vnto Moyses Nowe shalt thou see what I wyll do vnto Pharao for in a mightie hande shal he let them go and in a mightie hande shall he dryue them out of his lande 2 And God spake vnto Moyses and said vnto him I am Iehouah 3 I appeared vnto Abraham Isahac and Iacob as an almightie God but in my name Iehouah was I not knowen vnto them 4 Moreouer I made a couenaunt with them to geue them the lande of Chanaan the land of their pilgrimage wherein they were straungers 5 And therefore I haue also heard the groning of the childrē of Israel whom the Egyptians kepe in bondage and haue remembred my couenaunt 6 Wherfore say vnto the children of Israel I am Iehouah I wil bryng you out from the burthens of the Egyptians and will ryd you out of their bondage and will deliuer you in a stretched out arme and in great iudgementes 7 And I will take you for my people and wil be to you a God And ye shall knowe that I am the Lord your God which bring you out from the burthens of the Egyptians 8 And I will bryng you into the lande concerning the whiche I did lift vp my hand to geue it vnto Abraham Isahac and Iacob and wyll geue it vnto you for a possession for I am Iehouah 9 And Moyses tolde the children of Israel euen so but they hearkened not vnto Moyses for anguishe of spirite and for cruell bondage 10 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying 11 Go in and speake vnto Pharao king of Egypt that he let the children of Israel go out of his lande 12 And Moyses spake before the Lorde saying beholde the children of Israel hearken not vnto me howe then shall Pharao heare me whiche am of vncircumcized lippes 13 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and vnto Aaron gaue them a charge concerning the chyldren of Israel and concerning Pharao king of Egypt that they shoulde bring the children of Israel out of the lande of Egypt 14 These be the heades of theyr fathers houses The children of Ruben y e first borne sonne of Israel are these Hanoch and Phallu Hesron and Charmi these be the children of Ruben 15 The chyldren of Simeon Iemuel and Iamin Ohad Iachin Sohar and Saul the sonne of the Chanaanitishe woman these are the kinredes of Simeon 16 These also are the names of the chyldren of Leui in their generations Gerson and Cehath and Merari Leui liued an hundred thirtie and seuen yere 17 The sonnes of Gerson Libni and ' Simi by their kinredes ' 18 The chyldren of Cehath Amram Ishar and Hebron and Vziel And Cehath liued an hundred thirtie and three yere 19 The children of Merari Mahli and Musi these are the kinredes of Leui by their generations 20 Amram toke Iochebed his fathers sister to wyfe and she bare hym Aaron and Moyses and Amram liued an hundred and thirtie and seuen yeres 21 ' And the chyldren of Ishar Corah ' Nepheg and Sichri 22 ' The chyldren of Vsiel Misael Elzaphan ' and Zithri 23 And Aaron toke Eliseba daughter of Aminadab and sister of Nahason to wyfe whiche bare hym Nadab and Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar 24 The chyldren of Corah Assir and Eleanah and Abiasaph these are the kinredes of the Corahites 25 Eleazar Aarons sonne toke him one of the daughters of Putiel to wyfe whiche bare hym Phinees and these are the principal fathers of the Leuites throughout their kinredes 26 This is that Aaron and Moyses to whom the Lorde sayd Leade the children of Israel out of the lande of Egypt according to theyr armies 27 These are that Moyses and Aaron which spake to Pharao king of Egypt that they might bryng the chyldren of Israel out of Egypt 28 And in the day when the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the lande of Egypt 29 He spake vnto hym saying I am the Lorde speake thou vnto Pharao the king of Egypt all that I say vnto thee 30 And Moyses sayde before the Lorde beholde I am of vncircumcized lippes how shall Pharao geue me audience ¶ The .vij. Chapter 1 Moyses with Aaron is sent vnto Pharao 3 God causeth signes that he onlye may be knowen mightie 10 The rodde of Moyses is turned into a serpent 11 The enchaunters do the same 19 Water turned into blood 22 The enchaunters do the same 1 AND the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses behold I haue made thee Pharaos God and Aaron thy brother shal be thy prophete 2 Thou shalt speake all that I commaunde thee and Aaron thy brother shall speake vnto Pharao that he sende the children of Israel out of his lande 3 And I will harden Pharaos heart and multiplie my miracles my wonders in the lande of Egypt 4 But Pharao shall not hearken vnto you that I may set my hande vpon Egypt and bryng out myne armies and my people the chyldren of Israel out of the land of Egypt in great iudgmentes 5 And the Egyptians shall knowe that I am the Lord when I stretch foorth my hande vpon Egypt and bryng out the children of Israel frō among them 6 Moyses and Aaron did as the Lord commaunded them euen so did they 7 Moyses was fourescore yere olde and Aaron fourescore and three when they spake vnto Pharao 8 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron saying 9 If Pharao speake vnto you saying shewe a miracle for you thou shalt say vnto Aaron Take thy rod and cast it before Pharao that it may be a serpent 10 Then went Moyses and Aaron in vnto Pharao and dyd euen as the Lorde had commaunded and Aaron caste foorth his rodde before Pharao and before his seruauntes and it turned to a serpent 11 Then Pharao called for the wyse men and enchaunters and those sorcerers of Egypt dyd in like maner with their sorcerie 12 For they cast downe euery man his rod and they turned to serpentes but Aarons rodde did eate vp their roddes 13 And he helde Pharaos heart that he hearkened not vnto them euen as the Lorde had sayde 14 The Lorde also sayde vnto Moyses Pharaos heart is hardened he refuseth to let the people go 15 Get thee vnto Pharao in the morning loe he wyll come vnto the water and thou shalt stand vpō the ryuers brincke agaynst he come and the rodde whiche was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thyne hande 16 And thou shalt say vnto hym the Lorde God of the Hebrewes hath sent me vnto thee saying Let my people go that they may serue me in the wyldernesse and beholde hytherto thou wouldest not heare 17 Thus sayeth the Lord In this thou shalt knowe that I am the Lorde beholde I wyll smyte with the rodde that is in my hande the waters whiche are in the ryuers and they shal be turned to blood 18 And the fishe that is in the riuer
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
10 Thou therefore and thy sonnes and thy seruauntes shall tyll the land for him bring in that thy maisters sonne may haue foode to eate But Miphiboseth thy maisters sonne shall eate bread alway vpon my table For Ziba had fifteene sonnes twentie seruauntes 11 Then saide Ziba vnto the king According to all that my Lorde the king hath commaunded his seruaunt so shall thy seruaunt do that Miphiboseth may eate as the king saide vpon my table as one of the kinges sonnes 12 Miphiboseth had a sonne that was young named Micha and al that dwelt in the house of Ziba were seruauntes vnto Miphiboseth 13 And Miphiboseth dwelt in Hierusalem for he dyd eate continually at the kinges table and was lame on both his feete The .x. Chapter 4 The messengers of Dauid are villanously entreated of the king of Ammon ◠Ioab is sent against the Ammonites 1 AFter this the king of the children of Ammon dyed and Hanon his sonne raigned in his steade 2 Then saide Dauid I will shewe kindnesse vnto Hanon the sonne of Nahas as his father shewed kindnesse vnto me And Dauid sent to comfort him by the hand of his seruauntes ouer his father And Dauids seruauntes came in to the land of the children of Ammon 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon sayde vnto Hanon their lorde Thinkest thou that Dauid doth honor thy father that he hath sent comfortours to thee Hath not Dauid rather sent his seruauntes vnto thee to searche the citie and to spie it out and to ouerthrowe it 4 Wherefore Hanon toke Dauids seruauntes and shaued of the one halfe of their beardes cut of their garmētes in the middle euen hard to the buttockes of them and sent them away 5 When they tolde it vnto Dauid he sent to meete them for they were men exceedingly ashamed and the king said Tary at Iericho vntill your beardes be growen and then returne 6 And when the children of Ammon sawe that they stancke in the sight of Dauid they sent hyred the Syrians of the house of Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba .xx. thousand footemen and of king Maacha a thousand men and of Istob twelue thousand men 7 And when Dauid heard of it he sent Ioab and all the hoast of strong men 8 And the children of Ammon came out and put their armie in aray at the entring in of the gate and the Syrians of Zoba of Rehob Istob and Maacha were by them selues in the fielde 9 Whē Ioab sawe that the front of the battaile was against him before and behinde he chose of all the choyse of Israel and put them in aray against the Syrians 10 And the rest of the people he deliuered into the hand of Abisai his brother that he might put them in aray against the children of Ammon 11 And he saide If the Syrians be stronger then I thou shalt helpe me But if the children of Ammon be to strong for thee I will come and succour thee 12 Therefore quite thee lyke a man and let vs be valiaunt for our people and for the cities of our God And the Lorde do that which is good in his owne eyes 13 And Ioab proceeded foorth the people that was with him to fight against the Syrians but they fled before him 14 And when the children of Ammon sawe that the Syrians were fled then fled they also before Abisai and entred into the citie And so Ioab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Hierusalem 15 And whē the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel they gathered them together 16 And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the ryuer and they came to Helam Zoba the captayne of the hoast of Hadarezer went hefore them 17 And when it was shewed Dauid he gathered al Israel together passed ouer Iordane and came to Helam And the Syrians set them selues in aray against Dauid and fought with him 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel and Dauid destroyed seuen hundred charets of the Syrians fourtie thousand horsemen and smote Zoba the captaine of their hoast which also dyed there 19 And when all the kinges that were seruauntes to Hadarezer saw that they fel before Israel they made peace with Israel and serued them and so the Syrians feared to helpe the children of Ammon any more ¶ The .xi. Chapter 1 The citie Rabba is besieged 4. Dauid committeth adultry 17 Vrias is slaine 27 Dauid marryeth Bethsabe 1 AND it came to passe that after the yere was expired in the time when kinges go foorth to battaile Dauid sent Ioab his seruaūtes with him and all Israel which destroyed the children of Ammon besieged Rabba But Dauid taryed still at Hierusalem 2 And in an euening tyde Dauid arose out of his bed and walked vpon the roofe of the kinges palace and from the roofe he sawe a woman washing her selfe and the woman was very beautifull to loke vpon 3 And Dauid sent to enquire what woman it should be And one saide Is not this Bethsabe the daughter of Eliam and wyfe to Vrias the Hethite 4 And Dauid sent messengers and toke her away And she came in vnto him and he lay with her and she was purified from her vnclennesse and returned vnto her house 5 And the woman conceaued and sent and tolde Dauid sayde I am with childe 6 And Dauid sent to Ioab saying Send me Vrias the Hethite And Ioab sent Vrias to Dauid 7 And whē Vrias was come vnto him Dauid demaunded of him howe Ioab did and how the people fared and how the warre prospered 8 And Dauid sayde to Vrias Go downe to thy house washe thy feete And Vrias departed out of the kinges palace and there folowed him a present from the king 9 But Vrias slept at the doore of y e kinges palace with all the seruauntes of his lorde and went not downe to his house 10 Which when they had tolde Dauid saying Vrias went not downe vnto his house Dauid saide vnto Vrias Camest thou not from thy iourney why diddest thou not go downe then vnto thyne house 11 Vrias aunswered Dauid The arke Israel and Iuda dwell in pauilions and my lorde Ioab and the seruauntes of my lorde abyde in the open fieldes and shall I then go into myne house to eate and drinke lye with my wyfe By thy lyfe and by the lyfe of thy soule I will not do this thing 12 And Dauid saide vnto Vrias Tary here this day also and to morow I wil let thee departe And so Vrias abode in Hierusalem that day and the morow 13 And when Dauid had called him he did eate and drinke before him and he made him drunke And at euen he went out to lye on his couch with y e seruaūtes of his lorde but went not downe to his house 14 On the morowe Dauid wrote a
the sonne of Ohosiah 4 Ioas is appoynted king 15 Iehoiada causeth Athalia to be slayne 17 He maketh a couenaunt betweene God and the people 18 Baal and his priestes are destroyed 1 ANd Athalia y e mother of Ahaziahu when she saw that her sonne was dead she arose and destroyed all the kinges seede 2 But Iehosaba the daughter of king Ioram and syster of Ahaziahu toke Ioas the sonne of Ahaziahu and stale him from among the kinges sonnes that were slayne and his nurse with him in the bedde chamber and hyd him from Athalia that he was not slayne 3 And he was with her hyd in the house of the Lord sixe yeres And Athalia dyd raigne ouer the lande 4 And the seuenth yere Iehoiada sent and fet the rulers ouer hundredes with the captaynes and them of the garde and toke them to him into the house of the Lorde made a bonde with them and toke an oth of them in the house of the Lorde and shewed them the kinges sonne 5 And he commaunded them saying This is it that ye must do One third part of you whose duetie is to come in on the Sabbath day shall keepe the watch of the kinges house 6 And another third part shal keepe the gate of Sur And another third part shall keepe the gate which is behinde them of the garde and so shall ye keepe the watch of the house of Mesiah 7 And two partes of you that is al that go out on the Sabbath day shall keepe the watch of the house of the Lorde about the king 8 And ye shall compasse the king round about euery man shall haue his weapon in his hand And whosoeuer commeth within y e ranges let him be slaine And see that ye be with the king as he goeth out and in 9 And the captaynes ouer the hundredes did according to all thinges that Iehoiada the priest commaunded and they toke euery man his men that were to come in on the Sabbath day with them that should go out on the Sabbath and came to Iehoiada the priest 10 And to the captaynes ouer hundredes did the priest geue king Dauids speares and shieldes that were in the temple 11 And they of the garde stoode and euery man had his weapon in his hande rounde about the king from the ryght corner of the temple to the left along by the aulter and the temple 12 And he brought out the kinges sonne and put the crowne vpon him and delyuered him the witnesse made him king annoynted him And they clapt their handes and saide God saue the king 13 And when Athalia heard the noyse of the running of the people she came to the people into the temple of the Lorde 14 And whē she looked behold the king stoode by a piller as the maner was the singers the trumpets by the king and all the people of the land reioysed and blew with trumpets And Athalia rent her clothes cryed treason treason 15 But Iehoiada the priest commaunded the captaines of the hundredes that had the rule of the hoast and saide vnto them Haue her foorth of the ranges if any folowe her kill him with the sword For the priest had saide she may not be slaine in the house of the Lorde 16 And they layde handes on her till she came into the way by the which the horses went in to the kinges palace and there was she slaine 17 And Iehoiada made a bond betweene the Lorde and the king and the people that they should be the Lordes people and also betweene the king and the people 18 And all the people of the lande went into the house of Baal and destroyed it his aulters also and his images brake they downe lustylie and slue Mathan the priest of Baal before the aulters And the priest set watch ouer the house of the Lorde 16 And toke the rulers ouer hundredes the captaines and them of the gard and all the people of the lande and they brought the king from the house of the Lorde and came by the way of the gate of them of the gard to the kings palace and he sat him downe on the seate of the kinges 20 And all the people of the lande reioyced and the citie was in quiet And they slue Athalia with the sword beside the kinges palace 21 Seuen yeres olde was Iehoas when he began to raigne ¶ The .xii. Chapter 6 Iehoas maketh prouision for the repairing of the temple 16 He stayeth the king of Syria by a present from comming against Hierusalem 20 He is killed by two of his seruauntes 1 ANd Iehoas began to raigne in the seuenth yere of Iehu fouretie yeres raigned he in Hierusalem his mothers name was Zebiah of Beerseba 2 And he did that which was good in the sight of the Lorde as long as Iehoiada the priest enfourmed him 3 But the high places were not taken away for the people offred and burnt incense yet vpon the high places 4 And Iehoas sayde to the priestes All the siluer of the dedicate thinges that be brought to the house of the Lorde that is the money of them that were numbred the money that euery man is set at and all the money that euery man with a willing heart geueth and bryngeth into the house of the Lorde 5 Let the priestes take it to them euery man of his acquayntaunce to repayre the broken places of the house wheresoeuer any decaye is founde 6 And so it came to passe that vnto the three and twentith yere of king Iehoas the priestes had mended nothing that was decayed in the temple 7 Then king Iehoas called for Iehoiada the priest and the other priestes and saide vnto them Why repaire ye not the broken places of the temple Now therfore see that ye receaue no more money of your acquayntaunce except ye deliuer it to repaire the temple withall 8 And the priestes consented to receaue no more money of the people except to repaire the decayed places of the temple 9 But Iehoiada the priest toke a chest and bored a hole in the lyd of it and set it besyde the aulter on the right syde as euery man commeth into the temple of the Lorde and the priestes that kept the vessels put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lorde 10 And it fortuned that when they sawe ther was much money in the chest the kinges scribe the hye priest came vp and tolde the money that was found in the house of the Lorde and put it into a bagge 11 And they gaue the money sealed into the handes of them that executed the worke and that had the ouersight of the house of the Lorde and they brought it out to the carpenters and builders that wrought vpon the house of the Lorde 12 And to masons and hewers of stone And they bought timber and free stone to repaire the decaye in the
way For as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places 5 And assoone as the kingdome was setled in his hande it came to passe that he slue his seruauntes which had killed the king his father 6 But the children of those murtherers he slue not according vnto it that is written in the booke of the law of Moyses wherein the Lorde commaunded saying Let not the fathers dye for the children nor let the children be slaine for the fathers but let euery man be put to death for his owne sinne 7 He slue of Edom in the salt valley ten thousand and toke the castell on the rocke in the same battaile and called the name of it Ioktheel vnto this day 8 Then Amaziahu sent messengers to Iehoas the sonne of Iehoahaz sonne of Iehu king of Israel saying Come let vs see eche other 6 And Iehoas the king of Israel sent to Amaziahu king of Iuda saying Did not a thistle that is in Libanon send to a Cedar tree that is in Libanon saying Geue thy daughter to my sonne to wife And the wilde beast that was in Libanon went and trode downe the thystle 10 Thou hast smitten Edom thyne heart hath made thee proude Enioye this glory tarry at home Why doest thou prouoke to mischiefe that thou shouldest be ouerthrowen Iuda with thee 11 But Amaziahu would not heare And Iehoas king of Israel went vp and he and Amaziahu king of Iuda sawe either other at Bethsames which is in Iuda 12 And Iuda was put to the worse before Israel and they fled euery man to their tentes 13 And Iehoas king of Israel toke Amaziahu king of Iuda the sonne of Iehoas the sonne of Ahaziahu at Bethsames and came to Hierusalem brake downe the wall of Hierusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate foure hundred cubites 14 And he toke all the golde and siluer and all the vessels that were founde in the house of the Lorde and in the treasures of the kinges house and the children toke he to be his wardes and returned to Samaria againe 15 The rest of the actes of Iehoas which he did and his power how he fought with Amaziahu king of Iuda are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 16 And Iehoas slept with his fathers and was buried at Samaria among the kinges of Israel Ieroboam his sonne raigned in his steade 17 Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda liued after the death of Iehoas sonne of Iehoahaz king of Israel fifteene yeres 18 And the remnaunt of the wordes that concerne Amaziahu are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 19 But they conspired treason against him in Hierusalem And when he fled to Lachis they sent after him to Lachis and slue him there 20 And they brought him on horses and he was buried at Hierusalem with his fathers in the citie of Dauid 21 And all the people of Iuda toke Azaria which was sixteene yeres olde and made him king for his father Amaziahu 22 He built Elath and brought it againe to Iuda after that the king was layde to rest with his fathers 23 In the fifteenth yere of Amaziahu the sonne of Ioas king of Iuda was Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas made king ouer Israel in Samaria and raigned fourtie and one yeres 24 And wrought that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde neither turned he away from all the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne 25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entring of Hemath vnto the sea of the wildernesse according to the worde of the Lorde God of Israel which he spake by the hande of his seruaunt Ionas the sonne of Amithai the prophete which was of Geth Hepher 26 For the Lorde sawe howe that the affliction of Israel was exceeding bytter insomuch that the prisoned and the forsaken were at an ende and there was none to helpe Israel 27 And the Lorde saide not that he would put out the name of Israel from vnder heauen but he helped them by the hande of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioas. 28 The rest of the wordes that concerne Ieroboam and all that he did and his strength and howe he fought in the warres howe he restored Damascon Hemath to Iuda in Israel are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 29 And Ieroboam slept with his fathers euen with the kinges of Israel Zacharia his sonne raigned in his steade ¶ The .xv. Chapter 1 Azaria the king of Iuda becommeth a leaper 5 Of Iotham 10 Sallum 14 Menahem 23 Pecahia 30 Vziahu 32 Iotham 38 Ahaz 1 IN the twentie and seuenth yere of Ieroboam king of Israel began Azaria sonne of Amazia king of Iuda to raigne 2 Sixteene yeres olde was he when he was made king and he raigned two and fiftie yeres in Hierusalem and his mothers name was Iecholiahu of Hierusalem 3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde according to all thinges as did his father Amaziahu 4 Saue that the high places were not put a way For the people offered and burnt incense still on the high places 5 And the Lorde smote the king and he was a leaper vnto the day of his death and dwelt in a seuerall house at libertie and Iotham the kinges sonne gouerned the palace and iudged the people of the lande 6 The rest of the wordes that concerne Azaria and all that he did are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 7 And so Azaria slept with his fathers and they buryed him with his fathers in the citie of Dauid and Iotham his sonne raigned in his steade 8 In the thirtie and eyght yere of Azaria king of Iuda did Zacharia the sonne of Ieroboam raigne vpon Israel in Samaria sixe monethes 9 And wrought that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde as did his fathers And turned not away from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne 10 And Sallum the sonne of Iabes conspired against him and smote him in the â—ight of the people and killed him and raigned in his steade 11 The rest of the wordes that concerne Zacharia beholde they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 12 This is also the worde of the Lorde which he spake vnto Iehu saying Thy sonnes shall sit on the seate of Israel in the fourth generation after thee And so it came to passe 13 Sallum the sonne of Iabes began to raigne in the thirtie and ninth yere of Vzziah king of Iuda and he raigned a moneth in Samaria 14 For Menahem the sonne of Gadi went vp from Thirza came to Samaria and smote Sallum the sonne of Iabes in Samaria and slue him and raigned in his steade
death 17 The temple of Baal is destroyed 19 Iehoiada appoynteth ministers in the temple 1 ANd in the seuenth yere Iehoiada beyng bolde toke the captaynes of hundredes Azariah the sonne of Iehoram Ismael the sonne of Iehohanan Azariahu the sonne of Obed Maasiahu the sonne of Adaiahu Elisaphat the sonne of Zichri made a bonde with them 2 And they went about in Iuda and gathered the Leuites out of all the cities of Iuda the auncient fathers of Israel and they came to Hierusalem 3 And all the congregation made a bonde with the king in the house of God and he sayd vnto them Beholde the kinges sonne must raigne as the Lorde hath sayde of the children of Dauid 4 This is it therfore that ye shal do The thirde part of you shall on the Sabbath come to the priestes Leuites kepers of the porches 5 And another thirde part shal be by the kinges house and another thirde part shal be at the gate of the foundation and al the people shal be in the courtes of the house of the Lorde 6 But there shal none come into the house of the Lorde saue the priestes and they that minister vnto the Leuites they shall go in for they are holy but all the people shal kepe the watch of the Lord. 7 And the Leuites shall compasse the king round about and euery man shall haue his weapon in his hand and what other man soeuer doth come into the house of the Lorde he shal be slayne and let them be with the king when he commeth in and when he goeth out 8 And the Leuites and all Iuda dyd according to al thinges that Iehoiada the priest had commaunded and toke euery man his men that came in on the Sabbath with them that went out on the Sabbath day neither did Iehoiada the priest let the companies depart 9 And Iehoiada the priest deliuered to the captaynes of hundredes speares shieldes and bucklers that had parteyned to king Dauid and were in the house of God 10 And he set all the people euery man hauing his weapon in his hande from the right side of the temple to the lift side of the temple along by the aulter and the temple rounde about the king 11 And they brought out the kinges sonne and put vpon him the crowne and the testimonie and made him king and Iehoiada and his sonnes annoynted him and sayde God saue the king 12 When Athaliahu hearde the noyse of the people running and praysing the king she came to the people into the house of the Lorde 13 And she loked and beholde the king stoode in his place at the entring in and the lordes and the trumpettes were by the king and all the people of the lande reioysed blowing with trumpets and the singers were with instrumentes of musicke and such as could sing prayse But Athaliahu rent her clothes and sayde Treason treason 14 And Iehoiada the priest went out to the captaynes of hundredes that were gouernours of the hoast and sayde vnto them Haue her foorth of the ranges whoso foloweth her let him be slayne with the sword For the priest sayd that they should not slay her in the house of the Lorde 15 And they layde handes on her till she was come to the entring of the horse gate beside the kinges house and there they slue her 16 And Iehoiada made a bond betweene him and al the people and the king that they shoulde be the Lordes people 17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and destroyed it and brake his aulters and his images and slue Mathan the priest of Baal before the aulters 18 And Iehoiada put the officers for the house of the Lord vnder the hand of the priestes and Leuites as Dauid had distributed them in the house of the Lord to offer burnt offeringes vnto the Lord as it is written in the lawe of Moyses with reioysing and singing as it was ordeyned by Dauid 19 And he set porters by the gates of the house of the Lord that none which was vncleane in any thing shoulde enter in 20 And he toke the captaynes of hundredes and all the nobles and the gouernours of the people and al the folke of the lande and caused the king to come downe out of the house of the Lorde and they came through the hye gate into the kinges house set the king vpon the seate of the kingdome 21 And all the people of the land reioysed and the citie was in tranquilitie after that they had slayne Athaliahu with the sworde The .xxiiii. Chapter 1 Ioas repaireth the house of the Lorde 17 After the death of Iehoiada he falleth to idolatrie 21 He stoneth to death Zecharia the prophete 25 Ioas is killed of his owne seruauntes 27 After him raigneth Amaziahu 1 IOas was seuen yeres olde when he began to raigne he raigned fourtie yeres in Hierusalem His mothers name also was Zibia of Beerseba 2 And Ioas dyd that whiche was right in the sight of the Lorde all the dayes of Iehoiada the priest 3 And Iehoiada toke him two wyues and he begat sonnes and daughters 4 And it chaunced after this that Ioas was minded to renue the house of the Lorde 5 And he gathered together the priestes and the Leuites and sayde to them Go out vnto the cities of Iuda and gather of all Israel money to repaire the house of your God from yere to yere and see that ye haste the thing Howebeit the Leuites were slacke 6 And the king called Iehoiada that was the chiefest sayd vnto him Why requirest thou not of the Leuites to bring in out of Iuda and Hierusalem the collection of money according to the commaundement of Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde and of the congregation of Israel for the tabernacle of witnesse 7 For wicked Athaliahu and her children brake vp the house of God and all the thinges that were dedicate for the house of the lord did they bestow for Baalim 8 And at the kinges commaundement they made a chest and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lorde 9 And made a proclamation through Iuda Hierusalem to bring in to the Lord the taxation of money that Moyses the seruaunt of God set vpon Israel in the wildernesse 10 And the lordes and al the people reioysed and brought in cast into the chest vntill it was full 11 And it fortuned that at the same time they brought in the chest vnto them whiche were in the kinges businesse by the hand of the Leuites and when they sawe that there was much money the kinges scribe and one appoynted by the hye priest came and emptied the chest and toke it and caried it to his place agayne Thus they dyd day by day and gathered much money 12 And the king and Iehoiada gaue it to such as dyd the labour and worke in the
Abia the daughter of Zachariahu 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lorde in all poyntes as did Dauid his father 3 He opened the doores of the house of the Lorde in the first yere and first moneth of his raigne and repaired them 4 And he brought in the priestes and the Leuites and gathered them together into the east streate 5 And saide vnto them Heare me ye Leuites and now be sanctified and halow the house of the Lorde God of your fathers bring filthynesse out of the holy place 6 For our fathers haue trespassed and done euill in the eyes of the Lorde our God and haue forsaken him and turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backes on it 7 And beside that they haue shut vp the doores of the porche and quenched the lampes and haue neither burnt incense nor offered burnt offringes in the holy place vnto the God of Israel 8 Wherefore the wrath of the Lorde fell on Iuda Hierusalem and he hath brought them to trouble to be wondred on to be hissed at euen as ye see with your eyes 9 For loe our fathers were ouerthrowen with the sword and our sonnes our daughters and our wyues were caried away captiue for the same cause 10 And now it is in myne heart to make a couenaunt with the Lord God of Israel that he may turne away his heauy indignation from vs. 11 Now therefore my sonnes be not negligent for the Lorde hath chosen you to stande before him and for to minister and serue him and to burne incense 12 Then the Leuites arose Mahath the sonne of Amasai and Ioel the sonne of Azariahu of the children of the Caathites And of the sonnes of Merari Cis the sonne of Abdi and Azariahu the sonne of Iahalelel And of y e sonnes of the Gersonites Ioah the sonne of Simma and Eden the sonne of Ioah 13 And of the sonnes of Elizaphan Simri and Iehiel And of the sonnes of Asaph Zechariahu and Matthamahu 14 And of the sonnes of Heman Iehiel and Simer And of the sonnes of Ieduthun Semaia and Vzziel 15 And they gathered their brethren and purified them selues and came according to the commaundement of the king and the wordes of the Lord for to clense the house of the Lorde 16 And the priestes went into the inner partes of the house of the Lord to clense it and brought out all the vnclennesse that they founde in the temple of the Lorde into the court of the house of the Lorde And the Leuites toke it to cary it out into the brooke Cedron 17 They began the first day of the first moneth to purifie and the eyght day of the moneth came they to the porche of the Lorde So they sacrified the house of the Lorde in eyght dayes and in the sixteenth day of the first moneth they made an end 18 And they went in to Hezekia the king and saide We haue clensed all the house of the Lorde the aulter of burnt offring with all his vessels and the shew bread table with all his apparell 19 And all the vessels which king Ahaz did cast aside when he raigned transgressed them we haue prepared and sanctified and beholde they are before the aulter of the Lorde 20 And Hezekia the king rose earlye and gathered the lordes of the citie and went vp to the house of the Lorde 21 And they brought seuen oxen seuen rammes seuen sheepe and seuen hee goates to be a sinne offring for the kingdome for the sanctuary and for Iuda And he commaunded the priestes the sonnes of Aaron to offer them on the aulter of the Lorde 22 And they slue the oxen and the priestes receaued the blood and sprinckled it on the aulter likewyse when they had slaine the rammes they sprinckled the blood vpon the aulter They slue also the sheepe and they sprinckled the blood vpon the aulter 23 And then they brought foorth the hee goates for the sinne offering before the king and the congregation put their handes vpon them 24 And the priestes slue them and with the blood of them they clensed the aulter to make satisfaction for all Israel for the king cōmaunded that the burnt offering and the sinne offering shoulde be made for all Israel 25 And set the Leuites in the house of the Lorde with cymbales psalteries and harpes according to the commaundement of Dauid and of Gad the kinges sear and Nathan the prophete For so was the commaundement of the Lord through the hande of his prophetes 26 And the Leuites stoode hauing the instrumentes of Dauid and the priestes helde the trumpettes 27 And Hezekia commaunded to offer the burnt offring vpon the aulter And when the burnt offring began the song of the Lorde began also and the trumpettes with the instrumentes that were ordayned by the hand of Dauid king of Israel 28 And all the congregation worshipped singing a song and blowyng with the trumpettes and all this continued vntill the burnt offring was finished 29 And when they had made an end of offering the king and all that were present with him bowed them selues and worshipped 30 And Hezekia the king and the lordes spake to the Leuites to prayse the Lord with the wordes of Dauid of Asaph the sear And they sang prayses with gladnesse and the other bowed them selues and worshipped 31 And Hezekia aunswered and saide Now ye haue consecrated your handes to the Lorde go to therefore and bryng the sacrifices and thanke offeringes into the house of the Lorde And the congregation brought in the sacrifices thank offeringes and burnt offringes as many as were of a free liberall heart 32 And the number of the burnt offringes which the congregation brought was threescore and ten oxen an hundred rammes two hundred sheepe which were all for the burnt offering of the Lorde 33 And there were dedicated sixe hundred oxen and three thousand sheepe 34 And the priestes were to fewe to flay al the burnt offringes but their brethren the Leuites did helpe them till they had ended the worke vntil the priestes were sanctified For the Leuites were purer hearted to be sanctified then the priestes 35 And therto y e burnt offringes were many with the fat of the peace offringes the drinke offringes that belong to the burnt offring And so the seruice parteyning to the house of the Lorde was finished 36 And Hezekia reioyced and all the people that God had made the folke so readie that the thing was so soone done ¶ The .xxx. Chapter 1 The keping of the passouer by the kinges commaundement 6 He exhorteth Israel to turne to the Lorde 18 He prayeth for the people 24 His oblation and the princes 27 The Leuites blesse the people 1 AND Hezekia sent to all Israel and Iuda and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasse that they shoulde come to the house of the lorde at Hierusalem and
maner of abhominations out of all landes that parteyned to the children of Israel and brought in all that were founde in Israel to worship and to serue the Lorde their God And they turned not aside from after the Lorde God of their fathers as long as he liued The .xxxv. Chapter 1 Iosia kepeth the passouer 2 He setteth foorth gods seruice 20 He fighteth against the king of Egypt and dieth 24 The people bewayle him 1 AND Iosia helde the feast of passouer vnto the Lorde in Hierusalem they slue passouer in the fourteenth day of the first moneth 2 And he set the priestes in their offices and ayded them in the seruice of the house of the Lorde 3 And sayd vnto the Leuites that taught all Israel and were sanctified vnto the Lorde Put the holy arke in the house whiche Solomon the sonne of Dauid king of Israel dyd buylde it shal be no more a burden vpon your shoulders But now serue the Lord your God and his people Israel 4 And prepare your selues by your auncient housholdes and companies according to the writing of Dauid king of Israel and the writing of Solomon his sonne 5 And stand in the holy place according to the deuision of the auncient housholdes of your brethren the children of the people and after the deuision of the auncient housholdes of the Leuites 6 Kill passouer and sanctifie your selues prepare your brethren that they may do according to the word of the Lord by the hande of Moyses 7 And Iosia gaue to the people flockes of sheepe and kiddes all for passouer and for al that were present thirtie thousande by tale and three thousande oxen and these were euen of the kinges substaunce 8 And his lordes gaue willingly both vnto the people and to the priestes and vnto the Leuites Helkia also Zacharia and Iehiel rulers of the house of God gaue vnto the priestes for passouer offeringes two thousande and sixe hundred sheepe and three hundred oxen 9 Conania and Semeiahu Nathanael his brethren Hasabiah and Iehiel and Iosabad rulers of the Leuites gaue vnto the Leuites passouer offeringes euen fiue thousande sheepe and fiue hundred oxen 10 And so the seruice was prepared and the priestes stoode in their places the Leuites in their distinct companies at the kinges commaundement 11 And they slue passouer and the priestes sprinckled the blood with their hande and the Leuites pulled of the skinnes of the beastes 12 And they fet away the burnt offeringes to geue them vnto the people that were deuided be auncient houses and that they shoulde offer vnto the Lorde like as is written in the booke of Moyses And so dyd they with the oxen also 13 And they dressed the passouer with fire as the maner was And the other dedicate beastes sodde they in pottes caldrons and pannes and deuided them among all the people 14 And afterward they made redy for them selues and for the priestes for the priestes the children of Aaron were busied in offring of burnt offringes and the fat vntill night therfore the Leuites prepared for them selues and for the priestes the sonnes of Aaron 15 And the singers the children of Asaph stoode in their standing according to the commaundement of Dauid and Asaph Heman and Ieduthun the kinges fear and the porters wayted at euery gate and might not depart from their seruice for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them 16 And so all the seruice of the Lord was prepared the same day to offer passouer and to offer burnt offeringes vpon the aulter of the Lord according to the commaundement of king Iosia 17 And the children of Israel that were present kept the passouer the same time and the feast of sweet bread seuen dayes 18 And there was no passouer like to that kept in Israel from the dayes of Samuel the prophete neither did al the kinges of Israel holde such a passeouer feast as dyd Iosia and the priestes and Leuites and all Iuda and Israel that were present and the inhabiters of Hierusalem 19 This passouer was holden in the eyghteenth yere of the raigne of Iosia 20 After all this when Iosia had prepared the temple Necho king of Egypt came vp to fight against Charcamis beside Euphrates and Iosia went out against him 21 Whiche sent messengers to hym and said What haue I to do with thee thou king of Iuda Be not thou against thy selfe this day for my warre is against another house and God bad me make hast Leaue of therfore meddle not with God which is with me lest he destroy thee 22 Neuerthelesse Iosia would not turne his face from him but rather toke aduise to fight with hym and hearkened not vnto the wordes of Necho out of the mouth of God and came to fight in the valley of Mageddo 23 And the shooters shot dartes at king Iosia And the king sayde to his seruauntes Carie me away for I am sore wounded 24 His seruauntes therefore had hym out of that charet and put him in another charet that they had And when they had brought him to Hierusalem he died and was buried in the sepulchre of his fathers And all Iuda and Hierusalem mourned for Iosia 25 And Ieremia lamented Iosia and all singing men and singing women mourned for Iosias in their lamentations to this day and made the same lamentations an ordinaunce in Israel and beholde they are written in the lamentations 26 The rest of the actes of Iosia and his goodnes whiche he did folowing in the writing of the lawe of the Lorde 27 And his sayinges first and last behold they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda The .xxxvi. Chapter 1 After Iosia raigneth Iehoahaz 4 After Iehoahaz Iehoiacim 8 After hym Iehoiacin 11 After him Zedekia 14. 17. in whose time all the people were caried away to Babylon for contemning the admonitions of the prophetes 22 And were restored againe the seuentith yere after by king Cyrus 1 ANd the people of the lande toke Iehoahaz the sonne of Iosia and made hym king in his fathers steade in Hierusalem 2 And Iehoahaz was twentie three yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned three monethes in Hierusalem 3 And the king of Egypt put him downe at Hierusalem and merced the lande in an hundreth talentes of siluer and a talent of golde 4 And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king vpon Iuda and Hierusalem and turned his name to Iehoiacim and Necho toke Iehoahaz his brother and caried him to Egypt 5 Iehoiacim was twentie and fiue yeres old when he began to raigne he raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem and he did euil in the sight of the Lord his God 6 Against him came vp Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon and bounde hym with two chaynes to cary him to Babylon 7 The king Nabuchodonosor also caried of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon and put
handes in the worke of the house of God euen the God of Israel The .vij. Chapter 1 By the commaundement of the king Esdras and his companions come to Hierusalem 27 He geueth thankes to God 1 AFter these thinges ther was in the raigne of Artaxerxes king of Persia one Esdras the sonne of Saraia the sonne of Asaria the sonne of Helkia 2 The sonne of Sallum the sonne of Zadoc the sonne of Ahitob 3 The sonne of Amaria the sonne of Asaria the sonne of Meraioth 4 The sonne of Zeraia the sonne of Vzzi the sonne of Bucci 5 The sonne of Abisua the sonne of Phinehes the sonne of Eleasar the sonne of Aaron the chiefe priest 6 This Esdras also went vp from Babylon and was a perfect scribe in the law of Moyses which the Lorde God of Israel did geue And the king gaue him al that he required according to the hand of the Lorde his God which was vpon him 7 And there went vp certaine of the children of Israel of the priestes leuites singers porters and of the Nethinims vnto Hierusalem in the seuenth yere of king Artaxerxes 8 And he came to Hierusalem in the fifth moneth euen in the seuenth yere of the king 9 For vpon the first day of the first moneth began he to go vp from Babylon and on the first day of the fifth moneth came he to Hierusalem according to the good hand of his God that was vpon him 10 For Esdras prepared his heart to seeke the law of the Lorde and to do it and to teache the preceptes and iudgementes in Israel 11 And this is the copie of the letter that king Artaxerxes gaue vnto Esdras the priest and scribe which was a writer of the wordes and commaundementes of the Lorde and of his statutes ouer Israel 12 Artaxerxes a king of kinges vnto Esdras the priest and scribe of the law of the God of heauen peace and salutation 13 I haue commaunded that all they of the people of Israel and of the priestes and Leuites in my realme which are minded of their owne good wyll to go vp to Hierusalem go with thee 14 And therfore art thou sent of the king and of his seuen counsailers to visite Iuda and Hierusalem according to the law of thy God which is in thy hande 15 And that thou shouldest take with thee siluer and golde which the king and his counsailers offer of their owne good wyll vnto the God of Israel whose habitation is at Hierusalem 16 And all the siluer and golde that thou canst finde in al the countrey of Babylon with it that the people offer of their owne good wyll and the priestes geue wyllingly for the house of their God which is at Hierusalem 17 That thou mayst bye diligently with the same money oxen rammes and lambes with their meate offringes and drinke offringes thou shalt offer them vpon the aulter of the house of your God which is at Hierusalem 18 And looke what lyketh thee and thy brethren to do with the remnaunt of the siluer and golde that do after the wyll of your God 19 And the vessels that are geuen thee for the ministration in the house of thy God those deliuer thou before God at Hierusalem 20 And whatsoeuer thing more shal be nedefull for the house of thy God which is necessary for to spend thou shalt receaue the charges out of the kinges treasure house 21 I king Artaxerxes haue commaunded all the treasures beyond the water that loke what soeuer Esdras the priest and scribe in the law of the God of heauen requireth of you that ye fulfill the same speedylie 22 Vntill an hundred talentes of siluer and till an hundred quarters of wheate and till an hundred battes of wine and till an hundred battes of oyle salt without measure 23 Whatsoeuer also is by the commaundement of the God of heauen let the same be done without any delay for the house of the God of heauen that he be not wroth against the realme against the king and his children 24 And we certifie you that ye haue no aucthoritie to require taxing and custome and yerely rentes vpon any of the priestes leuites singers porters Nethinims and ministers in the house of his God 25 And thou Esdras after the wysdome of thy God that is in thyne hande set iudges and arbitrers by my aucthoritie to iudge all the people that is beyond the water euen all such as know the law of thy God and them that knowe it not those see that ye teache 26 And whosoeuer wyll not fulfill the lawe of thy God and the kinges lawe let him haue his iudgement without delay whether it be vnto death or to be rooted out or to be condempned in goodes or to be put in prison 27 Blessed be the Lorde God of our fathers which so had inspired the kinges heart to garnishe the house of the Lord that is at Hierusalem 28 And hath enclined mercie vnto me in the presence of the king and his counsailers and before all the kinges high estates And I was comforted euen as the hande of the Lord my God was vpon me and so gathered I the heades of Israel together that they might go vp with me ¶ The .viii. Chapter 1 The number of them that returned to Hierusalem with Esdras 21 He causeth them to fast 24 He admonisheth the priestes of their duetie 1 THese are now the principall fathers of them and this is the register of them that went vp with me from Babylon what time as king Artaxerxes raigned 2 Of the children of Phinehes Gersom of the children of Ithamar Daniel of the children of Dauid Hattus 3 Of the children of Zechania among the children of Pharos Zachari with him were numbred an hundred and fiftie men 4 Of the childrē of the captaine of Moab Elioenai the sonne of Zerahia with him two hundred men 5 Of the children of Zechania the sonne of Iahasiel and with him three hundred men 6 Of the children of Adin Abed the sonne of Ionathan and with hym fiftie men 7 Of the children of Elam Isai the sonne of Athalia and with hym seuentie men 8 Of the children of Saphatia Zebadia the sonne of Michael and with hym fourescore men 9 Of the children of Ioab Obadia the sonne of Iehiel and with him two hundred and eyghteene men 10 Of the children of Selomith the sonne of Iosephia and with hym an hundred and threescore men 11 Of the children of Bebai Zachari the sonne of Bebai and with hym twentie and eyght men 12 Of the children of Asgad Iohanan the sonne of Hakatan and with hym an hundred and ten men 13 Of the children of Adonicam that were the last whose names are these Eliphelet Iehiel and Samaiah with them threescore men 14 Of the children of Biguai Vthai and Zabud with them seuentie men 15 And I gathered them together by the water that runneth towarde Ahaua and there abode
booke of Esdras otherwyse called the booke of Nehemia ⧠The booke of Esther The first Chapter 3 King Ahasuerus maketh a royall feast 10 Wherevnto the queene Vasthi will not come 19 For which cause she is diuorced 20 The kinges decree touching the preeminence of man 1 IT came to passe that in the dayes of Ahasuerus this is Ahasuerus whiche raigned from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen prouinces 2 Euen in those dayes when the king Ahasuerus sate on his seate royall which was in Susan the chiefe citie 3 In the third yere of his raigne he made a feast vnto all his princes seruauntes and the mightie men of Persia and Media the captaynes also and rulers of his countreys were before hym 4 And he shewed the richesse and glorie of his kingdome and the glorious worship of his greatnesse many dayes long euen an hundred and fourescore dayes 5 And when these dayes were expired the king made a feast vnto al the people that were in Susan the chiefe citie both vnto great small seuen dayes long in the court of the garden by the kinges palace 6 Where there hanged white greene and yelowe clothes fastened with cordes of fine silke and purple in siluer ringes vpon pillers of marble stones The benches also were of golde and siluer made vpon a pauement of greene white yelowe and blacke marble 7 And they dranke in vessels of gold and chaunged vessel after vessel and royal wine in aboundaunce according to the power of the king 8 And the drinking was by an order none might compell for so the king had appoynted to all the officers of his house that they shoulde do according to euery mans pleasure 9 And the queene Vasthi made a feast also for the women in the palace of Ahasuerus 10 And on the seuenth day when the king was mery after the wine he commaunded Nehuma Biztha Harbona Bigtha Abagthan Zethar and Charchas the seuen chamberlayns that did seruice in the presence of king Ahasuerus 11 To fetch the queene Vasthi with the crowne regall into the kinges presence that he might shewe the people princes her fairenesse for she was beautifull 12 But the queene Vasthi would not come at the kinges worde by his chamberlaynes Then was the king very wroth and his indignation kindled in hym 13 And the king spake to the wyse men which knewe the times for so was the kinges maner towardes all that knewe the lawe and the iudgementes 14 And the next vnto hym were Carsena Sethar Admata Thersis Mares Marsena and Memuchan the seuen princes of Persia and Media whiche sawe the kinges face and sate the first in the kingdome 15 What shall we do vnto the queene Vasthi according to the lawe because she dyd not according to the worde of the king Ahasuerus whiche he commaunded by his chamberlaynes 16 And Memuchan aunswered before the king the princes The queene Vasthi hath not onely done euyll against the king but also against all the princes and against all the people that are in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus 17 For this deede of the queene shall come abrode vnto all women so that they shall despise their husbandes before their eyes and shall say The king Ahasuerus commaunded Vasthi the queene to be brought in before hym but she woulde not come 18 And so shal the princesses in Persia and Media say lykewise this day vnto al the kinges princes when they heare of this deede of the queene thus shal there arise to much despite fulnesse and wrath 19 If it please the king let there go a commaundement from hym and let it be written according to the lawes of the Persians and Medians and not to be transgressed that Vasthi come no more before king Ahasuerus and let the king geue her royal estate vnto an other that is better then she 20 And when this commaundement of the king which shal be made is published throughout all his empire whiche i◠great all women shall holde their husbandes in honour both among great and small 21 This saying pleased the king and the princes and the king did according to the worde of Memucan 22 For he sent letters foorth into all the kinges prouinces into euery lande according to the wryting therof and to euery people after their language that euery man shoulde be lorde in his owne house and this to be published after the language of his people The .ii. Chapter 2 After the queene is put away certeyne young maydes are brought to the king 14 Esther pleaseth the king and is made queene 22 Mardocheus discloseth vnto the king those that woulde betray hym 1 AFter these actes when the displeasure of king Ahasuerus was nowe alayed he thought vpon Vasthi what she had done what was decreed against her 2 Then sayde the kinges seruauntes that ministred vnto hym Let there be faire young virgins sought for the king 3 And let the king appoynt officers in all the prouinces of his empire that they should bring together al the faire young virgins vnto Susan the head citie to the womens buylding vnder the hande of Hegai the kinges chamberlayne that kept the women to geue them their apparell 4 And that the mayden which pleased the king should be queene in Vasthis steede And this pleased the king and he did so 5 In the citie of Susan there was a certayne Iewe whose name was Mardocheus the sonne of Iair the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis a man of Iemini 6 Which was caryed away from Hierusalem with the captiuitie when Iekoma the king of Iuda was led away whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon caryed thence 7 And he norished Hadassa that is Esther his vncles daughter for he had neither father nor mother and she was a faire and beautifull mayden whom Mardocheus when her father mother were dead receaued for his owne daughter 8 So when the kinges commaundement and commission was published and many maydens were brought together into the citie of Susan vnder the hand of Hegai Esther was brought also vnto the kinges house vnder the hande of Hegai the keper of the women 9 And the mayden pleased hym and she founde fauour in his sight and he caused ornamentes to be geuen her speedyly and such thinges as belonged to her and appoynted her seuen comely maydens out of the kinges house fauoured both her and her gentlewomen singularly in the house of the women 10 But Esther shewed not her people and her kinred for Mardocheus had charged her that she shoulde not tell it 11 And Mardocheus walked euery day before the court of the womens house that he might knowe howe Esther did and what shoulde become of her 12 And when the appoynted time of euery mayden came that she shoulde go in to the king Ahasuerus after that she had ben twelue monethes according to the maner of the women for so were the dayes of
their purification accomplissed sixe monethes with oyle of mirre and sixe monethes with sweete odoures and in the purifiyng of the women 13 And thus went the maydens vnto the king whatsoeuer she required that must be geuen her to go with her out of the womens buylding vnto the kinges palace 14 In the euening she went and on the morowe she returned into the seconde house of the women abyding vnder the hande of Saasgaz the kinges chamberlayne which kept the concubines And she came in vnto the king no more except it pleased the king to haue her and that she were called by name 15 Nowe when the course came of Esther the daughter of Abihail the vncle of Mardocheus which had receaued her as his owne daughter that she shoulde come in vnto the king she desired nothing but what Hegai the kinges chamberlayne the keper of the women saide And Esther found fauour in the sight of all them that loked vpon her 16 And Esther was taken vnto king Ahasuerus into his house royall in the tenth moneth which is the moneth Tebeth in the seuenth yere of his raigne 17 And the king loued Esther aboue all the women and she found grace and fauour in his sight more then all the virgins so that he set the crowne of the kingdome vpon her head and made her queene in steede of Vasthi 18 And the king made a great feast vnto all his princes and seruauntes whiche feast was because of Esther and caused the prouinces to be in quietnesse gaue giftes as became the royaltie of a king 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the seconde time Mardocheus sate in the kinges gate 20 And as yet had not Esther shewed her kinred her people according as Mardocheus had bidden her for Esther dyd after the worde of Mardocheus like as if she had ben yet vnder his gouernaunce 21 At the same time whyle Mardocheus sate in the kinges gate two of y e kinges chamberlaynes Bigthan and There 's which kept the doore were wroth and sought to lay their handes on the king Ahasuerus 22 Whereof also Mardocheus gat knowledge * and tolde it vnto queene Esther and Esther certified the king therof in Mardocheus name 23 And when inquisition was made it was founde so and they were both hanged on tree and it was written in the Chronicles before the king The .iii. Chapter 1 Haman after he was exalted obteined of the king that all the Iewes shoulde be put to death because Mardocheus had not done him worship as other had 1 AFter these actes dyd king Ahasuerus promote Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite and set hym on hie and set his seate aboue all the princes that he had with hym 2 And al the kinges seruauntes that were in the kinges gate bowed their knees and reuerenced Haman for the king had so commaunded concerning hym But Mardocheus bowed not the knee neither dyd hym reuerence 3 Then the kinges seruauntes whiche were in the kinges gate said vnto Mardocheus Why transgressest thou the kinges commaundement 4 And though they spake this dayly vnto hym yet woulde he not heare them therfore they tolde Haman that they might see howe Mardocheus matters woulde stande for he had tolde them that he was a Iewe. 5 And when Haman sawe that Mardocheus bowed not the knee vnto him nor dyd reuerence vnto hym he was full of indignation 6 And thought it to litle to lay handes onely on Mardocheus for thâ—y had shewed him the nation of Mardocheus wherefore he sought to destroy all the Iewes that were throughout the whole empire of Ahasuerus and that were of the nation of Mardocheus 7 In the first moneth that is the moneth Nisan in the twelfth yere of king Ahasuerus they cast Phur that is a lot before Haman from day to day and from moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth that is the moneth Adar 8 And Haman sayde vnto king Ahasuerus There is here a people scattred abrode and dispearsed among all people in all the prouinces of thyne empire and their lawes are diuers from all people and do not after the kinges lawes therefore it is not the kinges profite to suffer them after this maner 9 If it please the king let it be written that they may be destroyed and so wyll I waye downe ten thousand talents of siluer by the handes of them that haue the charge of this busines to bring it into the kinges treasurie 10 And the king toke his ring from his hand gaue it vnto Haman the sonne of Amadatha the Agagite the Iewes enemie 11 And the king saide vnto Haman Let the siluer be thyne do with that people as it pleaseth thee 12 Then were the kinges scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth there was written according as Haman commaunded vnto all the kinges officers and to the captaynes that were ouer euery prouince and to the rulers of euery people in the countryes on euery side according to the writing therof and to euery nation after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus was it wrâ—ten and sealed with the kinges ring 31 And the letters were sent by postes into all the kinges prouinces to roote out to kill and to destroy all Iewes both young and olde children and women in one day namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar to spoyle theÌ„ as a pray 14 This was the summe of the writing that there should be a commaundement geuen in al prouinces and published vnto all people that they should be redy against the same day 15 And the postes went in all the haste according to the kinges commaundement and in Susan the chiefe citie was the commaundement deuised And the king and Haman sate and dranke when in the meane time the citie of Susan was disquieted ¶ The .iiij. Chapter 5 Mardocheus geueth the queene knowledge of the cruell decree of the king against the Iewes 16 She wylleth that they pray for her 1 WHen Mardocheus perceaued all that was done he rent his clothes and put on sackecloth with asshes and went out into the middest of the citie and cryed loude and lamentably 2 And came before the kinges gate but he might not enter within the kinges gate because he had sackcloth on 3 And in all prouinces countries and places as farre as the kinges worde commaundement extented there was great lamentatioÌ„ among the Iewes fasting weeping and mourning and many lay in sackeclothes and in asshes 4 So Esthers maydens and her chamberlaynes came and told it her Then was the queene exceedingly astonied and she sent rayment that Mardocheus shoulde put on and lay the sackcloth from him But Mardocheus would not take them 5 Then called Esther Hathach one of the kinges chamberlaines which stoode before her and gaue him a commaundement vnto Mardocheus to know what it was wherefore he did so 6 So Hathach went foorth to Mardocheus vnto the streete of the citie
which was before the kinges gate 7 And Mardocheus tolde him of al that had come vnto him of y e summe of siluer that Haman had promised to waye downe into the kinges treasurie because of the Iewes if he would destroy them 8 And he gaue him the copie of the kinges commaundement that was deuised at Susan to destroy them that he might shewe it vnto Esther and to speake to her and charge her that she should go in vnto the king make her prayer and supplication vnto him for her people 9 And when Hathach came in he tolde Esther the wordes of Mardocheus 10 And againe Esther spake vnto Hathach and commaūded him to say vnto Mardocheus 11 All the kinges seruauntes the people in the prouinces of the king knowe that whosoeuer commeth within the courte vnto the king whether it be man or woman which is not called the cōmaundement is that the same shall dye except the king holde out the golden septer vnto him for then he shall lyue As for me I haue not ben called to come in vnto the king now this thirtie dayes 12 And they certified Mardocheus of Esthers wordes 13 And Mardocheus bad say againe vnto Esther Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the kinges house more then all the Iewes 14 For if thou holdest thy peace at this time then shall the Iewes haue helpe and deliueraunce out of an other place and thou and thy fathers house shal be destroyed And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for this causes sake 15 Esther bad them geue Mardocheus this aunswere 16 Go thou thy way and gather together all the Iewes that are founde at Susan and fast ye for me that ye eate not and drinke not in three dayes neither day nor night I and my maydens wyll fast likewyse and so wyll I go into the king which thing yet is contrary to the commaundement and if I perishe I perishe 17 So Mardocheus went his way and did according to al that Esther had commaunded him ¶ The .v. Chapter 1 Esther entreth into the king and biddeth him and Haman to a feaste 11 Haman prepareth a gallous for Mardocheus 1 ANd on the third day it came to passe that Esther put on her royall apparell and stoode in the court of the kinges palace within ouer against y e kinges house and the king sat vpon his royall seate in the kinges palace ouer against the gate of the house 2 And when the king sawe Esther the queene standing in the court she founde grace in his sight And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand So Esther stept foorth and touched the top of the scepter 3 Then saide the king vnto her What wylt thou queene Esther and what requirest thou aske euen the halfe of the empire and it shal be geuen thee 4 And Esther aunswered If it please the king let the king and Haman come this day vnto the banket that I haue prepared for him 5 And the king saide Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther hath saide So the king and Haman came to the banket that Esther had prepared 6 And the king saide vnto Esther at the banket of wine What is thy petition that it may be geuen thee And what requirest thou If it be euen the halfe of the empire it shall be done 7 Then aunswered Esther and said My petition and desire is 8 If I haue founde grace in the sight of the king and if it please the king to geue me my petition and to fulfil my request then let the king and Haman come to the banket that I shall prepare for thē and so wyl I do to morowe as the king hath saide 9 Then went Haman foorth the same day ioyfull and mery in his minde But when the same Haman sawe Mardocheus in the kinges gate that he stoode not vp nor moued for him he was ful of indignation at Mardocheus 10 Neuerthelesse Haman refrained him selfe and when he came home he sent and called for his friendes and Zares his wyfe 11 And Haman tolde them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the thinges wherein the king had promoted him so greatly and how that he had set him aboue the princes and seruauntes of the king 12 Haman saide moreouer Yea Esther the queene did let no man come in with the king vnto the bancket that she had prepared except me and to morowe am I bidden vnto her also with the king 13 But in all this am I not satisfied as long as I see Mardocheus the Iewe sitting at the kinges gate 14 Then saide Zares his wyfe and all his friendes vnto him Let them make a galous of fiftie cubites hie and to morowe speake thou vnto the king that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon then go thou in meryly with the king vnto the banket And Haman was well content withall and caused the galous to be made The .vi. Chapter 1 The king turneth ouer the chronicles and findeth the fidelitie of Mardocheus 10 and commaundeth Haman to cause Mardocheus to be had in honour 1 THe same night coulde not the king sleepe and he commaunded to bring the chronicles and stories and they were read before the king 2 Then it was founde written howe Mardocheus had tolde that Bigthana There 's the kinges two chamberlaynes which kept the thresholdes sought to laye handes on king Ahasuerus 3 And the king saide What honour and dignitie hath ben geuen to Mardocheus therfore Then saide the kinges seruaūtes that ministred vnto him There is nothing at all done for him 4 And the king saide Who is in the court for Haman was come into the court without before the kinges house that he might speake vnto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree that he had prepared for him 5 And the kinges seruauntes saide vnto him Beholde Haman standeth in the court And the king saide let him come in 6 And when Haman came in the king saide vnto him what shal be done vnto the man whom the king would faine bring vnto worship Haman thought in his heart Whom desireth the king to bring vnto worship more then me 7 And Haman aunswered the king Let the man whom the king pleaseth to bring vnto worship be brought hither 8 That he may be arayed with the royall garmentes which the king vseth to weare and the horse that the king rydeth vpon and that the crowne royall may be set vpon his head 9 And let this rayment and horse be deliuered vnder the hande of one of the kinges most noble princes that they may aray the man withal whom the king is disposed to bring to honour and cary him vpon the horse through the streete of the citie and proclayme before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king pleaseth to bring to honour 10 And the king saide to Haman Make
