wods that his father had made but after for that he was confederate with Benadas the king of y e Assyrians he was reproued of Iehu whoÌ„ he put in the stockes so forsoke God and died of the payne of his feete and his sonne raigned after him 3. Reg. 15. D Iosaphat vpon the inuasioÌ„ of his enemies into the lande of Iuda receaued comfort of Oziel the prophet in the temple saying to him O Iuda and Hierusalem feare not c. He called the place where Israel was spoyled the valley of blessing His ships as Eleazar the prophete saide before were destroyed in Asiongaber 3. Reg. 22. E Ioram maryed to wyfe the daughter of Achab king of Israel and by her counsell did euill and builded vp againe idolatrie he killed seuen of his brethren he was striken with an incurable disease that his bowels departed from him He was buryed in the citie of Dauid but not in the sepultures of the kinges 3. Reg. 22 Christes lyne Kinges of Juda 58. Roboam A 18. Abias B 3. Assa C 41. 69. DIosaphat 25. 45. Ioram E 8. Sonne 43. Ochozias F 1. Mother Kinges of Israel xvii iii. ii Sin The Sinodochies 58. Ieroboam G 22. ii Sin Sonne Nadab Hâ—. â—in xxiiii Sin not sonne Baasa I â—4 ii Sin Sonne Hela K 24. vii Sin not sonne Zamri 7. dayes xii Sin not sonne L'Amri 12. iiii xviii Sonne Achab. M 22. ii Sonne Ochozias 2. vii i. Ioram O 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the tyme that the kinges of Iuda and Israel lyued eche one with the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as ye would say of one tyme with an other F Ochozias had to mother Athalia the daughter of Achab which prouoked him to do ill before the lord he fought with Ioram king of Israel his vncle against Azael king of the Assyrians In the besieging of Ramoth Galaad he was slaine whose brothers .42 Iehu at the same time slue Helias the prophete was taken vp into paradise 4. Reg. â— These be the names of the kinges which raigned â—fter Solomon vpon Israel that is ouer ten tribes vntill Sâ—manassar king of the Assyrians which put them nigh the flood of Gazan beyonde the mountaynes of the Medes and Persies that is beyond the mountes Caspius It is red in the storie of Alexander of Macedonia that he in the lanâ—e place brought in two vncleane nations Gog Magog lest the whole lande should be defiled of them Antechriste shall deliuer them and bring them from thence whom the Iewes loke for and beleue that he is the Messias Prophetes in the times of the kinges of Israel G Ieroboam toke ten cuts of his cloke of Achia the Sidonite fled into Egypt for the feare of Solomon but after his death returned into Sichem and was elected king of the ten tribes he made the golden calues and put them in Dan Bethel and caused the people of Israel to commit idolatrie which did sacrifice to the calues who hearing the threate of Abdo the prophete and after his hande whiche he stretched against Abdo was dryed vp and by his prayer restored againe whiche prophete being slaine of a Lion for that he toke a diner of the false prophete the saide Ieroboam leauing not his saide crooked wayes notwithstanding the prophetes counsell and asking counsel of Achias by his wyfe of the recouerie of his childe and hearing the heauy tidynges of his desolation departed and his sonne Nadab raigned after him 3. Reg. 11. Achias H Nadab besieging Zebethon the citie of the Philistines waâ— slaine of Baasa and he liued euill in the sight of God 3. Re. 15. Iohn I Baasa though he was reproued of Iehu the prophet after he had builded Rama against Asa and letted by Benadab Asa his friende dyed and was buryed in Tharsa .3 Reg 15.16 K Hela ruled euill who in his drunkennesse was slaine in Tharsa of Zamri being head captayne of halfe of his horsemen and Zamri being besieged by Amri was destroyed by fire in Tharsa 3. Reg. 16. L Amri thre yeres before he dyd raigne he dyd warre with Thibni the sonne of Ginath after he had builded Samaria dyed 3. Reg. 16. Melias Micheas Abdias M Achab the sonne of Amri did euil before the Lord aboue all the kinges that were before him he worshipped Baal and made him a temple in his time was Iericho builded This Achab imprisoned Micheas the prophet and slue Naboth for his vineyard and at last was slaine with an arrowe 3. Reg. 22. In his time Helias prophecied of the drought who slue 450. prophets of Baal and for feare of Iesabel he fled into the desart Elizeus Elias O Ioram slue Micheas with casting him downe headlong Elizeus the prophete in his tyme gaue water in the desart to three kynges and their hoastes that is to Ioram kyng of Israel Iosaphat kyng of Iuda and to the kyng of Edome fighting against the Moabites whose kyng offred his eldest sonne for a burnt offeryng and after that Ioram had escaped the famine of Samaria at the telling of the lepers he was wounded at the siege of Ramoth and at the last slayne by Iehu with an arrowe â— Reg. 3.7.8.9 Kinges of Syria Benadab H These kynges of Syria were they whiche dyd much spoyl the kyngdome of Israel Ioâ—ada Zacharias Azarias Amanias Achitob Sadoch Sellum Helchias Azarias Saraias Esaias Naum. Micheas the sixt Sophonias Ieremias Olda A Athalia slue all the kinges blood except Ioas whom Iecabeth the wyfe of Ioiada did hide secretly syxe yeres and nurished him vp And this Athalia was dishonorably slaine of Ioiada the Bishop 4. Reg. 11 B Ioas restored the treasure house to the reparation of the temple after he had killed Zachari the sonne of Ioiada the Bishop whiche made him kyng he toke vpon him honour due vnto God was slayne of his owne seruauÌ„ts 4. Reg. 12. C Amasias being not taught by the parrable of the thissel by Ioas king of Israel he was slayne therfore deliuered him vp the citie the walles to be spoyled and the vessels of the teÌ„ple to be caried away 4. Reg. 14. D Ozias loued Tillage wel but he vsurped the priestes office vnder Azaria therfore was striken with lepri so was a leper vnto the day of his death in whose dayes were the prophetes Esai Ozee Iohel Abdias 4. Reg. 15. E Ioathan builded the gate of the teÌ„ple which is called beautifull and of the Hebrewes it is called the gate of Ioathan of other the towre of y e flocke vnder whoÌ„ Esai the prophete sawe the Lorde sitting And the prophets Naum and Micheas began to prophecie 4. Reg. 15. F Achaz drewe his sonne thorough the fire he was besieged of Rasin and Phacec would not follow the counsel of Esai he forsoke god destroyed the ornamentes of the temple 4. Reg. 16. And in this mans dayes was Rome buylded G Ezechias repaired that which his father destroyed he pulled downe the braâ—en
Lord of hoastes that the remnaunt of the ornamentes which are in the house of the Lorde in the house of the kyng of Iuda and at Hierusalem be not caryed to Babylon also 19 For thus hath the Lorde of hoastes spoken concerning the pillers the lauer the seate and the residue of the ornamentes that yet remayne in this citie 20 Which Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon toke not when he caryed away Iechonias the sonne of Iehoakim kyng of Iuda with all the power of Iuda Hierusalem vnto Babylon captiue 21 Yea thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken as touchyng the residue of the ornamentes of the Lordes house of the kyng of Iuda his house and of Hierusalem 22 They shal be caryed vnto Babylon and there shall they remayne vntyll I visite them saith the Lorde then wyll I bryng them hyther agayne ¶ The .xxviij. Chapter 1 The false prophecie of Hananias the prophete 12 Ieremie sheweth that the prophecie of Hananias is false by the example of the other prophetes 15 He being inspired of the Lorde reproueth Hananias propheciyng his death 1 AND it came to passe the same yere euen in the begynnyng of the raigne of Zedekiah kyng of Iuda in the fourth yere the fift moneth that Hananias the sonne of Assur the prophete of Gibeon spake to me in the house of the Lorde in the presence of the priestes and of all the people and sayde 2 Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel I haue broken the yoke of the kyng of Babylon 3 And after two yeres wyll I bryng agayne into this place all the ornamentes of the Lordes house that Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon caryed away from this place vnto Babylon 4 Yea I wyll bryng agayne Iechonias the sonne of Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda hym selfe with all the prisoners of Iuda that are caried vnto Babylon euen into this place saith the Lorde for I wyll breake the yoke of the kyng of Babylon 5 Then the prophete Ieremie gaue aunswere vnto the prophete Hananias before all the priestes and before all the people that were present in the house of the Lorde 6 And the prophete Ieremie sayde Amen the Lorde do that and graunt the thyng which thou hast prophecied that he may bryng agayne all the ornamentes of the Lordes house and restore all the prisoners from Babylon into this place 7 Neuerthelesse hearken thou also what I wyll say that thou and all the people may heare 8 The prophetes that were before vs in tyme past which prophecied of warre or trouble or pestilence 9 Either of peace vpon many nations and great kyngdomes were proued by this yf God hath sent them in very deede when the thyng came to passe which the prophete tolde before 10 And Hananias the prophete toke the chayne from the prophete Ieremies necke and brake it 11 And with that sayde Hananias that all the people might heare thus hath the Lorde spoken Euen so wyll I breake the yoke of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon from the necke of all nations yea and that within this two yere And so the prophete Ieremie went his way 12 Nowe after that Hananias the prophete had taken the chayne from the prophete Ieremies necke and broken it the worde of the Lorde came vnto the prophete Ieremie saying 13 Go and tell Hananias these wordes Thus saith the Lord thou hast broken the chayne of wood but in steade of wood thou shalt make chaynes of iron 14 For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel I wyll put a yoke of iron vpon the necke of all this people that they may serue Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon yea and so shall they do and I wyll geue hym the beastes of the fielde 15 Then sayde the prophete Ieremie vnto the prophete Hananias Heare me Hananias The Lorde hath not sent thee but thou bryngest this people into a false beliefe 16 And therfore thus saith the Lorde Beholde I wyll sende thee out of the lande and within a yere thou shalt dye because thou hast falsely spoken agaynst the Lorde 17 So Hananias dyed the same yere in the seuenth moneth The .xxix. Chapter 1 The pistle of Ieremie sent vnto them that were in captiuitie in Babylon 10 He prophecieth their returne from the captiuitie after seuentie yeres 16 He prophecieth the destruction of the king and of the people that remayned in Hierusalem 21 He threatneth two prophetes that seduced the people 25 The death of Semeiah the Nehelamite is prophecied 1 THese are the wordes of the booke that Ieremie the prophete sent from Hierusalem vnto the prisoners the senatours priestes prophetes and all the people whom Nabuchodonozor had led from Hierusalem vnto Babylon ▪ 2 After that tyme that kyng Iechonias and his queene his chamberlaynes the princes of Iuda and Hierusalem the workmaisters of Hierusalem were departed thyther 3 Which booke Elasah the sonne of Saphan Gamariah the sonne of Helkia did beare whom Zedekias the kyng of Iuda sent vnto Babylon to Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon These were the wordes of Hieremies booke 4 Thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken vnto all the prisoners that were fled from Hierusalem to Babylon 5 Builde you houses to dwell therin plant you gardens that you may enioy the fruites therof 6 Take you wiues to beare you sonnes and daughters prouide wiues for your sonnes and husbandes for your daughters that they may get sonnes daughters and that ye may multiplie there and decrease not 7 Seke after the peace and prosperitie of the citie wherin ye be prisoners and pray vnto the Lorde for it for in the peace therof shall your peace be 8 For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Let not these prophetes and soothsayers that be among you deceaue you and beleue not your owne dreames 9 For why they preache you lyes in my name and I haue not sent them saith the Lorde 10 But thus saith the Lorde When ye haue fulfylled seuentie yeres at Babylon I will bring you home and of mine owne goodnesse I wyll cary you hither agayne into this place 11 For I knowe what I haue deuised for you saith the Lorde My thoughtes are to geue you peace and not trouble and to geue you an ende as you wishe and hope to haue 12 Ye shall crye vnto me ye shall go and call vpon me and I wyll heare you 13 Ye shall seke me and fynde me yea yf so be that you seke me with your whole heart 14 I wyll be founde of you saith the Lord and will deliuer you out of prison and gather you together agayne out of all places wherin I haue scattered you saith the Lorde and wyll bryng you agayne to the same place from whence I caused you to be caried away captiue 15 But where as ye say that God hath raysed you vp prophetes at Babylon 16 Thus hath
iii. Iohn xiii A Prid. Kl. Siluester bish xxx lxv xxviii lxvi Iude. i. ¶ The summe of the vvhole Scripture of the bookes of the olde and new Testament The bookes of the olde Testament do teache vs that the same God whom Adam Noe Abraham Isahac Iacob Dauid and the other fathers did worship is the onely true God and that he the same is almightie and euerlasting VVho of his meere goodnesse hath created by his worde heauen and earth and all that is in them From whom all thinges do come without whom there is nothing at all And that he is iust and mercifull VVho also worketh all in all after his owne wyll To whom it is not lawfull to say wherefore he doth thus or thus Moreouer these bookes teache vs that this very God almightie after he created all thinges shope also Adam the first man to the image and spirituall similitude of him selfe and that he did constitute him lorde ouer all thinges that he had created in earth VVhich Adam by the enuie and fraude of the deuill transgressing the precept of his creator by this his sinne brought in such and so great sinne into the worlde that we which be sprong from him by the fleshe be in nature the children of wrath and therevpon we be made subiect and thraule to death to dampnation to the yoke and tyranny of the deuill Furthermore vve are taught by these excellent bookes that God promysed to Adam Abraham Isahac Iacob Dauid and to other fathers of the olde time that he would send that blessed seede his sonne Iesus Christe our sauiour which should deliuer all those from sinne and from the tyranny of the deuill which by a liuely and working faith should beleue this promise and put their trust in Iesus Christe hoping that of him and by him they shoulde obtayne this deliueraunce Also they geue vs to vnderstand that in the meane season whyle those fathers the Israelites loked for the saluation and deliueraunce promysed for that the nature of man is such so proude and so corrupt that those would not wyllingly acknowledge themselues to be sinners which had nede of the sauiour promysed God the creator gaue by Moyses his lawe wrytten in two tables of stone that by it sinne and the malice of mans heart being knowen men mought more vehemently thirst for the comming of Iesus Christe who should redeeme and deliuer them from sinne VVhich thing neither the lawe nor yet the sacrifices and oblations of the lawe did perfourme For they were shadowes and figures of the true oblation of the body of Christe by which oblation all sinnes should be blotted out and quite put away By the bookes of the newe Testament we be taught that Christe so afore promysed which is God aboue al thinges most blessed for euer euen he I say which was shadowed in the bookes of the olde Testament and in sacrifices figured that he was sent at the last from the father the selfe same time which the father did constitute within him selfe I say at that time when all wickednesse abounded in the worlde than he was sent And this Iesus our sauiour being borne in the fleshe suffered death and rose againe from the dead VVhich actes of his were not done by him in respect of the good workes of any man for we were all sinners but that this God our father shoulde appeare true in exhibiting the aboundant ryches of his grace which he promysed and that through his mercie he mought bring vs to saluation VVhereupon it is euidently shewed in the newe Testament that Iesus Christe being the true lambe the true sacrifice of the worlde putting away the sinnes of men came into this worlde to purchase grace and peace for vs with the father washing vs from our sinnes in his owne blood and should deliuer vs from the bondage of the deuil whom by sinne we did serue And so we should be adopted by him to be the sonnes of God made heires with him of that most excellent and euerlasting kingdome Now that we should acknowledge this singuler and excellent benefite of God toward vs almightie God geueth vs his holy spirite the fruite and effect of the which is faith in God and in his Christe For without the holy ghost by which we are instructed and sealed neither can we beleue that God the father sent Messias nor yet that Iesus is Christe For no man saith Paul can say that Iesus is the Lorde but by the holy ghost The same spirite witnesseth to our spirite that we are the children of God and powreth into our bowels that charitie which Paul describeth to the Corinthians Furthermore that holy spirite doth geue vs hope which is a sure loking for eternall lyfe whereof he him selfe is the certaine token and pledge Also he geueth vs other spirituall giftes of the which Paul wryteth to the Galathians Therefore the benefite of faith is not to be despised or little to be set by For by the meanes of this trust and faith in Christe which worketh by charitie and sheweth it selfe foorth by the workes of charitie mouing man therto we are iustified and sanctified that is to say God and the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe which is made our father also by him being our brother doth accompt vs to be iust and holy through his grace and through the merite of his sonne Iesus Christe not imputing our sinnes to vs so farre foorth that we shoulde suffer the paynes of hell for them Finally Christe him selfe came into the worlde to the intent that we through him being sanctified and cleansed from our sinnes folowing his wyll in good workes shoulde deny the thinges pertayning to the fleshe and freely serue him in righteousnesse and holynesse all the dayes of our lyfe and that by good workes which God hath prepared for vs to walke in we should shewe our selues to be called to this grace and gift of faith which good workes who so hath not doth shewe him selfe not to haue such a faith in Christe as is required in vs. To Christe must we come and folowe him with a chearefull minde that he may teache vs For he is our maister lowly and humble of heart he is to vs an example whereby we must learne the rule to lyue well Moreouer he is our bishop and our high priest which dyd him selfe offer vp for vs his owne blood being the onely mediator betweene God and men VVho now sitteth at the right hande of God the father being made our aduocate making prayer and intercession for vs who doubtlesse shall obtayne for vs whatsoeuer we shall desire eyther of him or els of his father in his name if so be that we thus desiring shall beleue that he wyll so do for thus hath he promysed Therefore let vs not doubt if we sinne at any tyme to come with
vs. 11 And so Abimelech charged al his people saying He that toucheth this man or his wyfe shall dye the death 12 Then Isahac sowed in that lande and receaued in the same yere an hundred folde and the Lorde blessed hym 13 And the man waxed myghtie went foorth and grewe tyll he was exceeding great 14 For he had possessiō of sheepe of oxen and a myghtie housholde and therfore the Philistines had enuie at hym 15 For the Philistines stopped and fylled vp with earth all the welles which his seruauntes had digged in his father Abrahams tyme. 16 And Abimelech sayde vnto Isahac Get thee from vs for thou art mightier then we a great deale 17 Therefore Isahac departed thence and abode in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there 18 And Isahac returning digged againe the welles of water which they digged in the dayes of Abraham his father which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham named them after the same names by the which his father had named them 19 Isahacs seruauntes digged in the valley and founde a well of springyng water 20 And the heardmen of Gerar did striue with Isahacs heardmen saying the water is ours Then called he the well contention because they stroue with hym 21 And they digged another well and stroue for that also and he called the name of it enmitie 22 And then he departed thence digged another well for the which they stroue not Therfore called he it roomth saying the Lorde hath made vs nowe roome that we may encrease vpon the earth 23 And he went vp thence to Beer-seba 24 And the Lorde appeared vnto hym the same night and sayde I am the God of Abraham thy father feare not for I am with thee and wyl blesse thee and multiple thy seede for my seruaunt Abrahams sake 25 And he builded an aulter there and called vpon the name of the Lorde and pitched his tent and there Isahacs seruauntes dygged a well 26 Then came Abimelech to him from Gerar and Ahuzath his friende and Phicol the captaine of his armie 27 And Isahac sayde vnto them wherfore come ye to me seyng ye hate me and haue put me away from you 28 Whiche aunswered We sawe most certainly that the Lord was with thee and we sayde let there be nowe an oth betwixt vs euen betwixt vs and thee and let vs make a league with thee 29 That thou shouldest do vs no hurt as we haue not touched thee and as we haue done vnto thee nothyng but good sent thee away in peace for thou art nowe the blessed of the Lorde 30 And he made them a feast and they dyd eate and drynke 31 And they rose vp betymes in the mornyng and sware one to another And Isahac sent them away and they departed from hym in peace 32 And the same daye Isahacs seruauntes came and tolde hym of a well which they had dygged and sayde vnto hym we haue founde water 33 And he called it Sebah and the name of the citie is called Beer-seba vnto this day 34 Esau was fourtie yere olde he toke a wyfe called Iudith the daughter of Beeri an Hethite and Basemath the daughter of Elon an Hethite also 35 Which were disobedient vnto Isahac and Rebecca ¶ The .xxvij. Chapter 1 Isahac byddeth Esau of his huntyng to prepare hym a dysshe 5 Iacob by the subtiltie of his mother foretaketh awaye his blessyng 26 Isahac kysseth his sonne 28 Isahac blesseth Iacob 30 Esau beyng returned frō huntyng bryngeth meates to his father 34 Esau after great outcryes at the last is blessed 39 Isahac blesseth Esau 41 Esau hateth Iacob and threatneth his death 43 Rebecca prouideth for Iacob a departyng into Mesopotamia 1 AND it came to passe that whē Isahac waxed olde his eyes were dimme so that he could not see he called Esau his eldest sonne saide vnto hym my sonne And he sayde vnto hym here am I. 2 And he sayde Beholde I am nowe olde and knowe not the daye of my death 3 Nowe therefore take I pray thee thy weapons thy quyuer and thy bowe and get thee to the fielde that thou mayest take me some venison 4 And make me well tastyng meates such as I loue and bryng it to me that I may eate that my soule may blesse thee before that I dye 5 But Rebecca hearde when Isahac spake to Esau his sonne And Esau wēt into the fielde to hunt venison and to bryng it 6 And Rebecca spake vnto Iacob her sonne saying Beholde I haue hearde thy father talkyng with Esau thy brother and saying 7 Bring me venison and make me daintie meate that I may eate and blesse thee before the Lorde afore my death 8 Nowe therfore my sonne heare my voyce in that which I cōmaunde thee 9 Get thee to the flocke and bryng me thence two good kyddes frō the goates and I wyll make of them pleasaunt meates for thy father such as he loueth 10 And thou shalt bryng it to thy father that he may eate and that he may blesse thee before his death 11 Then said Iacob to Rebecca his mother Beholde Esau my brother is a heary man and I am smoothe 12 My father shall peraduenture feele mee and I shall seeme vnto hym as though I went about to begyle hym and so shall I bryng a curse vpon me and not a blessyng 13 And his mother sayde vnto him Vpon me be the curse my sonne only heare my voyce and go and fetche me them 14 And Iacob went and fet them and brought them to his mother and his mother made pleasaunt meate such as she knewe his father loued 15 And Rebecca fet goodly rayment of her eldest sonne Esau whiche were in the house with her and put them vpon Iacob her younger sonne 16 And she put the skynnes of the kiddes vpon his handes and vpon the smoothe of his necke 17 And she put that pleasaunt meate and bread whiche she had prepared in the hande of her sonne Iacob 18 When he came to his father he sayde my father And he aunswered here am I who art thou my sonne 19 And Iacob sayde vnto his father I am Esau thy eldest sonne I haue done accordyng as thou baddest me aryse I pray thee syt and eate of my venison that thy soule may blesse me 20 And Isahac said vnto his sonne how commeth it that thou hast founde it so quickly my sonne He aunswered the lorde thy God brought it to my handes 21 Then sayde Isahac vnto Iacob Come neare and I wyll feele thee my sonne whether thou be my very sonne Esau or not 22 Then went Iacob to Isahac his father and he felt hym and sayde The voyce is Iacobs voyce but the handes are the handes of Esau 23 And he knewe him not because his handes were heary as his brother Esaus handes
thine handes therfore shalt thou be glad 16 Three tymes in the yere shall all thy males appeare before the Lorde thy God in the place which he shall choose In the feast of vnleauened bread in the feast of weekes and in the feast of tabernacles And they shal not appeare before the Lorde emptie 17 Euery man shall geue accordyng to the gift of his hande accordyng to the blessyng of the Lorde thy God which he hath geuen thee 18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy cities which the Lorde thy God geueth thee throughout thy tribes and they shall iudge the people with iust iudgement 19 Wrest not thou the lawe nor knowe any person neither take any rewarde for giftes do blinde the eyes of the wise peruert the wordes of the righteous 20 That which is iust and ryght shalt thou folowe that thou mayst lyue and enioy the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee 21 Thou shalt plant no groue of any trees neare vnto the aulter of the Lord thy God which thou shalt make thee 22 Thou shalt set thee vp no piller which the Lorde thy God hateth ¶ The .xvij. Chapter ◠The punishment of the idolater 9 Harde controuersies are brought to the priest and the iudge 12 The contempner must dye 15 The election of the kyng 16 17 What thynges he ought to auoyde 18 And what he ought to imbrace 1 Thou shalt offer vnto the Lorde thy God no oxe nor sheepe wherin is blemishe or any euyll fauourednesse for that is an abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God 2 If there be founde among you within any of thy gates which the Lorde thy God geueth thee man or woman that hath wrought wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde thy God in transgressyng his couenaunt 3 And gone and serued straunge gods and worshipped them as the sunne or moone or any of the hoast of heauen which I haue not commaunded 4 And it is tolde thee thou hast hearde of it then shalt thou enquire diligently and if it be true the thyng of a suretie that such abhomination is wrought in Israel 5 Then shalt thou bryng foorth that man or that woman which haue committed that wicked thyng vnto the gates and shalt stone them with stones tyll they dye 6 At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he that is worthy of death dye and at the mouth of one witnesse let no man dye 7 The handes of the witnesses shal be first vpon him to kyll him afterward the handes of all the people and thou shalt put the wicked away from thee 8 If there rise a matter to harde for thee in iudgement betweene blood and blood betweene plea and plea betweene plague and plague and the matters come to strife within thy gates then shalt thou arise and get thee vp vnto the place whiche the Lorde thy God hath chosen 9 And come vnto the priestes the Leuites and vnto the iudge that shal be in those dayes and aske and they shall shewe thee the sentence of iudgement 10 And thou must do accordyng to that which they of that place which the Lord had chosen shewe thee and thou shalt obserue to do accordyng to all that they enfourme thee 11 Accordyng to the sentence of the lawe which they tell thee shalt thou do and bowe not from that which they shewe thee neither to the right hande nor to the left 12 And that man that wyll do presumptuously and wyll not hearken vnto the priest that standeth there before the Lorde thy God to minister or vnto the iudge that man shall dye and thou shalt put away euyll from Israel 13 And all the people shall heare feare and shall do no more presumptuously 14 When thou art come vnto the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth thee and enioyest it and dwellest therin and if thou shalt say I wyll set a king ouer me lyke as all the nations that are about me 15 Then thou shalt make hym king ouer thee whom the Lorde thy God shall choose Euen one from among thy brethren shalt thou make kyng ouer thee and thou mayest not set a straunger ouer thee which is not of thy brethren 16 But he shall not multiplie horses to hym selfe nor bryng the people agayne to Egypt to increase the number of horses forasmuch as the Lorde hath sayde vnto you ye shall hencefoorth go no more agayne that way 17 Also he ought not to multiplie wyues to him selfe lest his heart turne away neither shall he gather hym siluer and golde to much 18 And when he is set vpon the seate of his kingdome he shall write hym out a copie of this lawe in a booke before the priestes the Leuites 19 And it shal be with hym and he ought to reade therin all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lorde his God and to kepe all the wordes of this lawe and these ordinaunces for to do them 20 And that his heart arise not aboue his brethren and that he turne not from the commaundement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his dayes in his kyngdome he and his children in the middes of Israel ¶ The .xviij. Chapter ◠The portion of the Leuites ◠Of the Leuite commyng from another place 9 To auoyde the abhomination of the Gentiles 15 God wyll not leaue them without a true prophete 20 The false prophete shal be slayne 22 Howe he may be knowen 1 THe priestes of the Leuites all the tribe of Leui must haue no part nor inheritaunce with Israel but shall eate y e fierie offeringes of the Lorde and his inheritaunce 2 Therfore shall they haue no inheritaunce among their brethren but the Lorde he is their inheritaunce as he hath sayde vnto them 3 And the priestes duetie of the people and of them that offer whether it be oxe or sheepe they must geue vnto the priest the shoulder the two chekes and the mawe 4 The first fruites also of thy corne wine and oyle and the first of the fleece of thy sheepe shalt thou geue hym 5 For the Lorde thy God hath chosen hym out of all thy tribes to stande and to minister in the name of the Lorde he and his sonnes for euer 6 If a Leuite come out of any of thy cities of all Israel where he is a soiourner and come with all the lust of his heart vnto the place which the Lorde hath chosen 7 He shall minister in the name of the Lorde his God as his other brethren the Leuites do which remayne there before the Lorde 8 And they shall haue lyke portions to eate beside that which commeth of the sale of his patrimonie 9 When thou art come into the lande which the Lorde thy God geueth
mans apparell nor the man the womans 6 Of the damme her young birdes 8 Why they shoulde haue battlementes 9 Not to mixe diuers kindes together 13 Of the wife not being founde a virgin 22 The punishmeÌ„t of adulterie 1 THou shalt not see thy brothers oxe or sheepe go astray and withdrawe thy selfe from them but shalt bryng them agayne vnto thy brother 2 And if thy brother be not nye vnto thee or if thou knowe hym not then bryng it vnto thine owne house and it shall remayne with thee vntyll thy brother aske after them and then deliuer hym them agayne 3 In lyke maner shalt thou do with his asse and so shalt thou do with his rayment and with all lost thynges of thy brother which he hath lost and thou hast found shalt thou do likewise and thou mayest not hide it from them 4 Thou shalt not see thy brothers asse or oxe fall downe by the way and withdrawe thy selfe from them but shalt helpe hym to heaue them vp againe 5 The woman shall not weare that whiche parteyneth vnto the man neither shall a man put on womans rayment For all that do so are abhomination vnto the Lorde thy God 6 If thou chaunce vpon a birdes nest by the way in whatsoeuer tree it be or on the grounde whether they be young or egges and the damme sittyng vpon the young or on the egges thou shalt not take the damme with the young 7 But shalt in any wyse let the damme go take the young to thee that thou mayest prosper and prolong thy dayes 8 When thou buyldest a newe house thou shalt make a battlement on the roofe that thou lade not blood vpon thyne house if any man fal from thence 9 Thou shalt not sowe thy vineyarde with diuers seedes lest the fruite of the seede which thou hast sowen and the fruite of thy vineyarde be defyled 10 Thou shalt not plowe with an oxe and an asse together 11 Thou shalt not weare a garment made of wool and linnen together 12 Thou shalt not make thee gardes vppon the foure quarters of thy vesture wherewith thou couerest thy selfe 13 If a man take a wyfe and when he hath lyen with her hate her 14 And lay shamefull thynges vnto her charge and bryng vp an euyll name vpon her and say I toke this wyfe and when I came to her I founde her not a mayde 15 Then shall the father of the damsell the mother bryng foorth the tokens of the damsels virginitie vnto the elders of the citie in the gate 16 And the damsels father shall say vnto the elders I gaue my daughter vnto this man to wyfe and he hateth her 17 And lo he layeth shamefull thynges vnto her charge saying I founde not thy daughter a mayde and yet these are the tokens of my daughters virginitie And they shall spreade the vesture before the elders of the citie 18 And the elders of that citie shall take that man and chastise hym 19 And mearse hym in an hundred sicles of syluer and geue them vnto the father of the damsell because he hath brought vp an euyl name vpon a mayde of Israel And she shal be his wyfe and he may not put her away all his dayes 20 But and yf the thyng be of a suretie that the damsell be not founde a virgin 21 They shall bryng the damsell to the doore of her fathers house and the men of that citie shall stone her with stones to death because she hath wrought folly in Israel to play the whore in her fathers house And so thou shalt put euyl from among you 22 If a man be founde lying with a woman that hath a wedded husband they shall both dye both the man that laye with the wyfe and also the wyfe and so â—ou shalt put away euill from Israel 23 If a mayde be betrouthed vnto an husbande and then a man finde her in the towne and lye with her 24 Ye shall bring them both out vnto the gates of the same citie and shall stone them with stones to death The damsell because she cryed not beyng in the citie And the man because he hath humbled his neighbours wife and thou shalt put away euyll from thee 25 But if a man finde a betrouthed damsell in the fielde and force her and lye with her then the man that lay with her shall dye alone 26 But vnto the damsell thou shalt do no harme because there is in the damsell no cause of death For as when a man ryseth against his neyghbour and slayeth hym euen so is this matter 27 For he found her in the fieldes and the betrouthed damsell cryed there was no man to succour her 28 If a man finde a mayde that is not betrouthed and take her and lye with her and they be founde 29 Then the man that lay with her shall geue vnto the damsels father fiftie sicles of siluer and she shall be his wyfe because he hath humbled her and he may not put her away all his dayes 30 No man shall take his fathers wife nor vnheale his fathers couering ⧠The .xxiij. Chapter 1 What men might not be admitted to office 9 What they ought to auoyde when they go to warre 15 Of the fugitiue seruaunt 17 To flee all kinde of whordome 19 Of vsurie 21 Of vowes 24 Of the neighbours vine and corne 1 NOne that is hurt by burstyng or hath his priuie members cut of shal come into the congregation of y e Lord. 2 And a bastarde shall not come into the congregation of the Lorde no not in the tenth generation he shall not enter into the congregation of the Lorde 3 The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not come into the congregation of the Lorde no not in the tenth generation nor they shall neuer come into the congregation of the Lorde 4 Because they met you not with bread and water in the way when ye came out of Egypt and because they hyred against thee Balaam the sonne of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia to curse thee 5 Neuerthelesse the Lorde thy God woulde not hearken vnto Balaam but the Lord thy God turned the curse to a blessing vnto thee because the Lord thy God loued thee 6 Thou shalt not seeke their peace nor wealth all thy dayes for euer 7 Thou shalt not abhorre an Edomite for he is thy brother neither shalt thou abhorre an Egyptian because thou wast a straunger in his lande 8 The children that are begotten of theÌ„ shal come into the congregation of the Lorde in the thirde generation 9 When thou goest out with the hoast against thyne enemies kepe thee from all wickednesse 10 If there be among you any man that is vncleane by the reason of vncleannesse that chaunceth hym by nyght let him go out of the hoast and not come in agayne into the hoast
19 Lyfe and death is set before them 20 The Lorde is their lyfe which obey hym 1 WHen all these wordes are come vpon thee the blessyng and the curse whiche I haue set before thee thou shalt turne vnto thine heart among all the nations whyther the Lorde thy God hath dryuen thee 2 And come agayne vnto the Lorde thy God and hearken vnto his voyce in all these thynges that I commaunde thee this day thou and thy children with all thine heart and all thy soule 3 And the Lorde thy God wyll turne thy captiuitie and haue compassion vpon thee and wyll turne and fetche thee agayne from all the nations among which the Lord thy God had scattered thee 4 Though thou wast cast vnto the extreme partes of heauen euen from thence wyll the Lorde thy God gather thee and from thence will he fetch thee 5 And the Lorde thy God wyll bryng thee into the lande whiche thy fathers possessed and thou shalt enioy it And he wyll shewe thee kindnesse and multiplie thee aboue thy fathers 6 And the Lorde thy God wyll circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seede that thou mayest loue the Lorde thy God with all thine heart and all thy soule that thou mayest lyue 7 And the Lorde thy God wyll put all these curses vpon thine enemies and on them that hate thee and that persecute thee 8 But thou shalt turne and hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde and do all his commaundementes which I commaunde thee this day 9 And the Lorde thy God wyll make thee plenteous in al the workes of thine hande in the fruite of thy body and in the fruite of thy cattell and in the fruite of thy lande for thy wealth For the Lorde wyll turne agayne and reioyce ouer thee to do thee good as he reioyced ouer thy fathers 10 If thou hearken only vnto the voyce of the Lorde thy God to kepe his commaundementes and his ordinaunces which are written in the booke of this lawe and if thou turne vnto the Lorde thy God with all thine heart and all thy soule 11 For the commaundement which I cōmaunde thee this day is not hidden from thee neither farre of 12 It is not in heauen that thou needest to say Who shall go vp for vs to heauen and bryng it vnto vs that we may heare it and do it 13 Neither is it beyonde the sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go ouer the sea for vs and bryng it vnto vs that we may heare it and do it 14 But the worde is very nye vnto thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart that thou do it 15 Beholde I haue set before thee this day lyfe and good death and euyll 16 For where as I commaunde thee this day to loue the Lorde thy God to walke in his wayes and to kepe his commaundementes his ordinaunces and his lawes yf thou so do thou shalt lyue and multiplie and the Lorde thy God shall blesse thee in the lande whyther thou goest to possesse it 17 But and yf thine heart turne away so that thou wylt not heare but shalt go astray and worship straunge gods and serue them 18 I pronounce vnto you also this day that ye shall surely perishe and that ye shall not prolong your dayes vpon the lande whyther thou passest ouer Iordane to go and possesse it 19 I call heauen and earth to recorde this day agaynst you that I haue set before you lyfe and death blessyng and cursyng Therfore choose lyfe that both thou and thy seede may lyue 20 That thou mayest loue the Lord thy God and be obedient to his voyce and cleaue vnto hym For he is thy life the length of thy dayes that thou mayest dwell vpon the earth which the Lord sware vnto thy fathers Abraham Isahac and Iacob to geue them ¶ The .xxxj. Chapter 2. 7 Moyses preparyng hym selfe to dye appoynteth Iosuah to rule the people 9 He geueth the lawe to the Leuites that they shoulde reade it to the people 19 God geueth them a song as a witnesse betwene hym and them 23 God confirmeth Iosuah 29 Moyses sheweth thē that they wyll rebell after his death 1 ANd Moyses went and spake these wordes vnto all Israel 2 And sayd vnto them I am an hundred and twentie yeres olde this day and can no more go out and in Also the Lorde hath sayd vnto me Thou shalt not go ouer this Iordane 3 The Lorde thy God he wyll go ouer before thee and he wyll destroy these nations before thee and thou shalt possesse them And Iosuah he shall go before thee as the Lorde hath sayde 4 And the Lorde shall do vnto them as he dyd to Sehon and Og kynges of the Amorites and vnto the lande of them whom he destroyed 5 And the Lorde shall geue them ouer before your face that ye may do vnto them accordyng vnto all the cōmaundementes which I haue cōmaunded you 6 Plucke vp your heartes therfore and be strong dreade not nor be afrayde of them for the Lorde thy God hym selfe doth go with thee he shall not fayle thee nor forsake thee 7 And Moyses called vnto Iosuah and sayd vnto him in the sight of all Israel Be strong of good courage for thou must go with this people vnto the lande which the Lord hath sworne vnto their fathers to geue them and thou shalt geue it them to inherite 8 And the Lorde he doth go before thee he shal be with thee he shall not fayle thee neither forsake thee feare not therfore nor be discomfyted 9 And Moyses wrote this lawe and deliuered it vnto the priestes the sonnes of Leui which bare the arke of the testament of the Lorde and vnto all the elders of Israel 10 And Moyses cōmaunded them saying Euery seuenth yere in the solempnitie of the free yere euen in the feast of tabernacles 11 When all Israel is come to appeare before the Lorde thy God in the place which he hath chosen thou shalt reade this lawe before all Israel that they may heare it 12 Gather the people together men women and children and the straunger that is within thy gates that they may heare and learne and feare the Lorde your God and kepe and obserue all the wordes of this lawe 13 And that their children which knowe nothyng may heare and learne to feare the Lorde your God as long as ye lyue in the lande whyther ye go ouer Iordane to possesse it 14 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses Beholde thy dayes are come that thou must dye Call Iosuah therfore and stande ye in the tabernacle of the congregatiō that I may geue him a charge And Moyses and Iosuah went stood in the tabernacle of the congregation 15 And the Lorde appeared in the tabernacle euen in the piller of the cloude and the piller of the cloude stoode ouer the doore
Lord all night 12 And wheÌ„ Samuel rose early to meete Saul in the morning it was tolde Samuel that Saul was come to Carmel and beholde he hath made him there a place and is returned and departed and gone downe to Gilgal 13 And Samuel came to Saul Saul said vnto him Blessed be thou in the Lorde I haue fulfilled the coÌ„maundement of the Lord. 14 Samuel sayde What meaneth then the bleating of the sheepe in mine eares and the lowing of the oxen which I heare 15 Saul aunswered They haue brought them from the Amalekites For the people spared the best of the sheepe and of the oxen to sacrifice them vnto the Lorde thy God and the remnaunt haue we destroyed vtterlie 16 Samuel said to Saul Let me tell thee what the Lorde hath saide to me this night And he sayd vnto him saye on 17 Samuel said When thou wast litle in thyne owne sight wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel and the Lorde annoynted thee kyng ouer Israel 18 And the Lorde sent thee on a iourney and said Go and vtterly destroy those sinners the Amalekites fight against them vntyll thou destroy them 19 And wherfore hast thou not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde but hast turned to the praye and hast done that which is wicked in the syght of the Lorde 20 And Saul sayde vnto Samuel Yea I haue hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde and haue gone the way which the Lord sent me vnto haue brought Agag the kyng of Amalek and haue destroyed the Amalekites 21 But the people toke of y e spoyle sheepe oxen and the chiefest of the thynges whiche shoulde haue ben destroyed to offer vnto the Lord thy God in Gilgal 22 And Samuel sayde Hath the Lorde as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerynges as when the voyce of the Lorde is obeyed Beholde to obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken is better then the fat of rammes 23 For rebellion is as the sinne of witchcraft and stubbernnesse is as the wickednes of idolatrie Because thou hast cast away the worde of the Lorde therefore he hath cast away thee also from being king 24 And Saul sayde vnto Samuel I haue sinned For I haue gone farther then the saying of the Lorde and thy wordes because I feared the people and obeyed their voyce 25 Now therfore I pray thee take away my sinne and turne agayne with me that I may worship the Lorde 26 And Samuel sayde vnto Saul I wyll not returne with thee For thou hast cast away the worde of the Lorde and the Lord hath cast away thee that thou shalt not be kyng ouer Israel 27 And as Samuel turned hym selfe to go away he caught the lappe of his coate and it rent 28 And Samuel sayde vnto hym The Lorde hath rent the kyngdome of Israel from thee this day and hath geuen it to a neighbour of thine that is better then thou 29 The strength of Israel wyl not beguyle nor repent for he is not a man that shoulde repent 30 He sayde I haue sinned But nowe honour me before the elâ—rs of my people and before Israel and turne againe with me that I may worship the Lord thy God 31 And so Samuel turned againe and folowed Saul and Saul worshipped the Lorde 32 Then sayde Samuel Bryng you hyther to me Agag the kyng of the Amalekites And Agag came vnto hym dilicately and Agag sayde Truely the bitternesse of death is past 33 And Samuel sayde As thy sworde hath made women chyldlesse so shall thy mother be chyldlesse aboue other women And Samuel hewed Agag in peeces before the Lorde in Gilgal 34 And then Samuel departed to Rama and Saul went home to his house to Gibea Saul 35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul vntyll the day of his death Neuerthelesse Samuel mourned for Saul and the Lorde repented that he had made Saul kyng ouer Israel The .xvi. Chapter 1 Samuel is reproued of God and is sent to annoynt Dauid 7. God regardeth the heart 13 The spirite of the Lorde commeth vpon Dauid 14. The wicked spirite is sent vpon Saul 19. Saul sendeth for Dauid 1 THE Lorde sayd vnto Samuel Howe long wilt thou mourne for Saul seing I haue cast him away from raigning ouer Israel Fill thyne horne with oyntment and come that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlemite for I haue prouided me a king among his sonnes 2 And Samuel sayd How can I go For if Saul heare it he will kill me The Lord aunswered Take an heyfer with thee and saye I am come to offer to the Lorde 3 And call Isai to the offering and I will shewe thee what thou shalt do And thou shalt annoynt vnto me him whom I name vnto thee 4 And so Samuel did as the Lord bade him and came to Bethlehem and the elders of the towne were astonyed at his comming and saide * Commest thou peaceably 5 He aunswered Yea I am come to offer vnto the Lorde Sanctifie your selues and come with me to the offering And he sanctified Isai and his sonnes and bade them to the offering 6 And when they were come he loked on Eliab saide Surelye the Lordes annoynted is before him 7 But the Lorde sayde vnto Samuel Loke not on his fashion or on y e height of his stature because I haue refused him For God seeth not as man seeth For man loketh on the outward appearaunce but the Lorde beholdeth the heart 8 Then Isai called Abinadab made him come before Samuel and he sayd Neither hath the Lorde chosen this 9 Then Isai made Samma come and he sayd Neither yet hath the Lorde chosen him 10 Againe Isai made seuen of his sonnes to come before Samuel and Samuel sayd vnto Isai The Lorde hath chosen none of these 11 And Samuel sayde vnto Isai Are heare all thy children He sayde There is yet a litle one behind that kepeth the sheepe And Samuel said vnto Isai Sende and fet him for we will not syt downe till he be come hyther 12 And he sent and brought him in And he was ruddie and of an excelleÌ„t beawtie and wel fauoured in sight And the Lorde said Aryse annoynt him For come downe to see the battel 29 And Dauid sayde And what haue I nowe done is there not a cause 30 And he departed from him into the presence of another and spake of the same maner and the people aunswered him againe as before 31 And they that heard the wordes which Dauid spake rehearsed them before Saul which caused him to be fet 32 And Dauid sayde to Saul Let no mans heart fayle him because of him Thy seruaunt will go and fight with yonder Philistine 33 And Saul sayde to Dauid againe Thou art not able to go against yonder Philistine to fight with him For thou art but a childe but he is
14 We came a rouyng vpon the south of Chretus and vpon the coast belonging to Iuda and toward the south of Caleb and we burnt Ziklag with fyre 15 And Dauid saide to him Canst thou bring me to this company And he said Sweare vnto me by God that thou wilt neither kill me nor deliuer me into the handes of my maister and I will bring thee to this company 16 And when he had brought him thyther beholde they laye scattered abrode vpon all the earth eating and drynking daunsing because of al the great praye that they had carried away out of the land of the Philistines and out of the land of Iuda 17 And Dauid layde vpon them from the twylight euen vnto the euening of the next morowe so that there escaped not a man of them saue foure hundred young men which rode vpon cammels and fled 18 And Dauid recouered all that the Amalekites had carryed away and Dauid reseued his two wyues 19 So that there was nothing lacking to them small or great sonne or daughter or of the spoyle of all that they had taken away Dauid recouered them all 20 And Dauid tooke all the sheepe and the oxen and they draue them before his cattaile and saide This is Dauids pray 21 And Dauid came to the two hundred men that were to weery for to folowe Dauid whom they had made also to abyde at the ryuer Besor And they came to meete Dauid the people that were with him And when Dauid came to the people he saluted them 22 Then aunswered all the wicked and the vnthryftes of the men that went with Dauid and saide Because they went not with vs therfore wil we geue them none of the pray that we haue recouered But let euery man take his wife and his children those let them carry away and departe 23 Then sayd Dauid Ye shall not do so my brethren with that which the Lord hath geuen vs who hath preserued vs and delyuered the company that came against vs into our handes 24 For who will hearkē vnto you in this matter * But as his parte is that goeth downe and fighteth so shall his parte be that tarryeth by the stuffe they shall parte alyke 25 And so from that day forward was that made a statute and lawe in Israel vnto this day 26 When Dauid therefore came to Ziklag he sent of the pray vnto the elders of Iuda and to his friendes saying See there is a blessing for you of the spoyle of the enemies of the Lorde 27 He sent to them of Bethel to them of south Ramoth to them of Iathir 28 To them of Aroer to them of Sephamoth to them of Esthema 29 To them of Rachal to them of the cities of Jerahmeel to them of the cities of the Kenites 30 To them of Horma to them of Chor-ashan to them of Athach 31 To them that are in Hebron and to all places where Dauid and his men were wont to haunt Teh .xxxi. Chapter 4 Saul killeth him selfe 6. His children are slaine in the battaile 12. The men of Iabes tooke downe his bodie which was hanged on the wall 1 AND the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled away from the Philistines and fell downe wounded in mount Gilboa 2 And the Philistines preassed sore vpon Saul his sonnes slue Ionathan Abinadab Melchisua Sauls sonnes 3 And when the battaile went sore against Saul the archers with bowes found him and he was fore afrayde of the archers 4 Thē said Saul vnto his harnesse bearer Draw out thy sword thrust me through therewith lest the vncircumcised come and thrust me through mocke me And his harnesse bearer wolde not for he was sore afrayd Therefore Saul toke a sword and fell vpon it 5 And when his harnesse bearer sawe that Saul was dead he fell lykewise vpon his sword and dyed with him 6 And so Saul dyed his three sonnes and his harnesse bearer and al his men that same day together 7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other syde of the valley and they of the other syde Iordaine sawe that the men of Israel were put to flight and that Saul and his sonnes were dead they left the cities and ran away and the Philistines came and dwelt in them 8 On the morow when the Philistines were come to spoyle them that were slaine they founde Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gilboa 9 And they cut of his head and stripped him out of his harnesse sent into the land of y e Philistines on euery syde that they should puplishe it in the temple of their idolles and among the people 10 And they layed vp his harnesse in the house of Astaroth but they hanged vp his body on the wall of Bethsan 11 When the inhabitauntes of Iabes in Gilead heard thereof what the Philistines had done to Saul 12 They arose as many as were strong men and went all night toke the bodie of Saul the bodies of his sonnes from the wall of Bethsan and came to Iabes and burnt them there 13 And toke their bones buryed them vnder a tree at Iabes fasted seuen dayes ¶ The end of the first booke of Samuel or first booke of Kinges ⧠The seconde booke of Samuel otherwyse called the seconde booke of the kinges The fyrst Chapter 4 It was tolde Dauid of Sauls death 15 He causeth him to be slayne that brought the tidings 19 He lamented the death of Saul and Ionathan 1 AFter the death of Saul when Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and had ben two daies in Ziklag 2 Beholde there came a man the thirde day out of the hoast from Saul with his clothes rent earth vpon his head And when he came to Dauid he fell to the earth and did obeysaunce 3 Dauid sayde vnto him whence cōmest thou He sayde vnto him Out of the hoast of Israel I am escaped 4 And Dauid sayde vnto him And what is done I pray thee tell me He sayde The people is fled from the battell and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead and Saul and Ionathan his sonne are dead also 5 And Dauid sayd vnto the young man that tolde it him Howe knowest thou that Saul and Ionathan his sonne be dead 6 The young man that tolde him aunswered As I came vnaduisedly to mount Gilboa beholde Saul leaned vpon his speare and lo the charettes and horsemen folowed hard after him 7 And when he loked backe he sawe me and called me And I aunswered here am I. 8 And he sayde vnto me Who art thou I aunswered him I am an Amalekite 9 He sayde vnto me agayne I pray thee come vpon me and slea me For anguyshe is come vpon me because my life is yet whole in me 10 And so I stoode vpon him
