈…〉 The eye hath not seen, and the ear hath not herd, neither hath it entered in to the heart of man that God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath opened it unto us by his spirit. 〈…〉 For the spirit searcheth out all things, ye even the depenesses of the God head. For what man knoweth what is in man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no man knoweth what is in God, save the spirit of God. As for us, we have not received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which cometh of God, so that we can know what is given us of God: which we also speak, not with cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, and judge spiritual matters spiritually. Howbeit the natural man perceiveth nothing of the spirit of God. It is foolishness unto him, and he can not perceive it: for it must be spiritually discerned. 〈…〉 But he that is spiritual, discusseth all things, and he is judged of noman. 〈…〉 For who hath known the mind of the LORD? Or who shall inform him? But we have the mind of Christ. The III Chapter. ANd I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 〈…〉 I gave you milk to drink, and not meat, for you might not then away withal, neither may you yet even now, in so much as you are yet fleshly. For 〈…〉 saying there is envying, strife, and dissension among you▪ are you not fleshly, & walk after the manner of men? For when one sayeth: I hold of Paul: another, 〈…〉 I hold of Apollo, are you not then fleshly? What is Paul? What is▪ Apollo? Even ministers are they, by whom you are come to the believe, and the same, according as the LORD hath given unto every man. I have planted, Apollo hath watered, joh. 6 g Act. 2. c but God hath given the increase. So then neither is he that planteth, any thing, neither he that watereth, but God which giveth the increase. As for him that planteth, and he that watereth, the one is as the other: but yet shall every one receive his reward according to his labour. For we are Gods labourers, you are God's huszbandry, you are Gods building. according to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise builder have I laid the foundation, but another buildeth thereon. Yet let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon. Mat. 16. c For other foundation can noman say, then that which is laid, the which is jesus Christ. But if enyman build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, timber, hay, stobble, every man's work shall be showed. Esa. 28. c For the day of the LORD shall declare it, which shall be showed with fire: and the 1. Pet. 1. b and 4. b fire shall try every man's work what it is. If any man's work that he hath build thereon, abide, he shall receive a reward: If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss: but he shall be saved himself, nevertheless as thorough fire. 1. Cor. 6. ● 2. Cor. 6. ● Heb. 3. a Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man think himself wise among you, let him become a fool in this world, that he may be wise. For Rom. 1. c the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: job. 5. b He compaseth the wise in their craftiness. And again: Psal. 93. b The LORD knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man rejoice in men. For all is yours, whether it be Paul or Apollo, whether it be Cephas or▪ the world, whether it be life or death, whether it be present or for to come. All is yours, but you are Christ's, and Christ is Gods. The four Chapter. LEt every man this wise esteem us, even for the ministers of Christ, 2. Cor. 6. a and stewards of the * Deu. 29. d secrets of God. Now is there no more required of the stewards, then, that they be found jere. 23 e Luc. 1●. faithful. It is but a small thing unto me, that I should be judged of you, or of man's day, neither judge I mine own self. I know nought by myself, joh. 9 a yet am I not thereby justified. It is the LORD that judgeth me. Therefore judge you nothing before the time, until the LORD come, which shall bring it to light that is hid in darkness, and open the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every one have praise of God. These things brethren have I described in mine own preson & in Apollo's for your sakes, that you might learn by us, that noman count higher of himself, than above is written, that one be not puffed up against another for any man's cause. For who prefereth thee? ●aco. 1. a What hast thou that thou hast not received? If thou hast received it, why makest thou then thy boost, as though thou hadst not received it? Now you are full, now you are made rich, you reign without us, and would God you did reign, that we might reign with you. Me thinketh that God hath set forth us Apostles for the lowest of all, Psal. 43. c Rom. 8. e even as those that are appointed unto death. For we are agasing stock unto the world and to the angels, and unto men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ: We weak, but you strong: You honourable, but we despised. Even unto this day we hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are boffetted with fists, and have no certain dwelling place, Act. 18. a and labour and work with our own hands. We are reviled, Ro. 12. b and yet we bless: we are persecuted, and suffer it: We are evil spoken of, and we pray: We are become as it were the very outswepinges of the world, ye the of scowringe of all men unto this tyme. I write not this to shame you, but as my dear children I warn you. For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet have you not many fathers. For I have Gal. 4. b jaco. 1 b begotten you in Christ jesus thorough the Gospel? Wherefore I exhort you, * 1. Co. 10. a Phil. 3. c be you my followers. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus (which is my dear son, and faithful in the LORD) that he may put you in remembrance of my ways, which are in Christ, even as I teach every where in all congregations. Some are puffed up, as though I would come no more at you. But I will come to you shortly ( Pro. 20. d jere. 10. d if the LORD will) and will know, not the words of them that are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. What will you? Shall I come unto you with the rod, or with love and the spirit of meekness? The V Chapter. THere goeth a comen report, that there is whoredom among you, and such whoredom, as is not once named among the Heythen, 〈…〉 that one should have his father's wife. And you are puffed up, and have not rather sorrowed, that he which hath done this deed, might be put from among you. For I verily as absent in body, but present in spirit, have determined already as though I were present (concerning him that hath done this deed) in the name of our LORD jesus Christ, when you are gathered together with my spirit, and with the power of our LORD jesus Christ, Mat. 〈…〉 1. Tim. 〈…〉 to deliver him unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD jesus. your rejoicing is not good. Gal. 5. ● Know you not that a little leaven sowereth the whole lump of dough? purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be new dough, like as you are sweet bread. For we also have an Esa. 〈…〉 joh. 〈…〉 Easter lamb, which is Christ, that is offered for us. Wherefore let us 〈…〉 keep Easter, not in the old leaven, ner in the leaven of maliciousness, and wickedness, but in the sweet bread of pureness and of the truth. I written unto you in the Epistle, that you should have nothing to do with whoremongers, & that meant I not at all of the whoremongers of this world, either of the covetous, or of extortioners, or of them that worship images, for than must you needs have go out of the world. 〈…〉 But now have I written unto you, that you should have nothing to do with them: (Namely,) if there be any man that is called a brother, and is an whoremonger, or covetous, or a worshipper of images, either a raylar, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, 〈…〉 with such shall you not eat. For what have I to do to judge them that are without? Do you not judge them that are within? As for them that are without, God shall judge them. 〈…〉 Put away from you him that is evil. The VI Chapter. HOw dare one of you having business with another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 〈…〉 Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? If the world then shallbe judged of you, are you not good enough to judge small matters? Know you not that we shall judge the angels? how much more things that pertain to the temporal life? Therefore if you have judgements of temporal matters, take them that are despised in the congregation, and set them to be judges. This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? What not one at all, that can judge between brother & brother? but one brother goeth to law with another, and that before the unbelievers? Now therefore is there utterly a fault among you, that you go to law one with another. 〈…〉 Why rather suffer you not wrong? Why suffer you not yourselves rather to be defrauded? but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that even the brethren. Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. neither whoremongers, 〈…〉 ner worshippers of images, ner breakers of wedlock, ner weaklinges, neither abusers of themselves with mankind, ner thieves, neither the covetous, ner drunkards, ner cursed speakers, ner extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such have some of you been, but you are waszhed, you are sanctified, you are made righteous by the name of the LORD jesus, and by the spirit of our God. I may do all things, but 〈…〉 all things are not profitable. I may do all things, but I will be brought under no man's power. Meats are ordained for the belly, & the belly for meats. But God shall destroy both it and them. The body belongeth not unto whoredom, but unto the LORD, and the LORD unto the body 〈…〉 God hath raised up the LORD, and shall raise us up also by his power. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I now take the membres of Christ, and make them the membres of an harlot? God forbid. Or do you not know, that he which cleaveth unto an harlot, is one body? For they shallbe two ( 〈…〉 sayeth he) in one flesh. But he that cleaveth unto the LORD, is one spirit. flee whoredom. All sins that a man doth, are without the body. But he that committeth whoredom, sinneth against his own body. 〈…〉 Or know you not that your body is the temple of the holy ghost? Whom you have of God, and are not your own? 〈…〉 For you are dearly bought. Praise you God therefore in you body & in you spirit, which are Gods. The VII. Chapter. AS concerning the things whereof you written unto me, I answer: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless to avoid whoredom, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the man give unto the wife due benevolence: likewise also the wife unto the man. The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: & likewise the man hath not power over his own body, but the wife. Tob 6. d and 8. a joel 2. c Withdraw not you selves one from another, except it be with the consent of both for a time, that you may give yourselves unto fasting and prayer, and then come together again, jest Satan tempt you for yo incontynencye. But this I say of favour, and not of commandment. Howbeit I would rather that all men were as I am. Nevertheless every one hath his proper gift of God: one thus, another so. To them verily that are unmarried and to wedowes I say: It is good for them that they abide also as I do. 1. Tim. 5. b But if they cannot abstain, let them marry. For it is better to marry, then to burn. But unto them that are married, command not I, but the LORD, Mat. 5. d that the wife separate not herself from the husband: but if she separate herself, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife from him. As for the other, unto than say I, not the LORD: If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she is content to devil with him, let him not put her away. And if a woman have an unbelieving husband, and he is content to devil with her, let her not put him away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: or else were your children unclean, but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases, but God hath called us in peace. 1. Pet. ●. a For what knowest thou O woman, whether thou shalt save the man? Or what knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt save the woman? But even as God hath distributed unto every one Ephe. 4. ● and as the LORD hath called every man, so let him walk: and so orden I in all congregations. If any man be called being circumcised let him take no Heythenshippe upon him. If any man be called in the Heythenshippe, let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every one abide in the calling wherein he is called. 1. Tim. 6. a Art thou called a servant, care not for it: nevertheless if thou mayest be free, use it rather. For he that is called in the LORD being a servant, is a freeman of the LORD. Likewise he that is called being free, is a servant of Christ. 1. Cor. 6. c 1. Pet. 1. c You are dearly bought, be not you the servants of men. Brethren let every one wherein he is called, therein abide with God. As concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the LORD, nevertheless I say my goodmeaning, as I have obtained mercy of the LORD to be faithful. I suppose it is good for the present necessity: for it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife, seek not to be loosed: Art thou loosed from a wife, seek not a wife. But if thou take a wife, thou synnest not. And if a virgin marry, she sinneth not. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh. But I favour you. Howbeit this I say brethren: Psal. 89. a 2. Pet. 3. b the time is short. furthermore this is the meaning, that they which have wives, be as though they had none: and they that weep, be as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, be as though they rejoiced not: & they that buy, be as though they possessed not: & they that use this world, be as though they used it not. For the faszhion of this world passeth away. Mat. 6. a Luc ●2. c But I would that you should be without care. 1. Tim. 5. a He that is single, careth for the things of the LORD, how he may please the LORD. But he that is married, careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and is divided. A woman and a virgin that is single, careth for the things of the LORD, that she may be holy both in body & also in spirit. But she that is married, careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. This I say for your profit, not that I will tangle you in a snare, but for that which is honest and comely unto you, that you may continually cleave unto the LORD without hindrance. But if any man think that it is uncomely for his virgin if she pass the time of marriage, and if need so require, let him do what he list, he sinneth not, let them be coupled in marriage. Nevertheless he that purposeth surely in his heart, having no need, but hath power of his own will, and determeth so in his heart to keep his virgin, doth well. Finally, he that joineth his virgin in marriage, doth well: but he that joineth not his virgin in marriage, doth better. Rom. ● The wife is bound to the law, as long as her husband liveth. But if her husband sleep, she is at liberty to marry unto whom she will, only that it be done in the LORD. But she is happier if she so abide after my judgement. I think verily that I also have the spirit of God. The VIII. Chapter. AS touching things Act ● offered unto Idols * we are sure that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth a man up, but love edifyeth. Nevertheless if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth not yet how he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. So are we sure now concerning the meats offered unto Idols, 〈…〉 that an Idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. And though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many) yet have we but one God, even the father, 〈…〉 of whom are all things, and we in him▪ & one LORD jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. But every man hath not knowledge: for some make yet 〈…〉 conscience over the Idol, and eat it as a thing offered unto Idols: and so their conscience being weak, is defiled. Nevertheless meat furthureth not us unto God. If we eat, we shall not therefore be the better: if we eat not, we shall not therefore be the less. But take heed that this your liberty be not an occasion of falling unto the weak. For if any man see thee (which hast knowledge) sit at the table in the Idols house, shall not his conscience while it is weak, be occasioned to eat of the Idol offerings? And so thorough thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. But when you sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore 〈…〉 if meat offend my brother, I will never eat flesh, jest I offend my brother. The IX. Chapter. AM I not an Apostle? Am I not free? Act. ● Have I not seen jesus Christ our LORD? Are not you my work in the LORD? If I be not an Apostle unto other, yet am I your Apostle: for the seal of mine apostleship are you in the LORD. Mine answer unto them that axe me, is this: Have we not power to eat and drink? Have we not power also to lead about a sister to wife, as well as other Apostles, and as the brethren of the LORD, and 〈…〉 Cephas? Or have only I and Barnabas not power this to do? Who goeth a warfare at any time upon his own wages? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? say I these things after the manner of men? Sayeth not the law the same also? For 〈◊〉. ●5. a 〈◊〉. 5. c it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take thought for the oxen? Or sayeth he it not altogether for our sakes? For no doubt it is written for our sakes. For he that eareth, should ear upon hope: and he that throszheth, should troszhe upon hope, that he might be partaker of his hope. 〈…〉 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap you bodily things? But if other be partakers of this power on you, wherefore are not we rather? 〈…〉 Nevertheless we have not used this power, but suff●e all things, jest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ. Know you not that they which labour in the temple, have their living of the temple: and they that wait at the altar, enjoy the altar? 〈…〉 Even thus also hath the LORD ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel. 〈…〉 But I have used none of these things. neither write I thereof, that it should be done so unto me: for I had rather die, than that any man should bring my rejoicing to naught. For in that I preach the Gospel, I need not boost myself, for I must needs do it. And woe unto me, if I preach not the Gospel. If I do it with a good will, I shall have my reward: but if I do it against my will, yet is the office committed unto me. Wherefore then shall I be rewarded? (Namely therefore) that I preach the Gospel, and do the same freely for naught, that I abuse not my liberty in the Gospel. For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself every man's servant, that I might win the moo. 〈…〉 Unto the jews I am become as a jew, to win the Jews. To them that are under the law, I am become as though I were under the law, to win them which are under the law. Unto them that are without law, I am become as though I were without law (where as yet I am not without the law of God, but am in the law of Christ) to win them that are without law. To the weak, am I become as weak, to win the weak. 〈◊〉 ●0. d I am become of all faszhions unto every man, to save some at the least. But this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof. Know you not, that they which run in a course, run all, yet but one receiveth the reward? Run you so, that you may obtain. Every one that proveth mastery, absteyneth from all things, and they do it, that they may obtain a corruptible crown, but we to obtain an 1. Pet. 5. a uncorruptible crown. I therefore so run, not as at an uncertain thing: So fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I tame my body, and bring it in to subjection, jest when I preach unto other: I myself be a cast away. The X. Chapter. BRethren, I would not that you should be ignorant of this, Exo. 1●. d that our fathers were all under the cloud, Exo. 14. ● and all passed thorough the see, & were all baptized under Moses in the cloud and in the see, Exo. 16. ● and did all eat of one spiritual meat, and Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. a Mat. 16. ● did all drink of one spiritual drink: but they drunk of the spiritual Exo. 17. b Nu. 20. a Mat. 16. ● rock that followed them, which rock was Christ. Nevertheless in many of them had God no delight, Num. 14 for they were smitten down in the wilderness. These are ensamples unto us, that we should not lust after evil things, as they lusted. neither be you worshippers of images, as were some of them. according as it is written: Exo 3●. b The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. neither let us commit whoredom, Num▪ 25. Psal. 105. as some of them committed whoredom, and fallen in one day three & twenty thousand. neither let us tempt Christ, Num. 21. as some of them tempted him, and were destroyed of serpents. neither murmur you, Num. 11. ● as some of them murmured, and were destroyed thorough the destroyer. All these things happened unto them for ensamples, but they are written to warn us, upon whom the end of the world is come. Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed, jest he fall. There hath yet no temptation overtaken you, but such as followeth the nature of man. Nevertheless 1. Cor. 1. a 1. Thes. 2. ● God is faithful, * 2. Pe. 2. ● which shall not suffer you to be tempted above your strength, but shall in the mids of the temptation make a way to come out, that you may bear it. Wherefore my dearly beloved, i'll from worshipping of Idols. I speak unto them which have discretion, judge you what I say. The cup of thanksgiving wherewith we give thanks, is it not the partaking of the blood of Christ? The bred that we break, is it not the partaking of the body of Christ? For we many, are one bread & one body, in as much as we all are partakers of one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh. They that eat the sacrifices, are they not partakers of the altar? What shall I now say then? 1. Cor. 8. a Shall I say that the Idol is any thing? Or that it which is offered unto the Idol is any thing? Nay. But this I say, that look what the Heythen offer, that offer they unto devils, and not unto God. Now would I not that you should be in the fellowship of devils. You can not drink of the cup of the LORD and of the cup of the devils. You can not be partakers of the lords table, and of the table of devils. Or will we provoke the LORD? 1. Cor. 6. c Eccli. 37. d I may do all things, but all things are not profitable. I may do all things, but all things edify not. Let noman seek his own profit, but let every man seek another's wealth. What soever is sold in the fleshmarket, that eat, and axe no question for conscience sake. Psal. 23. b For the earth is the LORDS, and all that therein is. If any of them that believe not, bid you to a feast, and if you be disposed to go, what soever is set before you, that eat, axinge no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you: This is offered unto Idols, them eat not of it, for his sake that showed it, and for hurting of conscience. (The earth is the LORDS and all that therein is.) Nevertheless I speak of 1. Cor. 8. b conscience, not thy, but of the other. For why should my liberty be judged of another man's conscience: 1. Tim. 4. b For if I take my part with thanksgiving, why am I evil spoken of, for that thing wherefore I give thanks? Col. 3. b Therefore whether you eat or drink, or what so ever you do, do all to the praise of God. Be not you an occasion of falling, neither to the jews, ner to the gentiles, ner to the congregation of God, 1. Cor. 9 d even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved. 1. Cor. 4. c Follow you me, as I do Christ. The XI. Chapter. I Commend you brethren, that you remember me in all points, and keep the ordinances, even as I delivered them unto you. But I certify you, that Christ is the head of every man. Ephe. 5. c As for the man, he is the head of the woman, but God is Christ's head. Every man that prayeth or prophesieth, and hath any thing on his head, shameth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with uncovered head, dishonesteth her head. For it is even a like much as if she were shaven. If the woman be not covered, let her here also be cut of. But if it be uncomely for a woman to have her here cut of or to be shaven, then let her cover her head. Nevertheless the man ought not to cover his head, Ephe. ● for so much as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. Gen. ● For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. neither was the man created for the woman's sake, but the woman for the man's sake. Therefore aught the woman to have a power upon her head, for the angels sakes. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the LORD. For as the woman is of the man, even so cometh the man also by the woman, but all of God. judge you by you selves, whether it be comely, that a woman pray before God bore headed? Or doth not nature teach you, that it is a shame for a man if he were long here, & a praise to the woman, if she were long here? For her here is given here to cover her withal. But if there be any man among you that hath lust to strive, let him know, that we have no such custom, neither the congregations of God. But this must I warn you of: I commend it not, that you come together not after a better manner but after a worse. First, when you come together in the congregation, I hear, that there are discensions among you, and I partly believe it. 〈…〉 For there must be sects among you, that they which are perfect among you, might be known. Now when you come together, the lords supper can not be kept. For when it should be kept, every man taketh his own supper afore. And one is hungry, another is drunken. Have you not houses to eat and drink in? Or despise you the congregation of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say unto you? Shall I praise you? in this praise I you not. That which I delivered unto you, received I of the LORD. 〈…〉 For the LORD jesus the same night in the which he was betrayed, took the bread, & gave thanks, and broke it, and said: Take you, & eat you, this is my body, which is broken for you. This do in the remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup when supper was done, and said: This cup is the new Testament in my blood, this do (as often as you drink it) in the remembrance of me. For as often as you shall eat of this bread, & drink of this cup, you shall show the lords death, until he come. Wherefore who soever shall eat of this bread, and drink of this cup of the LORD unworthily, shallbe guilty of the body and blood of the LORD. 〈…〉 But let a man examen himself, and so let him eat of this bread, and drink of this cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth & drinketh his own damnation, because he maketh no difference of the lords body. Therefore are there so many weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 〈…〉 For if we judged ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the LORD, that we should not be dined with the 〈…〉 world. Wherefore my brethren, when you come together to eat, tarry one for another. But if any man hunger, let him eat at home, that you come not together unto condemnation. As for other things, I will set them in order when I come. The XII. Chapter. AS concerning spiritual gifts (brethren) I would not that you were ignorant. You know that you were Heythen and went your ways unto dumb Idols, even as you were led. Wherefore I declare unto you, 〈…〉 that no man speaking thorough the spirit of God, defyeth jesus. And no man can say that jesus is the LORD, but by the holy ghost. 〈◊〉 1●. a There are diverse gifts, yet but one spirit: and there are diverse offices, yet but one LORD: and there are diverse operations 〈…〉 yet is there but one God, which worketh all in all. The gifts of the spirit are given unto every man to profit the congregation. To one is given thorough the spirit the utterance of wisdom: to another is given the utterance of knowledge according to the same spirit: to another, faith in the same spirit: to another, the gifts of healing in the same spirit: to another, power to do miracles: to another, prophesying: to another, 〈…〉 judgement to discern spretes: to another, diverse tongues: to another, the interpretation of tongues. These all doth the same only spirit work, and distributeth unto every man, according as he will. For as the body is one, and hath yet many membres, 〈…〉 nevertheless all the membres of the body though they be many, are yet but one body: even so Christ also. For we are all baptized in one spirit to be one body, whether we be jews or gentiles, whether we be bond or fire, and have all Esa. 55. a joh. 7. d drunken of one spirit. For the body also is not one member, but many. If the foot say: I am not the hand, therefore am I not a member of the body, is he therefore not a member of the body? And if the ear say: I am not the eye, therefore am I not a member of the body, is he therefore not a member of the body? If all the body were an eye, where were then the hearing? If all were hearing, where then the smelling? But now hath God set the membres, every one severally in the body, as it hath pleased him. Nevertheless if all the members were one member, where were then the body? But now are the membres many, yet is the body but one. The eye can not say unto the hand: I have no need of thee: or again the head unto the feet, I have no need of you: but rather a great deal the members of the body which seem to be most feeble, are most necessary: and upon those membres of the body which we think lest honest, put we most honesty on: and our uncomely parts have most beauty on. For our honest membres need it not. But God hath so measured the body, and given most honour unto that member which had need, that there should be no strife in the body, but that the membres should indifferently care one for another. And if one member suffer, all the membres suffer with him: and if one member be had in honour, all the membres are glad with him also. But you are the body of Christ, and membres, every one of another. And God hath ordained in the congregation, first the Mat. 10. a Luc. 9 a Ephe 4. a Apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly * Act. 13. a teachers, than doers of miracles, after that the gifts of healing, helpers, governors, diverse tongues. Are they all Apostles? Are they all prophets? Are they all teachers? Are they all doers of miracles? Have they all the gifts of healing? Speak they all with tongues? Can they all interpret? But covet you the best gifts. And yet show I you a more excellent way. The XIII. Chapter. THough I spoke with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had not love, I were even as sowndinge brass, or as a tynklinge Cymbal. * And though I could prophesy, & understood all secrets, and all knowledge, and had all faith▪ so * that I could move mountains out of their places, and yet had not love, I were nothing. And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I burned, and yet have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love is patient & courteous, love envieth not, love doth not frowardly, is not puffed up, dealeth not dishonestly, Phil. 2. b seeketh not her own, is not provoked unto anger, thinketh not evil, rejoiceth not over iniquyt●, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, suffereth all things. Though prophecienges fail, or tongues cease, or knowledge perish, yet love falls never away. For our knowledge is unperfect, and our prophesying is unperfect. But when that which is perfect, cometh, then shall the unperfect be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I imagined as a child. But as soon as I was a man, I put away childishness. Now we see thorough a glass in a dark speaking, but then shall we see face to face. Now I know unperfectly: but then shall I know even as I am known. Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love. The XIIII. Chapter. Labour for love. Covet spiritual gifts, but specially that you may prophecy. For he that speaketh with tongues, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth him. Howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edifienge, & to exhortation, and to comfort. He that speaketh with tongues, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the congregation. I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: except he also expound it, that the congregation may have edifying. But now brethren if I come unto you, and speak with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak unto you either by revelation or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? Likewise is it also in the things that give sound, and yet live not: whether it be a pipe or an harp, except they give distyncte sounds from them, how shall it be known what is pyped or harped? And if the trump give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself to the battle? Even so you like wise, when you speak with tongues, except you speak plain words, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall but speak in the air. So many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them is without signification. If I know not now what the voice means, I shallbe an alient unto him that speaketh: & he that speaketh, shallbe an aleaunt unto me. Even so you (for so much as you covet spiritual gifts (seek that you may have plenty to the edifying of the congregation. Wherefore let him that speaketh with tongues, pray, that he may interpret also. If I pray with tongues, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding bringeth no man fruit. How shall it be then? Namely thus: I will pray with the spirit, and will pray with the understanding also: I will sing psalms in the spirit, and will sing spalmes with that understanding also. But when thou givest thanks with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, say Amen at thy giving of thanks, saying he knoweth not what thou sayest? Thou givest well thanks, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, that I speak with tongues more than you all. Yet had I liefer in the congregation to speak five words with my understanding that I may inform other also, rather than ten thousand words with tongues. 〈…〉 Brethren be not children in understanding, howbeit as concerning maliciousness be children, but in understanding be perfect. In the law it is written: 〈…〉 With other tongues and with other lips will I speak unto this people, and yet shall they not so hear me, sayeth the LORD 〈…〉 Therefore are tongues for a token, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. Contrary wise, prophesying, not to them that believe not, but to them which believe. If the whole congregation now came together in to one place, & spoke all with tongues, and there came in they that are unlearned, or they which believe not, should they not say, that you were out of your wits? But if all prophesied, and there came in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he should be rebuked of them all, and judged of all, and so should the secret of his heart be opened, and so should he fall down upon his face, worshipping God, and knowledging, that of a truth God is in you. How is it then brethren? When you come together, every one hath a psalm, hath doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all be done to edifying. If any man speak with tongues, let him do it himself being the second, or at the most himself being the third, and one after another, and let one interpret it. But if there be not an interpreter, then let him keep silence in the congregation, howbeit let him speak to himself and to God. As for the prophets, let two or three speak 〈◊〉 4. a and let the other judge. Butt if any revelation be made unto another that sitteth, then let the first hold his peace. You may all prophecy one after another that they all may learn, and that all may have comfort. And the spretes of the prophets are subject unto the prophets. For God is not a God of descension, 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b but of peace, like as in all congregations of the saints. 〈…〉 d 〈…〉 a 〈…〉 b Let your wives keep silence in the congregation, for it shall not be permitted unto them to speak, but to be under obedience, 〈…〉 as the law sayeth also. But if they will learn any thing, let them axe their huszbandes at home. For it becometh not women to speak in the congregation. Or sprung the word of God from among you? Or is it come unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know what I write unto you, for they are the commandments of the LORD. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore brethren, covet to prophecy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done honestly and in order. The XU. Chapter. I Declare unto you brethren, the Gospel that I have preached unto you (which you have also accepted, and in the which you stand, by the which also you are saved) after what manner I preached it unto you, if you have kept it, except you have believed in vain. For first of all I delivered unto you that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that was he seen of more than five hundredth brethren at once, whereof there are yet many alive, but some are fallen asleep. afterward was he seen of james, then of all the Apostles. Last of all was he seen of me also, as of one born out of due tyme. 〈◊〉 3. b For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not worthy to be called an Apostle, 〈…〉 because I persecuted the congregation of God. But by the grace of God I am that I am. And his grace in me hath not been vain, but I have laboured more than they all: howbeit not I but the grace of God which is with me. Now whether it be I or they, thus have we preached, and thus have you believed. But if Christ be preached, that he is risen from the deed, how say then some among you, that there is no resurrection of the deed? If there be no resurrection of the deed, then is Christ not risen. If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also in vain: ye and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified against God, that he hath raised up Christ, whom he hath not raised up, if the deed rise not again. For if the deed rise not again, them is Christ also not risen again. But if Christ be not risen again, then is your faith in vain, and you are yet in your sins: they also that are fallen a sleep in Christ, are perished. If in this life only we hope on Christ, then are we of all men the most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the deed, and is become Col. 1. b the first fruits of them that sleep. For by one man cometh death, and by one man the resurrection of the deed. For as they all die in Adam, so shall they all be made alive in Christ, but every one in his order. The first is Christ, than they that belong unto Christ, when he cometh. Then the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom unto God the father, when he shall put down all rule, and all superiority, & power. Psal. 109. ● Heb. 2. b For he must reign, till he have put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed, is death, for he hath put all things under his feet. But when he sayeth, that all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which put all things under him. When all things shallbe subdued unto him, then shall the son himself also be subject unto him, which put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Or else what do they which are baptized over the deed, if the deed rise not at all? Why are they then baptized over the deed? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? By our rejoicing which I have in Christ jesus oh LORD, I die daily. That I have fought with beestes at Ephesus after the manner of men, what helpeth it me, if the deed rise not again? Esa. 22. b Sap. 2. a Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. Be not you deceived. Evil speakinges corrupt good manners. Awake right up, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God. This I say to your shame. But some man might say: How shall the deed arise? And with what manner of body shall they come? Thou fool, joh. 12. c that which thou sowest is not quyckened, except it die. And what sowest thou? thou sowest not the body that shallbe, but a bore corn, namely of wheat, or of some other. But God giveth it a body as he will, and unto every one of the sedes his own body. All flesh is not one manner of flesh, but there is one manner fleszhe of men, another of beasts, another of fiszhes, another of birds. And there are heavenly bodies, and there are earthy bodies: but the heavenly have one glory, and the earthy another. The Son hath one clearness, the Moon hath another clearness, and the stars have another clearness, for one star excels another in clearness: Even so the resurrection of the deed. It is sown in corruption, and shall rise in uncorruption: It is sown in dishonour, & shall rise in glory: It is sown in weakness, and shall rise in power: It is sown a natural body, & shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is a spiritual body also. As it is written: Gen. 2. b The first man Adam was made in to a natural life, and the last Adam in to a spiritual life. Howbeit the spiritual body is not the first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is from heaven, heavenvly. As the earthy is, such are they also that are earthy: and as the heavenly is, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have born the image of the earthy, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly also. This I say brethren, that flesh & blood can not inheret the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption inheret uncorruption. Behold, I say unto you a mystery: Tess 4 c Phil. 3 c We shall not all sleep, but we shall all Tess 4 c Phil. 3 c be changed, and that suddenly and in the twinkling of an eye, at the time of the last trump. For the trump shall blow, and the deed shall rise uncorruptible, and we shallbe changed. For this corruptible must put on uncorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall put on uncorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality, them shall the word be fulfilled that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 〈◊〉. 