haste and take as thou hast saide the rayment and the horse and do euen so vnto Mardocheus the Iewe that sitteth before the kinges gate and let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken 11 Then toke Haman the rayment and the horse and arayed Mardocheus and brought him on horsebacke through the streete of the citie and proclaymed before him Euen this shall it be done vnto the man whom the king is disposed to honour 12 And Mardocheus came againe to the kinges gate but Haman gat him home in all the haste mourning and his head couered 13 And tolde Zares his wyfe and all his friendes euery thing that had befallen him Then saide his wise men and Zares his wyfe vnto him If it be Mardocheus of the seede of the Iewes before whō thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not preuaile against him but shalt surely fall before him 14 And whyle they were yet talking with him came the kinges chamberlaynes caused Haman to make hast to come vnto the banket that Esther had prepared ¶ The .vij. Chapter ◠The queene biddeth the king and Haman againe and prayeth for her selfe and her people 6 She accuseth Haman and he is hanged on the galous which he had prepared for Mardocheus 1 AND the king and Haman came to bancket with the queene Esther 2 And the king saide againe vnto Esther on the seconde day at the bancket of wine What is thy petition queene Esther that it may be geuen thee And what requirest thou if it be euen to the halfe of the empire it shal be done 3 And Esther the queene aunswered and saide If I haue found grace in thy sight O king and if it please the king then graunt me my lyfe at my desire and my people for my petitions sake 4 For we are solde I and my people to be destroyed to be slaine and to perishe And would God that we were solde to be bondmen and bondwomen then would I holde my tongue although the enemie coulde not recompence the kinges losse 5 The king Ahasuerus aunswered and saide vnto queene Esther Who is he And where is he that dare presume in his minde to do after that maner 6 And Esther saide the enemie and aduersarie is this wicked Haman Then Haman was exceedingly afrayde before the king and the queene 7 And the king arose from the bancket and from the wine in his displeasure and went into the palace garden And Haman stoode vp and besought queene Esther for his lyfe for he saw that there was a mischiefe prepared for him of the king alreadie 8 And when the king came againe out of the palace gardē into the place where they dranke wine Haman had layde him vpon the bed that Esther sate vpon Then saide the king wil he force the queene also before me in the house As soone as that worde went out of the kinges mouth they couered Hamans face 9 And Harbona one of the chamberlaynes that stoode before the king said◠Beholde there standeth yet a galous in Hamans house fiftie cubites hye which he had made for Mardocheus that spake good for the king Then the king saide Hang him thereon 10 So they hanged Haman on the galous that he had made for Mardocheus Then was the kinges wrath pacified ¶ The .viii. Chapter 1 After the death of Haman was Mardocheus exalted 14 Comfortable letters are sent vnto the Iewes 1 THe same day did king Ahasuerus geue the house of Haman the Iewes enemie vnto queene Esther and Mardocheus came before the king for Esther tolde what he was vnto her 2 And the king toke of his ring which he had taken from Haman and gaue it vnto Mardocheus And Esther sette Mardocheus ouer the house of Haman 3 And Esther spake yet more before the king and fel downe at his feete weping and besought him that he would put away the wickednesse of Haman the Agagite and his deuice that he had imagined against the Iewes 4 And the king held out the golden scepter toward Esther Then rose Esther and stode before the king 5 And saide if it please the king and if I haue founde grace in his sight and if it be acceptable before the king and I please him then let it be writtē that the letters of the deuise of Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite may be called againe which letters he wrote to destroy the Iewes which are in all the kinges prouinces 6 For how can I suffer and see the euill that shall come vnto my people or how can I beare and loke vpon the destruction of my kindred 7 And the king Ahasuerus saide vnto queene Esther and to Mardocheus the Iewe Beholde I haue geuen Esther the house of Haman whom they haue hanged vpon a tree because he layde hand vpon the Iewes 8 Write ye also for the Iewes as it lyketh you in the kinges name and seale it with the kinges ring For the writinges that were written in the kinges name and sealed with the kinges ring durst no man disanul 9 Then were the kinges scribes called at the same time euen in the thirde moneth that is the moneth Swan on the three and twentie day thereof and it was written according to all as Mardocheus commaūded vnto the Iewes and to the princes to the debuties and captaynes in the prouinces which are from India vnto Ethiopia namely an hundred twentie and seuen prouinces vnto euery prouince according to the writing thereof and vnto euery people after their speach and to the Iewes according to their writing and language 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name sealed it with the kinges ring and by postes that rode vpon horses and swyft young Mules sent he the writinges 11 Wherin the king graunted the Iewes in what cities soeuer they were to gather themselues together and to stand for their lyfe and for to roote out to slay and to destroy all the power of the people and prouince that woulde trouble them both children and women and to spoyle their goodes 12 Vpon one day in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus namely vpon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar 13 The summe of the writing was how there shoulde be a commaundement geuen in all and euery prouince and published among all people and that the Iewes should be redy against that day to auenge them selues on their enemies 14 And so the postes that rode vpon the swyft Horses and Mules made haste with all speede to execute the kinges word and the commaundement was deuised in Susan the chiefe citie 15 And Mardocheus went out from the king in royall apparell of yelowe and white with a great crowne of golde being arayed with a garment of silke and purple and the citie of Susan reioysed and was glad 16 And vnto the Iewes there was come light and gladnesse ioy and worship 17 In all prouinces and cities into what places soeuer the kinges word and commaundement
and prepare you after your villages and tribes 5 According as king Dauid the king of Israel hath left in writing and according as Solomon his sonne hath honourably prepared And standing eche of you in that degree of aucthoritie whiche in the distribution was appointed vnto your fathers the Leuites in the presence of your brethren the chyldren of Israel 6 Offer the passouer in order and make redye the sacrifices for your brethren and kepe the passouer according to the commaundement of the Lorde whiche was geuen vnto Moyses 7 And vnto the people that was founde there Iosias gaue thirtie thousande lambes and kiddes and three thousand calues These things were geuen of the kings owne possessions according as he promised to the people to the Priestes and to the Leuites 8 And Helkias and Zacharias and Syel the gouernours of the temple gaue to the priestes for the passouer two thousande and sixe hundred sheepe and three hundred calues 9 Moreouer Iechonias and Samaias and Nathanael his brother and Sabias and Ochiel and Ioram captaynes ouer thousandes gaue to the Leuites for the passouer fiue thousande sheepe and seuen hundred calues 10 And when these things were brought to passe the Priestes Leuites stoode goodly in their order and had the vnleauened bread throughout the tribes 11 And after the degrees of preheminence appoynted to their fathers to offer to the Lord in the sight of the people according as it is written in the booke of Moyses and thus dyd they in the mornyng 12 And they rosted the Easter lambe with fire as according was As for the offeringes they dight them in kettels and pottes with good sauours 13 And set them before all them of the people and afterwarde they prepared for them selues and the priestes their brethren the sonnes of Aaron 14 For the priestes offred the fat vntyll the tyme was expired and the Leuites prepared for them selues and for the priestes their brethren the chyldren of Aaron 15 The holy singers also the chyldren of Asaph stoode in their orders according as Dauid deuised to wit Asaph Zacharias and Iduthun which was appointed by the kyng 16 Moreouer the porters and doore kepers stoode by the doores and that diligently so that none went out of his standing and seruices for their brethren the Leuites prepared for them 17 Thus were all thinges perfourmed that belonged to the offering of the Lorde in that day that they myght holde the passouer 18 And offer sacrifices vpon the aulter of the Lorde according to the commaundement of king Iosias 19 So the children of Israel which were then present helde a honourable passouer and the feast of sweete bread seuen dayes long 20 Yea suche a passouer was not kept in Israel from the tyme of the prophete Samuel 21 And all the kinges of Israel helde not such an Easter as this which king Iosias held and the Priestes the Leuites the Iewes and all Israel of all them that were at Hierusalem 22 In the eyghteenth yere of the raigne of Iosias was this passouer kept 23 And with an heart full of godlynes dyd kyng Iosias rightly order all his workes before the Lorde 24 And the thinges that came to passe in his tyme they were wrytten of olde before those dayes concerning those that sinned and were vngodly against the Lord aboue all people and kingdomes and howe they greeued hym in seruing sensible thinges so that the wordes of the Lorde rose vp against Israel 25 Nowe after all these actes of Iosias it came to passe that Pharao the king of Egypt came to Carchamis vpon Euphrates to moue warre and Iosias went out against hym 26 But the kyng of Egypt sent to hym saying what haue I to do with thee O king of Iudea 27 I am not sent of the Lorde God against thee for my warre is vpon Euphrates and nowe the Lorde is with me yea the Lorde maketh diligent speede with me depart from me and be not against the Lorde 28 Howbeit Iosias woulde not turne backe his chariot from hym but vndertoke to fight with him and hearkened not to the wordes of the prophete Ieremie spoken by the mouth of the Lorde 29 But pitched a battayle against him in the fielde of Mageddo And the princes preassed to king Iosias 30 Then sayd the king vnto his seruauntes Cary me away out of the battayle for I am very weake And immediatly his seruauntes toke hym away out of the frunt of the battayle 31 Then gate he vp vpon the second charet came to Hierusalem dyed and was buried in his fathers sepulchre 32 And in all Iurie they mourned for Iosias yea Ieremie the prophete lamented for Iosias and the rulers also with their wyues made lamentation for hym vnto this day and it became a custome to be done continually in all the kinred of Israel 33 These things are written in the booke of the stories of the kinges of Iuda and all the actes of Iosias his glory and vnderstanding in the lawe of the Lord and the thinges which he had done before and that was nowe recited are written in the booke of the kynges of Israel and Iuda 34 And the people toke Iechonias the sonne of Iosias and made him king in steede of Iosias his father when he was twentie and three yeres olde 25 And he raigned in Iuda and in Hierusalem three monethes and then the kyng of Egypt put hym downe from raigning in Hierusalem 36 And raysed vp a taxe of the people namely an hundred talentes of syluer and one talent of golde 37 The kyng of Egypt also made Ioachim his brother king of Iuda and Hierusalem 38 And thus he bounde Ioachim and his gouernours but Zaracen his brother he apprehended led away with him into Egypt 39 Fiue and twentie yeres olde was Ioachim when he was made kyng in the lande of Iuda and Hierusalem and he dyd euyll before the Lorde 40 Wherfore against hym Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon came vp and bounde hym with bandes of iron and caryed hym vnto Babylon 41 Nabuchodonosor also toke of the holy vessels of the lord caryed them away set thē in his owne temple at Babylon 42 But all his actes and his prophanation and reproche are written in the chronicles of the kinges 43 And Ioachim his sonne raigned in his steede He was made king beyng eyghteene yeres olde 44 And raigned but three monethes and ten dayes in Hierusalem and dyd euyll before the Lorde 45 So after a yere Nabuchodonosor sent and caused him to be brought vnto Babylon with the holy vessels of the Lord. 46 And made Zedechias king of Iuda and Hierusalem when he was twentie and one yeres olde and he raigned a leuen yeres 47 And he did euill also in the sight of the Lord and cared not for the wordes that were spoken vnto him by the prophete Ieremie from the mouth of the Lord. 48 And where he had made an oth vnto
Amarias the sonne of Ezias the sonne of Menuerath the sonne of Saraias the sonne of Sauias the sonne of Boccas the sonne of Abisun the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the first priest 3 This Esdras went vp from Babylon beyng a scribe of good vnderstandyng in the lawe of Moyses that was geuen by the Lorde God of Israel 4 And the kyng fauoured hym and dyd hym great worshyp and honour after all his desires 5 There went vp with hym also certayne of the children of Israel of the priestes of the Leuites of the singers porters and ministers of the temple vnto Hierusalem 6 In the seuenth yere of the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes in the fifth moneth which was the seuenth yere for they went from Babylon in the first day of the first moneth 7 And came to Hierusalem accordyng as God gaue thē speede in their iourney 8 For Esdras had gotten great knowledge to omit nothyng of that was in the lawe and the commaundementes of the Lorde and to teache all Israel all the ordinaunces and iudgementes 9 The copie of the commission whiche Artaxerxes the kyng wrote and that was geuen to Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde this is it that foloweth 10 Kyng Artaxerxes sendeth his greeting vnto Esdras the priest and reader of the lawe of the Lorde 11 I hauyng wayed thynges with pitie haue ordeyned and charged yf there be any of the Iewes of the priestes Leuites in my realme which desireth and is content to go with thee vnto Israel that he may do it 12 Therfore so many as long therafter let them depart together and go with thee like as I am content and my seuen friendes my counsaylers 13 To see what they do at Hierusalem and in Iurie conueniently accordyng as thou hast in the lawe of the Lorde 14 And to bryng the gyftes vnto God the Lorde of Israel that I my friendes haue promised to Hierusalem and all the siluer and golde that in the countrey of Babylon may be founde parteynyng to the Lorde in Hierusalem 15 With the thyng that is geuen of the people to the Lorde their Gods temple at Hierusalem that the same siluer and golde maye be gathered for oxen rammes sheepe and goates and other that belong to these thynges 16 That they may offer sacrifices vnto the Lorde vpon the aulter of the Lorde their God which is at Hierusalem 17 And whatsoeuer thou and thy brethren wyll do with the siluer and golde that do accordyng to the wyll of thy God 18 And the holy vessels of the Lorde which are geuen thee for the seruice of the temple of thy God which is in Hierusalem thou shalt set them before thy God in Hierusalem 19 And whatsoeuer thyng els thou shalt remember for the vse of the temple of thy God thou shalt geue it out of the kynges treasure 20 And I king Artaxerxes haue also commaunded the kepers of the treasures in Syria and Phenice that whatsoeuer Esdras the priest and the reader of the lawe of the hyghest God shall sende for they shoulde geue it hym with speede 21 Euen to the summe of an hundred talentes of siluer of corne also an hundred measures and till an hundred vessels of wine other thinges aboundauntly 22 Let all thinges be done after the lawe of God diligently vnto the highest God that wrath come not vpon the kyngdome of the kyng and of his sonnes 23 I commaunde you also that ye require no taxe nor tribute of the priestes Leuites holy singers porters and ministers of the temple nor of any that haue doynges in this temple and that no man haue aucthoritie to put any inpost vpon them 24 As for thee O Esdras set thou iudges and arbitrers to iudge in the whole lande of Syria and Phenice after the wisdome of God all skilfull in the lawe of God teache such as are ignoraunt 25 And let all them which shall offende agaynst the lawe of God and the kyng be diligently punished whether it be by death or other payne by punishment in money or els by banishment 26 Then sayd Esdras the scribe Blessed be the only Lorde God of my fathers that hath geuen so good a mynde will into the heart of the kyng to magnifie his house that is at Hierusalem 27 And hath made me to be accepted in the syght of the kyng of his counsayle of his friendes and of his nobles 28 And so I was stedfast in my mynde accordyng as the Lorde my God helped me and I gathered vp men of Israel to go vp with me 29 And these are the guides after their families and orders of dignities that went vp with me from Babylon in the raigne of kyng Artaxerxes 30 Of the sonnes of Phinees Gersom of the sonnes of Ithamar Gamaliel of the sonnes of Dauid Hattus the sonne of Cechemah 31 Of the sonnes of Phares Zacharias and with hym there returned agayne an hundred and fiftie men 32 Of the sonnes of Pahath Moab Elioam the sonne of Zacharias and with him two hundred men 33 Of the sonnes of Zathoe Shechenias the sonne of Iezolus with hym three hundred men of the sonnes of Adin Obed the sonne of Ionathan and with him two hundred and fiftie men ' 34 Of the sonnes of Elam Iesias sonne ' of Gotholias with him seuentie men ' 35 Of the sonnes of Saphatias Zarias ' sonne of Machael with him .lxx. men 36 Of the sonnes of Ioab Badias sonne of Iezelus and with hym two hundred and twelue men 37 Of the sonnes of Banid Assalimoth sonne of Iosaphias and with hym an hundred and threscore men ' 38 Of the sonnes of Babi Zacharias ' sonne of Bebai with him .xxviii. men ' 39 Of the sonnes of Astath Iohannes ' sonne of Acatan and with hym an cx 40 Of the sonnes of Adonicam the last and these are the names of them Eliphalet Ieouel and Maias and with them seuentie men ' 41 Of the sonnes of Bagouthi sonne of ' Iscacourus and with hym lxx men 42 All these called I together by the water Thia where we pitched our tentes three dayes there I mustered them ' 43 As for the sonnes of the priestes and ' leuites I founde none there 44 Then sent I vnto Eleazar beholde there came Maasman and Maloban 45 And Alnathan and Samaian and Ioribon and Nathan Ennatan Zacharian and Mosollamon the chiefe and best learned 46 And I bad them that they should go vnto Daddens the captayne whiche was in the place of the treasurie 47 And commaunded them that they shoulde speake vnto Daddeus and to his brethren and to those that were the treasurers to sende vs suche men as might execute the priestes office in the house of our Lorde 48 And with the mightie hande of our lord God they brought vnto vs men of good experience from among y e sonnes of
sonne of Idapsis 24. xerses Daniel Abacuc Aggeus Zacharias Iudith F Nabuchodonosor a sorcerer was cast foorth into a wood and nourished of a wilde goate and bewrayed by an Owle sitting ouer the bushe and so a leper toke him vp His name riseth of that for Nabu is by interpretation an Owle 〈◊〉 a goate and Nosor a leper who afterwarde was made king of the Chaldees and slue the king of Egypt and afterward by his prowesse gate the monarchie of the Assyrians and raigned in Babylon in the fourth yere of Ioachim king of Iuda and in the ninteenth yere of his raigne besieged Hierusalem and toke it put in prison Sedechia the two tribes and people of Israel whose eyes he put out and slue his children and destroyed the temple He slue Saran and Sophoni the prophetes of the Lorde with diuers of the nobilitie of the Iewes This man at the last for his pride was turned into a wilde beast and seuen monethes together had his dwelling with them but through the prayer of Daniel and his seuen yeres penaunce he was restored againe Daniel 4. Nabuchodonosor the lesse was called the sonne of the great he did beautifie notablie the temple and repaired his princely pallace of Babylon he made a gardein whiche dyd hange for his wyues sake Dan. 6. G Euilmoradac in the time that his father was turned into a beast did many wicked thinges and for that his father kept not promise with him fearing that he woulde rise againe he counseled with Ioachim and toke vp his fathers carcase againe and deuided it into 300. peeces and gaue it vnto 300. vultures This king of BabyloÌ„ had three sonnes of the whiche one was Baltasar 4. Regum 25. H Baltasar the last king of Babylon he made a feast wherin he was druÌ„ke he commaunded the vessels of the temple of God to be vsed at his table wherin he his wiues dranke at what time he saw a hand in a wall writing Mane techel phares whiche Daniel dyd interprete the wordes thus Mane God hath numbred thy kingdome and brought it to an end Techel thou art wayed in the ballance and art founde to light Phares thy kingdome is dealt in partes and is geuen to the Medes and Persians And that night he was slayne of Cyrus vnder whom Susan was deliuered from the accusation of the elders Dan. 13. I Darius sonne of Astriages raigned with Cyrus hys nephew who slue Baltasar to whom Cyrus committed the dominioÌ„ of Babylon and of the Medes This Darius toke Daniel with him into the Medes and extolled him aboue all his noble men and deliuered hym from the lions denne 1. Esdras 6. Bishoppes Iudas Iohannes B Iadus Onias Simon the iust C Eleazar Manasses Onias D Simon Onias Ihesus or Iason Onias or Menelaus Alchimus E Iesus Manasses The temple ✚ The habitation of kinges And the pristes ✚ The habitacoÌ„n Of the Noble Cytyzens And of The propheites within The walles wthoute y e walls of the Citie the habitatoÌ„n of the Cominie people in the City of Jherusalem the Valley 〈◊〉 of Jesaphat the Dunghill porte the gate of the old fish porte the fishe porte the porte of the well of siloe the Shepe Gate Este Southe Weast Northe A. Vnder Artaxerses Longimanus Neâ—mias the sonne of Heâ—chias a Iewe butler to Artaxerses in the castle of Susis hearyng the lande of Hierusalem to be in great afflictions and being pined therwith the king pitiyng him gaue him letters of imbassage to Hierusalem and there he ministred necessaries for the buildyng of the worke and by the helpe of Elizaphat hye priest and other priestes he builded the walles with sixe porches as in this round figure here vnder written appeareth He had many resisting him so that by the space of two yeres the workmen were fayne to holde in one hande their trowels and in the other hande their swordes and Neemias deliuered the people of Israel from vsuries And while Esdras read the lawe and the people weepyng he wylled them to come together to heare the lawe foure tymes in the day and foure tymes in the nyght And so Neemias dyed was buryed next to the wall which he dyd builde 3. Esd 5. A. Artaxerses when he raigned Esdras repaired the common Librarie repaired the lawe burnt of the Chaldees deuised newe caractes of letters more easie to be written read and for that he was called a swift scribe and had license of Artaxerses to teache the lawe of God in Hierusalem gaue hym power to fraunchesse the Leuites from all tributes to minister punishment vpon all transgressours B. Iohn the sonne of Iudas the brother of Iesus who conspired agaynst his brother Iohn to get the hye bishoppricke and thervpon gat the familiaritie of Vagosus in trust of whoÌ„ he rose against his brother whervpon Iohn impatientlie slue his brother Yessus For which act Ochus the king at y e suggestion of Vagosus did call for agayne the tribute of the .7 yere whiche was released by Esdras 1. Mach. 9. These be the names of the Citie of Hierusalem Solima Luza Bethel Ierosolima Gebus Helia Hierusasalem Salem C. In Simons tyme Iesus made y e booke of Sapience which is called Ecclesiasticus of which Simon he maketh there mention 1. Mach. 9. D. Onias priest sonne of Simon the iust for the crueltie of Antiochus the great king of Syria fled to Ptolomie into Egypt there builded a temple like to the Iewes which endured 250. yeres till the tyme of Vaspasian the Emperour who destroyed the citie 2. Mach. 3. E. Alchimus was made the bishop by Demetrius and alway aduersarie to Iudas Machabeus he destroyed the walles of the house of the Lorde and the workes of the prophetes he was striken and miserably dyed of the paulsie 1. Mach. 7. F. Ptolomeus the sonne of Lagi vnder a colour of sacrificyng entred Hierusalem and solde many captiues of Iurie and Garizim Hest 12. G. Ptolomeus Philadelphus beyng a great louer of bookes and learnyng by the counsayle of Demetrius Aristeus deliuered .120000 Iewes and sold eche of them for 130. peeces of siluer he sent his oblations into y e temple of God he receaued the 70. interpreters in Alexandria honorably whiche were sent froÌ„ Eleazar the hye priest and after their interpretation whiche was done in .70 dayes he sent them home agayne with great rewardes he remitted the tribute of the .7 yere to the ministers of the temple Dan. 13. After these kinges of Egypt there were other kinges in Egypt which be not here set vntyll Cleopatra which beyng conquered with her louer Anthonie then the lande of Egypt came to be in the possession of the Romanes We reade of three temples in the Scripture first the temple of the Lorde made by Solomon the seconde in the mount Garasim made by Manasses the brother of Iadus hye priest in the tyme of Darius the last king of the Assyrians the thirde in Egypt in the region of Elipoleos
and the lad also and sent her away who departing wandered vp and downe in the wildernesse of Beer seba 15 And the water was spent in the bottell and she cast the lad vnder some one of the trees 16 And went and sate on the other syde a great way as it were a bowe shote of for she sayd I wyll not see the death of the chylde And she sitting downe on the other side lyft vp her voyce wept 17 And God hearde the voyce of the lad and the angell of God called to Hagar out of heauen and said vnto her what ayleth thee Hagar feare not for God hath hearde the voyce of the lad where he lyeth 18 Aryse and lyft vp the lad and take him in thyne hande for I wyll make of hym a great people 19 And God opened her eyes and she sawe a well of water and she went and filled the bottell with water and gaue the lad drinke 20 And God was with the lad and he grewe and dwelt in the wyldernesse and became a principall archer 21 And he dwelt in the wyldernesse of Paran and his mother got hym a wyfe out of the lande of Egypt 22 And at the same season Abimelech and Phicol his chiefe captayne spake vnto Abraham saying God is with thee in all that thou doest 23 And nowe therefore sweare vnto me euen here by God that thou wylt not hurt me nor my chyldren nor my chyldrens children but that thou shalt deale with me and the countrey where thou hast ben a straunger accordyng vnto the kyndnesse that I haue shewed thee 24 And Abraham saide I will sweare 25 And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a wel of water which Abimeleches seruauntes had violently taken away 26 And Abimelech said I wote not who hath done this thing also thou toldest me not neyther hearde I of it but this day 27 And Abraham toke sheepe and Oxen and gaue them vnto Abimelech they made both of them a leage together 28 And Abraham set seuen ewe lambes by them selues 29 And Abimelech sayd vnto Abraham what meane these seuen ewe lambes whiche thou hast set by them selues 30 He aunswered for these seuen ewe lambes shalt thou take of my hande that they may be a wytnesse vnto me that I haue digged this well 31 Wherefore the place is called Beer seba because that there they sware both of them 32 Thus made they a leage together at Beer seba and Abimelech and Phicol his chiefe captayne rose vp and turned agayne into the lande of the Philistines 33 And Abraham planted a wood in Beer seba and called there on the name of the Lorde the euerlasting God 34 And Abraham soiourned in the Philistines lande a long season ¶ The .xxij. Chapter 1 Abraham is commaunded to sacrifice his sonne 3 The obedience of Abraham to Gods worde 6 Isahac a figure of Christe 12 Abraham standeth in awe of God 15 Abraham is blessed 18 Christe 20 The chyldren of Nachor by Melcha 22 Bathuel 23 Rebecca 24 Roma 1 AFter these sayinges god did tempt Abraham and sayde vnto him Abraham Which answered here I am 2 And he saide take thy sonne thyne onlye sonne Isahac whom thou louest get thee vnto the lande Moriah and offer him there for a burnt offering vpon one of the mountaines which I wyl shewe thee 3 Then Abraham rose vp early in the mornyng and sadled his Asse and toke two of his young men with hym and Isahac his sonne and cloue wood for the burnt offering and rose vp and got hym to the place whiche God had appointed hym 4 The thirde day Abraham lyft vp his eyes and sawe the place a farre of 5 And sayde vnto his young men byde here with the Asse I and the lad will go yonder worship and come agayne to you 6 And Abraham toke the wood of the burnt offeryng and layde it vpon Isahac his sonne but he him selfe toke fire in his hande and a knyfe and they went both of them together 7 Then spake Isahac vnto Abraham his father and sayd my father And he aunswered here am I my sonne He sayde see here is fyre and wood but where is the beast for burnt sacrifice 8 Abraham aunswered My God wyll prouide a beast for burnt sacrifice and so they went both together 9 And when they came to y e place which God had shewed him Abraham buylt an aulter there and dressed the wood and bound Isahac his sonne and layde him on the aulter aboue vpō the wood 10 And Abraham stretchyng foorth his hande toke the knyfe to haue killed his sonne 11 And the angell of the Lord called vnto him from heauen saying Abraham Abraham And he sayd here am I 12 And he sayde lay not thy hande vpon the chylde neyther do any thyng vnto hym for nowe I knowe that thou fearest God hast for my sake not spared yea thine onlye sonne 13 And Abraham lifting vp his eyes looked and beholde behynde hym there was a Ramme caught by the hornes in a thicket and Abraham went tooke the Ramme and offered hym vp for a burnt offering in the steade of his sonne 14 And Abraham called y e name of the place the Lorde wyll see As it is sayde this day in the mounte will the Lorde be seene 15 And the angell of the Lorde cryed vnto Abraham from heauen the seconde tyme 16 And sayd by my selfe haue I sworne sayeth the Lorde because thou hast done this thyng and hast not spared yea thyne onlye sonne 17 That in blessing I wyll blesse thee and in multiplying I wyll multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande which is vpon the sea side and thy seede shall possesse the gates of his enemies 18 And in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast hearde my voyce 19 So turned Abraham againe vnto his young men and they rose vp and went together to Beer seba and Abraham dwelt at Beer seba 20 And after these thynges one tolde Abraham saying beholde Milcha she hath also borne chyldren vnto thy brother Nachor 21 Hus his eldest sonne and Buz his brother and Camuel the father of the Syrians 22 And Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Iidlaph and Bethuel 23 And Bethuel begat Rebecca These eyght did Milcha beare to Nachor Abrahams brother 24 And his concubine called Reumah she bare also Tebah Gaham Thahas and Maacha ¶ The .xxiii. Chapter 1 Abraham bewayleth Saras death 6 He byeth the fielde of her buriall of the chyldren of Heth. 19 Sara is layed in graue Mambre or otherwyse Hebron 1 SAra was an hūdreth and seuen and twentie yere olde so long liued she 2 And Sara dyed in Ciriath arba the same is Hebron in the lande of Canaan and Abraham came to mourne for Sara and to weepe
knewe not Ioseph 9 And he sayde vnto his folke Beholde the people of the chyldren of Israel are greater and myghtier then we 10 Come on let vs deale wyttyly with thē lest they multiplie lest it come to passe that if there be any warre they ioyne them selues vnto our enemies fight agaynst vs so get them vp out of y e land 11 Therfore dyd they set taske maisters ouer them to kepe thē vnder with burthens And they buylt vnto Pharao treasure cities Pithom Raamses 12 But the more they vexed them the more they multiplied and grewe so that they abhorred at the syght of the chyldren of Israel 13 And the Egyptians helde the children of Israel in bondage without mercie 14 And they made their lyues bytter vnto them in that cruell bondage in claye and bricke and all maner of worke in the fielde for all their bondage wherein they serued them was ful of tirannie 15 And the kyng of Egypt spake vnto the mydwyfes of the Hebrues women of which the one was named Siphrah and the other Puah and sayde 16 When ye do the office of a mydwyfe to the women of the Hebrues and see in the birth tyme that it is a boy ye shall kyl it but if it be a daughter it shal liue 17 Notwithstanding the mydwifes feared God and dyd not as the kyng of Egypt commaunded them but saued the men chyldren 18 And the kyng of Egypt called for the mydwyfes and sayde vnto them why haue ye dealt on this maner and haue saued the men chyldren 19 And the mydwyfes aunswered Pharao that y e Hebrues women are not as the women of Egypt for they are more liuely women and are deliuered yer the mydwyfes come at them 20 And God dealt well therefore with the mydwyfes and the people multiplied and waxed very myghtie 21 And it came to passe that because the midwifes feared God he made them houses 22 And Pharao charged all his people saying All the men chyldren that are borne cast into the ryuer and saue the mayde chyldren alyue ¶ The .ij. Chapter 2 Moyses is borne 3 He is hydden in a basket cast into a place where sedge groweth 10 Moyses is adopted of the daughter of Pharao 11 Moyses murthereth an Egyptian which smote an Hebrue 13 Betweene them that are at stryfe he woulde set an attonement 15 Moyses fleeth from Pharao 16 He defendeth maydens from the iniurie of shepheardes 21 He maryeth Sephora to wyfe 23 The chyldren of Israel do crye vnto God in trouble and he regardeth them 1 ANd there went a man out of the house of Leui and toke to wyfe a daughter of Leui. 2 And the wyfe conceaued and bare a sonne and when she sawe that it was a proper childe she hyd him three monethes 3 And when she coulde no longer hyde hym she toke a basket made of bull russhes and dawbed it with slyme and pitche and layed the chylde therein and put it in the flagges by the riuers brinke 4 And his sister stoode a farre of to wit what woulde come of it 5 And the daughter of Pharao came downe to wasshe her selfe in the ryuer and her maydens walked along by the ryuers syde And when she sawe the basket among the flagges she sent her mayde to fetch it 6 And when she had opened it she sawe it was a chylde and beholde the babe wept And she had compassion on it and sayde it is one of the Hebrues chyldren 7 Then sayde his sister to Pharaos daughter shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrues women to nurse thee the chylde 8 Pharaos daughter aunswered her go And the mayde ranne and called the chyldes mother 9 To whom Pharaos daughter sayde Take this chylde away and nurse it for me and I wyll rewarde thee And the woman toke the chylde nursed it vp 10 The chylde grewe and she brought it vnto Pharaos daughter and it was made her sonne And she called y e name of it Moyses because sayde she I toke hym out of the water 11 And in those dayes when Moyses was waxed great he went out vnto his brethren loked on their burdens and spyed an Egyptian smytyng an Hebrue which was one of his brethren 12 And he loked rounde about and when he sawe no man by he slewe the Egyptian and hyd hym in the sande 13 And when he was gone out another day beholde two men of the Hebrues stroue together And he saide vnto him that dyd the wrong Wherefore smytest thou thy felowe 14 He aunswered Who made thee a man of aucthoritie and a iudge ouer vs intendest thou to kyll me as thou kylledst the Egyptian And Moyses feared and sayde Of a suretie this thyng is knowen 15 And Pharao heard of it and went about to slaye Moyses And Moyses fleyng from the face of Pharao dwelt in the lande of Madian and he sate downe by the welles syde 16 The priest of Madian had vij daughters which came and drewe water and filled the troughes for to water their fathers sheepe 17 And the shepheardes came and droue them away but Moyses stoode vp and helped them and watred their sheepe 18 And when they came to Raguel their father he sayde Howe came it to passe that ye are come so soone to day 19 And they aunswered A man of Egypt deliuered vs from the handes of the shepheardes and so drewe vs water and watered the sheepe 20 He saide vnto his daughters where is he why haue ye so left the man Call hym that he may eate bread 21 And Moyses was content to dwell with the man he gaue Moyses Sephora his daughter 22 Which bare him a sonne and he called his name Gershom For he saide I haue ben a straunger in a straunge land 23 And in processe of tyme the kyng of Egypt dyed and the chyldren of Israel syghed by the reason of bondage and cryed 24 And their complaynt came vp vnto God from the bondage and God heard their mone and God remembred his couenaunt with Abraham Isahac and Iacob 25 And God loked vpon the chyldren of Israel and God had respecte vnto them ¶ The .iij. Chapter 1 Moyses feedeth the sheepe of his father in lawe 2 God in the middest of a busshe speaketh to Moyses of deliueryng Israel 5 The earth holy 12 God with Moyses 13 The name of God 14 God teacheth Moyses how and in what sort he woulde that he should deliuer his people 1 MOyses kept the sheepe of Iethro his father in lawe priest of Madian and he droue the flocke to the backesyde of the desert and came to the mountayne of God Horeb. 2 And the angell of the Lorde appeared vnto hym in a flambe of fire out of the middes of a busshe And he loked and beholde the busshe burned with fire and the busshe
wyll be glad in his heart 15 Therfore thou shalt speake vnto him and put these wordes in his mouth and I wil be with thy mouth and with his mouth and wyll teache you what you ought to do 16 And he shal be thy spokesman vnto the people and he shal be euen he shal be to thee in steade of a mouth and thou shalt be to him in steade of God 17 And thou shalt take this rodde in thy hande wherewith thou shalt do miracles 18 Therfore Moyses went and returned to Iethro his father in law againe and said vnto him Let me go I pray thee nowe and turne agayne vnto my brethren which are in Egypt and see whether they be yet aliue And Iethro said to Moyses go in peace 19 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses in Madian Go and returne agayne into Egypt for all the men are dead whiche went about to kill thee 20 And Moyses toke his wyfe and his sonnes and put them on an asse and went agayne to Egypt And Moyses toke the rodde of God in his hande 21 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses When thou art entred and come into Egypt agayne see that thou do all the wonders before Pharao whiche I haue put in thy hand but I wyll hold his heart he shal not let the people go 22 And thou shalt saye vnto Pharao Thus sayeth the Lorde Israel is my sonne euen my first borne sonne 23 And I sayde vnto thee that thou let my sonne go that he may serue me And if thou refuse to let him go beholde I do slay thy sonne euen thy first borne 24 And it came to passe by the way in the Inne that the Lorde met hym and woulde haue kylled hym 25 And Sephora toke a stone and cut away the foreskin of her sonne and cast it at his feete and sayd a blooddy husbande art thou vnto me 26 Then he let him go and she sayde a blooddy husbande because of her circumcision 27 Then said the Lorde vnto Aaron go meete Moyses in the wyldernesse And he went and met him in the mounte of God and kissed him 28 And Moyses tolde Aaron all the wordes of the Lorde whiche had sent him and all the signes whiche he had charged him withall 29 So went Moyses and Aaron and gathered all the elders of the chyldren of Israel 30 And Aaron told all the wordes which the Lord had spoken vnto Moyses and did y e miracles in the sight of the people 31 And the people beleued And when they hearde that the Lorde had visited the children of Israel and had looked vpon their tribulation they bowed thē selues and worshipped ¶ The .v. Chapter 1 Moyses and Aaron go vnto Pharao 15 The gouernours ouer Israel crye out vnto Pharao 20 Moyses and Aaron accused of the people 22 Moyses complayneth to God 1 MOyses and Aaron went in afterward and told Pharao Thus sayeth the Lorde God of Israel let my people go that they maye holde a feast vnto me in the wyldernesse 2 And Pharao sayde who is the Lorde that I shoulde heare his voyce and let Israel go I knowe not the Lorde neyther wyll I let Israel go 3 And they sayde The God of the Hebrewes is called ouer vs let vs go we pray thee three dayes iourney into the desert and do sacrifice vnto the Lorde our God lest he smyte vs with pestilence or with the sworde 4 Then saide the kyng of Egypt vnto them wherfore do ye Moyses and Aaron let the people from their workes get you vnto your burthens 5 And Pharao sayde furthermore beholde there is much people nowe in the lande and you make them leaue theyr burthens 6 And Pharao cōmaunded the same day y e taskmaisters which were amongest the people and the officers saying 7 Ye shall geue the people no more strawe to make brycke withal as ye did in tyme passed let them go and gather them strawe them selues 8 And the number of bricke which they were wont to make in tyme passed lay vnto their charges also and minishe nothing therof for they be idell and therfore crye saying we wyll go and do sacrifice vnto our God 9 They must haue more worke layed vpon them that they may labour therin and not regarde vayne wordes 10 Then went the taskemaisters of the people and the officers out and tolde the people saying Thus sayeth Pharao I wyll geue you no more strawe 11 Go your selues and gather you straw where ye can finde it yet shall none of your labour be minished 12 And so were the people scattered abrode throughout all y e land of Egypt for to gather stubble in steade of strawe 13 And the taskemaisters hasted them forwarde saying fulfyll your worke your dayly taskes in their due tyme as if you had strawe 14 And the officers of the children of Israel which Pharaos taskemasters had set ouer them were beaten And they sayde vnto them wherfore haue ye not fulfilled your taske in makyng of brycke both yesterday and to day as well as in tymes past 15 The officers also of the children of Israel came complayned vnto Pharao saying Wherfore dealest thou thus with thy seruauntes 16 There is no strawe geuen vnto thy seruauntes and they say vnto vs make brycke and thy seruauntes are beaten and the fault is thyne owne people 17 He sayde you are idle idle are you and therfore you say we will go and do sacrifice vnto the Lorde 18 Go therfore nowe worke and there shall no strawe be geuen you yet shall ye deliuer the whole tale of bricke 19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in worse case after it was sayde ye shall minishe nothyng of your brycke of your dayly taske in due tyme 20 And they met Moyses and Aaron which stoode in their way as they came out from Pharao 21 And saide vnto them The Lorde looke vpon you iudge you which hath made the sauour of vs to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharao and in the eyes of his seruauntes and haue put a sworde in their hande to slay vs. 22 Moyses returned vnto the Lorde and sayd Lorde wherfore hast thou so euyll intreated this people And wherfore hast thou sent me 23 For since I came to Pharao to speake in thy name he hath fared foule with this folke and yet thou hast not deliuered thy people at all ¶ The .vj. Chapter 1 God remembreth his promisses 5 God promiseth deliueraunce and the land of Chanaan 9 The people of Israel be not contented with the warninges of Moyses 10 Moyses and Aaron are sent to Pharao 14 The descentes of Ruben 16 The descent of Leui. 20 Amram the father of Moyses and Aaron 23 Aaron the father of Nadab and Abiu 25 Eleazer father of Phinees 29 Moyses is commaunded to speake to Pharao 1 THen the Lorde sayde
Egypt to bryng vs into this euyll place which is no place of seede nor of fygges nor vines nor pomgranates neither is there any water to drynke 6 And Moyses and Aaron went from the presence of the congregation vnto the doore of the tabernacle of the congregation and fel vpon their faces and the glorie of the Lorde appeared vnto them 7 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses saying 8 Take the rodde and gather thou and thy brother Aaron the congregation together and speake vnto the rocke before their eyes and it shall geue foorth his water And thou shalt bryng them water out of the rocke to geue the companie drynke and their beastes also 9 And Moyses toke the rodde from before the Lord as he commaunded hym 10 And Moyses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rocke and Moyses sayde vnto them Heare ye rebelles must we fetch you water out of this rocke 11 And Moyses lyft vp his hande and with his rodde he smote the rocke two tymes and the water came out aboundauntly and the multitude dranke and their beastes also 12 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron Because ye beleued me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the children of Israel therfore ye shall not bryng this congregation into the lande which I haue geuen them 13 This is the water of strife because the children of Israel stroue with y e Lorde and he was sanctified in them 14 And Moyses sent messengers from Cades vnto the kyng of Edom thus sayeth thy brother Israel Thou knowest all the trauayle that we haue had 15 Our fathers went downe into Egypt we haue dwelt in Egypt a long tyme and the Egyptians vexed vs and our fathers 16 And when we cryed vnto the Lorde he hearde our voyce and sent an angell and hath fet vs vp out of Egypt And beholde we are in Cades euen in the vttermost citie of thy border 17 Let vs passe I pray thee through thy countrey but we wyll not go through the fieldes or vineyardes neither wyll we drynke of the water of the fountaynes we wyll go by the kynges hye way and neither turne vnto the ryght hande nor to the left vntyll we be past thy borders 18 And Edom aunswered hym Thou shalt not go by me lest I come out agaynst thee with the sworde 19 The children of Israel sayd vnto him we wyll go by the beaten way and if I and my cattell drynke of thy water I wyll pay for it I wyll but only without any harme go through on my feete 20 He aunswered Thou shalt not go through And Edom came out agaynst hym with much people and with a mightie power 21 And thus Edom denied to geue Israel passage through his countrey wherfore Israel turned away from hym 22 And the children of Israel departed from Cades and came vnto mount Hor with all the congregation 23 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses and Aaron in mount Hor harde by the coast of the lande of Edom saying 24 Aaron shal be gathered vnto his people for he shall not come into the lande which I haue geuen vnto the children of Israel because ye disobeyed my mouth at the water of strife 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his sonne and bryng them vp into mount Hor. 26 And cause Aaron to put of his garmentes and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne and Aaron shal be gathered vnto his people and shall dye there 27 And Moyses dyd as the Lorde commaunded and they went vp into mount Hor in the sight of all the multitude 28 And Moyses toke of Aarons clothes and put them vpon Eleazar his sonne and Aaron dyed there in the toppe of the mount And Moyses and Eleazar came downe out of the mount 29 When all y e multitude sawe that Aaron was dead they mourned for Aarō thirtie dayes all the housholde of Israel ⧠The .xxj. Chapter 1 Israel vanquissheth kyng Arad 6 The firie serpentes styng them 24 The kynges Sehon and Og are ouercome in battayle 1 ANd when kyng Arad the Chananite which dwelt towarde the south hearde tell that Israel came by the way that the spyes had founde out he fought agaynst Israel and toke some of them prisoners 2 And Israel vowed a vowe vnto the Lorde and sayde If thou wylt deliuer this people into my hande I wyll vtterly destroy their cities 3 And the Lorde hearde the voyce of Israel and deliuered them the Chanaanites And they destroyed them and their cities and called the name of the place Horma 4 And they departed frō mount Hor by the way of the red sea to compasse the lande of Edom and the soule of the people was sore greeued because of y e way 5 And the people spake agaynst God and agaynst Moyses Wherefore haue ye brought vs out of Egypt for to dye in the wildernesse for here is neither bread nor water and our soule lotheth this lyght bread 6 Wherfore the Lorde sent fierie serpentes among the people which stong them and much people of Israel dyed 7 Therfore the people came to Moyses sayd We haue sinned for we haue spoken agaynst the Lord and agaynst thee make intercession to the Lord that he take away the serpentes from vs. And Moyses made intercession for y e people 8 And the Lorde sayde vnto Moyses Make thee a fierie serpent and set it vp vpon a pole that as many as are bitten may loke vpon it and lyue 9 And Moyses made a serpent of brasse and set it vpon a pole and when the serpent had bitten any man he behelde the serpent of brasse and lyued 10 And the children of Israel departed thence and pitched in Oboth 11 And they departed from Oboth and pitched at the heapes of Abarim euen in the wildernesse which is before Moab on the east syde 12 And they remoued thence and pitched vpon the riuer of Zared 13 And they departed thence and pitched on the other syde of Arnon which is in the wildernesse and commeth out of the coastes of the Amorites for Arnon is the border of Moab betweene Moab and the Amorites 14 Wherfore it shal be spoken in the booke of the warres of the Lord what thyng he dyd in the red sea and in the riuers of Arnon 15 And at the streame of the riuers that goeth downe to the dwellyng of Ar and lyeth vpon the border of Moab 16 From thence they returned vnto Beer The same is the well wherof the Lord spake vnto Moyses Gather the people together and I will geue them water 17 Then Israel sang this song Spryng vp well syng ye vnto it 18 The princes digged this well the captaynes of the people digged it with the lawe geuer and with their staues And from the wildernesse they went to Mathana 19 And from Mathana to Nahaliel and from Nahaliel to Bamoth 20 And from Bamoth of the valley that is in the fielde of Moab vnto the top of
remoued from Ezeon gaber and pitched in the wyldernesse of Sin whiche is Cades 37 And they remoued from Cades and pitched in mount Hor whiche is in the edge of the lande of Edom. 38 And Aaron the priest went vp into mount Hor at the commaundement of the Lorde and dyed there euen in the fourteeth yere after the chyldren of Israel were come out of y e lande of Egypt and in the first day of the fifth moneth 39 And Aaron was an hundred and twentie and three yeres olde when he dyed in mount Hor. 40 And king Erad the Chanaanite which dwelt in the south in the lande of Chanaan heard of the comming of the children of Israel 41 And they departed from mount Hor ' and pitched in Zalmona ' 42 And they departed from Zalmona ' and pitched in Phunon ' 43 And they departed from Phunon ' and pitched in Oboth ' 44 And they departed from Oboth and pitched in Iim abarim in the border of Moab 45 And they departed from Iim abarim ' and pitched in Dibon Gad. ' 46 And they remoued from Dibon Gad ' and lay in Almon Diblathaim ' ¶ This Charte sheweth the way that the people of Israel passed the space of fourtie yeres from Egypt through the desertes of Arabia tyll they entred into the lande of Chanaan as is mention in the bookes of Exodus Numeri and Deuteronomium It contayneth also the fourtie and two iourneyes or stations named in this thirtie and three chapter of Numeri with the obseruations of the degrees aswell of the longitude as of the latitude of the places of the sayde iourneyes and also the order of the numbers of them ' 47 And they remoued from Almon Diblathaim ' and pitched in the mountaines of Abarim before Nabo 48 And they departed from the mountaynes of Abarim and pitched in the fieldes of Moab fast by Iordane ouer against Iericho 49 And they pitched by Iordane from Beth Iesimoth vnto the playne of Sittim in the fieldes of Moab 50 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses in the fielde of Moab by Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho saying 51 Speake vnto the chyldren of Israel and say vnto them When ye are come ouer Iordane to enter into the lande of Chanaan 52 Ye shall dryue out all the inhabiters of the lande before you and destroy all their pictures breake a sunder al their images of mettall and plucke downe all their hye places 53 And possesse the lande and dwell therin for I haue geuen you the lande to enioy it 54 And ye shall deuide the inheritaunce of the land by lot among your kinredes and geue to the moe the more inheritounce and to the fewer the lesse inheritaunce And your inheritaunce shal be in the tribes of your fathers euery mans inheritaunce in the place where his lot falleth 55 But and if ye wyll not dryue out the inhabiters of the lande before you then those whiche ye let remayne of them shal be prickes in your eyes and dartes in your sides and shall vexe you in the lande wherein ye dwell 56 Moreouer it wyll come to passe that I shall do vnto you as I thought to do vnto them ' ¶ The .xxxiiij. Chapter ' 1 The coastes and borders of the lande of promise 17 Certayne men are assigned to deuide the lande ' 1 AND the Lorde spake ' vnto Moyses saying 2 Commaunde the children of Israel and say vnto them When ye come into the lande of Chanaan this is the lande that shall fall vnto your inheritaunce euen the lande of Chanaan with her coastes 3 And your south quarter shal be from the wyldernesse Zin along by the coast of Edom so that your south quarter reache vpon the syde of the salt sea eastwarde 4 And fet a compasse from the south vp to Acrabim and Recahe to Zinna And go out frō the south to Cades Barnea and go out also to Hazar Adar and go along to Azmon 5 And fet a compasse agayne from Azmon vnto the riuer of Egypt and shall go out at the sea ' 6 And let your west quarter be the great ' sea let the same sea be your west coast 7 And this shal be your north quarter ye shall compasse your border from the great sea vnto mount Hor. 8 And from mount Hor ye shall describe your border tyll it come vnto Hemath the end of the coast shal be at Zedada 9 And the coast shall reache out to Ziphron and go out at Hazar Enan This shal be your north quarter 10 And ye shall describe your east quarter ' from Hazar Enan to Sepham ' 11 And the coast shall go downe from Sepham to Ribla on the east syde of Ain And the same border shall descend and go out at the side of the sea of Cenereth eastwarde 12 And then go downe along by Iordane and leaue at the salt sea And this shal be your land with the coastes therof rounde about 13 And Moyses commaunded the chyldren of Israel saying This is the land which ye shal inherite by lot and which the Lorde commaunded to geue vnto nine tribes and an halfe 14 For the tribe of the chyldren of Ruben according to the housholdes of their fathers and the tribe of the chyldren of Gad accordyng to their fathers householdes and halfe the tribe of Manasse haue receaued their inheritaunce 15 Two tribes and an halfe haue receaued their inheritaunce on the other side of Iordane ouer agaynst Iericho eastwarde ' 16 And the Lorde spake vnto Moyses ' saying 17 These are the names of the men which shall deuide the lande vnto you Eleazar the priest and Iosuah the sonne of Nun. ' 18 And ye shall take also a Lorde of ' euery tribe when ye deuide the lande 19 The names of the men are these Of the tribe of Iuda Caleb the sonne of Iephune ' 20 Of the tribe of the chyldren of Simeon ' Semuel the sonne of Amiud ' 21 Of the tribe of Beniamin Elidad the ' sonne of Cislon ' 22 Of the tribe of the chyldren of Dan ' the lorde Bucki the sonne of Iogli 23 From among the chyldren of Ioseph for the tribe of the chyldren of Manasse the lorde Haniel the sonne of Ephod 24 Of the tribe of the childrē of Ephraim the lorde Camuel the sonne of Siphtan 25 Of the tribe of the sonnes of Zabulon the lorde Elisaphan the sonne of Pharnach 26 Of the tribe of the chyldren of Isachar the lorde Palthiel the sonne of Asan 27 Of the tribe of the sonnes of Aser the' lorde Ahihud the sonne of Salomi ' 28 Of the tribe of the chyldren of Nephthali the lorde Pedael the sonne of Ammihud 29 These are they whom the Lord commaunded to deuide the inheritaunce vn-the chyldren of Israel in the lande of Chanaan ¶ The .xxxv. Chapter 2 Vnto the Leuites are geuen cities and suburbes 11 The cities of refuge 16 The lawe of
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
them out of the middest of his tent and brought them vnto Iosuah and vnto all the children of Israel and layed them out before the Lorde 24 And Iosuah toke Achan the sonne of Zareth and the siluer and the garmē◠and the tonge of gold and his sonnes and his daughters his oxen and his asses his sheepe his tent and all that he had and al Israel with him brought them vnto the valley of Achor 25 And Iosuah sayde In as much as thou hast troubled vs the Lorde shall trouble thee this day And all Israel stoned hym with stones and burned them with fire and ouerwhelmed them with stones 26 And they cast vpon hym a great heape of stones vnto this day And so the Lord turned from the wrath of his indignation And the name of the place is called the valley of Achor vnto this day The .viij. Chapter 1 God geueth the citie of Ai into the handes of Iosuah 3 Iosuah his armie beyng setten in araye goeth to Ai. 15 Iosuah fayneth a runnyng away 18 God geueth counsell vnto Iosuah hym selfe what he hath to do 20 Ai is setten on fire 21. The people of Ai is slayne 23 The kyng of Ai beyng attached is brought vnto Iosuah twelue thousande slayne 27 The pray is deuided 29 The kyng of Ai is hanged 30 In aulter of stone is built in the which Deuteronomium is inscribed 34 Iosuah blesseth the people of Israel 1 AND the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah Feare not neither be thou faint hearted Take all the men of warre with thee and vp get thee to Ai. Beholde I haue geuen into thy hande the kyng of Ai and his people his citie and his lande 2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her kyng as thou dyddest vnto Iericho and her king Neuerthelesse the spoyle cattell thereof shall ye take vnto your selues Thou shalt lye in wayte agaynst the citie on the backside thereof 3 And so Iosuah arose and all the men of warre to go vp agaynst Ai And Iosuah chose out thirtie thousande strong men and valiaunt and sent them away by nyght 4 And he commaunded them saying Beholde ye shall lye in wayte agaynst the towne on the backside thereof Go not verie farre from the citie but be all redie 5 And I and al the people that are with me wyll approche vnto the citie And when they come out against vs as they dyd at the first tyme then wyll we flee before them 6 For they wyll come out after vs tyll we haue brought them out of the citie For they wyll say They flee before vs as at the first tyme and we will flee before them 7 In the meane tyme shall ye ryse vp from lying in wayte and destroy the citie for the Lorde your God wyll delyuer it into your hande 8 And when ye haue taken the citie ye shall set it on fire Accordyng to the commaundement of the Lorde shall ye do Beholde I haue charged you 9 Iosuah therfore sent them foorth and they went to lye in wayte and abode betweene Bethel Ai on the westsyde of the citie of Ai But Iosuah lodged that nyght among the people 10 And Iosuah rose vp early in the mornyng and numbred the people went vp he and the elders of Israel before the people against Ai. 11 And all the men of warre that were with him went vp drue nye and came agaynst the citie and pitched on the northsyde of Ai and there was a valley betweene them and Ai. 12 And he toke vpon a fiue thousande men and set them to lye in wayte betweene Bethel and Ai on the westsyde of the citie 13 And the people set all the hoast that was on the northsyde agaynst the citie the lyers in wayte on the west against the citie And Iosuah walked the same nyght in the myddes of the valley 14 And when the kyng of Ai sawe it they hasted and rose vp early and the men of the citie went out agaynst Israel to battayle he and all his people at a tyme appoynted euen before the playne and wyst not that there were lyers in wayte agaynst him on the backsyde of the citie 15 And Iosuah all Israel as beaten before them fledde by the way of the wildernesse 16 And all the people of the towne were called together to folowe after them And they folowed after Iosuah and were drawen away from the citie 17 And there was not a man left in Ai and in Bethel that went not out after Israel And they left the citie open and folowed after Israel 18 And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah Stretch out y e speare that is in thine hand towarde Ai for I will geue it into thy hand And Iosuah stretched out the speare that he had in his hand towarde the citie 19 And the lyers in waite arose quickly out of their place and ran assoone as Iosuah had stretched out his hande and they entred into the citie and toke it and hasted and set the citie on fyre 20 And when the men of Ai loked backe after them they sawe the smoke of the citie ascend vp to heauen and they had no place to flee either this way or that and the people that fled to the wildernes turned backe againe vpon the folowers 21 And when Iosuah all Israel sawe that the lyers in waite had taken the citie and that the smoke of it ascended they turned againe and slue the men of Ai. 22 And the other issued out of the citie against them and so were they in the middest of Israel for these were on the one side of them and the rest on the other side And they laide vpon them so that they let none of them escape nor remaine 23 And the kyng of Ai they toke aliue and brought him to Iosuah 24 And when Israel had made an ende of slayeng all the inhabitantes of Ai in the fielde of the wildernesse where they chased them and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sworde vntill they were wasted all the Israelites returned vnto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sworde 25 And al that fell that day both of men and women were twelue thousande euen all the men of Ai. 26 For Iosuah plucked not his hande backe againe which he stretched out vpō the speare vntil he had vtterly destroyed al the enhabitours of Ai. 27 Onely the cattell and the spoile of the citie Israel toke vnto them selues according vnto the word of the Lorde whiche he commaunded Iosuah 28 And Iosuah set Ai on fire and made it an heape for euer a wildernesse euen vnto this day 29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree vntill euen And assoone as the sunne was downe Iosuah commaunded that they should take y e carkasse downe of the tree and cast it at the entring of the gate of the
kinges and let none remayne of them but vtterly destroyed all that breathed as the Lorde God of Israel commaunded 41 And Iosuah smote them from Cades Barnea vnto Asah and all the countrey of Gosan euen vnto Gibeon 42 And all these kinges and their lande dyd Iosuah take at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel 43 And Iosuah and all Israel returned vnto the hoast that was in Gilgal ' the tribes of Israel to possesse to euery ' man his part 8 In the vpper lande and neather land in the plaines and in the hil sides in the wildernesse southe countrey the Hethites the Amorites y e Chanaanites the Pherezites y e Heuites the Iebusites ' 9 The king of Iericho was one the ' king of Ai which is beside Bethel one ' 10 The king of Hierusalem one the king ' of Hebron one ' 11 The king of Iarmuth one the king ' of Lachis one 12 The king of Eglon one the king of ' Gazer one ' 13 The king of Dabir one the king of ' Gader one ' 14 The king of Horma one the king of ' Arad one ' 15 The king of Libna one the king of Adullam one ' 16 The * king of Makeda one the king ' of Bethel one ' 17 The king of Taphuha one the king ' of Hepher one ' 18 The king of Aphek one the king of ' Lasaron one ' 19 The king of Madon one the king of ' Hasor one ' 20 The king of Simron Meron one the' king of Achsaph one ' 21 The king of Thanach one the king ' of Megiddo one ' 22 The king of Kedes one the king of ' Iokneam of Carmel one ' 23 The king of Dor in the coūtrey of Dor one the king of the nations of Gilgal one 24 The king of Thirza one al the kinges ' together thirtie and one ' ' The .xiii. Chapter ' 1 The Lorde commaundeth Iosuah to deuide the lande that remaineth vnto the Israelites 13 Possession is not geuen vnto the tribe of Leui. 15 The possession of the children of Ruben 22 Baalam is put to death 24 The possession of the tribe of Gad. 29 The possession of the halfe tribe of Manasse 1 IOsuah was olde and stricken in yeres and the Lorde sayde vnto him Thou art olde and stricken in yeres and there remaineth yet exceeding muche lande to be possessed 2 This is the lande that yet remaineth all the regions of the Philistines and al Gessuri 3 From Nilus which is vpon Egypt vnto the borders of Accaren northward which land is counted vnto Chananie euen fiue lordeshippes of the Philistines the Azathites Asdothites Ascalonites Gethites Accaronites and the Euites 4 And from the south al the lande of the Chanaanites and the caue that is beside the Sidomans euen vnto Aphak to the borders of the Amorites 5 And the lande of the Giblites and all Libanon towarde the sunne rising from the plaine of Gad vnder mount Hermō vntil a man come to Hamath 6 All the inhabitours of the hil countrey from Libanō vnto the Misrephothmaim and all the Sidonians will I cast out from before the children of Israel only see that thou in any wise deuide it by lot vnto the Israelites to inherite as I haue commaunded thee 7 Nowe therfore deuide this lande to inherite vnto the nine tribes and the halfe tribe of Manasses 8 For with that other the Rubenites the Gadites haue receaued their inheritaunce which Moyses gaue them beyonde Iordane eastwarde euen as Moyses the seruaunt of the Lord gaue them 9 From Aroer that lieth on the brim of the riuer Arnon and from the citie that is in the middest of the ryuer all the plaine of Medeba vnto Dibon 10 And al the cities of Sehon king of the Amorites which raigned in Hesbon euen vnto the border of the children of Ammon 11 And Gilead and the border of Gessuri and Machati and all mount Hermon with al Basan vnto Salecha 12 Euen all the kingdome of Og in Basan which raigned in Astharoth and Edra◠which same remained yet of the rest of the giauntes These dyd Moyses smite and cast them out 13 Neuertelesse the children of Israel expelled not the Gesurites and the Machathites But the Gesurites and the Machathites dwell among the Israelites euen vntill this day 14 Onely vnto the tribe of Leui he gaue none inheritaunce but the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel is their inheritaunce as he sayde vnto them 15 Moyses gaue vnto the tribe of the children of Ruben inheritaunce according to their kinredes 16 And their coast was from Aroer that lyeth on the bancke of the riuer Arnon and from the citie that is in the middest of the riuer and all the playne which is by Medeba 17 Hesbon with all their townes that lye in the playne Dibon and the hill places of Baal and the house of Baalmeon ' 18 And Iahazah and Kedemoth and ' Mephaath ' 19 Kiriathaim Sabamath and Zarath ' Zahar in the mount of the valley 20 The house of Peor and the springes of the hilles and Bethpheor and Ashdoth Pisgah and Besiesimoth 21 And al the cities of the plaine and all the kingdome of Sehon king of the Amorites which raigned in Hesbon which Moyses smote with the lordes of Madian Eui Bekem Zur and Hur Keba the whiche were dukes of Sehon dwelling in the countrey 22 And Balaam also the sonne of Beor the soothsayer did the childrē of Israel slay with the sworde among other of them that were slayne 23 And the border of the children of Ruben was Iordane with the countrey that lieth theron This was the inheritaunce of the children of Ruben after their kinredes cities and villages perteyning therto 24 And Moyses gaue inheritaunce vnto the tribe of Gad euen vnto the children of Gad he gaue by their kinredes 25 And their coastes were Iazer and al the cities of Gilead and halfe the lande of the children of Ammon vnto Aroer that lieth before Rabba 26 And from Hesbon vnto Ramath Mispeh and Betonim and from Mahanaim vnto the borders of Dabir 27 And in the valley they had Betharam Bethnimra Socoth and Zaphon the rest of the kyngdome of Sehon king of Hesbon vnto Iordane and the coastes that lie theron euen vnto the edge of the sea of Cenereth on the other side Iordane eastwarde 28 This is the inheritaunce of the children of Gad after their kinredes their cities and villages 29 And Moyses gaue inheritaunce vnto the halfe tribe of Manasses And this was the possession of the halfe tribe of Manasses by their kinredes 30 Their coast was from Mahanaim euen all Basan and all the kingdome of Og king of Basan and all the townes of Iair which lie in Basan euen threescore cities 31 And halfe Gilead Astaroth Edrai cities of the kingdome of Og in Basan
because of your king whiche ye shall haue chosen you the Lorde wil not heare you at that day 19 Neuerthelesse the people woulde not heare the voyce of Samuel but did say Nay not so But there shal be a king ouer vs 20 That we may be lyke other nations and that our king may iudge vs and go out before vs and fight our battailes 21 Therfore when Samuel hearde all the wordes of the people he rehearsed them in the eares of the Lord. 22 And the Lord sayd to Samuel Hearken vnto their voyce and make them a king And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel Go euery man vnto his citie The ix Chapter 1 Saul seeking his fathers asses by the counsell of his seruaunt goeth to Samuel 9 The Prophetes called Seers 15 The Lord reuealeth to Samuel Sauls comming commaunding to annoynt him king 22 Samuel bringeth Saul to the feast 1 THere was a man of Beniamin named Cis the sonne of Abiel the sonne of Zeror y e sonne of Bechorath the sonne of Aphiah the sonne of a man that was a Ieminite mightie in power 2 And the same had a sonne called Saul a goodly young man and a faire so that among the children of Israel there was none goodlier then he From the shoulders vpwarde he was hygher then all the other people 3 And the asses of this Cis Sauls father were lost and Cis sayd to Saul his sonne Take one of the laddes with thee and arise go and seke the asses 4 And he went through mount Ephraim and passed through the lande of Salisa but they founde them not Then they went through the lande of Salim and there they were not When they went also through the land of Iemini they found them not 5 At the last when they were come to the lande of Zuph Saul sayde to his lad that was with him Come let vs returne lest my father leaue caring for the asses and take thought for vs. 6 He sayde vnto him Behold there is in this citie a man of God he is an honorable man all that he sayth commeth suerly to passe Now then let vs go thyther if so be he can shewe vs what way we may go 7 Then sayde Saul to his lad If we will go what shall we bring the man For the bread is spent in our vessels there is no other present to bring the man of God what haue we 8 And the lad aunswered Saul againe and sayde Behold I haue found about me the fourth part of a sicle of siluer that will I geue the man of God to tell vs our way 9 Before time in Israel when a man went to seke an aunswere of God thus wyse he spake Come and let vs go to the Seer For he that is now called a prophete was in the olde tyme called a Seer 10 Then sayde Saul to his lad wel sayd of thee Come let vs go And so they wēt vnto the citie where the man of God was 11 And as they went their way vp the hil to the citie they met with damosels that came out to drawe water and sayd vnto them Is there here a Seer 12 And the maydens aunswered them and sayd yea beholde he is before you make hast nowe for he came this day to the citie for ther is an offring of the people this day in the hill 13 When ye be come into the citie ye shall finde him strayghtway yer he go vp to the hil to eate for y e people wil not eate vntil he come because he doth blesse the offring and then eate they that be bydden to the feast Nowe therfore get you vp for this day shal ye finde him 14 And they went vp into the citie And when they were come into the middes of the citie beholde Samuel came out agaynst them for to go vp to the hill 15 But the Lorde had tolde Samuel in his eare a day before Saul came saying 16 To morowe this tyme I wyll sende thee a man out of the lande of Beniamin him shalt thou annoynt to be captaine ouer my people Israel that he may saue my people out of y e handes of the Philistines for I haue loked vpon my people and their crie is come vnto me 17 When Samuel therfore sawe Saul the Lorde aunswered him See this is the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall raigne ouer my people 18 Then went Saul to Samuel in the middle of the gate and sayd Tell me I pray thee where the sears house is 19 Samuel aunswered Saul and sayd I am the sear Go vp before me vnto the hil for ye shall eate with me to day and to morowe I wil let thee go and wil tel thee all that is in thyne heart 20 And as for thyne asses that were lost three dayes ago care not for them for they are founde And whose shall the beawtiful thinges of Israel be Belong they not to thee and vnto all thy fathers house 21 But Saul aunswered and sayde Am not I the sonne of a Ieminite of the smallest tribe of Israel and my kinred is the lest of all the kinredes of the tribe of Beniamin Wherfore then speakest thou so to me 22 And Samuel toke Saul and his lad and brought them into the parler and made thē sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden whiche were vpon a thirtie persons 23 And Samuel sayde vnto the cooke Bring foorth the portion which I gaue thee and of which I said vnto thee kepe it with thee 24 And the cooke toke vp the shoulder that which was vpon it and set it before Saul And Samuel sayd Behold that which is left put it before thee and eate for hytherto hath it ben kept for thee saying Also I called the people And so Saul dyd eate with Samuel that day 25 And when they were come downe frō the hyghe place into the citie Samuel communed with Saul vpon the top of the house 26 And when they arose earely about the spring of the day Samuel called Saul vpon the toppe of the house saying Vp that I may send thee away And Saul arose and they went out both he and Samuel 27 And when they were come almost out of the towne Samuel sayde to Saul Bid the lad go before vs and he went before but stande thou stil a whyle that I may shewe thee the worde of God The .x. Chapter 6 Saul is annoynted king by Samuel 9 God chaungeth Sauls heart and he prohesieth 19 Samuel assembleth the people and sheweth them their sinnes 21 Saul is chosen king by lot 25 Samuel writeth the kings office 1 ANd thē Samuel toke a vessell of oyle and powred it vpon his head and kissed him and sayd Hath not the Lord annoynted thee to be captaine ouer his inheritaunce 2 When thou art departed from me this day thou shalt finde two men
