Sir 37:2 Is it not a grief unto death, when a companion and friend is turned to an enemy?

Sir 37:3 O wicked imagination, whence camest thou in to cover the earth with deceit?

Sir 37:4 There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.

Sir 37:5 There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.

Sir 37:6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.

Sir 37:7 Every counsellor extolleth counsel; but there is some that counselleth for himself.

Sir 37:8 Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,

Sir 37:9 And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.

Sir 37:10 Consult not with one that suspecteth thee: and hide thy counsel from such as envy thee.

Sir 37:11 Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.

Sir 37:12 But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.

Sir 37:13 And let the counsel of thine own heart stand: for there is no man more faithful unto thee than it.

Sir 37:14 For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.

Sir 37:15 And above all this pray to the most High, that he will direct thy way in truth.

Sir 37:16 Let reason go before every enterprize, and counsel before every action.

Sir 37:17 The countenance is a sign of changing of the heart.

Sir 37:18 Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.

Sir 37:19 There is one that is wise and teacheth many, and yet is unprofitable to himself.

Sir 37:20 There is one that sheweth wisdom in words, and is hated: he shall be destitute of all food.

Sir 37:21 For grace is not given, him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom.

Sir 37:22 Another is wise to himself; and the fruits of understanding are commendable in his mouth.

Sir 37:23 A wise man instructeth his people; and the fruits of his understanding fail not.

Sir 37:24 A wise man shall be filled with blessing; and all they that see him shall count him happy.

Sir 37:25 The days of the life of man may be numbered: but the days of Israel are innumerable.

Sir 37:26 A wise man shall inherit glory among his people, and his name shall be perpetual.

Sir 37:27 My son, prove thy soul in thy life, and see what is evil for it, and give not that unto it.

Sir 37:28 For all things are not profitable for all men, neither hath every soul pleasure in every thing.

Sir 37:29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats:

Sir 37:30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler.

Sir 37:31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.

Sir 38:1 Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.

Sir 38:2 For of the most High cometh healing, and he shall receive honour of the king.

Sir 38:3 The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.

Sir 38:4 The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.

Sir 38:5 Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?

Sir 38:6 And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.

Sir 38:7 With such doth he heal [men,] and taketh away their pains.

Sir 38:8 Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,

Sir 38:9 My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.

Sir 38:10 Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.

Sir 38:11 Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.

Sir 38:12 Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.

Sir 38:13 There is a time when in their hands there is good success.

Sir 38:14 For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.

Sir 38:15 He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician.

Sir 38:16 My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.

Sir 38:17 Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.

Sir 38:18 For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.

Sir 38:19 In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.

Sir 38:20 Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end.

Sir 38:21 Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.

Sir 38:22 Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee.

Sir 38:23 When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.

Sir 38:24 The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.

Sir 38:25 How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?

Sir 38:26 He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.

Sir 38:27 So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:

Sir 38:28 The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:

Sir 38:29 So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;

Sir 38:30 He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:

Sir 38:31 All these trust to their hands: and every one is wise in his work.

Sir 38:32 Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:

Sir 38:33 They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges' seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.

Sir 38:34 But they will maintain the state of the world, and [all] their desire is in the work of their craft.

Sir 39:1 But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.

Sir 39:2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil parables are, he will be there also.

Sir 39:3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant in dark parables.

Sir 39:4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.

Sir 39:5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.

Sir 39:6 When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.

Sir 39:7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets shall he meditate.

Sir 39:8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

Sir 39:9 Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.

Sir 39:10 Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, and the congregation shall declare his praise.

Sir 39:11 If he die, he shall leave a greater name than a thousand: and if he live, he shall increase it.

Sir 39:12 Yet have I more to say, which I have thought upon; for I am filled as the moon at the full.

Sir 39:13 Hearken unto me, ye holy children, and bud forth as a rose growing by the brook of the field:

Sir 39:14 And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.

Sir 39:15 Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:

Sir 39:16 All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.

Sir 39:17 And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.

Sir 39:18 At his commandment is done whatsoever pleaseth him; and none can hinder, when he will save.

Sir 39:19 The works of all flesh are before him, and nothing can be hid from his eyes.

Sir 39:20 He seeth from everlasting to everlasting; and there is nothing wonderful before him.

Sir 39:21 A man need not to say, What is this? wherefore is that? for he hath made all things for their uses.

Sir 39:22 His blessing covered the dry land as a river, and watered it as a flood.