13. c Heb. 3 b Death, where is thy sting? Hell, where is the victory? The sting of death is sin: The strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God 〈…〉 , which hath given us the victory thorough our LORD jesus Christ. Therefore my dear brethren, be you steadfast, unmovable, & allway rich in the work of the LORD, for as much as you know, that your labour is not in vain in the LORD. The XVI. Chapter. Concerning the 〈…〉 gathering that is made for the saints, as I have ordained in the congregations of Galacia, even so do you also. Upon some Sabbath day let every one of you put aside by himself, and lay up what so ever he thinketh meet, that the collection be not to gather when I come. When I am come, whom so ever you shall allow by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto jerusalem. Nevertheless if it be meet that I go thither also, they shall go with me. 〈…〉 But I will come unto you, when I go thorough Macedonia: for thorough Macedonia will I take my journey. With you peradventure will I abide, or else winter, that you may bring me on my way, whither so ever I go. I will not see you now in my passage, for I hope to abide a while with you, if the LORD shall suffer me. 〈…〉 But I will tarry at Ephesus until whitsontyde. For a great and fruitful door is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. If Timotheus come, see that he be without fear with you, for he worketh the work of thee, LORD as I do. Let no man therefore despise him, but convey him forth in peace, that he may come unto me, for I look for him with the brethren. As for brother Apollo, be you sure, that I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren. And his mind was not at all to come at this time, but he will come when he hath opportunity. Watch you, stand fast in the faith, quite you like men, and be strong: let all your things be done in love. But brethren (you know the house of 〈…〉 Stephana, that they are the first fruits in Achaia, and that they have appointed themselves to minister unto the saints) I exhort you to be obedient unto such, and to all that help and labour. I am glad of the coming of Stephana and Fortunatus, and Achaicus. For look what was lacking unto me on your part, that have they suppleed: they have refreszhed my spirit and yours. Know them therefore that are such. The congregations of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the LORD, and so doth the congregation that is in their house. All the brethren salute you. 〈…〉 Salute you one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. If any man love not the LORD jesus Christ, the same be Anathema Maharan Matha. The grace of the LORD jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Iesu. Amen. The first Epistle to the Corinthians sent out of Asia, by Stephana and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus. The second Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I The consolation of God in trouble The love of Paul toward the Corinthians, and his excuse that he came not unto them. Chap. II He showeth the cause of his absence and exorteth them to forgive the man that was fallen, and to receive him again with love. Chap. III He praiseth the preaching of the Gospel above the preaching of the law. Chap. four A true preacher is diligent, he corruppeth not the word of God, he preacheth not himself, but se●eth the honour of Christ, ye though it be with the apparel of his life. Chap. V The reward for suffering trouble. Chap. VI An exhortation to receive the word of God with thank fullness and amendment of life. The diligence of Paul in the gospel, and how he warneth them to eschew the company of the Heythen. Chap. VII. He exorteth them to receive the promises of God than fully The Corinthians are commended for their obedience and love toward Paul. Chap. VIII. IX. He putteth them in remembrance to help the poor saints at jerusalem, according as the Macedonians did. Chap. X. He toucheth the false apostles, and defendeth his authority and calling. Chap. XI. Paul (under sufferance) commendeth himself, and defendeth his authority against the false prophets. Chap. XII. Paul is taken up in to the third heaven, and heareth words not to be spoken of. Chap. XIII. He promises to come unto them, and exhorteth them so to order themselves that he may find them perfect, and of one mind. The second Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul, to the Corinthians. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle of jesus Christ, by the will of God, and brother Timotheus. Unto the congregation of God which is at Corinthum, with all the saints which are in all Achaia. Gal. 1. a Ephe. 1. a 1. Pet. 1. a Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the LORD jesus Christ. Blessed be God the father of our LORD jesus Christ, the father of mercy and the God of all comfort, which comforteth us in all our trouble: in so much that we are able to comfort them that are in any manner of trouble, with the same comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in us, even so is o consolation plenteous by Christ. But whether we have trouble or comfort, it is done for your wealth. If it be trouble, it is done for your comfort and health, which health showeth h●r power, in that you suffer the same afflictions which we suffer. If it be comfort, it is done also for your comfort and health. Therefore is our hope fast for you, in as much as we know, that, like as you are partakers of the afflictions, so shall you be partakers also of the consolation. Brethren we would not have you ignorant of our trouble, Act. 19 c which happened unto us in Asia, for we were grieved out of measure passing strength, so that we even despaired of life, and had concluded in ourselves that we must needs die. But this was done, because we should not put our trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth up the deed to life again: which delivered us from so great a death, and yet delivereth daily, On whom we trust, that he will deliver us here after also, by the help of your prayer for us ●. Cor. 4. c that on our behalf many thanks may be given by many personnes, for the gift that is given us. For our rejoicing is this, even the testimony of our conscience, that in singleness & godly pureness, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, but most of all with you. For we write nothing else unto you, then that you read and also know. Ye & I trust that you shall find us unto the end, even as you have found us partly. For we are your rejoicing, even as you also are our Phil. 2. b 1. Tess 2. c rejoicing in the day of the LORD jesus. And in this confidence was I minded the other time to come unto you (that you might have yet another pleasure more) & to pass by you into Macedonia, 1. Co. 16. a & to come again out of Macedonia unto you & to be led forth to jewrye ward of you. When I thus wise was minded, did I use lightness? Or are my thoughts fleshly? Not so Mat. 5. d jaco. 5. c but with me ye is ye, and nay is nay. O faithful God, that our word unto you hath not been ye and nay. For God's son jesus Christ, which was preached among you by us (namely, by me and Silvanus and Timotheus) was not ye and nay, but in him it was ye. For all the promises of God are ye in him, & are Amen in him, to the praise of God by us. But it is God which stablysheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, Ephe. 4. c and sealed us, and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts. The II Chapter. But I call God to record unto my soul, Rom. 9 a that to favour you withal I came not again unto Corinthum. Not that we are 1. Pet. ●. a lords over your faith, but we are helpers of your joy, for you stand in faith. But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is it that shall make me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And the same have I written unto you, jest when I come, I should take heaviness of them, of whom I ought to rejoice: for somuch as I have this confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For in great trouble and anguish of heart written I unto you with many tears: not that you should be sorry, but that you might perceive the love, which I have most specially unto you. But if any man have caused sorrow, the same hath not made me sorry, but partly, jest I should grieve you all. It is sufficient, that 〈…〉 the same man is so rebuked of many, so that from hence forth you ought the more to forgive him and to comfort him, jest he be swallowed up in over much heaviness. Wherefore I exhort you, that you show love upon him. For therefore did I write unto you also, that I might know the proof of you, whether you were obedient in all things. But look unto whom you forgive any thing, I forgive him also. For I also, if I forgive aught unto any man, that forgive I for your sakes in the room of Christ, jest we should be prevented of Satan. For his thoughts are not unknown unto us. But when I came to 〈…〉 Troada to preach the Gospel of Christ (and a door was opened unto me in the LORD) I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but I took my leave of them, and went away into Macedonia. Yet thanks be unto God, which allway giveth us the victory in Christ, 〈…〉 and openeth the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God the good savour of Christ, both among them that are saved, & among them that perish. 〈…〉 To these, the savour of death unto death: but unto the other, the savour of life unto life. And who is meet thereto? For we are not as many are, which chop & change with the word of God, but even out of pureness, and out of God, in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ. The III Chapter· Begin we then again to praise oh selves? Or need we (as some other) of pistles of commendation unto you or letters of commendation from you? You are our epistle written in our hearts: which is understand and read of all men, in that you are known, how that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God: 〈…〉 not in tables of stone, 〈…〉 but in fleshy tables of the heart. Soch trust have we thorough Christ to God ward, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves, 〈…〉 but our ableness cometh of God, which hath made us able, to be 〈…〉 ministers of the new Testament: not of the letter, but of the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration that killeth thorough the letter, and was figured in stones, was glorious, 〈◊〉. 34. d so that the children of Israel might not behold the face of Moses, for the clearness of his countenance, (which glory nevertheless is done away) how shall not the ministration of the spirit be much more glorious? For if the office that preacheth damnation be glorious, much more doth the office that preacheth righteousness exceed in glory. For the other part that was glorified is nothing glorified in respect of this exceeding glory. For if that which is done away, be glorious, much more shall that which remaineth, be glorious. saying then that we have such trust, we use great boldness, and do not as Moses, 〈◊〉 ●4. d which put a veil before his face, so that the children of Israel might not see the 〈…〉 end of it, that is done away. But their minds are blinded. 〈…〉 For unto this day remaineth the same covering untaken away in the old Testament, when they read it, which in Christ is put away. But even unto this day when moses is read, the veil hangs before their hearts: 〈◊〉 11. c Nevertheless when they turn to the LORD, the veil shallbe taken away. 〈…〉 For the LORD is a spirit: & where the spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty. But now the glory of the LORD appeareth in us all with open face, and we are changed into the same image, from one clearness to another, even as of the spirit of the LORD. The four Chapter. Therefore saying we have such an office (even as mercy is come upon us) we faint not, but cast from us the cloaks of unhonesty, and walk not in craftiness: neither corruppe we the word of God but open the truth, and report ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. If our Gospel be yet hid, it is hid in them that are lost: among whom the God of this world 〈…〉 hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ ( 〈…〉 which is the image of God) should not shine unto them. For we preach not our selves, but jesus Christ to be the LORD, and ourselves your servants for jesus sake. For God 〈…〉 that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 〈…〉 hath given a clear shine in our hearts, that by us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God might come forth, in the face of jesus Christ. But this treasure have we in 〈…〉 earthen vessels, that the power which excels might be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet are we not without shift. We are in poverty, but not utterly without somewhat. We are persecuted, but we are not forsaken. We are oppressed, nevertheless we perish not. Gal. 6. b We always be are about in our body the dying of the LORD jesus that the life also of the LORD jesus might appear in our body. Rom. 8. ● For we which live, are always delivered unto death for jesus sake, that the life also of jesus might appear in our mortal flesh. Therefore is death now mighty in us, but life in you. But saying that we have the same spirit of faith (according as it is written: Psal. 115. ● I believed, and therefore have I spoken.) we also believe, & therefore we speak, for we know that he, which raised up the LORD jesus, shall raise us up also by the means of jesus, and shall set us with you. For all things do I for your sakes, ●. Cor. 1. ● that the plenteous grace by the thankesgeving of many, may redound to the praise of God. Therefore are we not weighed, but though our outward man be corrupt, yet the inward is renewed day by day. Psal. 29. a Ro. 8. c For our trouble, which is but temporal and light, worketh an exceeding and an eternal weight of glory unto us, which look not on the things that are seen, but on them which are not seen. For the things which are seen, are temporal: but the things that are not seen, are eternal. The V Chapter. WE know surely, that if our 2. Cor. 4. b earthy house of this dwelling were destroyed, we have a building ordained of God, an house not made with hands, but everlasting in heaven. Rom. 8. c And in the same sigh we also after our mansion, which is from heaven: and long to be clothed therewith, so yet, Apoc. 16. c if that we be found clothed, and not naked. For as long as we are in this tabernacle, we sigh and are grieved, for we had rather not be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. But he that hath ordained us for this, is God, Rom. 8. ᵇ ●. Cor. 1. c which hath given us the earnest of the spirit. Therefore are we allway of good cheer, and know, that as long as we devil here in the body, we are not at home with the LORD: for we walk in faith, and see him not. Nevertheless we are of good comfort, and had liefer to be absent from the body, & to be at home with the LORD. Wherefore, whether we be at home or from home, we endeavour ourselves to please him. ●at. 25. c 〈◊〉 14. b For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. saying then that we know, how that the LORD is to be feared, we far fair with men, but we are known well enough unto God: I trust also, that we are known in your consciences. We praise not ourselves again unto you, but give you an occasion to rejoice of us, that you may have to rejoice against them, which rejoice after the outward appearance, and not after the heart. For if we do to much, we do it unto God: if we keep measure, we do it for your sakes. For the love of Christ constraineth us, in as much as we thus judge, that if one be deed for all, then are all deed. 1. Tess. 5. b And therefore died he for all, that they which live, should not hence forth live unto themselves, but unto him, which died for them and rose again. Therefore hence forth know we noman after the flesh: and though we have known Christ also after the flesh, yet know we him now so no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, Apoc. 21. a behold, all are become new. Nevertheless all things are of God, which hath reconciled us unto himself by jesus Christ, and hath given us the office to preach the atonement. Col 2. b For God was in Christ, and * Rom. 3 c Col. 1 b 1. joh. 4. b reconciled the world unto himself, and counted not their sins unto them, and among us hath he set up the word of the atonement. Now then are we messaungers in the room of Christ, even as though God exhorted by us. We beseek you now therefore in Christ's stead, that you be at one with God: Esa. 53. b Rome 8. a Heb. 9 c for he hath made him which knew no sin, to be Esa. 53. b Rome 8. a Heb. 9 c sin for us, that we by his means should be that righteousness, which before God is allowed. The VI Chapter. WE as helpers therefore exhort you, that you receive not the grace of God in vain. For he sayeth: Esa 49. b I have heard the in the time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured the. Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. Let us give no man occasion of evil, that our office be not evil spoken of: but in all things let us behave ourselves as the 1. Co. 4. a 1. Cor. 3. a ministers of God: in much patience, in troubles, in necessities, in anguysshes, in stripes, in presonmentes, in uproars, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the holy ghost, in love unfeigned, in the word of the truth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, & yet true: as unknown, and yet known: Esa. 〈…〉 as dying, and behold, we live: as chastened, and not killed: as sorrowing, and yet allway merry: as poor, & yet make many rich: as having nothing, & yet possessing all things. O you Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is made large. You are in no straightness on our behalf: but where as you are in straightness, that do you of your own heartily meaning. I speak to you, as to children, that have like reward with us. Set yourselves therefore at large. Bear not a strange yock with the unbelievers. 〈…〉 For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What company hath light with darkness? 〈…〉 How agreeth Christ with Belial▪ Or what part hath the believer with the infidel? How acordeth the temple of God with images? You are the temple of the living God, as sayeth God: I will devil in them, and walk in them, 〈…〉 and will be their God, & they shallbe my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and separate yourselves 〈…〉 (sayeth the LORD) and touch no unclean thing, so will I receive you, & be your father, & you shallbe my sons and daughters, sayeth the almighty LORD. The VII. Chapter. saying now that we have such promises (dearly beloved) let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God. understand us right. We have hurt no man, we have corrupt no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you, for I have showed you before, that you are in our hearts, to die and to live with you. I am very bold toward you, I make much boost of you, I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyous in all our tribulation. 〈…〉 For when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: outward was fighting, inward was fear. Nevertheless God that comforteth the abject, 〈…〉 comforted us by the coming of Titus. Not only by his coming, but also by the consolation wherewith he was comforted of you, when he told us your desire, your weeping, you fervent mind for me, so that I now rejoice the more. For where as I made you sorry by the letter, it repenteth me not, though I did repent. For I see, that the same epistle made you sorry (though it were but for a season). But now I rejoice, not that you were sorry, but that you were sorry to repentance. For you sorrowed godly, so that in nothing you were hurt by us. For godly sorrow causeth repentance unto salvation, not to be repent of: 〈◊〉. ●0. c but worldly sorrow causeth death. Behold, where as you have had godly sorrow, what diligence hath it wrought in you? Ye a sufficiet answer, displeasure, fear, desire, a fervent mind, punishment. For in all points you have showed yourselves, that you are clear in that matter. Wherefore though I written unto you, yet is it not done for his cause that did hurt, neither for his cause that was hurt, but that your diligence (which you have for us in the sight of God) might be manifest with you. Therefore are we comforted, because you are comforted: but exceadingly the more joyed we, for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreszhed of you all. I am therefore not now ashamed, though I boasted myself unto him of you: but like as all is true that I have spoken unto you, even so is our boasting unto Titus found true also. And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, when he remembreth the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, that I may be bold over you in all things. The VIII. Chapter. I Do you to wit (brethren) the grace of God, which is given in the congregations of Macedonia. For their rejoicing was most abundant, when they were tried by much trouble: & though they were exceeding poor, yet have they given exceeding richly, and that in singleness. For to their power (I bear record) ye and beyond their power, they were willing of their own accord, and prayed us with great instance, that we would receive their benefit and fellowship of the 〈…〉 c 〈◊〉 1●. d 〈◊〉. 16. a 〈◊〉. 9 a handreachinge that is done for the saints: And not as we looked for, but gave over themselves first to the LODRE, and afterward unto us by the will of God, so that we could not but desire Titus, that like as he had begun afore he would even so accomplish the same benevolence among you. Now as you are rich in all points, in faith and in word, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love toward us, even so see that you be plenteous also in this benevolence. This I say not as commanding, but saying, other are so diligent, I prove your love also, whether it be perfect or no. For you know the liberality of our LORD jesus Christ, which though he be rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, that you thorough his poverty might be made rich. And my council herein I give, for this is profitable for you, which have begun a year a go, not only to do, but also to will. But now perform the deed also, that like as there is a ready mind to will, there may be a ready mind also to perform the deed Pet. 4. b Pro. 3 b of that which you have. * Luc. 2● For if there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, not according to that he hath not. This is not done to the intent, that other should have ease, and you cumbrance, but that it be a like. Let your abundance sucker their lack in this time of dearth, that their abundance also hereafter may supplee your lack, that there may be equalite. As it is written: He that gathered much, Exo. 10. had not the more: and he that gathered little, wanted nothing. thanks be unto God, which put in the heart of Titus, the same diligence toward you. For he accepted the request in deed, ye he was rather so well willing, that of his own accord, he came unto you. We have sent with him that brother, whose praise is in the Gospel thorough out all the congregations. Not only that, but he is choose also of the congregations, to be a fellow with us in our journey, for this benevolence that is ministered by us unto the praise of the LORD, and to steer up your prompt mind, and to beware, jest any man report evil of us because of this plenteousness, which is ministered by us: Rom. 12 and therefore make we provision for honest things, not only before the LORD, but also before men. We have sent with them also a brother of ours, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent. And this have we done in great hope toward you, whether it be for Titus' sake (which is my fellow and helper among you) or for our brethren (which are Apostles of the congregations, & the praise of Christ.) Show now the proof of your love and of our boasting of you, unto these, and openly in the sight of the cogregations. Of the ●●m. 15 d ●●o. 16. a ●●or. 8. a handreachinge unto the saints, it is no need for me to write unto you: for I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself among them of Macedonia, and say: Achaia was ready a year ago. And your ferventness hath provoked many. Nevertheless yet have we sent these brethren, left our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that you might be ready, as I have reported of you: left when they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (I will not say you) should be ashamed in this presumption of boostinge. Wherefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, to come before hand unto you, for to prepare this blessing promised afore, that it might be ready, so that it be a blessing, and not a defrauding. This I think: that 〈◊〉. 11. c ●●al. 6. a he which soweth little, shall reap little also: and he that soweth plenteously, shall likewise reap plenteously, every one according as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of compulsion. ●od. 25. a 〈◊〉 35. a ●cli. 35. a For God loveth a cheerful giver. God is able to make you rich in all grace, that you in all things having sufficiet to the uttermost, may be rich to all manner of good works. As it is written: ●sal. 111. b He hath sparsed abroad & given to the poor, his righteousness remaineth for ever. He that giveth seed unto the sour, shall minister bread also for food, and shall multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of you righteousness, that in all things you may be made rich unto all singleness, which causeth thorough us, thanksgiving unto God. For the handreachinge of this collection not only suppleeth the need of the saints, but also is abundant herein, that for this laudable ministration many might give thanks unto God, and praise God for you obedient professing of the Gospel of Christ, & for your singleness in distributing unto them, and to all men, and in their prayer for you, which long after you, for the abundant grace of God in you. Thanks be unto God for his unoutspeakable gift. The X. Chapter. I Paul myself beseek you by the meekness and softness of Christ, which when I am present among you, am of small reputation, but am bold toward you being absent. I beseek you that I need not be bold when I am present, & to use that boldness wherewith I am supposed to be bold, against some, which repute us as though we walked after the flesh: for though we walk in the flesh, yet fight we not after a fleshly manner. For the 〈…〉 wapens of our war are not fleshly, but mighty before God to cast down strong holds, wherewith we overthrow imaginations, & every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring in to captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ, & are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Look you on things after the utter appearance? If any man trust of himself that he is Christ's, let him think this also by himself, that like as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's also. And though I should boast myself somewhat more of our authority 〈…〉 which the LORD hath given us to edify and not to destroy, it should not be to my shame. This I say, jest I should seem, as though I went about to make you afraid with letters. For the pist●les (say they) are sore and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech rude. Let him that is such, think on this wise, that as we are in word by letters wh● we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. For we dare not reckon or compare ourselves, unto some that praise themselves: Nevertheless while they measure themselves by themselves, and hold only of themselves, they understand nothing. Howbeit we will not boast oh selves above measure, but only according to the measure of the rule, wherewith God hath distributed unto us the measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not our selves to far as though we had not reached unto you. For even unto you have we come with the Gospel of Christ, and boast not ourselves out of measure in other men's labours: Ye and we hope when your faith is increased in you, that we will come farther (according to our measure) and preach the Gospel unto them that devil beyond you, and not to rejoice in that, which is prepared with another man's measure. The XI. Chapter. LEt him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the LORD: for he that 〈…〉 praiseth him self, is not allowed, but he whom the LORD praiseth. Would God you could suffer me a little in my foloshnes, yet do you forbear me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have married you unto one man, to bring a chaste virgin unto Christ. But I fear, left 〈…〉 as the serpent beguiled Eve with his subtlety, even so your wits should be corrupt from the singleness that is in Christ. For if he that cometh unto you, preach another jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, that you have not received, or another Gospel which you have not accepted, you might right well have been content. For I suppose that I am no less than the high Apostles are. And though I be rude in speaking, yet am I not rude in knowledge. Howbeit among you I am known to the uttermost. Or did I sin therein because I submytted myself, that you might be exalted? For I preached unto you the Gospel of God 〈◊〉. 9 b freely, and rob other congregations, and took wages of them, to preach unto you. 〈◊〉. 20. c And when I was present with you, and had need, I was grievous to no man: 〈◊〉 4. c for that which was lacking unto me, the brethren which came fro Macedonia, suppleed. And in all things I kept myself so, that I should not be grievous to you, & so will I keep myself. As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, this rejoicing shall not be taken fro me in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I should not love you? God knoweth. Nevertheless what I do and will do, that do I to cut away occasion, from them which seek occasion, that they might boast themselves to be like unto us. For such false Apostles & deceitful workers fashion themselves like unto the Apostles of Christ. And that is no marvel: for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an angel of light. Therefore is it no great thing, though his my master's fashion themselves as though they were the preachers of righteousness, 〈…〉 a whose end shallbe according to their deeds. I say again, jest any man think that I am foolish: or else take me even now as a fool, that I may boast myself a little also. That I speak now, that speak I not after the LORD, but as it were in foolishness, while we are now come to boasting: saying that many boast themselves after the flesh, I will boast myself also. For you suffer fools gladly, in so much as you yourselves are wise. For you suffer even if a man bring you in to bondage, if a man put you to dishonesty, if a man take aught from you, if a man exalt himself over you, if a man smite you on the face. I speak concerning rebuke, as though we were weak. Wherein so ever now any man dare be bold (I speak foolishly) therein dare I be bold also. They are Hebrews, so am I They are Israelites, even so am I They are the seed of Abraham, so am I They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in presonmentes more plenteously, in death often. Deut. 25 Of the jews received I five times forty stripes, one less. Act. 16. ● Thrice was I beaten with rods. Act. 14. ● I was once stoned, Act. 27. ● I suffered thrice shipwreck: night and day have I been in the deep of the see: I have often journeyed: I have been often in parels of waters, in parels among murthurers, in parels among the jews, in parels among the Heythen, in parels in cities, in parels in the wylderners, in parels upon the See, in parels among false brethren, in labour & travail, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in much fastings in cold and nakedness: Beside those things which are outward, namely my daily cumbrance, my daily care for all congregations. 1. Cor. 8. ● Who is weak, and I be not weak? Who is offended, & I burn not? If I must needs make my boast, I will boast myself of mine infirmity. God the father of our LORD jesus Christ, which is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. Act. 9 d At Damascon the governor of the people under king Aretas, kept the cite of the Damascenes, & would have taken me. and at a window was I let down in a basket thorough the brickwall, & so escaped his hands. The XII. Chapter. IT profiteth me nothing (no doubt) to boast. Nevertheless I will come to the visions and revelations of the LORD. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years a go (whether he was in the body, I can not tell: or whether he was out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth.) the same was taken up in to the third heaven: and I know the same man (whether he was in the body or out of the body, I can not tell, God knoweth) how that he was taken up in to Paradise, and heard words not to be spoken, which no man can utter. Here of will I boast, but of myself will I make no boast, except it be of mine infirmyties. And though I would boast myself, I did not foolishly, for I would say the truth. But I refrain myself, jest any man should think of me above that he saith in me, or heareth of me. job. 1. b And jest I should exalt my self out of measure because of the high revelations, there is a warning given unto my flesh, even the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that I should not exalt myself out of measure: for the which I besought the LORD thrice, that it might depart fro me. Andrea he said unto me: My grace is sufficient for the. For my strength is made perfect thorough weakness. Very glad therefore will I rejoice in my weaknesses, that the strength of Christ may devil in me. Therefore am I content in infirmities, in rebukes, in necessities, in persecutions, in anguyszhes for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, them am I strong. I am become a fool in boasting myself: You have compelled me. For I ought to be commended of you, Cor. 9 a in so much as I am in nothing inferior to the high Apostles. Though I be nothing, yet are the tokens of an Apostles wrought among you, with all patience, with signs, & with wonders & with mighty deeds. For what is it, wherein you are inferiors to the other congregations? except it be that I have not been grievous unto you. forgive me this wrong. Behold, I am ready the third time to come unto you, and will not be chargeable unto you. Act. 20. c For I seek not yours, but you. For the children aught not to gather treasure for the elders, but the elders for the children. I will very gladly bestow, and will be bestowed for your souls: though the more I love you, the less am I loue● again. But let it be so that I grieved you not, nevertheless for so much as I was crafty, I took you with guile. Have I defrauded you by any of them, whom I sent unto you? I desired Titus, & with him I sent a brother: did Titus defraud you? Have we not walked in one spirit? Went we not in like fotesteppes? Again, think you that we excuse ourselves? We speak in Christ in the sight of God. But all this (dearly beloved) is done for your edifying. For I fear, jest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would: and jest you shall find me such as you would not: jest there be among you, debates, envyenges, wraths, strivings, bacbytinge, whysperinges, swellings, uproars: jest when I come again, God bring me low among you & jest I be constrained to bewail many of them that have sinned before, & have not repent over the uncleanness and whoredom, and wantonness, which they have committed. The XIII. Chapter. NOw come I the third time unto you. Deut. 19 c Mat. 18. b In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be stabliszhed. I have told you before, & tell you before as present the second time, & write it now being absent, unto them which in time passed have sinned, & to all other: & if I come again, I will not spare, saying that you seek experience of him, 〈…〉 which speaketh in me, even Christ, which among you is not weak, but is mighty among you. And though he was crucified in weakness, yet liveth he in the power of God. And though we are weak in him, yet live we with him in the power of God among you. 1. Cor. 〈…〉 Prove yourselves, whether you are in the faith, examine yourselves. Or know you not your selves, that jesus Christ is in you? Except you be cast aways. But I trust you know, that we are not cast aways. I desire before God that you do no evil: not that we should seem commendable, but that you should do that which is good, & let us be as cast aways. For we may do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. We are glad when we are weak, & you strong: & the same also we wyszhe for, namely your perfectness. Therefore write I these things being absent, jest when I am present, I should use sharpness, according to the power 〈…〉 which the LORD hath given me to edify, and not to destroy. Finally brethren, rejoice, be perfect, comfort your selves, be of one mind, be peaceable, and the God of love and peace shallbe with you. Salute one another with an holykysse. All the saints salute you. The grace of our LORD jesus Christ, & the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy ghost be with you all. Amen. The second Epistle to the Corinthians. Scent from Phillippos' in Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Galathians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I Paul rebuketh them, because they were fallen away from the gospel, showeth his own conversion, magnifieth his office and apostleship, and declareth himself to be equal with the high apostles. Chap. II He withstondeth Peter in the face, and proveth, that the law and circumcision are not necessary to salvation. Chap. III He rebuketh the unsted fastness of the Galathians, shewing the unparfectnesse of the law, and declareth nevertheless that it was not given for nought. Chap. four Paul showeth that thorough Christ we be delivered from the law, and rebuketh the unthankfulness of the Galathians. Chap. V He laboureth to draw them away from circumcision, showeth them the barrayll betwixt the spirit and the flesh, and the f●●tes of them both. Chap. VI He erorteth them to brotherly love, and one to bear with another▪ In the end ●he warneth them to beware of circumcision The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Galathians. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle (not of men, nor by man, but by jesus Christ & by God the father, which raised him up from the deed) & all the brethren which are with me. Unto the congregations in Galacia. 〈…〉 Grace be with you, and peace from God the father, and our LORD jesus Christ, which gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our father, to whom be praise for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that you are so soon turned (from him that called you in the grace of Christ) unto another Gospel: which is nothing else, but that there bosom, which 〈…〉 trouble you, and intend to pervert the Gospel of Christ. Nevertheless though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven preach unto you any other Gospel, than that which we have preached unto you, the same be accursed. As we have said afore, so say we now again: If any man preach unto you any other thing, than that you have received, the same be accursed. Preach I men now or God: Or go I about to please men? If I should yet please men, I were not the servant of Christ. But I certify you brethren, that the Gospel which is preached of me, is not of men. For I neither received it ner learned it of man, but by the revelation of jesus Christ. For you have herd of my conversation afore time in the jeweshippe, 〈…〉 how that beyond measure I persecuted the congregation of God, and spoiled it, and prevailed in the jeweshippe above many of my companions in my nation, & was a much more fervent manteyner of the traditions of the fathers. But when it pleased God which separated me fro my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, for to declare his son in me, that I should preach him thorough the Gospel among the Heythen, immediately I commened not of the matter with flesh and blood: neither came I to jerusalem unto them which were Apostles before me: but went my ways in to Arabia, and came again to Damascon. Then after three year I came to Jerusalem to se Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. As for the other Apostles, I saw none of them, save james the lords brother. The things that I write unto you, behold, 2. Cor. 11. d God knoweth, I lie not. After that went I into the coasts of Syria and Celicia: but of face I was unknown to the christian congregations in jewrye. Nevertheless they had heard only, that: He that persecuted us in time passed, preacheth now the faith which some time he destroyed: and they praised God in me. The II Chapter· Then after fourteen years, Act. 15. a I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. But I went up by revelation, and commened with them of the Gospel, which I preach among the heathen: but specially with them which were in reputation, jest I should run or had run in vain. Act. 16. a 1. Cor. 9 c But Titus which was also with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek: and that because of certain incommers being false brethren, which came in among other, to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ jesus, that they might bring us in to bondage: To whom we gave no room, not not for the space of an hour, as concerning to be brought in to subjection: that the truth of the Gospel might comtynue with you. Asdrubal for them that seemed to be great, what they were in time passed, it maketh no matter to me. Act. 10. d Rom. 2 b Ephe. 6. a For God looketh not on the outward appearance of men. Nevertheless they which seemed great, taught me nothing: but contrary wise, when they saw that the Gospel over the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel over the circumcision was committed unto Peter. (For he that was mighty with Peter to the Apostleship over the circumcision, the same was mighty with me also among the Heythen) they perceived the grace that was given unto me. james and Cephas and John, which seemed to be pilers, gave me and Barnabas the right hands, and agreed with us, that we should preach among the heathen, and they among the jews: only that we should remember the poor, Act. 11. e 2. Co 9 a which thing also I was diligent to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him in the face: for he was worthy to be blamed. For afore there came certain from james, he ate with the heathen. But when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other jews dyssembled with him likewise, in so much that Barnabas was brought in to their simulation also. But when I saw that they walked not right after the truth of the Gospel, I said unto Peter openly before all: If thou being a jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the jews, why causest thou the gentiles then to live as do the jews? Phil. 3 a Though we be jews by nature, and not sinners of the gentiles, yet (in so much as we know, Rom. 3. b that a man is not made righteous by the deeds of the law, but by the faith on jesus Christ) we have believed also on jesus Christ, that we might be made righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law, because that by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified. If we then which seek to be made righteous by christ, should be yet found sinners our selves, is not Christ then the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again that which I have destroyed, then make I my self a trespasser. But I thorough the law am deed unto the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ, yet do I live: nevertheless now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the fleszhe, I live in the faith of the son of God phe. 5. a which loved me, and gave himself for me. I cast not away the grace of God. For if righteousness come by the law, than died Christ in vain. The III Chapter. O You foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that you should not believe the truth? To whom jesus Christ was describe before the eyes and among you crucified. This only would I learn of you: Received you the spirit by the deeds of the law, or by the preaching of the faith: Are you so unwise? You began in the spirit, would you end now then in the flesh? Have you suffered so much in vain? If it be else in vain. He that giveth you the spirit, and doth soch great acts among you, doth he it thorough the deeds of the law, or by the preaching of the faith? 