and carry them to the towne 41 And assoone as the lad was gone Dauid arose out of a place that was towarde the south fel on his face to the ground bowed him selfe three times And they kissed either other and wept together so long till Dauid exceeded 42 And Ionathan sayd to Dauid Go in peace And the thinges which we haue sworne both of vs in y e name of the lord saying the Lord be betweene thee me and betweene thy sede myne let them stand for euer And he arose departed And Ionathan went into the towne The .xxi. Chapter 1 Dauid fleeth to Nob to Ahimelech the priest 6 He getteth of him the shewbread to satisfie his hungre 7 Doeg Sauls seruaunt was present 10. Dauid fleeth to king Achâ—s 13 and there faineth him selfe mad 1 THen came Dauid to Nob to Ahimelech the priest and Ahimelech was astonied at the meeting of Dauid sayd vnto him Why art thou alone and no man with thee 2 And Dauid said to Ahimelech the priest The king hath commaunded me a certaine thing and hath sayd vnto me Let no man know wher about I send thee and what I haue commaunded thee And I haue appoynted my seruauntes to suche and suche places 20 And one of the sonnes of Ahimelech the sonne of Ahitob named Abiathar escaped and fled to Dauid 21 And Abiathar shewed Dauid howe that Daul had slayne y e Lordes priestes 22 And Dauid sayde vnto Abiathar I wist it the same day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would tel Saul and I am cause of the death of all the persons of thy fathers house 23 Abyde thou with me and feare not For he that seketh my lyfe he shall seke thine also with me thou shalt be in safegarde The .xxiii. Chapter 5 Dauid chaseth the Philistines from Keila 13 Dauid departeth from Keila and remayneth in the wyldernesse of Ziph. 16 Ionathan comforteth Dauid 28 Sauls enterprise is broken in pursuyng Dauid 1 THen they tolde Dauid saying Beholde the Philistines fight against Keila and spoyle the barnes 2 Therfore Dauid asked counsell of the lord saying Shal I go and smyte these Philistines And the Lord aunswered vnto Dauid Go and smite the Philistines and saue Keila 3 And Dauids men said vnto him See we be afrayde here in Iuda howe much more then if we come to Keila against the hoast of the Philistines 4 Then Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde agayne And the Lorde aunswered him and sayd Aryse and go downe to Keila for I will deliuer the Philistines into thyne hande 5 And so Dauid and his men went to Keila and fought with the Philistines and brought away their cattell smote them with a great slaughter and so Dauid saued y e inhabitauntes of Keila 6 And when Abiathar the sonne of Ahimelech fled to Dauid to Keila he brought an Ephod with him in his hande 7 And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was come to Keila And Saul sayde God hath deliuered him into myne hande For he is shut in now that he is come into a towne that hath gates and barres 8 And Saul called all the people together to warre for to go downe to Keila and to besiege Dauid and his men 9 And Dauid hauing knowledge that Saul imagined mischiefe agaynst him sayde to Abiathar the priest Bring the Ephod 10 Then sayde Dauid O Lorde God of Israel thy seruaunt hath hearde that Saul is about to come to Keila to destroye the citie for my sake 11 Will the lordes of Keila deliuer me into his hande And will Saul come downe as thy seruaunt hath hearde O Lorde God of Israel I besech thee tell thy seruaunt And the Lorde sayde He wil come downe 12 Then sayde Dauid Will the lordes of Keila deliuer me and the men that are with me into the hand of Saul And the Lorde sayde They will deliuer thee vp 13 Then Dauid his men whiche were vpon a sixe hundred arose and departed out of Keila and went whyther they coulde And it was tolde Saul that Dauid was fled from Keila and he let the iourney alone 14 Dauid abode in the wildernesse in strong holdes and remained in a mountayne in the wildernesse of Ziph And Saul sought him euery day but God deliuered him not into his hande 15 And Dauid sawe that Saul was come out to seke his lyfe And Dauid was in the wildernesse of Ziph in the wood 16 And Ionathan Sauls sonne arose and went to Dauid into the wood and comforted his hande in God 17 And sayd vnto him Feare not for the hand of Saul my father shall not finde thee thou shalt be king ouer Israel and I shall be next vnto thee and that doeth Saul my father knowe 18 And they made a bond both of them together before the Lorde And Dauid taried still in the wood and Ionathan went to his house 19 Then came the Ziphites to Saul to Gibea saying Doth not Dauid hyde him selfe fast by vs in strong holdes in the wood in the hill of Hachila on the right side of Iesimon Nowe therfore O king thou mayest come downe according to all the lust of thy soule and our part shal be to deliuer him into the kinges hande 21 And Saul sayde Blessed are ye in the Lord for ye haue compassion on me 22 Go I pray you and prepare yet better knowe and see where his foote hath ben who hath seene him there for it is tolde me that he is very subtyll 23 See therfore and know al the lurking places where he hydeth him selfe and come ye againe to me with y e certaintie and I wil go with you And yf he be in the lande I will searche him out throughout al the thousandes of Iuda 24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul But Dauid his men were in the wildernesse of Maon in the plaine that is on the right hande of Iesimon 25 Saul also and his men went to seke him And they told Dauid wherfore he came downe vnto a rocke and abode in the wildernesse of Maon And when Saul heard that he folowed after Dauid in the wildernesse of Maon 26 And Saul and his men went on the one syde of the mountayne and Dauid his men on the other syde of the mountaine And Dauid made haste to get froÌ„ the presence of Saul For Saul and his men compassed Dauid and his men round about to take them 27 But ther came a messenger to Saul saying Haste thee and come for the Philistines haue inuaded the lande 28 Wherfore Saul returned from persecuting Dauid and went against the Philistines And therfore they called that place Sela Hanmahlekoth And Dauid went thence and dwelt in strong holdes at Engadi The .xxiiii. Chapter 1 Dauid hid in a caue spareth Saul 10 He sheweth to Saul his innocencie 18 Saul acknowledgeth his fault 22 He causeth Dauid to sweare vnto him
had commaunded him and smote the Philistines from Geba vntill thou come to Gazer The .vi. Chapter 3 The arke brought foorth of the house of Abinadab 7 Vzzah is striken and dieth Dauid daunceth before it 16 And is therfore despised of his wyfe Michol 1 AGaine Dauid gathered together all the chosen men of Israel euen thirtie thousand 2 And arose and went with all the folke that were with him from Baala of Iuda to fet away from thence the arke of God whose name is called by the name of the lord of hoastes that dwelleth vpon it betweene the cherubims 3 And they put the arke of God vpon a newe cart brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibea And Vzza and Ahio the sonnes of Abinadab draue the newe carte 4 And when they brought the arke of God out of the house of Abinadab that was at Gibea Ahio went before the arke 5 And Dauid and all the house of Israel played before the lord on sundry instrumentes made of Cedar wood with harpes psalteries timbrelles hornettes and simbals 6 And when they came to Nachons thresshing floore Vzza put his hand to the arke of God helde it for the oxen did shake it 7 And the Lord was wroth with Vzza and God smote him in the same place for his fault and there he died before the arke of God 8 And Dauid was displeased because the Lorde had smitten Vzza And he called the name of the place Perez Vzza vntill this day 9 And Dauid was then afraide of the Lorde and sayd Howe shall the arke of the Lord come to me 10 And so Dauid woulde not bring the arke of the Lorde vnto him into the citie of Dauid but Dauid caried it into the house of Obed Edom a Gethite 11 And the arke of the Lorde continued in the house of Obed Edom the Gethite three monethes and the Lorde blessed Obed Edom and all his housholde 12 And one tolde king Dauid howe that the Lorde had blessed the house of Obed Edom and all that parteyned vnto him because of the arke of God And Dauid went and brought the arke of God from the house of Obed Edom into the citie of Dauid with gladnes 13 And when they that bare the arke of the Lorde had gone sixe paces he offered an oxe and a fat beast â—4 And Dauid daunced before the Lorde with all his might was girded with a linnen Ephod 15 So Dauid and all the house of Israel brought the arke of the Lorde with showting and trumpet blowing 16 And as y e arke of the Lord came into the citie of Dauid Michol Sauls daughter loked through a windowe and sawe king Dauid spring and daunce before the Lord and she despysed him in her heart 17 And when they brought in the arke of the Lord they set it in his place euen in the middes of the tabernacle that Dauid had pitched for it and Dauid offered burnt offeringes peace offeringes before the Lorde 18 And assoone as Dauid had made an ende of offering burnt offeringes and peace offeringes he blessed the people in the name of the Lorde of hoastes 19 And gaue among all the folke euen among the whole multitude of Israel aswel to the women as men to euery one a cake of bread a peece of flesshe and a flacked of wine And so al the people departed euery one to his house 20 Then Dauid returned to blesse his housholde and Michol the daughter of Saul came out to meete Dauid sayd O howe glorious was the king of Israel this day whiche was vncouered to day in the eyes of the maydens of his seruauntes as a foole vncouereth him selfe 21 And Dauid sayd vnto Michol It was before the Lorde whiche chose me rather then thy father and all his house and commaunded me to be ruler ouer all the people of the Lorde euen ouer Israel and therefore will I play before the Lorde 22 And will yet be more vyle then so and will be meeke in myne owne sight and of the very same mayde seruauntes which thou hast spoken of shall I be had in honour 23 Therfore Michol the daughter of Saul had no childe vnto the day of her death The .vii. Chapter 2 Dauid woulde buylde God an house but is forbidden by the prophet Nathan 8 God putteth Dauid in minde of his benefites 12 He promiseth continuaunce of his kingdome and posteritie 1 AFterward when the king sate in his house the Lord had geuen him rest round about from all his enemies 2 The king sayde vnto Nathan the prophete Beholde I dwell nowe in an house of Cedar trees but the arke of God dwelleth within the curtaynes 3 And Nathan sayde to the king Go and do all that is in thyne heart for the Lord is with thee 4 And the same night the worde of the Lorde came vnto Nathan saying 5 Go and tell my seruaunt Dauid thus sayeth the Lorde shalt thou buylde me an house to dwell in 6 For I haue not dwelt in any house sence the time that I brought the children of Israel out of Egypt vnto this day but haue walked in a tent and tabernacle 7 In al the places wherin I haue walked with all the childreÌ„ of Israel spake I one worde with any of y e tribes of Israel when I commaunded the iudges to feede my people Israel saying Why build ye not me an house of Cedar trees 8 Now therfore so say vnto my seruaunt Dauid thus sayeth the lord of hoastes I toke thee from the sheepe coate as thou wast folowing sheepe that thou mightest be ruler ouer my people ouer Israel 9 And I was with thee in all that thou wentest to and haue destroyed all thyne enemies out of thy sight haue made thee a great name lyke vnto the name of the great men that are in the earth 10 Also I will appoynt a place for my people Israel and will plant it that they may dwell in a place of their owne moue no more neither shall wicked people trouble them any more as before time 11 And sence the time that I set iudges ouer my people of Israel And I will geue thee rest from all thyne enemies And the Lorde telleth thee that he will make thee an house 12 And when thy dayes be fulfilled thou shalt sleepe with thy fathers and I will set vp thy seede after thee whiche shall proceede out of thy body and will stablyshe his kingdome 31 He shall buyld house an for my name I wil stablyshe the throne of his kingdome for euer 14 I will be his father and he shal be my sonne If he sinne I will chasten him with the rodde of men and with the plagues of the children of men 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him as I toke it from Saul whoÌ„ I put away before thee 16 And thyne house and thy
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
Abiathar the priestes Of this that maner did Ahithophel and the elders of Israel counsel Absalom and thus thus haue I counsayled 16 Nowe therfore send quickly shewe Dauid saying Tarie not this night in y e fieldes of the wildernesse but get thee ouer lest the king be deuoured all the people that are with him 17 Now Ionathan and Ahimaaz abode by the well Rogel for they might not be seene to come into the citie and a wench went and told them And they went and shewed king Dauid 18 Neuerthelesse a lad sawe them and tolde it to Absalom But they went both of them away quickly came to a mans house in Bahurim which had a well in his yarde into the whiche they went downe 19 And the wyfe toke and spread a couerlet ouer the welles mouth spread ground corne theron and the thing was not spied 20 And when Absaloms seruauntes came to the wyfe to the house they sayde Where is Ahimaaz Ionathan The woman aunswered thē They be gone ouer the brooke of water And whē they had sought them and coulde not finde them they returned to Hierusalem 21 And assoone as they were departed the other came out of the wel and went and tolde king Dauid and sayde vnto him Vp and get you quickly ouer the water for suche counsel hath Ahithophel geuen against you 22 Then Dauid arose and all the people that were with him they were come ouer Iordane by that it was day so that there lacked not one of them that was not come ouer Iordane 23 And when Ahithophel sawe that his counsel was not folowed he sadled his Asse and arose and gate him home to his owne house and to his owne citie put his housholde in order and hanged him selfe and died and was buried in the sepulchre of his father 24 Then Dauid came to Mahanaim And Absalom passed ouer Iordane he and all the men of Israel with him 25 And Absalom made Amasa captaine of the hoast in stede of Ioab which Amasa was a mans sonne named Iethra an Israelite that went into Abigail the daughter of Nahas sister to Zaruia Ioabs mother 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead 27 And when Dauid was come to Mahanaim Sobi the sonne of Nahas out of Rabba of the children of Ammon Machir the sonne of Ammiel out of Lodeber and Barzellai the Gileadite out of Rogelim 28 Brought beddes basens earthen vessels wheat and barly floure parched corne beanes lentiles parched pulse 29 Hony butter sheepe cheese of kyne for Dauid and for the people that were with him to eate For they sayde The people is hungry weery and thirstie in the wildernesse The .xviii. Chapter 2 Dauid deuideth his armie into three partes 9 Absalom is hanged slayne and cast in a pit 33 Dauid lamenteth the death of Absalom 1 AND Dauid numbred the people that were with him and set captaynes of thousandes and of hundredes ouer them 2 And Dauid sēt foorth the third part of the people vnder the hande of Ioab and the third part vnder the hand of Abisai the sonne of Zaruia Ioabs brother and the other third part vnder the hand of Ithai the Gethite And the king said vnto the people I will go with you my selfe also 3 And the people aunswered Thou shalt not go foorth for if we flee away they wil not care for vs neither shal they regard vs though halfe of vs were slaine but thou art nowe worth ten thousande of vs Wherfore it is better that thou succour vs out of the citie 4 And the king sayde vnto them What seemeth you best that wil I do And the king stoode by the gate syde and all the people came out by hundredes and by thousandes 5 And the king commaunded Ioab and Abisai and Ithai saying Intreate the young man Absalom gently for my sake And all the people hearde that the king gaue all the captaynes charge concerning Absalom 6 And so the people wēt out into the fielde against Israel and the battel was in the wood of Ephraim 7 Where the people of Israel were slaine before the seruauntes of Dauid there was a great slaughter that day euen of twentie thousande men 8 For the battell was scattered ouer al the countrey And the wood deuoured mo people that day then dyd the sword 9 And Absalom mette the seruauntes of Dauid ryding vpon a mule whiche caried him vnder the thycke bowes of a great oke and his head was caught of the oke and he was lift vp betweene the heauen and the earth and the mule that was vnder him went away 10 And one that sawe it tolde Ioab saying Beholde I sawe Absalom hange in an oke 11 And Ioab sayd vnto the man that told him If thou diddest see him why diddest not thou there smite him to the ground and I would haue geuen thee ten sicles of siluer and a gyrdle 12 The man sayd vnto Ioab Though I should receaue a thousande sicles of siluer in myne hande yet woulde I not stretche out myne hand against y e kinges sonne For we heard with our eares when the king charged thee Abisai and Ithai saying Beware that none touche the young man Absalom 13 Moreouer if I had done it I shoulde haue done against mine owne lyfe for there is no matter hyd from the king yea thou thy selfe wouldest haue ben against me 14 Then sayde Ioab I may not stand thus tarying with thee And he toke three dartes in his hande thrust them through Absalom whyle he was yet alyu◠in the middes of the oke 15 And ten seruauntes that bare Ioabs weapons turned and smote Absalom and slue him 16 And Ioab blew the trumpet and the people returned from folowing Israel for Ioab held backe the people 17 And they toke Absalom and cast him into a great pyt in the wood and layed a mightie great heape of stones vpon him And all Israel fled euery one to their tentes 18 And this Absalom yet in his lyfe time toke and reared vp a piller whiche is in the kinges dale For he sayd I haue no sonne to kepe my name in remembraunce and he called the piller after his owne name and it is called vnto this day Absaloms place 19 Then sayd Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoc Let me runne nowe and beare the king tydinges how that the Lord hath iudged him quyte of the hande of his enemies 20 And Ioab sayd vnto him Thou art no man to beare tidinges to day thou shalt beare tydinges another time but to day thou shalt beare none because the kinges sonne is dead 21 Then sayd Ioab to Chusi Go and tell the kyng what thou hast seene And Chusi bowed him selfe vnto Ioab and ranne 22 Then sayd Ahimaaz the sonne of Sadoc againe to Ioab What I pray thee if I also runne after Chusi And Ioab sayde Wherfore
ouerthrowe it 16 Then cryed a wyse woman out of the citie heare heare I pray you say vnto Ioab Come hither that I may speake with thee 17 When Ioab was come vnto her the woman saide Art thou Ioab He aunswered I am he She saide vnto him Heare the wordes of thyne handmayd And he aunswered I do heare 18 Then she spake thus They spake in the olde tyme saying They should aske of Abel And so haue they continued 19 I am one of them that are peaceable faithfull in Israel and thou goest about to destroy a citie and a mother in Israel Why wilt thou deuour the inheritaunce of the Lorde 20 And Ioab aunswered and sayd God forbyd God forbid it me that I should either deuour or destroy 21 The matter is not so But a man of mount Ephraim Seba the sonne of Bichri by name hath lyft vp his hand against the king euen against Dauid Delyuer vs him onely I wyll depart from the citie And the woman said vnto Ioab Behold his head shal be throwen to thee ouer the wall 22 And then the woman went vnto all the people with her wisedome and they smote of the head of Seba y e sonne of Bichri and cast it out to Ioab And he blew a trumpet they retyred from the citie euery man to his tent And Ioab returned to Hierusalem vnto the king 23 Ioab was ouer all the hoast of Israel and Banaia the sonne of Iehoida was ouer the Cerethites Phelethites 24 And Aduram was ouer the tribute and Iehosaphat the sonne of Ahilud was recorder 25 Seua was scribe and Sadoc and Abiathar were the priestes 26 And Ira the Iairite was chiefe about Dauid ¶ The .xxi. Chapter 1 Three deare yeres 9 The vengeaunce of the sinnes of Saul lighteth on his seuen sonnes which are hanged 15 Foure great battailes which Dauid had against the Philistines 1 THEN there was an hunger in the dayes of Dauid three yeres together And Dauid enquired of y e Lorde And the Lorde aunswered It is for Saul and the house of blood because he slue the Gibeonites 2 And the king called the Gibeonites and saide vnto them Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel but a remnaunt of the Amorites and the children of Israel sware vnto them And Saul sought to slay them for a zeale that he had to the children of Israel and of Iuda 3 Wherefore Dauid saide vnto the Gibeonites What shall I do for you wherewith shall I make the attonement that ye may blesse y e inheritaunce of the Lorde 4 The Gibeonites aunswered him We will haue no siluer nor golde of Saul nor of his house neither is it our mind that thou shouldest kil any man in Israel He saide What you shall say that will I do for you 5 They aunswered the king The man that consumed vs and imagined to bring vs to naught that we are destroyed from remaining in any of the coastes of Israel 6 Let seuen men of his sonnes be deliuered vnto vs we will hang them vp vnto the Lorde in Gibeah of Saul whom y e Lord did choose And the king saide I will geue them you 7 But the king had compassion on Miphiboseth the sonne of Ionathan the sonne of Saul because of the Lordes oth that was betweene them euen betweene Dauid Ionathan the sonne of Saul 8 But the king toke the two sonnes of Rispha the daughter of Aia whom she bare vnto Saul euen Armoni and Miphiboseth and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul whom she bare to Adriel the sonne of Barzellai the Meholathite 9 And he deliuered them vnto y e handes of the Gibeonites which hanged them in the hill before the Lorde And they fell all seuen together and were slaine in the dayes of haruest euen in the first dayes and in the beginning of barlye haruest 10 And Rispha the daughter of Aia toke sackcloth hanged it vp for her vpon the rocke euen from the beginning of haruest vntill water dropped vpon them out of heauen suffered neither the byrdes of the ayre to lyght on them by day nor beastes of y e fielde by night 11 And it was tolde Dauid what Rispha the daughter of Aia the concubine of Saul had done 12 And Dauid went and toke the bones of Saul and of Ionathan his sonne from the citezins of Iabes in Gilead which had stolen them from the streate of Bethsan where the Philistines had hanged them whē the Philistines had slaine Saul in Gilboa 13 And he brought thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Ionathan his sonne and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged 14 And the bones of Saul Ionathan his sonne buryed they in the countrey of Beniamin in Zela in the sepulchre of Cis his father And when they had perfourmed al that the king commaunded God was then at one with the land 15 Moreouer y e Philistines had yet warre againe with Israel and Dauid went downe and his seruauntes with him fought against the Philistines And Dauid waxed faintie 16 And Iesbi benob one of the sonnes of the giauntes the iron of whose speare wayed three hundred sicles of brasse and he being gyrded with a new sword thought to haue slaine Dauid 17 But Abisai the sonne of Zaruia succoured him smote the Philistine and killed him Then the seruauntes of Dauid sware vnto him saying Thou shalt go no more out with vs to battaile that thou quenche not the light of Israel 18 And yet after this there was a battaile with the Philistines at Gob and then Sibbechai the Husathite slue Saph which was one of y e sonnes of the giauntes 19 And there was another battaile in Gob with the Philistines where Elhanan the sonne of Iaere Oregim a Bethlehemite slue Goliath y e Gethite the staffe of whose speare was as great as a weauers clothbeame 20 And there was yet another battaile in Geth wher was a man of a great stature and had on euery hand sixe fingers on euery foote sixe toes foure twentie in number and was borne also of the kindred of the giauntes in Geth 21 And when he defyed Israel Ionathan the sonne of Simea the brother of Dauid slue him 22 These foure were borne to the giaunt in Geth and dyed by the hand of Dauid by the handes of his seruauntes ¶ The .xxii. Chapter 2 Dauid after his victories prayseth God 8 The anger of God toward the wicked 44 He prophecieth of the reiection of the Iewes and vocation of the Gentiles 1 AND Dauid spake the wordes of this song vnto the Lorde what time the Lorde had delyuered him out of the hand of al his enemies and out of the hand of Saul 2 And he saide The Lorde is my rocke and my castell and my delyuerer 3 God
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
vnto king Solomon to speake vnto him for Adonia And the king rose vp to meete her and bowed him selfe vnto her and sate hym downe on his seate there was a seate set for the kinges mother she sate on his right syde 20 Then she sayd I desire a litle petition of thee I pray thee say me not nay And the king sayd vnto her Aske on my mother for I will not say thee nay 21 She sayde Let Abisag the Sunamite be geuen to Adonia thy brother to wyfe 22 And king Solomon aunswered and sayde vnto his mother Why doest thou aske Abisag the Sunamite for Adonia aske for him the kingdome also for he is myne elder brother and hath for him Abiathar the priest and Ioab the sonne of Zaruia 23 Then king Solomon sware by the Lord saying God do so and so to me if Adonia haue not spoken this worde against his owne lyfe 24 Nowe therefore as the Lorde lyueth whiche hath ordeyned me and set me on the seate of Dauid my father and made me an house as he promised Adonia shall dye this day 25 And king Solomon sent by the hande of Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada and he smote him that he died 26 And vnto Abiathar the priest sayd the king Get thee to Anatoth vnto thine owne fieldes for thou art worthy of death but I will not at this time kill thee because thou barest the arke of the Lorde God before Dauid my father and because thou hast suffered with my father in all his afflictions 27 And so Solomon put away Abiathar from beyng priest vnto the Lord that he might fulfill the wordes of the Lord which he spake ouer the house of Eli in Silo. 28 Then tydtnges came also to Ioab for Ioab had turned after Adonia though he turned not after Absalom and Ioab fled vnto the tabernacle of the Lorde and caught holde on the hornes of the aulter 29 And it was told king Solomon howe that Ioab fled vnto the tabernacle of the Lorde and beholde he is by the aulter Then Solomon sent Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada saying Go and fall vpon him 30 And Banaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lorde and sayde vnto him Thus sayeth the king Come out And he sayde Nay but I wil dye euen here And Banaiah brought the king word againe saying Thus sayde Ioab and thus he aunswered me 31 And the king sayde vnto him Do euen as he hath sayd Smite him burie him that thou mayest take away the blood which Ioab shed causelesse from me and from the house of my father 32 And the Lorde shall bring his blood vpon his owne head for he smote two men righteouser and better then he and slue them with the sworde my father Dauid not knowing therof euen Abner the sonne of Ner captayne of the hoast of Israel and Amasa the sonne of Iether captayne of the hoast of Iuda 33 Their blood shal therfore returne vpon the head of Ioab on the head of his seede for euer But vpon Dauid vpon his seed vpon his house vpō his seat shall there be peace for euer of the Lord. 34 So Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada went vp he fel vpon him and slue him and buried him in his house in the wildernesse 35 And the king put Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada in his roome ouer y e hoast and put Sadoc the priest in the roome of Abiathar 36 And the king sent and called Semei sayde vnto him Buylde thee an house in Hierusalem and dwell there see that thou go not foorth thence any whyther 37 For be thou sure that the day that thou goest out and passest ouer the riuer of Cedron thou shalt dye that day and thy blood shal be vpon thyne owne head 38 And Semei sayde vnto the king This saying is good As my lorde y e king hath sayde so will thy seruaunt do And Semei dwelt in Hierusalem many a day 39 And it chaunced after three yeres that two of the seruauntes of Semei ranne away vnto Achis sonne of Maacha king of Geth And they told Semei saying Behold thy seruauntes be in Geth 40 And Semei stoode vp and sadled his asse and gat him to Geth to Achis to seke his seruauntes And Semei wēt brought his seruauntes againe from Geth 41 And it was tolde Solomon howe that Semei had gone from Hierusalem to Geth and was come againe 42 And the king sent called Semei and said vnto him Did I not charge thee by the Lorde with an oth testified vnto thee saying Be sure that whensoeuer thou goest out walkest abroade any whyther thou shalt bye the death And thou saydest vnto me It is good tydinges that I haue heard 43 Why then hast thou not kept the oth of the Lorde and the commaundement that I charged thee withall 44 The king sayde moreouer to Semei Thou remembrest all the wickednesse which thyne heart knoweth and that thou diddest to Dauid my father the Lorde also shall bring thy wickednesse vpon thyne owne head 45 And king Solomon shal be blessed and the seate of Dauid stablished before the Lorde for euer 46 So the king commaunded Banaiah the sonne of Iehoiada which went out and smote him that he died And the kingdome was stablished in the hande of Solomon The iii. Chapter 1 Solomon taketh Pharoes daughter to wyfe 5 The Lord appeareth to him and geueth him wisdome 17 The pleading of the two harlottes and Solomons sentence therin 1 SOlomon made affinitie with Pharao king of Egypt toke Pharaos daughter and brought her into the citie of Dauid vntil he had made an ende of buylding his owne house and the house of the Lorde and the wall of Hierusalem round about 2 Onely the people sacrificed in hygh places because there was no house built vnto the name of the Lorde vntill those dayes 3 And Solomon loued the Lorde walking in the ordinaunces of Dauid his father saue onely that he sacrificed and offered incense vpon aulters in hygh places 4 And the king went to Gibeon to offer there for that was the speciall hygh place And a thousande burnt offringes dyd Solomon offer vpon that aulter 5 And in Gibeon the Lorde appeared to Solomon in a dreame by night and God sayd Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee 6 And Solomon sayde Thou hast shewed vnto thy seruaūt Dauid my father great mercie when he walked before thee in trueth in righteousnesse and in plainnesse of heart with thee and thou hast kept for him this great mercy that thou hast geuen him a sonne to sit on his seate as it is come to passe this day 7 And nowe O Lord my God it is thou that hast made thy seruaunt king in steade of Dauid my father And I am but young wote not howe to go out and in 8 And thy seruaunt is in the middest of thy people which thou hast
a large heart euen as the sand that is on the sea shore 30 And Solomons wysdome excelled the wysedome of all the children of the east countrey and al the wisdome of Egypt 31 For he was wiser then al men yea then Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman Chalcol and Darda the sonnes of Mahol And his name was spoken of throughout all nations on euery syde 32 And Solomon spake three thousande prouerbes And his songes were a thousande and fiue 33 And he spake of trees euen from the Cedar tree that groweth in Libanon vnto the Isope that springeth out of the wall He spake also of beastes of foules of wormes and of fishes 34 And there came of all nations to heare the wysdome of Solomon and from all kinges of the earth which had heard of his wysdome The .v. Chapter 1 Hiram sendeth to Solomon and Solomon to him purposing to buylde the house of God 6 He prepareth stuffe for the buylding 13 The number of the workmen 1 ANd Hirā king of Tyre sent his seruauntes vnto Solomon for he had hearde that they had annoynted him king in the roome of his father For Hirā was euer a louer of Dauid 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram saying 3 Thou knowest howe that Dauid my father could not buyld an house vnto the name of the Lorde his God for the warres which were about him on euery syde vntill the Lorde put them vnder the soles of his feete 4 But now the Lorde my God hath geuen me rest on euery syde so that there is neither aduersarie nor euill to resist 5 And beholde I am determined to build an house vnto y e name of the Lord my God as the Lord spake vnto Dauid my father saying Thy sonne whom I wil set vpon thy seate for thee he shal build an house vnto my name 6 Now therefore commaund thou that they hewe me Cedar trees out of Libanon my seruaūtes shal be with thyne and vnto thee wyll I geue the hyre for thy seruauntes accordyng to all such thinges as thou shalt appoynt for thou knowest that there are not among vs that can skyl to hewe tymber lyke vnto the Sidones 7 And it came to passe when Hiram heard y e wordes of Solomō he reioysed greatly said Blessed be the Lord this day which hath geuen vnto Dauid a wyse sonne ouer this mightie people 8 And Hiram sent to Solomon saying I haue considered the thinges which thou sentest to me for wyl accomplishe all thy desyre concerning tymber of Cedar trees and firre 9 My seruauntes shall bring them from Libanon to the sea and I wyl conuey them by sea in flootes vnto the place that thou shalt shew me and wyl cause them to be discharged there and thou shalt receaue them and thou shalt do me a pleasure againe if thou minister foode for myne house 10 And so Hiram gaue Solomon Cedar trees and firre trees according to all his desyre 11 And Solomon gaue Hiram twentie thousand quarters of wheate for foode to his housholde and twentie buts of pure oyle Thus much gaue Solomon to Hiram yere by yere 12 And the Lorde gaue Solomon wisedome as he promysed him And there was peace betweene Hiram and Solomon they two were confedered together 13 And king Solomon raysed a summe out of Israel and the summe was thirtie thousand men 14 Whom he sent to Libanon ten thousand a moneth by course so that when they had ben one moneth in Libanon they abode two monethes at home And Adoniram was ouer the summe 15 And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens and foure score thousand masons in the mountaines 16 Besides the lordes whom Solomon appoynted to ouersee the worke euen three thousand three hundred which ruled the people them that wrought in the worke 17 And the king commaunded them to bring great stones costly stones hewed stones for the foundatiō of the house 18 And Solomons masons and the masons of Hiram did hewe them and the stone squarers And so they prepared both tymber and stones for the building of the house ¶ The .vi. Chapter 1 The buylding of the temple and the fourme thereof 12 The promyse of the Lorde to Solomon 1 AND it came to passe that in the foure hundred fourescore yere after the childrē of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt and in the fourth yere of the rayne of Solomon vpon Israel in the moneth Zif which is the second moneth he began to build the house of the Lorde 2 And the house which king Solomon built for the Lorde was threescore cubites long and twentie cubites broade and thirtie cubites hie 3 And he made a porche before the temple of the house which was twentie cubites long after y e breadth of the house and ten cubites brode euen in the fore front of the house 4 And in the house he made windowes broade without and narow within 5 And by the wall of the house he made chambers round about euen in the walles of the house round about the temple the quier and he made chambers round about 6 The neathermost chamber was fiue 10 And the foundation was layde vpon rich stones and that very great stones whereof some were ten cubites and some eyght cubites 11 And aboue were riche stones squared after a certayne rule and couered with Cedar 12 And the great court round about was with three rowes of hewed stones and one rowe of Cedar planckes after the maner of the inner court of the house of the Lorde and of the porche of the temple ' 13 And king Solomon sent and fet one ' Hiram out of Tyre 14 A widowes sonne of y e tribe of Nephthalim his father being a man of Tyre Which Hiram was a craftesman in brasse ful of wisedome vnderstanding and cunning to worke all maner of worke in brasse And he came to king Solomon and wrought all his worke 15 For he cast two pillers of brasse of eyghteene cubites hie a peece a string of twelue cubites did compasse either of them about 16 And he made two pommels of moulten brasse after the fashion of a crowne to set on the toppes of the pillers The height of the one head peece contayned fiue cubites and the height of the other head peece contayned fiue cubites also 17 He made networke wrythen worke like chaines for the pommels vpon the head peeces that were on the top of the pillers euen seuen rowes vpon the one head peece and seuen vpon the other 18 And so he made the pillers and two rowes of pomegranets rounde about in the one networke to couer the pommels that were vpon the top and this he did also for the other head peece 19 And the pommels that were on the top of the pillers were after lillie worke in the porche foure cubites 20 And the pommels vpon the two pillers had also aboue
gaue him a charge concerning this thyng that he shoulde not folowe other gods But he kept not that which the Lorde commaunded him 11 Wherfore the Lorde sayde vnto Solomon Forasmuche as this is done of thee and thou hast not kept myne appoyntment and my statutes whiche I commaunded thee I wil rent the kingdome from thee and will geue it to thy seruaunt 12 Notwithstanding in thy dayes I will not do it because of Dauid thy father but wil take it frō the hand of thy sonne 13 Howbeit I will not take away all the kingdome But will geue one tribe to thy sonne because of Dauid my seruaūt and because of Hierusalem whiche I haue chosen 14 And the Lorde stirred vp an aduersarie vnto Solomon euen one Hadad an Edomite of the kinges seede whiche was in Edom. 15 For when Dauid was in Edom and Ioab the captayne of the hoast was gone vp to burie them that were slaine he smote all the men children in Edom 16 For sixe monethes dyd Ioab remayne there and all Israel till he had destroyed all the men children of Edom. 17 And this Hadad fled and certaine other Edomites of his fathers seruaūtes with hym to come into Egypt Hadad beyng yet a litle childe 18 And they arose out of Madian came to Paran and toke men with them out of Paran and came to Egypt vnto Pharao king of Egypt whiche gaue him an house and appoynted him vittailes and gaue him lande 19 And Hadad gat great fauour in the sight of Pharao so that he gaue him to wyfe the sister of his owne wyfe euen the syster of Thahpenes the queene 20 And the sister of Thahpenes bare him Genubath his sonne whō Thahpenes norished in Pharaos house And Genubath was with Pharaos housholde among the sonnes of Pharao 21 And when Hadad hearde in Egypt that Dauid was layde to sleepe with his fathers that Ioab the captayne of the hoaste was dead also he sayde to Pharao Let me depart that I may go to myne owne countrey 22 Pharao sayde vnto him What hast thou lacked here with me that thou wouldest thus go to thyne owne countrey He aunswered Nothing howbeit let me go 23 And God stirred him vp another aduersarie one Rezon the sonne of Eliada whiche fled from his lorde Hadadezer king of Zoba 24 And he gathered men vnto him and became captayne ouer the companie when Dauid slue them And they went to Damasco and dwelt there and raigned in Damasco 25 Therfore was he an aduersarie to Israel all the dayes of Solomon and this was the mischiefe in that Hadad dyd abhorre Israel and raigned ouer Syria 26 And Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat an Ephrathite of Zareda whose mother was called Zeruah whiche was a wydowe and he Solomons seruaunt lyft vp his hande against the king 27 But this was the cause that he lift vp his hande against the king Solomon buylt Mello and mended the broken places of the citie of Dauid his father 28 And this felowe Ieroboam was a man of strength courage And Solomon sawe the young man that he was able to do the worke he made him ruler ouer all the charge of the house of Ioseph 29 And it chaunced at that season that Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem and the prophete Ahia the Silonite met him by the way hauing a newe mantel on him and they two were alone in the fielde 30 Ahia caught the newe mantel that was on him rent it in twelue peeces 31 And sayd to Ieroboam Take thee ten peeces For thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel Behold I will rent the kingdome out of the handes of Solomon and will geue ten tribes to thee 32 And he shal haue one for my seruaunt Dauids sake and for Hierusalem the citie which I haue chosen out of all the tribes of Israel 33 Because they haue forsaken me haue worshipped Astharoth the god of the Zidons and Chamos the god of the Moabites Milcom the god of the children of Ammon haue not walked in my wayes to fulfill my pleasure my statutes and my lawes as dyd Dauid his father 34 I will not take the whole kingdome out of his hand But I will make him chiefe all his lyfe long for Dauid my seruauntes sake whom I chose because he kept my commaundementes and my statutes 35 But I will take the kingdome out of his sonnes hande and will geue it vnto thee euen ten tribes of it 36 And vnto his sonne will I geue one tribe that Dauid my seruaunt may haue a light alway before me in Hierusalem the citie which I haue chosen me to put my name there 37 And I will take thee and thou shalt raigne according to all that thy soule desireth and shalt be king ouer Israel 38 And if thou hearken vnto all that I commaunde thee and wilt walke in my wayes and do that is right in my sight that thou kepe my statutes and my commaundementes as Dauid my seruaunt dyd then will I be with thee and buyld thee a sure house as I buylt for my seruaunt Dauid and will geue Israel vnto thee 39 And I will for this offence whiche Solomon hath committed vexe the seede of Dauid but nor for euer 40 Solomon sought therfore to kil Ieroboam and Ieroboam arose and fled into Egypt vnto Sisac king of Egypt and continued there in Egypt vntill the death of Solomon 41 The rest of the wordes that concerne Solomon and all that he dyd and his wysdome are they not written in the booke of the wordes of Solomon 42 The tyme that Solomon raigned in Hierusalem vpon al Israel was fourtie yeres 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the citie of Dauid his father and Rehoboam his sonne raigned in his steade The xii Chapter 1 Rehoboam succeedeth Solomon 8 He refuseth the counsel of the auncient 20 Ieroboam raigneth ouer Israel 21 God commaundeth Rehoboam not to fight 28 Ieroboam maketh golden calues 1 ANd Rehoboam went to Sichē for all Israel were come to Sichem to make him king 2 And when Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat whiche was yet in Egypt heard of it for he fled to Egypt from the presence of king Solomon and dwelt in Egypt 3 So they sent and called him and Ieroboam and all the congregation of IsIsrael came spake vnto Rehoboam saying 4 Thy father made our yocke greeuous nowe therfore make thou the greeuous seruice of thy father and his sore yocke whiche he put vpon vs lighter and we will serue thee 5 And he sayde vnto them Depart yet for the space of three dayes and then come againe to me And the people departed 6 And king Rehoboam toke counsel with the olde men that stoode before Solomon his father while he yet lyued and sayd What counsel geue ye that I may haue matter to aunswere this people 7 And they sayd vnto him If thou be a seruaunt vnto this people this day and
twentie and seuen thousande of the men that were left And Benhadad fled and came into the citie from chamber to chamber 31 And his seruauntes said vnto him Behold we haue heard say that the kinges of the house of Israel are mercyfull kinges We will therfore put sackcloth about our loynes and ropes about our heades and go out to the king of Israel if happyly he will saue thy lyfe 32 And so they girded sackcloth about their loynes put ropes about their heades and came to the king of Israel and said Thy seruaunt Benhadad sayth I pray thee let me lyue He sayde Is he yet alyue he is my brother 33 And y e men toke that word for good lucke and hastyly caught it out of his mouth and sayd Yea thy brother Benhadad He sayde Go bring him hyther And Benhadad came out vnto him and he caused him to come vp into the charet 34 And he said vnto him The cities which my father toke from thy father I will restore agayne and thou shalt make streates for thee in Damasco as my father dyd in Samaria And I wil make an appoyntment with thee send the away And so he made an appoyntment with him and sent him away 35 And there was a certayne man of the children of the prophetes whiche sayde vnto his neyghbour in the word of the Lord Smyte me I pray thee And the man woulde not smyte him 36 Then sayd he vnto him Because thou hast not hearkened vnto the voyce of the Lorde beholde assoone as thou art departed frō me a lion shal slay thee And it came to passe that assoone as he was departed from him a lion found him and slue him 37 Then he founde another man sayde Smyte me I pray thee And the man smote him so that in smyting he wounded him 38 So the prophete went foorth wayted for the king by the way and put him selfe out of knowledge with ashes whiche he layed vpon his face 39 And when the king came by he cryed vnto the king and sayde Thy seruaunt wēt out in the middes of the battel and behold there went away a man whom another man brought vnto me sayde Kepe this man and if he be myssed or lost thy lyfe shall go for his or els thou shalt pay a talent of siluer 40 And as thy seruaunt had here there to do he was gone And the king of Israel sayde vnto him Euen so shall thy iudgement be as thou hast defined it thy selfe 41 And he hasted toke the ashes away from his face and the king of Israel knewe him that he was of y e prophetes 42 And he sayde vnto him Thus sayth the Lorde Because thou hast let go out of thy hande a man that is in my curse thy lyfe shall go for his lyfe and thy people for his people 43 And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and in displeasure and came to Samaria The .xxi. Chapter 8 Iezabel commaundeth to kill Naboth for the vineyard that he refused to sell to Ahab 19 Elias reproueth Ahab and he repenteth 1 AFter these thinges it chaunced that Naboth the Iezraelite had a vineyard in Iezrahel hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria 2 And Ahab spake vnto Naboth saying Geue me thy vineyarde that I may make me a gardē of hearbes thereof because it lyeth so nye my house and I wil geue thee for it a better vineyarde then it is or rather if it please thee I will geue thee the worth of it in money 3 And Naboth sayd to Ahab The Lord forbid that from me that I should geue the inheritaūce of my fathers vnto thee 4 And Ahab came into the house heauy and euyll apayde because of the worde whiche Naboth the Iesraelite had spoken to him for he had sayde I will not geue thee the inheritaunce of my fathers And he layde him downe vpon his bed and turned away his face and woulde eate no bread 5 But Iezabel his wyfe came to him and sayde vnto him Why is thy spirite so wayward that thou eatest no bread 6 And he sayd vnto her For I spake vnto Naboth the Iezraelite and said vnto him Geue me thy vineyarde for money Or els if it please thee I will geue thee another vineyarde for it And he aunswered I will not geue thee my vineyarde 7 And Iezabel his wyfe sayde vnto him Doest thou nowe gouerne the kingdome of Israel vp and eate bread and set thyne heart at rest I wil geue thee y e vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite 8 And so she wrote a letter in Ahabs name and sealed it with his seale and sent the letter vnto the elders and to the nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth 9 And she wrote in the letter saying Proclayme a fast and set Naboth on hye among the people 10 And set two vnthriftes before him to beare witnesse against him saying Thou dyddest blaspheme God and the king And then carie him out and stone him to death 11 And the men of his citie euen the elders and gouernours whiche dwelt in his citie dyd as Iezabel had sent vnto them and as it was written in the letter whiche she had sent vnto them 12 They proclaymed a fast and set Naboth among the chiefe of the people 13 And there came in two men the children of Belial and sate before him And the two vnthriftie persons witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people saying Naboth dyd blaspheme God and the king And they caried him out of the citie stoned him with stones that he died 14 And then they sent to Iezabel saying Naboth is stoned to death 15 And it fortuned when Iezabel hearde that Naboth was stoned to death she sayde to Ahab Vp and take possession of the vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite whiche he denied to geue for money for Naboth is not alyue but dead 16 And when Ahab hearde that Naboth was dead he stoode vp to go downe to the vineyarde of Naboth the Iezraelite and to take possession of it 17 And the worde of the Lorde came vnto Elias the Thesbite saying 18 Vp and go downe to meete Ahab king of Israel whiche is in Samaria Beholde he is in the vineyarde of Naboth whyther he is gone downe to possesse it 19 And therfore shalt thou say vnto him thus sayth the Lorde Hast thou killed also gotten possession And thou shalt speake vnto him saying thus sayth the Lord In the place were dogges licked the blood of Naboth shall dogges licke euen thy blood also 20 And Ahab sayde to Elias Hast thou founde me O thou myne enemie He aunswered I haue founde thee for thou hast sold thy selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde 21 Behold I will bring euyll vpon thee wil make cleane riddaunce of thy posteritie and wil destroy frō Ahab euen him that maketh water against the wal and him that is
shut vp left behind in Israel 22 And will make thyne house lyke the house of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat lyke the house of Baasa the sonne of Ahia for the prouocation wherwith thou hast prouoked and made Israel to synne 23 And of Iezabel spake the Lord saying The dogges shall eate Iezabel by the wall of Iezrahel 24 And he that dieth of Ahab in y e towne him shall dogges eate and he that dieth in the fielde him shal the fowles of the ayre eate 25 But there was none lyke Ahab which dyd euen sell him selfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde and that because Iezabel his wyfe pricked hym forwarde 26 He dyd exceeding abhominablie in folowing foule idols according to all thinges as dyd the Ammorites whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel 27 And it fortuned that whē Ahab heard those wordes he rent his clothes and put sackcloth about his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth went bare foote 28 And the worde of the Lorde came to Elia the Thesbyte saying 29 Seest thou howe Ahab humbleth him selfe before me because he so submitteth him selfe before me I wil not bring that euil in his dayes but in his sonnes dayes will I bring euyll vpon his house The .xxii. Chapter 2 Iehosaphat and Ahab fight against the king of Syria 15 Michea sheweth the king what shal be the successe of their interprise 24 Zedekia the false prophet smiteth him 34 Ahab is slayne 40 Ahazia his sonne succeedeth 41 The raigne of Iehosaphat 51 and Ioram his sonne 1 ANd they cōtinued three yeres without warre betweene Syria Israel 2 And in the third yere dyd Iehosaphat the king of Iuda come downe to the king of Israel 3 And the king of Israel sayde vnto his seruauntes Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours and we sit still and take it not out of the hande of the king of Syria 4 And he sayde vnto Iehosaphat Wilt thou come with me to battayle against Ramoth in Gilead And Iehosaphat sayde vnto the king of Israel I am as thou art my people as thy people and my horses as thy horses 5 And Iehosaphat sayde vnto the king of Israel Aske counsel I pray thee at the worde of the Lorde to day 6 And then the king of Israel gathered the prophetes together vpon a foure hundred men sayde vnto them Shall I go against Ramoth in Gilead to battayle or shall I let it alone And they sayde Go vp for the Lorde shall deliuer it into the handes of the king 7 And Iehosaphat sayd Is there here neuer a prophete of the Lord more that we might inquire of him 8 And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat There is yet one man Michea the sonne of Iimla by whom we may aske counsell of the Lorde But I hate him for he doth not prophecie good vnto me but euyll And Iehosaphat sayde Let not the king say so 9 Then the king of Israel called a chamberlayne sayde Fet Michea the sonne of Iimla hyther at once 10 And the king of Israel and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda sate eyther in his seate and their apparell on them in a voyde place besyde the entring in of the gate of Samaria and all the prophetes prophecied before them 11 And Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana made hornes of iron and sayde thus sayth the Lord With these hornes shalt thou pushe the Syrians vntill thou haue made an ende of them 12 And all the prophetes prophecied euen so saying Go vp to Ramoth in Gilead and prosper for the Lorde shall deliuer it into the kinges hande 13 And the messenger that was gone to cal Michea spake vnto him saying Beholde the wordes of y e prophetes speake good vnto the king with one mouth Let thy worde therefore I pray thee be lyke the worde of euery one of them to speake that whiche is good 14 And Michea sayde As the Lorde lyueth whatsoeuer the Lord sayth vnto me that will I speake 15 And so he came to the king the king sayd vnto him Michea ought we to go against Ramoth in Gilead to battayle or to be stil He aunswered to him Go and prosper the Lorde shall deliuer it into the hande of the king 16 And the king sayde vnto him So and so many times do I charge thee that thou tell me nothing but that whiche is true in the name of the Lorde 17 He sayd I saw all them of Israel scattered vpon the hilles as sheepe that haue not a sheephearde And the Lorde sayde These haue no maister let euery man returne to his house in peace 18 And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat Dyd I not tell thee that he woulde prophecie no good vnto me but euyll 19 And he sayd againe Heare thou therefore the word of the Lorde I sawe the Lord sit on his seate and all the hoast of heauen stoode about him on his right hande and on his left 20 And the Lorde sayde Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go and fall at Ramoth in Gilead And one sayde on this maner and another on that 21 And there came foorth a certayne spirite and stoode before the Lorde and sayde I will persuade him And the Lorde sayde vnto him Wherwith 23 Nowe therefore beholde the Lorde hath put a lying spirite in the mouth of all these thy prophetes and the Lorde hath spoken euyll towarde thee 24 But Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana went to smote Michea on the cheke and sayde When went the spirite of the Lorde from me to speake vnto thee 25 And Michea sayde Behold thou shalt see in that day when thou shalt go from chamber to chamber to hyde thee 26 And the king of Israel sayde Take Michea and cary him vnto Amon the gouerner of the citie and vnto Ioas the kinges sonne 27 And say Thus sayeth y e king Put this felow in the prison house and feede him with bread of affliction and with water of trouble vntill I returne in peace 28 And Michea sayde If thou returne in peace the Lord hath not spoken by me And he sayde Hearken ye people euery one of you 29 And so the king of Israel and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda went vp to Ramoth in Gilead 30 And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat I wil chaunge my apparell and will enter into the battel but put thou on thyne apparell And the king of Israel chaunged him selfe and went to battell 31 But the king of Syria commaunded the thirtie and two captaynes that had rule ouer his charettes saying Fight neither with small nor great saue onely against the king of Israel 32 And when the captaynes of the charets saw Iehosaphat they sayd Surely it is the king of Israel And they turned to fight against him And Iehosaphat cryed 33 And so it came to passe that when the captaynes of the charettes sawe that he
15 The rest of the wordes that concerne Sallum and the treason which he conspired beholde they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 16 The same time Menahem destroyed Thiphsah and all that were therein the coastes therof from Thir◠And because they opened not to him he smote it and ript vp al the women with childe 17 The thirtie and ninth yere of Azaria king of Iuda began Menahem the sonne of Gadi to raigne vpon Israel ten yeres in Samaria 18 And he did euil in the sight of the Lord and turned not away al his dayes from the sinne of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel to sinne 19 And Phul the king of Assyria came vpon the lande And Menahem gaue Phul a thousand talentes of siluer that his hand might be with him stablishe the kingdome in his hande 20 And Menahem made a proclamation for the money in Israel that all men of substaunce should geue the king of Assyria fiftie sicles of siluer a peece And so the king of Assyria turned backe againe and taryed not there in the lande 21 The rest of the wordes that concerne Menahem and all that he did are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 22 And Menahem slept with his fathers and Pecahia his sonne did raigne in his steade 23 In the fiftith yere of Azaria king of Iuda began Pecahia the sonne of Menahem to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria two yeres 24 And did that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde and left not of from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel sinne 25 But Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu which was a captaine of his conspired against him smote him in Samaria euen in the place of the kinges house with Argob and Aria and with hym were fiftie men of the Gileadites and he killed him and raigned in his roome 26 The rest of the wordes that concerne Pecahia all that he did behold they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 27 In the fiftie and two yere of Azaria king of Iuda began Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu to raigne ouer Israel in Samaria twentie yeres 28 And did euill in the sight of the Lorde and turned not away from the sinnes of Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat that made Israel sinne 29 In the dayes of Pecah king of Israel came Thiglath Pelesar king of Assyria toke Iion Abel Beth maacha Ianoah Kedes Hazor Gilead Galilee and all the lande of Nephthali and carryed them away to Assyria 30 And Hosea the sonne of Ela conspired treason against Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu and smote him slue him raigned in his steade in the twentith yere of Iotham the sonne of Vzziah 31 The rest of the wordes that concerne Pecah and al that he did behold they are written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Israel 32 The second yere of Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu king of Israel began Iotham the sonne of Vzziah king of Iuda to raigne 33 Fiue and twentie yeres olde was he when he began to raigne and he raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem His mothers name was Ierusa the daughter of Zadoc 34 And he did that which is right in the sight of the Lorde euen according to all as did his father Vzziah so did he 35 But the high places were not put away for the people offered and burnt in cense still in the high places he built the higher doore of the house of the Lorde 36 The rest of the wordes that concerne Iotham and all that he did are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 37 In those dayes the Lorde began to sende into Iuda Rezin the king of Syria Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu 38 And Iotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid his father and Ahaz his sonne raigned in his steade ¶ The .xvi. Chapter 1 Ahaz king of Iuda consecrateth his sonne in fire 5 Hierusalem is besieged 9 Damascon is taken and Rezin slaine 11 Idolatrie 19 The death of Ahaz 20 Hezechia succeedeth him 1 THe seuenteenth yere of Pecah the sonne of Remaliahu king of Israel Ahaz the sonne of Iotham king of Iuda began to raigne 2 Twentie yeres olde was he when he was made king and raigned sixteene yeres in Hierusalem did not that which was right in the eies of the Lorde his God lyke Dauid his father 3 But walked in the way of the kinges of Israel yea and made his sonnes to go through the fire after the abhominations of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel 4 And he offred and burnt incense in the high places and on the hilles and vnder euery thicke tree 5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pecah sonne of Remaliahu king of Israel came vp to Hierusalem to fight And they fought against Ahaz but could not ouercome him 6 At the same tyme Rezin king of Syria brought Elath againe to Syria and ryd the Iewes thence And the Syrians came to Elath and dwelt therein vnto this day 7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Thiglath Peleser king of Assyria saying I am thy seruaunt and thy sonne come vp and deliuer me out of the hande of the king of Syria and out of the hande of the king of Israel which rise vp against me 8 And Ahaz toke the siluer and golde that was founde in the house of the Lord and in the treasures of the kinges house and sent a rewarde to the king of Assyria 9 And the king of Assyria consented vnto him For the king of Assyria went vp against Damascō and when he had taken it he carryed the people away to Kir and slue Rezin 10 And king Ahaz went to Damascon to meete Thiglath Peleser king of Assyria And when king Ahaz sawe an aulter that was at Damascon he sent to Vria the priest the paterne of the aulter and the fashion of it and all the workemanship thereof 11 And Vria the priest made an aulter in all poyntes lyke to the paterne which king Ahaz had sent from Damascon euen so did Vria y e priest make it against king Ahaz came from Damascon 12 And so when the king was come from Damascon he sawe the aulter and the king went to it and offred thereon 13 And he burnt his burnt offring and his meate offring powred his drincke offring and sprinckled the blood of his peace offringes beside the aulter 14 And by the brasen aulter which was before the Lorde and set it without the temple betweene the aulter and the temple of the Lorde and put it on the northsyde of the aulter 15 And king Ahaz commaunded Vria the priest saide Vpon the great aulter set on fire in the morning the burnt offring and in the euen the meate
offering and the kinges burnt sacrifice and his meate offring with the burnt offering of all the people of the lande and their meate offring and their drinke offringes and powre thereby al the blood of the burnt offring and all the blood of the sacrifice and the brasen aulter wyll I come and see 16 And Vria the priest did according to al thinges as king Ahaz commaunded him 17 And king Ahaz brake the sydes of the botomes and toke the lauer from of them toke downe the lauatorie from of the brasen oxen that were vnder it and put it vpon a pauement of stones 18 And the vayle for the Sabbath that they had made in the house and the kinges entrie without turned he to the house of the Lorde for feare of the king of Assyria 19 The rest of the wordes that concerne Ahaz what he did are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 20 And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the citie of Dauid Hezekia his sonne raigned in his steade ¶ The .xvii. Chapter 5 Hosea king of Israel is taken 4 And he and al his realme brought to the Assyrians 18 for their idolatrie 24 Lions destroy the Assyrians that dwelt in Samaria 29 Euery one worshipped the god of his nation 35 contrary to the commaundement of God 1 IN the twelfth yere of Ahaz king of Iuda began Hosea the sonne of Elah to raigne in Samaria vpon Israel nine yeres 2 And did that which was euill in the sight of the Lorde but not as the kinges of Israel that were before him 3 And Salmanasar king of Assyria came vp against him and Hosea became his seruaunt and gaue him presentes 4 And the king of Assyria founde treason in Hosea for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and brought no present vnto the king of Assyria from yere to yere and therefore the king of Assyria shut him vp and bounde him in the pryson house 5 And then the king of Assyria came vp throughout all the lande and gat vp against Samaria and besieged it three yeres 6 In the ninth yere of Hosea the king of Assyria toke Samaria and carryed Israel away vnto Assyria put them in Hala in Habor by the ryuer of Goza and in the cities of the Medes 7 For it came to passe that the children of Israel sinned against the Lord their God which had brought them out of the land of Egypt from vnder the hand of Pharao king of Egypt and feared other gods 8 And they walked in the ceremonies of the heathen whom the Lorde cast out before the children of Israel and in the ceremonies which the kinges of Israel had made 9 And the children of Israel went about to hide those thinges that were not wel from the Lorde their God And they buylt them hygh places in all their cities both in the towres where they kept watch and also in the strong townes 10 And they made thē images groues in euery hye hill vnder euery thicke tree 11 And there they burnt incense in all the hygh places as did the heathen whom the Lord caryed away before them and wrought wicked thinges to anger the Lorde withall 12 For they serued most vile idols wherof the Lorde had sayd vnto them Ye shall do no such thing 13 And the Lorde testified in Israel and in Iuda by all the prophetes and by all the sears saying Turne from your wicked wayes and kepe my commaundementes and my statutes according to all the law which I commaunded your fathers and which I sent to you by my seruauntes the prophetes 14 Nothwithstanding they woulde not heare but rather hardened their neckes lyke to the stubburnesse of their fathers that dyd not beleue in the Lorde their God 15 For they refused his statutes and his appoyntment that he made with their fathers and the witnesses wherwith he witnessed vnto them and they folowed vanitie and became vayne and went after the heathen that were round about them concerning whom the Lorde had charged them that they shoulde not do lyke them 16 But they left al the commaundemētes of the Lord their God and made them images of metal euen two calues and made idol groues worshipped all the hoast of heauen and serued Baal 17 And they sacrificed their sonnes and their daughters in fire and vsed witchcraftes enchauntmentes euen selling them selues to worke wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde and to anger him 18 And the Lorde was exceeding wroth with Israel put them out of his sight that there was left but the tribe of Iuda onely 19 Neuerthelesse Iuda also kept not the commaundementes of the Lorde their God but walked in the ceremonies of Israel whiche they made 20 And the Lord cast of all the seede of Israel and vered them deliuered them into the handes of spoylers vntil he had cast them out of his sight 21 For he cut of Israel from the house of Dauid and made them a king euen Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat And Ieroboam drewe Israel away that they shoulde not folowe the Lorde and made them sinne a great sinne 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sinnes of Ieroboam whiche he dyd and departed not therfrom 23 Vntill the Lord put Israel away out of his sight as he had sayd by all his seruauntes the prophetes And so was Israel caried away out of their owne land to Assyria euen vnto this day 24 And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon from Cutha frō Aua from Hamath and from Sepharuaim and put them in the cities of Samaria in steede of the children of Israel and they possessed Samaria and dwelt in the cities therof 25 And it fortuned that at the beginning of their dwelling there they feared not the Lorde and the Lorde sent lions among them which slue them 26 Wherfore they spake to the king of Assyria saying The nations which thou hast translated put in the cities of Samaria knowe not the lawe of the God of the lande therefore he hath sent lions vpon them and behold they slay them because they knowe not the maner of worshipping the God of the lande 27 Then the king of Assyria commaunded saying Cary thyther one of the priestes whom ye brought thence and let hym go and dwell there and teache them the fashion how to serue the God of the countrey 28 And then one of the priestes whom they had caried from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel and taught them howe they shoulde feare the Lorde 29 Howebeit euery nation made them gods of their owne and put them in the houses of the hygh places whiche the Samaritans had made euery nation in their cities wherin they dwelt 30 The men of Babylon made Socoth Benoth the men of Cuth made Nergal the men of Hamath made Asima