Sir 39:23 As he hath turned the waters into saltness: so shall the heathen inherit his wrath.

Sir 39:24 As his ways are plain unto the holy; so are they stumblingblocks unto the wicked.

Sir 39:25 For the good are good things created from the beginning: so evil things for sinners.

Sir 39:26 The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.

Sir 39:27 All these things are for good to the godly: so to the sinners they are turned into evil.

Sir 39:28 There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.

Sir 39:29 Fire, and hail, and famine, and death, all these were created for vengeance;

Sir 39:30 Teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword punishing the wicked to destruction.

Sir 39:31 They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.

Sir 39:32 Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.

Sir 39:33 All the works of the Lord are good: and he will give every needful thing in due season.

Sir 39:34 So that a man cannot say, This is worse than that: for in time they shall all be well approved.

Sir 39:35 And therefore praise ye the Lord with the whole heart and mouth, and bless the name of the Lord.

Sir 40:1 Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.

Sir 40:2 Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;

Sir 40:3 From him that sitteth on a throne of glory, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes;

Sir 40:4 From him that weareth purple and a crown, unto him that is clothed with a linen frock.

Sir 40:5 Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.

Sir 40:6 A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.

Sir 40:7 When all is safe, he awaketh, and marvelleth that the fear was nothing.

Sir 40:8 [Such things happen] unto all flesh, both man and beast, and that is sevenfold more upon sinners.

Sir 40:9 Death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;

Sir 40:10 These things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes came the flood.

Sir 40:11 All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.

Sir 40:12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out: but true dealing shall endure for ever.

Sir 40:13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.

Sir 40:14 While he openeth his hand he shall rejoice: so shall transgressors come to nought.

Sir 40:15 The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.

Sir 40:16 The weed growing upon every water and bank of a river shall be pulled up before all grass.

Sir 40:17 Bountifulness is as a most fruitful garden, and mercifulness endureth for ever.

Sir 40:18 To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.

Sir 40:19 Children and the building of a city continue a man's name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.

Sir 40:20 Wine and musick rejoice the heart: but the love of wisdom is above them both.

Sir 40:21 The pipe and the psaltery make sweet melody: but a pleasant tongue is above them both.

Sir 40:22 Thine eye desireth favour and beauty: but more than both corn while it is green.

Sir 40:23 A friend and companion never meet amiss: but above both is a wife with her husband.

Sir 40:24 Brethren and help are against time of trouble: but alms shall deliver more than them both.

Sir 40:25 Gold and silver make the foot stand sure: but counsel is esteemed above them both.

Sir 40:26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.

Sir 40:27 The fear of the Lord is a fruitful garden, and covereth him above all glory.

Sir 40:28 My son, lead not a beggar's life; for better it is to die than to beg.

Sir 40:29 The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.

Sir 40:30 Begging is sweet in the mouth of the shameless: but in his belly there shall burn a fire.

Sir 41:1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!

Sir 41:2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!

Sir 41:3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.

Sir 41:4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.

Sir 41:5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.

Sir 41:6 The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.

Sir 41:7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.

Sir 41:8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:

Sir 41:9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.

Sir 41:10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.

Sir 41:11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.

Sir 41:12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.

Sir 41:13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.

Sir 41:14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?

Sir 41:15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.

Sir 41:16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.

Sir 41:17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;

Sir 41:18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;

Sir 41:19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;

Sir 41:20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;

Sir 41:21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.

Sir 41:22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;

Sir 41:23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets.

Sir 41:24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced and find favour before all men.

Sir 42:1 Of these things be not thou ashamed, and accept no person to sin thereby:

Sir 42:2 Of the law of the most High, and his covenant; and of judgment to justify the ungodly;

Sir 42:3 Of reckoning with thy partners and travellers; or of the gift of the heritage of friends;

Sir 42:4 Of exactness of balance and weights; or of getting much or little;

Sir 42:5 And of merchants' indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.

Sir 42:6 Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; and shut up, where many hands are.

Sir 42:7 Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.

Sir 42:8 Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.

Sir 42:9 The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:

Sir 42:10 In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.

Sir 42:11 Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.

Sir 42:12 Behold not every body's beauty, and sit not in the midst of women.

Sir 42:13 For from garments cometh a moth, and from women wickedness.

Sir 42:14 Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.

Sir 42:15 I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.

Sir 42:16 The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.

Sir 42:17 The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory.

Sir 42:18 He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.