〈…〉 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Thus you know, that they which are of faith, are Abraham's children. The scripture saw afore hand, that God justifieth the Heythen thorough faith. Therefore showed it glad tidings afore unto Abraham, and said: 〈…〉 In the shall all the heathen be blessed. So then they which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as go about with the works of the law, are under the curse: For it is written: 〈…〉 Cursed be every man, which continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: 〈…〉 For that just shall live by his faith. The law is not of faith, 〈…〉 but the man that doth the same, shall live therein. But Christ hath delivered us from the curse of the law, when he become a curse for us. (For it is written: 〈…〉 Cursed is every man that hangs on tree) that the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles in Christ jesus, and that we might so receive the promised spirit, thorough faith. Brethren, I will speak after the manner of men. Though it be but a man's Testament, yet no man despiseth it, or addeth any thing thereto, 〈…〉 when it is confirmed. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He sayeth not: In the sedes, as in many, but in thy seed, as in one, which is Christ. This Testament (I say) which afore was confirmed to Christ ward, is not disannulled (that the promise should be made of none affect) by the law 〈…〉 which was given beyond four hundredth. & thirty years thereafter. 〈…〉 For if the inheritance be got by the law, then is it not given by promise. But God gave it freely unto Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? 〈…〉 It was added because of transgression, till the seed came, to the which the promise was made. 〈…〉 And it was given of angels, by the hand of the 〈…〉 mediator. A mediator is not a mediator of one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. Howbeit if there had been given a law which could have given life, them no doubt righteousness should come of the law. 〈…〉 But the scripture hath shut up all under sin, that the promise should come by the faith on jesus Christ, given unto them that believe. Before faith came, we were kept and shut up under the law, unto the faith which should afterward be declared. Thus the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be made righteous by faith. But now that faith is come, we are no more under the schoolmaster. 〈…〉 For you all are the children of God by the faith in Christ Iesu. 〈…〉 For as many of you as are baptized, have put on Christ. Here is neither jew ner Greek: here is neither bond ner free: here is neither man ner woman, for you are all 〈…〉 one in Christ Iesu. If you be Christ's, them are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. The four Chapter. But I say: As long as the heir is a child, there is no difference between him and a servant, though he be lord of all the goods: but he is under tuters and governors, until the time appointed of the father. Even so we also, when we were children, were in bondage under the outward traditions. But when the time was fulfilled, God sent his son, born of a woman, 〈…〉 and put under the law, to redeem them which were under the law, that we might receive the childshippe. 〈…〉 For so much them as you are children, God hath sent the spirit of his son in to our hearts, which crieth: Abba, dear father. Wherefore now, thou art not a servant, but a son. If thou be a son, than art thou the heir of God thorough Christ. notwithstanding when you knew not God, you did service unto them, which by nature are no Gods. But now saying you know God (ye rather are known of God) how is i● 〈…〉 that you turn you back again unto the weak and beggarly traditions, where unto you desire again a fresh to be in bondage? You observe days and unnethes, and times and years. I am in fear of you, jest I have bestowed labour on you in vain. Brethren I beseek you, be you as I am, for I am as you are. You have not hurt me at all. For you know how that in weakness after the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at the first: and my tentation which I suffered after the flesh, you despised not, neither abhorred, but received me as an angel of God, ye even as Christ jesus. How happy were you then? For I bear you record, that if it had been possible, you had plucked out your own eyes, and given them unto me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? They are jealous over you amiss. Ye they would make you to fall back, that you might be fervent to them ward. It is good to be fervent, so that it be allway in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. My little children (of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be fashioned in you) I would I were with you now, and could change my voice, for I stondein doubt of you. Tell me you that willbe under the law, have you not herd the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons Gen. 16. d the one by a bond maid, Gen. 71. a the other by a free woman. As for him that was of the bond maid, he was born after the flesh: but he which was of the free woman, was born by promise. These words betoken somewhat. For these women are the two Testaments: The one from the mount Sina, that gendereth unto bondage, which is Agar. For Agar is called in Arabia the mount Sina, and reacheth unto jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Apoc. 21 a But jerusalem that is above, is the free woman, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: Esa. 54. a Rejoice thou barren, that bearest no children: break forth and cry thou that travailest not, for the desolate hath many more children, than she which hath an husband. As for us (brethren) we are the children of Isaac according to the promise. Gen. 27. g But like as at that time, he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so is it now also. But what sayeth the scripture? Gen. 21. b Put away the bond maiden and her son: for the son of the bondmaid shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So now brethren, we are not children of the bond maid, but of the free woman. The V Chapter. stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not wrapped again in the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say● unto you: If you be circumcised, Christ profiteth you nothing at all. I testify agatine unto every man which is circumcise that he is bound to keep the whole lar● You are go quite from Christ, as many ● you as willbe made righteous by the la●● and are fallen from grace. But we wa● in the spirit of hope, to 〈…〉 by faith. 〈…〉 For in Christ 〈…〉 circumcision any thing worth ner uncircumcision, but faith which 1. Co. 13. a by love is might●e in operation. You ran well, who was a let unto you, that you should not obey the truth? Soch council is not of him that hath called you. 1. Cor. 5. a A little leaven soureth the whole lump of dough. I have trust toward you in the LORD, that you willbe none otherwise minded. But he that troubleth you, shall bear his judgement, what so ever he be. Brethren if I yet preach circumcision, why do I suffer persecution? then had the slander of the cross ceased. Would God they were rooted out from among you, which trouble you. But brethren, you are called unto liberty, only let not your liberty be an occasion unto the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, namely in this: Levit 19 e Ro. 13. b love thy neighbour as thyself. Butler if you bite and devour one another, take heed, that you be not consumed one of another. I say: Walk in the spirit, and so shall you not fulfil the 1. Pet. 2. b lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. These are contrary one to the other, so that you can not do that which you would: But and if you be led of the spirit, then are you not under the law. 1. Tim. 5. c The deeds of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, whoredom, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, zeal, wrath, strife, sedition, sects, envyenge, murder, drunkenness, gluttony, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, 1. Cor. 6. b that they which commit such, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephe. 5. b But the fruit of the spirit, is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance, 1. Tim. 1. ᵇ ●. Ro 13. b 1. Pet. 2. b Against such is not the law: 1. Tim. 1. ᵇ ●. Ro 13. b 1. Pet. 2. b But they that are Christ's, have crucified their flesh, with the lusts and desires. The VI Chapter. IF we live in the spirit, let us walk also in the spirit. Let us not be vain glorious, provoking one another, and envyenge another. Brethren, If any man be overtaken of a fault, you which are spiritual, inform him with a meek spirit: and ●●nsidre thy own self, that thou also be 〈◊〉 tempted. 〈…〉 Bear you one another's 〈…〉, and so shall you fulfil the law of Christ. 〈◊〉 if any man think himself to be 〈…〉 (when in deed he is nothing) the 〈…〉 h●mselfe. Let every man prove 〈◊〉 own wo●●e, and then shall he have rejoicing in his own self, and not in another. For 〈…〉 every one shall bear his own burden. 〈…〉 But let him that is taught with the word, minister in all good things, unto him that teacheth him. Be not deceived, God will not be mocked. 〈…〉 For what soever a man soweth, that shall he reap. He that soweth upon the flesh, shall of the flesh reap destruction: But he that soweth upon the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. 〈…〉 Let us not be weighed of well doing: for when the time is come, we shall reap without ceasing. While we have time therefore, let us do good unto all men 〈…〉 but specially unto them which are of the household of faith. Behold, with how many words I have written unto you with mine own hand. They that will please in the flesh, constrain you to be circumcised, only jest they should be persecuted with the cross of Christ. For even they themselves which are circumcised, keep not the law, but would have you circumcised, that they might rejoice in your flesh. But God forbid that I should rejoice, save only in the cross of our LORD jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 〈…〉 For in Christ jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, ner uncircumcision, but a new creature. 〈…〉 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon Israel of God. From hence forth let no man put me to business, 〈…〉 for I bear in my body the marks of the LORD Iesu. Brethren, the grace of our LORD jesus Christ be with your spirit Amen. Unto the Galathians, sent from Rome. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I The everlasting ordinance and election of God in saving all men thorough Christ jesus his son. We are ordained unto good works. The dominion of Christ. Chap. II Paul showeth them what manner of people they were before their conversion, and what they are now in Christ. Chap. III He showeth the cause of his prisonment, desireth them not to faint because of his trouble, and prayeth God to make them steadfast in his spirit. Chap. four He exhorteth them unto meekness, long suffering, unto love and peace, every one to serve and edify another with the gift that God hath given him, to beware of strange doctrine, to say aside the old conversation of greedy lusts, and to walk in a new life. Chap. V He exhorteth them unto love, warneth them to beware of uncleanness, cuvetounesse, foolish talking and false doctrine: to be circumspect, to avoid drunkenness, to rejoice and to be thankful toward God, to submit themselves one to another, He teacheth how women should obey their huszbondes, and how lovingly men aught to entreat their wives. Chap. VI How children should behave themselves toward their fathers and mothers: Likewise fathers toward their children: Servants toward their masters: Again, masters toward their servants. An exhortation to the spiritual battle, and what weapens christian men should fight withal. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Ephesians. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle of jesus Christ by the will of God. To the saints which are Ephesus, & to them that believe on jesus Christ. 〈…〉 Grace be with you and peace from God our father, & from the LORD jesus Christ. Blessed be God the father of our LORD jesus Christ, which hath blessed us with all manner of spiritual blessing in heavenly things by Christ 〈…〉 according as he had choose us by him, or ever the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, & ordained us before, to receive us as children thorough jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will, unto the praise of the glory of his grace, whereby he hath made us accepted in the Mat. 3. b and 1●. a Beloved, in whom we have redemption thorough his blood (namely) the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he hath shed upon us abundantly in all wisdom and prudence: and hath opened unto us the mystery of his will according to his pleasure, which he had purposed in himself, that it should be preached Gal. 4. a when the time was fullcome, that all things should be gathered together by Christ, both the things which are in heaven, and also the things that are upon earth, even by him, by whom also we are come to the inheritance Rom ●. d we that were thereto predestinate before, according to the purpose of him, which worketh all things after the council of his own will, that we might be to the praise of his glory, even we that before believed on Christ, on whom also you believed, after that you heard the word of truth, namely the Gospel of your salvation: wherein when you believed, you were 2. Cor. ●. e and 5. a sealed with the holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance to our redemption, that we might be his own to the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, (in so much as I have herd of the faith which you have in the LORD jesus, and of your love unto all the saints) cease not to give thanks for you, and make mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our LORD jesus Christ, the father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom, and open unto you the knowledge of himself, and lighten the eyes of your understanding, that you may know what is the hope of your calling, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is upon the saints, & what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us, which believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him up from the deed, Psal. 109. and set him on his right hand in heavenvly things, above all rule, power, and might, and domination, and above all that may be named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come. Psal 8. b And hath put all things under his feet, and hath made him above all things Ephe. 4 and 5. c Col. 1 c the head of the congregation, which is his body, and the fullness of him that filleth all in all. The II Chapter. ANd quyckened you also, when you were deed thorough trespasses and sins, in the which in time past you walked. according to the course of this world, and after the prince that ruleth in the air namely, after the spirit, which now worketh in the children of unbelieve, Col. 3. a among whom we also had our conversation in time passed in the lusts of our flesh, and did the will of the flesh and of the mind, and were naturally the children of wrath, even as well as other. But God which is rich in mercy thorough his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were deed in sins, hath quyckened us in Christ ( Esa. 25. b Act. 15. b for by grace are you saved) and hath raised us up with him, and set us with him in heavenvly things thorough Christ jesus, that in times to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to us ward in Christ Iesu. For by grace are you saved thorough faith, and that not of yourselves, For it is the gift of God, not of works, jest any man should boast himself. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ jesus Tit. 2. b unto good works, to that which God ordained us before, that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that you (which afore time were gentiles after the flesh, and were called uncircumcision, of them that are called Phil. 3. a Col. 2. b circumcision after the flesh, which circumcision is made with the hand) that you at the same time were without Christ, and reputed aleauntes from the comen wealth of Israel, and were strangers from the Testaments of promise, therefore had you no hope, and were without God in this world. But now you that be in Christ jesus, and afore time were far of, are now made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is oh Esa. 9 b Col. 1. b peace, which of both hath made one, and hath broken down the brickwall, that was a stop between us, and hath also thorough his flesh put away the cause of hatred (namely the law of the commandments contained in the law written) that of twain he might created one new man in himself, and make peace, and to reconcile both unto God in one body thorough the cross, and so he slew the hatred thorough his own self, and came Esa. 57 c and preached peace in the Gospel, unto you which were afar of, and to them that were nigh. For thorough him we both have entrance in ●ne spirit unto the father. Now therefore you are no more gests and strangers, but citesins with the saints, & of the household of God, builded upon Cor. 3. b the foundation of the Apostles and prophets Pet. 2. a where jesus Christ is the head corner stone in whom every building coupled together, groweth to an holy temple in the LORD, in whom you also are builded together, to be an habitation of God in the spirit. The III Chapter. FOr this cause I Paul am 〈…〉 a prisoner of jesus Christ for you heathen, according as you have herd of the office of the grace of God which is given me to you ward. For by 〈…〉 revelation was this mystery showed unto me, as I written abou● in few words: whereby when you read it, 〈◊〉 may perceive mine understanding in the mystery of Christ, which (mystery) in times past was not opened unto the children of men as it is now declared to his holy Apostles and prophets by the spirit: namely, that the heathen should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel, whereof I am made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given me according to the working of his power. Unto me 〈…〉 the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see, what is the fellowship of the 〈…〉 mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, which made all things thorough jesus Christ to the intent that now unto the rulers and powers in heaven might be known by the congregation the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose, which he hath showed in Christ jesus our LORD by whom we have boldness and entrance in all confidence thorough faith on him. Wherefore I desire that you faint not because of my tribulations, that I 〈…〉 suffer for you, which is your praise. For this cause I bow my knees unto the father of our LORD jesus Christ, which is the true father, over all that is called father in heaven and in earth, that he grant you (according to the riches of his glory) to be strengthened with power by his spirit in the inward man, that Christ may devil in your hearts by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and the length, and the depth, and the height: and to know the love of Christ, which love yet passeth all knowledge: that you may be filled with all manner of fullness of God. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we axe or understand (according to the power that worketh in us) be praise in the congregation, which is in Christ jesus, at all times for ever and ever, Amen. The four Chapter. I Therefore which am prisoner in the LORD, exhort you, that you walk as it becometh your calling wherein you are called, with all humbleness of mind and meekness, and long suffering, forbearing one another in love, and be diligent to keep the unite of the spirit thorough the bond of peace. One body and one spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling. One LORD, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of us all, which is above all, and thorough all, and in you all. 〈…〉 Unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore sayeth he: 〈…〉 He is go up an high, and hath led away captivity captive, and hath given gifts unto men. That he went, up what is it, but that he first came down in to the lowest parts of the earth? 〈…〉 He that came down, is even the same which is go up above all heavens, to fulfil all. 〈…〉 And the same hath set some to be Apostles, some to be prophets, some to be Evangelists, some to be shepherds & teachers, whereby the saints might be coupled together thorough comen service to the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come unto one manner of faith and knowledge of the son of God, and become a perfect man in to the measure of the perfect age of Christ 〈…〉 that we be no more children, 〈…〉 wavering & carried about with every wind of doctrine thorough the wickedness of men and craftynes, whereby they lay await for us to deceive us. But let us follow the truth in love, and in all things grow in him, 〈…〉 which is the head, even Christ, in whom all the body is coupled together, and one member hangs by another thorough out all the joints. 〈…〉 Whereby one mynistreth unto another (according to the operation as every member hath his measure) and maketh, that the body groweth to the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the LORD, that you walk no more * as the other Heythen walk in the vanity of their mind, blinded in their understanding, being strangers from the life which is in God thorough the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: which being past repentance, have given themselves over unto wantonness, to work all manner of uncleanness even with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if so be that you have herd of him, & are taught in him, even as the truth is in Iesu. So then as concerning the conversation in time past Rom. 6. a Col. 3. a lay from you that old man which marreth himself thorough deceivable lusts: but be you renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on that new man, which is shapen after God, in true righteousness and holiness. Zach. ●. c 1. Pet. 2. a Wherefore put away dying, and speak every man the truth unto his neighbour, for as much as we are membres one of another. Psal. 4. a Be angry, but sin not. Let not the Son go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the backbiter. He that hath stolen, let him steal no more: 2. Tess. 3. a but let him labour rather, and do some good with his hands, that he may have to give unto him that needeth. Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouth, Mat. 12. d Ephe. 5. a but that which is good to edify withal, when need is, that it be gracious to hear. And grieve not the holy spirit of God, wherewith you are 2. Cor. 1. c sealed unto the day of redemption. Letoy all bitterness, and fierceness, and wrath, and roaring, & cursed speaking be far from you with all maliciousness. But be you courteous one to another, merciful, Mat. 6. ● and forgive one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ. The V Chapter. BE you the Mat. 5. e joh. 13. b Gal. 1. a followers therefore of God as dear children, and walk in love, even as Christ loved us, and Mat. 5. e joh. 13. b Gal. 1. a gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice of a sweet savour unto God. As for whoredom and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as it becometh saints: Ecclin 23. c neither filthiness, ner foolish talking, ner jesting (which are not comely) but rather giving of thanks. 1. Cor. 6. b Col. 3 a For be sure, that no whore monger, or unclean person, or covetous person (which is a worshipper of images) hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Col. 2. a (Let no man deceive you with vain words) for because of these cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelieve. Be not you therefore companions with them. For sometime you were darkness, 1. Tess. 5. ● but now are you light in the LORD. Walk as the children of light. ( Gal. 5. c 〈◊〉 the fruit of the spirit is all manner of goodness, and righteousness and truth:) and prove what is pleasing unto 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 are manifest, when they are rebuked of the light. For what so ever is manifest, that same is light. Therefore sayeth he: Esa. 60. a Rom. 13. b Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the deed, and Christ shall give the light. Col. 4. a Take heed therefore how you walk circumspectly, not as the unwise, but as the wise, and redeem the time, for it is a miserable tyme. Wherefore be not you unwise, but understand what the will of the LORD is, Ecclin. 31. c and be not drunken with wine, wherein is excess: but be full of the spirit Col. 3 b and talk among yourselves of Psalms, and ymnes, and spiritual songs, synginge and making melody unto the LORD in your hearts 1. Tess. 5. c giving thanks always for all things unto God the father, in the name of our LORD jesus Christ, submyttinge youreselues one to another in the fear of God. Letoy the women submit themselves unto their huszbandes, Col. 3. c 1. Pet. 3. a as unto the LORD. * .1 Co. 11. a For the husband is the wives head, even as Christ also is the head of the congregation, and he is the saviour of his body. Therefore as the congregation is in subjection to Christ, likewise let the wives be in subjection to their huszbandes in all things. You huszbandes love your wives, even as Christ loved the congregation, Ephe. 5. a Gal. 2. c and gave himself for it, to sanctify it, * Tit. 3 a 1. Pet 3 c and cleansed it in the fountain of water by the word, to make it unto himself a glorious congregation, having no spot ner wrynkle, ner any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame. So ought men also to love their wives, even as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own fleszhe, but nourisheth and cheriszheth it, even as the LORD doth also the congregation. For we are membres of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. Gen. 2. d Mat 19 a Marc. 10. a For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh: This is a great secret: but I speak of Christ and the congregation. Nevertheless do you so, that every one of you love his wife even as himself: but let the 〈…〉 husband. The VI Chapter. YOU 〈…〉 children, obey your elders in the LORD, for that is right. Honour thy father and thy mother ( 〈…〉 That is the first commandment, that hath any promise) that thou mayest prosper, and lyvelonge upon earth. And you fathers, provoke not your children unto wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and information of the LORD. 〈…〉 You servants, obey your bodily masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, even as unto Christ, not with service only in the eye sight, as men pleasers: but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart with good will. Think that you serve the LORD and not men: and be sure, that what good soever a man doth, he shall receive it again of the LORD, whether he be bond or fire. And you masters, 〈…〉 do even the same unto them, putting away threatenings, and know that even your master also is in heaven, 〈…〉 neither is there any respect of personnes with him. Finally my brethren, be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might: put on the armo of God, that you may stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rule, against power namely, against the rulers of the world, of the darkness of this world, against the spretes of wickedness under the heaven. For this cause take you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand perfect in all things. 〈…〉 stand therefore, and your loins gird about with the truth, having on the breast plate of righteousness, and shod upon you feet with the gospel of peace, that you may be prepared: Above all things take hold of the shield of faith, wherewith you may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. 〈…〉 And pray always with all manner of prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watch there unto with all instance and supplication for all saints and for me, 〈…〉 that the word may be given me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to utter the secrets of the Gospel, whereof I am a messenger in bonds, that I may speak therein freely, 〈…〉 as it becometh me to speak. But that you may also know, what case I am in, and what I do, Tichicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the LORD, shall show you all: whom I have sent unto you for the same cause, that you might know what case I stand in, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be unto the brethren, and love with faith, from God the father, & from the LORD jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our LORD jesus Christ unfeignedly. Amen. Scent from Rome unto the Ephesians, by Tichicus. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Philippians. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I He exhorteth them to increase in love, in knowledge and experience of godly things: maketh mention of his prisonment at Rome, is glad to hear Christ preached, is content either to die or live, and prayeth them to lead a godly conversation, to be of one mind, and to fear no persecution. Chap. II He exhorteth them to unite and brotherly love, and to beware of strife and vain glory: And for a sure ensample he layeth Christ before them. Chap. III He warneth them to beware of false teachers, whom he calleth dogs and enemies of Christ, and reproveth man's own righteousness. Chap. four He saluteth certain of them, exhorteth them to be of honest conversation, and thanketh them because of the provision, that they made for him being in preson. The first Chapter. PAul and Timotheus the servants of jesus Christ. Unto all the saints in jesus Christ, which are at Philippos, with the Biszhoppes and 〈…〉 ministers. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the LORD jesus Christ. Col. 1. ● 1. Tess. 1. a I thank my God, as often as I remember you (which I always do in all my prayers for you all, and pray with gladness) because of your fellowship which you have in the Gospel from the first day unto now, and am surely certified of this, that he which hath begun that good joh. ●. d work in you, shall go forth with it until the day of jesus Christ: as it becometh me to judge of you all, because I have you in my heart, as those that are partakers with me of grace in my bonds, in defending and stablyshinge of the Gospel. For God is my 1. Tess. 2. ● record, how I long after you all even from the very heart rote in jesus Christ. * Ephe. 1 c Col. 1. ᵃ ●. Tess. 1 b And for the same I pray, that yo love may increase more & more in all manner of knowledge and in all experience, that you may prove what is best, that you may be pure, & such as hurt no man's conscience, unto the day of Christ: filled with the fruits of righteousness, which come by jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. I would you understood brethren, that my business is happened unto the greater furtherance of the Gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest thorough out all the judgement hall, and in all other places: In so much that many brethren in the LORD, are boldened thorough my bonds, and dare more largely speak the word without fear. Some (no doubt) preach Christ of envy and strife, but some of good wil The one part preacheth Christ of strife and not purely, supposing to add more adversity unto my bonds. The other part of love, for they know that I lie here for the defence of the Gospel. What then? So that Christ be preached all manner of ways (whether it be done by occasion or of true meaning) I rejoice therein, and will rejoice. For I know that the same shall chance to my salvation, 2. Cor. 1. ● thorough your prayer and ministering of the spirit of jesus Christ, as I look for and hope, that in nothing I shallbe ashamed: but that with all confidence (as always in times past, even so now) Christ shallbe magnified in my body whether it be thorough life or thorough death. For Christ is to me life, & death is to me avenge. But in as much as to live in the 〈◊〉 fruitful to me for the work, 〈…〉 what I shall choose, for both these 〈…〉 hard upon me. 〈…〉 I desire to 〈…〉 be with Christ, which thin●● 〈…〉 (form) but to abide 〈…〉 needful for you. And this am I sure of, that I shall abide, and continue with you all, for the furtherance and joy of your faith, that you may abundantly rejoice in Christ jesus thorough me, by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be Ephe. 4. a Col. 1. a 1. Tess. 4. a as it becometh the Gospel of Christ, that whether I come & see you, or else be absent, I may yet hear of you that you continue in one spirit and one soul, labouring (as we do) to maintain the faith of the Gospel, and in nothing fearing your adversaries, which is to them a token of perdition, but unto you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given, not only that you should believe on Christ, but also suffer for his sake, and to have even the same fight, which you have seen in me, and now hear of me. The II Chapter. IF there be among you any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, if there be any fellowship of the spirit, if there be any compassion and mercy, fulfil my joy, that you draw one way, having one love, being of one accord, and of one mind: that there be nothing done thorough strife and vain glory, but that thorough meekness of mind every man esteem another better than himself: and let every man look not for his own profit, but for the profit of other. Let the same mind be in you, that was in Christ jesus: which beyinge in the shape of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the shape of a servant, 〈◊〉. 5. a become like another man, and was found in his apparel as a man: he humbled himself, and become obedient unto the death, even unto the death of the cross. Mat. 28 e Heb. 2. b Therefore hath God also exalted him, and given him a name, which is above all names, Esa. 45. c Dan. 7. c Ro. 14. b that in the name of jesus every knee should bow, both of things in heaven of things upon earth, and of things under the earth, and that all tongues should confess, that jesus Christ is the LORD unto 〈◊〉 praise of God the father. Wherefore my dearly beloved, as you have 〈…〉 obeyed (not only in my presence, 〈…〉 so much more in my absence) even 〈…〉 your own salvation with 〈…〉. 〈…〉 For it is God which 〈…〉 the will and the deed, even of his own good will. Do all things without murmurynges and disputinges, that you may be faultless and pure, and the children of God 〈…〉 without rebuke, in the mids of the crooked and perverse nation, 〈…〉 among whom see that you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, unto my rejoicing in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 〈…〉 Ye and though I be offered up upon the offering & sacrifice of your faith, I am glad, and rejoice with you all: be you glad also, and rejoice you with me. I trust in the LORD jesus, to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know what case you stand in. For I have no man that is so like minded to me, which with so pure affection careth for you: for all other seek their own, not that which is jesus Christ's. But you know the proof of him: for as a child unto the father, so hath he ministered unto me in the Gospel. Him I hope to send, as soon as I know how it will go with me. But I trust in the LORD, that I also myself shall come shortly. Nevertheless I thought it necessary to send unto you the brother Ephraditus, which is my companion in labour and fellow soudyer, and your apostle, and my minister at my need, for so much as he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because you had herd that he was sick. And no doubt he was sick, and that nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, jest I should have had sorrow upon sorrow. I have sent him therefore the more haistely, that you might see him, and rejoice again, and that I also might have the less sorrow. Receive him therefore in the LORD with all gladness, 〈…〉 and make much of such: for because of the work of Christ, he went so far, that he came nigh unto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfil that service which was lacking on your part toward me. The III Chapter. MOROVER my brethren, rejoice in the LORD. Where as I write ever one thing unto you, it grieveth me not, and maketh you the surer. beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of descension: 〈…〉 for we are the circumcision, even we that serve God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I have whereof I might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man think that he hath whereof he might rejoice in the flesh, much more I, which was circumcised on the eight day, one of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Ben jamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews: as concerning the law 〈…〉 a Pharisee: as concerning ferventness 〈…〉 I persecuted the congregation: and as touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was unrebukable. 〈…〉 But the things that were vantage unto me, have I counted loss for Christ's sake. Ye I think all things but loss, for that excellent 〈…〉 knowleges sake of Christ jesus my LORD: for whom I have counted all thing loss, and do judge them but dung, that I might win Christ, & be found in him, not having mine own righteousness which cometh of the law, but by the faith of Christ (namely) the righteousness which cometh of God in faith, to know him and the virtue of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his passion, 〈…〉 that I may be conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection from the deed. Not that I have attained unto it all ready, or that I am already perfect: but I follow, if I may comprehend that, wherein I am comprehended of Christ Iesu. Brethren, I count not myself yet that I have got it: but one thing I say: I forget that which is behind, and stretch myself unto that which is before, & press unto the mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Iesu. Let us therefore (as many as be perfect) be thus wise minded: and if you be otherwise minded, I pray God open even this unto you. Nevertheless in that where unto we are come, let us proceed by one rule, that we may be of one accord. 〈◊〉 4. c 〈…〉 d Brethren, be you the followers of me, and look on them which walk even so as you have us for an ensample. For many walk (of whom I have told you often, but now I tell you weeping) even enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is damnation, 〈…〉 whose God is the belly, & whose glory shallbe to their shame, which are earthly minded. 〈…〉 But our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the saviour jesus Christ the LORD, 〈…〉 which shall change our vile body, that it may be like fashioned unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. The four Chapter. Wherefore my brethren dearly beloved & longed for, my joy & my crown continue so in the LORD you beloved. I pray Euodias, & beseek Syntiches, that they be of one mind in the LORD. Ye and I beseek the my faithful yock fellow, help the women, which have laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement & with my other helpers, Luc. 10. b Apo. 17. b whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the LORD allway, & again I say, Rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men. The LORD is even at hand. Be not careful, but in all things let your petitions in prayer and supplication, with giving of thanks be known before God. And the joh. 14. c Rom. 5. a peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Iesu. Furthermore brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, what soever things are just, what so ever things are pure, what soever things pertain to love, whatsoever things are of honest report: if there be any virtuous thing, if there be any laudable thing, have those same in your mind, which you have both learned and received, and herd and seen in me: those things do, and the God of peace shall be with you. I rejoice greatly in the LORD, that now at the last you are revived again to care for me, as you cared for me afore, but you lacked opportunity. I speak not this because of necessity: for I have learned in what soever estate I am, 1. Tim. 6. b therewith to be content I can be low, and I can be high. Every where and in all things I am meet, both to be full, and to be hungry: to have plenty, and to suffer need. I can do all things thorough Christ, which strengtheth me. notwithstanding you have done well, that you bore part with me in my tribulation. But you of Philippos know, that in the begynngnge of the Gospel when I departed fro Macedonia, no congregation bore part with me concerning giving and receiving, but you only. For unto Tessalonica you sent once and afterward again unto my necessity. Not that I seek gifts, but I seek the fruit, that it be abundant in your reckoning. For I have all, and have plenty. I was even filled when I received of Epaphroditus, that which came from you, an odour of sweetness, Rom. 12. a Heb. 1●. c a sacrifice accepted & pleasant unto God. My God fulfil all your need, according to his riches in glory in Christ Iesu. Unto God and our father be praise for ever and ever Amen. Salute all the saints in Christ Iesu. The brethren that are with me, salute you. All the saints salute you, but specially they that are of the emperors house. The grace of our LORD jesus Christ be with you all, Amen. Written from Rome by Epaphroditus. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Colossians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I He giveth thanks unto God for their faith, love, and hope: prayeth for their increase and showeth how we are the kingdom of God, obtained by Christ, which is the head of the congregation. Chap. II What great care Paul took for all congregations. He exhorteth them to be steadfast in Christ, to beware of false teachers and worldly wisdom, and describeth the false prophets. Chap. III He putteth them in remembrance of the spiritual resurrection, to say aside all manner of corrupt living, to be fruitful in all godliness and virtue, and showeth all degrees their duty. Chap. four He exhorteth them to be fervent in prayer, to walk wisely unto them that are not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ, and so saluteth them. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle of jesus Christ by the will of God, and brother Timotheus. To the saints which are at Colossa and brethren that believe in Christ. Grace be with you and peace from God our father & from the LORD jesus Christ. 〈…〉 We give thanks unto God and the father of our LORD jesus Christ, praying always for you (sense we heard of your faith in Christ jesus, and of your love to all saints) for the hopes sake which is laid up in store for you in heaven: of the which you have herd before by the word of truth in the Gospel, which is come unto you, even as it is in to all the world: and is fruitful, as it is in you, sense the day that you heard and knew the grace of God in the truth, as you learned of Col. 〈…〉 Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is a faithful minister of Christ for you, which also declared unto us your love in the spirit. 〈…〉 For this cause we also, sense the day that we heard of it, cease not to pray for you, & desire that you might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you might walk worthy of the LORD, to please him in all things, 〈…〉 and to be fruitful in all good works, and grow in the knowledge of God: & to be strengthened with all power according to the might of his glory, to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, and give thanks unto the father, which hath made us meet for the inheritance of saints in light. Which hath delivered us from the power of darkness, & translated us in to the kingdom of his dear son ( 〈…〉 in whom we have redemption thorough his blood, namely, the forgiveness of sins.) 〈…〉 Which is the image of the invisible God, first begotten before all creatures. 〈…〉 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven and earth, things visible and things invisible, whether they be majesties or lordships, either rules or powers: All things are created by him and in him, and he is before all things, and in him all things have their being. 〈…〉 And he is the head of the body, namely, of the congregation: 〈…〉 he is the beginning and first begotten from the deed, that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the father, that in him should devil all 〈…〉 fullness, and that by him all things should be 〈…〉 reconciled unto himself, whether they be things upon earth or in heaven, that thorough the blood on his cross he might make peace even thorough his own self. And you (which were in times past strangers and enemies, because your minds were set in evil works) hath he now reconciled in the body of his flesh thorough death, to make you holy, and unblamable & with out fault in his own sight, if you continue grounded and established in the faith, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, whereof you have herd: which is preached among all creatures that are under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister. 〈…〉 Now joy I in my sufferynges, which I suffer for you, and fulfil that which is behind of the passions of Christ in my flesh, for his bodies sake, which is the congregation, 〈◊〉 4. a whereof I am made a minister, according to the Godly office of preaching, which is given unto me among you, that I should richly preach the word of God, namely, 〈…〉 that mystery which hath been hid sense the world began, and sense the beginning of times: but now is 〈◊〉▪ 11. c opened unto his saints, to whom God would make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the heathen: which (riches) is Christ in you, even he that is the hope of glory, whom we preach, and warn all men, and teach all men in all wisdom, to make every man perfect in Christ jesus: Wherein I also labour, and strive according to the working of him which worketh mightily in me. The II Chapter. I Would you knew what fighting I have for your sakes, and for them of Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my person in the flesh, that their hearts might be comforted and knit together in love, to all riches of full understanding, 〈…〉 which is in the knowledge of the mystery of God the father and of Christ, 〈…〉 in whom are hid a●l the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 〈◊〉. 3. a 〈◊〉. 3. a This I say, jest any man should beguile you with entysinge words. 〈◊〉. 3. a 〈◊〉. 3. a For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I present with you in the spirit: ioyenge, and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 〈…〉 As you have therefore received Christ jesus the LORD, even so walk in him, and be rooted & builded in him, and be steadfast in faith, as you have learned: & be plenteous in the same in giving thanks. 〈…〉 beware jest any man spoil you thorough philosophy and deceitful vanity after the traditions of men, and after the ordinances of the world, and not after Christ. 〈◊〉. 3. c For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily, and you are complete in him, which is the head of all rule and power: in whom also you are circumcised with Rom. 2. ● Phil. 3. a circumcision without hands, by putting of the sinful body of the flesh: (namely) with the circumcision of Christ, Rom. 6. a in that you are buried with him thorough baptism: in whom you are also risen again thorough faith, that is wrought by the operation of God, which raised him up from the deed. Rom. 5. a Ephe. ●. a Col. 1. b And with him he quyckened you, when you were deed in sins, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, and hath forgiven us all sins, and put out the handwrytinge that was against us (contained in the law written) and that hath he taken out of the way, and fastened it to the cross: Gen. 3 c Luc. 11. c joh. 12. d And hath spoiled rule and power, and hath made a show of them openly, and triumphed over them in his own person. Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat or drink, or for a piece of an holy day, as the holy day of the new Moon, or of the Sabbath days, Heb. 8. a 8. b. 10. a which are the shadow of the things that were for to come: but the body self is in Christ. Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark, which after his own choosing walketh in humbleness and spiritualty of angels, things which he never saw, and is vain, and puffed up in his own fleshly mind: and holdeth not himself to the head, whereof the whole body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment, and is knit together, and so groweth to the greatness that cometh of God. Wherefore if you be deed with Christ from the ordinances of the world, Gal. 4. a why are you held them with such traditions, as though you lived after the world? As when they say: Touch not this, taist not that, handle not that. All these things do hurt unto men, because of the abuse of them, which abuse cometh only of the commandments and doctrines of men: 1. Tim. 4. f which things have a shine of wisdom thorough choose spirituality and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body; and do the flesh no worship unto his need. The III Chapter. IF you be risen now with Christ, seek those things then which are above where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the thinger that are upon earth. For you are deed, * 〈◊〉 your life is hid with Christ in God. * 〈◊〉 when Christ our life shall show himself, them shall you also appear with him in glory. Ephe. 5. a mortify therefore your members which are upon earth, whoredom, uncleanness, unnatural lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is a worshipping of Idols: Gen 6.19 1. Cor. 10. a for which things sakes the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelieve: Ephe. 3. a in the which things you walked some time, when you lived in them. Rom. 6. a Ephe. 4. c But now put all away from you: wrath, fierceness, maliciousness, cursed speaking, filthy words out of your mouth. Lie not one to another. Rom. 13. b Put of the old man with his works, and put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that made him: Gal. 6. b where there is no Greek, jew, circumcision, uncircumcision, Barbarous, Sithian, bond, fire: but Christ is all and in all. Now therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgening one another, if any man have a quarrel against another. Like as Christ hath forgiven you, even so do you also. But above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which (peace) you are called also in one body: and see that you be thankful. Let the word of Christ devil in you plenteously in all wisdom. Ephe. 5. b Teach and exhort your own selves with psalms and ymnes, and spiritual songs which have favour with them, synginge in your hearts to the LORD. 1. Cor. 10. d And what soever you do in word or work, do all in the name of the LORD jesus, Ephe. 5. b and give thanks unto God the father by him. Ephe. 5. c 1. Pet. 3. a You wives, submit yourselves unto your huszbandes, as it is comely in the LORD. You huszbandes, love your wives, and be not bitter unto them. Ephe. 6. a You children, obey your elders in all things, for that is well pleasing unto the LORD. You fathers, rate not your children, jest they be of a desperate mind. ●phe. 6. a ●it. 2. ᵇ ●. Pet. 2. c You servants, be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of ●ert, fearing God. What so ever you do, do it ●●rtely, even as unto the LORD and not 〈…〉. Andrea be sure, that of the LORD 〈…〉 the reward of the inheritance 〈…〉 LORD Christ. But he that doth 〈◊〉, shall receive for the wrong that he hath done, 〈…〉 for there is no respect of people (with God) 〈…〉 You masters, do unto your servants that which is just and equal, and know, that you also have a master in heaven. The four Chapter. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, 〈…〉 and pray also together for us, that God open unto us the door of the word, to speak the mystery of Christ (wherefore I am also in bonds) that I may utter the same, as it becometh me to speak. 〈…〉 Walk wisely toward them that are without, and redeem the tyme. Let your speech be allway favourable, seasoned with 〈…〉 salt, that you may know how to answer every man. Tichicus the dear brother and faithful minister & fellow servant in the LORD, shall tell you what case I am in. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know how you do, & that he might comfort your hearts, with one 〈…〉 Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother, which is one of you: they shall show you of all things, which are adoing here 〈…〉 Aristarchus my preson fellow saluteth you, and 〈…〉 Marcus Barnabasses sister's son, touching whom you received commandments: If he come unto you, receive him, and jesus, which is called justus, which are of the circumcision. These only are my helpers in the kingdom of God, which were to my consolation. 〈…〉 Epaphras a servant of Christ, which is one of you, saluteth you, & allway laboureth fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and full, in all that is the will of God. I bear him record, that he hath a fervent mind for you, and for them at Laodicea, and at Hierapolis. Dear Lucas the Physician saluteth you, and so doth 〈…〉 Demas. Salute the brethren, which are at Laodicea, and salute Nymphas, and the congregation which is in his house. And when the epistle is read of you, 'cause it to be read also in the congregation at Laodicea, & that you likewise read the epistle of Laodicea. And say to Archippus: Take heed to the office which thou hast received in the LORD, that thou fulfil it. My salutation with the hnade of me Paul. Remember my bonds. 〈…〉 Grace be with you, Amen. Scent from Rome by Tichicus and Onesimus. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Tessalonians. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I He thanketh God for them, that they are so steadfast in faith and good works, and receive the gospel with such earnest. Chap. II He putteth them in mind of the godly conversation that he led among them when he preached the gospel unto them, thanketh God that they receive his word so fruitfully, and excuseth his absence. Chap. III He showeth how greatly he was rejoiced, when Timothy told him of their faith and love. Chap. four He exhorteth them to steadfastness, to keep themselves from sin and uncleanly conversation, to love one another: rebuketh ydilnesse, and speaketh of the resurrection. Chap. V He enfourmeth them of the day of doom and coming of the LORD, exhorteth them to watch, and to regard such as preach God's word among them. The first Chapter. PAUL and Silvanus and Timotheus. Unto the congregation of the Tessalonyans, in God the father and in the LORD jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father and from the LORD jesus Christ. 〈…〉 We give thanks unto God allway for you all, making mension of you in our prayers without ceasing, and call to remembrance your work in the faith, and your labour in love, & your patience in hope, 〈…〉 which is our LORD jesus Christ before God our father: Because we know (brethren, beloved of God) how that you are elect: 〈…〉 for our Gospel hath not been with you in word only, but both in power and in the holy ghost, and in much certainty, as you know after what manner we were among you for your sakes. And you become the followers of us and of the LORD: and received the word in much affliction with joy of the holy ghost: so that you were an example to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you was the word of the LORD noised out, not only in Macedonia & Achaia, but in all quarters also is your faith in God spread abroad so that it needeth not us to speak any thing at all. For they themselves show of you, what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you are turned unto God from images, for to serve the living and true God, and to look for his son Act. 1. b from heaven: whom he raised up from the deed, even jesus, which hath delivered us from the joh. 8. c wrath to come. The II Chapter. FOr you yourselves (brethren) know of our entrance unto you, how that it was not in vain, but as we had suffered afore, & Act. 16. c were shamefully entreated at Philippos (as you know) we were bold in our God, Act. 17. a to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much striving. For our exhortation was not to bring you to error ner yet to uncleanness, neither was it with guile: but as we are allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed unto us to preach, even so we speak, Gal. 1. b not as though we would please men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For we have not go about with flattering words (as you know) ner waited for our own profit ( Phil. 1. b God is record) neither sought we praise of men, neither of you ner of any other, when we might have been chargeable unto you as the Apostles of Christ, but we were tender among you. Like as a nurse cherisheth her children, even so had we heartily affection toward you, and would with good will have dealt unto you, not only the Gospel of God, but our lives also, because you were dear unto us. You remember brethren our labour and travail. Act. 20. ● 2. Tess. ●. a For day and night wrought we (because we would not be chargeable unto any of you) and preached the Gospel of God among you. You are witnesses, and so is God, how holily and justly and unblamable we behaved ourselves among you tha● believe: as you know, how that as a 〈…〉 his children, even so exhort 〈…〉 and besought every one 〈…〉 would walk worthily before God, 〈…〉 hath called you unto his kingdom & 〈…〉 For this cause thank we God without ceasing, because that when you received of us the word of the preaching of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (even as it is of a truth) the word of God, which worketh in you that believe. For you brethren are become the followers of Heb. 10. d the congregations of God which in jewry are in Christ jesus, so that you have suffered even like things of your kinsmen, as they have suffered of the jews. Which as they put the LORD jesus to death, and their own prophets, Mat. 23. d even so have they persecuted us also, and please not God, and are contrary to all men, Act. 17. a. b forbidding us to speak unto the Heythen that they might be saved, to fulfil their sins allway: for the wrath is come upon them already unto the uttermost. But we (brethren) for as much as we have been kept from you for a season, as concerning the bodily presence, but not in the heart, we have haisted the more with great desire to see you personally. Therefore would we have come unto you, (I Paul) two times, Dan. 10. b but Satan withstood us. For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of Phil. 2. b rejoicing? are not you it in the sight of our LORD jesus Christ at his coming? Yes you are our praise and joy. The III Chapter. Wherefore sense we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to remain at Act. 17. c Athens alone, & sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God, and our helper in the gospel of Christ, to stablish you and to comfort you in your faith, that noman should be moved in these troubles: (for you yourselves know, that we are even appointed there unto. And when we were with you, we told you before, that we should suffer tribulation, even as it is come to pass, & as you know.) For this cause saying I could no longer forbear, I sent, that I might have knowledge of your faith, jest haply the tempter had tempted you, and jest our labour had been in vain. But now that Timotheus is come from you unto us, and hath showed us of your faith and love, & how that you have allway good remembrance of us, desiring to see us 〈…〉 to see you: therefore brethren 〈…〉 in you in all our 〈…〉 thorough your faith. For 〈…〉, if you stand steadfast in the ●ORDE. For what thanks can we recompense to God again for you, because of this joy that we have concerning you before our God? We pray exceadingly day and night, that we might see you presently, and fulfil that which is lacking in your faith. God himself our father & our LORD jesus Christ guide our journey unto you. But the LORD increase you, & make you flow over in love one toward another, and toward all men (even as we do toward you) that your hearts may be stable and unblamable in holiness before God our father, at the coming of our LORD jesus Christ with all his saints. The four Chapter. furthermore we beseek you brethren and exhort you in the LORD jesus, that you increase more and more, even as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God. For you know what commandments we gadue you by our LORD jesus Christ. For this is the 〈…〉 will of God, even your sanctifying, that you should abstain from whoredom, * that every one of you should know how to keep his vessel in holiness and honour, & not in the lust of concupiscence, 〈…〉 as the Heythen which know not God. And that no man go to far, ner defraud his brother in bargayninge. For the LORD is the avenger of all such things, as we have said & testified unto you afore tyme. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness. 〈…〉 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, 〈…〉 which hath given his holy spirit in to you. But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you, 〈…〉 for you your selves are taught of God to love one another: ye and that thing you do unto all the brethren, which are thorough out all Macedonia. But we beseek you brethren that you increase yet more and more, and that you study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business, 〈…〉 and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that nothing be lacking unto you. We would not brethren that you should be ignorant concerning them which are fallen a sleep, that you sorrow not as other do which have no hope. For if we believe that jesus died and rose again, even so then also which sleep by jesus, shall God bring with him. For this we say unto you in the word of the LORD, 〈…〉 that we which live and are remaining in the coming▪ of the LORD, shall not come yet they which sleep. 〈…〉 For the LORD himself shall come down from heaven with a shout and voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God, 〈…〉 and the deed in Christ shall arise first: then shall we which live and remain, be caught up with them also in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air, and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Wherefore comfort your selves one another with these words. The V Chapter. But of the times and seasons (brethren) it is no need to write unto you. For you youreselues know perfectly, that 〈…〉 the day of the LORD shall come even as a thief in the night. For when they shall say▪ Tush, It is peace, there is no danger, 〈…〉 then shall sudden destruction come upon them, even as the pain of a woman travailing with child, and they shall not escape. But you brethren are not in darkness, that that day should come on you as a thief. You are altogether children of light, and children of the day. We are not of the night, neither of darkness. 〈…〉 Therefore let us not sleep as do other, but let us watch, and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night: and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us which are of the day, be sober, armed with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the helmet of hope to salvation. For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by the means of our LORD jesus Christ▪ which died for us: that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as you do. We beseek you brethren, 〈…〉 that you know them which labour among you, and have the oversight of you in the LORD, and give you exhortation, that you have them the more in love for their works sake, and be at peace with them. We desire you brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, forbear the weak, be patient toward all men. * So that none recompense evil for evil unto any man: but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice alway, pray continually, 〈…〉 in all things be thankful: for this is the will of God in Christ jesus toward you. 〈…〉 Quench not the spirit: despise not prophecienges: prove all things, & keep that which is good. Abstain from all suspicious things. The very God ●f peace sanctify you thorough out. And I ●raye God, that your whole spirit, soul & ●ody be kept blameless unto the coming of ●ure LORD jesus Christ. 1. Cor. 1. a and 10. b Faithful is he which hath called you, which will also do it. Brethren, pray for us. great all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the LORD, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 2. Tess. ●. b The grace of our LORD jesus Christ be with you, Amen. The first Epistle to the Tessalonians, sent from Athens. The second Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Tessalonians. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I He thanketh God for their faith and love, and prayeth for the increase of the same. Chap. II He showeth them that the day of the LORD shall not come, till the departing from the faith come first: and therefore he exhorteth them not to be deceived, but to stand steadfast in the things that h● hath taught them. Chap. III He desireth them to pray for him that the gospel may prosper, and giveth them warning to reprove the idle, and if they will not labour with their hands, that they shall not eat. The first Chapter. PAUL and Silvanus and Timotheus. To the congregation of the Tessalonians in God our father and in the LORD jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father, and from the LORD jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet: because that your faith groweth exceadingly, and the love of every one of you increaseth toward another among yourselves, so that we ourselves make our boast of you (in the congregations of God) of your patience and faith in all your persecutions and troubles that you suffer, which is a token of the righteous judgement of God, that you are counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for the which you also suffer. For it is a righteous thing with God, to recompense tribulation unto them that trouble you: but unto you which are troubled, rest with us, Mat 24. c and 25. c 2. Pet. 3. a when the LORD jesus shall show himself from heaven, with the angels of his power, and with flaming Mat 24. c and 25. c 2. Pet. 3. a fire, to give vengeance unto them that know not God, Rom. 2. a and to them that obey not the Gospel of our LORD jesus Christ. Sap. 5. Which shallbe punished with everlasting damnation, Esa. 2. b from the presence of the LORD, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be come marvelous in all them that believe: because you have believed our testimony unto you of the same day. * Wherefore we pray always for you, that our God make you worthy of the calling, and fulfil all delectation of goodness, and the work of faith in power, that the name of our LORD jesus Christ may be praised in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God, and of the LORD jesus Christ. The II Chapter. WE beseek you brethren by the coming of our LORD jesus Christ, and in that we shall assemble unto him, that you be not suddenly moved from your mind, and be not troubled, neither by spirit, neither by words, ner yet by letter, which should seem to be sent from us, as though the day of Christ were at hand. Let noman deceive you by any means. For the LORD cometh not, except the Dan. 9 e 1. Tim. 4. a departing come first, and that that Man of sin be opened, even the son of perdition, which is an adversary, and is exalted above all that is called God or God's service, so that he sitteth as God in the 1. Cor. 3. b temple of God, * Dan. 11. e and boasteth himself to be God. Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what witholdeth it, even that it might be uttered at his tyme ( 1. joh. 2. c For the mystery of the iniquity worketh already, till he which now only letteth, be taken out of the way.) And then shall that wicked be uttered, job 15. d Esa. 11. a Dan. 8. d whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, & shall destroy with the appearance of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan Deut. 13. a with all dying power, and signs and wonders, Mat. 24. b and with all deceavablenes of unrighteousness among them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might have been saved▪ Zach. 5 a Rom. 1▪ d Therefore shall God send them strong de●●sion, that they should believe lies, that all they might be damned, which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks allway unto God for you, brethren be loved of the LORD, because that God hath from the beginning choose you to salvation in the sanctifying of the spirit and in believing of the truth, whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel, to obtain the glory of our LORD jesus Christ. Therefore brethren stand fast, and keep the ordinances which you have learned, whether it were by our preaching or by epistle. But our LORD jesus Christ himself, and God our father, which hath loved us and given us everlasting consolation, and a good hope thorough grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in all doctrine & good doing. The III Chapter. furthermore brethren 〈…〉 pray for us, that the word of God may have free passage and be glorified as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men. 〈…〉 For faith is not every man's. But the LORD is faithful, which shall stablish you and keep you from evil. We have confidence in the LORD to you ward, that you both do and will do that which we command you. The LORD guide your hearts unto the love of God and patience of Christ. 〈…〉 But we require you brethren, in the name of our LORD jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which he received of us. For you your selves know, how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves inordinately among you, neither took we bread of any man for naught 〈…〉 but wrought with labour and travail night and day, jest we should be chargeable to any of you. Not but that we had authority, but to give ourselves for an ensample unto you to follow us. And when we were with you, this we warned you of, that if there were any which would not work, the same should not eat. For we hear say, that there are some which walk among you inordinately, and work not at all, but are busy bodies. 〈…〉 But them that are such, we command and exhort by our LORD jesus Christ, that they work with quietness, and eat their own bread. Nevertheless brethren, 〈…〉 be not you weighed of well doing. 〈…〉 But if any man obey not our sayings, send us word of him by a letter, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. The very LORD of peace give you peace always by all means. The LORD be with you all. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand: This is the token in all epistles, So I write, The grace of our LORD jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Scent from Athens. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to Timothy. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I He exhorteth Timothy to wait upon his office: namely, to see that nothing be taught but God's word &c. He showeth also wherefore the law is good, and telleth these sweet and glad tidings, that Christ jesus came in to the world to save sinners, example of himself. Chap. II He exhorteth to pray for all men. He will not have women to be over costly arrayed, ner to teach in the congregation, but to be in silence, and obey their huszbandes. Chap. III What manner of man a byszhpppe or priest aught to be, and what conditions his wife and children should have. The properties also required in a deacon or minister, and in his wife. Chap. four He prophesieth of the latter days, and exhorteth Timothy to the diligent reading of the holy scripture. Chap. V He teacheth him how he shall behave himself in rebuking all degrees An order concerning widows. Chap. VI The duty of servants toward their masters. Against such as are not satisfied with the word of God, Against cuvetousnes, A good lesson for rich men. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle of jesus Christ according to the Act. 9 b commandment of God our saviour, and of the LORD jesus Christ, 1. Tess. 1. a which is our hope. Unto Timothy my natural son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God our father, and our LORD jesus Christ. As I besought the to abide still at Ephesus ( Act. 19.20. when I departed in to Macedonia) even so do, that thou command some, that they teach none other wise, 2. Tim 2. c Tit. 3 b neither give heed to fables and genealogies, which are endless, and breed doubts more than godly edifying, which is by faith. Rom. 13. b Gal. 6. a For the chief sum of the commandment is love of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. From the which some have erred, & have turned unto vain jangling, willing to be doctors of the scripture, and understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm. Rom. 7. b But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, understanding this, Gal. 5. c that the law is not given unto the righteous, but to the unrighteous & dishobedient, to the ungodly & to sinners, to the unholy & unclean, to murthurers of fathers and murthurers of mothers, to manslayers, to whoremongers, Rom. 1 d to them that defile themselves with mankind, to menstealers, to liars, to perjured, & so forth if there be any other thing that is contrary to the wholesome doctrine, according to the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which (Gospel) is committed unto me. And I thank Christ jesus our LORD, which hath made me strong, for he counted me faithful, & put me in office, when before I was a blasphemer, Act 9 a Gal. 1. b & a persecuter, & a tyrant: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelieve. Nevertheless the grace of our LORD was more abundant thorough the faith & love which is in Christ Iesu. For this is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, Mat. 9 b joh. ●. c that Christ jesus came in to the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. notwithstanding for this cause obtained I mercy, that jesus Christ might pryncipally show in me all long patience, to the ensample of them which should believe in him unto eternal life. So then unto God king everlasting, immortal and Col. 1. b invisible, and wise only, be honour and praise for ever and ever Amen. This commandment commit I unto thee (my son Timotheus) according to the prophecies which in time past were prophesied of thee, that thou in them shouldest fight a good fight, having faith & good conscience, which some have put away from them, and as concerning faith have made shipwreck: of whose number is 2. Tim 2. b 2. Tim 4. b Hymeneos and 2. Tim 2. b 2. Tim 4. b Alexander, * 1. Cor. 5. a whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught, no more to blaspheme. The II Chapter. I Exhort therefore, that above all things, prayers, supplications, intercessions and giving of thanks be had for all men jere. 29 b Baruc. 1 c for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet & peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For that is good and accepted in the sight of God our saviour, which will have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and Heb. 9 c one mediator between God and men, (namely) the man Christ jesus, which gave himself a ransom for all men, that at his time it should be preached, whereunto Rome 1 a 2. Tim. 1. b I am ordained a preacher & an Apostle (I tell the truth in Christ and lie not) a teacher of the heathen in faith and in the truth. I will therefore that men pray joh. 4. c in all places, lifting up pure hands without wrath or dowting. Tit. 2. a 1 Pet. 3. a Likewise also the women, that they array themselves in comely apparel with shamefastness and discrete behaueor, not with broided here, or gold, or pearls, or costly array: but with such as it becometh women that profess godliness thorough good works. 1. Co. 14. e Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. I suffer not a woman to teach Gen. 3. c Ephe. 5. c ner to have authority over the man, but for to be in silence. For Adam was first form, and then Eve: Adam also was not deceived, but the woman was deceived, and hath brought in the transgression. notwithstanding thorough bearing of children she shallbe saved, if she continue in faith and in love & in the sanctifying with discretion. The III Chapter. THis is a true saying: If a man covet the office of a Biszhoppe, he desireth a good work. But a Biszhoppe must be blameless, 〈…〉 the husband of one wife, sober, discrete, mannerly, harberous, * apt to teach: Not given to much wine, no fighter, not given to filthy lucre: but gentle, abhorring strife, abhorring covetousness: & one that ruleth his own house honestly, having obedient children with all honesty. (But if a man can not rule his own house, how shall he care for the congregation of God?) He may not be a young scolar, left he be puffed up, and fall in to the judgement of the evil speaker. He must also have a good report of them which are without, jest he fall in to the rebuke and snare of the evil speaker. Likewise must the 〈…〉 ministers be honest, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, neither unto filthy lucre, but having the mystery of faith in pure conscience. And let them first be proved, and then let them minister, if they be blameless. Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers, but sober and faithful in all things. Let the ministers be, every one the husband of one wife, and such as rule their children well, and their own households. 〈…〉 For they that minister well, get them selves a good degree and great liberty in the faith which is in Christ Iesu. These things write I unto thee, trusting shortly to come unto thee: but if I tarry long, that then thou mayest yet have knowledge, how thou oughtest to behave thyself in God's house, which is the congregation of the living God, the piler and ground of truth: and without nay, great is that mystery of godliness. 〈…〉 God was showed in the flesh: was justified in the spirit: 〈…〉 was seen of angels: was preached unto the Heythen: was believed on in the world: 〈…〉 was received up in glory. The four Chapter. THe spirit speaketh evidently, 〈…〉 that in the latter times some shall * depart from the faith, and shall give heed unto spretes of error, and devilish doctrines, of them which speak false thorough hypocrisy, and have their conscience marked with an hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from the meats, which God hath created to be received with giving thanks of them which believe and know the truth. 〈…〉 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, that is received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of jesus Christ, 〈…〉 which hast been nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, which thou hast followed hither to. 〈…〉 As for ungoostly and old wyvesh fables, cast them away, but exercise thyself unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, as a thing which hath promises of the life that is now, and of the life for to come. This is a sure saying, & of all parts worthy to be received. For therefore we labour and suffer rebuke, because we hope in the living God, which is the saviour of all men, but specially of those that believe. Soch things command thou and teach. 〈…〉 Let no man despise the youth, 〈…〉 but be thou unto them that believe, an ensample, in word, in conversation, in love, in the spirit, in faith, in pureness. give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, until I come. Be not negligent in the gift that is given the thorough prophecy, 〈…〉 with laying on of the hands of the Elders. These things exercise, and give thyself unto them, that thy increase may be manifest unto every man. Take heed unto thyself, and to learning, continue in these things. For if thou so do, thou shalt save thyself, and them that heareth. The V Chapter. EEbuke 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. Honor wedowes, which are true wedowes. If any widow have children or neves, let them learn first to rule their own houses godly, and to recompense their elders. For that is good & acceptable before God. 〈…〉 But she that is a right widow, & desolate, putteth her trust in God, & continueth in prayer and supplication night and day. But she that liveth in pleasures, is deed, even yet a line. And these things command, that they may be without blame. 〈…〉 But if there be any man that provideth not for his own, and specially for them of his houszholde, the same hath denied the faith, and 1. Pet. 2. d is worse than an infidel. Let no widow be choose under three score year old, and such one as was the wife of one man, and well reported of in good works, if she have brought up children well, if she have been 1. Pet. 4. b harberous, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given to all manner of good works. But the younger wedowes refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, then will they marry, having their damnation, because they have broken the first faith. Besides this they are idle, and learn to run about from house to house. Tit. 2. a Not only are they idle, but also tryflinge & busy bodies, speaking things which are not comely. 1. Cor. 7. a I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, to give the adversary no occasion to speak evil. For some are turned back already after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have wedowes, let them make provision for them, and let not the congregation be charged: that they which are right wedowes, may have enough. The Elders that rule well, are worthy of double honour, most specially they which labour in the word & in teaching. For the scripture sayeth: Deut. 25. a 1. Cor. 9 b Thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Andrea: * Mat 10. a The labourer is worthy of his reward. Deut. 19 c Against an Elder receive none accusation, but under two or three witnesses. Then that sin, rebuke in the presence of all, that other also may fear. I testify before God and the LORD jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without hasty judgement, and do nothing parcially. Say hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep the self pure. Eccli. 31. d Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for the stomachs sake, and because thou art often times sick. Some men's sins are open, so that they may be judged afore hand: but some men's (sins) shall be manifest hereafter. Likewise also good works are manifest afore hand: and they that are other wise can not be hid. The VI Chapter. LEt as many servants as are under the yoke, count their master's worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not evil spoken of. See that they which have believing masters, despise them not because they are brethren, but rather do service, for so much as they are believing, and beloved, and partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and agreeth not unto the wholesome words of our LORD jesus Christ, and to the doctrine of godliness, he is puffed up, and knoweth nothing, but waysteth his brain about questions and strivings of words: Tit. 3. b whereof spring envy, strife, railings, evil surmysinges, vain disputations of such men as have corrupt minds, 2. Tess. 2. b and are rob of the truth, which think that godliness is lucre: From such separate thyself. Howbeit it is great avauntage, who so is godly, Pro. 15. b Heb. 13. a and holdeth him content with that he hath. * job. 1. c For we brought nothing in to the world, therefore is it a plain case that we can carry nothing out. Eccli. 29. d When we have food and raiment, let us therewith be content. * Pro. 23. a Mat. 13 c For they that willbe rich, fall in to the temptation and snare, and in to many foliszhe & noisome lusts, which drown men in destruction and damnation. For Covetousness is the rote of all evil, which while some lusted after, they erred from the faith, and tangled themselves with many sorrows. 