and more also if I taste bread or ought els tyll the sunne be downe 36 And all the people wist it and it pleased them as whatsoeuer the king did pleased all the people 37 For all the people and all Israel vnderstoode that day how that it was not the kinges deede that Abner the sonne of Ner was slayne 38 And the king said vnto his seruauntes Knowe ye not howe that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel 39 And I am this day tender and newly annoynted king and these men the sonnes of Zaruia be to hard for me The Lorde rewarde the doer of euyll according to his wickednesse The .iiii. Chapter 5 Baanah and Rechab slay Isboseth the sonne of Saul 12 Dauid commaunded them to the slayne 1 AND when Sauls sonne hearde that Abner was dead in Hebron his handes were feeble al the Israelites were afrayde 2 And Sauls sōne had two mē that were captaines of bandes the one called Baanah the other Rechab the sonnes of Rimmon a Berothite of the children of Beniamin for Beroth was reckened to Beniamin 3 And these Berothites fled to Githaim and soiourned there vntill this day 4 And Ionathan Sauls sonne had a sonne that was lame on his feete and was fiue yeres olde when the tydinges came of Saul Ionathan out of Iesrael And his nurse toke hym vp and fled away and as she made haste to flee the chylde fell and began to halt and his name was Miphiboseth 5 And the sonnes of Rimmon the Berothite Rechab and Baanah went and came in the heate of the day to the house of Isboseth whiche slept on a bed at noone 6 And behold they came into the middes of the house as though they woulde haue fetched wheate and Rechab and Baanah his brother smote him vnder the fyft ribbe and fled 7 For when they came into the house he slept on his bed in his bed chamber and they smote him and slue him beheaded him and toke his head gat them away through the plaine all the night 8 And they brought the head of Isboseth vnto Dauid to Hebron and sayde to the king Behold there is the head of Isboseth Sauls sonne thyne enemie whiche sought after thy lyfe and the Lorde hath auenged my lorde the kyng this day of Saul and of his seede 9 And Dauid aunswered Rechab and Baanah his brother y e sonnes of Rimmon the Berothite and said vnto them As the Lorde lyueth whiche hath deliuered my soule out of all aduersites 10 When one tolde me sayde that Saul was dead thynking to haue brought good tydinges I caught him and slue him in Ziklag whiche thought that I woulde haue geuen him a rewarde for his tydinges bringing 11 Howe much more when wicked men haue slayne a righteous person in his owne house and vpon his bed Shal I not nowe therfore require his blood of your hande take you from the earth 12 And Dauid commaunded his young men and they slue them and cut of their handes and feete and hanged them vp ouer the poole in Hebron But they toke the head of Isboseth buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron The .v. Chapter 3 Dauid is made king ouer all Israel 7 He taketh the forte of Zion 19 He asketh counsel of the Lorde 20 And ouercommeth the Philistines twise 1 THen came all the tribes of Israel to Dauid vnto Hebron and sayde thus Beholde we are thy bone and thy fleshe 2 And in time past whē Saul was our king thou leddest Israel in and out and the Lord hath sayd to thee thou shalt feede my people Israel thou shalt be a captayne ouer Israel 3 And so all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron and king Dauid made a couenaunt with them in Hebron before the Lorde and they annointed Dauid king ouer Israel 4 Dauid was thirtie yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned fourtie yeres 5 In Hebron he raigned ouer Iuda seuen yeres and sixe monethes and in Hierusalem he raigned thirtie and three yeres ouer all Israel and Iuda 6 The king also and his men went to Hierusalem vnto the Iebusites the inhabitauntes of the lande whiche spake vnto Dauid saying Except thou take away the blinde and the lame thou shalt not come in hyther For they said Thou art not able to come in hyther 7 Neuerthelesse Dauid toke the strong hold of Sion the same is the citie of Dauid 8 And Dauid sayde the same day Whosoeuer smyteth the Jebusites and getteth vp to the gutters of the houses and smyteth the lame and the blinde hated of Dauid soule I will preferre him Wherfore they said The blinde and the lame shal not come into that house 9 And so Dauid dwelt in the towre and called it the citie of Dauid and buylt round about it from Millo inward 10 And Dauid prospered and grewe and y e Lord God of hoastes was with him 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to Dauid and Cedar trees carpenters and masons for walles and they buylt Dauid an house 12 And Dauid perceaued that the Lord had stablished him king ouer Israel that he had exalted his kingdome for his people Israels sake 13 And Dauid toke him mo concubines and wyues out of Hierusalem after he was come from Hebron and mo sonnes daughters were yet borne to Dauid 14 And these be the names of the sonnes that were borne vnto him in Hierusalem Samua Sobab Nathan Solomon 15 Ibhar also and Elisua Nepheg and Iaphia 16 Elisama Eliada and Eliphelet 17 But when the Philistines hearde that they had annoynted Dauid king ouer Israel they came all vp to seke Dauid And assoone as Dauid hearde of it he gat him to an holde 18 And when the Philistines came they spread them selues in the valley of Raphaim 19 And Dauid asked counsel of the Lord saying Shall I go vp to the Philistines wilt thou deliuer them into my handes And the Lorde aunswered vnto Dauid Go vp for I will doubtlesse deliuer the Philistines into thy handes 20 And Dauid came to Baal Perazim and smote them there and sayde The Lorde hath deuided myne enemies asunder before me as waters be deuided asunder And therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim 21 And there they left their images and Dauid and his men burnt them 22 And the Philistines came yet againe and layde them selues in the valley of Rephaim 23 And when Dauid asked counsel of the Lorde he aunswered Thou shalt not go vp but compasse them on the backsyde and come vpon them ouer against the Mulbery trees 24 And when thou hearest the noyse of a thing goyng in the toppe of the Mulbery trees then remoue for then shall the Lorde go out before thee to smyte the hoast of the Philistines 25 And Dauid did as the Lorde
the children of Ammon and toke the citie of the kingdome 27 And Ioab sent messengers to Dauid saying I haue fought against Rabba and haue taken the citie of waters 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together and besiege the citie that thou mayst take it lest I take it it be called after my name 29 And Dauid gathered al the people together went against Rabba and besieged it and toke it 30 And he toke their kinges crowne from of his head which wayed a talent of golde in it were precious stones and it was set on Dauids head and he brought away the spoyle of the citie in exceeding great abundaunce 31 And he caryed away the people that was therein put them vnder sawes and vnder iron harrowes and vnder axes of iron thrust them into the tylekyll thus dyd he with all the cities of the children of Ammon And so Dauid and al the people returned vnto Hierusalem ¶ The .xiii. Chapter 14 Amnon Dauids sonne defileth his sister Thamar 19 Thamar is comforted by her brother Absalom 29 Absalom therefore killeth Amnon 1 AFter this so it was that Absalom the sonne of Dauid had a fayre sister named Thamar whom Amnon y e sonne of Dauid loued 2 And he was so sore vexed that he fell sycke for his sister Thamar for she shas a virgin and he thought it hard for him to do any thing to her 3 But Amnon had a frende called Ionadab the sonne of Simah Dauids brother And Ionadab was a very subtile man 4 And he said vnto him How commeth it that thou being the kinges sonne art thus consumed from day to day Wylt thou not tell me Amnon aunswered him I loue Thamar my brother Absaloms sister 5 Ionadab saide vnto him Lay thee downe on thy bed and make thy selfe sicke And when thy father is come to see thee saye vnto him I pray thee let my sister Thamar come and geue me meate and dresse it in my syght that I may see it and eate it of her hand 6 And so Amnon laye downe and made him selfe sicke And when the king was come to see him Amnon saide vnto the king I pray thee let Thamar my sister come and make me a coople of cakes in my sight that I may eate of her hand 7 Then Dauid sent home to Thamar saying Go now to thy brother Amnōs house and dresse him meate 8 So Thamar went to her brother Amnons house he was layed downe And she toke floure and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and dyd bake them 9 And toke a panne and powred them out before him but he would not eate And Amnon saide Haue out all men from me And they went all out from him 10 And Amnon saide vnto Thamar Bring the meate into the chamber that I may eate of thyne hand And Thamar toke y e cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother 11 And whē she had set them before him to eate he toke her and saide vnto her Come lye with me my sister 12 And she aunswered him Nay my brother do not force me for there hath no such thing ben done in Israel Do not thou this folly 13 And I whyther shall I cause my shame to go And thou shalt be as one of the fooles in Israel Now therefore I pray thee speake vnto the king and he wyll not denie me vnto thee 14 Howbeit he would not hearken vnto her voyce but being stronger then she forced her and lay with her 15 And then Amnon hated her exceedingly so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater then the loue with which he before loued her And Amnon saide vnto her Vp and get thee hence 16 She aunswered him There is no cause This euill that thou puttest me away is greater then the other that thou diddest vnto me Neuerthelesse he would not heare her 17 But called his boye that serued him and saide Put away this woman from me and bolt the doore after her 18 And she had a garment of diuers colours vpon her for with such wer the kinges daughters that were virgins appareled Then his seruaunt brought her out and locked the doore after her 19 And Thamar toke and put ashes on her head and rent her garment of diuers colours that was on her layed her hand on her head and so went and as she went cryed 20 And Absalom her brother saide vnto her Hath Amnon thy brother ben with thee Now yet be still my sister he is thy brother let not this thing greeue thyne heart And so Thamar remayned desolate in her brother Absaloms house 21 But when king Dauid heard of all these thinges he was very wroth 22 And Absalom sayde vnto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad Howbeit Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Thamar 23 And after the tyme of two yeres Absalom had* sheepe shearers in the playne of Hazor beside Ephraim bade all the kinges sonnes 24 And came to the king and saide Beholde thy seruaunt hath sheepe shearers I pray thee that the king with his seruauntes come to thy seruaunt 25 The king aunswered Absalom Nay my sonne I pray thee let vs not go all lest we be chargeable vnto thee And Absalom laye sore vpon him howbeit he would not go but blessed him 26 Then saide Absalom but I pray thee shall not my brother Amnon go with vs And the king aunswered him what needeth it that he go with thee 27 But Absalom made such instaunce that he let Amnon all the kinges children go with him 28 Now had Absalom commaunded his young men saying Marke when Amnons heart is mery with wine and when I bid you smyte Amnon then kil him and feare not haue not I bidden you be bolde therfore play the men 29 And the seruauntes of Absalom dyd vnto Amnon euen as Absalom had commaunded And al the kinges sonnes arose and euery man gat him vp vpon his mule and fled 30 And whyle they were yet in the way tydinges came to Dauid saying Absalom hath slaine all the kinges sonnes and there is none left alyue 31 Then the king arose tare his garmentes and lay along on the earth and all his seruauntes stoode by with their clothes rent 32 And Ionadab the sonne of Simeach Dauids brother aunswered and sayde Let not my lorde suppose that they haue slaine all the young men of the kings sonnes but Amnon onely is dead For that hath ben determined in Absaloms minde since he forced his sister Thamar 33 Now therefore let not my lorde the king take the thing so greuously to thinke that all the kinges sonnes are dead for Amnon onely is dead 34 But Absalom fled And y e young man that kept the watch lyft vp his eyes loked and beholde there came much people
my lorde king Dauid may lyue for euer 32 And king Dauid sayde Call me Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada And they came before the king 34 And let Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet annoynt him there king ouer Israel And blowe ye with trumpettes say God saue king Solomon 35 And then ye shall come vp after him that he may come and sit vpō my seate for he shal be king in my steade and I haue commaunded him to be captayne ouer Israel and Iuda 36 And Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada aunswered the king and sayde Amen And the Lord God of my lorde the king say so to 37 And as the Lorde hath ben with my lord the king euē so be he with Solomō also and make his seate greater then the seate of my lord king Dauids hath ben 38 And so Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada and the Cerethites and Phelethites went downe and set Solomon vpon king Dauids mule and brought him to Gihon 39 And Sadoc the priest toke an horne of oyle out of the tabernacle annoynted Solomon And they blew the trumpettes and al the people sayde God saue king Solomon 40 And all the people came vp after him pyping with pypes and reioysing greatly so that the earth rang with the sounde of them 41 And Adonia and al the ghestes that he had called vnto him hearde it euen as they had made an ende of eating And when Ioab hearde the sounde of the trumpet he sayde What meaneth this noyse and vprore in the citie 42 And as he yet spake beholde Ionathan the sonne of Abiathar the priest came and Adonia said vnto him Come in for thou art a valiant man and bringest good tydinges 43 And Ionathan aunswered and sayde to Adonia Veryly our lorde king Dauid hath made Solomon king 44 And the king hath sent with him Sadoc the priest and Nathan the prophet and Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada the Cerethites and the Phelethites they haue set him vpō the kinges mule 45 And Sadoc the priest Nathan the prophete haue annoynted him king in Gihon And they came vp from thence reioyced that the citie did sounde againe And that is the noyse that ye haue hearde 46 And Solomon sitteth on the seate of the kingdome 47 And moreouer the kinges seruauntes came to blesse our lorde king Dauid saying God make the name of Solomō more honorable then thy name make his seate greater then thy seate And the king bowed him selfe vpon the bed 48 And thus sayd the king Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which hath made one to sit on my seate this day myne eye seyng it 49 And al the ghestes that were with Adonia were afrayde and rose vp went euery man his way 50 And Adonia fearing the presence of Solomon arose and went and caught hold on the hornes of the aulter 51 And one tolde Solomon saying Behold Adonia feareth king Solomon for lo he hath caught hold on the hornes of the aulter saying Let king Solomon sweare vnto me this day that he wil not slay his seruaunt with the sword 52 And Solomō said If he wil shew him selfe a worthy mā ther shal not an heer of hym fal to the earth But if wickednesse be founde in him he shall dye 53 And so king Solomon sent and they brought him from the aulter and he came and did obeysaunce vnto king Solomon And Solomon sayde vnto him Get thee to thyne house The .ii. Chapter 1 Dauid exhorteth Solomon and geueth charge as concerning Ioab Barzellai and Semei 10 The death of Dauid 17 Adonia asketh Abisag to wyfe 25 He is slayne 35 Sadoc was plased in Abiathars roome 1 THe dayes of Dauid drew me that he should dye he charged Solomon his sonne saying 2 I go the way of al the earth be thou strong therfore shewe thy selfe a man 3 Kepe thou the watch of the Lorde thy God that thou walke in his wayes and kepe his statutes and his preceptes his iudgementes and his testimonies euen as it is written in the lawe of Moyses that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest and in euery thing that thou medlest withall 4 That the Lorde also may make good his worde which he spake vnto me saying If thy children take heede to their way that they walke before me in trueth with all their heartes with al their soules thou shalt not saith he be without a man on the seate of Israel 5 Moreouer thou wottest howe Ioab the sonne of Zaruia serued me and what he did to the two captaynes of the hoastes of Israel vnto Abner the sonne of Ner and vnto Amasa the sonne of Iether whom he slue and shed blood in time of peace euen as it had ben in warre put the blood of warre vpon his girdle that was about his loynes and in his shoes that were on his feete 6 Deale with him therefore according to thy wisdome and bring not his hoore head downe to the graue in peace 7 But shewe kindnes vnto the sonnes of Barzellai y e Gileadite that they may eate at thy table For they came to me whē I fled from Absalom thy brother 8 And behold thou hast with thee Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim whiche cursed me with an horrible curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim But he came to meete me at Iordane I sware to him by the Lord saying I wil not slay thee with the sworde 9 But thou shalt not count him as vngiltie For thou art a man of wisdome and knowest what thou oughtest to do vnto him his hoore head shalt thou bring to the graue with blood 10 And so Dauid slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of Dauid 11 And the dayes whiche Dauid raigned vpon Israel were fourtie yeres seuen yeres raigned he in Hebron thirtie and three yeres raigned he in Hierusalem 12 Then sate Solomon vpon the seate of Dauid his father and his kingdome was stablished mightyly 13 And Adonia the sonne of Haggith came to Bethsabe the mother of Solomon and she sayde Cōmest thou peaceably And he sayde peaceably 14 He sayde moreouer I haue somwhat to say vnto thee She sayd Say on 15 And he sayd Thou knowest that the kingdome was myne that all Israel set their faces on me that I shoulde raigne howbeit the kingdome is turned away and geuen to my brother for it is appoynted him of the Lorde 16 And nowe I aske a petition of thee deny me not And she sayde vnto him Say on 17 And he said Speake I pray thee vnto Solomō the king for he wil not say thee nay that he geue me Abisag the Sunamite to wyfe 18 And Bethsabe sayd Wel I wil speake for thee vnto the king 19 Bethsabe therfore went
Beelzebub the god of Ekrom as though there had ben no God in Israel whose word thou mightest seeke after therfore thou shalt not come downe of the bed on which thou art gone vp but shalt dye the death 17 And so he dyed according to the worde of the Lorde which Elias had spoken And Iehoram his brother began to raigne in his steade in the second yere of Iehoram the sonne of Iehosaphat king of Iuda because he had no sonne 18 The rest of the wordes that concerne Ahazia what thinges he dyd are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel The .ij. Chapiter 8 Elias deuideth the waters with his cloke 11 He is taken vp into heauen 13 Elisa taketh his cloke and deuideth Iordane 20 The bitter and venemous waters are healed 23 The children that mocke Elisa are rent in peeces with beares 1 AND it chaunced that whē the Lord would take vp Elias into heauen by a whorle wind Elias went with Elisa from Gilgal 2 And Elias saide vnto Elisa Tary here I praye thee for the Lorde hath sent me to Bethel Elisa saide vnto him As the Lorde lyueth and as thy soule liueth I will not leaue thee And they came downe to Bethel 3 And the children of the prophetes that were at Bethel came out to Elisa and saide vnto him knowest thou not how that the Lord wyll take away thy maister from thy head this day He saide I knowe it also holde you your peace 4 And Elia saide vnto him Elisa tary here I praye thee for the Lorde hath sent me to Iericho He saide As the Lorde lyueth and as thy soule lyueth I will not leaue thee And so they came to Iericho 5 And the children of the prophetes that were at Iericho came to Elisa and said vnto him Knowest thou not that the Lorde wil take away thy maister from thy head this day He aunswered I know it also holde ye your peace 6 And Elias said vnto him Tary I pray thee here for the Lorde hath sent me to Iordane He saide As the Lord liueth as thy soule lyueth I wyll not leaue thee And so they two went together 7 And fiftie men of the sonnes of the prophetes came stoode on the other syde a farre of and they two stoode by Iordane 8 And Elias toke his mantell wrapt it together and smote the waters and they were deuided parte the one way and part the other so that they two went ouer through the drye lande 9 And it fortuned that assoone as they were ouer Elias saide vnto Elisa Aske what I shal do for thee yer I be taken away from thee And Elisa saide I pray thee let thy spirite be double vpon me 10 And he said Thou hast asked an hard thing Neuerthelesse if thou see me whē I am taken away from thee thou shalt haue it so yf thou do not it shall not be 11 And it fortuned that as they went walking and talking beholde there appeared a charet of fyre and horses of fyre parted them both a sunder and Elias went vp through the whorle winde into heauen 12 And Elisa sawe and cryed O my father O my father the charet of Israel and the horsemen thereof And he sawe him no more and he toke his owne clothes and rent them in two peeces 13 He toke vp also the mantell of Elias that fell from him and went backe againe and stoode by Iordanes syde 14 And toke the mantel of Elias that fel from him and smote the waters he said Where is the Lord God of Elias he him selfe And when he had smitten the waters they parted this waye and that waye and Elisa went ouer 15 And when the childrē of the prophetes which were at Iericho sawe him from a farre they sayde The spirite of Elias doth rest on Elisa And they came to meete him and fel to the grounde before him 16 And saide vnto him See now there be with thy seruauntes fiftie strong men let thē go we pray thee seeke thy maister yf happly the spirite of the Lorde hath taken him vp and cast him vpon some mountaine or into some valley And he saide Ye shall send none 17 And when they laye vpon him tyll he was ashamed he said Send They sent therefore fiftie men which sought him three dayes but found him not 18 And when they came againe to him which taryed at Iericho he saide vnto them Did I not saye vnto you that ye should not go 19 And the men of the citie saide vnto Elisa beholde sir the dwelling of this citie is pleasaunt as thou thy selfe seest but the water is naught the grounde barren 20 He saide Bring me a new cruse and put salt therein And they brought it to him 21 And he went vnto the spring of the waters and cast the salt in thyther and saide thus saith the Lord I haue healed these waters there shall not come hencefoorth either death or barennesse 22 So the waters were healed vnto this day according to the saying of Elias which he spake 23 And he went vp from thence vnto Bethel And as he was going vp the way there came litle children out of the citie and mocked him saide vnto him Go vp thou balde head go vp thou balde head 24 And he turned backe and loked on them and cursed them in the name of the Lorde And there came two shee beares out of the wood and tare fourtie and two children of them 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel and from thence he turned againe to Samaria ¶ The .iii. Chapter 1 The raigne of Iehoram 6 He and Iehosaphat go to warre against Moab which rebelled 13 Elisa reproueth him ▪ 17 and geueth their hoast water 24 The Moabites are ouercome 27 Their king sacrificeth his sonne 1 NOW Iehoram the sonne of Ahab began to raigne vpon Israel in Samaria the eyghtteenth yere of Iehosaphat king of Iuda and raigned twelue yeres 2 And he wrought euil in the sight of the Lorde but not lyke his father and lyke his mother for he put away the images of Baal that his father had made 3 Neuerthelesse he cleaued vnto the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne and departed not therefrom 4 And Mesa king of Moab was a lorde of sheepe and rendered vnto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambes and an hundred thousand rammes with the wooll 5 But when Ahab was dead it fortuned that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel 6 And king Iehoram went out of Samaria the same season and numbred all Israel 7 And went sent to Iehosaphat the king of Iuda saying The king of Moab hath rebelled against me wilt thou come with me against Moab in battell He aunswered I will come vp for as I am so art thou and as my people be so are thy people thy horses as myne 8
the archers founde him and he was wounded of shooters 4 Then saide Saul to his harnesse bearer Drawe thy sword and thrust me through therwith that these vncircumcised come not and do me shame But his harnesse bearer would not for he feared exceedingly So Saul caught a sword and fell vpon it 5 And when his harnesse bearer saw that Saul was dead he fell on a sword also and dyed 6 And thus Saul and his three sonnes and al they of his house dyed together 7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley sawe how they fled and that Saul his sonnes were dead they forsoke their cities and ran away and the Philistines came and dwelt in them 8 And it fortuned that on the morowe when the Philistines came to strip the dead bodies they founde Saul and his sonnes ouerthrowen in mount Gilboa 9 And when they had stript him they toke his head and his harnesse and sent them into the lande of the Philistines rounde about to shewe them vnto their idols and to the people 10 And they put his harnesse in the house of their god and set vp his head in the temple of Dagon 11 And when all they of Iabes in Gilead hearde all that the Philistines had done to Saul 12 They arose all the strongest of them and fet away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sonnes and brought them to Iabes and buried the bones of them vnder an oke in Iabes and fasted seuen dayes 13 So Saul dyed for his trespasse that he trespassed against the Lorde in that he kept not the word of the Lorde and in that he sought and asked counsaile of a woman that wrought with a spirite 14 And asked not of the Lorde and therefore he slue him and turned the kingdome vnto Dauid the sonne of Isai ¶ The .xj. Chapter 3 After the death of Saul Dauid is annoynted in Hebron 5 The Iebusites rebell against Dauid from whom he taketh the towre of Sion 6 Ioab is made captayne 10 His valiaunt men 1 THen all Israel gathered them selues to Dauid vnto Hebron saying 2 Beholde we be thy bones and thy fleshe And moreouer in tyme past euen when Saul was king thou leddest Israel out in And the Lorde thy God sayde vnto thee Thou shalt feede my people Israel and thou shalt be captayne ouer my people Israel 3 Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron and Dauid made a couenaunt with them in Hebrō before the Lorde And they annoynted Dauid king ouer Israel according to the worde of the Lorde by the hande of Samuel 4 And Dauid and all Israel went to Hierusalem which is Iebus where as were the Iebusites the inhabiters of the lande 5 And the inhabiters of Iebus sayde to Dauid Thou commest not in here Neuerthelesse Dauid wan the castel of Sion which is called the citie of Dauid 6 And Dauid sayde Whosoeuer smyteth the Iebusites first shal be the principall captayne and a lorde So Ioab the sonne of Zaruia went first vp and was made the chiefe captayne 7 And Dauid dwelt in the castell Sion and therefore they called it the citie of Dauid 8 And he built the citie on euery syde euen from Millo round about and Ioab repaired the rest of the citie 9 And Dauid prospered waxed great the Lorde of hoastes was with him 10 These are the principall men of power whom Dauid had and that claue to him in his kingdome with all Israel to make him king according to the word of the Lorde ouer Israel 11 And this is the number of the mightie men whom Dauid had Iosobeam the sonne of Hachmoni the chiefe among thirtie he lift vp his speare against three hundred and wounded them at one tyme. 12 After him was Eleazar his vncles sonne an Ahothite which was one of the three mightiest 13 He was with Dauid at Pasdammim and there the Philistines were gathered together to battaile And there was there a parcell of grounde full of barly and the people fled before the Philistines 14 And they stept foorth into the middest of the fielde and saued it and slue the Philistines and the Lorde gaue a great victorie 15 And the three of the thirtie chiefe captaynes went to a rocke to Dauid into the caue Adullam And the hoast of the Philistines abode in the valley of Rephaim 16 And when Dauid was in the holde the Philistines watch was at Bethlehem that same tyme. 17 And Dauid longed and sayde Oh that one woulde geue me drinke of the water of the well that is at the gate at Bethlehem 18 And the three brake through the hoast of the Philistines and drewe water out of the wel that was by y e gate at Bethlehem and toke it and brought it to Dauid Neuerthelesse Dauid woulde not drinke of it but rather offered it to the Lorde 19 And sayd my God forbyd it me that I shoulde do this thing Shall I drinke the blood of these men that haue put their liues in ieoperdie for with the ieoperdie of their liues they brought it therefore he would not drinke it And this did these three mightiest 20 And Abisai the brother of Ioab he also was captayne among three For he lyft vp his speare against three hundred and wounded them and had a name among the three 21 Yea among three he was more honorable then the two for he was their captayne Howbeit he attayned not to the first three 22 Banaia y e sonne of Iehoiada the sonne of a very strong man which had done many actes of Cabzeel he slue two strong lions of Moab went downe and slue a lion in a pit in time of snowe 23 And he slue an Egyptian whose stature was euen fiue cubites long and in the Egyptians hand was a speare lyke a weauers beame And the other went downe to him with a waster plucked the speare out of the Egyptians hand and slue him with his owne speare 24 Such thinges did Banaia the sonne of Iehoiada and had the name among the three mightiest 25 And was honorable among thirtie but attayned not vnto the first three And Dauid made him of his counsaile 26 The other men of armes were these Asahel the brother of Ioab Elhanan his vncles sonne of Bethlehem 27 Samoth the Harodite Helez the Pelonite 28 Ira the sonne of Ickes the Thekoite Abieser the Anatothite 29 Sibbecai the Husathite Ilai the Ahohite 30 Maharai the Nepthophathite Heled the sonne of Baana the Nethophathite 31 Ithai the sonne of Ribai of Gibea that pertayned to the children of Beniamin Benaia the Phirathonite 32 Hurai of the riuers of Gaas Abiel the Arbathite 33 Azmaueth the Baharumite Elihaba the Salabonite 34 The sonnes of Hassem the Gezonite Ionathan the sonne of Sage an Hararite 35 Ahiam the sonne of Sacar the Hararite Eliphal the sonne of Vr. 36 Hepher the Mecherathite Ahia the Pelonite 37 Hezro the Carmelite
wildernesse repaired all the store cities which were in Hamath 5 And he buylt Bethhoron the vpper and Bethhoron the neather strong cities hauing walles gates and barres 6 And Baalah and al the store cities that Solomon had and all the charet cities and the cities of the horsmen and euery pleasaunt place that Solomon had lâ—st to buyld in Hierusalem Libanon and throughout all the land of his dominion 7 And all the people that were left of the Hethites Amorites Pherezites Heuites and Iebusites whiche were not of the children of Israel 8 But were the children of them whiche were left after them in the lande and were not consumed of the children of Israel them dyd Solomon make to pay tribute vntill this day 9 But of the children of Israel dyd Solomon make no bondemen for his worke but they were men of warre and rulers and great lordes with him and captaynes ouer his charets and horsemen 10 And king Solomons officers that ouersawe and ruled the people were two hundred and fiftie 11 And Solomon brought the daughter of Pharao out of the citie of Dauid into the house that he had buylded for her For he sayde My wyfe shall not dwel in the house of Dauid king of Israel for it is holy because that the arke of the Lorde is come vnto it 12 Then Solomon offred burnt offringes vnto the Lorde on the aulter of the Lorde whiche he had buylt before the porche 13 Doyng euery thing in his due time and offering according to the commaundemeÌ„t of Moyses in the Sabbathes new moones and solempne feastes three times in the yere that is to say in the feast of sweete bread in the feast of weekes and in the feast of tabernacles 14 And Solomon set the sortes of priestes to their offices as Dauid his father had ordered them and the Leuites in their watches for to prayse and minister before the priestes day by day and the porters by course at euery gate for so had Dauid the man of God commaunded 15 And they omitted not the commaundement of the king vnto the priestes and Leuites concerning any maner of thing and concerning the treasures 16 For Solomon made prouision for the charges from the first day that the foundation of the house of the Lorde was layed till it was finished that the house of the Lorde was perfect 17 Then went king Solomon to Ezion Gaber and to Eloth at the sea side in the lande of Edom. 18 And Hiram sent hym by the handes of his seruauntes shippes and seruauntes that had knowledge of the sea and they went with the seruauntes of Solomon to Ophir and caryed thence foure hundred and fyftie talentes of golde and brought it to king Solomon The .ix. Chapter 1.9 The queene of Saba commeth to see Solomon and bringeth giftes 12 His yerely reuenues 30 The time of his raigne 31 His death 1 ANd when the queene of Saba hearde of the fame of Solomon she came to proue him in hard questions at Hierusalem with a verie great companie with camels that bare spices and plentie of golde and precious stones And when she was come to Solomon she communed with him of all that she had in her heart 2 And Solomon soyled her all her questions and there was not one word hyd from Solomon which he tolde her not 3 And when the queene of Saba had seene the wisdome of Solomon and the house that he had buylt 4 And the meate of his table the sitting of his seruauntes and the standing of his wayters their apparell his butlars their apparell his goyng vp by the whiche he went into the house of Lord there was no more spirite in her 5 And she sayde to the king The saying which I hearde in myne owne lande of thyne actes and of thy wisdome is true 6 I beleued not the wordes of them vntill I came and myne eyes had seene it And beholde the one halfe of thy wysdome was not tolde me for thou exceedest the fame that I hearde 7 Happy are thy men and happy are these thy seruauntes which stand before thee alway and heare thy wysdome 8 Blessed be the Lorde thy God whiche had lust to thee to set thee king on his seate that thou mightest be king for the Lord thy God because thy God loueth Israel and hath delyte to make them continue euer therefore made he thee king ouer them to do right and equitie 9 And she gaue the king an hundred and twentie talentes of golde and of spices exceeding great aboundaunce and precious stones neither was ther any more such spyce as the queene of Saba gaue king Solomon 10 And the seruauntes of Hiram and the seruauntes of Solomon which brought gold from Ophir brought also Algume wood and precious stones 11 And the king made of the Algume wood stayres in the house of the Lorde and in the kinges palace harpes and psalteries for singers And there was none such wood seene before in the land of Iuda 12 And king Solomon gaue to the queene of Saba euery pleasant thing that she asked besides that which she had brought vnto the king And so she turned and went away to her owne lande with her seruauntes 13 The waight of golde that came to Solomon in one yere was sixe hundred threescore and sixe talentes of golde 14 Besides that which chapmen marchauntes brought and all the kinges of Arabia and rulers of that countrey brought golde and siluer to Solomon 15 And king Solomon made two hundred tarkets of beaten golde and sixe hundred sicles of beaten golde were speÌ„t vpon one target 16 And three hundred shieldes made he of beaten golde one shielde cost three hundred peeces of golde and the king put them in the house that was in the forest of Libanon 17 And the king made a great seate of yuory ouerlayde it with pure golde 18 And there were sixe steps to the seate with a footestoole of golde fastened to the seate and pommels on eche syde of the sitting place and two lions standing by the pommels 19 And twelue lions stoode on the one side and on the other vpon the sixe steppes so that there was no such worke made in any kingdome 20 And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of golde and al the vessels of the house that was in the forest of Libanon were of precious golde for siluer was counted nothing worth in the dayes of Solomon 21 For the kinges shippes went to Tharsis with the seruauntes of Hiram euery three yeres once came the shippes to Tharsis and brought golde siluer yuorie and apes and pecockes 22 And king Solomon passed all the kinges of the earth in richesse wysedome 23 And all the kinges of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to heare his wysedome that God had put in his heart 24 And they brought euery man his present vessels of siuer vessels of golde rayment harnesse spises horses and mules and
againe with shame towarde his owne lande And when he was come into the house of his god they that came of his owne body slue him therewith the sworde 22 And so the Lorde saued Hezekia and the inhabiters of Hierusalem out of the hand of Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians and from the hande of all other and mayntayned them on euery side 23 And many brought offeringes vnto the Lorde to Hierusalem and presentes to Hezekia king of Iuda so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thence foorth 24 In those dayes Hezekia was sicke to the death and prayed vnto the Lorde which aunswered him and shewed him a wonderfull miracle 25 But Hezekia dyd not againe vnto God according to it that he had shewed him for his heart arose there came wrath vpon hym and vpon Iuda and Hierusalem 26 Notwithstanding Hezekia submitted him selfe after that his heart was risen vp he and the inhabiters of Hierusalem and the wrath of the Lorde came not vpon them in the dayes of Hezekia 27 And Hezekia had exceeding much riches and honour And he gat him treasures of siluer and gold pretious stones and spices shieldes and of all maner pleasaunt iewels 28 And made store houses for the fruites of corne for wine and oyle and stalles for all maner of beastes and foldes for sheepe 29 And he made him cities had of sheepe and oxen great aboundaunce For God had geuen him substaunce exceeding much 30 This same Hezekia stopped the vpper water springes of Gihon and brought them downe to the west side of the citie of Dauid And Hezekia prospered in all his workes 31 And when the princes of Babylon sent vnto him ambassadours to enquire of the wonder that chaunced in the lande God left him to trye him and that all that was in his heart might be knowen 32 The rest of the deedes of Hezekia and his goodnes beholde they are written in the vision of Esai the prophet the sonne of Amoz in the booke of the kinges of Iuda and Israel 33 And Hezekia slept with his fathers and they buried hym in the most worthy place of the sepulchres of the sonnes of Dauid and all Iuda and the inhabiters of Hierusalem dyd him worship at his death and Manasse his sonne raigned in his steade The .xxxiii. Chapter 1 Manasses an idolater 9 He causeth Iuda to erre 11 He is led away prisoner into Babylon 12 He prayeth to the Lorde and is deliuered 15 He abolisheth idolatrie 16 and setteth vp true religion 20 He dieth and Amon his sonne succeedeth 24 whom his owne seruauntes slay 1 MAnasse was twelue yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned fiftie and fiue yeres in Hierusalem 2 But dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde like vnto the abhominations of the heathen whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel 3 For he went to and buylt the high places whiche Hezekia his father had broken downe And he reared vp aulters for Baalim and made groues and worshipped all the hoast of heauen and serued them 4 And he buylt aulters in the house of the Lorde where as the Lord yet had sayd In Hierusalē shal my name be for euer 5 And he buylded aulters for all the hoast of heauen in the two courtes of y e house of the Lorde 6 And he burnt his children in fire in the valley of the sonne of Hinnon He was a sorcerer he regarded the crying of birdes vsed inchauntmentes and mayntayned workers with spirites and sears of fortunes and wrought much euyll in the sight of the Lorde to anger hym withall 7 And he put the carued image and an idol whiche he had made in the house of God Of which house God had sayd to Dauid and to Solomon his sonne In this house and in Hierusalem whiche I haue chosen afore all the tribes of Israel will I put my name for euer 8 Neither will I make the foote of Israel to remoue any more out of the land whiche I haue ordeyned for your fathers yf so be that they wil be diligent and do all that I haue commaunded them in all the law and statutes and ordinaunces by the hande of Moyses 9 And so Manasse made Iuda and the inhabiters of Hierusalem to erre and to do worse then the heathen whom the Lord destroyed before the children of Israel 10 And the Lord spake to Manasse and to his people but they woulde not regarde 11 Wherfore the Lord brought vpon them the captaynes of the hoast of the king of the Assyrians whiche toke Manasse in holde and bounde him with chaynes and caried him to Babylon 12 And when he was in tribulation he besought the Lord his God and humbled him selfe exceedingly before the God of his fathers 13 And made intercession to him and God was intreated of him and hearde his prayer and brought him againe to Hierusalem into his kingdome and then Manasse knewe that the Lorde was God 14 After this he buylt a wall without the citie of Dauid on the west side of Gion in the valley as they came to the fishe gate and round about Ophel brought it vp of a very great heyght and put captaynes of warre in all the strong cities of Iuda 15 And he toke away straunge gods and images out of the house of God and all the aulters that he had buylt in the mount of the house of God and Hierusalem and cast them out of the citie 16 And he prepared the aulter of the Lord and sacrifised thereon peace offeringes and thanke offeringes and charged Iuda to serue the Lorde God of Israel 17 Neuerthelesse the people dyd offer stil in the high places howbeit vnto the Lorde their God only 18 The rest of the actes of Manasse and his prayer vnto his God the wordes of the sears that spake to him in the name of the Lorde God of Israel behold they are written in the sayinges of the kinges of Israel 19 And his prayer and howe that he was hearde and all his sinnes and his trespasse and the places where he made high places and set vp groues and images before he was meekened beholde they are written among the sayinges of the sears 20 And Manasse slept with his fathers they buried him in his owne house and Amon his sonne raigned in his roome 21 Amon was two and twentie yeres old when he began to raigne and raigned two yeres in Hierusalem 22 But he did euill in the sight of the Lord like as dyd Manasse his father for Amon sacrifised to all the carued images whiche Manasse his father had made and serued them 23 And submitted not him selfe before the Lorde as Manasse his father had meekened him selfe but Amon trespassed greatly 24 And his owne seruauntes conspired against him and slue him in his owne house 25 But the people of the lande slue al them that had conspired against king Amon
perfectnesse of Iod. 13 The reward of the wicked and of the tirauntes 1 AND Iob proceeded and went foorth in his parable saying 2 As God lyueth whiche hath taken away my iudgement and the almightie that hath vexed my minde 3 Whyle my breath is in me and the winde that God hath geuen me is in my nostrels 4 My lippes shall talke of no vanitie and my tongue shall speake no disceite 5 God forbyd that I should graunt your cause to be right As for me vntill myne end come will I neuer go fro myne innocentie 6 My righteous dealing kepe I fast which I will not forsake my heart shal not reproue me of my dayes 7 Therfore myne enemie shal be founde as the vngodly and he that taketh part against me as the vnrighteous 8 For what hope hath the hypocrite though he haue great good if God take away his soule 9 Will God heare his crye when trouble commeth vpon him 10 Hath he such pleasure and delite in the almightie that he dare alway call vpon God 11 I wil teache you in the name of God and the thing of the almightie will I not kepe from you 12 Behold all ye your selues haue seene it why then do ye thus vanishe in vanitie 13 Saying This is the portion that the wicked haue of God and the heritage that tyrauntes shall receaue of the almightie 14 If he get many children they shall perishe with the sworde and his posteritie shall haue scarcenesse of bread 15 His remnaunt shal be buried in death and his widowes shall not weepe 16 Though he heape vp siluer as the dust and prepare rayment as the clay 17 He may well prepare it but the godly shall put it on and the innocent shall deale out the money 18 He buyldeth his house as the moth as a booth that the watchman maketh 19 When the riche man sleepeth he shall not be gathered to his fathers they opened their eyes and he was gone 20 Terrour taketh holde vpon hym as a water fludde and the tempest stealeth him away in the night season 21 A vehement east winde caryeth him hence and he departeth a storme hurleth him out of his place 22 God shal cast vpon him and not spare though he woulde fayne flee out of his hande 23 Then clap men their handes at hym and hisse at him out of his place The .xxviii. Chapter 1 Iob sheweth that the wysdome of God is vnsearcheable 1 THere is a place wher siluer is brought out of and where golde is tryed 2 Where yron is digged out of the grounde stones resolued to me tall 3 The darkenesse shall once come to an ende he can seke out the grounde of all thinges the stones the darke and the shadowe of death 4 He causeth the fluddes to breake out against the inhabitant and the waters forgotten of the foote beyng hygher then man are gone away 5 Out of the same earth commeth bread and vnder it as it were fire is turned vp 6 The stones of it are a place of Saphires and the dust of it is golde 7 There is a way that the birdes knowe not that no vultures eye hath seene 8 Wherin the lions whelpes walke not and where no lion commeth 9 There putteth he his hande vpon the stonie rockes and ouerthroweth the mountaynes by the rootes 10 Riuers flowe out of the rockes loke what is pleasaunt his eye seeth it 11 He bindeth the fluddes that they do not ouerflow and the thing that is hid bringeth he to light 12 Where then is wysdome founde and where is the place of vnderstanding 13 Veryly no man can tell howe worthy a thing she is neither is she found in the lande of them that lyue 14 The deepe sayth She is not in me the sea sayth She is not with me 15 She can not be gotten for golde neither may the price of her be bought with any siluer 16 No wedges of gold of Ophir no precious Onir stones no Saphires may be valued with her 17 No neither golde nor christall shall be equall vnto it nor her exchaunge shal be for the plate of fine golde 18 No mention shal be made of Corall nor of the Gabis for wisdome is more pretious then pearles 19 The Topas of Ethiopia shall not be equall vnto it neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure golde 20 Whence then commeth wysdome and where is the place of vnderstanding 21 She is hid from the eyes of all men liuing yea from the foules of the ayre 22 Destruction and death say We haue hearde the fame therof with our eares 23 But God seeth her way and knoweth her place 24 For he beholdeth the endes of the worlde and loketh vpon all that is vnder heauen 25 When he wayed the windes and measured the waters 26 When he made a decree for the rayne and a way for the lightninges of the thunder 27 Then dyd he see her then declared he her prepared her and knewe her 28 And vnto man he sayd To feare the Lorde is wysdome and to forsake euyll is vnderstanding The .xxix. Chapter 1 Iob complayneth of the prosperitie of the time past 7. His auctoritie 12 iustice and equite 1 SO Iob proceeded and went foorth in his parable saying 2 O that I were as I was in the monethes by past and in the daies when God preserued me 3 When his light shined vpon my head when I went after the same light and shining euen through the darknesse 4 As it stoode with me when I was young when God prospered my house 5 When the almightie was yet with me when my children stoode about me 6 When my wayes ranne ouer with butter and when the stonie rockes gaue me riuers of oyle 7 When I went out to the gate euen to the iudgement seate and when I prepared my seate in the streete 8 The young men saw me and hid them selues and the aged arose and stoode vp 9 The princes left of their talking and layed their hand to their mouth 10 The mightie kept still their voyce and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth 11 When the eare heard me it blessed me when the eye sawe me it gaue witnesse to me 12 For I deliuered the poore when he cryed and the fatherlesse and hym that had none to helpe hym 13 The blessing of him that was redy to perishe came vpon me and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce 14 And why I put vpon me righteousnesse which couered me as a garment and equitie was my crowne 15 I was an eye to the blinde and a foote to the lame 16 I was a father to the poore and when I knewe not the cause I sought it out diligently 17 I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man and pluckt the
spoyle out of his teeth 18 Then I sayde I shall die in my neâ—â— and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sande 19 For my roote was spread out by the water side and the deawe lay vpon my corne 20 Myne honour encreased more and more my bow was euer the stronger in my hande 21 Vnto me men gaue eare me they regarded and with scilence they taried for my counsell 22 After my woordes they replied not and my talke dropped vpon them 23 They wayted for me as for the raine and gaped vpon me as the grounde doeth to receaue the latter shoure 24 When I laughed they beleued it not the light of my countenaunce would they not put out 25 When I agreed vnto their way I was the chiefe and sate as a king with his armie about him and when they were in heauinesse I was their comfortour The .xxx. Chapter 1 Iob complayneth that he is contemned of the most contemptible 11 21. because of his aduersitie and affliction 23 Death is the house of all sheshe 1 BVt nowe they that are younger then I haue me in derision yea euen they whose fathers I would haue thought scorne to haue set with the dogges of my cattell 2 For wherto might the strength of their handes haue serued me for the time was but lost among them 3 For very miserie and hunger they fled into the wildernesse a darke place horrible and waste 4 Plucking vp nettles among the busshes and the iuniper rootes for their meate 5 And when they were dryuen foorth men cryed after them as it had ben af-after a thiefe 6 Their dwelling was in the cleftes of brookes yea in the caues and dennes of the earth 7 Among the busshes went they about crying and vnder the thornes they gathered them selues together 8 They were the children of fooles and vyllaynes which are more vile then the earth 9 Now am I their song am become their yesting stocke 10 They abhorre me and flee farre from me and stayne my face with spittle 11 Because God hath loosed my corde and humbled me they haue loosed the bridle before me 12 Vpon my right hande ryse the young men against me they haue hurt my feete treading vpon me as vpon the wayes of their destruction 13 My pathes haue they cleane marred it was so easye for them to do me harme that they needed no man to help them 14 They fell vpon me as it had ben the breaking in of waters and came in by heapes to destroy me 15 Feare is turned vpon me and they pursue my soule as the wind and my health passeth away as a cloude 16 Therfore is my soule now powred out vpon me and the dayes of my trouble haue taken hold vpon me 17 My bones are pearsed through in the night season and my sinewes take no rest 18 For the vehemencie of sorowe is my garment chaunged whiche compasseth me about as the coller of my coote 19 He hath cast me into the myre and I am become like asshes and dust 20 When I crie vnto thee thou doest not heare me and though I stande before thee yet thou regardest me not 21 Thou art become myne enemie and with thy violent hande thou takest part against me 22 In times past thou diddest set me vp on hye to be caried as it were aboue the wynde but nowe hast thou geuen mea very sore fall 23 Sure I am that thou wilt bryng me vnto death euen to the lodging that is due vnto all men liuing 24 Notwithstanding thou wilt not stretch out thyne hand against him that is in the graue shal men crie out against him that is in destruction 25 Dyd not I weepe with hym that was in trouble Had not my soule compassion vpon the poore 26 Yet neuerthelesse where as I loked for good euyll came vnto me where I wayted for light there came darkenesse 27 My bowels seethe in me without rest for the dayes of my trouble are come vpon me 28 I went mourning without heate I stoode vp in the congregation communed with them 29 But nowe I am a brother of dragons and a felowe of Estriches 30 My skinne vpon me is turned to blacke and my bones are brent with heate 13 My harpe is turned to mourning and my organs into the voyce of them that weepe The .xxxi. Chapter 1 Iob reciteth the innocentie of his liuing and number of his vertues which declareth what ought to be the lyfe of the faythfull 1 I Made a couenaunt with myne eyes why then should I loke vpon a mayden 2 For how great a portion shall I haue of God and what inheritaunce from the almightie on hye 3 Is not destruction to the wicked and straunge punishement to the workers of iniquitie 4 Doth not he see my wayes and tell all my goynges 5 If I haue walked in vanitie or if my feete haue runne to disceaue 6 Let me be wayed in an euen balaunce that God may see myne innocencie 7 If my steppe hath turned out of the way myne heart walked after myne eyes and if any blot haue cleaued to my handes 8 Then shall I sowe and an other eate yea my posteritie shal be cleane rooted out 9 If my heart haue ben deceaued by a woman or if I haue layde wayte at my neyghbours doore 10 Then let my wife grinde vnto an other man and let other men lye with her 11 For this is a wickednesse and sinne that is worthy to be punished 12 Yea a fire that vtterly should consume and roote out all my increase 13 If I euer thought scorne to do right vnto my seruauntes maydens when they had any matter against me 14 When God will sit in iudgement what shall I do when he will visite me what aunswere shal I geue him 15 He that fashioned me in my mothers wombe made he not him also were we not both shapen a like in our mothers bodies 16 If I demed the poore of their desire or haue caused the eyes of the wydow to wayâ—e in vayne 17 Iâ— I haue eaten my morsell alone that y e fatherlesse hath not eaten therof 18 For from my youth it hath growen vp with me as with a father and from my mothers wombe I haue ben guyde to the wydowe 19 If I haue seene any perishe for want of clothing or any poore for lake of rayment 20 If his loynes haue not blessed me because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe 21 If I haue lift vp mine hand against the fatherlesse when I sawe that I might helpe him in the gate 22 Then let myne arme fall fro my shoulder and myne arme holes be broken from the bone 23 For I haue euer feared the vengeaunce and punishment of God and knewe very well that I was not able to beare
