through the street of the city and proclaimed before him Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour 12 ¶ And Mordecai came again to the kings gate but Haman hasted to his house mourning and having his head covered 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befâ—â—n him Then said his wisemen Zeresh his wife unto him if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before him 14 And while they were yet talking with him came the kings chamberlains hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared CHAP. VII 1 Esther entertaining the king and Haman maketh suit for her own life and her peoples 5 She accuseth Haman 7 The king in his â—nâ—er understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai causeth him to be banâ—ed thereon SO the king and Haman came †Heb. to drink to banquet with Esther the queen 2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine What is thy petition queen Esther and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request and it shall be performed even to the half of the kingdom 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said If I have found favour in thy sight O king and if it please the king let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request 4 For we are sold I and my people †Heb. that they should destroy and kill and cause to perish to be destroyed to be slain and to perish but if we had been sold for bond men bond-women I had held my tongue although the enemy could not counter all the kings damage 5 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen Who is he and where is he †Heb. whose heart hath filled him that durst presume in his heart to do so 6 And Esther said †Heb. the man adversary The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman Then Haman was afraid ‖ Or. at the presence of before the king and the queen 7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace-garden and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king 8 Then the king returned out of the palace-garden into the place of the banquet of wine and Haman was fain upon the bed whereon Esther was Then said the king Will he force the queen also †Heb. with me before me in the house As the word went out of the kings mouth they covered Hamans face 9 And Harbonah one of the chamberlains said before the king Behold also the †Heb. tree gallows fifty cubits high which Haman had made for Mordecai who had spoken good for the king standeth in the house of Haman Then the king said Hang him thereon 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai Then was the kings wrath pacified CHAP. VIII 1 Mordecai is advanced 3 Esther maketh suit to reverse Hamans letters 7 Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews to defend themselves 15 Mordecai's honour and the Jews joy ON that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews enemy unto Esther the queen and Mordecai came before the king for Esther had told what he was unto her 2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman gave it unto Mordecai And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman 3 ¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king and fell down at his feet †Heb. she wept besought him and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his device that he had devised against the Jews 4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther So Esther arose and stood before the king 5 And said If it please the king and if I have found favour in his fight and the thing seem right before the king and I be pleasing in his eyes let it be written to reverse †Heb. thâ— device the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite ‖ Or who wrote which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the kings provinces 6 For how can I †Heb. 〈◊〉 able that I may see endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred 7 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen to Mordecai the Jew Behold I have given Esther the house of Haman him they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hands upon the Jews 8 Write ye also for the Jews as it liketh you in the kings name and seal it with the kings ring for the writing which is written in the kings name and sealed with the kings ring * See chap. 1.19 may no man reverse 9 Then were the kings scribes called at that time in the third moneth that is the moneth Sivan on the three and twentieth day thereof and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews and to the lieutenants and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia an hundred twenty and seven provinces unto every province according to the writing thereof and unto every people after their language and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name and sealed it with the kings ring and sent letters by posts on hors-back and riders on mules and young dromedaries 11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together and to stand for their life to destroy to slay and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for a prey 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus namely upon the thirteenth day of the twefth moneth which is the moneth Adar 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was †Heb. revealed published unto all people and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies 14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out being hastned and pressed on by the kings commandment and the decree was given at Shushan the palace 15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel ofâ—blue white with a great crown of gold with a garment of fine linen and purple the city of Shushan rejoyced and was glad 16 The Jews had light and gladness
a very grievous murrain 4 And the LORD shall sever between the cattel of Israel and the cattel of Egypt and there shall nothing die of all that is the childrens of Israel 5 And the LORD appointed a set time saying To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land 6 And the LORD did that thing on the morrow and all the cattel of Egypt died but of the cattel of the children of Israel died not one 7 And Pharaoh sent and behold there was not one of the cattel of the Israelites dead And the heart of Pharaoh was hardned and he did not let the people go 8 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace and let Moses sprinkle it towards the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh 9 And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt and shall he a boyl breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast throughout all the land of Egypt 10 And they took ashes of the furnace and stood before Pharaoh and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven and it became a boyl breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boyl for the boyl was upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians 12 And the LORD hardned the heart of Pharaoh and he hearkned not unto them * Chap. 4.21 as the LORD had spoken unto Moses 13 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses Rise up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh and lay unto him Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews Let my people go that they may serve me 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart and upon thy servants and upon thy people that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth 15 For now I will stretch out my hand that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence and thou shalt be cut off from the earth 16 And in very deed for * Rom. 9. â—7 this cause have I †Heb. made thee stand raised thee up for to shew in thee my power and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth 17 As yet exalted thou thyself against my people that thou wilt not let them go 18 Behold to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now 19 Send therefore now and gather thy cattel and all that thou hast in the field for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field and shall not be brought home the hail shall come down upon them and they shall die 20 He that feared the word of the LORD amongst the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattel flee into the houses 21 And he that †Heb. set not his â—eart unto regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattel in the field 22 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt upon man and upon beast upon every herb of the field throughout the land of Egypt 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven and the LORD sent thunder and hail and the fire ran along upon the ground and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt 24 So there was hail and fire mingled with the hail very grievous such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field both man and beast and the hail smote every herb of the field and brake every tree of the field 26 Onely in the land of Goshen where the children of Israel were was there no hail 27 ¶ And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron and said unto them I have sinned this time the LORD is righteous and I and my people are wicked 28 Intreat the LORD for it is enough that there be no more †Heb. voices of God mighty thundrings and hail and I will let you go and ye shall stay no longer 29 And Moses said unto him Assoon as I am gone out of the city I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD and the thunder shall cease neither shall there be any more hail that thou mayest know how that the * Psal 24.1 earth is the LORDS 30 But as for thee and thy servants I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God 31 And the flax and the barley was smitten for the barley was in the ear and the â—â—ax was bolled 32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten for they were †Heb. bidden or dark not grown up 33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD and the thunders and hail ceased and the rain was not poured upon the earth 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased he sinned yet more and hardned his heart he and his servants 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardned neither would he let the children of Israel go as the LORD had spoken †Heb. by the hand of Moses by Moses CHAP. X. 1 God threatneth to send locusts 7 Pharaoh moved by his servants inclineth to let the Israelites go 12 The plague of the locusts 16 Pharaoh sueth to Moses 21 The plague of darkness 24 Pharaoh sueth unto Moses 27 but yet is hardned ANd the LORD said unto Moses Go in unto Pharaoh * Chap 4.21 for I have hardned his heart and the heart of his servants that I might shew these my signs before him 2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son and of thy sons son what things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done amongst them that ye may know how that I am the LORD 3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him Thus saith the LORD God oâ— the Hebrews How long wilt thou refuse to humble thy self before me Let my people go that they may serve me 4 Else if thou refuse to let my people go behold to morrow will I bring the * Wisd 16.9 locusts into thy coast 5 And they shall cover the †Heb. eye face of the earth that one cannot be able to see the earth and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped which remaineth unto you from the hail and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field 6 And they shall fill thy houses and the houses of all thy servants the houses of all the Egyptians which neither thy fathers nor thy fathers fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day And he
Joab and all the host that was with him were come they told Joab saying Abner the son of Ner came to the king and he hath sent him away and he is gone in peace 24 Then Joab came to the king and said What hast thou done behold Abner came unto thee why is it that thou hast sent him away and he is quite gone 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner that he came to deceive thee and to know thy going out and thy coming in and to know all that thou doest 26 And when Joab was come out from David he sent messengers after Abner which brought him again from the well of Sirah but David knew it not 27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron Joab * 1 Kin 2.5 took him aside in the gate to speak with him ‖ Or peaceably quietly and smote him there under the fifth rib that he died for the bloud of * Chap. 2.22 Asahel his brother 28 ¶ And afterward when David heard it he said I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the †Heb. blouds bloud of Abner the son of Ner 29 Let it rest on the head of Jōab and on all his fathers house and let there not †Heb. be cut off fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue or that is a leper or that leaneth on a staff or that falleth on the sword or that lacketh bread 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother * Chap. 2.23 Asahel at Gibeon in the battel 31 ¶ And David said to Joab and to all the people that were with him Rent your clothes and gird you with sackcloth and mourn before Abner And king David himself followed the †Heb. bed bier 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron and the king lift up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner and all the people wept 33 And the king lamented over Abner and said Died Abner as a fool dieth 34 Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters as a man falleth before †Heb. children of iniquity wicked men so fellest thou And all the people wept again over him 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day David sware saying So do God to me and more also if I taste bread or ought else till the sun be down 36 And all the people took notice of it and it †Heb. was good be their eyes pleased them as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said unto his servants Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man faln this day in Israel 39 And I am this day †Heb. tender weak though anointed king and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness CHAP. IV. 1 The Israelites being troubled at the death of Abner 2 Baanah and Rechab slay Ish-bosheth and bring his head to Hebron 9 David causeth them to be slain and Ish-bosheths head to be buried ANd when Sauls son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron his hands were feeble and all the Israelites were troubled 2 And Sauls son had two men that were captains of bands the name of the one was Baanah and the name of the †Heb. second other Rechab the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite of the children of Benjamin for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and were sojourners there until this day 4 And Jonathan Sauls son had a son that was lame of his feet and was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled and it came to pass as she made haste to flee that he fell and became lame and his name was Mephibosheth 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite Rechab and Baanah went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth who lay on a bed at noon 6 And they came thither into the midst of the house as though they would have fetched wheat and they smote him under the fifth rib and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped 7 For when they came into the house he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber and they smote him and slew him and beheaded him took his head and gat them away through the plain all night 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron and said to the king Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy which sought thy life and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed 9 ¶ And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite and said unto them As the LORD liveth who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity 10 When * Chap. 1.4.16 one told me saying Behold Saul is dead †Heb. he was in his own eyes as a bringer c. thinking to have brought good tidings I took hold of him and slew him in Ziklag †Or which was the reward I gave him for his tidings who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings 11 How much more when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed shall I not therefore now require his bloud of your hand and take you away from the earth 12 And David commanded his young men and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the * Chap. 3.32 sepulchre of Abner in Hebron CHAP. V. 1 The tribes come to Hebron to anoint David over Israel 4 Davids are 6 He taking Zion from the Jebusites dwelleth in it 11 Hiram sendeth to David 13 Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem 17 David directed by God smiteth the Philistines at Baal-perazim 22 and again at the mulberry-trees THen * 1 〈◊〉 11.1 came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron spake saying Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh 2 Also in time past when Saul was king over us thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel and the LORD said to thee * Psal 78.71 Thou shalt feed my people Israel and thou shalt be a captain over Israel 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD and they anointed David king over Israel 4 ¶ David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned fourty years 5 In Hebron he reigned over
Solomon 42 And the †Heb. days time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was * 2 Chr. 9.30 fourty years 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father and * Mat. 1.7 called Hoboam Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead CHAP. XII 1 The Israelites assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him 6 Rehoboam refusing the old mens counsel by the advice of young men answereth them roughly 16 Ten tribes revolting kill Adoram and make Rehoboam to flee 21 Rehoboam raising an army is forbidden by Shemaiah 25 Jeroboam strengthneth himself by cities 26 and by the idolatry of the two calves ANd * 2 Chr. 10.1 Rehoboam went to Shechem for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king 2 And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat who was yet in * Chap. 21.40 Egypt heard of it for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt 3 That they sent and called him and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam saying 4 Thy father made our * Chap. 4.7 yoke grievous now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter and we will serve thee 5 And he said unto them Depart yet for three days then come again so me And the people departed 6 ¶ And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived and said How do you advise that I may answer this people 7 And they spake unto him saying If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day and wilt serve them and answer them and speak good words to them then they will be thy servants for ever 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him and which stood before him 9 And he said unto them What counsel give ye that we may answer this people who have spoken to me saying Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him saying Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee saying Thy father made our yoke heavy but make thou it lighter unto us thus shalt thou say unto them My little finger shall be thicker then my fathers loyns 11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke I will add to your yoke my father hath chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions 12 ¶ So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day as the king had appointed saying Come to me again the third day 13 And the king answered the people †Heb. hardly roughly and forsook the old mens counsel that they gave him 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men saying My father made your yoke heavy and I will add to your yoke my father also chastised you with whâ—pâ— but I will chaâ—tise you with scorpions 15 Wherefore the king hearkned not unto the people for the cause was from the LORD that he might perform his saying which the LORD * Chap. â—â— 31 spake by Ahâ—jah the Shilonâ—te unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat 16 ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkned not unto them the people answered the king saying What portion have we in David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse to your tents O Israel now see to thine own house David So Israel departed unto their tents 17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah Rehoboam reigned over them 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram who was over the tribute and all Israel stoned him with stones that he died therefore king Rehoboam †Heb. strengtâ—â—â— himself made speed to get him up to his chariot to flee to Jerusalem 19 So Israel ‖ Or fell away rebelled against the house of David unto this day 20 And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again that they sent and called him unto the congregation and made him king over all Israel there was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah * Chap. 11.13 onely 21 ¶ And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriours to fight against the house of Israel to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon 22 But * 2 Chr. 11.2 the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God saying 23 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the remnant of the people saying 24 Thus saith the LORD Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel return every man to his house for this thing is from me They hearkned therefore to the word of the LORD and returned to depart according to the word of the LORD 25 ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim and dwelt therein and went out from thence and built Penuel 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord even unto Rehoboam king of Judah and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah 28 Whereupon the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said unto them It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem * Exod. 32.8 behold thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt 29 And he set the one in Beth-el and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin for the people went to worship before the one even unto Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth moneth on the fifteenth day of the moneth like unto the feast that is in Judah and he ‖ Or went up to the altar c. offered upon the altar so did he in Beth-el ‖ Or to sacrifice sacrificing unto the calves that he had made and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made 33 So he ‖ Or went up to the altar c. offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth moneth even in the moneth which he had devised of his own heart and ordained a feast