2. Tim. 2. c But thou man of God, fly such things: follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness: fight a good fight of faith: lay hand on eternal life, where unto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give the charge before God, 1. Reg. 2. b Act. 17. e which quyckeneth all things, & before jesus Christ, which under Pontius Pilate witnessed a good witnessing, that thou keep the commandment, without spot, unreprovable, until the appearing of our LORD jesus Christ, which appearing (at his time) he shall show that is blessed, and mighty only, Apo. 17. c and 19 c the king of all kings, and LORD of all lords: which only hath immortality, and dwelleth in a light, that no man can attain: joh. 1 b 1. joh. 4. b whom no man hath seen, neither can se. Unto whom be honour and empire everlasting, Amen. Charge them which are rich in this world, that they be not proud, ner trust in the uncertain riches, but in the living God (which giveth us abundantly all things to 〈◊〉 them:) That they do good: that they be rich in good works: that they give and distribute with a good will: Mat. ●. e gathering up treasure for themselves, a good foundation, against the time to come, that they may say hand on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which is committed unto thee, and avoid ungoostly vain words, and oppositions of science falsely so called, which while some professed, they have erred as concerning the faith. Grace be with thee, Amen. Written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest cite of Phrigia Pacaciana. The second Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to Timothy. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I Paul exhorteth Timothy to steadfastness and patience in persecution, and to continued in the doctrine that he had taught him. A commendation of Onesiphorus. Chap. II Like as in the first chapter, so here he exhorteth him to be constant in trouble, to suffer manly, and to bide fast in the wholesome doctrine of our LORD jesus Christ. Chap. III He prophesieth of the perilous times, setteth out hypocrites in their colours, telleth us what they be within, for all their fair faces outwardly. Persecution for the gospel. Chap. four He exhorteth Timothy to be fervent in the word, and to suffer adversity: maketh mension of his own death, and biddeth Timothy come unto him. The first Chapter. PAul an Apostle of jesus Christ, by the will of God, to preach the promise of the life which is in Christ Iesu. To my dear son Timotheus. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and from Christ jesus our LORD. I thank God, 〈…〉 whom I serve fro my fore elders in a pure conscience, that without ceasing I make mention of the in my prayers night and day: and long to see thee (when I remember thy tears) so that I am filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelled first in thy graundemother Lois, and in thy mother Eunica: And am assured, that it dwelleth in the also. Wherefore I warn thee, that thou steer up the gift of God which is in the by putting on of my hands. 〈…〉 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of right understanding. 〈…〉 Be not thou aszhamed therefore of the testimony of our LORD, neither of me, 〈…〉 which am his prisoner: but suffer thou adversity also with the Gospel, according to the power of God 〈…〉 which hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling: not according to our deeds, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ jesus before the time of the world, but is now declared openly by the appearing of our saviour jesus Christ. 〈◊〉. 15. f 〈◊〉. 1. c Which hath taken away the power of death, and hath brought life and immortality unto light, thorough the Gospel: 〈◊〉. 1. a 〈…〉. a whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, and a teacher of the Heythen: for the which cause I also suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am sure that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto his keeping against that day. 〈…〉 Hold the after the ensample of the wholesome words, which thou heardest of me, concerning faith and love in Christ Iesu. This high charge keep thou thorough the holy ghost, which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia, be turned fro me, of which sort are Phigelus and Hermogenes. The LORD give mercy unto the house of 〈…〉 Onesiphorus: for he often refreszhed me, and was not aszhamed of my chain: but when he was at Rome 〈◊〉 13. c he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The LORD grant unto him, that he may find mercy with the LORD in that day. And how much he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. The II Chapter. THou therefore my son, be strong thorough the grace which is in Christ Iesu. And what things thou hast herd of me by many witnesses, 〈◊〉. 1. b the same commit thou unto faithful men, which are apt to teach other. Thou therefore suffer affliction as a good soudyer of jesus Christ. Not man that warreth, tangleth himself with worldly businesses, & that because he would please him, which hath choose him to be a soudyer. And though a man strive for a mastery, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 〈◊〉. 9 b The huszbandman that laboureth, must first enjoy the fruits. consider what I say. The LORD shall give the understanding in all things. Remember that jesus Christ, being Rom. 1 ● of the seed of David, rose again from the deed, according to my Gospel, wherein I suffer as an evil doer even unto bands: but the word of God is not bound. Act. 20. c Ephe. 3 a Col. 1. c Therefore suffer I all for the elects sakes, that they also might obtain the salvation in Christ jesus with eternal glory. This is a true saying: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a If we be deed with him, we shall live with him also: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a If we be patient, we shall also reign with him: Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luc. 12. a If we deny him, he also shall deny us: * Nu. 23. Rom. ●. If we believe not, yet abideth he faithful, he can not deny himself. Of these things put thou them in remembrance, and testify before the LORD, that they strive not about words, which is to no profit, but to pervert the hearers. Study to show thyself unto God a laudable workman, that needeth not to be ashamed, dividing the word of truth justly. 1. Tim. 1 4. a. 6. a As for ungoostly and vain talkynges, eschew them: for they help much to ungodliness, and their word fretteth as doth a canker: Of whose number is 1. Tim. 1 Hymeneos & Philetus, which as concerning the truth have erred, saying, that the resurrection is passed already, and have destroyed the faith of diverse personnes. But the sure ground of God standeth fast, and hath this seal: joh. 10. ● The LORD knoweth them that are his, and let every man that calleth upon the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. notwithstanding Rom. ● in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth: some for honour, and some to dishonour. But if a man purge himself from such fellows, he shallbe a vessel sanctified unto honour, meet for the LORD, and prepared unto all good works. 1. Tim. 6 flee thou the lusts of youth▪ but follow righteousness, faith, love, peace▪ with all them that call upon the LORD● with pure heart. 〈…〉 As for foolish questions an● such as teach not, put them from thee: for tho● knowest that they do but gender strife. Th● servant of the LORD aught not to strive, but to be gentle unto every man: apt to teach, one that can forbear the evil, one that can 〈…〉 with meekness inform ●hem that 〈◊〉 if God at any time will give 〈…〉 for to know the truth 〈…〉 again from the snare of 〈…〉 are held in preson of him 〈…〉 The III Chapter. ●. Tim. 4. ᵃ ●. Pet. 3. a ●ud. 1. c BUT this shalt thou know, that in the last days shall come perilous times. For there shallbe men which shall hold of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, dishobedient to their elders, unthankful, ungoostly, unkind, truce breakers, false accusers, ryatours, fierce, despisers of them which are good, traitors, heady, high minded, greedy upon voluptuousness more than the lovers of God, having a shine of godly living, but denying the power thereof. And such avoid. ●it. 1. c Of this sort are they which run from house to house, & bring in to bondage women laden with sin: which (women) are led with diverse lusts, ever learning, and are never able to come unto the knowledge of the truth. exod 7. b But like as jamnes and jambres withstood Moses, even so do these also resist the truth: men they are of corrupt minds, and lewd as concerning the faith: but they shall prevail no longer. For their foolishness shall be manifest unto all men, as there's was. But thou hast seen the experience of my doctrine, my faszhion of living, my purpose, my faith, my long-suffering, my love, my patience, my persecutions, my afflictions, which happened unto me Act. 13. a ●●d 14. a Cor. 1. b at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, which persecutions I suffered patiently, and from them all the LORD delivered me. Eccli. 2. a ●al. 33. c Ye and all they that will live godly in Christ jesus, must suffer persecution. But the evil men and deceivers shall wax worse and worse, disceaving and being deceived. Tim. 1. c But continue thou in the things that thou hast learned, which also were committed unto thee, saying thou knowest of whom thou hast learned them, And for so much as thou hast known holy scripture of a child, the same is able to make the wise unto salvation thorough the faith in Christ Iesu. Pet. 1 d For all scripture given by inspiration of God, is profitable to teach, to improve, to amend, and to instruct in righteousness, that a man of God may be perfect, and prepared unto all good works. The four Chapter. I Testify therefore before God & before the LORD jesus Christ, which shall come to judge the living and ●he deed, at ●is appearing in his kyngdo●● 〈…〉 each thou the word, be fervent, be it 〈…〉 out of season: Improve, rebuke, 〈…〉 all long suffering and 〈…〉 will come, when they shall not suffer wholesome doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they (whose ears itch) get them an heap of teachers, and shall turn their ears from the truth, and shallbe given unto fables. But watch thou in all things, suffer adversity, do the work of a preacher of the Gospel, fulfil thy office unto the uttermost. 〈…〉 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departing is at hand. I have fought a good fight: I have fulfilled the course: I have kept the faith. From hence forth there is laid up for me a 〈…〉 crown of righteousness, which the LORD the righteous judge shall give me in that day: Howbeit not unto me only, but unto all them that love his coming. Make speed to come unto me at once. For 〈…〉 Demas hath left me, and loveth this present world, and is departed unto Tessalonica, Crescens in to Galacia, Titus unto Dalmacia, Only Lucas is with me. Take 〈…〉 Mark, & bring him with thee: for he is profitable unto me to the ministration. Tichicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloak that I left at Troada with Carpus bring with the when thou comest: and the books, but specially the parchment: 〈…〉 Alexander the coppersmyth did me much evil, the LORD reward him according to his deeds, of whom be thou ware also. For he withstood our words sore. In my first answering no man assisted me, but all forsook me. I pray God that it be not laid to their charges. notwithstanding the LORD stood by me, & strengthened me, that by me the preaching should be fulfilled to the uttermost, and that all the Heythen should hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the LORD shall deliver me from all evil doing, and shall keep me unto his heavenly kingdom. To whom be praise for ever and ever, Amen. Salute Prisca and 〈…〉 Aquila, and the houszholde of Onesiphorus. * Erastus' abode at Corinthum. But * Trophimus left I sick at Miletum. Make speed to come before winter. Eubolus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren salute the. The LORD jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you, Amen. The second epistle unto Timothy, written from Rome, when Paul was presented the second time before the Emperor Nero. The Epistle of of the Apostle S. Paul unto Titus. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I Paul exhorteth Titus to ordene priests or biszhoppes in every cite, declareth what manner of men they aught to be that are choose to that office, and charges Titus to rebuke such as withstand the gospel. Chap. II He telleth him how he shall teach all degrees to behave themselves. Chap. III Of obedience to such as be in authority. He warneth Titus to beware of foolish and unprofitable questions. The first Chapter. PAUL the servant of God, and an Apostle of jesus Christ, 〈…〉 to preach the faith of Gods elect, and the knowledge of the truth, which leadeth unto god lines, upon the hope of eternal life: which God 〈…〉 that can not lie hath promised before the times of the world: but at his time hath opened his word thorough preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our saviour. 〈…〉 Unto Titus my natural son after the comen faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and from the 〈…〉 LORD jesus Christ our saviour. For this cause left I the in Creta, that thou shouldest perform that which was lacking, and shouldest ordain Elders in every cite, as I appointed ye. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, which are not slandered of riot, neither are dishobedient. 〈…〉 For a bishop must be blameless, as the 〈…〉 steward of God: not wilful, not angry, 〈…〉 not given unto much wine, no fyghter, not greedy of filthy lucre: but barbarous, one that loveth goodness, sober minded, righteous, holy, temperate, and such one as cleaveth unto the true word of doctrine: that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning, & to improve them that say against it. Act. 15. a For there are many dishobedient, and talkers of vanity, and deceivers of minds: namely they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped: 2. Tim. 3. a which pervert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, because of filthy lucre. One of themselves even their own prophet, said: Epimenides The Cretayns are always liars, evil beestes, and slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, and not to take heed unto jews fables and commandments of men, which turn them away from the truth. Mat. 12 a and. 23. c Unto the clean are all things clean: but * Ro. 14. c to the unclean & unbelievers, there is nothing clean, but both their mind & conscience is defiled. They say that they know God, but with the deeds they deny him: for so much as they are abominable and dishobedient, and unmeet to all good works. The II Chapter. But speak thou that which becometh wholesome learning. That the elder men be sober, honest, discrete, sound in the faith, in love, in patience. And the elder women likewise that they show themselves as it becometh holiness, that they be no false accusers, not given to much wine, that they teach honest things, that they inform the young women to be sober minded, to love their huszbandes, to love their children, to be discrete, chaste, huszwyfly, good, Gen. ●. c obedient unto their own huszbandes, that the word of God be not evil spoken of. Exhort the young men likewise, that they be sober minded. Above all thing show thyself 1. Tim. 4. b 1. Pet. 5. a an ensample of good works, with uncorrupt doctrine, with honesty, with the wholesome word which can not be rebuked: 1. Pet. 2 b 3 b that he which withstondeth may be ashamed, having nothing in you that he may dispraise. 〈…〉 Exhort the servants, to be obedient unto their masters, to please in all things, not answering again, neither to be pykers, but to show all good faithful 〈…〉 in all things they may do 〈…〉 to the doctrine of God our 〈…〉 For the grace of God that bringeth 〈…〉 unto all men, hath appeared, and teacheth us, that we should deny ungodliness, and 1. joh. 2. c worldly lusts: and that we should live discreetly, righteously, and godly in this world, looking for that blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and of our saviour jesus Christ: Rom. 8. a Gal. 3. b which gave himself for us, to redeem us from all unrighteousness, and to purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself, to be fervently given Ephe. 2. b unto good works. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all earnest. 1. Tim. 4. b See that no man despise the. The III Chapter. Warn them Rom. 13. a 1. Pet. ●. b that they submit themselves unto Princes and to the higher authority, to obey the officers, to be ready unto all good works, that they speak evil of no man, that they be no strivers, but soft, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were in times past, unwise, dishobedient, in error, serving lusts and diverse manners of voluptuousness, living in maliciousness and envy, full of hate, hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our saviour to man ward appeared, not for the deeds of righteousness which we wrought, but after his mercy he saved us by the joh. 3. a fountain of the new birth, and renewing of the holy ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, thorough jesus Christ our saviour: that we being made righteous Act. 15. b Ephe. 2. a by his grace, should be heirs of eternal life according to hope. This is a true saying. Of these things would I that thou shouldest speak earnestly, that they which are become believers in God, might be diligent to excel in good works: for these things are good and profitable unto men. 1. Tim. 1. a and 6. a 2. Tim. 2. c As for foolish questions, and genealogies, and brawlings and stryvynge about the law, avoid them, for they are unprofitable and vain. * Mat 18. b 2. Tess. 3. a Ro. 16. b A man that is given unto heresy, after the first and second monition, avoid, and know, that he that is such, is perverted, & sinneth even damned by his own judgement. When I shall send Artemas or Tichicus ●●to thee, make speed to come to me unto Ni●●polis, for I have determined there to ●●ynter. Bring Zenas the Scribe and Apol●●s on their journey diligently, that nothings be lacking unto them. And let ours 〈…〉 ●●cell in good works, as far 〈…〉, that they be not 〈…〉 〈…〉 with me, salute the. great them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all, Amen. Written from Nicopolis in Macedonia. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul unto Philemon. The sum of this Epistle. He rejoiceth to hear of the faith and love of Philemon, whom he desireth to forgive his servant Onesimus, and lovingly to receive him again. PAul the prisoner of jesus Christ, and brother Timotheus. Unto Philemon the beloved, and our helper, and to the beloved Appia, and to Archippus our fellow soudyer, and to the congregation in thy house. Grace be with you, and peace from God our father and from the LORD jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention all ways of the in my prayers (for so much as I hear of thy love and faith which thou hast on the LORD jesus, and toward all saints) that our comen faith may be fruitful in thee, thorough knowledge of all the good that you have in Christ Iesu. great joy and consolation have I in thy love. For by thee (brother) the saints are heartily refreshed. Wherefore though I have great boldness in Christ to command the that which becometh thee, yet for loves sake I rather beseek thee, though I be as I am, even Paul aged, and now a prisoner also of jesus Christ. I beseek the for my son 〈…〉 Onesimus (whom I have begotten in my bonds) which in time past was to the unprofitable, but now profitable both to the and me. Whom I have sent again: but receive thou him (that is) even mine own heart. For I would have kept him still with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel: Nevertheless without thy mind would I do nothing, that the good which thou dost, should not be of compulsion, but willingly. Haply he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever: not now as a servant, but above a servant, even a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the LORD? If thou hold me for thy companion, receive him then even as myself. But if he have hurt thee, or oweth the ought, that lay to my charge. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will recompense it: so that I do not say unto thee, how t●at thou owest unto me even thy own self. Even so brother, let me enjoy the in the LORD: refresh thou my heart in the LORD. trusting in thy obedience, I have written unto thee, for I know that thou will't do more than I say. moreover prepare me lodging, for I hope that thorough your prayers I shallbe given unto you. There saluteth thee, Epaphras my fellow prisoner in Christ jesus, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my helpers. The grace of our LORD jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen. Scent from Rome by Onesimus a servant. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter. The sum of this Epistle. Chap. I He showeth that thorough the abundant mercy of God we are begotten again to a lively hope: and how faith must be tr●ed: how the salvation in Christ is no news, but a thing prophesied of old. He exhorteth them to a godly conversation, for so much as they are now born a new by the word of God. Chap. II He exhorteth men to say aside all vice, showeth that Christ is the foundation where upon they be built, prayeth them to abstain from fleshly lusts, and to obey worldly rulers. How servants should behave themselves toward their masters. He exhorteth to suffer after the ensample of Christ. Chap. III How wives aught to order them selves toward their huszbandes and in their apparel The duty of men toward their wives. He exorteth all men to unite and love, and patiently to suffer trouble. Of true baptism. Chap. four He exhorteth men to cease from sin, to spend no more time in vice, to be sober and apt to prayer, to love each other, to be patient in trouble, and to beware that no man suffer as an evil doer, but as a christian man, and not to be ashamed. Chap. V A special exhortation for all bishops or priests to feed the flock of Christ, and what their duty is, and what reward they shall have if they be diligent. He exhorteth young personnes to submit themselves to the elder, every one to love another, to be sober, & to watch, that they may resist the enemy. The first Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter. The first Chapter. PETER an Apostle of jesus Christ, to them that devil here and there as strangers thorough out Pontus, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father thorough sanctifying of the spirit, unto obedience and Heb. 9 b and 10. c sprenkling of the blood of jesus Christ. Grace and peace be multiplied with you. 2. Cor. 1. a Ephe. 1. a Blessed be God and the father of our LORD jesus Christ, which according to his great mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 1. Co. 15. c by the resurrection of jesus Christ from the deed, to an uncorruptible and undefiled inheritance, which never shall fade away, but is reserved in heaven for you that are kept by the power of God thorough faith to salvation, which is prepared all ready to be showed in the last time: in the which you shall rejoice, though now for a little season (if need require) you are in heaviness thorough manifold temptations: that your faith once tried (being much more precious than the corruptible gold that is tried thorough the fire) might be found unto laud, glory and honour at the appearing of jesus Christ: whom you have not seen, and yet love him: joh. ●0. ● in whom now you believe▪ though you see him not. Even so shall you rejoice also with unoutspeakable and glorious joy, receiving the end● of your faith, even the salvation of your● souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched, which prophesied of the grace that should come vpo● you: searching when or at what time th● spirit of Christ that was in them, shuld● signify, which (spirit) testified before th● passions that should come unto Christ, an● the glory that should follow after. Vnt● the which (prophets) it was declared, th●● not unto themselves, but unto us th●● should minister the things which are no● showed unto you, by them which thorough holy ghost sent down from heaven, ha●● preached unto you the things 〈…〉 which 〈◊〉 angels delight to behold. Wherefore gird up the 〈…〉 〈…〉 your mind, be sober, and trust 〈…〉 on the grace that is brought unto you, by the declaring of jesus Christ, as obedient children, not faszhioning yourselves to your old lusts of ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, even so be you holy also in all your conversation: for it it written: Levit 11. g and 19 a Be you holy, for I am holy. And if so be that you call on the father, which without respect of personnes judgeth Mat. 25. c according to every man's work, see that you pass the time of your pilgrimage in fear: ●. Cor. 6. c and 7. c and know, that you were not redeemed with corruptible silver and gold, from your vain conversation (which you received by the traditions of the fathers) Heb. 9 b 1 joh. 1. b Apo. 1 a but with the precious blood of Christ, as of an innocent and undefiled lamb, which was ordained before the world was made, but is declared in these last times Esa. 9 b Luc. 2. b for your sakes, which thorough him believe on God, that raised him up from the deed, * Phil. 2. a and hath given him the glory, that you might have faith & hope in God: Even you which have purified your souls Act. 15. b in obeying the truth thorough the spirit, for to love brotherly without feigning, & fervently one to love another with a pure heart, as they that are born a new, not of corruptible seed, but of uncorruptible, even by the living word of God, which endureth for ever. Esa. 40. a Eccli. 14. b ●aco. 1. b For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man is as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, & the flower falls away but the word of the LORD endureth for ever. This is the word, that is preached among you. The II Chapter. Wherefore lay aside all maliciousness and all guile, and ypocrisye, and envy, and all bacbytinge, & Ephe. 4. a Col. 3. a Heb. 12. a as new born babes desire that reasonable milk, which is without corruption, that you may grow therein, if so be that you have Psal. 33 a taisted how friendly the LORD is. Unto whom you are come, Ephe. 2. c as to the living stone, which is disallowed of men, but choose of God and precious. And you also as living stones are made a spiritual house, and an holy priesthood, to offer up Rom. 12. a spiritual sacrifices, acceptable unto God by jesus Christ. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture: Esa. 28. c Mat. 21. e Act. 4. a Behold, I put in Zion an head corner stone, elect & precious, and he that believeth on him, shall 〈◊〉 be confounded. Unto you therefore which 〈…〉 he is precious: but unto them that 〈…〉 is the same stone which the Psal 〈…〉 〈…〉 made the head stone in the 〈…〉 one to stumble at, Esa. 8. c and a rock to be offended at, namely in them which stumble at the word, and believe not that whereon they were set. 〈…〉 But you are that choose generation, that kingly priesthood, that holy nation, that peculiar people, that you should show the virtues of him, which hath called you out of darkness in to his marvelous light: 〈…〉 Even you which in time past were not a people, but now are the people of God: which were not under mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseek you as strangers and pilgrems, 〈…〉 abstain from the fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul, and lead an honest conversation among the Heythen, 〈…〉 that they which backbite you as evil doers, may see your good works, and praise God in the day of visitation. submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of men for the lords sake: 〈…〉 whether it be unto the king as unto the chief head, or unto rulers, as unto them that are sent of him, for the punishment of evil doers, but for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that you with well doing should put to silence the ignorance of folishmen: as fire, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of wickedness, but even as the servants of God. Honour all men. love brotherly fellowship. Fear God. 〈…〉 Honour the king. 〈…〉 You servants, obey your masters with all fear: not only if they be good and courteous, but also though they be froward. For that is grace, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, and suffer wrong. For what praise is it, if when you be buffeted for your faults, you take it patiently? 〈…〉 But if when you do well, you suffer wrong, and take it patiently, that is grace with God. For hereunto are you called, for so much as Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an 〈…〉 ensample, that you should follow his fotesteppes, which did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth: 〈…〉 which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but commyted the cause unto him, that judgeth righteously: 〈…〉 which his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we should be delivered from sin, & should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. 〈…〉 For you were as sheep going astray, but now are you turned unto the shepherd and Biszhoppe of your souls. The III Chapter. Likewise 〈…〉 let the wives be in subjection to their huszbandes, that even they which believe not the word, may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives, when they behold you pure conversation in fear. Whose apparel 〈…〉 shall not be outward with broided here, & hanging on of gold, or in putting on of gorgeous array, but let the inward man of the heart be uncorrupt with a meek & a quiet spirit, which before God is much set by. For after this manner in the old time, did the holy women which trusted in God, tire themselves, & were obedient unto their huszbandes: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, 〈…〉 and called him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well, not being afraid for any trouble. Likewise you men, devil with them according unto knowledge, giving 〈…〉 hono unto the wife, as to the weaker vessel: & as unto them that are heirs with you of the grace of life, that your prayers be not let. But in conclusion be you all of one mind, one suffer with another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 〈…〉 Recompense not evil for evil, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrary wise, bless: and know that you are called thereto, even that you should be heirs of the 〈…〉 blessing. For 〈…〉 who so listeth to live, and would fain see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew evil, & do good: Let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, & his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the LORD beholdeth them that do evil. And who is it that can harm you, if you follow that which is good? Not withstanding 〈…〉 blessed are you, if you suffer for righteousness sake 〈…〉 Fear not you their threatening, neither be troubled, but sanctify the LORD God in your hearts. 〈…〉 Be ready always to give an answer to every man, that axeth you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekness & fear, having a good conscience, 〈…〉 that they which backbite you as evil doers, may be ashamed, that they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ. 〈…〉 For it is better (if the will of God be so) that you suffer for well doing, them for evil doing. For as much as Christ hath once suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, for to bring us to God: & was slain after the flesh, but quyckened after the spirit. In the which spirit he also went, and preached unto the spretes that were in preson, which in time past believed not, when God once abode and suffered patiently in the time of No, while the Ark was a preparing: Gen. 7. c Wherein few (that is to say eight souls) were saved by water. Which signifieth Rom. 6. a baptism that now saveth us: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but in that a good conscience consenteth unto God by the resurrection of jesus Christ, which is on the right hand of God, and is go in to heaven, angels, power and might subdued unto him. The four Chapter. FOr as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm your selves likewise with the same mind. Rom. 9 a For he which suffereth in the flesh, ceaseth from sin, that hence forth (as much time as yet remaineth in the flesh) he should not live after the lusts of men, but after the will of God. For it is enough, that we have spent the time past of the life, after the will of the heathen, when we walked in wantannesse, lusts, drunkenness, gluttony, riotous drinking, & in abominable idolatry. And it seemeth to them a strange thing, that you run not also with them unto the same excess of riot, & speak evil of you. (Which shall give acomptes unto him that is ready to judge the quick & the deed.) For unto this purpose also was the Gospel preached unto the deed, that they should be judged like other men in the flesh, but should live unto God in the spirit. The end of all things is at hand. Mat. 24. d Be you therefore sober & watch unto prayers: but above all things have fervent love among you one to another. Pro. 10. b For love covereth the multitude of sins. Be you herberous one to another without grudging, & minister one to another, everyone with the gift that he hath received, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. jere. 23. b If any man speak, let him speak it as the words of God. Ro. 12. b If any man have an office, let him execute it as out of the power that God mynistreth unto him, that God may be praised in all things thorough jesus Christ, To whom be hono and dominion for ever and ever Amen. dearly beloved, marvel not at this Luc. 〈…〉 1. Cor. ●. b 1 Pet. 1. b heat (which is come among you to try you) as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's passions, that when his glory appeareth, you may be merry & glad. 〈…〉 If you be reviled for the name of Christ, blessed are 〈…〉 the spirit (which is the spirit of glory & 〈…〉 rests upon you. On their part 〈…〉 spoken of, but on you part he is 〈…〉 〈…〉 But see that none of you 〈…〉, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busy body in other men's matters. If any man suffer as a Christian man, let him not be ashamed, but let him praise God on this behalf. jere. 25. d and 40. b Ezec. 8. b For the time is come, that judgement must begin at the house of God. If it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them which believe not the Gospel of God? Pro. 11. d And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly & sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls unto him with well doing, as to the faithful creator. The V Chapter. THe Elders which are among you I exhort, which am also an Elder, Act. 5. c and a witness of the afflictions in Christ, and partaker of the glory that shall be opened. Act. 20. d Feed Christ's flock which is among you, and take the overfighte of them, not as though you were compelled thereto, but willingly: not for the desire of filth you lucre, but of a good mind: not as though you were lords over the parishens, Tit. 2. a but that you be an ensample to the flock: & when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive the uncorruptible crown of glory. Likewise you younger submit yourselves unto the elder. submit yourselves every man one to another, and knit your selves together in lowliness of mind. Pro. 11. a jaco. 4. a For God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. submit yo selves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you when the time is come. Mat. 6. c Luc. 12. c Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you. Be sober and watch, job. 1. b for your adversary the devil, walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, jaco. 4. a whom resist steadfast in the faith, and know, that your brethren in the world have even the same afflictions. But the God of all grace, which hath called you to his everlasting glory in Christ jesus, shall his own self make you perfect, which suffer Rom. 8. ᶜ ●. Pet. 1. a Heb. ●●. d a little season: even he shall settle, strength, and establish you. To him be praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen. By Silvanus your faithful brother (as I suppose) have I written unto you briefly, exhorting and testifyenge, how that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand. The companions of your election that are at 〈…〉, salute you, and Marcus my son. 〈…〉 one another with the kiss of love. 〈…〉 with you all which are in Christ 〈…〉. The second Epistle of the Apostle S. Peter. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I For so much as the power of God hath given them all things pertaining unto life, he exhorteth them to fly the corruption of worldly lust, to make their calling ●ore with good works and fruits of faith. He maketh mention of his own death, declaring the LORD jesus to be the true son of God, as he himself hath seen upon the mount. Chap. II He prophesieth of false teachers, and showeth their punishment. Chap. III He exhorteth men to beware of such as would make them believe, that the day● of the LORD were slack in coming: prayeth them to lead a godly life, and to look verily for the coming of the LORD, whose ●●ge tarrying is salvation, and because he would have no man lost, but would receive all 〈◊〉 to repentance. The first Chapter. SYmon Peter a servant and an Apostle of jesus Christ. Unto them which have obtained like faith with us in the righteousness that cometh of our God, and Savour jesus Christ. 〈…〉 Grace and peace be multiplied with you thorough the knowledge of God and of jesus Christ our LORD. For so much as his godly power hath given us all things (that pertain unto life and godliness) thorough the knowledge of him that hath called us by his own glory and power, whereby the excellent and most great promises are given unto us: namely, that you by the same should be 〈…〉 partakers of the godly nature, if you fly the corrupt lust of the world: give you all your diligence therefore here unto, and in your faith minister virtue: in virtue, knowledge: in knowledge, temperancy: in temperancy, patience: in patience, godliness: in godliness, brotherly love: in brotherly love, general love. For if these things be plenteous in you, they will not let you be idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things, is blind, & gropeth for the way with the hand, and hath forgotten, that he was cleansed from his old sins. Wherefore (brethren) give the more diligence, to make your calling and election sure: for if you do such things, you shall not fall, and by this means shall there be plenteously ministered unto you an entering in unto the everlasting kingdom of our LORD and saviour jesus Christ. Therefore will I not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of such things: though you know them yourselves, and be established in the present truth. notwithstanding I think it meet, as long as I am in this 〈…〉 tabernacle, to steer you up by putting you in remembrance. For I am sure, that I must shortly put of my tabernacle, even as our LORD jesus Christ hath showed unto me. Yet will I do my diligence, that allway after my departing you may have wherewith to keep these things in remembrance. For we followed not deceivable fables, when we declared unto you the power and coming of our LORD jesus Christ: 〈…〉 but with our eyes we saw his majesty, when he received of God the father honour & praise, by a voice that came unto him from the excellent glory, after this manner: 〈…〉 This is my dear son, in whom I have delight. And this voice heard we brought down from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mount. We have also a sure word of prophecy, and you do well that you take heed thereunto, as unto a light 〈…〉 that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. And this shall you know first, that no prophecy in the scripture is done of any private interpretation. 〈…〉 For the prophecy was never brought by the will of man, but the holy men of God spoke, as they were moved of the holy ghost. The II Chapter. But there were false prophets also among the people, 〈…〉 even as there shallbe false teachers among you likewise, which privily shall bring in damnable sects, even denying the LORD that hath bought them, and shall bring upon themselves swift damnation: and 〈…〉 many shall follow their damnable ways, by whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of: and thorough cuvetousnes shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, upon whom the judgement is not negligent in tarrying of old, and their damnation sleepeth not. 〈…〉 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down with the chains of darkness in to hell, and delivered them over to be kept unto judgement: Gen. 7. a neither spared the old world, but saved No the preacher of righteousness himself being the eight, and brought the flood upon the world of the ungodly: Gen. 19 c And turned the cities of Sodom and Gomor into aszhes, overthrow them, damned them, and made on them an ensample, unto those that after should live ungodly: And delivered just Loath which was vexed with the ungodly conversation of the wicked. For in so much as he was righteous and dwelled among them, so that he must needs see it and hear it, his righteous soul was grieved from to day to day with their unlawful deeds. 1. Cor. 10. b The LORD knoweth how to deliver the godly out of tentation, and how to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement for to be punished: but specially them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise the rulers: being presumptuous, stubborn, and fear not to speak evil of them that are in authority judae. 1. b when the angels yet which are greater both in power and might, bear not that blasphemous judgement against them of the LORD. jere. 12. a But these are as the brute beestes, which naturally are brought forth to be taken and destroyed: judae. 