31 The Auites made Nibbaz and Tharthak And the Sepharuites burnt their children in fire for Adramelech and Anamelech the gods of Sepharuaim 32 And so they feared the Lorde made them priestes of the basist of them which sacrifised for them in the houses of the hygh places 33 And so they feared the Lord and serued their owne gods after the maner of the people whom they caryed thence 34 And vnto this day they do after the olde maner and neither feare God neither do after their ordinaunces and customes and after the lawe commaundement which the Lorde commaunded the children of Iacob whom he called Israel 35 And the Lorde made an appoyntment with them and charged them saying Feare none other gods nor bowe your selues to them nor serue them nor sacrifice to them 36 But feare the Lorde whiche brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power a stretched out arme him feare and to him bow and to him do sacrifice 37 The statutes ordinaunces lawe and commaundement whiche he wrote for you see that ye be diligent to do for euermore and feare not any other gods 38 And the appoyntment that I haue made with you see ye forget not and feare none other gods 39 But the Lord your God ye shal feare he shall deliuer you out of the handes of all your enemies 40 Howebeit they dyd not hearken but did after their olde custome 41 And so these nations feared the Lord and serued their images also like as did their children and their childrens children Euen as dyd their fathers so do they vnto this day The .xviii. Chapter 4 Hezekia king of Iuda putteth downe the brasen serpent and destroyeth the idols ◠and prospereth 11 Israel is caried away captiue 30 The blasphemie of Sennacherib 1 IN the thirde yere of Hosea sonne of Ela king of Israel it came to passe that Hezekia y e sonne of Ahaz king of Iuda did raigne 2 Twentie and fyue yeres olde was he when he began to raigne and raigned twentie and nine yeres in Hierusalem His mothers name also was Abi y e daughter of Zacharia 3 And he dyd that whiche is right in the sight of the Lord according to al as did Dauid his father 4 He put away the high places brake the images and cut downe the groues and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moyses had made For vnto those dayes the children of Israel dyd burne sacrifice to it and he called it Nehustan 5 He trusted in the Lorde God of Israel so that after him was none lyke him among all the kinges of Iuda neither were there any such before him 6 For he claue to the Lorde and departed not from him but kept his commaundementes which the Lorde commaunded Moyses 7 And the Lorde was with him so that he prospered in all thinges whiche he toke in hande And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and serued him not 8 He smote the Philistines euen vnto Azza the coastes therof both castels where they kept watches and strong cities 9 * And in the fourth yere of king Hezekia whiche was the seuenth yere of Hosea sonne of Ela king of Israel it fortuned that Salmanazar king of Assyria came vp against Samaria and besieged it 10 And after three yeres they toke it euen in the sixth yere of Hezekia that is to say the nynth yere of Hosea king of Israel Samaria was wonne 11 And the king of Assyria dyd cary away Israel vnto Assyria put them in Halah and in Habor by the riuer of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes 12 Because they woulde not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord their God but transgressed his appoyntment and all that Moyses the seruaunt of the Lorde commaunded and would neither heare them nor do them 13 Therfore in the fourteenth yere of king Hezekia did Sennacherib king of Assyria come vp against all the strong cities of Iuda and toke them 14 And Hezekia king of Iuda sent to the king of Assyria to Lachis saying I haue offended depart from me and all that thou puttest on me that will I beare And the king of Assyria appoynted vnto Hezekia king of Iuda three hundred talentes of siluer and thirtie talentes of golde 15 And Hezekia gaue him all the siluer that was founde in the house of the Lorde in the treasures of the kinges house 16 At the same season dyd Hezekia rent of the doores of the temple of the Lorde and the pillers whiche the sayde Hezekia king of Iuda had couered ouer and gaue them to the king of Assyria 17 And the king of Assyria sent Tharthan and Rabsaris Rabsakeh from Lachis to king Hezekia with a great hoast against Hierusalem And they went vp and came to Hierusalem and gat them vp and stoode by the conduite of the vpper poole whiche is in the way of the fullers fielde 18 And when they had called to the king there came out to them Eliakim the sonne of Elkia which was stewarde of the houshold and Sobna the scribe and Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder 19 And Rabsakeh sayd vnto them Tell ye Hezekia I pray you thus sayth the great king euen the king of Assyria what confidence is this that thou hast 20 Thou thinkest surely I haue eloquēce but counsell and strength are for the warre On whom then doest thou trust that thou rebellest against me 21 Doest thou trust to the staffe of this broken reede Egypt on which if a man leane it will go into his hande pearse it Euen so is Pharao king of Egypt vnto all that trust on hym 22 If ye say vnto me we trust in the Lorde our God Is not that he whose hygh places and whose aulters Hezekia hath put downe and hath sayd to Iuda and Hierusalem ye shall worship before this aulter here in Hierusalem 23 Nowe therfore I pray thee geue hostages to my lorde the king of Assyria and I will deliuer thee two thousande horses if thou be able to set ryders vpon them 24 Why thinkest thou scorne at the presence of one of the least Dukes of my maisters seruauntes and trustest to Egypt for charets and horsmen 25 Moreouer am I come nowe without the bidding of the Lorde to this place to destroy it The Lord said to me Go vp to this lande and destroy it 26 And Eliakim the sonne of Helkia and Sobna Ioah sayde vnto Rabsakeh Speake I pray thee to thy seruauntes in the Syrians language for we vnderstande it and talke not with vs in the Iewes tongue in the eares of this people that are on the wall 27 And Rabsakeh sayde vnto them Hath my maister sent me to thy maister and thee to speake these wordes Hath he not sent me because of the men which sit on the wall that they may eate their owne dongue drinke their owne pisse with you 28 And so Rabsakeh stoode
cryed with a lowde voyce in the Iewes language and spake saying Heare the wordes of the great king euen of the king of Assyria 29 Thus sayth the king Let not Hezekia beguile you for he shal not be able to deliuer you out of myne hande 30 Neither let Hezekia make you to trust in the Lorde saying The Lorde shall surely deliuer vs this citie shall not be geuen ouer into the hande of the king of Assyria 31 Hearken not vnto Hezekia For thus sayth the king of Assyria Deale kindely with me and come out to me and then eate euery man of his owne vine and of his owne figge tree and drincke euery man of the water of his owne well 32 Till I come and fet you to as good a lande as yours is a lande of corne and wine a lande of bread and vineyardes a lande of oyle of olyue trees and of hony that ye may liue and not dye And hearken not vnto Hezekia for he beguileth you saying The Lorde shall deliuer vs. 33 Hath euery one of the gods of the nations deliuered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria 34 Where is the god of Hamath of Arphad and where is the god of Sepharuaim Hena and Iua Dyd they deliuer Samaria out of myne hande 35 And what god is among al the gods of the nations that hath deliuered his land out of myne hande Shall the Lorde deliuer Hierusalem out of myne hande 36 But the people held their peace and aunswered not him a word for the king had commaunded saying Aunswere hym not 37 Then Eliakim the sonne of Helkia which was the steward of the houshold and Sobna the scribe Ioah the sonne of Asaph the recorder came to Hezekia with their clothes rent and tolde him the wordes of Rabsakeh The .xix. Chapter 6 God promiseth Isai victorie to Hezekia 35 The angel of the Lord killeth an hundreth and fourescore and fiue thousand men of the Assyrians 37 Sennacherib is killed of his owne sonnes 1 SO it came to passe that when king Hezekia hearde it he rent his clothes put on sacke came into the house of the Lorde 2 And sent Eliakim which was the steward of the houshold and Sobna the scribe and the elders of the priestes clothed in sacke to Isai the prophete the sonne of Amoz 3 And they sayd vnto him thus sayth Hezekia This day is a day of tribulation of rebuke and blasphemie For the children are come to the byrth and there is no strength to be deliuered 4 Peraduenture the Lorde thy God will heare al the wordes of Rabsakeh whō the king of Assyria his maister hath sent to rayle on the lyuing God to rebuke him with wordes which the Lorde thy God hath hearde And lift thou vp thy prayer for the remnaunt that are left 5 So the seruauntes of king Hezekia came to Isai 6 And Isai sayde vnto them So shall ye say to your maister Thus sayth the Lorde Be not afrayde of the wordes which thou hast heard with which the young men of the king of Assyria haue rayled on me 7 Beholde I will put hym in another mynde and he shall heare tydinges and so returne to his owne land and I will bring to passe that he shall fall vpon the sworde euen in his owne land 8 And Rabsakeh went backe againe and founde the king of Assyria fighting against Libna for he had hearde howe that he was departed from Lachis 9 And when he hearde men say of Thirhaka king of the blacke Mores Behold he is come out to fight against thee he departed and sent messengers vnto Hezekia saying 10 Thus speake to Hezekia king of Iuda saying Let not thy God deceaue thee in whom thou trustest saying Hierusalem shall not be deliuered into the hand of the king of Assyria 11 Beholde thou hast hearde what the kinges of Assyria haue done to all landes how they haue vtterly destroyed them And shalt thou escape 12 Haue the gods of the heathen deliuered them whiche myne auncestours haue destroyed As Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the children of Eden which were in Thelassar 13 Where is the king of Hamath and the king of Arphad the king of the citie of Sepharuaim and of Hena and Iua 14 And Hezekia receaued the letter of the hand of the messengers and read it And Hezekia went vp into the house of the Lorde and layde it abrode before the Lorde 15 And Hezekia prayed before the Lord and sayd O Lord God of Israel which dwellest betweene y e Cherubs thou art God alone ouer al the kingdomes of the earth thou hast made heauen earth 16 Lorde bowe downe thyne eare and heare Open Lorde thyne eyes I besech thee and see and heare the wordes of Sennacherib whiche hath sent this man to rayle on the lyuing God 17 Of a trueth Lorde the kinges of Assyria haue destroyed nations and their landes 18 And haue set fire on their gods For they were no gods but the worke of the handes of man euen of wood and stone and they destroyed them 19 Nowe therfore O Lord our God I besech thee saue thou vs out of his hande that all the kingdomes of the earth may knowe that thou onely art the Lorde God 20 And Isai the sonne of Amoz sent to Hezekia saying Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel That whiche thou hast prayed me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria I haue hearde it 21 This is therefore the worde that the Lorde hath sayd of him The virgin euen the daughter of Sion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorne O thou king of Assyria the daughter of Hierusalem hath shaken her head at thee 22 Whom hast thou rayled on and whom hast thou blasphemed Against whom hast thou exalted thy voyce and lyfted vp thyne eyes so hye Euen against the holy of Israel 23 By the hande of thy messengers thou hast rayled on the Lord and sayd With the multitude of my charets I am come vp to the toppes of the mountaynes euen along by the sides of Libanon and I will cut downe the hye Cedar trees and the lusty fyrre trees therof and I will go into the lodging of his borders and into the wood of his Carmel 24 I haue digged and druncke straunge waters with the steppe of my goyng wil I drye al the water pooles that are besieged 25 Hast thou not heard howe I haue ordeyned such a thing a great whyle ago and haue prepared it from the beginning And shall I not nowe bring it foorth that it may destroy and bring strong cities into wast heapes of stones 26 And the inhabiters of them shal be of litle power and faynt hearted and confounded and shal be lyke the grasse of the field or greene hearbe or as the hay on the toppes of the houses or as the corne that is vnripe smitten with blasting 27 I knowe thy dwelling thy comming out and thy
workers with spirites and tellers of fortunes and wrought much wickednesse in the sight of the Lorde to anger him 7 And he put an image of a groue that he had made euen in the temple of which the Lord had sayd to Dauid and Solomon his sonne in this house and in Hierusalem which I haue chosen out of all tribes of Israel will I put my name for euer 8 Neither will I make the feete of Israel moue any more out of the lande which I gaue their fathers so that they will obserue and do all that I haue commaunded them and according to all the law that my seruaunt Moyses commaunded them 9 But they hearkened not and Manasse led them out of the way to do more wickedly then dyd the heathen people whom the Lorde destroyed before the children of Israel 10 And the Lord spake by his seruauntes the prophetes saying 11 Because Manasse king of Iuda hath done such abhominations and hath wrought more wickedly then all the Amorites whiche were before him dyd and hath made Iuda sinne also with his idols 12 Therfore thus sayth the Lord God of Israel Behold I will bring such euyll vpon Hierusalem and Iuda that whoso heareth of it both his eares shal tingle 13 And I will stretche ouer Hierusalem the squaryng line of Samaria the plummet of the house of Ahab And I will wype out Hierusalem as a man wypeth a dishe and when he hath wyped it turneth it vp syde downe 14 And I will leaue the remnaunt of myne inheritaunce and deliuer them into the hand of their enemies and they shal be robbed and spoyled of all their aduersaries 15 Euen because they haue done euyll in my sight and haue angred me sence the time their fathers came out of Egypt vnto this day 16 And Manasse shed innocent blood exceeding much till he replenished Hierusalem from corner to corner besyde his sinne wherwith he made Iuda to sinne and to do euyll in the sight of the Lorde 17 The rest of the wordes that concerne Manasse and all that he dyd and his sinne that he sinned are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 18 And Manasse slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his owne house euen in the gardē of Vzza Amon his sonne raigned in his steade 19 Amon was twentie and two yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned two yeres in Hierusalem His mothers name also was Mesullemeth the daughter of Harus of Iotba 20 And he dyd euyll in the sight of the Lord as his father Manasse dyd 21 And walked in al the way that his father walked in and serued the idols that his father serued and worshipped them 22 And he forsoke the Lord God of his fathers and walked not in the way of the Lorde 23 And the seruauntes of Amon conspired against hym slue the king in his owne house 24 And the people of the land slue al them that had conspired against king Amon and the people made Iosia his sonne king in his steade 25 The rest of the wordes that concerne Amon what thinges he dyd are they not written in the booke of the cronicles of the kinges of Iuda 26 And they buryed him in his sepulchre in the garden of Vzza Iosia his sonne raigned in his steade The .xxii. Chapter 4 Iosia repaireth the temple 8 Helkia findeth the booke of the law and causeth it to be presented to Iosia 14 who sendeth to Hulda the prophetisse to inquire the Lordes will 1 IOsia was eight yeres olde when he began to raigne he raigned thirtie one yeres in Hierusalem His mothers name also was Iedida the daughter of Adaia of Bozcath 2 He dyd that which is right in the sight of the Lorde walked in all the wayes of Dauid his father and bowed neither to the right hande or to the left 3 And it came to passe that in the eyghtteenth yere of the raigne of king Iosia the king sent Saphan the sonne of Azalia the sonne of Mesulam the scribe to the house of the Lord saying 4 Go vp to Helkia the hye priest that he may summe the siluer whiche is brought into the house of the Lorde which the kepers of the porche haue gathered of the people 5 And let them deliuer it into the hande of them that do the worke and that haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord and let them geue it to them that worke in the house of the Lorde to repaire the decayed places of the temple 6 Euen vnto carpenters and masons and workers vpon the walles and for to bye tymber and free stone to repaire the temple 7 Howbeit let no reckenyng be made with them of the money that is deliuered into their hande for their vse is to deale faithfully 8 And Helkia the hie priest said vnto Saphan the scribe I haue founde the booke of the lawe in the house of the Lorde And Helkia gaue the booke to Saphan and he read in it 9 And Saphan the scribe came to the king and brought him worde againe and sayde Thy seruauntes haue gathered the money that was founde in the temple and haue deliuered it vnto them that do the worke and that haue the ouersight of the house of the Lorde 10 And Saphan the scribe shewed the king saying Helkia the priest hath deliuered me a booke And Saphan read in it before the king 11 And it fortuned that when the king had hearde the wordes of the booke of the lawe he rent his clothes 12 And the king commaunded Helkia the priest and Ahikan the sonne of Saphan and Achbor the sonne of Michaia and Saphan the scribe and Asahia a seruaunt of the kinges saying 13 Go ye and enquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for al Iuda concerning the wordes of this booke that is founde For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kyndled against vs because our fathers haue not hearkened vnto the wordes of this booke to do according vnto al that which is written therin for vs. 14 So Helkia the hye priest and Ahikam Achbor and Saphan and Asahia went vnto Hulda the prophetisse the wyfe of Sallum the sonne of Thikua the sonne of Harhas keper of the wardrope which prophetisse dwelt in Hierusalem in the house of the doctrine they communed with her 15 And she aunswered them thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel Tell the man that sent you to me 16 Thus sayth the Lorde Behold I wil bring euyll vpon this place and on the inhabiters therof euen all the wordes of the booke whiche the king of Iuda hath read 17 Because they haue forsaken me and haue burnt incense vnto other gods to anger me with all the workes of their handes My wrath also shal be kindled against this place and shall not be quenched 18 But to the king of Iuda whiche sent you
to aske counsell of the Lord so shall ye say Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel as touching the wordes whiche ye haue hearde 19 Because thyne heart dyd melt and because thou hast humbled thy selfe before me the Lorde when thou heardest what I spake against this place and against the inhabiters of the same howe that they should be destroyed and accursed and hast rent thy clothes and wept before me of that also haue I hearde sayth the Lorde 20 Beholde therefore I wyll receaue thee vnto thy fathers and thou shalt be put into thy graue in peace and thyne eyes shall not see all the euill which I wyll bryng vpon this place And they brought the king worde againe The .xxiij. Chapter 2 Iosias readeth the lawe before the people 3 He maketh a couenaunt with the Lorde 4 He putteth downe the idols after he had killed the priestes 22 He kepeth Passouer 24 He destroyeth the coniurers 29 He was killed in Megiddo 30 And his sonne Iehoahaz raigneth in his steade 33 After he was taken his sonne Iehoachim was made king 1 AND then the king sent and there gathered vnto him all the elders of Iuda and of Hierusalem 2 And the king went vp into the house of the Lorde with all the men of Iuda and all the inhabitours of Hierusalem with the priestes and prophetes and all the people both small and great And he read in the eares of them al the wordes of the couenaunt which was founde in the house of the Lorde 3 And the king stoode by a piller made a couenaunt before the Lorde that they should walke after the Lorde and kepe his commaundementes his witnesses and his statutes with all their heart and all their soule and make good the wordes of the sayde appoyntment that were written in the foresayde booke And all the people consented to the appoyntment 4 And the king commaunded Helchia the hie prieste and the inferior priestes and the kepers of the ornamentes to bryng out of the temple of the Lorde all the vessels that were made for Baal for the idoll groues and for all the hoast of heauen And he burnt them without Hierusalem in the fieldes of Cedron and carryed the asshes of them into Bethel 5 And he put downe the ministers of Baal whom the kinges of Iuda had founded to burne incense in the * high places and cities of Iuda that were rounde about Hierusalem also them that burnt incense vnto Baal to the sunne to the moone to the planets and to all the hoast of heauen 6 And he brought out the groue from the temple of the Lorde without Hierusalem vnto the brooke Cedron and burnt it there at the brooke Cedron and stampt it to powder and cast the dust thereof vpon the graues of the children of the people 7 And he brake downe the celles of the male stewes that were by the house of the Lorde where the women woue hanginges for the idol groue 8 And he brought all the priestes out of the cities of Iuda and defiled the high places where the priestes had burnt incense euen from Geba to Beerseba and destroyed the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Iosua y e gouernour of the citie which were as a man goeth in on the left hande of the gate of the citie 9 Neuerthelesse the priestes of the high places came not vp to the aulter of the Lorde in Hierusalem saue onely they did eate of the sweete bread among their brethren 10 And he defiled Thopheth which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom because no man should offer his sonne or his daughter in fire to Moloch 11 He put downe the horses that the kinges of Iuda had geuen to the sunne at the entering in of the house of the Lorde by the chambre of Nathanmelech the chamberlayne which was ruler of the suburbes and burnt the charets of the sunne with fire 12 And the aulters that were on the top of the parlour of Ahaz which the kinges of Iuda had made and the aulters which Manasse had made in the two courtes of the house of the Lorde did the king breake downe ran thence and cast the dust of them into the brooke Cedron 13 And the high places that were before Hierusalem on the right hand of the mount Oliuet which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Astaroth the idol of the Zidons and for Chamos the idol of the Moabites and for Milchon the abhominable idoll of the children of Ammon those the king defiled 14 And brake the images and cut downe the idol groues and filled their places with the bones of men 15 Moreouer the aulter that was at Bethel the high places made by Ieroboam the sonne of Nabat which made Israel sinne both the aulter and also the high places he brake downe and burnt the high places and stampt it to powder and burnt the idol groue 16 And as Iosia turned him selfe he spyed the graues that were in the mount and sent and fet the bones out of the graues and burnt them vpon the aulter to pollute it according to the word of the Lorde that the man of God proclaymed which tolde the same wordes 17 Then he saide What title is that that I see And the men of the citie tolde him It is the sepulchre of the man of God which came from Iuda and tolde the selfe same thinges that thou hast done to the aulter of Bethel 18 And he saide let him be see that no man moue his bones And so his bones were saued with the bones of a prophete that came out of Samaria 19 And all the houses of the high places in the cities of Samaria which the king of Israel had made to anger the Lorde withal those Iosia put out of the way did to them according to all the actes that he had done in Bethel 20 And he sacrifised all the priestes of the high places that were there euen vpon the aulters and burnt mens bones vpon them and returned to Hierusalem 21 And the king commaunded all the people saying Kepe the feast of Passouer vnto the Lorde your God as it is written in the booke of this couenaunt 22 There was no Passouer holden lyke that from the dayes of the iudges that iudged Israel and in all the dayes of the kinges of Israel and of the kinges of Iuda 23 In the eighteenth yere of king Iosia was this Passouer holden to the Lord in Hierusalem 24 And therto workers with spirites soothsayers images idols and all the abhominations that were spyed in the lande of Iuda and in Hierusalem those did Iosia put out of the way to perfourme the wordes of the lawe which were written in the booke that Helchia the priest founde in the house of the Lorde 25 Lyke vnto him was there no king before him that turned to the Lorde with all his
three to Delaiahu ' and the twentie and foure to Maasiahu ' 19 These are the ordinaunces of them in their offices when they came into the house of the Lord according to their maner vnder Aaron their father as the lord God of Israel had cōmaunded him 20 The rest of the sonnes of Leui are these Of the sonnes of Amram Subael of the sonnes of Sabuel Iehediahu ' 21 Of the sonnes of Rehabia the first ' Iesia ' 22 Of the Iezaharites Selomoth Of ' the sonnes also of Selomoth Iahath 23 His sonnes Ieriahu the first Amariahu the second Iahaziel the third and Iekameam the fourth ' 24 Of the sonnes of Vzziel Micha Of ' the sonnes of Micha Samir ' 25 The brother of Micha was Issia Of ' the sonnes also of Issia Zechariahu 26 The sonnes of Merari were Mahli and Musi The sonnes of Iaaziahu Beno 27 The sonnes of Merari by Iaaziahu ' Beno Soham Zacur and Ibri ' 28 Of Mahli came Eleazar and he had ' no sonnes ' 29 Of Cis the sonnes of Cis Ierahemeel ' 30 The sonnes of Musi Mahli Eder and Ierimoth These are the children of the Leuites after the housholde of their fathers 31 And these cast lottes next to their brethren the sonnes of Aaron in the presence of Dauid the king and Zadoc and Ahimelec and the auncient fathers of the priestes Leuites euen the principall fathers before their younger brethren ' The .xxv. Chapter ' ' The singers are appoynted with their places and lottes ' 1 ANd so Dauid and the captaynes of the hoast appoynted out to do seruice the sonnes of Asaph and Heman Ieduthun which should prophecie with harpes psalteries and cymbales And there was a multitude of the men that were appoynted to the seruice and ministration 2 Of the sonnes of Asaph Zacur Ioseph Nathania and Asarela that wayted on Asaph which prophecied according to the commaundement of the king 3 Of Ieduthun the sonnes of Ieduthun Gedeliahu Zeri Iesaiahu Hasabiahu and Mathathiahu sixe vnder the handes of their father Ieduthun which prophecied with a harpe for to geue thankes prayses vnto the Lorde 4 Of Heman the sonnes of Heman Bucciahu Matthaniahu Vzziel Zebuel Ierimoth Hananiah Hanani Eliatha Geddalthi Romanthi Ezer Iosbekasa Malothi Hothir and Mahazioth 5 All these were the sonnes of Heman which was y e kinges sear in the wordes of God to lyft vp the horne of the regall dignitie And God gaue to Hemā foureteene sonnes and three daughters 6 All these also were at the hand of their father singing in the house of the Lord with cymbales psalteries and harpes when Asaph Ieduthun and Heman executed the seruice in the house of God at the kinges commaundement 7 And the multitude of them with their brethrē that were instruct in the songes of the Lorde euen all that were cunning were two hundred fourescore and eyght 8 And they cast lottes among them selues how they should waite aswel for the small as for the great for the scholler aswell as for the schoolemaister 9 And the first lot in Asaph fell to Ioseph the second to Gedaliahu with his brethren and sonnes which men were twelue 10 The third fell to Zacur with his sonnes and brethren being twelue persons 11 The fourth to Izri with his sonnes ' and brethren twelue persons ' 12 The fifth to Nathaniahu with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 13 The sixt to Bucciahu with his sonnes ' and brethren twelue persons ' 14 The seuenth to Iesrarela with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 15 The eyght to Iesaiahu with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 16 The ninth to Mathaiahu with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 17 The tenth to Semei with his sonnes ' and brethren twelue persons ' 18 The eleuenth to Azareel with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 19 The twelfth to Hazabia with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' ' 20 The thirteenth to Subael with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 21 The foureteenth to Mathathiahu with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 22 The fifteenth to Ieremoth with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 23 The sixteenth to Hananiahu with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' ' 24 The seuenteenth to Iosbekasa with his sonnes brethren twelue persons ' ' 25 The eyghteenth to Hanani with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' ' 26 The nineteenth to Malothi with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 27 The twenteeth to Eliatha with his ' sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' 28 The twentie and one to Hothir with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons 29 The twentie two to Geddalthi with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons 30 The twentie and three to Mahazioth with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons 31 The twentie and foure to Romamthi Ezer with his sonnes and brethren twelue persons ' The .xxvi. Chapter ' 1 The porters of the temple are ordayned euery man to the gate which he should keepe 20 and ouer the treasure 1 THese are the deuisions of the porters Among the Corethites Meselemiahu the sonne of Kore of the children of Asaph 2 And the sonnes of Meselemiahu were these Zachariahu the eldest Iedihel the second Zebadiahu the third and Iahniel the fourth ' 3 Elam the fifth Iehohanan the sixt and Eiloenai the seuenth ' 4 The sonnes of Obed Edom Semeia the eldest Iehosabad the second Ioah the third Sacar the fourth and Nathanael the fifth ' 5 Ammiel the sixth Issachar the seuenth ' Peulthai the eyght for God blessed him 6 And vnto Semeia his sonne were sonnes borne that ruled in the house of their father for they were men of might 7 The sonnes of Semeia Othni Rephael Obed and Elzabad and his brethren were strong men Elihu and Samachiahu 8 All these were of the children of Obed Edom they and their children and their brethren actiue men and of strength to do seruice euen threescore and two of Obed Edom. ' 9 And Meselemiahu had sonnes and brethren actiue men eyghteene ' 10 The sonnes of Hosa of the children of Merari Simri the chiefe though he was not the eldest yet his father set him in the chiefest place 11 Helkiahu the second Tebaliahu the third and Zechariahu the fourth all the sonnes and brethren of Hosa were thirteene 12 Among these was deuided the office of the portership that they shoulde be auncient men to wayte with their brethren when they ministred in the house of the Lorde 13 And they cast lottes betweene the great and small after the housholde of their fathers for euery gate 14 And the lot on the eastsyde fell vpon Selemiahu And for Zachariahu his sonne which was a wyse counsailour they cast lottes and his lot came out toward the north 15 And Obed Edoms lot fell to the south And for his sonnes fell the houses of Asuppim 16 For Shuppim and Hosa toward the west with the gate Shallecheth by the
the sonne of Iemla And Iehosaphat sayde Let not the king say so 8 And the king of Israel called one of his chamberlaynes and sayde Fetch hyther quickly Michea the sonne of Iemla 9 And the king of Israel and Iehosaphat king of Iuda sate eyther of them on his seate in their apparell in a thresshing floore beside the gate of Samaria al the prophetes prophecied before theÌ„ 10 And one Zedekia the sonne of Chanaana had made him hornes of iron and sayde thus sayth the Lorde With these thou shalt pushe Syria vntill they be brought to naught 11 And all the prophetes prophecied euen so saying Go vp to Ramoth in Gilead it shall prosper with thee for the Lord shall deliuer it into the hand of the king 12 And the messenger that went to call Michea spake to him saying Behold the wordes of the prophetes speake good to the king with one assent let thy wordes therefore I pray thee be like one of theirs that thou speake that whiche is pleasaunt 13 And Michea sayde As the Lorde liueth euen what my God sayth that wil I speake 14 And when he was come to the king the king sayd vnto him Michea should we go to Ramoth in Gilead to fight or leaue of And he sayd Go vp al shal be well and they shal be deliuered into your hande 15 And the king sayde to him So and so many times do I charge thee that thou say nothing but the trueth to me in the name of the Lorde 16 Then he sayd I did see all them of Israel scattered in the mountaynes as sheepe that haue no sheephard And the Lorde sayde These haue no maister let them returne euery man therfore to his house in peace 17 And the king of Israel said vnto Iehosaphat Did I not tel thee that he would not prophecie good vnto me but euyll 18 But he said againe Therfore heare ye the word of the Lord I saw the Lord sit vpon his seate and all the companie of heauen stoode on his right hande and on his left 19 And the Lord sayd Who shall deceaue Ahab king of Israel that he may go vp and be ouerthrowne at Ramoth in Gilead And one sayde this a nother that 20 And there came out a spirite stoode before the Lorde and sayde I will deceaue him And the Lorde sayde vnto him Wherin 21 And he sayde I wil go out and be a lying spirite in the mouth of all his prophetes And the Lord sayd Thou shalt deceaue him and shalt preuayle go out and do euen so 22 And nowe therfore behold the Lorde hath put a lying spirite in the mouthes of all these thy prophetes and the Lord hath spoken euyll against thee 23 And Zedâ—kia the sonne of Chanaana went to and smote Michea vpon the cheeke sayde By what way went the spirite of the Lorde from me to speake with thee 24 And Michea sayd Beholde thou shalt see the day wheÌ„ thou shalt go froÌ„ chamber to chamber for to hyde thy selfe 25 And the king of Israel sayd Take ye Michea and bring him to Amon the gouerner of the citie to Ioas the kinges sonne 26 And ye shall say thus sayth the king Put this felowe in the prison house and feede him with bread of affliction and water of trouble vntil I come againe in peace 27 And Michea said If thou come againe in peace then hath not the Lord spoken by me And he sayde Hearken to ye people euery one of you 28 And so the king of Israel and Iehosaphat the king of Iuda went vp to Ramoth in Gilead 29 And the king of Israel sayde vnto Iehosaphat I must chaunge me when I go to the battell but see that thou haue thyne owne apparel vpon thee And the king of Israel chaunged him selfe and they came to the battel 30 But the king of Syria had commaunded the captaynes of the charets that were with him saying See that ye fight not against small or great saue against the king of Israel only 31 And when the captaynes of the charets saw Iehosaphat they sayd It is y e king of Israel And therfore they compassed about hym to fight But Iehosaphat cried out and the Lord helped him and God chased them away from him 32 For it came to passe that when the captaynes of the charets perceaued that it was not the king of Israel they turned backe againe from him 33 And a certayne man drewe a bow with all his might and smote the king of Israel beweene the ioyntes of his habergin and he sayde to his charetman Turne thyne hand that thou mayst carie me out of the hoast for I am wounded 34 And the battel increased that day Howbeit the king of Israel caused his charet to stand still against the Syrians vntill euen And about the time of the sunne goyng downe he died The .xix. Chapter 1 After Iehosaphat was rebuked by the prophete he calleth againe the people to the honoring of the Lord. 5 He appoynteth iudges and ministers 9 and exhorteth them to feare God 1 ANd Iehosaphat the king of Iuda came home againe in peace to Hierusalem 2 And Iehu the sonne of Hanani the sear went out to meete him and sayd to king Iehosaphat Wouldest thou helpe the vngodly and loue them that hate the Lorde Therfore is wrath come downe vpon thee from before the Lorde 3 Neuerthelesse there are some good actes founde in thee in that thou hast hewen downe the groues out of the lande and hast prepared thyne heart to seke God 4 And Iehosaphat dwelt at Hierusalem and turned and went out to the people from Beerseba to mount Ephraim and brought them againe vnto the Lorde God of their fathers 5 And he set iudges in the lande throughout all the strong cities of Iuda citie by citie 6 And sayde to the iudges Take heede what ye do for ye execute not the iudgementes of man but of God whiche is with you in the iudgement 7 Wherfore now let the feare of the Lord be vpon you and take heede be doyng the thing that pleaseth hym for there is no vnrighteousnes with the Lorde our God that he shoulde haue any respect of persons or take rewardes 8 Moreouer in Hierusalem did Iehosaphat set of the Leuites of the priestes and of the auncient fathers ouer Israel in the iudgement and cause of the Lord And they returned againe to HierusaleÌ„ 9 And he charged them saying Thus shal ye do in the feare of the Lord faythfully and with a pure heart 10 What cause soeuer come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities betweene blood and blood betweene lawe and commaundemeÌ„t betweene statutes and ordinaunces ye shall warne them that they trespasse not against y e Lorde and so wrath come vpon you and your brethren Thus do ye shal not offende 11 And beholde Amaria the hie priest is among you in all matters of the Lorde and
house of the Lorde and hired masons and carpenters to repaire the house of the Lorde and so dyd they artificers in iron and brasse to mende the house of the Lorde 13 And so the workmen wrought and the worke mended through their handes and they made the house of God as it ought to be and strengthed it 14 And when they had finished it they brought the rest of the money before the king and Iehoiada and therwith were made vessels for the house of the Lorde euen vessels to minister withall and to serue for burnt offringes chargers and spoones vessels of golde and siluer And they offered burnt offringes in the house of the Lord continually all the dayes of Iehoiada 15 But Iehoiada waxed olde and dyed full of dayes for an hundred and thirtie yeres olde was he when he died 16 And they buried him in the citie of Dauid among the kinges because he dealt well with Israel and with God and with his house 17 And after the death of Iehoiada came the lordes of Iuda and made obeysaunce to the king And the king hearkened vnto them 18 And so they left the house of the Lorde God of their fathers and serued groues and idoles and then came the wrath of God vpon Iuda and Hierusalem for this their trespaces sake 19 And he sent prophetes to them to bring thē againe vnto the Lord they testified vnto them but they woulde not heare 20 And the spirite of God came vpon Zacharia the sonne of Iehoiada the priest which stoode by the people and sayd vnto them thus sayth God Why transgresse ye the commaundementes of the Lorde that ye can not prosper For because ye haue forsaken the Lord he also hath forsaken you 21 And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commaundement of the king euen in the court of the house of the Lorde 22 And so Ioas the king remembred not y e kindnesse whiche Iehoiada his father had done to him but slue his sonne And when he died he sayde The Lorde loke vpon it and require it 23 And when the yere was out it fortuned that the hoast of Syria came vp against him and they came against Iuda and Hierusalem and destroyed all the lordes of the people from among the people and sent all the spoyle of them vnto the king to Damascon 24 For the Syrians came with a small companie of men and the Lorde deliuered a verie great hoast into their hande because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers And they gaue sentence against Ioas. 25 And when they were departed from him they left him in great diseases and his owne seruauntes conspired against him for the blood of the children of Iehoiada the priest and slue hym on his bed and he died and they buried him in the citie of Dauid but not in the sepulchres of the kinges 26 And these are they that conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Simeath an Ammonite Iehosabad the sonne of Simrith a Moabite 27 And his sonnes the summe of the taxe that was raysed in his time and the repairing of the house of God beholde they are written in the storie of the booke of the kinges and Amaziahu his sonne raigned in his steade The .xxv. Chapter 3 Amazia putteth them to death which slue his father 10 He sendeth backe them of Israel 11 He ouercommeth the Edomites 14 He falleth to idolatrie 17 And Ioas king of Israel ouercommeth Amazia 27 He is slayne by a conspiracie 1 AMaziahu was twentie and fiue yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned twentie and nine yeres in Hierusalē His mothers name was Iehoadan of Hierusalem 2 And he dyd that which is right in the sight of the Lorde but not with a perfect heart 3 And assoone as he was setled in the kingdome he slue his seruauntes that had killed the king his father 4 But he slue not their children because it is written thus in the lawe and booke of Moyses where the Lorde commaunded saying The fathers shall not dye for the children neither shall the children dye for the fathers but euery man shall dye for his owne sinne 5 And Amaziahu gathered Iuda together and made them captaynes ouer thousandes and ouer hundredes according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Iuda and Beniamin And he numbred them from twentie yeres olde and aboue and found among them three hundred thousande chosen men able to go to battell and that could handle speare and shield 6 He hired also an hundred thousande strong fighting men out of Israel for an hundred talentes of siluer 7 And there came a man of God to him and sayde O king let not the armie of Israel come with thee for the Lorde is not with Israel to wit with al the children of Ephraim 8 But if thou wilt needes be faytlesse come on and take the battell in hande and God shall make thee fall before the enemie For God hath power to helpe and to cast downe 9 And Amaziahu saide to the man of God What shal we do then for the hundred talentes which I haue geuen for the hoast of Israel The man of God aunswered The Lorde is able to geue thee much more then they be 10 And Amaziahu separated them to wit the armie that was come to him out of Ephraim to go home againe Wherefore they were exceeding wroth with Iuda returned home in great anger 11 And Amaziahu toke heart and caried out his people and went to the salt valley and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand 12 And other ten thousand did the children of Iuda take alyue caried them vnto the top of a rocke and cast them downe from the top of the rocke that they all to burst 13 But the souldiers of the armie which Amaziahu sent away that they should not go with his people to battaile fell vpon the cities of Iuda from Samaria vnto Bethron and smote three thousand of them and toke much spoyle 14 And it chaunced after that Amaziahu was come from the slaughter of the Edomites he brought the gods of the children of Seir and set them vp to be his gods and bowed him selfe before them and burned incense vnto them 15 Wherfore the Lorde was wroth with Amaziahu sent vnto him a prophete which saide vnto him Why hast thou sought the gods of the people which were not able to delyuer their owne people out of thyne hande 16 And it chaunced that as y e prophete talked with him the king saide vnto him Haue men made thee of the kinges counsel Ceasse why wylt thou be beaten And the prophete ceassed and said I am sure that God is minded to destroy thee because thou hast done this and agreest not vnto my counsell 17 Then Amaziahu king of Iuda toke aduise and sent to Ioas the sonne of Iehoahaz the sonne of Iehu king of Israel and
seuenth moneth 8 And when Hezekia and the lordes came and sawe the heapes they blessed the Lorde and his people Israel 9 And Hezekia questioned with the priestes and the Leuites concerning the heapes 10 And Azaria the chiefe priest of the house of Zadoc aunswered him and saide Since the people began to bryng the heaue offringes into the house of the Lorde we also haue had inough to eate there remayned so much for the Lorde hath blessed his people and this heape is left 11 And Hezekia bade prepare the chambers in the house of the Lord And they did prepare them 12 And caried in the first fruites the tithes and the dedicate thinges faithfully ouer which Chonaniahu the Leuite had the rule and Semei his brother next to him 13 And Iehiel Azariahu Nahath Asael Ierimoth Iosabad Eliel Iesmachiahu Mahath and Banaiahu were ouerseres ordayned by Chonaniahu Semei his brother was an officer of Hezekia the king Azariahu was the ruler of the house of God 14 And Core the sonne of Imna the Leuite and porter of the east doore had the ouersight of the thinges that were offered of a free wyll vnto God were geuen in maner seuerally vnto the lord and ouer the thinges most holy 15 And vnder his hand were Eden Miniamin Iesua Semeiahu Amariahu and Sechaniahu in the cities of the priestes appoynted of their fidelitie to geue to their brethren their portions aswell to the small as to the great 16 Beside their generation beyng males from three yeres old and vpwarde euen vnto euery one that entereth into the house of the Lord they should geue day by day for their ministration and for their geuing attendaunce and for their diuers waytinges by course 17 Both to the generation of the priestes and Leuites throughout the housholde of their fathers from twentie yeres and aboue to wayte when their courses came 18 And to the families of all their babes wyues sonnes and daughters through all the congregation For vpon the fidelitie of them were the holy thinges bestowed 19 And to the children of Aaron the priestes whiche were in the fieldes and suburbes of their cities citie by citie the men whose names were expressed afore shoulde geue portions euen to all the males among the priestes and to all the Leuites according to their number 20 And of this maner did Hezekia throughout all Iuda wrought it that is good and right and true before the Lorde his God 21 And in al the workes that he began for seruice of the house of God for the lawe for the commaundementes he sought his God and that did he with all his heart and prospered The .xxxii. Chapter 1 Sennacherib inuadeth Iuda 3 Hezekia prepareth for the warre 7 He exhorteth the people to put their trust in the Lorde 9 Sennacherib blasphemeth God 20 Hezekia prayeth 21 The angell destroyeth the Assyrians and the king is slayne 25 Hezekia is not thankefull toward the Lorde 33 His death 1 AFter that these deedes were faythfully done Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came and entred into Iuda compassed the strong cities and thought to winne them for him selfe 2 And so when Hezekia sawe that Sennacherib was come and that he was purposed to fight against Hierusalem 3 He toke counsell with his lordes and men of might to stop the water of the fountaynes without the citie And they dyd helpe him 4 For there gathered many of the people together and stopt all the welles and the broke that ran through the middes of the land saying Why shall the kinges of the Assyrians come and finde much water 5 And Hezekia went to lustyly and buylt vp the wall where it was broken and made ordinaunce vpon the towres and to the other wall without and repaired Millo in the citie of Dauid and made many dartes and shieldes 6 And he set captaynes of warre ouer the people and gathered them together to him in the large streete of the gate of the citie and spake gentylly to them saying 7 Plucke vp your heartes and be strong be not afrayde nor discouraged for the king of the Assyrians for all the multitude that he hath with hym for there be mo with vs then with hym 8 With him is an arme of flesh but with vs is the Lord our God for to helpe vs and to fight our battayles And the people toke a courage through the wordes of Hezekia king of Iuda 9 After this did Sennacherib king of the Assyrians send of his seruauntes to Hierusalem but he him selfe remayned beside Lachis hauing all his power with him vnto Hezekia king of Iuda and vnto all Iuda that were at Hierusalem saying 10 Thus saith Sennacherib king of the Assyrians wherin do ye trust O ye that dwell in Hierusalem which is besieged 11 Doth not Hezekia entice you to geue ouer your selues vnto death hunger and thirst saying The Lord our God shall ryd vs out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians 12 Hath not the same Hezekia put downe his hye places and his aulters commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem saying Ye shall worship before one aulter and burne incense vpon the same 13 Knowe ye not what I and my fathers haue done vnto the people of all landes Were the gods of the people of other landes able or mightie to saue their landes out of my hande 14 Which of all the gods of those nations that my fathers destroyed could deliuer his people out of my hande And shall your God be able to deliuer you out of my hande 15 Wherfore nowe let not Hezekia deceaue you nor persuade you of this fassion nor yet beleue him For as no god among all nations and kingdomes was able to rid his people out of my hand and out of the hand of my fathers Howe much lesse shall your gods be able to kepe you out of my hande 16 And yet mo thinges did his seruauntes speake against the Lorde God and against his seruaunt Hezekia 17 And Sennacherib also wrote a letter to rayle on the Lord God of Israel and spake against him saying As the gods of the nations of other landes haue not ben able to deliuer their people out of my hande euen so shal not the God of Hezekia deliuer his people out of my hande 18 And they cried with a loude voyce in the Iewes speach vnto the people of Hierusalem that were on the wall to feare them and to make them faynt hearted and that they might so take the citie 19 And they spake against the God of Hierusalem as against the gods of the nations of the earth whiche were the workes of the handes of men 20 But Hezekia the king and the prophet Esai the sonne of Amos prayed against that blasphemie and cried vp to heauen 21 And the Lord sent an angel which destroyed all the men of warre and the lordes and captaynes of the hoast of the king of the Assyrians that he turned his face
and the same people of the lande made Iosia his sonne king in his roome The .xxxiiii. Chapter 1 Iosia destroyeth the idoles 8 and restoreth the temple 14 The booke of the lawe is founde 21 He sendeth to Hulda the prophetisse for counsell 27 God heareth his prayer 31 He maketh a couenaunt with God 1 IOsia was eyght yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned in Hierusalem thirtie and one yeres 2 And he dyd that whiche was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the wayes of Dauid his father and bowed neither to the right hand nor to the left 3 In the eyght yere of his raigne when he was yet a childe he began to seke after the God of Dauid his father And in the twelfth yere he began to purge Iuda Hierusalem from the high places groues carued images and images of metall 4 And they brake downe the aulters of Baalim euen in his presence and other images that were in greater honour then they he caused to be destroyed And the groues carued images and images of metall he brake and made dust of them and strowed it vpon the graues of them that had offered vnto them 5 And he burnt the bones of the priestes vpon the aulters of them and clensed Iuda and Hierusalem 6 And euen so did he in the cities of Manasse Ephraim Simeon vnto Nephthali and in the wildernesse of them rounde about 7 He plucked asunder the aulters the groues did beate the images stampe them to powder and cut downe all the idoles throughout all the lande of Israel and returned to Hierusalem againe 8 In the eyghtenth yere of his raigne when he had purged the lande and the temple he sent Saphan the sonne of Azaliahu and Maasiah the gouernour of the citie and Ioah the sonne of Ioahaz the recorder to repaire the house of the Lorde his God 9 And when they came to Helkiah the hie priest they deliuered the money that was brought into the house of God whiche the Leuites that kept the entryes had gathered of the hand of Manasse and Ephraim and of all that yet remayned in Israel and of all Iuda and Beniamin and they returned to Hierusalem 10 And they put it in the handes of the workmen that had the ouersight of the house of the Lorde they gaue it to the labourers that wrought in the house of the Lorde to repaire and mende the house 11 Euen to masons and carpenters gaue they it to get hewed stone timber for couples and for beames of the houses which y e kinges of Iuda had destroyed 12 And the men did the worke faythfully And the ouersears of them to courage them forward were Iahath and Obadiahu Leuites of the children of Merari and Secharia and Mesullam of the children of the Caathites and other of the Leuites whiche all could skill of instrumentes of musicke 13 And ouer the bearers of burthens and ouer all that wrought in whatsoeuer worckmanship it were were there scribes officers porters of the Leuites 14 And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lorde Helkia the priest founde the booke of the law of the Lorde geuen by Moyses 15 And Helkia aunswered and sayd to Saphan the scribe I haue found the booke of the law in the house of the Lord. And Helkia gaue the booke to Saphan 16 And Saphan caried the booke to the king and brought the king word againe saying All that was commited to thy seruauntes that do they 17 And they haue gathered together the money that was founde in the house of the Lord and haue deliuered it into the handes of the ouersears of the worke and to the handes of the worckmen 18 And then Saphan the scribe shewed the king saying Helkia the priest hath geuen me a booke and Saphan read in it before the king 19 And it fortuned that when the king had heard the wordes of the lawe he tare his clothes 20 And the king commaunded Helkia and Ahikam the sonne of Saphan and Abdon the sonne of Micah and Saphan the scribe and Asaa a seruaunt of the kinges saying 21 Go and enquire of the Lord for me and for them that are left in Israel and Iuda concerning the wordes of the booke that is founde For great is the wrath of the Lord that is fallen vpon vs because our fathers haue not kept the worde of the Lorde to do after all that is written in this booke 22 And Helkia and they that the king had appoynted went to Hulda a prophetisse the wyfe of Sallum the sonne of Thecuath the sonne of Hasra keper of the wardrope for she dwelt in Hierusalem within the seconde wall so they communed with her 23 She aunswered them Thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel Tell ye the man that sent you to me 24 Euen thus sayth the Lorde Beholde I will bring euyll vpon this place and vpon the inhabiters thereof euen al the curses that are written in the booke whiche they haue read before the king of Iuda 25 Because they haue forsaken me and haue offred vnto other gods to anger me with all maner workes of their handes therfore is my wrath set on fire against this place and shall not be quenched 26 And as for the king of Iuda which sent you to enquire of the Lord so shal ye say vnto him thus sayth the Lorde God of Israel concerning the wordes whiche thou hast hearde 27 Because thyne heart did melt and thou diddest meeke thy selfe before God when thou heardest his wordes against this place and against the inhabiters thereof and humbledst thy selfe before me and tarest thy clothes and weepedst before me that haue I heard also sayth the Lorde 28 Behold I wil take thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace and thyne eyes shall not see all the mischiefe that I will bring vpon this place and vpon the inhabiters of the same And they brought the king worde againe 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Iuda and Hierusalem 30 And the king went vp into the house of the Lorde and all the men of Iuda and the inhabiters of Hierusalem and the priestes and Leuites and all the people great and smal and the king did reade in their eares all the wordes of the booke of the couenaunt that was founde in the house of the Lorde 31 And the king stoode at his standing and made a couenaunt before the Lorde to folowe the Lorde and to kepe his commaundementes his witnesse and his statutes with all his heart and with al his soule and to fulfill the wordes of the appoyntment written in the sayd booke 32 And he set in their roome all them that were founde in Hierusalem and Beniamin and the inhabiters of Hierusalem did according to the couenaunt of the Lorde God of their fathers 33 And Iosia put away all
them in his temple at Babylon 8 The rest of the actes of Iehoiacim and his abhominations which he did and that which was found vpon him behold they are written in the booke of the kinges of Israel and Iuda and Iehoiacin his sonne raigned in his steade 9 And Iehoiacin was eyght yeres olde when he began to raigne and he raigned three monethes and ten dayes in Hierusalem and dyd euyll in the sight of the Lorde 10 And when the yere was out king Nabuchodonosor sent and fet him to Babylon with the goodly vessels of the house of the Lorde and made Zedekia his fathers brother king ouer Iuda and Hierusalem 11 Zedekia was one and twentie yeres old when he began the raigne and raigned aleuen yeres in Hierusalem 12 And he dyd euyl in the sight of the Lord his God and humbled not him selfe before Ieremia the prophete at the mouth of the Lorde 13 And he rebelled against king Nabuchodonosor which had receaued an oth of him by God but he was stifnecked and to hard hearted to turne vnto the Lord God of Israel 14 Moreouer all the chiefe of the priestes and the people trespassed wonderfully after all maner of abominations of the heathen and polluted the house of the Lorde which he had halowed in Hierusalem 15 And the Lorde God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers rising vp betimes and sending for he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place 16 But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his wordes and misvsed his prophetes vntill the wrath of the Lorde arose against his people and till there was no remedie 17 And so he brought vpon them the king of Chaldee which slue their young men with the sword in their holy temple and spared neither young man mayden old man nor him that stowped for age He gaue them all into his hande 18 And all the vessels of the house of God both great and small and the treasures of the house of the Lorde and the treasures of the king and of his lordes all these caryed he to Babylon 19 And they burnt the house of God and brake downe the wal of Hierusalem and burnt all the pallaices thereof with fire and destroyed all the goodly iewels therof 20 And the rest that had escaped the sword caried he to Babylon where they were bondmen to him his children vntill the time that Persia had the Empire 21 To fulfill the worde of the Lord by the mouth of Ieremia vntill the lande had her pleasure of her Sabbathes for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath vntil threescore and ten yeres were fulfilled 22 And the first yere of Cyrus king of Persia when the worde of the Lorde spoken by the mouth of Ieremia was finished the Lorde stirred vp the spirite of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdome and that by wryting saying 23 Thus sayth Cyrus king of Persia All the kingdomes of the earth hath the Lorde God of heauen geuen me hath charged me to buylde hym an house in Hierusalem that is in Iuda Wherfore whosoeuer is among you of all his people the Lorde his God be with him and let hym go vp E. VV. The ende of the seconde booke of the Chronicles ⧠The first booke of Esdras The first Chapter 1 Cyrus sendeth againe the people that was in captiuitie 8 and restoreth them their holy vessels 1 IN the first yere of Cyrus king of Persia that the worde of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Ieremia might be fulfilled the Lorde stirred vp the spirite of Cyrus king of Persia that he caused to be proclaymed throughout all his empyre and to be written saying 2 Thus saith Cyrus the king of Persia The Lorde God of heauen hath geuen me all the kingdomes of the earth * and hath commaunded me to build him an house at Hierusalem which is in Iuda 3 Whosoeuer nowe among you is of his people the Lord his God be with him and let him go vp to Hierusalem in Iuda and builde the house of the Lorde God of Israel he is the God that is at Hierusalem 4 And whosoeuer remayneth yet in any maner of place where he is a straunger let the men of that place helpe him with siluer and golde with good and cattaile beside that which they willingly offer for the house of God that is at Hierusalem 5 Then gat vp the principall fathers of Iuda and Beniamin and the priestes and Leuites and all they whose spirite God had raysed to go vp and to builde the house of the Lorde which is at Hierusalem 6 And all they that were about them strengthed their hande with vessels of siluer golde with goodes and cattaile and iewels besides all that was wyllingly offered 7 And king Cyrus brought foorth the vessels of the house of the Lord which Nabuchodonosor had taken out of Hierusalem and had put in the house of his God 8 Those did Cyrus the king of Persia bryng foorth by the hande of Mithridates the treasurer numbred them vnto Sesbazer the prince of Iuda 9 And this is the number of them thirtie chargers of golde a thousand chargers of siluer twentie and nine kniues 10 Thirtie basons of golde and of other siluer basons foure hundred ten and of other vessels a thousand 11 Al the vessels of golde and siluer were fiue thousand and foure hundred All these did Sesbazer cary away with them that came vp out of the captiuitie of Babylon vnto Hierusalem The .ij. Chapter The number of them that returned from the captiuitie 1 THese are the children of the prouince that went vp out of the captiuitie whom Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had caried away vnto Babylon came againe vnto Hierusalem and into Iuda euery one vnto his citie 2 They that came with Zorobabel are these Iesua Nehemiah Saraiah Rehelaia Mardochai Bilsan Mispar Biguai Behum Baana This is the number of the men of the people of Israel 3 The children of Pharos two thousand an hundred seuentie and two 4 The children of Sephatia three hundred seuentie and two 5 The children of Arath seuen hundred seuentie and fiue 6 The children of the captaine of Moab of the children of Iesua and Ioab two thousand eyght hundred and twelue 7 The children of Elam a thousand two hundred fiftie and foure 8 The children of Zathu nine hundred ' and fouretie and fiue ' 9 The children of Zaccai seuen hundred ' and threescore ' 10 The children of Bani sixe hundred ' fouretie and two ' 11 The children of Bebai sixe hundred ' twentie and three ' 12 The children of Asgad a thousand ' two hundred twentie and two ' 13 The children of Adonicam sixe hundred ' sixtie and sixe ' 14 The childrē of Beguai two thousand ' fiftie and sixe ' 15 The children of Adin foure hundred ' fiftie and foure ' 16 The
of their brethren the priestes and Leuites and all they that were come out of the captiuitie vnto Hierusalem and appoynted the Leuites from twentie yeres olde and aboue to see that the worke of the house of the Lorde went forwarde 9 And Iesua stoode with his sonnes and brethren and Cadmiel with his sonnes the children of Iuda together to set forwarde the workmen of the house of God euen the childreÌ„ of Henadad with their children and their brethren the Leuites 10 And when the builders layed the foundation of the temple of the Lorde they appoynted the priestes in their araye with trumpettes and the Leuites the children of Asaph with cymbales to prayse the Lorde after the maner of Dauid king of Israel 11 And they sang together when they gaue prayse and thankes vnto the lorde Because he is gracious and because his mercie endureth for euer vpon Israel And all the people showted loude in praysing the Lorde because the foundation of the house of the Lord was layd 12 Many also of the priestes Leuites and chiefe fathers and auncient men which had seene the first house when the foundation was layde before their eyes wept with a loude voyce and many showted aloude with ioy 13 So that the people coulde not discerne the ioyfull sounde gladnesse from the noyse of the weeping among the people for the people showted with a loude crye and the noyse was heard farre of The .iiij. Chapter 2 The building of the temple is hindred and how 11 Letters to Artaxerxes and the aunswere 1 BVt the aduersaries of Iuda and Beniamin heard that the children of the captiuitie builded the temple vnto the Lorde God of Israel 2 And they came to Zorobabel and to the principall fathers and saide vnto them We wyll builde with you for we seeke the Lorde your God as ye do and we haue done sacrifice vnto him since the time of Asor Hadon the king of Assur which brought vs vp hither 3 And Zorobabel and Iesua and the other auncient fathers of Israel sayde vnto them It can not be that you and we together shoulde builde the house vnto our God for we our selues wyll builde alone vnto the Lorde our God of Israel as Cyrus the king of Persia hath commaunded vs. 4 And it came to passe that the folke of the lande discouraged the people of Iuda troubled them as they were building 5 And hyred counsellers against them to hinder their deuice as long as Cyrus the king of Persia liued vntil the raigne of Darius king of Persia 6 And in the raigne of Ahasuerus euen at the beginning of his raigne wrote they vnto him a complaynt against the inhabiters of Iuda and Hierusalem 7 And in the dayes of Artaxerxes wrote Mithridath Tabel and the other of his counsell vnto Artaxerxes the king of Persia with faire wordes And the writing of the letter was in the Syrians speache and interpreted in the language of the Syrians 8 Rehum the recorder and Samsai the scribe wrote a letter from Hierusalem to Artaxerxes the king as it foloweth 9 Then Rehum the recorder and Samsai the scribe and other of their company they of Dina of Apharsath of Tharpelai of Persia of Arache of Babylon of Susan of Deha of Elan 10 And other of the people whom the great noble Asnappar brought ouer and set in the cities of Samaria and other that are nowe beyond the water and Cheeneth 11 This is the copie of the letter that they sent vnto king Artaxerxes Thy seruauntes and the men that are nowe â—eyond the water and Cheeneth 12 Be it knowen vnto the king that the Iewes which came vp from thee to vs are come vnto Hierusalem a citie seditious and froward and builde the same and set vp the walles thereof and lay the foundations 13 Be it knowen now vnto the king that if this citie be builded and the walles made vp againe then shal not they geue toule tribute and custome the kinges profite shall incurre damage 14 And now in the meane season we haue destroyed the temple and woulde no longer see the kinges dishonour therefore sent we out also and certified the king 15 That it may be sought in the booke of the cronicles of thy progenitours and so shalt thou finde in the booke of the cronicles and perceaue that this citie is seditious and noysome vnto the kinges and landes and that they cause other also among them to rebell of olde and for the same cause was this citie destroyed 16 Therfore do we certifie the king that if this citie be builded againe and the walles thereof made vp thou shalt hereafter haue no portion beyond the water 17 Then sent the king an aunswere vnto Rehum the recorder and Samsai the scribe and to the other of their companions that dwell in Samaria and vnto the other that were beyond the water in Selam and Cheeth 18 The letter which ye sent vnto vs hath ben openly read before me 19 And I haue commaunded to make searche and it is found that this citie of olde hath made insurrection against kinges and that rebellion and sedition hath ben committed therein 20 There haue ben mightie kinges also at Hierusalem which haue raigned ouer all countreys beyond the water and toule tribute and custome was geuen vnto them 21 Geue ye nowe therefore commaundement that the same men be forbidden and that the citie be not builded againe till I haue geuen another commaundement 22 Take heede now that ye be not negligent to do this for why should the king haue harme there through 23 Nowe when the copie of king Artaxerxes letter was read before Rehum Simsai the scribe and their companyons they went vp in all the haste to Hierusalem vnto the Iewes and forbad them with violence and power 24 Then ceassed the worke of the house of God at Hierusalem and continued so vnto the second yere of Darius king of Persia ¶ The .v. Chapter 1 Aggeus and Zachari do prophecie 3 The worke of the temple goeth forward contrary to the minde of Thathanai 6 His letters to Darius 1 THe prophetes Aggeus and Zachari the sonne of Iddo prophecied vnto the Iewes that were in Iuda and Hierusalem in the name of the God of Israel eueÌ„ vnto them 2 Then gat vp Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesua the sonne of Iosedec and began to builde the house of God at Hierusalem and with them were the prophetes of God which helped them 3 At the same time came to them Thathanai which was captaine beyond the water and Stharbuzanai and their companions and saide thus vnto them Who hath commaunded you to builde this house to make vp these walles 4 Then saide we vnto them after this maner What are the names of the men that make this building 5 But the eye of their God was vpon the elders of the Iewes that they could not cause them to ceasse till