made peace with David became his servants neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more CHAP. XX. 1 Rabbah is besieged by Joah spoiled by David and the people thereof tortured 4 Three giants are slain in three several overthrows of the Philistines ANd * 2 Sam. 11.1 it came to pass that †Heb. at the return of the year after the year was expired at the time that kings go out to battel Joab led forth the power of the army and wasted the countrey of the children of Ammon and came and besieged Rabbah but David tarried at Jerusalem and Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it 2 And David * 2 Sam. 12.20 took the crown of their king from off his head and found it †Heb. the weight of to weigh a talent of gold and there were precious stones in it and it was set upon Davids head and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city 3 And he brought out the people that were in it and cut them with saws and with harrows of iron and with axes even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem 4 ¶ And it came to pass after this * 2 Sam. 21.18 that there ‖ Or continued †Heb. stood arose war at ‖ Or Gob. Gezer with the Philistines at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sâ—pâ—ai that was of the children of ‖ Or Rapha the giant and they were subdued 5 And there was war again with the Philistines ‖ Called also Jaarecreâ—ing and Elhanan the son of †Sam. 21.19 Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite whose spear-staff was like a weavers beam 6 And yet again * 2 Sam. 21.20 there was war at Gath where was †Heb. a man of measure a man of great stature whose fingers and toes were four and twenty six on each hand and six on each foot and he also was †Heb. born to the grant or â—apla the son of the giant 7 But when he ‖ Or regâ—â—ached defied Israel Jonathan the son of ‖ Called Shummah 1 Sam. 16.9 Shimea Davids brother slew him 8 These were born unto the giant in Gath and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants CHAP. XXI 1 David tempted by Satan forceth Joab to number the people 5 The number of the people being brought David repenteth of it 9 David having three plagues propounded by Gad chooseth the pestilence 14 After the death of seventâ— thousand David by repentance preventeth the destruction of Jerusalem 18 David by Gads direction purchaseth Ornans threshâ—ng-floor where having built an altar God giveth a signe of his favour by firâ— and staâ—eth the plague 28 David sacrificeth there 〈◊〉 restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel ANd * 2 Sam. 14.1 c. Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel 2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people Go number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan and bring the number of them to me that I may know it 3 And Joab answered The LORD make his people an hundred times so many mo as they be but my lord the king are they not all my lords servants why then doth my lord require this thing why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel 4 Nevertheless the kings word prevailed against Joab wherefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem 5 ¶ And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword 6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them for the kings word was abominable to Joab 7 †Heb. And it was evil in the eyes of the LORD concerning this thing And God was displeased with this thing therefore he smote Israel 8 And David said unto God * 2 Sam. 24.10 I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing but now I beseech thee do away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly 9 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Gad Davids seer saying 10 Go and tell David saying Thus saith the LORD I †Heb. streech out offer thee three things choose thee one of them that I may do it unto thee 11 So Gad came to David and said unto him Thus saith the LORD †Heb. take to thee Choose thee 12 Either three years famine or three moneths to be destroyed before thy foes while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee or else three days the sword of the LORD even the pestilence in the land and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel now therefore advise thy self what word I shall bring again to him that sent me 13 And David said unto Gad I am in a great strait let me fall now into the hand of the LORD for very ‖ Or â—any great are his mercies but let me not fall into the hand of man 14 ¶ So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men 15 And God sent an * 2 Sam. 24.16 angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it and as he was destroying the LORD beheld and he repented him of the evil and said to the angel that destroyed It is enough stay now thine hand And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing-floor of ‖ Or Aâ—aunah 1 Sam. 24.18 Ornan the Jebusite 16 And David lift up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem then David and the elders of Israel who were clothed in sackcloth fell upon their faces 17 And David said unto God Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbred even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed but as for these sheep what have they done let thine hand I pray thee O LORD my God be on me and on my fathers house but not on thy people that they should be plagued 18 ¶ Then the * â—â— Chr. â— â— angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an alter unto the LORD in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite 19 And David went up at the saying of God which he spake in the name of the LORD 20 ‖ Or who Ornan turned back and saw the angel the 〈◊〉 he and his four sons with him â—id themselves And Ornan turned back and saw the angel and his four sons with him hid themselves Now Ornan was threshing wheat 21 And as David name to Ornan Ornan looked and saw David and went out of the threshing-floor and bowed
Solomon his father while he yet lived saying What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people 7 And they spake unto him saying If thou be kinde to this people and please them and speak good words to them they will be thy servants for ever 8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him that stood before him 9 And he said unto them What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people which have spoken to me saying Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him saying Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee saying Thy father made our yoke heavy but make thou it somewhat lighter for us thus shalt thou say unto them My little finger shall be thicker then my fathers loyns 11 For whereas my father †Heb. lâ—ded put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more to your yoke my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king bade saying Come again to me on the third day 13 And the king answered them roughly and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men saying My father made your yoke heavy but I will add thereto my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions 15 So the king hearkned not unto the people for the cause was of God that the LORD might perform his word which he spake by the * 1 King 11.29 hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat 16 ¶ And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them the people answered the king saying What portion have we in David and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse every man to your tents O Israel and now David see to thine own house So all Israel went to their tents 17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah Rehoboam reigned over them 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute and the children of Israel stoned him with stones that he died but king Rehoboam †Heb. strengthneâ— himself made speed to get him up to his chariot to flee to Jerusalem 19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day CHAP. XI 1 Rehoboam raising an army to subdue Israel is forbidden by Shemaiah 5 He strengthneth his kingdom with forts and provision 13 The priests and Levites and such as feared God forsaken by Jeroboam strengthen the kingdom of Judah 18 The wives and children of Rehoboam ANd * 1 King 12.21 c. when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriours to fight against Israel that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam 2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God saying 3 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin saying 4 Thus saith the LORD Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren return every man to his house for this thing is done of me And they obeyed the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam 5 ¶ And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem and built cities for defence in Judah 6 He built even Beth-lehem and Etam and Tekoa 7 And Beth-zur and Shoco and Adullam 8 And Gath and Mareshah and Ziph 9 And Adoraim and Lachish and Azekah 10 And Zorah and Aijalon and Hebron which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities 11 And he fortified the strong holds and put captains in them and store of victual and of oyl and wine 12 And in every several city be put shields and spears and made them exceeding strong having Judah and Benjamin on his side 13 ¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel †Heb. presented themselves to him resorted to him out of all their coasts 14 For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession came to Judah and Jerusalem for * Chap. 13.9 Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priests office unto the LORD 15 And he ordained him priests for the high places and for the devils and for the calves which he had made 16 And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers 17 So they strengthned the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong three years for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon 18 ¶ And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse 19 Which bare him children Jeush and Shamariah and Zaham 20 And after her he took * 1 King 15.2 Maachah the daughter of Absalom which bare him Abijah and Attai and Ziza and Shelomith 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines for he took eighteen wives and threescore concubines and begat twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters 22 And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief to be ruler among his brethren for he thought to make him king 23 And he dealt wisely and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countreys of Judah and Benjamin unto every fenced city and he gave them victual in abundance and he desired †Heb. a multitude of wives many wives CHAP. XII 1 Rehoboam forsaking the Lord is punished by Shishak 5 He and the princes repenting at the preaching of Shemaiah are delivered from destruction but not from spoil 13 The reign and death of Rehoboam ANd it came to pass when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthned himself he forsook the law of the LORD and all Israel with him 2 And it came to pass that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem * 1 Kin. 14.14 21. because they had transgressed against the LORD 3 With twelve hundred chariots and threescore thousand hors-men and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt the Lubims the Sukkiims and the Ethiopians 4 And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah and came to Jerusalem 5 ¶ Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam and to the princes of Judah that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak and said unto them Thus saith the LORD Ye have forsaken me and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak 6
a great feast unto all his princes and his servants even Esthers feast and he made a †Heb. rest release to the provinces and gave gifts according to the state of the king 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time then Mordecai sat in the kings gate 20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people as Mordecai had charged her for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai like as when she was brought up with him 21 ¶ In those days while Mordecai sat in the kings gate two of the kings chamberlains ‖ Or Bigthana ch 6.2 Bigthan and Teresh of those which kept †Heb. the threshold the door were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto Esther the queen and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter it was found out therefore they were both hanged on a tree and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king CHAP. III. 1 Haman advanced by the king and despised by Mordecai seeketh revenge upon all the Jews 7 He casteth lots 8 He obtaineth by calumniation a decree of the king to put the Jews to death AFter these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes that were with him 2 And all the kings servants that were in the kings gate bowed and reverenced Haman for the king had so commanded concerning him but Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence 3 Then the kings servants which were in the kings gate said unto Mordecai Why transgressest thou the kings commandment 4 Now it came to pass when they spake daily unto him and he hearkned not unto them that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai his maâ—ters would stand for he had told them that he was a Jew 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus even the people of Mordecai 7 ¶ In the first moneth that is the moneth Nisan in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur that is the lot before Haman from day to day and from moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth that is the moneth Adar 8 ¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the province of thy kingdom and their laws are diverse from all people neither keep they the kings laws therefore it is not †Heb. meet or eâ—uâ—l for the kings profit to suffer them 9 If it please the king let it be written †Heb. to destroy them that they may be destroyed and I will †Heb. weigh pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business to bring it into the kings treasuries 10 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the Jews ‖ Or oppressour enemy 11 And the king said unto Haman The silver is given to thee the people also to do with them as it seemeth good to thee 12 Then were the kings ‖ Or secretariâ—s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the kings lieutenants and to the governours that were over every province and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof and to every people after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written and sealed with the kings ring 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the kings provinces to destroy to kill and to cause to perish all Jews both young and old little children and women in one day even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar and to take the spoil of them for a prey 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people that they should be ready against that day 15 The posts went out being hastned by the kings commandment and the decree was given in Shushan the palace and the king and Haman sat down to drink but the city Shushan was perplexed CHAP. IV. 1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews 4 Esther understanding it sendeth to Mordecai who sheweth the cause and adviseth her to undertake the suit 10 She excusing her self is threatned by Mordecai 15 She appointing a fast undertaketh the suit WHen Mordecai perceived all that was done Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes and went out into the midst of the city and cried with a loud and a bitter cry 2 And came even before the kings gate for none miâ—ht enter into the kings gate clothed with sackcloth 3 And in every province whithersoever the kings commandment and his decree came there was great mourning among the Jews and fasting and weeping and wailing and †Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many many lay in sackcloth ashes 4 ¶ So Esthers maids and her †Heb. â—â—muchs chamberlains came told it her then was the queen exceedingly grieved she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai and to take away his sackcloth from him but he received it not 5 Then called Esther for Hatach one of the kings chamberlains †Heb. whom he had set before her whom he had appointed to attend upon her and gave him a commandment to Mordecai to know what it was and why it was 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city which was before the kings gate 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had hapned unto him and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the kings treasuries for the Jews to destroy them 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them to shew it unto Esther and to declare it unto her and to charge her that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him and to make request before him for her people 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai 10 ¶ Again Esther spake unto Hatach and gave him commandment unto Mordecai 11 All the kings servants and the people of the kings provinces do know that whosoever whether man or woman shall come unto the king into the inner court who is not called there is one saw of his to put him to death except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre that he may live
Now when Nicanors host saw that he was slain they cast away their weapons and fled 45 Then ‖ Or the Jews they pursued after them a days journey from Adasa unto Gazera sounding an alarm after them with their trumpets 46 Whereupon they came forth out of all the towns of Judea round about c closed them in so that they turning back upon them that pursued them were all slain with the sword and not one of them was left 47 Afterwards they took the spoils and the prey and smote off Nicanors head and his right hand which he stretched out so proudly and brought them away and hanged them up towards Jerusalem 48 For this cause the people rejoyced greatly and they kept that day a day of great gladness 49 Moreover they ordained to keep yearly this day being the thirteenth of Adar 50 Thus the land of Juda was in rest a little while CHAP. VIII 1 Judas is informed of the power and policy of the Romans 20 and maketh a league with them 24 The articles of that league NOw Judas had heard of the fame of the Romanes that they were mighty and valiant men and such as would lovingly accept all that joyned themselves unto them and make a league of amity with all that came unto them 2 And that they were men of great valour it was told him also of their wars and noble acts which they had done amongst the ‖ Or Frento men Galathians and how they had conquered them and brought them under tribute 3 And what they had done in the countrey of Spain for the winning of the mines of the silver and gold which is there 4 And that by their policy and patience they had conquered ‖ Or every place all that place though it were very far from them and the kings also that came against them from the uttermost part of the earth till they had discomfited them and given them a great overthrow so that the rest did give them tribute every year 5 Besides this how they had discomfited in battel Philip and Perseus king of the ‖ Or Macedonians Citiâ—s with others that lift up themselves against them and had overcome them 6 How also Antiochus the great king of Asia that came against them in battel having an hundred and twenty elephants with hors-men and chariots and a very great army was discomfited by them 7 And how they took him alive and covenanted that he and such as reigned after him should pay a great tribute and give hostages and that which was agreed upon 8 And the countrey of India and Media and Lydia and of the goodliest countreys which they took of him and gave to king Eumenes 9 Moreover how the Grecians had determined to come and destroy them 10 And that they having knowledge thereof sent against them a certain captain and fighting with them slew many of them and carried away captives their wives and their children and spoiled them and took possession of their lands and pulled down their strong holds and brought them to be their servants unto this day 11 It was told him besides how they destroyed brought under their dominion all other kingdoms and isles that at any time resisted them 12 But with their friends and such as relied upon them they kept amity and that they had conquered kingdoms both far and nigh insomuch as all that heard of their name were afraid of them 13 Also that whom they would help to a kingdom those reign and whom again they would they displace finally that they were greatly exalted 14 Yet for all this none of them wore a crown or was clothed in purple to be magnified thereby 15 Moreover how they had made for themselves a senate-house wherein three hundred and twenty men sat in counsel daily consulting alway for the people to the end they might be well ordered 16 And that they committed their government to one man every year who ruled over all their countrey and that all were obedient to that one and that there was neither envy nor emulation amongst them 17 In consideration of these things Judas chose Eupolemus the son of John the son of Accos and Jason the son of Eleazar and sent them to Rome to make a league of amity and confederacy with them 18 And to entreat them that they would take the yoke from them for they saw that the kingdom of the Grecians did oppress Israel with servitude 19 They went therefore to Rome which was a very great journey and came into the senate where they spake and said 20 Judas Maccabeus with his brethren and the people of the Jews have sent us unto you to make a confedaracy and peace with you and that we might be registred your confederates and friends 21 So that matter pleased the Romanes well 22 And this is the copy of the epistle which the senate wrote back again in tables of brass and sent to Jerusalem that there they might have by them a memorial of peace and confederacy 23 Good success be to the Romanes to the people of the Jews by sea and by land for ever the sword also and enemy be far from them 24 If there come first any war upon the Romanes or any of their confederates throughout all their dominion 25 The people of the Jews shall help them as the time shall be appointed with all their heart 26 Neither shall they give anything unto them that make war upon them or aid them with victuals weapons money or ships as it hath seemed good unto the Romanes but they shall keep their covenant without taking any thing therefore 27 In the same manner also if war come first upon the nation of the Jews the Romanes shall help them with all their heart according as the time shall be appointed them 28 Neither shall victuals be given to them that take part against them or weapons or money or ships as it hath seemed good to the Romanes but they shall keep their covenants and that without deceit 29 According to these articles did the Romanes make a covenant with the people of the Jews 30 Howbeit if hereafter the one party or the other shall think meet to add or diminish any thing they may do it at their pleasures and whatsoever they shall add or take away shall be ratified 31 And as touching the evils that Demetrius doeth to the Jews we have written unto him saying Wherefore hast thou made thy yoke heavy upon our friends and confederates the Jews 32 If therefore they complain any more against thee we will do them justice and fight with thee by sea and by land CHAP. IX 1 Alâ—imus and Bacchides come again with new forces into Judea 7 The army of Judas flee from him 17 and he is slain 30 Jonathan is in his place 40 and revengeth his brother Johns quarrel 55 Alcimus is plagued and dieth 70 Bacchides maketh peace with Jonathan FUrthermore when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his host were