Sir 42:19 He declareth the things that are past, and for to come, and revealeth the steps of hidden things.

Sir 42:20 No thought escapeth him, neither any word is hidden from him.

Sir 42:21 He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.

Sir 42:22 Oh how desirable are all his works! and that a man may see even to a spark.

Sir 42:23 All these things live and remain for ever for all uses, and they are all obedient.

Sir 42:24 All things are double one against another: and he hath made nothing imperfect.

Sir 42:25 One thing establisheth the good or another: and who shall be filled with beholding his glory?

Sir 43:1 The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew;

Sir 43:2 The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High:

Sir 43:3 At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof?

Sir 43:4 A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.

Sir 43:5 Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth hastily.

Sir 43:6 He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world.

Sir 43:7 From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection.

Sir 43:8 The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven;

Sir 43:9 The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.

Sir 43:10 At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches.

Sir 43:11 Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof.

Sir 43:12 It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it.

Sir 43:13 By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall aplace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.

Sir 43:14 Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as fowls.

Sir 43:15 By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small.

Sir 43:16 At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth.

Sir 43:17 The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:

Sir 43:18 The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it.

Sir 43:19 The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.

Sir 43:20 When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate.

Sir 43:21 It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.

Sir 43:22 A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming after heat refresheth.

Sir 43:23 By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein.

Sir 43:24 They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.

Sir 43:25 For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created.

Sir 43:26 By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word all things consist.

Sir 43:27 We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all.

Sir 43:28 How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works.

Sir 43:29 The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power.

Sir 43:30 When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.

Sir 43:31 Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is?

Sir 43:32 There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works.

Sir 43:33 For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.

Sir 44:1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.

Sir 44:2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.

Sir 44:3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:

Sir 44:4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:

Sir 44:5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing:

Sir 44:6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations:

Sir 44:7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

Sir 44:8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported.

Sir 44:9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.

Sir 44:10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.

Sir 44:11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.

Sir 44:12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.

Sir 44:13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out.

Sir 44:14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.

Sir 44:15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

Sir 44:16 Enoch pleased the Lord, and was translated, being an example of repentance to all generations.

Sir 44:17 Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.

Sir 44:18 An everlasting covenant was made with him, that all flesh should perish no more by the flood.

Sir 44:19 Abraham was a great father of many people: in glory was there none like unto him;

Sir 44:20 Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.

Sir 44:21 Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.

Sir 44:22 With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.

Sir 45:1 And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.

Sir 45:2 He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.

Sir 45:3 By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory.

Sir 45:4 He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him out of all men.

Sir 45:5 He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments.

Sir 45:6 He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

Sir 45:7 An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.

Sir 45:8 He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.

Sir 45:9 And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people;

Sir 45:10 With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroidere, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;

Sir 45:11 With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.

Sir 45:12 He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

Sir 45:13 Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children perpetually.

Sir 45:14 Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually.

Sir 45:15 Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.

Sir 45:16 He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.

Sir 45:17 He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.

Sir 45:18 Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.

Sir 45:19 This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame.

Sir 45:20 But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance:

Sir 45:21 For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed.

Sir 45:22 Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

Sir 45:23 The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.

Sir 45:24 Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:

Sir 45:25 According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.

Sir 45:26 God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.

Sir 46:1 Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance.

Sir 46:2 How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities!

Sir 46:3 Who before him so stood to it? for the Lord himself brought his enemies unto him.

Sir 46:4 Did not the sun go back by his means? and was not one day as long as two?

Sir 46:5 He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.

Sir 46:6 And with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their strength, because he fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.

Sir 46:7 In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring.

Sir 46:8 And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were preserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that floweth with milk and honey.

Sir 46:9 The Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an heritage:

Sir 46:10 That all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord.

Sir 46:11 And concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory be blessed.

Sir 46:12 Let their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name of them that were honoured be continued upon their children.

Sir 46:13 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.

Sir 46:14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord had respect unto Jacob.

Sir 46:15 By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word he was known to be faithful in vision.

Sir 46:16 He called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.

Sir 46:17 And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made his voice to be heard.

Sir 46:18 And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes cf the Philistines.

Sir 46:19 And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods, so much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him.

Sir 46:20 And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.

Sir 47:1 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.

Sir 47:2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.

Sir 47:3 He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.

Sir 47:4 Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath?

Sir 47:5 For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.