1. b speaking evil of that they know not, and shall perish in their own destruction, and so receive the reward of unrighteousness. They count it pleasure to live deliciously for a season: Spots are they and filthiness: living at pleasure and in deceivable ways: feasting with that which is yours, having eyes full of adultery, and can not cease from sin, entysinge unstable souls: having an heart exercised with covetousness: they are cursed children, and have forsaken the right way, and are go astray: following the way of Num. 22.23.24. Balaam the son of Bosor, which loved the reward of unrighteousness: but was rebuked of his iniquity. The tame and dumb beast spoke with man's voice, & forbade the foolishness of the prophet. These are wells without water, & judae. ●. c clouds carried about of a tempest: to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For they speak the proud words of vanity, unto the uttermost, and entice thorough wantannes unto the lust of the flesh, even them that were clean escaped, and now walk in error: and promise them liberty, where as they them selves are servants of corruption. joh. 8. c Rom. 6. b For of whom so ever a man is overcome, unto the same is he in bondage. * Luc. 9 f For if they (after they have escaped from the filthiness of the world, thorough the knowledge of the LORD and saviour jesus Christ) are yet tangled again therein and overcome, Mat. 12. c Heb. 6. a then is the latter end worse unto them then the beginning. For it had been better for them, not to have known the way of righteousness, then after they have known it, Act. 5. a to turn from the holy commandment, that was given unto them. It is happened unto them according unto the true proverb: Pro. 26 b Eccli. 34. d the dog is turned to his vomit again and the sow that was waszhed, unto her wallowing in the mire. The III Chapter. THis is the second Epistle that I now write unto you (you dearly beloved) wherein I steer up and warn your pure mind, that you may remember the words, which were told before of the holy prophets: and also the commandment of us, that be the Apostles of the LORD and saviour. This first understand, 1. Tim. 4▪ a 2. Tim. 3. a judae. 1 c that in the last days there shall come mockers, which will walk after their own lusts, & say: * Eze. 12. d Where is the promise of his coming? For sense the fathers fallen on sleep, every thing continueth as it was from the beginning of the creature. This they know not (and that wilfully) how that the heavens were afore time also, and the earth out of the water, & was in the water by the word of God, Gen 7. d yet was the world at that time destroyed by the same with the flood. But the heavens which are yet, and the earth, are kept in store by his word, to be reserved 2. Tess. 1 b unto fire against the day of judgement and damnation of ungodlymen. Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, Psal. 89 a Eze. 12. d 1. Pet. 4. a 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 Rom. 2. a patient to us ward, * Eze. 18. d and will not that any man should be lost, but that every man should amend himself. Nevertheless Mat▪ 24. ᵈ ● Tess. 5. a Apoc. 3. a the day of the LORD shall come even as a these in the night: in the which (day) the heavens shall perish with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with heat, and the earth and the works that are therein, shall burn. If all these things shall perish, what manner people than aught you to be in holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the LORD? In the which the heavens shall perish with fire, and the elements shall melt with heat. Nevertheless 〈…〉 we look for a new heaven and a new earth (according to his promise) wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore dearly beloved, saying that you look for such things, be diligent, that you may be found before him in peace without spot and undefiled: and count the long suffering of our LORD your salvation, Even as our dearly beloved brother Paul (according to the wisdom given unto him) written unto you: ye speaking there of almost in all Epistles, wherein are many things hard to be understand, which they that are unlearned and unstable, pervert, as they do the other scriptures also, to their own damnation. You therefore beloved, saying you know it before hand, beware, jest you also be plucte away thorough the error of the wicked, and fall from your own stead fastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our LORD and saviour jesus Christ. To him be praise now and for ever, Amen. The first Epistle of the Apostle and Evangelist S. Ihon. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I True witness of the everlasting word of God. The blood of Christ is the purgation from sin. No man is without sin. Chap. II Christ is our advocate. Of true love, and how it is tried. Chap. III The singular love of God to ward us: and how we again ought to love one another. Chap. four Difference of spretes, and how the spirit of God may be known from the spirit of error. Of the love of God and of our neighbours. Chap. V To love God, is to keep his commandments. Faith overcometh the world. everlasting life is in the son of God▪ Of the sin unto death. The first Chapter. THat which was from the beginning, which we have herd, which 〈…〉 we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, 〈…〉 and our hands have handled of the word of life: and the life hath appeared, and we have seen, and bear witness, and show unto you the life that is everlasting, 〈…〉 which was with the father, and hath appeared unto us. That which we have seen & heard, declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and that our fellowship may be with the father and with his son jesus Christ. And this write we unto you, 〈…〉 that your joy may be full. And this is the tidings which we have herd of him, & declare unto you, that▪ God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in light, even as he is in light, then have we fellowship together, 〈…〉 and the blood of jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. 〈…〉 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 〈…〉 But if we knowledge our sins, he is faith full and just to forgive us our sins, & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The II Chapter. MY little children, these things write I unto you, that you should not sin: and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the father, even jesus Christ which is righteous: 〈…〉 and he it is that optayneth grace for our sins: not for our sins only, but also for the sins of all the world. And hereby are we sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. joh. 4. c He that sayeth: I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, But who so keepeth his word, in him is the love of God perfect in deed. joh. 13. d Hereby know we, that we are in him. He that sayeth he abideth in him, ought to walk even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but that old commandment, which you have herd from the beginning. The old commandment is the word, which you have herd from the beginning. Again, joh. 13. d a new commandment write I unto you, a thing that is true in him & also in you: for the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that sayeth he is in light, and hateth his brother, is yet in darkness. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of evil in him. But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and can not tell whither he goeth, for the darkness hath blinded his eyes. Babes, I write unto you, Luc. 24. ● Act. 4. a that your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you fathers, how that you have known him which is from the beginning. I write unto you young men, how that you have evercome the wicked. I write unto you little children, how that you have known the father. I have written unto you fathers, how that you have known him, which is from the beginning. I have written unto you young men, how that you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have over come that wicked. See that you love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him: for all that is in the world (namely the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) is not of the father, but of the world. And 1. Cor. 7. d the world passeth away and the lust thereof. But he that fulfilleth the will of God, abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last hour, and (as you have herd that Mat. 24. a joh. 5. d Antichrist shall come) even now are there many become Antechristes' already: whereby we know, that it is the last hour. They went out joh. 1●. c Act. 20. d 〈◊〉. 11. b from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But * that they may be known, 〈◊〉 that they are not all of us. But you have the 〈◊〉. 11. b anointing of 〈…〉 holy, & you know all things. I have 〈…〉 unto you, as though you knew not the tr●eth but you know it, & are sure, that no lie cometh of the truth. Who is a liar, but he that denieth the jesus is Christ? The same is the Antichrist, that denieth the father & the son. Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the father. Look what you have herd now from the beginning, let the same abide in you. If that which he heard from the beginning shall remain in you, then shall you also abide in the son and in the father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. This have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you. Esa. 54. c joh. 6. c 14. c. 16. b And the anointing which you have received of him, dwelleth in you: & you need not that any man teach you, but as the anointing teacheth you all things, even so is it true, & is no lie. Andrea as it hath taught you, even so abide you therein. And now babes, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may be bold, & not be made ashamed of him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, know also that he which doth righteousness, is born of him. The III Chapter. Behold what love the father hath showed on us, that we should be called the children of God. Therefore the world knoweth you not, because it knoweth not him. Dearly beloved, we are now the Luc. 20. d children of God, and yet hath it not appeared what we shallbe. * Ro 8. c 1. Cor. 15 f Col. 3 a Phil. 3 c But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himself, even as he is pure. Who so ever committeth sin, committeth unrighteousness also, and sin is unrighteousness. Esa. 53. ᵈ ●. Tim. 1. c Tit. 2 b 8. Pet. 2. c And you know that he appeared to take away our sins: and in him is no sin. Who so ever abideth in him, sinneth not: who soever sinneth, hath not seen him neither known him. Babes, let no man deceive you. He that doth righteousness, is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin, is of the devil: joh. 8. d for the devil sinneth sense the beginning. For this purpose appeared the son of God, to louse the works of the devil. * Who so ever is born of God, sinneth not: for his * sede remaineth in him, & he can not sin, because he is born of God. * By this are the children of God known & the children of the devil. Who so ever doth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he 〈◊〉 loveth not his brother. 〈◊〉 this is the tidings which you have 〈◊〉 the beginning, that you should 〈◊〉 one another, * not as Cain▪ which was of the wicked, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? even because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous. 〈…〉 Marvel not (my brethren) though the world hate you. We know that we are translated from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. 〈…〉 Who soever hateth his brother, is a mansleyer. And you know that a mansleyer hath not eternal life abiding in him. Hereby have we perceived love, that he gave his life for us, and therefore aught we also to give our lives for the brethren. But he that hath this worlds good, & saith his brother have need, and shutteth up his heart from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, 〈…〉 let us not love with word neither with tongue, but with the deed, and with the truth. Hereby know we, that we are of the verity, and can quiet our hearts before him. But if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Dearly beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we a free boldness to God ward. 〈…〉 And what so ever we axe, we shall receive it: because we keep his commandments, and do those things, which are pleasant in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his son jesus Christ, and love one another, 〈…〉 as he gave commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby know we that he abideth in us, even by the spirit which he hath given us. The four Chapter. DEarly believed, believe not you every spirit, 〈…〉 but prove the spretes, whether they be of God. For many false prophets are go out in to the world. Hereby shall you know the spirit of God: Every spirit which confesseth, that jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God: And every spirit which confesseth not that jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, of whom you have herd, how that he shall come, and even now already is he in the world. Little children, you are of God, and have over come them: for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world herkeneth unto them. We are of God, 〈…〉 and he that knoweth God, herkeneth unto us: he that is not of God, heareth us not. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for love cometh of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is love. 〈…〉 By this appeared the love of God to us ward, because that God sent his only begotten son in to this world, that we might live thorough him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 〈…〉 and sent his son to make agreement for our sins. Dearly beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 〈…〉 No man hath seen God at any tyme. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. Hereby know we that we devil in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit. And we have seen, & testify that the father sent the son to be the saviour of the world. 〈…〉 Who soever now confesseth that jesus is the son of God in him dwelleth God, and he in God: and we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Here in is the love perfect with us, that we should have a free boldness in the day of judgement: for as he is, even so are we in this world. Fear is not in love, but perfect love casts out fear: for fear hath painfulness. He that fears, is not perfect in love. Let us love him, for he loved us first 〈…〉 If any man say: I love God, & yet hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he saith, how can he love God, whom he saith not? And this commandment have we of him, 〈…〉 that he which loveth God, should love his brother also. The V Chapter. WHo so ever believeth that jesus is Christ, 〈…〉 is born of God. And who soever loveth him that begat, loveth him also which was begotten of him. By this we know that we love Gods children, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, 〈…〉 and his commandments are not grievous. For all that is born of God, over cometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcometh the world, but he which believeth that jesus is the son of God? This is he that cometh with water and blood, even jesus Christ: not with water only, but with water and blood. Mat. 3. b and 17. a joh. 1. d and 12. d And it is the spirit that beareth witness: for the spirit is the truth. (For there are three which bear record in heaven: the father, the word, and the holy ghost, & these three are one.) And there are three which bear record in earth: the spirit, water and blood, and these three are one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God, which he testified of his son. Ioh ●. e Rom. 8. b Gal. 4. a He that believeth on the son of God, hath the witness in himself. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar. And this is that record, even that God hath given us everlasting life. joh. 1. a And this life is in his son. He that hath the son of God, hath life: He that hath not the son of God, hath not life. These things have I written unto you, which believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know, how that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the son of God. And this is the free boldness which we have toward him, that if we axe any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us what so ever we axe, then are we sure that we have the petitions, which we have desired of him. If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death, let him axe, and he shall give him life, for them that sin not unto death. There is a jere. 7. b Mat. 1●. c Ioh.▪ 8▪ b sin unto death, for the which say I not that a man should pray. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not unto death. We know, that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, & that wicked toucheth him not. We know that we are of God, & the world is set altogether on wickedness. But we know, that the son of God is come, Luc. ●4. ● and hath given us a mind, to know him which is true: and we are in him that is true, in his son jesus Christ. This is the true God, and ever lasting life. Babes keep yourselves from image The second Epistle of S. Ihon. The sum of this epistle. He writeth unto a certain lady, rejoiceth that her children walk in the truth, exhorteth them unto love, warneth them to beware of such deceivers as deny that jesus Christ came in the flesh, prayeth them to continue in the doctrine of Christ, and to have nothing to do with them that bring not this learning. THE Elder. To the elect lady and her children whom I love in the truth: & not I only, but all they also that have known the truth, for the truths sake which dwelleth in us, and shallbe with us for ever. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from the LORD jesus Christ the son of the father in the truth and in love. I am greatly rejoiced, that I have found among thy children, them that walk in the truth, as we have received a commandment of the father. And now lady I beseek thee (not as though I written a new commandment unto thee, but the same which we have had from the beginning) that we love one another. And this is the love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment (as you have herd from the beginning) that we should walk therein. ●. joh. 2. c and 4. a For many deceivers are come in to the world, which confess not that jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a deceiver and an Antichrist. Take heed to yourselves, that we loose not that which we have wrought, but that we may receive a full reward. Who so ever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the father and the son. ●. Tess. 3 b If any man come unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not in to the house, neither salute him: for he that saluteth him, is partaker of his evil deeds. I had 〈◊〉 any things to write unto you: nevertheless I would not write with papyre and ink, 〈…〉 to come unto you, and to 〈…〉 mouth, that our joy 〈…〉 children of thy elect sister The third Epistle of S. Ihon. The sum of this epistle. He is glad of Gaius, that he walketh in the truth: exhorteth him to be loving unto the poor christian in their persecution, showeth the unkind dealing of Diotrephes, and the good report of Demetrius. THE Elder. To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. My beloved, I wish in all things, that thou prosper and far well even as thy soul prospereth. I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came, and testified of the truth that is in thee, how thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in the truth. My beloved, 〈…〉 thou dost faithfully what so ever thou dost to the brethren and to strangers, which have born witness of thy love before the congregation: and thou hast done well that thou didst bring them forward on their journey, worthily before God. For because of his names sake they went forth, and took nothing of the Heythen. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be helpers unto the truth. I written to the congregation, but Diotriphes', which loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, received us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will declare his deeds which he doth, ieastinge upon us with malicious words: neither is he therewith content. Not only he himself receiveth not the brethren, but also he forbiddeth them that would, and thrusteth them out of the congregation. My beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth well, is of God: but he that doth evil, saith not God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth: ye and we our selves also bear record, and you know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I would not with ink, and pen write unto the. But I trust shortly to see the and so will we speak together mouth to mouth. Peace be with the. The lovers salute the. great the lovers by name. The Epistle of the Apostle S. Paul to the Hebrews. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I How God dealt lovingly with them of the old time in sending them his prophets, but much more mercy hath he showed us in that he sent us his own son. Of the most excellent glory of jesus Christ, which in all things is like to his father. Chap. II He exhorteth us to be obedient unto the new law which Christ hath given us and not to be offended at the infirmity and low degree of Christ: & why? it was necessary that for our sakes he should take soch an humble state upon him, that he might be like unto his brethren. Chap. III He requireth us to be obedient unto the word of Christ, which is more worthy than Moses The punishment of such as will needs harden their hearts. Chap. four The Sabbath or rest of the Christian. punishment of unbelievers. The nature of the word of God. Chap. V Christ is our high priest, the seat of grace, and more excellent than the high priests of the old law. Chap. VI He goeth forth with the thing that he began in the latter end of the fyfft chapter, and exhorteth them not to faint, but to be steadfast and patient: for so much as God is sure in his promise. Chap. VII. He compareth the priesthood of Christ unto Melchisedech, but to be far more excellent. Chap. VIII. The office of Christ is more worthy than the priests office of the old law, which was unperfect, and therefore abrogate. Chap. IX. The profit and worthiness of the old Testament, and how far the new excels it. Chap. X. The old law had no power to cleanse away sin, but Christ did it with offering up his body once for all An exhortation to receive this goodness of God thank fully with patience and steadfast faith Chap. XI. What faith is, and a commendation of the same. The steadfast believe of the fathers in old tyme. Chap. XII. An exhortation to be patient and steadfast in trouble and adversity, upon hope of everlasting reward. A commendation of the new Testament above the old Chap. XIII. He exhorteth us unto love, to hospitalite, to think upon such as be in adversity, to maintain wedlock, to avoid cuvetousnesse, to make much of them that preach God's word, to beware of strange learning, to be content to suffer rebuke with Christ, to be thankful unto God, and obedient unto to our heads. The first Chapter. GOD in time passed diversly & many ways, spoke unto the fathers by prophets, but in these last days he hath spoken unto us by his son, Mat. 28. c whom he hath made heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. Sap. 7▪ d Which (son) being the brightness of his glory, & the very image of his substance, bearing up all things with the word of his power, Ephe. 1. a hath in his own person purged our sins, and is set on the right hand of the majesty on high: being even as much more excellent than the angels, as he hath obtained a more excellent Luc 〈…〉 Phil. 2. a name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time: Psal. 2. a 2. Reg. 7 Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again: Psal. 2. a 2. Reg. 7 I will be his father, & he shallbe my son: And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten son in to the world, he sayeth: Psal. 96. ● And all the angels of God shall worship him. And of the angels he sayeth: Psal. 103. ● He maketh his angel's spretes, & his ministers flames of fire. But unto the son he sayeth: Psal. 44 God, the seat endureth for ever & ever: the sceptre of the kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou hast loved righteousness, & hated iniquity: wherefore God (which is thy God) hath anointed the with the oil of gladness above the fellows. Psal. 101 And thou LORD in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands, 2. Pet. ● they shall perish, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shallbe changed. But thou art the same, and th● years shall not fail. Unto which of the angels said he at any time: * Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy foot stolen? Are they not all mynistry 〈◊〉 spretes, sent to minister for 〈…〉, which shallbe heirs of salvation 〈…〉 The II Chapter. Wherefore we aught to give the more heed unto the things which we have herd, jest we periszhe. For if the word which was spoken by angels, was steadfast, and every transgression and dishobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape, if we despise so great a salvation: which Marc. 1 b after that it began to be preached by the LORD himself, ●arc. 16. c was confirmed upon us, by them that heard it, God bearing witness thereto, with tokens, wonders and diverse powers, and gifts of the holy ghost according to his own will. For unto the angels hath he not subdued the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place witnesseth & sayeth: ●sal 8. b What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou vysitest him? After thou hadst for a little season made him lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with honour and glory, and hast set him above the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. ● Cor. 1●. c In that he subdued all things unto him, he left nothing that is not put under him. Nevertheless now see we not all things yet subdued unto him. But him, which for a little season was made less than the angels, we see that it is jesus: which is ●hil. 2. a crowned with honour and glory for the suffering of death, that he by the grace of God, should taist of death for all men. For it become him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things (after that he had brought many children unto glory) that he should make the LORD of their salvation perfect thorough suffering, for so much as they all come of one, both he that sanctifieth, & they which are sanctified. For the which causes sake, he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ●●al. 21. c I will declare thy name unto my brethren, and in the mids of the congregation will I praise the. And again: ●●al. 17. a 〈◊〉. 12. a Esa. 8. d I will put my trust in him. And again: ●●al. 17. a 〈◊〉. 12. a Esa. 8. d behold, here am I and my children, which God hath given me. For as much then as the children have flesh and blood. 〈◊〉 2. a he also himself likewise took part with them, 〈◊〉. 13. ●● Cor. 15. ᶠ ● Tim. 1. b that he thorough death, might take away the power of him, which had lordship over death, that is to say, the devil: & that he might deliver them which thorough fear of death were all their life time in 〈…〉 bondage. For he in no place taketh on him 〈◊〉 ●ngels, but the sede of Abraham tabeth he on him. Wherefore in all things it become him to be made 〈…〉 like unto his brethren, that he might be merciful and a faithful high priest in things concerning God, to make agreement for the sins of the people. 〈…〉 For in that he himself suffered and was tempted, he is able to sucker them that are tempted. The III Chapter. Wherefore holy brethren, you that are partakers of the heavenvly calling, consider the Embasseatour and high priest of our profession, Christ jesus, which is faithful to him that ordained him, even as was 〈…〉 Moses in all his house. But this man is worthy of greater honour than moses, in as much as he which prepareth the house, hath greater honour in it, than the house itself. For every house is prepared of some man: 〈…〉 but he that ordained all things, is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a minister, 〈…〉 to bear witness of those things which were to be spoken afterward: But Christ as a son hath rule over his house, 〈…〉 whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of that 〈…〉 hope unto the end. Wherefore, as the holy ghost sayeth: 〈…〉 Todaye if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, 〈…〉 as in the provokynke in the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years long. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said: They err ever in their hearts. But they knew not my ways, so that I swore in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. Take heed brethren, that there be not in any of you an evil heart of unbelieve, to depart from the living God: but exhort yourselves daily, while it is called to day, jest any of you wax hard hearted thorough the deceitfulness of sin. For we are become partakers of Christ, if we keep sure unto the end the beginning of the substance, so long as it is said: Todaye, if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some when they heard, provoked. Howbeit not all they that came out of Egipte by Moses. But with whom was he displeased forty years long? Was he not displeased with them that sinned, whose carcases were overthrown in the wilderness? 〈…〉 To whom swore he, that they should not enter in to his rest, but unto them that believed not? And we see that they could not enter in because of unbelieve. The four Chapter. LEt us fear therefore, jest any of us forsaking the promise of entering in to his rest, should seem to come behind: for it is declared unto us as well as unto them. But the word of preaching helped not them, when they that heard it, believed it not. (For we which have believed, enter in to his rest) according as he said: Even as I have sworn in my wrath, They shall not enter in to my rest. And that (spoke he) verily long after that the works from the beginning of the world were made: For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day, on this wise: 〈…〉 And God rested on the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again: 〈◊〉 4. b They shall not come in to my rest. saying it followeth them, that some must enter there in to: and they, to whom it was first preached, entered not therein for unbeliefs sake, therefore appointeth he a day again after so long time, and sayeth: Todaye (as it is rehearsed by David) Todaye if you shall hear his voice, then harden not your hearts. For if josua had given them rest, them would he not afterward have spoken, of another day. Therefore remaineth there yet a rest unto the people of God. For he that is entered in to his rest, ceaseth from his works, 〈…〉 as God doth from his Let us make haist therefore to enter in to that rest, jest any man fall after the same ensample of unbelieve. For the word of God is quick, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two edged sword, and 〈…〉 entereth thorough, even to the devydinge of the soul & the spirit, and of the joints & the marry, and is a judger of the thoughts & intents of the heart, neither is there any creature invisible in the sight of him. But all things are naked & bore unto the eyes of him of whom we speak. The V Chapter. saying then that we have a great high priest, even jesus the son of God, which is entered in to heaven, let us hold our profession. For we have not an high priest which can not have compassion on our infirmities, but was in all points tempted, like as we are, but 〈…〉 without sin. Let us therefore go boldly unto the 〈…〉 seat of grace that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. For every high priest that is taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, 〈…〉 to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin: which can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for so much as he himself also is compassed about with infirmity. Therefore is he bound to offer for sins, as well for himself as for the people. And noman taketh the honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, Exo. 28. a as was Aaron. Even so Christ glorified not himself to be made high priest, but he that said unto him: Psal. 2. a Thou art my son, this day have I begotten the. As he sayeth also in another place: Psal. 109. a Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech. * Luc. 23. c joh. 17. a And in the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers & supplications, with strong crying & tears unto him that was able to save him from death: & was herd also, because he had God in honour. Phil. 2. a And though he was God's son, yet learned he obedience, by those things which he suffered. And he being made perfect, become the cause of everlasting salvation, unto all them that obey him, and is called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedech. Whereof we have many things to say, which are hard to be uttered, because you are dull of hearing. 1. Cor. ●. a For where as concerning the time you aught to be teachers, yet have you need again, that we teach you the first precepts of the word of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For every one that is fed yet with milt, is unexpert in the word of righteousness, for he is but a babe. But strong meat belongeth unto them that are perfect, which thorough custom have their wits exercised to judge both good and evil. The VI Chapter. Wherefore let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian life, and let us go unto perfection: and now no more lay the foundation of repentance from deed works, and of faith toward God, of baptism, of doctrine, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the deed, & of eternal judgement. And so will we do Act. 18. c jaco. 4. b if God permit. * Heb. 10. ● For it is not possible, that they which were once lighted, and have taisted of the heavenvly gift, and are become partakers of the holy ghost, & 2. Pet. 2. a have taisted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to come, if they fall away (and concerning themselves crucify the son of God afreszhe, and 〈◊〉 mock of him) that they should be 〈◊〉 again unto repentance. For the earth, that drinketh 〈…〉 which cometh often upon 〈…〉 forth herbs meet for 〈…〉 receiveth blessing of God: But that ground which beareth thorns and thistles, is nothing worth, and nigh unto cursing: whose end is to be brent. Nevertheless (you dearly beloved) we trust to see better of you, and that salvation is nigher, though we thus speak. Mat. 25. d For God is not unrighteous, that he should forget your work and labour of love, which you showed in his name, when you ministered unto the saints, and yet minister. Ye and we desire, that every one of you show the same diligence, to the stablyshinge of hope even unto the end, that you faint not, but follow them which thorough faith and patience inheret the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had none greater to swear by, Gen. 22. c he swore by himself, and said: Surely I will bless the and multiply the in deed. And so he abode patiently, and obtained the promise. As for men, they swear by him that is greater than themselves: Exo. 22. b and the oath is the end of all strife to confirm the thing among them. But God, willing very abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the stableness of his council, added an oath that by two immutable things (in the which it is unpossible that God should lie) we might have a strong consolation: even we, which are fled to hold fast the hope that is set before us, which (hope) we have as a sure and steadfast anchor of our soul. Which (hope) also entereth in, in to those things that are within the veil, whither the forerunner is for us entered in, even jesus, which is made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedech. The VII. Chapter. THis Melchisedech Gen. 14. a king of Salem (which being priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he returned again from the slaughter of the kings, & blessed him, unto whom Abraham also gave tithes of all the goods) first is by interpretation king of righteousness: after that is he king of Salem also (that is to say, king of peace) without father, without mother, without kin, and hath neither beginning of days, ner end of life: but is likened unto the son of God, and continueth a priest for ever. But consider how great a man this was, to whom the Patriarch Abraham gave tithes of the spoils. 〈…〉 And verily the children 〈…〉, when they recea●● the priesthood, 〈…〉 commandment according to the 〈…〉 he tithes of the people, that 〈…〉 their brethren, though they also came out of the loins of Abraham. But he whose kindred is not counted among them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promise. Now is it so without all naysayenge, that the less receiveth blessing of the better. And here men that die, receive tithes. But there he receiveth tithes, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And to say the truth, Levi himself also which receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham: for he was yet in the loins of his father Abraham, when Melchisedech met him. If now therefore perfection came by the priesthood of the Levites (for under the same (priesthood) the people received the law) what needed it then furthurmore, that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedech, and not after the order of Aaron? 〈…〉 For if the priesthood be translated, them of necessity must the law be translated also. For he of whom these things are spoken, is of another tribe, of the which never man served at the altar. For it is evident, 〈…〉 that our LORD sprung of the tribe of juda, to the which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood, And it is yet a more evident thing, if after the similitude of Mechisedech there arise another priest, which is not made after the law of the carnal commandment, but after the power of the endless life (For he testifieth: 〈…〉 Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech) than the commandment that went before, is disannulled, because of his weakness, and unprofitableness. For the law made nothing perfect, but was an introduction of a better hope, by that which hope we draw nigh unto God. And for this cause is it a better hope, that it was not promised without an oath. Those priests were made without an oath, but this priest with an oath, by him that said unto him: The LORD swore, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech. Thus is jesus become a stabliszher of so much a better Testament. And among them many were made priests, because they were not suffered to endure by the reason of death. But this man, because that he endureth ever, hath an everlasting priesthood. Wherefore he is able also ever to save them, that come unto God by him: & liveth ever, 〈…〉 to make intercession for us. For it become us to have such an high priest as is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than heaven: which needeth not daily ( 〈◊〉. 9 b as yonder high priests) to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins, and then for the people's sins. For that did he once for all, when he offered up himself. 〈…〉 For the law maketh men priests which have infirmity: but the word of the oath, that came sense the law, maketh the son priest, which is perfect for evermore. The VIII. Chapter. OF the things which we have spoken, this is the pith: 〈…〉 We have such an high priest, that is set on the right hand of the seat of majesty in heaven: and is a minister of holy things, and of the true Tabernacle, which God pitched, & not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: Wherefore it is of necessity, that this man have somewhat also to offer. For he were not a priest, if he were upon earth, where are priests that according to the law offer gifts (which priests serve unto the ensample and shadow of heavenvly things, even as the answer of God was given unto Moses, when he was about to finish the Tabernacle: 〈…〉 Take heed (said he) that thou make all things according to the patron showed the in the mount.) But now hath he obtained a more excellent office, in as much as he is the mediator of a better Testament, which was made for better promises. For if that first (Testament) had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For in rebuking them he sayeth: 〈…〉 Behold, the days will come (sayeth the LORD) that I will finish upon the house of Israel, and upon the house of juda, a new Testament: not as the Testament which I made with their fathers, in that day when I took them by the hands, to lead them out of the land of Egipte: 〈…〉 for they continued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, sayeth the LORD. For this is the Testament, that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, sayeth the LORD. I will give my laws in their mind, and in their hearts will I write them: 〈…〉 And I will be their God, and they shall be my people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: know the LORD, for they shall know me from the least to the most of them: for I will be merciful over their unrighteousnesses: And on their sins & on their iniquyties will I not think any more. In that he sayeth: A new, he weereth out the old. Now that which is worn out and waxed old, is ready to vanish away The IX. Chapter. THat first Tabernacle verily had ordinances, and seruynges of God and outward holiness. Exod. 25. a For there was made a foretabernacle, wherein was the candilsticke, and the table, and the Levi. 24. b show bread: and this is called the Holy. But behind the second veil was the Tabernacle which is called Holiest of all, which had the golden censor, and the Exod. 25. b Ark of the Testament overlayed round about with gold, wherein was the Exod. 16. f golden pot with Manna, and Aaron's rod Num. 17. a that flourished, and the tables of the Testament: Above therein were the Cherubins of glory overshadowing the mercyseat: Of which things it is not now to speak particularly. When these things were thus ordained, the priests went always in to the first Tabernacle, and executed the service of God. Exo. 30 b Levi. 16 g Luc. 1. a But in to the second went the high priest alone once in the year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the ignorance of the people. Wherewith the holy ghost this signifieth, that the joh. 10. a and 14. a way of holiness was not yet opened, while as yet the first Tabernacle was standing. Which was a similitude for the time then present, in the which were offered gifts and sacrifices, and could not make perfect (as pertaining to the conscience) him, that did the God's service only with meats and drinks, and diverse waszhinges, and iustifienges of the flesh, which were ordained unto the time of reformation. But Christ being an high priest of good things to come, came by a greater and a more perfect Esa. 33. c 2. Cor. 5. a Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this manner building: neither by the blood of goats or calves: 1. joh. ● 1. Pet. ● Apo▪ ● but by his own blood entered he once for all in to the holy place, and hath found eternal redemption. For if the blood of oxen and of goats, 〈…〉 and the aszhes of the cow when it is sprenkled, halloweth the unclean as touching the purification of the flesh, How much more shall the blood of Christ (which thorough the eternal spirit offered himself without spot unto God) purge our conscience from deed works, 〈…〉 for to serve t●●geuynge God? And for this cause is, & ●●●e●diatour of the new 〈…〉 thorough death which chaursed 〈◊〉 redemption of those transgressons (that were under the first Testament) they which were called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where soever is a Testament, there must also be the death of him that maketh the testament. Gal. 3. c For a Testament taketh authority when men are deed: for it is of no value, as long as he that made it is alive. For the which cause that first Testament also was not ordained without blood. For when all the commandments (according to the law) were read of Moses unto all the people, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and purple will and ysope, and sprenkled the book and all the people, saying: * This is the blood of the Testament, which God hath appointed unto you. And the Tabernakle and all the vessels of the God's service sprenkled he with blood likewise. And almost all things are purged with blood after the law: and without shedding of blood is no remission. It is necessary then, that the similitude of heavenly things be purified with such: but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices, then are those. For Christ is not entered in to the holy places that are made with hands (which are but symilitudes of true things) but in to the very heaven, for to appear now before the face of God for us: Not to offer himself off● Levi. 16. g as the high priest entereth in to the holy place every year with strange blood: for them must he often have suffered sense the world began. But now in the end of the world hath he appeared once, to put sin to flight, by the offering up of himself. And as it is appointed unto men that they shall once die, and then cometh the judgement: Rom. 5. ᵃ ● Pet. 3. c Even so Christ was once offered, to take away the sins of many. And unto them that look for him, shall he appear again without sin unto salvation. The X. Chapter. FOr the law * which hath but the shadow of good things to come, and not the things in their own fashion, can never by the sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make the comers there unto perfect: Else should they have ceased to have been offered, because that the offerers once purged, shul●● 〈◊〉 had no more conscience of sins. 