priest that same year said unto them Ye know nothing at all 50 * Chap. 18.14 Nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and that the whole nation perish not 51 And this spake he not of himself but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation 52 And not for that nation onely but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews but went thence unto a countrey near to the wilderness into a city called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples 55 ¶ And the Jews pass-over was nigh at hand and many went out of the countrey up to Jerusalem before the pass-over to purifie themselves 56 Then sought they for Jesus and spake among themselves as they stood in the temple What think ye that he will not come to the feast 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he were he should shew it that they might take him CHAP. XII 1 Jesus excuseth Mary anointing his feet 9 The people flock to see Lazarus 10 The hiâ—h priests consult to kill him 12 Christ rideth into Jerusalem 20 Greeks desire to see Jesus 23 He foretelleth his death 37 The Jews are generally blinded 42 yet many chief rulers beleeve but do not consess him 44 therefore Jesus calleth earnestly for confession of faith THen Jesus six days before the pass-over came to Bethany where Lazarus was which had been dead whom he raised from the dead 2 There they made him a supper and Martha served but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feâ—t with her hair and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment 4 Then saith one of his disciples Judas Iscariot Simons son which should betray him 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor 6 This he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief and * Chap. 13.29 had the bag and bare what was put therein 7 Then said Jesus Let her alone against the day of my burying hath she kept this 8 For the poor always ye have with you but me ye have not always 9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake onely but that they might see Lazarus also whom he had raised from the dead 10 ¶ But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death 11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and beleeved on Jesus 12 ¶ * Mat. 21.8 On the next day much people that were come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem 13 Took branches of palm-trees and went forth to meet him and cried Hosanna blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus when he had found a young ass sat thereon as it is written 15 * Zech. 9.9 Fear not daughter of Sion behold thy King cometh sitting on an asses colt 16 These things understood not his disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they that these things were written of him and that they had done these things unto him 17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead bare record 18 For this cause the people also met him for that they heard that he had done this miracle 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him 20 ¶ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast 21 The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee and desired him saying Sir we would see Jesus 22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew and again Andrew and Philip told Jesus 23 ¶ And Jesus answered them saying The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified 24 Verily verily I say unto you Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit 25 * Mat. 10 39. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal 26 It any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my Father honour 27 Now is my soul troubled and what shall I say Father save me from this hour but for this cause came I unto this hour 28 Father glorifie thy name Then came there a voice from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie it again 29 The people therefore that stood by and heard it said that it thundred others said An angel spake to him 30 Jesus answered and said This voice came not because of me but for your sakes 31 Now is the judgement of this world now shall the prince of this world be cast out 32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me 33 This he said signifying what death he should die 34 The people answered him * Pla. 110.4 We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever and how sayest thou The Son of man must be lift up who is this Son of man 35 Then Jesus said unto them Yet a little while is the light with you walk while ye have the light lest darkness come upon you for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth 36 While ye have light beleeve in the light that ye may be the children of light These things spake Jesus and departed and did hide himself from them 37 ¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them yet they beleeved not on him 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake * Is 53.1 Rom. 10.19 Lord who hath beleeved our report and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed 39 Therefore they could not beleeve because that Esaias said again 40 * Mat. 13.14 He hath blinded their eyes and hardned their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them 41 These things said Esaias when he saw his glory spake of him 42 ¶ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many beleeved on him but because of the Pharisees they did not consess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue 43 * Chap. 5.44 For they loved
Keilah †Heb. â—â—ut up deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul And the LORD said they will deliver thee up 13 ¶ Then David and his men which were about six hundred arose and departed out of Keilah and went whithersoever they could go and it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah and he forbare to go forth 14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph And Saul sought him every day but God delivered him not into his hand 15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood 16 And Jonathan Sauls son arose and went to David into the wood and strengthned his hand in God 17 And he said unto him Fear not for the hand of Saul my father shall not finde thee and thou shalt be king over Israel and I shall be next unto thee and that also Saul my father knoweth 18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD and David abode in the wood and Jonathan went to his house 19 ¶ Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah saying Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood in the hill of Hachilah which is †Heb. on the right hand on the south of ‖ Or the wilderness Jeshimon 20 Now therefore O king come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down and our part shall be to deliver him into the kings hand 21 And Saul said Blessed be ye of the LORD for ye have compassion on me 22 Go I pray you prepare yet and know and see his place where his †Heb. foot shall is haunt is and who hath seen him there for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly 23 See therefore and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself and come ye again to me with the certainty and I will go with you and it shall come to pass if he be in the land that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah 24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the plain on the south of Jeshimon 25 Saul also and his men went to seek him and they told David where fore he came down into a rock and abode in the wilderness of Maon and when Saul heard that he pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon 26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men on that side of the mountain and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them 27 ¶ But there came a messenger unto Saul saying Haste thee and come for the Philistines have †Heb. spread themselves upon c. invaded the land 28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David went against the Philistines therefore they called that place ‖ That is The rock of divisions Sela-hammah-lekoth 29 ¶ And David went up from thence and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi CHAP. XXIV 1 David in a cave et En-gedi having cut off Sauls skirt spareth his life 8 He sheweth thereby his innocency 16 Saul acknowledging his fault taketh an oath of David and departeth ANd it came to pass when Saul was returned from †Heb. after following the Philistines that it was told him saying Behold David is in the wilderness of En-gedi 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wilde goats 3 And he came to the sheep-cotes by the way where was a cave and Saul went in to cover his feet and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave 4 And the men of David said unto him Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee Behold I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee Then David arose and cut off the skirt of †Heb. the robe which was Sauls Sauls robe privily 5 And it came to pass afterward that Davids heart smote him because he had cut off Sauls skirt 6 And he said unto his men The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master the LORDs anointed to stretch forth mine hand against him seeing he is the anointed of the LORD 7 So David †Heb. cut off stayed his servants with these words and suffered them not to rise against Saul but Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way 8 David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and cried after Saul saying My lord the king And when Saul looked behinde him David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed himself 9 ¶ And David said to Saul Wherefore hearest thou mens words saying Behold David seeketh thy hurt 10 Behold this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave and some bade me kill thee but mine eye spared thee and I said I will not put forth mine hand against my lord for he is the LORDS anointed 11 Moreover my father see yea see the skirt of thy robe in my hand for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand and I have not sinned against thee yet thou huntest my soul to take it 12 The LORD judge between me and thee and the LORD avenge me of thee but mine hand shall not be upon thee 13 As saith the proverb of the ancients Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked but mine hand shall not be upon thee 14 After whom is the king of Israel come out after whom dost thou pursue after a dead dog after a flea 15 The LORD therefore be Judge and judge between me and thee and see and plead my cause and †Heb. judge deliver me out of thine hand 16 ¶ And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul that Saul said Is this thy voice my son David And Saul lift up his voice and wept 17 And he said to David Thou art more righteous then I for thou hast rewarded me good whereas I have rewarded thee evil 18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me forasmuch as when the LORD had †Heb. shut up delivered me into thine hand thou killedst me not 19 For if a man finde his enemy will he let him go well away wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day 20 And now behold I know well that thou shalt surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine
So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem and saw not the kings face 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab to have sent him to the king but he would not come to him and when he sent again the second time he would not come 30 Therefore he said unto his servants See Joabs field is †Heb. near my place near mine and he hath barley there go and set in on fire and Absaloms servants set the field on fire 31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom unto his house and said unto him Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire 32 And Absalom answered Joab Behold I sent unto thee saying Come hither that I may send thee to the king to say Wherefore am I come from Geshur it had been good for me to have been there still now therefore let me see the kings face and it there be any iniquity in me let him kill me 33 So Joab came to the king and told him and when he had called for Absalom he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king and the king kissed Absalom CHAP. XV. 1 Absalom by fair speeches and courtesies stealeth the hearts of Israel 7Vnder pretence of a vow he obtaineth leave to go to Hebron 10 He maketh there a great conspiracy 13 David upon the news fleeth from Jerusalem 19 Ittai would not leave him 24 Zadok and Abiathar are sent back with the ark 30 David and his company go up mount Olivet weeping 31 He curseth Abithophels counsel 32 Hushai is sent back with instructions ANd it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him 2 And Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate and it was so that when any man that had a controversy †Heb. to come came to the king for judgement then Absalom called unto him and said Of what city art thou And he said Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel 3 And Absalom said unto him See thy matters are good and right but ‖ Or none will hear thee from the king downward there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee 4 Absalom said moreover O that I were made judge in the land that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me and I would do him justice 5 And it was so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgement so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel 7 ¶ And it came to pass after fourty years that Absalom said unto the king I pray thee let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the LORD in Hebron 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria saying If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem then I will serve the LORD 9 And the king said unto him Go in peace So he arose and went to Hebron 10 ¶ But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel saying Assoon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet then ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem that were called and they went in their simplicity and they knew not any thing 12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite Davids counsellour from his city even from Giloh while he offered sacrifices and the conspiracy was strong for the people increased continually with Absalom 13 ¶ And there came a messenger to David saying The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom 14 And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem Arise and let us flee for we shall not else escape from Absalom make speed to depart lest he overtake us suddenly and †Heb. thrustâ— bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword 15 And the kings servants said unto the king Behold thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall †Heb. choose appoint 16 And the king went forth and all his houshold †Heb. at his feet after him and the king left ten women which were concubines to keep the house 17 And the king went forth and all the people after him and tarried in a place that was far off 18 And all his servants passed on beside him and all the Cherethites and all the Pelethites and all the Gittites six hundred men which came after him from Gath passed on before the king 19 ¶ Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite Wherefore goest thou also with us return to thy place and abide with the king for thou art a stranger and also an exile 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday should I this day †Heb. make thee wander in going make thee go up and down with us seeing I go whither I may return thou and take back thy brethren mercy and truth be with thee 21 And Ittai answered the king and said As the LORD liveth and as my lord the king liveth surely in what place my lord the king shall be whether in death or life even there also will thy servant be 22 And David said to Ittai Go and pass over And Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones that were with him 23 And all the countrey wept with a loud voice and all the people passed over the king also himself passed over the brook ‖ Called Job 18 1â— Ceâ—â—â— Kidron and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness 24 ¶ And so Zadok also and all the Levites were with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God and they set down the ark of God and Abiathar went up until all the people had done passing out of the city 25 And the king said unto Zadok Carry back the ark of God into the city if I shall finde favour in the eyes of the LORD he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation 26 But if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest Art not thou a * 1 Sam. 9.9 seer return into the city in peace and your two sons with you Ahimaaz thy son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar 28 See I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to certifie me 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem and they tarried there 30 ¶ And David went up by the ascent of mount Oliver †Heb going up and weeping and wept as he went up and had his head covered and he went bare-foot and all the peâ—ple that was
so will I certainly do this day 31 Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the king and said Let my lord king David live for ever 32 ¶ And king David said Call me Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada And they came before the king 33 The king also said unto them Take with you the servants of your lord and cause Solomon my son to ride upon †Heb. which belongeth to me mine own mule and bring him down to Gihon 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel and blow ye with the trumpet and say God save king Solomon 35 Then ye shall come up after him that he may come and sit upon my throne for he shall be king in my stead and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said Amen the LORD God of my lord the king say so too 37 As the LORD hath been with my lord the king even so be he with Solomon and make his throne greater then the throne of my lord king David 38 So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon king Davids mule and brought him to Gihon 39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oyl out of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon and they blew the trumpet and all the people said God save king Solomon 40 And all the people came up after him and the people piped with ‖ Or fluter pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rent with the sound of them 41 ¶ And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating and when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet he said Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar 42 And while he yet spake behold Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came and Adonijah said unto him Come in for thou art a valiant man and bringest good tidings 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king 44 And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and the Cherethites and the Pelethites and they have caused him to ride upon the kings mule 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon and they are come up from thence rejoycing so that the city rang again this is the noise that ye have heard 46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom 47 And moreover the kings servants came to bless our lord king David saying God make the name of Solomon better then thy name and make his throne greater then thy throne and the king bowed himself upon the bed 48 And also thus said the king Blessed be the LORD God of Israel which hath given one to sit on my throne this day mine eyes even seeing it 49 And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went every man his way 50 ¶ And Adonijah feared because of Solomon and arose and went and caught hold on the horns of the altar 51 And it was told Solomon saying Behold Adonijah feareth king Solomon for lo he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar saying Let king Solomon swear unto in to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword 52 And Solomon said If he will shew himself a worthy man there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth but if wickedness shall be found in him he shall die 53 So king Solomon sent and they brought him down from the altar and he came and howed himself to king Solomon and Solomon said unto him Go to thine house CHAP. II. 1 David having given a charge to Solomon 3 of religiousness 5 of Joab 7 of Barzillai 8 of Shimei 10 dieth 12 Solomon uttâ—eâ—eth 13 Adonijiah moving Bath-sheba to sue unto Solomon for Abiathar is put tâ— dâ—ath 26 Abiathar having his life give him is detriâ—ed of the priesthood 28 Joah freeing to the borns of the altar is there slain 25 Beâ—â—â—ah is put in Joahs room and Zadok in Abâ—atrars 26 Shâ—mâ—â— conjineâ— to Jerusalem by occasion of â—coing thence to Gath is put to death NOw the days of David drew nigh that he should die and he charged Solomon his son saying 2 I go the way of all the earth be thou strong therefore and shew thy self a man 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God to walk in his ways to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgements and his testimomes as it is written in the law of Moses that thou mayest * Deu. 29.9 Jo. h. 1. ◠‖ Or. dâ— wisely prosper in all that thou doest and whithersoever thou turnest thy self 4 That the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me saying If thy children take heed to their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul * 2 Sam. 7.12 there shall not †Heb. bâ—â—ut off from thee from the throne fail thee said he a man on the throne of Israel 5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel unto * 2 Sam. 3 2â— Abner the son of Ner and unto * 2 Sam. 20.10 Amasa the son of Jether whom he slew and †Heb. put shed the bloud of war in peace and put the bloud of war upon his girdle that was about his loyns and in his shoes that were on his feet 6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace 7 But shew kindness unto the sons of * 2 Sam. 19.31 Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be of those that eat at thy table for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother 8 And behold thou hast with thee * 2 Sam. 16.5 Shimei the son of Gera a Benjamite of Bahurim which cursed me with a †Heb. strong grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim but he came down to meet me at Jordan and I sware to him by the LORD saying * 2 Sam. 19.22 I will not put thee to death with the sword 9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless for thou art a wise man and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with bloud 10 So * Act. 2.29 13.36 David dept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David 11 And the days that David * 2 Sam. 5.4 1 Chr. 29.26 27. reigned over Israel were