wyll fall into the pit whiche he hath made 16 For his labour shall come vpon his owne head and his wickednesse shall fall vpon his owne pate 17 I wyll prayse God accordyng to his ryghteousnesse I wyll sing psalmes vnto the name of the most high God The argument of the .viij. psalme ¶ Dauid setteth foorth the magnificencie of God acknowledged of babes and abiectes of this world he maruayleth at Gods workes and at the great exceeding loue of God to man who is exalted to that excellencie that he is Lorde ouer all thinges in this worlde ¶ To the chiefe musition vpon Gittith a psalme of Dauid 1 O God our Lorde howe excellent is thy name in all the earth for that thou hast set thy glory aboue the heauens 2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast layde the foundation of thy strength for thyne aduersaries sake that thou mightest styll the enemie and the auenger 3 For I will consider thy heauens euen the workes of thy fingers the moone and the starres whiche thou hast ordayned 4 What is man that thou art myndfull of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest hym 5 Thou hast made hym somthyng inferiour to angels thou hast crowned him with glory and worship 6 Thou makest hym to haue dominion of the workes of thy handes and thou hast put all thinges in subiection vnder his feete 7 All sheepe and oxen also the beastes of the fielde the foules of the ayre and the fishe of the sea and whatsoeuer swymmeth in the seas 8 O God our Lorde howe excellent great is thy name in all the earth ¶ The argument of the .ix. psalme ¶ Dauid prayseth God for the victorie that he had obtayned ouer his enemies attributyng it wholly to God He besecheth God to continue his mercy towarde hym that he may continually set foorth his prayses ¶ To the chiefe musition at the death of Labben a psalme of Dauid 1 I Wyl prayse God with all myne heart I wyl recite all thy marueylous workes 2 I wyll be glad reioyce in thee I wyll sing psalmes vnto thy name O thou most hyest 3 For that myne enemies are returned backwarde are fallen and perished at thy presence 4 For that thou hast geuen iudgement in my ryght and cause thou that iudgest right hast sit in the throne of iudgement 5 Thou hast rebuked the Heathen and destroyed the vngodly thou hast abolished their name for euer and euer 6 O thou enemie thou thoughtest to bryng vs to a perpetuall desolation * and to destroy our cities so that there shoulde remayne no memory of them 7 But God wyll sit for euer he hath prepared his throne for iudgement 8 For he wyll iudge the world in iustice and minister iudgement vnto the people in righteousnesse 9 God also wyll be a refuge for the oppressed euen a refuge in tyme of trouble 10 And they that knowe thy name wyll put their trust in thee for thou O God hast neuer fayled them that seeke thee 11 Sing psalmes vnto God abiding at Sion declare his notable actes among the people 12 For he maketh inquisition of blood he remembreth it and forgetteth not the complaynt of the poore 13 Haue mercy on me O God consider the trouble whiche I suffer of them that hate me lift me vp from the gates of death 14 That I may shewe all thy prayses within the gates of the daughter of Sion and reioyce in thy saluation 15 The Heathen are sunke downe into the pit that they made their owne foote is snared in the same net whiche they had layde priuily for other 16 God is knowen by the iudgement that he hath executed the vngodly is trapped in y e worke of his owne handes this ought to be considered alwayes Selah 17 The wicked shal be turned vnto hell and all people that forget God 18 But the poore shall not alway be forgotten neither shall the hope of the humble afflicted perishe for euer 19 Aryse vp O God let not man preuaile let the Heathen in thy sight be iudged 20 Put them in feare O God that the Heathen may knowe them selues to be but men Selah The argument of the .x. psalme ¶ The prophete as left in the handes of wicked aduersaries complayneth to God of their pryde malice crueltie euill maners craft and prosperitie he prayeth God to succour the fatherlesse and oppressed and to represse the malice of the wicked 1 WHy standest thou so farre of O God why hidest thee in the tyme of trouble 2 The vngodly of a wylfulnesse persecuteth the poore but euery one of them shal be taken in the craftie wylines that they haue imagined 3 For the vngodly prayseth according to his owne heartes desire and blessing the couetous he blasphemeth God 4 The vngodly looketh so proudly as though he cared for none at all neither is the Lorde in all his thoughtes 5 His wayes are alwayes greeuous but thy iudgementes are farre aboue out of his sight and therfore he snuffeth at all his enemies 6 He hath sayde in his heart tushe I can not be remoued for I can not be touched at any tyme with harme 7 His mouth is full of cursing and of deceate and of fraude vnder his tongue is labour and mischiefe 8 He sitteth lurkyng in theeuishe corners of the streates and priuily in lurking dennes he doth murther the innocent he eyeth diligently hym that is weake 9 He lieth in wayte lurking as a Lion in his denne he lyeth in wayte lurkyng * that he may violently carry away the afflicted he doth carry away violentlye the afflicted in halyng hym into his net 10 He croucheth and humbleth him selfe so that a number of thē that be weake fall by his myght 11 He sayeth in his heart tushe the Lord hath forgotten he hydeth away his face and he wyll neuer see it 12 Aryse vp O Lorde God lift vp thine hande forget not the afflicted 13 Wherefore shoulde the wicked blaspheme the Lorde whyle he sayeth in his heart that thou wylt not call to accompt 14 Surely thou hast seene this for thou beholdest labour and spite that thou mayest take the matter into thy hands he that is weake leaueth it for thee for thou art the helper of the fatherlesse 15 Breake thou the power of the vngodly and malitious searche thou out his vngodlynes and thou shalt finde none afterwarde in him 16 God is king for euer and euer but the Heathen shall perishe out of the lande 17 O God thou hast hearde the desire of the afflicted and thou wylt settle their heart 18 Thou wylt be attentiue with thyne eare to geue iudgement for the fatherlesse and oppressed so no man in the earth shall once go about hereafter to do them violence ¶ The argument of the .xi. psalme ¶ Dauid trusting in God complayneth of them who would not suffer him to hide him selfe in the
consume them 10 Thou wilt roote their fruite out of the earth and their seede from among the children of men 11 For they intended mischiefe agaynst thee and imagined a craftie deuice but they coulde not bring it to passe 12 Therfore thou wilt put them to flight and direct thine arrowes agaynsttheir faces 13 Be thou exalted O God accordyng to thine owne might so we wyll sing and with psalmes we wyll prayse thy power The argunment of the .xxij. psalme ¶ Dauid first in the figure of Christe as one forsaken cryeth to God the father vtteryng his crosse affliction humblenesse and mockes geuen of the people gouernours and priestes Secondarily he prayeth for his deliuerie that he may prayse God in the Church and incite other to put their trust in him in aduersitie Last of all he reioyceth that his kingdome shal be extended to the vttermost partes of the worlde ¶ To the chiefe musition of the mornyng hinde a psalme of Dauid 1 MY God my God why hast thou forsaken me why art thou so farre from my health and from the wordes of my complaynt 2 O my God I crye all the day tyme and in the night season and I ceasse not but thou hearest not 3 And yet thou most holy sittest to receaue the prayers of Israel 4 Our fathers hoped in thee they trusted in thee thou didst deliuer them 5 They called vpon thee and they were helped they did put their trust in thee and they were not confounded 6 But as for me I am a worme and no man a very scorne of men and an outcast of the people 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorne they do make a mowe and nod their head at me 8 Saying he referreth all to God loking that God wyll deliuer him and rescue him for he delighteth only in him 9 But thou art he that tokest me out of my mothers wombe thou causedst me to trust in thee suckyng my mothers breastes 10 I haue ben left vnto thee euer since I was borne thou art my God euen from my mothers wombe 11 O go not far frō me for trouble is harde at hande and there is none to helpe me 12 Many oxen are come about me fat bulles of Bashan close me in on euery syde 13 They gape vpon me with their mouthes as it were a rampyng and a roryng lion 14 I am as it were into water resolued and all my bones are out of ioynt my heart also is like waxe melted in the middest of my bowels 15 My strength is dried vp like a potsheard my tongue cleaueth to my gummes and thou hast brought me into the dust of death 16 For dogges are come about me the assemble of the wicked lay siege agaynst me they haue pearced my handes and my feete I may tell all my bones 17 They stande staring gasing vpon me they part my garmentes among them and they cast lottes vpon my vesture 18 But be not thou farre from me O God thou art my strength make haste to helpe me 19 Delyuer my soule from the sworde and my dearlyng from the dogges pawes 20 Saue me from the Lions mouth delyuer me from the hornes of the Vnicornes 21 I wyll declare thy name vnto my brethren I wyll prayse thee in the middest of the congregation 22 Saying prayse ye God ye that feare hym glorifie hym all ye of the seede of Iacob and stande in awe of hym all ye of the seede of Israel 23 For he hath not dispised nor abhorred the affliction of the poore he hath not hyd his face from hym but he hearde hym when he cryed vnto hym 24 My prayse shal be of thee in the great congregation I wyll perfourme my vowes in the syght of them that feare hym 25 The poore shall eate and be satisfied they that seeke after God shall prayse hym your heart shall lyue for euer 26 All the endes of the worlde shall remember them selues and be turned vnto God and all the kinredes of the nations shall worshyp before thy face 27 For the kingdome is Gods and he is the gouernour ouer the nations 28 All such as be fat vpon the earth shall eate and worshyp all they that go downe in to the dust shall knele before hym although he preserued not his owne lyfe 29 The posteritie shall serue hym they shal be counted vnto the Lorde for a generation 30 They wyll come and declare his righteousnesse vnto a people that shal be borne for he hath done it ¶ The argument of the .xxiij. Psalme Dauid resemblyng God to a sheephearde and hym selfe to a sheepe declareth that all commodities plentie quietnesse and prosperitie ensueth them that be fully perswaded of Gods prouidence for God feedeth norisheth defendeth and gouerneth those that put their wholl trust in hym after a more ample sort then any sheepehearde doth his sheepe ¶ A psalme of Dauid 1 GOd is my sheephearde therfore I can lacke nothyng he wyll cause me to repose my selfe in pasture full of grasse and he wyll leade me vnto calme waters 2 He wyll conuert my soule he wyll bring me foorth into the pathes of righteousnesse for his name sake 3 Yea though I walke through the valley of the shadowe of death I wyll feare no euyll for thou art with me thy rodde and thy staffe be the thynges that do comfort me 4 Thou wylt prepare a table before me in the presence of myne aduersaries thou hast annoynted my head with oyle and my cup shal be brymme full 5 Truely felicitie and mercie shal folowe me all the dayes of my lyfe and I wyll dwell in the house of God for a long tyme. ¶ The argument of the .xxiiij. Psalme ¶ Dauid declareth that although all the earth and all the inhabitours therof do pertayne to God yet that he hath chosen most especially the mount Sion So that such as wyll seke God and lyue vertuously must dwell in that blessed mount Heal so desireth to builde a temple for to place therin the arke of God whiche he nameth the kyng of glorie ¶ A psalme of Dauid 1 THe earth is Gods and all that therin is the worlde they that dwell therin 2 For he hath laide the foundation of it vpon the seas and he hath set it sure vpon the fluddes 3 Who shal ascende into the hyll of God or who shall ryse vp in his holy place 4 Euen he that hath cleane handes and a pure heart that hath not taken his soule in vayne nor sworne disceiptfully 5 He shall receaue a blessyng from God and ryghteousnesse from the Lorde of his saluation 6 This is the generation of them that seke hym euen of them that seke thy face in Iacob Selah 7 Lyft vp your heades O ye gates and be ye lyft vp ye euerlastyng doores and the kyng of glorie shall enter in 8 Who is this kyng of glorie it is God both strong
thing that is good 11 Come ye chyldren and hearken vnto me I will teache you the feare of God 12 What man is he that listeth to liue and woulde fayne see good dayes 13 Kepe thy tongue from euill and thy lippes that they speake no guyle 14 Eschewe euill do good seeke peace and ensue it 15 The eyes of God are ouer the righteous and his eares are open vnto their prayers 16 The countenaunce of God is against them that do euill to roote out the remembraunce of them from of the earth 17 The righteous crye and God heareth them and deliuereth them out of all their troubles 18 God is nye vnto them that are of a contrite heart and saueth such as be of an humble spirite 19 Great are the troubles of the righteous but God deliuereth him out of all 20 He kepeth all his bones so that no one of them is broken 21 Malice shal put the vngodly to death and they that hate the righteous shal be brought to naught 22 God redeemeth the soules of his seruauntes and al they that put their trust in him shall not be brought to naught The argument of the .xxxv. psalme ¶ Dauid desireth God to be his iudge and defence against his enemies who without all cause geuen of his part like cruell hypocrites parasites and flattering courtiers say and do all that they can for to put him to death He declareth his hope confidence and ioy that he hath in God of ayde defence and deliuerie for the whiche he promiseth to geue him thankes not only by him selfe but also by such other as haue any regarde of his righteousnesse and innocencie ¶ Of Dauid 1 PLeade thou my cause O God with them that striue with me and fight thou agaynst them that fight against me 2 Lay hand vppon a shielde buckler and stande vp to helpe me 3 Bryng foorth the speare and stop the way against them that persecute me say vnto my soule I am thy saluation 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seeke after my soule let them be turned backe and brought to cōfusion that imagine mischiefe for me 5 Let them be as dust before the winde and let the angell of God scatter them 6 Let their way be darke and slipperie let the angell of God persecute them 7 For without a cause they haue priuily layde for me a pit full of their nettes without a cause they haue made a digyng vnto my soule 8 Let a sodayne destruction come vpon hym vnawares and his net that he hath layde priuily catch hym selfe let him fall into it with his owne destruction 9 And my soule shal be ioyfull in God it shall reioyce in his saluation 10 All my bones shall say God who is lyke vnto thee whiche deliuerest the poore from hym that is to strong for him yea the poore and him that is in miserie from him that spoyleth him 11 False witnesse did rise vp they layde thinges to my charge that I know not 12 They rewarded me euill for good to the great discomfort of my soule 13 Neuerthelesse when they were sicke I did put on sackcloth I afflicted my soule with fasting and my prayer returned into myne owne bosome 14 I kept them company whersoeuer they went as though they had ben my frende or brother I went heauyly as one that mourned for his mother 15 But in mine aduersitie they reioysed and gathered them together yea the very abiectes came together against me yer I wyst they rented me a peeces and ceassed not 16 With hypocrites scoffers and parasites they gnashed vpon me with their teeth 17 Lorde howe long wylt thou looke vpon this O deliuer my soule from their raginges and my dearling from Lions whelpes 18 So I wyll confesse it vnto thee in a great congregation I will prayse thee among muche people 19 O let not my deceiptfull enemies triumph ouer me let them not winke with an eye that hate me without a cause 20 For they speake not peace but they imagine deceiptfull wordes agaynst them that liue quietly in the lande 21 They gaped vpon me with their mouthes and said this is well this is wel our eye hath seene 22 Thou hast seene this O God holde not thy tongue then go not farre from me O Lorde 23 Stirre thou and awake O my God and my Lorde to iudge my cause and controuersie 24 Iudge me according to thy righteousnesse O God my Lorde and let them not triumph ouer me 25 Let them not say in their heart it is as we woulde haue it neither let them say we haue deuoured hym 26 Let them be put to confusion shame all together that reioyce at my trouble let them be clothed with rebuke and dishonour that exalt them selues against me 27 Let them triumph with gladnesse and reioyce that be delighted with my righteousnesse let them say alwayes blessed be God whiche hath pleasure in the prosperitie of his seruaunt 28 And my tongue shal be talking of thy righteousnesse and of thy prayse all the day long The argument of the .xxxvj. psalme ¶ Dauid describeth the wickednesse and wretched ende of them that feare not God And also the great goodnes of God towardes all creatures He desireth his mercy and defence against the wicked ¶ To the chiefe musition seruaunt to the God of Dauid 1 THe wickednes of the vngodly speaketh in the middest of my heart that there is no feare of the Lorde before his eyes 2 For he flattereth him selfe in his owne sight so that his iniquitie is found worthy of hatred 3 The wordes of his mouth are vnrighteous and full of deceipt he hath left of to behaue him selfe wisely to do good 4 He imagineth mischiefe vpon his bed setteth him selfe in no good way neither doth he abhorre any thing y t is euil 5 Thy mercy O God reacheth vnto heauen and thy faythfulnes vnto the cloudes 6 Thy righteousnes is like the mountaynes of God thy iudgementes are a great deapth thou sauest both man and beast O God 7 How excellent is thy mercy O Lord therefore the chyldren of men shall put their trust vnder the shadowe of thy winges 8 They shal be satisfied with the plenteousnesse of thy house and thou shalt geue them drinke out of the riuer of thy delicates 9 For with thee is the fountaine of lyfe and in thy light shall we see light 10 O continue foorth thy louing kindnesse vnto them that knowe thee and thy righteousnes vnto them that are of an vpright heart 11 O let not the foote of pryde reache vnto me and let not the hande of the vngodly make me to moue out of my place 12 There be the workers of iniquitie fallen they are cast downe and shall not be able to rise vp ¶ The argument of the .xxxvij. psalme ¶ Dauid comforteth the godly that they be not offended
after and the people which shal be borne shall prayse the Lorde 17 For he hath loked downe from his high sanctuarie out of heauen did God beholde the earth 18 That he might heare the mourninges of such as be in captiuitie and delyuer the children of death 19 That they may declare y e name of God in Sion and his prayse at Hierusalem 20 When people were gathered together kyngdomes to serue God he afflicted my strength in the way he shortened my dayes 21 But I say O my God take me not away in the middest of myne age as for thy yeres they endure throughout all generations 22 Thou hast before tyme layde the foundation of the earth and the heauens are the worke of thy handes 23 They shall perishe but thou wylt remayne styll they all shall waxe olde as doth a garment and as a vesture thou wylt chaunge them and they shal be chaunged 24 But thou art and thy yeres can not fayle the children of thy seruauntes shal dwell and their seede shal be maynteyned in thy syght ¶ The argument of the .ciii. psalme ¶ The prophete stirreth vp hym selfe and all that is within hym to blesse God for such benefites as both he hym selfe and all the Israelites haue at his handes receaued in that he pardoneth their sinne redeemeth them from death and maketh his holy wyll knowen vnto them beyng men miserable and of a short lyfe Finally he calleth vpon angels and all sortes of men with all their power to blesse God who is kyng of heauen and earth 1 BLesse God O my soule and all that is within me prayse his holy name 2 Blesse God O my soule and forget not all his benefites 3 Who forgeueth all thy wickednesse and healeth all thine infirmities 4 Who redeemeth thy lyfe from destruction and crowneth thee with mercie and louyng kyndnesse 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good thynges causyng thy youth lyke an Egles to be renued 6 God executeth iustice and iudgement for all them that are oppressed with wrong 7 He made his wayes knowen vnto Moyses his workes vnto the children of Israel 8 God is full of compassion and pitie loth to be angry and exceedyng great in mercie 9 He vseth not to continue in chydyng neither reserueth he his anger for euer 10 He dealeth not with vs accordyng to our sinnes nor rewardeth vs according to our wickednesse 11 For accordyng to the hyghnesse of heauen aboue the earth his mercie preuayleth to them that feare hym 12 Loke howe farre distaunt the east is from the west so farre a sunder setteth he our sinnes from vs. 13 Yea lyke as a father pitieth his owne children euen so is God mercifull vnto them that feare hym 14 For he knoweth wherof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as the dayes of an hearbe he florisheth as a flowre in the fielde 16 For the winde passeth ouer it and it is no more seene and the place therof knoweth it no more 17 But the mercifull goodnesse of God endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare hym and his righteousnesse vpon childers children 18 Euen vpon such as kepe his couenaunt and thinke vpon his commaundementes to do them 19 God hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kyngdome ruleth ouer all 20 Blesse God O ye his angels mightie in operation who fulfyll his worde in hearkening vnto the voyce of his word 21 Blesse God all ye his hoastes you his ministers that do his pleasure 22 Blesse God all you his workes in all places of his dominion O my soule blesse thou God The argument of the .ciiij. psalme ¶ The prophete blesseth God the creatour and gouernour of all thinges by whose prouidence man beast hath the vse of the ayre cloudes angels earth hilles valleys bread drinke trees sunne moone day nyght and sea 1 MY soule blesse thou God O God my Lord thou art become exceeding great thou hast put on glory and maiestie 2 Who is decked with light as it were with a garment spreadyng out the heauens like a curtayne 3 Who seeleth his vpper chaumbers with waters and maketh the cloudes his charriot and walketh vpon the wynges of the wynde 4 He maketh his angels spirites and his ministers a flaming fire 5 He hath layde the earth sure vpon her foundations that it can neuer moue at any tyme. 6 Thou coueredst it with the deepe lyke as with a garment the waters stande vpon the hilles 7 At thy rebuke they flee at the noyse of thy thunder they bluster downe apace 8 The hilles mount aloft and the valleys settle downe beneath vnto the place where thou hast layde a foundation for them 9 Thou hast set them their boundes which they shall not passe neither shall they returne agayne to couer the earth 10 Who also causeth the springes which runne betweene the hilles to flowe into the riuers 11 All beastes of the fielde drinke therof and the wylde asses quench their thirst 12 The foules of the ayre haue their habitation nigh vnto them singing out of the midst of the bowes of trees 13 He watereth the hilles from aboue the earth is replenished with the fruite of thy workes 14 He causeth grasse to growe for cattell * and hearbes for the vse of man 15 That he may bryng foorth foode out * of the earth both wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oyle to make hym haue a chearefull countenaunce also bread to strengthen mans heart 16 The trees of God be satisfied euen the Cedars of Libanus which he hath planted 17 Wherin the birdes make their nestes in the fyrre trees the storke buyldeth 18 The high hilles are a refuge for goates and so are the stonie rockes for comes 19 He hath made the moone for certayne seasons and the sunne knoweth his goyng downe 20 Thou makest darknes and it is night wherein all the beastes of the forrest do go abrode 21 The Lions do roare after a pray and in seeking their meate of God 22 When the sunne ariseth they recoyle backe and lay them downe to rest in their dennes 23 Man goeth foorth to his worke and to do his seruice vntyll the euening 24 O God howe manyfolde are thy workes thou hast made them al in wisdome the earth is ful of thy ryches 25 So is the sea it selfe large and wyde in compasse wherein are thinges creeping innumerable both small and great beastes 26 There go the shippes and there is that Leuiathan whom thou hast made to take his pastime therin 27 These wayte all vpon thee that thou mayest geue them meate in due season 28 When thou geuest it them they gather it and when thou openest thyne hand they are filled with that which is good 29 When thou hydest thy face they are troubled when thou takest away their spirite they dye and are turned agayne to their dust 30 When thou sendest
felicitie of thy chosen that I may reioyce at the gladnes of thy people and that I may glorie with thyne inheritaunce 6 We haue sinned with our fathers we haue done amisse and dealt wickedly 7 Our fathers did not well consider thy wonders in Egypt neither did they remember thy manifolde great goodnes but they rebelled at the sea euen at the red sea 8 Neuerthelesse he saued them for his names sake that he myght make his power to be knowen 9 And he rebuked the red sea and it was dryed vp so he led them through the deepe as through a wyldernesse 10 And he saued them from the hande of suche as hated them redeemed them from the hande of the enemie 11 As for their aduersaries the waters ouerwhelmed them there was not one of them left remayning 12 Then beleued they his wordes and song prayse vnto him 13 But within a very short whyle they forgat his workes they woulde not wayte for his counsell 14 And they were taken with a great lust in the wyldernesse and they tempted God in the desert 15 And he gaue them their desire and sent leannes withal into their soule 16 They enuied also at Moyses in the tentes and at Aaron the saint of God 17 So the earth opened and swalowed vp Dathan and couered the company of Abiram 18 And the fire was kindled in their company the flambe brent vp the vngodly 19 They made a calfe in Horeb and worshipped the moulten image 20 Thus they turned their glory into the similitude of a calfe that eateth hay 21 They forgat God their sauiour who had done so great thynges in Egypt wonderous workes in y e land of Cham and terrible thinges at the red sea 22 Wherfore he appointed to destroy them had not Moyses his chosen stand in the breache before hym to turne away his wrathful indignation lest he should destroy them 23 Yea they thought scorne of the lande most to be desired they gaue no credite vnto his worde 24 But they murmured in their tentes they would not hearken vnto the voyce of God 25 Then lift he vp his hand against them to geue them an ouerthrowe in the wildernesse to geue their seede an ouerthrowe amongst the nations and to scatter them in sundry landes 26 They ioyned them selues vnto Baal Peor they also did eate of the sacrifices of the dead 27 And they prouoked the Lorde vnto anger with their owne inuentions and a plague fell mightily amongst them 28 Then stoode vp Phinehes he executed iustice and so the plague ceassed 29 And that was imputed vnto hym for righteousnesse in generation and generation for euermore 30 They also prouoked God at the waters of strife and all was not well with Moyses for their sakes 31 For they had caused an alteration to be of his spirite so that he spake vnaduisedly with his lippes 32 Moreouer they destroyed not the Heathen as God commaunded them 33 But they were mingled amongst the Heathen and learned their workes 34 Insomuch that they dyd seruice vnto their idols whiche were to theÌ„ a snare 35 Yea they sacrifised their sonnes and their daughters vnto deuils 36 And they shed innocent blood euen the blood of their sonnes and of their daughters whom they sacrifised vnto the idols of Chanaan and the lande was defiled with blood 37 Thus were they stayned with their owne workes and went a whoryng with their owne inuentions 38 Therfore was the wrath of God kindeled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his owne inheritaunce 39 And he gaue them ouer into the hand of the Heathen and they that dyd hate them were lordes ouer them 40 Their enemies oppressed them and brought them into subiection vnder their hande 41 Many a time dyd God deliuer them but they rebelled against hym with their owne inuentions and were brought downe for their wickednes 42 Neuerthelesse he did beholde them in their aduersitie in geuing eare to their complaint 43 And he remembred his couenaunt and repented according to the multitude of his mercies 44 Yea he made all those that led them away captiue to pitie them 45 Saue vs O God our Lorde and gather vs from among the Heathen that we may geue thankes to thy holy name and glory of thy prayse 46 Blessed be God the Lord of Israel froÌ„ world to world without end and let all people say so be it Prayse ye the Lord. The argument of the .cvii. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth all men to prayse God and to thanke God for it is he that helpeth them in all distresses when they crye vnto him He prouideth houses and cities for them that els would wander as vagabondes in wyldernesse He satisfieth the hungry and the thirstie He setteth at libertie prisoners and captiues He healeth the sicke and diseased He comforteth and helpeth those that be in ieoperdie of seas He maketh a fruitfull lande barren a barren grounde fruitfull He bringeth princes to lowe estate setteth vp the poore in honour At these things the godly reioyseth the mouth of the wicked is stopped 1 COnfesse you it vnto God for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for euer 2 Let such as God did redeme speake whom he hath redeemed from the hande of the enemie 3 And whom he gathered out of the landes from the east and from the west from the north and from the south 4 They went astray out of the way in solitarines â—andâ— in wildernes and found no citie to dwell in they were hungry and thirstie their soule fainted in them 5 And they cry vnto god in their trouble who deliuereth them froÌ„ their distresse 6 And he leadeth them foorth by the right way that they might go to the citie inhabited 7 O that men would confesse vnto God his louyng kindnesse and his marueylous actes done to the chyldren of men 8 For he satisfieth the greedie soule and filleth the hungry soule with goodnes 9 Suche as fit in darknesse and in the shadowe of death beyng fast bounde in miserie and iron 10 Because they went from the wordes of the Lorde and lightly regarded the counsayle of the most highest 11 Therfore he humbled their heart thorowe heauines they fall downe and there is none to helpe them 12 And they cry vnto god in their trouble who deliuereth theÌ„ out of their distresse 13 For he bringeth them out of darknesse and out of the shadowe of death and breaketh their bondes in sunder 14 O that men would confesse vnto God his louing kindnes and his marueylous actes done to the chyldren of men 15 For he breaketh the gates of brasse smyteth the barres of iron in sunder 16 Foolish men are plagued for their mischeuous wayes for their wickednes 17 Their soule abhorreth all maner of meate and they be euen harde at deathes doore 18 And they crye vnto God in their trouble who deliuereth them
theirs shal be for euer blessed 1 GEue praise not vnto vs O God not vnto vs but vnto thy name for thy louing mercy and for thy truethes sake 2 Wherfore shal the Heathen say where is nowe their God 3 Truely our Lorde is in heauen he hath done whatsoeuer pleased him 4 Their idols are siluer and gold euen the workes of mens handes 5 They haue a mouth and speake not they haue eyes and see not 6 They haue eares and heare not they haue noses and smell not 7 They haue handes and handle not they haue feete and walke not and they vtter no sounde out of their throtes 8 They that make them are lyke vnto them euery one that putteth his trust in them 9 But Israel trust thou in God he is their ayde and their shielde 10 Ye house of Aaron trust you in God he is their ayde and their shielde 11 Ye that feare God trust ye in God he is their ayde and their shielde 12 God hath ben myndfull of vs he wyll blesse vs he wyll blesse the house of Israel he wyll blesse the house of Aaron 13 He wyll blesse those that feare God the small with the great 14 God wyll encrease you more and more both you and also your children 15 Ye are the blessed of God which made heauen and earth 16 The heauen the heauen I say is Gods and he hath geuen the earth vnto the children of men 17 The dead prayse not thee O Lorde neither all they that go downe into the place of scilence 18 But we wyll prayse the Lord from this tyme foorth for euermore Prayse ye the Lorde The argument of the .cxvi. psalme ¶ The prophete sayth that he must nedes loue God for that he heard hym and deliuered hym out of wonderfull extreme afflictions of death and hell He acknowledgeth the benefites of God and that he can geue no rewarde for them but bare thankes when he is in the congregation and in worshyppyng hym all the dayes of his lyfe 1 I Haue loued because God hath hearde my voyce and my prayers 2 Because he hath enclined his eare vnto me therfore I wyll call vpon hym as long as I lyue 3 The snares of death compassed me rounde about and the paynes of hell toke holde on me 4 I founde anguishe and heauinesse but I called vpon the name of God saying O God I beseche thee deliuer my soule 5 Gratious is God and ryghteous our Lorde is mercifull 6 God gardeth the simple I was brought to the extremitie and he preserued me 7 Returne O my soule vnto thy rest for God hath rewarded thee 8 For thou O Lorde hast deliuered my soule from death myne eyes from teares and my feete from fallyng 9 I wyll walke before the face of God in the lande of the lyuyng 10 I beleued therfore I wyll speake I was sore afflicted insomuch that I said in my rashnesse euery man is a lyer 11 What rewarde shal I geue vnto God for all the benefites that he hath done vnto me 12 I wyll take the cuppe of saluation and I wyll call vpon the name of God 13 I wyll pay my vowes nowe vnto God in the presence of all his people 14 The death of his saintes is precious in the eyes of God 15 It is euen so O God for I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handemayde thou hast loosed my bondes in sunder 16 I wyll offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgeuyng and I wyll call vpon the name of God 17 I wyll pay my vowes vnto God in the sight of all his people in the courtes of Gods house euen in the myddest of thee O Hierusalem Prayse ye the Lorde ⧠The argument of the .cxvij. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth the Gentiles to prayse God for that he hath extended his mercie vpon them in Christe aswell as vpon the Iewes 1 O Prayse God all ye heathen prayse hym all ye nations 2 For his mercifull kyndnesse is euer more and more towarde vs and the trueth of God endureth for euer Prayse ye the Lorde ¶ The argument of the .cxviij. Psalme ¶ Dauid woulde haue God praysed and thanked for that by his meanes only he was deliuered from extreme perilles and made kyng of that people who with their kyng had a litle before persecuted hym reiect hym and droue hym out of the realme He wylleth the priestes to sacrifice in remembraunce therof 1 O Confesse you it vnto God for he is gratious and his mercie endureth for euer 2 Let Israel nowe confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 3 Let the house of Aaron nowe confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 4 Let them nowe that feare God confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 5 I called vpon the Lorde beyng in distresse and the Lorde hath hearde me at large 6 God is with me I wyll not feare what man can do vnto me 7 God is with me amongst them that ayde me therfore I shall see my desire vpon them that hate me 8 It is better to trust in God then to put any confidence in man ◠It is better to trust in God then to put any confidence in princes 10 All nations compassed me rounde about but I trusted in the name of God that I shoulde destroy them 11 They kept me in on euery syde they kept me in I say on euery syde but I trusted in y e name of God that I shoulde destroy them 12 They swarmed about me lyke bees and they be extinguished as the fire made of thornes for I trusted in the name of God that I should destroy thē 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but God dyd ayde me 14 The Lorde is my strength and my song and he is become my saluation 15 The voyce of a ioyfull noyse of saluation is in the dwellynges of the ryghteous saying the ryght hande of God bryngeth mightie thynges to passe 16 The ryght hande of God is on hygh the right hande of God bryngeth mightie thynges to passe 17 I shall not as yet dye but I shal liue and I wyll declare the workes of the Lorde 18 The Lorde hath greatly chastened me but he hath not geuen me ouer vnto death 19 Open me the gates of ryghteousnesse I wyll enter in by them that I may geue thankes vnto the Lorde 20 This is the gate of God the ryghteous shall enter in by it 21 I wyll thanke thee for that thou hast heard me and art become my saluation 22 The same stone which the buylders refused is become the head stone of the corner 23 This was the doyng of God and it is marueylous in our eyes 24 This is the day whiche God hath made we wyll reioyce and be glad in it 25 O God I pray thee nowe saue vs O God I pray thee nowe geue vs prosperous successe 26 Blessed be he that commeth in the name of God we do blesse
woman with open tokens of an harlot onlye her heart was hid 11 She was full of loude wordes and redye to dallie whose feete coulde not abide in the house 12 Nowe is she without nowe in the streates and lyeth in wayte at euery corner 13 She caught hym and kissed him and was not ashamed saying 14 I had a vowe of peace offeringes to pay and this day I perfourme it 15 Therefore came I foorth to meete thee that I might seeke thy face and so haue I founde thee 16 I haue deckt my bed with coueringes of tapessarie and clothes of Egypt 17 My bed haue I made to smell of Myrre Aloes and Cinamon 18 Come let vs take our fill of loue vntyll the morning and let vs solace our selues with the pleasures of loue 19 For the good man is not at home he is gone farre of 20 He hath taken the bagge of money with hym and wyll returne at the appointed solempne feast 21 Thus with many sweete wordes she ouercame him and with her flattering lippes she entised hym 22 Sodainly he folowed her as it were an oxe led to the slaughter and lyke as it were a foole that laugheth when he goeth to the stockes to be punished 23 So long tyll she had wounded his lyuer with her dart lyke as if a byrde hasted to the snare not knowing that the perill of his life lieth thervpon 24 Heare me now therfore O my chylde and marke the wordes of my mouth 25 Let not thyne heart wander in her wayes and be not thou deceaued in her pathes 26 For many one hath she wounded and cast downe yea many a strong man hath ben slaine by the meanes of her 27 Her house is the way vnto hell and bryng men downe into the chaumbers of death The .viii. Chapter 1 Wysdome declareth her excellencie 11 Riches 15 Power 22 Eternitie 32 She exhorteth all to loue and folowe her 1 DOth not wysdome crye doth not vnderstanding put foorth her voyce 2 She standeth in the top of high places by the way in the place of the pathes 3 She cryeth at the gates of the citie at the entrye of the doores 4 It is you O ye men saith she whom I call vnto the chyldren of men do I lyft vp my voyce 5 Take heede vnto knowledge O ye ignoraunt be ye wise in heart O ye fooles 6 Geue eare for I wyll speake of great matters and open my lippes to tell thinges that be right 7 For my mouth shall be talking of the trueth and my lippes abhorre vngodlynesse 8 All the wordes of my mouth are righteous there is no frowardnes nor falsehood in them 9 They are all playne to suche as wyll vnderstande and right to them that finde knowledge 10 Receaue my doctrine and not siluer and knowledge rather then fine golde 11 For wysdome is more worth then pretious stones yea all thinges that thou canst desire may not be compared vnto it 12 I wysdome dwell with counsell and finde out knowledge and vnderstanding 13 The feare of the Lorde abhorreth wickednes pryde disdayne and the euil way and a mouth that speaketh wicked thinges I vtterly abhorre 14 Counsell is mine and direction I am vnderstanding and I haue strength 15 Through me kinges raigne and princes make iust lawes 16 By me princes beare rule and noble men do iudge the earth 17 I am louing vnto those that loue me and they that seeke me early shall finde me 18 Riches and honour are with me yea durable riches and righteousnes 19 My fruite is better then golde and pretious stones and mine encrease more worth then fine siluer 20 I wyll guyde thee in the way of righteousnes and in the midst of the pathes of iudgement 21 That I maye stablishe the inhetaunce of them that loue me and encrease their treasure 22 The Lorde him selfe had me in possession in the beginning of his wayes or euer he began his workes aforetime 23 I haue ben ordayned from euerlasting and from the beginning or euer the earth was made 24 When I was borne there were neither depthes nor springes of water 25 Before the foundations of the mountaines were layde yea before all hilles was I borne 26 The earth and all that is vpon the earth was not yet made no not the dust it selfe 27 For when he made the heauens I was present when he compassed the deapthes about 28 When he hanged the cloudes aboue when he fastened the springes of the deepe 29 When he shut the sea within certaine boundes that the waters should not go ouer their markes that he commaunded when he layde the foundations of the earth 30 I was with him ordring all thinges deliting dayly and reioysyng alway before hym 13 As for the rounde compasse of this worlde I make it ioyfull for my delite is to be among the chyldren of men 32 Therefore hearken vnto me O ye chyldren blessed are they that kepe my wayes 33 O geue eare vnto nurture be wyse and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching dayly at my gates and geuing attendaunce at the postes of my doores 34 For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtaine fauour of the Lorde 35 But whoso offendeth against me hurteth his owne soule and they that hate me are the louers of death ¶ The .ix. Chapter ◠Wysdome calleth all to her feast 7 The scorner wyll not be corrected 10 The feare of God 13 The conditions of an harlot 1 WYsdome hath buylded her house and hewen out seuen pillers 2 She hath kylled her victuals powred out her wine and prepared her table 3 She hath sent foorth her maydens to crye vpon the highest place of the citie 4 Who so is without knowledge let him come hither And to the vnwise she said 5 O come on your way eate my bread and drinke my wine whiche I haue powred out for you 6 Forsake foolishnes and ye shall lyue and see that ye go in the way of vnderstandyng 7 Whoso reproueth a scornefull person getteth him selfe dishonour and he that rebuketh the vngodly stayneth hym selfe 8 Reproue not a scorner lest he owe thee euyll will but rebuke a wyse man and he wyll loue thee 9 Geue a discrete man but an occasion and he wyll be the wyser teache a righteous man and he wyll encrease in knowledge 10 The feare of the Lorde is the beginning of wisdome and the knowledge of holy thinges is vnderstanding 11 For thorowe me thy dayes shal be prolonged and the yeres of thy life shall be many 12 If thou be wise thy wysdome shal do thy selfe good but if thou thinkest scorne therof it shal be thine owne harme 13 A foolishe retchlesse woman full of wordes and suche a one as hath no knowledge 14 Sitteth at the doore of her house and in the hye places of the citie 15 To call such as go by and that walke straight in their wayes 16 Who so is ignoraunt sayeth
she let hym come hyther and to the vnwyse she saith 17 Stolen waters are sweete the bread that is priuily eaten hath a good taste 18 And he doth not consider that they are but dead whiche be there and that her ghestes are in the deepe of hell The .x. Chapter ¶ In this chapter and all that folowe vnto the thirteeth the wise man exhorteth by diuers sentences which he calleth parables to folowe vertue flee vice and sheweth also what profite commeth of wisdome and what hinderaunce proceedeth of foolishnes 1 A Wyse sonne maketh a glad father but an vndiscrete sonne is an heauinesse vnto his mother 2 Treasures that are wickedly gotten profite nothing but righteousnesse deliuereth from death 3 The Lorde wyll not let the soule of the righteous suffer hunger but he taketh away the richesse of the vngodly 4 An idle hande maketh poore but a quicke labouring hande maketh riche 5 Who so gathereth in sommer is wyse but he that is sluggishe in haruest bringeth hym selfe to confusion 6 Blessinges are vpon the head of the righteous and the mouth of the vngodly kepeth mischiefe in secrete 7 The memoriall of the iust shall haue a good report but the name of the vngodly shall stincke 8 A wyse man wyll receaue warning but a prating foole shal be punished 9 He that walketh vprightly walketh surely but whoso goeth a wrong way shal be knowen 10 He that winketh with his eye wyll cause sorowe but he that hath a foolishe mouth shal be beaten 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life but the mouth of the vngodly kepeth mischiefe in secrete 12 Hatred stirreth vp strifes but loue couereth the multitude of sinnes 13 In the lippes of him that hath vnderstanding a man shall finde wysdome but the rod belongeth to the backe of the foolishe 14 Wyse men lay vp knowledge but the mouth of the foolish is nye destruction 15 The riche mans goodes are his strong holde but their owne pouertie feareth the poore 16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to lyfe but the fruites of the vngodly to sinne 17 Nurture kepeth the way of lyfe but he that refuseth to be nurtured deceaueth hym selfe 18 He that hydeth hatred with lying lippes and he that speaketh slaunder is a foole 19 Where much babblyng is there must needes be offence and he that refrayneth his lippes is wyse 20 The tongue of the iust man is as tried siluer but the heart of the vngodly is a thyng of naught 21 The lippes of the ryghteous feede a whole multitude but fooles shall dye in their owne follie 22 The blessyng of the Lorde maketh riche and bryngeth no sorowe of heart with it 23 A foole doth wickedly and maketh but a sport of it but wisdome ruleth the man that hath vnderstandyng 24 The thing that the vngodly is afraide of shall come vpon hym but the ryghteous shall haue their desire 25 As the tempest so passeth away the vngodly and is not but the ryghteous remayneth sure for euer 26 As vineger is to the teeth as smoke is vnto the eyes euen so is a sluggishe person to them that sendeth him foorth 27 The feare of the Lorde maketh a long lyfe but the yeres of the vngodly shal be shortened 28 The patient abydyng of the righteous shal be turned to gladnesse but the hope of the vngodly shall perishe 29 The way of the Lord geueth courage vnto the godly but it is a feare for wicked doers 30 The ryghteous shall neuer be ouerthrowen but the vngodly shall not remayne in the lande 31 The mouth of the iust wyll be talking of wisdome but the tongue of the frowarde shall be cut out 32 The lippes of the ryghteous vtter that which is acceptable but the mouth of the vngodly speaketh frowarde thynges The .xi. Chapter 1 A False ballaunce is an abomination vnto the Lorde but a true wayght pleaseth him 2 Where pryde is there is shame also and confusion but wheras is lowlinesse there is wisdome 3 The innocent dealyng of the iust shall leade them but the wickednesse of the offendours shal be their owne destruction 4 Riches helpe not in the day of vengeaunce but ryghteousnesse deliuereth from death 5 The ryghteousnesse of the innocent ordereth his way but the vngodly shall fall in his owne wickednesse 6 The righteousnesse of the iust shall delyuer them but the wicked shal be taken in their owne vngodlynesse 7 When an vngodly man dyeth his hope is gone the confidence of riches shall perishe 8 The ryghteous shal be delyuered out of trouble and the vngodly shall come in his steade 9 The dissembler with his mouth hurteth his neighbour but through knowledge shall the iust be deliuered 10 When it goeth well with the ryghteous the citie is mercy and when the vngodly perishe there is gladnesse 11 In the blessyng of the ryghteous the citie is exalted but it is ouerthrowen by the mouth of the wicked 12 A foole slaundereth his neyghbour but a wise man holdeth his peace 13 A dissemblyng person wyll discouer priuie thynges but he that is of a faythfull heart wyll kepe counsayle 14 Where no counsayle is there the people decay but wheras many are that can geue counsayle there is wealth 15 He that is suretie for a straunger shall smart for it and he that hateth suretishyp is sure 16 A gratious woman getteth honour but the strong men attayne riches 17 He that is mercifull doth hym selfe a benefite but who so hurteth his neyghbour is a tiraunt 18 The vngodly worketh deceiptfull workes but he that soweth righteousnesse shall receaue a sure rewarde 19 Lyke as ryghteousnesse bringeth lyfe euen so to cleaue vnto euyll bryngeth death 20 The Lorde abhorreth them that be of a corrupt heart but he hath pleasure in them that are of an vndefiled conuersation 21 Though hand be ioyned in hande yet the wicked shall not escape but the seede of the ryghteous shal be preserued 22 A faire woman without discrete maners is lyke a ryng of golde in a swines snoute 23 The desire of the ryghteous is acceptable but the hope of the vngodly is indignation 24 Some man geueth out his goodes and is the richer but the niggarde hauyng inough wyll depart from nothyng and yet is euer in pouertie 25 He that is liberall in geuyng shall haue plentie and he that watereth shal be watered also hym selfe 26 Who so hoordeth vp his corne shal be cursed among the people but blessyng shall lyght vpon his head that geueth foode 27 He that searcheth for good thynges fyndeth fauour but who so seketh after mischiefe it shall happen vnto hym 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall haue a fall but the ryghteous shall florishe as the greene leafe 29 Who so maketh disquietnesse in his owne house he shal haue winde for
way which seemeth right vnto a man but the ende therof are the wayes of death 13 The heart is sorowfull euen in laughter and the ende of myrth is heauinesse 14 A backe slydyng heart shal be fylled with his owne wayes but a good man shall depart from hym 15 An ignoraunt body beleueth euery worde but who so hath vnderstanding loketh well to his goynges 16 A wyse man feareth and departeth from euyll but the foole is angry and counteth hym selfe sure 17 An vnpatient man dealeth foolishly but he that is well aduised is hated of the foole 18 The ignoraunt haue foolishnesse in possession but the wyse are crowned with knowledge 19 The euyll shall bowe them selues before the good and the vngodly shall wayte at the gates of the ryghteous 20 The poore is hated euen of his owne neyghbours but the riche hath many fâ—endes 21 Who so dispiseth his neighbour sinneth but blessed is he that hath pitie of the poore 22 Without doubt they erre that worke wickednesse but they that muse vpon good thynges vnto such shall happen mercie and trueth 23 In euery labour there is some profite â–ª but vayne wordes bryng foorth onely penurie 24 Riches are as a crowne vnto the wise â–ª but the ignoraunce of fooles is very foolishnesse 25 A faythfull witnesse deliuereth soules but a deceiptfull witnesse bryngeth foorth lyes 26 In the feare of the Lord is an assured strength and his children are vnder a sure defence 27 The feare of the Lorde is a well of lyfe to auoyde the snares of death 28 In the multitude of people is the kynges honour but the decay of the people is the confusion of the prince 29 He that is patient hath much vnderstanding but he that is soone displeased exalteth foolishnesse 30 A mery heart is the lyfe of the body but enuie consumeth away the bones 31 He that doth a poore man wrong blasphemeth his maker but who so honoureth him hath pitie on the poore 32 The vngodly is cast away for his iniquitie but the ryghteous hath a good hope euen in death 33 Wisdome resteth in the heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng and it shal be knowen among them that are vnlearned 34 * Righteousnesse setteth vp the people but the sacrifice of the heathen is sinnefull 35 A discrete seruaunt is a pleasure vnto the kyng but his wrath is agaynst hym that doth dishonour hym The .xv. Chapter 1 A Soft aunswere appeaseth wrath but rough wordes stirre vp anger 2 The tongue of such as be wise vseth knoweledge aryght as for a foolishe mouth it babbleth out nothyng but foolishnesse 3 The eyes of the Lorde in euery place â–ª beholdeth both the good and the bad 4 A wholsome tongue is a tree of lyfe but the frowardnesse therof doth make sad the spirite 5 A foole dispiseth his fathers correction â–ª but he that taketh heede when he is reproued shall haue the more vnderstandyng 6 The house of the ryghteous is full of riches but in the fruites of the vngodly there is trouble 7 The lippes of the wise do sowe knowledge but the heart of the foolishe do not so 8 The Lorde abhorreth the sacrifice of the vngodly but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable vnto hym 9 The way of the vngodly is an abhomination vnto the Lorde but who so foloweth righteousnesse him he loueth 10 Correction is greeuous vnto hym that forsaketh the way and who so hateth correction shall dye 11 Hell and destruction are before the Lorde howe much more then the heartes of the children of men 12 A scornefull body loueth not one that rebuketh hym neither wyll he come vnto the wyse 13 A mery heart maketh a chearfull countenaunce but by the sorowe of the heart the mynde is heauy 14 The heart of hym that hath vnderstandyng doth seke knowledge but the mouth of fooles is fed with foolishnesse 15 All the dayes of the poore are miserable but a quiet heart is a continuall feast 16 Better is a litle with the feare of the Lorde then great treasure and trouble therwith 17 Better is a dynner of hearbes with loue then a fat oxe with euyll wyll 18 An angry man stirreth vp strife but he that is patient stylleth discorde 19 The way of a slouthfull man is as an hedge of thornes but the way of the ryghteous is playne 20 A wyse sonne maketh a glad father but a foolishe man dispiseth his mother 21 Foolishnesse is ioy to him that is destitute of knowledge but a man of vnderstandyng walketh vprightly 22 Thoughtes without counsayle shall come to naught but wheras men are that can geue good counsayle there is stedfastnesse 23 A ioyfull thing it is to a man wheÌ„ his counsayle is folowed and howe good is a worde spoken in season 24 The way of lyfe is on hygh to the wise that a man shoulde beware of hell beneath 25 The Lorde wyll breake downe the house of the proude but he shall make fast the borders of the wydowe 26 The Lorde abhorreth the imaginations of the wicked but the wordes of the pure are pleasaunt 27 The greedy couetous man rooteth vp his owne house but who so hateth rewardes shall lyue 28 The heart of the ryghteous studyeth his aunswere afore but the wicked mans mouth spueth out mischiefe 29 The Lorde is farre from the vngodly but he heareth the prayer of the ryghteous 30 The clearnes of the eye reioyseth the heart a good name feedeth the bones 31 The eare that hearkeneth to the refourmation of lyfe shall dwell among the wyse 32 He that refuseth to be refourmed dispiseth his owne soule but he that submitteth him selfe to correction is wyse 33 The feare of the Lorde is the ryght science of wisdome and lowlynesse goeth before honour The .xvj. Chapter 1 A Man may wel purpose a thyng in his heart but the aunswere of the tongue commeth of the Lorde 2 A man thynketh all his wayes to be cleane but it is the Lorde that iudgeth the myndes 3 Commit thy workes vnto the Lorde and what thou deuisest it shall prosper 4 The Lorde hath made all thynges for his owne sake yea the vngodly for the day of wrath 5 The Lorde abhorreth all such as be of a proude heart and though hande be ioyned in hande yet they shall not be vnpunished 6 With mercie and faythfulnesse sinnes be forgeuen and by the feare of the Lorde euyll is eschewed 7 When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh his very enemies to be his frendes 8 Better it is to haue a litle with ryghteousnesse then great rentes wrongfully gotten 9 A man deuiseth a way in his heart but it is the Lorde that ordereth his goynges 10 When the prophecie is in the lippes of the kyng his mouth shall not go wrong in iudgement 11 A true wayght and ballaunce are the Lordes iudgement all the wayghtes of the bagge
heart is in the hand of the Lord lyke as are the riuers of water he maye turne it whyther soeuer he wyll 2 Euery mans way seemeth right in his owne eyes but the Lorde pondereth the heart 3 To do righteousnes and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lorde then sacrifice 4 An high looke a proude heart and the plowing of the vngodly is sinne 5 The deuises of one that is diligent bring plenteousnesse but he that is vnaduised commeth vnto pouertie 6 To hoorde vp riches with a deceiptfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death 7 The robberies of the vngodly shal be their owne destruction for they wyll not do the thing that is right 8 The way of the vngodly is frowarde and straunge but of the pure man his worke is right 9 It is better to dwell in a corner on the house toppe then with a brawling woman in a wide house 10 The soule of the vngodly wisheth euyll and his neighbour findeth no fauour in his eyes 11 When the scornefull is punished the ignoraunt take the better heede and when the wise is instructed he wyll receaue vnderstanding 12 The righteous man wysely considereth the house of the wicked and for their wickednesse God ouerthroweth the vngodly 13 Who so stoppeth his eares at the crying of the poore he shall crye hym selfe and not be hearde 14 A priuie rewarde pacifieth displeasure and a gyft in the bosome stilleth furiousnesse 15 The iust delighteth in doing the thing that is right but destruction shal be to the workers of wickednesse 16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wysdome shall remaine in the congregation of the dead 17 He that hath pleasure in bankettes shal be a poore man and whoso delighteth in wine and delicates shall not be riche 18 The vngodly shal be a raunsome for the righteous and the wicked for the iust 19 It is better to dwell in the wyldernesse then with a chydyng and an angrye woman 20 In a wise mans house there is a great treasure and oyle but a foolishe body spendeth vp all 21 Who so foloweth righteousnesse and mercy findeth both life righteousnesse and honour 22 A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted 23 Who so kepeth his mouth and his tongue the same kepeth his soule from troubles 24 He that is proude and arrogant is called a scorner whiche in his wrath worketh presumptuously 25 The desire of the slouthfull kylleth him for his handes wyll not labour 26 He coueteth greedyly all day long but the righteous geueth and spareth not 27 The sacrifice of the vngodly is abhomination howe muche more when they offer the thing that is gotten with wickednesse 28 A false witnesse shall perishe but a good man speaketh constantly what he hath hearde 29 An vngoly man hardeneth his face but the iust refourmeth his owne way 30 There is no wysdome there is no vnderstanding there is no counsayle against the Lorde 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battayle but the Lorde geueth victorie ¶ The .xxii. Chapter 1 A Good name is more to be desired then great riches and louing fauour is better then siluer and golde 2 The riche and poore meete together the Lorde is the maker of them all 3 A wyse man seeth the plague and hydeth hym selfe but the foolishe go on still and are punished 4 By humilitie and the feare of the Lorde commeth riches honour and life 5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde but he that doth kepe his soule wyll flee farre from them 6 Teache a chylde what way he should go for he shall not leaue it when he is olde 7 The ryche ruleth the poore and the borower is seruaunt to the lender 8 He that soweth wickednes shal reape wickednes and the rodde of his anger shall fayle 9 He that hath a bountifull eye shal be blessed for he geueth of his bread to the poore 10 Cast out the scorneful man and so shal strife go out with hym yea variaunce and sclaunder shall ceasse 11 Who so loueth cleannes of heart for the grace of his lippes the kyng shal be his frende 12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge and he ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressours 13 The slouthfull body saith there is a Lion without I might be slaine in the streate 14 The mouth of straunge women is a deepe pit wherein he falleth that the Lorde is angrye withall 15 Foolishnes is bounde in the heart of the chylde and the rodde of correction shall driue it away 16 Who so doth a poore man wrong to increase his owne riches and geueth vnto the ryche at the last commeth to pouertie hym selfe 17 Bowe downe thyne eare and heare the wordes of the wise applie thy mind vnto my doctrine 18 For it is a pleasaunt thing if thou kepe them in thyne heart and order them in thy lippes 19 That thou mayest put thy trust in the Lorde I haue shewed thee this day the thing that thou knowest 20 Haue not I warned thee very oft with counsayle and learning 21 That I might make thee knowe the trueth that thou with the veritie mightest aunswere them that sende vnto thee 22 Rob not the poore because he is poore and oppresse not the simple in iudgement 23 For the Lorde him selfe wyll defende their cause and do violence vnto them that haue vsed violence 24 Make no frendship with an angrye wylfull man and walke not with the furious 25 Lest thou learne his wayes and receaue hurt to thy soule 26 Be not thou one of them that binde their hande vpon promise and are suretie for waightie causes 27 For if thou hast nothing to pay they shall take away thy bed from vnder thee 28 Thou shalt not remoue the auncient lande marke whiche thy fore elders haue set 29 Seest thou not that they which be diligent in their businesse stande before kinges not among the simple people The .xxiij. Chapter 1 WHen thou sittest to eate with a noble man consider diligently what is set before thee 2 Measure thyne appetite if it be gredyly set 3 Be not desirous of his daintie meates for meate begyleth and deceaueth 4 Take not ouer great trauayle to be riche beware of suche a purpose 5 Wylt thou set thyne eye vpon the thing which sodenly vanisheth away For riches make them selues wynges and take their flight lyke an Egle into the ayre 6 Eate thou not the bread of hym that hath an euyll eye neither desire thou his daintie meate 7 For as though he thought it in his heart he saith eate and drinke where as his heart is not with thee 8 The morsels that thou hast eaten shalt thou parbreake and loose those sweete wordes 9 Tell nothing into the eares of a foole for he wyll despise the wysdome