the matter was brought to Darius and then they aunswered by letters therevnto 6 This is the copie of the letter that Thathanai which was captayne beyond the water Stharbuzanai the counsailours of Apharsath which were beyond the water sent vnto king Darius 7 And the matter that they sent vnto him was written thus within the letter Vnto Darius the king all peace 8 Be it knowen vnto the king that we went into the prouince of Iurie to the house of the great God which is builded with mightie great stones and beames are layde in the walles and the worke goeth fast foorth and prospereth in their handes 9 Then asked we the elders and saide vnto them as it foloweth Who commaunded you to builde this house and to make vp the walles thereof 10 We asked their names also that we might certifie thee and write the names of the men that were their rulers 11 But they aunswered vs with these wordes and saide We are the seruauntes of him that is God of heauen and earth and builde the house that was builded of olde and many yeres ago which the great king of Israel builded and set vp 12 But after our fathers had prouoked the God of heauen vnto wrath he gaue them ouer into the hande of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon of the Chaldees which brake downe this house and caried the people away captiue vnto Babylon 13 But in the first yere of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus gaue commaundement concerning this house of God that it shoulde be built againe 14 And the vessels of golde and siluer of the house of God which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple that was at Hierusalem and brought them into the temple at Babylon those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple at Babylon and they were deliuered vnto one Sasbazar by name whom he made captaine 15 And saide vnto him Take these vessels and go thy way and set them in the temple that is at Hierusalem and let the house of God be builded in his place 16 Then came the same Sasbazar and layed the foundation of the house of God which is at Hierusalem Since that time also vntill nowe hath it ben in building and yet is it not finished 17 Now therefore if it please the king let there be searche made in the kinges librarie which is there at Babylon whether it haue ben king Cyrus commaundement that this temple of God at Hierusalem shoulde be builded and let the king send his minde concerning the same matter ¶ The .vi. Chapter At the commaundement of Darius king of Persia after the temple was builded and dedicate the children of Israel kepe the feaste of vnleuened bread 1 THen cōmaunded king Darius they made searche in the librarie euē in the place where they layed vp the treasure at Babylon 2 And there was found in a coffer in the palace that is in the prouince of the Medes a volume and therein was it thus written as a memoriall 3 In the first yere of king Cyrus gaue the same king Cyrus commaundement concerning the house of God at Hierusalem that the same house should be builded in the place where they offer the sacrifices to ioyne the walles together of threescore cubites heyght and threescore cubites breadth 4 Three rowes of rough stones and one rowe of newe timber and the expences shal be geuen of the kinges house 5 And let the golde and siluer vessels of the house of God which Nabuchodonosor toke out of the temple at Hierusalem and brought vnto Babylon be restored and brought againe vnto the temple at Hierusalem to their place in the house of God 6 Now therefore thou Thathanai captaine beyond the water Stharbuzanai and your counsailers and Aphersechei which are beyond the water get ye away from them 7 Let the worke of the house of this God alone that the captaine of the Iewes and their elders may builde the house of God in his place 8 I haue commaunded what ye shall do to the elders of Iuda for the building of the house of God that of the kinges goodes euen of the tribute beyond the water foorthwith expences be geuen vnto the men that they be not hindred 9 And if they haue neede of calues rammes and lambes for the burnt offering of the God of heauen wheate salte wine and oyle after the custome of the priestes at Hierusalem let the same be geuen them dayly without any delay 10 That they may haue to offer sweete sauours vnto the God of heauen pray for the kinges lyfe and for his children 11 And such a commaundement haue I geuen that what man soeuer he be that altereth this word there shall a beame be taken from his house and set vp and he shal be hanged thereon his house shal be made a dounghill for the same thing 12 And the God that set his name there destroy all kinges and people that put to their hande to aulter and to breake downe the house of God which is at Hierusalem I Darius haue made a decree that this be done with speede 13 Then Thathanai the captaine of the countrey beyond the water Stharbuzanai with their counsailours according to that which king Darius had sent so they did speedyly their diligence 14 And the elders of the Iewes builded and they prospered through the prophecying of Aggeus the prophete and Zachari the sonne of Iddo and they builded and they finished it according to the commaundement of the God of Israel and after the commaundement of Cyrus and Darius Artaxerxes kinges of Persia 15 And this house was finished the third day of the moneth Adar euen in the sixt yere of the raigne of king Darius 16 And the childrē of Israel the priestes the Leuites and the other children of the captiuitie helde the dedication of this house of God with ioy 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred oxen two hūdred rammes foure hūdred lambes and for the reconciling of all Israel twelue hee goates according to the number of the tribes of Israel 18 And set the priestes in their sundry courses and the Leuites in their diuers offices to minister vnto God at Hierusalem as it is written in the booke of Moyses 19 And the children of the captiuitie held Passouer vpon the foureteenth day of the first moneth 20 For the priestes and Leuites were purified all together killed Passouer for all the children of the captiuitie and for their brethren the priestes and for them selues 21 And the children of Israel which were come againe out of captiuitie and all such as had seperated them selues vnto them from the filthinesse of the heathen of the lande to seeke the Lorde God of Israel did eate 22 And helde the feast of vnleauened bread seuen dayes with ioy For the Lorde had made them glad and turned the heart of the king of Assur vnto them to strengthen their
reached there was ioy and mirth a feaste and good dayes among the Iewes insomuch that many of the people in y e lande became Iewes for the feare of the Iewes came vpon them The .ix. Chapter 1 At the commaundement of the king the Iewes put their aduersaries to death 14 The ten sonnes of Haman are hanged 17 The Iewes kepe a feaste in remembraunce of their deliueraunce 1 IN the twelfth moneth that is the moneth Adar vpoÌ„ the thirteenth day of the same when the kinges worde and commaundement drue neare to be put in execution in the day that the enemies of the Iewes hoped to haue power ouer theÌ„ it turned contrary for the Iewes had rule ouer them that hated them 2 For then gathered the Iewes together in their cities within all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus to lay hande on such as woulde do them euill and no man could withstand them for the feare of them was come ouer all people 3 And all the rulers in the prouinces and princes and deputies and officers of the king promoted the Iewes for the feare of Mardocheus came vpon them 4 For Mardocheus was great in the kinges house the reporte of him was noysed in all the prouinces for this man Mardocheus waxed greater and greater 5 Thus the Iewes smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and destruction did what they would vnto their enemies 6 And at Susan the chiefe citie slue the Iewes destroyed fiue hundred men 7 And slue Pharsandatha Dalphon Asphatha 8 Phoratha Adalia Aridatha 9 Pharmastha Arisai Aridai and Vaizatha 10 The ten sonnes of Haman the sonne of Hamadata the enemie of the Iewes but on his goodes they layed no handes 11 At the same time was the king certified of the number of those that were slaine in the citie of Susan 12 And the king saide vnto queene Esther The Iewes haue slaine and destroyed fiue hundred men in the citie of Susan and the ten sonnes of Haman What haue they done thinkest thou in other landes of the king And what is thy petition that it may be geuen thee or what requirest thou more to be done 13 Esther aunswered If it please the king let him suffer the Iewes which are in Susan to morow also to do according vnto this dayes decree that they may hang Hamans ten sonnes vpon the tree 14 And the king charged to do so and the decree was deuised at Susan and they hanged Hamans ten sonnes 15 For the Iewes that were in Susan gathered them selues together vpon the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar and slue three hundred men at Susan but on their goodes they layed no handes 16 As for the other Iewes that were in the kinges prouinces they came together and stoode for their liues had rest from their enemies slue of their enemies seuentie and fiue thousand howbeit they layed no handes on their goodes 17 This they did on the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar on the fourteenth day of the same moneth rested they which day they held with feasting and gladnesse 18 But the Iewes that were at Susan came together both on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested and held that day with feasting gladnesse 19 And therefore the Iewes that dwelt in the villages and vnwalled townes held the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar with gladnesse and feasting and kept holy day and euery one sent preasentes vnto his neighbour 20 And Mardocheus wrote these wordes and sent letters vnto all the Iewes that were in all the prouinces of king Ahasuerus both nie and farre 21 That they should make a lawe among theÌ„ selues holde the fourteenth fifteenth day of the moneth Adar yerely 22 As the dayes wherein the Iewes came to rest from their enemies and as a moneth wherein their paine was turned to ioy and their sorowe into a ioyful day and that in those dayes they should make feastes and gladnesse and one to send giftes vnto another and to distribute vnto the poore 23 And the Iewes promised to do as they had begunne and as Mardocheus had written vnto them 24 Because Haman the sonne of Hamadatha the Agagite all the Iewes enemie had deuised against the Iewes how he might destroy them and caused to cast Phur that is a lot for to consume them to bring them to naught 25 But when Esther came before the king he commaunded by letters that his wicked deuice which he imagined against the Iewes should be turned vpon his owne head and that he and his sonnes should be hanged on the tree 26 For the which cause they called these dayes Phurim because of the name of the lot and because of all the wordes of this writing and what they themselues had seene what had come vnto them 27 And the Iewes ordayned and toke it vpon them and their seede and vpon all such as ioyned them selues vnto them that they would not misse but obserue these two dayes yerely according as they were written and appoynted in their season 28 And that these dayes are to be remembred and to be kept of childers children among al kinredes in all landes and cities In these dayes of Phurim which are not to be ouerslipt among y e Iewes and the memoriall of them ought not to perishe from their seede 29 And queene Esther the daughter of Abihail Mardocheus the Iewe wrote with all aucthoritie to confirme this second writing of Phurim 30 And he sent the letters vnto all the Iewes to the hundred twentie and seuen prouinces of the empire of Ahasuerus with wordes of peace and trueth 31 To confirme these dayes of Phurim in their time appoynted according as Mardocheus the Iewe and Esther the queene had appoâ—â—ted them and they bound their soule and their seede to fasting and prayer 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these wordes of Phurim and was written in the booke 33 And the king Ahasuerus layed tribute vpon the land vpon the iles of the sea 34 And all the actes of his power and of his might the declaration of the dignitie of Mardocheus wherwith the king magnified him be they not written in the bookes of y e chronicles of the kinges of Medes and Persia 35 For Mardocheus the Iewe was the second next vnto king Ahasuerus and great among the Iewes and accepted among the multitude of his brethren as one that seeketh the wealth of his people and speaketh peaceably for all his seede ⧠The ende of the booke of Esther ⧠The booke of Iob. The first Chapter 1 The holines riches and care of Iob for his children 11 Satan hath permission to tempt him 13 He tempteth him by taking away his substaunce and his children 20 His faith and patience 1 IN the lande of * Hus there was a man whose name was Iob the same was a perfect and iust man one that feared
agaynst me 10 But be thou mercifull vnto me O God rayse me vp agayne and I shall rewarde them 11 By this I knowe thou fauouredst me in that myne enemie doth not triumph agaynst me 12 And when I am in my best case thou vpholdest me and thou wylt set me before thy face for euer 13 Blessed be God the Lorde of Israel worlde without ende Amen Amen ¶ The argument of the .xlii. Psalme ¶ Dauid dryuen out of his realme declareth his sorowe of mynde for that he coulde not resort vnto Gods temple and kepe there the holy feastes He complayneth that one affliction commeth on anothers necke Also he complayneth of the reproches and mockes that he susteyned of the wicked He comforteth hym selfe in the confidence that he hath in God ¶ To the chiefe musition a wise instruction of the sonnes of Corach 1 LYke as the Hart brayeth for water brookes so panteth my soule after thee O God 2 My soule is a thirst for the Lorde yea euen for the lyuyng Lorde when shall I come to appeare before the face of the Lorde 3 My teares haue ben my meate day and nyght whyle they dayly say vnto me where is nowe thy God 4 And I powred out of me my very heart remembryng this howe that before tyme I haue passed with a great number bringyng thē vnto the house of the Lorde with a voyce of ioy prayse with a company that kept holy day 5 Why art thou so discouraged O my soule why art thou so vnquiet within me attende thou vpon the Lorde for I will yet acknowledge him only to be a * present saluation 6 My Lorde my soule is discouraged within me because I remember thee from the lande of Iordane and from the litle hyll Hermonim 7 One deepe calleth another at the noyse of thy water pypes all thy waues and stormes are gone ouer me 8 God wyll graunt his louing kindnesse on the day tyme and in the nyght season I wyll syng of hym and make my prayer vnto the Lorde of my lyfe 9 I wyll say vnto the Lorde of my strength why hast thou forgotten me why go I thus heauyly through the oppression of myne enemie 10 It was as a sworde in my bones when myne enemies dyd cast me in the teeth in saying dayly vnto me where is nowe thy Lorde 11 Why art thou so discouraged O my soule why art thou so vnquiet within me attende thou vpon the Lorde for I wil yet acknowledge him to be only * my present saluation and my Lorde ¶ The argument of the .xliij. Psalme ¶ The prophete prayeth to be delyuered from his enemies to haue his heart illuminated and to be restored home agayne that he may prayse God his Lorde in his sanctuarie in whom he putteth all his trust 1 IVdge me O Lorde and debate my cause with an vnnaturall people oh delyuer me from the deceiptfull and wicked man 2 For thou art the Lord of my strength why hast thou reiect me and why go I thus heauyly through the oppression of myne enemie 3 Sende foorth thy light and thy trueth that they may leade me and direct me vnto thy holy hyll to thy tabernacles 4 And I wyll go vnto the aulter of the Lorde euen vnto the Lorde of my ioy gladnesse and vpon the harpe I will acknowledge thee O Lorde my Lord. 5 Why art thou so discouraged O my soule why art thou so vnquiet within me attende thou vpon the Lorde for * I wyll yet acknowledge hym to be only my present saluation my Lorde The argument of the .xliiii. psalme ¶ The prophete rehearseth Gods benefites bestowed vpon the fathers brought out of Egypt and planted in Chanaan He complayneth of the calamitie that the people of God suffered through the crueltie of the heathen Last of all he prayeth God to awake to aryse and to delyuer them for his mercies sake ¶ To the chiefe musition a wise instruction of the sonnes of Corach 1 WE haue hearde with our eares O Lorde our fathers haue tolde vs what workes thou hast done in their daies in the olde tyme. 2 Howe thou hast driuen out the heathen with thy hande and planted them in howe thou hast destroyed the nations placed them 3 For they gat not the lande in possession through their owne sworde neither was it their owne arme that saued thē 4 But thy ryght hande and thine arme the lyght of thy countenaunce because thou hadst a fauour vnto them 5 Thou art my kyng O Lorde commaunde that Iacob be saued 6 Through thee we wyll ouerthrowe our enemies and in thy name we wyll treade them vnder that ryse vp agaynst vs. 7 For I wyll not trust in my bowe and it is not my sworde that can saue me 8 But it is thou that sauest vs from our enemies and thou puttest them to confusion that hate vs. 9 We make our boast of God all the day long and we wyll confesse thy name for euer Selah 10 But nowe thou art farre of and thou puttest vs to confusion neither goest thou foorth with our armies 11 Thou makest vs to turne away backwarde from the enemie so that they which hate vs do make vs a spoyle vnto them 12 Thou hast delyuered vs as sheepe to be eaten and thou hast scattered vs among the heathen 13 Thou hast solde thy people for naught and thou hast taken no money for them 14 Thou hast made vs a rebuke to our neighbours to be laughed to scorne and had in derision of them that are rounde about vs. 15 Thou hast made vs to be a fable among the heathen and to be such that the people shake their head at vs. 16 My confusion is dayly before me and the shame of my face couereth me for to heare the voyce of the slaunderer blasphemer and for to see the enemie and the auenger 17 And though all this become vpon vs yet we do not forget thee nor shewe our selues to be false in thy couenaunt 18 Our heart is not turned backe neither our steppes be declined out of thy pathes no not when thou hast smitten vs in the place of dragons and couered vs with the shadowe of death 19 If we had forgotten the name of our Lorde and holden vp our handes to any straunge god woulde not God searche it out for he knoweth the very secretes of the heart 20 For thy sake also are we kylled all the day long and are counted as sheepe appoynted to be slayne 21 Stirre vp O Lorde why slepest thou awake be not absent from vs for euer wherfore hydest thou thy face and forgettest our miserie and tribulation 22 For our soule is brought lowe vnto the dust our belly cleaueth vnto y e grounde 23 Aryse vp thou our ayde and redeeme vs for thy louyng kindnesse sake ⧠The argument of the .xlv. psalme ¶ The prophete in describyng here
rusty with the fatnesse and blood of lambes and goates with the fatnesse of the kidneys of weathers For the Lord shall kyll a great offering in Bozra and a great slaughter in the lande of Idumea 7 There shall the vnicornes fall with them and the bulles with the giauntes and their lande shal be throughly soked with blood and their grounde corrupt with fatnesse 8 For it is the day of Gods vengeaunce and the yere of recompence for the reuenge of Sion 9 And his fluddes shal be turned to pitch and his earth to brimstone and therewith shall the lande be kindled 10 So that it shall not be quenched day nor nyght but smoke euermore and so foorth lye waste and no man shall go through it for euer 11 But Pellicanes Storkes great Owles and Rauens shall haue it in possession and dwell therin for God shall spreade out the line of desolation vpon it and the stones of emptinesse 12 Her nobles shall call and there is no kyngdome and all her princes shal be nothyng 13 Thornes shall growe in their palaces nettles thistles in their strong holdes that the dragons may haue their pleasure therin and that they may be a court for Estriches 14 There shall straunge visures monsterous beastes meete one another and the wylde kepe company together there shall the Lamia lye and haue her lodgyng 15 There shall the Owle make her nest builde be there at home bryng foorth her young ones there shall the Kytes come together eche one to his lyke 16 Seke through the booke of the Lorde and reade it there shall none of these thynges be left out there shall not one nor such lyke fayle for his mouth commaundeth and that same doth his spirite gather together or fulfyll 17 He hath cast the lot for them and to those beastes hath his hande deuided it by the line therfore those shall possesse it for euer from generation to generation shall they dwell therin ¶ The .xxxv. Chapter 1 Of the tyme and kyngdome of Christe 1 BVt the desert wildernesse shall reioyce the waste ground shall be glad and florishe as the Lilie 2 She shall florishe pleasauntly and be ioyfull and euer be geuing thankes more and more For the glorie of Libanus the beautie of Charmel and Saron shal be geuen her These shall knowe the honour of the Lorde the maiestie of our God 3 And therfore strength the weake handes and comfort the feeble knees 4 Say vnto them that are of a fearfull heart be of good cheare and feare not beholde your God commeth to take vengeaunce and you shall see the rewarde that God geueth God commeth his owne selfe and wyll delyuer you 5 Then shall the eyes of the blynde be lyghtened and the eares of the deaffe opened 6 Then shall the lame men leape as an Hart the dumbe mans tongue shall geue thankes for in the wildernesse there shall welles spryng and fluddes of water in the desert 7 The drye grounde shal turne to riuers and the thirstie to sprynges of water wheras dragons dwelt afore there shal growe sweete flowres greene russhes 8 There shal be foote pathes common streetes this shal be called the holy way no vncleane person shall go through it for the Lorde hym selfe shall go with them that way and the wayfayrer nor ignoraunt shall not erre 9 There shal be no lion no rauishyng beastes shall come therin nor be there but men redeemed shall go there free and safe 10 And the redeemed of the Lorde I say shall conuert and come to Sion with thankesgeuyng euerlastyng ioy shall they haue pleasure and gladnesse shal be among them and as for all sorowe and heauinesse it shall vanishe The .xxxvj. Chapter 1 Hierusalem is besieged by Sennacherib in the tyme of kyng Hezekias 1 IN the foureteenth yere of king Hezekias came Sennacherib kyng of the Assyrians downe to lay siege vnto all the strong cities of Iuda to conquer them 2 And the kyng of the Assyrians sent Rabsakeh from Lachis towarde Hierusalem agaynst Hezekias with an exceedyng hoast which set hym by the conduite of the ouer poole in the way that goeth through the fullers lande 3 And so there came foorth vnto hym Eliakim Helkias sonne the chiefe ouer the householde Sobâ—a the scribe and Ioah Asaphs sonne the secretarie 4 And Rabsakeh sayde vnto them Tell Hezekia that the great kyng saith thus vnto hym What presumption is this that thou trustest vnto 5 I sayde surely that thou trustest in vayne wordes when counsayle and strength are necessarie to battayle but nowe wherto trustest thou that thou rebellest agaynst me 6 Lo thou puttest thy trust in a broken staffe of reede I meane Egypt which he that leaneth vpon it goeth into his hande and shooteth it through euen so is Pharao the kyng of Egypt vnto all them that trust in hym 7 But if thou wouldest say vnto me We trust in the Lorde our God Is not he that God whose hygh places aulters Hezekia toke downe and commaunded Iuda and Hierusalem to worship only before this aulter 8 Nowe therfore deliuer hostages that thou rebell no more agaynst my Lorde the kyng of the Assyrians and I wyll geue thee two thousande horses yf thou be able to set men vpon them 9 Howe darest thou resist the power of the smallest prince that my Lorde hath howe darest thou trust in the charrets and horsemen of Egypt 10 Moreouer thinkest thou that I am come vp hyther to destroy this lande without the Lordes wyll The Lorde sayd vnto me Go vp agaynst this lande and destroy it 11 Then sayd Eliakim Sobna Ioah vnto Rabsakeh Speake to vs thy seruauntes we pray thee in the Syrians language for we vnderstande it well and speake not to vs in the Iewes tongue lest the folke heare which lyeth vpon the wall 12 Then aunswered Rabsakeh Hath my maister sent me to speake this only to thy maister and thee hath he not sent me to them also that lye vpon the wall that they may be compelled to eate their owne dunge and drinke their owne stale with you 13 And Rabsakeh stoode stiffe and cryed with a loude voyce in the Iewes tongue and sayde Nowe take heede howe the great kyng of the Assyrians geueth you warnyng 14 Thus saith the kyng Let not Hezekia deceaue you for he shall not be able to deliuer you 15 Moreouer let not Hezekia comfort you in the Lorde when he saith The Lorde without doubt shall defende vs and shall not geue ouer this citie into the handes of the king of the Assyrians 16 Hearken not to Hezekia for thus saith the kyng of Assyria Obtayne my fauour encline to me so may euery man enioy his vineyardes and figge trees and drynke the water of his cesterne 17 Vnto the tyme that I come my selfe and bryng you into a lande that is lyke your owne wherin is wheate wine which is both sowen with
for ye haue ministred fire to mine indignation which shall burne euermore 5 Thus saith the Lorde Cursed be the man that putteth his trust in man and that taketh fleshe for his arme and he whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6 He shal be like the heath that groweth in wildernesse As for the good thyng that is for to come he shall not see it but dwell in a drye place of the wildernesse in a salt and vnoccupied lande 7 O blessed is the man that putteth his trust in the Lorde and whose hope is in the Lorde hym selfe 8 For he shal be as a tree that is planted by the water side which spreadeth out the roote vnto moystnesse whom the heate can not harme when it commeth but his leafe shal be greene And though there growe but litle fruite because of drouth yet is he not carefull but he neuer leaueth of to bryng foorth fruite 9 Among all thynges man hath the most deceiptfull and stubburne heart Who shall then knowe it 10 Euen I the Lorde searche out the grounde of the heart trye the raynes and rewarde euery man accordyng to his wayes and accordyng to the fruite of his workes 11 The partrich maketh a nest of egges which she layed not he commeth by riches but not righteously in the middest of his life must he leaue them behynde hym at the last be founde a very foole 12 But thou O Lorde whose throne is most glorious excellent and of most antiquitie which dwellest in the place of our holy rest 13 Thou art the comfort of Israel all they that forsake thee shal be confounded all they that do depart from thee shal be written in earth for they haue forsaken the Lorde the very conduite of the waters of lyfe 14 Heale me O Lorde and I shal be whole saue thou me I shal be saued for thou art my prayse 15 Beholde these men say vnto me where is the worde of the Lorde let it come nowe 16 Wheras I neuerthelesse obediently folowed thee as a sheephearde haue not vncalled taken this office vpon me â–ª this knowest thou well my wordes also were ryght before thee 17 Be not thou terrible vnto me O Lord for thou art he in whom I hope when I am in perill 18 Let my persecutours be confounded but not me let them be afrayde and not me Thou shalt bryng vpon them the tyme of plague and shalt destroy them right sore 19 Thus hath the Lorde sayde vnto me Go and stande vnder the gate wherethrough the people and the kynges of Iuda go out and in yea vnder all the gates of Hierusalem 20 And say vnto them Heare the worde of the Lorde ye kynges of Iuda and all thou people of Iuda and all the citezins of Hierusalem that go through this gate 21 Thus the Lorde coÌ„maundeth Take heede for your lyues that ye cary no burthen vpon you in the Sabbath to bryng it through the gates of Hierusalem 22 Ye shall beare no burthen also out of your houses in the Sabbath you shall do no labour therin but halowe the Sabbath as I commaunded your fathers 23 Howbeit they obeyed me not neither hearkened they vnto me but were obstinate stubburne and neither obeyed me nor receaued my correction 24 Neuerthelesse yf ye wyll heare me saith the Lorde and beare no burthen into the citie through this gate vpon the Sabbath yf ye wyll halowe the Sabbath so that ye do no worke therin 25 Then shall there go through the gates of this citie kynges and princes that shal sit vpon the throne of Dauid they shal be caryed vpon charrettes and ride vpon horses both they their princes yea whole Iuda and all the citezins of Hierusalem shall go here through and this citie shall euer be inhabited 26 There shall come men also from the cities of Iuda from about Hierusalem and from the lande of Beniamin from the plaine fieldes from the mouÌ„taynes and from the wildernesse which shall bryng burnt offerynges sacrifices oblations and incense and offer vp thankesgeuyng in the house of the Lorde 27 But yf ye wyll not be obedient vnto me to halowe the Sabbath so that ye wyll beare your burthens through the gates of Hierusalem vpon the Sabbath then shall I set fire vpon the gates of Hierusalem and it shall burne vp the houses of Hierusalem and no man shal be able to quenche it ¶ The .xviij. Chapter 2 God sheweth by the example of a potter that it is in his power to destroy the dispisers of his worde and to helpe them agayne when they amende 18 The conspiracie of the Iewes agaynst Ieremie 19 His prayer agaynst his aduersaries 1 THis is another communication that God had with Ieremie saying 2 Arise and go downe into the potters house there shal I tell thee more of my mynde 3 Nowe when I came to the potters house I founde hym makyng his worke vpon a wheele 4 The vessell that the potter made of clay brake among his handes So he began a newe and made another vessell accordyng to his mynde 5 Then sayde the Lorde thus vnto me 6 May not I do with you as this potter doth O ye house of Israel saith the Lorde Beholde ye house of Israel ye are in my hande euen as the clay is in the potters hande 7 When I take in hande to roote out to destroy or to waste away any people or kyngdome 8 If that people agaynst whom I haue thus deuised conuert from their wickednesse I repent of the plague that I deuised to bryng vpon them 9 Agayne when I take in hande to builde or to plant a people or a kyngdome 10 If the same people do euyll before me and heare not my voyce I repent of the good that I haue deuised for them 11 Speake nowe therfore vnto whole Iuda and to them that dwell at Hierusalem thus saith the Lorde Beholde I am deuisyng a plague for you and am takyng a thyng in hande agaynst you therfore let euery man turne from his euyll way and take vpon you the thyng that is good and ryght 12 But they sayde No more of this we wyll folowe our owne imaginations and do euery man accordyng to the wilfulnesse of his owne mynde 13 Therfore thus saith the Lorde Aske among the heathen yf any man haue hearde such horrible thynges as the mayden Israel hath done 14 Wyll a man forsake the snowe of Libanus which commeth from the rocke of the fielde Or shall the colde flowyng waters that commeth from another place be forsaken 15 But my people hath forgotten me they haue made sacrifice in vayne and their prophetes make them fall in their wayes from the auncient pathes and to go into a way not vsed to be troden â—of iust men 16 Wherethrough they haue brought their lande into an euerlastyng wildernesse and scorne so that whosoeuer trauayleth therby shal be abashed and wagge
their heades 17 With an east wynde wyll I scatter them before their enemies and when their destruction commeth I wil turne my backe vpon them but not my face 18 Then sayd they Come let vs imagine somethyng agaynst this Ieremie for the priestes shall not be destitute of the lawe neither shall the wise men be destitute of counsayle nor the prophetes destitute of the worde of God Come and let vs smite hym with the tongue and let vs not marke all his wordes 19 Consider me O Lorde and heare the voyce of mine enemies 20 Shall they recompence euyll for good for they haue digged a pit for my soule Remember howe that I stoode before thee to speake good for them and to turne away thy wrath from them 21 Therfore let their children dye of hunger and let them be oppressed with the sworde Let their wiues be robbed of their children and become widowes let their husbandes be slayne let their young men be kylled with the sworde in the fielde 22 Let the noyse be hearde out of their houses when thou bryngest the murtherer sodaynly vpon them for they haue digged a pit to take me and layde snares for my feete 23 Yet Lorde thou knowest all their counsayle that they haue deuised to slay me forgeue not their wickednesse and let not their sinnes be put out of thy sight but let them be iudged before thee as giltie this do thou vnto them in the tyme of thine indignation The .xix. Chapter 1 He prophecieth the destruction of Hierusalem for the contempt and dispisyng of the worde of God 1 THus sayde the Lorde Go thy way and buye thee an earthen pitcher and bryng foorth the senatours chiefe priestes 2 Vnto the valley of the children of Hennom which lyeth without the east gate and shewe them there the wordes that I shall tell thee 3 And say thus vnto them Heare the worde of the Lorde ye kinges of Iuda and ye citezins of Hierusalem thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Beholde I wyll bryng suche a plague vpon this place that the eares of all that heare it shall glowe 4 And that because they haue forsaken me and vnhalowed this place and haue offered in it vnto straunge gods whom neither they their fathers nor the kynges of Iuda haue knowen they haue filled this place also with the blood of innocentes 5 And they haue set vp an aulter vnto Baal to burne their children for a burnt offring vnto Baal whiche I neither commaunded nor charged them neither thought once thervpon 6 Beholde therfore the time commeth saith the Lorde that this place shall no more be called Thopheth nor the valley of the chyldren of Hennom but the valley of slaughter 7 For in this place wyll I bryng to naught the counsayle of Iuda and Hierusalem and kyll them downe with the sworde before their enemies and I wyll deliuer them into the handes of them that seeke their liues and their dead carkasses will I geue to be meate for the foules of the ayre the beastes of the fielde 8 And I will make this citie so desolate and despised that whosoeuer goeth thereby shal be abashed and iest vpon her because of all her plagues 9 I will feede them also with the flesh of their sonnes and their daughters yea euery one shall eate vp another in the besieging straytnesse wherewith their enemies that seeke their liues shall kepe them in 10 And the pitcher shalt thou breake in the sight of the men that goeth with thee 11 And say vnto them Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes Euen so wyll I destroy this people and citie as a man breaketh an earthen vessell that can not be made whole agayne in Thopheth shall they be buried for they shall haue none other place 12 Thus wyll I do vnto this place also saith the Lorde and to them that dwel therin yea I wyll make this citie as Thopheth 13 For the houses of Hierusalem and the houses of the kynges of Iuda shal be defiled like as Thopheth and so shal al the houses in whose roofes they did sacrifice vnto all the hoast of heauen and powred drinke offerings vnto straunge gods 14 And so Ieremie came from Thopheth where the Lorde had sent hym to prophesie and stoode in the court of the house of the Lorde and spake to all the people 15 Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Beholde I will bryng vpon this citie and vpon euery towne about it all the plagues that I haue deuised against them because they haue ben obstinate and would not obay my warninges ¶ The .xx. Chapter 2 Ieremie is smitten and cast into pryson for preaching of the worde of God 3 He prophecieth the captiuitie of Babylon 7 He complayneth that he is a mocking stocke for the worde of God 9 He is compelled by the spirite to preache the worde 1 WHen Phashur the priest the sonne of Emmer chiefe in the house of the Lorde hearde Ieremie preache these wordes so stedfastly 2 He smote Ieremie and put hym in the prison that is in the hye gate of Beniamin towardes the house of the Lorde 3 The next day folowing Phashur brought Ieremie out of the prison agayne Then saide Ieremie vnto him The Lorde shall call thee no more Phashur that is excellent and increasing but Magor that is fearefull and afraide euery where 4 For thus saith the Lorde Beholde I wil make thee afraide euen thy selfe and all that fauour thee which shall perishe with the sworde of their enemies euen before thy face and I wyll geue whole Iuda into the hands of the king of Babylon whiche shall cary some vnto Babylon prisoners and slay some with the sworde 5 Moreouer all the substaunce of this citie whatsoeuer they haue gotten with their trauaile all their precious thinges all the treasure of the kinges of Iuda wyll I geue into the handes of their enemies whiche shall spoyle them and cary them vnto Babylon 6 But as for thee O Phashur thou shalt go into captiuitie with all thyne housholde and to Babylon shalt thou come where thou shalt dye and be buried thou and all thy fauourers to whom thou hast preached lies 7 O Lord if I am deceaued then hast thou deceaued me thou enforcedst me and hast preuayled dayly am I despised and laughed to scorne of euery man 8 For since I began to preache I cryed out against violencie and exclamed against oppression for the whiche cause they cast the worde of the Lorde in my teeth to my reproche continually 9 Wherefore I thought from hencefoorth not to speake of hym nor to preache any more in his name but the worde of the Lorde was a very burning fire in my heart and in my bones whiche when I woulde haue stopped I might not 10 Veryly I hearde the euyll reportes of many terrour was on euery side of me complayne
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
And go not after straunge gods serue them not worship them not and anger me not with the workes of your owne handes then wyll I not punishe you 7 Neuerthelesse ye woulde not heare me saith the Lorde but haue prouoked me to anger with the workes of your handes to your great harme 8 Wherefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes Because ye haue not hearkened vnto my worde 9 Lo I wyll sende out and call for all the people that dwell in the north saith the Lorde and wyll prepare Nabuchodonozar the kyng of Babylon my seruaunt and wyll bryng them vppon this lande and vpon all that dwell therin and vpon all the people that are about them and wyll vtterly roote them out I wyll make them amased a mockage and a continuall desert 10 Moreouer I wyll take from them the voyce of gladnesse and solace the voyce of the bridegrome and the bride the noyse of the milstones and the light of the cressets 11 And this whole lande shall become a wildernesse and astonished and these nations shal serue the king of Babylon threscore yeres and ten 12 When the threscore and ten yeres are expired I wil visite all the wickednesse of the kyng of Babylon and his people saith the Lorde yea and the lande of the Chaldees and wyll make it a perpetuall wildernesse 13 And wyll fulfill all my wordes vpon that lande whiche I haue deuised against it yea all that is written in this booke whiche Ieremie hath prophecied of all people 14 So that they also shal be subdued vnto diuers nations and great kynges for I will recompence them according to their deedes and workes of their owne handes 15 For thus hath the Lorde God of Israel spoken vnto me take this wine cup of indignation fro my hande that thou mayest cause all people to whom I sende thee for to drinke of it 16 That when they haue drunken therof they may be madde and out of their wittes when the sworde commeth that I wyll sende among them 17 Then toke I the cuppe from the Lordes hande and made all people to drinke thereof vnto whom the Lorde had sent me 18 But first the citie of Hierusalem and all the cities of Iuda their kinges and princes to make them desolate amased despised and hissed at and cursed according as it is come to passe this day 19 Yea and Pharao the kyng of Egypt his seruauntes his princes and his people altogether one with another 20 And all kinges of the lande of Hus all kinges of the Philistines lande Ascalon Azah Accaron and the remnaunt of Asood 21 The Edomites the Moabites and the Ammonites 22 All the kinges of Tyrus and Sidon the kinges of the Isles that are beyonde the sea 23 Dedan Thema Buz and all them that dwell in the vttermost partes of the worlde 24 All the kinges of Arabia and generally all the kinges that dwell in the desert 25 All the kinges of Zimri al the kinges of Elam all the kinges of the Medes 26 All the kinges towarde the north whether they be farre or nye euery one against his neighbour yea and all the kyngdomes that are vpon the whole earth and the kyng of Sesach shall drinke also after them 27 Therfore say thou vnto them This is the commaundement of the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Drinke and be drunken spewe and fall that ye neuer arise and that thorowe the sworde whiche I wyll sende among you 28 But yf they wyll not receaue they cup of thy hande and drynke it then tell them thus doth the Lorde of hoastes threaten you Drynke it you shall and that shortly 29 For lo I begyn to plague the citie that my name is geuen vnto thinke ye then that I will leaue you vnpunished ye shall not go quite for why I call for asworde vpon all the inhabitours of the earth saith the Lorde of hoastes 30 Therfore tell them all these wordes and say vnto them The Lorde shall crye from aboue and his voyce shal be hearde from his holy habitation with a great noyse shal he crie from his court regall he shall geue a great voyce like the grape gatherers and the sounde therof shal be hearde vnto the endes of the worlde 31 For the Lorde hath a iudgement to geue vpon all people and wyll holde his court of iustice with all fleshe and wyll deliuer the vngodly to the sworde saith the Lorde 32 For thus saith the Lorde of hoastes Beholde a miserable plague shall go from one people to another and a great stormie water shall arise from all the endes of the earth 33 And the same day shall the Lord him selfe slay them from one ende of the earth to another there shal no mone be made for any of them none gathered vp none buryed but shall lye as dunge vpon the grounde 34 Mourne O ye sheepheardes and crye sprinckle your selues with asshes O ye rammes of the flocke for the tyme of your slaughter and breache is fulfylled and ye shall fall lyke vessels that were much set by 35 The sheepheardes shall haue no way to flee and the rammes of the flocke shall not escape 36 Then shall the sheepheardes crye horribly and the rammes of the flocke shall mourne for the Lorde hath consumed their pasture 37 And their best fieldes lye dead because of the horrible wrath of the Lorde 38 They haue forsaken their foldes like as a lion for their lande is waste because of the spoylers furious crueltie and of his fearefull indignation ¶ The .xxvj. Chapter 2 Ieremie moueth the people to amendement 7 He is taken of the prophetes and priestes and brought to iudgement 23 Vrias the prophete is kylled of Iehoakim contrary to the wyll of God 1 IN the begynnyng of the raigne of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda came this worde from the Lorde saying 2 Thus saith the Lord Stande in the court of the Lordes house speake vnto al them which out of the citie of Iuda come to do worship in the Lordes house all the wordes that I commaunde thee to say loke that thou kepe not one worde backe 3 If peraduenture they wyll hearken and turne euery man from his wicked way that I may also repent of the plague which I haue determined to bryng vpon them because of their wicked inuentions 4 And after this maner shalt thou speake vnto them Thus saith the Lord If ye wyll not obey me to walke in my lawes which I haue geuen you 5 And to heare the wordes of my seruauntes the prophetes whom I sent vnto you risyng vp tymely and styll sendyng yet you haue not hearkened 6 Then wyll I do to this house as I did vnto Silo and wyll make this citie to be abhorred of all the people of the earth 7 And the priestes the prophetes and all the people hearde Ieremie preache these wordes in the house of the Lorde 8 Nowe when he had
the Lorde spoken to the king that sitteth in the throne of Dauid and to all the people that dwell in this citie your brethren that are gone with you into captiuitie 17 Thus I say speaketh the Lorde of hoastes Beholde I wyll sende a sworde hunger and pestilence vpon them and wyll make them lyke vntymely figges that may not be eaten for bitternesse 18 And I wyll persecute them with the sworde with hunger and pestilence I wyll deliuer them vp to be vexed of all kyngdomes to be cursed abhorred laughed to scorne and put to confusion of all the people among whom I haue scattered them 19 And that because they haue not ben obedient vnto my commaundementes saith the Lord which I sent vnto them by my seruauntes the prophetes I stoode vp early and sent vnto them but they woulde not heare saith the Lorde 20 Heare therfore the worde of the Lord all ye prisoners whom I sent from Hierusalem to Babylon 21 Thus hath the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel spoken of Ahab the sonne of Colaiah and of Zedekiah the sonne of Maasiah which prophecie lyes vnto you in my name Beholde I wyll deliuer them into the hande of Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon that he may slay them before your eyes 22 And all the prisoners of Iuda that are in Babylon shall take this tearme of cursyng and say Nowe God do vnto thee as he did vnto Zedekiah Ahab whom the kyng of Babylon rosted in the fire 23 Because they sinned shamefully in Israel for they haue not only defiled their neighbours wiues but also preached lying wordes in my name which I haue not commaunded them This I testifie and assure saith the Lorde 24 But as for Semeiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speake vnto hym 25 Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Because thou hast sent letters in thine owne name vnto all the people that is at Hierusalem and to Sophoniah the sonne of Maasiah the priest yea sent them to all the priestes wherin thou writest thus vnto hym 26 The Lorde hath ordeyned thee to be priest in the steade of Iehoiada the priest that thou shouldest be chiefe in the house of the Lorde aboue all prophetes and preachers and that thou mightest set them vpon the pyllory or in the stockes 27 Howe happeneth it then that thou hast not reproued Hieremie of Anathoth which neuer leaueth of his propheciyng 28 And beside all this he hath sent vs worde vnto Babylon and tolde vs playnely that our captiuitie shall long endure that we should builde vs houses to dwel therin and to plant vs gardens that we may enioy the fruites therof 29 Which letter Sophonias the priest read and let Ieremie the prophete heare it 30 Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie saying 31 Sende worde to all them that be in captiuitie on this maner Thus hath the Lorde spoken concerning Semeiah the Nehelamite Because that Semeiah hath prophecied vnto you without my commission and brought you into a false hope 32 Therfore thus the Lorde doth certifie you Beholde I wyll visite Semeiah the Nehelamite and his seede so that none of his shall remayne among this people and none of them shall see the good that I wyll do for my people saith the Lorde for he hath preached falsely of the Lorde ¶ The .xxx. Chapter 1 The returne of the people from Babylon 8 God by his chastenyng sheweth that the people is sinnefull 16 The destruction of the enemies of Israel 1 THese are the wordes that the Lord sheweth vnto Ieremie saying 2 Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel Write vp diligently all the wordes that I haue spoken vnto thee in a booke 3 For lo the tyme commeth saith the Lorde that I wyll bryng agayne the prisoners of my people of Israel and Iuda saith the Lorde for I wyll restore them vnto the lande that I gaue to their fathers and they shall haue it in possession 4 Agayne these wordes spake the Lord concernyng Israel and Iuda 5 Thus saith the Lorde We haue heard a terrible crye feare and disquietnesse 6 For what els doth this signifie that I see Namely that all strong men smite euery man his hande vpon his loynes as a woman in the payne of her trauayle Who euer sawe a man trauayle with childe Enquire therafter and see yea all their faces are marueylous pale 7 Alas for this day which is so dreadfull that none may be likened vnto it and alas for the tyme of Iacobs trouble from the which he shal yet be deliuered 8 For in that day saith the Lorde of hoastes I wyll take his yoke from of thy necke and breake thy bondes and straungers shall no more haue dominion ouer them 9 But they shall do seruice vnto God their Lorde and to Dauid their kyng whom I wyll rayse vp vnto them 10 And as for thee O my seruaunt Iacob feare not saith the Lorde and be not afrayde O Israel For lo I wyll helpe thee also from farre and thy seede from the lande of their captiuitie And Iacob shall turne agayne he shal be in rest and haue a prosperous lyfe and no man shall make hym afrayde 11 For I am with thee to helpe thee saith the Lorde And though I shall destroy all the people among whom I haue scattered thee yet wyll I not destroy thee but correct thee and that with descretion for I wyll not vtterly destroy thee 12 Therfore thus saith the Lorde ▪ Thy brosinges are perilous thy woundes redy to cast thee into sicknesse 13 There is no man to meddle with thy cause or to lay plaster vpon thee or to bynde vp thy woundes to heale thee 14 All thy louers haue forgotten thee and care nothyng for thee for I haue geuen thee a cruell stroke and chastened thee roughly and that for the multitude of thy misdeedes for thy sinnes haue had the ouer hande 15 Why makest thou mone for thy harme In deede thou art sore wounded and in ieopardie but for the multitude of thy misdeedes and sinnes I haue done this vnto thee 16 And therfore all they that deuour thee shal be deuoured and all thine enemies shal be led into captiuitie all they that make thee waste shal be wasted them selues and all those that rob thee wyll I make also to be robbed 17 For I wyll geue thee thy health agayne and make thy woundes whole saith the Lorde because they reuiled thee as one cast away and dispised Sion sayde they is she whom no man regardeth 18 For thus saith the Lorde Beholde I wyll bryng agayne the captiuitie of Iacobs tentes and defende his dwellyng place the citie shal be builded in her olde estate and the houses shall haue their ryght foundation 19 And out of them shal go thankesgeuing and the voyce of ioy I wyll multiplie them and they shal not be fewe I shall endue them with honour and no man
punishment vnto the rebellious Iewes 19 He promiseth prosperitie vnto the Rechabites for their obedience 1 THE wordes which the Lorde spake vnto Ieremie in the raigne of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda are these 2 Go vnto the house of the Rechabites and call them out and bryng them to the house of the Lorde into some commodious place and geue them wine to drinke 3 Then toke I Iazaniah the sonne of Ieremie the sonne of Habaziniah and his brethren and all his sonnes and the whole housholde of the Rechabites 4 And brought them into the house of the Lord into the closet of the chyldren of Hanan the sonne of Iegedaliah the man of God whiche was by the closet of the princes that is aboue the closet of Maasiah the sonne of Sellum whiche is the treasurer 5 And before the sonnes of the kinred of the Rechabites I set pottes full of wine and cuppes and sayde vnto them Drinke wine 6 But they sayde We wyll drinke no wine for Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our father commaunded vs saying Ye and your sonnes shall neuer drinke wine buylde houses sowe no seede plant no vines 7 Yea ye shall haue no vineyardes but for al your tyme ye shall dwel in tentes that ye may liue long in the land wherin ye be straungers 8 Thus haue we obayed the commaundement of Ionadab the sonne of Rechab our father in al that he hath charged vs and so we drinke no wine al our life long we nor our wiues our sonnes and our daughters 9 Neither buylde we any house to dwel therein we haue also among vs neither vineyardes nor corne lande to sowe 10 But we dwell in tentes we obay and do according vnto all that Ionadab our father commaunded vs. 11 But nowe that Nabuchodonozor the kyng of Babylon came vp into the lande we sayde Come let vs go to Hierusalem that we may escape the hoast of the Chaldees and the Assyrians and so we dwell nowe at Hierusalem 12 Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie saying 13 Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Go and tell the men of Iuda and the inhabitours of Hierusalem wyll ye not be refourmed to obay my wordes saith the Lorde 14 The wordes whiche Ionadab the sonne of Rechab commaunded his sonnes that they shoulde drinke no wine are fast surely kept for vnto this day they drinke no wine but obay their fathers commaundement but as for me I haue stande vp early I haue spoken vnto you and geuen you earnest warning and yet haue ye not ben obedient vnto me 15 Yea I haue sent my seruauntes al the prophetes vnto you I rose vp early and sent you worde saying O turne you nowe euery man from his wicked way amende your liues and go not after straunge gods to worship them that ye may continue in the lande whiche I haue geuen vnto you and your fathers but ye woulde neither heare me nor folowe me 16 The chyldren of Ionabab Rechabs sonne haue stedfastly kept their fathers commaundement that he gaue them but this people is not obedient vnto me 17 And therfore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God of Israel Beholde I wyll bryng vpon Iuda and vpon euery one that dwelleth in Hierusalem all the trouble that I haue deuised against them For I haue spoken vnto them but they woulde not folowe I haue called vnto them neuerthelesse they woulde geue me no aunswere 18 Ieremie also spake vnto the householde of the Rechabites Thus saith the Lord of hoastes the God of Israel forasmuche as ye haue obayed the commaundement of Ionadab your father and kept all his preceptes and done according to all that he hath bidden 19 Therefore thus saith the Lorde of hoastes the God Israel Ionadab the sonne of Rechab shal not faile but haue one out of his flocke to stande alway before me The .xxxvj. Chapter 1 Baruch wryteth as Ieremie enditeth the booke of the curses against Iuda and Israel 9 He is sent with the booke vnto the people and readeth it before them all 14 He is called before the rulers and readeth it before them also 20 The rulers shewe vnto the kyng the wordes of the booke 23 Iehudi taketh the booke and readeth a litle of it and casteth it into the fire 28 There is another written at the commaundement of the Lorde 1 IN the fourth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias the kyng of Iuda came the worde of the Lorde vnto Ieremie saying 2 Take a booke and write therein all the wordes that I haue spoken to thee against Israel against Iuda and against all the people from the tyme that I began to speake vnto thee in the raigne of Iosias vnto this day 3 That when the house of Iuda heareth of the plague whiche I haue deuised for them they may peraduenture turne euery man from his wicked way that I may forgeue their offences and sinnes 4 Then dyd Ieremie call Baruch the sonne of Neriah and Baruch wrote in the booke at the mouth of Ieremie all the wordes of the Lorde whiche he had spoken vnto hym 5 And Ieremie commaunded Baruch saying I am in prison so that I may not come into the house of the Lorde 6 Therefore go thou thither and reade the booke that thou hast written at my mouth namely the wordes of the Lord and reade them in the Lordes house vpon the fasting day that the people whole Iuda and al they that come out of the cities may heare 7 Peraduenture they wyll pray meekelye before the face of the Lorde and turne euery one from his wicked way for great is the wrath and displeasure that the Lorde hath taken against this people 8 So Baruch the sonne of Neriah dyd according to all that Ieremie the prophete commaunded hym reading the wordes of the Lorde out of the booke in the Lordes house 9 And this was done in the fifth yere of Iehoakim the sonne of Iosias kyng of Iuda in the ninth moneth when it was commaunded that all the people of Hierusalem shoulde fast before the Lorde and they also that were come frō the cities of Iuda vnto Hierusalem 10 Then read Baruch the wordes of Ieremie out of the booke within the house of the Lorde out of the treasurie of Gamariah the sonne of Saphan the scribe which is beside the hyer loft of the new doore of the Lordes house that all the people might heare 11 Now when Micheas the sonne of Gamariah the sonne of Saphan heard all the wordes of the lord out of the booke 12 He went downe to the kynges palace into the scribes chaumbers for there all the princes were set Elisama the scribe Dalaiah the sonne of Semei Elnathan the sonne of Achbor Gamariah the sonne of Saphan Zedekias the sonne of Hananias with all the princes 13 And Micheas tolde them all the wordes that he hearde Baruch reade out of the booke before the people 14 Then all the
princes sent Iehudi the sonne of Nathaniah the sonne of Selemiah the sonne of Chusi vnto Baruch saying Take in thine hande the booke whereout thou hast read before all the people come So Baruch the sonne of Neriah toke the booke in his hande and came vnto them 15 And they sayd vnto him Sit downe and reade the booke that we may heare also So Baruch read that they might heare 16 Nowe when they had hearde all the wordes they were abashed one vpon another and sayde vnto Baruch We will certifie the king of al these wordes 17 And they examined Baruch saying Tell vs howe diddest thou write all these wordes out of his mouth 18 Then Baruch aunswered them He spake all these wordes vnto me with his mouth and I wrote them in the booke 19 Then sayd the princes vnto Baruch Go thy way hide thee with Ieremie so that no man knowe where ye be 20 And they went in to the kyng to the court but they kept the booke in the chaumber of Elizama the scribe and tolde the kyng all the wordes that he might heare 21 So the kyng sent Iehudi to fet hym the booke which he brought out of Elizama the scribes chaumber and Iehudi read in it that the king and all the princes whiche were about hym might heare 22 Nowe the kyng sate in the winter house for it was in the ninth moneth and there was a fire before hym 23 And when Iehudi had read three or foure leaues therof he cut the booke in peeces with a penknife and cast it into the fire vpon the harth vntill the booke was al brent in the fire vpon the harth 24 Yet no man was abashed therof nor rent his clothes neither the kyng hym selfe nor his seruauntes though they hearde all these wordes 25 Neuerthelesse Elnathan Dalaiah and Gamariah besought the kyng that he woulde not burne the booke notwithstanding the kyng woulde not heare them 26 But commaunded Ierahmel the sonne of Amelech Saraiah the sonne of Ezriel and Selemiah the sonne of Abdeel to lay handes vpon Baruch the scribe and vpon Ieremie the prophete but the Lorde kept them out of sight 27 Nowe after that the kyng had brent the booke and the sermons which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Ieremie the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremie saying 28 Take another booke and write in it all the foresayde sermons that were written in the first booke whiche Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda hath brent 29 And tell Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda thus saith the Lorde Thou hast brent the booke and thoughtest within thy selfe Why hast thou written therin that the kyng of Babylon shall come and make this lande waste so that he shall make both people and cattell to be out of it 30 Therefore thus the Lorde saith of Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda There shall none of his generation sit vpon the throne of Dauid his dead coarse shal be cast out that the heate of the day and the frost of the night may come vppon hym 31 And I wyll visite the wickednesse of hym of his seede and of his seruauntes Moreouer all the euyll that I haue promised them though they hearde me not wyll I bryng vpon them vpon the inhabitours of Hierusalem and vpon all Iuda 32 Then toke Ieremie another booke and gaue it Baruch the scribe the sonne of Neriah which wrote therin out of the mouth of Hieremie all the sermons that were in the first booke which Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda did burne and there were added vnto them many mo sermons lyke vnto the former ¶ The .xxxvij. Chapter 1 Zedekia succeedeth Cononiah 3 he sendeth vnto Ieremie to pray for hym 12 Ieremie goyng into the lande of Beniamin is taken 15 he is beaten and put in prison 17 he is deliuered by kyng Zedekia 1 ZEdekia the sonne of Iosiah which was made kyng through Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon raigned in the lande of Iuda in the stead of Cononiah the sonne of Iehoakim 2 But neither he nor his seruauntes nor the people in his lande woulde obey the wordes of the Lorde which he spake by the prophete Ieremie 3 Neuerthelesse Zedekia the king sent Iehucall the sonne of Selemiah and Sophoniah the sonne of Maasiah the priest to the prophete Ieremie saying O pray thou vnto the Lorde our God for vs. 4 Nowe Ieremie walked free among the people at that tyme and was not put in prison as yet 5 Pharaos hoast also was come out of Egypt which when the Chaldees which besieged Hierusalem perceaued they departed from thence 6 Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto the prophete Ieremie saying 7 Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel This aunswere shal ye geue to the king of Iuda that sent you vnto me for counsayle Beholde Pharaos hoast which is come foorth to helpe you shal returne into Egypt into his owne lande 8 But the Chaldees shall come agayne and fight agaynst this citie winne it and set fire vpon it 9 For thus saith the Lorde Deceaue not your owne myndes thynkyng on this maner Tushe the Chaldees go nowe their way from vs No they shall not go their way 10 For though ye had slayne the whole hoast of the Chaldees that besiege you and that none remayned of them but wounded men yet shoulde they stande vp and set fire vpon this citie 11 Nowe when the hoast of the Chaldees was broken vp from Hierusalem for feare of the Egyptians armie 12 Ieremie went out of Hierusalem towarde the lande of Beniamin to get hym from among the people 13 And when he came vnder Beniamins port there was a porter called Ieriah the sonne of Selemiah the sonne of Hananiah which fell vpon hym and toke hym saying Thy mynde is to runne to the Chaldees 14 Then sayde Ieremie It is not so I go not to the Chaldees Neuerthelesse Ieriah woulde not beleue hym but brought Ieremie bounde before the princes 15 Wherfore the princes were angry with Ieremie smote hym and layde hym in prison in the house of Ionathan the scribe for they had made that house the prison 16 Thus was Hieremie put into a dungeon and prison and so lay there a long tyme. 17 Then Zedekia the kyng sent for him and called hym and asked hym quietly in his owne house saying Thinkest thou this businesse that nowe is in hande commeth of the Lorde Ieremie aunswered Yea that it doth and thou sayde he shalt be deliuered into the kyng of Babylons power 18 Moreouer Ieremie sayde vnto king Zedekia What haue I offended agaynst thee agaynst thy seruauntes or agaynst this people that ye haue put me in prison 19 Where are your prophetes which haue prophecied vnto you and sayde That the king of Babylon shoulde not come agaynst you and this lande 20 And therfore heare nowe O my Lorde the kyng let my prayer be accepted before thee and sende me no more into the house of Ionathan the scribe that I dye
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 ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde when I shall bring you into the lande of Israel into the lande for the which I lift vp my hande to geue it vnto your fathers 43 There shall ye call to rembraunce your owne wayes and all your workes wherin ye haue ben defiled and ye shal be cut of in your owne sight for all your wickednesse that ye haue done 44 And ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde when I deale with you for my names sake and not after your wicked wayes nor accordyng to your corrupt workes O ye house of Israel saith the Lorde God 45 Moreouer the worde of the Lorde came vnto me saying 46 Thou sonne of man set thy face towarde the way of Themanah and drop thy worde towarde the south and prophecie towarde the forest of the south fielde 47 And say to the forest of the south Heare the worde of the Lord thus saith the Lorde God Beholde I wyll kindle a fire in thee that shall consume all the greene trees with all the dry the continuall flambe shall not be quenched and euery face from the south to the north shal be burnt therin 48 And all fleshe shall see that I the Lorde haue kindled it and it shall not be quenched 49 Then sayde I Ah Lorde God they say of me Doth not he speake parables ⧠The .xxi. Chapter ◠He threatneth the sworde that is to say destruction to the citie of Hierusalem 25 He sheweth the fall of king Zedekiah 28 He is commaunded to prophecie the destruction of the children of Ammon 30 After the slaughter of other at the last the Lorde threatneth death vnto Nabuchodonozor hym selfe 1 THe worde of the Lorde came vnto me saying 2 Thou sonne of man set thy face towarde Hierusalem and drop thy worde towarde the holy places and prophecie agaynst the lande of Israel 3 Say to the lande of Israel thus saith the Lorde Beholde I am against thee and wyll drawe my sworde out of the sheath and cut of from thee both the righteous and the wicked 4 Seyng then that I wyll cut of from thee both the righteous and the wicked therfore shall my sworde go out of his sheath agaynst all fleshe from the south to the north 5 That all fleshe may knowe howe that I the Lorde haue drawne my sworde out of the sheath and it shall not be put in agayne 6 Mourne therfore O thou sonne of man yea euen with the breakyng of thy loynes mourne bitterly in their presence 7 And if they say vnto thee wherfore mournest thou Then tell them for the tidinges that commeth All heartes shall melt all handes shal be letten downe all stomackes shal faynt and all knees shall go as water beholde it commeth and shal be brought to passe saith the Lorde God 8 Agayne the worde of the Lorde came vnto me saying 9 Thou sonne of man prophecie and speake thus saith the Lorde God Speake the sworde the sworde is sharpened and well furbished 10 Sharpened is it to make a great slaughter and furbished that it may glitter Shall we then make mirth It contemneth the rodde of my sonne as all other trees 11 He hath geuen it to be furbished to holde it in the hande this sworde is sharpened and furbished to geue it into the hande of the slayer 12 Crye and houle sonne of man for it commeth vpon my people it commeth vpon all the princes of Israel the terrours of the sworde shal be vpon my people smite therfore thou vpon thy thygh 13 Because it is a triall and what if it contemne the rodde It shal be no more saith the Lorde 14 Prophecie thou sonne of man smite thy handes together let the sworde be doubled thrise euen the sworde of the great slaughter entryng into their priuie chaumbers 15 To make them faynt at the heartes and to multiplie their falles in all their gates haue I geuen the terrour of the sworde Ah it is made bright and dressed for the slaughter 16 Get thee one way or other either vpon the right hande or vpon the left whyther soeuer thy face turneth 17 I will smite my handes together also and make my wrathfull indignation to rest euen I the Lorde haue sayde it 18 The worde of the Lorde came yet vnto me agayne saying 19 Thou sonne of man appoynt thee two wayes that the sworde of the king of Babylon may come Both these wayes shal go out of one lande and choose thee a place at the head of the citie wayes choose it 20 Appoynt a way that the sworde may come towarde Rabbath of the Ammonites and towarde Iuda in the defenced Hierusalem 21 For the kyng of Babylon stoode at the partyng of the wayes at the head of the two wayes consultyng by diuination he made his arrowes bright consulted with images lookt in the liuer 22 At his right hande was the soothsaying for Hierusalem to appoynt captaynes to open their mouth to the slaughter and to lift vp their voice with the alarum to set battle rammes agaynst the gates to cast a bulwarke and to builde a fort 23 And it shal be vnto them as a false diuination in their sight for the othes made vnto them but he wyll call to remembraunce their iniquitie to the intent they may be taken 24 Therfore thus saith the Lorde God Because ye haue made your iniquitie to be remēbred in discoueryng your transgressions so that in all your workes your sinnes might appeare because ye are come to remembraunce ye shal be taken by hande 25 O thou shamefull wicked prince of Israel whose day is come euen when wickednesse shall haue an ende 26 Thus saith the Lorde God I wyll take away the Diademe and put of the crowne this shal be no more the same I wyll exalt the humble and abase him that is hye 27 Ouerthrowen ouerthrowen ouerthrowen wyll I put it and it shall not be vntyll he come to whom the iudgement belongeth and to whom I haue geuen it 28 And thou O sonne of man prophecie and speake Thus saith the Lorde God to the children of Ammon and to their blasphemie speake thou The sworde the sworde is drawen foorth alredy to slaughter and furbished to consume because of the glitteryng 29 Whiles they see vnto thee vanitie and deuine a lye vnto thee to put thee with the neckes of the wicked that be slayne whose day is come when their iniquitie shall haue an ende 30 Shoulde I cause it to returne into his sheath In the place where thou wast created in the lande of thine habitation wyll I iudge thee 31 And I wyll powre mine indignation vpon thee and wyll blowe vpon thee in the fire of my wrath and deliuer thee into the handes of desperate people which are skilfull to destroy 32 Thou shalt feede the fire and thy blood shal be