concubines and his wives turned away his heart 4 For it came to pass when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his heart after other gods and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God as was the heart of David his father 5 For Solomon went after * Judg. 2.13 Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD and †Heb. fulfilled not after went not fully after the LORD as did David his father 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab in the hill that is before Jerusalem and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods 9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel * Ch. 3.5 9.2 which had appeared unto him twice 10 And * Ch. 6.12 had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods but he kept not that which the LORD commanded 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon Forasmuch as this †Heb. is with thee is done of thee and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded thee * Ch. 12.15 I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy fathers sake but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servants sake and for Jerusalems sake which I have chosen 14 ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon Hadad the Edomite he was of the kings seed in Edom. 15 * 2 Sam. 8.14 For it came to pass when David was in Edom and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain after he had smitten every male in Edom 16 For six moneths did Joab remain there with all Israel until he had cut off every male in Edom 17 That Hadad fled he and certain Edomites of his fathers servants with him to go into Egypt Hadad being yet a little childe 18 And they arose out of Midian and came to Paran and they took men with them out of Paran and they came to Egypt unto Pharaoh king of Egypt which gave him an house and appointed him victuals and gave him land 19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife the sister of Tahpenes the queen 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaohs house and Genubath was in Pharaohs houshold among the sons of Pharaoh 21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the captain of the host was dead Hadad said to Pharaoh †Heb. Send me away Let me depart that I may go to mine own countrey 22 Then Pharaoh said unto him But what hast thou lacked with me that behold thou seekest to go to thine own countrey And he answered †Heb. Not. Nothing howbeit let me go in any wise 23 ¶ And God stirred him up another adversary Rezon the son of Eliadah which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah 24 And he gathered men unto him and became captain over a band * 2 Sam. 8.3 10.18 when David slew them of Zobah and they went to Damascus and dwelt therein and reigned in Damascus 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon beside the mischief that Hadad did and he abhorred Israel and reigned over Syria 26 ¶ And * 2 Chr. 13.6 Jeroboam the son of Nebat an Ephrathite of Zereda Solomons servant whose mothers name was Zeruiah a widow woman even he lift up his hand against the king 27 And this was the cause that he lift up his hand against the king Solomon built Millo and †Heb. â—losed repaired the breaches of the city of David his father 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour and Solomon seeing the young man that he †Heb. did work was industrious he made him ruler over all the †Heb. burden charge of the house of Joseph 29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way and he had clad himself with a new garment and they two were alone in the fieâ—d 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him and rent it in twelve pieces 31 And he said to Jeroboam Take thee ten pieces for thus saith the LORD the God of Israel Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee 32 But he shall have one tribe for my servant Davids sake and for Jerusalems sake the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel 33 Because that they have forsaken me and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidoniaâ—s Chemoâ—h the god of the Moabites and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon and have not walked in my ways to do that which is right in mine eyes and to keep my statutes and my judgements as did David his father 34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servants sake whom I chose because he kept my commandments and my statutes 35 But * Chap. 12.15 I will take the kingdom out of his sons hand and will give it unto thee even ten tribes 36 And unto his son will I give one tribe that David my servant may have a †Heb. â—amp or â—â—â—dle light alway before me in Jerusalem the city which I have chosen me to put my name tâ—ere 37 And I will take thee and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth and shalt be king over Israel 38 And it shall be it thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee and wilt walk in my ways and do that is right in my sight to keep my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did that I will be with thee and build thee a sure house as I built for David and will give Israel unto thee 39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David but not for ever 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam and Jerâ—â—oam arose and fled into Egypt unto Shishak king of Egypt and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon 41 ¶ And the rest of the ‖ Or words or things acts of Solomon and all that he did and his wisdom are they not written in the book of the acts of
the king that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem building the rebellious and the bad city and have ‖ Or finished set up the walls thereof and †Cald. sowed together joyned the foundations 13 Be it known now unto the king that it this city be builded and the walls set up again then will they not †Cald. â—â—e pay toll tribute and custom and so thou shalt endamage the ‖ Or strength revenue of the kings 14 Now because †Cald. We are salted with the sâ—lt of the palace we have maintenance from the kings palace and it was not meet for us to see the kings dishonour therefore have we sent and certified the king 15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers so shalt thou finde in the book of the records and know that this city is a rebellious city and hurtful unto kings and provinces and that they have †Cald. made moved sedition †Cald. in the midst thereof within the same of old time for which cause was this city destroyed 16 We certifie the king that if this city be builded again and the walls thereof set up by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river 17 ¶ Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellour and to Shimshai the scribe and to the rest of their †Cald. societies companions that dwell in Samaria and unto the rest beyond the river Peace and at such a time 18 The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me 19 And †Cald. by me a decree is set I commanded and search hath been made and it is found that this city of old time hath †Cald. lifted up it self made insurrection against kings and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein 20 There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem which have ruled over all countreys beyond the river and full tribute and custom was paid unto them 21 †Cald. maâ—e a decree Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease and that this city be not builded until another commandment shall be given from me 22 Take heed now that ye sail not to do this why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings 23 ¶ Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their companions they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews and made them to cease †Cald. by arm and power by force and power 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia CHAP. V. 1 Zerubbabel and Jeshua incited by Haggai and Zechariah set forward the building of the temple 3 Tatnai and Shethar-boznai could not hinder the Jews 6 Their letter to Darius against the Jews THen the prophets * Hag. 1.1 Haggai the prophet and * Zech. 1.1 Zechariah the son of Iddo prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel even unto them 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem and with them were the prophets of God helping them 3 ¶ At the same time came to them Tatnai governour on this side the river and Shethar-boznai and their companions and said thus unto them Who hath commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall 4 Then said we unto them after this manner What are the names of the men †Cald. that build this building that make this building 5 Buâ— the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews that they could not cause them to cease tâ—ll the matter came to Darius and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter 6 ¶ The copy of the letter that Tatnai governour on this side the river and Shethar-boznai and his companions the Apharsachites which were on this side the river sent unto Darius the king 7 They sent a letter unto him †Cald. in the midst whereof wherein was written thus Unto Darius the king all peace 8 Be it known unto the king that we went into the Province of Judea to the house of the great God which is builded with †Cald. stones of rolling great stones and timber is laid in the walls and this work goeth fast on and prospereth in their hands 9 Then asked we those elders and said unto them thus Who commanded you to build this house and to make up these walls 10 We asked their names also to certifie thee that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them 11 And thus they returned us answer saying We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and build the house that was builded these many years ago which a great king of Israel builded * 1 King 6.1 and set up 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath he gave them into the hand of * 2 King 24.2 25.8 Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon the Caldean who destroyed this house and carryed the people away into Babylon 13 But in the first year of * Chap. 1.1 Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God 14 And * Chap. 1.7 8. 6.5 the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought them into the temple of Babylon those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar whom he had made ‖ Or deputy governour 15 And said unto him Take these vessels go carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem and let the house of God be builded in his place 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem And since that time even until now hath it been in building and yet it is not finished 17 Now therefore if it seem good to the king let there be search made in the kings treasure-house which is there at Babylon whether it be so that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter CHAP. VI. 1 Darius finding the decree of Cyrus maketh a new decree for the advancement of the building 13 By the help of the enemies and the directions of the prophets the temple is finished 16 The feast of the dedication is kept 19 and the pass-over THen Darius the king made a decree and search was made in the house of the †Cald. books rolls
fathers house have sinned 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgements which thou commandedst thy servant Moses 8 Remember I beseech thee the word that thou commmandedst thy servant Moses saying * Deut. 4.25 c. If ye transgress I will scatter you abroad among the nations 9 But if ye turn unto me and keep my commandments and do them * Deut. 30.4 though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand 11 O LORD I beseech thee let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name and prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man For I was the kings cup-bearer CHAP. II. 1 Artaxerxes understanding the cause of Nehemiahs sadness sendeth him with lâ—tters and commission to Jerusalem 9 Nehemiah to the grief of the enemies cometh to Jerusalem 12 He vieweth secretly the ruines of the walls 17 He inciteth the Jews to build in despite of the enemies ANd it came to pass in the moneth Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king that wine was before him and I took up the wine and gave it unto the king Now I had not been before-time sad in his presence 2 Wherefore the king said unto me Why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick this is nothing else but sorrow of heart Then I was very sore afraid 3 And said unto the king Let the king live for ever why should not my countenance be sad when the city the place of my fathers sepulchres lieth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire 4 Then the king said unto me For what dost thou make request So I prayed to the God of heaven 5 And I said unto the king If it please the king and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight that thou wouldest send me unto Judah unto the city of my fathers sepulchres that I may build it 6 And the king said unto me the †Heb. wise queen also fitting by him For how long shall thy journey be and when wilt thou return So it pleased the king to send me and I set him a time 7 Moreover I said unto the king If it please the king let letters be given me to the governours beyond the river that they may convey me over till I come into Judah 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the kings forest that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into And the king granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me 9 ¶ Then I came to the governours beyond the river and gave them the kings letters Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsâ—men with me 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel 11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days 12 ¶ And I arose in the night I and some sew men with me neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem neither was there any beast with me save the beast that I rode upon 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley even before the dragon-well and to the dung-port and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and the gates thereof were consumed with fire 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the kings pool but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook and viewed the wall and turned back and entred by the gate of the valley and so returned 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did neither had I as yet told it to the sews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest that did the work 17 ¶ Then said I unto them Ye see the distress that we are in how Jerusalem lieth waste and the gates thereof are burnt with tire come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me as also the kings words that he had spoken unto me And they said Let us rise up and build So they strengthned their hands for this good work 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geâ—hem the Arabian heard it they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said What is this thing that ye do will ye rebel against the king 20 Then answered I them and said unto them The God of heaven he will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build but you have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem CHAP. III. 1 The names and ordes of them that builded the wall THen Eliaship the high priest rose up with his brethren the prietis and they but it the sheep-gate they sanctified it and set up the dours of it even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it unto the tower of * Jer. 31 38. Hananeel 2 And †Heb. at his hand next unto him builded the men of Jericho and next to them builded Zaccur the son of Iâ—nri 3 But the fish-gate did the sons of Hassenaah build who also laid the beams thereof and set up the doors thereof the locks thereof and the bars thereoâ— 4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz and next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meâ—hezabeel and next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. 6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah they laid the beams thereof and set up the doors thereof and the locks thereof and the bars thereof 7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah unto the throne of the governour on this side the river 8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries and they ‖ Or left Jerusalem unto the broad wall fortified
commanded and they cleansed the chambers and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God with the meat-offering and the frankincense 10 ¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them for the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every one to his field 11 Then contended I with the rulers and said Why is the house of God forsaken and I gathered them together and set them in their †Heb. standing place 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oyl unto the ‖ Or store-houses treasuries 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe and of the Levites Pedâ—iah and †Heb. at their hand next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah for they were counted faithful and †Heb. it was upon them their office was to distribute unto their brethren 14 * Ver. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this and wipe not out my †Heb. bindnesses good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for the ‖ Or observations offices thereof 15 ¶ In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses as also wine grapes and rigs and all manner of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish and all manner of ware and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and profane the sabbath day 18 Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath 19 And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut 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 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinde of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice 21 Then I testified against them and said unto them Why lodge ye †Heb. before the wall about the wall if ye do so again I will lay hands on you From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come and keep the gates to sanctifie the sabbath day Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the ‖ Or multitude greatness of thy mercy 23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that †Heb. had made to dwell with them had married wives of Ashdod of Ammon and of Moab 24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and †Heb. they discerned not to speak could not speak in the Jews language but according to the language †Heb. of people and people of each people 25 And I contended with them and ‖ Or reviled them cursed them and smote certain of them and pluckt off their hair and made them swear by God saying Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons or for your selves 25 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things yet among many nations was there no king like him who was beloved of his God and God made him king over all Israel * 1 Kin. 11.1 c. nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives 28 And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high priest was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite therefore I chased him from me 29 Remember them O my God †Heb. for the defilings because they have difiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites every one in his business 31 And for the wood-offering at times appointed and for the first-fruits Remember me O my God for good The book of ESTHER CHAP. I. 1 Ahasuerus maketh royal feasts 10 Vashti sent for refuseth to come 13 Ahasuerus by the counsel of Memucan maketh the decree of mens sovereignty NOw it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces 2 That in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom which was in Shushan the palace 3 In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants the power of Persia and Media the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days even an hundred and fourscore days 5 And when these days were expired the king made a feast unto all the people that were †Heb. found present in Shushan the palace both unto great and small seven days in the court of the garden of the kings palace 6 Where were white green and ‖ Or violet blue hangings fastned with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble the beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement ‖ Or â—fporphyre marble alabaster and stone of blue colour of red and blue and white and black marble 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold the vessels being diverse one from another and †Heb. wine of the kingdom royal wine in abundance †Heb. according to the hand of the king according to the state of the king 8 And the drinking was according to the law none did compel for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus 10 ¶ On the seventh day when the heart of the king was merry with wine he commanded Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas the seven ‖ Or eunuchs chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal to shew the people and the princes her beauty for she was †Heb. good of countenance fair to look on 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at
but I have not been called to come in unthâ— king these thirty days 12 And they told to Mordecai Esthers words 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther Think not with thy self that thou shalt escape in the kings house more then all the Jews 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall there †Heb. respiration enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this 15 ¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer 16 Go gather together all the Jews that are †Heb. found present in Shushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days night or day I also and my maidens will faâ—t likewise and so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish 17 So Mordecai †Heb. â—â—ssed went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him CHAP. V. 1 Esther adventuring on the kings favour obtaineth the grace of the golden sceptâ—â— and inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet 6 She being encouraged by the king in her suit inviteth them to another banquet the next day 9 Haman proud of his advancement repineth at the contempt of Mordecai 14 By the counsel of Zeresh he buildeth for him 〈◊〉 pair of gallows NOw it came to pass on the third day that Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the kings house over against the kings house and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house over against the gate of the house 2 And it was so when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court that she obtained favour in his light and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand so Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre 3 Then said the king unto her What wilt thou queen Esther and with is thy request it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom 4 And Esther answered If it seem good unto the king let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him 5 Then the king said Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther hath said So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared 6 ¶ And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine What is thy petition and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed 7 Then answered Esther and said My petition and my request is 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king and if it please the king to grant my petition and †Heb. to do to perform my request let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them and I will do to morrow as the king hath said 9 ¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kings gate that he stood not up nor moved for him he was full of indignation against Mordecai 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself and when he came home he sent and †Heb. caused to come called for his friends and Zeresh his wife 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king 12 Haman said moreover Yea Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but my self and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kings gate 14 ¶ Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him Let a †Heb. tree gallows be made of fifty cubits high and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet And the thing pleased Haman and he caused the gallows to be made CHAP. VI. 1 Ahasuerus reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai taketh care for his reward 4 Haman coming to sue that Mordecai might be banâ—ed unawares giveth counsel that he might do him honour 12 Complaining of his misfortun his friends tell him of his final destiny ON that night †Heb. the kings sleep fled away could not the king sleep and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles and they were read before the king 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of ‖ Or Bigthan ch 2.21 Bigthana and Teresh two of the kings chamberlains the keepers of the †Heb. threshold door who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus 3 And the king said What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this Then said the kings servants that ministred unto him There is nothing done for him 4 ¶ And the king said Who is in the court Now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings house to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him 5 And the kings servants said unto him Behold Haman standeth in the court And the king said Let him come in 6 So Haman came in and the king said unto him What shall be done unto the man †Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth whom the king delighteth to honour Now Haman thought in his heart To whom would the king delight to do honour more then to my self 7 And Haman answered the King For the man †Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth whom the king delighteth to honour 8 ¶ Let the royal apparel he brought †Heb. in them bring the royal apparel which the king useth to wear and the horse that the king rideth upon and the crown royal which is set upon his head 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the kings most noble princes that they may aray the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour and †Heb. wherewith the king clotheth himself bring him on hors-back through the street of the city and proclaim before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour 10 Then the king said to Haman Make haste and take the apparel and the horse as thou hast said and do even so to Mordecai the Jew that sitteth at the kings gate †Heb. cause him to ride let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse and arayed Mordecai and brought him on hors-back