Sir 47:6 So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory.

Sir 47:7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.

Sir 47:8 In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him.

Sir 47:9 He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.

Sir 47:10 He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning.

Sir 47:11 The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.

Sir 47:12 After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.

Sir 47:13 Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.

Sir 47:14 How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!

Sir 47:15 Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables.

Sir 47:16 Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.

Sir 47:17 The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.

Sir 47:18 By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.

Sir 47:19 Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.

Sir 47:20 Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.

Sir 47:21 So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.

Sir 47:22 But the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of his works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect, and the seed of him that loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.

Sir 47:23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:

Sir 47:24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.

Sir 47:25 For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.

Sir 48:1 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.

Sir 48:2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his zeal he diminished their number.

Sir 48:3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and also three times brought down fire.

Sir 48:4 O Elias, how wast thou honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!

Sir 48:5 Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:

Sir 48:6 Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men from their bed:

Sir 48:7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the judgment of vengeance:

Sir 48:8 Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to succeed after him:

Sir 48:9 Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot of fiery horses:

Sir 48:10 Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Sir 48:11 Blessed are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.

Sir 48:12 Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.

Sir 48:13 No word could overcome him; and after his death his body prophesied.

Sir 48:14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death were his works marvellous.

Sir 48:15 For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:

Sir 48:16 Of whom some did that which was pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins.

Sir 48:17 Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.

Sir 48:18 In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.

Sir 48:19 Then trembled their hearts and hands, and they were in pain, as women in travail.

Sir 48:20 But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.

Sir 48:21 He smote the host of the Assyrians, and his angel destroyed them.

Sir 48:22 For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.

Sir 48:23 In his time the sun went backward, and he lengthened the king's life.

Sir 48:24 He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.

Sir 48:25 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.

Sir 49:1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.

Sir 49:2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.

Sir 49:3 He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of God.

Sir 49:4 All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.

Sir 49:5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.

Sir 49:6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.

Sir 49:7 For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother's womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.

Sir 49:8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.

Sir 49:9 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went right.

Sir 49:10 And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.

Sir 49:11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:

Sir 49:12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory.

Sir 49:13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.

Sir 49:14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.

Sir 49:15 Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.

Sir 49:16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.

Sir 50:1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:

Sir 50:2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:

Sir 50:3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:

Sir 50:4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:

Sir 50:5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!

Sir 50:6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:

Sir 50:7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:

Sir 50:8 And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer:

Sir 50:9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:

Sir 50:10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.

Sir 50:11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment of holiness honourable.

Sir 50:12 When he took the portions out of the priests' hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.

Sir 50:13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.

Sir 50:14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,

Sir 50:15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.

Sir 50:16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.

Sir 50:17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.

Sir 50:18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.

Sir 50:19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service.

Sir 50:20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.

Sir 50:21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.

Sir 50:22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.

Sir 50:23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:

Sir 50:24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!

Sir 50:25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:

Sir 50:26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

Sir 50:27 Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

Sir 50:28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

Sir 50:29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.

[A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.]

Sir 51:1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:

Sir 51:2 For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:

Sir 51:3 And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;

Sir 51:4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;

Sir 51:5 From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.

Sir 51:6 By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.

Sir 51:7 They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.

Sir 51:8 Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.

Sir 51:9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

Sir 51:10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.

Sir 51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:

Sir 51:12 For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.

Sir 51:13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.

Sir 51:14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.

Sir 51:15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.

Sir 51:16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.

Sir 51:17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.

Sir 51:18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.

Sir 51:19 My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.

Sir 51:20 I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.

Sir 51:21 My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.

Sir 51:22 The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.

Sir 51:23 Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.

Sir 51:24 Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?

Sir 51:25 I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.

Sir 51:26 Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.

Sir 51:27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.

Sir 51:28 Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.

Sir 51:29 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.

Sir 51:30 Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.



The Book of Baruch



Bar 1:1 And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,

Bar 1:2 In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.

Bar 1:3 And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,

Bar 1:4 And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king's sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.

Bar 1:5 Whereupon they wept, fasted, and prayed before the Lord.

Bar 1:6 They made also a collection of money according to every man's power:

Bar 1:7 And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,

Bar 1:8 At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,

Bar 1:9 After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.

Bar 1:10 And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;

Bar 1:11 And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:

Bar 1:12 And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.

Bar 1:13 Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.

Bar 1:14 And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.