Tharsis 15 His body is as the pure iuorie dect ouer with Saphires His legges are as the pillers of Marble set vpon sockettes of golde 16 His face is as Libanus and as the beautie of the Cedar trees 17 The wordes of his mouth are sweete yea he is altogether louely Such a one is my loue O ye daughters of Hierusalem such a one is my loue The .vi. Chapter 2 The Church assureth her selfe of the loue of Christe 3 The prayses of the Church 8 She is but one and vndefiled 1 WHyther is thy loue gone then O thou fairest among women whyther is thy loue departed and we wyll seke hym with thee 2 My loue is gone downe into his garden vnto the sweete smellyng beddes that he may refreshe hym selfe in the garden gather lilies 3 My loue is myne and I am his which feedeth among the lilies 4 Thou are beautifull O my loue as is the place Thirza thou art faire as Hierusalem fearefull as an armie of men with their banners 5 Turne away thine eyes from me for they haue set me on fire Thy heery lockes are lyke a flocke of goates shorne vpon the mount of Gilead 6 Thy teeth are lyke a flocke of shorne sheepe which go out of the wasshyng place where euery one beareth twinnes and not one vnfruitfull among them 7 Thy cheekes are like a peece of a pomegranate within thy lockes of heere 8 There are threescore queenes fourescore wiues and damselles without number 9 One is my doue one is my dearlyng She is the only beloued of her mother and deare vnto her that bare her When the daughters sawe her they sayde she was blessed yea the queenes wiues praysed her 10 What is she this that loketh foorth as the mornyng faire as the moone cleare as the sunne and fearfull as an armie of men with their banners 11 I went downe into the nut garden to see what grewe by the brookes and to loke yf the vineyarde florished or yf the pomegranates were not foorth 12 I knewe not that my soule had made me the charyot of the people that be vnder tribute 13 Turne agayne turne agayne O thou perfect one turne agayne turne agayne and we wyll loke vpon thee What will ye see in the Sulamite She is lyke men of warre singing in a companie The .vij. Chapter 1 The beautie of the Churche in all her members 1◠She is assured of Christes loue towardes her 1 O Howe pleasaunt are thy treadynges with thy shoes thou princes daughter the ioyntes of thy thighes are like a faire iewell which is wrought by a cunnyng workemaister 2 Thy nauell is lyke a rounde goblet which is neuer without drynke 3 Thy wombe is like a heape of wheate that is set about with lilies 4 Thy two breastes are lyke two twinnes of young roes 5 Thy necke is as it were a towre of iuorie thine eyes also are lyke the water pooles that are in Hesebon beside the port of Bathrabbim thy nose is lyke the towre of Libanus which loketh towarde Damascus 6 That head that standeth vpon thee is lyke Carmel and the heere of thy head is like purple and like a kyng dwellyng among many water conduites 7 O Howe faire and louely art thou my dearlyng in pleasures 8 Thy stature is lyke a paulme tree and thy breastes lyke the grapes 9 I sayde I wyll climbe vp into the paulme tree and take holde of his hye braunches 10 Thy breastes also shal be as the wine clusters the smell of thy nosethrilles like as the smell of apples 11 And thy rooffe of thy mouth lyke the best wine which is meete for my best beloued pleasaunt for his lippes and for his teeth to chawe 12 I am my beloueds and he shall turne hym vnto me 13 O come on my loue we wyll go foorth into the fielde and take our lodgyng in the villages 14 In the mornyng wyll we go see the vineyarde we wyll see yf the vine be sprong foorth yf the grapes be growen and yf the pomegranates be shot out 15 There will I geue thee my brestes the Mandragoras geue their sweete smell and besyde our doores are all maner of pleasaunt fruites both newe and olde which I haue kept for thee O my beloued The .viij. Chapter 2 The Church wyll be taught by Christe 3 She is vpholden by hym 6 The vehement loue wherwith Christe loueth her 1◠She is the vine that bryngeth foorth fruite to the spirituall Solomon which is Iesus Christe 1 O That I might finde thee without and kisse thee whom I loue as my brother whiche suckt my mothers brestes and that thou shalt not be dispised 2 I wyll leade thee and bryng thee into my mothers house that thou myghtest teache me and that I myght geue thee drynke of the spiced wine and of the sweete sappe of my pomegranates 3 His left hande shal be vnder my head and his ryght hande shall imbrace me 4 I charge you O ye daughters of Hierusalem that ye wake not vp my loue nor touche her tyll she be content her selfe 5 What is she this that cometh vp from the wildernesse and leaneth vpon her loue I wake thee vp among the apple trees where thy mother conceaued thee where thy mother I say brought thee into the worlde 6 O set me as a seale vpon thine heart and as a seale vpon thine arme for loue is myghtie as the death and gelousie as the hell 7 Her coales are coales of fire and a very vehement flambe of the Lorde so that many waters are not able to quenche loue neither may the streames drowne it Yea yf a man woulde geue all the good of his house for loue he shoulde count it nothyng 8 Our sister is but young and hath no brestes what shall we do for our sister when she shal be spoken for 9 If she be a wall we shall builde a siluer bulwarke thervpon yf she be a doore we shall fasten her with boordes of Cedar tree 10 I am a wall and my brestes lyke towres then was I as one that hath founde fauour in his syght 11 Solomon hath a vineyarde at Baal-Hamon and this vineyarde deliuered he vnto the kepers that euery one for the fruite therof shoulde geue hym a thousande peeces of siluer 12 My vineyarde which is myne is in my syght thou O Solomon must haue a thousande and the kepers two hundred which kepe the fruite 13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens O let me heare thy voyce that my companions may hearken to the same 14 O get thee away my loue and be as a roe or a young hart vpon the sweete smellyng mountaynes A. P. E. The ende of the ballet of ballettes of Solomon called in latine Canticum Canticorum ⧠The booke of the prophete Esai The first Chapter 2 The prophete accuseth the sinnes of the
it be with me 6 The dayes are comming that Iacob shall take roote Israel shal be greene and florishe and the world shal be filled with fruite 7 Hath he smitten hym as sore as he did the other that smote hym Or is he slayne with so sore a slaughter as they that slue hym 8 Thou wylt punishe it in the braunches yet not beyonde measure for in the day that the east winde bloweth sore it taketh away the fruites 9 By this meanes therfore shall the iniquitie of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruite namely the taking away of his sinne if he make all the stones of the aulter of idols as chalke stones that are beaten in sunder that their groues and images ryse not vp agayne 10 Els shall the strong citie be desolate and the habitation forsaken and left like a wildernesse there shall the Calfe feede and there shall he lye and eate vp the graffes therof 11 When the braunches of it are drye they are broken of the women come and set them on fire for it is a people of no vnderstanding and therfore he that made them shall not fauour them and he that created them shall geue them no grace 12 And in that day shall the Lorde make a threshing from the middest of the riuer Euphrates vnto the riuer of Egypt and ye chyldren of Israel shal be gathered together one to another 13 In that day shall the great trumpe be blowne so that they which were lost in the lande of Assyria and they that were banished in the lande of Egypt shall come and worship the Lorde in the holye mount of Hierusalem The .xxviij. Chapter 1 Against the pride of Ephraim 9 and against false priestes and preachers 1 WO be vnto the crowne of pryde euen to the drunken people of Ephraim whose great pompe is as a floure that fadeth away vpon the head of the valley of suche as be in wealth and are ouerladen with wine 2 Behold there commeth a vehement and sore day from the Lord like an vnmeasurable hayle and perillous tempest euen like the force of mightie and horrible waters that violently beareth downe all thinges 3 The crowne of the pryde of the drunken Ephraemites shal be troden vnder foote 4 So that the floure of his fayrenesse and beautie whiche is in the head of the valley of fatnesse shall fade away as doth an vntimely ripe figge before haruest whiche when a man espieth he loketh vpon it and whyle it is yet in his hande he eateth it vp 5 In that day shal the Lord of hoastes be the crowne of glory and diamonde of beautie vnto the residue of his people 6 He wylbe also a spirite of perfect knowledge to him that sitteth in iudgement and strength vnto them that turne away the battayle to the gate of the enemies 7 But they are out of the way by reason of wine yea farre out of the way are they thorowe strong drinke The priest also and the prophete are gone astray by the meanes of strong drinke they are drunken with wine they go amisse thorowe strong drinke they fayle in propheciyng and stumble in iudgement 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthynesse that no place is cleane 9 Whom then shall suche one teache knowledge and whom shall he make to vnderstande the thing that he heareth for they are as ignoraunt as young chyldren that are taken from the milke and are weaned 10 For they that be suche must take after one lesson another lesson after one commaundement another commaundement for one rule another rule after one instruction another instruction there a litle and there a litle 11 For he that speaketh vnto this people is euen as one that vseth rudenesse of speache and a straunge language 12 If any man say vnto them lo this is the rest wherewith ye may ease hym that is weerie this is the refreshing they wyll not hearken 13 Therfore shall the word of the Lord be vnto them lesson vpon lesson commaundement vpon commaundement rule vpon rule instruction vpon instruction there a litle and there a litle that they may go on and fall backwarde be brused tangled and snared 14 Wherfore heare the word of the Lord ye mockers ye that haue rule of this people whiche is at Hierusalem 15 Because ye haue sayd We haue made a couenaunt with death and with hell are we at agreement and though there go foorth a sore plague it shall not come vnto vs for we haue made falsehood our refuge and vnder vanitie are we hid 16 Therfore thus saith the Lorde God Beholde I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone euen a tryed stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation who so beleueth let hym not be to hastie 17 Iudgement also wyll I laye to the rule and righteousnesse to the balaunce so that the hayle shall sweepe away as a broome your vayne confidence and the priuie place of your refuge shall the waters runne ouer 18 And thus the couenaunt that ye made with death shal be disanulled and your agreement that ye made with hell shall not stand yea when the sore plague goeth foorth ye shal be troden downe vnder it 19 From the tyme that it goeth foorth it shall take you away for early in the morning euery day yea both day and night shall it go thorowe and when the noyse thereof is perceaued it shall gender vexation 20 For the bed is narrowe and not large and the couering so small that a man can not winde him selfe vnder it 21 For the Lord shall stand as in mount Perazim and shal be wroth like as in the valley Gibeon that he may do his worke his straunge worke and bryng to passe his acte his straunge acte 22 Nowe therefore see that ye be no mockers lest your punishment increase For I hearde of the Lorde of hoastes that there shall come a short ende vpon the whole earth 23 Heare ye then and hearken vnto my voyce consider and ponder my speache 24 Doth not the husbandman plowe all the day and openeth and breaketh the clottes of his grounde that he may sowe 25 When he hath made it playne wyll he not spreade abrode the fitches and sowe comin and cast in wheate by measure and the appointed barlye and rye in their place 26 God wyll instruct hym to haue discretion euen his God wyll teache hym 27 For fitches shall not be threshed with an harrowe neither shall a cart wheele be brought thorowe the comin but the fitches are beaten out with a staffe and comin with a rodde 28 But the seede that bread is made of is threshed though it be not alway a threshing and the cart wheele must be brought ouer it lest he grinde it with his teeth 29 This also commeth of the Lorde of hoastes which worketh with wonderfull wysdome and bringeth excellent workes to passe The .xxix. Chapter 1 A prophecie against Hierusalem 13 and
haue forsaken me and sworne by them that are no gods and albeit that I fed them to the full yet they fall to adulterie and haunt harlottes houses 8 In the desire of vncleanly lust they are become lyke the stoned horse euery man neyeth at his neighbours wife 9 Shoulde I not correct this saith the Lorde shoulde I not be auenged of euery people that is lyke vnto this 10 Climbe vp vpon their walles beate them downe and destroy them not vtterly take away their battlementes because they are not the lordes 11 For vnfaithfully hath the house of Israel and Iuda forsaken me saith the Lorde 12 They haue denied the Lorde and sayde It is not he that loketh vpon vs tushe there shall no misfortune come vpon vs we shall see neither sworde nor hunger 13 As for the warning of the prophetes it is but wynde yea there is not the worde of God in them such thynges shall happen vnto them selues 14 Wherfore thus saith the Lorde God of hoastes Because ye speake such wordes beholde the wordes that are in thy mouth wyll I turne to fire and make the people to be wood that the fire may consume them 15 Lo I wyll bryng a people vpon you from farre O house of Israel saith the Lorde a mightie people an olde people a people whose speache thou knowest not neither vnderstandest what they say 16 Their arrowes are sodayne death yea they them selues be very giauntes 17 This people shall eate vp thy fruite and thy meate yea they shall deuour thy sonnes thy daughters thy sheepe and thy bullockes they shall eate vp thy grapes and figges As for thy strong and well defensed cities wherin thou didst trust they shall bryng to pouertie and that through the sworde 18 Neuerthelesse I wyll not then haue done with you saith the Lorde 19 But if they say wherfore doth the Lorde our God all this vnto vs Then aunswere them because that lyke as ye haue forsaken me serued straunge gods in your lande euen so shal ye serue straungers out of your lande 20 Preach this vnto the house of Iacob and crye it out in Iuda and say thus 21 Heare this thou foolishe and vndiscreete people ye haue eyes but ye see not eares haue ye but ye heare not 22 Feare ye not me saith the Lorde will ye not tremble at my presence which bynde the sea with the sande by a continuall decree so that it can not passe his boundes for though it rage yet can it do nothing and though the waues therof do swell yet may they not go ouer 23 But this people hath a false and obstinate heart they are departed and gone away fro me 24 They thinke not in their heartes O let vs feare the Lord our God who geueth vs raine early and late when nede is whiche kepeth euer still the haruest for vs yerely 25 Neuerthesse your misdeedes haue turned these from you and your sinnes haue robbed you of good thinges 26 For among my people are found wicked persons that priuily lay snares and wayte for men to take them and destroy them 27 And like as a nette is full of byrdes so are their houses full of that which they haue gotten with falshood and deceipt Hereof commeth their great substaunce and riches 28 Hereof are they fat and welthy and are more mischieuous then any other they minister not the lawe they make no ende of the fatherlesse cause yea and they prosper yet they iudge not the poore according to equitie 29 Should I not punishe these thinges saith the Lorde should not I be auenged of all suche people as these be 30 Horrible and greeuous thinges are done in the lande 31 The prophetes teache falsely and the preachers receaue giftes and my people hath pleasure therein what wyll come thereof at the last The .vj. Chapter 1 The sinnes for whiche Hierusalem is afflict 10 Vncircumcised eares 13 couetousnesse 14 deceipt 20 The Lord reiecteth the sacrifices of the Iewes 22 The comming of the Babylonians is prophecied againe 1 COme out of Hierusalem ye strong chyldrē of Beniamin blowe vp the trumpettes ye Thecuites set vp a token vnto Bethcaran for a plague a great miserie appeareth out from the north 2 I wyll liken the daughter Sion to a faire and tender woman and to her shall come the shepheardes with their flockes 3 Their tentes shall they pitche rounde about her and euery one shall feede in his place 4 Make battayle against her shall they say aryse let vs go vp whyle it is yet day Alas the day goeth away and the night shadowes fall downe 5 Arise let vs go vp by night and destroy her strong holdes 6 For thus hath the Lorde of hoastes commaunded Hewe downe her trees and set vp bulwarkes against Hierusalem for the tyme is come that this citie must be punished for in her is all maliciousnesse 7 Like as a conduite spouteth out waters so she spouteth out her wickednesse Robberie and vnrighteousnesse is hearde in her sorowe and woundes are euer there in my sight 8 Amende thee O Hierusalem lest I withdrawe my heart from thee and make thee desolate and thy lande also that no man dwell in it 9 For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes The residue of Israel shal be gathered as the remnaunt of grapes and therefore turne thyne hande agayne into the basket like the grape gatherer 10 But vnto whom shall I speake whom shall I warne that he may take heede Their eares are so vncircumcised that they may not heare beholde they take the worde of God but for a scorne and haue no lust therto 11 And therefore I am so full of thyne indignation O Lorde that I may suffer no lenger but shed it out vpon the chyldren that are without and vpon all young men yea the man must be taken prisoner with the wife and the aged with the creeple 12 Their houses with their landes and wiues shal be turned into straungers for I wyll stretche out mine hand vpon the inhabitours of this lande saith the Lorde 13 For from the least to the most they hang all vpon couetousnesse and from the prophete vnto the priest they go about falshood and lyes 14 And beside that they heale the hurt of my people with sweete wordes saying Peace peace when there is no peace at all 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abhomination Truly nay they be past shame and therefore they shall fall among the slayne and in the houre when I shall visite them they shal be brought downe saith the Lorde 16 Thus saith the Lorde Go into the streetes consider and make inquisition for the olde way and if it be the good and right way then go therein that ye may finde rest for your soules but they say we wyll not walke therin 17 Moreouer I wyl set watchmen ouer you and therefore take heede vnto the voyce
vpon hym say they and we wyll tell his tale Yea all myne owne companions and suche as were conuersaunt with me lay in wayte for my halting saying peraduenture he wylbe deceaued and so shall we preuayle against hym and be auenged of hym 11 But the Lorde stoode by me lyke a mightie giaunt therefore my persecutours fell and coulde do nothing they shal be sore confounded for they haue done vnwisely they shall haue an euerlasting shame which shall neuer be forgotten 12 And nowe O Lorde of hoastes that triest the righteous which knowest the raynes and the very heartes let me see them punished for vnto thee I haue declared my cause 13 Sing vnto the Lord and prayse hym for he hath deliuered the soule of the oppressed from the hande of the violent 14 Cursed be the day wherein I was borne vnhappy be the day wherein my mother brought me foorth 15 * Cursed be the man that brought my father the tidinges to make hym gald saying Thou hast begotten a sonne 16 Let it happen vnto that man as to the cities whiche the Lorde turned vpsidedowne and repented not Let hym heare crying in the morning and at noone day lamentable howling 17 Why sluest thou not me assoone as I came out of my mothers wombe or that my mother had ben my graue her selfe that the byrth might not haue come out but remayned still in her 18 * Wherefore came I foorth of my mothers wombe to haue experience of labour and sorowe and to leade my lyfe with shame The .xx. Chapter 5 He prophecieth that Zedekias shal be taken and the citie burned 1 THese are the wordes that the lord spake vnto Ieremie * what time as kyng Zedekias sent vnto him Phashur the sonne of Melchias Sophonias the sonne of Maasias priest saying 2 Aske counsayle at the Lorde we pray thee on our behalfe for Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon besiegeth vs if the Lorde peraduenture wyll deale with vs according to his maruaylous power and take hym from vs. 3 Then spake Ieremie Geue Zedechias this aunswere 4 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel Beholde I wyll turne backe the weapons that ye haue in your hands wherwith ye fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldees whiche besiege you rounde about the walles and I wyll bryng them together into the middest of this citie 5 And I my selfe will fight against you with an outstretched hande and with a mightie arme in great displeasure and terrible wrath 6 And wyll smite them that dwell in this citie yea both men and cattell shall dye of a great pestilence 7 But after this saith the Lorde I shall deliuer Zedekias kyng of Iuda and his seruauntes his people and such as are escaped in the citie from the pestilence sworde and hunger into the power of Nabuchodonozor kyng of Babylon yea into the handes of their enemies into the handes of those that folowe vpon their liues whiche shall smite them with the sworde they shall not pitie them they shal not spare them they shall haue no mercy vpon them 8 And vnto this people thou shalt say thus saith the Lorde Beholde I lay before you the way of life and death 9 Whoso abideth in the citie shall perishe either with the sworde with hunger or pestilence but whoso goeth out to holde on the Chaldees part that besiege it he shall saue his lyfe and shall winne his soule for a pray 10 For I haue set my face against this citie saith the Lorde to plague it and to do it no good it must be geuen into the hande of the kyng of Babylon and be brent with fire 11 And vnto the house of the king of Iuda say thus Heare the worde of the Lorde 12 O thou house of Dauid thus saith the Lorde Minister righteousnesse and that soone deliuer the oppressed from violent power or euer my terrible wrath breake out lyke a fire and burne so that no man may quenche it because of the wickednesse of your imaginations 13 Behold saith the Lord I wyll come vpon thee that dwellest in the valleys rockes and fieldes and say tushe who will make vs afraide or who wil come into our houses 14 For I wyll visite you saith the Lord because of the wickednesse of your inuentions and wyll kindle suche a fire in your wood as shall consume all that is about you ¶ The .xxij. Chapter 2 He exhorteth the kyng of Iuda to iudgement and righteousnesse 9 Why Hierusalem is brought into captiuitie 11 The death of Sellum the sonne of Iosua is prophecied 1 THus saith the Lord Go downe into the house of the kyng of Iuda and speake there these wordes 2 And say Heare the worde of the Lorde thou king of Iuda that sittest in the kyngly seate of Dauid thou and thy seruauntes and thy people that goeth in and out at these gates 3 Thus the Lord cōmaundeth Kepe equitie and righteousnesse deliuer the oppressed from the power of the violent do not greeue nor oppresse the straunger the fatherlesse nor the widowe and shed no innocent blood in this place 4 And if ye kepe these thinges faythfullye then shall there come in at the doore of this house kinges to sit vpon Dauids seate they shal be caried in charrets and ride vpon horses both they and their seruauntes and their people 5 But if ye wyll not be obedient vnto these commaundementes I sweare by mine owne selfe saith the Lord this house shal be waste 6 For thus hath the Lorde spoken vppon the kynges of Iuda Thou Gilead art vnto me the head of Libanus Shall I not make thee so waste as the cities that no man dwell in 7 I wyll prepare a destroyer with his weapons for thee to hewe downe thy especiall Cedar trees and to cast them in the fire 8 And all the people that go by this citie shall speake one to another Wherfore hath the Lorde done thus vnto this noble citie 9 Then shall it be aunswered Because they haue broken the couenaunt of the Lorde their God and haue worshipped and serued straunge Gods 10 Mourne not ouer the dead and be not wo for them but be sorie for hym that departeth away for he commeth not agayne and seeth his natiue countrey no more 11 For thus saith the Lorde as touching Sellum the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda whiche raigned after his father When he is caried out of this place he shall neuer come hyther agayne 12 For he shall dye in the place wherevnto he is led captiue and shall see this lande no more 13 Wo worth hym that buyldeth his house with vnrighteousnesse and his parlours with the good that he hath gotten by violence which neuer recompenceth his neighbours labour nor payeth hym his hyre 14 Who thinketh in hym selfe I wyll buylde me a wyde house and gorgious parlours who causeth windowes to be hewen therin and the seelinges and ioystes maketh he of
not there 21 Then Zedekia commaunded to put Ieremie in the fore entrie of the prison and dayly to be geuen hym a cake of bread of the bakers streete vntyll all the bread in the citie was eaten vp Thus Ieremie remayned in the fore entrie of the prison The .xxxviij. Chapter 1 By the motion of the rulers Ieremie is put into a dungeon 14 At the request of Abedmelech the chaumberlayne the kyng commaundeth Ieremie to be brought foorth of the dungeon 17 Ieremie sheweth the kyng howe he myght escape death 1 SAphatiah the sonne of Mathan Gedaliah the sonne of Pashur Iucal the sonne of Selemiah Pashur the sonne of Melchia perceaued the wordes that Ieremie had spoken vnto all the people namely on this maner 2 Thus saith the Lorde Who so remayneth in this citie shall perishe either with the sworde with hunger or with pestilence but who so falleth vnto the Chaldees shal escape winning his soule for a pray and shall lyue 3 For thus saith the Lorde This citie no doubt must be deliuered into the power of the kyng of Babylon and he also shall winne it 4 Then saide the princes vnto the kyng Sir we beseche you let this man be put to death for thus he discourageth the handes of the souldiours that be in this citie and the handes of all the people when he speaketh such wordes vnto them This man laboureth not for peace of the people but mischiefe 5 Zedekia the kyng aunswered and sayde Lo he is in your handes for the kyng may denie you nothyng 6 Then toke they Ieremie and cast him into the dungeon of Melchiah the sonne of Amelech that dwelt in the fore entrie of the prison and they let downe Ieremie with coardes into a dungeon where there was no water but mire So Ieremie stack fast in the mire 7 Nowe when Abedmelech the Morian beyng a chaumberlayne in the kynges court vnderstoode that they had cast Ieremie into the dungeon 8 He went out of the kynges house and spake to the king which then sate vnder the port of Beniamin these wordes 9 My Lorde the kyng where as these men meddle with Ieremie the prophete they do hym wrong Namely in that they haue put hym in prison there to dye for hunger for there is no more bread in the citie 10 Then the kyng commaunded Abedmelech the Morian and sayde Take from hence thirtie men whom thou wylt and drawe vp Ieremie the prophete out of the dungeon before he dye 11 So Abedmelech toke the men with hym and went to the house of the king and there vnder the treasurie he gat olde ragges and worne cloutes and let them downe by a corde into the dungeon to Ieremie 12 And Abedmelech the Morian sayde vnto the prophete Ieremie O put these ragges and cloutes vnder thine arme holes betwixt them and the cordes And Ieremie did so 13 So they drewe vp Ieremie with cordes toke hym out of the dungeon and he remayned in the fore entrie of the prison 14 Then Zedekia the kyng sent caused Ieremie the prophete to be called vnto hym into the thirde entrie that is in the house of the Lorde and the kyng sayde vnto Ieremie I wyll aske thee somewhat but hyde nothyng fro me 15 Then Ieremie aunswered Zedekia If I be playne vnto thee thou wylt cause me to suffer death yf I geue thee counsayle thou wylt not folowe me 16 So the kyng swore an oth secretely to Ieremie saying As the Lorde liueth that made vs these soules I wyll not slay thee nor geue thee into the handes of them that seke after thy lyfe 18 But yf thou wylt not go foorth to the kyng of Babylons princes then shall this citie be deliuered into the handes of the Chaldees which shall set fire vpon it and thou shalt not be able to escape them 19 And Zedekia said vnto Ieremie I am afrayde for the Iewes that are fled vnto the Chaldees lest I come into their handes so they to haue me in derision 20 But Ieremie aunswered No they shall not betray thee O hearken vnto the voyce of the Lorde I beseche thee which I speake vnto thee so shalt thou be well and saue thy lyfe 21 But yf thou wylt not go foorth the Lorde hath tolde me this playnely 22 Beholde all the women that are left in the kyng of Iudas house shal be led foorth vnto the kyng of Babylons princes and they shall say thou art deceaued and the men in whom thou didst put thy trust haue gotten thee vnder set thy feete fast in the mire and gone their way from thee 23 Therfore all thy wyues with thy children shall they leade foorth vnto the Chaldees and thou shalt not escape their handes but shalt be the kyng of Babylons prisoner and this citie shalt thou cause to be burnt 24 Then sayde Zedekia vnto Ieremie Loke that no body knowe of these wordes and thou shalt not dye 25 But yf the princes perceaue that I haue talked with thee and come vnto thee saying O speake what sayde the kyng to thee hyde it not from vs and we wyll not put thee to death tell vs we pray thee what sayde the kyng to thee 26 See thou geue them this aunswere I haue humbly besought the kyng that he wyll let me lye no more in Iehonathans house that I dye not there 27 Then came all the princes vnto Ieremie and asked hym and he tolde them after the maner as the kyng bad hym Then they helde their peace and let hym alone for they perceaued nothyng 28 So Ieremie abode styll in the fore entrie of the prison vntyll the day that Hierusalem was wonne ¶ The .xxxix. Chapter 1 Nabuchodonozor besiegeth Hierusalem 4 Zedekia fleeth 5 he is taken of the Chaldees 6 his sonnes are slayne 7 his eyes are thrust out 11 Ieremie is prouided for 15 Abedmelech is deliuered from captiuitie because of the confidence that he had in God 1 NOwe when the citie of Hierusalem was taken for in the ninth yere of Zedekia kyng of Iuda the tenth moneth came Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon and all his hoast and besieged Hierusalem and fought agaynst it 2 And in the eleuenth yere of Zedekia in the fourth moneth the ninth day of the moneth he brake into the citie 3 Then all the princes of the kyng of Babylon came in and sate them downe vnder the port Neregel Sarezer Samgarnebo Sarsachim Rabsaris Neregel Sarezer Rabmag with all the other princes of the king of Babylō 4 And when Zedekia the kyng of Iuda with his souldiers sawe them then they fled and departed out of the citie by nyght through the kynges garden and through the port that is betweene the two walles and so the kyng went towarde the wildernesse 5 But the Chaldees hoast folowed fast after them and toke Zedekia in the fielde of Hiericho and brought hym prisoner to Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon vnto Reblath that lyeth in the lande
and her walles shall come downe for it shal be the vengeaunce of the Lorde yea vengeaunce shal be taken of her and as she hath done so deale ye with her 16 Roote out the sower from Babylon hym that handleth the sicle in haruest for feare of the sworde of the enemie euery man shall get hym to his owne people and euery man shall flee to his owne lande 17 Israel is a scattered flocke the lions haue dispearsed them First the kyng of the Assyrians deuoured them last of all this Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon hath brused all their bones 18 Therfore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Beholde I wyll visite the kyng of Babylon and his kyngdome as I haue visited the kyng of the Assyrians 19 And wyll bryng Israel agayne to his pleasaunt pasture that he may feede vpon Charmel and Basan and be satisfied vpon the mount of Ephraim and Galaad 20 In those dayes and at the same tyme saith the Lorde yf the offence of Israel be sought for there shal none be founde yf men enquire for the sinne of Iuda there shal be none for I wyll be mercifull vnto them whom I suffer to remayne 21 Go downe O thou auenger into the enemies lande and visite them that dwell therin downe with them smite them vpon the backes saith the Lorde do accordyng to all that I haue commaunded thee 22 There is gone about the lande a crye of a slaughter and great murther namelye on this maner 23 Howe happeneth it that the hammer of the whole worlde is thus broken and brused in sunder Howe chaunceth it that Babylon is become a wildernesse among the heathen on this maner 24 I my selfe haue layde a snare for thee and thou art taken vnawares thou art trapped and snared for why thou hast contended agaynst the Lorde 25 The Lorde hath opened his house of ordinaunce and brought foorth the weapons of his wrath for the thyng that is done in the land of the Chaldees it is the Lorde of hoastes worke 26 Come agaynst her for this is her ende breake vp her chestes threshe her as ye threshe corne destroy her that nothyng shal be left 27 Slay all their mightie souldiers and put them to death Wo be vnto them for the day and tyme of their visitation is at hande 28 Me thynke I heare alredy a crye of them that be fled and escaped out of the lande of Babylon which shewe in Sion the vengeaunce of the Lorde our God the vengeaunce of his temple yea a voyce of them that crye agaynst Babylon 29 Call vp all the archers agaynst Babylon pitch your tentes rounde about her that none escape recompence her as she hath deserued and accordyng as she hath done so deale with her agayne for she hath set vp her selfe agaynst the Lorde agaynst the holy one of Israel 30 Therfore shall her young men fall downe in the streetes and all her men of warre shal be rooted out in that day saith the Lorde 31 Beholde I speake vnto thee O thou proude saith the Lorde God of hoastes for thy day shall come euen the tyme of thy visitation 32 And the proude shall stumble and fall and no man shall helpe hym vp I wyll burne vp his cities with fire and it shall consume all that is rounde about hym 33 Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes The children of Israel and Iuda suffer violence together all they that haue them in captiuitie kepe them fast and wyll not let them go 34 But their auenger and redeemer is mightie whose name is the Lorde of hoastes he shall maynteyne their cause he shal make the lande shake and iudge them that dwell therin one with another 35 The sworde shal come vpon the Chaldees saith the Lorde vpon them that dwell in Babylon vpon their princes and vpon their wise men 36 The sworde vpon their soothsayers as for those they shall become fooles the sworde vpon their worthies so that they shall stande in feare 37 The sworde vpon their horsemen and charrettes and vpon all the cōmon people that dwell among them so that they shall all become lyke women The sworde vpon their treasure so that it shal be stollen away 38 A drought vpon their waters so that they shal be dryed vp for the lande worshippeth images and delighteth wonderfully in idols 39 Therfore shall wylde beastes Lamia and Cat of mountaynes and Estreches dwell therin for there shall neuer man dwell there neither shall any man haue his habitation there for euermore 40 Like as God destroyed Sodome and Gomorre with the cities that lay there about saith the Lorde so shall no man dwell there also neither shall any man haue there his habitation 41 Beholde there shall come a people from the north with a great bonde of men and many kynges shall stande vp from the endes of the earth 42 They beare bowes and bucklers cruell are they and vnmercifull their voyce roreth like the ragyng sea they ryde vpon horses and come weaponed to fight agaynst thee O Babylon 43 Assoone as the king of Babylon heare tell of them his handes shall waxe feeble sorowe and heauinesse shall come vpon him as a woman trauayling with chylde 44 Beholde like as the lion commeth vp from the swellyng of Iordane vnto the dennes of Ethan so wyll I dryue them foorth and make them runne agaynst her But whom shall I choose out and ordayne to such a thyng for who is like me or who wil striue with me or what sheephearde may stande agaynst me 45 Therfore here the counsayle that the Lorde hath geuen vpon Babylon and the deuice that he hath taken vpon the lande of the Chaldees The least among the people shall drawe them out and loke what pleasaunt houses they haue they shall lay them waste 46 The noyse at the wynnyng of Babylon shall moue the earth and the crye shal be hearde among the gentiles The .lj. Chapter 1 Howe Babylon shoulde be ouerthrowen 59 Ieremie geueth his booke to Saraias 1 THus hath the Lorde sayde Behold I wyll rayse vp a perilous wynde agaynst Babylon her citizens that beare euyl wyll against me 2 I wyll sende also into Babylon fanners to fanne her out and to destroy her lande for in the day of her trouble they shal be about her on euery syde 3 Moreouer the Lorde wyll say vnto the bowmen and to them that aduaunce them selues in their armoure Ye shall not spare her young men kyll downe all her hoast 4 Thus the slayne shall fall downe in the lande of the Chaldees and the wounded in the streetes 5 As for Israel and Iuda they shall not be forsaken of their God of the Lord of hoastes yea for the holy one of Israels sake haue the Chaldees fylled their lande full of sinne 6 * Flee away from Babylon euery man saue his lyfe that ye be not rooted out with her wickednesse for the tyme of
sisters both thy elder and thy younger and I wyll geue them vnto thee for daughters but not by thy couenaunt 62 And I wyll establishe my couenaunt with thee that thou mayest know that I am the Lorde 63 That thou mayest thinke vpon it and be ashamed and neuer open thy mouth any more for shame of thy selfe when I am pacified towarde thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lorde God ¶ The .xvij. Chapter The parable of the two Egles 1 THe worde of the Lord came vnto me saying 2 Thou sonne of man put foorth a parable speake a prouerbe vnto the house of Israel 3 And say Thus saith the Lorde God There came a great Egle with great winges yea with a mightie long body and ful of fethers of diuers colours vppon the mount of Libanus and toke the hyest braunche of a Cedar tree 4 And brake of the top of his twigges and caryed it into the lande of marchauntes and set it in a citie of marchauntes 5 He toke also of the seede of the land and planted it in a fruiteful grounde he brought it vnto great waters and set it in an open trenche 6 Then did it grow and was a spreading vine but lowe of stature whose braunches turned towarde it and the rootes of it were vnder it thus there came of it a vine and it brought foorth braunches and shot foorth buddes 7 But there was another Egle a great one whiche had great wynges and many fethers and beholde the rootes of this vine turned towardes it and spread out her braunches towards it that she might water it by the trenches of her plantation 8 It was planted vpon a good soyle beside great waters so that it should haue brought out braunches borne fruite and haue ben a goodly vine 9 Speake thou therfore thus saith the Lorde God Shall this vine prosper shall he not pull vp the rootes therof and destroy the fruite thereof and cause them to dry all the leaues of her bud shall wither without great power or many people to plucke it vp by the rootes thereof 10 Behold it was planted Shall it prosper therfore Shall it not be dryed vp and withered when the east winde shall touche it it shall wither in the trenches where it grewe 11 Moreouer the worde of the Lorde came vnto me saying 12 Speake now to the rebellious house Knowe ye not what these thinges do signifie Tell them beholde the kyng of Babylon is come to Hierusalem and hath taken the kyng thereof and the princes therof and hath led them with him to Babylon 13 He toke of the kynges seede and made a couenaunt with him and toke an othe of hym the princes of the lande toke he with him also 14 That the kyngdome might be holden in subiection and not lift vp it selfe but kepe the couenaunt and stande to it 15 But he rebelled against hym and sent his embassadours into Egypt that he might haue horses and muche people Should he prosper shall he escape that doth suche thinges or shall he breake the couenaunt and escape free 16 As truely as I liue saith the Lorde God he shall dye at Babylon in the place where the kyng dwelleth that made hym kyng whose othe he hath despised and whose couenaunt he hath broken 17 Neither shall Pharao with his great hoast and multitude of people maintayne hym in the warre when they haue cast vp mountes and buylt a fort to destroy many persons 18 For seeing he hath despised the othe and broken the couenaunt wheras he yet gaue his hande therevpon and done all these thinges he shall not escape 19 Therfore thus saith the Lorde God As truely as I liue I wyll bryng mine othe that he hath despised and my couenaunt that he hath broken vpon his owne head 20 I wyll spreade my net vpon hym and he shall be caught in my net and I wyll bryng hym to Babylon and enter into iudgement with him there for the trespasse whiche he hath committed against me 21 As for those that flee from hym with all his hoast they shal be slayne with the sworde and the residue shal be scattred towardes all the windes and ye shall knowe that I the Lord haue spoken it 22 Thus saith the Lorde God I wyll also take of the top of this hye Cedar and wyll set it and cut of the top of the tender plant thereof and wyll plant it vpon an hye hyll and a great 23 Namely vpon the hye hyll of Israel will I plant it that it may bryng foorth bowes and geue fruite and be an excellent Cedar and vnder it shall remayne all byrdes and euery foule shall remaine vnder the shadowe of the braunches thereof 24 And all the trees of the fielde shall knowe that I the Lorde haue brought downe the hye tree and exalted the lowe tree that I haue dryed vp the greene tree and made the drye tree to florishe euen I the Lorde that spake it haue also brought it to passe The .xviij. Chapter 4 He sheweth that euery man shall beare his owne sinne 21 To him that amendeth is saluation promised 24 Death is prophecied to the righteous whiche turneth backe from the right way 1 THE word of the Lord came vnto me saying 2 What meane ye by this cōmon prouerbe that ye vse in the lande of Israel saying The fathers haue eaten sowre grapes and the chyldrens teeth are set on edge 3 As truely as I liue saith the Lorde God ye shall vse this by worde no more in Israel 4 Beholde all soules are mine lyke as the soule of the father is mine so is the soule of the sonne myne also the soule that sinneth shall dye it selfe 5 But if a man be iust and do that which is lawfull and right 6 He hath not eaten vpon the hilles he hath not lift his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel neither hath defiled his neighbours wyfe neither hath come neare a woman remoued 7 Neither hath oppressed any man but hath restored to the detter his pledge he that hath not spoyled any by violence hath geuen his bread to the hungry and hath clothed the naked 8 And hath not geuen foorth vpon vsurie neither taken any encrease he hath withdrawne his hande from iniquitie and hath executed true iudgement betweene man and man 9 And hath walked in my statutes and kept my iudgementes to deale truely this is a righteous man he shall surely liue saith the Lorde God 10 If he nowe get a sonne that is a robber a shedder of blood and do any one of these thinges 11 Though he do not all these thinges but either hath eaten vpon the hilles or defiled his neighbours wyfe 12 Or hath oppressed the poore and needie or spoyled by violence or hath not restored the pledge or hath lyft vp his eyes vnto the idols or hath committed abomination 13 Or
of Israel occupied with thee brought vnto thy markets wheat of Minnith Pannag hony oyle and triacle 18 Damascus also vsed marchaundise with thee in the wine of Helbon and whyte wooll because thyne occupying was so great and thy wares so many 19 Dan Iauan Meuzal haue brought vnto thy markets wrougth iron Cassia and Calamus were among thy marchaundise 20 They of Dedan were thy marchauntes in precious clothes for chariots 21 Arabia and all the princes of Cedar haue occupied with thee in weathers rammes and goates in these were they thy marchauntes 22 The marchauntes of Seba and Rema haue occupied also with thee in al chiefe spices in all precious stones and golde which they brought vnto thy markets 23 Haran Chenne and Eden the marchauntes of Seba Assyria and Chelmad were doers with thee 24 These were thy marchauntes in all sortes of thinges in rayment of blewe silke and of broidred worke and in coffers for the riche apparell whiche were trussed with coardes and Cedar boorde among thy marchaundise 25 The ships of Tharsis were the chiefe of thyne occupying thus thou wast replenished and in great worship euen in the mids of the sea 26 Thy rowers haue brought thee into great waters the east wind hath broken thee in the mids of the sea 27 Thy riches and thy fayres thy marchaundise thy mariners shipmasters thy calkars and the occupiers of thy marchaundise and al thy men of warre that are in thee and all thy multitude that is in the mids of thee shall fal in the mids of the sea in the day of thy fall 28 The suburbes shal shake at the loude crie of thy shipmen 29 All that handle the ore mariners and all shipmaisters of the sea shall come downe from their ships and stand vpon the lande 30 And they shall cause their voyce to be heard against thee and shall crye bitterly and shall cast dust vpon their heades and wallowe in the asshes 31 They shal make them selues bauld for thee and girde them with sackcloth they shal weepe for thee with sorowefull heart and bitter mourning 32 And they shall take vp a lamentation for thee in their mourning and lament ouer thee what citie is like Tyrus so destroyed in the mids of the sea 33 When thy wares went foorth of the seas thou filledst many people the kinges of the earth hast thou made riche thorowe the multitude of thy riches and marchaundise 34 When thou shalt be broken by the seas in the deapthes of the waters thy marchaundise all thy multitude that was in the mids of thee shall fall 35 All the inhabitauntes of the iles shal be astonied at thee and all their kinges shal be sore afrayde and troubled in their countenaunce 36 The marchauntes of the nations shall hisse at thee thou shalt be a terrour and shalt neuer be any more The .xxviii. Chapter 1 The word of God against the king of Tyrus for his pride 12 Ezechiel the prophete is moued to bewayle the king of Tyrus 20 The word of the Lord against Sidon 25 The Lorde promiseth that he will gather together the children of Israel 1 I He worde of the Lord came vnto me saying 2 Thou sonne of man tel the prince of Tyre thus sayth the Lorde God Because thou hast a proude heart and hast said I am a God I sit in the seate of God in the mids of the sea wher as thou art but a man and not God though thou set thyne heart as the heart of God 3 Beholde thou thinkest thy selfe wyser then Daniel that there is no secretes hyd from thee 4 With thy wisdome and thine vnderstanding thou hast gotten thee great welthines gathered treasure of siluer gold 5 With thy great wysedome and occupying hast thou encreased thy power and because of thy great riches thy heart is proude 6 Therfore thus sayth the Lorde God Forsomuch as thou hast set thyne heart as the heart of God 7 Behold I will bring straungers vpon thee euen the terrible nations these shal drawe out their swordes vpon the beautie of thy wysdome and shall defile thy glorie 8 They shall cast thee downe to the pit so that thou shalt dye the death of them that be slayne in the mids of the sea 9 Wilt thou say then before them that slay thee I am a God where as thou art but a man and not God in the handes of them that slay thee 10 Die shalt thou the death of the vncircumcized in the handes of the straungers for I haue spoken it sayth the Lorde God 11 Moreouer the worde of the Lord came vnto me saying 12 Thou sonne of man take vp a lamentation vpon the king of Tyre tel him thus sayth the Lord God Thou sealest vp the summe full of wysdome perfite beautie 13 Thou hast ben in the pleasaunt garden of God thou art deckt with all maner of precious stones with ruby topas diamond thurkis onyx iasper saphir emeralde carbuncle and golde the workemanship of thy timbrels and of thy pipes that be in thee was prepared in the day that thou wast created 14 Thou art an annoynted Cherub that couereth and I haue set thee in this dignitie thou wast vpon the holy mount of God thou hast walked in the mids of the stones of fire 15 From the time of thy creation thou haste ben perfite in the wayes till wickednesse was founde in thee 16 By the multitude of thy marchaundise they haue filled the mids of thee with crueltie thou haste sinned I will cast thee as prophane out of the mount of God I will destroy thee O couering Cherub from the mids of the stones of fire 17 Thy heart was proude in thy beautie and thorowe thy brightnesse thou hast destroyed thy wisdome I will cast thee downe to the grounde I will lay thee before kinges that they may beholde thee 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctification with the great wickednesse of thyne vnrighteous occupying I will bring a fire from the middest of thee to consume thee and will make thee to asshes vpon the earth in the sight of all them that loke vpon thee 19 Al they that haue ben acquainted with thee among the heathen shal be abashed at thee thou hast ben a terrour and neuer shalt thou be any more 20 And the word of the Lorde came vnto me saying 21 Thou sonne of man set thy face against Sidon and prophecie vpon it 22 And speake thus sayth the Lord God Beholde O Sidon I will vpon thee and I wil be glorified in thee that it may be knowen howe that I am the Lord when I shal haue executed iudgementes in her shal be sanctified in her 23 For I will sende pestilence and bloodsheding into her streetes and the slayne shall fall in the mids of her by the sword comming vpon her on euery side they shall knowe that I am the Lorde
46 Then sayde I vnto the angell what young person is it that crowneth them and geueth them the palmes in their handes 47 So he aunswered and sayd vnto me It is the sonne of God whom they haue knowledged in the world Then began I greatly to commende them that stoode so stiffely for the name of the Lorde 48 Then the angell sayde vnto me Go thy way and tell my people what maner of thinges howe great wonders of the Lorde thy God thou hast seene ¶ The .iij. Chapter 4 The wonderous workes whiche God dyd for the people are recited 31 Esdras marueyleth that God suffereth the Babylonians to haue rule ouer his people whiche yet are sinners also 1 IN the thirtith yere after the fall of the citie I was at Babylon and lay troubled vppon my bed and my thoughtes came vp ouer my heart 2 For I sawe the desolation of Sion and the plenteous wealth of them that dwelt at Babylon 3 And my spirite was sore moued so that I began to speake feareful wordes to the most hyest and sayde 4 O Lorde Lorde thou spakest at the beginning when thou plantedst the earth and that thy selfe alone and gauest commaundement vnto the people 5 And a body vnto Adam without soule whiche was a creature of thy handes and hast breathed in hym the breath of lyfe and so he liued before thee 6 And thou leddest hym into Paradise which thy ryght hande had planted or euer the earth brought fruites 7 And vnto him thou gauest commaundement to loue thy way which he transgressed and immediatly thou appoyntedst death in hym and in his generations Of whom came nations tribes people and kinredes out of number 8 And euery people walked after their owne wyll and did wonderfull thinges before thee and as for thy commaundementes they dispised them 9 But in processe of tyme thou broughtest the water fludde vpon those that dwelt in the worlde destroyedst them 10 So that by the fludde that was wrought in eche of them that was by death in Adam 11 Neuerthelesse one of them thou leftest namely Noe with his householde of whom came all ryghteous men 12 And it happened that when they that dwelt vpon the earth began to multiplie and had gotten them many children and were a great people they began to be more vngodly then the first 13 Nowe when they liued so wickedly before thee thou didst choose thee a man from among them whose name was Abraham 14 Hym thou louedst and vnto hym only thou shewedst thy wyll 15 And madest an euerlasting couenaunt with hym promisyng hym that thou wouldest neuer forsake his seede 16 And vnto hym thou gauest Isahac vnto Isahac also thou gauest Iacob and Esau As for Iacob thou dydst choose him to thee and put backe Esau And so Iacob became a great multitude 17 And it came to passe that when thou leddest his seede out of Egypt thou broughtest them vp to the mount Sina 18 Bowing downe the heauens setting fast the earth mouyng the grounde makyng the deapthes to shake and troublyng the worlde 19 And thy glorie went through foure portes of fire and earthquakes and windes and colde that thou myghtest geue the lawe vnto the seede of Iacob and diligence vnto the generation of Israel 20 And yet tokest thou not away from them that wicked heart that thy lawe myght bryng foorth fruite in them 21 For the first Adam bearyng a wicked heart transgressed and was ouercome and so be all they that are borne of him 22 Thus remayned weaknesse still and the lawe in the heartes of the people with the wickednesse of the roote so that the good departed away and the euyll abode styll 23 So the tymes passed away and the yeres were brought to an ende Then dyddest thou rayse thee vp a seruaunt called Dauid 24 Whom thou commaundedst to builde a citie vnto thy name and to offer vp incense and sacrifice vnto thee therin 25 When this was done nowe many yeres then the inhabiters of the citie forsoke them 26 And in all thynges dyd euen as Adam and all his generations had done for they also had a wicked heart 27 And so thou gauest the citie ouer into the handes of thine enemies 28 But do they of Babylon then any thyng better that they shoulde therfore haue the dominion in Sion 29 For when I came thyther and sawe there so great wickednesse that it coulde not be numbred then my soule sawe many euyl doers in this thirteth yere so that my heart fayled me 30 For I saw howe thou sufferedst them in such vngodlinesse and sparedst the wicked doers but thine owne people hast thou rooted out and preserued thine enemies and this hast thou not shewed me 31 I can not perceaue howe this happeneth Do they of Babylon then better then they of Sion 32 Or is there any other people that knoweth thee sauyng the people of Israel or what generation hath so beleued thy couenauntes as Iacob 33 And yet their rewarde appeareth not and their labour hath no fruite For I haue gone here and there through the heathen and I see that they be riche and wealthy and thynke not vpon thy commaundementes 34 Waygh thou therfore our wickednesse nowe in the ballaunce and theirs also that dwell in the worlde and so shall thy name be no where founde but in Israel 35 Or when was it that they which dwel vpon earth haue not sinned in thy sight or what people hath so kept thy commaundementes 26 Thou shalt finde that Israel by name hath kept thy preceptes but not the â—other people andâ— heathen The .iiij. Chapter 5 The angel reproueth Esdras because he seemed to enter into the profounde iudgementes of God 1 AND the angel that was sent vnto me whose name was Vriel gaue me an answere 2 And sayd Thy heart hath taken to much vpon it in this worlde and thou thinkest to comprehende the way of the hyghest 3 Then sayde I Yea my Lorde And he aunswered me and sayde I am sent to shewe thee three wayes and to set foorth three similitudes before thee 4 Wherof yf thou canst declare me one I wyll shewe thee also the way that thou desirest to see and I shall shewe thee from whence the wicked heart commeth 5 And I sayde Tell on my Lord. Then sayde he vnto me Go thy way waygh me the wayght of the fire or measure me the blast of the winde or call me agayne the day that is past 6 Then aunswered I and sayde What man borne is able to do that that thou shouldest aske such thynges of me 7 And he sayde vnto me If I shoulde aske thee howe deepe dwellynges are in the middest of the sea or howe great water springes are in the begynnyng of the deepe or howe great water springes are vpon the stretchyng out of the heauens or which are the outgoinges of Paradise 8 Peraduenture thou
not his wayes 24 But his lawe haue they despised and denied his promises in his statutes and ordinaunces haue they not ben faythful and stedfast and haue not perfourmed his workes 25 And therefore Esdras for the emptie are the emptie thinges and for the full are the full thinges 26 Beholde the tyme shall come that these tokens whiche I haue tolde thee shall come to passe and the bryde shall appeare and she comming foorth shal be seene that nowe is vnder the earth 27 And whosoeuer is deliuered from the foresayde euils shall see my wonders 28 For my sonne Iesus shal be openly declared with those that be with him and they that remayne shal be merie within foure hundred yeres 29 After these same yeres shall my sonne Christe dye and all men that haue life 30 And the world shal be turned into the olde scilence seuen dayes like as in the foreiudgementes so that no man shall remayne 31 And after seuen dayes the world that yet awaketh not shal be raysed vp and that shall dye that is corrupt 32 And the earth shall restore those that haue slept in her and so shall the dust those that dwell therein in scilence and the secrete places shall deliuer those the soules that were committed vnto them 33 And the most highest shal be openly declared vpon the seate of iudgement all miserie shall vanishe away and long suffering shal be gathered together 34 But the iudgement shall continue the trueth shall remayne and fayth shall waxe strong 35 The worke shall folowe and the rewarde shal be shewed the righteousnesse shall watch and the vnrighteousnesse shall beare no rule 26 Then sayd I Abraham prayed first for the Sodomites and Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the wyldernesse 37 And they that came after him for Israel in the time of Achas and Samuel 38 And Dauid for the destruction and Solomon for them that came into the sanctuarie 39 And Helias for those that receaued rayne for the dead that he might liue 40 And Ezechias for the people in the time of Sennacherib and diuers other in like maner whiche haue prayed for many 41 Euen so now seing the corrupt is growen vp and wickednesse increased and the righteous haue prayed for y e vngodly wherfore shall it not be so nowe also 42 He aunswered me and sayde This present life is not the ende oft times honour is retayned in it therefore haue they prayed for the weake 43 But the day of doome shal be the ende of this tyme and the beginning of the immortalitie for to come wherein all corruption shal be vanished 44 Intemperauncie shal be loosed infidelitie be cut of righteousnesse growe and the veritie spring vp 45 Then shall no man be able to saue hym that is destroyed nor to oppresse hym that hath gotten the victorie 46 I aunswered then and sayd This is my first and last saying that it had ben better not to haue geuen the earth vnto Adam or els when it was geuen hym to haue kept hym that he shoulde not haue sinned 47 For what profite is it for men nowe in this present time to liue in heauines and after death to looke for punishment 48 O thou Adam what hast thou done For though it was thou that sinned thou art not fallen alone but we all that come of thee 49 For what profite is it vnto vs if there be promised vs an immortall tyme where as we do the workes that bryng death 50 And that there is promised vs an euerlasting hope where as our selues are euyll and vayne 51 And that there are layde vp for vs dwellinges of health and safetie where as we haue liued wickedly 52 And that the glory of the highest is kept to defende them which haue led a pacient life where as we haue walked in the most wicked wayes of all 53 And that there shal be shewed a paradise whose fruite endureth for euer wherein is freedome and medicine whereas we shall not go in 54 For we haue walked in vnpleasaunt places 55 And that the faces of them whiche haue abstayned shall shine aboue the starres whereas our faces shal be blacker then darknesse 56 For whyle we liued and dyd vnrighteously we considered not that we shoulde suffer therfore after death 57 Then aunswered he me and sayde This is the maner of the battayle which man that is borne vpon the earth shall fight 58 That if he be ouercome he shall suffer as thou hast sayd But if he get the victorie he shal receaue y e thing that I say 59 For this is the life whereof Moyses spake vnto the people whyle he liued saying Choose thee lyfe that thou mayest liue 60 Neuerthelesse they beleued hym not neither the prophetes after hym no nor me whiche haue sayde vnto them 61 That heauinesse should not so be vnto their destruction like as ioy is for to come ouer those that haue suffred thē selues to be enfourmed in saluation 62 I aunswered then and sayd I know Lorde that the highest is called mercyfull in that he hath mercy vpon them whiche are not yet come vnto that worlde 63 And vpon those also that walke in his lawe 64 And that he is pacient for he long suffreth those that haue sinned as his creatures 65 And that he is liberall to geue where as it requireth 66 And that he is of great mercie for he passeth in mercy much both those that are present and that are paste and also them whiche are for to come 67 For if he multiplied not his mercies the worlde coulde not continue his beyng with those that haue inheritaunces therein 68 He geueth also for if he gaue not of his goodnesse that they whiche haue done euyll myght be eased from their wickednesse the ten thousandth part of men should not remayne liuing 69 And if he beyng iudge forgaue not those that be healed with his worde and toke not away the multitude of contentions 70 There should be very fewe left peraduenture in an innumerable multitude ¶ The .viij. Chapter 1 The number of the godly is small 6 The workes of God are excellent 20 Esdras prayer for hym and his people 39 The promise of saluation to the iust 55 The destruction of the vniust 1 ANd he aunswered me saying The most hyest made this world for many but the worlde to come for fewe 2 I wyll tell thee a similitude Esdras As when thou askest the earth it shall say vnto thee that it geueth much moulde wherof earthen vessels are made but litle of it that golde commeth of Euen so is it with the worke of this worlde 3 There be many created but fewe shal be saued 4 Then aunswered I and sayd Then swalowe vp the wit O my soule and deuour the vnderstanding 5 For thou art agreed to hearken and to geue care and wyllyng to prophecie for thou hast no longer space but this
opened I my mouth and beholde he reached me a full cuppe which was full as it were with water but the colour of it was lyke fire 40 And I toke it and dranke And when I had drunken it my heart had vnderdandyng and wisdome grewe in my brest for my spirite was strenthened in remembraunce 41 And my mouth was opened and shut no more 42 The hyest gaue vnderstandyng vnto the fyue men that they wrote the hye thynges of the nyght which they vnderstoode not 43 But in the nyght they dyd eate bread as for me I spake in the day and helde not my tongue by nyght 44 In fourtie dayes they wrote two hundred and foure bookes 45 And it came to passe when the fourtie dayes were fulfylled that the hyest spake saying The first that thou hast written publishe openly that the worthy and vnworthy may reade it 46 But kepe the seuentie last that thou mayest deliuer them only to such as be wise among thy people 47 For in them is the spring of vnderstandyng the fountayne of wisdome and the streame of knowledge 48 And I dyd so The .xv. Chapter 1 The prophecie of Esdras is certayne 5 The euils that shall come on the worlde 9 The Lord wyll auenge the innocent blood 12 Egypt shall lament 16 Sedition 20 and punishment vpon the kynges of the earth 24 Cursed are they that sinne 29 Troubles warres vpon the whole earth 53 God is the reuenger of his elect 1 BEholde speake thou in the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie which I wyll put in thy mouth sayth the Lorde 2 And cause them to be written in a letter for it is the trueth 3 Feare not the imaginations agaynst thee Let not the vnfaythfulnesse of them trouble thee that speake agaynst thee 4 For all the vnfaythfull shall dye in their vnfaythfulnesse 5 Beholde saith the Lorde I will bring plagues vpon the worlde the sworde hunger death and destruction 6 For wickednesse hath the vpper hande in all the earth and their shamefull workes are fulfylled 7 Therfore sayth the Lorde 8 I wyll holde my tongue no more of their wickednesse which they do so vngodly neither wyll I suffer them in the thynges that they deale withall so wickedly Beholde the innocent and ryghteous blood cryeth vnto me and the soules of the iust complaine continually 9 And therfore sayth the Lorde I wyll surely auenge and receaue vnto me all the innocent blood from among them 10 Beholde my people is led as a flocke of sheepe to be slayne I wyll not suffer them nowe to dwell in the lande of Egypt 11 But wyll bryng them out with a mightie hande and a stretched out arme and smite it with plagues as afore and wyll destroy all the lande of it 12 Egypt shall mourne and the foundations of it shal be smitten with the plague and punishment that God shall bryng vpon it 13 They that tyll the grounde shall mourne for their seedes shal be destroyed through the blastyng and hayle and by an horrible starre 14 Wo worth the worlde and them that dwell therin 15 For the sworde and their destruction draweth nye and one people shal stande vp to fyght agaynst another swordes in their handes 16 For men shal be vnstedfast and some shall do violence vnto other they shall not regarde their kyng and the princes shall measure the way of their doinges by their power 17 A man shall desire to go into a citie and shall not be able 18 For because of their pride the cities shal be troubled the houses shall tremble and men shal be afrayde 19 A man shall haue no pitie vpon his neyghbour but shall destroy their houses with the sword and spoyle their goodes because of the hunger of bread and because of the great trouble 20 Beholde sayth God I call together all the kynges of the earth to reuerence me which are from the vprisyng from the south from the east and Libanus to turne vpon them and restore the thynges that they haue done to them 21 Lyke as they do yet this day vnto my chosen so wyll I do also and recompence them in their bosome Thus saith the Lorde God 22 My ryght hande shall not spare the sinners and my sworde shall not ceasse ouer them that shed the innocent blood vpon earth 23 The fire is gone out from his wrath hath consumed the foundations of the earth and the sinners lyke the strawe that is kyndled 24 Wo worth them that sinne and kepe not my commaundementes sayth the Lorde 25 I wyll not spare them Go your way ye children from the power defile not my sanctuarie 26 For the Lorde knoweth all them that sinne agaynst him therfore deliuereth he them vnto death and destruction 27 For nowe are the plagues come vpon the worlde and ye shall remayne in them For God shall not deliuer you because ye haue sinned agaynst hym 28 Beholde an horrible vision commeth from the east 29 Where generations of dragons of Arabia shal come out with many charettes the multitude of them shal be caryed as the wynde vpon earth that all they which heare them may feare tremble 30 Euen the Carmanies raging in wrath shall go foorth as the wylde boores of the forrest and with great power shall they come and stande fyghtyng with them and shall waste a portion of the lande of the Assyrians 31 And then shall the dragons haue the vpper hande and remembring their nature shall turne about conspiryng together in great power to persecute thē 32 Then these shal be troubled and kepe scilence in their power and shall flee 33 And from the lande of the Assyrians shall the enemie besiege them and consume some of them and in their hoast shal be feare and dread and strife among their kynges 34 Beholde cloudes from the east and from the north vnto the south and they are very horrible to loke vpon full of wrath and storme 35 They shall smite one vpon another and they shal smite downe a great multitude of starres vpon the earth euen their owne starre and the blood shal be from the sworde vnto the belly 36 And the doung of man vnto the Camels litter 37 And there shal be great fearfulnesse and tremblyng vpon earth and they that see the wrath shal be afraide and a tremblyng shall come vpon them 38 And then shal there come great raynes from the south and from the north and part from the west 39 And strong wyndes shall aryse from the east and shall open it and the cloude which he raysed vp in wrath and the starre stirred to cause feare towarde the east and west wind shal be destroyed 40 The great cloudes shal be lift vp and the mightie cloudes full of wrath and the starre that they may make all the earth afrayde and them that dwell therin and that they may powre out ouer euery high place an horrible starre 41 Fire and hayle and fleing
fruites and tithes 7 So that in the thirde yere he ministred all the tithes vnto the straungers and conuertes 8 These and such like thinges dyd he obserue according to the law of God when he was yet but young 9 But when he was a man he toke out of his owne tribe a wyfe called Anna and of her he begat a sonne whom he called after his owne name 10 And taught him from his youth vp to feare God and to refrayne from al sinne 11 Now when he with his wife his sonne and with all his kinred was come in captiuitie vnto the citie of Niniue 12 What time as they all dyd eate of the meates of the heathen he kept his soule and was neuer defiled in their meates 13 And for so much as he was mindeful of the Lorde in all his heart God gaue him fauour in the sight of Salmanasar the king 14 Which gaue him power to go where he woulde and so had he libertie to do whatsoeuer he woulde 15 So went Tobias vnto all them that were in captiuitie and comforted them and gaue them wholsome exhortations 16 And when he came to Rages a citie of the Medes hauing ten talentes of siluer of the thinges wherewith the king had honoured him 17 And sawe among a great companie of people of his kinred one Gabelus which was of his owne tribe beyng in necessite he gaue him the sayde wayght of siluer vnder an hande writyng 18 After a long season when Salmanasar the kyng was dead and Sennacherib his sonne raigned in his steade which hated the children of Israel 19 Tobias went dayly throughout all his kinrede and comforted them and gaue of his goods to euery one of them as much as he might 20 He fed the hungry clothed the naked and buried the dead and slayne and that diligently 21 And when Sennacherib the king came agayne and fled out of Iurie what time as god punished him for his blasphemie in his wrath slue many of the children of Israel Tobias buried their bodies 22 But when it was told the king he commaunded to slay him and toke away all his goodes 23 Neuerthelesse Tobias with his sonne and with his wyfe fled his way naked and was hyd for there were many that loued hym 24 But after fourtie and fiue dayes the king was slayne of his owne sonnes 25 Then came Tobias againe to his house and all his goodes were restored vnto him The .ii. Chapter 1 Tobias calleth the faythfull to his table 3 He leaueth the feast to burie the dead 10 Howe he became blind 13 His wife laboureth for his liuing 16 She reprocheth hym bitterly 1 AFter those thinges vppon a solempne day of the Lorde Tobias made a good feast in his house 2 And sayde vnto his sonne Go thy way bring hyther some of our tribe suche as feare God that they may make mery with vs. 3 And when he was gone he came againe and told his father that one of the children of Israel lay slayne vpon the streete 4 And immediatly he leapt from his table left the feast came fasting to the dead coarse toke him and bare him priuyly into his house that when the sunne was downe he might safely burie him 5 And when he had hyd the coarse he did eate his meate with mourning and feare 6 Remembring the wordes that the Lord sayde by the prophete Amos Your hye feastes shal be turned to sorowe and heauinesse 7 But when the sunne was downe he went his way and buried him 8 Then al his neyghbours reproued him saying It is not long sence it was commaunded to slay thee because of this matter and hast scarce escaped the daunger of death and buriest thou the dead againe 9 Neuerthelesse Tobias fearing God more then the king toke the bodies of the slayne and hyd them in his house and buried them at midnights 10 It happened vpon a day that he had buried the dead and was weery came home and layed him downe by the wal and slept 11 And whyle he was asleepe there fell downe vpon his eyes warme doung out of the swalloes nest so that he was blinde 12 This temptation dyd God suffer to happen vnto him that they which came after might haue an example of his pacience like as of holy Iob. 13 For in so much as he euer feared God from his youth vp and kept his commaundementes he grudged not against God that the plague of blindnesse chaunced vnto hym 14 But remayned stedfast in the feare of God and thanked God all the dayes of his lyfe 15 For like as blessed Iob was had in deâ—sion of kinges euen so was he laughed to scorne of his elders and kinsfolkes which sayde vnto him 16 Where is thy hope for the whiche thou hast done almes and buried the dead 17 But Tobias rebuked them and spake Say not so 19 For we are the children of holy men and loke for the lyfe whiche God shall geue vnto them that neuer turne their beliefe from him 19 And Anna his wyfe went dayly to the weauing worke 20 And loke what liuing she coulde get with the labour of her handes she brought it And it happened that she toke a byd and brought it home 21 And when her husband hearde it crye he sayde Loke that it be not stollen restore it againe to the owners for it is not lawfull for vs to eate or to touch any thing of theft 22 Then was his wyfe angry and sayde Nowe is thy hope become vayne openly and thy almes deedes are manifest 23 With these and such like wordes did she cast him in the teeth The .iii. Chapter 3 The prayer of Tobias 7 Sara Raguels daughter and the thinges that came vnto her 12 Her prayer hearde 19 The angell Raphael sent 1 THen Tobias toke it heauyly with teares began to make his prayer 2 Saying O Lord thou art righteous and all thy iudgementes are true yea al thy wayes are mercie faythfulnesse and iudgement 3 And now O Lorde be myndefull of me and take no vengeaunce of my sinnes neither remember my misdeedes neither the misdeedes of my forefathers 4 For we haue not ben obedient vnto thy commaundementes therefore are we spoyled brought into captiuite into death into derision and shame vnto all nations among whom thou hast scattered vs. 5 And nowe O Lorde thy iudgementes are great for we haue not done according to thy commaundementes neither haue we walked innocently before thee 6 And nowe O Lord deale with me according to thy will and commaunde my spirite to be receaued in peace for more expedient were it for me to die then to liue 7 At the same time it happened that Sara the daughter of Raguel at Rages a citie of the Medes was also reproched by one of her fathers handmaydes 8 That she had had seuen husbandes which assoone as they were gone in vnto her were slayne of the deuyll called Asmodeus 9 Therfore when she reproued the mayden for
that do sinne and vnrighteousnesse are the enemies of their owne soule 11 Wherefore I tell you the trueth and wyll hide no secret saying from you 12 When thou prayedst with teares and buriedst the dead and leftest thy dynner and hyddest the dead in thyne house vpon the day time that thou mightest bury them in the night I offred thy prayer before the Lorde 13 And because thou wast accept and beloued of God it was necessary that temptation should trye thee 14 And nowe hath the Lorde sent me to heale thee and to delyuer Sara thy sonnes wyfe from the euill spirite 15 For I am Raphael an angell one of the seuen that stande before the Lorde 16 When they heard this they were sore afrayde and trembled and fell downe vpon their faces vnto the grounde 17 Then saide the angell Peace be with you feare not 18 For where as I haue ben with you it is the wil of God geue prayse thankes vnto him 19 You thought that I did eate drinke with you but I vse meate that is inuisible and drinke that can not be seene of men 20 Now therfore is the time that I must turne againe vnto him that sent me but be ye thankefull vnto God and tell out all his wonderous workes 21 And when he had spokē those wordes he was taken away out of their sight so that they could see him no more 22 Then fell they downe flat vpon their faces by the space of three houres and praysed God and when they rose vp they tolde all his wonderous workes ¶ The .xiii. Chapter A thankes geuing of Tobias who exhorteth all to prayse the Lorde 1 THen olde Tobias opened his mouth praysed the Lorde sayde Great art thou O lord for euermore and thy kingdome world with out end 2 For thou scourgest and healest thou leadest vnto hell bringest out againe and there is none that may escape thyne hande 3 O geue thankes vnto the Lorde ye children of Israel and prayse him in the sight of the heathen 4 For among the heathen which knowe him not hath he scattered you to the intent that ye should shew forth his marueilous workes and cause them for to knowe that there is none other God almightie but he 5 He hath chastened vs for our misdeedes for his owne mercie sake shall he saue vs. 6 Consider then how he hath dealt with you and prayse him with feare dread and magnifie the euerlasting king in your workes 7 I wyll prayse him euen in the lande of my captiuitie for he hath shewed his maiestie vnto a sinfull people 8 Turne you therfore O ye sinners and do righteousnesse before God and be ye sure that he wyll shew his mercy vpon you 9 As for me and my soule we wyll reioyce in God 10 O prayse the Lorde all ye his chosen hold the dayes of gladnesse be thankefull vnto him 11 O Hierusalem thou citie of God the lorde hath punished thee for the workes of thyne owne handes 12 O prayse the Lord in thy good thinges geue thankes to the euerlasting God that he may build vp his tabernacle againe in thee that he may call againe vnto thee all such as be in captiuitie and that thou mayest haue ioy for euermore 13 With a faire light shalt thou shyne and all the endes of the worlde shall honour thee 14 The people shall come vnto thee from farre they shall bring giftes and worship the Lorde in thee and thy land shal they haue for a sanctuary for they shall call vpon the great name in thee 15 Cursed shall they be that despise thee and all that blaspheme thee shal be condempned But blessed shall they be that builde thee vp 16 As for thee thou shalt reioyce in thy children for they all shal be blessed and gathered together vnto the Lorde 17 Blessed are all they that loue thee and that be glad of thy peace 18 Prayse thou the Lorde O my soule for the Lorde our God hath deliuered his citie Hierusalem from all her troubles 19 I wyll count my selfe happy if my seede remayne to see the clearenes of Hierusalem 20 The gates of Hierusalem shal be builded with Saphir and Smaragde and all the compasse of her walles with precious stones 21 All her streates shal be paued with white and fayre stone and in all streates shall Halleluia be song 22 Praysed be the Lorde which hath exalted her that his kingdome may be vpon her for euermore Amen The .xiiii. Chapter 5 Lessons of Tobias to his sonne 6 He prophecieth the destruction of Niniue 7 And the restoring of Hierusalem and the temple 13 The death of Tobias and his wyfe 16 Tobias the younger his age and death 1 ANd so Tobias made an end of speaking And after that Tobias had gotten his sight againe he lyued fouretie two yeres sawe his childers children 2 Nowe when he was an hundred and two yeres olde he dyed and was buried honorably in Niniue 3 For when he was sixe and fiftie yeres of age he lost the sight of his eyes and when he was three score yeres olde he gate his sight againe 4 The residue of his lyfe led he in ioy and increased well in the feare of God and departed in peace 5 But in the houre of his death he called vnto him his sonne Tobias and seuen young springaldes his sonnes children and saide vnto them 6 The destruction of Niniue is at hand for the word of the Lord can not fayle and our brethren that are scattered out of the lande of Israel shall come thyther agayne 7 And the whole lande of it that hath ben waste shall be filled and the house of God that was brent in it shal be builded againe and all such as feare God shall returne thyther 8 The heathen then also shall forsake their idols and come to Hierusalem and dwell there 9 And all the kinges of the earth shal be glad in her and worship the Lord God of Israel 10 And therefore my children heare your father serue the Lorde in the trueth seeke after his wyll to do the thing that pleaseth him 11 Commaunde your children that they do right geue almes be mindefull of God and euer to be thankefull vnto him in trueth and with all their power 12 Heare me now therefore my children and abyde not here but in what day so euer ye haue buryed your mother by me in one sepulchre get you from hence 13 For I see that the wickednesse of it shall bring it to destruction and end 14 After the death of his mother Tobias departed away from Niniue with his wife and children and with his childers children and came againe to his father and mother in lawe 15 And founde them whole and in a good age and toke the care of them and he closed their eyes and was heyre vnto all Raguels goodes and sawe the fyft generation and his childers children 16 And ninetie and nine yeres beyng ended
spirite of discipline fleeth from deceipt and withdraweth hym selfe from thoughtes that are without vnderstanding and is declared when wickednesse commeth 6 For the spirite of wysdome is louing and will not absolue hym that blasphemeth with his lippes for God is witnesse of his raynes and a true beholder of his heart an hearer of his tongue 7 For the spirite of the Lorde filleth the rounde compasse of the worlde and the same that vpholdeth all thinges hath knowledge also of the voyce 8 Therfore he that speaketh vnrighteous thinges can not be hid neither shall the iudgement of reprofe let him escape 9 And why inquisition shal be made for the thoughtes of the vngodly and the sounde of his wordes shall come vnto God so that his wickednesse shal be punished 10 For the eare of ielousie heareth all thinges the noyse of the grudginges shall not be hid 11 Therefore beware of murmuring whiche is nothing worth and refraine your tongue from sclaunder For there is no worde so secrete that it shall go for naught and the mouth that speaketh lyes slayeth the soule 12 O seeke not your owne death in the errour of your lyfe destroy not your selues thorowe the workes of your owne handes 13 For God hath not made death neither hath he pleasure in the destruction of the liuing 14 For he created all thinges that they might haue their being and the generations of the worlde were healthfull and there is no poyson of destruction in them nor the kyngdome of hell vpon the earth 15 For righteousnesse is euerlasting and immortall but vnrighteousnesse bringeth death 16 Neuerthelesse the vngodly call it vnto them both with workes and wordes and whyle they thinke to haue it their friende they come to naught they haue made an agreement with it for they are worthy to be of her part ¶ The .ii. Chapter The imaginations and desires of the wicked and theyr counsayle against the faythfull 1 FOr the vngodly say reasoning with them selues but not a right our life is short and tedious and in the death of a man there is no remedie neither is there any man knowen to haue returned from the graue 2 For we are borne at all aduenture and we shal be here by more fortune after as though we had neuer ben for our breath is as a smoke in our nosetrilles and wordes as a sparke raysed out of our heartes 3 Whiche being extinquished our body shal be turned into ashes and our spirite shall vanishe as the soft ayre 4 Our life shall passe away as the trace of a cloude and come to naught as the miste that is driuen away with the beames of the sunne and put downe with the heate thereof Our name also shal be forgotten by litle and litle and no man shall haue our workes in remembraunce 5 For our tyme is a very shadowe that passeth away and after our ende there is no returning for it is fast sealed so that no man commeth agayne 6 Come on therefore let vs enioy the pleasures that are present and let vs chearefully vse the creatures like as in youth 7 Let vs fill our selues with good wine and oyntment and let there no flowre of the tyme escape vs 8 Let vs crowne our selues with rose buddes afore they be withered 9 Let there be no fayre medowe but our lust go thorowe it Let euery one of vs be partakers of our volupteousnes let vs leaue some token of our pleasure in euery place for that is our portion and this only our lot 10 Let vs oppresse the poore righteous let vs not spare the wydowe nor olde man let vs not regarde the heades that are gray for age 11 Let the lawe of vnrighteousnesse be our strength for the thing that is feeble is nothing worth 12 Therefore let vs defraude the righteous and why he is not for our profite yea he is cleane contrary to our doinges he checketh vs for offending against the lawe and slaundereth the faultes of our maner of liuing 13 He maketh his boast to haue the knowledge of God yea he calleth hym selfe Gods sonne 14 He is made vnto vs for reproffe of our thoughtes 15 It greeueth vs also to looke vpon him for his life is not like other mens his wayes are of another fashion 16 He counteth vs but vayne persons he withdraweth hym selfe from our wayes as from filthynes he commendeth greatly the latter ende of the iust and maketh his boast that God is his father 17 Let vs see then if his wordes be true let vs proue what shall happen in the ende of hym 18 For if the iust man be the sonne of god he wyll receaue hym and deliuer hym from the handes of his enemies 19 Let vs examine him with despitefull rebuke and tormenting that we may know his meekenesse and proue his pacience 20 Let vs condempne him with the most shamefull death for as him selfe saith he shal be rewarded of God 21 Suche thinges do they imagine and go astray for their owne wickednesse hath blinded them 22 As for the mysteries of God they vnderstande them not they neither hope for the rewarde of righteousnesse nor regarde the worship that holy soules shall haue 23 For God created man to be vndestroyed yea after the image of his owne lykenes made he hym 24 Neuerthelesse thorowe enuie of the deuyll came death into the worlde and they that helde of his side do finde it The .iij. Chapter 1 The conseruation and assuraunce of the ryghteous 7 The rewarde of the faythfull 11 Who are miserable 1 BVt the soules of the ryghteous are in the hande of God there shal no torment touche them 2 In the syght of the vnwise they appeared to die their ende is taken for miserie 3 And their departyng from vs to be vtter destruction but they are in rest 4 For though they suffer payne before men yet is their hope full of immortalitie 5 They are punished but in few thinges neuerthelesse in many thinges shal they be well rewarded for God proueth thē and findeth them meete for hym selfe 6 As golde in the furnace doth he trye them and receaueth them as a burnt offeryng and when the tyme commeth they shal be loked vpon 7 They shall shyne and runne through as the sparkcles among the stubble 8 They shal iudge the nations and haue dominion ouer the people and their Lorde shall raigne for euer 9 They that put their trust in him shall vnderstande the trueth and such as be faythfull shall perseuer with hym in loue for his saintes haue grace mercie and he hath care for his elected 10 But the vngodly shal be punished accordyng to their owne imaginations for they haue dispised the righteous and forsaken the Lorde 11 For who so dispiseth wisdome and nurture he is vnhappy and as for the hope of such it is but vayne their labours vnfruitfull and their workes vnprofitable 12 Their wyues are vndiscrete and
men might knowe that thankes ought to be geuen vnto thee before the sunne ryse and that thou oughtest to be worshipped before the day spring 29 For the hope of the vnthankfull shall melt away as the winter yse and flowe away as vnprofitable water ¶ The .xvij. Chapter ¶ The iudgementes of God against the wicked 1 FOr great are thy iudgmentes O Lorde and can not be expressed therefore men do erre that wyll not be refourmed by thy wysdome 2 For when the vnrighteous thought to haue thy holy people in subiection they were bounde with the bandes of darknesse and long night shut vp vnder roofes and lay there to escape the eternall prouidence 3 And whyle they thought to be hyd in the darknesse of their sinnes they were scattered abrode in the very middest of the darke couering of forgetfulnesse put to horrible feare and wonderouslye vexed 4 For the corner where they lay hyd might not kepe them from feare because the soundes came rounde about them and vexed them yea many terrible and straunge visions appeared vnto them 5 No power of the fire might geue them light neither might the cleare flambes of the starres lightē the horrible night 6 But there appeared vnto them a sodayne fire only very dreadfull At the which sight wherin they sawe nothing throughly they were so afrayde that they thought the thing whiche they sawe to be the more fearefull 7 As for the illusions of the magicall art they came to naught and it was a most shamefull reproche of the pryde that they had of their owne wysdome 8 For they that promised to driue away the feares and troubles from the sicke soule were sicke them selues with feare worthy to be laughed at 9 For though no terrible thing did feare them yet were they afrayde at the beastes whiche passed by them and at the hissing of the serpentes 10 Insomuch that with trembling they sowned and sayde they sawe not the ayre whiche no man yet may escape 11 For malice is a dreadfull thing that is condempned by his owne witnesse and beyng pressed with conscience it euer suspecteth cruel thinges 12 For feare is nothing els but a betraying of the succours whiche reason offereth 13 And looke howe muche the lesse his hope is within the greater doth he recount his ignoraunce of that cause that bryngeth the torment 14 But they that dyd indure the night that in deede was intollerable and that came from the dungeons of intollerable hell sleping the same sleepe 15 Were somtimes chased with monsterous apparitions and sometymes they sowned as their owne soules had betrayed them for an hastie feare that was not looked for came vpon them 16 And thus whosoeuer was there fallen he was in pryson but without chaines 17 For whether a man had occupied husbandrie or had ben an heardman or labourer in the woods if he were taken he suffred intollerable necessitie 18 For they were all bounde with one chayne of darknesse whether it were a blasing winde or a sweete song of the byrdes among the thicke braunches of the trees or the vehemencie of hastie running water 19 Or great noyse of the falling downe of stones or the runnyng of playing beastes whiche they sawe not or the mightie noyse of roaring wilde beastes or the sounde that aunswered agayne in the holonesse of mountaynes these terrible thinges made them sowne for very feare 20 For all the earth shined with cleare light and no man was hindered in his labour 21 Onlye vpon them there fell a heauie night an image of darknesse that was to come vpon them Yea they were vnto them selues more heauie then darknesse ¶ The .xviij. Chapter 3 The firie piller that the Israelites had in Egypt 8 The deliueraunce of the faythfull 10 The Lorde smote the Egyptians 20 The sinne of the people in the wyldernesse 21 Aaron stoode betweene the liuing and the dead with his censure 1 NEuerthelesse thy saintes had a very great light whose voyce they hearing and not seeing their figure for that they suffred not the same thinges they thought them blessed 2 And for that they dyd not hurt them nowe of whom they had ben wronged before they thanked them besought them pardon of that they had ben enemies 3 Therfore thou gauest them a burning piller of fire to leade them in the vnknowen way and the sunne not to hurt them in their honourable iourney 4 But reason it was that they shoulde leese the light and be put in the pryson of darknesse whiche had kept thy chyldren shut vp by whom the vncorrupt light of the lawe was to be geuen vnto the worlde 5 After when they thought to slay the babes of the saintes one chylde beyng cast out and preserued to reproue them thou tokest away the whole multitude of their chyldren and destroyedst them altogether in a mightie water 6 Of that night were our fathers certified afore that they knowing vnto what othes they had geuen credence might be of good cheare 7 Thus thy people receaued the health of the righteous but the vngodly were destroyed 8 For like as thou hast reuenged our enemies so hast thou promoted vs whom thou hast called 9 For the righteous chyldren of the good men offred secretely and made a godly lawe with one consent that the saintes should in like maner receaue together both good and euil and that the fathers nowe should first sing prayses 10 But there was hearde a disagreing voyce of the enemies and there was a miserable lamentation for children that were bewayled 11 The maister and the seruaunt were punished after one maner and lyke as the king so suffred the common people 12 So they had innumerable that dyed with one kinde of death altogether neither were the liuing sufficient to bury the dead for in the twinckling of an eye the noblest ofspring of them was destroyed 13 For whereas they woulde discredite all thinges by reason of the inchauntmentes in the destruction of the first borne they acknowledged that this people was the chyldren of God 14 For whyle all thinges were styl in scilence and when the night was in the middest of her course thy almightie worde O Lorde lept downe from heauen out of thy royall trone 15 As a rough man of warre in the middest of the land that was destroyed 16 And brought thyne vnfayned commaundement as a sharpe sworde and standing vp filled all thinges with death yea it stoode vpon the earth and reached vnto the heauen 17 Then the sightes of the euyl dreames vexed them sodainly and fearefulnesse came vpon them vnawares 18 Then lay there one here another there halfe dead halfe quicke and shewed the cause of his death 19 For the visions that vexed them shewed them these thinges afore that they might not be ignoraunt wherefore they perished 20 Yea the temptation of death touched the righteous also and among the
multitude in the wildernesse there was insurrection but thy wrath endured not long 21 For the blamelesse man went in all the haste and toke the battayle vpon hym brought foorth the weapon of his ministration euen prayer and the reconciliation of incense set hym selfe against the wrath and so brought the miserie to an ende declaring therby that he was thy seruaunt 22 For he ouercame not the multitude with bodyly power or force of weapons but with the word he subdued him that vexed alleaging the oth and couenaunt made vnto the fathers 23 For when the dead were fallen downe by heapes one vpon another he stoode in the middest pacified the wrath and parted the way that it might not come to the liuing 24 And why in his long garment was all the beautie and in the foure rowes of the stones was the glory of the fathers grauen and thy maiestie was wrytten in the crowne of his head 25 Vnto these the destroyer gaue place and was afrayde of them for it was inough that they onlye tasted of the wrath ¶ The .xix. Chapter 1 The death of the Egyptians and the great ioy of the Hebrues 11 The meate that was geuen at the desire of the people 17 All the elementes serue to the will of God 1 AS for the vngodly the wrath came vpō them without mercy vnto the ende for he knewe before what shoulde happen vnto them 2 How that when they had consented to let them go and had sent them out with great diligence they would repent and folowe vpon them 3 For whyles they were yet mourning and making lamentation by the graues of the dead they deuised another foolishnesse so that they persecuted them in their fleeing whom they had cast out afore with prayer 4 For the necessitie whiche they had deserued brought them vnto this ende and made them forget the thinges that had already happened that they might by tormentes fulfill their punishment whiche remayned 5 And that thy people might trye a marueylous passage and these might fynde a straunge death 6 For euery creature in his kynde was fashioned agayne of newe seruyng the peculiar offices as was commaunded them that thy children myght be kept without hurt 7 For the cloude ouershadowed their tentes and the drye earth appeared where afore was water so that in the red sea there was a way without impediment and the great deepe became a greene fielde 8 Wherthrough all the people went that were defended with thy hande seyng thy marueylous straunge wonders 9 For as the horses ryght so they neyed and leaped lyke lambes praysyng thee O Lord which hadst deliuered them 10 And why they were yet myndefull of the thynges that were done whyle they dwelt in the straunge lande howe the grounde brought foorth flies in steade of cattell and howe the riuer scrawled with the multitude of frogges in steade of fisshes 11 But at the last they sawe a newe generation of birdes what tyme as they were stirred with lust and desired delicate meates 12 For why the quayles came vp to them from the sea for their comfort but punishmentes came vpon the sinners not without the signes which came before to passe by vehemencie of the thicke lyghtnynges For they suffered worthyly accordyng to their wickednesse because they dealt so churlishly with an hate of straungers 13 For some would not receaue men that came vnto them and were vnknowen and some brought the straungers into bondage that dyd them good 14 Nor only so but yf they had ben any where regarded they coulde not suffer it for they entreated straungers very dispitefully 15 Others that had receaued them with great solempnitie when they were admitted vnto their societie they afflicted them with greeuous labours 16 Therfore were they stricken with blindnesse like as when they that were couered with sodayne darknesse at the doores of the ryghteous sought euery one of them the entraunce of his doores 17 Thus the elementes beyng chaunged agreed among them selues lyke as when tunes are chaunged vpon an instrument of musicke and yet kepe styll a melodie which may easyly be perceaued by the syght of the thynges that are come to passe 18 For the earthy thynges were turned into waterie and the thyng that before swamme in the water nowe went vpon the grounde 19 The fire had power in the water forgetting his owne vertue and the water forgat his owne kynde to quenche the fire 20 Agayne the flambes hurted not the fleshe of the corruptible liuing thynges though they walked therin neither melted they that isie kynde of immortall meate that was of nature apt to melt 21 For in all thynges hast thou promoted thy people O Lord and brought them to honour thou hast not dispised them but alway and in all places hast thou stande by them VV. C. The ende of the booke of wisdome ⧠The booke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach which is called in latine Ecclesiasticus The prologue of Iesus the sonne of Sirach vnto his booke MAny and great men haue declared wisdome vnto vs out of the lawe out of the prophetes and out of other that folowed them in the which thynges Israel ought to be cōmended by the reason of doctrine and wisdome Therfore they that haue it and reade it shoulde not only them selues be wise therthrough but serue other also with teachyng and writyng After that my graundefather Iesus had geuen diligent labour to reade the lawe the prophetes and other bookes that were left vs of our fathers and had well exercised hym selfe therin he purposed also to write some thyng of wisdome and good maners to the intent that they which were wyllyng to learne and to be wise myght haue the more vnderstandyng and be the more apt to leade a good conuersation Wherfore I exhort you to receaue it louyngly to reade it with diligence and to take it in good worth though our wordes be not so eloquent as the famous oratours For the thyng that is written in the Hebrue tongue soundeth not so well when it is translated into another speache Not only this booke of myne but also the lawe the prophetes and other bookes sounde farre otherwise then they do when they are spoken in their owne language Nowe in the thirtie and eyght yere when I came into Egypt in the tyme of Ptolomie Euerges and continued there a long season I founde bookes there left full of great and profounde learnyng Wherfore I thought it good and necessarie to bestowe my diligence and trauayle to interprete this booke And consideryng that I had tyme I laboured and dyd my best to perfourme this booke and to bryng it vnto lyght that the straungers also which are disposed to learne myght apply them selues vnto good maners and lyue accordyng to the lawe of the Lorde The first Chapter 1 Wisdome commeth of God 11 A prayse of the feare of God 29 The meanes to come by wisdome
O let me not haue a proude looke but turne away all voluptuousnesse fro me 5 Take from me the lustes of the body let not the desires of vnclennesse take holde vpon me 6 And geue me not ouer into an vnshamefast and obstinate minde 7 Heare me O ye children I wyll geue you a doctrine how ye shall order your mouth who so kepeth it shal not perishe through his lippes nor be hurt through wicked workes 8 As for the sinner he shal be taken in his owne vanitie he that is proude and cursed shall fall therein 9 Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing for in it there are many fals let not the naming of God be continually in thy mouth and meddle not with the names of sainctes for thou shalt not be excused of them 10 For lyke as a seruaunt which is oft punished can not be without some sore euen so whatsoeuer he be that sweareth and nameth God shall not be cleane purged from sinne 11 A man that vseth much swearing shal be filled with wickednesse the plague shall neuer go from his house if he beguile his brother his fault shal be vpon him if he knowledge not his sinne he maketh a double offence if he sweare in vaine he shall not be founde righteous for his house shal be full of plagues 12 The wordes of the swearer bringeth death God graunt that it be not founde in the house of Iacob but they that feare God eschue all such and lye not weltering in sinne 13 Vse not thy mouth to vnhonest filthy talking for in it is the word of sinne 14 Remember thy father and thy mother when thou art set among great men lest God forget thee in their sight and lest thou doting in thy custome suffer rebuke and wishe not to haue ben borne and so curse the day of thy natiuitie 15 The man that is accustomed with the wordes of blasphemie will neuer be refourmed all the dayes of his lyfe 16 To sinne twise is to much but the third bringeth wrath and destruction * An hot stomacke can not be quenched euen like a burning fire til it haue swalowed vp some thing euen so an vnchaste man hath no rest in his fleshe till he haue kindled a fire 17 All bread is sweete to an whoremonger he will not leaue of till he dye 18 A man that breaketh wedlocke and regardeth not his soule but sayth Tushe who seeth me I am compassed about with darkenesse the walles couer me no body seeth me whom neede I to feare the hyghest will not remember my sinnes 19 He vnderstandeth not that his eyes see all thinges for all such feare of men dryueth away the feare of God from hym for he feareth onely the eyes of men and considereth not that the eyes of the Lord are clearer then the sunne beholding all the wayes of men the ground of the deepe and loking euen to mens heartes in secrete places 20 The Lorde God knewe all thinges or euer they were made and after they be brought to passe also he loketh vpon them all 21 The same man shal be openly punished in the streetes of the citie shal be chased abrode lyke a young horse foale and when he thinketh least vpon it he shal be taken 22 Thus shall he be put to shame of euery man because he woulde not vnderstand the feare of the Lorde And thus shal it go also with euery wyfe that leaueth her husbande and getteth inheritaunce by a straunge mariage 23 First she hath ben vnfaythful vnto the lawe of the hyghest secondly she hath forsaken her owne husbande thyrdly she hath played the whore in adultrie gotten her children by an other man 24 She shal be brought out of the congregation and her children shalke loked vpon 25 Her children shal not take roote and as for fruite her braunches shall bring foorth none 26 A shamefull report shall she leaue behinde her and her dishonour shall not be put out 27 And they that remayne shall knowe that there is nothing better then the feare of God and that there is nothing sweeter then to take heed vnto the commaundementes of the Lorde 28 A great worship is it to folow the Lord for long lyfe shal be receaued of hym The .xxiiii. Chapter 1 A prayse of wysdome proceeding foorth of the mouth of God 6 Of her workes and place where she resteth 1 WYsdome shall prayse her selfe and be honoured in God reioyce in the middest of the people 2 In the congregations of the hyghest shall she open her mouth and triumph in the beholding of his power 3 In the middest of her people shall she be exalted and wondred at in the holy fulnesse 4 In the multitude of the chosen she shal be commended and among such as be blessed she shal be praysed and shal say 5 I am come out of the mouth of the hyghest first borne before all creatures 6 I caused the light that fayleth not to aryse in the heauen and couered all the earth as a cloude 7 My dwelling is aboue in the heygth and my seate is in the pyller of the cloude 8 I my selfe alone haue gone round about the compasse of heauen and pearled the grounde of the deepe 9 I haue walked in the fluddes of the sea and haue stande in all landes my dominion is in euery people and in euery nation and with my power haue I troden downe the heartes of all both hye and lowe 10 In all these thinges also I sought rest and a dwelling in some inheritaunce 11 So the creator of all thinges gaue me a commaundement and he that made me appoynted me a tabernacle and sayd vnto me Let thy dwelling be in Iacob and thine inheritaunce in Israel roote thy selfe among my chosen 12 I was created from the beginning and before the world and shall not leaue of vnto the world to come In the holy habitation haue I serued before hym and so was I stablished in Sion 13 In the holy citie rested I in like maner and in Hierusalem was my power 14 I toke roote in an honorable people euen in the portion of the Lorde and in his heritage and kept me in the fulnesse of the sainctes 15 I am set vp an hye like a Cedar vpon Libanus and as a Cipers tree vpon the mount Hermon 16 I am exalted lyke a palme tree in Cades and as a rose plant in Iericho as a fayre Oliue tree in the fielde and am exalted like as a plantaine tree by the water side 17 I haue geuen a smell in the streetes as the Cinamon and Balme that hath so good a sauour yea a sweet odour haue I geuen as it were myrre of the best I haue made my dwellinges to smell as it were of Rosin Galbanum of Cloues Insence and as Libanus when it is not hewen downe and myne odour is as the pure balme 18 As the Terebint haue I stretched out my braunches
and he shall not knowe from whence 28 The proude blaspheme and are scorneful but vengeaunce lurketh for them as a lion 29 They that reioyce at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare anguishe of heart shall consume them before they dye 30 Anger and rigorousnesse are two abhominable thinges and the vngodly hath them both vpon hym The .xxviii. Chapter 1 We ought not to desire vengeaunce but to forgeue the offence 13 Of the vices of the tongue and of the daungers therof 1 HE that seketh vengeaunce shal find vengeaunce of the Lorde which shal surely kepe hym his sinnes 2 Forgeue thy neyghbour the hurt that he hath done thee and so shal thy sinnes be forgeuen thee also when thou prayest 3 A man that beareth hatred against another how dare he desire forgeuenesse of God 4 He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like him selfe how dare he aske forgeuenesse of his sinnes 5 If he that is but fleshe beareth hatred and kepeth it who will intreate for his sinnes 6 Remember the ende and let enmitie passe whiche seketh death and destruction and abyde thou in the commaundementes 7 Remember the commaundementes so shalt thou not be rigorous ouer thy neyghbour Thinke vpon the couenaunt of the hyghest and forgeue thy neyghbours ignoraunce 8 Beware of stryfe and thou shalt make thy sinnes fewer 9 For an angry man kindleth variaunce and the vngodly disquieteth friendes and putteth discorde among them that be at peace 10 The more wood there is the more vehement is the fire and the mightier that men be the greater is the wrath according to his riches his anger increaseth and the longer the stryfe endureth the more it burneth 11 And hastie brawling kindleth a fyre and an hastie stryfe sheddeth blood A tongue also that beareth false witnesse bringeth death 12 If thou blow the sparke it shall burne yf thou spyt vpon it it shall go foorth and both these come out of the mouth 13 The sclaunderer and doubble tongued is cursed for many one that be friendes setteth he at variaunce 14 The thirde tongue hath disquieted many one and dryuen them from one lande to another Strong cities of the riche hath it broken downe and ouerthrowen the houses of great men The strength of the people hath it brought downe and ben the decay of mightie nations 15 The thirde tongue hath cast out many an honest woman and robbed them of their labours 16 Who so hearkeneth vnto such shal neuer finde rest and neuer dwell safely 17 The stroke of the rod maketh printes in the skinne but the stroke of the tongue smyteth the bones in sunder 18 There be many that haue perished with the sworde but many mo thorow the tongue 19 Well is him that is kept from an euyll tongue and commeth not in the anger thereof which draweth not the yoke of such and is not bounde in the bandes of it 20 For the yoke therof is of yron and the bande of it of steele 21 The death therof is a very euyl death hell were better for one then such a tongue 22 But the fire of it may not oppresse them that feare God and the flambe thereof may not burne them 23 Such as forsake the Lorde shall fall therin and it shall burne them and no man shall be able to quenche it It shall fall vpon them as a lion and deuour them as a leoparde 24 Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes why doest thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouth 25 Thou wayest thy gold and siluer why doest thou not waye thy wordes also vpon thy balaunce and make a doore and a barre and a sure brydell for thy mouth 26 Beware that thou slide not thy tongue and so fal before thyne enemies that lay wayte for thee and thy fal be incurable euen vnto death The .xxix. Chapter 1 Howe we ought to lende our money and do almes 15 Of a faythfull man aunswering for his friende 22 Of liberalitie and hospitalitie 1 WHo so will shewe mercie let hym lende vnto his neyghbour and he that is able let him kepe the commaundementes 2 Lend vnto thy neyghbour in time of his neede and paye thou thy neyghbour againe in due season 3 Kepe thy worde and deale faythfully with him and thou shalt alway finde the thing that is necessarie for thee 4 There haue ben many that when a thing was lent them reckened it to be founde and made them trauayle and labour that had helped them 5 Whyle they receaue any thing they kisse the handes of such as geue them and for their neyghbours good they humble their voyce but when they should paye againe they kepe it backe and geue euyl wordes and make many excuses by reason of the time 6 And though he be able yet geueth he scarse the halfe againe and reckeneth the other to be founde And if he withholde not his money yet hath he an enemie of him and that vndeserued He payeth him with cursing and rebuke and geueth him euyll wordes for his good deede 7 There be many one which are not glad for to lende not because of euyl but they feare to lose the thing that they lende 8 Yet haue thou patience with the simple and withholde not mercie from him 9 Helpe the poore for the commaundementes sake and let hym not go emptie from thee because of his necessitie 10 Lose thy money for thy brother and neyghbours sake and burie it not vnder a stone where it rusteth and corrupteth 11 Gather thy treasure after the commaundement of the hyghest and so shal it bring thee more profite then golde 12 Lay vp thyne almes in the hande of the poore and it shall kepe thee from all euyll 13 A mans almes is as a purse with him shal kepe a mans fauour as the apple of an eye and afterwarde shall it arise and paye euery man his rewarde vpon his head 14 It shall fight for thee against thyne enemies better then the shielde of a gyaunt or speare of the mightie 15 A good honest man is a suertie for his neyghbour but a wicked person letteth him come to shame 16 Forget not the friendship of thy suertie for he hath geuen his soule for thee 17 The vngodly despiseth the good deede of his suertie 18 The wicked will not become suertie and the vnthankeful and ignoraunt leaueth his suertie in daunger 19 Some man promiseth for his neyghbour when he hath lost his honestie he shall forsake him 20 Suertishippe hath destroyed many a riche man and remoued them as the waues in the sea Mightie people hath it dryuen away and caused them to wander in straunge countreys 21 An vngodly man transgressing the commaundement of the Lorde shall fal into an euyll suertiship and though he force him selfe to get out yet shall he fall into iudgement 22 Helpe thy neyghbour out after thy power and beware that thou thy selfe fall
of vngodlines 24 Insomuch that their sinnes and misdeedes had the vpper hande so sore that at the last they were driuen out of the lande for the same 25 Yea he sought out and brought vp all wickednes tyll the vengeaunce came vpon them ¶ The .xlviij. Chapter The prayse of Elias Elizeus Ezechias and Esaias 1 THen stoode vp Elias the prophete as a fyre and his worde brent lyke a cresset 2 He brought an hunger vpon them and in his zeale he made theÌ„ fewe in number for they might not away with the commaundementes of the Lorde 3 Through the worde of the Lorde he shut the heauen three times brought he the fire downe 4 O Elias howe honorable art thou in thy wonderous deedes who may make his hoast to be lyke thee 5 One that was dead thou raysedst vp from death and in the worde of the hyest thou broughtest him out of the graue againe 6 Thou hast cast downe kinges and destroyed them and the honorable from their seate 7 Vpon the mount Sâ—na thou heardest the iudgement vpon horeb the iudgement of the vengeaunce 8 Which diddest annoynt kinges to recompence and ordaynedst prophetes after thee 9 Thou wast taken vp in the storme of fire in a charet of fixie horses 10 Thou wast ordayned in the reproouinges in time to pacifie the wrath of the Lorde before it raged to turne the heartes of the fathers vnto the children to set vp the tribes of Iacob againe 11 Blessed were they that sawe thee and were garnished in loue for we lyue in lyfe but after death we shall haue no such name 12 Elias was couered in the storme but Elizeus was filled with his spirite while he lyued he was afrayde of no prince and no man might ouercome him 13 There coulde no worde deceaue him and after his death his body prophecied 14 He did wonders in his lyfe in death were his workes maruaylous 15 For all this the people amended not neither departed they from their sinnes tyll they were caryed away prisoners out of the lande and were scattered abrode in all countries so that of them there remayned but a very litle people and a prince vnto the house of Dauid 16 Howbeit some of them did right and some heaped vp vngodlynes 17 Ezechias made his citie strong conueyed water into it digged through the stony rocke with iron and made vp a wall by the water side 18 In his time came Sennacherib vp and sent Rabsakes lyft vp his hande against Sion defied them with great pride 19 Then trembled their heartes and handes so that they sorowed lyke a woman trauayling with childe 20 So they called vpon the Lord which is mercifull and lyft vp their handes before him immediately the Lorde heard them out of heauen 21 He thought no more vpon their sinnes nor gaue them ouer to their enemies but deliuered them by the hande of Esaias 22 He smote the hoast of the Assyrians and his angel destroyed them 23 For Ezechias had done the thing that pleased the Lorde and remayned stedfastly in the way of Dauid his father as Esaias the great faithfull prophete in the sight of God had commaunded him 24 In his time the sunne went backward and he lengthened the kinges lyfe 25 With a right spirite prophecied he what shoulde come to passe at the last and to such as were sorowfull in Sion he gaue consolation wherewith they might comfort them selues for euermore 26 He shewed thinges that were for to come and secrete or euer they come to passe ¶ The .xlix. Chapter â–ª Of Iosias Ezechias Dauid Ieremie Ezechiel Zorobabel Iesus Nehemias Enoch and Ioseph 1 THe remembraunce of Iosias is lyke as wheÌ„ the apothecarie maketh many precious sweete smelling thinges together his remembraunce shal be sweete as hony in all mouthes and as the playing of musicke at a banket of wine 2 He was appoynted to turne the people againe and to take away all abhominations of the vngodlie 3 He directed his heart vnto the Lorde and in the time of the vngodlie he set vp the worship of God againe 4 All kinges except Dauid Ezechias and Iosias committed wickednes for euen the kinges of Iuda also forsoke the lawe of God 5 For they gaue their horne vnto other their honour worship also to a strauÌ„ge people 6 Therefore was the elect citie of the sanctuarie brent with fire and the streetes therof layd desolate and waste in the hande of Ieremie 7 For they entreated him euill which neuerthelesse was a prophete ordayned from his mothers wombe that he might roote out breake of and destroy and that he might builde vp and plant againe 8 Ezechiel sawe the glorie of the Lorde in a vision which was shewed him vpon the charet of the Cherubims 9 For he thought vpon the enemies in the rayne to do good vnto such as had ordered their wayes aright 10 And the bones of the twelue prophetes florished from out of their place for they gaue comfort and consolation vnto Iacob and deliuered them faithfully 11 How shal we prayse Zorobabel which was as a ring on the right hande 12 So was Iesus also the sonne of Iosedec these men in their times builded the house set vp the sanctuarie of the Lorde againe which was prepared for an euerlasting worship 13 And among the elect was Nehemias whose renowme was great which set vp for vs the walles that were broken downe made the portes and barres againe and builded our houses a new 14 But vpon the earth is there no man created lyke Enoch for he was taken vp from the earth 15 Neither was there a lyke man vnto Ioseph which was lord of his brethren and the vpholder of his people his bones were couered and kept 16 Seth and Sem were in great honour among the people and so was Adam aboue all the beastes when he was created The .l. Chapter 1 Of Simon the sonne of Onias 22 An exhortation to prayse the Lorde 1 SImon the sonne of Onias the hye priest which in his lyfe set vp the house againe and in his dayes made fast the temple 2 The height of the temple also was founded of him the double building and the hye walles of the temple 3 In his dayes the welles of water flowed out and were exceeding full as the sea 4 He toke care for his people and deliuered them from destruction he kept his citie made it strong that it shoulde not be besieged 5 How honorable was his conuersation among the people and when he came out of the house couered with the vaile 6 He gaue lyght as the morning starre in the middest of the cloudes and as the moone when it is full 7 He shined as the sunne in the temple of God he is as bright as the raynebowe in the faire cloudes 8 And florisheth as the floures and roses in the spring of the
him thankes for his mercie endureth worlde without ende ⧠The story of Susanna vvhich is the thirteenth Chapter of Daniel after the Latine 8 The two gouerners are taken with the loue of Susanna 19 They take her alone in the garden 20 They solicite her to wickednes 23 She chooseth rather to obey God though it be to the daunger of her lyfe 34 She is accused 45 Daniel doth deliuer her 62 The gouernours are put to death 1 THere dwelt a man in Babylon called Ioacim 2 That toke a wyfe whose name was Susanna the daughter of Helcia a very faire woman and such one as feared God 3 Her father and her mother also were good people and taught their daughter according to the lawe of Moyses 4 Now Ioacim her husband was a great rich man and had a faire orchard ioyning vnto his house and to him resorted the Iewes commōly because he was a man of reputation among them 5 The same yere were there made two iudges such as the Lorde speaketh of The wickednes of Babylon commeth from the elders that is from the iudges which seeme to rule the people 6 These came oft to Ioacims house and all such as had any thing to do in the lawe came thyther vnto them 7 Now when the people departed away at noone Susanna went into her husbandes orchard to walke 8 The two elders seeing this that she went in dayly and walked they burned for lust to her 9 Yea they were almost out of their wittes and cast downe their eyes that they should not see heauen nor remember that God is a righteous iudge 10 For they were both wounded with the loue of her neither durst one shewe another his griefe 11 And for shame they durst not tell her their inordinate lust that they woulde faine haue had to do with her 12 Yet they layed wayte for her earnestly from day to day that they might at the leaste haue a sight of her 13 And the one said to the other Vp let vs go home for it is dinner time So they went their way one from an other 14 When they returned againe they came together enquiring out the matter betwixt them selues yea the one tolde the other of his wicked lust Then appoynted they a time when they might take Susanna alone 15 It happened also that they spied out a conuenient time when she went foorth to walke as her maner was and no body with her but two maydens and thought to washe her selfe in the garden for it was an hot season 16 And there was not one person there except the two elders that had hid them selues to beholde her 17 So she saide to her maydens Go fet me oyle and sope and shut the orchard doore that I may washe me 18 And they did as she bad them and shut the orchard doore and went out them selues at a backe doore to fetch the thing that she had commaunded but Susanna knew not that the elders laye there hid within 19 Now when the maydens were gone foorth the two elders gat them vp and ranne vpon her saying 20 Now the orchard doores are shut that no man can see vs we haue a lust vnto thee therefore consent vnto vs and lye with vs 21 If thou wylt not we shall bring a testimonial against thee that there was a young felowe with thee that thou hast sent away thy maydens from thee for the same cause 22 Susanna sighed and saide Alas I am in trouble on euery side though I folowe your minde it wyl be my death and if I consent not vnto you I can not escape your handes 23 Wel it is better for me to fall into your hande without the deede doing then to sinne in the sight of the Lorde 24 And with that she cryed out with a loude voyce the elders also cryed out against her 25 Then ranne there one to the orchard doore and smote it open 26 Now whē the seruauntes of the house heard the crye in the orchard they russhed in at the backe doore to see what the matter was 27 So when the elders tolde them the seruauntes were greatly ashamed for why there was neuer such a report made of Susanna 28 On the morowe after came the people to Ioacim her husband and the two elders came also ful of mischeuous imaginations against Susanna to bring her vnto death 29 And spake thus before the people Send for Susanna the daughter of Helchias Ioacims Wyfe And immediatly they sent for her 30 So she came with her father and mother her children and all her kindred 31 Now Susanna was a tender person and marueylous faire of face 32 Therefore the wicked men commaunded to take her clothes from her face for she was couered that at the least they might so be satisfied in her beautie 33 Then her friendes yea and all they that knew her began to weepe 34 These two elders stoode vp in the middest of the people layed their handes vpon the head of Susanna 35 Which wept and loked vp toward heauen for her heart had a sure trust in the Lorde 36 And the elders saide As we were walking in the orchard alone this woman came in with her two maydens whom she sent away from her and sparred the orchard doores 37 With that a young felowe which there was hid came vnto her and lay with her 38 As for vs we stoode in a corner of the orchard and when we sawe this wickednes we ranne to them and we sawe them as they were together 39 But we could not holde him for he was stronger then we Thus he opened the doore and gat him away 40 Now whē we had taken this woman we asked her what young felowe this was but she would not tel vs. This is the matter we be witnesses of the same 41 The common sorte beleeued them as those that were the elders and iudges of the people so they condemned her to death 42 Susanna cryed out with a loude voyce and saide O euerlasting God thou searcher of secretes thou that knowest all thinges before they come to passe 43 Thou wottest that they haue borne false witnesse against me and behold I must dye wheras I neuer did any such thinges as these men haue maliciously inuented against me 44 And the Lorde heard her voyce 45 For when she was led foorth to death the lord raysed vp the spirite of a young childe whose name was Daniel 46 Which cryed with a loude voyce I am cleane from this blood 47 Then all the people turned towarde him saide What meane these wordes that thou hast spoken 48 Daniel stoode in the middest of them and saide are ye such fooles O ye children of Israel that ye can not discerne nor know the trueth Ye haue here condēpned a daughter of Israel vnto death and knowe not the trueth wherefore 49 Go sit in iudgement againe for they haue spoken false witnesse against her 50 Wherefore the people
destroyed Bel he hath slaine the Dragon put the priestes to death 28 So they came to the king and saide Let vs haue Daniel or els we wyll destroy thee and thyne house 29 Nowe when the king sawe that they rushed in so sore vpon him and that necessitie constrained him he deliuered Daniel vnto them 30 Which cast him into the lions denne where he was sixe dayes 31 In the denne there were seuen lions they had geuen them euery day two bodies two sheepe which then were not geuen them to the intent that they might deuoure Daniel 32 There was in Iurie a prophete called Habacuc which had made potage broken bread in a boule was going into the fielde for to bring it to the reapers 33 But the angel of the Lorde saide vnto Habacuc Go cary the meate that thou hast into Babylon vnto Daniel which is in the lions denne 34 And Habacuc saide Lorde I neuer sawe Babylon and as for the denne I know it not 35 Then the angell of the Lorde toke him by the toppe and bare him by the heere of the head and through a mightie winde set him in Babylon vpon the denne 36 And Habacuc cryed saying O Daniel thou seruaunt of God haue take the breakfast that God hath sent thee 37 And Daniel saide O God hast thou thought vpon me wel thou neuer faylest them that loue thee 38 So Daniel arose did eate And the angell of the Lorde set Habacuc in his owne place againe immediatly 39 Vpon the seuenth day the king went to be weepe Daniel and when he came to the denne he loked in and beholde Daniel sate in the middest of the lions 40 Thē cryed the king with a loude voyet saying Great art thou O Lorde God of Daniel and there is none other besides thee 41 And he drew him out of the lions den cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the denne and they were deuoured in a moment before his face 42 After this wrote the king vnto al people kinredes and tongues that dwelt in all countries 43 Saying Peace be multiplied with you My cōmaundement is in al the dominion of my realme that men feare and stand in awe of Daniels God for he is the lyuing God which endureth euer 44 His kingdome abideth vncorrupt and his power is euerlasting 45 It is he that can deliuer and saue he doth wonders and meruailous workes in heauen and in earth for he hath saued Daniel from the power of the lions ¶ The prayer of Manasses king of Iuda when he was holden captiue in Babylon O Lorde almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isahac and Iacob and of the righteous seede of them which hast made heauen and earth with al the ornament therof which hast ordained the sea by the worde of thy commaundement which hast shut vp the deepe and hast sealed it for thy fearefull and laudable name which all men feare and tremble before the face of thy power and not for the anger of thy threatning the which is importable to sinners but the mercie of thy promise is great and vnsearchable for thou art the Lorde God most high aboue all the earth long suffering and exceeding mercifull and repentaunt vpon the malice of men Thou Lord after thy goodnes hast promysed repentaunce of the remission of sinnes and thou that art the god of the righteous hast not put repentaunce to the righteous Abraham Isahac and Iacob vnto them that haue not sinned against thee but because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea and that myne iniquities are multiplied I am humbled with many bandes of iron and there is in me no breathing I haue prouoked thyne anger and haue done euil before thee in committing abhominations and multiplying offences And now I bowe the knees of my heart requiring goodnes of thee O Lord. I haue sinned Lord I haue sinned and know myne iniquitie I desire thee by prayer O Lord forgeue me forgeue me destroy me not with myne iniquities neither do thou alwayes remember myne euils to punishe them but saue me which am vnworthy after thy great mercie and I wyll prayse thee euerlastingly all the dayes of my lyfe for all the powre of heauen prayseth thee and vnto thee belongeth glory worlde without ende Amen ⧠The first booke of the Machabees The first Chapter 1 After the death of Alexander the king of Macedonia 11 Antiochus taketh the kingdome 12 Many of the children of Israel make couenaunt with the Gentiles 21 Antiochus subdueth Egypt and Hierusalem vnto his dominion 43 Hierusalem being burnt they make lawes of their owne and forbid to kepe gods lawes 50 Antiochus setteth vp an idoll ouer the aulter of God 1 AFter that Alexander king of Macedonia sonne of Phillip went forth of the lande of Cethim and slew Darius king of the Persians and Medes and raigned for him as he had done before in Grecia 2 It happened that he toke great warres in hand wanne very many strong cities and slue many kinges of the earth 3 Going through to the endes of the worlde and getting many spoyles of the people insomuch that the whole worlde stoode in awe of him and therfore was he proude in his heart 4 Now when he had gathered a mightie strong hoast 5 And subdued the landes and people with their princes so that they became tributaries vnto him 6 Then he fell sicke and when he perceaued that he must needes dye 7 He called for his noble estates which had ben brought vp with him of childrē and parted his kingdome among them while he was yet aliue 8 So Alexander raigned twelue yeres and then dyed 9 After his death fell the kingdome vnto his princes and they obtayned it euery one in his roome 10 And caused them selues to be crowned as kinges and so did their children after them many yeres and much wickednes increased in the worlde 11 Out of these came the vngratious roote noble Antiochus the sonne of Antiochus the king which had ben a pledge at Rome and he raigned in the hundred thirtie and seuen yere of the empire of the Grekes 12 In those dayes went there out of Israel wicked men which moued much people with their counsel saying Let vs go and make a couenaunt with the heathen that are rounde about vs for since we departed from them we haue had much sorowe 13 So this deuice pleased them well 14 And certaine of the people toke vpon them for to go vnto the king which gaue them licence to do after the ordinaunce of the heathen 15 Then set they vp an open schoole at Hierusalem of the lawes of the Heathen 16 And made themselues vncircumsized but forsooke the holy testament and ioyned them selues to the heathen * and were cleane soulde to do mischiefe 17 So when Antiochus began to be mightie in
before the day and brought the power of his hoast into the way to Bethzacarā where the hoastes made them redie to the battaile blowing the trumpettes 34 And to prouoke the Elephantes for to fight they shewed them the sappe of red grapes and mulberies 35 And deuided the Elephantes among the hoast so that by euery Elephant there stoode a thousand men well harnessed helmettes of steele vpon their heades yea vnto euery one of the Elephantes also were ordained fiue hundred horsemen of the best 36 Which wayted on the Elephant going wheresoeuer he went and departed not from him 37 Euery Elephant was couered with a strong towre of wood fastened thereon with instrumentes whereupon were thirtie and two valiaunt men with weapons to fight and within was a man of Inde to rule the beaste 38 As for the remnaunt of the horsemen he set them vpon both the sides in two partes with trumpettes to prouoke the hoast to stirre vp such as were slowe in the armie 39 And when the sunne shone vpon their shieldes of golde and steele the mountaines glistered againe at them were as bright as the cressets of fire 40 The kinges hoast also was deuided one parte vpon the hie mountaines the other low beneath so they went on taking good heede and keping their order 41 And all they that dwelt in the lande were afrayd at the noyse of their hoast when the multitude went foorth and when the weapons smote together for the hoast was both great and mightie 42 Iudas also and his hoast entred into the battaile and slue sixe hundred men of the kinges armie 43 Now when Eleazar the sonne of Saura did see one of the Elephantes deckt with the kinges badge and was a more goodly beast then the other he thought the king should be vpon him 44 And ieoparded him selfe to deliuer his people to get him a perpetual name 45 Wherfore he ranne with a courage vnto the Elephant in the middest of the hoast smiting them downe on both the sides and slue many about him 46 So went he to the Elephantes feete and gat him vnder him and slue him then fel the Elephant downe vpon him and there he dyed 47 Iudas also and his men seeing the power of the king and the mightie violence of his hoast departed from them 48 And the kinges armie went vp against them toward Hierusalem and pitched their tentes in Iurie beside mount Sion 49 Moreouer the king toke truice with them that were in Bethsura but whē they came out of the citie because they had no vitayles but were shut vp within and the lande lay vntilled 50 The king toke Bethsura and set men to keepe it and turned his hoast to the place of the sanctuary 51 And layed siege to it a great while where he made all maner ordinaunce handbowes firie dartes racketts to cast stones scorpions to shoote arrowes and slinges 52 The Iewes also made ordinaunce against theirs and fought a long season 53 But in the citie there were no vittailes for it was the seuenth yere of y e warres and those heathen that remayned in Iurie had eaten vp all their store 54 And in the sanctuary were fewe men left for the hunger came so vpon them that they were scattred abrode euery man to his owne place 55 So when Lysias heard that Philip whom Antiochus the king while he was yet liuing had ordained to bring vp Antiochus his sonne that he might be king 56 Was come againe out of Persia Medea with the kinges hoast and thought to obtaine the kingdome with the gouernaunce of all thinges 57 He gate him to the king in al the haste and to the captaynes of the hoast and saide We decrease dayly and our vittailes are but small Againe the place that we laye siege vnto is very strong it were our part to see for the realme 58 Let vs agree with these men and take truice with them and with al their people 59 And graunt them to lyue after their lawe as they did afore for they be greeued and do all these thinges against vs because we haue despised their lawe 60 So the king and the princes were content and sent vnto them to make peace and they receaued it 61 Now when the king and the princes had made an oth vnto them they came out of the castle 62 And the king went vp to mount Sion but when he saw that the place was well fenced he brake the oth that he had made and commaunded to destroy the wall rounde about 63 Then departed he in all the haste and returned vnto Antioch where he found Philip hauing dominion of the citie So he fought against him and toke the citie againe into his handes The .vij. Chapter 1 Demetrius raigned after he had killed Antiochus and Lysias 5 He troubleth the children of Israel through the counsel of certaine wicked persons 37 The prayer of the priestes against Nicanor 41 Iudas killeth Nicanor after he hath made his prayer 1 IN the hundred fiftie and one yere came Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus from the citie of Rome with a smal company of men vnto a citie of the sea coast and there he bare rule 2 And when he came to Antioch the citie of his progenitours his hoast toke Antiochus and Lysias to bring them vnto him 3 But when it was tolde him he saide let me not see their faces 4 So the hoast put them to death Now whē demetrius was set vpon the throne of his kingdome 5 There came vnto him wicked and vngodlie men of Israel whose captayne was Alcimus that woulde haue ben made hie priest 6 These men accused the people of Israel vnto the king saying Iudas and his brethren haue slaine thy frendes and driuen vs out of our owne lande 7 Wherfore send now some man to whō thou geuest credence that he may go and see al the destruction which he hath done vnto vs and to the kinges lande and let him be punished with all his friendes and fauourers 8 Then the king chose Bacchides a friend of his which was a man of great power in the realme beyond the water and faithful vnto the king and sent him to see the destruction that Iudas had done 9 And as for that wicked Alcimus he made him hie priest and commaunded him to be auenged of the children of Israel 10 So they departed from the king and came with a great hoast into the lande of Iuda sending messengers to Iudas and his brethren speaking vnto them with peaceable wordes but vnder disceite 11 Therefore Iudas and his people beleued not their saying for they saw that they were come with a great hoast 12 After this came the scribes together vnto Alcimus Bacchides to entreate of reasonable couenauntes 13 And the Assideans were the first among the children of Israel that required peace of them 14 Saying Alcimus the priest is come of the seede of Aaron how can
raigneth after the death of Ptolomeus 22 Sion is besieged of Ionathas 42 Demetrius seing that no man resisteth hym sendeth his armie againe 54 Tryphon moueth Antiochus against Demetrius 60 Demetrius is deliuered by the succour of Ionathas 63 After his deliueraunce he breaketh his couenaunt that he had made 1 ANd the king of Egypt gathered an hoast like the sande that lyeth vpon the sea shore and many shippes went about thorow disceyte to obtayne the kingdome of Alexander and to ioyne it vnto his owne realme 2 Vpon this he toke his iourney into Syria vsing gentle wordes so that he was letten into the cities men came foorth to meete hym for king Alexander had commaunded them so to do because he was his father in lawe 3 Nowe when Ptolomi entred into any citie he left men of warre to kepe it and this he did thorowout all the cities 4 And when he came to Azotus they shewed hym the temple of Dagon and Azotus that was brent vp with the other thinges which were destroyed the dead bodies cast abrode and the graues that they had made by the way side for such as were slayne in the fielde 5 And tolde the king that Ionathas had done all these thinges to the intent they might get him euyll will But the king sayde not one worde therto 6 And Ionathas mette the king with great honour at Ioppa where they saluted one an other and toke their rest 7 So when Ionathas had gone with the king vnto the water that was called Eleutherus he turned againe to Hierusalem 8 Nowe Ptolomi had gotten the dominion of the cities vnto Seleucia vpon the sea coast imagining wicked counsels against Alexander 9 And sent ambassadours vnto Demetrius saying Come let vs make a bonde betwixt vs so shall I geue thee my daughter that Alexander hath and thou shalt raigne in thy fathers kingdome 10 I repent that I gaue Alexander my daughter for he goeth about to slay me 11 And thus he slaundered Alexander because he woude haue had his realme 12 Thus he toke his daughter from him gaue her vnto Demetrius and forsoke Alexander so that his malice was openly knowen 13 And Ptolomi came to Antioch where he set two crownes vpon his owne head the crowne of Egypt and of Asia 14 In the meane season was king Alexander in Cilicia for they that dwelt in those places had rebelled against hym 15 But when Alexander hearde of this he came to warre against hym So king Ptolomi brought foorth his hoast and mette him with a mightie power and chased him away 16 Then fled Alexander into Arabia there to be defended and king Ptolomeus honour increased 17 And Zabdiel the Arabian smote of Alexanders head sent it vnto Ptolomi 18 But the thirde day after died king Ptolomi hym selfe and they whom he had set in the strong holdes were slayne one of another 19 And Demetrius raigned in the hundred threscore and seuenth yere 20 At the same time gathered Ionathas them that were in Iurie to lay siege vnto the castle which was at Hierusalem so they made many instrumentes of warre against it 21 Then went there certayne vngodly persons whiche hated their owne people vnto king Demetrius and told hym that Ionathas besieged the castle 22 So when he hearde it he was angry and immediatly came vnto Ptolomais wrote vnto Ionathas that he should not lay siege to the castle but come and speake with hym at Ptolomais in all haste 23 Neuerthelesse when Ionathas heard this he commaunded to besiege it He chose also certayne of the elders and priestes of Israel and put him selfe in peryll 24 And toke with him golde siluer clothing and diuers presentes and went to Ptolomais vnto the king and found◠him gracious 25 And though certayne vngodly men of his owne people made complayntes vpon him 26 Yet the king intreated him like as his predecessours had done before and promoted hym in the sight of all his friendes 27 Confirmed hym in the hye priesthood with all the worship that he had afore and made him his chiefe friend 28 Ionathas also desired the king that he woulde make Iurie free with the three head cities of Samaria and the landes perteyning therto vpon this did Ionathas promise hym three hundred talentes 29 Wherunto the king consented and gaue Ionathas wryting of the same conteyning these wordes 30 King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto his brother Ionathas and to the people of the Iewes 31 We sende you here a copie of the letter which we did write vnto our cosen Lasthenus concerning you that ye shoulde knowe it 32 King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto Lasthenus his father 33 For the faythfulnesse that our friendes the people of the Iewes kepe vnto vs and for the louing kindnesse which they beare towarde vs we are determined to do them good 34 Wherfore we assigne vnto the coastes of Iudea the three gouernemētes Afferema Lydda and Ramatha whiche are added vnto Iurie from Samaria and all the landes pertayning therevnto to be freely separated for such as do sacrifice in Hierusalem both concerning the paymentes whiche the king toke yerely aforetime the fruite also of the earth and trees 35 As for other tithes and tributes that belonged vnto vs we discharge them therof from this time foorth 36 In like maner we graunt vnto them all the customes of salt crowne taxes which were brought vnto vs and this freedome shal they haue firme and stedfast from this time foorth for euermore 37 Therefore see that ye make a copie of these our letters and deliuer it vnto Ionathas that it may be set vpon the holy mount in a conuenient place 38 After this when Demetrius the king sawe that his land was in rest and that no resistaunce was made against him he sent away all his hoast euery man to his owne place except certayne bandes of straungers whom he brought from the Iles of the heathen wherefore all his fathers hoast hated him 39 Now was ther one Tryphon that had ben of Alexanders part afore whiche when he saw that all the hoast murmured against Demetrius he went to Samalcue the Arabian that brought vp Antiochus the sonne of Alexander 40 And lay sore vpon him to deliuer hym this young Antiochus that he might raine in his fathers steade He tolde him also what great euyll Demetrius had done how his men of warre loued him not so remayned there a long season 41 And Ionathas sent vnto king Demetrius to driue them out which were in the castle at Hierusalem and those that were in the fortresses for they dyd Israel great harme 42 So Demetrius sent word vnto Ionathas saying I will not only do these thinges for thee and thy people but at time conuenient I wil do both thee and thy people great worship 43 But now thou shalt do me a pleasure if thou wilt sende me men to helpe me for all myne armie is gone fro me 44 So
castle required it of him 28 For Sostratus was the man that gathered the customes wherefore they were both called before the king 29 Thus was Menelaus put out of the priesthood Lysimachus his brother came in his steade and Sostratus left Crates ouerseer of the Cyprians 30 It happened in the meane season that the Tharsians and Mallotians made insurrection because they were geuen for a present vnto Antiochus the kinges concubine 31 Then came the king in all haste to still them againe and to pacifie the matter leauing Andronicus there to be his deputie as one meete therfore 32 Now Menelaus supposing that he had gotten a right conuenient time stole certayne vessels of golde out of the temple and gaue them to Andronicus for a present and some he solde at Tyrus and in the cities therby 33 Whiche when Onias knewe of a suretie he reproued him but he kept him in a sanctuarie beside Daphnis that lyeth by Antioche 34 Wherefore Menelaus gat hym to Andronicus and prayed him that he would slay Onias So when he came to Oui as he counseled hym craftyly to come out of the sanctuarie geuing hym his hande with an oth how be it he suspect hym and then he slue Onias without any regarde of righteousnesse 35 For the whiche cause not onely the Iewes but other nations also toke indignation and were displeased for the vnrighteous death of so godly a man 36 And when the king was come againe from Cilicia the Iewes and certayne of the Grekes went vnto hym complayning for the vnrighteous death of Onias 37 Yea Antiochus hym selfe was sory in his mynde for Onias so that it pitied him and he wept remembring his sobernesse and manerly behauour 38 Wherefore he was so kindled in his minde that he commaunded Andronicus to be stripped out of his purple clothing and so to be led throughout the citie yea and the vngratious man to be slayne in the same place where he committed his wickednesse vpon Onias Thus the Lorde rewarded him his punishement as he had deserued 39 Now when Lysimachus had done many wicked deedes in the temple thorow the counsell of Menelaus and the voyce came abrode the multitude gathered them together against Lysimachus for he had caryed out now much golde 40 So when the people arose and were full of displeasure Lysimachus armed three thousande vnthriftes to defende him a certayne tyraunt being their captayne which was growen both in age and woodnesse 41 They therefore seyng the interprise of Lysimachus caught vp some stones some blockes endes some handfulles of dust that was next at hand threwe them vpon the rebelles of Lysimachus bande that had set vpon them 42 Thus there were many of them wounded some beyng slayne and all the other chased away But as for the wicked church robber hym selfe they killed him beside the treasurie 43 Of these matters therefore there was kept a court against Menelaus 44 Now when the king came to Tyrus three men that were sent from the senate pleaded him giltie before the king 45 But Menelaus being nowe conuict went promised Ptolomi the sonne of Dorymenes to geue him much money if he woulde pacifie the king towarde him 46 So Ptolomi went to the king into a court where as he was set to coole him and brought him out of that minde 47 Insomuch that he discharged Menelaus from the accusations that notwithstanding was cause of all mischiefe and those poore men which if they had tolde their cause yea before the Scythians they shoulde haue ben iudged innocent them he condepmned to death 48 Thus were they soone punished which folowed vpon the matter for the citie for the people and for the holy vessels 49 Wherefore they also of Tyrus moued with hatred of that wicked deede caused them to be very honorably buried 50 And so through the couetousnesse of them that were in power Menelaus remayned still in aucthoritie encreasing in malice to the hurt of the citezins The .v. Chapter 2 Of the signes and tokens seene in Hierusalem 6 Of the ende and office of Iason 11 The pursute of Antiochus against the Iewes 15 The spoyling of the temple 1 ABout the same time Antiochus vndertoke his second viage into Egypt 2 And then were there seene throughout all the citie of Hierusalem fourtie dayes longe horsmen running in the ayre with robes of golde and as bandes of speare men 3 And as troupes of horsmen set in aray incountering and coursing one against another with shaking of shieldes and multitude of dartes and drawing of swordes and shooting of arrowes and the glittering of the golden armour seene and harnesse of all sortes 4 Wherefore euery man prayed that those tokens might turne to good 5 Now when there was gone foorth a false rumour as though Antiochus had ben dead Iason toke a thousand men and came sodenly vpon the citie the citezins ranne vnto the walles at the last was the citie taken and Menelaus fled into the castle 6 As for Iason he spared not his owne citezins in the slaughter neither considered he what great euill it were to destroy the prosperitie of his owne kinsemen but did as one that had gotten the victory of his enemies and not of his friendes 7 For all this gat he not the superioritie but at the last receaued confusion for his malice and fled againe lyke a vacabound into the land of the Ammonites 8 Finally for a rewarde of his wickednesse he was accused before Aretha the king of the Arabians insomuch that he was faine to flee from citie to citie being despised of euery man as a forsaker of the lawes and an abhominable person and at the last as an open enemie of his owne naturall countrey and of the citezins he was driuen into Egypt 9 Thus he that afore put many out of their owne natiue lande perished from home him selfe he went to Lacedemon thinking there to haue gotten succour by reason of kinred 10 And he that afore had caste many one out vnburied was throwen out him selfe no man mourning for him nor putting him in his graue so that he neither enioyed the buriall of a straunger neither was he partaker of his fathers sepulchre 11 Now when this was done the king suspected that the Iewes woulde haue fallen from him wherefore he came in a great displeasure out of Egypt toke the citie by violence 12 He commaunded his men of warre also that they should kill and not spare but slay downe such as withstoode them or clymed vp vpon the houses 13 Thus was there a great slaughter of young men olde men women children and virgins 14 In three dayes were there slaine fourscore thousand fourtie thousand put in prison and there were as many solde as were slaine 15 Yet was he not content with this but durst go into the most holy temple of al the worlde Menelaus that traytour to the lawes and to his owne naturall countrey being his guide 16 And with his
wicked handes toke the holy vessels which other kinges and cities had geuen thyther for the garnishing honour of the place them toke he in his handes vnworthyly and defiled them 17 So mad was Antiochus that he considered not how that God was not a litle wroth for the sinnes of them that dwelt in the citie for the which such confusion came vpon that place 18 And why if it had not happened them to haue ben lapped in many sinnes this Antiochus assoone as he had come had sodenly ben punished and shut out of his presumption like as Heliodorus was whom Seleueus the king sent to robbe the treasurie 19 Neuerthelesse God hath not chosen the people for the places sake but the place for the peoples sake 20 And therefore is the place become partaker of the peoples trouble but afterward shall it enioy the wealth of them And lyke as it was now forsaken in the wrath of almightie God so when the great God is reconsiled it shal be set vp in hie worship againe 21 So when Antiochus had taken a thousand and eyght hundred talentes out of the temple he gat him to Antioch in al the haste thinking in his pride that he might make men saile vpon the drye lande and to go vpon the sea such an hie minde had he 22 He left deputies there to vexe the people at Hierusalem left he Philip a Phrygian in maners more cruell then him selfe that set him there 23 At Garizim he left Andronicus and Menelaus which were more greeuous to the citezins then other 24 Nowe as he was thus set in malice against the Iewes he sent Apollonius a cruell prince with an armie of twentie and two thousand commaunding him to slay those that were of perfect age and to sell the women maydens and children 25 When he came now to Hierusalem he faigned peace kept him still vntill the Sabbath day and then he commaunded his men to take them to their weapons for the Iewes kept holy day 26 And so he slue all them that were gone foorth to the open play running here and there through the citie with his men weaponed and murthered a great number 27 But Iudas Machabeus which was the tenth fled into the wildernesse led his lyfe there with his company among wylde beastes and vpon the mountaynes dwelling there and eating hearbes lest they shoulde be partakers of the filthynesse The .vj. Chapter 1 The Iewes are compelled to leaue the lawe of God 4 The temple is defiled 12 The readers are admonished that they shall not abhorre the aduersitie wherewith the Lorde afflicteth them 28 The greeuous paine of Eleazarus 1 NOt longe after this sent the king an olde man of Antioch for to compell the Iewes to transgresse the ordinaunces of the fathers of the lawe of God 2 To defile the temple that was at Hierusalem and to call it the temple of Iupiter Olimpius and that they shoulde be in Garizim as those which dwel at the place of Iupiter the harberous 3 This wicked sedition of the vngodlie was heauy vpon all the people 4 For the temple was full of voluptuousnes bibbing and bolling of the heathen of rybaudes and harlots together the women went into the holy place and bare in that was not lawfull 5 The aulter also was full of vnlawfull thinges which the law forbiddeth to lay vpon it 6 The Sabbathes were not kept the other solempne feastes of the land were not regarded to be plaine there durst no man be knowē that he was a Iewe. 7 In the day of the kinges birth they were compelled parforce to offer and when the feaste of Bacchus was kept they were constrayned to weare gar landes of iuie and so to go about to the honour of Bacchus 8 Moreouer through the counsell of Ptolomeus there went out a cōmaundement vnto the next cities of the heathen against the Iewes that the lyke custome banketting should be kept 9 And who so would not conforme them selues to the maners of the Gentiles should be put to death then might a man haue seene the present miserie 10 For there were two women accused to haue circumcized their sonnes whom when they had led rounde about the citie the babes hanging at their brestes they cast them downe headlonges ouer the walles 11 Some that were crept in dennes and had kept the Sabbath were accused vnto Philip and brent in the fire because that for the feare of God they kept the commaundement so stiffely and would not defende them selues 12 Now I beseche all those which reade this booke that they refuse it not for these fals of aduersitie and iudge the thinges that are happened for no destruction but for a chastening of our people 13 And why When God suffereth not sinners long to folow their owne minde but shortly punisheth them it is a token of his great louing kindnesse 14 For this grace haue we of God more then other people That he suffreth not vs long to sinne vnpunished lyke as other nations 15 That when the day of iudgement commeth he may punishe them in the fulnes of their sinnes 16 If we sinne he correcteth vs but he neuer withdraweth his mercie from vs and though he punishe with aduersitie yet doth he neuer forsake his people 17 But let this that we haue spoken now with fewe wordes be for a warning and exhortation of the heathen Now wyll we come to the declaring of the matter 18 Eleazar one of the principall scribes an aged man and of a well fauoured countenaunce was constrained to gape with open mouth and to eate swynes fleshe 19 But he desiring rather to dye gloriously then to lyue with shame offered him selfe willingly to the martirdome 20 Now when he saw that he must nedes go to it he toke it patiently for he was at a poynt with himselfe that he would not consent to any vnlawful thing for any pleasure of lyfe 21 They that stoode by being moued with pitie but not a right for the olde frendship of the man toke him aside priuilie and prayed him that he would let such fleshe be brought him as were lawfull to eate and then to make a countenaunce as though he had eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice like as the king commaunded 22 For so he might be deliuered from death and so for the olde frendship of the man they shewed him this kindnes 23 But he began to consider discreetely and as became his age and the excellencie of his auncient yeres and the honour of his gray heares whereunto he was come and his most honest conuersation from his childhood but chiefely the holy law made and geuen by God therefore he aunswered consequently and willed them straightwayes to send him to the graue 24 For it becommeth not mine age saide he in any wyse to dissemble whereby many young persons might thinke that Eleazar being fourscore yeres olde and ten were nowe gone to a straunge religion 25
And so through myne hypocrisie for a litle time of a transitorie lyfe they might be deceaued by this meanes also should I defile myne age and make it abhominable 26 For though I were nowe deliuered from the tormentes of men yet shoulde I not escape the hand of almightie God neither aliue nor dead 27 Wherefore I wyll dye manfully and do as it becommeth myne age 28 Whereby I may peraduenture leaue an example of stedfastnes for such as be young if I with a redie minde manfully dye an honest death for the most worthy and holy lawes When he had saide these words immediatly he was drawen to the torment 29 Now they that led him and were milde a litle afore began to take displeasure because of the wordes that he saide for they thought he had spoken them of an hie minde 30 But when he was in his martirdome he mourned and saide Thou O Lorde which hast the holy knowledge knowest openly that where as I might be deliuered from death I suffer these sore paynes of my body but in my minde I am well content to suffer them because I feare thee 31 Thus this man dyed leauing the memoriall of his death for an example not onely vnto young men but vnto all the people to be stedfast and manly The .vij. Chapter The punishment of the seuen brethren and of their mother 1 IT happened also that there were seuen brethren with their mother taken and compelled by the king against the lawe to eate swines fleshe namely with scourges and leatherne whippes 2 And one of them which was the chiefe saide What seekest thou and what requirest thou of vs As for vs we are redie rather to suffer death then to offende the lawes of God and the fathers 3 Then was the king angry and bad heate cauldrons brasen pottes which when they were made hot 4 Immediately he commaunded the tongue of him that spake first to be cut out to pull the skin ouer his head to pare the edges of his handes and feete yea and that in the sight of his mother and the other of his brethren 5 Now when he was cleane mangled he cōmaunded a fire to be made and so while there was any breathin him to be fried in the cauldron In the which when he had ben long pained the other brethren with their mother exhorted him to dye manfully saying 6 The Lorde God shall regarde the trueth and comfort vs lyke as Moyses testifieth and declareth in his song saying And he wyll haue compassion on his seruauntes 7 So when the first was dead after this maner they brought the second to haue him in derision pulled the skinne with the heere ouer his head and asked him if he would eate swines flesh or he were payned in the other members also throughout his body 8 But he aunswered in his owne language and said I wyll not do it And so he was tormented lyke as the first 9 And when he was euen at the geuing vp of the ghost he sayd Thou most vngratious person puttest vs now to death but the king of the worlde shal rayse vs vp which dye for his lawes in the resurrection of euerlasting lyfe 10 After him was the third had in derision and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soone holding foorth his handes manfully 11 And spake with a stedfast faith These haue I of heauē but now for the lawes of God I despise them for my trust is that I shal receaue them of him againe 12 Insomuch that the king they which were with him marueyled at the young mans boldnes that he nothing regarded the paynes 13 Now when he was dead also they vexed the fourth with tormentes in like maner 14 So when he was now at his death he saide It is better that we being put to death of men haue our hope trust in God for he shall rayse vs vp againe as for thee thou shalt haue no resurrection to lyfe 15 And when they had spoken to the fifth they tormented him 16 Then loked he vnto the king and said Thou hast power among men for thou art a mortall man also thy selfe to do what thou wylt but thinke not that God hath forsaken our generation 17 Abide thee tary still awhile and thou shalt see the great power of God howe he wyll punishe thee and thy seede 18 After him they brought the sixt which being at the poynt of death saide Be not deceaued O king for this we suffer for our owne sakes because we haue offended our God and therefore marueylous thinges are shewed vpon vs. 19 But thinke not thou which takest in hande to striue against God that thou shalt escape vnpunished 20 This excellent mother worthy to be wel reported of had in remembraūce saw her seuen sonnes dye in one day and suffered it paciently because of the hope that she had in God Yea she exhorted euery one of them in her countrey language and that boldly and stedfastly with perfect wysdome waking vp her wiuishe thought with a manly stomake and saide vnto them 22 I can not tell howe ye sprang in my wombe for I neither gaue you breath nor soule nor lyfe it is not I that ioyned the members of your bodies together 23 But the maker of the worlde which fashioned the byrth of man and began all thinges Euen he also of his owne mercie shall geue you breath and lyfe againe lyke as ye now regard not your owne selues for his lawes sake 24 Now thought Antiochus that she had despised him therfore he let her go with her reproffes and began to exhort the youngest sonne which yet was left not onely with wordes but swore vnto him with an oth that he shoulde make him a rich and wealthy man if he would forsake the lawes of his fathers yea and that he shoulde geue him whatsoeuer were necessarie for him 25 But when the young man would not be moued for all these thinges he called his mother and counselled her to saue her sonnes lyfe 26 And when he had exhorted her with many wordes she promysed him that she would speake to her sonne 27 So she turned her vnto him laughing the cruell tyraunt to scorne and spake in her countrey language O my sonne haue pitie vpon me that bare thee nine monethes in my wombe that gaue thee sucke nourished thee and brought thee vp vnto this age 28 I beseche thee my sonne loke vpon heauen and earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them and mans generation of naught 29 So shalt thou not feare this hangman but suffer death stedfastly lyke as thy brethren haue done that I may receaue thee againe in the same mercie with thy brethren 30 While she was yet speaking these wordes the young man saide whom loke ye for wherefore do ye tary ◠I wyl not obey the kinges commaundement but the law that God gaue vs by Moyses
42 They fel downe also vnto their prayers and besought God that the fault whiche was made might be put out of remembraunce Besides that Iudas exhorted the people earnestly to kepe them selues from such sinne forsomuch as they sawe before their eyes that these men were slayne for the same offence 43 So he gathered of euery one a certayne and sent two thousande drachmes of siluer vnto Hierusalem that there might a sacrifice be offered for the misdeede In the which place he did wel and right for he had some consideration and pondring of the lyfe that is after this time 44 For if he had not thought that they whiche were slayne shoulde ryse againe it had ben superfluous and vayne to make any vowe or sacrifice for them that were dead 45 But forsomuch as he sawe that they which die in the fauour beleefe of god are in good rest and ioy he thought it to be good honorable for a reconsiling to do the same for those which were slaine that the offence might be forgeuen The .xiii. Chapter 1 The comming of Eupator into Iurie 4 The death of Menelaus 10 Machabeus goyng to fight against Eupator moueth his souldiers vnto prayer 15 He killeth fourteene thousande men in the tentes of Antiochus 21 Rhodocus the betrayer of the Iewes is taken 24 Antiochus retayned friendship with the Iewes 1 IN the hundred fourtie and nine yere gat Iudas knowledge that Antiochus Eupator was comming with a great power into iurie 2 And Lysias the stewarde and ruler of his matters with him hauing an hundred ten thousand men of foote of the Grecians fyue thousande horsemen twentie and two Elephantes and three hundred charettes set with hookes 3 Menelaus also ioyned hym selfe with them but with great disceyte spake faire to the king not for any good of the countrey but because he thought to haue ben made some great man of aucthoritie 4 But the king of kinges moued Antiochus minde against this vngodly person and Lysias enformed the king that this Menelaus was the cause of all mischiefe so that the king commaunded to bring him vnto Berea and as the maner of them is to put him vnto death in the same place 5 There was also in the same place a towre of fiftie cubites hie heaped with asshes and it had an instrument that turned rounde on euery side it rouled downe into the asshes and there whosoeuer was condempned of sacriledge or of any other greeuous crime was cast of all men vnto the death 6 Whereinto the king cōmaunded that shamefull person to be cast among the asshes as one that was cause of all vngraciousnesse 7 And reason it was that the vnthrift should dye such a death and not to be buried 8 For he had done much mischiefe vnto the aulter of God whose fire and asshes were holy therefore was it right that he him selfe also should be destroyed with asshes 9 But the king was wood in his minde and came to shew him selfe more cruell vnto the Iewes then his father was 10 Which when Iudas perceaued he commaunded the people to call vpon the Lord nyght and day that he would nowe helpe them also lyke as he had done alway for they were afraide to be put from their lawe from their natural countrey and from the holy temple 11 And not to suffer the people which a litle while afore began to recouer to be subdued againe of the blasphemous nations 12 So when they had done this together and besought the Lorde for mercie with weeping and fasting three dayes long flat vpon the grounde Iudas exhorted them to make them selues redie 13 But he and the eldest together deuised to go foorth first with the people afore the king brought his hoast into Iurie and afore he besieged the citie and so to commit the matter vnto God 14 Wherefore he committed the charge of all thinges vnto God the maker of all the worlde exhorting his people to fight manfully yea euen vnto death for the lawes the temple the citie their owne natiue countrey and to defend the citezins and he set his hoast before Modin 15 He gaue them also that were with him a token of the victory of God choosing out the manliest young men went by night into the kinges pauilion slue of the hoast fourteene thousand men and the greatest of the Elephantes with those that sate vpon him 16 Thus when they had brought a great feare and rumour among the tentes of their enemies and al thinges went prosperously with them 17 They departed in the breake of the day God being their helper and defender 18 Nowe when the king perceaued the manlinesse of the Iewes he went about to take the strong places by craft 19 And remoued his hoast vnto Bethsura which was a wel kept house of defence of the Iewes but they were chased away hurt and discomfited 20 And Iudas sent vnto them that were in it such thinges as were necessarie 21 In the Iewes hoast also there was one Rhodochus which tolde the enemies their secretes but they sought him out and when they had gotten him they put him in prison 22 After this did the king commune with them that were in Bethsura toke truice with them departed and stroke a battaile with Iudas which ouercame him 23 But when he vnderstoode that Philip whom he had left to be ouerseer of this busines at Antioch began to rebell against him he was astonied in his mind so that he yeelded him selfe to y e Iewes and made them an oth to do whatsoeuer they thought right 24 Now when he was reconciled with them he offered made much of the temple gaue great giftes vnto it 25 Embraced Machabeus making him captaine and gouernour from Ptolomais vnto the Gerrhenes 26 Neuerthelesse when he came to Ptolomais the people of the citie were not content with the bond of frendship for they were afraide that he would breake the couenaunt 27 Then went Lysias vp into the iudgement seate and excused the fact as well as he coulde and enformed the people shewed them the cause why pacified them so he came againe to Antioch This is now the matter concerning the kinges iourney and his returne The .xiiij. Chapter 1 By the motion of the Lorde Demetrius sendeth Nicanor to kill the Iewes 18 Nicanor maketh a compact with the Iewes 29 which he yet breaketh through the motion of the king 37 Nicanor commaundeth Razias to be taken 41 The boldnes of Razias 1 AFter three yeres was Iudas infourmed how that Demetrius the sonne of Seleucus was come vp with a great power and shippes through the hauen of Tripolis 2 To take certaine commodious places and countreys against Antiochus and his captaine Lysias 3 Nowe Alcimus whiche had ben hie priest and wylfully defiled him selfe in the time of the mixting seeing that by no meanes he could be helped nor haue any more entraunce to the aulter 4 He came to king Demetrius in the hundred fiftie and one yere
is written by the prophete 6 And thou Bethlehem in the lande of Iuda art not the least among the princes of Iuda For out of thee shall there come a capitain that shal gouerne my people Israel 7 Then Herode when he had priuilye called the wyse men inquired of thē diligently what tyme the starre appeared 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and sayde Go and search diligently for the young childe and when ye haue founde hym bryng me worde agayne that I may come and worship hym also 9 ☞ When they had hearde the kyng they departed and loe the starre which they sawe in the east went before them tyl it came stoode ouer the place wherin the young chylde was 10 When they sawe the starre they reioyced excedyngly with great ioy 11 And went into the house and founde the young chylde with Marie his mother and fell downe and worshypped hym and opened their treasures and presented vnto hym gyftes golde and frankensence and mirre 12 And after they were warned of God in a dreame that they shoulde not go agayne to Herode they returned into their owne countrey another way ☜ 13 When they were departed beholde the Angel of the Lord appeared to Ioseph in a dreame saying Aryse take the young chylde and his mother and flee into Egipte and be thou there tyll I bryng thee worde For it wyll come to passe that Herode shall seke y e young chylde to destroy hym 14 When he arose he toke the young chylde and his mother by nyght and departed into Egipt 15 And was there vnto the death of Herode that it myght be fulfylled whiche was spoken of the Lorde by the prophete saying Out of Egipte haue I called my sonne 16 Then Herode when he sawe that he was mocked of the wyse men was excedyng wroth and sent foorth and slew all the chyldren that were in Bethlehē and in all the coastes as many as were two yere olde or vnder according to the tyme which he had diligently searched out of the wyse men 17 Then was fulfylled that which was spoken by Ieremie the prophete saying 18 In Rama was there a voyce hearde lamentation wepyng great mournyng Rachel weping for her children and woulde not be comforted because they were not ☜ 19 ☞ But when Herode was dead beholde an Angel of the Lorde appeared to Ioseph in a dreame in Egipt saying 20 Aryse and take the young chylde and his mother and go into the lande of Israel For they are dead whiche sought the young chyldes lyfe 21 And he arose toke the young chylde and his mother came into the lande of Israel 22 But when he hearde that Archelaus dyd reigne in Iurie in the rowme of his father Herode he was afrayde to go thyther Notwithstandyng after he was warned of God in a dreame he turned aside into the parties of Galilee 23 And went and dwelt in a citie which is called Nazareth that it myght be fulfylled which was spoken by the prophetes He shal be called a Nazarite ▪ ¶ The .iij. Chapter ¶ 1 Iohns preachyng office lyfe baptisme 7 reprehendyng of the Pharisees 13 and baptizyng of Christe in Iordane 1 IN those dayes came Iohn the Baptist preachyng in the wyldernesse of Iurie and saying 2 Repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hande 3 For this is he of whom it is spoken by the prophete Esayas saying The voyce of one crying in the wyldernesse prepare ye the way of the Lorde make his pathes strayght 4 This Iohn had his rayment of Camels heere and a girdle of a skynne about his loynes his meate was locustes and wylde hony 5 Then went out to hym Hierusalem and all Iurie and all the region rounde about Iordane 6 And were baptized of hym in Iordane confessying their sinnes 7 But when he sawe many of the Pharisees and Saducees come to his baptisme he sayde vnto them O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the anger to come 8 Bryng foorth therefore fruites meete for repentaunce 9 And be not of suche mynde that ye woulde say within your selues we haue Abraham to our father For I say vnto you that God is able of these stones to rayse vp chyldren vnto Abraham 10 Euen now is the axe also put vnto the roote of the trees therefore euery tree which bryngeth not foorth good fruite is hewen downe and cast into the fire 11 I baptize you in water vnto repentaunce But he that shall come after me is mightier then I whose shoes I am not worthy to beare he shall baptize you with the holy ghost and with fire 12 Whose fanne is in his hande and he wyll purge his floore and gather his wheate into his garner but wyl burne vp the chaffe with vnquencheable fire 13 Then commeth Iesus from Galilee to Iordane vnto Iohn to be baptized of hym 14 But Iohn forbad hym saying I haue nede to be baptized of thee and commest thou to me 15 Iesus aunsweryng sayde vnto hym Suffer it to be so nowe For thus it becommeth vs to fulfyll all righteousnes Then he suffred hym 16 And Iesus when he was baptized came strayghtwaye out of the water and loe the heauens was open vnto hym and Iohn sawe the spirite of God descendyng lyke a doue and lyghtyng vpon hym 17 And loe there came a voyce from the heauens saying This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased ¶ The .iiij. Chapter ¶ 1 Christe fasteth is tempted 17 he begynneth to preache 18 he calleth Peter Andrewe Iames and Iohn and healeth all the sicke 1 THen was Iesus ledde away of the spirite into wyldernesse to be tempted of the deuyll 2 And when he had fasted fourtie dayes and fourtie nightes he was afterwarde an hungred 3 And when the tempter came to hym he sayde If thou be the sonne of God commaunde that these stones be made breade 4 But he aunswered and sayde it is written Man shall not lyue by breade only but by euery worde that proceadeth out of the mouth of God 5 Then the deuyll taketh hym vp into the holy citie and setteth hym on a pinacle of the temple 6 And saith vnto hym If thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe For it is written He shall geue his Angels charge ouer thee with their handes they shall lyft thee vp lest at any tyme thou dashe thy foote agaynst a stone 7 And Iesus sayde to hym It is written agayne Thou shalt not tempt the Lorde thy God 8 Agayne the deuyll taketh hym vp into an exceadyng hye mountayne and sheweth hym all the kyngdomes of the worlde and the glorie of them 9 And sayth vnto hym All these wyll I geue thee yf thou wylt fall downe and worshyp me 10 Thē sayth Iesus vnto hym Auoyde Sathan For it is written Thou shalt worshyp the Lorde thy God and hym
witnesse For we our selues haue hearde of his owne mouth ⧠The .xxiij. Chapter 1 Iesus is accused before Pilate and is sent to Herode 8 Herode mocketh hym 25 Barabbas set at libertie Iesus geuen to be crucified â—â— Simon of Cyrene 27 The women lament Christe crucified â—â— he prayeth for his enemies 40 One of the thieues rayleth on hym 4â— and the other is saued by fayth 46 He geueth vp the ghost and is buryed 1 AND the whole multitude of them arose ledde him vnto Pilate 2 And they began to accuse him saying We founde this felow peruerting the people and forbyddyng to paye tribute to Caesar saying that he is Christe a kyng 3 And Pilate apposed hym saying Art thou the kyng of the Iewes He aunswered hym and saide Thou sayest it 4 Then sayde Pilate to the hye priestes and to the people I fynde no fault in this man 5 And they were the more fierce saying He moueth y e people teachyng throughout al Iurie and began at Galilee euen to this place 6 When Pilate hearde mention of Galilee he asked whether the man were of Galilee 7 And assoone as he knewe that he belonged vnto Herodes iurisdiction he sent hym to Herode whiche was also at Hierusalem at that tyme. 8 And wheÌ„ Herode sawe Iesus he was exceeding glad For he was desirous to see hym of a long season because he had hearde many thynges of hym and he trusted to haue seene some miracle done by hym 9 Then he questioned with hym many wordes But he aunswered hym nothyng 10 The hye priestes and scribes stoode foorth and accused hym straytely 11 And Herode with his men of warre despised him â–ª and when he had mocked hym he arayed him in whyte clothyng and sent hym agayne to Pilate 12 And the same day Pilate and Herode were made friendes together For before they were at variaunce 13 And Pilate called together the hye priestes and the rulers and the people 14 And sayde vnto theÌ„ Ye haue brought this man vnto me as one y t peruerteth the people and behold I examine him before you fynde no fault in this man of those thinges wherof ye accuse hym 15 No nor yet Herode For I sent you to hym and loe nothyng worthy of death is done to hym 16 I wyll therfore chasten hym and let hym loose 17 For of necessitie he must haue let one loose vnto them at the feast 18 And all the people cryed at once saying Away with him and deliuer to vs Barabbas 19 Which for a certaine insurrection made in the citie and for murther was cast in pryson 20 Pilate spake agayne to them wyllyng to let Iesus loose 21 But they cryed saying Crucifie hym crucifie hym 22 He sayde vnto them the thirde tyme What euyll hath he done I fynde no cause of death in hym I wyll therefore chasten hym and let hym go 23 And they were instant with loude voyces requiryng that he might be crucified And the voyces of them and of the hye priestes preuayled 24 And Pilate gaue senteÌ„ce that it should be as they required 2â— And he let loose vnto them him that for insurrection and murther was caste into prison whom they had desired he deliuered vnto them Iesus to do with hym what they woulde 26 And as they ledde hym awaye they caught one SimoÌ„ of Cyrene comming out of the fielde and on hym layde they the crosse that he myght beare it after Iesus 27 And there folowed hym a great companie of people and of women which bewayled and lamented hym 28 But Iesus turned backe vnto them and sayde Ye daughters of Hierusalem wepe not for me but wepe for your selues and for your chyldren 29 For beholde the dayes wyll come in the which they shall say happy are the barren the wombes that neuer bare the pappes which neuer gaue sucke 30 Then shall they begyn to saye to the mountaynes fall on vs to the hylles couer vs. 31 For if they do these thinges in a greene tree what shal be done in the drye 32 And there were two euyll doers ledde with hym to be slayne 33 And after that they were come to the place whiche is called Caluarie there they crucified hym and the euyll doers one on the right hande and the other on the lefte 34 Then saide Iesus father forgeue theÌ„ for they wote not what they do And they parted his rayment cast lottes 35 And the people stoode and behelde and the rulers mocked hym with them saying He saued other men let hym saue hym selfe yf he be very Christe the chosen of God 36 The souldiours also mocked him and came and offred hym vineger 37 And sayde If thou be the kyng of the Iewes saue thy selfe 38 And a superscriptioÌ„ was written ouer hym with letters of greke and latine hebrue This is the kyng of the Iewes 39 And one of the euyll doers whiche were hanged rayled on hym saying yf thou be Christe saue thy selfe vs. 40 But the other aunswered and rebuked him saying Fearest thou not God seing thou art in the same dampnation 41 We are righteously punyshed for we receaue accordyng to our deedes But this man hath done nothyng amisse 42 And he sayde vnto Iesus Lorde remember me when thou commest into thy kyngdome 43 And Iesus sayde vnto hym Verylye I saye vnto thee to daye shalt thou be with me in paradise 44 And it was about the sixte houre and there was a darknesse ouer al the earth vntyll the ninth houre 45 And the sunne was darkned and the vayle of the temple dyd rent euen thorowe the myddes 46 And when Iesus had cryed with a loude voyce he sayde Father into thy handes I commende my spirite And when he thus had saide he gaue vp the ghost 47 When the Centurion saw what was done he glorified God saying Veryly this was a ryghteous man 48 And all the people that came together to that syght sawe the thinges which were done smote their brestes and returned 49 And all his acquaintaunce and the women that folowed him from Galilee stode a farre of beholding these thinges 50 And beholde there was a man named Ioseph a councellour and he was a good man and a iuste 51 The same hadde not consented to the councell and deede of them which was of Aramathia a citie of the Iewes which same also wayted for the kyngdome of God 52 He went vnto Pilate and begged the body of Iesus 53 And toke it downe and wrapped it in a linnen cloth and layde it in a sepulchre that was hewen in stone wherin neuer man before was layde ☜ 54 And that day was the preparyng of the Sabboth the Sabboth drew on 55 The womeÌ„ that folowed after which had come with hym from Galilee behelde the sepulchre and howe his body was layde 56 And they returned prepared sweete odours and oyntmentes but
vp to Hierusalem 16 There went with vs also certayne of the disciples of Cesarea brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus an olde disciple with whom we shoulde lodge 17 And when we were come to Hierusalem the brethren receaued vs gladly 18 And on the morowe Paule went in with vs vnto Iames and all the elders came together 19 And when he had saluted them he tolde by order all thinges that God had wrought among the gentiles by his ministerie 20 And when they hearde it they glorified the Lorde sayde vnto hym Thou seest brother howe many thousande Iewes there are which beleue they are all earnest folowers of the lawe 21 And they are infourmed of thee that thou teachest all the Iewes whiche are among the Gentiles to forsake Moyses and sayest that they ought not to circūcise their chyldren neither to walke after the customes 22 What is it therefore The multitude must needes come together For they shall heare that thou art come 23 Do therfore this that we saye to thee We haue foure men which haue a vow on them 24 Them take purifie thy selfe with them and do coste on them that they may shaue their heades And all shall knowe that those thynges whiche they haue hearde concernyng thee are nothyng but that thou thy selfe also walkest and kepest the lawe 25 As touchyng the Gentiles which beleue we haue written and concluded that they obserue no suche thyng saue only that they kepe them selues from thynges offered to idoles from blood and from strangled from fornication 26 Then Paul toke the men and the next day purifiyng hym selfe with them entred into the temple declaryng the accomplishement of the dayes of the purification vntyll that an offeryng should be offered for euery one of them 27 And when the seuen dayes were almost ended the Iewes which were of Asia when they sawe hym in the temple moued al the people layde handes on hym 28 Crying Men of Israel helpe This is the man that teacheth all men euery where against the people and the lawe and this place He hath also brought Grekes into the temple and hath polluted this holy place 29 For they had seene before with hym in the citie Trophimus an Ephesian whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple 30 And all the citie was moued and the people swarmed together And they toke Paul drewe hym out of the temple foorthwith the doores were shut 31 And as they went about to kyll hym tydynges came vnto the hye captaine of the souldiers that all Hierusalem was in an vprore 32 Which immediatly toke souldiers and vnder captaines and ran downe vnto them And when they sawe the vpper captaine and the souldiers they left smytyng of Paul 33 Then the chiefe captaine came neare toke hym and cōmaunded hym to be bounde with two chaynes demaunded who he was what he had done 34 And some cryed one thyng some another among the people And when he coulde not knowe the certaintie for the rage he commaunded him to be caryed into the castle 35 And when he came vpon the stayres it was so that he was borne of the souldyers for the violence of the people 36 For the multitude of the people folowed after crying away with hym 37 And when Paul began to be caryed into the castle he saide vnto the hye captaine May I speake vnto thee Who sayde Canst thou speake Greke 38 Art not thou that Egyptian which before these dayes madest an vprore and leddest out into the wyldernesse foure thousande men that were murtherers 39 But Paul saide I am a man which am a Iewe of Tarsus a citie in Cilicia a citezin of no vyle citie and I beseche the suffer me to speake vnto the people 40 And when he had geuen hym licence Paul stoode on the stayres beckened with y e hande vnto the people And whē there was made a great scilēce he spake vnto them in the Hebrue tongue saying ¶ The .xxij. Chapter 3 Paul rendereth an accompt of his lyfe and doctrine 25 he escapeth the whyppe by reason he was a citezin of Rome 1 MEn brethren fathers heare ye mine aunswer whiche I make vnto you 2 And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrue tongue to thē they kept y e more scilence And he saith 3 I am verily a man which am a Iewe borne in Tarsus in Cilicia and yet brought vp in this citie at y e feete of Gamaliel and infourmed accordyng to the perfect maner of the lawe of y e fathers and was zelous towarde God as ye all are this same day 4 And I persecuted this way vnto the death byndyng delyueryng into prison both men and women 5 As also the chiefe priest doth beare me witnesse and all the estate of the elders of whom also I receaued letters vnto the brethren and went to Damascus to bryng them whiche were there bounde vnto Hierusalem for to be punisshed 6 And it came to passe that as I made my iourney was come nye vnto Damascus about noone sodeinly there shone from heauen a great light rounde about me 7 And I fell vnto the earth and hearde a voyce saying vnto me Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 8 And I aunswered Who art thou Lorde And he sayde vnto me I am Iesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest 9 And they that were with me sawe veryly a lyght and were afrayde but they hearde not the voyce of hym that spake with me 10 And I saide What shall I do Lord And the Lorde sayde vnto me Aryse and go into Damascus there it shal be tolde thee of all thynges whiche are appoynted for thee to do 11 And when I sawe nothyng for the bryghtnesse of the lyght I was ledde by the hande of thē that were with me and came into Damascus 12 And one Ananias a deuout man as perteynyng to the lawe hauyng a good report of all the Iewes whiche there dwelt 13 Came vnto me and stoode and sayde vnto me Brother Saul receaue thy syght And the same houre I receaued my syght and sawe hym 14 And he said The God of our fathers hath ordeyned thee before that thou shouldest knowe his wyll and see that iuste one and shouldest heare the voyce of his mouth 15 For thou shalt be his witnesse vnto all men of those thynges which thou hast seene and hearde 16 And nowe why taryest thou aryse be baptized wasshe away thy sinnes in callyng on the name of the Lorde 17 And it came to passe that whē I was come agayne to Hierusalem and prayed in the temple I was in a traunce 18 And sawe him saying vnto me Make haste and get thee quickly out of Hierusalem for they wyl not receaue thy witnesse concernyng me 19 And I sayde Lord they knowe that I prisoned and beat in euery synagogue them that beleued on
thee 20 And when the blood of thy wytnesse Steuen was shedde I also stoode by and consented vnto his death and kept the rayment of them that slue hym 21 And he sayde vnto me depart for I wyll sende thee farre hence vnto the gentiles 22 And they gaue him audience vnto this worde and then lift vp their voyces and sayde away with suche a felowe from the earth for it is no reason y t he shoulde lyue 23 And as they cryed and caste of their clothes and threwe dust into the ayre 24 The chiefe captaine cōmaunded hym to be brought into the castle bade that he shoulde be scourged and examined that he myght knowe wherefore they cryed so on hym 25 And as they boūde him with thonges Paul saide vnto y e Centurion that stoode by Is it lawfull for you to scourge a man that is a Romane and vncondempned 26 When the Centurion hearde that he went and tolde the vpper captaine saying Take heede what thou doest for this man is a Romane 27 Then the vpper captaine came saide vnto him Tel me art thou a Romane He sayde yea 28 And the chiefe captaine aunswered With a great summe obteyned I this freedome And Paul saide I was free borne 29 Then strayghtway departed frō him they which should haue examined him And the hie captaine also was afrayde after he knew that he was a Romane and because he had bounde hym 30 On the morowe because he woulde haue knowen the certaintie wherefore he was accused of the Iewes he loosed hym from his bandes and commaunded the hye priestes all the counsell to come together brought Paul foorth and set hym before them ¶ The .xxiij. Chapter 1 Paul commeth before the counsell 2 Ananias causeth hym to be striken 12 the captayne deliuereth hym 11 God comforteth hym 23 he is sent to Cesarea 1 AND Paul earnestlie beholdyng the counsell saide Men brethren I haue lyued in al good conscience before God vntyll this day 2 And y e hye priest Ananias commaunded thē that stoode by to smyte hym on the mouth 3 Then sayde Paul vnto him God shall smite thee thou paynted wall For sittest thou iudgest me after the lawe cōmaundest me to be smitten contrary to the lawe 4 And they that stoode by sayde Reuilest thou Gods hye priest 5 Then sayde Paul I wyst not brethren that he was the hye priest For it is written * Thou shalt not curse the ruler of thy people 6 But when Paul perceaued that the one part were saducees and the other pharisees he cryed out in the counsell Men and brethren I am a pharisee the sonne of a pharisee Of the hope resurrection of the dead I am iudged 7 And when he had so sayde there arose a debate betwene the pharisees and the saducees the multitude was deuided 8 For the saducees say that there is no resurrection neither Angel nor spirite But the pharisees confesse both 9 And there arose a great crye and whē the scribes which were of the pharisees part arose they stroue saying We fynde none euyll in this man But yf a spirite or an Angel hath spoken to hym let vs not striue agaynst God 10 And when there arose a great debate the chiefe captayne fearyng lest Paul shoulde haue ben pluckt asunder of thē cōmaunded the souldiers to go downe and to take him from among them and to bryng hym into the castle 11 And the nyght folowyng the Lorde stoode by hym and sayde Be of good cheare Paul for as thou hast testified of me in Hierusalem so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome 12 And when it was day certayne of the Iewes gathered them selues together and made a vowe saying that they woulde neither eate nor drynke tyl they had kylled Paul 13 And they were mo then fourtie men which had made this conspiracie 14 And they came to the chiefe priestes and elders and sayde We haue bounde our selues with a vowe that we wyll eate nothyng vntyll we haue slayne Paul 15 Nowe therfore geue ye knowledge to the vpper captayne and to the counsell that he bryng hym foorth vnto you to morrowe as though ye woulde knowe somethyng more perfectly of hym And we or euer he come neare are redy to kyll hym 16 And when Paules sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite he went entred into the castle and tolde Paul 17 And Paul called one of the vnder captaynes vnto hym and sayde Bryng this young man vnto the hye captayne for he hath a certayne thyng to shewe hym 18 And he toke hym and brought hym to the hye captayne and sayde Paul the prisoner called me vnto him and prayed me to bryng this young man vnto thee which hath a certayne matter to shewe thee 19 Then the hye captayne toke hym by the hande and went with hym out of the way and asked hym What is it that thou hast to tell me 20 And he sayde The Iewes are determined to desire thee that thou wouldest bryng foorth Paul to morowe into the counsell as though they would enquire somewhat of hym more perfectly 21 But folowe not thou their myndes For there lye in wayte for him of them mo thē fourtie men which haue bounde them selues with a vowe that they will neither eate nor drynke tyll they haue kylled hym And nowe are they redy and loke that thou shouldest promise 22 The vpper captayne then let y e young man depart and charged hym see thou tell it out to no man that thou hast shewed these thynges to me 23 And he called vnto hym two vnder captaynes saying Make redy two hundred souldyers to go to Cesarea and horsmen threescore and ten and spearemen two hundred at the thirde houre of the nyght 24 And delyuer them beastes that they may set Paul on and bryng hym safe vnto Felix the hye deputie 25 And he wrote a letter after this maner 26 Claudius Lysias vnto the most mightie ruler Felix sendeth greetinges 27 This man was taken of the Iewes and shoulde haue ben kylled of them Then came I with souldeirs rescued hym and perceaued that he was a Romane 28 And whē I would haue knowen the cause wherfore they accused hym I brought hym foorth into their counsell 29 Whom I perceaued to be accused of questions of their lawe but was not gyltie of any thyng worthy of death or of bondes 30 And when it was shewed me howe that the Iewes layde wayte for the man I sent hym strayghtway to thee and gaue commaundement to his accusers that the thynges which they haue agaynst hym they shoulde tell before thee Fare well 31 Then the souldyers as it was commaunded them toke Paul and brought hym by nyght to Antipatris 32 On the morowe they left the horsmen to go with hym and returned vnto the castle 33 Which when they came to Cesarea and delyuered the epistle to the deputie
of one shall many be made ryghteous 20 But the lawe in the meane tyme entred in that sinne shoulde encrease But where sinne was plenteous grace was more plenteous 21 That as sinne hath raigned vnto death euen so myght grace raigne thorowe ryghteousnes vnto eternall lyfe by Iesus Christe our Lorde ¶ The .vj. Chapter 5 Newnesse of lyfe foloweth iustification to the which he exhorteth 1 WHat shall we saye then Shall we continue in sinne that grace maye abound God forbyd 2 Howe shall we that are dead to sinne lyue any longer therin 3 ☞ Knowe ye not that all we whiche haue ben baptized into Iesus Christe haue ben baptized into his death 4 We are buryed then with him by baptisme into his death that lykewyse as Christe was raysed vp from the dead by the glorie of the father euen so we also shoulde walke in newnesse of lyfe 5 For if we be graft together by the likenesse of his death euen so shall we be partakers of the resurrection 6 Knowyng this that our olde man is crucified with hym also that the body of sinne might vtterly be destroyed that hencefoorth we shoulde not serue sinne 7 For he that is dead is iustified from sinne 8 And yf we be dead with Christe we beleue that we shall also lyue with him 9 Knowyng that Christe beyng raysed from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more power ouer hym 10 For as touchyng that he dyed he dyed concerning sinne once And as touching that he lyueth he lyueth vnto God 11 Lykewyse recken your selues to be dead to sinne but alyue vnto God thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde ☜ 12 Let not sinne raigne therefore in your mortall bodie that ye shoulde thervnto obey by the lustes of it 13 Neither geue ye your members as instrumentes of vnryghteousnesse vnto sinne but geue your selues vnto God as they that are alyue from the dead and your members as instrumentes of ryghteousnesse vnto God 14 For sinne shall not haue power ouer you because ye are not vnder y e lawe but vnder grace 15 What then Shall we sinne because we are not vnder the lawe but vnder grace God forbyd 16 ☞ Knowe ye not how that to whom soeuer ye commit your selues as seruauntes to obey his seruauntes ye are to whom ye obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obedience vnto ryghteousnesse 17 But God be thanked that ye were the seruaūtes of sinne but ye haue obeyed with heart the fourme of doctrine into the which ye were brought vnto 18 Being then made free frō sinne ye are become y e seruauntes of ryghteousnesse 19 ☞ I speake after the maner of men because of the infirmitie of your fleshe As ye haue geuen your members seruauntes to vncleannesse and iniquitie vnto iniquitie euen so nowe geue your members seruauntes to righteousnesse vnto holynesse 20 For when ye were the seruauntes of sinne ye were free from ryghteousnesse 21 What fruite had ye then in those thynges wherof ye are nowe ashamed For the ende of those thynges is death 22 But nowe ye beyng made free from sinne and made the seruauntes of God haue your fruite vnto holynesse and the ende euerlastyng lyfe 23 For the rewarde of sinne is death but the gyft of God is eternall lyfe thorowe Iesus Christe our Lorde ☜ ¶ The .vij. Chapter 1.7.12 The vse of the lawe 24 from the which Christe hath delyuered vs. 23 The fyght betwene the lawe of the fleshe and the lawe of the spirite 1 KNowe ye not brethrē for I speake to thē that knowe the lawe how that the law hath power ouer a mā as long as he lyueth 2 For*the woman which is in subiectiō to a man is bounde by the lawe to the man as long as he lyueth But yf the man be dead she is loosed from thē lawe of the man 3 So then*yf whyle the man lyueth she couple her selfe with another man she shal be counted a wedlocke breaker But yf the man be dead she is free from the law so that she is no wedlocke breaker though she couple her selfe with another man 4 Euen so ye also my brethren are dead concernyng the lawe by the body of Christe that ye shoulde be coupled to another who is raysed from the dead that we shoulde bryng foorth fruite vnto God 5 For when we were in the fleshe the lustes of sinne whiche were by the lawe wrought in our members to bring forth fruite vnto death 6 But nowe are we delyuered from the lawe and dead vnto it whervnto we were in bondage that we shoulde serue in newenesse of spirite and not in the oldnesse of the letter 7 What shall we say then Is the lawe sinne God forbyd Neuerthelesse I knewe not sinne but by the lawe For I had not knowen lust except the lawe had sayde thou shalt not lust 8 But sinne takyng occasion by the commaundement wrought in me all maner of concupiscence For without the lawe sinne was dead 9 I once lyued without lawe But when the commaundement came sinne reuyued 10 And I was dead And the very same commaundemēt which was ordeyned vnto lyfe was founde to be vnto me an occasion of death 11 For sinne takyng occasion by the commaundement hath deceaued me and by the same slewe me 12 Wherfore * the lawe is holy and the commaundement holy iust and good 13 Was that then which was good made death vnto me God forbyd But sinne that sinne myght appeare by that which was good to worke death in me that sinne by y e commaundement myght be out of measure sinfull 14 For we knowe that the lawe is spirituall but I am carnall solde vnder sinne 15 For that which I do I alowe not For what I woulde that do I not but what I hate that do I. 16 If I do nowe that which I woulde not I consent vnto the lawe that it is good 17 Nowe then it is not I that do it but sinne that dwelleth in me 18 For I knowe that in me that is to say in my fleshe dwelleth no good thyng For to wyll is present with me but I fynde no meanes to perfourme that which is good 19 For the good that I woulde do I not But the euyll which I woulde not that do I. 20 And yf I do that I woulde not then is it not I that doth it but sinne that dwelleth in me 21 I fynde then by the lawe that when I woulde do good euyll is present with me 22 For I delite in the lawe of God after the inwarde man 23 But I see another lawe in my members rebellyng agaynst the lawe of my mynde and subduyng me vnto the lawe of sinne which is in my members 24 O wretched man that I am Who shall deliuer me from the body of this death 25 I thanke God through Iesus Christe our Lorde So then with the mynde I my selfe serue the lawe of God
which I preached vnto you which also ye haue receaued and wherin ye cōtinue 2 By the which also ye are saued yf ye kepe in memorie after what maner I preached vnto you except ye haue beleued in vayne 3 For first of all I deliuered vnto you that which I receaued howe that * Christe dyed for our sinnes agreeyng to the scriptures 4 And that he was buryed and that he arose agayne the thirde day accordyng to the scriptures 5 And that he was seene of Cephas then of the twelue 6 After that he was seene of mo then fiue hundred brethren at once of which many remayne vnto this day some are fallen a slepe 7 After that he was seene of Iames then of all the Apostles 8 And last of all he was seene of me as of one borne out of due tyme. 9 For I am the least of the Apostles which am not worthy to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Churche of God 10 But by the grace of God I am that I am And his grace which is in me was not in vayne But I laboured more aboundauntly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which is with me 11 Therfore whether it were I or they so we preache and so haue ye beleued 12 ☞ If Christe be preached howe that he rose from the dead howe say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead 13 If there be no rysyng agayne of the dead then is Christe not rysen agayne 14 If Christe be not rysen agayne then is our preachyng vayne and your fayth is also vayne 15 Yea and we are founde false witnesses of God For we haue testified of God howe that he raysed vp Christe whom he raysed not vp yf it be so that the dead ryse not agayne 16 For yf the dead ryse not agayne then is not Christe rysen agayne 17 If it be so that Christ rose not againe then is your fayth vayne and ye are yet in your sinnes 18 Therfore they which are fallen in a slepe in Christe are perisshed 19 If in this lyfe only we haue hope on Christe then are we of all men moste miserable 20 But nowe is Christe rysen from the dead the first fruites of them that slept 21 For since by man came death euen so by man came the resurrection of y e dead 22 For as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made alyue 23 But euery man in his owne order ☜ The first fruites is Christe afterward they that are Christes at his commyng 24 Then commeth the ende when he hath deliuered vp the kingdome to God the father when he hath put downe all rule and all auctoritie and power 25 For he must raigne tyll he haue put all his enemies vnder his feete 26 The last enemie that shal be destroyed is death 27 For he hath put downe all thynges vnder his feete But when he saith all thynges are vnder hym it is manifest that he is excepted which dyd put all thynges vnder hym 28 When all thynges are subdued vnto hym then shall the sonne also hym selfe be subiect vnto him that put all thinges vnder hym that God may be all in all 29 Els what shall they do which are baptized for the dead yf the dead ryse not at all 30 Why are they then baptized for them And why stande we in ieopardie euery houre 31 By our reioycyng which I haue in Christe Iesu our Lorde I dye dayly 32 If I haue fought with beastes at Ephesus after the maner of men what auauntageth it me yf the dead ryse not agayne * Let vs eate drynke for to morowe we shall dye 33 Be not deceaued Euyll wordes corrupt good maners 34 Awake truely out of slepe and sinne not For some haue not the knowledge of God I speake this to your shame 35 But some man wyll say howe are the dead raysed vp With what bodie shall they come 36 Thou foole that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dye 37 And that which thou sowest thou sowest not that body that shal be but bare corne as of wheate or of some other 38 But God geueth it a body at his pleasure to euery seede his owne body 39 ☞ All flesshe is not the same flesshe But there is one maner of flesshe of mē another flesshe of beastes another of fisshes and another of byrdes 40 There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial But the glorie of the celestial is one and the glorie of the terrestrial another 41 There is another glorie of the sunne and another glorie of the moone and another glorie of the starres For one starre differeth from another starre in glorie 42 So is the resurrection of the dead It is sowen in corruption it ryseth in incorruption 43 It is sowen in dishonour it riseth in honour It is sowen in weakenesse it ryseth in power 44 It is sowen a naturall bodie it ryseth a spirituall bodie There is a naturall bodie and there is a spirituall bodie 45 As it is also written The first man Adam was made a lyuyng soule and the last Adam was made a quickenyng spirite 46 Howebeit that is not first whiche is spirituall but that whiche is naturall and then that whiche is spirituall ☜ 47 The first man is of the earth earthy the seconde man is the Lorde from heauen 48 As is the earthy suche are they that are earthy And as is the heauenly such are they also that are heauenly 49 And as we haue borne the image of the earthy so shall we beare the image of the heauenly 50 This saye I brethren that fleshe and blood can not inherite the kyngdome of God Neither doth corruption inherite incorruption 51 Beholde I shewe you a misterie We shall not all slepe but we shall all be chaunged 52 In a moment in the twynklyng of an eye at the last trumpe For the trumpe shall blowe and the dead shall ryse incorruptible and we shal be chaunged 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortalitie 54 When this corruptible hath put on incorruption and this mortal hath put on immortalitie then shal be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swalowed vp into victorie 55 O death where is thy stynge O hell where is thy victorie 56 The stynge of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the lawe 57 * But thankes be vnto God whiche hath geuē vs victorie through our Lord Iesus Christe 58 Therfore my beloued brethren be ye stedfast vnmouable alwayes riche in the worke of the Lorde forasmuch as ye knowe that your labour is not in vayne in the Lorde ¶ The .xvj. Chapter 1 He putteth them in remembraunce of the gatheryng for the poore brethren at Hierusalem 13 We must perseuer in fayth in the loue of Christe and of our neyghbour
and casteth no man in the teeth and it shal be geuen hym 6 But let hym aske in fayth nothyng waueryng For he that wauereth is like a waue of the sea tost of the wynde and caryed with violence 7 Neither let that man thynke that he shall receaue any thyng of the Lorde 8 A double mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes 9 Let the brother of lowe degree reioyce in that he is exalted 10 Agayne the riche â—n that he is made lowe Because as the flowre of the grasse he shall passe away 11 For the sunne hath rysen with heate and the grasse hath withered and his flowre hath fallen away the beautie of the fashion of it hath perished So also shall the ryche man fade away in his wayes 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation For when he is tryed he shall receaue the crowne of lyfe which the Lorde hath promised to them that loue hym ☜ 13 Let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God can not be tempted with euyl neither tempteth he any man 14 But euery man is tempted when he is drawen away entised of his owne concupiscence 15 Then when lust hath conceaued it bryngeth foorth sinne and sinne when it is finished bryngeth foorth death 16 Do not erre my deare brethren 17 * ☞ Euery good geuyng and euery perfect gyft is from aboue and coÌ„meth downe from the father of lyghtes with whoÌ„ is no variablenes neither shadow of turnyng 18 Of his owne wyll begat he vs with the worde of trueth that we shoulde be the first fruites of his creatures 19 Wherfore my deare brethreÌ„ let euery man be swyft to heare slowe to speake slowe to wrath 20 For the wrath of man worketh not that which is ryghteous before God 21 Wherfore lay apart all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnes and receaue with mekenesse the worde that is graffed in you which is able to saue your soules ☜ 22 ☞ And be ye doers of the worde and not hearers only deceauyng your owne selues 23 For yf any be a hearer of the worde and not a doer he is lyke vnto a man beholdyng his bodyly face in a glasse 24 For he hath considered hym selfe and is gone his wayes hath forgotten immediatly what his fashion was 25 But who so loketh in the perfect lawe of libertie and continueth therin he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke shal be blessed in his deede 26 If any man among you seeme to be deuout and refrayneth not his tongue but deceaueth his owne heart this mans deuotion is vayne 27 Pure deuotion and vndefyled before God and the father is this To visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in their aduersitie and to kepe hym selfe vnspotted of the worlde ☜ ¶ The .ij Chapter 1 He forbiddeth to haue any respect of persons 5 but to regarde the poore aswell as the riche 8 to be louyng and merciful 14 and not to boast of faith where no deedes are 17 for it is but a dead fayth where good workes folowe not 1 MY brethren haue not the fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christe the Lord of glorie with respect of persons 2 For yf there come into your companie a man wearing a golde ryng clothed in goodly apparell and there come in also a poore man in vile rayment 3 And ye haue a respect to hym that weareth the gay clothyng and say vnto hym sitte thou here in a good place say vnto the poore stande thou there or sitte here vnder my footestoole 4 Are ye not partiall in your selues and are made iudges of euyll thoughtes 5 Hearken my deare beloued brethren Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde such as are riche in fayth and heyres of the kyngdome which he promised to them that loue hym 6 But ye haue despised the poore Do not riche men oppresse you by tirannie and drawe you before the iudgementes seates 7 Do not they blaspheme that good name by the which you are named 8 If ye fulfyll the royal lawe according to the scripture * thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe ye do well 9 But yf ye regarde one person more then another ye commit sinne and are rebuked of the lawe as transgressours 10 Whosoeuer shal kepe the whole lawe and yet fayle in one poynt he is gyltie of all 11 For he that sayde thou shalt not commit adulterie sayde also thou shalt not kyll Though thou do none adulterie yet yf thou kyll thou art become a transgressour of the lawe 12 So speake ye and so do as they that shal be iudged by the lawe of libertie 13 For he shall haue iudgement without mercie * that sheweth no mercie And mercie reioyceth agaynst iudgement ☜ 14 What profiteth it my brethren though a man say he hath fayth and hath not deedes Can fayth saue hym 15 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode 16 And one of you say vnto them depart in peace be you warmed and fylled notwithstandyng ye geue them not those thinges which are nedefull to the body what shall it profite 17 Euen so fayth yf it haue not deedes is dead in it selfe 18 But some man wyll say thou hast fayth and I haue deedes shewe me thy fayth by thy deedes and I wyll shewe thee my faith by my deedes 19 Beleuest thou that there is one God Thou doest well The deuyls also beleue and tremble 20 But wylt thou knowe O thou vayne man that that fayth which is without workes is dead 21 Was not Abraham our father iustified through workes when he had offered Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter 22 Seest thou not howe y e faith wrought with his deedes and through y e deedes was the fayth made perfect 23 And the scripture was fulfylled which sayth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse And he was called the friende of God 24 ☞ Ye see then howe that of deedes a man is iustified and not of fayth only 25 Lykewyse also was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes when she had receaued the messengers and had sent them out another way 26 For as the body without the spirite is dead euen so fayth without workes is dead also ☜ ¶ The .iij. Chapter 2 He forbiddeth all ambition to seke honour aboue our brethren 3 He describeth the propertie of the tongue 15.16 And what difference there is betwixt the wisdome of God and the wisdome of the worlde 1 MY brethren be not mame maisters knowyng howe that we shall receaue the greater damnation 2 For in many thynges we sinne all If a man sinne not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle all the body 3 Beholde we put bittes in the horses mouthes that they may obey vs and we turne about all the body of them 4
prayed in his prayer that it myght not rayne and it rayned not on the earth by the space of three yeres and sixe monethes 18 And he prayed againe and the heauen gaue rayne the earth brought foorth her fruite 19 Brethren yf any of you do erre from the trueth and another conuert hym 20 Let the same knowe that he which conuerteth the sinner from going astray out of his way shall saue a soule from death and shall hyde the multitude of sinnes ¶ The ende of the epistle of Saint Iames. ⧠The first epistle of Saint Peter the Apostle ¶ The first Chapter 2 He sheweth that through the aboundaunt mercie of God we are elect and regenerate to a lyuely hope 7 and howe fayth must be tried 10 that the saluation in Christe is no newes but a thyng prophecied of olde 13 he exhorteth them to a godly conuersation forasmuch as they are nowe borne a newe by the worde of God 1 PEter an Apostle of Iesus Christ to them that dwell here and there as straungers throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 2 Elect accordyng to the foreknoweledge of God the father vnto the sanctifiyng of the spirite through obedience sprinklyng of y e blood of Iesus Christ Grace peace be multiplied vnto you 3 Blessed be God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe which accordyng to his aboundaunt mercie begat vs agayne vnto a lyuely hope by that that Iesus Christe rose agayne from death 4 To and inheritaunce immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not away reserued in heauen for you 5 Which are kept by the power of God through fayth vnto saluation which is prepared alredie to be shewed in the last tyme. 6 In the which ye reioyce though nowe for a season â—yf nede require ye are in heauinesse through manifolde temptations 7 That the triall of your fayth beyng much more precious then golde that perisheth though it be tried with fyre myght be founde vnto laude glorie and honour at the appearyng of Iesus Christe 8 Whom ye haue not seene and yet loue hym in whom euen nowe though ye see hym not yet do you beleue reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious 9 Receauyng the ende of your fayth euen the saluation of your soules 10 Of which saluation haue y e prophetes enquired searched which prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you 11 Searchyng when or at what tyme the spirite of Christ which was in them shoulde signifie which spirite testified before the passions that should happen vnto Christe and the glorie that shoulde folowe after 12 Vnto which prophetes it was also declared that not vnto them selues but vnto vs they shoulde minister y e thinges which are nowe shewed vnto you of them which by the holy ghost sent downe from heauen haue in the Gospell preached vnto you the thynges which the Angels desire to beholde 13 Wherfore girde vp the loynes of your mynde be sober and trust perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you by the reuelation of Iesus Christe 14 As obedient chyldren not fashionyng your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignoraunce 15 But as he which called you is holy euen so be ye holy also in all maner of conuersation 16 Because it is written be ye holy for I am holy 17 And yf so be that ye call on the father which without respect of person iudgeeth accordyng to euery mans worke see that ye passe the tyme of your dwellyng here in feare 18 ☞ Forasmuch as ye knowe howe that ye were not redeemed with corruptible thynges as siluer and golde from your vayne conuersation which ye receaued by the tradition of the fathers 19 But with the precious blood of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled without spot 20 Which was ordeyned beforehande euen before the worlde was made but was declared in the last tymes * for your sakes 21 Which by his meanes do beleue on God that raysed hym vp from death and glorified hym that ye might haue fayth and hope towarde God 22 Euen ye which haue purified your soules through the spirite in obeying the trueth with brotherly loue vnfayned see that ye loue one another with a pure heart feruentlye 23 For ye are borne a newe not of mortal seede but of immortal by the worde of God which lyueth and lasteth for euer 24 For all fleshe is as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flowre of grasse The grasse withereth and the flowre falleth away 25 But the worde of the Lorde endureth euer ☜ And this is the worde which by the Gospell was preached vnto you The .ij. Chapter 1 He exhorteth them to lay aside all vice 4 shewyng that Christe is the foundation whervpon they builde 9 The excellent estate of the Christians 11 he prayeth them to abstayne from fleshlie lustes 13 to obey the rulers 18 howe seruauntes shoulde behaue them selues towarde their maisters 20 he exhorteth to suffer after the ensample of Christe 1 WHerefore lay asyde all maliciousnesse and all guile and faynednesse and enuie and all backbityng 2 And as newe borne babes desire ye y e milke of the worde which is without deceipt that ye may growe therby vnto saluatioÌ„ 3 If so be that ye haue tasted howe gratious the Lorde is 4 To whom ye come as vnto a lyuyng stone disalowed of men but chosen of God and precious 5 And ye as lyuely stones be you made a spirituall house an holy priesthood for to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christe â— Wherefore it is conteyned also in the scripture beholde I put in Sion a stone to be laide in the chiefe corner elect and precious and he that beleueth on hym shall not be confounded 7 Vnto you therfore which beleue he is precious but vnto them whiche beleue not the stone which the buylders refused the same is made the head of the corner 8 And a stone that men stumble at and a rocke wherat they be offended whiche stumble at the worde and beyng disobedient vnto the whiche thing they were euen ordeyned 9 But ye are a chosen generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculier people that ye should shewe foorth the vertues of hym that called you out of darknesse into his marueylous lyght 10 Which in time past were not a people but are nowe the people of God which sometime had not obteyned mercy but nowe haue obteyned mercy ☜ 11 ☞ Dearely beloued I beseche you as strauÌ„gers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lustes whiche fight agaynst the soule 12 And see that ye haue honest conuersation among the gentiles that where as they backbite you as euyll doers they may by your good workes whiche they shall see prayse God in the day of visitation 13 Submit your selues therfore vnto al maner ordinaunce of maÌ„ for the Lordes sake whether it be vnto
that they should lose the victorie “ Heb. blesse him (h) Who willed thee to obey him and reâ— vpon his worde (i) That is Dauid (k) And went to his citie Ramah (l) To declare that the victorie came only of God (a) This facte of Ionathan is singuler and done in faith by the instinction of Gods spirite and therfore not to be folowed by the discipline of warre (b) For the priesthod was not yet taken away from y e house of Eli but continued vntill the time of Zadok Or None can let the 〈◊〉 (c) This he learned neyther at diuiners nor soothsayers â–ª but at the spirite of God conferming his fayth by signes prescribed by the same spirite (d) That they spake contemtuously and by derision (e) Because of the steepnes of the rocke where they did clime vp (f) It is an hyperbolicall speache wherby is signified that the feare which God sent vpon the hoaste of the 〈…〉 â–ª (g) By whiche is meant the Ephod which was set vp with the arke which y e priest should put on to aske counsel and to tell of thinges to come Num. 27 d. (h) Let the Ephod alone for I haue no leysure nowe to aske councell of God Iud. vii f. (i) Such was his hypocrisie and arrogancie that he thought to attribute to his pollicie that whiche God had geuen by the hande of Ionathan (k) That is the curse appoynted of Saul and the punyshment for breakyng the oth (l) Whiche afore were dym for â—ecrynes and hunger “ Or weery (m) By making this cruel lawe (n) That the blood of the beastes that shal be slayne may be pressed out vpon it Or of that stone he began to buylde an aulter (o) To aske councell of hym “ Hebr. corner (p) That is cause the loe to fall on hym that hath broken the oth (q) For so smal a matter not considring what great saluation God hath wrought by me this day (r) As the Lord had coÌ„maunded Deut. 25. d. (s) Called also Abinadab Chap. 31. a. (t) Whiche was the wyfe of Dauid i. Reg ix a. (v) As Samuel had forewarned Chapt. 8. c. i. Reg. ix c. (a) Because he hath preferred thee to this honour thou art bound to obey hym Exo. xvii d. Nu. xxiiii d b) That this myght be an example of Gods vengeaunce against them that deale cruelly with his people i. Reg. ix c. “ Or fought in the valley (c) Whiche were the posteritie of Iethro Moses father in lawe (d) He reioysed for the prosperous successe of Israel and gaue them good counsel Exo. xviii c. Nu. xxiiii b (e) Agaynst the commauÌ„dement of god by Samuel Gene. vi c. (f) There to offer vp sacrifice for the victorie gotten (g) This is the maner of hypocrites â— when they folowe their owne deuises to say they haue fulfilled gods commaundemeÌ„ts (h) Acknowleging thy selfe to be of the leaste tribe of Israel and of the leaste familie of the tribe of Beniamin (i) God hateth nothing more then tâ— disobedience of his commaundement though them tent sâ—me neuer so good to man Exod. xxii â— (k) This was not true repentaunce but dissimulation fearing the losse of his kingdomâ— (l) That is to Dauid (m) Meaning God who maintaineth and defendeth his (n) Other because he had good hope of continuance of lyfe or for that he was mortified and redy to die i. Reg. vii d. (o) Though Saul came where Samuel was Chap. xx â— (a) Gods wil ought to be a sufficient cause of comfort vnto vs in all afflictions â—cknowledging that he doth all thinges for the best (b) A weake fraile 〈◊〉 was vsed in the annointing of Saul but noâ— an borne whereby may be signified the strength and continâ—aunce of the kingdome of Dauid (c) That is to make a peace offering which might be done though the arke was not there d Here is fulfilled the prophesie of Iacob for the 〈…〉 to begin the 〈◊〉 of Iâ—h 〈◊〉 c. b. Fearâ—ng but some greeâ—s crime had ben to comâ—tted and 〈◊〉 â—ye â—she the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 xi d. (f) Thinking that Eliab had ben appoynted of God to be made king (g) The shephard of the sheepe is takeÌ„ to be made shephard of Israel Gene 39 b. (k) For he came at his fathers commaundemeÌ„t and was also moued by Gods spirit to take that enterprise against Goliah (l) Dauid about to performe y e work of God and motion of his spirit is temted by the ministers of Sathan the enuye of his brother and the infidelitie of Saul Iud xiiii b. (m) For by these examples he saw that the power of God was with him (n) As the weapon that he coulde best handle (o) So that he was terrible not onely by stature strength and armour But also by rayling cursing and threatening wordes (p) His faith is so constant that neither friend nor for is able to make him doubt of the victory that Gods spirite had assured him of Eccle. xvii a Iud. vii f. Or house at BethleheÌ„ 1 Re. xiiii g (q) This he â—eth eyther for that he would nowe know further of his kinne theÌ„ he did before â–ª Or for that he had forgot him (a) His affection was fully â—ent toward him (b) That is he prospered in all his doinges (c) To witte Goliath (d) In their songes (e) Dauid receiueth for his vertues and good quaâ— of Ioâ—than loue freâ—ndship of Saul hatred and disrâ—re there be in the 〈◊〉 â—o◠〈◊〉 then Ionathans (f) By abuse of the worde they are some tyme sayde to prophecie which as mad men speake thinges that haue neyther sense nor reason in them (g) Not for his prefermeÌ„t whiche he â—nâ—ed but vpon hope of that destruction that warre is wont to bring to many (h) Diâ— atching his â—nsines wisely both in warre and peace (i) To whom she bâ—re seuen sonnes which Dauid put to death at the reâ—uest of the Gebionites 1. Samu. 11. (k) Meaning that he was not able to endow his wyfe with riches acâ—ordyngly (l) Because he thought hym selfe able to compasse the kynges request m) Meaning Dauid his souldyers ii Reg iii. c. (n) Least he would depriue him of his kingdome (a) He layeth aâ—de hypocrisâ—e nowe bursteth out to open crueltie Reg. 18 a. “ An Hebrue phrase whereby is meant he put his lyfe in daunger (b) Beyng perswaded pacified for the tyme by Ionathans oration (c) That is he serued hym Iosu ii c. Act ix d. e Herein doyng the dutie of a faythfull wyfe toward her husband (f) It was a scoole where gods law was studied and taught neare to Rama (g) For he was their teacher and ruler of that scoole (h They song psalmes with the prophetes and praysed God leauing of to seke after Dauid (i) That Dauid might the better by that meanes escape his handes “ Heb. Reueale it in myne eare a That is I am in great daunger of death “ Heb. sayth (b) And therfore a solemne feast and solemne sacrifices belonging therto Num. 28. b.
not by 〈◊〉 â—nly and godâ— counsel 〈◊〉 wicked 〈…〉 poliâ— (d) Meaning some delicate and dayntie meate (e) That is she serued theÌ„ on a dyshe Or how shall I put away my shame 〈◊〉 34. â— Leuâ— xviii a “ Or for this cause “ Or seruant (f) For that which was of diuers colours or peeces in those dayes was had in great estimation Gen. 37. a “ Or Baaâ— Hazor “ or thanked (g) Pretending to y e king that Amnon was most deare vnto him (h) Then beyng voyde of care castyng no peryll i. Reg i. b. (i) In token of sorowe and greefe “ Or take it to heart Or â–ª 〈◊〉 “ Or one â—â—ter an other (k) For Maâ—câ—ah his mother was the daughter of this â—halmaâ— Chap. ◠“ Or ceâ—sses (a) That the king fauored him (b) In token of mourning for they vsed annoynting to seeme cherefull “ Ebre put wordes in her mouth “ Ebre saue “ Ebre a wydow woman (c) Vnder this parable she describeth the death of Amnon by Absalom Deu. xix c. (d) According to the lawe which commaundeth the slayer to be slaine Gene iâ— b. Exo. â— b. (e) As touchâ—ng the breache of the lawe which punisheth blood let me beare the blame “ Or innocent “ Ebre touch i Reg 24. f Why dost 〈…〉 geue conâ—tie sentence 〈◊〉 thy sonne Absalom (g) God hath prouided wayes â–ª as sanctuaries to saue them oft times whom man iudgeth worthy death (h) For I thought they would kill this my heyre “ Heb. Rest (i) As of great wisdome â—o discerne right from wrong (k) Hast not thou done this to the counsell of Ioab (l) By speakâ—ng rather in 〈◊〉 then plainly I haue 〈◊〉 thy 〈◊〉 “ Hebr. Blessed (n) Whiche wayed sixe pounde foure ounces after halfe an ounce to the sicle “ Or Possession (o) Here is an vnmerciful cruell heart couered in this beautiful body (p) If I haue offended by reuenging my sisters dishonour Thus the wicked iustifie theÌ„ selues in their euyll “ Heb. made him “ Or controuersie (a) That is notyng of what citie or place he was (b) Thus the enuious can depraue and condemne for negligence vniustice him whom God for diligence and iustice â—oth commeÌ„d and allowe (c) By intising them froÌ„ his father to him selfe (d) Counting from the time that the Israelites had asked a king of Samuel (e) By colour of religion he hunteth after the kingdome (f) And byd to his feast in Hebron (g) That Absalom went about (h) For neither is there hope of mercy at his cruel handes neither are we at this sodden able to make our partie good against him “ Hebr. Choose (i) That is after him (k) To wit from Hierusalem “ Heb. At his feete (l) That is the souldiours that be with thee Whiche wâ—s the â—arge of the 〈◊〉 Num. 4. a. 〈…〉 (o) Gods will is a comforte and a cause of contentation to the faithfull 〈◊〉 aduersaries With ashes and dust after 〈◊〉 maner of 〈◊〉 that be in sorowe (q) Terrible is the counsell of the wicked wordly wyse against the innocent except God who oft turneth it to folly do frustrate and disapoynt the same “ Heb. To me that is to my commoditie a Which was the hill of 〈◊〉 Or Figge â—akes “ Hebr. I worship (b) Which was a citie in the tribe of Beniamin (c) That is round about him “ Heb. Man of blood “ Or wicked man (d) This he sayde because of the death of Isboseth and Abner suspecting Dauid to be gilty to the same e Dauid felt that this was the iudgement of God for his sinne and therfore humbleth him selfe to his rod. “ Heb. On myne eye (f) Meaning that the lorde wil sende comforte to his when they are oppressed g Coâ— at Bâ— â–ª “ Heb. Let the king lyue (h) Meaning Dauid “ Heb. The seconde time (i) Sâ—ting the possibilitie of reconciliation betwixt the father and the sonne consequently his owne destruction he geueth such counsell that is lyke to barre frendshippe for euer (k) It was so estemed for the successe therof (a) As though he would say geue me authoritie to choose (b) Meaning Dauid “ Heb. was right in the eyes of Absalom “ Heb. what is in his mouth “ Or â–ª Spoken thus 〈◊〉 Tary 〈…〉 “ He Haue a breach or â—ayne “ Heb. melt “ Heb. The children of fortitude Or The Lord hath commaunded (c) Good to haue brought to passe that wicked purpose he went about d For by the counsel of Husai â–ª he went to the battell where he was destroyed (e) That is ouer Iordane The message froÌ„ their â—s (g) To wit to pursue the with all hast (h) So y t they trauayled all night and by mourning â—aâ— all their company passed ouer (i) Thus God somtimes in this lyfe executeth iudgement vpon the cruel persecutor of the innocent to admonishe vs what iudgement at suche shal haue in the world to come (k) Who was also called Iâ—ai Dauids father l God 〈◊〉 them â—ring the necessitie of his faithfull seruaunt in his trouble and affliction (a) Signifiâ—ng that a good gouernour ought to be â—odâ—ere vnto his peâ—ple that they will rather lose their liues then that ought shoulde come vnto him (b So called because the Ephramites as some say fed their cattel beyond Iordane in this wood (c) By good prouidence that this might be an example for euer what if is afore God â–ª the sonne to rebel against the father “ He weigh vpon myâ—ehand “ Heb. In the heart of Absalom (d) Temperating the victorie with mercie and pine vpon the people that were seduced by Absalom (e) It should appeare by this that God had punished him by taking away his three sonnes his daughter f That is hath deliuered him out of the handes of his enemies g Fauoring him that he should not inâ—utte displeasure by telling of the death of Absalom (h) He sate in the gate of the citie of Mahanaim (i) That is he bringeth tydinges “ Heb. I see the running (k) He had had experience of his fidelitie Chap. 17. e. “ Or Deliuered vp (l) To wit Chusi who was an Ethiopian “ Hebr. Tydinges is brought “ Heb. Iudged (m) The rebellion of his sonne coulde not quenche his fatherly effection “ Hebr. Saluation or deliueranÌ„ce (a) As they do that mourne (b) At Mahanaim “ Or Captaines “ Hebr. Ben right in thyne eyes “ Heb. To the heart of thy seruaunt (c) Where the most resorte of the people was (d) Who should first bring home the king c As to them whose officers to tell the people their dutie f Beside his pollicie that is by winning of the captaine to winne the people it serueth that he hath yet a grudge against Ioab for the death of Absalom (g) Who had before reâ—ted him Cha. â— c. (h) For in his aduersitie he was his most cruell enemie although nowe in his prosperitie he seketh by flattery to
saith not this as hauing no hope of immorâ—â—â—itie but as â—he â—ore tormented 〈…〉 thâ—â— for thou art mercifull Or thâ— shalt loue g That is 〈…〉 “ Or facâ— a Wordes 〈◊〉 no effect spoken are likened to the 〈◊〉 winde wâ—â—ch dryeth vp the moâ—sture assoone as it falleth So fooliâ—◠〈…〉 (b) 〈…〉 As one standing in thyne owne conceite e So râ—â—de aunswering him at thy pleasure the â—eâ—rue is aunswering him in thy 〈◊〉 Eliphas endeuoureth to proue Iob wicked by the aucthoritie of the auncient fathers because he is plagued as wicked men are wont Here he repeateth certaine places of the leuiticall lawe for his proofe which indeede the fathers so spake but did not vnderstand them as Eliphas did (h) He shal be alwayes in feares day night not knowyng any thing certain (i) That is out of the troubles and feares which fall vpon him (k) The day of plagues feares extreme That is aboundance of riches hath made him so proude that he forgetteth God That is he shall haue no certaine sure place to dwell in n Meaning though God permit him for a time to prosper yet it shall not continue but his prosperitie shall soone turne to miserie (o) That is such blessing as God gaue him shal be turned into cursing (p) That is his progenie or ofspring shall not continue (a) For they more bite him with cruell wordes then comfort him Or words of winde Would ye suffred that which I suffer (c) For God wyll haue his pleasure ouer me (d) my householde childreÌ„ and substauÌ„ce (e) Not by reasoÌ„ of yeres but by reason of my greefe shewing his extreme paines (f) That is dispitefully handeled me which striking on the cheeke signifieth g To 〈◊〉 him not to destroy 〈◊〉 His â—â—gues mâ—â—fflictions wherewith he 〈◊〉 me 〈…〉 That is with 〈…〉 No place to 〈…〉 be knowen to all men I take God to record that I am innocâ—t though man blame me (a) In all Iobs extreme afflictions yet this one made the rest most greuous that they that should cherefully comfort him did cruelly vexe him and mocke him Or mockers (b) That is make promise with me O God that I may talke with thee for I wyll not reason with them for they are â—ooles That they can not vnderstand the cause of my punishment but iudge me wicked not knowing thy wysdome whereby thou doest afflict thy children d Though the godly see them selues afflicted oâ— God as the wicked are yet they dispaire not knowing that the iust also are punished for proofe of theÌ„ Or come now (e) That is the thoughtes of my heart haue brought me sorowes in steede of ioy Though my former estate returne wherewith you perswade me yet wyll it not continue for death sone commeth and dispatcheth me Seing I am but corruption â—herein â—â—account 〈…〉 (b) That is shall God chaunge the accustomed order of his operation for thee and not afflict the wicked as his order is His wysdome shall perishe and froÌ„ this place vnto the ende of the chapter Bildad goeth abouâ— to â—roue Iob wicked because God plâ—geth him â—s 〈◊〉 doth 〈…〉 (d) That is he shall not attaine to that which he desireth for al his power and might shal be taken away vp hunger (e) Meaning the vngodlie shal be the destruction of the strength of his own skin that is of his children and posteritie Meaning that he and his posteritie shal be subiect to most greeuous diseases That is a cruell disease some take it for death that commeth before his time and some for the first pagnes of death that come (g) That is to a thing most terrible and full of feares h The wicked shall not onely be destroyed in body goodes but their name and 〈◊〉 and pregâ—â—ne shal vtterly perishe for euer (i) From prosperitie to aduersitie “ Or sonne nor nephew k That is at his fall “ Or elders auncientes (a) That is more then neede For the number of them is the number of consummation or finishing As though he would say what haue you to do with that the fault is myne and not yours (c) That is I cannot goe from thâ—se my afflictions (d) That is of my riches and substance (e) That is destroyed my children for the croune of the aged are childers children as it is in the prouerbes “ Or vndone That is his great plagues layed on me “ Or they that dwelt with me 〈…〉 I sinne as an â—poâ—rite speâ—ly you that shoâ—ld be my â—â—nsolation To testifie that he hath not blasphemed God as they report Here is an euident confessing of Iobs faith with the assured hope of resurrection That is the iudgement of God the reuenger of 〈…〉 though 〈…〉 be reuenged of the 〈◊〉 (a) Because Iob brâ—gged of his innocencie as ther thought Sophar interrupted his 〈◊〉 as though he boâ—ed in vaine 〈◊〉 that God eâ—cepteth none but the repentaunt sinner For two causes Sophar spake one because Iob in aunswering toucheth him and for that he denied his knowledge sufficient to aunswere againe Sophar euen to the ende of this chapter allegeth true sentences but he erreth in that he thought Iob for impiâ—tie and hypocrisie to be plaged d That is sodenlye Or see â–ª (e) Meaning 〈…〉 youth Or dust f g The blessing of the wicked is turned into curâ—â—s wherâ—â— that which â—o others â—s sweete 〈◊〉 to theâ— it 〈◊〉 poâ—son (h) He shall receaue cursâ—ng And here yll gotten goodes are likenâ—d to the serpentes 〈◊〉 for Sopha◠〈◊〉 thought Iobs goodes to be such That is â–ª He shall want gods blessing so that when all men haue aboundance he shall 〈◊〉 k 〈…〉 â—poyled and rauened l Thâ—t is his heyres and executers shall gape in vaine That is 〈…〉 â–ª and â—ere Sop◠〈◊〉 â—ob for 〈◊〉 friendes and children were 〈…〉 There is nothing hiâ— that shall not be opened and the earth shall eyther be vnfruiteful or bring forth thinges hurt full to the wicked (a) As though he should say any 〈◊〉 before God whom I 〈…〉 and not before you That is keepe silence (c) Iob proueth against Sophar that the wicked are in prosperitie not meaning to contemne the senteÌ„ces before which are true but Sophars misconstruning of them is opened “ Or seede Not being plaged 〈◊〉 long â—kenes The◠〈◊〉 this not 〈◊〉 tâ—nâ—ue but by the wickednesse and impietie of their 〈…〉 (f) That is their great â—elicitie and wealth (g) For the wicked dye vnwares and neuer endure the course of their dayes to the ende (h) Meaning the wicked where Iob saith that it is not for man to reason with God why he doth thus plague the iust and prospereth the vniust for who can teache God wysdome (i) And this he meaneth by the godly (k) Now ye thinke me wicked because I am plaged (l) Thus they cal Iobs house by scorning and mocking at it 〈…〉 iudge by the wicked 〈◊〉 prosperitie what shall become of them (n) That is he shall be content with a
forsake his owne countrey and friendes lykeneth him selfe to the most innocent bird a doue seuered farre from her company who vttereth her griefe onely by mourning and not by any other fact endeuour or auengement Morning prayer (a) Wordes sâ—ken of me in which it is saide that I shal be king “ Is for me (b) I haue made a vowe to prayse thee which thing I minde to do “ He hath bowed dâ—wne my soule a My soule or els my â—hiefe honour and dignitie “ Confesse () To be song lyke to the song that begâ—n destroy not “ O congregation meaning Sauls counsell (a) You execute with hand deede wickednesse deuised before in your heart (b) From God and his Churche (c) As grenâ— wood kindled goeth out before the pot seethes so let wicked counsell before it worketh any effect be brought to naught “ Fruite () To be song lyke to the song beginning destroy not Euening prayer “ Place me on high (a) To destroy me (b) Their outragious dealing 〈…〉 to 〈…〉 my 〈◊〉 â—nite d Our shield (a) Because thou hast promised to deliuer those that feare thee (b) Be thou glad to seeke my frendship “ Rashnes () A psalme of Dauid Of Israel (b) Then that I of my selfe can get vpon to saue my selfe (c) ☞ “ Kepeth scilence Morning prayer “ VVall. (a) All the griefes that lyeth hid â—n your hearâ—es (b) Often out of the prophetes (a) Pray b Fores shal eate then (c) That professe hym in lyfe and learning (a) Their owne false reportes shall worke mischiefe vnto them “ Prayse taâ—â—th thee Euenyng prayer “ VVords or thinges of iniquitie (a) Doctrine of law and ceremonies (b) At the rising of the sunne and moone (c) Great riuers be (d) Thou ordaynest the earth to bring foorth corne “ A crue of souldiers “ (a) They shal denye their doynges “ VVatred “ Confesse “ Confesse “ Confesse “ Confesse Mornyng prayer “ Iah a name of God that signifieth hym to be alwayes and other thinges to be of hym (a) Those to haue children and a familie that had none before “ The women that tolde it abroade (b) That is a woman â—eâ—nyng Deborâ— (c) In the lande of promise “ Stalmon “ Bashan (d) God destroyeth his enemies as he saueth his people (e) Progenie (f) It is deriued of a worde that signifieth to ouerwhelme “ Calues of the people “ Embassadours “ Vpon the heauens 〈◊〉 heauens 〈◊〉 eternitie () A musicall instrument (a) Great calamities Euenyng prayer “ Quietnes and pleasure “ Shall place me on hygh “ Haah haah Morning prayer (a) To his angels other creatures not to oppresse Dauid in his troubles “ Knowe not the number (b) To battayle (a) Geue hym grace to iudge accordyng to thy lawe “ Iudgement (b) He alludeth to the myracle of Gedeon Iudges ◠“ Tharshish (c) Sheba is thought to be in Arabia and Seba in Ethiopia 〈…〉 () To be song Euenyng prayer (a) Peace b They wyll not be bridled with lawes trustyng to bribery and to their strong holdes (c) They be not ashamed to vtter their naughty thoughtes “ From aloft (d) Euen they that pretende to be Gods people do sâ—t by them that fyll their â—ellyes and haue riches and thus they reason “ My correction in the mornyng (e) Their honour dignitie estimation aucthoritie soule at the resurrection “ Smoketh (a) As landes be measured by roddes poles so God as with a rod measured Iurie out of all the worlde for his inheritaunce “ How long (b) Pharao and his people (c) Of stout Pharao lorde of lande sea (d) God gaue the spoyles of Pharao and of the Egyptians to the children of Israel wanderyng in wildernesse fourtie yeres Or by the people in the desert is meant fishes in the sea Or Pharao fed Gods people in the desert in that his destruction assured them that God cared woulde prouide for them To be song as the song begâ—nnâ—ng To be song of Asaph Morning prayer “ Neâ—e (a) Be not proude “ Desert (a) Gouernement of tirauntes (b) For to defende them selues “ Brought asleepe “ Confesse thee “ He gathereth the grape that iâ— he taketh from them () An instrument of musiâ—ke (a) The handes of them that lye a dying be pluckyng and catchyng (b) I coulde not scape death in this calamitie but God yet may make me liue many yeres (c) All that God doth is most holy (d) To drowne the Israelites in the red sea (e) Lightnâ—ng and hayle () To be song Euenyng prayer i Par. vii “ Sâ—oan “ Soule “ Man “ or princes (a) They rose in the morning to pray to God (b) As though he were not omnipotent “ Sâ—oâ—n (c) Or strength meaning the firâ—t borne Egypt was named of the sonne of Cham. (e) Or holy countrey So he calleth Chanaan because it was full of mountaâ—nes “ g He suffâ—â—ed the arke to be caried away of the Philistines “ Prayse◠“ Iehudah Morninâ— prayer () To be song (a) These three tribes folowed the arke when it was caried “ Snuffe “ The Cedar trees of God (b) Euphrates (c) To thy glory (d) Succour (e) Man placed by thy (f) For thy glory () To be song An instrument to sing psalmes God heard the Israelites complaint of his owne good motion and not of their deserts being els vnto hym as other vnknowen “ Secrete that is in a cloude where secretly God was hid (c) In crooching to God after they were ouercome (d) The children of Israel (e) God () To be song (a) A congregatioÌ„ to iudge of life death is of God and the office of God Euenyng prayer (b) Beare fauour vnto “ Remoued To be song “ Hidest “ Sor. “ Ashshur “ Arme. (a) Ammonites and Moabites “ Iehoua a Gods people do iourney to Gods house through desertes where no water is to be had for to drinke yet be they content of their iourney hauyng drinke inough at home (b) They wyll not be wearie but by goyng they wyll haue more lust to go “ Kepe the thres holde (a) In offending hym (b) The presence of God through the incarnation of Christâ— Morning prayer 〈…〉 “ Rahab (a) There shal be founde but fewe to be saued out of those places but one or two in respect of the multitude that shal be gods people in Sion “ He and he “ He is borne there (b) All my cunning wit senses and strength are occupied in setting foorth thy prayse (a) Care and safegarde (b) Prayse thee and geue thee thankes (c) The graue for after men be layde in it they be most commonly forgotten in a short tyme. “ In 〈◊〉 Euening prayer “ Be buylded vp “ The pride (a) He meaneth the ioyful noyse of the trumpet Num. 10. to call the people together It was an argument of the maiestie and presence of God (b) Make vs superiours
shall they be (b) Which declared Iosuah who had nowe from the time of Iosuah slept in their sinnes fourtie yeres (c) That is for euery yere they haue sinned to sleepe one day Exo. xxâ—x f (d) Signifiyng hereby the great scarcitie of fuel and matter to burne (e) To be as fire to bake thy bread with Esai iii. a. Ezech. v. c. and .xiiii. b. (g) That is the force and strength wherwith it should nourishe (a) To shaue my head and bearde (b) To wit of that citie which he had portrayed vpon the bricke chap. 4. By the 〈◊〉 he meaneth famine pestilence wherewith one part perished duryng the siege of Nabuchodonozor by the sworde those that were slayne when Zedekiah fled those that were caryed awaye captiue and by the scatteryng into the wind those that fled into Egypt and into other partes after the citie was taken (c) Because ye haue encreased the number of your idols and superstitions more then the gentiles Esai 65. b. Leuit. 28. c. Deut 2â—â— 2. Reg. 〈…〉 Iere. xv b. (d) That is I wyll not be pacified tyll I be reuenged Esai i. c. (e) Which be the grashoppers mildew and whatsoeuer were occasions of famine Ezech. iiii c. Ezech. 30. a. (a) He speaketh to all the places where the Israelites accustomed to commit their idolatries threatnyng them destruction 4. Reg. 23. b. 4. Reg. 23. c. (b) He wylleth the prophete not only with wordes but also with gestures of hande foote to signifie the destruction to come (c) Some read more desolate then the wildernesse of Deblathah which was in Syria and bordered vpon Israel but it may stande well from the wildernesse which was south vnto Deblathah which was north meanyng the whole countrey (a) That is the begynning of thy punishment (b) That is no vayne or counterfayte crye as is the ecco in the hylles (c) Meanyng Nabuchodonozor whom God had appointed to be a rod to scourge them “ Or none of their pleasures (d) That is in the yere of Iubile when euery man returned to such possessions as he solde before Leuit. 25. b. (e) Iniquitie shall make no man strong agaynst God (f) The Israelites made a bragge but their heartes fayled them Esai xiii b. Iere. vi c. Esai xv a. Iere. 48. d. Prou. xi a. Eccle. v. b. (g) Their golde siluer brought them to this ruine or destruction (h) Meanyng the sanctuarie (i) That is of sinnes that deserue death (k) That is their temple which was deuided into three partes Iere. 61. â— (a) Of the captiuitie of Iecoâ—iah so that there was fourteene monethes betwixt the first vision this (b) This was â—n the spiritâ— not in body (c) The porch or court where the people assembled (d) Of emulation because at displeased God of gaine because it was set vp worshipped for gayne and increase of their offeringes for the priestes and of their catell and substaunce for the people (e) That was in the court where the people had made an aulter to Baal (f) Which were forbidden in the law Leuit. xi (g) For beside their common idolatrie they had their particuler seruice in their secrete places or pewes (h) The Iewes say this was a prophete of the idols who after his death was once a yere mourned for in y e night only of women Saint Hierome taketh it for Adonis Venus louer Other thinke it was Osyriâ— an idoll of the Egyptians (i) They smelled to their braunches flowers or poses in doyng their sacrifice to the sunne which yet before god was vyle and stinckyng howe sweete soeuer they seemed to them selues Prou. i. d (a) The persons appoynted to visite the citie as Nabuchodonozor and his captaynes (b) Which were sixe angels in lykenesse of men (c) To marke them that shoulde be saued from destruction Esai i. c. Ezech. i. d. (a) Which iâ— the first chap. and fift vearse he called the foure beastes Eze. i. c. Eze. i. a. (b) There was one consent betwene the Cherubims and the wheeles (c) That is the whole body of the foure beastes or Cherubims 2. Pet. 3 a. (a) We shall not be pulled out of Hierusalem tyll the houre of our death come as the fleshe is not taken one of the cauldron tyll it â—e soâ— (b) Contrary to their vayne confidence he sheweth in what sence this citie was the cauldron that is because of the dead bodyes that haue ben murthered therin and so lye as fleshe in the cauldron (c) That is in Riblath 4. Reg. 24. a. (d) It seemed this noble man dyed of some terrible death therfore the prophete feared some straunge iudgement of God towarde the rest of the people (e) They that remained styl at Hierusalem thus reproched them that were gone into captiuitie as though they were cast of forsaken of God (f) They shal be yet a litle Church whom he wyll preâ—erue â–ª though they be dispearsed and for a tyme afflicted Iere 32. d. Eze. 36. d. Eze. x. a. (g) Those that were led away caâ—tiues with Ieconiah “ Or make thee vessels to go into captiuitie (a) That as thou doest so shall they do and therfore in thee they shall see their owne plague punishment (b) Do not they deride and mocke thy doynges “ Or prophecie (c) When the kyng shall thinke to escape by fleeing I wyll take hym in my net as Ezech. 27. c. and 32. a. “ Or tooles Eze. xi c. (d) Because they dyd not see the prophecies accomplished they contemned them as though they neuer shoulde be fulfylled â–ª Ezech xi a. ii Pet. iii. a. Iere xxiii c. (a) Watching to destroy the vineyardes reade Can. ii c Iere. vi c. (b) What one false prophete did say which is here called the buylding vp of a wall another false prophete would affirme the same though he had neither occasion nor good grounde to â—eare hym (c) That is whatsoeuer man of him selfe setteth foorth vnder the aucthoritie of Gods worde and God alloweth it not (d) These superstitious women for lucre would prophesie and tell eâ—ery man his fortune geuing them pillowes to leane on â–ª and kerchifes to couer their heades that they might the more allure them and bewitche them (e) Vpon euery man and woman young and olde great and small (f) Thinke you the liues of my people to be in your handes to make them long or short (g) These sorcerers made the people beleue that they could preserue life or destroy it and that it should come to euery one according as thei prophesied (h) Makyng them stocke vnto you with deceauable doctrine â–ª as the fowlers do the birdes with their stâ—s calles (a) As his abhomination hath deserued that is he shal be led with lies according as he delited therein 2. Thessa 2. b. (b) That is conuince them by their owne consciences (c) All suche as by your example haue declined from God 3. King 22 c. Ezech. iiii b. and .v. b. Iere. xv a. Ezech. v. c. (e)
Exod. 32. b. () Or dyd commit fornication Nu. xiiii c. Num. xxi b Nu. xiiii c. Num. xxi b (c) Howe God wyll plague vs yf we be subiect to the lyke vices Num. xiiii c i Cor. i. b. i Thess v. d. ii Pet. ii d. Num. xiiii c i Cor. i. b. i Thess v. d. ii Pet. ii d. i Cor. viii a. (d) which is to assemble in that companie where idols are called vpon Eccle. 37. d. i Cor. xiii b. () Or in the market of victuals Psal 24. a. i Cor. viii b. (e) We must take heede y t through our abuse our libertie be not condempned i Tim. iiii a. Coloss iii. c. 1 Cor. ix â— Gen. ii d. Ephe. v. c. Deu. xxii a. Gen. i. d. (a) Something to couer her head in signe of subiection Mat. xviii a () Or tryed Math. 2â— e. Mar. xiiii b Luk. xxii b. i Peter ii b. Actes i. b i Peter ii b. Actes i. b By perâ—â—â—tyng the true and pure vse of yeâ—ame (c) But as though these holy misteries of the Lordes body blood were common meates so without reuerence he commeth vnto them i Iebu ii c. (a) By Satans suggestioÌ„ Mark ix f. Rom. xii a. Ephe. iiii b. (b) Meaning the declaration of Gods misteries 1 â—ohn iiii b. Rom. xii a. Ephâ— iiii b. Esai lv a. (c) Whose vse seemeth to be more vile (d) We are more carefull to couer them Math. x. a. Luk xi a. Ephe. iiii c. (a) If the Angels had tongues and I had the vse therof and did not bestowe theÌ„ to profite my neyghbour it were nothyng but vaine babblyng ☞ Luk. xvii a. Luk. xvii a. i Cor. x e. Philip. ii a. (b) The misteries of God (a) Vnderstandeth hym Rom. xii b. Num. xi g. * Tongue iâ— this place and such lyke signifieth not y e instrument y t we speake with but proprietie of some language that the hearer vnderstandeth not without an interpreter Your wordes shal be lâ—â—t for ye shal neither glorifie God therby nor profite man (c) Or geue thankes by singyng Esai 28. c. i Iohn iiii a. () That is â–ª the doctrine y t they do bring as beyng put in mynde by the spirite of God Rom. xv g. i Tim. ii b. Gen. iii. c. 1 Cor. xi a. (a) He sheweth that nothyng ought to be taught whiche we haue not learned by Gods worde Mat. 28 b. Iohn xx a. Luk. 24. b. Actes iii. a. Gala. ii c. (b) For yf Christe be swalowed vp of death there remayneth no hope of lyfe any more Colos i. c. (c) As by the offering of the first fruite the whole fruite is sanctified so by Christe which is the first that is raysed all haue assuraunce of the resurrection (d) To wyt â–ª the faythfull Psal cx a. Math. 22. d. Habre i. c. Psal viii b. Hebre. ii d. (c) That is hauyng regarde to this present lyfe and not to Gods glorie and to lyfe euerlastyng 〈◊〉 xâ—i d. Or one maner of fâ—she (f) Euen as the sunne and the moone beyng of one substaunce differ in dignitie so in the resurrection our bodies shal haue more excellent qualities then thei haue now () for what is more vyle to loke vnto then the dead â—arkasse Gene. ii b. 1. Thes iiii d. Phâ—l iii. d. Esai xxv c. Osee xiii c â–ª (g) Sinne firste brought in death and geueth it power ouer vs the strength of sinne is y e law because it doth reueale y e iudgment of God agaynst vs or els the chiefe cause of our destruction is in our selues i. Ioh. v. a. (h) The hope of resurrectioÌ„ causeth â–ª the faithful to surmount all difficulties â–ª Actes xi d. Rom. xv f. ii Cor. viii a Actes xi d. ii Cor. i. c. i. Cor. xv c. Act. xix d. Act. xviii c. i. Cor. i. b. (a) Lest Satan steale vpoÌ„ you at vnwares i. Corint i. c. b (c) The grief thâ—t I toke for your absence was greatly aswaged by their presence Rom. xvâ—â— * A worde wherwith the accursed or vile person in the extremest degree is signified Roman i. a. i. Corin. i. a. Galat. i. a. Ephesi â— a. i. Peter i. a. Coloss i c. (a) Whiche I suffer for Christe or which Christ suffreth in me Act xix f. i Reg. ii d. Deut. viii d. ii Cor. iiii c. (b) Vsyng that wisdome whiche God gaue me from heauen i. Thess ii e. (c) Because we haue won you to Christ (d) whiche shall abolyshe all worldly glorie i. Cor. xvi a (e) Nowe to affirme one thyng then to denie it whiche is a signe of inconstancie (f) He taketh God to wytnesse that he preacheth the crueth Rom. viii a. Ephes iiii â— i. Pet. v. a. (a) Whiche was geuen tâ— Satan but nowe doeth repent i. Cor. v. b. (b) That is truely from myne hearte euen as in the presence of Christe (c) In working myghtyly by vs he maketh vs partakers of his victorie triumphe Luk· ii c. Exo. xxiiii d Deut. v. d. Ier. xxxi a. Exo. xxiiii d Deut. v. d. Ier. xxxi a. Philip. ii b. i. Cor. iiii b. (a) Meaning the spirituall doctrine whiche is in our heartes (b) After that God had spoken with him and geueÌ„ hym the lawe Exo. xxiiii d (d) Moyses shewed y e law as it was couered with shadowes so that y e Iewes eyes were not lyghtened but blynded and so coulde not come to christ who was the ende therof Agayne the Gospel setteth foorth the glorie of God clearely not coueryng our eyes but dryuyng y e darknes away froÌ„ them Iohn iiii â— (d) In christ who is God manifest in y e fleshe we see God y e father â–ª as in a moste cleare glâ—sse Iohn xii e. (a) To wyt Satan Luk. viii f. Iohn xii f. Gene. i. a. ii Pet. i. d. ii Cor. v. a. Galath vi d Rom. viii c. Psal cxvi b â–ª i. Cor. i. a. Psal xxx b Rom. viii d. (b) which is so called in respect of the euerlastynge lyfe (a) after this body shal be dissolued it shal be made incorruptible immortall Rom. viii d i Pet. i. c. Apoc. iii. d. Rom. viii c. ii Cor. â— d Mat. xxv c. Rom. xiiii c (b) By imbracyng the same fayth whiche we preach to others (c) the greke soâ—deth thus â–ª Whether we be out of wyt to God we be out of wyt Whether we be wise to you we be wise i. Thess â—â— (d) according to the estimation of y e flesh but as he is guyded by the spirite of god Esai xliii c. Apoc. xxi â— Rom. iii. d. Coloss i. c. Esai xliii c. Apoc. xxi â— Rom. iii. d. Coloss i. c. Coloss ii c. Esaias liii b. Rom. viii â— Esai xlix c. (a) To wyte gods free mercie wherein he hath powred foorth his infinite loue i. Cor. iiii a. (b) signifiyng his most vehement affectioÌ„ (c) Shewe lyke affection towardes me Deut. vii a. Math. viii d i. Cor. iii. b. Exod. xix g Leut. xix â— Esaias lii â— () That
receaued comfort after his mother ¶ The .xxv. Chapter 1 Abraham maryeth Cetura 2 The sonnes of Cetura 5 The patrimonie is geuen to Isahac and gyftes to the chyldren of his concubines 8 Abraham dyeth 11 Isahac is blessed of God 13 The petigrewe of Ismael 17 Ismael dyeth 19 The generations of Isahac 20 Isahac praieth to haue issue Rebecca conceaueth 22 Rebecca asketh councel of God 25 Esau 26 Iacob 27 Esau an hunter an husbandman Iacob a playne and a simple man 29 Esau selleth his byrthryght 30 Edom. 1 ABraham proceeded further and toke hym another wyfe called Cetura 2 Whiche bare hym Zimran and Iocsan and Medan and Midian and Iesbac and Suah 3 Iocsan begat Seba and Dedan and the sonnes of Dedan were Assurim and Letusim and Leummim 4 And the sonnes of Midian Ephah Epher Hanoch Abida Eldaah all these were the children of Cetura 5 And Abraham gaue al his goodes vnto Isahac 6 But vnto the sonnes of the concubines whiche Abraham had he gaue gyftes and sent them away from Isahac his sonne whyle he yet lyued eastwarde vnto the east countrey 7 And these are the dayes of the yeres of Abrahams lyfe which he liued an hundred threscore and fifteene yeres 8 And then Abraham waxyng away dyed in a lustie age beyng an olde man when he had liued ynough and was gathered to his people 9 And his sonnes Isahac and Ismael buryed hym in the double caue in the fielde of Ephron sonne of Soar the Hethite before Mamre 10 Whiche fielde Abraham bought of the sonnes of Heth there was Abraham buryed and Sara his wyfe 11 And it came to passe after the death of Abraham that God blessed his sonne Isahac and Isahac dwelled by the well of liuing and seeing me 12 These are the generations of Ismael Abrahams sonne whiche Hagar the Egyptian Saraes handmayde bare vnto Abraham 13 And these are the names of the sonnes of Ismael accordyng to the names of their kindred the eldest sonne of Ismael Nabaioth and Cedar and Adbeel and Mibsam 14 And Misma and Duma and Massa Hadar and Thema 15 Ietur Naphis and Cedma. 16 These are the sonnes of Ismael and these are their names by theyr townes and castles twelue princes of their housholdes 17 And these are the yeres of the lyfe of Ismael an hundred and thirtie and seuen yere and he waxing away dyed and was layed vnto his people 18 And they dwelled from Hauilah vnto Sur that is by the border of Egypt as thou goest toward Assur and he died in the presence of all his brethren 19 And these are the generations of Isahac Abrahams sonne Abraham begat Isahac 20 And Isahac was fourtie yere olde when he toke Rebecca to wyfe the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Mesopotamia and sister to Laban the Syrian 21 And Isahac made intercession vnto the Lorde for his wyfe because she was barren and the Lord was intreated of hym and Rebecca his wyfe conceaued 22 And the childrē stroue together within her wombe therfore she said if it be so why am I thus wherefore she went to aske the Lorde 23 And the Lorde sayde vnto her there are two maner of people in thy wombe and two nations shal be deuided out of thy bowelles and the one nation shal be mightier then the other and the elder shal be seruaunt vnto the younger 24 Therefore when her tyme was come to be deliuered behold there were two twynnes in her wombe 25 And he that came out fyrst was red and he was all ouer as it were a hearie garment and they called his name Esau 26 And after hym came his brother out and his hande holdyng Esau by the heele and his name was called Iacob and Isahac was threscore yere olde when they were borne 27 And the boyes grewe and Esau became a cunnyng hunter and a wylde man but Iacob was a perfect man and dwelled in tentes 28 Isahac loued Esau because he dyd eate of his venison but Rebecca loued Iacob 29 Iacob sodde pottage and Esau came from the fielde and was fayntie 30 And Esau sayd to Iacob feede me I pray thee with that same red pottage for I am fayntie and therfore was his name called Edom. 31 And Iacob saide sell me this day thy byrthryght 32 Esau sayde lo I am at the poynt to dye and what profite shall this byrthryght do me 33 Iacob aunswered sweare to me then this day And he sware to him solde his byrthryght vnto Iacob 34 Then Iacob gaue Esau bread and pottage of ryse and he dyd eate and drinke and rose vp and went his way and Esau little regarded his byrthright ¶ The .xxvj. Capter 1 God in the myddest of famine blesseth and feedeth Isahac 3 Chanaan is promysed to Isahac 4 Christe 7 Isahac sayth that his wyfe is his sister 11 The very great care of God for Isahac and his wyfe 15 The Philistines do stop Isahacs pittes and dryue him out 17 God blessyng Isahac gyueth hym ryches 19 He diggeth other pittes 22 A thankesgeuyng 24 God comforteth Isahac 25 Isahac doth call vpon God 28 Abimelech entreth into a league with Isahac 33 Beer-seba the citie 34 Esau maketh a seconde maryage 1 ANd there fell a famine in the land besides the first that was in the dayes of Abraham And Isahac went vnto Abimelech king of the Philistines vnto Gerar. 2 And the Lorde appeared vnto hym and sayde Go not downe into Egypt but abyde in the lande whiche I shall shewe vnto thee 3 Soiourne in this lande and I wyl be with thee and wyll blesse thee for vnto thee and vnto thy seede I wyll geue all these countreys and I wyll perfourme the othe whiche I sware vnto Abraham thy father 4 And wyl make thy seede to multiplie as the starres of heauen and wyll geue vnto thy seede al these countreys and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 5 Because that Abraham hearkened vnto my voyce kept my ordinaunce my commaundementes my statutes and my lawes 6 And Isahac dwelled in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wyfe And he sayde she is my sister for he feared to say she is my wyfe lest the men of the place shoulde haue kylled hym because of Rebecca whiche was beautifull to the eye 8 And after he had ben there a long time Abimelech king of the Philistines loked out at a windowe sawe Isahac sportyng with Rebecca his wyfe 9 And Abimelech called Isahac and said beholde she is of a suretie thy wife and why saydest thou she is my sister To whom Isahac aunswered because I thought that I might peraduenture haue dyed for her sake 10 Abimelech said why hast thou done this vnto vs one of the people myght lyghtly haue lyne by thy wyfe and so shouldest thou haue brought sinne vpon
my realme shal be free 44 For the buylding also and repayring of the worke of the sanctuarie expences shal be geuen out of the kinges reuenues 45 Yea and for the making of the walles rounde about Hierusalem for the breaking downe of the olde and for the setting vp of the strong holdes in Iurie shall the costes and charges be geuen out of the kinges reuenues 46 But when Ionathas and the people hearde these wordes they gaue no credence vnto them neither receaued them for they remembred the great wickednesse that he had done vnto Israel and howe sore he had vexed them 47 Wherfore they agreed vnto Alexanander for he was a prince that had dealt friendly with them and so they stoode by him alway 48 Then gathered king Alexander a great hoast and brought his armie against Demetrius 49 So the two kinges stroke battayle together but Demetrius hoast fled and Alexander folowed after and fell vpon them 50 A mightie sore fielde was it continuing till the sunne went downe and Demetrius was slayne the same day 51 And Alexander sent ambassadours vnto Ptolomi the king of Egypt with these wordes saying 52 Forsomuch as I am come againe to my realme and am set in the throne of my progenitours and haue gotten the dominion ouercommed Demetrius 53 Conquered the lande striken a fielde with hym so that we haue discomfited both hym and his hoast and sit in the throne of his kingdome 54 Let vs nowe make friendship together geue me thy daughter to wyfe so shal I be thy sonne in lawe and both geue thee rewardes and her accordyng to thy dignitie 55 Ptolomi the king gaue aunswere saying Happy be the day wherein thou art come againe to the lande of thy progenitours and set in the throne of their kingdome 56 And nowe will I fulfill thy wryting but meete me at Ptolomais that we may see one another and that I may marry my daughter vnto thee according to thy desire 57 So Ptolomi went out of Egypt with his daughter Cleopatra and came vnto Ptolomais in the hundred threescore and two yere 58 Where king Alexander mette hym and he gaue Alexander his daughter Cleopatra and maried them at Ptolomais with great worship like as the maner of kinges is to be 59 Then wrote king Alexander vnto Ionathas that he shoulde come and meete him 60 So he went honorably vnto Ptolomais there he mette the two kinges and gaue them and their friendes great presentes of golde and siluer and founde fauour in their sight 61 And there came together against Ionathas certayne wicked men and vngratious persons of Israel making complayntes of him but the king regarded them not 62 As for Ionathas the king commaunded to take of his garmentes to cloth him in purple and so they did Then the king appoynted him to sit by him 63 And sayde vnto his princes Go with him into the middest of the citie make a proclamation that no man complayne against him of any matter and that no man trouble hym for any maner of cause 64 So it happened that when his accusers sawe the worship whiche was proclaymed of hym that he was clothed in purple they fled euery one 65 And the king made much of him wrote hym among his chiefe friendes made hym a duke and partaker of his dominion 66 Thus Ionathas went againe to Hierusalem with peace and gladnesse 67 In the hundred threescore fyft yere came Demetrius the sonne of Demetrius from Creta into his fathers lande 68 Wherof when Alexander heard tell he was right sory and returned vnto Antioch 69 And Demetrius chose Apollonius whiche had the gouernaunce of Celosiria to be his captayne So he gathered a great hoast and came vnto Iamnia sent worde vnto Ionathas the hygh priest saying 70 Darest thou withstande vs thy selfe alone As for me I am but laughed to scorne and shamed because thou diddest vaunte thy strength against vs in the mountaynes 71 Now therfore if thou trustest in thyne owne strength come downe to vs into the playne fielde there let vs trye the matter together for thou shalt knowe that I haue the strength of many cities 72 And shalt knowe who I am and the other that stand by me which say That your foote is not able to stande before our face for thy fathers haue ben twyse chased in their owne lande 73 And nowe howe wilt thou be able to abyde so great an hoast of horsemen and footemen in the fielde where as is neither rocke stone nor place to flee vnto 74 When Ionathas hearde the wordes of Apollonius he was moued in his mynde wherfore he chose ten thousand men and went out of Hierusalem and Simon his brother mette hym for to helpe hym 75 And they pitched their tentes at Ioppa but the citie kept hym foorth for Apollonius garrison was in Ioppa 76 Then Ionathas layed siege to it and they that were in the citie for very feare let him in and so Ionathas wan Ioppa 77 Apollonius hearing of this toke three thousand horsemen with a great hoast on foote and went to Azotus as though he woulde go further and came immediatly into the playne fielde because he had so many horsemen and put his trust in them 78 So Ionathas folowed vpon hym to Azotus and the army skirmished with his rereward and there they stroke the battayle 79 Nowe had Apollonius left a thousande horsemen behynde them priuily in the tentes 80 And when Ionathas knewe that such wayte was layed behynde them they went rounde about the enemies hoast and shot dartes at the people from the morning to the euening 81 As for Ionathas people they kept their order as he had commaunded them and the enemies horses were weery 82 Then brought Simon foorth his hoast and set them against the footemen for the horsemen were weery alredy So he discomfited them and they fled 83 And they that were scattered in the fielde gat them to Azotus and came into the temple of Dagon their idoll that they might there saue their liues 84 But Ionathas set fire vpon Azotus and all the cities rounde about it and toke their goodes and brent vp the temple of Dagon with all them that were fled into it 85 Thus were slayne and brent welnye eyght thousande men 86 So Ionathas remoued the hoast from thence and brought them to Ascalon where the men of the citie came foorth and mette him with great worship 87 After this went Ionathas and his hoast againe to Hierusalem with great substaunce of good 88 And when king Alexander heard these thinges he thought to do Ionathas more worship 89 And sent him a coller of gold as the vse is to be geuen vnto such as are of the kinges next blood He gaue him also the citie of Accaron with the landes belonging therto in possession The .xi. Chapter 3 The discention betwixt Ptolomeus and Alexander his sonne in lawe 17 The death of Alexander 19 Demetrius