his anger 18 They are as stubble before the wind and as chaff that the storm †Heb. stealeth away carrieth away 19 God layâ—th up ‖ That is the punishment of â—lâ— iniquity his iniquity for his children he rewardeth him and he shall know it 20 His eyes shall see his destruction and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty 21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him when the number of his moneths is cut off in the midst 22 Shall any teach God knowledge seeing he judgeth those that are high 23 One dieth †Heb. in his very perfection or in the strength of his peâ—fection in his full strength being wholly at ease and quiet 24 His ‖ Or milk pails breasts are full of milk and his bones are moistned with marrow 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul and never eateth with pleasure 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust and the worms shall cover them 27 Behold I know your thoughts and the devices which ye wrongfully magine against me 28 For ye say Where is the house of the prince and where are †Heb. the tent of the taberâ—â—â—les of the wicked the dwelling-places of the wicked 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way and do ye not know their tokens 30 * Pro. 16.4 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction they shall be brought forth to †Heb. the day of â—raths the day of wrath 31 Who shall declare his way to his face and who shall repay him what he hath done 32 Yet shall he be brought to the †Heb. â—raves grave and shall †Heb. watch in the heap remain in the tomb 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him and every man shall draw after him as there are innumerable before him 34 How then comfort ye me in vain seeing in your answers there remaineth †Heb. transgression falshood CHAP. XXII 1 Elipbaz sheweth that mans goodness profiteth not God 5 He accuseth â—ob of diâ—ers sins 21 Heeâ—hâ—rteth him to repentance with promises of merâ—y THen Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said 2 Can a man be profitable unto God ‖ Or if be may be profitable doth his good success depend thereon as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself 3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous or is it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect 4 Will he reprove thee for fear of thee will he enter with thee into judgement 5 Is not thy wickedness great and thine iniquities infinite 6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought and †Heb. stripped the clothes of the naked stripped the naked of their clothing 7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry 8 But as for †Heb. the man of arm the mighty man he had the earth and the †Heb. eminent or accepted for counter-naâ—ee honourable man dwelt in it 9 Thou hast sent widows away empty and the arms of the fatherless have been broken 10 Therefore snares are round about thee and sudden fear troubleth thee 11 Or darkness that thou canst not see and abundance of waters cover thee 12 Is not God in the height of heaven and behold †Heb. the â—ead of the stars the height of the stars how high they are 13 And thou sayest ‖ Or What. How doth God know can he judge through the dark cloud 14 Thick clouds are a covering to him that he seeth not and he walketh in the circuit of heaven 15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have troden 16 Which were cut down out of time †Heb. a floud was pourel upon thâ—ir foundation whose foundation was overflown with a floud 17 * Ch. 21.14 Which said unto God depart from us and what can the Almighty do ‖ Or to them for them 18 Yet he filled their houses with good things but * Ch. 21.16 the counsel of the wicked is far from me 19 * Ps 107.42 The righteous see it and are glad and the innocent laugh them to scorn 20 Whereas our ‖ Or estate substance is not cut down but ‖ Or their excellency the remnant of them the fire consumeth 21 Acquaint now thy self ‖ That is with God with him and be at peace thereby good shall come unto thee 22 Receive I pray thee the law from his mouth and lay up his words in thine heart 23 * Chap. 8.5 6. If thou return to the Almighty thou shalt be built up thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles 24 Then shalt thou lay up gold ‖ Or on the dust as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks 25 Yea the Almighty shall be thy ‖ Or gold defence and thou shalt have †Heb. silver of strength plenty of silver 26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty and shalt lift up thy face unto God 27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him and he shall hear thee and thou shalt pay thy vows 28 Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon thy ways 29 When men are cast down then thou shalt say There is lifting up and he shall save †Heb. him that hath low eyes the humble person 30 ‖ Or the innocent shall deliver the island He shall deliver the island of the innocent and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands CHAP. XXIII 1 Job lonzeth to appear before God 6 in confidence of his mercy 8 God who is invisible observeth our ways 11 Jobs innocency 13 Gods decree is immutable THen â—ob answered and said 2 Even to day is my complaint bitter †Heb. my hand my stroke is heavier then my groaning 3 O that I knew where I might finde him that I might come even to his seat 4 I would order my cause before him and fill my mouth with arguments 5 I would know the words which he would answer me and understand what he would say unto me 6 Will he plead against me with his great power No but he would put strength in me 7 There the righteous might dispute with him so should I be delivered for ever from my judge 8 Behold I go forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him 9 On the left hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him 10 But he knoweth †Heb. the way that is with me the way that I take when he hath tried me I shall come forth as gold 11 My foot hath held his steps his way have I kept and not declined 12 Neither have I gone back from the
sling-stones are turned with him into stubble 29 Darts are counted as stubble he laugheth at the shaking of a spear 30 †Heb. sharp pieces of the potsheâ—â—d Sharp stones are under him he spreadeth sharp-pointed things upon the mire 31 He maketh the deep to boyl like a pot he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment 32 He maketh a path to shine after him one would think the deep to be hoary 33 Upon earth there is not his like ‖ Or who behave themselves without fear who is made without fear 34 He beholdeth all high things he is a king over all the children of pride CHAP. XLII 1 Job submitteth himself unto God 7 God preferring Jobs cause maketh his friends submit themselves and accepteth him 10 He magnifieth and blesseth Job 16 Jobs age and death THen Job answered the LORD and said 2 I know that thou canst do every thing and that ‖ Or no thought of thine can be hindred no thought can be withholden from thee 3 * Chap. 38.2 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge therefore have I uttered that I understood not things too wonderful for me which I knew not 4 Hear I beseech thee and I will speak I will demand of thee and declare thou unto me 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee 6 Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes 7 ¶ And it was so that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite My wrath is kindled against thee and against thy two friends for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right as my servant Job hath 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams and go to my servant â—ob and offer up for your selves a burnt-offering and my servant Job shall pray for you for †Heb. his face or person him will I accept lest I deal with you after your folly in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right like my servant Job 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did according as the LORD commanded them the LORD also accepted †Heb. the face of Job Job 10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends also the LORD †Heb. added all that had been to Job unto the double gave Job twice as much as he had before 11 Then came there unto him all his brethren and all his sisters and all they that had been of his acquaintance before and did eat bread with him in his house and they bemoaned him and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him every man also gave him a piece of money and every one an ear-ring of gold 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more then his beginning for he had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-asses 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters 14 And he called the name of the first Jemima and the name of the second Kezia and the name of the third Keren-happuch 15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren 16 After this lived Job an hundred and fourty years and saw his sons and his sons sons even four generations 17 So Job died being old and full of days ¶ The book of PSALMS PSAL. I. 1 The happiness of the godly 4 The unhappiness of the ungodly BLessed * Pro. 4.14 is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ‖ Or wicked ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD * Josh 1.8 Psal 119.1 and in his law doth he meditate day and night 3 And he shall be like a tree * Jer. 17.8 planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not †Heb. fade wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper 4 The ungodly are not so but are * Psal 35.5 Isa 17.13 like the chaff which the wind driveth away 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish PSAL. II. 1 The kingdom of Christ 10 Kings are exhorted to accept it WHy * Acts 4.25 do the heathen ‖ Or tumultuously assemble rage and the people †Heb. meditate imagine a vain thing 2 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against his anointed saying 3 Let us break their bands asunder cast away their cords from us 4 * Pro. 1.26 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh the LORD shall have them in derision 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and ‖ Or trouble vex them in his sore displeasure 6 Yet have I †Heb. anointed set my king †Heb. upon Zion the kill of my holiness upon my holy hill of Zion 7 I will declare ‖ Or for a decree the decree the LORD hath said unto me * Acts 13.33 Heb. 1.5 Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee 8 * Psal 72.8 Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession 9 * Rev. 2.27 19.15 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel 10 Be wise now therefore O ye kings be instructed ye judges of the earth 11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoyce with trembling 12 Kiss the son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little * Prov. 16.20 Isa 30.18 Jer. 17.7 Rom. 9.33 and 10.11 1 Pet. 2.6 blessed are all they that put their trust in him PSAL. III. The security of Gods protection ¶ A psalm of David * 2 Sam. 15 14. when he fled from Absalom his son LORD how are they increased that trouble me many are they that rise up against me 2 Many there be which say of my soul There is no help for him in God Selah 3 But thou O LORD art a shield ‖ Or about for me my glory and the sister up of mine head 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill Selah 5 * Psal 4 8. I said me dâ—wn and at I awaked for the LORD sustained me 6 * Psal 27.3 I will not â—e afâ—â—â—â— of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round aboâ—t
counsel thou shalt make thy war and in multitude of counsellours there is safety 7 Wisdom is too high for a fool he openeth not his mouth in the gate 8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person 9 The thought of foolishness is sin and the scorner is an abomination to men 10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is †Heb. narrow small 11 * Psal 82.4 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death and those that are ready to be slain 12 If thou sayest Behold we knew it not doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it and he that keepeth thy soul doth not he know it and shall not he render to every man * Job 34.11 Ps 62.12 Jer. 32.19 Rom. 2.6 Rev. 22.12 according to his works 13 My son eat thou honey because it is good and the honey-comb which is sweet †Heb. upon thy palate to thy taste 14 * Ps 19.10 119.103 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul when thou hast sound it * Ch. 23.18 then there shall be a reward and thy expectation shall not be cut off 15 Lay not wait O wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous spoil not his resting-place 16 * Job 5.19 Ps 34.19 37.24 For a just man falleth seven times and riseth up again but the wicked shall fall into mischief 17 * Job 31.29 Ps 35.15 Ch. 17.5 Rejoyce not when thine enemy falleth and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth 18 Lest the LORD see it and †Heb. it be evil in his eyes it displease him and he turn away his wrath from him 19 * Ps 37.1 Ch. 23.17 ‖ Or keep not company with the wicked Fret not thy self because of evil men neither be thou envious at the wicked 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man * Job 21.17 Ch. 13.9 the ‖ Or lamp candle of the wicked shall be put out 21 My son fear thou the LORD and the king and meddle not with †Heb. changers them that are given to change 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both 23 These things also belong to the wise * Lev. 17.15 Deu. 1.17 16.19 Ch. 18.5 28.21 Joh. 7.24 It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement 24 * Ch. 17.15 Isa 5.23 He that saith unto the wicked Thou are righteous him shall the people curse nations shall abhor him 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight and †Heb. a blessing of â—and a good blessing shall come upon them 26 Every man shall kiss his lips †Heb. that answereth rightwords that giveth a right answer 27 Prepare thy work without and make it fit for thy self in the field and afterwards build thine house 28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause and deceive not with thy lips 29 * Ch. 20.22 Say not I will do so to him as he hath done to me I will render to the man according to his work 30 I went by the field of the slothful and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding 31 And lo it was all grown over with thorns and nettles had covered the face thereof and the stone-wall thereof was broken down 32 Then I saw and †Heb. set my heart considered it well I looked upon it and received instruction 33 * Chap. 6.9 c. Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep 34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as †Heb. a man of shield an armed man CHAP. XXV 1 Observations about kings 8 and about avoiding causes of quarrels and sundry causes thereof THese are also proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honour of kings is to search out a matter 3 The heaven for height and the earth for depth and the heart of kings †Heb. there is no starching is unsearchable 4 Take away the dross from the silver and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer 5 * Ch. 20.8 Take away the wicked from before the king and his throne shall be established in righteousness 6 †Heb. set not out thy glory Put not forth thy self in the presence of the king and stand not in the place of great men 7 * Lu. 14.10 For better it is that it be said unto thee Come up hither then that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen 8 Go not forth hastily to strive lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame 9 * Mat. 5.25 18.15 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself and ‖ Or discover not the secret of another discover not a secret to another 10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame and thine infamy turn not away 11 A word †Heb. spoken upon his wheels fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver 12 As an ear-ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear 13 * Ch. 13.17 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest so is a faithful messenger to them that send him for he refresheth the soul of his masters 14 Whoso boasteth himself †Heb. in a gift of falshood of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain 15 * Gen. 32.4 c. 1 Sa. 25.24 c. Ch. 15 1. 16.14 By long forbearing is a prince perswaded and a soft tongue breaketh the bone 16 Hast thou found honey eat so much as is sufficient for thee lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it 17 ‖ Or let thy foot be setdom in thy neighbours house Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house lest he be †Heb. full of thee weary of thee and so hate thee 18 * Ps 120.4 Ch. 12.18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul and a sword and a sharp arrow 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt 20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather and as vineger upon nitre so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart 21 * Ex. 23.4 Ro. 12.20 If thine enemy be hungry give him bread to eat and if he be thirsty give him water to drink 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head and the LORD shall reward thee 23 ‖ Or the north-wind bringeth forth rain so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance The north-wind driveth away rain so doth an angry
heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings meat nor with the wine which he drank therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel I fear my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink for why should he see your faces †Heb. sadder worse liking then the children which are of your ‖ Or term or continuance sort then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king 11 Then said Daniel to ‖ Or the sieward Melzar whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah 12 Prove thy servants I beseech thee ten days and let them give us †Heb. of pulse pulse †Heb. that we may eat c. to eat and water to drink 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the kings meat and as thou seest deal with thy servants 14 So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh then all the children which did eat the portion of the kings meat 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat and the wine that they should drink and gave them pulse 17 ¶ As for these four children God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom and ‖ Or be made Daniel understand Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar 19 And the king commauned with them and among them all was found none like Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah therefore stood they before the king 20 And in all matters of †Heb. wisdom of understanding wisdom and understanding that the king enquired of them he found them ten times better then all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm 21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus CHAP. II. 1 Nebuchadnezzar forgetting his dream requireth it of the Caldeans by promises and threatnings 10 They acknowledging their inability are judged to die 14 Daniel obtaining some respite findeth the dream 19 He blesseth God â—4 He staying the decree is brought to the king 31 The dream 36 The interpretation 4â— Daniels advancement ANd in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled and his sleep brake from him 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Caldeans for to shew the king his dreams so they came and stood before the king 3 And the king said unto them I have dreamed a dream and my spirit was troubled to know the dream 4 Then spake the Caldeans to the king in Syriack * Ch. 3.9 O king live for ever tell thy servants the dream we will shew the interpretation 5 The king answered and said to the Caldeans The thing is gone from me it ye will not make known unto me the dream with the interpretation thereof ye shall be * Ch. 3.29 †Câ—ld maâ—e pieces cut in pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghil 6 But it ye shew the dream and the interpretation thereof ye shall receive of me gifts and ‖ Or see ch 5. â—7 rewards and great honour therefore shew me the dream and the interpretation thereof 7 They answered again and said Let the king tell his servants the dream and we will shew the interpretation of it 8 The king answered and said I know of certainty that ye would †Cald. buy gain the time because ye see the thing is gone from me 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream there is but one decree for you for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me till the time be changed therefore tell me the dream and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof 10 ¶ The Caldeans answered before the king and said There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the kings matter therefore there is no king lord nor ruler that asked such things at any magician or astrologer or Caldean 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth and there is none other that can shew it before the king except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh 12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain 14 ¶ Then Daniel †Câ—â—d â—â—swered answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the ‖ Or chief marshal †Câ—ld chief of the executioners or slaughter-men captain of the kings guard which was gone forth to slay the wise-men of Babylon 15 He answered and said to Arioch the kings captain Why is the decree so hasty from the king Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel 16 Then Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would give him time and that he would shew the king the interpretation 17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah Mishael and Azariah his companions 18 That they would desire mercies †Cald. from before God of the God of heaven concerning this secret ‖ Or that they should not destroy Daniel c. that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon 19 ¶ Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision then Daniel blessed the God of heaven 20 Daniel answered and said * Ps â—13 2 115.18 Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever for wisdom and might are his 21 And be changeth the times and the seasons he removeth kings and setteth up kings he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him 23 I thank thee and praise thee O thou God of my fathers who hast given me wisdom and might and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee for thou hast now made known unto us the kings matter 24 ¶ Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon he went and said thus unto him Destroy not the wise men of Babylon bring me in before the king and I will shew unto the king the interpretation 25 Then Arioch brought
things which have been set forth by vow for the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem 8 ¶ Then the chief of the families of Judea and of the tribes of Benjamin stood up the priests also and the Levites and all they whose minde the Lord had moved to go up and to build an house for the Lord at Jerusalem 9 And they that dwelt round about them and helped them in all things with silver and gold with †Heb. substance Ezra 1.6 horses and cattel and with very many free gifts of a great number whose minds were stirred up thereto 10 King Cyrus also brought forth the holy vessels which Nebuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem and had set up in his temple of idols 11 Now when Cyrus kâ—ng of the Persians had brought them forth he delivered them to Mithridates his treasurer 12 And by him they were delivered to †Gr. Shashbazar the first part of the word is acrruptly joynes to the word going before Ezra 1.8 Sanabassar the governour of Judea 13 And this was the number of them A thousand golden cups and a thousand of silver †Heb. knioâ—â— Ezra 1.9 censers of silver twenty nine vials of gold thirty and of silver * Ezr. 1.10 but four hundred and ten two thousand four hundred and ten and a thousand other vessels 14 So all the vessels of gold and of silver which were carried away were * Ezr. 1.11 but five thousand four hundred five thousand four hundred threescore and nine 15 These were brought back by Sanabassar together with them of the captivity from Babylon to Jerusalem 16 * Ezra 4.7 But in the time of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus and Mithridates and Tabellius and †Babumus and the name which followeth is but an epithete to the former Ezra 4.9 Rathumus Beeltethmus and †Shimshai Ezra 4.8 Semellius the secretary with others that were in commission with them dwelling in Samaria and other places wrote unto him against them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem these letters following 17 To king Artaxerxes our lord thy servants Rathumus the story-writer and Semellius the scribe and the rest of their counsel and the judges that are in Celosyria and Phenice 18 Be it now known to the lord the king that the Jews that are come up from you to us being come into Jerusalem that rebellious and wicked city do build the market-places and repair the walls of it and do lay the foundation of the temple 19 Now if this city and the walls thereof be made up again they will not onely refuse to give tribute but also rebel against kings 20 And forasmuch as the things pertaining to the temple are now in hand we think it meet not to neglect such a matter 21 But to speak unto our lord the king to the intent that if it be thy pleasure it may be sought out in the books of thy fathers 22 And thou shalt finde in the chronicles what is written concerning these things and shalt understand that that city was rebellious troubling both kings and cities 23 And that the Jews were rebellious and raised always wars therein for the which cause even this city was made desolate 24 Wherefore now we do declare unto thee O lord the king that if this city be built again and the walls thereof set up anew thou shalt from henceforth have no passage into Celosyria and Phenice 25 Then the king wrote back again to Rathumus the story-writer to Beeltethmus to Semellius the scribe and to the rest that were in commission and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice after this manner 26 I have read the epistle which ye have sent unto me therefore I commanded to make diligent search and it hath been found that that city was from the beginning practising against kings 27 And the men therein were given to rebellion and war and that mighty kings and fierce were in Jerusalem who reigned and exacted tributes in Celosyria and Phenice 28 Now therefore I have commanded to hinder those men from building the city and heed to be taken that there be no more done in it 29 And that those wicked workers proceed no further to the annoyance of kings 30 Then king Artaxerxes his letters being read Rathumus and Semellius the scribe and the rest that were in commission with them removing in haste towards Jerusalem with a troup of hors-men and ‖ Or a great number of souldiers a multitude of people in battel aray began to hinder the builders and the building of the temple in Jerusalem ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of the Persians CHAP. III. 4. Three strive to excel each other in wise speeches 9 They refer themselves to the judgement of the king 18 The first declareth the strength of wine NOw when Darius reigned he made a great feast unto all his subjects and unto all his houshold and unto all the princes of Media and Persia 2 And to all the governours and captains and lieutenants that were under him from India unto Ethiopia of an hundred twenty and seven provinces 3 And when they had eaten and drunken and being satisfied were gone home then Darius the king went into his bed-chamber and stept and soon after awaked 4 Then three young men that were of the guard that kept the kings body spake one to another 5 Let every one of us speak a sentence he that shall overcome and whole sentence shall seem wiser then the others unto him shall the king Darius give great gifts and great things in token of victory 6 As to be clothed in purple to drink in gold and to sleep upon gold and a chariot with bridles of gold and an head-tire of fine linen and a chain about his neck 7 And he shall sit next to Darius because of his wisdom and shall be called Darius his cousin 8 And then every one wrote his sentence sealed it and laid it under king Darius his pillow 9 And said that when the king is risen some will give him the writings and of whose side the king and the three princes of Persia shall judge that his sentence is the wisest to him shall the victory be given as was appointed 10 The first wrote Wine is the strongest 11 The second wrote The king is the strongest 12 The third wrote Women are strongest but above all things truth beareth away the victory 13 ¶ Now when the king was risen up they took their writings and delivered them unto him and so he read them 14 And sending forth he called all the princes of Persia and Media and the governours and the captains and the lieutenants and the chief officers 15 And sat him down in the ‖ Or counsel royal seat of judgement and the writings were read before them 16 And he said Call the young men and they shall declare their own sentences So they were called and came in 17 And he said unto them Declare
to help and for a good journey he asketh of that which cannot set a foot forward 19 And for gaining and getting and for good success of his hands asketh ability to do of him that is most â—â—â—le to do any thing CHAP. XIV 1 Though men do not pray to their ships 5 yet are they saved rather by them then by their idols 8 Idols are accursed and so are the makers of them 14 The beginning of idolatry 23 and the effects thereof 30 God will punish them that swear falsly by their idols AGain one preparing himself to sail and about to pass through the raging waves calleth upon a piece of wood more rotten then the ‖ Or ship vessel that carrieth him 2 For verily desire of gain devised ‖ Or vessel or ship that and the workman built it by his skill 3 But thy providence O Father governeth it for thou hast * Ex. 14.22 made a way in the sea and a safe path in the waves 4 Shewing that thou canst save from all danger yea though a man went to sea without art 5 Nevertheless thou wouldest not that the works of thy wisdom should be idle and therefore do men commit their lives to a small piece of wood and passing the rough sea in a weak vessel are saved 6 * Gen. 6.4 7.10 For in the old time also when the proud giants perished the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel and left to all ages a seed of generation 7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh 8 But * Ps 115.8 Baruc. 6.4 that which is made with hands is cursed as well it as he that made it he because he made it and it because being corruptible it was called god 9 * Psal 5.5 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God 10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it 11 Therefore even ‖ Or to or by upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation because in the creature of God they are become an abomination and * Jer. 10.8 Habak 2.18 †Gr. scandals stumbling-blocks to the souls of men and a ‖ Or trap snare to the feet of the unwise 12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication and the invention of them the corruption of life 13 For neither were they from the beginning neither shall they be for ever 14 For by the vain glory of men they entred into the world and therefore shall they come shortly to an end 15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning when he hath made an image of his childe soon taken away now honoured him as a god which was then a dead man and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices 16 Thus †Gr. in time in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a saw and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of ‖ Or tyrants kings 17 Whom men could not honour ‖ Or in sight in presence because they dwelt far off they took the counterfeit of his visage from far and made an express image of a king whom they honoured to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent as if he were present 18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition 19 For he peradventure willing to please one in authority forced all his skill to make the resemblance †Gr. to the better of the best fashion 20 And so the multitude allured by the grace of the work took him now for a god which a little before was but honoured as a man 21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world for men serving either calamity or tyranny did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable ‖ Or of God name 22 Moreover this was not enough for them that they erred in the knowledge of God but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance those so great plagues called they peace 23 For whilest they * Deut. 18.10 Jer. 7.9 19.4 slew their children in sacrifices or used secret ceremonies or made revellings of strange rites 24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled but either one slew another traiterously or grieved him by adultery 25 So that there reigned in all men ‖ Or â—onfusedly without exception bloud man-slaughter their and dissimulation corruption unfaithfulness tumults perjury 26 Disquieting of good men forgetfulness of good turns defiling of souls changing of ‖ Or six kinde disorder in marriages adultery and shameless uncleanness 27 For the worshipping of idols †Gr nanuless not to be named is the beginning the cause and the end of all evil 28 For either they are mad when they be merry or prophesie lies or live unjustly or else lightly forswear themselves 29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols which have no life though they swear falsly yet they look not to be hurt 30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished both because they thought not well of God ‖ Or devoted giving heed unto idols and also unjustly swore in deceit despising holiness 31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear but it is the just vengeance of sinners that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly CHAP. XV. 1 We do acknowledge the true God 7 The folly of idol-makers 14 and of the enemies of Gods people 15 because besides the idols of the Gentiles 18 they worshipped vile beasts BUt thou O God art gracious and true long-suffering and in mercy ordering all things 2 For if we sin we are thine knowing thy power but we will not sin knowing that we are counted thine 3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness yea to know thy power is the root of immortality 4 For neither did the mischievous invention of men deceive us nor an image spotted with divers colours the painters fruitless labour 5 The sight whereof ‖ Or turnetha reproach to the foolish enticeth fools to lust after it and so they desire the form of a dead image that hath no breath 6 Both they that make them they that desire them and they that worship them are lovers of evil things and are worthy to have such things to trust upon 7 For the * Rom. 9.21 potter tempering soft earth fashioneth every vessel with much labour for our service yea of the same clay he maketh both the vessels that serve for clean uses and likewise also all such as serve to the contrary but what is the use of either sort the potter himself is the judge 8 And employing his labours lewdly he maketh a vain god of the same clay even he which a little before was made of earth himself and within a little while after returneth to the
God we have sinned we have done ungodly we have dealt unrighteously in all mine ordinances 13 Let thy wrath turn from us for we are but a few left among the heathen where thou hast scattered us 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 15 That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God because †Gr. thy came is called upon Israel Israel and his posterity is called by thy name 16 O Lord * Deut. 26.15 Isa 63.15 look down from thy holy house and consider us bow down thine ear O Lord to hear us 17 Open thine eyes and behold for the * Ps 6.5 115.17 Isa 38.15 19. dead that are in the graves whose †Gr. spirit or sisâ— souls are taken from their bodies will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness 18 But the soul that is greatly vexed which goeth stooping and feeble and the eyes that sail and the hungry soul will give thee praise and righteousness O Lord. 19 * Dan. 9.18 Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee O Lord our God for the righteousness of our fathers and of our kings 20 For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us as thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets saying 21 * Jer. 27.11 Thus faith 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 22 But if ye will not hear the voice of the Lord to serve the king of Babylon 23 I will cause to cease out of the cities of Juda 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 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 places 25 And so 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 26 And the house which is called by thy name hast thou said waste as it is to be seen this day for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Juda. 27 O Lord our God thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness and according to all that great mercy of thine 28 As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst command him to write thy law before the children of Israel saying 29 * Lev. 26.14 Deu. 28.15 If ye will not hear my voice surely †Gr. this great sâ—arm this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations where I will scatter them 30 For I knew that they would not hear me because it is a stiff-necked people but in the land of their captivities they shall ‖ Or come to themselves remember themselves 31 And shall know that I am the Lord their God for I will give them an heart and ears to hear 32 And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity and think upon my name 33 And return from their stiff †Gr. back neck and from their wicked deeds for they shall remember the way of their fathers which finned before the Lord. 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 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 CHAP. III. 3 The rest of their prayer and confession contained in that book which Baruch wrote and sent to Jerusalem 30 Wisdom was shewed first to Jacob and was seen upon the earth O Lord almighty God of Israel the soul in anguish the troubled spirit crieth unto thee 2 Hear O Lord and have mercy for thou art merciful and have pity upon us because we have sinned before thee 3 For thou endurest for ever and we perish utterly 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 hearkned unto the voice of thee their God for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us 5 Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers but think upon thy power and thy name now at this time 6 For thou art the Lord our God and thee O Lord will we praise 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 * Deut. 30.1 we have called to minde all the iniquity of our forefathers that sinned before thee 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 9 Hear Israel the commandments of life give ear to understand wisdom 10 How hapneth it Israel that thou art in thine enemies land that thou art waxen old in a strange countrey that thou art defiled with the dead 11 That thou art counted with them that go down into the grave 12 Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom 13 For if thou hadst walked in the way of God thou shouldest have dwelled in peace for ever 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 15 * Joh. 2â— 12 20. Who hath found out her place or who hath come into her treasures 16 Where are the princes of the heathen become and such as ruled the beasts upon the earth 17 They that had their pastime with the fouls of the air and they that hoarded up silver and gold wherein men trust and made no end of their getting 18 For they that wrought in silver and were so careful and whose works are unsearchable 19 They are vanished and gone down to the grave and others are come up in their steads 20 Young men have seen light and dwelt upon the earth but the way of knowledge have they not known 21 Nor understood the paths thereof nor laid hold of it their children were far off from that way 22 It hath not been heard of in Chanaan neither hath it been seen in Theman 23 The
him 〈◊〉 upon Bel. bring him and intreat Bel that he may speak as though he were able to understand 42 Yet they cannot understand this themselves and leave them for they have no ‖ Or sense knowledge 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 her self nor her cord broken 44 Whatsoever is done among them is false how may it then be thought or said that they are gods 45 They are made of carpenters and gold-smiths they can be nothing else then the workman will have them to be 46 And they themselves that made them can never continue long how should then the things that are made of them be gods 47 For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after 48 For when there cometh any war or plague upon them the priests consult with themselves where they may be hidden with them 49 How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods which can neither save themselves from war nor from plague 50 * Ps 115.4 Wisd 13.10 For seeing they be but of wood and overlaid with silver and gold it shall be known hereafter that they are false 51 And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods but the works of mens hands and that there is no work of God in them 52 Who then may not know that they are no gods 53 For neither can they set up a king in the land nor give rain unto men 54 Neither can they judge their own cause nor redress a wrong being unable for they are as crows between heaven and earth 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 burnt asunder like beams 56 Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies how can it then be thought or said that they be gods 57 Neither are those gods of wood and laid over with silver or gold able to escape either from theeves or robbers 58 Whos 's gold and silver and garments wherewith they are clothed they that are strong do take and go away withal neither are they able to help themselves 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 then such false gods or to be a door in an house to keep such things safe as be therein then such false gods or a pillar of wood in a palace then such false gods 60 For sun moon and stars being bright and sent to do their offices are obedient 61 In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easie to be seen and ‖ Or the same â—ind after the same manner the wind bloweth in every countrey 62 And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world they do as they are bidden 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 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 65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods fear them not 66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings 67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen nor shine as the sun nor give light as the moon 68 The beasts are better then they for they can get under a covert and help themselves 69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods therefore fear them not 70 For as a scar-crow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing so are their gods of wood and laid over with silver and gold 71 And likewise their gods of wood and laid over with silver and gold are like to a whitethorn in an orchard that every bird sitteth upon as also to a dead body that is cast into the dark 72 And you shall know them to be no gods by the ‖ Or purple and brightness bright purple that rotteth upon them and they themselves afterward shall be eaten and shall be a reproach in the countrey 73 Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols for he shall be far from reproach ¶ The song of the three holy children which followeth in the third chapter of DANIEL after this place fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace That which followeth is not in the Hebrew to wit And they walked unto these words Then Nebuchadnezzar verse 24. 2 Azarias his prayer and confession in the flame 24 wherewith the Caldeans about the oven were consumed but the three children within it were not hurt 28 The song of the three children in the oven ANd they walked in the midst of the fire praising God and blessing the Lord. 2 Then Azarias stood up and prayed on this manner and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said 3 Blessed art thou O Lord God of our fathers thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore 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 * Psal â—â— 1â— all thy judgements truth 5 In all the things which thou hast brought upon us and upon the holy city of our fathers even Jerusalem thou hast executed true judgement for according to truth and judgement didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins 6 For we have sinned and committed iniquity departing from thee 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 8 Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us and every thing that thou hast done to us thou hast done in true judgement 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 10 And now we cannot open our mouths we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants and to them that worship thee 11 Yet deliver us not up wholly for thy names sake neither disanul thou thy covenant 12 And cause not thy mercy to depart from us for thy beloved Abrahams sake for thy servant Isaacs sake and for thy holy Israels sake 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 sea-shore 14 For we O Lord are become less then any nation and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins 15 Neither is there at this time prince or prophet or leader or
carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel who is in the lions den 35 And Habbacuc said Lord I never saw Babylon neither do I know where the den is 36 Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown and * Ezek. 8.3 bare him by the hair of his head and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den 37 And Habbacuc cried saying O Daniel Daniel * 1 Kin. 17.4 take the dinner which God hath sent thee 38 And Daniel said Thou hast remembred me O God neither hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee 39 So Daniel arose and did eat and the angel of the Lord set Habbacuc in his own place again immediately 40 Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel and when he came to the den he looked in and behold Daniel was sitting 41 Then cried the king with a loud voice saying Great art thou O Lord God of Daniel and there is none other besides thee 42 * Jer. 37.17 And he drew him out and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den and they were devoured in a moment before his face ¶ The prayer of MANASSES king of Juda when he was holden captive in Babylon O Lord almighty God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous seed who hast made heaven and earth with all the ornament thereof who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment who hast shut up the deep and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name whom all men fear and tremble before they power for the majesty of thy glory cannot be born and thine angry threatning towards sinners is importable but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable for thou art the most high Lord of great compassion long-suffering very merciful and repentest of the evils of men Thou O Lord according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners that they may be saved Thou therefore O Lord that art the God of the just hast not appointed repentance to the just as to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob which have not sinned against thee but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea My transgressions O Lord are multiplied my transgressions are multiplied and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquity I am bowed down with many iron bands that I cannot lift up mine head ‖ Or neither take my breath neither have any release for I have provoked thy wrath and done evil before thee I did not thy will neither kept I thy commandments I have set up abominations and have multiplied offences Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart beseeching thee of grace I have sinned O Lord I have sinned and I acknowledge mine iniquities wherefore I humbly beseech thee forgive me O Lord forgive me and destroy me not with mine iniquities Be not angry with me for ever by reserving evil for me neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth For thou art the God even the God of them that repent and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness for thou wilt save me that am unworthy according to thy great mercy Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee and thine is the glory for ever and ever Amen ¶ The first book of the MACCABEES CHAP. I. 14 Antiochus gave leave to set up the fashions of the Gentiles in Jerusalem 22 and spoiled it and the temple in it 57 and set up therein the abomination of desolation 63 and slew those that did circumcise their children ANd it hapned after that Alexander son of Philip the Macedonian who came out of the land of ‖ Or Chetbiim Chettiim had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes that he reigned in his stead the first over Greece 2 And made many wars and wan many strong holds and slew the kings of the earth 3 And went through to the ends of the earth and took spoils of many nations insomuch that the earth was quiet before him whereupon ‖ Or his heart was exalted and lifted up he was exalted and his heart was lifted up 4 And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countreys and nations and ‖ Or kingdoms which became c. kings who became tributaries unto him 5 And after these things he fell sick and perceived †Gr. that he dieth that he should die 6 Wherefore he called his servants such as were honourable and had been brought up with him from his youth and parted his kingdom among them while he was yet alive 7 So Alexander reigned twelve years and then died 8 And his servants bare rule every one in his place 9 And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves so did their sons after them many years and evils were multiplied in the earth 10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes son of Antiochus the king who had been an hostage at Rome and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks 11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men who perswaded many saying Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us for since we departed from them †Gr. many evils have found us we have had much sorrow 12 So this device pleased them well 13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein that they went to the king who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen 14 Whereupon they ‖ Or set up an open school at Jerusalem built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen 15 And made themselves uncircumcised and forsook the holy covenant and joyned themselves to the heathen and were sold to do mischief 16 Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms 17 Wherefore he entred into Egypt with a great multitude with chariots and elephants and hors-men and a great navy 18 And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt but Ptolemee was afraid of him and fled and many were wounded to death 19 Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof 20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt he returned again in the hundred fourty and third year and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude 21 And entred proudly into the sanctuary and took away the golden altar and the candlestick of light and all the vessels thereof 22 And the table
they went unto the king and said How long will it be ere thou execute judgement and avenge our brethren 23 We have been willing to serve thy father and do as he would have us and to obey his commandments 24 For which cause they of our nation besiege the towre and are alienated from us moreover as many of us as they could light on they slew and spoiled our inheritance 25 Neither have they stretched out their hand against us onely but also against all their borders 26 And behold this day are they besieging the towre at Jerusalem to take it the sanctuary also and Bethsura have they fortified 27 Wherefore if thou dost not prevent them quickly they will do greater things then these neither shalt thou be able to rule them 28 Now when the king heard this he was angry and gathered together all his friends and the captains of his army and those that had charge of the horse 29 There came also unto him from other kingdoms and from the isles of the sea bands of hired souldiers 30 So that the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen and twenty thousand hors-men and two and thirty elephants exercised in battel 31 These went through Idumea and pitched against Bethsura which they assaulted many days making engines of war but they of Bethsura came out and burnt them with fire and sought valiantly 32 Upon this Judas removed from the towre and pitched in Bathzacharias over against the kings camp 33 Then the king rising very early marched fiercely with his host toward Bathzacharias where his armies made them ready to battel and sounded the trumpets 34 And to the end they might provoke the elephants to fight they shewed them the bloud of grapes and mulberries 35 Moreover they divided the beasts among the armies and for every elephant they appointed a thousand men armed with coats of male and with helmets of brass on their heads and besides this for every beast were ordained five hundred hors-men of the best 36 These were ready at every occasion wheresoever the beast was and whithersoever the beast went they went also neither departed they from him 37 And upon the beasts there were strong towres of wood which covered every one of them and were girt fast unto them with devices there were also upon every one two and thirty strong men that sought upon them besides the Indian that ruled him 38 As for the remnant of the hors-men they set them on this side and that side at the two parts of the host ‖ Or stâ—â—ring them up being compassed with the ranks or defended with the vâ—â—leys giving them signs what to do and being harnessed all over amidst the ranks 39 Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold and brass the mountains glistred therewith and shined like lamps of fire 40 So part of the kings army being spread upon the high mountains part on the valleys below they marched on safely in order 41 Wherfore all that heard the noise of their multitude and the marching of the company and the rattling of the harness were moved for the army was very great and mighty 42 Then Judas and his host drew neat and entred into battel and there were slain of the kings army six hundred men 43 ¶ Eleazar also surnamed Savaran perceiving that one of the beasts armed with royal harness was higher then all the rest and supposing that the king was upon him 44 Put himself in jeopardy to the end he might deliver his people and get him a perpetual name 45 Wherefore he ran upon him couragiously through the midst of the battel slaying on the right hand and on the left ‖ Or so that it cut them in pâ—â—ces so that they were divided from him on both sides 46 Which done he crept under the elephant and thrust him under and slew him whereupon the elephant fell down upon him and there he died 47 Howbeit the rest of the Jews seeing the strength of the king and the violence of his forces turned away from them 48 ¶ Then the kings army went up to Jerusalem to meet them and the king pitched his tents ‖ Or in Judea against Judea and against mount Sion 49 But with them that were in Bethsura he made peace ‖ Add out of Josephus and they yeelded themselves for they came out of the city because they had no victuals there to endure the siege it being a year of rest to the land 50 So the king took Bethsura and set a garison there to keep it 51 As for the sanctuary he besieged it many days ‖ Or made there mounts for shot and set there artillery with engines and instruments to cast fire and stones and pieces to cast darts and slings 52 Whereupon ‖ Or the Jews they also made engines against their engines and held them battel a long season 53 Yet at the last their vessels being without victuals for that it was the seventh year and they in Judea that were delivered from the Gentiles had eaten up the residue of the store 54 There were but a few left in the sanctuary because the famine did so prevail against them that they were fain to disperse themselves every man to his own place 55 At that time Lysias heard say that Philip whom Antiochus the king whiles he lived had appointed to bring up his son Antiochus that he might be king 56 Was returned out of Persia and Media and the kings host also the went with him that he sought to take unto him the ruling of the affairs 57 Wherefore he went in all haste and said to the king and the captains of the host and the company we decay daily and our victuals are but small and the place we lay siege unto is strong and the affairs of the kingdom lie upon us 58 Now therefore let us †Gr. give 〈◊〉 be friends with these men and make peace with them and with all their nation 59 And covenant with them that they shall live after their laws as they did before for they are therefore displeased and have done all these things because we abolished their laws 60 So the king and the princes were content wherefore he sent unto them to make peace and they accepted thereof 61 Also the king and the princes made an oath unto them whereupon they went out of the strong hold 62 Then the king entred into mount Sion but when he saw the strength of the place he brake his oath that he had made and gave commandment to pull down the wall round about 63 Afterward departed he in all haste and returned unto Antiochia where he found Philip to be master of the city So he sought against him and took the city by force CHAP. VII 1 Antiochus is slain and Demetrius reigneth in his stead 5 Alcimus would be high priest and complaineth of Judas to the king 16 He sâ—ayeth threescore Assideans 43 Nicanor is slain
of the customs Wherefore they were both called before the king 29 Now Menelaus left his brother Lysimachus in his stead in the priesthood and Sostratus left Crates who was governour of the Cyprians 30 While those things were in doing they of Tarsus and Mallos made insurrection because they were given to the kings concubine called Antiochis 31 Then came the king in all haste to appease matters leaving Andronicus a man in authority for his deputy 32 Now Menelaus supposing that he had gotten a convenient time stole certain vessels of gold out of the temple and gave some of them to Andronicus and some be sold into Tyrus and the cities round about 33 Which when Onias knew of a surety he reproved him and withdrew himself into a sanctuary at Daphne that lieth by Antiochia 34 Wherefore Menelaus taking Andronicus apart prayed him to get Onias into his hands who being perswaded thereunto and coming to Onias in deceit gave him his right hand with oaths and though he were suspected by hâ—m yet perswaded he him to come forth of the sanctuary whom forthwith he shut up without regard of justice 35 For the which cause not onely the Jews but many also of other nations took great indignation and were much grieved for the unjust murder of the man 36 And when the king was come again from the places about Cilicia the Jews that were in the city and certain of the Greeks that abhorred the fact also complained because Onias was slain without cause 37 Therefore Antiochus was heartily sorry and moved to pity and wept because of the sober and modest behaviour of him that was dead 38 And being kindled with anger forthwith he took away Andronicus his purple and rent off his clothes and leading him through the whole city unto that very place where he had committed impiety against Onias there slew he the cursed murderer Thus the Lord rewarded him his punishment as he had deserved 39 Now when many sacriledges had been committed in the city by Lysimachus with the consent of Menelaus and the bruit thereof was spread abroad the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus many vessels of gold being already carried away 40 Whereupon the common people rising and being filled with rage Lysimachus armed about three thousand men and began first to offer violence one ‖ Or Tyrannus Auranus being the leader a man far gone in years and no less in folly 41 They then seeing the attempt of Lysimachus some of them caupht stones some clubs others taking handfuls of dust that was next at hand cast them altogether upon Lysimachus those that set upon them 42 Thus many of them they wounded and some they stroke to the ground and all of them they forced to flee but as for the church-robber himself him they killed besides the treasury 43 Of these matters therefore there was an accusation laid against Menelaus 44 Now when the king came to Tyrus three men that were sent from the senate pleaded the cause before him 45 But Menelaus being now convicted promised Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes to give him much money if he would pacifie the king towards him 46 Whereupon Ptolemee taking the king aside into a certain gallery as it were to take the air brought him to be of another minde 47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations who notwithstanding was cause of all the mischief and those poor men who if they had told their cause yea before the Scythians should have been judged innocent them he condemned to death 48 Thus they that followed the matter for the city and for the people and for the holy vessels did soon suffer unjust punishment 49 Wherefore even they of Tyrus moved with hatred of that wicked deed caused them to be honourably buried 50 And so through the covetousness of them that were of power Menelaus remained still in authority increasing in malice and being a great traitour to the citizens CHAP. V. 2 Of the signs and tokens seen in Jerusalem 6 Of the end and wickedness of Jason 11 The pursuit of Antiochus against the Jews 15 The spoiling of the temple 27 Maccabeur fleeth into the wilderness ABout the same time Antiochus prepared his second voyage into Egypt 2 And then it hapned that through all the city for the space almost of fourty days there were seen hors-men running in the air in cloth of gold and armed with lances like a band of souldiers 3 And troops of hors-men in aray encountring and running one against another with shakings of shields and multitude of ‖ Or 〈◊〉 pikes and drawing of swords and casting of darts and glittering of golden ornaments and harness of all sorts 4 Wherefore every man prayed that that apparition might turn to good 5 Now when there was gone forth a false rumour as though Antiochus had been dead Jason took at the least a thousand men and suddenly made an assault upon the city and they that were upon the walls being put back and the city at length taken Menelaus fled into the castle 6 But Jason slew his own citizens without mercy not considering that to get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day for him but thinking they had been his enemies and not his countreymen whom he conquered 7 Howbeit for all this he obtained not the principality but at the last received shame for the reward of his treason and fled again into the countrey of the Ammonites 8 In the end therefore he had an unhappy return being accused before Aretas the king of the Arabians fleeing from city to city pursued of all men hated as a forsaker of the laws and being had in abomination as an open ‖ Or exeâ—â—tioner enemy of his countrey and countreymen he was cast out into Egypt 9 Thus he that had driven many out of their countrey perished in a strange land retiring to the Lacedemonians and thinking there to finde succour by reason of his kindred 10 And he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him nor any solemn funerals at all nor sepulchre with his fathers 11 Now when this that was done came to the kings car he thought that Judea had revolted whereupon removing out of Egypt in a furious minde he took the city by force of arms 12 And commanded his men of war not to spare such as they met and to slay such as went up upon the houses 13 Thus there was killing of young and old making away of men women and children slaying of virgins and infants 14 And there were destroyed within the space of three whole days fourscore thousand whereof fourty thousand were slain in the conflict and no fewer sold then slain 15 Yet was he not content with this but presumed to go into the most holy temple of all the world Menelaus that traitour to the laws and to his own countrey being his guide 16 And taking the holy vessels with polluted hands
fathers graves 40 Now under the coats of every one that was slain they found things consecrated to the idols of the Jamnites which is forbidden the Jews by * Deut. â—7 7 the law Then every man saw that this was the cause wherefore they were slain 41 All men therefore praising the Lord the righteous Judge who had opened the things that were hid 42 Betook themselves unto prayer and besought him that the sin committed might wholly be put out of remembrance Besides that noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin forsomuch as they saw before their eyes the things that came to pass for the sins of those that were slain 43 And when he had made a gathering throughout the company to the sum of two thousand drachnies of silver he sent it to Jerusalem to offer a sin offering doing therein very well and honestly in that he was mindful of the resurrection 44 For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should have risen again it had been superfluous and vain to pray for the dead 45 And also in that he perceived that there was great favour said up for those that died godly It was an holy and good thought Whereupon he made a reconciliation for the dead that they might be delivered from sin CHAP. XIII 1 Eupator invadeth Judea 15 Judas by night slayeth many 18 Eupators purpose is defeated 23 He maketh peace with Judas IN the hundred fourty and ninth year it was told Judas that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great power into Judea 2 And with him Lysias his protectour and ruler of his affairs having either of them a Grecian power of footmen an hundred ten thousand and hors-men five thousand and three hundred and elephants two and twenty and three hundred chariots armed with hooks 3 Menelaus also joyned himself with them and with great dissimulation encouraged Antiochus not for the safeguard of the countrey but because he thought to have been made governour 4 But the King of kings moved Antiochus minde against this wicked wretch and Lysias informed the king that this man was the cause of all mischief so that the king commanded to bring him unto Berea and to put him to death as the manner is in that place 5 Now there was in that place a towre of fifty cubits high full of ashes and it had a round instrument which on every side hanged down into the ashes 6 And whosoever was condemned of sacriledge or had committed any other grievous crime there did all men thrust him unto death 7 Such a death it hapned that wicked man to die not having so much as burial in the earth and that most justly 8 For insomuch as he had committed many sins about the altar whose fire and ashes were holy he received his death in ashes 9 Now the king came with a barbarous and haughty minde to do far worse to the Jews then had been done in his fathers time 10 Which things when Judas perceived he commanded the multitude to call upon the Lord night and day that if ever at any other time he would now also help them being at the point to be put from their law from their countrey and from the holy temple 11 And that he would not suffer the people that ‖ Or bad bad a little respite had even now been but a little refreshed to be in subjection to the blasphemous nations 12 So when they had all done this together and besought the merciful Lord with weeping and fasting and lying flat upon the groud three days long Judas having exhorted them commanded they should be in a readiness 13 And Judas being apart with the elders determined before the kings host should enter into Judea and get the city to go forth and try the matter in fight by the help of the Lord. 14 So when he had committed all to the ‖ Or Lord. Creatour of the world and exhorted his souldiers to fight manfully even unto death for the laws the temple the city the countrey the common-wealth he camped by Modin 15 And having given the watch-word to them that were about him Victory is of God with the most valiant choice young men he went in into the kings tent by night slew in the camp about four thousand men and the chiefest of the elephants with all that were upon him 16 And at last they filled the camp with sear and tumult and departed with good success 17 This was done in the break of the day because the protection of the Lord did help him 18 Now when the king had taken a taste of the manliness of the Jews he went about to take the holds by policy 19 And marched towards Bethsura which was a strong hold of the Jews but he was put to flight failed and lost of his men 20 For Judas had conveyed unto them that were in it such things as were necessary 21 But Rhodochus who was in the Jews host disclosed the secrets to the enemies therefore he was sought out and when they had gotten him they put him in prison 22 The king treated with them in Bethsura the second time gave his hand took theirs departed sought with Judas was over come 23 Heard that Philip who was leâ—t over the affairs in Antioch ‖ Or rebelled was desperately bent confounded intreated the Jews submitted himself and sware to all equal conditions agreed with them and offered sacrifice honoured the temple and dealt kindly with the place 24 And accepted well of Maccabeus made him principal governour from Ptolemais unto the Gerrhenians 25 Came to Ptolemais the people there were grieved for the covenants for they stormed because they would make their covenants void 26 Lysias went up to the judgment-seat said as much as could be in defence of the cause perswaded pacified made them well affected returned to Antioch Thus it went touching the kings coming departing CHAP. XIV 6 Aleimus accuseth Judas 18 Nicanor maketh peace with Judas 39 He seeketh to take Bazis 46 who to escape his bands killeth himself AFter three years was Judas informed that Demetrius the son of Seleucus having entred by the haven of Tripolis with a great power and navy 2 Had taken the countrey and killed Antiochus and Lysias his protectour 3 Now one Alcimus who had been high priest and had defiled himself wilfully in the times of their mingling with the Gentiles seeing that by no means he could save himself nor have any more access to the holy altar 4 Came to king Demetrius in the hundred and one and fiftieth year presenting unto him a crown of gold and a palm and also of the boughs which were ‖ Or thought to be of the temple used solemnly in the temple so that day he held his peace 5 Howbeit having gotten opportunity to further his foolish enterprise and being called into counsel by Demetrius and asked how the Jews stood affected and what they intended he answered thereunto