Bar 1:15 And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto them of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

Bar 1:16 And to our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our prophets, and to our fathers:

Bar 1:17 For we have sinned before the Lord,

Bar 1:18 And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:

Bar 1:19 Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.

Bar 1:20 Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.

Bar 1:21 Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:

Bar 1:22 But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.

Bar 2:1 Therefore the Lord hath made good his word, which he pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Juda,

Bar 2:2 To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses;

Bar 2:3 That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of his own daughter.

Bar 2:4 Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all the kingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord hath scattered them.

Bar 2:5 Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.

Bar 2:6 To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to our fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.

Bar 2:7 For all these plagues are come upon us, which the Lord hath pronounced against us

Bar 2:8 Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every one from the imaginations of his wicked heart.

Bar 2:9 Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he hath commanded us.

Bar 2:10 Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.

Bar 2:11 And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as appeareth this day:

Bar 2:12 O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.

Bar 2:13 Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us.

Bar 2:14 Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for thine own sake, and give us favour in the sight of them which have led us away:

Bar 2:15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.

Bar 2:16 O Lord, look down from thine holy house, and consider us: bow down thine ear, O Lord, to hear us.

Bar 2:17 Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves, whose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness:

Bar 2:18 But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, O Lord.

Bar 2:19 Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.

Bar 2:20 For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,

Bar 2:21 Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.

Bar 2:22 But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord, to serve the king of Babylon,

Bar 2:23 I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate of inhabitants.

Bar 2:24 But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.

Bar 2:25 And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the frost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by sword, and by pestilence.

Bar 2:26 And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid waste, as it is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Juda.

Bar 2:27 O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine,

Bar 2:28 As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst command him to write the law before the children of Israel, saying,

Bar 2:29 If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.

Bar 2:30 For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiffnecked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.

Bar 2:31 And shall know that I am the Lord their God: for I will give them an heart, and ears to hear:

Bar 2:32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and think upon my name,

Bar 2:33 And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the Lord.

Bar 2:34 And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.

Bar 2:35 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.

Bar 3:1 O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, the soul in anguish the troubled spirit, crieth unto thee.

Bar 3:2 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; ar thou art merciful: and have pity upon us, because we have sinned before thee.

Bar 3:3 For thou endurest for ever, and we perish utterly.

Bar 3:4 O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the dead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee, and not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us.

Bar 3:5 Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think upon thy power and thy name now at this time.

Bar 3:6 For thou art the Lord our God, and thee, O Lord, will we praise.

Bar 3:7 And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee.

Bar 3:8 Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.

Bar 3:9 Hear, Israel, the commandments of life: give ear to understand wisdom.

Bar 3:10 How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies' land, that thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou art defiled with the dead,

Bar 3:11 That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave?

Bar 3:12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom.

Bar 3:13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest have dwelled in peace for ever.

Bar 3:14 Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.

Bar 3:15 Who hath found out her place? or who hath come into her treasures?

Bar 3:16 Where are the princes of the heathen become, and such as ruled the beasts upon the earth;

Bar 3:17 They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of their getting?

Bar 3:18 For they that wrought in silver, and were so careful, and whose works are unsearchable,

Bar 3:19 They are vanished and gone down to the grave, and others are come up in their steads.

Bar 3:20 Young men have seen light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the way of knowledge have they not known,

Bar 3:21 Nor understood the paths thereof, nor laid hold of it: their children were far off from that way.

Bar 3:22 It hath not been heard of in Chanaan, neither hath it been seen in Theman.

Bar 3:23 The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran and of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember her paths.

Bar 3:24 O Israel, how great is the house of God! and how large is the place of his possession!

Bar 3:25 Great, and hath none end; high, and unmeasurable.

Bar 3:26 There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war.

Bar 3:27 Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge unto them:

Bar 3:28 But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished through their own foolishness.

Bar 3:29 Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down from the clouds?

Bar 3:30 Who hath gone over the sea, and found her, and will bring her for pure gold?

Bar 3:31 No man knoweth her way, nor thinketh of her path.

Bar 3:32 But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath filled it with fourfooted beasts:

Bar 3:33 He that sendeth forth light, and it goeth, calleth it again, and it obeyeth him with fear.

Bar 3:34 The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth them, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light unto him that made them.

Bar 3:35 This is our God, and there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of him

Bar 3:36 He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.

Bar 3:37 Afterward did he shew himself upon earth, and conversed with men.

Bar 4:1 This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.