possession that which is in the midst shal be the princes betwixt the border of Iuda and the border of Beniamin shal be the princes 23 Nowe of the other tribes from the east part vnto the west shall Beniamin haue his portion 24 Vpon the borders of Beniamin from the east side vnto the west shall Simeon haue his portion 25 Vpon the borders of Simeon from the east side vnto the west shal Isachar haue his portion 26 Vpon the borders of Isachar from the east side vnto the west shall Zabulon haue his portion 27 Vpon the borders of Zabulon from the east part vnto the west shall Gad haue his portion 28 Vpon the borders of Gad at the south side toward Temanah the border shal be from Thamar vnto the waters of strife to Cades and to the riuer that runneth into the maine sea 29 This is the lande which ye shal deuide by lot for an inheritaūce vnto the tribes of Israel and these be their portions saith the Lorde God 30 These be the bondes of the citie vpon the north part fiue hundred and foure thousand measures 31 The gates of the citie shal haue the names of the tribes of Israel three gates of the north side one gate of Ruben another of Iuda the third of Leui. 32 Vpon the east side fiue hundred and foure thousand measures with three gates the one of Ioseph another of Beniamin the third of Dan. 33 Vpon the south side fiue hundred and foure thousand measures with the three gates the one of Simeon another of Isachar the third of Zabulon 34 And vpon the west side fiue hundred and fiue thousand measures with their three gates also the one of Gad another of Aser the third of Nephthali 35 Thus shal it haue eighteene thousand measures rounde about and the name of the citie from that time foorth shal be The Lorde is there ⧠The booke of the prophete Daniel The first Chapter 1 The prophete sheweth the captiuitie of Iehoachim king of Iuda 4 Of the children that were in captiuitie the king commaundeth to choose which of them should be taught the learning and language of the Chaldeans 5 They are allowed the kinges feeding 8 Daniel abstaineth from the meate of the king of Babylon 1 IN the third yere of the raigne of Iehoachim king of Iuda came Nabuchodonozor king of Babylon vnto Hierusalem besieged it 2 And the Lord deliuered Iehoachim the king of Iuda into his hande with part of the vessels of the house of God which he caried away into the lande of Sennar to the house of his God and he brought the vessels into his gods treasurie 3 And the king spake vnto Asphenaz the chiefe chamberlaine that he should bring him certaine of the children of Israel of the kinges seede and of the princes 4 Springaldes without any blemishe but well fauoured studious in al wisdome skilfull for knowledge able to vtter knowledge such as haue liuelinesse in thē that they may stand in the kinges palace whom they might teache the learning the toung of the Chaldeans 5 Vnto these the king appoynted a dayly prouision euery day of a portion of the kinges meate and of the wine which he dranke so to norishe them three yeres that afterwarde they might stande before the king 6 Among these nowe were certayne of the children of Iuda namely Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias 7 Vnto these the chiefe chamberlayne gaue other names and called Daniel Baltassar Ananias Sidrach Misael Misach and Azarias Abednego 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he woulde not defile hym selfe with the portion of the kinges meate nor with the wyne which he dranke therefore he required the chiefe chamberlayne that he might not defile him selfe 9 And God brought Daniel into fauour and tender loue with the chiefe chamberlayne 10 And the chiefe chamberlayne sayde vnto Daniel I am afrayde of my lord the king whiche hath appoynted you your meate and your drinke wherfore should he see your faces worse liking then the springalds of your age so ye shal make me indaunger my head vnto the king 11 Then Daniel sayde vnto Melassar whom the chiefe chamberlayne had set ouer Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias 12 O proue but ten dayes with thy seruauntes and let vs haue pulse to eate and water to drinke 13 Then let our countenaunces be loked vpon before thee and the countenaunces of the children that eate of the portion of the kinges meate and as thou seest deale with thy seruauntes 14 So he consented to them in this matter and proued them ten dayes 15 And at the end of ten dayes their countenaunces appeared fairer and fatter in fleshe then all the childrens which did eate the portion of the kinges meate 16 Thus Melassar toke away the portion of their meate and the wyne that they shoulde drinke and gaue them pulse 17 As for these foure children God gaue them knowledge and vnderstanding in all learning wysdome also he gaue Daniel vnderstanding of all visions and dreames 18 Nowe when the time was expired that the king had appoynted to bring them in the chiefe chamberlayne brought them before Nabuchodonozor 19 And the king communed with them but among them all were founde none such as Daniel Ananias Misael and Azarias therfore stoode they before the king 20 In all matters of wysdome and vnderstanding that the king enquired of them he founde them ten times better then all the wyse men and soothsayers that were in all his realme 21 And Daniel abode still vnto the first yere of king Cyrus The .ii. Chapter 1 The dreame of Nabuchodonozor 2 he calleth vnto him soothsayers and requireth of them both the dreame and the interpretation therof 10 they aunswere they can not shew it 13 The king commaundeth all the wise men of Babylon to be slayne 16 Daniel requireth time to solute the questiō 19 the Lord openeth the misterie vnto Daniel 24 Daniel is brought to the king and sheweth him his dreame and the interpretation therof 44 Of the euerlasting kingdome of Christ 1 IN the second yere of the raigne of Nabuchodonozor had Nabuchodonozor a dreame wherthorowe his spirite was troubled his sleepe brake from him 2 Then the king commaunded to cal the wise men and soothsayers sorcerers and the Chaldees for to shew the king his dreame So they came stoode before the king 3 And the king sayde vnto them I haue dreamed a dreame and my spirite was troubled to knowe the dreame 4 Vpon this the Chaldees aunswered the king in the Syrians speache O king God saue thy life for euer Shewe thy seruauntes the dreame and we shal shewe the interpretation 5 The king aunswered and sayde to the Chaldeans The thing is gone fro me If ye will not make me vnderstand the dreame with the interpretation therof ye shall be drawne in peeces your houses made a iakes 6 But if
ye tell me the dreame and the interpretation therof ye shall receaue of me giftes rewardes and great honour therefore shewe me the dreame and the interpretation therof 7 They aunswered againe and said The king must shewe his seruauntes the dreame and so shal we declare the interpretation therof 8 Then the king aunswered saying I perceaue of a trueth that ye would redeeme the time for so much as ye see the thing is gone fro me 9 Therfore if ye wil not tel me the dreame this is your only purpose ye haue prepared liyng corrupt wordes to speake before me til the time be chaunged therfore tell me the dreame that I may knowe that ye can declare me the interpretation therof 10 Vpon this the Chaldees gaue aunswere before the king and sayde There is no man vpon earth that can tell the thing which the king speaketh of yea there is neither king prince nor lorde that euer asked such thinges at a wyse man soothsayer or Chaldean 11 For it is a rare matter that the king requireth neither is there any that can certifie the king therof except the gods whose dwelling is not with fleshe 12 For the which cause the king was wroth with great indignation commaunded to destroy al the wise men at Babylon 13 So the decree went foorth and the wise men were slayne they sought also to slay Daniel with his companions 14 Then Daniel stayed the counsell and decree with Arioch the captayne of the kinges garde who was gone foorth to put to death the wise men of Babylon 15 He aunswered and sayde vnto Arioch the kinges captayne why is the sentence so hastie from the king Then Arioch tolde Daniel the matter 16 Vpon this went Daniel and desired the king that he woulde geue him leysure and that he would shewe the king the interpretation 17 Then Daniel went to his house and shewed the thing to Ananias Misael and Azarias his companions 18 That they shoulde beseche the God of heauen for grace in this secrete that Daniel and his felowes with other such as were wyse in Babylon perished not 19 Then was the secrete reuealed vnto Daniel in a vision by night then Daniel praysed the God of heauen 20 Daniel also aunswered and said The name of God be praysed for euer euer for wysdome and strength are his 21 He chaungeth the times and seasons he taketh away kinges he setteth vp kinges he geueth wysdome vnto the wyse and vnderstanding to those that vnderstande 22 He reuealeth the deepe secrete thinges he knoweth the thing that lieth in darknesse for the light dwelleth with him 23 I thanke thee and prayse thee O thou God of my fathers that thou hast geuen me wisdome and strength and hast shewed me now the thing that we desired of thee for thou hast declared the kinges matter vnto vs. 24 Vpon this went Daniel in vnto Arioch whom the king had ordeined to destroy the wise men at Babylon he went and sayde thus vnto him Destroy not the wyse men of Babylon but bring me before the king and I shall shewe the king the interpretation 25 Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all the haste and sayde thus vnto him I haue founde a man among the children of Iuda that were brought captiues that will declare vnto the king the interpretation 26 Then aunswered the king and sayd vnto Daniel whose name was Baltassar Art thou able to shewe me the dreame which I haue seene and the interpretation therof 27 Daniel aunswered in the presence of the king and sayd As for this secrete for the whiche the king maketh inquisition there can neither the men of vnderstanding nor soothsayers nor the wyse men nor readers of destinies declare it vnto the king 28 But there is a God in heauen that reuealeth secretes sheweth the king Nabuchodonozor what is for to come in the latter dayes Thy dreame and that whiche thou hast seene in thyne head vpon thy bed is this 29 O king when thou wast in thy bed thoughtes came into thy mynde what should come hereafter so he that is the opener of misteries telleth thee what is for to come 30 As for me this secrete is not shewed me for any wysdome that I haue more then any other liuing but onely that I might shew the king the interpretation and that thou mightest knowe the thoughtes of thyne owne heart 31 Thou king sawest and beholde there was a great image this great image whose brightnesse was excellent stoode before thee and the fourme therof was terrible 32 This images head was of fine gold his brest and armes of siluer his belly and his thighes of brasse 33 His legges were of iron his feete were part of iron and part of clay 34 Thou beheldest it till a stone was cut without handes which smote the image vpon his feete that were of iron clay and brake them to peeces 35 Then was the iron the clay the brasse the siluer and gold broken al together became like y e chaffe of sommer floores and the winde caryed them away that no place was found for them the stone that smote the image became a great mountayne and filled the whole earth 36 This is the dreame and now will we shew before the king what it meaneth 37 O king thou art a king of kinges for the God of heauē hath geuen vnto thee a kingdome power strength glorie 38 And in all places whersoeuer the children of men dwell the beastes of the fielde and the foules of the aire hath he geuen into thy hande and hath made thee ruler in them all thou art this head of golde 39 After thee shall arise another kingdome inferior to thee another third kingdome shal be of brasse whiche shall beare rule ouer all the earth 40 The fourth kingdome shal be strong as iron for as iron breaketh in peeces and subdueth all thinges and as iron bruiseth all these thinges so shall it breake in peeces and bruise all 41 Where as thou sawest the feete toes parte of potters clay part of iron the kingdome shal be deuided but there shal be in it of the strength of the iron for so much as thou sawest the iron mixt with the clay and earth 42 And as the toes of the feete were part of iron and part of clay so shal the kingdome be part strong and part broken 43 And wheras thou sawest iron mixt with clay and earth they shall mingle themselues with the seede of men and yet not ioyne one with another as iron will not be mixt with clay 44 And in the dayes of these kinges shall the God of heauen set vp a kingdome which shall neuer be destroyed and this kingdome shall not be geuen ouer to another people but it shall breake and destroy al these kingdomes and it shal stand for euer 45 Like as thou sawest that without any handes
there was cut out of the mount a stone whiche brake the iron the brasse the clay the siluer and gold in peeces so the great God hath shewed the king what shall come to passe after this This is a true dreame the interpretation of it is sure 46 Then the king Nabuchodonozor fell downe vpon his face and bowed hym selfe vnto Daniel and commaunded to ordeine rewardes and sweete odours for hym 47 The king aunswered Daniel sayde Of a truth your God is a God of gods and the Lorde of kinges and a reuealer of secretes seing thou couldest reueale this secrete 48 So the king made Daniel a great man and gaue him many great giftes he made hym ruler of all the countreys of Babylon and the chiefe of the rulers aboue all the wyse men of Babylon 49 Then Daniel made request to the king and he set Sidrach Misach and Abednego ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon but Daniel sate in the kinges gate The .iii. Chapter 1 The king setteth vp a golden image which he commaundeth to be worshipped 8 Sidrach Misach and Abednego are accused because they despised the kinges commaundement 13 They are brought vnto the king commaunded to worship the image ▪ 16 they refuse to do it and are put into a burning ouen 25 By beleefe in God they are deliuered from the fire 28 Nabuchodonozor confesseth the power of God after the sight of the miracle 1 NAbuchodonozor y e king made an image of gold whiche was threescore cubites hie and sixe cubites thicke he set it vp in the plaine of Dura in the prouince of Babylon 2 Then Nabuchodonozor the king sent foorth to gather together the dukes lordes and nobles the iudges and officers the deputies and sherifes with all the rulers of the prouinces that they might come to the dedication of the image whiche Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp 3 So the dukes lordes and nobles the iudges officers deputies sherifes with all the rulers of the prouince gathered them together vnto the dedicating of the image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp they stoode before the image whiche Nabuchodonozor had set vp 4 Then an herald cryed a loude To you it is commaunded O people nations and languages 5 That whē ye heare the noyse of the cornet trumpet harpe shawme psaltries dulcimer and al maner of instrumentes of musicke ye fall downe and worship that golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king hath set vp 6 Whoso then falleth not downe worshippeth shall euen the same houre be cast into the mids of a hot firie fornace 7 Therfore when all the folke heard the noyse of the cornet trumpet harpe shawme psaltries and al instrumentes of musicke then all the people nations and languages fell downe and worshipped the golden image that Nabuchodonozor the king had set vp 8 Nowe were there certayne men of the Chaldees that went euen then and cried out an accusation of the Iewes 9 They spake and sayde vnto the king Nabuchodonozor O king liue for euer 10 Thou O king hast made a decree that euery man that shall heare the sound of the cornet trumpet harpe shawme psaltries dulcimer all instrumentes of musicke shall fall downe and worship the golden image 11 And who so then fel not downe worshipped not that he shoulde be cast into the mids of an hot firie fornace 12 Now are there certayne Iewes whom thou hast set ouer the charge of the prouince of Babylon namely Sidrach Misach and Abednego these men O king regarded not thy commaundement yea they will not serue thy gods nor worship the golden image that thou hast set vp 13 Then Nabuchodonozor in his anger and wrath commaunded that Sidrach Misach Abednego should be brought vnto hym so these men were brought before the king 14 Then Nabuchodonozor spake vnto them and sayde Is it true O Sidrach Misach Abednego will not you serue my gods nor worship the golden image that I haue set vp 15 Nowe therfore be redy when ye heare the sound of the cornet trumpet harpe shawme psaltries dulcimers and al instrumentes of musicke to fal downe and worship the image whiche I haue made for if ye worship it not ye shal be cast immediatly into the mids of a hot firie fornace for who is that God that can deliuer you out of my handes 16 Sidrach Misach and Abednego aunswered the king and sayd O Nabuchodonozor we are not carefull to aunswere thee in this matter 17 Beholde our God whom we serue is able to deliuer vs from the hot firie fornace and he wil deliuer vs out of thy hande O king 18 And though he will not yet shalt thou knowe O king that we will not serue thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set vp 19 Then was Nabuchodonozor full of indignation so that the countenaunce of his face chaunged vpon Sidrach Misach and Abednego therefore he charged and commaunded that they should heate the fornace one seuen tunes more then it was wont to be heat 20 And he charged the most valiaunt men of warre that were in his armie to bind Sidrach Misach and Abednego and to cast them into the hot firie fornace 21 So these men were bounde in their coates hosen head attire with their other garmentes and cast into the mids of the hot firie fornace 22 Therefore because the kinges commaundement was straite the fornace was exceeding hot the men that put in Sidrach Misach and Abednego the flamble of the fire destroyed them 23 And these three men Sidrach Misach and Abednego fel downe in the mids of the hot firie fornace bounde 24 Then Nabuchodonozor the king was astonied rose vp in all haste he spake vnto his counsel and sayd Dyd not we cast three men bounde into the mids of the fire They aunswered and sayde vnto the king It is true O king 25 He aunswered sayde Lo I see foure men loose walking in the mids of y e fire and they haue no hurt and the fourme of the fourth is like the sonne of God 26 Vpon this went Nabuchodonozor vnto the mouth of the hot firie fornace he spake also and sayd O Sidrach Misach and Abednego ye seruauntes of the hye God go foorth and come hyther And so Sidrach Misach Abednego came foorth of the mids of the fire 27 Then the dukes lordes and nobles and the kinges counsel came together to see these men vpon whom the fire had no maner of power in their bodies in so much that the very heere of their head was not burnt and their clothes vnchaunged yea there was no smell of fire felt vpon them 28 Then spake Nabuchodonozor and sayde Blessed be the God of Sidrach Misach and Abednego which hast sent his angel and deliuered his seruauntes that put their trust in him and haue altered the kinges commaundement and ieoparded their bodies rather then
hym 33 The very same houre was this matter fulfilled vpon Nabuchodonozor so that he was cast out of mens companie did eate grasse like oxen and his body was wet with the deawe of heauen till his heere 's were growen as Egles fethers and his nayles like byrdes clawes 34 When this time was past I Nabuchodonozor lift vp myne eyes vnto heauen and mine vnderstanding was restored vnto me then gaue I thankes vnto the highest I magnified praysed hym that liueth for euermore whose power is an euerlasting power and his kingdome is from one generatiō to another 35 And all they that dwel vpon the earth are to be reputed as nothing and according to his will he worketh in the armie of heauen among the inhabitours of the earth and there is none that may resist his hand or say vnto him what doest thou 36 At the same time was myne vnderstanding geuen me againe and I was restored to the honour of my kingdome my glorie and my beautie was restored vnto me my counsellers and princes sought vnto me and I was established in my kingdome my glorie was augmented towarde me 37 Now therfore I Nabuchodonozor prayse and extol magnifie the king of heauen whose workes are all trueth his wayes iudgement and those that walke in pryde he is able to abase The .v. Chapter 1 Balthasar king of Babylon abusing the vessels of the temple seeth an hande wryting in the wal 8 The soothsayers called of the king can not expounde the wryting 13 Daniel is called which readeth it and interpreteth also 30 Balthasar beyng slaine Darius succedeth in his roome 1 KIng Balthasar made a great feast to a thousand of his princes and dranke wine before the thousande 2 And Balthasar when he had tasted the wine commaunded to bring hym the golden and siluer vessels whiche his father Nabuchodonozor had brought from the temple in Hierusalem that the king and his princes and his wyues and his concubines might drinke therin 3 So were brought the goldē vessels that they had taken out of the temple of the Lordes house at Hierusalem and the king and his princes his wyues and his concubines drunke in them 4 They drunke wine praysed the gods of golde siluer brasse iron wood and stone 5 In the very same houre there appeared fingers of a mans hande wryting right ouer against the candlesticke vpon the plaster of the wall of the kinges palace and the king sawe the knockles of the hande that wrote 6 Then chaunged the king his countenaunce his thoughtes troubled hym so that the ioyntes of his loynes were loosed and his knees smote one against the other 7 Wherfore the king cryed mightyly that they should bring the soothsayers Chaldees wysardes the king spake also to the wise men of Babylon said Who so can reade this wryting shewe me the interpretation thereof shal be clothed with purple and haue a cheyne of golde about his necke and shal be the third ruler in the kingdome 8 Vpon this came al the kinges wise men but they coulde neither reade the wryting nor shewe the king the interpretation 9 Then was king Balthasar greatly troubled and his countenaunce was chaunged in him and his princes were astonied 10 Nowe the queene by reason of the talke of the king his princes came into the banket house and the queene spake and sayde O king lyue for euer let not thy thoughtes trouble thee and let not thy countenaunce be chaunged 11 There is a man in thy kingdome that hath the spirite of the holy Gods within him in the dayes of thy father light and vnderstanding wysdome like the wysedome of the gods was founde in hym whom the king Nabuchodonozor thy father the king I say thy father made chiefe of the wyse men soothsayers Chaldeans and wysardes 12 Because that such an aboundaunt spirite knowledge and vnderstanding to expound dreames to open secretes to declare harde doubtes was founde in him yea euen in Daniel whom the king named Baltassar let Daniel be called and he shal declare the interpretation 13 Then was Daniel brought before the king so the king spake vnto Daniel and sayde Art thou that Daniel whiche art of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda whom my father the king brought out of Iurie 14 I haue hearde of thee that thou hast the spirite of the holy gods that light and vnderstanding and excellent wysdome is founde in thee 15 Now haue there ben brought before me wyse men and soothsayers to reade this wryting and to shewe me the interpretation therof but they could not declare the interpretation of the thing 16 Then hearde I of thee that thou couldest shewe interpretations and dissolue doubtes nowe if thou canst reade his writing shew me the meaning therof thou shalt be clothed with purple and haue a cheyne of gold about thy necke be the thirde ruler in the kingdome 17 Then Daniel aunswered and sayd before the king As for thy rewardes kepe them to thy selfe and geue thy giftes to another yet I wil reade the writing vnto the king and shewe him the interpretation 18 O thou king the most high god gaue vnto Nabuchodonozor thy father a kingdome and maiestie and honour glorie 19 And for the maiestie that he gaue him al people nations and languages trembled and feared before him he slue whom he would he smote whom it pleased him againe whom he would he set vp and whom he list he put downe 20 But because his heart was loftie and his minde strengthened in pride he was deposed from his kingly throne and they toke his glory from him 21 He was driuen out from the sonnes of men his heart was made lyke the beastes and his dwelling was with the wilde Asses they fed him with grasse lyke Oxen and his body was wet with the deawe of the heauen till he knewe that the most hie God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men and that he appoynteth ouer it whom so euer he pleaseth 22 And thou his sonne O Balthasar hast not submitted thyne heart though thou knewest all these thinges 23 But hast lift vp thy selfe against the Lorde of heauen so that the vessels of his house were brought before thee that thou and thy princes with thy wyues and concubines might drinke wine thereout and thou hast praysed the gods of siluer and golde of brasse and iron of wood and stone which neither see heare nor vnderstand As for the God in whose hande consisteth thy breath and all thy wayes thou hast not glorified him 24 Then was the knockles of the hand sent from him and hath written this writing 25 And this the writing that he hath writtē MENE MENE THECEL VPHARSIN 26 Now the interpretation of the thing is this MENE God hath numbred thy kingdome and brought it to an ende 27 THECEL thou art wayed in the
balaūce and art founde wanting 28 PHERES thy kingdome is deuided and geuen to the Medes and Perses 29 Then commaunded Balthasar and they clothed Daniel with purple and a chayne of golde about is necke and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdome 30 The very same night was Balthasar the king of the Chaldees slaine 31 And Darius of the Medes toke the kingdome being threescore two yeres of age ¶ The .vi. Chapter 1 Daniel is made ruler ouer the lordes 5 The imagination of an act against Daniel 7 The proclamation of the act wherof Daniel is accused vnto the king as a transgressour 16 He is put into a denne of lions by the commaundement of the king 23 He is deliuered by faith in God 24 Daniels accusers are put vnto the lions to be torne asunder 26 Darius by the proclamation of a decree magnified the God of Daniel 1 IT pleased Darius to set ouer his kingdome a hundred and twentie gouernours which should be ouer the whole kingdome 2 Aboue these he set three princes of whom Daniel was one that the gouernours might geue accomptes vnto them and the king shoulde haue no damage 3 Nowe this Daniel was preferred aboue the princes and gouerners for the spirite of God was plenteous in him so that the king was minded to set him ouer the whole realme 4 Wherfore the rulers and gouernours sought an occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdome but they coulde finde none occasion nor fault for he was so faithfull that there was no blame nor fault founde in him 5 Then saide these men We shall finde none occasion against this Daniel except we finde it against him concerning the lawe of his God 6 Vpon this went the princes and lordes together vnto the king and saide this vnto him King Darius liue for euer 8 Now O king confirme the decree and seale the writing that it be not chaunged according to the lawe of the Medes and Persians which altereth not 9 Wherefore king Darius sealed the writing and decree 10 Now when Daniel vnderstoode that he had sealed the writing he went into his house and the windowes of his chamber towarde Hierusalem stoode open there kneeled he downe vpon his knees three times a day he made his petition and praysed his God as he dyd afore time 11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel making his petition and praying vnto his God 12 So they came to the king spake before him concerning his cōmaundement saying O king hast thou not sealed the decree that within thirtie dayes whoso requireth his petition of any God or man but onely of thy selfe O king he shal be cast into the denne of lions The king aunswered and said Yea it is true according to the lawe of the Medes and Perses that altereth not 13 Then aunswered they and saide vnto the king This Daniel which is of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda O king regardeth neither thee nor thy decree that thou hast sealed but maketh his petition three times a day 14 When the king heard these wordes he was sore displeased with him selfe and set his heart on Daniel to deliuer him and he laboured till the sonne went downe to deliuer him 15 Then these men assembled vnto the king and said vnto him Knowe this O king that the lawe of the Medes Perses is that the commaundement statute which the king maketh may not be altered 16 Then the king commaunded and they brought Daniel and they cast him into the lions denne Nowe the king spake vnto Daniel saide Thy God whom thou alway seruest euen he wyll deliuer thee 17 And there was brought a stone laide vpon y e mouth of the denne this the king sealed with his owne ring and with the signet of his princes that the purpose concerning Daniel should not be chaunged 18 So the king went into his palace and remayned fasting neither was there any instrumentes of musicke brought in before him his sleepe went from him 19 But betimes in the morning at the breake of the day the king arose went in all haste vnto the denne of the lions 20 Now as he came nye vnto the denne he cryed with a pitious voyce vnto Daniel yea the king speake and saide vnto Daniel O Daniel thou seruaūt of the liuing God is not thy God whom thou seruest alway able to deliuer thee from y e lions 21 Then Daniel saide vnto the king O king liue for euer 22 My God hath sent his angel which hath shut the lions mouthes so that they might not hurt me for myne vngiltinesse is founde out before him and as for thee O king I neuer offended thee 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him commaunded to take Daniel out of y e denne So Daniel was brought out of y e denne no maner of hurt was founde vpon him for he put his trust in his God 24 And as for those men which had accused Daniel the king commaunded to bring them to cast them into the lions denne them their children their wyues so the lions had the maisterie of them and brake all their bones asunder or euer they came at the grounde of the denne 25 After this wrote king Darius vnto al people nations tongues that dwelt in all landes Peace be multiplied vnto you 26 My commaundement is in all my dominion and kingdome that men feare and stand in awe of Daniels God for he is the liuing God which abideth euer his kindgome shall not fayle and his power is euerlasting 27 It is he that deliuereth and saueth he doth wonders and marueylous workes in heauen and in earth he hath preserued Daniel from the power of the lions 28 So this Daniel prospered in the raigne of Darius and in the raigne of Cyrus of Persia The .vii. Chapter 1 A vision of foure beastes is shewed vnto Daniel The vision is interpreted of foure kingdomes of the worlde 27 Of the euerlasting kingdome of Christe 1 IN the first yere of Balthasar king of Babylon sawe Daniel a dreame there were visions in his head vpon his head which dreame he wrote declared the summe of the matter 2 Daniel spake and saide I sawe in my vision by night and beholde the foure windes of heauen stroue vpon the great sea 3 And foure great beastes came vp from the sea one diuers from another 4 The first was as a lion and had Egles winges I beheld till his winges were pluckt from him and he lifted vp from the earth set vpon his feete like a man there was geuen him a mans heart 5 Behold an other beast which was the second was lyke a beare and stoode vpon the one side betwixt his teeth in his mouth he had three ribbes and it was saide vnto him thus Arise eate vp much fleshe 6 Then I loked and beholde there was
teareth in peeces and there is no man that can deliuer 9 Thyne hand shal be lyft vp vpon thyne enemies and all thyne aduersaries shall perishe 10 And it shall come to passe in that day saith the Lorde that I wyll take thyne horses from thee and destroy thy charrettes 11 I wyll breake downe the cities of thy lande and ouerthrowe all thy strong holdes 12 All witchcraftes wyll I roote out of thyne hande there shall no mo soothsayinges be within thee 13 Thyne idols and thyne images wyll I destroy out of thee so that thou shalt no more bowe thy selfe vnto the workes of thyne owne handes 14 Thy groues wyll I plucke vp by the rootes and breake downe thy cities 15 And I wyll execute a vengeaunce in my wrath indignation vpon the heathen such as they haue not heard The .vi. Chapter 1 An exhortation to heare the iudgement against Israel being vnkinde 8 What maner of sacrifices do please God 1 HEarken ye nowe what the Lorde sayth Arise thou and contend with the mountaynes and let the hilles heare thy voyce 2 Heare O ye mountaines the Lordes quarel and ye mightie foundations of the earth for the Lorde hath a quarell against his people and wyll pleade with Israel 3 O my people what haue I done vnto thee or wherein haue I greeued thee geue me aunswere 4 For I brought thee out of the lande of Egypt deliuered thee out of the house of bondage and I made Moyses Aaron and Miriam to leade thee 5 Remember O my people what Balaâ—h the king of Moab had deuised against thee and what aunswere that Balaam the sonne of Beor gaue him from Sethin vnto Galgal that ye may knowe the righteousnesse of the Lorde 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lorde and bowe my selfe to the hye God Shall I come before him with burnt offeringes and with calues of a yere olde 7 Hath the Lorde a pleasure in many thousandes of Rammes or innumerable streames of oyle shall I geue my first borne for myne offences and the fruite of my body for the sinne of my soule 8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lorde requireth of thee namely to do iustly to loue mercie and to humble thy selfe to walke with thy God 9 The Lordes voyce cryeth vnto the citie and the man that shal be saued considereth thy name hearken what is your rodde heare him that warneth you 10 Are not yet the treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked and the scant measure which is abhominable 11 Should I iustifie the false balaunces and the bagge of deceitfull weightes 12 For the riche men thereof are full of crueltie and the inhabitantes thereof haue spoken lyes and haue deceitfull tongues in their mouthes 13 Therefore I wyll take in hande to punishe thee and to make thee desolate because of thy sinnes 14 Thou shalt eate and not haue inough yea thou shalt bring thy selfe downe in the middes of thee thou shalt flee but not escape and those that thou wouldest saue wyll I deliuer to the sworde 15 Thou shalt sowe but not reape thou shalt presse out Oliues but oyle shalt thou not haue to annoynt thy selfe withall thou shalt tread out sweete must but shalt drincke no wine 16 Ye kepe the ordinaunces of Amri and all the customes of the house of Ahab ye walke in their counsels therfore wyl I make thee waste and cause thy inhabiters to be hissed at and ye shall beare the reproche of my people The .vii. Chapter 1 A complaynt of the litle number of the righteous 5 Against the trueth ought wâ— not to holde with our greatest friendes 14 The prosperiâ—ie of the church 1 WO is me I am become as one that goeth a gleanyng in the haruest there are no mo grapes to eate yet would I faine with al my hearte haue of the best fruite 2 There is not a godly vpon earth there is not one righteous among men they al lye in wayte for blood and euery man hunteth his brother to death 3 Yet they say they do wel when they do euyll the prince asketh and the iudge iudgeth for a rewarde therfore the great man speaketh out of the corruption of his soule and so they wrappe it vp 4 The best of them is as bryer and the most righteous of them is sharper then a thorne hedge the day of thy watchmen and of thy visitation commeth then shal be their confusion 5 Let no man beleeue his friende nor put his confidence in his brother kepe the doore of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome 6 For the sonne dishonoreth his father the daughter riseth against her mother the daughter in law against her mother in lawe and a mans foes are euen they of his owne housholde 7 Neuerthelesse I wil looke vp vnto the Lorde I will patiently abyde God my sauiour my God shall heare me 8 O thou enemie of myne reioyce not at my fall for I shall rise againe though I sit in darkenesse yet the Lorde is my light 9 I will beare the wrath of the Lord for I haue offended hym till he sit in iudgement vpon my cause and see that I haue right then will he bring me foorth to the light and I shall see his righousnesse 10 She that is myne enemie shall loke vpon it and be confounded which nowe sayth Where is the Lorde thy God myne eyes shall beholde her when she shal be troden downe as the myre in the streetes 11 This is the day that thy walles shal be buylt this day shall dryue farre away the decree 12 And at that time shall they come vnto thee from Assur from the strong cities and from the strong holdes euen vnto the riuer from the one sea to the other and from mountayne to mountayne 13 Notwithstanding the land must be wasted because of them that dwell therin and for the fruites of their owne imaginations 14 Therfore feede thy people with thy rod the flocke of thyne heritage whiche dwel desolate in the wood that they may be fed vpon the mount of Carmel Basan and Gilead as aforetime 15 Maruelous thinges wil I shewe thee like as when thou camest out of the lande of Egypt 16 This shall the heathen see and be ashamed for all their power so that they shall lay their hande vpon their mouth and stoppe their eares 17 They shal licke the dust like a serpente and as the wormes of the earth that tremble in their holes they shal be afrayde of the Lorde our God and they shall feare thee 18 Who is such a God as thou that pardonest wickednesse and forgeuest the offences of the remnaunt of thyne heritage He kepeth not his wrath for euer for his delite is to haue compassion 19 He shall turne againe and be merciful to vs he shall put downe our wickednesses and cast all our sinnes into the bottome of the sea 20
king Nabuchodonosor he forswore him selfe by the name of the Lorde and hardened his necke and heart and transgressed the lawes of the Lorde God of Israel 49 The gouernours also of the people priestes dyd many thinges against the lawes and passed all the pollutions of all nations and defiled the temple of the Lorde whiche was sanctified in Hierusalem 50 Wherefore the God of their fathers sent his messenger to call them backe because he spared them and his tabernacle also 51 But they had his messengers in derision and loke when the Lorde spake vnto them they made a sport of his prophetes 52 This drewe on so long tyll the Lorde was wroth with his people for their great vngodlynes so that he caused the kinges of the Chaldees to come vp against them 53 Which slue their young men with the sworde yea euen in the compasse of their holy temple and spared no body neither young man nor mayden olde man nor chylde among them 54 But they were all deliuered into their handes and all the holy vessels of the Lorde both great and small with the vessels of the arke of god and they toke and caryed away the kinges treasure into Babylon 55 As for the house of the Lorde they went vp into it brent it brake downe the walles of Hierusalem set fire vpon her towres 56 Destroyed all her noble buyldinges and brought them to naught and the people that were not slayne with the sworde he caryed vnto Babylon 57 Which became seruauntes to him and his chyldren tyll the Persians raigned to fulfill the worde of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Ieremias 58 Tyll the lande had fully taken her ease from them whiche toke that ease all the time she lacked her inhabitauntes to the end terme of seuentie yeres ¶ The .ij. Chapter 1 Cyrus gaue leaue to the Iewes to returne 10 He sent the holy vessels 13 The names of them that returned 16 Their aduersaries did let their buylding and the kinges letters for the same 1 NOwe when king Cyrus raigned ouer the Persians in his first yere when the Lorde would perfourme the worde that he had promysed by the mouth of the prophete Ieremie 2 The Lorde raysed vp the spirite of Cyrus the king of Persians so that he caused this wrytyng to be proclaymed throughout his whole realme 3 Saying thus saith Cyrus king of the Persians The Lorde of Israel that hye Lorde hath made me king of the whole worlde 4 And commaunded me to buylde hym an house at Hierusalem in Iurie 5 If there be any nowe of you that are of his people let the Lorde euen his Lorde be with hym and let him go vp to Hierusalem that is in Iudea and buylde the house of the Lorde of Israel that is the Lorde that dwelleth in Hierusalem 6 And all they that dwell rounde about that place shall helpe him all that dwel in his place I say whether it be with golde with siluer 7 With gyftes with horses and necessarye cattell and all other thinges that are brought with a free wyll to the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem 8 Then the principall men out of the tribes and villages of Iuda Beniamin stode vp so did the Priestes also and the Leuites al they whose minde the Lorde had moued to go vp to buylde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem 9 And they that dwelt about them helped them in all thinges with siluer and golde horses cattell and with many free giftes of many men whose mindes were stirred vp thereto 10 King Cyrus also brought foorth the vessels and ornamentes that were halowed vnto the Lorde whiche Nabuchodonosor had caried away from Hierusalem and consecrated them to his idol and image 11 And hauing brought them foorth he deliuered them to Mithridates his treasourer 12 And by hym they were deliuered to Abassar the deputie in Iurie 13 And this was the number of them a thousande golden cuppes and a thousande of siluer basens of siluer twentie and nine for the sacrifices vials of gold thirtie and of siluer two thousande foure hundred and ten and a thousande other vessels 14 So all the vessels of golde and siluer whiche they caryed away were fiue thousand foure hūdred threscore nine 15 These were brought by Salmanasar with them of the captiuitie from Babylon to Hierusalem 16 But in the tyme of Artaxerxes king of the Persians Belemus and Mithridates and Tabelius and Rathumus and Beeltethmus and Semellius the secretarie with other that were ioyned to them dwelling in Samaria other places wrote vnto hym against them that dwelt in Iudea and Hierusalem these letters folowing To the king Artaxerxes our lorde 17 Thy seruauntes Rathumus the storye wryter and Semellius the secretarie and the rest of their counsell and the iudges that are in Coelosyria Phenice 18 Be it nowe knowen to our lorde the king that the Iewes whiche are come vp from you vnto vs into the rebellious wicked citie begin to buylde the market places and to make vp the walles about it and to set vp the temple a newe 19 Now if this citie and the walles therof be set vp agayne they shall not onlye refuse to geue tributes and taxes but also rebell vtterly against kinges 20 And forsomuche as they take this in hand now about y e temple we thought it reason to thinke no scorne of it 21 But to shewe it vnto the lorde the king to the intent that if it please the king he may cause it to be sought in the bookes of olde 22 And thou shalt finde in recordes here of wrytten and shalt vnderstande that this citie hath alway ben rebellious and disobedient that it hath troubled kinges and cities 23 And that the Iewes were rebellious and raysed alwayes warres therin for the whiche cause this citie is wasted 24 Wherfore nowe we certifie our Lord the king that if this citie be buylded and occupied agayne and the walles therof set vp a newe thou canst haue no passage into Coelosyria and Phenice 25 Then wrote the king to Rathumus the storie wryter to Beeltethmus to Semellius the scribe and to the other officers and dwellers in Samaria and Syria and Phenice after this maner 26 I haue read the epistle which ye sent vnto me therefore I commaunded to make diligent searche and haue founde that this citie hath euer resisted kinges 27 That the same people are disobedient and haue caused much warre and that mightie kinges haue raigned in Hierusalem which also haue raysen vp taxes of Coelosyria and Phenice 28 Wherefore I haue commaunded to forbyd those men that they shall not buylde vp the citte and heede to be taken that there be no more done in it 29 And that they proceede no further in those wicked workes forsomuche as it myght be occasion of trouble vnto princes 30 Nowe when Rathumus and Semellius the scribe had read the wrytyng of king Artaxerxes they gat them
together and came in all the haste to Hierusalem with an hoast of horsemen and with muche people on foote 31 And forbad them to buylde And so they left of from buyldyng of the temple vnto the seconde yere of king Darius king of the Persians The .iii. Chapter 1 The feast of Darius 16 The three wyse sentences 1 KYng Darius made a great feast vnto his seruauntes vnto all his court and to al the officers of Medea and Persia 2 Yea to all the gouernours captaynes and liefetenauntes that were vnder him from India vnto Ethiopia an hundreth and twentie and seuen countreys 3 So when they had eaten and drunken being satisfied were gone home agayne Darius the king went into his chaumber layde hym downe to sleepe and after that awaked 4 Then the three young men that kept the kinges person and watched his bodye communed among them selues and spake one to another 5 Let euery one of vs speake a sentence and looke who shal ouercome whose sentence may seeme wyser then the others vnto him shal king Darius geue great giftes and great thinges in token of victorie 6 As to weare purple to drinke in gold and to slepe in gold and a chariot with brydles of golde and an head tyre of fine linnen and a chayne about his necke 7 Yea he shal sit next to Darius because of his wysdome and shal be called Darius cosin 8 So euery one wrote his meanyng sealed it and layde it vnder king Darius pelowe 9 And sayd when the king aryseth they woulde geue hym the wrytynges and looke whose worde the king the three princes of Persia shall iudge to be the most wisely spoken the same shall haue the victorie as it was appoynted 10 One wrote wine is a strong thyng 11 The seconde wrote the king is strong 12 The thirde wrote women haue very muche strength but aboue all thinges the trueth beareth away the victory 13 Nowe when the king was rysen vp they toke their wrytynges and deliuered them vnto him so he read them 14 Then sent he foorth to cal al his chiefe lordes of Persia and of Media and the rulers and the captaynes and liefetenauntes and consuls 15 And when he had set hym downe in the counsell the wrytynges were read before them 16 And he commaunded to call for the young men that they myght declare their meaninges thē selues by mouth So they were sent for and came in 17 And then he sayde vnto them shewe vs and make vs to vnderstande what the thinges are that ye haue written Then began the first whiche had spoken of the strength of wine 18 And said thus O ye men how strong is wine that deceaueth all men whiche drinke it 19 It maketh the kinges minde and the fathers to be both one the bondmans and the free the poore mans and the riche 20 It turneth also euery thought into ioy and gladnes so that a man remembreth neither heauines not debt 21 And it maketh euery heart thinke it selfe riche so that a man remembreth neither king nor gouernour and it maketh to speake all thinges by talentes 22 Moreouer when men haue dronke they forget all frendship and brotherly faythfulnes and a litle after they draw out swordes 23 And afterwards when they are from the wine they remember nothing what was done 24 O ye men is not wine the strongest that thus enforceth men to do And when he had spoken this he helde his peace ¶ The .iiij. Chapter 1 Of the strength of a kyng 13 Of the strength of women 34 Of the strength of trueth whiche sentence is approued 47 And his petition graunted 1 THen the seconde that had spoken of the strength of the king began to say 2 O ye men are not men the strongest of all that conquer both by land and sea and all the thinges that are in them 3 Nowe is the king stronger as lorde of all these thinges and that hath the dominion ouer them and loke what he commaundeth them it is all done 4 If he byd them the one against the other to make warre they do it if he send them out against the enemies they go and breake downe mountaynes walles and towres 5 They slay and are slayne and ouerpasse not the kinges commaundement if they get the victorie they bryng all to the king so well the spoyle as other thinges 6 Likewise the other that medle not with warres and fighting but tyll the grounde when they haue sowen and reaped they bring to the king and compell one another to pay his tribute vnto the king 7 And if the king though he be but one man commaunde to kill they kill if he commaunde to forgeue they forgeue 8 If he commaund to smite they smite if he byd driue away they driue away if he commaund to buylde they buylde 9 If he commaunde to breake downe they breake downe if he commaunde to plant they plant 10 So the common people and the rulers are obedient vnto hym and the king in the meane season sitteth hym downe eateth and drinketh and taketh his rest 11 And these kepe him rounde about and not one of them dare get hym out of the way to do his owne busines but must be obedient vnto the king at a worde 12 Iudge ye now O ye men how should not the king go farre aboue when in such sort he is obayed And when he had spoken thus he helde his tongue 13 The thirde whose name was Zorobabel which had spoken of women and of trueth began to say after this maner 14 O ye men it is not the great king it is not the multitude of men neither is it wine that excelleth Who is it then that ruleth them or hath the lordship ouer them is it not women 15 Women haue borne the king and all the people which beare rule by sea and by lande 16 And euen of them were they borne and they brought those vp that planted the vines wherof the wine commeth 17 They make garmentes for men they get honour vnto men and without women can not men continue 18 Yea if they haue gathered together golde and siluer or any other pretious thing do they not loue a woman for her comely shape and beautie 19 And letting all those thinges go do they not gape euen with open mouth fixe their eyes fast on her and haue not all men more desire vnto her then vnto siluer and golde or any maner of pretious thing 20 A man leaueth his owne father that brought hym vp leaueth his owne naturall countrey and eleaueth vnto his wyfe 21 Yea he ieopardeth his lyfe with his wyfe and remembreth neither father nor mother nor countrey 22 By this also ye must needes knowe that women haue dominion ouer you Do ye not labour trauayle and geue and bryng all to the woman 23 A man taketh his sworde and goeth his way to steale to kyll
the sonnes of Phinehes the sonne of Aaron Iesus the sonne of Iosedec the sonne of Sariab and Ioachim the sonne of Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel of the kinrede of Dauid out of the kinrede of Phares of the tribe of Iuda 6 Which spake wonderfull wordes before Darius the kyng of Persia in the seconde yere of his raigne in the first moneth called Nisan 7 And these are they of Iurie that came vp from the captiuitie of the transmigration whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon had brought away vnto Babylon 8 And returned vnto Hierusalem to the rest of Iurie euery man to his owne citie which came with Zorobabel with Iesus Nehemias Zacharias Reesaias Enemus Mardocheus Beelsarus Aspharasus Reelius Roimus and Baana their guides 9 The number of them of the nation and their gouernours the sonnes of Phares two thousande an hundred seuentie and two the sonnes of Saphat foure hundred seuentie and two 10 The sonnes of Areh seuen hundred ' fiftie and sixe ' 11 The sonnes of Phaath moab two ' thousande eyght hundred and twelue ' 12 The sonnes of Eilam a thousande two hundred fiftie and foure the sonnes of Zathui nine hundred fourtie and fiue the sonnes of Corbe seuen hundred and fiue the sonnes of Bani sixe hundreth fourtie and eyght 13 The sonnes of Bibai sixe hundred twentie and three the sonnes of Azgad three thousande two hundred twentie and two 14 The sonnes of Adonikam sixe hundred sixtie and seuen the sonnes of Bagoi two thousande sixtie and sixe the sonnes of Adim foure hundred fiftie and foure 15 The sonnes of Aterhezetia nintie and two the sonnes of Ceilam and Azota threescore and seuen the sonnes of Azuram foure hundred thirtie two 16 The sonnes of Ananias an hundred and one the sonnes of Arom and the sonnes of Bassa three hundred twentie and three the sonnes of Arsiphurith an hundred and two 17 The sonnes of Meterus three thousande fiue the sonnes of Bethlehem an hundred twentie and three 18 They of Netrophah fiftie and fiue they of Anathoth an hundred fiftie and eyght they of Bethsamos fourtie and two 19 They of Kariathiarim twentie and fiue they of Caphiras and Beroth seuen hundred fourtie and three they of Pirah seuen hundred 20 They of Chadias and Ammidioi fiue hundred twentie two they of Cirama and Gabdes sixe hundred twentie and one 21 They of Macamos an hundred twentie and two they of Bethel fiftie two the sonnes of Nebus an hundred fiftie and sixe 22 The sonnes of Calamolaus Onus seuen hundred twentie fiue the sonnes of Ierechus three hundred fourtie and fiue ' 23 The sonnes of Sanaah three thousande ' three hundred and thirtie 24 The priestes the sonnes of Ieddu the sonne of Iesus which are counted among the sonnes of Sanassib nine hundred seuentie and two the sonnes of Meruth a thousande fiftie and two 25 The sonnes of Phashur a thousande fourtie and seuen the sonnes of Charim a thousande and seuenteene 26 The Leuites the sonnes of Iessue Cadmiel Banua and Suia seuentie and foure 27 The sonnes which were holy singers the sonnes of Asaph an hundred fourtie and eyght 28 The porters the sonnes of Salum the sonnes of Iatal the sonnes of Talmon the sonnes of Dacobi the sonnes of Teta the sonnes of Sami all were an hundred thirtie and nine 29 The ministers of the temple the sonnes of Esau the sonnes of Asipha the sonnes of Tabaoth the sonnes of Ceras the sonnes of Sud the sonnes of Phaleu the sonnes of Labana the sonnes of Hagaba 30 The sonnes of Acub the sonnes of Vta the sonnes of Cetab the sonnes of Agab the sonnes of Sibe the sonnes of Anan the sonnes of Cathua the sonnes of Geddur 31 The sonnes Kaia the sonnes of Daisan the sonnes of Neroda the sonnes of Chaseba the sonnes of Gazema the sonnes of Azias the sonnes of Phinees the sonnes of Asara the sonnes of Baste the sonnes of Asana the sonnes of Meunim the sonnes of Naphison the sonnes of Bacubub the sonnes of Acupha the sonnes of Assur the sonnes of Pharacim the sonnes of Baraloth 32 The sonnes of Mehida the sonnes of Coutha the sonnes of Charescha the sonnes of Bareus the sonnes of Aserar the sonnes of Thomoth the sonnes of Nasib the sonnes of Atipha 33 The sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon the sonnes of Hazophereth the sonnes of Pharuda the sonnes of Geelah the sonnes of Lozon the sonnes of Isdael the sonnes of Staphelia 34 The sonnes of Agia the sonnes of Pharareth the sonnes of Sabin the sonnes of Spartia the sonnes of Masias the sonnes of Gar the sonnes of Addu the sonnes of Subah the sonnes of Apherra the sonnes of Barodis the sonnes of Sabat the sonnes of Allon 35 All the ministers of the temple the sonnes of the seruauntes of Solomon were three hundred seuentie and two 36 These came vp from Thelmelah and Thelharsa Carathalat and Alar leadyng them 37 Neither coulde they shewe their families nor their stocke howe they were of Israel The sonnes of Dalaias the sonnes of Thubia the sonnes of Necodan sixe hundred fiftie and two 38 Of the priestes that executed the office of the priesthood and were not founde the sonnes of Hobia the sonnes of Hacoz the sonnes of Addus which maryed Augia one of the daughters of Barzeleus 39 And was named after hym The writing of the same kinrede was sought in the register of their generation but it was not founde and therfore were they forbidden to execute the office of the priesthood 40 For vnto them sayde Nehemias and Atharias that they shoulde haue no portion in the sanctuarie tyll there rose vp an hie priest that were well instruct in the playne clearnesse and trueth 41 So of Israel from them of twelue yeres olde and children they were all in number fourtie and two thousand three hundred and threescore besides men seruauntes and women seruauntes 42 Their seruauntes and handmaydens were seuen thousande three hundred fourtie seuen The singyng men and singyng women two hundred fourtie and fiue 43 Foure hundred thirtie fiue camels seuen thousande thirtie and sixe horses two hundred fourtie fiue mules fiue thousand fiue hundred twentie and fiue beastes vsed to the yoke 44 And of their rulers also after their families when they came to the temple of God that is in Hierusalem there were that vowed to set vp the house agayne in his owne place accordyng to their abilitie 45 And to geue into the holy treasure of the workes a thousande poundes of golde fiue thousande of siluer and an hundred pretious garmentes 46 And so dwelt the priestes and the Leuites and the people in Hierusalem and in the countrey there about the singers also and the porters and all Israel in their villages 47 But when the seuenth moneth came and when the children of Israel were euery man in his owne they came altogether with one consent into the open place of the gate which is towardes the east 48 And
there Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and his brethren the priestes and Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and his brethren rising vp made redy the aulter of the God of Israel 49 To offer burnt sacrifices vpon it so as it is written in the lawe of Moyses the man of God 50 And thither were gathered agaynst them diuers of other nations of the lande but they dressed the aulter in his owne place although all the nations in the lande were enemies to them and vexed them and they offered sacrifices to the Lorde both mornyng euenyng 51 And also they helde the feast of tabernacles as it is commaunded in the lawe and sacrifices dayly as it was appertaynyng 52 And after that also the continuall oblations and the offerynges of the Sabbathes and of the newe monethes and of all holy feastes 53 And all they which had made any vowe to God began to offer sacrifice to God from the first day of the seuenth moneth although the temple of the Lorde was not yet built vp 54 And they gaue vnto the masons and carpenters money meate and drynke with chearfulnesse 55 Vnto them of Sidon also and Tyre they gaue carres that they should bring Cedar trees from Libanus whiche should be brought by flote to the hauen Ioppe according as it was cōmaunded them by Cyrus kyng of the Persians 56 And in the seconde yere and seconde moneth came into the temple of God at Hierusalem Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec and their brethren and the priestes and Leuites and all they that were come vnto Hierusalem out of the captiuitie of Babylon 57 And they layde the foundation of the house of God in the newe moone of the seconde moneth in the seconde yere that they were come to Iurie and Hierusalem 58 And they appoynted the Leuites that were aboue twentie yeres olde ouer the workes of the Lord So Iesus and his sonne brethren assisted and Cadmiel also his brother and the sonnes of Madiabon with the sonnes of Ioda the sonne of Eliadon and his sonnes brethren euen all the Leuites with one accorde folowed on earnestly to aduaunce the workes in the house of God so the workmen built vp the temple of the Lorde 59 And the priestes stoode and had their garmentes with musicall instrumentes and trumpettes and the Leuites the sonnes of Asaph had Cymbales 60 Geuyng thankes and prayses vnto the Lorde accordyng as Dauid the kyng of Israel had ordeyned 61 And they song with loude voyces songes to the prayse of the Lorde because his mercie and glorie is for euer in Israel 62 And all the people blewe out with trumpets and cryed with loude voyce praysyng the Lorde together for the rearyng vp of the house of the Lorde 63 There came also from among the priestes and Leuites and of the chiefest accordyng to the tribes and kinredes to wit the elders which had seene the former house 64 To the buildyng of this with great crye and great mournyng many also with trumpettes and great ioy cryed with loude voyce 65 Insomuch that the trumpets myght not well be hearde for the weepyng and mournyng of the people yet there was a great multitude that blewe trumpets marueylouslye so that it was hearde farre of 66 Wherfore when the enemies of the tribes of Iuda and Beniamin hearde it they came to knowe what that noyse of trumpettes shoulde meane 67 And they perceaued that they which were come againe out of captiuitie built the temple vp a newe vnto the Lorde God of Israel 68 So they went to Zorobabel Iesus and to the rulers of the villages and sayd vnto them Shall we builde with you also 69 For we lykewyse as you do obey your Lorde and do sacrifice vnto hym from the dayes of Asbazareth the kyng of Assyria which brought vs hyther 70 Then Zorobabel and Iesus and the rulers of the villages of Israel sayde vnto them It doth not agree that ye shoulde builde the temple of our God with vs. 71 We our selues alone wyll builde vnto the Lorde of Israel as is meete and like as Cyrus the kyng of the Persians hath commaunded vs. 72 But the heathen in the lande made them sluggishe that were in Iurie and sundred them letted their buildinges 73 And by their embushmentes seditions and conspiracies stopped that the buildyng coulde not be finished all the tyme that kyng Cyrus lyued so that they put of the buildyng for the space of two yeres vntyll the raigne of king Darius The .vj. Chapter 1 Of Aggeus and Zacharias 2 The buildyng of the temple 3 Sisinnes woulde let them 7 His letters to Darius 23 The kynges aunswere to the contrarie 1 NOtwithstandyng in the seconde yere of the raigne of Darius Aggeus Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophetes prophecied vnto the Iewes and to them in Iurie and Hierusalem euen in the name of the Lord God of Israel 2 * Then Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec stoode vp and began to builde the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem when the prophetes of the Lord were with them and helped them 3 At the same tyme came Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria and Phenice with Sathrabuzanes and his companions and sayde vnto them 4 Who hath bydden and commaunded you to builde this house to make this roofe and all other thinges againe And who are the workmen that builde thē 5 Neuerthelesse the elders of the Iewes had such grace of the Lorde after he had visited the captiuitie 6 That they were not letted from buildyng vntill the tyme that kyng Darius was certified therof and an aunswere receaued from hym 7 The copie of the letters which he wrote and sent vnto Darius Sisinnes gouernour of Syria and Phenice and Sathrabuzanes with their companions which are head rulers in Syria Phenice sende their salutation vnto Darius the kyng 8 We certifie our Lord the kyng that we came into the lande of Iurie and went to Hierusalem where we founde the auncientes of the Iewes that were of the captiuitie in the citie of Hierusalem 9 Buildyng an house vnto the Lorde great and newe of hewen and costlye stones and the timber alredy layde vpon the walles 10 Yea they make great haste with the worke and it goeth foorth prosperously in their handes and with great diligence and worshyp is it made 11 Then asked we the elders saying By whose commaundement builde you vp this house and lay the foundations of these workes 12 Which we demaunded of them to the intent that we myght geue knowledge vnto thee write vnto thee of those that gouerned it and we required of them their names in writyng that were their chiefe leaders to it 13 So they gaue vs this aunswere We are the seruauntes of the Lorde which made heauen and earth 14 And as for this house it was builded many yeres agone by a kyng of Israel great and strong and was
finished 15 But when our fathers prouoked God vnto wrath and sinned agaynst the Lorde of Israel which is in heauen he gaue them ouer into the power of Nabuchodonosor kyng of Babylon of the Chaldees 16 Which brake downe the house and burnt it and caryed away the people prisoners vnto Babylon 17 Neuerthelesse in the first yere that king Cyrus raigned ouer the countreys of Babylon Cyrus the kyng wrote and commaunded to builde vp this house agayne 18 And the holy vessels of golde and of siluer that Nabuchodonosor had caryed away out of the house at Hierusalem and had dedicated them in his owne temple those brought Cyrus foorth agayne out of the temple at Babylon and deliuered them to Zorobabel and to Sanabassarus the ruler 19 Commaundyng hym that he shoulde cary away those same vessels and put them in the temple at Hierusalem and that the temple of the Lorde shoulde be built in his owne place 20 Then the same Sanabassarus beyng come hyther layde the foundations of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem and from that to this beyng styll a buildyng it is not yet fully ended 21 Nowe therfore O king if thou thinkest it good let it be sought in the libraries and rolles of kyng Cyrus 22 And yf it be founde then that the buildyng of the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem hath ben done with the counsell and consent of kyng Cyrus and yf our Lorde the kyng be so mynded let hym geue aunswere vnto vs therof 23 Then commaunded kyng Darius to seke in the kynges libraries at Babylon and so at Ecbatane a towre in the region of Medea there was founde a place where these thinges was layde vp for memorie 24 In the first yere of the raigne of Cyrus the same kyng Cyrus cōmaunded that the house of the Lorde at Hierusalem shoulde be builded agayne where they do sacrifice with the continuall fire 25 Whos 's heyght shal be sixtie cubites and the breadth sixtie cubites with three rowes of hewen stones and one rowe of wood newe and of that countrey and the expenses therof to be geuen out of the house of kyng Cyrus 26 And the holy vessels of the house of the Lorde both of golde and of siluer that Nabuchodonosor toke out of the house of Hierusalem and brought to Babylon shoulde be restored to the house at Hierusalem and be set in the place where it was before 27 And also he commaunded that Sisinnes the gouernour of Syria Phenice and Sathrabuzanes with their companions and others constituted rulers in Syria and Phenice shoulde take heede not to meddle with that place but to suffer Zorobabel the seruaunt of the Lorde and gouernour of Iudea and the elders of the Iewes to builde that house of the Lorde in that place 28 I haue commaunded also to haue it built vp whole agayne and that they be diligent to helpe those that be of the captiuitie of the Iewes tyll the house of the Lorde be finished 29 And out of the tribute of Coelosyria and Phenice a portion diligently to be geuen those men vnto the offeringes of the Lord the same to be deliuered vnto Zorobabel the officer that he therwithall may ordeyne oxen rammes lambes 30 And also corne salt wine and oyle and that continually euery yere after the expences which the priestes that be at Hierusalem shall testifie to be made dayly this shal be geuen vnto them without delay 31 That they may offer sacrifices dayly to the hyest God for the kyng and for his children and to pray for their lines 32 And he commaunded also that whosoeuer shoulde breake any poynt of the foresayde and foredecreed thynges or make it voyde of his owne goodes shoulde a tree be taken and he theron be hanged and all his goodes seasoned vnto the kyng 33 The Lorde therfore whose name is there called vpon roote out and destroy euery kyng nation that stretcheth out his hande to hinder or hurt and endomage that house of the Lorde in Hierusalem 34 I Darius the kyng haue ordeyned that accordyng to these thynges it be done with diligence The .vij. Chapter 1 Sisinnes and his companions folowe the kynges commaundement and helpe the Iewes to builde the temple 5 The tyme that it was built 10 They kepe the Passouer 1 THen Sisinnes the gouernour in Coelosyria Phenice and Sathrabuzanes with their companions obeyed the thynges that kyng Darius had ordeyned 2 And were diligent assisters in the holy workes workyng with the auncientes and gouernours of the sanctuarie 3 And so the holy workes went foorth and prospered when Aggeus and Zacharias the prophetes prophecied 4 And they perfourmed all thinges through the commaundement of the Lorde God of Israel and with consent of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes kynges of Persia 5 And thus was the holy house finished in the twentie and three day of the moneth Adar in the sixt yere of Darius kyng of the Persians 6 And the children of Israel the priestes and the Leuites and other that were of the captiuitie that had any charge dyd accordyng to the thynges written in the booke of Moyses 7 And to the dedication of the temple of the Lorde they offered an hundred oxen two hundred rammes foure hundred lambes 8 And twelue goates for the sinnes of all the people of Israel after the number of the chiefe of the tribes of Israel 9 The priestes also and the Leuites stoode arayed in their long robes after their kinredes in all the workes of the Lorde God of Israel accordyng to the booke of Moyses and the porters at euery doore 10 And the children of Israel with those that were come out of captiuitie helde the Passouer the fourteenth day of the first moneth after that y e priestes and the Leuites were sanctified 11 They that were of the captiuitie were not all sanctified together but the Leuites were all sanctified together 12 And so they offered the Passouer for all them of the captiuitie and for their brethren the priestes for them selues 13 And the children of Israel that came out of captiuitie dyd eate all they that had separated them selues from the abhominations of the people of the lande and sought the Lorde 14 And they kept the feast of the vnleauened bread seuen dayes long makyng mery before the Lorde 15 That the Lorde had turned the counsayle of the kyng of Assyria towardes them to strengthen their handes vnto the workes of the Lord God of Israel The .viij. Chapter 1 Esdras commeth from Babylon to Hierusalem 10 The copie of the commission geuen by kyng Artaxerxes 29 Esdras geueth thankes to the Lorde 32 The number of the heades of the people that came with hym 76 His prayer and confession 1 ANd after these when Artaxerxes the kyng of the Persians raigned there went vnto hym Esdras the sonne of Saraias the sonne of Ezerias the sonne of Helchiach the sonne of Salum 2 The sonne of Sadoch the sonne of Achitob the sonne of
the booke of the lawe before the whole multitude for he was the principall and had in most honour of them all 46 And when he expounded the lawe they stoode all straight vpon their feete So Esdras praysed the Lord the most hye God the almightie God of hoastes 47 And al the people aunswered Amen 48 And Iesus Anus Sarabias Adimus Iacobus Battaias Autamas Maâ—anias Calitas Azarias Iohasabdus Anatnas and Biatas the Leuites lyft vp their handes and fell downe on the grounde and worshipped the Lord 49 And taught the lawe of the Lord and were earnestly occupied together in the reading thereof 50 Then spake Atharates vnto Esdras the hye priest and reader and to the Leuites that taught the multitude saying 51 This day is holy vnto the Lord and all when they hearde the lawe wept 52 So Esdras sayde Depart your way therfore and eate the fat meates and drinke the sweete drinkes and sende gyftes vnto them that haue nothing 53 For this day is holy vnto the Lorde and be not ye sory for the Lorde wyll bryng you to honour 54 So the Leuites published all these thinges to the people saying This day is holy to the Lorde be not sory 55 Then went they their way euery one to eate and drinke and were mery and sent presents to them that had nothing and made very good cheare 56 For they were as yet filled with the wordes that had ben taught them and for the whiche they had ben assembled ¶ The ende of the thirde booke of Esdras ⧠The fourth booke of Esdras ¶ The first Chapter 8 The people is reproued for their vnthankefulnes 30 God wyll haue another people if these wyll not be refourmed 1 THE second booke of the prophete Esdras the sonne of Saraias the sonne of Azarias the sonne of Helchia the sonne of Sadanias the sonne of Sadoc the sonne of Achitob 2 The sonne of Achia the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Heli the sonne of Amerias the sonne of Aziei the sonne of Marimoth the sonne of Arna the sonne of Ozias the sonne of Borith the sonne of Abisei the sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar 3 The sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui whiche Esdras was prisoner in the lande of Medes in the raigne of Artaxerxes kyng of Persia 4 And the worde of the Lord came vnto me saying 5 Go thy way and shewe my people their sinnefull deedes and their chyldren their wickednesses whiche they haue done against me that they may tell their chylders chyldren the same 6 For the sinnes of their fathers are increased in them And why they haue forgotten me and haue offered vnto straunge gods 7 Am not I euen he that brought them out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage But they haue prouoked me vnto wrath despised my counsels 8 Pull thou out than the heere of thy head and cast all euyll vpon them for they haue not ben obedient vnto my lawe But it is a people without learning and nurture 9 Howe long shall I forbeare them vnto whom I haue done so muche good 10 Many kynges haue I destroyed for their sakes Pharao with his seruauntes and all his power haue I smitten downe and slayne 11 All the nations haue I destroyed and rooted out before them and in the cast haue I brought two landes and people to naught euen Tyre and Sidon and haue slayne all their enemies 12 Speake thou therfore vnto them saying Thus saith the Lord 13 I led you thorowe the sea and haue geuen you sure streetes since the beginning I gaue you Moyses to be your captayne and Aaron to be the priest 14 I gaue you light in a piller of fire and great wonders haue I done among you yet haue ye forgotten me saith the Lorde 15 Thus saith the almightie Lord The quayles were as a token for you I gaue you tentes for your succour neuerthelesse in them ye murmured 16 And ascribed not the victory of your enemies vnto my name but euer to this day do ye yet murmure 17 Where are the benefites that I haue done for you When ye were hungry in the wyldernesse dyd ye not crye vnto me 18 Saying why hast thou brought vs into this wyldernesse to kill vs It had ben better for vs to haue serued the Egyptians then to die in this wyldernes 19 Then had I pitie vpon your mourninges and gaue you Manna to eate so ye dyd eate angels foode 20 When ye were thirstie dyd not I cleaue the rocke waters flowed out to satisfie you withall For the heate I couered you with the leaues of the trees 21 A good pleasaunt fat lande gaue I you I cast out the Chanaanites the Pherezites and Philistines before you What shall I do more for you saith the Lorde 22 Thus saith the almightie Lorde When ye were in the wyldernesse in the water of the Amorites beyng athirst and blaspheming my name 23 I gaue you not fire for your blasphemies but cast a tree into the water and made the riuer sweete 24 What shal I do vnto thee O Iacob Thou Iuda wouldest not obay me I will turne me to other nations and vnto those wyll I geue my name that they may kepe my statutes 25 Seyng ye haue forsaken me I wyll forsake you also When ye desire me to be gratious vnto you I shall haue no mercy vpon you 26 When ye call vpon me I wyll not heare you For ye haue defiled your handes with blood and your feete are swyft to commit manslaughter 27 Ye haue not as it were forsaken me but your owne selues saith the Lorde 28 Thus saith the almightie Lorde Haue I not prayed you as a father his sonnes as a mother her daughters and as a nurse her young babes 29 That ye woulde be my people and I shoulde be your God that ye would be my chyldren I should be your father 30 I gathered you together as an hen gathereth her chickens vnder her winges But nowe what shall I do vnto you I wyll cast you out from my face 31 When you offer vnto me I wyl turne my face from you for your solempne feast dayes your newe moones your circumcisions haue I forsaken 32 I sent vnto you my seruauntes the prophetes whom ye haue taken and slayne and torne their bodies in peeces whose blood I wyll require of your handes saith the Lorde 33 Thus saith the almightie lord Your house shal be desolate I wyll cast you out as the winde doth stubble 34 Your chyldren shall not be fruitefull for they haue despised my commaundement and done the thing that is euyll before me 35 Your houses wyll I geue to a people that shall come whiche not hauyng hearde of me yet shall beleue me to whom I haue shewed no signes yet they shall do that I haue commaunded them 36 They haue