his Father with his angels * Ps 62.12 Rom. 2.6 and then he shall reward every man according to his works 28 Verily I say unto you * Mar. 9.1 Luk. 9.27 There be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom CHAP. XVII 1 The transfiguration of Christ 14 He healeth the lunatick 22 foretelleth his own passion 24 and payeth tribute ANd * Mar. 9.2 Luk. 9.28 after six days Jesus taketh Peter James and John his brother and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart 2 And was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light 3 And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him 4 Then answered Peter and said unto Jesus Lord it is good for us to be here if thou wilt let us make here three tabernacles one for thee and one for Moses and one for Elias 5 * 2 Pet. 1.17 While he yet spake behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud which said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him 6 And when the disciples heard it they fell on their face and were sore afraid 7 And Jesus came touched them and said Arise and be not afraid 8 And when they had lift up their eyes they saw no man save Jesus onely 9 And as they came down from the mountain Jesus charged them saying Tell the vision to no man until the Son of man be risen again from the dead 10 And his disciples asked him saying * Ch. 11.14 Mar. 9.11 Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them Elias truly shall first come and restore all things 12 But I say unto you that Elias is come already and they knew him not but have done unto him whatsoever they listed likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist 14 ¶ * Mar. 9.17 Luk. 9.38 And when they were come to the multitude there came to him a certain man kneeling down to him and saying 15 Lord have mercy on my son for he is lunatick and sore vexed for oft-times he falleth into the fire and oft into the water 16 And I brought him to thy disciples and they could not cure him 17 Then Jesus answered and said O faithless and perverse generation how long shall I be with you how long shall I suffer you bring him hither to me 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil and he departed out of him and the childe was cured from that very hour 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said Why could not we cast him out 20 And Jesus said unto them Because of your unbelief for verily I say unto you * Luk. 17.6 If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed ye shall say unto this mountain Remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you 21 Howbeit this kinde goeth not out but by prayer and fasting 22 ¶ * Ch. 20.17 Mar. 9.31 Luk. 9.44 And while they abode in Galilee Jesus said unto them The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men 23 And they shall kill him and the third day he shall be raised again and they were exceeding sorry 24 ¶ And when they were come to Capernaum they that received ‖ Called in the original didrachma being in value fifteen pence tribute money came to Peter and said Doth not your master pay tribute 25 He saith Yes And when he was come into the house Jesus prevented him saying What thinkest thou Simon of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute of their own children or of strangers 26 Peter saith unto him Of strangers Jesus saith unto him Then are the children free 27 Notwithstanding lest we should offend them go thou to the sea and cast an hook and take up the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt finde ‖ Or a stater It is half an ounce of silver in value two shillings six pence after five shillings the ounce a piece of money that take and give unto them for me and thee CHAP. XVIII 1 Christ warneth his disciples to be humble and harmless 7 to avoid offences and not to despise the little ones 15 teacheth how we are to deal with our brethren when they offend us 21 and how oft to forgive them 23 which he setteth forth by a parable of the king that took account of his servants 32 and punished him who shewed no mercy to his fellow AT * Mar. 9. â—â— Luk. 9.46 the same time cause the disciples unto Jesus saying Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven 2 And Jesus called a little childe unto him and set him in the midst of them 3 And said Verily I say unto you * Ch. 19.14 1 Cor. 14.20 Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little childe the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven 5 And whoso shall receive one such little childe in my name receiveth me 6 * Mar 9.42 Luke 17.1 2. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea 7 ¶ Wo unto the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh 8 * Ch. 5.30 Mar. 9.45 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee cut them off and cast them from thee it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed rather then having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire 9 And if thine eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye rather then having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven 11 * Luke 19.10 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost 12 * Luk. 15.4 How think ye if a man have an hundred sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray 13 And if so be that he finde it verily I say unto you he rejoyceth more of that sheep then of the ninety and nine which went not astray 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is
law The Jews therefore said unto him It is not lawful for us to put any man to death 32 * Mat. 20.19 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spake signifying what death he should die 33 * Mat. 27.11 Then Pilate entred into the judgement-hall again and called Jesus and said unto him Art thou the king of the Jews 34 Jesus answered him Sayest thou this thing of thy self or did others tell it thee of me 35 Pilate answered Am I a Jew Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me What hast thou done 36 Jesus answered My kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my kingdom not from hence 37 Pilate therefore said unto him Art thou a king then Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a king To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice 38 Pilate saith unto him What is truth And when he had said this he went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them I finde in him no fault at all 39 * Mat. 27.15 But ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the pass-over will ye therefore that I release unto you the king of the Jews 40 * Act. 3.14 Then cried they all again saying Plot this man but Barabbas Now Barabbas was a robber CHAP. XIX 1 Christ is scourged crowned with thorns and beaten 4 Pilate is desirous to release him but being overcome with the outrage of the Jews he delivered him to be crucified 23 They cast lots for his garments 26 He commendeth his mother to John 28 He dieth 31 His side is pierced 38 He is buried by Joseth and Nicodemus THen * Mat. 27.26 Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged him 2 And the souldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head and they put on him a purple robe 3 And said Hail king of the Jews and they smote him with their hands 4 Pilate therefore went forth again and saith unto them Behold I bring him forth to you that ye may know that I finde no fault in him 5 Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe And Pilate saith vnto them Behold the man 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him they cried out saying Crucifie him crucifie him Pilate saith unto them Take ye him and crucifie him for I finde no fault in him 7 The Jews answered him We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of God 8 ¶ When Pilate therefore heard that saying he was the more afraid 9 And went again into the judgement-hall and saith unto Jesus Whence art thou but Jesus gave him no answer 10 Then saith Pilate unto him Speakest thou not unto me knowest thou not that I have power to crucifie thee and have power to release thee 11 Jesus answered Thou couldest have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him but the Jews cried out saying If thou let this man go thou art not Cesars friend whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cesar 13 ¶ When Pilate therefore heard that saying he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgement-seat in a place that is called the Pavement but in the Hebrew Gabbatha 14 And it was the preparation of the pass-over and about the sixth hour and he saith unto the Jews Behold your king 15 But they cried out Away with him away with him crucifie him Pilate saith unto them Shall I crucifie your king The chief priests answered We have no king but Cesar 16 * Mat. 27.31 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified And they took Jesus and led him away 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a scull which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha 18 Where they crucified him and two other with him on either side one and Jesus in the midst 19 ¶ And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross And the writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS 20 This title then read many of the Jews for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latine 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate Write not The king of the Jews but that he said I am king of the Jews 22 Pilate answered What I have written I have written 23 ¶ * Mat. 27.35 Then the souldiers when they had crucified Jesus took his garments and made four parts to every souldier a part and also his coat now the coat was without seam ‖ Or wrought woven from the top throughout 24 They said therefore among themselves Let us not rend it but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled which saith * Ps 22.18 They parted my raiment among them and for my vesture they did cast lots These things therefore the souldiers did 25 ¶ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mothers sister Mary the wife of ‖ Or Clopas Cleophas and Mary Magdalene 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple standing by whom he loved he saith unto his mother Woman behold thy son 27 Then saith he to the disciple Behold thy mother And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home 28 ¶ After this Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished * Psa 69.21 that the scripture might be fulfilled saith I thirst 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vineger and they filled a spunge with vineger and put it upon hyssop and put it to his mouth 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vineger he said It is finished and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost 31 The Jews therefore because it was the preparation that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day for that sabbath-day was an high day besought Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away 32 Then came the souldiers and brake the legs of the first and of the other which was crucified with him 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was dead already they brake not his legs 34 But one of the souldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there out bloud and water 35 And he that saw it bare record and his record is true and he knoweth that he saith true that ye might beleeve 36 For these things were done * Ex. 12.46 Num.
offended any thing at all 9 But Festus willing to do the Jews a pleasure answered Paul and said Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem and there be judged of these things before me 10 Then said Paul I stand at Cesars judgement-seat where I ought to be judged to the Jews have I done no wrong as thou very well knowest 11 For if I be an offender or have committed any thing worthy of death I refuse not to die but if there he none of these things whereof these accuse me no man may deliver me unto them I appeal unto Cesar 12 Then Festus when he had conferred with the council answered Hast thou appealed unto Cesar unto Cesar shalt thou go 13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Cesarea to salute Festus 14 And when they had been there many days Festus declared Pauls cause unto the king saying There is a certain man lest in bonds by Felix 15 About whom when I was at Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews enformed me desiring to have judgement against him 16 To whom I answered It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him 17 Therefore when they were come hither without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgement-seat and I commanded the man to be brought forth 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Jesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive 20 And because ‖ Or I was doubtful how to enquire hereof I doubted of such manner of questions I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem there be judged of these matters 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the ‖ Or judgement hearing of Augustus I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Cesar 22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus I would also hear the man my felt To morrow said he thou shalt hear him 23 And on the morrow when Agrippa was come and Bernice with great pomp and was entred into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city at Festus commandment Paul was brought forth 24 And Festus said King Agrippa and all men which are here present with us ye see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me both at Jerusalem and also here crying that he ought not to live any longer 25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus I have determined to send him 26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord Wherefore I have brought him forth before you and specially before thee O king Agrippa that after examination had I might have somewhat to write 27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not withal to signifie the crimes laid against him CHAP. XXVI 2 Paul in the presence of Agrippa deelareth his life from his childhood 12 and how miraculously he was converted and called to his apostleship 24 Festus chargeth him to be mad whereunto he answereth modestly 28 Agrippa is almost perswaded to be a Christian 31 The whole company pronounce him innocent THen Agrippa said unto Paul Thou art permitted to speak for thy self Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself 2 I think my self happy king Agrippa because I shall answer for my self this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently 4 My manner of life from my youth which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem know all the Jews 5 Which knew me from the beginning if they would testifie that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers 7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come for which hopes sake king Agrippa I am accused of the Jews 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead 9 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth 10 * Chap. 8.3 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem and many of the saints did I shut up in prison having received authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even unto strange cities 12 * Chap 9.2 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests 13 At midday O king I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shining round about me and them which journeyed with me 14 And when we were all faln to the earth I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew tongue Saul Saul why persecutest thou me It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks 15 And I said Who art thou Lord And he said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest 16 But rise and stand upon thy feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee 17 Delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee 18 To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by saith that is in me 19 Whereupon O king Agrippa I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me 22 Having therefore obtained help of God I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying none other things then those which the prophets and Moses did say should come 23 That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light unto the people and to the Gentiles 24 And as he thus spake for himself Festus said with a loud
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table and of the table of devils 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger then he 23 All things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for me but all things edifie not 24 Let no man seek his own but every man anothers wealth 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat asking no question for conscience sake 26 For * Deut. 10.14 Psal 24.1 the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof 27 If any of them that beleeve not bid you to a feast and ye be disposed to go whatsoever is set before you eat asking no question for conscience sake 28 But if any man say unto you This is offered in sacrifice unto idols eat not for his sake that shewed it and for conscience sake For * Deut. 10.14 Psal 24.1 the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof 29 Conscience I say not thine own but of the others for why is my liberty judged of another mans conscience 30 For if I by ‖ Or thanksgiving grace be a partaker why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks 31 * Col. 3.17 Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God 32 * 2 Cor. 6.3 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the †Gr. Greeks Gentiles nor to the church of God 33 Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved CHAP. XI 1 He reproveth them because in holy assemblies 4 their men prayed with their heads covered and 6 women with their heads uncovered 17 and because generally their meetings were not for the better but for the worse as 21 namely in profaning with their own feasts the Lords supper 23 Lastly he calleth them to the first institution thereof BE ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 2 Now I praise you brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the ‖ Or traditions ordinances as I delivered them to you 3 But I would have you know that * Eph. 5 2â— the head of every man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man and the head of Christ is God 4 Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered dishonoureth his head 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head for that is even all one as if she were shaven 6 For if the woman be not covered let her also be shorn but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven let her be covered 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as * Gen. 1 2â— he is the image and glory of God but the woman is the glory of the man 8 For the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man 9 * Gen. 2.23 Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man 10 For this cause ought the woman to have ‖ That is a covering in signe that she is under the power of her husband power on her head because of the angels 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman but all things of God 13 Judge in yourselves is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered 14 Doth not even nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 15 But if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her for her hair is given her for a ‖ Or vail covering 16 But if any man seem to be contentious we have no such custom neither the churches of God 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not that you come together not for the better but for the worse 18 For first of all when ye come together in the church I hear that there be ‖ Or. schisms divisions among you and I partly beleeve it 19 For there must be also ‖ Or sectâ— heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you 20 When ye come together therefore into one place ‖ Or ye cannot eat this is not to eat the Lords supper 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper and one is hungry and another is drunken 22 What have ye not houses to eat and to drink in or despise ye the church of God and shame ‖ Or them that are poor them that have not What shall I say to you shall I praise you in this I praise you not 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread 24 * Matth. 26.26 Mark 13.22 Luke â—2 19 And when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my body which is broken for you this do ‖ Or for a remembrance in remembrance of me 25 After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying This cup is the new testament in my bloud this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me 26 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup ‖ Or shew ye ye do shew the Lords death till he come 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body bloud of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh ‖ Or judgement damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep 31 For if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 32 But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world 33 Wherefore my brethren when ye come together to eat tarry one for another 34 And if any man hunger let him eat at home that ye come not together unto ‖ Or judgement condemnation And the rest will I set in order when I come CHAP. XII 1 Spiritual gifts 4 are divers 7 yet all to profit withal 8 and to that end are diversly bestowed 12 that by the like proportion as the members of a natural body tend all to the 16 mutual decency 22 service and 26 succour of the same body 27 so we should do one for another to make up the mystical body of Christ NOw concerning spiritual gifts brethren I would not