Bar 4:2 Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.

Bar 4:3 Give not thine honour to another, nor the things that are profitable unto thee to a strange nation.

Bar 4:4 O Israel, happy are we: for things that are pleasing to God are made known unto us.

Bar 4:5 Be of good cheer, my people, the memorial of Israel.

Bar 4:6 Ye were sold to the nations, not for [your] destruction: but because ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.

Bar 4:7 For ye provoked him that made you by sacrificing unto devils, and not to God.

Bar 4:8 Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.

Bar 4:9 For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Sion: God hath brought upon me great mourning;

Bar 4:10 For I saw the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting brought upon them.

Bar 4:11 With joy did I nourish them; but sent them away with weeping and mourning.

Bar 4:12 Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the law of God.

Bar 4:13 They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.

Bar 4:14 Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember ye the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath brought upon them.

Bar 4:15 For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.

Bar 4:16 These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.

Bar 4:17 But what can I help you?

Bar 4:18 For he that brought these plagues upon you will deliver you from the hands of your enemies.

Bar 4:19 Go your way, O my children, go your way: for I am left desolate.

Bar 4:20 I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.

Bar 4:21 Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.

Bar 4:22 For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.

Bar 4:23 For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.

Bar 4:24 Like as now the neighbours of Sion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.

Bar 4:25 My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.

Bar 4:26 My delicate ones have gone rough ways, and were taken away as a flock caught of the enemies.

Bar 4:27 Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.

Bar 4:28 For as it was your mind to go astray from God: so, being returned, seek him ten times more.

Bar 4:29 For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.

Bar 4:30 Take a good heart, O Jerusalem: for he that gave thee that name will comfort thee.

Bar 4:31 Miserable are they that afflicted thee, and rejoiced at thy fall.

Bar 4:32 Miserable are the cities which thy children served: miserable is she that received thy sons.

Bar 4:33 For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.

Bar 4:34 For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.

Bar 4:35 For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.

Bar 4:36 O Jerusalem, look about thee toward the east, and behold the joy that cometh unto thee from God.

Bar 4:37 Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.

Bar 5:1 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.

Bar 5:2 Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the Everlasting.

Bar 5:3 For God will shew thy brightness unto every country under heaven.

Bar 5:4 For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God's worship.

Bar 5:5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.

Bar 5:6 For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.

Bar 5:7 For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God,

Bar 5:8 Moreover even the woods and every sweetsmelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God.

Bar 5:9 For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.



The Epistle [or Letter] of Jeremiah [Jeremy] [The Epistle of Jeremy [sometimes Chapter Six of Baruch]]

EpJer 6:1 A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.

EpJer 6:2 Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.

EpJer 6:3 So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.

EpJer 6:4 Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.

EpJer 6:5 Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.

EpJer 6:6 But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.

EpJer 6:7 For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.

EpJer 6:8 As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.

EpJer 6:9 And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.

EpJer 6:10 Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves.

EpJer 6:11 Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood.

EpJer 6:12 Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.

EpJer 6:13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.

EpJer 6:14 And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.

EpJer 6:15 He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves.

EpJer 6:16 Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.

EpJer 6:17 For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.

EpJer 6:18 And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.

EpJer 6:19 They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.

EpJer 6:20 They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.

EpJer 6:21 Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.

EpJer 6:22 Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.

EpJer 6:23 By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.

EpJer 6:24 Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.

EpJer 6:25 The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.

EpJer 6:26 They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.

EpJer 6:27 They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.

EpJer 6:28 As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.

EpJer 6:29 Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.

EpJer 6:30 For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.

EpJer 6:31 And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

EpJer 6:32 They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

EpJer 6:33 The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.

EpJer 6:34 Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.

EpJer 6:35 In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.

EpJer 6:36 They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.

EpJer 6:37 They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.

EpJer 6:38 They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.

EpJer 6:39 Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.

EpJer 6:40 How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?

EpJer 6:41 Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.

EpJer 6:42 Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.

EpJer 6:43 The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

EpJer 6:44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?

EpJer 6:45 They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.

EpJer 6:46 And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?

EpJer 6:47 For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.

EpJer 6:48 For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.

EpJer 6:49 How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?

EpJer 6:50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:

EpJer 6:51 And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.

EpJer 6:52 Who then may not know that they are no gods?

EpJer 6:53 For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.

EpJer 6:54 Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.

EpJer 6:55 Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.

EpJer 6:56 Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?

EpJer 6:57 Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.