〈…〉 in those sacrifices there is ma●e but a ●●●●●braunce of sins every yea●e. * For 〈…〉 that the blood of oxen ●nd of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh in to the world, he sayeth: 〈…〉 Sacrifice & offering thou wouldest not have, but a body hast thou ordained me. Burned offerings and synneofferynges hast thou not allowed. Then said I: Lo, I come. I the beginning of the book it is written of me, that I should do the will O God. Above when he had said: Sacrifice and offering, and burnt-sacrifices & sin offerings thou wouldest not have, neither haste allowed (which yet are offered after the law). Then said he: Lo, I come to do will thy O God: there taketh he away the first, to stablyszhe the latter: In the which will we are sanctified by the offering up of the body of jesus Christ once for all. And every priest is ready daily ministering, and oft-times offereth one manner of offerings, which can never take away sins. But this man when he had offered for sins, one sacrifice which is of value for ever, sat him down on the right hand of God, and from hence forth tarrieth, 〈…〉 till his foes be made his foot stolen. For with one offering hath he made perfect for ever, them that are sanctified. And the holy ghost also beareth us record of this, even when he said before: 〈…〉 This is the Testament, that I will make unto them after those days, sayeth the LORD: I will give my laws in their hearts, and 〈…〉 minds will I write them, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. And where remission of these things is, there is no more offering for sin. saying now brethren, that we have a 〈…〉 fresure entrance in to that Holy place, by the blood of jesus (which he hath prepared unto us for a new and living way, thorough the veil, that is to say, by his flesh) and saying also that we have an high priest over the house of God, let us draw nigh with a true heart in a full faith, sprenkled in our hearts from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water: and let us keep the profession of our hope without wavering (for he is faith full that hath promised) and let us consider one another to the provoking of love and of good works: and let us not forsake the fellowship that we have among ourselves, as the manner of some is: but let us exhort one another, and that so much the more, because you see that the day draweth nigh. 〈…〉 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth unto us no more sacrifice for sins, but a fearful looking for judgement; and violente fire, which shall devour the adversaries. 〈◊〉. 17. b 〈◊〉 19 c He that despiseth Moses law, dieth without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment (suppose you) shall he be counted worthy, which treadeth under foot the son of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament (whereby he is sanctified) an unwholy thing, & doth dishonour to the spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said: 〈◊〉. 32. c 〈◊〉. 12. c 〈◊〉 32. c Vengeance is mine, I will recompense, sayeth the LORD. And again: 〈◊〉. 32. c 〈◊〉. 12. c 〈◊〉 32. c The LORD shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall in to the hands of the living God. But call you to remembrance the days that are past, in that which after you had received light, you endured a great fight of adversities: partly while all men wondered & gazed at you for the shame and tribulation that was done unto you: and partly while you become companions of them which so passed their time. For you have suffered with my bonds, and took a worth the spoiling of your goods, and that with gladness, knowing in yourselves, how that you have in heaven a better & an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath so great a reward. 〈…〉 For you have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. 〈…〉 For yet over a little while, and then he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. 〈…〉 But the just shall live by his faith: And if he withdraw himself away, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. As for us, we are not of those which withdraw themselves to damnation: but of them that believe to the winning of the soul. The XI. Chapter. FAith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen. By it the Elders were well reported of. Thorough faith we understand, that the world and all the things which are seen, were made of naught by the word of God. 〈◊〉 4. a By faith offered Abel unto God a more plenteous sacrifice: by the which he obtained witness, that he was righteous: God testifyenge of his gifts, by the which also he being deed, yet speaketh. 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 4. b 〈◊〉 44. b 〈…〉. c By faith was Enoch taken away, that he should not see death: and was not found, because God had taken him away. For afore he was taken away, he had record that he pleased God. But without faith it is unpossible to please God. For he that cometh unto God, must believe that God is, & that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. Gen. 6. d Eccli. 4● b By faith No honoured God, after that he was warned of things which were not seen, & prepared the Ark, to the saving of his household: thorough the which Ark he condemned the world, and become heir of the righteousness, which cometh by faith. By faith Abraham (when he was called) obeyed, to go out in to the place, Gen. 12. a 13 which he should afterward receive to inheritance: and he went out, not knowing whither he should go. By faith was he a stranger in the land of promise as in a strange country, & dwelled in tabernacles: and so did Isaac & jacob, heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a cite which hath a foundation, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sara also received strength to be with child, Gen. 21. a and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him to be faithful which had promised. And therefore sprung there of one (ye even of one which was as good as deed concerning the body) so many in multitude Gen. 15. a as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the See shore, which is innumerable. All these died according to faith and received not the promises, but saw them afar of, and believed them, and saluted them: Gen. 47. ● and confessed, that they were strangers & pilgrems upon earth. For they that say such things, declare, that they seek a natural country. And doubtless if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenvly. Exo. 3 c Mat. 2●. d Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared a cite for them. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, Gen. 22. a Eccli. 44 ● and gave over his only begotten son, in whom he had received the promises, of whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called: For he considered, that God was able to raise up again from the deed. Therefore received he him for an ensample. By faith Isaac blessed jacob and Esau, Gen. 27. ● concerning things to come. By faith jacob, when he was a dying, Gen. 4●. c blessed both the sons of joseph, & bowed himself toward the top of his sceptre. By faith joseph when he died, Gen. 50. d remembered the departing of the children of Israel, & gave commandment concerning his bones. exod 2. a By faith Moses when he was born, was hid three months of his Elders, because they saw that he was a proper child, neither feared they the kings commandment. exod 2. b By faith Moses when he was greate● refused to be called the son of Pharao● daughter: and chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: and esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches, than the treasure of Egipte: for he had respect unto the reward. By faith he forsook Egipte, and feared not the fierceness of the king: Exod. 12. f for he endured, even as though he had seen him which is invisible. Exod. 12. b By faith he held Easter, and the effusion of blood, jest he which slew the firstborn, should touch them. Exod. 14 e By faith they passed thorough the reed See as by dry land: which when the Egipcians assayed to do, they were drowned. By faith the walls of jericho fallen, when they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Raab perished not with the unbelievers, when she had received the spies to lodging peaceably. And what shall I more say? that time would be to short for me to tell of ●udi. 7.4.4.11. ●. Reg. 17. ●. Reg. 12. Gedeon, of ●udi. 7.4.4.11. ●. Reg. 17. ●. Reg. 12. Barac, and of ●udi. 7.4.4.11. ●. Reg. 17. ●. Reg. 12. Samson, & of jepthae, ●udi. 7.4.4.11. ●. Reg. 17. ●. Reg. 12. and of David, and ●udi. 7.4.4.11. ●. Reg. 17. ●. Reg. 12. Samuel, and of the prophets, which thorough faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions Dan. 3. quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, become valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aleauntes, ●. Re. 17. ᶜ ●. Re. 4. d the women received their deed again from resurrection. But other were racked, and accepted no deliverance, that they might obtain the resurrection that better is. Other taisted of mockinges and scourgings, of bonds also and prisonment: 3. Re. 21. were stoned, were hewn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, 4. Re. 1. b Mat. 3 a went about in sheep skins and goats skins, in need, in tribulation, in vexation, which (men) the world was not worthy of: they wandered about in wyldernesses, upon mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And these all thorough faith obtained good report, and received not the promise: because God had provided a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. The XII. Chapter. Wherefore saying we have so great a multitude of witnesses about us 〈…〉 let us also say away all that presseth down, and the sin that hangs on, and let us run with patience unto the battle that is set before us, looking unto jesus the auctor and fyniszher of faith: 〈…〉 which when the joy was laid before him, abode the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. consider him therefore that endured such speaking against him of sinners, jest you be weighed and faint in your minds: for you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, and have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh unto you as unto children: 〈…〉 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him: 〈…〉 for whom the LORD loveth, him he chasteneth, ye and he scourgeth every son that he receiveth. If you endure chastening, God offereth himself unto you as unto sons. What son is that, whom the father chasteneth not? If you be not under correction (whereof all are partakers) then are you bastards and not sons. moreover saying we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, & we gave them reverence, should we not then much rather be in subjection unto the father of spiritual gifts, that we might live? And they verily for a few days nurtured us after their own pleasure: but he learneth us unto that which is profitable, that we might receive of his holiness. No manner chastising for the present time seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness, unto them which are exercised thereby. 〈…〉 Life up therefore the hands which were let down, and the weak knees, and see that you have strait steps unto your feet, jest any halting turn you out of the way, ye let it rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and holiness, without the which no man shall see the LORD, and look well, that no man be destitute of the grace of God, jest there spring up any bitter rote, and cause disquyetnes, and thereby many be defiled: that there be no whoremonger, or unclean person, as Esau, 〈…〉 which for one meat sake sold his birth right. For you know, how that afterward when he would have inhereted the blessing, he was put by: for 〈…〉 he found no place of repentance, though he desired (the blessing) with tears. For you are not come to the mount that can be touched 〈◊〉. 19 c and burneth with fire, neither yet to mist and darkness, and tempest of wedder, neither to the sound of the trump, and the voice of words: which they that heard, wyszhed away, that the word should not be spoken to them, for they were not able to abide that which was spoken. 〈◊〉. 19 b And if a be'st had touched the mountain, it must have been stoned, or thrust thorough with a dart. And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said: I fear and quake. But you are come to the mount Zion, and to the cite of the living God, to the celestial 〈◊〉. 21. b jerusalem, and to the multitude of many thousand angels, and unto the congregation of the first born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spretes of just and perfect men, and to jesus the mediator of the new Testament, and to the sprenkling of blood, that speaketh better than the blood of 〈◊〉. 4. b Abel. see that you despise not him that speaketh unto you: for if they escaped not which refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice shaken the earth at that tyme. But now promiseth he, & sayeth: 〈◊〉. 2. b Yet once more will I shake, not the earth only, but also heaven. No doubt that same that he sayeth yet once more, signifieth the removing away of those things which are shaken, as of things which are made: that the things which are not shaken, may remain. Wherefore, saying we receive the unmovable kingdom, we have grace, 〈◊〉. 2. a whereby we may serve God, & please him, with reverence and godly fear. 〈◊〉 4. d For our God is a consuming fire. The XIII. Chapter. LEt brotherly love continue. 〈◊〉 18. a 〈◊〉. 19 a 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉. 4. b Be not forgetful to lodge strangers: for thereby have diverse received angels in to their houses unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, even as though you were bound with them: and be mindful of them which are in adversity, as you which are also in the body. Let wedlock be had in price in all points, & let the chamber be undefiled. For whorekepers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness, 〈◊〉. 29. d and be content with that you have already, for he hath said: 〈◊〉. 31. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 55. a 〈◊〉 17. a I will not fail the neither forsake thee, so that we may boldly say: 〈◊〉. 31. b 〈◊〉 1. a 〈◊〉 55. a 〈◊〉 17. a The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man may do unto me. Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God. The end of whose conversation see that you look upon, and follow their faith. jesus Christ yesterday and Heb. 3 b Todaye, & the same continueth forever. Be not carried about with diverse and strange lernynges: for it is a good thing that the heart be stablyszhed with grace, and not with meats, which have not profited them, that have had their pastime in them. We have an altar, whereof they have no power to eat, which serve in the Tabernacle. For the bodies of those beestes Exo. 29. ● Num 19 ● levit. 4 ● whose blood is brought in to the holy place by the high priest to purge sin, are brent without the tents. Therefore jesus also, to sanctify the people by his own blood, joh. 19 b suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore out of the tents, and suffer rebuke with him: Phil. 3. c for here have we no continuing cite, but we seek one to come. Psal. 91. ● Let us therefore by him offer always unto God the sacrifice of praise: that is to say, the fruit of those lips which confess his name. To do good and to distribute forget not, Phil. 4. ● for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves unto them: for they watch for your souls, even as they that must give accounts therefore, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is an unprofitable thing for you. Pray for us. We have confidence, because we have a good conscience in all things, and desire to live honestly. But I desire you the more abundantly, that you so do, that I may be restored unto you the more quickly. The God of peace (that brought again from the deed our LORD jesus the Eze. 34. joh. 10 a 1. Pet. 5. a great shepherd of the sheep thorough the blood of the everlasting Testament) make you perfect in all good works, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight thorough jesus Christ, to whom be praise for ever and ever Amen. I beseek you brethren, suffer the word of exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words. know our brother Timotheus, whom we have sent from us, with whom (if he come shortly) I will see you. Salute them that have the oversight of you and all the saints. The brethren of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all, Amen. Scent from Italy by Timotheus. The Epistle of S. James. The sum of this epistle. Chap. I He exhorteth to rejoice in trouble, to be fervent in prayer with steadfast believe, to look for all good things from above, to forsake all vice: and thankfully to receive the word of God, not only hearing it and speaking of it, but to do thereafter in deed. True religion or devotion what it is. Chap. II He forbiddeth to have any respect of personnes, but to regard the poor as well as the rich, to be loving and merciful, and not to boast of faith where no deeds are: for it is but a deed faith, where good works follow not. Chap III What good and evil cometh thorough the tongue. The duty of such as be learned. The difference betwixt the wisdom of the gospel and the wisdom of the world. Chap. four War and fighting cometh of voluptuous. The frendishipe of the world is enemyte before God. An exhortation to fly slander and the vanity of this life. Chap. V He threateneth the wicked rich men, exhorteth unto patience, to beware of swearing, one to knowledge his faults to another, one to pray for another, and one to labour to bring another to the truth. The first Chapter. IAmes the servant of God and of the LORD jesus Christ, sendeth greeting to the xij. tribes which are ●ct. 8. a scattered here & there. My brethren, count it exceeding joy when you fall in to divers temptations, for as much as you know, how that the ●o. 5. ᵃ ●. Pet. 1. b ●ach. 13. b trying of your faith bringeth patience: and let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and sound, lakinge nothing. ●ro. 2. a If any of you lack wisdom, let him axe of God, which giveth to all men indifferently, and casts no man in the teeth: and it shall be given him. But let him axe in faith and waver not. For he that doubteth, is like the wawes of the See, tossed of the wind, and carried with violence. neither let that man think that he shall receive any thing of the LORD. A wavering minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice, in that he is exalted: and the rich, in that he is made low. For even as the flor of the grass shall he vanish away. The Son riseth with heat and the grass wydereth, & his flower falls away, and the beauty of the fashion of it periszheth: even so shall the rich man perish with his abundance. Happy is the man that endureth in temptation, for when he is tried, job. 〈…〉 he shall receive the crown of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, that he is tempted of God. For God tempteth not unto evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, drawn away, & enticed of his own concupiscence. Then when lust hath conceived, she bringeth forth sin, & sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Err not my dear brethren. Pro. 〈…〉 joh. 〈…〉 Every good gift, & every parfait gift, is from above, and cometh down from the father of light, with whom is no variableness, neither is he changed unto darkness. joh. 〈…〉 1. Co● 〈…〉 Of his own will begat he us with the word of life, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures. Pro▪ 〈…〉 Ecc●. 〈…〉 Wherefore dear brethren, let every man beswifte to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, all superfluite of maliciousness, & receive with meekness the word that is grafted in you, which is able to save your souls. 〈…〉 And see that you be doers of the word & not hears only deceiving your own selves. 〈…〉 For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For assoon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what his faszhion was. 〈…〉 But who so looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein (if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a door of the work) the same shallbe happy in his deed. If any man among you seem devout, & refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain. Pure devotion and undefiled before God the father, is this: to visit the friendless and widows in their adversity, and to keep him self unspotted of the 〈…〉 world. The II Chapter. BRethren, have not the faith of our LORD jesus Christ the LORD of glory in 〈…〉 respect of people. If there come in to your company a man with a golden ring and in goodly apparel, & there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, & you have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing & say unto him: Sat thou here in a good place, & say unto the poor, stand thou there or sit here under my foot stolen: are you not partial in yourselves, and have judged after evil thoughts? hearken my dear beloved brethren. ●at. 5. a Hath not God choose the poor of this world, which are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? But you have despised the poor. Are not the rich they which oppress you: & they which draw you before judges? Do not they speak evil of that good name after which you be named. If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture which says: ●uit. 19 c Thou shalt love thine neighbour as thyself, you do well. Butler if you regard one person more than another, you commit sin, and are rebuked of the law as tr●āgressours. ●ec. 18. b Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one point, he is guilty in all. For he that said: 〈◊〉. ●0. c Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also: thou shalt not kill. Though thou do none adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art a transgresser of the law. So speak you, and so do as they that shallbe judged by the law of liberty. 〈◊〉. 18. d For there shallbe judgement merciless to him that showeth no mercy, & mercy reioiseth against judgement. 〈◊〉. 7. c What a 'vaileth it my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, when he hath no deeds? Can faith save him? 〈◊〉 3. c If a brother or a sister be naked or destitute of daily food, & one of you say unto them: Depart in peace, God send you warmness and food: not withstanding you give them not though things which are needful to the body: what helpeth it them? Even so faith, if it have no deeds, is deed in itself. You & a man might say: Thou hast faith, and I have deeds: Show me thy faith by thy deeds: and I will show the my faith by my deeds. believest thou that theridamas is one God? Thou dost well. 〈…〉. d 〈◊〉. 1. c The devils also believe and tremble. Wilt thou understand oh thou vain man that faith with out deeds is deed: Was not Abraham our father justified thorough works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seist how that faith wrought with his deeds, and through the deeds was the faith made perfect: & the scripture was fulfilled which faith: 〈◊〉. 1●. b 〈◊〉. 4. b 〈◊〉▪ 1. a Abraham believed God and it was reputed unto him for rightewesnes: and he was called the friend of God. You see then how that of deeds a man is justified, and not of faith only 〈…〉 Likewise also was not Raab the harlot justified thorough works, when she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? For as the body, with out the spirit is deed, even so faith with out deeds is deed. The III Chapter. MY brethren, be not every man a Mat. 23. ● master, remembering how that we shall receive the more damnation: for in many things we sin all. Eccli. 14 19 c. 25. b If a man sin not in word, the same is a perfect man, & able to tame all the body. Behold, we put bits into the horses mouths that they should obey us, and we turn about all the body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whither soever the violence of the governor will. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a thing a little fire kyndleth, and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our membres, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth a fire all that we have of nature, and is itself set a fire even of hell. All the natures of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things of the see, are meeked and tamed of the nature of man. But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God the father, and therewith curse women which Gen. 1. ● are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren these things aught not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at one place sweet water and bitter also? Can the fig tree, my Brethren, bear olive berries: either a vine bear figs? So can no fountain give both salt water and freszhe also. If any man be wise and endued with learning among you, let him show the works of his good conversation in meekness that is coupled with wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, rejoice not: neither belyars against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above: but is earthy, and natural, and devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is unstableness and all manner of evil works. But the wiszdom that is from above, is first pure, them peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without simulation: ye, and the fruit of rightewesnes is sown in peace, of them that maintain peace. The four Chapter. FRom whence cometh war and fighting among you: come they not here hence? even of your volupteousnesses that rain in your members? You lust, and have not. You envy and have indignation, and can not obtain. You fight & war, and have not, because you axe not. You axe & receive not because you axe amiss: even to consume it upon your voluptuousness. You advouterars, & women that break matrimony: know you not ●oh. 2. c 〈◊〉. 1. b how that the frenshippe of the world is ennimite to godward? Whosoever willbe a friend of the world, is made the enemy of god. Ether do you think that the scripture saith in vain. The 〈◊〉. 5. c spirit that dwelleth in you, lusteth even contrary to envy: but giveth more grace. Submit yourselves to God, and ●et. 5. b resist the devil, & he will fly from you. Draw nigh to God & he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purge your hearts you wavering minded. Suffer afflictions: sorrow you and weep. Let your laughter be turned to morning, and your joy to heaviness. Pet. 5. a Cast down yourselves before the LORD, and he shall lift you up. backbite not one another, brethren. He that backbyteth his brother, and he that judgeth his brother, backbyteth the law, and judgeth the law. But and if thou judge the law, thou art not an observer of the law: but a judge. There is one law giver, which is able to save and to destroy. Ro. 14. a What art thou that judgest another man? ●ze. 18. a Luc. 12. b Go to now you that say: to day & to morrow let us go into such a city and continued there a year, and buy and cell, and win: & yet can not tell what shall hap to morrow. For what thing is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanysheth away: For that you aught to say: Act. 28. a Heb. 6. a if the LORD will, and if we live, let us do this or that. But now you rejoice in your bostinges. All such rejoicing is evil. Therefore Luc. 12. c to him that knoweth how to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin. The V Chapter. BOo to now you rich men. Weep, and howl on you wretchedness that shall come upon you. 1. Tim. 6. b your riches is corrupt, your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold & yo silver are cankered, & the rust of them shallbe a witness unto you, & shall eat your flesh, as it were fire. You have heaped treasure togedder in you last days: Levi. 19 c Deut. 24. c Tob. 4. c Behold, the hire of the labourers which have reped down your fields (which higher is of you kept back by fraud) crieth: and the cries of them which have reped, are entered in to the ears of the LORD Sabaoth. You have lived in pleasure on the earth and in wantannes. You have noryszhed your hearts, Luc 〈…〉 as in aday of slaughter. You have condemned and have killed the just, and he hath not resisted you. Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the husband man waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience there upon, until he receive the early and the latter rain. Be you also patient therefore, and settle your hearts, for the coming of the LORD draweth nigh. Grodge not one against another brethren, jest you be damned. Behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take (my brethren) the prophets for an ensample of suffering adversity, and of long patience, which spoke in the name of the LORD. Behold we count them happy which endure. You have heard 〈…〉 of the patience of job, and have known what end the LORD made. For the LORD is very pitiful and merciful. But above all things my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath. Let your you be you, 〈…〉 and yo nay nay: jest you fall in to ypocricy. If any of you be evil vexed, let him pray. If any of you be merry, let him sing Psalms. If any be diseased among you, let him call for the elders of the congregation, & let them pray over him, and anoint him with oil in the name of the LORD: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shallbe forgiven him. Knowledge your faults one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man availeth moche, if it be fervent. 〈…〉 Helias was a man mortal even as we are, and he prayed in his prayer, that it might not rain: & it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 〈…〉 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, & the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you err from the truth and another convert him, let the same know that he which converted the sinner from going astray out of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide the multitude of sins. The end of the epistle of S. James. The Epistle of S. jude. The sum of this epistle. He rebuketh such as being blinded with their own lusts, resist the truth, & that we may know them the better, he sayeth they be such as sin beastly against nature, and despise rulers &c. He exhorteth us to edify one another, to pray in the holy ghost, to continued in love, to look for the coming of the LORD, and one to help another out of the fire. IVdas the servant of jesus Christ, the brother of James. To them which are called, and sanctified in God the father, and preserved in jesus Christ. Mercy unto you, and peace and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the comen salvation: it was needful for me to write unto you, to exhort you, that you should continually labour in the faith which was once given unto the saints. 〈…〉 For there are certain craftily crept in, of which it was written afore time unto such judgement. They are ungodly, and turn the grace of our God unto wantonness, and deny God the only LORD, and our LORD jesus Christ. My mind is therefore to put you in remembrance, for as much as you once know this, how that the LORD (after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt) destroyed them which afterward believed not. 〈…〉 The angels also which kept not their first estate: but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day: even as 〈◊〉 9 c Sodom and Gomor, and the cities about them (which in like manner defiled themselves with fornication and followed strange flesh) are set forth for an ensample, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise these dremers defile the flesh despise rulers, and speak evil of them that are in authority. 〈◊〉▪ 3 a Yet Michael the archangel when he strove against the devil, & disputed about the body of Moses, dared not give railing sentence, but said: the LORD rebuke the. 〈…〉 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: and what things they know naturally, as beasts which are without reason, in though things they corrupt themselves. Woe be unto them, Gen. 4. a Nu. 24. a Num. 16. for they have followed the way of Cain, and are utterly given to the error of Balaam for lukers' sake, and peryszhe in the treason of Core. These are spots which of your kindness feast togedder, without fear, feeding themselves. Clouds they are withouten water, 2. Pet. 2. d carried about of winds, and trees without fruit at gadringe time, twice deed and plucked up by the rotes. They are the raging waves of the see, foaming out their own shame. They are wand'ring stars, to whom is reserved the mist of darkness for ever. Apoc. 1. a Esa. ●. c Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied before of such, saying: Behold, the LORD shall come with thousands of saints, to give judgement against all men, and to rebuke all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their cruel speakynges, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complaners, walking after their own lusts, whose mouths speak proud things. They have men in great reverence because of advantage. But you beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our LORD jesus Christ, how that they told you that their should be begylers in the last time, 1. Tim. 4. a 2. Tim. 3. a 2. Pet. ●. a which should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are makers of sects fleshly, having no spirit. But you derlye beloved, edify yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the holy ghost, and keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our LORD jesus Christ, unto eternal life. And have compassion on some, separating them: and other save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate the filthy vesture of the flesh. Unto him that is able to keep you, that you fall not, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy, that is to say, to God our saviour which only is wise, be glory, majesty, dominion, & power, now and for ever. Amen. The apocalypse or revelation of S. Ihon. The sum of the Revelation. Chap. I Happy are they that hear the word of God and keep it. He writeth to the seven congregations in Asia, saith seven candilstickes, and in the midst of them, one like unto the son of man. Chap. II He exhorteth four congregations to amend, and showeth the reward of him that over cometh. Chap. III He instructeth and enfourmeth the angels of three congregations, declaring also the reward of him that overcometh. Chap. four He saith the heaven open, and the seat and one sitting upon it, and xxiv seats about it with xxiv. elders sitting upon them, and four beasts praising God day and night. Chap. V He saith the lamb opening the book, and therefore the four beasts, the xxiv elders and the angels praise the lamb and do him worship. Chap. VI The lamb openeth the vi. seals, & many things follow the opening thereof. Chap. VII. He saith the servants of God sealed in their foreheads out of all nations and people: which though they suffer trouble, ye● the lamb feedeth them, leadeth them to the fountains of living water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Chap. VIII. The seventh seal is opened, there is silence in heaven: the four angels blow their trumpets, and great plagues follow upon the earth. Chap. IX. The fifth and sixte angel blow their tompettes: the star falls from heaven: the locusts come out of the smoke: The first woe is past: the four angels that were bound are loosed, and the third part of men is killed. Chap. X. The angel hath the book open, he sweareth there shallbe no more time: he giveth the book unto John, which eateth it up. Chap. XI. The temple is measured, The second woe is past. Chap. XII. The seventh angel bloweth his trumpet: There appeareth in heaven a woman clothed with the Son: Michael fighteth with the dragon, which persecuteth the woman. Chap. XIII. A be'st riseth out of the see with seven heads and ten horns. Another be'st cometh out of the earth with two horns. Chap. XIIII. The lamb standeth upon the mount Zion, and the undefiled congregation with him: The angel exhorteth to the fear of God and telleth of the fall of Babylon. Chap. XU. He saith seven angels, having seven vyalles full of wrath. Chap. XVI. The angels pour out their vyalles. Chap. XVII. He describeth the woman sitting upon the beast with ten horns. Chap. XVIII. The lovers of the world are sorry for the fall of Babylon, but they that be of God, have cause to rejoice for her destruction. Chap. XIX. Praise and thanks are given unto God for judging the whore, and for avenginge the blood of his servants. The angel will not be worshipped. The fowls and birds are called to the slaughter. Chap. XX. The dragon is bound for a thousand years. The deed arise, and receive judgement. Chap. XXI. In this chapter is describe the new and spiritual jerusalem. Chap. XXII. The river of the water of life, the fruitfulness and light of the cite of God. The LORD giveth ever his servants warning of things for to come: The angel will not be worshipped. To the word of God may nothing be added ner mynished there from. The first Chapter. THE revelation of jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, for to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. And he sent and showed by his angel unto his servant John 〈…〉 which bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 〈…〉 Happy is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy and keep thoo things which are written therein. For the time is at hand. John to the seven congregations in Asia. Grace be with you & peace, from him which is and which was, and which is to come, & from the seven spretes which are present before his throne, and from jesus Christ which is a faithful witness, and first begotten of the deed: & LORD over the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and weszhed us from sins in his own 〈…〉 blood, and made us kings & priests unto God his father, be glory, and dominion for ever more. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds, and all eyes shall see him: 〈…〉 & they also which peersed him. And all kinredes of the earth shall wail. Even so. Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, 〈…〉 sayeth the LORD almighty, which is and which was and which is to come. I John your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience which is in jesus Christ, was in the isle of Pathmos for the word of God, and for the witnessing of jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on a sunday, and heard behind me, a great voice, as it had been of a trump, saying: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. That thou seist, writ in a book, and send it unto the congregations which are in Asia, unto Ephesus and unto Smyrna, and unto Pargamos, and unto Thiatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicia. And I turned back to see the voice that spoke to me. And when I was turned: I saw seven golden candestyckes, and in the mids of the candelstyckes, 〈…〉 one like unto the son of man clothed with a lynnin garment down to the ground, and gird about the breast with a golden girdle. His heed, and his hears were white, as white will, & as snow: 〈…〉 and his eyes were as a flame of fire: and his feet like unto brass, as though they brent in a furnace: and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars. 〈…〉 And out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword. And his 〈…〉 face shone even as the son in his strength. And when I saw him, I fallen at his feet, even as deed. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me: fear not. I am the first, and the last, and am alive, and was deed. And behold, I am alive forever more 〈…〉 and have the keys of hell & of death. Write therefore the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shallbe fulfilled here after: & the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candelstickes. The seven stars are the angels of the seven congregations: And the seven candelstyckes which thou sawest, are the seven congregations. The II Chapter. Unto the angel of the congregation of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his righthonde, and walketh in the mids of the seven golden candelstickes: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, & how thou canst not for bear them which are evil: and examinest them which say they are Apostles, and are not: & hast found them liars and hast suffered. And hast patience: and for my name's sake hast laboured and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, for thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works. Luc. 13. a Or else I will come unto the shortly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast because thou hatest the deeds of the Act. 6. a Nicolaitans, which deeds I also hate. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit says unto the congregations. To him that overcometh, will I Gen. 2. b give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the mids of the paradise of God. And unto the angel of the congregation of Smyrna write: These things says he that Esa. 41. a is first, and the last, which was deed, and is alive: I know thy works and tribulation and poverty, but thou art rich: And I know the blaspheny of them which call themselves Jews and are not: but are the congregation of Satan. Fear none of though things which thou shalt soffre. Behold, the devil shall cast of you in to preson, to tempt you, and you shall have tribulation x. days. Be faithful unto the death, and I will give the a crown of life. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit says to the congregations: He that over cometh, shall not be hurt of the second death. And to the angel of the congregation in Pergamos write: This saith he which Heb. 4. c hath the sharp sword with two edges: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou keepest my name, & hast not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, which was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast there, them that manyntayne the doctrine of Num. 25. a and 31. c Balaam, which taught in Balak, to put occasion of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicat unto idols, and to commit fornication. Even so hast thou the●● that maintain the doctrine of the Nicolaytans, which thing I hate. But be converted, or else I will come unto the shortly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit says unto the congregations: To him that over cometh, will I give to eat manna that is hid, and will give him a white stone, & in the stone a new● name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. And unto the angel of the congregation of Theatira writ: This says the son of God, Apo 1. c 19 c which hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, whose feet are like brass: I know thy works and thy love, service, and faith and thy patience, and thy deeds, which are more at the last then at the first. notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, that thou sufferest that woman 3. Re. 16. d 4. Re. 9 c jesabel (which called herself a prophetess) to teach and to deceive my servants, to make them commit fornication, and to eat meats offered up unto idols. Andrea I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit fornication with her, in to great adversity, except they turn from their deeds. And I will kill her children with death. And all the congregations shall know, that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts. And I will give unto every one of you according unto your works. Unto you I say, and unto other of them of Thiatyra, as many as have not this learning and which have not known the deepness of Satan (as they say) I will put upon you none other burden, but that which you have already. Hold fast till I come, and whosoever overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, Psal. 2. b Apoc. 19 c to him will I give power over nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and as the vessels of a potter, shall he break them to shivers. Even as I received of my father, so will I give him that morning star. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit saith to the congregations. The III Chapter. ANd write unto the angel of the congregation of Sardis: this saith he that hath the seven spretes of God, & the seven stars. I know thy works, thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art deed. Be awake, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die. For I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Mat. 24. d 1. Tess. 5. a 2 Pet. 3. b If thou shalt not watch, I will come on the as a these, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon the Thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh, shallbe clothed in white array, and I will not put out his name out of the book of life, Luc. 12. a and I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit saith unto the congregations. And write unto the angel of the congregation of Philadelphia: this saith he that is holy and true, which hath the key of David: which 〈…〉 openyth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. I know thy works. Behold, I have set before the an open door, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength and hast not denied my name. Behold, I shall give some of the congregation of Satan, which call themselves Jews and are not, but dolye: Behold: I will make them, that they shall come & worship before thy feet: and shall know that I have loved the. Because thou hast kept the words of my patience, therefore will I keep the from the hour of temptation, which will come upon all the world, to tempt them that devil upon the earth. Behold, I come shortly. Hold that which thou hast, that no man take away thy crown. Him that over cometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. And I will write upon him, the name of my God, and the name of the cite of my God, new jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit says unto the congregations. And unto the angel of the congregation, which is in Laodicia write: This saith Amen the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creatures of God. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art between both, and neither cold ner hot I will spew the out of my mouth: because thou sayst thou art rich and increased with goods and haste need of nothing, and knowest not how thou art wretched & miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel the to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayst be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayst be clothed, that thy filthy nakedness do not apere: anoint thy eyes with eye salve, that thou mayst se. 〈…〉 As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten. Be fervent therefore and repent. Behold, I stand at the door & knock. If any man hear my voice and upon the door, I will come in unto him and will sup with him, & he with me. To him that overcommth, will I grant 〈…〉 to sit with me on my seat, even as I overcame and have sitten with my father on his seat. Let him that hath ears, hear, what the spirit says unto the congregations. The four Chapter. AFter this I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven, and the first voice which I hard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said: come up hydder, and I will show the things which must be fulfilled her after. And immediately I was in the spirit: & behold, a seat was set in heaven, and one sat on the seat. And he that sat, was to look upon like unto a jasper stone, and a sardyne stone: And there was a rain bow about the seat, in sight like to a smaragd. 〈…〉 And about the seat were xxiv. seats. And upon the seats xxiv. elders sitting clothed in white raiment, and had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the seat proceeded lightnynges, and thundrynges, & voices, and there were seven lamps of fire, burning before the seat, which are the seven spretes of God. And before the seat there was●● see of glass like unto crystal, and in the mydes of the seat, and round about the seat, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first be'st was like a lion, the second be'st like a calf, and the third be'st had a face as a man and the fourth be'st was like a flying eagle. And the four beestes had each one of them uj. wings about him, and they were full of eyes with in. And they had no rest day neither night, saying: * holy, holy, holy, is the LORD God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beestes gave glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the seat, which liveth for ever and ever: the xxiv. elders fallen down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: thou art worthy LORD to receive glory, and honor, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy wills sake they are, and were created. The V Chapter. ANd I saw in the right hand of him, 〈…〉 that sat in the throne, a book written with in & on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel preaching with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven ner in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me: weep not: Esa 49 b Esa. ●1. b Behold, the lion which is of the tribe of juda, the rote of David, hath obtained to open the book, and to louse the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, & lo, in the mids of the seat, and of the four beasts, and in the mids of the elders, stood a lamb as though he had been killed, which had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spretes of God, sent in to all the world. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the seat. And when he had taken the book, the four beestes and the xxiv. elders fallen down before the lamb, having haps and golden vials full of odours (which are the prayers of the saints) and they song a new song saying: thou art worthy to take the book & to open the seals thereof: for thou Heb. 9 b 1. Pet. ●. c 1. joh. 1. b Apo. 1 a wast killed, and hast redeemed us by thy blood, out of all kynreddes, and tongues, and people, and nations, & hast made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Dan. 7. b And I beheld, and I herd the voice of many angilles about the throne, and about the beestes and the elders, and I heard thousand thousands, saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the lamb that was killed, to receive power, and riches & wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing. And all creatures, which are in heaven, & on the earth, & under the earth, & in the see, & all that are in them, herd I saying: blessing, honour, glory, & power, be unto him, that sitteth upon the seat, and unto the lamb for evermore. And the four beestes said: Amen. And the xxiv. elders fallen upon their faces, and worshipped him that liveth for evermore. The VI Chapter. ANd I saw when the lamb opened one of the seals, & I heard one of the four beestes say, as it were the noise of thunder: come and se. And I saw, and behold Zach 1 b and 6. ● 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 se. And there went out another horse that was reed, & power was given to him that sat there on, 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 & se. 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 mids 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 se. And I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed after him, & power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, of the vermin of the earth. And when he opened the fift seal, I saw under the aultre, 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 tariest thou 4. Esd. 15. b Dan. 12. b LORD holy and true, to judge & to avenge our blood on them that devil on the earth? Andrea long white garments were given unto every one of them. Esa. 26. c 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. Andrea I beheld when he opened the sixte seal, and loo, there was a great earthquake, and the son was as black as sack clot made of hear. And the moan waxed even as blood: and the stars of heaven fallen unto the earth, even as a fyggetree castith from her her figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And heaven vanyszhed away, as a scroll when it is rolled togedder. And all mountains and yles, were moved out of their places. Esa. 2. c And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the might men, and every free man, hid themselves in dens, Apo. 9 b 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? The VII. Chapter. ANd after that saw I four angels stand on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, neither on the see, neither on any tree. And I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the son: which had the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels (to whom power was given to hurt the earth and the see) saying: 〈…〉 Hurt not the earth neither the see, neither the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their forheddes. And I heard the number of them which were sealed, and there were sealed an c. and xliiij. M. of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of juda were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Asser were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Neptalym were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of simeon were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Isacar were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of joseph were sealed xij. M. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed xij. thousand. 〈…〉 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude (which no man could number) of all nations and people, and tongues, stood before the seat, and before the lamb, clothed with long white garments, and palms in their hands, and cried with a land voice, saying: salvation be ascribe to him that sitteth upon the seat of our God, and unto the lamb. And all the angels stood in the compass of the seat, and of the elders and of the four beasts, and fallen before the seat on the faces, and worshipped God, saying, am●● blessing and glory, wisdom and thanks, and honour, and power and might, be unto our God for evermore Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me: what are these which are arrayed in long white garments, and whence, came they? And I said unto him: LORD thou wottest. And he said unto me: these are they which came out of great tribulation, and made their garments large, and made them white in the blood of the lamb: therefore are they in the presence of the seat of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sitteth in the seat, will devil among them. They shall hunger 〈…〉 no more neither thirst, neither shall the son light on them, neither any heat: For the lamb which is in the mids of the seat, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto fountains of living water, 〈…〉 and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. The VIII. Chapter. ANd when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I shall reign for eurmore. And the four and twenty Elders, which sat before God on their seatts, fallen upon their faces, and worshipped God saying: we give the thanks LORD God allmyghte: which art and waste, and art to come, for thou hast received thy great might, and hast reigned. And the heathen were angry, & thy wrath is come, and the time of the deed that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets and saints, and to them that fear thy name, small & great: and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there followed lightnynges, and voices, and thondrynges and earth quake, and a great hail. And there appeared a great token in heaven. A woman clothed with the Son, and the moan under her feet, and upon her deed a crown of twelve stars. And she was with child, and cried travaillinge in birth, and pained ready to be delivered. And there appeared another token in heaven, and behold a great reed dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads: and his tail drew the third part of the stars, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered: for to devour her child as soon as it were born. And she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her son was taken up unto God, and to his seat. 〈…〉 12. d 〈◊〉 ●1. f And the woman fled in to wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a M.ij C. and lx. days. Andrea there was a great battle in heaven Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon that old serpent (called the devil and Sathanas) was cast out. Which deceived all the world. 〈…〉 And he was cast in to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him also. And I hard a loud voice, which said in heaven: Now is salvation, and strength and the kingdom become our Gods, and the power his Christ's: For he is cast down, which accused them before God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice you heavens, and you that devil in them. woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the see: for the devil is come down unto you, which hath great wrath, because he knoweth, that he hath but a short tyme. And when the dragon saw, that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle Apoc. 12 that she might fly in to the wilderness, in to her place, where she is noryszhed for a time, two times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the woman, as it had been a river, Dan. 7. b that he might 'cause her to be caught of the flood. And the earth holp the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman: and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of jesus Christ. And I stood on the see sand. The XIII. Chapter. ANd I saw a be'st rise out of the see, having seven heads, and x. horns, and upon his horns x. crowns, and upon his heed, the names of blasphemy. Apo. 17. ● And the be'st which I saw was like a cat of the mountain, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, Dan. 7. ● and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority: and I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered at the be'st, and they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the be'st, and they worshipped the be'st, saying: who is like unto the be'st? who is able to war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth to speak great things & blasphemies, and power was given unto him, to do xlij. months. And he opened his mouth unto blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle and them that devil in heaven. Apoc. 11. b And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over all kindred, tongue, and nation: Dan. 11. f and all that devil upon the earth worshipped him: whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb, which was killed from the beginning of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth in to captivity, shall go in to captivity: ●en. 9 a Mat 26. e he that killeth with a sword, must be killed with the sword. Apo. 14 c Hear is the patience, and the faith of the saints. Andrea I beheld another be'st coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as did the dragon. And he did all that the first be'st could do in his presence, and he caused the earth, and them which devil therein, to worship the first be'st, whose deadly wound was healed. And he did great wonders, so that he made fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. And deceived them that dwelled on the earth by the means of those signs which he had power to do in the sight of the be'st, saying to them that dwelled on the earth: that they should make an image unto the be'st, which had the wound of a sword and did live. And he had power to give a spirit unto the image of the be'st, and that the image of the be'st should speak, and should 'cause, that as many as would not worship the image of the be'st, should be killed. And he made all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hands, or in their forheades. And that noman might by or cell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the be'st, either the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath wit, count the number of the be'st. For it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred, three score and six. The XIIII. Chapter. ANd I looked, and lo, a lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him. C. and xliiij. thousand having his father's name written in their forheades. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. And the voice that I heard, was as the harpers that play upon their harpers. And they song as it were a new song, before the seat, & before the four beestes, and the elders, and no man could learn that song, but the hundred and xliiij. M. which were redeemed from the earth. These are they, which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the lamb whither soever 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 withouten spot before the throne of God. And I saw an angel fly in the mids of heaven having an everlasting Gospel, to preach unto them that sit and devil on the earth, and to all nations, kinreddes, 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 see, and the fountains of water. And there followed another angel, saying: She is fallen, she is fallen: even Babylon that great cite, 〈…〉 for she made all nations drink of the wine of her whoredom. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man worship the be'st 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 powered in the cup of his wrath. And he shallbe punyszhed 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 res● day ner night, which worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the print of his name. 〈…〉 Here is the patience of saints. Hear are they that keep the commandments and the faith of Iesu. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me: write: Blessed are the deed, which here after die in the LORD. Ye the spirit sayeth, that they rest from their labours, for their works 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 heed a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sykle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud: 〈…〉 Thrust in thy sycle and reepe: for the time is come to reepe, for the corn of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sykle on the earth, and the earth was reeped. And another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, having also a sharp sykle. And another angel came out from the aultre, which had power over fire, and cried with a loud cry unto 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 in to the great winefat of the wrath of God: & the winefat was trodden without the cite, and blood came out of the fat, even unto the horse bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundredth furlongs. The XU. Chapter. ANd I saw another sign in heaven great & mervellous vii angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is fulfilled the wrath of god. And I saw as it were a glassy see, mingled with fire, and them that had got victory of the be'st, and of his image, and of his mark, and of the number of his name, stand on the glassy see, having the haps of God: and they song the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the lamb, saying: great and marvelous are thy works LORD God almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints. 〈◊〉 10. a Who shall not fear the O LORD and glorify thy name? For thou only are holy, for all gentiles shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgements are made manifest. And after that, I looked, and behold, the temple of the Tabernacle of testimony was open in heaven, and the seven angels came out of the temple, which had the seven plagues, clothed in pure and bright linen, and having their breasts girded with golden gerdelles. And one of the four beestes gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God which liveth for evermore. 〈◊〉 44. a And the temple was full of smoke for the glory of God, and for his power, and no man was able to enter in to the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. The XVI. Chapter. 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 fallen a noisome a sore botch upon the men which had the mark of the be'st, and upon them that worshipped his image. And the second angel shed out his vial upon the see, and it turned as it were in to the blood of a deed man: and every living thing died in the see, 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 waste, thou art righteous and holy, because thou hast given such judgements, for they shed the blood of saints, and prophets, and therefore hast thou given them blood to drink: for they are worthy. And I heard another angel 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 Son, and power was given unto him to vex men with heat of fire. And the men raged in great heat, and spoke evil of the name of God, which had power over those plagues, and they repented not, to give him glory. And the fift angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the be'st, and his kingdom waxed dark, and they gnewe 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 sixte angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water dried up, that the way of the kings of the east should be prepared. And I saw three unclean spretes kike frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the be'st, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spretes of devils working miracles, to go out unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gaddre them to the battle of that great day of God almighty. Mat. 24. Luc. 12. ● 1. Tess 5. 2. Pet. 3. ● Behold, I come as a thief. Happy is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, jest he be found naked, and men see his filthiness. And he gaddered them togedder in to a place, called in the Hebrew tongue, Armagedon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial in to the air. And there came a great voice out of heaven from the seat, saying▪ It is done. And there followed voices, 〈◊〉 dringes, and lightnynges, and there 〈…〉 great earthquake, such as was not 〈…〉 were upon the earth, so mighty 〈…〉 quake and so great. And 〈…〉 was divided in to three parties. And the cities of nations fallen. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every isle fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fallen a great hail, as it had been talentes, 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 sore. The XVII. Chapter. ANd there came one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me: Come, I will show the the iugdment of the great whore, that sitteth upon many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed whoredom, and 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 coloured be'st, full of names of blasphemy, which had seven heads & 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 wordome. 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 jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel. And the angel said unto me: wherefore meruayllest thou? I will showeth the mystery of the woman, and of the be'st that beerith her, which hath seven heads, and ten horns. The be'st that thou seest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and shall go in to perdition, and they that devil 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 be'st that was, and is not. And here is a mind, that hath wiszdome. The seven heads are seven mountanes, 〈◊〉 the woman sitteth: they are also 〈…〉. five are fallen, and one is, 〈…〉 is not yet come. When he 〈…〉 continued a space. And the 〈…〉 and is not, is even the eight, and is of the seven, and shall go in to destruction. 〈…〉 And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, which have not yet received the kingdom, but shall receive power as kings at one hour with the be'st. 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 all lords, and king of all kings: and they that are on his side, are called, and choose 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 be'st, 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 be'st, until the words of God be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest, is that great cite, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. The XVIII. Chapter. ANd after that I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lyghtned with his brightness. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying: 〈…〉 She is fallen, she is fallen, even great Babylon, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of all fowl spretes, and a cage of all unclean and hateful birds: for all nations have drunken of the wine of the wrath of her whoredom. 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 you be not partakers of her sins, jest you receive of her plagues. For her sins are go up to heaven, and the LORD 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 wantanly, so much pour you in for her of punyszhment, and sorrow, for she sayeth 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 shallbe brent with fire: for strong is the LORD God which shall judge her. And the kings of the earth shall bewep her and wail over her, which have committed fornication and lived wantanly with her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, and shall stand a far of for fear of her punyszhment, saying: Alas, Alas, that great cite Babylon, that mighty cite: For at one hour is thy judgement come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and wail in themselves, because no man will buy their ware any more, the ware of gold, and silver, and of precious stones, of pearl, & silk, and purple, and scarlet, & all Thynen would, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, & synomom and odours, and ointments, and frank ynsence, and wine, and oil, and fine flower, and wheat, and cattles, and sheep, and horses, and charrettes, and bodies and souls of men. And the apples that thy soul lusted after, are departed from the. 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 by her, shall stand afar of for fear of the punyszhment of her, weeping and wailing, and saying: alas alas, that great cite, that was clothed in silk, 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 occupy ships, and shippmen which work in the see, stood a far of, and cried, when they saw the smoke of her burning, and said: what cite is like unto this great cite? And they cast dust on their heads, and cried weeping, and wailing, and said: Alas, Alas the great cite, where in were made rich all that had ships in the see, by the reason of her wares: for at one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her thou heaven, and you holy Apostles, and prophets: for God hath given your judgement on her. And a mighty angel took up a great stone like a millstone, and cast it in to the see, saying: with such violence shall that great cite Babylon be cast, and shallbe found no more. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pypers, and trompetters, shallbe heard no more in thee: and no crafts man (of what soever craft he be) shallbe found any more in thee: and the sound of a mill shallbe heard no more in thee: jere. 16.25 and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride, shallbe heard no more in the for thy merchants were princes 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. The XIX. Chapter. ANd after that, I heard the voice of much people in heaven, saying: Alleluia. Salvation and glory and honour, and power be ascribed to the LORD our God, for true and righteous are his judgements, because he hath judged the great whore (which did corrupt the earth with her fornication) and hath avenged the blood of his servants of her hand. And again they said: Alleluia. Apo. 9 c 14. c And smoke rose up for evermore. Andrea the xxiv: elders, & the four beestes fallen down, and worshipped God that sat on the seat, saying: Amen: Alleluia. And a voice came out of the seat, saying: praise our LORD God all you that are his servants, 〈◊〉 that fear him both small and great. And I heard the voice of much people, 〈◊〉 the voice of many waters, & as the voice of strong thondrynges, saying: Alleluia, for God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife made herself ready. And to her was granted, that she should be arrayed with pure and goodly silk. (As for the silk, it is the rightewesnes of saints.) And he said unto me: Luc. 14. ● Blessed are they which are called unto the lambs supper. And he said unto me: these are the true sayings of God. And I fallen at his feet, to worship him. And he said unto me: Act. 10. c 14. c Apo. 2● d See thou do it not. For I am thy fellow servant, and one of thy brethren, and of them that have the testimony of jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of jesus is the spirit of prophecy. And I saw heaven open, & behold, a white horse and he that sat upon him, was called 〈◊〉 and true, & in rightewesnes did 〈…〉 make battle. His eyes 〈…〉 were 〈…〉 fire, and on his head were 〈…〉 he had a name written, 〈…〉 but himself. 〈…〉 And he was 〈…〉 vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called, the word of God. And the warriors which were in heaven, followed him upon white horses, clothed with white and pure silk and Apoc. 1. ● out of his mouth want a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the heathen: Psal. ●. b And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he trod the wynefatte of the fierceness and wrath of almighty God. And hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written: Dan. 12. a King of all kings, and LORD of all lords. ●. Tim. ●. Apo. 17. c 〈◊〉 I saw an angel stand in the Son, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly by them yddes under the heaven: Come and gaddre yourselves togedder unto the supper of the great God, that you may eat 〈◊〉. 39 d the flesh of kings, and of high captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all free men and bondmen, both of small and great. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth, and their warriors gaddred togedder, to make battle against him that sat upon the horse, and against his sowdiers. And the beast was taken, and with him that false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived then that received the beestes mark, and them that worszhipped his image. Dan. 7. b Apo. 20 c Mat▪ 15. d The 〈◊〉 were cast in to a pond of fire burning with brimstone: and the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, Heb. 〈…〉 which sword proceeded out of his mouth, and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. The XX. Chapter. ANd I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand. ●ob. 4. ᵇ ● Pet. 2. b And he took the dragon that old serpent (which is the devil and Satanas) and he bound him a thousand years: and cast him in to the bottomless pit, and he bound him, and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the people nomoare, till the thousand years were fulfilled. Andrea after that must he be loosed for a little 〈…〉 〈…〉 seats, and they sat upon 〈…〉 was given unto 〈…〉 the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of jesus 〈◊〉 for the word of God: which had not wo●●shipped the be'st, neither his image, neither had raken his mark upon their forhea●des, or on their hands: and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand year: breath other of the deed men lived not again, until the thousand year were fyniszhed. This is that first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. On such hath the second death no power, but they shallbe the priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand year. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shallbe loosed out of his preson, and shall go out to deceive the people which are in the four quarters of the earth. 〈…〉 Gog and Magog, to gadder them togedder to battle, whose number is as the sand of the see: and they went up on the plain of the earth, and compassed the tents of the saints about, and the beloved cite. And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them: 〈…〉 and the devil that deceived them, was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, where the be'st and the false prophet were, and shallbe tormented day and night for evermore. And I saw a great white seat, and him that sat on it, from whole face fled away both the earth and heaven, and their place was no more found. 〈…〉 And I saw the deed, both great and small stand before God: And the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life, and the deed were judged of the things which were written in the books according to their deeds: and the see gave up her deed, which were in her, and death and hell delivered up the deed, which were in them: and they were judged every man according to his deeds. And death and hell were cast in to the lake of fire. This is that second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast in to the lake of fire. The XXI. Chapter. ANd I saw a 〈…〉 new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven, and the first earth were vaniszhed away, and there was no more See. And I John saw that holy cite new jerusalem come down from God out of heaven, prepared 〈…〉 garniszhed for her huszband. And 〈…〉 a great voice from the seat, sayen 〈…〉, the tabernacle of God is with 〈…〉 and he will devil with them. And they 〈◊〉 his people, and God himself shallbe with them, and shallbe their God. 〈…〉 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there shallbe no more death, neither sorrow, neither shall there be any more pain, for the old things are go. And he that sat upon the seat, said: 〈…〉 Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me: write for these words are faithful and true, 〈◊〉 said vnt● 〈◊〉: it is done 〈…〉 I am 〈…〉 beginning, and 〈…〉 that is a thirst 〈…〉 He that 〈…〉 〈…〉 I will 〈…〉 But 〈…〉 and murthurers, and whormongers, and sorcerers, and ydolaters, & all liars, shall have their part in the lake, that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues: and talked with me, saying: come hydder, I will showeth the bride, the lambs wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and an high mountain, and he showed me the great cite, holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, having the brightness of God. And her shining was like unto a stone most precious, even a jasper clear as crystal: & had great and high walls, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels: and names written, which are the twelve tribes of Israel: on the est part three gates, and on the north side three gates, and toward the south three gates, and from the west three gates▪ and the brickwall of the cite had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the lambs twelve Apostles. 〈…〉 And he that talked with me, had a golden reed to measure the cite with all, and the gates thereof, and the brickwall thereof. And the cite was built four square, and the length was as large as the breadth of it, and he measured the cite with the reed twelve M. furlongs: and the length and the breadth, and the height of it, were equal. And he measured the brickwall thereof, an cxliiij. cubittee, after the measure of a man, which the angel had. And the building of the brickwall of it was of jasper. And the cite was of pure gold, like unto clear glass: and the foundations of the walls and of the cite were garnyszhed with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was a jasper, the second a Sapphire, the third a Calcedony, the fourth a smaragd: the fift a Sardonix: the sixt a Sardeos: the seventh a Crysolite, the eight beryll: the ninth a Topas: the tenth a Crysoprasos: the eleventh a hyacinth: the twelve an Amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, and every gate was of one pearl, and the street of the cite was pure gold, as a thorough shining glass. And I saw no temple therein. For the LORD God almighty and the lamb is the temple of it, and the cite hath no need of the Son, neither of the moan to lighten it. For the brightness of God doth light it: and the lamb is the light of it. And the people which are saved, shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory unto it. Esa. 60. b And the gates of it shall not be shut by day. For there shallbe no night there. And there shall enter in to it none unclean thing: neither whatsoever worketh abomination: or maketh lies: but they which are written in the lambs book of life. The XXII. Chapter. ANd he showed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal: Eze. 47. a zac. 14. b proceeding out of the seat of God and of the lamb in the mids of the street of it, and of either side of the river was there would of life: which bore twelve manner of fruits: and gave fruit every month: and the leaves of the wood served to heal the people with all. And there shallbe no more curse, but the seat of God and the lamb shallbe in it: and his servants shall serve him: And shall see his face, and his name shallbe in their for heads. Esa. 60. d And there shallbe no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the Son: for the LORD God giveth the light, and they shall reign for evermore. And he said unto me these sayings are faithful, and true. And the LORD God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto 〈◊〉 servants, the things which must shortly be fulfilled. Behold, I come shortly. Apoc. 1. ● Happy is he that keepeth the saying of the prophesy of this book. I am John, which saw these things and heard them. And when I had herd and seen them, I fallen down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. And he said unto me: Apoc. 19 see thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant and the fellow servant of thy brethren the prophets, and of them, which keep the sayings of this book. Worship God. And he said unto me: seal not the sayeng●s of the prophecy of this book. For the time is at hand. Zach. 11. b He that doth evil, let him do evil still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be more righteous: and he that is holy, let him be more holy. And behold, I come shortly, and my reward with me, to give every man according as his deeds shallbe. Apoc. 1 b I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: the first & the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that their power may be in the tree of life, and may enter in thorough the gates in to the cite. 1. Cor. 6. b Gal. 5. c E●he. 5. a For without are ●ogges and enchanters and whormongers, and murderers, and ydolaters, and whosoever loveth or 〈◊〉. I jesus have sent mine angel, 〈◊〉 unto you these things in the 〈◊〉 I am the rote and the generation of 〈◊〉 and the bright morning star. And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And let him that heareth, say also: Come. 〈…〉 And let him that is a thirst, come. And let whosoever will, take of the water of life fire. I testify unto every man that he areth the words of prophecy of this book 〈…〉 if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the 〈◊〉 that are 〈…〉 in this book. 〈…〉 of the words of 〈…〉 God shall 〈…〉 book of life 〈…〉 holy cit● 〈…〉 though thing 〈…〉 He which 〈…〉 Ye I come quickly 〈…〉 LORD Iesu. The 〈…〉 jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. The end of the new testament. A fault escaped in pryntinge the new Testament. Upon the fourth leaf, the first side, in the sixte chapter of S. Matthew. Seek you first the kingdom of heaven: &c. read. Seek you first the kingdom of God. &c. printed in the year of our LORD M.D. XXXV. and finished the fourth day of October.