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
in the feare of God they buried him with ioye 17 And al his kindred and posteritie continued in a good life and holy conuersation so that they were loued and accepted both of God and men and of all the people of the lande The ende of the booke of Tobias ⧠The booke of Iudith The first Chapter 2 The buylding of Ecbatanis 5 Nabuchodonosor made warre against Arphaxad and ouercame him 12 He treateneth them that woulde not helpe him 1 ARphaxad the king of the Medes subdued many people vnto his dominion and buylded a noble strong citie whiche he called Ecbatanis 2 The walles of it made he of free stone foure square seuentie cubites hie and thirtie cubites brode He made towres therevpon an hundreth cubites hye 3 But along the foure corners euery side was twentie foote brode He made the portes in the height like as the towres 4 This king trusted in his mightie hoast and in his glorious charets 5 So in the twelfth yere of his raigne it happened that Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians whiche raigned in the great citie of Niniue fought against Arphaxad 6 And ouercame him in the great fielde called Ragau beside Euphrates and Tigris and Iadason in the fielde of Erioth the king of the Elikes 7 Then was the kingdome of Nabuchodonosor exalted and his heart was lift vp and he sent vnto all them that dwelt in Cilicia in Damascus and Libanus 8 And vnto the heathen that dwelt in Carmel and Cedar and to such as dwelt in Galilee in the great field of Esdrelon 9 To all them that dwelt in Samaria and beyonde the water of Iordane vnto Hierusalem and the whole lande of Iesse vnto the borders of Ethiopia 10 Vnto all these dyd Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians send messengers 11 But they all with one consent woulde not agree vnto him and sent the messengers againe emptie and put them away without honour 12 Then Nabuchodonosor the king toke indignation at all those landes sware by his trone and by his kingdome that he woulde be auenged of all those countreys The .ii. Chapter 1 Nabuchodonosor commaunded presumpteously that al people should be brought in subiection and to destroy those that disobeyed him ◠The preparation of Holophernes armie 12 The conquest of his enemies 1 IN the thirtenth yere of king Nabuchodonosor vpon the twentie two day of the firste moneth it was deuised in the court of Nabuchodonosor the king of the Assyrians that he woulde reuenge him selfe 2 So he called vnto him all the elders all his captaynes and men of warre and shewed them his secret counsell 3 And told them that his purpose was to bring the whole earth vnder his dominion 4 Now when they were all content with this saying Nabuchodonosor the king called Holophernes the chiefe captayne of his warres 5 And sayde vnto him Go thy way foorth against all the kingdomes of the west and specially against those that haue despised my commaundement 6 Thou shalt spare no realme all strong cities shalt thou bring in subiection vnto me 7 Then Holophernes called together all the captaynes rulers of all the power in Assyria and mustred the souldiers vnto the hoast like as the king commaunded him namely an hundred and twentie thousande fighting men vpon foote and twelue thousande archers vpon horsebacke 8 All his ordinaunce sent he before with an innumerable multitude of camels so that the hoast was well prouided for with oxen and small cattell that without number 9 He appoynted to prepare corne out of all Syria in his passage 10 Much gold an siluer also toke he out of the kinges house 11 So he toke his iourney and all his hoast with charets horsemen and archers of whom there were so many that they couered the ground of the land like the grashoppers 12 And when he was gone past the borders of the Assyrians he came towarde the great mountaynes of Ange whiche lye vpon the left side of Cilicia and so he went vp into all their castels and wunne euery strong holde 13 As for the welthie citie of Melothus he brake it downe spoyled all the children of Tharsis and the Ismaelites whiche lay towarde the wildernesse and vpon the south side of the lande of Chellon 14 He went ouer Euphrates also came into Mesopotamia and brake downe all the hie cities that were there from the brooke of Mambre till a man come to the sea 15 And he toke the borders in from Cilicia vnto the coastes of Iaphet towarde the south 16 He caryed away all the Madianites and spoyled al their goods and whosoeuer withstoode him he slue them with the sworde 17 After this he went downe into the fielde of Damascus in the time of haruest and burnt vp all the corne and all the trees and vines he caused to be cut downe 18 And the feare of him fel vpon all them that dwelt on the earth The .iii. Chapter 1 The people subiect to Holophernes 12 He destroyed their gods that Nabuchodonosor might onely be worshipped 1 SO the kinges princes of al the cities landes sent their embassadours namely they of Syria and Mesopotamia Syria Sobal and Libya and Cilicia which came to Holophernes and sayde 2 Let thy wrath ceasse towarde vs It is better for vs to serue the great king Nabuchodonosor with our liues and to be subiect vnto thee then that we should dye and with our slaughter suffer the euyls of our bondage 3 All our cities and possessions al mountaynes and hilles all fieldes great and smal cattel sheepe goates horses and camels all our goodes and housholdes be in thy power 4 Vnder thy subiection be al that we haue 5 We our selues and also our children wil be thy seruauntes 6 Come vnto vs peaceable lorde and vse our seruice at thy pleasure 7 Then came Holophernes downe from the mountaynes with horsemen great power and conquered all strong fensed cities and all that dwelt in the lande 8 And out of all cities he toke strong men and such as were meete for the warre to helpe hym 9 And there came such a feare vpon those countreys that the indwellers of al the cities the princes and rulers and the people together went foorth to meete hym as he came 10 And receaued him honorably with garlandes and torches with daunces taprettes and pipes 11 Neuerthelesse though they dyd this yet might they not swage his rigorous stomacke 12 But he destroyed their cities and hewed downe their wooddes 13 For Nabuchodonosor the king had commaunded him that he should roote out all the gods of the lande to the intent that he only might be called and taken for god of the nations which Holophernes with his power might bring vnder him 14 So went he through Syria Sobal and through all Appamea and all Mesopotamia and came to the Idumeans in the lande of Gabaa 15 And toke their cities and remayned there thirtie dayes in whiche space he caused all
for the very feare of the Lord my God 15 Let vs sing a song of thankesgeuing vnto the Lorde a newe song of prayse wyll we sing vnto our God 16 Lorde Lorde thou art a great God mightie in power whom no man may ouercome 17 All thy creatures must serue thee For thou spakest but the worde and they were made thou sentest thy spirite and they were created and no man can withstand thy voyce 18 The mountaynes shall mooue from the foundations with the waters the stony rockes shall melt before thee like waxe 19 But they that feare thee shal be great with thee in all thinges 20 Wo vnto the people that rise vp against my generation for the almightie Lorde wyll auenge him selfe of them and in the day of iudgement wyll he visite thē 21 For he shall geue fire and wormes in their fleshe that they may burne and feele it for euermore 22 After this it happened that after the victorie all the people came to Hierusalem to geue prayse and thankes vnto the Lorde And when they were purified they offred all their burnt sacrifices and their vowes and their promised offeringes 23 And Iudith offered all Holophernes weapons and all the iewels that the people had geuen her and the canapie that she toke from his bed and hanged them vp vnto the Lorde 24 The people were ioyfull as the vse is and this ioy with Iudith by reason of the victorie endured three monethes 25 So after these dayes euery man went home againe and Iudith was in great reputation at Bethulia and right honourably taken in al the land of Israel 26 Vnto her vertue also was chastitie ioyned so that after her husbande Manasses dyed she neuer knewe man all the dayes of her life 27 Vpon the hye solempne dayes she went out with great worship 28 She dwelt in her husbandes house an hundred and fiue yeres and left her handmayden Abra free 29 And dyed and was buried beside her husbande in Bethulia And all the people mourned for her seuen dayes 30 So long as she liued there was none that troubled Israel and many yeres also after her death 31 The day wherein this victorie was gotten was solemply holden reckened of the Iewes in the number of the holy dayes and it is yet greatly holden of the Iewes euer since vnto this day The ende of the booke of Iudith ⧠The rest of the Chapters of the booke of Hester whiche are neither founde in the Hebrue nor in the Chalde The .xj. Chapter after the Latin ¶ The dreame of Mardocheus 1 MArdocheus the sonne of Iari the sonne of Semei the sonne of Cis of the tribe of Beniamin 2 A Iewe which had his dwelling in the citie of Susis a man of great reputation and excellent among all them that were in the kynges court 3 Neuerthelesse he was one of the prisoners whom Nabuchodonosor the kyng of Babylon had caryed away from Hierusalem vnto Babylon with Iechonias the kyng of Iuda 4 In the seconde yere of the raigne of great Artaxerxes in the first day of the moneth Nisan had this Mardocheus suche a dreame 5 He thought he heard a great tempest horrible thunderclappes earthquakes and great vprore in the lande 6 And that he sawe two great dragons redie to fight one against another 7 Their crye was great At the whiche roaring crye all the heathen were vp to fight against the righteous people 8 And the same day was full of darkenesse and very vncleare full of trouble and anguishe yea a great fearefulnesse was there in the lande 9 The righteous were amased for they feared the plague and euyll that was deuised ouer them and were at a poynt with them selues to dye So they cryed vnto God 10 And whyle they were crying the litle well grewe into a great riuer and into many waters 11 And with that it was day and the sunne rose vp agayne And the lowly were exalted and deuoured the glorious and proude 12 Nowe when Mardocheus had seene this dreame he awoke mused stedfastly in his heart what God would do and so he desired to know al the matter and his mind was thervpon vntil night ¶ The .xij. Chapter ¶ Mardocheus vttereth the treason deuised against the kyng and is therefore rewarded of hym 1 AT the same tyme dwelt Mardocheus with Bagatha and Thara in the kynges court the kynges chamberlaynes and porters of the palace 2 But when he hearde their deuice and had diligently considered their imaginations he perceaued that they went about to lay their cruell handes vpon the kyng Artaxerxes and so he certified the kyng thereof 3 Then caused the kyng to examine the two gelded with tormentes And when they had graunted it they were put to death 4 This the kyng caused to be put in the Chronicles for an euerlasting remembraunce and Mardocheus wrote vp the same matter 5 So the king commaunded that Mardocheus shoulde remayne in the court and for this faythfulnes of his he gaue hym a rewarde 6 But Aman the sonne of Amadathu the Agagite whiche was holden in great honour and reputation in the kynges court vndertoke to hurt Mardocheus and his people because of the two chamberlaynes that were put to death The .xiij. Chapter 1 The copie of the letters of Artaxerxes agaynst the Iewes 9 The prayer of Mardocheus 1 THe great kyng Artaxerxes whiche raigneth from India vnto Ethiopia ouer an hundred and twentie and seuen landes sendeth his frendly salutation vnto all the princes and deputies of the countrey whiche be subiect vnto his dominion 2 When I was made lorde ouer many people and had subdued the whole earth vnto my dominion my minde was not with crueltie and wrong to exalt my selfe by the reason of my power but purposed with equitie alway and gentlenes to gouerne those that be vnder my iurisdiction and wholly to set them in a peaceable lyfe and thereby to bryng my kyngdome vnto tranquilitie that men might safely go thorowe on euery side and to renue peace agayne whiche all men desire 3 Nowe when I asked my counsellours howe these thinges myght be brought to a good ende there was one by vs excellent in wisdome whose good wyll trueth and faythfulnesse hath oft ben shewed and proued whiche was also the principall and next vnto the kyng Aman by name 4 Whiche certified vs howe that in all landes there was scattered abrode a rebellious folke that made statutes and lawes against all other people haue alway despised the proclaymed commaundementes of kynges and howe that for this cause it were not to be suffred that suche rule should continue by you and not to be put downe 5 Seeing nowe we perceaue the same that this people alone are contrary vnto euery man vsing straunge and other maner of lawes and withstande our statutes and doynges and go about to stablyshe shrewde matters that our kyngdome shoulde neuer come to good estate and stedfastnesse 6 Therefore haue we commaunded
for in her is the spirite of vnderstandyng which is holy one only manifolde subtile quicke mouyng cleare vndefiled plaine sweete louyng the thyng that is good sharpe which can not be letted doyng good 23 Kynde to man stedfast sure free from care hauyng all vertues circumspect in all thynges and passyng through all vnderstanding cleane subtile spirites 24 For wisdome is nimbler then all nimble thynges she goeth through and attayneth to all thynges because of her cleannesse 25 For she is the breath of the power of God and a pure influence flowing from the glorie of the almightie God therfore can no defiled thyng come vnto her 26 For she is the bryghtnesse of the euerlastyng lyght the vndefiled mirrour of the maiestie of God and the image of his goodnesse 27 And beyng but one she can do all thinges and remaynyng in her selfe she renueth all and in all ages of tymes entryng into holy soules she maketh Gods friendes and prophetes 28 For God loueth none if he dwell not with wisdome 29 For she is more beautifull then the sunne and geueth more lyght then the starres and the day is not to be compared vnto her 30 For vpon the day commeth nyght but wickednesse can not ouercome wisdome The .viij. Chapter The effectes of wisdome 1 WIsdome reacheth from one ende to another mightily and louyngly doth she order all thynges 2 I haue loued her and laboured for her euen from my youth vp I dyd my diligence to mary my selfe with her such loue had I vnto her beautie 3 That she hath the companie of God it commendeth her nobilitie yea the Lorde of all thynges hym selfe loueth her 4 For she is the scoolemaistresse of the nurture of God and the choser out of his workes 5 If a man woulde desire riches in this lyfe what is richer then wisdome that worketh all thynges 6 For yf prudencie worke what is it among all thynges that worketh better 7 And yf a man loue ryghteousnesse her labours are but vertues For why she teacheth sobernesse and prudence righteousnesse and strength which are such thinges as men can haue nothyng more profitable in their lyfe 8 If a man desire much knowledge she can tell the thynges that are past and discerne thynges for to come she knoweth the subtilties of wordes and can expounde darke sentences she forseeth signes and wonders or euer they come to passe and the endes of all tymes and ages 9 Therfore I purposed after this maner I wyll take her into my companie that she may liue with me knowyng for certaintie she shall geue me good counsayle and speake comfortably vnto me in my carefulnesse and griefe 10 For her sake shall I be well honestly taken among the commons and with honour among the elders though I be young 11 I shal be founde to be of sharpe iudgement so that I shal be marueylous in the sight of great men and the faces of princes shall wonder at me 12 When I holde my tongue they shall byde my leasure and when I speake they shall geue good eare vnto me and if I talke much they shall lay their handes vpon their mouth 13 Moreouer by the meanes of her I shall obtayne immortalitie and leaue behynde me an euerlastyng memoriall among them that come after me 14 I shall set the people in order and the nations shal be subdued vnto me 15 Horrible tirauntes shal be afraide when they do but heare of me among the multitude I shal be counted good and mightie in battayle 16 When I come home I shall fynde rest with her for her companie hath no bitternesse and her felowshyp hath no tediousnesse but mirth and ioy 17 Nowe whē I considered these thinges by my selfe and pondered them in my heart howe that to be ioyned vnto wisdome is immortalitie 18 And great pleasure to haue her friendshyp and that in the workes of her handes are infinite riches and that who so kepeth companie with her shal be wise and that he which talketh with her shall come to honour I went about sekyng howe to get her vnto me 19 For I was a lad of ripe witte and had a good vnderstandyng 20 But when I grewe to more vnderstandyng I came to an vndefiled body 21 Neuerthelesse when I perceaued that I coulde not enioy it except God gaue it me and that was a poynt of wisdome also to knowe whose gyft it was I stepped vnto the Lorde and besought hym and with my whole heart I sayde after this maner The .ix. Chapter A prayer of Solomon to obteyne wisdome 1 O God of my fathers and Lorde of mercie thou hast made all thynges with thy worde 2 And ordeyned man through thy wisdome that he shoulde haue dominion ouer the creatures which thou hast made 3 That he shoulde order the worlde accordyng to equitie and righteousnesse and execute iudgement with a true heart 4 Geue me wisdome which is euer sittyng about thy seate and put me not out from among thy children 5 For I thy seruaunt and sonne of thy handmayden am a feeble person and of a short tyme and to young to the vnderstandyng of iudgement and lawes 6 And though a man be neuer so perfect among the children of men yet yf thy wisdome be not with hym he shal be nothyng regarded 7 Thou hast chosen me to be a kyng vnto thy people and the iudge of thy sonnes and daughters 8 Thou hast commaunded me to builde a temple vpon thy holy mount and an aulter in the citie wherin thou dwellest a likenesse of thy holy tabernacle which thou hast prepared from the beginning 9 And thy wisdome with thee which knoweth thy workes which also was with thee whē thou madest the worlde and knewe what was acceptable in thy syght and ryght in thy commaundementes 10 O sende her out of thy holy heauens from the throne of thy maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable in thy syght 11 For she knoweth and vnderstandeth all thynges and she shall leade me soberly in my workes and preserue me in her power 12 So shall my workes be acceptable and then shall I gouerne thy people ryghteously and be worthy to sit in my fathers seate 13 For what man is he that can knowe the counsayle of God or who can thinke what the wyll of God is 14 For the thoughtes of mortall men are miserable and our forecastes are but vncertaine 15 For why a corruptible body is heauy vnto the soule and the earthy mansion kepeth downe that vnderstandyng that museth vpon many thynges 16 Very hardly can we discerne the thynges that are vpon earth and great labour haue we or we can fynde the thynges which are before our eyes who hath then sought out the ground of the thynges that are done in heauen 17 Oh Lorde who
together from the east and west reioycing in the worde of the holy one vnto the honour of God The .v. Chapter 1 Hierusalem is moued vnto gladnesse for the returne of her people and vnder the figure therof the church 1 PVT of thy mourning clothes O Hierusalem and thy sorow decke thee with the worship honour that commeth vnto thee from God with euerlasting glorie 2 God shal put the garment of righteousnesse vpon thee set a crowne of euerlasting worship vpon thyne head 3 For vpon thee will God declare his brightnesse that is vnder the heauen 4 Yea an euerlasting name shall be geuen thee of God with peace of righteousnesse and the honour of gods feare 5 Arise O Hierusalem stande vp on hye loke about thee towarde the east and beholde thy children gathered from the cast vnto the west whiche reioyce in the holy worde hauing God in remembraunce 6 They departed from thee on foote and were led away of their enemies but now shall the Lorde bring them caryed with honour as chyldren of the kingdome 7 For God is purposed to bring downe al stout mountaynes yea all hie rockes to fill the valleys and so to make them euen with the ground that Israel may be diligent to liue vnto the honour of God 8 The woods all pleasaunt trees shall ouershadowe Israel at the commaundement of God 9 For hyther shal God bring Israel with ioyfull mirth and in the light of his maiestie with the mercie and righteousnesse that commeth of him selfe The .vi. Chapter A copie of the epistle that Ieremie sent vnto the Iewes whiche were led away prisoners by the king of Babylon wherin he certifieth them of the thing that was commaunded him of God 1 BEcause of the sinnes that ye haue done against God ye shal be led away captiue vnto Babylon euen of Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon 2 So when ye be come into Babylon ye shall remayne there many yeres and for a long season namely seuen generations and after that will I bring you away peaceably from thence 3 Nowe shall ye see in Babylon gods of golde of siluer of wood and of stone borne vpon mens shoulders to cast out a fearfulnesse before the heathen 4 But loke that ye do not as the other be not ye afraide let not the feare of them ouercome you 5 Therfore when ye see the multitude of people worshipping them behynde and before say ye in your heartes O Lorde it is thou that oughtest only to be worshipped 6 Myne angell also shal be with you and I my selfe will care for your soules 7 As for the timber of those gods the carpenter hath pullished them yea gilted be they and layed ouer with siluer yet are they but vayne thinges and can not speake 8 Like as a wench that loueth paramours is trimly dect euen so are these made and hanged with golde 9 Crownes of golde veryly haue their gods vpon their heades so the priestes them selues take golde and siluer from them and put it to their owne vses 10 Yea they geue of the same vnto harlottes trimme their whores withall againe they take it from the whores and decke their gods therwith 11 Yet can not these gods deliuer them selues from rust and mothes 12 When they haue couered them with clothing of purple they wype their faces for the dust of the temple whereof there is much among them 13 One hath a scepter in his hande as though he were iudge of the countrey yet can he not slay such as offende hym 14 An other hath a sworde or an axe in his hand for al that he is neither able to defende hym selfe from battayle nor from murtherers 15 By this ye may vnderstande that they be no gods therefore see that ye neither worship them nor feare them 16 For like as a vessell that a man vseth is nothing worth when it is broken euen so is it with their gods When they be set vp in the temple their eyes be ful of dust thorowe the feete of those that come in 17 And like as the doores are shut in round about vpon hym that hath offended the king or as it were a dead body kept beside the graue Euen so the priestes kepe the doores with barres lockes lest their gods be spoyled with robbers 18 They set vp candels before them yea veryly and that many whereof they can not see one but euen as blockes so stande they in the temple 19 It is sayd that the serpentes wormes whiche come of the earth gnawe out their hartes eating them their clothes also and yet they feele it not 20 Their faces are blacke thorowe the smoke that is in the temple 21 The owles swalowes and byrdes flee vpon them yea and the cattes run ouer their heades 22 By this ye may be sure that they are not gods therfore feare them not 23 The golde that they haue is to make them beautifull for all that except some body dight of their rust they wil geue no shine and when they were cast into a fourme they felt it not 24 They are bought for money and haue no breath of lyfe within them 25 They must be borne vpon mens shoulders as those that haue no feete wherby they declare vnto men that they be nothing worth confounded be they then that worship them 26 For if they fall to the ground they can not rise vp againe of them selues Yea though one helpe them vp and set them right yet are they not able to stande alone but must haue proppes set vnder them like dead men 27 As for the thing that is offred vnto them their priestes sell it abuse it yea the priestes wyues take thereof but vnto the sicke poore they geue nothing of it 28 The women with childe and the menstruous lay handes of their offringes By this ye may be sure that they are no gods therefore be not ye afrayde of them 29 From whence commmeth it then that they be called gods the women sit before the gods of siluer golde and wood 30 And the priestes sit in their temples hauing open clothes whose heades and beardes are shauen and haue nothing vpon their heades 31 Roaring and crying vpon their gods as men do at the feast when one is dead 32 The priestes also take away the garmentes of the images and decke their wyues and children withall 33 Whether it be good or euyll that any man do vnto them they are not able to recompence it they can neither set vp a king nor put him downe 34 In like maner they may neither geue riches nor rewarde euyll though a man make a vow vnto them and kepe it not they will not require it 35 They can saue no man from death neither deliuer the weake from the mightie 36 They can not restore a blind man to his sight nor helpe any man at his neede 37 They can shewe no mercie to the
turned againe in all the haste and the elders that is the principall heades saide vnto him Come sit downe here among vs and shewe vs this matter seeing God hath geuē thee as great honour as an elder 51 And Daniel saide vnto them put these two asyde one from an other and then shall I examine them 52 When they were put asunder one from an other he called one of them and saide vnto him O thou olde cankarde carle that hast vsed thy wickednes so long thyne vngratious deedes which thou hast done afore are now come to light 53 For thou hast geuen false iudgementes thou hast oppressed the innocent and letten the giltie go free where as yet the Lorde saith The innocent and righteous see thou slay not 54 Well then if thou hast seene her tel me vnder what tree sawest thou them companying together He aunswered vnder a Mulbery tree 55 And Daniel saide Very well nowe thou lyest euen vpon thyne head lo the messenger of the Lorde hath receaued the sentence of him to cut thee in two 56 Then put he him aside and called for the other and saide vnto him O thou seede of Chanaan but not of Iuda fairenes hath deceaued thee and lust hath subuerted thyne heart 57 Thus dealt ye afore with the daughters of Israel and they for feare consented vnto you but the daughter of Iuda would not abide your wickednes 58 Now tel me then vnder what tree diddest thou take them companying together He aunswered vnder a Pomegranate tree 59 Then saide Daniel vnto him Very well nowe thou lyest also euen vpon thyne head the messenger of the Lord standeth wayting with the sword to cut thee in two and slay you both 60 With that all the whole multitude gaue a great shoute and praysed God which alway deliuered them that put their trust in him 61 And they came vpon the two elders whom Daniel had conuict with their owne mouth that they had geuen false witnesse 62 And dealt with them euen lykewyse as they woulde haue done with their neighbours yea they did according to the law of Moyses and put them to death Thus the innocent blood was saued the same day 63 Then Helcias and his wyfe praysed God for their daughter Susanna with Ioacim her husband and al the kinred that there was no dishonestie founde in her 64 From that day foorth was Daniel had in great reputation in the sight of the people 65 And king Astyages was layde with his fathers and Cyrus of Persia raigned in his steede ¶ The ende of the story of Susanna ¶ The story of Bel and of the Dragon which is the fourteenth Chapter of Daniel after the Latine 1 DAniel did eate at the kinges table and was had in reuerence aboue all his friendes 2 There was at Babylō an image called Bel and there were spent vpon him euery day twelue cakes fourtie sheepe and sixe great pottes of wine 3 Him did the king worship him selfe and went dayly to honour him but Daniel worshipped his owne God And the king saide vnto him why doest not thou worship Bel 4 He aunswered and saide * Because I may not worship thinges that be made with handes but the liuing God which made heauen and earth and hath power vpon all fleshe 5 The king said vnto him Thinkest thou not that Bel is a lyuing God or seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh euery day 6 Daniel smyled and saide O king deceaue not thy selfe for this is but made of clay within and of brasse without neither eateth he euer any thing 7 Then the king was wroth and called for his priestes and saide vnto them If ye tell me not who is this that eateth vp these expences ye shall dye 8 But if ye can certifie me that Bel eateth them then Daniel shall dye for he hath spoken blasphemie against Bel. And Daniel said vnto the king Let it so be according as thou hast saide 9 The priestes of Bel were threescore and ten besides their wyues and children And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel. 01 So Bels priestes saide Lo we wyl go out set thou the meate there O king and poure in the wine then shut the doore fast and seale it with thyne owne signet 11 And to morowe when thou commest in if thou findest not that Bel hath eaten vp all we wyll suffer death or els Daniel that hath lyed vpon vs. 12 The priestes thought them selues sure inough for vnder the aulter they had made a priuy entraunce and there went they in euer and did eate vp what there was 13 So when they were gone foorth the king set meates before Bel Now Daniel had commaunded his seruauntes to bring asshes these he sifted throughout all the temple that the king might see then went they out and sparred the doore scaling it with the kinges signet and so departed 14 In the night came the priestes with their wyues and children as they were wont to do and did eate and drinke vp all 15 In the morning betimes at the breake of the day the king arose and Daniel with him 16 And the king said Daniel are the scales whole yet He aunswered yea O king they be whole 17 Now assoone as he had opened the doore the king loked vnto the aulter cryed with a loude voyce Great art thou O Bel and with thee is no deceite 18 Then laughed Daniel and held the king that he should not go in and saide Beholde the pauement marke well whose footesteps are these 19 The king saide I see the footesteps of men women and children 20 Therefore the king was angry and toke the priestes with their wyues and children and they shewed him the priuie doores where they came in and dyd eate vp such thinges as were vpon the aulter 21 For the which cause the king slue thē and deliuered Bel into Daniels power which destroyed him and his temple 22 And in that same place there was a great Dragon which they of Babylon worshipped 23 And the king said vnto Daniel Sayest thou that this is but a god of brasse also Lo he lyueth he eateth drinketh so that thou canst not say that he is no lyuing God therfore worship him 24 Daniel saide vnto the king I wyll worship the Lorde my God * he is the true lyuing God as for this he is not the God of lyfe 25 But geue me leaue O king and I shal destroy this Dragon without sworde or staffe The king said I geue thee leaue 26 Then Daniel toke pitch fat and heary wooll and did seeth them together and made lumpes thereof this he put in the Dragons mouth and so the Dragon burst in sunder And Daniel saide Lo there is he whom ye worshipped 27 When they of Babylon heard that they toke great indignation and gathered them together against the king saying The king is become a Iewe and he hath
his kingdome he went about to obtayne the lande of Egypt also that he might haue the dominion of two realmes 18 Vpon this entred he into Egypt with a strong hoast with charets Elephants horsemen and a great number of ships 19 And began to warre against Ptolome the king of Egypt But Ptolome was afrayde of him and fled and many of his people were wounded to death 20 Thus Antiochus wanne many strong cities and toke away great good out of the lande of Egypt 21 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt he turned againe in the hundred fourtie and three yere and went toward Israel 22 And came vp to Hierusalem with a mightie people 23 And entred proudely into the sanctuarie and toke away the golden alter the candelsticke and al the ornaments therof the table of the shewbread the pouring vessels the chargers the golden spoones the vayle the crownes golden apparell of the temple and brake downe all in peeces 24 He toke also the siluer and golde the precious iewels and the secret treasures that he founde 25 And when he had taken away altogether caused a great murther of men and spoken very proudly the departed ino his owne lande 26 Therefore there was great lamentation throughout all Israel 27 The princes and the elders of the people mourned the young men and the maydens were defiled and the faire beautie of women was chaunged 28 The bridegrome and the bryde toke them to mourning 29 The lande and those that dwelt therein was moued for all the house of Iacob was brought to confusion 30 * After two yeres the king sent his chiefe treasurer vnto the cities of Iuda which came to Hierusalem with a great multitude of people 31 Speaking peaceable wordes vnto thē but all was deceite for when they had geuen him credence 32 He fell sodenly vpon the citie smote it sore destroyed much people of Israel 33 And when he had spoyled the citie he set fire on it casting downe houses and walles on euery side 34 The women and their children toke they captiue and led away their cattell 35 Then builded they the citie of Dauid with a great and thicke wall and with mightie towres and made it a strong holde for them 36 Beside all this they set wicked people and vngodlie men to kepe it 37 Stored it with weapons and vitailes gathered the goodes of Hierusalem and layed them vp there Thus became it a theeuishe castel 38 Thus they became a heauy burthen laying wayte for the people that went into the sanctuary and for the cruell destruction of Israel 39 Thus they shed innocent blood on euery side of the sanctuary and defiled it 40 Insomuch that the citezins were faine to depart and the citie became an habitation of straungers being desolate of her owne seede for her owne natiues were faine to leaue her 41 Her sanctuary was cleane wasted her holy dayes were turned into mourning her Sabbathes were had in derision her honour brought to naught 42 Loke how great her glory was before so great was her confusion and her ioye turned into sorowe 43 Antiochus also the king sent out a commission vnto all his kingdome that all the people should be one 44 Then they left euery man his lawe and al the heathen agreed to the commaundement of king Antiochus 45 Yea many of the Israelites consented therevnto offering vnto idols and defiling the Sabbath 46 So the king Antiochus sent his messēgers with his commission vnto Hierusalem and to all the cities of Iuda that they should folow the lawes of the heathen 47 And forbad either burnt offering meate offering or peace offering to be made in the temple of God that there should no Sabbath nor hie feast day be kept 48 But commaunded that the sanctuary and the holy people of Israel should be defiled 49 He commaunded also that there should be set vp other aulters temples idols to offer vp swines flesh and other vncleane beastes 50 That men should leaue their children vncircumcized to defile their soules with all maner of vncleannesse and abhominations 51 That they might so forget the lawe and chaunge all the holy ordinaunces of God 52 And that whosoeuer would not do according to the commaundement of king Antiochus should suffer death 53 In lyke maner cōmaunded he throughout all his realme and set rulers ouer the people for to compell them to do these thinges 54 Commaunding al the cities of Iuda to do sacrifice vnto idols 55 Then went the people vnto the heathen by heapes forsooke the law of the Lorde and committed much euil in the lande 56 And the droue the Israelites into secrete places euen where so euer they coulde flee for succour 57 The fifteenth day of the moneth Casleu in the hundred threescore and fifth yere set king Antiochus an abhominable idoll of desolation vpon the aulter of God and they builded aulters throughout all the cities of Iuda on euery side 58 Before the doores of the houses and in the streates where they brent incense and did sacrifice 59 And as for the bookes of the lawe of God they brent them in the fire and rent them in peeces 60 Whatsoeuer he was that had a booke of the testament of the Lorde founde by him yea whosoeuer endeuoured him selfe to kepe the lawe of the Lorde the kinges cōmaundement was that they should put him to death 61 And through his aucthoritie they executed these thinges euery moneth vpon the people of Israel that were founde in the cities 62 The twentie and fifth day of the moneth what time as they did sacrifice vpon the aulter which stoode in the steade of the aulter of the Lorde 63 According to the commaundement of king Antiochus they put certaine women to death which had caused their children to be circumcized 64 Not onely that but they hanged vp the childrē by the neckes throughout al their houses and slue the circumcizers of thē 65 Yet were there many of the people of Israel which determined in thēselues that they woulde not eate vncleane thinges but chose rather to suffer death then to be defiled with vncleane meates 66 So because they would not breake the blessed lawe of God they were cruelly slaine 67 And this great tiranny encreased very sore vpon the people of Israel The .ii. Chapter 1 The mourning of Mathathias and his sonnes for the destruction of the holy citie 19 They refuse to do sacrifice vnto idols 24 The zeale of Mathathias for the lawe of God 33 They are slaine and wyll not fight againe because of the Sabbath day 49 Mathathias dying commaundeth his sonne to sticke by the worde of God after the example of the fathers 1 IN those dayes there did stand vp one Mathathias the sonne of Iohn the sonne of Simeon the priest out of the kinred of Ioarib from Hierusalem and dwelt vpon the mount of Modin 2 And had fiue sonnes Iohn called
Iosuah for fufilling the word of God was made the captayne of Israel 56 Caleb bare recorde before the congregation and receaued an heritage 67 Dauid also in his mercifull kindnesse obtayned the throne of an euerlasting kingdome 58 Elias being ielous and feruent in the law was taken vp into heauen 59 Ananias Azarias and Misael remayned stedfast in faith and were deliuered out of the fire 60 In like maner Daniel beyng vngiltie was saued from the mouth of the lions 61 And thus ye may consider throughout all ages sence the worlde began that whosouer put their trust in God were not ouercome 62 Feare not ye then the wordes of an vngodly man for his glorie is but doung and wormes 63 To day is he set vp and to mo rowe is he gone for he is turned into earth and his memoriall is come to naught 64 Wherefore O my sonnes take good heartes vnto you and quyte your selues like men in the lawe for if ye do the thinges that are commaunded you in the lawe of the Lorde your God ye shall obtayne great honour therin 65 And beholde I knowe that your brother Simon is a man of wysdome see that ye geue eare vnto him alway he shal be a father vnto you 66 As for Iudas Machabeus he hath euer ben mightie and strong from his youth vp let him be your captayne and order the battayle of the people 67 Thus shall ye bring vnto you all those that fauour the lawe and see that ye auenge the wrong of your people 68 And recompence the heathen againe applie your selues wholly to the commaundement of the lawe 69 So he gaue them his blessing and was layed by his fathers 70 And died in the hundred fourtie and sixe yere at Modin where his sonnes buried him in his fathers sepulchre and all Israel made great lamentation for him The .iii. Chapter 1 Iudas is made ruler ouer the Iewes 11 He killeth Apollonius and Seron the prince of Syria 44 The confidence of Iudas towarde God 55 Iudas determineth to fight against Lysias whom Antiochus had made captayne ouer his hoast 60 The praier of the absteyners 1 THen stoode vp Iudas Machabeus in his fathers steade 2 And all his brethren helped hym and so dyd all they that helde with his father and fought with cherefulnesse for Israel 3 So Iudas gate his people great honour He put on a brest plate as a giaunt and arayed him selfe with his harnesse and defended the hoast with his sword 4 In his actes he was like a lion and as a lions whelpe roring at his pray 5 He was an enemie to the wicked and hunted them out and brent vp those that vexed his people 6 So that his enemies fled for feare of hym and all the workers of vngodlinesse were put to trouble such lucke and prosperitie was in his hande 7 This greeued diuers kinges but Iacob was greatly reioyced thorow his actes and he gate hym selfe a great name for euer 8 He went thorow the cities of Iuda destroying the vngodly out of them turning away the wrath from Israel 9 And receauing such as were oppressed and the fame of him went vnto the vttermost part of the earth 10 Then Apollonius a prince of Syria gathered a mightie great hoast of the heathen out of Samaria to fight against Israel 11 Whiche when Iudas perceaued he went foorth to meete him fought with him slue him a great multitude with hym the remnaunt fled and he toke their substaunce 12 Iudas also toke Apollonius owne sworde and fought with it all his lyfe long 13 Nowe when Seron a prince of the armie of Syria heard say that Iudas had gathered vnto hym the congregation and church of the faythfull 14 He sayde I will get me a name and a prayse thorowout the realme for I wil go fight with Iudas and them that are with hym as many as haue despised the kinges commaundement 15 So he made him redy and there went with hym a great mightie hoast of the vngodly to stand by him and to be auenged of the children of Israel 16 And when they came nye vnto Bethoron Iudas went foorth against them with a small companie 17 And when his people sawe such a great hoast before them they sayde vnto Iudas Howe are we able beyng so few to fight against so great a multitude and so strong seyng we be so weery and haue fasted all this day 18 But Iudas sayde It is a small matter for many to be ouercome with fewe yea there is no difference to the God of heauen to deliuer by a great multitude or by a small companie 19 For the victorie of the battell standeth not in the multitude of the hoast but the strength commeth from heauen 20 Beholde they come against vs with a cruell and proude multitude to destroy vs our wyues and our children and to robbe vs 21 But we will fight for our lyues and for our lawes 22 And the Lorde hym selfe shall destroy them before our face therefore be not ye afrayde of them 23 Assoone as he had spoken these wordes he leapt sodenly vpon them Thus was Seron smitten his hoast put to flight 24 And Iudas folowed vpon them beyonde Bethoron vnto the playne fielde where there were slaine eyght hundreth men of them and the residue fledde into the lande of the Philistines 25 Then all the heathen on euery side were afrayde of Iudas his brethren 26 So that the rumour of him came vnto the kinges eares for all the gentiles coulde tell of the warres of Iudas 27 So when king Antiochus heard these tidinges he was angry in his mynde wherfore he sent foorth and gathered an hoast of his whole realme very strong armies 28 And opened his treasurie and gaue his hoast a yeres wages in hande commaunding them to be redy at all times 29 Neuerthelesse when he saw that there was not money enough in his treasuries and that thorow the discorde and persecution which he made in the lande to put downe the lawes that had ben of olde times his customes and tributes of the lande were minished 30 He feared that he was not able for to beare the coastes and charges any lenger nor to haue such giftes to geue so liberally as he dyd afore more then the kinges that were before him 31 Wherfore he was heauy in his minde and thought to go into Persides for to take tributes of the lande and so to gather much money 32 So he left Lysias a noble man of the kinges blood to ouersee the kinges businesse from the water Euphrates vnto the borders of Egypt 33 And to kepe well his sonne Antiochus till he came againe 34 Moreouer he gaue hym halfe of his hoast and Elephantes and committed vnto him euery thing and gaue him the charge of all thinges that he woulde haue done concerning those whiche dwelt in Iuda and Hierusalem 53 That he shoulde sende out
an armie against them to destroy and to roote out the power of Israel and the remnaunt of Hierusalem to put out their memoriall from that place 36 To set straungers for to inhabite all their quarters and to part their land among them 37 Thus the king toke the other part of the hoast and departed from Antioche a citie of his realme ouer the water Euphrates in the hundreth fourtie and seuen yere and went thorowe the hye countreys 38 And Lysias chose vnto hym Ptolomi the sonne of Doryminius Nicanor and Gorgias mightie men and the kinges friendes 39 These he sent with fourtie thousande footemen and seuen thousande horsemen for to go into the land of Iuda and to destroy it as the king commaunded 40 So they went foorth with all their power and came to Emmaus into the playne fielde 41 When the marchauntes of the countrey hearde the rumour of them they their seruauntes toke very much siluer gold for to bye the children of Israel to be their bondemen There came vnto them also yet mo men of warre on euery syde out of Syria and from the Palestines 42 Now when Iudas and his brethren saw that trouble increased and that the hoast drew nye vnto their borders considering the kinges wordes whiche he commaunded vnto the people namely that they shoulde vtterly waste and destroy them 43 They sayde one to another Let vs redresse the decay of our people let vs fight for our folke for our sanctuarie 44 Then the congregation were soone redy gathered to fight to pray and to make supplication vnto God for mercie and grace 45 As for Hierusalem it lay voyde was as it had ben a wildernesse there went no man in nor out at it and the sanctuarie was troden downe the aliauntes kept the castle there was the habitation of the heathen the mirth of Iacob was taken away the pype and the harpe was gone from among them 46 The Israelites gathered them together came to Maspha before Hierusalem for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel 47 So they fasted that day and put sacke-clothes vpon them cast asshes vpon their heades rent their clothes 48 And layde foorth the bookes of the lawe wherout the heathen sought to paynt the lykenesse of their images 49 And brought the priestes ornamentes the firstlinges and the tithes they set there also the Nazarites which had accomplished their vowes before God 50 And cryed with a loude voyce toward heauen saying What shall we do with these and whyther shall we cary them away 51 For thy sanctuarie is troden downe and defiled the priestes are come to heauinesse and dishonour 52 And beholde the heathen are come together for to destroy vs Thou knowest what thinges they imagine against vs. 53 Howe may we stande before them except thou O God be our helpe 54 Then they blewe out the trumpet also with a loude voyce 55 Then Iudas ordeyned captaynes ouer the people ouer thousandes ouer hundredes ouer fiftie and ouer ten 56 But as for such as builded them houses maried wyues planted them vineyardes and those that were fearfull he commaunded them euery man to go home againe according to the lawe 57 So the hoast remoued and pitched vpon the south side of Emmaus 58 And Iudas sayd Arme your selues be strong O my children make you redy against to morowe in the morning that ye may fight with these people whiche are agreed together to destroy vs and our sanctuarie 59 Better is it for vs to dye in battayle then to see our people and our sanctuarie in such a miserable case 60 Neuerthelesse as thy will is O God in heauen so be it The .iiii. Chapter 1 Iudas goeth against Gorgias which lyeth in wayte 14 He putteth Gorgias his hoast to flight 28 Lysias inuadeth Iurie 29 But Iudas dryueth him out 43 Iudas purifieth the temple and dedicateth the aulter 1 THen toke Gorgias fiue thousand mē of foote and a thousand of the best horsmen and remoued out of the campe by night 2 To come nye where the Iewes hoast lay so to slay them sodenly Nowe the men that kept the castle were the conueyers of them 3 Nowe when Iudas heard this he remoued and al the strong men that were with hym to smyte the chiefe and principall of the kinges hoast at Emmaus 4 For the army was not yet come together 5 In the meane season came Gorgias by night into Iudas tentes and when he founde no man there he sought them in the mountaynes and thought they had ben fled away because of him 6 But when it was day Iudas shewed hym selfe in the fielde with three thousande men only which had neither harnesse nor swordes to their mindes 7 But on the other side they saw that the heathen were mightie and well harnessed and their horsemen about them and all these well expert in feates of warre 8 Then sayde Iudas to the men that were with him Feare not ye the multitude of them be not afrayde of their violent running 9 Remember howe our fathers were deliuered in the red sea when Pharao folowed vpon them with a great hoast 10 Euen so let vs also crye nowe towarde heauen and the Lord shall haue mercie vpon vs and remember the couenaunt of our fathers yea destroy this hoast before our face this day 11 And all the heathen shall knowe that it is God him selfe which deliuereth and saueth Israel 12 Then the heathen lift vp their eyes and when they sawe that they were comming against them 13 They went out of their tentes into the battayle and they that were with Iudas blewe vp the trumpettes 14 So they buckled together and the heathen were discomfited and fled ouer the playne fielde 15 But the hinmost of them were slayne with the sword For they folowed them vnto Assaremoth and into the fieldes of Idumea toward Azot and Iamnia so that there were slayne of them vpon a three thousande men 16 So Iudas turned againe with his hoast 17 And sayd vnto the people Be not greedy of the spoyles we haue yet a battayle to fight 18 For Gorgias and his hoast are here by vs in the mountaynes but stand ye fast against our enemies ouercome them then may ye safely take the spoyles 19 As Iudas was speaking these wordes behold there appeared one part of them vpon the mount 20 But when Gorgias sawe that they of his partie were fled and the tentes brent vp for by the smoke they might vnderstande what was done they perceauing this were very sore afrayde 21 And when they sawe also that Iudas and his hoast were in the fielde redy to stryke battayle 22 They fled euery one into the lande of the heathen 23 So Iudas turned againe to spoyle the tentes where they gat much golde and siluer precious stones purple and great riches 24 Thus they went home and song a Psalme of thankesgeuing
and praysed God in heauen For he is gracious and his mercie endureth for euer 25 And so Israel had a great victorie in that day 26 Now all the heathen that escaped came and tolde Lysias euery thing that had happened 27 Wherfore Lysias was sore afrayde and greeued in his minde because Israel had not gotten such misfortune as he woulde they should neither as the king commaunded 28 The next yere folowing gathered Lysias three score thousande chosen men of foote and fyue thousande horsemen to fight against Hierusalem 29 So they came into Iurie and pitched their tentes at Bethoron where Iudas came against them with ten thousande men 30 And when he sawe so great and mightie an hoast he made his prayer sayde Blessed be thou O sauiour of Israel which diddest destroy y e violent power of the graunt in the hande of thy seruaunt Dauid gauest the hoast of the heathen into the hand of Ionathan the sonne of Saul of his harnesse bearer 31 Put this boast now into the hand of thy people of Israel let them be confounded in their multitude and horsemen 32 Make them afrayde and disâ— the boldnesse of their strength that they may be moued thorowe their destinâ—tion 33 Cast them downe thorowe the sworde of thy louers then shall all they that knowe thy name prayse thee with thankesgeuing 34 So they stroke the battell and there were slayne of Lysias hoast fiue thousande men 35 Then Lysias seyng the discomfyting of his men and the manlinesse of the Iewes howe they were redy either to lyue or to dye lyke men he went vnto Antioch and chose out men of warre that when they were gathered together they might come againe into Iurie 36 Then sayde Iudas and his brethren Behold our enemies are discomfited let vs nowe go vp to clense and to repayre the sanctuarie 37 Vpon this al the hoast gathered them together and went vp into mount Sion 38 Nowe when they sawe the sanctuarie layed wast the aulter defiled the doores brent vp the shrubbes growing in the courtes like as in a wood or vpon mountaynes yea and that the priestes chambers were broken downe 39 They rent their clothes made great lamentation cast asshes vpon their heades 40 Fell downe flat to the grounde vpon their faces made a great noyse with the trumpettes and cryed toward heauen 41 Then Iudas appoynted certayne men to fight against those which were in the castle till they had clensed the sanctuarie 42 So he chose priestes that were vndefiled such as had pleasure in the lawe of God 43 And they clensed the sanctuarie and bare out the defiled stones into an vncleane place 44 And forsomuch as the aulter of burnt offeringes was vnhalowed he toke aduisement what he might do withall 45 So he thought it was best to destroy it lest it shoulde happen to do them any shame for the heathen had defiled it and therfore they brake it downe 46 As for the stones they layed them vp vpon the mountayne by the house in a conuenient place till there came a prophete to shewe what shoulde be done with them 47 So they toke whole stones according to the lawe and buylded a newe aulter such one as was before 48 And made vp the sanctuarie within and without halowed the house and the courtes 49 They made newe holy ornamentes brought the candlesticke the aulter of incense and the table into the temple 50 The incense layed they vpon the aulter lighted the lampes whiche were vpon the candelsticke that they might burne in the temple 51 They set the shew bread vpon the table and hanged vp the vayle and finished all the workes which they had begun to make 52 And vpon the twentie and fifth day of the nynth moneth whiche is called the moneth of Casleu in the hundred fourtie and eyght yere 53 They rose vp betimes in the morning for to do sacrifice according to the lawe vpon the newe burnt offring aulter that they had made 54 After the time and season that the heathen had defiled it the same day was it set vp againe with songues pypes harpes and cymbales 55 And all the people fel vpon their faces worshipping and thanking the God of heauen whiche had geuen them the victorie 56 So they kept the dedication of the aulter eyght dayes offring burnt sacrifices and thanke offeringes with gladnesse 57 They deckt the forefrunt of the temple also with crownes and shieldes of gold and halowed the portes and celles and hanged doores vpon them 58 Thus there was very great gladnesse among the people because the blasphemie of the heathen was put away 59 So Iudas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordeyned that the time of the dedication of the aulter shoulde be kept in his season from yere to yere by the space of eyght dayes from the twentie and fifth day of the moneth Casleu with myrth and gladnesse 60 And at the same time buylded they vp the mount Sion with hye walles and strong towres round about lest the gentiles shoulde come and treade it downe as they did afore 61 Therfore Iudas set men of warre in it to kepe it and made it strong for to defend Bethsura that the people might haue a refuge against the Edomites The .v. Chapter 3 Iudas vanquisheth the heathen that go about to destroy Israel and is holpen of his brethren Simon and Ionathas 50 He ouerthroweth the citie of Ephron because they denied him passage thorowe it 1 IT happened also that when the heathen rounde about hearde howe that the aulter the sanctuarie were set vp in their old estate it displeased them very sore 2 Wherfore they thought to destroy the generation of Iacob that was among them in so much that they began to slay and to persecute certayne of the people 3 Then Iudas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea at Arabathane for they dwelt rounde about the Israelites where he slue and spoyled a great multitude of them 4 He thought also vpon the malice and vnfaythfulnesse of the children of Bean how they were a snare and stoppe vnto the people and howe they layed wayte for them in the hye way 5 Wherfore he shut them vp into towres and came vnto them besieged them and destroyed them vtterly brent vp their towres with all that were in them 6 Afterward went he against the children of Ammon whereof he founde a mightie power and a great multitude of people with Timothi their captayne 7 So he stroke many battayles with them which were destroyed before hym 8 And when he had slayne them he wan Gazer the citie with the townes belonging therto and so turned againe into Iurie 9 The heathen also in Galaad gathered them together against the Israelites that were in their quarters to slay them but they fled to the castle of Dathemam 10 And sent letters vnto Iudas and his brethren
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
he deceaue vs though he come with an armie 15 So he gaue them louing wordes and swore vnto them saide We wyl do you no harme neither your friendes 16 And they beleued him but the very same day toke he threescore men of them and slue them according to the wordes that are written 17 They haue cast the fleshe of thy sainctes and shed their blood rounde about Hierusalem there was no man that would burie them 18 So there came a great feare and dreade among al y e people saying There is neither trueth nor righteousnesse in them for they haue broken the appoyntment and oth that they made 19 And Bacchides remoued his hoast frō Hierusalem pitched his tent at Bethzecha where he sent foorth toke many of them that had forsaken him He slue many of the people also and cast them into a great pit 20 Then committed he the lande vnto Alcimus and left men of warre with him to helpe him and Bacchides him selfe went vnto the king 21 And thus Alcimus defended his hye priesthood 22 And all such as vexed Israel resorted vnto him insomuch that they obtayned the lande of Iuda and did much euill vnto the Israelites 23 Nowe when Iudas sawe all the mischiefe that Alcunus and his company had done yea more then the heathen them selues vnto the Israelites 24 He went foorth rounde about all the borders of Iurie and punished those vnfaithfull runnagates so that they came no more out into the countrie 25 So when Alcimus sawe that Iudas his people had gotten the vpper hand and that he was not able to abide them he went againe to the king and saide all the worst of them that he coulde 26 Then the king sent Nicanor one of his chiefe princes which bare euil wil vnto Israel and commaunded him that he should vtterly destroy the people 27 So Nicanor came to Hierusalem with a great hoast and sent vnto Iudas and his brethren with friendly wordes but vnder disceyte saying 28 There shall be no warre betwixt me and you I wyll come with a fewe men to see how ye do with frendship 29 Vpon this he came vnto Iudas and they saluted one another peaceably but the enemies were appoynted to take Iudas by violence 30 Neuerthelesse it was tolde Iudas that he came vnto him but vnder disceyte wherfore he gate him away from him and would see his face no more 31 When Nicanor perceaued that his counsel was bewrayed he went out to fight against Iudas beside Capharsalama 32 Where there were slaine of Nicanors hoast fiue thousand men and the residue fled vnto the castle of Dauid 33 After this came Nicanor vp vnto mount Sion and the priestes with the elders of the people went foorth to salute him peaceably to shewe him the burnt sacrifices that were offered for the king 34 But he laughed them and the people to scorne mocked them defiled their offeringes and spake disdainefully 35 Yea and swore in his wrath saying If Iudas and his hoast be not deliuered nowe into my handes assoone as euer I come againe and fare well I shall burne vp this house With that went he out in a great anger 36 Then the priestes came in and stoode before the aulter of the temple weeping and saying 37 Forsomuch as thou O Lorde hast chosen this house that thy name might be called vpon therin and that it should be an house of prayer and petition for thy people 38 Be auenged of this man and his hoast and let them be slaine with the sword remember the blasphemies of them and suffer not them to continue any longer 39 When Nicanor was gone from Hierusalem he pitched his tent at Bethoron and there an hoast met him out of Syria 40 And Iudas came to Adarsa with three thousand men and made his prayer vnto God saying 41 O Lorde because the messengers of king Sennacherib blasphemed thee the angell went foorth and slue an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand of them 42 Euen so destroy thou this hoast before vs to day that other people may knowe howe that he hath blasphemed thy santuary and punishe him according to his maliciousnes 43 And so the hoastes stroke the fielde the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar and Nicanors hoast was discomfited and he him selfe was first slaine in the battaile 44 When Nicanors men of warre sawe that he was killed they cast away their weapons and fled 45 But the Iewes folowed vpon them a whole dayes iourney from Adazer vnto Gazara blowing with the trumpettes and making tokens after them 46 So the Iewes came foorth of all the townes rounde about blew out their hornes vpon them and turned against them Thus were they all slaine and not one of them left 47 Then they toke their substaunce for a pray and smote of Nicanors head and his right hande which he helde vp so proudely and brought it with them and hanged it vp afore Hierusalem 48 Wherefore the people were exceedingly reioyced and passed ouer that day in great gladnes 49 And Iudas ordayned that the same day namely the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar shoulde be kept in mirth euery yere 50 Thus the lande of Iuda was in rest a litle while The .viij. Chapter 2 Iudas considering the power and godly pollicie of the Romaines maketh peace with them 22 The rescript of the Romaines sent vnto the Iewes 1 IVdas heard also the fame of the Romaines that they were mightie and valiaunt men and agreeable to all thinges that are required of them and make peace with all men which come vnto them 2 And how they were doughtie men of strength besides that it was tolde him of their battailes and noble actes which they did in Galatia how they had conquered them and brought them vnder tribute 3 And what great thinges they had done in Spayne how that with their wysdome and sober behauour they had wonne the mines of siluer and gold that are there 4 And obtayned al the land with other places farre from them how they had discomfited slaine downe the kinges that came vpon them from the vttermost parte of the earth and how other people gaue them tribute euery yere 5 How they had slaine and ouercome Philip and Perses kinges of Cethim and other mo in battaile which had brought their ordinaunce against them 6 How they discomfited great Antiochus king of Asia that woulde needes fight with them hauing an hundred and twentie Elephantes with horsemen charets and a very great hoast 7 How they toke him selfe aliue and ordained him with such as shoulde raigne after him to pay them a great tribute yea and to finde them good sureties and pledge besides all this 8 How they had taken from him India Media and Lydia his best landes and geuen them to king Eumenus 9 Againe how they perceauing that the Grekes were comming to vexe them 10 Sent against them a captayne of
and dyd according to his desire yea made an oth that he should neuer do him harme all the dayes of his lyfe 72 So he restored vnto him all the prisoners that he had taken out of the lande of Iuda and then turned and went his way into his owne land neither proceeded he any further to come vnto the borders of Iuda 73 Thus Israel had no more warre and Ionathas dwelt at Machmas and began there to gouerne the people and destroyed the vngodly men out of Israel The .x. Chapter 4 Demetrius desireth to haue peace with Ionathas 48 Alexander moueth warre against Demetrius 50 Demetrius is slayne 51 The friendship of Ptolomeus and Alexander 1 IN the hundred and threescore yere came Alexander the sonne of noble Antiochus and toke Ptolomais whose citizines receaued him and there he raygned 2 When Demetrius heard therof he gathered an exceeding great hoast and went foorth against him to fight 3 Wherfore Demetrius sent letters vnto Ionathas with louing wordes and praysed him greatly 4 For he sayde We will first make peace with him before he bynde him selfe with Alexander against vs 5 Els he shall remember the euyl that we haue done against him his brother and his people 6 And so he gaue Ionathas leaue to gatheran hoast to make weapons to be confederat with him and commaunded the pledges that were in the castle to be deliuered vnto him 7 Then came Ionathas to Hierusalem and read the letters in the audience of al the people and of them that were in the castle 8 And therefore were they sore afrayde because they hearde that the king had geuen him licence to gather an hoast 9 Thus were the pledges deliuered vnto Ionathas which restored them to their parentes 10 Ionathas also dwelt at Hierusalem and began to buylde vp and to repayre the citie 11 Commaunding the workmen to wall it and the mount Sion rounde about with free stone to be a strong hold and so they did 12 As for the heathen that were in the castles whiche Bacchides had made vp they fled 13 So that euery man left the place and went into his owne countrey 14 Only at Bethsura remayned certayne of the Iewes whiche had forsaken the lawe and commaundementes of God for Bethsura was their refuge 15 Nowe when king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made vnto Ionathas and when it was tolde him of the battayles and noble actes which he and his brethren had done and of the great trauayles that they had taken 16 He sayde Where shall we finde such a man well we wil make him our friend and be confederat with hym 17 Vpon this he wrote a letter vnto him with these wordes 18 King Alexander saluteth his brother Ionathas 19 We haue hearde of thee that thou art a valiaunt man and meete to be our friende 20 Wherfore this day we ordayne thee to be the hye priest of thy people and to be called the kinges friende Vpon this he sent hym a purple clothing a crowne of gold that thou mayest consider what is for our profite and kepe friendship towarde vs. 21 So in the seuenth moneth of the hundred and threescore yere vpon the solempne feast day of the tabernacles Ionathas put the holy rayment vpon him then gathered he an hoast and prepared many weapons 22 Whiche when Demetrius hearde he was marueylous sory 23 And sayde Alas what haue we done that Alexander hath preuented vs in getting the friendship of the Iewes for his owne defence 24 Yet will I wryte louingly vnto them also yea and promise them dignities and rewardes that they may be of my syde 25 Wherevpon he wrote vnto them these wordes King Demetrius sendeth greeting vnto the people of the Iewes 26 Whereas ye haue kept your couenaunt toward vs and continued in our friendship not inclining to our enemies we were glad when we hearde therof 27 Wherfore remayne still and be faythfull to vs and we shall well recompence you for the thinges that ye haue done on our partie 28 We shal releasse you of many charges and geue you rewardes 29 And now I discharge you and all the Iewes from tributes I forgeue you the customes of salt and releasse you of the crowne taxes of the thirde part of seede 30 And halfe the fruite of trees whiche is myne owne duetie I do releasse them from this day foorth so that they shall not be taken of the lande of Iuda nor of the three cities which are added therunto out of Samaria and Galilee from this day foorth for euermore 31 Hierusalem also with all thinges belonging therto shal be holy and free yea the tythes and tributes shall pertayne vnto it 32 As for the power of the castle whiche is at Hierusalem I remit and geue it vnto the hygh priest that he may set in it such men as he shall choose to kepe it 33 I freely deliuer all the Iewes that are prisoners throughout all my realme so that euery one of them shal be free from paying any tribute yea euen of their cattell 34 All the solempne feastes Sabbathes newe moones the dayes appoynted the three dayes before and after the feast shal be free for all the Iewes in my realme 35 So that in them no man shall haue power to do any thing or to vexe any of them in any maner of cause 36 There shall thirtie thousand also of the Iewes be written vp in the kinges hoast and haue their wages payed as all other men of warre of the kinges should haue and of them shal be ordeyned certayne to kepe the kinges strong holdes 37 Yea and some of them shal be set ouer the kinges secret affaires and their gouernours and princes shal be of them selues and lyue after their owne lawes as the king hath commaunded in the lande of Iuda 38 And the three cities that are fallen vnto Iurie from the countrey of Samaria shal be taken as Iurie and be vnder one neither be subiect to any straunge lord but to the hie priest 39 As for Ptolomais and the land pertayning therto I geue it vnto the sanctuarie at Hierusalem for the necessarie expences of the holy thinges 40 Moreouer I will geue euery yere fyfteene thousande sicles of siluer of the kinges reuenues out of the places appertayning vnto me 41 And all the ouerplus which they haue not payed for thinges due as they dyd in the former yeres from hence foorth they shall geue it towarde the workes of the temple 42 And besides this the fyue thousande sicles of siluer which they receaued yerely of the account appoynted for the interteynement of the sanctuarie these yeres passed euen these thinges shal be releassed because they appertaine to the priestes that minister 43 Item whosoeuer they be that flee vnto the temple at Hierusalem or within the liberties therof where as they are fallen into the kinges daunger for any maner of businesse they shal be pardoned and al the goodes that they haue in
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
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
And they commaunded to make this writing in tables of brasse and fasten it vnto the wall that compasseth the sanctuary in an open place 49 And to lay vp a copie of the same in the treasurie that Simon and his posteritie might haue it The .xv. Chapter 1 Antiochus maketh a couenaunt of frendship with Simon 11 and Tryphon is persecuted 15 The Romanes write letters vnto kinges and nations in the defence of the Iewes 27 Antiochus refusing the helpe that Simon sent him breaketh his couenaūt 1 MOreouer king Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius sent letters from the Iles of the sea vnto Simon the hie priest and prince of the Iewes and to all the people 2 Concerning these wordes Antiochus the king sendeth greeting vnto Simon the hie priest and to the people of the Iewes 3 Forsomuch as certaine wicked men haue gotten the kingdome of our progenitours I haue purposed to chalenge the realme againe and to restore it to the olde estate Wherefore I haue gathered a great hoast and made shippes of warre 4 That I may go through the countrey and be auenged of them which haue destroyed our lande and wasted many cities in my realme 5 And therefore nowe I make thee free also from all the tributes whereof all kinges my progenitours haue discharged thee from other customes wherefrom they haue releassed thee whatsoeuer they be 6 Yea I geue thee leaue to smite money of thyne owne within thy lande 7 As for Hierusalem I wyll that it be holy and free and all the weapons and houses of defence which thou hast builded and kepest in thyne handes shable thyne 8 Whereas any thing is or shal be owing vnto the king I forgeue it thee from this time foorth for euermore 9 And when we haue obtayned our kingdome we shall do thee thy people and the temple great worship so that your honour shal be knowen throughout the whole worlde 10 In the hundred threescore fourteenth yere went Antiochus into his fathers land and all the men of warre came together vnto him so that fewe were left with Tryphon 11 So the king Antiochus folowed vpon him but he fled vnto Dora which lyeth by the sea side 12 For he sawe that there was mischiefe comming vnto him and that his hoast had forsaken him 13 Then came Antiochus vnto Dora with an hundred and twentie thousand men of armes on foote and eyght thousand horsmen so he compassed the citie rounde about and the shippes came by the sea 14 Thus they vexed the citie by land and by water insomuch that they suffered no man to go in nor out 15 In the meane season came Numenius they that had ben with him from the citie of Rome hauing letters written vnto the kinges prouinces wherein were contayned these wordes 16 Lucius the consull of Rome sendeth greeting vnto Ptolomi the king 17 The Ambassadours of the Iewes our friendes being sent from Simon the hie priest and from the people of the Iewes came vnto vs for to renue the olde friendship and bonde of loue 18 Brought a shielde of golde weying a thousand pounde 19 Wherefore we thought it good to write vnto the kinges and prouinces to do them no harme nor to take part against them their cities nor countries neither to maintaine their enemies against them 20 And we were content to receaue of them the shielde 21 If there be any wicked persons therefore fled from their countrey vnto you deliuer them vnto Simon the hie priest that he may punishe them according to their owne lawe 22 The same wordes wrote the Romanes also vnto Demetrius the king to Attalus Araba Arsaces 23 And to all regions as Samsanes to them of Spartia Delo Mydo Sidon Caria Samos Pamphilia Lycia Alicarnassem and to the Rhodes to Faselidis Coo Sida Arado Cortyna Gnidum to Cypres and Cyren 24 And of euery letter they sent a copie to Simon the hie priest 25 So Antiochus the king brought his hoast vnto Dora the second time to take it where he made diuers ordinaunce of warre and kept Tryphon in that he should not go eyther in or out 26 Then sent Simon vnto Antiochus two thousand chosen men to helpe him with golde siluer other plenteous thinges 27 Neuerthelesse he woulde not receaue them but brake all the couenaūt which he made with Simon afore and withdrewe him selfe from him 28 He sent Athenobius also a frend of his vnto Simon for to reason with him saying Ye withholde fro me Ioppa and Gaza with the castle that is at Hierusalem which are cities of my realme 29 Whose borders ye haue destroyed and done great euill in the lande hauing the dominion in many other places of my kingdome 30 Wherfore deliuer now the cities which ye haue taken with the tributes of the places that ye haue rule vpon without the borders of Iurie 31 Or els geue me fiue hundred talentes of siluer yea for the harme that ye haue done in the cities for the tributes of the same other fiue hundred talentes yf no we shall come and fight against you 32 So Athenobius the kinges friend came to Hierusalem and when he sawe the great worship honour of Simon in golde siluer so great plentie of ornamentes he maruailed tolde Simon as the king commaunded him 33 Then aunswered Simon and saide vnto him As for vs we haue neither taken other mens landes nor withholden thē but onely our fathers heritage which our enemies had vnrighteously in possession a certaine time 34 This heritage of our farhers haue we chalenged in processe of time 35 And whereas thou complaynest concerning Ioppa Gaza they did great harme to our people and in our lande yet wyll we geue an hundred talentes for them Neuerthelesse Athenobius aunswered him not one worde 36 But turned againe wrothfully vnto the king tolde him al these words and the great dignitie of Simon with al that he had seene the king was very angry 37 And in the meane time fled Tryphon by ship vnto Orthosias 38 Then the king made Cendebeus captaine of the sea coast and gaue him an hoast of footemen and horsemen 39 Commaunding him to remoue the hoast toward Iurie to builde vp the citie of Cedron to make vp the portes and to warre against the people of the Iewes As for the king him selfe he folowed vpon Tryphon 40 So Cendebeus came vnto Iamnia and began to vexe the people to treade downe Iurie to take the people prisoners to slay them 41 And to builde vp Cedron where he set horsmen and other men of warre that they might come foorth and go through the streetes of Iurie lyke as the king had commaunded him The .xvj. Chapter 1 Cendebeus the captaine of Antiochus hoast is put to flight of the sonnes of Simon 11 Ptolomeus the sonne of Abobus killeth Simon and his two sonnes at a banket 23 Iohn killeth them that lye in wayte for his lyfe 1
thought necessarie to certifie you therof that ye also might kepe the tabernacles feast day and the day of the fire whiche was geuen vs when Nehemias offered after that he had set vp the temple and the aulter 19 For what time as our fathers were led away vnto Persis the priestes whiche then sought the honour of God toke the fire priuily from the aulter and hyd it in a valley where as was a deepe drye pit and therin they kept it so that the place was vnknowen to euery man 20 Nowe after many yeres when it pleased God that Nehemias shoulde be sent from the king of Persia he sent the childers children of those priestes which had hyd the fyre to seke it and as they told vs they found no fire but thicke water 21 Then commaunded he them to drawe it vp and to bring it him and the offeringes withall Nowe when the sacrifices were layed on and ordred Nehemias commaunded the priestes to sprinckle them and the wood with water 22 When this was done the time come that the sunne shone whiche afore was hyd in the cloude there was a great fire kindled in so much that euery man marueyled 23 Now all the priestes prayed whyle the sacrifice was a making Ionathas prayed first and the other gaue aunswere 24 And Nehemias prayer was after this maner O Lorde God maker of all thinges thou fearfull and strong thou righteous and mercifull thou that art onely a gratious king 25 Only liberall only iust almightie and euerlasting thou that deliuerest Israel from all trouble thou that hast chosen the fathers halowed them fauorably 26 Receaue the offering for thy whole people of Israel preserue thyne owne portion and halowe it 27 Gather those together that are scattred abrode from vs deliuer them that are vnder the heathens bondage loke vpon them whiche are despised and abhorred that the heathen may know and see howe that thou only art God which art our God 28 Punishe them that oppresse proudly put vs to dishonour 29 Set thy people againe in thy holy place like as Moyses hath spoken 30 And the priestes song Psalmes of thankesgeuing so long as the sacrifice endured 31 Nowe when the sacrifice was brent Nehemias commaunded the great stones to be sprinkled with the residue of the water 32 Which when it was done there was kindled a flambe of them also but it was consumed thorowe the light that shyned from the aulter 33 So when this matter was knowen it was tolde the king of Persia that in the place where the priestes which were led away had hyd fyre there appeared water and that Nehemias and his companie had purified the sacrifices withall 34 Then the king considering and pondering the matter diligently inclosed the place and consecrated a temple to proue the thing that was done 35 And when he founde it so in deede he gaue the priestes many giftes diuers rewardes yea he toke them with his owne hand and gaue them 36 And Nehemias called the same place Nephthar whiche is as much to say as a clensing but many men call it Nephi The .ii. Chapter 4 Howe Ieremie hyd the tabernacle the arke and the aulter in the hyll 23 Of the fiue bookes of Iason conteyned in one 1 IT is founde also in the writinges of Ieremi the prophete that he commaunded them whiche were caried away to take fyre as it is sayde afore 2 He commaunded them also that they should not forget the lawe commaundementes of the Lorde and that they shoulde not erre in their mindes when they see images of siluer and gold with their ornamentes 3 These and such other thinges commaunded he them and exhorted them that they shoulde not let the law of God go out of their heartes 4 It is written also how the prophete at the commaundement of God charged them to take the tabernacle the arke with them and he went foorth vnto the mountayne where Moyses clymed vp and sawe the heritage of God 5 And when Ieremi came there he found an open caue wherin he layed the tabernacle the arke and the aulter of incense and so stopped the doore 6 There came certayne men together also folowing him to marke the place but they coulde not finde it 7 Whiche when Ieremie perceaued he reproued them saying As for that place it shal be vnknowen vntill the time that God gather his people together againe and receaue them vnto mercie 8 Then shall God shewe them these thinges and the maiestie of the Lorde shal appeare the cloude also like as it was shewed vnto Moyses and like as when Solomon desired that the place might be honorablie sanctified and it was shewed hym 9 For he beyng a wyse man handled honorably and wysely offering vnto God in the halowing of the temple when it was finished 10 And like as when Moyses prayed vnto the Lorde the fire came downe from heauen and consumed the burnt offering Euen so prayed Solomon also and the fire came downe from heauen and consumed the burnt offering 11 And Moyses sayde Because the sinne offering was not eaten therefore it is consumed 12 In like maner Solomon kept the dedication or halowing eyght dayes 13 In the annotations and writinges of Ieremi were these thinges put also and howe he made a librarie and howe he gathered out of all countreys the bookes of the kinges of the prophetes and of Dauid and the epistles of the kinges concerning the holy giftes 14 Euen so Iudas also loke what he learned by experience of warre and such thinges as hath happened vnto vs he gathered them altogether and so we haue them by vs. 15 If ye now desire to haue the same send some body to fetch them vnto you 16 Where as we then are about to celebrate the purification we haue written vnto you therefore ye shall do well if ye kepe the same dayes 17 We hope also that the God which deliuered his people and gaue them al the heritage kingdome priesthood and sanctuarie 18 That he promised them in the law shal shortly haue mercie vpon vs and gather vs together from vnder the heauen into his holie place for he hath saued vs from great peryls and hath clensed the place 19 As concerning Iudas Machabeus and his brethren the purification of the great temple the dedication of the aulter 20 Yea and of the warres that concerne noble Antiochus Eupator his sonne 21 And the miracles shewed from heauen by the valiaunt actes of those which defended the Iewes religion so that a fewe ran through the whole countrey and draue away the barbarous armies 22 Repaired againe the temple that was spoken of throughout all the world deliuered the citie doyng their best that the law of the Lord which was put downe might with all tranquilitie be restored againe vnto the Lord that was so mercifull vnto them 23 As touching Iason also of Cyren we haue
vndertaken compendiously to bring into one booke the thinges that were comprehended of him in fyue 24 For we considering the multitude of the bookes and howe hard it shoulde be for them that woulde meddle with stories and actes and that because of so diuers matters 25 Haue vndertaken so to comprehend the stories that such as are disposed to reade might haue pleasure and pastime therin and that they which are diligent in such thinges might the better thinke vpon them yea and that whosoeuer reade them might haue profite therby 26 Neuerthelesse we our selues that haue medled with this matter for the shortening of it haue taken no small labour but great diligence watchinges and trauayle 27 Like as they that make a feast would fayne do other men pleasure euen so we also for many mens sakes are very well content to take the labour 28 Where as we may shortly comprehend the thinges that other men haue truely written 29 For he that buyldeth an house anewe must prouide for many thinges to the whole buylding but he that paynteth it afterward seketh but only that is comely meete and conuenient to garnishe it withall 30 Euen so do we also in like maner And why He that beginneth fyrst to wryte a storie must with his vnderstanding gather the matter together set his wordes in order and diligently seke out euery part 31 But he that afterwarde will shorten it vseth fewe wordes and toucheth not the matter at the largest Let this be sufficient for a prologue 32 Now will we begin to shew the matter for it is but a foolishe thing to make a long prologue and to be short in the storie it selfe The .iii. Chapter 1 Of the honour done vnto the temple by the kinges of the gentiles 6 Simon vttereth what treasure is in the temple 9 Heliodorus is sent to take them away 26 He is striken of God and healed at the prayer of Onias 1 WHat time as the holy citie was inhabited in all peace and wealth and when the lawes were yet very well kept for so was it ordeyned thorowe the godlinesse of Onias the hye prieste and other godly men that were enemies to wickednesse 2 It came therto that euen the kinges and princes them selues dyd the place great worship and garnished the temple with great giftes 3 Insomuch that Seleucus king of Asia of his owne rentes bare all the coastes belonging to the seruice of the offringes 4 Then Simon of the tribe of Beniamin ruler of the temple vpon a variaunce risen betweene him the hygh priest for wickednesse that was done in the citie 5 For that he could not ouercome Onias he gat him to Apollonius the sonne of Thrasia which then was chiefe Lorde in Celosyria and Phemces 6 And tolde hym that the treasurie in Hierusalem was full of innumerable money how that the common goodes whiche belongeth not vnto the offeringes were exceeding great also yea and howe it were possible that all these might come vnder the kinges power 7 Now when Apollonius had shewed the king of the money as it was tolde him the king called for Heliodorus his treasurer and sent him with a commaundement to bring him the same money 8 Immediatly Heliodorus toke his iourney but vnder a colour as though he woulde go thorowe Celosyria and Phenices to visite the cities but his purpose was to fulfill the kinges pleasure 9 So when he came to Hierusalem and was louingly receaued of the hye priest into the citie he tolde what was determined concerning the money and shewed the cause of his comming he asked also if it were so in deede 10 Then the hye priest tolde hym that there was such money layed vp for the vpholding of wydowes and fatherlesse children 11 And how that a certayne of it belonged vnto Hyrcanus the sonne of Tobias a noble man that of all the money and not as that wicked Simon had reported there were foure hundreth talentes of siluer and two hundred of golde 12 Yea that it were vnpossible for those mens meaning to be disceaued that had put assured confidence in the holinesse of the place in the maiestie vndoubted safetie of the temple whiche is had in worship thorowe the whole worlde for the mayntenaunce and honour of the same 13 Whervnto Heliodorus aunswered that the king had commaunded hym in any wyse to bring hym the money 14 So at the day appoynted Heliodorus entred into the temple to order this matter wherefore there was no small feare throughout the whole citie 15 The priestes fell downe before the aulter in their vestmentes and called vnto heauen vpon hym whiche had made a lawe concerning stuffe geuen to kepe that they shoulde be safely preserued for such as commited them vnto keping 16 Then who so had loked the hye priest in the face it woulde haue greeued his heart for his countenaunce and the chaunging of his colour declared the inwarde sorowe of his mynde 17 The man was all in heauinesse and his body in feare whereby they that loked vpon him might perceaue the griefe of his heart 18 The other people also came out of their houses by heapes vnto the common prayer because the place was like to come into confusion 19 The women came together thorowe the streetes with heary clothes about their brestes the virgins also that were kept in ran to Onias some of them ran to the gates some vp vpon the walles other some loked out at the windowes 20 Yea they all helde vp their handes towarde heauen and prayed 21 A miserable thing was it to loke vpon the common people and the hie priest beyng in such trouble 22 But they besought almightie God that the goodes which were committed vnto them might be kept whole for those that had deliuered them vnto their keping 23 Neuerthelesse the thing that Heliodorus was determined to do that perfourmed he in the same place he hym selfe personally beyng about the treasurie with his men of warre 24 But the spirite of almightie God shewed him selfe openly so that al they which presumed to obey Heliodorus fel thorow the power of God into a great fearefulnesse and dread 25 For there appeared vnto them an horse with a terrible man sitting vpon him deckte in goodly aray and the horse smote at Heliodorus with his forefeete Nowe he that sate vpon the horse had harnesse of golde vpon him 26 Moreouer there appeared two fayre and beautifull young men of notable strength in goodly aray whiche stoode by him scourged him of both the sides and gaue hym many strypes without ceassing 27 With that fell Hiliodorus sodenly vnto the grounde so they toke him vp beyng compassed about with great darkenesse bare him out vpon a beere 28 Thus he that came with so many runners and men of warre into the sayde treasurie was borne out where as no man might helpe hym beyng destitute of harnesse and weapons and so the power of God was manifest knowen
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
presenting vnto him a crowne of golde a paulme and an oliue tree which as men thought belonged to the temple and that day held his tongue 5 But when he had gotten oportunitie for his madnesse Demetrius called him to counsel and asked him what thinges or counsels the Iewes leaned vnto 6 He aunswered The Iewes that be called Assidei whose captaine is Iudas Machabeus maintayne warres make insurections and wyl not let the realme be in peace 7 For I being depriued of my fathers honour I meane the hie priesthood am come hyther 8 Partly because I was faithfull vnto the king and partly because I sought the profite of myne owne citezins And why all our people through the wickednesse of them are not a litle troubled 9 Wherefore I beseche thee O king consider all these thinges diligently and then make some prouision for the lande and the people according to the kindnes that thou hast offered vnto them 10 For as long as Iudas liueth it is not possible that men can lyue in peace 11 When he had spoken these wordes other friendes also hauing euill wyll at Iudas set the king Demetrius on fire against him 12 Which immediatly sent Nicanor ruler of the Elephantes a captaine into Iurie 13 Commaunding him to slay Iudas to scatter them that were with him and to make Alcimus hie priest of the great temple 14 Then the heathen which fled out of Iurie from Iudas came to Nicanor by flockes thinking the harme and decay of the Iewes to be their welfare 15 Now when the Iewes heard of Nicanors comming and the gathering together of the heathen they sprinckled them selues with earth and besought him which made them his people and euer defended his owne portion with euident to kens that he woulde preserue them still 16 So at the coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of the captaine they remoued straight wayes from thence came to a towne called Dessau 17 And Simon Iudas brother fell in hand with Nicanor but through the sodaine comming of the enemies he was afraide 18 Neuerthelesse Nicanor hearing the manlinesse of them that were with Iudas and the bolde stomakes that they had to fight for their natural countrey durst not prooue the matter with bloodshedding 19 Wherfore he sent Possidonius Theodorus and Mathathias before to geue and to take peace 20 So when they had taken long aduisement thereupon and the captaine shewed it vnto the multitude they were agreed in one minde to haue peace 21 And they appoynted a day to sit vpon these matters quietly among them selues and for euery one stooles also were brought and set foorth 22 Neuerthelesse Iudas commaunded certaine men of armes to wayt in conuenient places lest there should sodenly aryse any euill through the enemies and so they communed reasonably together 23 Nicanor while he abode at Hierusalem ordered him selfe not vnreasonably but sent away the people that were gathered together 24 He loued Iudas euer with his heart and fauoured him 25 He prayed him also to take a wyfe and to bring foorth children So he maryed liued in rest and they led a common life 26 But Alcimus perceauing the loue that was betwixt them and how they were agreed together came to Demetrius and tolde him that Nicanor had taken straunge matters in hande and ordayned Iudas an enemie of the realme to be the kinges successour 27 Then the king was sore displeased and through the wicked accusations which Alcimus made of Nicanor he was so prouoked that he wrote vnto Nicanor saying that he was very angry for the frendship and agreement which he had made with Machabeus Neuerthelesse he coÌ„maunded him in al the haste that he should take Machabeus prisoner and sent him to Antioch 28 Which letters when Nicanor had sene he was at his wittes ende and sore greeued that he shoulde breake the thinges wherein they had agreed specially seeing Machabeus was that man that neuer did him harme 29 But because he might not withstand the king he sought oportunitie to fulfill his commaundement 30 Notwithstanding when Machabeus saw that Nicanor began to be churlishe vnto him that he entreated him more roughly then he was wont he perceaued that such vnkindnesse came not of good and therefore he gathered a fewe of his men and withdrewe him selfe from Nicanor 31 Which when he knew that Machabeus had manfully preueÌ„ted him he came into the great and most holy temple and commaunded the priestes which were doing their vsuall offeringes to deliuer him the man 32 And when they sware that they could not tell where the man was whom he sought 33 He stretched out his right hande toward the temple and made an oth saying If ye wyll not deliuer me Iudas captiue I shall remoue this temple of God into the pla◠〈◊〉 I shal breake downe the aulter and consecraâ—e this temple vnto Bacchus 34 After these wordes he departed Then the priestes lyft vp their handes toward heauen and besought him that was euer the defender of their people saying â–ª 35 Thou O Lord of all which hast nede of nothing wouldest that the temple of thy habitation should be among vs 36 Therefore nowe O most holy Lorde kepe this house euer vndefiled which lately was cleansed and stop all the mouthes of the vnrighteous 37 Now was there accused vnto Nicanor one Razis an alderman of Hierusalem a louer of the whole citie a man of good reporte which for the kinde heart that he bare vnto the people was called a father of the Iewes 38 This man oft times when the Iewes were minded to kepe them selues vndefiled defended and deliuered them being content stedfastly to spend his body and his lyfe for his people 39 So Nicanor wylling to declare the hate that he bare to the Iewes sent fiue hundred men of warre to take him 40 For he thought if he â—at him he should bring the Iewes in great decay 41 Now when the peâ—ple began to rushe in at his house to breake the doores and to set fire on it he being now taken fel vpon his sword 42 Choosing rather to dye manfully then to yeelde him selfe to those wicked doers because of his noble stocke he had rather haue ben put to extreme crueltie 43 Notwithstanding what time as he missed of his stroke for haste and the multitude rushed in violently betwixt the doores he ranne boldly to the wall and cast himselfe downe manfully among the heape of them 44 Which gaue soone place to his fall so that he fell vpon his belly 45 Neuerthelesse while there was yet breath within him he was kindled in his minde while his blood gushed out exceedingly for he was very sore wounded he ranne through the middest of the people and gat him to the top of a 〈◊〉 46 So when his blood was nâ—we 〈◊〉 he toke out his owne bowels 〈…〉 his handes threw them vpon the â—ple calling vpon the Lorde 〈…〉 to rewarde him this againe 〈…〉 he dyed The .xv. Chapter 2
thou then that we go and gather them vp 29 But he sayde nay lest whyle ye gather vp the tares ye rote vp also the wheate with them 30 Let both growe together vntyll the haruest in tyme of haruest I wyl say to the reapers gather ye together first the tares and bynde them in bundels to burne them but carrie the wheate into my barne ☜ 31 ☞ Another parable put he foorth vnto them saying The kyngdome of heauen is like to a grayne of mustard seede which a man toke sowed in his fielde 32 Which in dede is the least of all seedes But when it is growen it is the greatest among hearbes and is a tree so that the byrdes of the ayre come make their nestes in the braunches therof 33 Another parable spake he vnto them The kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto leuen which a woman taketh hydeth in three peckes of meale tyll all be leuened 34 All these thynges spake Iesus vnto the people in parables and without a parable spake he not vnto them 35 That it myght be fulfylled which was spoken by the prophete that sayth I wyll open my mouth in parables I wyll speake foorth thynges which haue ben kept secrete from the foundation of the worlde ☜ 36 Then Iesus sent the people away went into the house And his disciples came vnto hym saying Declare vnto vs the parable of the tares of the fielde 37 He aunswered and sayde vnto them He that soweth the good seede is the sonne of man 38 The fielde is the worlde the good seede they are the childrē of y e kingdom the tares are the chyldren of y e wicked 39 The enemie that foweth them is the deuyll the haruest is the ende of the worlde the reapers be the Angels 40 Euen as the tares therfore are gathered and brent in the fyre so shall it be in the ende of this worlde 41 The sonne of man shall sende foorth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kyngdome all thynges that offende and them which do iniquitie 42 And shall cast them into a furnesse of fyre There shal be waylyng and gnasshyng of teeth 43 Then shall the ryghteous shine as the Sunne in the kingdome of their father Who hath eares to heare let hym heare ☜ 44 ☞ Agayne the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto treasure hyd in the fielde the which a man hath founde and hyd and for ioy therof goeth and selleth all that he hath and byeth the fielde 45 Agayne the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a marchaunt man seekyng goodly pearles 46 Which when he founde one precious pearle went and solde all that he had and bought it 47 Agayne the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of all kynde 48 Which when it was full men drewe to lande and sat downe and gathered the good into vessels but cast the bad away 49 So shall it be at the ende of the world The Angels shall come foorth and seuer the bad from among the iuste 50 And shall cast them into a furnesse of fyre there shal be waylyng and gnasshyng of teeth 51 Iesus sayth vnto them haue ye vnderstande all these thynges They say vnto hym yea Lorde 52 Then sayde he vnto them Therfore euery Scribe which is taught vnto the kyngdome of heauen is lyke vnto a man that is an householder whiche bryngeth foorth out of his treasure thynges newe and olde ☜ 53 And it came to passe that when Iesus had finished these parables he departed thence 54 And when he came into his owne countrey he taught them in their synagogues in so much that they were astonyed and sayde whence commeth this wysdome and powers vnto hym 55 Is not this the carpenters sonne Is not his mother called Marie and his brethren Iames and Ioses and Simon and Iudas 56 And are not all his sisters with vs whence hath he then all these thynges 57 And they were offended in hym Iesus sayde vnto them A prophete is not without honour saue in his owne countrey and in his owne house 58 And he did not many mightie workes there because of their vnbeliefe ⧠The .xiiij. Chapter ¶ 10 Iohn is taken and beheaded 19 Christe feedeth fyue thousande men with fyue loaues two fysshes 25 and appeareth by nyght vnto his disciples vpon the sea 1 AT that tyme Herode the Tetrarch hearde of the fame of Iesu 2 And sayde vnto his seruauntes this is Iohn the Baptist he is risen from the dead and therfore great workes do shewe foorth them selues in hym 3 For Herode had taken Iohn and bounde hym and put hym in prison for Herodias sake his brother Philips wyfe 4 For Iohn sayde vnto hym it is not lawfull for thee to haue her 5 And when he woulde haue put hym to death he feared the people because they counted hym as a prophete 6 But when Herodes birth day was kept the daughter of Herodias daunsed before them and pleased Herode 7 Wherefore he promised with an othe that he woulde geue her whatsoeuer she woulde aske 8 And she beyng instruct of her mother before sayde geue me here Iohn Baptistes head in a platter 9 And the kyng was sory Neuerthelesse for the othes sake and them which sate also at the table he commaunded it to be geuen her 10 And sent and beheaded Iohn in the pryson 11 And his head was brought in a platter and geuen to the damsell and she brought it to her mother 12 And his disciples came and toke vp his body and buryed it and went and tolde Iesus 13 When Iesus hearde of it he departed thence in a shyp vnto a desert place out of the way And when the people had hearde therof they folowed hym on foote out of the cities 14 And Iesus went foorth and sawe much people and was moued with mercye towarde them and he healed their sicke 15 And when the euen drewe on his disciples came to hym saying this is a desert place and the hour is nowe past let the people depart that they may go into the townes and bye them vittels 16 But Iesus sayde vnto them They haue no nede to go away geue ye them to eate 17 They saye vnto hym we haue here but fyue loaues and two fisshes 18 He sayde bryng them hyther to me 19 And he commaunded the people to sit downe on the grasse and he toke the fyue loaues and the two fisshes and lift vp his eyes towarde heauen blessed And when he had broken them he gaue the loaues to his disciples and his disciples to the people 20 And they dyd all eate and were suffised And they gathered vp of the fragmentes that remayned twelue baskets full 21 And they that had eaten were about fyue thousande men besyde women and chyldren 22 And strayghtway Iesus constrayned his disciples to get vp
sayde vnto them it wyll come to passe that the sonne of man shal be betrayed into the handes of men 23 And they shall kyll hym the thyrde day shall he ryse agayne And they were exceadyng sory 24 ☞ And when they were come to Capernaum they that receaued tribute money came to Peter and sayde Doth not your maister pay tribute 25 He sayth yes And when he was come into the house Iesus preuented hym saying What thynkest thou Simon of whom do the kynges of the earth take tribute or toule of the chyldren or of straungers 26 Peter sayth vnto hym of straungers Iesus sayth vnto hym Then are the chyldren free 27 Notwithstandyng lest we shoulde offende them go thou to the sea and cast an angle and take the fisshe that first commeth vp and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt fynde a peece of twenty pence that take and geue it vnto them for me and thee ☜ ⧠The .xviij. Chapter ¶ 3 He teacheth his disciples to be humble and harmelesse 6 to auoyde occasions of euyll 21 and one to forgeue anothers offence 1 AT the same time came the disciples vnto Iesus saying Who is the greatest in y e kyngdome of heauen 2 Iesus called a litle chylde vnto hym and set hym in the myddest of them 3 And sayde Veryly I say vnto you except ye turne and become as litle chyldren ye shall not enter into the kyngdome of heauen 4 Whosoeuer therfore shall humble hym selfe as this litle chylde the same is y e greatest in the kingdome of heauen 5 And who so shall receaue such a litle chylde in my name receaueth me 6 But who so shall offende one of these litle ones which beleue in me it were better for hym that a myll stone were hanged about his necke that he were drowned in the deapth of the sea 7 Wo vnto the worlde because of offences It must nedes be that offences come But wo to that man by whom the offence commeth 8 If then thy hande or thy foote offende thee cut them of and cast them from thee It is better for thee to enter into lyfe halt or maymed rather then thou shouldest hauyng two handes or two feete be cast into euerlastyng fyre 9 And yf thyne eye offende thee plucke it out and cast it from thee It is better for thee to enter into lyfe with one eye rather then hauyng two eyes to be cast into hell fyre 10 Take heede that ye despise not one of these litle ones For I say vnto you that in heauē their Angels do alwayes beholde the face of my father which is in heauen 11 ☞ For the sonne of man is come to saue that which was lost 12 Howe thynke ye If a man haue an hundred sheepe and one of them be gone astray doth he not leaue ninetie nine and goeth into the mountaynes and seketh that which went astray 13 And yf it so be that he fynde it veryly I say vnto you he reioyceth more of that sheepe then of the ninetie and nine which went not astray 14 Euen so it is not the wyll of your father in heauen that one of these litle ones shoulde peryshe 15 ☞ Moreouer yf thy brother trespas agaynst thee go and tell hym his faulte betwene thee and hym alone If he heare thee thou hast wonne thy brother 16 But yf he heare thee not then take yet with thee one or two that in the mouth of two or three witnesses euery worde may be stablyshed 17 If he heare not them tell it vnto the Churche If he heare not the Churche let hym be vnto thee as an Heathen man and a publicane 18 Veryly I say vnto you Whatsoeuer ye bynde on earth shal be bounde in heauen And whatsoeuer ye loose on earth shal be loosed in heauen 19 Agayne truely I say vnto you that if two of you agree in earth as touching any thyng that they shall aske it shal be done for them of my father which is in heauen 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the myddes of them 21 Then came Peter to hym and sayde Lorde howe oft shall my brother sinne agaynst me and I forgeue hym tyll seuen tymes 22 Iesus sayth vnto hym I say not vnto thee vntyll seuen tymes but vntyll seuentie tymes seuen ☜ 23 ☞ Therfore is the kyngdome of heauen lykened vnto a certayne man that was a kyng which woulde take accomptes of his seruauntes 24 And when he had begunne to recken one was brought vnto hym which ought hym ten thousande talentes 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay his Lorde commaunded hym to be solde and his wyfe and chyldren and all that he had and payment to be made 26 The seruaunt fell downe besought hym saying Lorde haue pacience with me and I wyll pay thee all 27 Then the Lorde of that seruaunt moued with pitie loosed hym and forgaue hym the debt 28 But the same seruaunt went out and founde one of his felowes which ought hym an hundred pence and he layde handes on hym and toke hym by the throte saying pay me that thou owest 29 And his felowe fel downe at his feete and besought him saying haue pacience with me and I wyll pay thee all 30 And he woulde not but went and cast hym into prison tyll he shoulde pay the debt 31 So when his felowes sawe what was done they were very sory came and tolde vnto their Lorde all that was done 32 Then his Lorde called hym and sayd vnto him O thou vngracious seruaunt I forgaue thee all that debt when thou desiredst me 33 Shouldest not thou also haue had compassion on thy felowe euen as I had pitie on thee 34 And his Lorde was wroth and delyuered hym to the tormentours tyll he shoulde pay all that was due vnto him 35 So lykewyse shall my heauenly father do also vnto you yf ye from your heartes forgeue not euery one his brother their trespasses ☜ ¶ The .xix. Chapter ¶ 3 Christe geueth aunswere concernyng maryage 21 and teacheth not to be carefull 22 nor to loue worldly riches _1 ANd it came to passe that when Iesus had finished these sayinges he gat hym from Galilee and came into the coastes of Iurie beyonde Iordane 2 And great multitudes folowed hym and he healed them there 3 The pharisees also came vnto hym temptyng hym and saying vnto hym Is it lawfull for a man to put away his wyfe for euery cause 4 He aunswered and sayde vnto them Haue ye not read that he which created at the begynnyng made them male and female 5 And sayde For this cause shall a man leaue father and mother and shall be knit to his wyfe and they twayne shall be one fleshe 6 Wherfore they are no more twayne but one fleshe Let not man therefore put a sunder that which God hath coupled together 7 They say vnto
Iesus called them vnto him and sayde Ye know that the princes of the gentiles haue dominion ouer them and they that are great exercise aucthoritie vpon them 26 It shall not be so among you But whosoeuer wyll be great among you let hym be your minister 27 And who so wyl be chiefe among you let hym be your seruaunt 28 Euen as the sonne of man came not to be ministred vnto but to minister and to geue his lyfe a raunsome for many ☜ 29 And as they departed from Hierico much people folowed hym 30 And behold two blind men syttyng by the waye syde when they hearde that Iesus passed by they cryed saying O Lorde thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie on vs. 31 And the people rebuked them because they should holde their peace But they cryed the more saying haue mercy on vs O Lorde thou sonne of Dauid 32 And Iesus stode styll called them and sayde what wyll ye that I shall do vnto you 33 They saye vnto hym Lord that our eyes may be opened 34 So Iesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes and immediatly theyr eyes receaued syght And they folowed hym ¶ The .xxj. Chapter ¶ 7 He rydeth into Hierusalem 12 dryueth the marchauntes out of the temple 19 curfeth the fygge tree 28 and rebuketh the pharisees with the similitude of the two sonnes 35 and of the husbande men that slewe such as were sent vnto them 1 ANd when they drewe nye vnto Hierusalem were come to Bethphage vnto the moūt of Oliues thē sent Iesus two disciples 2 Saying vnto thē Go into the towne that lyeth ouer agaynste you and anone ye shall fynde an Asse tyed a colt with her loose them and bryng them vnto me 3 And yf any man saye ought vnto you saye ye the Lorde hath nede of them and strayghtway he wyll let them go 4 All this was done that it myght be fulfylled which was spoken by the prophete saying 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion behold thy kyng commeth vnto thee meke and syttyng vpon an Asse a colt the foale of the Asse vsed to the yoke 6 The disciples went and did as Iesus commaunded them 7 And brought the Asse and the colt and put on them their clothes and set hym theron 8 And many of the people spread their garmētes in the way Other cut downe braunches from the trees and strawed them in the way 9 Moreouer the multitudes that went before that came after cryed saying Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lorde Hosanna in the hyest ☜ 10 ☞ And when he was come into Hierusalē all the citie was moued saying who is this 11 And the multitude saide This is Iesus that prophete of Nazareth in Galilee 12 And Iesus went into the temple of God and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple and ouerthrewe the tables of the money chaungers and the seates of them that solde doues 13 And sayde vnto them it is written My house shal be called the house of prayer but ye haue made it a denne of thieues 14 And the blynde and the halt came to hym in the temple and he healed them 15 When the chiefe priestes and scribes sawe the wonders that he dyd and the chyldren crying in the temple and saying Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid they disdayned 16 And sayde vnto hym Hearest thou what these saye But Iesus sayth vnto them yea haue ye neuer read Out of the mouth of babes suckelynges thou hast ordeyned prayse 17 And he left them and went out of the citie vnto Bethanie and he lodged there ☜ 18 In the mornyng as he returned into the citie he hungred 19 And when he sawe one fygge tree in the waye he came to it and founde nothyng theron but leaues only said vnto it neuer fruite growe on thee henceforwarde And anone the figge tree withered away 20 And when his disciples sawe it they marueyled saying Howe soone is the figge tree wythered away 21 Iesus aunswered and saide vnto thē Veryly I saye vnto you yf ye haue fayth and doubt not ye shall not onlye do this which is done to the figge tree but also yf ye shall say vnto this mountayne be thou remoued and be thou cast into the sea it shal be done 22 And all thynges whatsoeuer ye aske in prayer beleuyng ye shall receaue them 23 ☞ And when he was come into the temple the chiefe priestes the elders of the people came vnto hym teaching and saye By what aucthoritie doest thou these thynges and who gaue thee this power 24 Iesus aunswered saide vnto them I also wyll aske you one questiō which yf ye tell me I in likewise wyll tell you by what aucthoritie I do these thinges 25 The baptisme of Iohn whence was it from heauen or of men And they reasoned with them selues saying if we shall say from heauen he wyll say vnto vs why dyd ye not then beleue hym 26 But yf we shall say of men then feare we the people for all men holde Iohn as a prophete 27 And they aunswered vnto Iesus and sayde we can not tell And he saide vnto them neither tell I you by what aucthoritie I do these thynges 28 But what thynke you ☞ A man had two sonnes and came to the firste and saide sonne go and worke to day in my vineyarde 29 He aunswered and saide I wyll not but afterwarde he repented and went 30 Then came he to the seconde sayde lykewyse And he aunswered saide I wyll sir and went not 31 Whether of them twayne did the wyl of the father And they saide vnto him the first Iesus sayth vnto them Veryly I saye vnto you that publicanes harlottes go into the kingdome of God before you 32 For Iohn came vnto you by the way of righteousnes ye beleued hym not but publicanes harlottes beleued him And ye when ye had sene it were not moued afterwarde with repentaunce that ye myght haue beleued hym ☜ 33 ☞ Hearken another similitude There was a certayne man an householder which made a vineyarde hedged it rounde about and made a wynepresse in it and buylt a towre and let it out to husbande men and went into a strange countrey 34 And when the time of the fruite drewe neare he sent his seruauntes to the husbande men that they might receaue the fruites of it 35 And the husbande men caught his seruauntes and beatte one killed another and stoned another 36 Agayne he sent other seruauntes mo then the first and they dyd vnto them lykewyse 37 But laste of all he sent vnto them his owne sonne saying they wyll stande in awe of my sonne 38 But when the husband men sawe the sonne they sayde among them selues this is the heire come let vs kyll hym and let vs enioy his inheritaunce
that no man shoulde knowe of it and commaunded to geue her meate ¶ The .vj. Chapter ¶ 4 Of Christes doynges and estimation in his owne countrey 7 he sendeth foorth his Apostles 15 diuers opinions of Christe 25 howe Herode beheaded Iohn Baptiste 38 of the miracle of fyue loaues and two fisshes 48 Christe walketh vpon the sea 55 and healed them that touched hym 1 ANd he departed thence came into his owne countrey and his disciples folowed him 2 And when the sabboth day was come he beganne to teache in the synagogue And many that hearde hym were astonyed and sayde from whence hath he these thynges And what wisdome is this that is geuen vnto hym and such myghtie workes that are wrought by his handes 3 Is not this the carpenter Maries sonne the brother of Iames Ioses and of Iuda and Simon and are not his sisters here with vs And they were offended at hym 4 Iesus sayde vnto them that a prophete is not without honour but in his owne countrey and among his owne kynne and in his owne house 5 And he coulde there shewe no mightie worke but layde his handes vpon a fewe sicke folke and healed them 6 And he marueyled because of their vnbeliefe ☜ And he went about by the townes that lay on euery syde teachyng 7 * And he called the twelue and beganne to sende them foorth two and two and gaue thē power ouer vncleane spirites 8 And commaunded them that they shoulde take nothyng in their iourney saue a staffe only no scrippe no bread no money in their purse 9 But shoulde be shoed with sandales And that they shoulde not put on two coates 10 And he sayde vnto them Whersoeuer ye enter into an house there abyde tyll ye depart thence 11 And whosoeuer shall not receaue you nor heare you when ye depart thence shake of the dust that is vnder your feet for a witnesse vnto them I say veryly vnto you it shal be easyer for the Sodomites and the Gomorrheans in the day of iudgement then for that citie 12 And they went out preached that men should repent 13 And they cast out many deuyls and annoynted many that were sicke with oyle and healed them 14 And king Herode hearde of hym for his name was spread abrode And he sayde Iohn Baptist is rysen agayne from the dead and therefore myghtie workes do shewe foorth them selues in hym 15 Other saide it is Elias Some saide it is a prophete or as one of the prophetes 16 But when Herode hearde of hym he saide It is Iohn whom I beheaded he is rysen from death agayne 17 ☞ For Herode himselfe had sent foorth and layde handes vpon Iohn bounde hym in pryson for Herodias sake his brother Philippes wyfe because he had maryed her 18 For Iohn sayde vnto Herode It is not lawful for thee to haue thy brothers wyfe 19 Therefore Herodias layde wayte for hym and woulde haue kylled hym but she coulde not 20 For Herode feared Iohn knowyng that he was a iuste man and an holye and gaue hym reuerence and when he hearde hym he dyd many thynges and hearde hym gladly 21 And whē a conuenient day was come that Herode on his birth daye made a supper to the lordes hye captaynes and chiefe estates of Galilee 22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias came in and daunced and pleased Herode and them that sate at boorde also the kyng said vnto the damsell Aske of me what thou wylt and I wyll geue it thee 23 And he sware vnto her Whatsoeuer thou shalt aske of me I wyll geue it thee euen vnto the one halfe of my kingdome 24 And she went foorth sayde vnto her mother What shall I aske She saide Iohn Baptistes head 25 And she came in strayghtwaye with haste vnto the kyng and asked saying I wyll that thou geue me by and by in a charger the head of Iohn Baptist 26 And the kyng was sory howebeit for his othes sake for their sakes whiche sate at supper also he woulde not caste her of 27 And immediatlye the kyng sent the hangman and commaunded his head to be brought in And he went and beheaded hym in the pryson 28 And brought his head in a charger gaue it to the damsell and the damsell gaue it to her mother 29 And when his disciples hearde of it they came and toke vp his body and layed it in a tombe ☜ 30 And the Apostles gathered themselues together vnto Iesus and tolde hym all thynges both what they had done and what they had taught 31 And he sayde vnto them Come ye alone out of the way into y e wyldernesse and rest awhyle For there were many commers and goers and they had no leysure so much as to eate 32 And he wēt by shippe out of the way into a desert place 33 And the people spyed them when they departed and many knewe hym and ranne a foote thyther out of all cities came thyther before them and came together vnto hym 34 And Iesus went out and sawe much people and had compassion on them because they were lyke sheepe not hauyng a sheepheard And he began to teache them many thynges 35 And when the day was nowe farre spent his disciples came vnto hym saying This is a desert place nowe the tyme is farre passed 36 Let them departe that they may go into the countrey rounde about and into the townes and bye them bread for they haue nothyng to eate 37 He aunswered and sayde vnto them geue ye them to eate And they saide vnto him Shall we go and bye two hundred penyworth of bread geue them to eate 38 He sayde vnto them Howe many loaues haue ye go loke And when they had searched they sayde fyue and two fisshes 39 And he commaunded them to make them all sit downe by companies vpon the greene grasse 40 And they sate downe here a rowe and there a rowe by hundredes by fifties 41 And when he had takē the fiue loaues and the two fisshes and loked vp to heauen he blessed and brake the loaues gaue them to his disciples to set before them and the two fisshes deuided he among them all 42 And they all did eate were satisfied 43 And they toke vp twelue baskets full of the fragmentes of the fisshes 44 And they that dyd eate were about fyue thousande men 45 And straightway he constrayned his disciples to go into the shippe and to go ouer the sea before vnto Bethsaida whyle he sent away the people 46 And assoone as he had sent them away he departed into a mountayne to pray 47 ☞ And when euen was come the ship was in the myddes of the sea and he alone on the lande 48 And he sawe them troubled in rowyng for the wynde was contrary vnto them And about the fourth watche of the nyght
and suche as were in aucthoritie with the king styrred vp the people to watche narrowly Ieremies sayings if they coulde finde hym to halt in any thing wherefore thei might accuse hym to the kyng Iare xi d. Iob. iii. a. Iere. xv b. Gen. xix c. (c) The most godly men are sometimes caried away with the vnruly rage of immoderate affection albeit in this prophete the cause of this immoderate zeale was for that he sawe his trauayle to saue y e people to be in vayne Gods worde contemned and all godlynesse scornefully despised Iob x. c. Iere. xxxi a. Deut 30. e. Iere. xxvii a xxxviii a. Iere. xxii a. Esai i. c. Iere. xxii a. Zacha vii b. Iere. iiii a. Esai i. c. Iere. xxii a. Zacha vii b. Iere. iiii a. Iere. xlviii a Deu. xxix c Iere. v. b. xii a. xiii b. and .xxiii. c. Sopho. i. c. Esai i. c. Iere. xxi c. Zacha. vii c. Esai i. c. Iere. li. â— Hebre. vi b. Dâ— xâ— d iii. Reâ—â— b. Deu xxâ—x d iii. Re ix b. 4. Re. xxiii b ii Par. vii d. 4 â–ª Reg. 23 c. ii Par. iii. e. Esai v. c. Agge i. a. 4 Reg. 23 c. and .xxiiii. a Ier xxxvi d Esa xiii d. and .xxi. a. Iere. xii b. â—nd xxi a. 4. Reg. 24. b 4. Reg. 24. b Esa xiii d. and .xxi. a. Iere. xii b. â—nd xxi a. 4. Reg. 24. b 4. Reg. 24. b “ Or Iechomas Ezech. 34. a. Ier. xxxiii c Esai xi a. Deut. 33. c. i. Cor. i. d. Iere. xvi c. Iere. xiiii a. Iere. ix b. Iere. xxv b and .xxix. b Iere. xii â— and .xiiii. b. Sopho. i. c. Iere. xxx d. Iere. xxx d. Iere. xiiii b. Psal 139. a. Ezech. viii b Psal 129. a. Amos. ix a. Esai lxxi a. Act. vii f. and .xvii. b. ii Cor. ii a. i. Pet â— (a) The wicked mens heartes were so heardened against the trueth that they vsed scornefully to scoffe at Gods threatning prophechies in mockage calling them Gods fardle or burthen 4. Reg 24. d Osee ix d. Deu. xxix a. Iere. xxx d. xxxi f. xxxii e. Iere. xxix e. Psa lxxix a Baruc. iii. a. Ier. xxxix c xxxv c. xxxviii a. 2. Par. 36 c. 4. Re. xv â— Iere. i. b. Esai x. a Iere. xvii â— Iere. viii b. and .xvi. b. 2. Par. 36. d. 1. Esdra â— a. Iere. v. e. and xxix b Dâ— ix a. Zacha. 1. b. Iob 34. d. 〈…〉 Psâ—l â—xxv b b Iere. xlix b. Eze ix b. i. Pe â— Ioel iiii â— Amo. i. d Iere. xxx d. Psal cxlii a. Iere vii a. and .xvii. d Deut iiii a. and .xii b. 〈◊〉 â—ii a. 〈◊〉 iii. b. Iere. vii a. 4. Reg 15. g. Iere 36. d. 〈…〉 Mat xv â— Mat. xxiii â— Mich. i. a. Mich. iii. c. Ionas iii. b. (a) In the deuine nature there is no such affectioÌ„s or chaungeablenesse but God is sayde after the maner of men to repent when he doth not execute that he had denounced or doth deferre the plague which he had threatned 3. Reg. 22. d. Mich. ii c. 3. Reg. 22. d. Mich. ii c. Deut. x. â— Eccle x. a. Iudâ— xi d. Iere. xxxii a Dan. iiii c. Iere. xxv â— Iere. xxi b. xxxviii a. xâ—â— Iere. xxiii c and .xxix. b. Iere. 38. â— Iere. 23 c. 39. b. Iere. 28. a. 4. Reg. 24. c 4. Reg. 25. c. i. Esd i. b. Iere. 27. c. Iere xxv â— Mich. iii. c. Deu. xviii d Iere. xxix c Iere ◠〈…〉 i. Tim. â— Iere 3â— â— and 27. b. Iere. xiiii b. 1. Pâ— 26. d. Iere. 22. b. i. â—d i. a. Deut. iiii c. and xxx a. Ioh. vii d. 4. Reg 24. d Ieâ—e 24 â— Iere. xxv a. and xliiii a. 4 Reg. ii a. 2. Par. 23. a. Iere. xxix c. Iere 2â— Iere. xxx c. Iere. xiii b. Eâ— 34. d. Amos. ix b. Iere. x. d. Exod. 33. a. Nahum 1. a. Iere. xiii d. Iere. xii a. and .x d. Num. 24. â— Mich. v. a. Ioh. vi c. Iere. xxiii b. xxiiii b. xxxi f. Iere. xxiii c. xxv b. Iere. xxiii e. Num. xiii c. Ioh. vi b. Esai ii a. Deut. 23. a. Gen. xlvii d Iere. iii. c. Math. ii c. Eze. xx c. Thre v. c. Zach. i. a. Gen. 4â— d. Mat. v. a. and .xi. c. Denc 28. g. Iere. 32. c. Zac. viii â— Ezec. xviii â— Heb. viii b. Heb. x. b. Esai li. b. Iere. 24 b. and .xxx. d. Gen. â— b. Rom. xâ— ii â—d iii a. Zac xxiiii b Iere. xix b. Ier. xxxiiii a xxxviii a. and .xxxix. Leui. xxv d Nu xxiiii a. and .xxxvi a Ruth iiii a. Gene. i. a. Iere. x. b. Exod. 54. a. Rom. ii a. Exod vii vnto the .xv chapter Iud. ii iii.iiii.vi.viii Esther v. b. Iere. xxv xxxix c. Iere. ii b. Iere. viii d. Deu. xxx â— Psal cxix e. Eze. xxxvi e Deuâ— 39. b. Iere xxi c Iere. xx and .xxxii. a. Exod. xiiii i. Reg vii d. Ierâ— xliii â— â–ª Psal cviii a. i. Mach. iiii d Iere. xxiii a. Esa xxxii d ii Reg. vii c. (a) This name hath God geuen to Christe and doth properly belong to hym alone but here it is attributed vnto the Churche for that God the father hath esspoused Christ his sonne vnto the Churche and hath endowed her with all that is his i. Reg. â— â–ª ii Pet. ii a. Gene. xv b. and .xxxii. c Ier. xxxix â— â–ª 4. Reg. 25 â— Ier. xxxii a. xxxix a. 1. Reg. xxi c (a) Zedekias is promised to be brent after his death that is to haue his funeralles honourably done â— Par. xi â— Exod xâ—i a. Leui xxvi f Deuâ—â— b. Deâ— xâ— Exod 〈…〉 Gene. xv b. Iere. 3â— â— iiii Reg. x. e. Iere. xxix b Iere. xvi â— and .xxv â— Prou â— Esai xâ— b. Iere. vii b. Ier. xxxiii c. Iere. xxx a. (a) When Iehoakim the kyng of Iuda hearde that the kyng of Babylon his armie was comming to besiege Hierusalem he appointed a solemne and publique fast for al the people commaunding them to resort vnto the temple at the tyme appointed and there to make their humble prayers vnto God for peace his fauour as the maner of Gods people was in all their distresses to fast pray in faithfull repentaunce Iosa â— Iere. xxvi a. i. Mach. iii. c. 4 Reg. 24. b Iere. xxii c. 4 Reg. 24. “ Or â— â—honiah Iere. xxxi â— Eze. xvii b. Iere. xlvi â— Ier. xxviii b. Iere. 38· c. Ier. xxviii c. Iere. xxi b. and .xxvi. a Iere. xxii e. Iere. 37. c â–ª Ier. xxxix c Iere. 32. a. 4. Reg. 25. a. Iere. 34. a. 4. Reg. 25. d. Iere. xxii d. Iere. 38. d. Iere. xl b. Iere xiiii a. Iesu xvâ—ii d Gen. iii. b. Tobi. i. b. 4. Reg. 15. e. Iere. 39 c. 4. Reg. 15. c. 4. Reg 25. a. Eccl. xii c. 4. Reg. 25. c. 4 Reg. xv â— Gen. xiii â— 1. Reg 30. b. Iere. xii c. Iere. xâ—â— Iere. xxi a. xxxvii a. Iosu i. c. i. Mach. ii d Iere. xiiii a.
Meredachs sonne to shew gods iudgementes against the wicked for the deliueraunce of his church and how the prophecie of Ieremi was true that they should be deliuered after seuentie yeres (b) That is not alone as commonly he was wont but in a solemne banket whervnto he receaued all his nobles to accompanie him (c) Meaning his graundfather (d) That it might the better be seene (e) So he that before contemned God was moued by this sight to tremble for feare of gods iudgementes (f) This some thinke was his mother other his grauÌ„dmother of al likelyhod a woman of great age that could remember the actes of Daniel (g) Reade chap. 4. b. and this declareth both that this name was odious vnto him and also that he did not vse these vile practizes because he was not among them when all were called (h) Before he read the writing he declareth to the king his great ingratitude toward God who could not be moued to geue him his glorie considering his wonderfull worâ—â— toward his graundfather and so sheweth that â—e surneth not of ignoraunce but of 〈◊〉 “ Or Belsasâ—r (i) After that God had so long time differred his anger patiently wayted for thyne amendement (k) This worde is doubled not onely to exaggerate the certainetie of the matter but also as some thinke the one to signifie the ende of the king the other the ende of the kingdome (l) Cyrus his sonne in lawe gaue him this title of honour although Cyrus in effect had the dominion (a) Thus the wicked can not abide the graces of god in others but seeke by al occasions to deface them therefore against such assaultes there is no better remedie then to walke vprightly in the feare of God and to haue good conscience (b) Because he woulde not by his â—cilence shew that he consented to this wicked decree he set open his windowes toward Hierusalem when he prayed both to stirre vp him selfe with the remembraunce of gods promises to his people when they should pray toward that temple also that others might see that he woulde neuer consent in heart nor deede for these fewe dayes to any thing contrary to gods glory (c) Thus the wicked maintaine yâ— lawes by constancie aucthoritie â–ª which is oftimes eyther lightnes or stubbernes â–ª when as the innocentes thereby perishe and therfore gouernours ought neither to â—eare nor be ashamed to breake such d Myne vplightnes in this thing wherein I was charged was approued of God e For he did disobey the kinges wicked commauÌ„dement to obey God and so did no iniurie to y e king who ought to commaunde nothing wherby god should be dishonoured Because he committed himselfe wholy vnto God whose cause he did defend he was assured that nothing but good could come vnto him wherein we see the power of faith as Hebr. xi e. (g) A terible example against all that contrary to their conscience make cruel lawes to destroy gods children and also admonisheth princes how to punish such when their wickednes is come to light though not in euery poynt or with like circumstaunces yet to execute true iustice (a) Whereas the people of Israel loked for a continuall quietnes after these seuentie yeres as Ieremie had declared he sheweth that this rest should not be a deliueraunce from all troubles but a beginning and therefore moued them to loke for a continual affliction til y e Messias be vttered reuealed by whom they shoulde haue a spiritual deliueraunce and all the promises fulfilled â–ª whereof they should haue a certaine token in the destruction of the baâ—onical kingdome b Which signified that there shoulde be 〈◊〉 troubles and 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 (c) The beastes are kinges kingdomes or monarchies By the lion â–ª the kingdome of Babylon is vnderstanded which speedyly vanquished the nations adioyning but after his winges were pluckt and his kingdome taken away he returned to the condition of a man and no lion (d) The second monarchie of the Persians and Medes (e) The third monarchie of the Macedonians (f) That is his foure chiefe captaines which had the empire after his death deuided among them (g) That is the Romane empire which was as a monster â–ª â— coulde not be compared to any beast because the nature of none was able to expresse it (g) Which signifie ten kinges as verses 24. (h) That is God which was before all times (i) So was the maner in olde time of princes thrones to be made so that they might be moued and remoued the easelier (k) This is ment of the first comming of Christe when as the wyll of God was plainely reuealed by his gospell (l) Which is meÌ„t of Christ who had not yet taken vpon him mans nature neither was the sonne of Dauid according to the flesh as he was afterwarde but appeared then a figure and that in the cloudes (m) Meaning of the angels as verse x. (n) That is â–ª Gods elect people which in all hâ—uâ— kingdome and church to continue â— foreuer (o) That is the three other empires (p) That is to the church After the generall vision he coÌ„meth to certaine particular visions as touching the destruction of y e monarchie of the Persians and Macedonians for the ruine of the Babylonians was at hande and also he had sufficiently spoken thereof (b) Elam is Persia (c) That is the kingdome of the Persians Medes now ioyned together Meaning Cyrus who after grewe greater in power then Darius his vncle and father in lawe e No kinges or nations (f) Meaning Alexander that came with great expedition (g) Though he came in the name of all Grecia yet he bare the title and dignitie of the generall captaine oâ— that the strength was attributed to him which is ment by this horne (h) Alexander ouercame Darius in two battailes and so had the kingdomes of the Medes Persians i Alexanders great power was broken for when he had ouercome at the east he thought to returne toward Grecia to subdue them that were had rebelled and so dyed by the 〈◊〉 k For Casâ—der â—o Maced◠〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 (q) That is God He laboured to abolishe gods religion and to cast downe his seruice (Å¿) This horne shall abolishe for a time the true doctrine and so corrupt gods seruice (t) One of the angels (u) That is a secrete one or a marueylous one whereby is vnderstanded Christe the reueaâ—er of all 〈◊〉 Euening and morning do signifie a naturall day that is 2300 â–ª dayes y That is Christe z That is betweene the bankes of the riuer Vlai This power to commaunde 〈◊〉 angel deâ—â—eth it was God (b) That is the vision shal be 〈◊〉 here after in time conuenient That is Antiochus who should be impudent shameles subtill and craftie That is not like Alexanders strength (e) Both the Gentiles that dwell about him and the Iewes (f) Meaning against God g God would destroy him with a notable plague 2. Mach 9 b Reade
and vnto Pira king of Iarmuth and vnto Iaphia king of Lachis and vnto Dabir king of Eglon saying 4 Come vp vnto me and helpe me that we may smite Gibeon for they haue made peace with Iosuah and with the chidren of Israel 5 Therfore the fiue kinges of the Amorites the king of Hierusalem the king of Hebron the king of Iarmuth the king of Lachis and the king of Eglon gathered them selues together and went vp they with all their hoastes and besieged Gibeon made warre against it 6 And the men of Gibeon sent vnto Iosuah to the hoast in Gilgal saying Withdrawe not thy hande from thy seruauntes come vp to vs quickly and saue vs and helpe vs for all the kinges of the Amorites which dwell in the mountaynes are gathered together agaynst vs. 7 And so Iosuah ascended from Gilgal he and all the people of warre with him and all the men of might 8 And the Lorde sayde vnto Iosuah Feare them not for I haue deliuered them into thine hande neither shall any of them stande agaynst thee 9 Iosuah therfore came vnto them sodaynly and went vp from Gilgal all nyght 10 And the Lorde troubled them before Israel and slue them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and chased them along the way that goeth vp to Bethoron and smote them to Azeka and Makeda 11 And as they fled from before Israel and were in the going downe to Bethoron the Lorde cast downe great stones from heauen vpon them vntyll Azeka and they dyed there were mo dead with hayle stones then they were whom the children of Israel slue with the sworde 12 Then spake Iosuah to the Lorde in the day when the Lorde deliuered the Amorites before the children of Israel he sayd in the sight of Israel Sunne stande thou styll vpon Gibeon and thou Moone in the valley of Aialâ—n 13 And the sunne abode and the moone stoode styll vntyll the people auenged them selues vpon their enemies Is not this written in the booke of the righteous So the sunne I say abode in the middest of heauen and hasted not to go downe by the space of a whole day 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it that the Lorde hearde the voyce of a man for the Lorde fought for Israel 15 And Iosuah returned and all Israel with him vnto the campe to Gilgal 16 But the fiue kinges fled and were hyd in a caue at Makeda 17 And it was tolde Iosuah of one saying The fiue kinges are founde hyd in a caue which is at Makeda 18 And Iosuah sayd Roule great stones vpon the mouth of the caue and set men by it for to kepe it 19 And stand ye not styll but folowe after your enemies smite all the hindmost and suffer them not to enter inâ—o their cities for the Lorde your God hath deliuered them into your hande 20 And when Iosuah and the children of Israel had made an ende of slaying them with an exceedyng great slaughter tyll they were wasted the rest that remayned of them entred into walled cities 21 And all the people returned to the hoast to Iosuah at Makeda in peace neither dyd any man moue his tongue agaynst the children of Israel 22 Then sayde Iosuah Open the mouth of the caue and bryng out these fiue kinges vnto me out of the caue 23 And they did so and brought those fiue kinges vnto him out of the caue euen the king of Hierusalem the king of Hebron the king of Iarmuth the king of Lachis and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought out those kinges vnto Iosuah Iosuah called for all the men of Israel and saide vnto the chiefe of the men of warre which went with him Come neare put your feete vpoÌ„ the neckes of these kinges And they came neare and put their feete vpon the neckes of them 25 And Iosuah sayd vnto them Ye shall not feare nor be faynt hearted but be strong and plucke vp your heartes for thus shall the Lorde do to al your enemies against whom ye fight 26 And then Iosuah smote them and slewe them and hanged them on fiue trees And they hanged still vpon the trees vntill the euening 27 And at the goyng downe of the sunne Iosuah gaue commaundement And they toke them downe of the trees and cast them into the caue wherin they had ben hyd and layed great stones in the caues mouth which remayne vntil this daye 28 And that same day Iosuah toke Makeda and smote it with the edge of the sworde the king therof also destroyed he vtterly with al the soules that were therin and let none remayne And he dyd to the king of Makeda as he dyd vnto the king of Iericho 29 Then Iosuah went from Makeda and all Israel with him vnto Libna and fought agaynst Libna 30 And the Lorde deliuered it the king therof into the hande of Israel and he smote it with the edge of the sword and all the soules that were therin He let none remayne in it but dyd vnto the king therof * as he did vnto the king of Iericho 31 And Iosuah departed from Libna and all Israel with him vnto Lachis and besieged it and assaulted it 32 And the Lorde deliuered Lachis into the hande of Israel which toke it the seconde day and smote it with the edge of the sworde all the soules that were therin doing according to all as he had done to the citie of Libna 33 Then Horam king of Geser came vp to helpe Lachis And Iosuah smote him and his people vntill none remayned of him 34 And from Lachis Iosuah departed vnto Eglon and all Israel with him and they besieged it and assaulted it 25 And toke it the same day and smote it with the edge of the sworde al the soules that were therin he vtterly destroyed the same day according to all that he he had done to Lachis 26 And Iosuah departed vp from Eglon and all Israel with him vnto Hebron And they fought against it 37 And when they had taken it they smote it with the edge of the sworde the king therof and all the townes that parteined to it and all the soules that were therin and he left none remayning but dyd according to all as he had done to Eglon and destroyed it vtterly and all the soules that were therin 38 And Iosuah returned and all Israel with him to Dabir fought against it 39 And when he had taken it the king therof and all the townes that parteyded therto they smote them with the edge of the sworde vtterly destroyed all the soules that were therin neither let he any remayne Euen as he dyd to Hebron so he dyd to Dabir and the king therof as he had done also to Libna and her king 40 Iosuah therfore smote al the hil countreyes and the south countreyes the valleyes and the downes and al their