EpJer 6:58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.

EpJer 6:59 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods, or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false gods.

EpJer 6:60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.

EpJer 6:61 In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

EpJer 6:62 And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.

EpJer 6:63 And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.

EpJer 6:64 Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.

EpJer 6:65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,

EpJer 6:66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings:

EpJer 6:67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

EpJer 6:68 The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.

EpJer 6:69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.

EpJer 6:70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.

EpJer 6:71 And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.

EpJer 6:72 And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.

EpJer 6:73 Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.



The Book of Susanna [in Daniel] [The History of Susanna [in Daniel]]

Set apart from the beginning of Daniel, because it is not in the Hebrew, as neither the Narration of Bel and the Dragon.

Sus 1:1 There dwelt a man in Babylon, called Joacim:

Sus 1:2 And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.

Sus 1:3 Her parents also were righteous, and taught their daughter according to the law of Moses.

Sus 1:4 Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.

Sus 1:5 The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.

Sus 1:6 These kept much at Joacim's house: and all that had any suits in law came unto them.

Sus 1:7 Now when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went into her husband's garden to walk.

Sus 1:8 And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.

Sus 1:9 And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.

Sus 1:10 And albeit they both were wounded with her love, yet durst not one shew another his grief.

Sus 1:11 For they were ashamed to declare their lust, that they desired to have to do with her.

Sus 1:12 Yet they watched diligently from day to day to see her.

Sus 1:13 And the one said to the other, Let us now go home: for it is dinner time.

Sus 1:14 So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.

Sus 1:15 And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.

Sus 1:16 And there was no body there save the two elders, that had hid themselves, and watched her.

Sus 1:17 Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.

Sus 1:18 And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.

Sus 1:19 Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders rose up, and ran unto her, saying,

Sus 1:20 Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.

Sus 1:21 If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee.

Sus 1:22 Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.

Sus 1:23 It is better for me to fall into your hands, and not do it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord.

Sus 1:24 With that Susanna cried with a loud voice: and the two elders cried out against her.

Sus 1:25 Then ran the one, and opened the garden door.

Sus 1:26 So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her.

Sus 1:27 But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.

Sus 1:28 And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;

Sus 1:29 And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent.

Sus 1:30 So she came with her father and mother, her children, and all her kindred.

Sus 1:31 Now Susanna was a very delicate woman, and beauteous to behold.

Sus 1:32 And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.

Sus 1:33 Therefore her friends and all that saw her wept.

Sus 1:34 Then the two elders stood up in the midst of the people, and laid their hands upon her head.

Sus 1:35 And she weeping looked up toward heaven: for her heart trusted in the Lord.

Sus 1:36 And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.

Sus 1:37 Then a young man, who there was hid, came unto her, and lay with her.

Sus 1:38 Then we that stood in a corner of the garden, seeing this wickedness, ran unto them.

Sus 1:39 And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.

Sus 1:40 But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.

Sus 1:41 Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.

Sus 1:42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:

Sus 1:43 Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.

Sus 1:44 And the Lord heard her voice.

Sus 1:45 Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:

Sus 1:46 Who cried with a loud voice, I am clear from the blood of this woman.

Sus 1:47 Then all the people turned them toward him, and said, What mean these words that thou hast spoken?

Sus 1:48 So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?

Sus 1:49 Return again to the place of judgment: for they have borne false witness against her.

Sus 1:50 Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.

Sus 1:51 Then said Daniel unto them, Put these two aside one far from another, and I will examine them.

Sus 1:52 So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light.

Sus 1:53 For thou hast pronounced false judgment and hast condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.

Sus 1:54 Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.

Sus 1:55 And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.

Sus 1:56 So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.

Sus 1:57 Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.

Sus 1:58 Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm tree.

Sus 1:59 Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.

Sus 1:60 With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.

Sus 1:61 And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:

Sus 1:62 And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.

Sus 1:63 Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.

Sus 1:64 From that day forth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people.



The Prayer of Azariah

PrAzar 1 And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising God, and blessing the Lord.

PrAzar 2 Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,

PrAzar 3 Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:

PrAzar 4 For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth.

PrAzar 5 In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins.

PrAzar 6 For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee.

PrAzar 7 In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us.

PrAzar 8 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.

PrAzar 9 And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.

PrAzar 10 And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee.

PrAzar 11 Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant:

PrAzar 12 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Issac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake;

PrAzar 13 To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore.