commanded and they cleansed the chambers and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God with the meat-offering and the frankincense 10 ¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them for the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled every one to his field 11 Then contended I with the rulers and said Why is the house of God forsaken and I gathered them together and set them in their †Heb. standing place 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oyl unto the ‖ Or store-houses treasuries 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe and of the Levites Pedâ—iah and †Heb. at their hand next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah for they were counted faithful and †Heb. it was upon them their office was to distribute unto their brethren 14 * Ver. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this and wipe not out my †Heb. bindnesses good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for the ‖ Or observations offices thereof 15 ¶ In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses as also wine grapes and rigs and all manner of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish and all manner of ware and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them What evil thing is this that ye do and profane the sabbath day 18 Did not your fathers thus and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath 19 And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath-day 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinde of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice 21 Then I testified against them and said unto them Why lodge ye †Heb. before the wall about the wall if ye do so again I will lay hands on you From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should come and keep the gates to sanctifie the sabbath day Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the ‖ Or multitude greatness of thy mercy 23 ¶ In those days also saw I Jews that †Heb. had made to dwell with them had married wives of Ashdod of Ammon and of Moab 24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod and †Heb. they discerned not to speak could not speak in the Jews language but according to the language †Heb. of people and people of each people 25 And I contended with them and ‖ Or reviled them cursed them and smote certain of them and pluckt off their hair and made them swear by God saying Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons or for your selves 25 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things yet among many nations was there no king like him who was beloved of his God and God made him king over all Israel * 1 Kin. 11.1 c. nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin 27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives 28 And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high priest was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite therefore I chased him from me 29 Remember them O my God †Heb. for the defilings because they have difiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites 30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites every one in his business 31 And for the wood-offering at times appointed and for the first-fruits Remember me O my God for good The book of ESTHER CHAP. I. 1 Ahasuerus maketh royal feasts 10 Vashti sent for refuseth to come 13 Ahasuerus by the counsel of Memucan maketh the decree of mens sovereignty NOw it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus this is Ahasuerus which reigned from India even unto Ethiopia over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces 2 That in those days when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom which was in Shushan the palace 3 In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants the power of Persia and Media the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him 4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days even an hundred and fourscore days 5 And when these days were expired the king made a feast unto all the people that were †Heb. found present in Shushan the palace both unto great and small seven days in the court of the garden of the kings palace 6 Where were white green and ‖ Or violet blue hangings fastned with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble the beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement ‖ Or â—fporphyre marble alabaster and stone of blue colour of red and blue and white and black marble 7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold the vessels being diverse one from another and †Heb. wine of the kingdom royal wine in abundance †Heb. according to the hand of the king according to the state of the king 8 And the drinking was according to the law none did compel for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to every mans pleasure 9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus 10 ¶ On the seventh day when the heart of the king was merry with wine he commanded Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and Abagtha Zethar and Carcas the seven ‖ Or eunuchs chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king 11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal to shew the people and the princes her beauty for she was †Heb. good of countenance fair to look on 12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at
beside Esoth on the †Heb. lip shore of the Red sea in the land of Edom. 27 And Hiram sent in the navy his servants shipmen that had knowledge of the sea with the servants of Solomon 28 And they came to Ophir and fet from thence gold four hundred and twenty talents and brought it to king Solomon CHAP. X. 1 The queen of Sheba admireth the wisdom of Solomon 14 Solomons gold 16 His targets 18 The throne of ivory 21 His vessels 24 His presents 26 His chariots and horse 28 His tribute ANd when the * 2 Chr. 9.1 Mat. 12.42 Luk. 11.31 queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD she came to prove him with hard questions 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train with camels that bare spices and very much gold and precious stones and when she was come to Solomon she communed with him of all that was in her heart 3 And Solomon told her all her †Heb. words questions there was not any thing hid from the king which he told her not 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomons wisdom and the house that he had built 5 And the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants and the †Heb. standing attendance of his ministers and their apparel and his ‖ Or butlers cup-bearers and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD there was no more spirit in her 6 And she said to the king It was a true †Heb. word report that I heard in mine own land of thy ‖ Or sayings acts and of thy wisdom 7 Howbeit I beleeved not the words until I came and mine eyes had seen it and behold the hall was not told me †Heb. thou hast added wisdom and goodness to the fame thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard 8 Happy are thy men happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and that hear thy wisdom 9 Blessed be the LORD thy God which delighted in thee to set thee on the throne of Israel because the LORD loved Israel for ever therefore made he thee king to do judgement and justice 10 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold and of spices very great store and precious stones there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon 11 And the navy also of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug-trees precious stones 12 And the king made of the almug-trees ‖ Or rails †Heb. 〈◊〉 prop. pillars for the house of the LORD and for the kings house harps also and psalteries for singers there came no such * 2 Chr. 9.10 almug trees nor were seen unto this day 13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire whatsoever she asked besides that which Solomon gave her †Heb. according to the hand of king Solomon of his royal bounty so she turned and went to her own countrey she and her servants 14 ¶ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold 15 Besides that he had of the merchant-men and of the traffick of the spice-merchants and of all the kings of Arabia and of the ‖ Or captains governours of the countrey 16 ¶ And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold six hundred shekels of gold went to one target 17 And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold three pound of gold went to one shield and the king put them in the * Chap. 7.2 house of the forrest of Lebanon 18 ¶ Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the best gold 19 The throne had six steps and the top of the throne was round †Heb. on the hinder paâ—e thereof behinde and there were †Heb. hands stays on either side on the place of the seat and two lions stood beside the stays 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps there was not †Heb. sâ— the like made in any kingdom 21 ¶ And all king Solomons drinking-vessels were of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forrest of Lebanon were of pure gold ‖ Or there was no silver in them none were of silver it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon 22 For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram once in three years came the navy of Tharshish bringing gold and silver ‖ Or elephantâ— tâ—eth ivory and apes and peacocks 23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom 24 ¶ And all the earth †Heb. souâ—ht the faâ—e of sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart 25 And they brought every man his present vessels of silver and vessels of gold and garments and armour and spices horses and mules a rate year by year 26 ¶ * 2 Chr. 1.14 And Solomon gathered together chariots and hors-men and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots and twelve thousand hors-men whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots and with the king at Jerusalem 27 And the king †Heb. gave made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the vale for abundance 28 ¶ * 1 Chr. 1.16 9.28 †Heb. And the going forth of the horses which was Solomons And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt and linen yarn the kings merchants received the linen yarn at a price 29 And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver and an horse for an hundred and fifty and so for all the kings of the Hittites and for the kings of Syria did they bring them out †Heb. by their hand by their means CHAP. XI 1 Solomons wives and concubines 4 In his old age they draw him to idolatry 9 God threatneth him 14 Solomons adversaries were Hadad who was entertained in Egypt 23 Bezon who reigned in Damascus 26 and feroboam to whom Ahijah prophesied 41 Solomons acts reign and death Rehoboam succeedeth him BUt king Solomon loved * Deut. 17.17 Ecclus 47.19 many strange women ‖ Or besides together with the daughter of Pharaoh women of the Moabites Ammonites Edomites Zidonians Hittites 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel * Exod. 34.16 Ye shall not go in to them neither shall they come in unto you for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods Solomon clave unto these in love 3 And he had seven hundred wives princesses and three hundred
concubines and his wives turned away his heart 4 For it came to pass when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his heart after other gods and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God as was the heart of David his father 5 For Solomon went after * Judg. 2.13 Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD and †Heb. fulfilled not after went not fully after the LORD as did David his father 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab in the hill that is before Jerusalem and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods 9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel * Ch. 3.5 9.2 which had appeared unto him twice 10 And * Ch. 6.12 had commanded him concerning this thing that he should not go after other gods but he kept not that which the LORD commanded 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon Forasmuch as this †Heb. is with thee is done of thee and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded thee * Ch. 12.15 I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy fathers sake but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servants sake and for Jerusalems sake which I have chosen 14 ¶ And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon Hadad the Edomite he was of the kings seed in Edom. 15 * 2 Sam. 8.14 For it came to pass when David was in Edom and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain after he had smitten every male in Edom 16 For six moneths did Joab remain there with all Israel until he had cut off every male in Edom 17 That Hadad fled he and certain Edomites of his fathers servants with him to go into Egypt Hadad being yet a little childe 18 And they arose out of Midian and came to Paran and they took men with them out of Paran and they came to Egypt unto Pharaoh king of Egypt which gave him an house and appointed him victuals and gave him land 19 And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife the sister of Tahpenes the queen 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaohs house and Genubath was in Pharaohs houshold among the sons of Pharaoh 21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the captain of the host was dead Hadad said to Pharaoh †Heb. Send me away Let me depart that I may go to mine own countrey 22 Then Pharaoh said unto him But what hast thou lacked with me that behold thou seekest to go to thine own countrey And he answered †Heb. Not. Nothing howbeit let me go in any wise 23 ¶ And God stirred him up another adversary Rezon the son of Eliadah which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah 24 And he gathered men unto him and became captain over a band * 2 Sam. 8.3 10.18 when David slew them of Zobah and they went to Damascus and dwelt therein and reigned in Damascus 25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon beside the mischief that Hadad did and he abhorred Israel and reigned over Syria 26 ¶ And * 2 Chr. 13.6 Jeroboam the son of Nebat an Ephrathite of Zereda Solomons servant whose mothers name was Zeruiah a widow woman even he lift up his hand against the king 27 And this was the cause that he lift up his hand against the king Solomon built Millo and †Heb. â—losed repaired the breaches of the city of David his father 28 And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour and Solomon seeing the young man that he †Heb. did work was industrious he made him ruler over all the †Heb. burden charge of the house of Joseph 29 And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way and he had clad himself with a new garment and they two were alone in the fieâ—d 30 And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him and rent it in twelve pieces 31 And he said to Jeroboam Take thee ten pieces for thus saith the LORD the God of Israel Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee 32 But he shall have one tribe for my servant Davids sake and for Jerusalems sake the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel 33 Because that they have forsaken me and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidoniaâ—s Chemoâ—h the god of the Moabites and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon and have not walked in my ways to do that which is right in mine eyes and to keep my statutes and my judgements as did David his father 34 Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servants sake whom I chose because he kept my commandments and my statutes 35 But * Chap. 12.15 I will take the kingdom out of his sons hand and will give it unto thee even ten tribes 36 And unto his son will I give one tribe that David my servant may have a †Heb. â—amp or â—â—â—dle light alway before me in Jerusalem the city which I have chosen me to put my name tâ—ere 37 And I will take thee and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth and shalt be king over Israel 38 And it shall be it thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee and wilt walk in my ways and do that is right in my sight to keep my statutes and my commandments as David my servant did that I will be with thee and build thee a sure house as I built for David and will give Israel unto thee 39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David but not for ever 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam and Jerâ—â—oam arose and fled into Egypt unto Shishak king of Egypt and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon 41 ¶ And the rest of the ‖ Or words or things acts of Solomon and all that he did and his wisdom are they not written in the book of the acts of
persons and put their heads in baskets and sent him them to Jezreel 8 ¶ And there came a messenger and told him saying They have brought the heads of the kings sons And he said Lay ye them in two heaps at the entring in of the gate until the morning 9 And it came to pass in the morning that he went out and stood and said to all the people Ye be righteous behold I conspired against my master and slew him but who slew all these 10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab for the LORD hath done that which he spake * 1 King 21.29 †Heb. by the hand of by his servant Elijah 11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel and all his great men and his ‖ Or acquaintance kinsfolks and his priests until he left him none remaining 12 ¶ And he arose and departed and came to Samaria And as he was at the †Heb. house of shephards binding sheep shearing-house in the way 13 Jehu †Heb sound met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah and said Who are ye And they answered We are the brethren of Ahaziah and we go down †Heb. to the peace of c. to salute the children of the king and the childen of the queen 14 And he said Take them alive And they took them alive and slew them at the pit of the shearing-shearing-house even two and fourty men neither left he any of them 15 ¶ And when he was departed thence he †Heb. souâ—â— lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him and he †〈◊〉 blessed saluted him and said to him Is thine heart right as my heart is with thy heart And Jehonadab answered It is If it be give me thine hand And he gave him his hand and he took him up to him into the chariot 16 And he said Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD So they made him ride in his chariot 17 And when he came to Samaria he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria till he had destroyed him according to the saying of the LORD which he spake to Elijah 18 ¶ And Jehu gathered all the people together and said unto them Ahab served Baal a little but Jehu shall serve him much 19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal all his servants and all his priests let none be wanting for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal whosoever shall be wanting he shall not live But Jehu did it in subtilty to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal 20 And Jehu said †Heb. Saâ—tâ—â—â— Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal And they proclaimed it 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel and all the worshippers of Baal came so that there was not a man lest that came not and they came into the house of Baal and the house of Baal was ‖ Or so full that they stood mouth to mouth full from one end to another 22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal And he brought them forth vestments 23 And Jehu went and Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal and said unto the worshippers of Baal Search and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD but the worshippers of Baal onely 24 And when they went in to ofter sacrifices and burnt offerings Jehu appointed fourscore men without and said If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape he that letteth him go his life shall be for the life of him 25 And it came to pass assoon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains Go in and slay them let none come forth And they smore them with †Heb. the mouth the edge of the sword and the guard and the captains cast them out and went to the city of the house of Baal 26 And they brought forth the †Heb. statâ—tes images out of the house of Baal and burnt them 27 And they brake down the image of Baal and brake down the house of Baal and made it a draught-house unto this day 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel 29 ¶ Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat who made Israel to sin Jehu departed not from after them to wit the golden calves that were in Beth-el and that were in Dan. 30 And the LORD said unto Jehu Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel 31 But Jehu †Heb. observed not took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam which made Israel to sin 32 ¶ In those days the LORD began †Heb. to cut off the ends to cut Israel short and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel 33 From Jordan †Heb. toward the â—â—sinâ— of the sun east-ward all the land of Gilead the Gadites and the Reubenites and the Manassites from Aroer which is by the river Arnon ‖ Or even to Gilead and Bashan even Gilead and Bashan 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu all that he did all his might are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel 35 And Jehu slept with his fathers and they buried him in Samaria and Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead 36 And †Heb. the days were the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years CHAP. XI 1 Jeboash being saved by Jehosheba his aunt from Athaliabs massacre of the seed royal is hid six years in the house of God 4 Jehoiada giving order to the captains in the seventh year anointeth him king 13 Athaliah is slain 17 Jehoiada restoreth the worship of God ANd when * 2 Chr. 22.10 Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead she arose and destroyed all the †Heb. â—â—ed of the kingdom seed royal 2 But Jehosheba the daughter of king Joram sister of Ahaziah took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the kings sons which were slain and they hid him even him and his nurse in the bed-chamber from Athaliah so that he was not slain 3 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years and Athaliah did reign over the land 4 ¶ And * 2 Chr. 12.1 the seventh year Jehoiada sent and set the rulers over hundreds with the captains and the
but I have not been called to come in unthâ— king these thirty days 12 And they told to Mordecai Esthers words 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther Think not with thy self that thou shalt escape in the kings house more then all the Jews 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time then shall there †Heb. respiration enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place but thou and thy fathers house shall be destroyed and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this 15 ¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer 16 Go gather together all the Jews that are †Heb. found present in Shushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days night or day I also and my maidens will faâ—t likewise and so will I go in unto the king which is not according to the law and if I perish I perish 17 So Mordecai †Heb. â—â—ssed went his way and did according to all that Esther had commanded him CHAP. V. 1 Esther adventuring on the kings favour obtaineth the grace of the golden sceptâ—â— and inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet 6 She being encouraged by the king in her suit inviteth them to another banquet the next day 9 Haman proud of his advancement repineth at the contempt of Mordecai 14 By the counsel of Zeresh he buildeth for him 〈◊〉 pair of gallows NOw it came to pass on the third day that Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the kings house over against the kings house and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house over against the gate of the house 2 And it was so when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court that she obtained favour in his light and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand so Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre 3 Then said the king unto her What wilt thou queen Esther and with is thy request it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom 4 And Esther answered If it seem good unto the king let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him 5 Then the king said Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther hath said So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared 6 ¶ And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine What is thy petition and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed 7 Then answered Esther and said My petition and my request is 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king and if it please the king to grant my petition and †Heb. to do to perform my request let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them and I will do to morrow as the king hath said 9 ¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kings gate that he stood not up nor moved for him he was full of indignation against Mordecai 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself and when he came home he sent and †Heb. caused to come called for his friends and Zeresh his wife 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his children and all the things wherein the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king 12 Haman said moreover Yea Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but my self and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the kings gate 14 ¶ Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him Let a †Heb. tree gallows be made of fifty cubits high and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet And the thing pleased Haman and he caused the gallows to be made CHAP. VI. 1 Ahasuerus reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai taketh care for his reward 4 Haman coming to sue that Mordecai might be banâ—ed unawares giveth counsel that he might do him honour 12 Complaining of his misfortun his friends tell him of his final destiny ON that night †Heb. the kings sleep fled away could not the king sleep and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles and they were read before the king 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of ‖ Or Bigthan ch 2.21 Bigthana and Teresh two of the kings chamberlains the keepers of the †Heb. threshold door who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus 3 And the king said What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this Then said the kings servants that ministred unto him There is nothing done for him 4 ¶ And the king said Who is in the court Now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings house to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him 5 And the kings servants said unto him Behold Haman standeth in the court And the king said Let him come in 6 So Haman came in and the king said unto him What shall be done unto the man †Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth whom the king delighteth to honour Now Haman thought in his heart To whom would the king delight to do honour more then to my self 7 And Haman answered the King For the man †Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth whom the king delighteth to honour 8 ¶ Let the royal apparel he brought †Heb. in them bring the royal apparel which the king useth to wear and the horse that the king rideth upon and the crown royal which is set upon his head 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the kings most noble princes that they may aray the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour and †Heb. wherewith the king clotheth himself bring him on hors-back through the street of the city and proclaim before him Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour 10 Then the king said to Haman Make haste and take the apparel and the horse as thou hast said and do even so to Mordecai the Jew that sitteth at the kings gate †Heb. cause him to ride let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse and arayed Mordecai and brought him on hors-back
through the street of the city and proclaimed before him Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour 12 ¶ And Mordecai came again to the kings gate but Haman hasted to his house mourning and having his head covered 13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befâ—â—n him Then said his wisemen Zeresh his wife unto him if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews before whom thou hast begun to fall thou shalt not prevail against him but shalt surely fall before him 14 And while they were yet talking with him came the kings chamberlains hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared CHAP. VII 1 Esther entertaining the king and Haman maketh suit for her own life and her peoples 5 She accuseth Haman 7 The king in his â—nâ—er understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai causeth him to be banâ—ed thereon SO the king and Haman came †Heb. to drink to banquet with Esther the queen 2 And the king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine What is thy petition queen Esther and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request and it shall be performed even to the half of the kingdom 3 Then Esther the queen answered and said If I have found favour in thy sight O king and if it please the king let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request 4 For we are sold I and my people †Heb. that they should destroy and kill and cause to perish to be destroyed to be slain and to perish but if we had been sold for bond men bond-women I had held my tongue although the enemy could not counter all the kings damage 5 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen Who is he and where is he †Heb. whose heart hath filled him that durst presume in his heart to do so 6 And Esther said †Heb. the man adversary The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman Then Haman was afraid ‖ Or. at the presence of before the king and the queen 7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace-garden and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king 8 Then the king returned out of the palace-garden into the place of the banquet of wine and Haman was fain upon the bed whereon Esther was Then said the king Will he force the queen also †Heb. with me before me in the house As the word went out of the kings mouth they covered Hamans face 9 And Harbonah one of the chamberlains said before the king Behold also the †Heb. tree gallows fifty cubits high which Haman had made for Mordecai who had spoken good for the king standeth in the house of Haman Then the king said Hang him thereon 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai Then was the kings wrath pacified CHAP. VIII 1 Mordecai is advanced 3 Esther maketh suit to reverse Hamans letters 7 Ahasuerus granteth to the Jews to defend themselves 15 Mordecai's honour and the Jews joy ON that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews enemy unto Esther the queen and Mordecai came before the king for Esther had told what he was unto her 2 And the king took off his ring which he had taken from Haman gave it unto Mordecai And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman 3 ¶ And Esther spake yet again before the king and fell down at his feet †Heb. she wept besought him and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his device that he had devised against the Jews 4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther So Esther arose and stood before the king 5 And said If it please the king and if I have found favour in his fight and the thing seem right before the king and I be pleasing in his eyes let it be written to reverse †Heb. thâ— device the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite ‖ Or who wrote which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the kings provinces 6 For how can I †Heb. 〈◊〉 able that I may see endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred 7 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen to Mordecai the Jew Behold I have given Esther the house of Haman him they have hanged upon the gallows because he laid his hands upon the Jews 8 Write ye also for the Jews as it liketh you in the kings name and seal it with the kings ring for the writing which is written in the kings name and sealed with the kings ring * See chap. 1.19 may no man reverse 9 Then were the kings scribes called at that time in the third moneth that is the moneth Sivan on the three and twentieth day thereof and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews and to the lieutenants and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia an hundred twenty and seven provinces unto every province according to the writing thereof and unto every people after their language and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their language 10 And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus name and sealed it with the kings ring and sent letters by posts on hors-back and riders on mules and young dromedaries 11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together and to stand for their life to destroy to slay and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them both little ones and women and to take the spoil of them for a prey 12 Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus namely upon the thirteenth day of the twefth moneth which is the moneth Adar 13 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was †Heb. revealed published unto all people and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies 14 So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out being hastned and pressed on by the kings commandment and the decree was given at Shushan the palace 15 ¶ And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel ofâ—blue white with a great crown of gold with a garment of fine linen and purple the city of Shushan rejoyced and was glad 16 The Jews had light and gladness
thou in God for I shall yet ‖ Or give thanks praise him ‖ Or his presence is salvation for the help of his countenance 6 O my God my soul is cast down within me therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan and of the Hermonites from ‖ Or the little hill the hill Mizar 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water-spouts all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me 8 Yet the LORD will command his loving kindness in the day time and in the night his song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my life 9 I will say unto God my rock Why hast thou forgotten me why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy 10 As with a ‖ Or killing sword in my bones mine enemies reproach me while they say daily unto me Where is thy God 11 Why aâ—t thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God PSAL. XLIII 1 David praving to be restored to the temple promiseth to serve God joyfully 5 He encourageth his soul to trust in God JUdge me O God and plead my cause against an ‖ Or unmerciful ungodly nation O deliver me †Heb. from a man of leâ—eit iniquity from the deceitful and unjust man 2 For thou art the God of my strength why dost thou cast me off why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy 3 O send out thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill and to thy tabernacles 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God unto God †Heb. the gladness of my joy my exceeding joy yea upon the harp will I praise thee O God my God 5 * Ps 42.5 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God PSAL. XLIV 1 The church in memory of former favours 7 complaineth of â—er present evils 17 Professing her interâ—ity 24 she fervently prayeth for succour ¶ To the chief musician for the sons of Korah Maschil WE have heard with our ears O God our fathers have told us what work thou didst in their days in the times of old 2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hanâ— and plantedst them how thou didst afllict the people and câ—st them out 3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword neither did their own arm save them but thy right hand and thine arm and the light of thy countenance because thou hadst a favour unto them 4 Thou art my King O God command deliverances for Jacob. 5 Through thee will we push down our enemies through thy name will we tread them under that the up against us 6 For I will not trust in my â—owe neither shall my sword save me 7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies and haâ—t put them to shame that hated us 8 In God we boast all the day long and praise thy name for ever Selah 9 But thou hast cast off and put us to shame and goest not forth with our armies 10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy and they which hate us spoll for themselves 11 Thou hast given us †Heb. as sheep of meat like sheep appointed for meat and hast scattered us among the heathen 12 Thou sellest thy people †Heb. without riâ—â—es for nought and dost not increase thy wealth by their price 13 * Ps 79.4 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours a scorn and a derision to then â—â—at are round about us 14 * Jer. 24.9 Thou makest us a by word among the heathen a shaking of the head among the people 15 My confusion is continually before me and the shame of my face hath covered me 16 For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth by reason of the enemy and avenger 17 All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy covenant 18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our ‖ Or goingâ— steps declined from thy way 19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons and covered us with the shadow of death 20 If we have forgotten the name of our God or stretched out our hands to a strange god 21 Shall not God search this out for he knoweth the secrets of the heart 22 * Rom. 3 3â— Yea for thy sake are we killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter 23 Awake why sleepest thou O Lord arise cast us not off forever 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face and forgettest our affliction and our oppression 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust our belly cleaveth unto the earth 26 Arise †Heb. a help for uâ— for our help and redeem us for thy mercies sake PSAL. XLV 1 The majesty and grace of Christs kingdom 10 The duty of the church and the benefits thereof ¶ To the chief musician upon Shoshannim for the sons of Korah ‖ Or of instruction Maschil A song of loves MY heart †Heb. boyleth or bubbleth up is enditing a good matter I speak of the things which I have made touching the king my tongue is the pen of a ready writer 2 Thou art fairer then the children of men grace is poured into thy lips therefore God hath blessed thee forever 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh O most mighty with thy glory and thy majesty 4 And in thy majesty †Heb. prosper thou ride thou ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee 6 * Heb. 1.8 Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre 7 Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness therefore God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows 8 All thy garments small of myrrh and aloes and caâ—lâ—a out of the ivory places whereby they have made thee glad 9 Kings daughters were among thy honourable women upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir 10 Hearken O daughter and consider and inclinethine ear forget also thine own people and thy fathers house 11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty for he is thy Lord and worship thou him 12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift even the rich among the people shall intreat †Heb. thy face thy favour 13 The kings daughter is all glorious within her clothing is of wrought gold 14 She shall be brought unto the
part of the hand that wrote 6 Then the kings †Cald. brightnessâ—â— countenance †Cald. changed iâ— was changed and his thoughts troubled him so that the ‖ Or girdles †Cald. bindings oâ— knots joynts of his loyns were loosed and his knees smote one against another 7 The king cried †Cald. with might aloud to bring in the astrologers the Caldeans and the soothsayers and the king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon Whosoever shall read this writing and shew me the interpretation thereof shall be clothed with ‖ Or purpâ—â— scarlet and have a chain of gold about his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom 8 Then came in all the kings wise men but they could not read the writing nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof 9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled and his †Cald. brightnesses countenance was changed in him and his lords were astonied 10 ¶ Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet-banquet-house and the queen spake and said O king live for ever let not thy thoughts trouble thee nor let thy countenance be changed 11 * Ch. 2.48 There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods and in the days of thy ‖ Or grandfather father light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy ‖ Or grandfather father the king I say thy father made * Ch. 4.9 master of the magicians astrologers Caldeans and soothsayers 12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding ‖ Or of an interpreter c. interpreting of dreams and shewing of hard sentences and ‖ Or of a dissolver dissolving of †Cald. knots doubts were found in the same Daniel whom the king named Belteshazzar now let Daniel be called and he will shew the interpretation 13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king and the king spake and said unto Daniel Art thou that Daniel which art of the children of the captivity of Judah whom the king my ‖ Or grandfather father brought out of Jewry 14 I have even heard of thee that the spirit of the gods is in thee and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee 15 And now the wise men the astrologers have been brought in before me that they should read this writing and make known unto me the interpretation thereof but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing 16 And I have heard of thee that thou canst †Cald. interpret make interpretations and dissolve doubts now if thou canst read the writing and make known to me the interpretation thereof thou shalt be clothed with scarlet and have a chain of gold about thy neck and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom 17 ¶ Then Daniel answered and said before the king Let thy gifts be to thy self and give thy ‖ Or feâ— as Ch. 2.6 rewards to another yet I will read the writing unto the king and make known to him the interpretation 18 O thou king the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom and majesty and glory and honour 19 And for the majesty that he gave him all people nations and languages trembled and feared before him whom he would be slew and whom he would he kept alive and whom he would he set up and whom he would he put down ‖ Or to dead proudly 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his minde hardned in pride he was †Cald. made to come down deposed from his kingly throne and they took his glory from him 21 And he was * Ch. 4.22 driven from the sons of men and ‖ Or he made his heart equal c. his heart was made like the beasts and his dwelling was with the wilde asses they fed him with grass like oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will 22 And thou his son O Belshazzar hast not humbled thine heart though thou knewest all this 23 But hast lifted up thy self against the Lord of heaven and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee and thou and thy lords thy wives and thy concubines have drunk wine in them and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold of brass iron wood and stone which see not nor hear nor know and the God in whose hand thy breath is and whose are all thy ways hast thou not glorified 24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him and this writing was written 25 ¶ And this is the writing that was written MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN 26 This is the interpretation of the thing MENE God hath numbred thy kingdom and finished it 27 TEKEL thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting 28 PERES thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians 29 Then commanded Belshazzar and they clothed Daniel with scarlet and put a chain of gold about his neck and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom 30 ¶ In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Caldeans slain 31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom †Cald. he as the son of c. being ‖ Or now about threescore and two year old CHAP. VI. 1 Daniel is made chief of the presidents 4 They couspiring against him obtain an idolatrous decree 10 Daniel accused of the breach thereof is cast into the lions den 18 Daniel is saved 24 his adversaries devoured 25 and God magnified by a decree IT pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes which should be over the whole kingdom 2 And over these three presidents of whom Daniel was first that the princes might give accounts unto them and the king should have no damage 3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him and the king thought to set him over the whole realm 4 ¶ Then the presidents and princes sought to finde occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom but they could finde none occasion nor fault forasmuch as he was faithful neither was there any errour or fault found in him 5 Then said these men We shall not finde any occasion against this Daniel except we finde it against him concerning the law of his God 6 Then these presidents and princes †Or came â—â—multâ—â—ously assembled together to the king and said thus unto him King Darius live for ever 7 All the presidents of the kingdom the governours and the princes the counsellours and the captains have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm ‖
took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold and brought them to king Solomon CHAP. IX 1 The queen of Sheba admireth the wisdom of Solomon 13 Solomons gold 15 His targets 17 The throne of ivory 20 His vessels 23 His presents 25 His chariots and horse 26 His tributes 29 His reign and death ANd * 1 King 10.1 c. Mat. 12.42 Luke 11. â—1 when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem with a very great company and camels that barespices and gold in abundance and precious stones and when she was come to Solomon she communed with him of all that was in her heart 2 And Solomon told her all her questions and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had built 4 And the meat of his table and the sitting of his servants and the attendance of his ministers and their apparel his ‖ Or butlers cup-bearers also and their apparel and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD there was no more spirit in her 5 And she said to the king It was a true †Heb. word report which I heard in mine own land of thine ‖ Or sayings acts and of thy wisdom 6 Howbeit I beleeved not their words until I came and mine eyes had seen it and behold the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me for thou exceedest the fame that I heard 7 Happy are thy men and happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee and hear thy wisdom 8 Blessed be the LORD thy God which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne to be king for the LORD thy God because thy God loved Israel to establish them for ever therefore made he thee king over them to do judgement and justice 9 And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold and of spices great abundance and precious stones neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon 10 And the servants also of Huram the servants of Solomon which brought gold from Ophir brought algum-trees and precious stones 11 And the king made of the algum-trees ‖ Or stays †Heb. high ways terrises to the house of the LORD and to the kings palace and harps and psalteries for singers and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah 12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire whatsoever she asked besides that which she had brought unto the king so she turned and went away to her own land she and her servants 13 ¶ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold 14 Besides that which chapmen and merchants brought and all the kings of Arabia and ‖ Or captains governours of the countrey brought gold and silver to Solomon 15 ¶ And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target 16 And three hundred shields made be of beaten gold three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon 17 ¶ Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold 18 And there were six steps to the throne with a foot-stool of gold which were fastned to the throne and †Heb. lands stays on each side of the sitting place and two lions standing by the stays 19 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps There was not the like made in any kingdom 20 ¶ And all the drinking-vessels of king Solomon were of gold and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of †Heb. shut up pure gold ‖ Or there was no silver in them none were of silver it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon 21 For the kings ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold and silver ‖ Or elephants teeth ivory and apes and peacocks 22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom 23 ¶ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom that God had put in his heart 24 And they brought every man his present vessels of silver and vessels of gold and raiment harness and spices horses and mules a rate year by year 25 ¶ And Solomon * 1 King 4.26 had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots and twelve thousand hors-men whom he bestowed in the chariot-cities and with the king at Jerusalem 26 ¶ And he reigned over all the kings * Gen. 15.18 from the ‖ That is Euphrates river even unto the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt 27 And the king †Heb. gave made silver in Jerusalem as stones cedar-trees made he as the sycomore-trees that are in the low plains in abundance 28 * 1 King 10.28 Chap. 1.16 And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt and out of all lands 29 ¶ Now the rest of the * 1 King 11.41 acts of Solomon first and last are they not written in the †Heb. words book of Nathan the prophet and in the prophesie of Ahijah the Shilonite and in the visions of * Chap. 12.15 Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat 30 And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel fourty years 31 And Solomon slept with his fathers and he was buried in the city of David his father and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead CHAP. X. 1 The Israelites assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him 6 Rehoboam refusing the old mens counsel by the advice of young men answereth them roughly 16 Ten tribes revolting kill Hadoram and make Rehoboam to flee ANd * 1 King 12.1 c. Rehoboam went to Shechem for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king 2 And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat who was in Egypt whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king heard it that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt 3 And they sent and called him so Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam saying 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we will serve thee 5 And he said unto them Come again unto me after three days And the people departed 6 ¶ And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before
fathers house have sinned 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgements which thou commandedst thy servant Moses 8 Remember I beseech thee the word that thou commmandedst thy servant Moses saying * Deut. 4.25 c. If ye transgress I will scatter you abroad among the nations 9 But if ye turn unto me and keep my commandments and do them * Deut. 30.4 though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven yet will I gather them from thence and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand 11 O LORD I beseech thee let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name and prosper I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man For I was the kings cup-bearer CHAP. II. 1 Artaxerxes understanding the cause of Nehemiahs sadness sendeth him with lâ—tters and commission to Jerusalem 9 Nehemiah to the grief of the enemies cometh to Jerusalem 12 He vieweth secretly the ruines of the walls 17 He inciteth the Jews to build in despite of the enemies ANd it came to pass in the moneth Nisan in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king that wine was before him and I took up the wine and gave it unto the king Now I had not been before-time sad in his presence 2 Wherefore the king said unto me Why is thy countenance sad seeing thou art not sick this is nothing else but sorrow of heart Then I was very sore afraid 3 And said unto the king Let the king live for ever why should not my countenance be sad when the city the place of my fathers sepulchres lieth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire 4 Then the king said unto me For what dost thou make request So I prayed to the God of heaven 5 And I said unto the king If it please the king and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight that thou wouldest send me unto Judah unto the city of my fathers sepulchres that I may build it 6 And the king said unto me the †Heb. wise queen also fitting by him For how long shall thy journey be and when wilt thou return So it pleased the king to send me and I set him a time 7 Moreover I said unto the king If it please the king let letters be given me to the governours beyond the river that they may convey me over till I come into Judah 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the kings forest that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into And the king granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me 9 ¶ Then I came to the governours beyond the river and gave them the kings letters Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsâ—men with me 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite heard of it it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel 11 So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days 12 ¶ And I arose in the night I and some sew men with me neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem neither was there any beast with me save the beast that I rode upon 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley even before the dragon-well and to the dung-port and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and the gates thereof were consumed with fire 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the kings pool but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook and viewed the wall and turned back and entred by the gate of the valley and so returned 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did neither had I as yet told it to the sews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest that did the work 17 ¶ Then said I unto them Ye see the distress that we are in how Jerusalem lieth waste and the gates thereof are burnt with tire come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me as also the kings words that he had spoken unto me And they said Let us rise up and build So they strengthned their hands for this good work 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite and Geâ—hem the Arabian heard it they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said What is this thing that ye do will ye rebel against the king 20 Then answered I them and said unto them The God of heaven he will prosper us therefore we his servants will arise and build but you have no portion nor right nor memorial in Jerusalem CHAP. III. 1 The names and ordes of them that builded the wall THen Eliaship the high priest rose up with his brethren the prietis and they but it the sheep-gate they sanctified it and set up the dours of it even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it unto the tower of * Jer. 31 38. Hananeel 2 And †Heb. at his hand next unto him builded the men of Jericho and next to them builded Zaccur the son of Iâ—nri 3 But the fish-gate did the sons of Hassenaah build who also laid the beams thereof and set up the doors thereof the locks thereof and the bars thereoâ— 4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz and next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meâ—hezabeel and next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. 6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah they laid the beams thereof and set up the doors thereof and the locks thereof and the bars thereof 7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah unto the throne of the governour on this side the river 8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries and they ‖ Or left Jerusalem unto the broad wall fortified
the kings commandment †Heb. which was by the hand of his eunuchs by his chamberlains therefore was the king very wroth and his anger burned in him 13 ¶ Then the king said to the wise-men which knew the times for so was the kings manner towards all that knew law and judgement 14 And the next unto him was Carshena Shethar Admatha Tarshish Meres Marsena and Memucan the * Ezr. 7.14 seven princes of Persia and Media which saw the kings face and which sat the first in the kingdom 15 †Heb. What to do What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king onely but also to all the princes and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus 17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes when it shall be reported The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him but she came not 18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the kings princes which have heard of the deed of the queen Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath 19 †Heb. if it be good with the king If it please the king let there go a royal commandment †Heb. from before him from him and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes †Heb. that it pass not away that it be not altered that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus and let the king give her royal estate †Heb. unto her companion unto another that is better then she 20 And when the kings decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire for it is great all the wives shall give to their husbands honour both to great and small 21 And the saying †Heb. was good in the eyes of the king pleased the king and the princes and the king did according to the word of Memucan 22 For he sent letters into all the kings provinces into every province according to the writing thereof and to every people after their language that every man should bear rule in his own house and †Heb. that one should publish it according to the language of his people that it should be published according to the language of every people CHAP. II. 1 Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen 5 Mordecai the nursing father of Esther 8 Esther is preferred by Hegai before the rest 12 The manner of purification and going in to the king 15 Esther best pleasing the king is made queen 21 Mordecai discovering a treason is recorded in the chronicles AFter these things when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased he remembred Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her 2 Then said the kings servants that ministred unto him Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace to the house of the women †Heb. unto the band unto the custody of ‖ Or Hegai v. 8. Hege the kings chamberlain keeper of the women and let their things for purification be given them 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen in stead of Vashti And the thing pleased the king and he did so 5 ¶ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish a Benjamite 6 * 2 Kin 24.15 2 Chr. 36.10 Jer. 24.1 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away 7 And he †Heb. nourished brought up Hadassah that is Esther his uncles daughter for she had neither father nor mother and the maid was †Heb. fair of form good of countenance fair and beautiful whom Mordecai when her father and mother were dead took for his own daughter 8 ¶ So it came to pass when the kings commandment and his decree was heard and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace to the custody of Hegai that Esther was brought also unto the kings house to the custody of Hegai keeper of the women 9 And the maiden pleased him and she obtained kindness of him and he speedily gave her her things for purification with †Heb. her portions such things as belonged to her and seven maidens which were meet to be given her out of the kings house and †Heb. he changed her he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it 11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the womens house †Heb. to know the peace to know how Esther did and what should become of her 12 ¶ Now when every maids turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus after that she had been twelve moneths according to the manner of the women for so were the days of their purifications accomplished to wit six moneths with oyl of myrrh and six moneths with sweet odours and with other things for the purifying of the women 13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the kings house 14 In the evening she went and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women to the custody of Shaashgaz the kings chamberlain which kept the concubines she came in unto the king no more except the king delighted in her and that she were called by name 15 ¶ Now when the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her for his daughter was come to go in unto the king she required nothing but what Hegai the kings chamberlain the keeper of the women appointed and Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her 16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth moneth which is the moneth Tebeth in the seventh year of his reign 17 And the king loved Esther above all the women and she obtained grace and ‖ Or kindness favour †Heb. before him in his sight more then all the virgins so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in stead of Vashti 18 Then the king made
a great feast unto all his princes and his servants even Esthers feast and he made a †Heb. rest release to the provinces and gave gifts according to the state of the king 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time then Mordecai sat in the kings gate 20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people as Mordecai had charged her for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai like as when she was brought up with him 21 ¶ In those days while Mordecai sat in the kings gate two of the kings chamberlains ‖ Or Bigthana ch 6.2 Bigthan and Teresh of those which kept †Heb. the threshold the door were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai who told it unto Esther the queen and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter it was found out therefore they were both hanged on a tree and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king CHAP. III. 1 Haman advanced by the king and despised by Mordecai seeketh revenge upon all the Jews 7 He casteth lots 8 He obtaineth by calumniation a decree of the king to put the Jews to death AFter these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes that were with him 2 And all the kings servants that were in the kings gate bowed and reverenced Haman for the king had so commanded concerning him but Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence 3 Then the kings servants which were in the kings gate said unto Mordecai Why transgressest thou the kings commandment 4 Now it came to pass when they spake daily unto him and he hearkned not unto them that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai his maâ—ters would stand for he had told them that he was a Jew 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence then was Haman full of wrath 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus even the people of Mordecai 7 ¶ In the first moneth that is the moneth Nisan in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus they cast Pur that is the lot before Haman from day to day and from moneth to moneth to the twelfth moneth that is the moneth Adar 8 ¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the province of thy kingdom and their laws are diverse from all people neither keep they the kings laws therefore it is not †Heb. meet or eâ—uâ—l for the kings profit to suffer them 9 If it please the king let it be written †Heb. to destroy them that they may be destroyed and I will †Heb. weigh pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business to bring it into the kings treasuries 10 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the Jews ‖ Or oppressour enemy 11 And the king said unto Haman The silver is given to thee the people also to do with them as it seemeth good to thee 12 Then were the kings ‖ Or secretariâ—s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first moneth and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the kings lieutenants and to the governours that were over every province and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof and to every people after their language in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written and sealed with the kings ring 13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the kings provinces to destroy to kill and to cause to perish all Jews both young and old little children and women in one day even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth moneth which is the moneth Adar and to take the spoil of them for a prey 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people that they should be ready against that day 15 The posts went out being hastned by the kings commandment and the decree was given in Shushan the palace and the king and Haman sat down to drink but the city Shushan was perplexed CHAP. IV. 1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews 4 Esther understanding it sendeth to Mordecai who sheweth the cause and adviseth her to undertake the suit 10 She excusing her self is threatned by Mordecai 15 She appointing a fast undertaketh the suit WHen Mordecai perceived all that was done Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes and went out into the midst of the city and cried with a loud and a bitter cry 2 And came even before the kings gate for none miâ—ht enter into the kings gate clothed with sackcloth 3 And in every province whithersoever the kings commandment and his decree came there was great mourning among the Jews and fasting and weeping and wailing and †Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many many lay in sackcloth ashes 4 ¶ So Esthers maids and her †Heb. â—â—muchs chamberlains came told it her then was the queen exceedingly grieved she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai and to take away his sackcloth from him but he received it not 5 Then called Esther for Hatach one of the kings chamberlains †Heb. whom he had set before her whom he had appointed to attend upon her and gave him a commandment to Mordecai to know what it was and why it was 6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city which was before the kings gate 7 And Mordecai told him of all that had hapned unto him and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the kings treasuries for the Jews to destroy them 8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them to shew it unto Esther and to declare it unto her and to charge her that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him and to make request before him for her people 9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai 10 ¶ Again Esther spake unto Hatach and gave him commandment unto Mordecai 11 All the kings servants and the people of the kings provinces do know that whosoever whether man or woman shall come unto the king into the inner court who is not called there is one saw of his to put him to death except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre that he may live
and joy and honour 17 And in every province and in every city whithersoever the kings commandment and his decree came the Jews had joy and gladness a â—east and a good day and many of the people of the land became Jews for the fear of the Jews fell upon them CHAP. IX 1 The Jews the rulers for fear of Mordecai helping them slay their enemies with the ten sons of Haman 12 Ahasuerus at the request of Esther granteth another day of slaughter and Hamans sons to be hanged 20 The two days of Purim are made festival NOw in the twelfth moneth that is the moneth Adar on the thirteenth day of the lame when the kings commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them though it was turned to the contrary that the Jews had rule over them that hated them 2 The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus to lay hand on such as sought their hurt and no man could withstand them for the fear of them fell upon all people 3 And all the rulers of the provinces and the lieutenants and the deputies and †Heb. those which did the business that belonged to the king officers of the king helped the Jews because the fear of Mordecai â—ell upon them 4 For Mordecai was great in the kings house and his fame went out throughout all the provinces for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater 5 Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword slaughter destruction and did †Heb. according to their will with they would unto those that hated them 6 And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew destroyed five hundred men 7 And Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 And Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 And Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vajezatha 10 The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha the enemy of the Jews slew they but on the spoil laid they not their hand 11 On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace †Heb. came was brought before the king 12 ¶ And the king said unto Esther the queen The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace and the ten sons of Haman what have they done in the rest of the kings provinces now what is thy petition and it shall be granted thee or what is thy request further and it shall be done 13 Then said Esther If it please the king let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this days decree and †Heb. let men hang. let Hamans ten sons be hanged upon the gallows 14 And the king commanded it so to be done and the decree was given at Shushan and they hanged Hamans ten sons 15 For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the moneth Adar and slew three hundred men at Shushan but on the prey they laid not their hand 16 But the other Jews that were in the kings provinces gathered themselves together and stood for their lives and had rest from their enemies and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand but they laid not their hands on the prey 17 On the thirteenth day of the moneth Adar and on the fourteenth day †Heb. in it of the same rested they and made it a day of feasting and gladness 18 But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof and on the fourteenth thereof and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested made it a day of feasting gladness 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages that dwelt in the unwalled towns made the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar a day of gladness and feasting and a good day and of sending portions one to another 20 ¶ And Mordecai wrote these things sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus both nigh and far 21 To stablish this among them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the moneth Adar and the fifteenth day of the same yearly 22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies and the moneth which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good day that they should make them days of feasting and joy of sending portions one to another gifts to the poor 23 And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun and as Mordecai had written unto them 24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite the enemy of all the Jews had devised against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur that is the lot to †Heb. crush consume them and to destroy them 25 But †Heb. when she came when Esther came before the king he commanded by letters that his wicked device which he devised against the Jews should return upon his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows 26 Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of ‖ That is lot Pur therefore for all the words of this letter and of that which they had seen concerning this matter and which had come unto them 27 The Jews ordained and took upon them and upon their seed and upon all such as joyned themselves unto them so as it should not †Heb. pass fail that they would keep those two days according to their writing and according to their appointed time every year 28 And that these days should be remembred and kept throughout every generation every family every province and every city and that these days of Purim should not †Heb. pass fail from among the Jews nor the memorial of them †Heb. be ended perish from their seed 29 Then Esther the queen the daughter of Abihail Mordecai the Jew wrote with †Heb. all strength all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim 30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus with words of peace and truth 31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoyned them and as they had decreed †Heb. for their souls for themselves and for their seed the matters of the fastings and their crie 32 And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim and it was written in the book CHAP. X. 1 Ahasuerus his greatness 3 Mordecai's advancement ANd the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land and upon the tiles of the sea 2 And all the acts of his power of his might the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai whereunto the king †Heb. made him great advanced him
afflicted 14 But Zion said the LORD hath forsaken me and my LORD hath forgotten me 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child †Heb. from having compassion that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee 16 Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands thy walls are continually before me 17 Thy children shall make haste thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee 18 ¶ * Ch. 60.4 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold all these gather themselves together and come to thee as I live saith the LORD thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament and binde them on thee as a bride doth 19 For thy waste and thy desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away 20 The children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say again in thine ears The place is too strait for me give place to me that I may dwell 21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart Who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children and am desolate a captive and removing to and fro and who hath brought up these Behold I was left alone these where had they been 22 Thus saith the Lord GOD Behold I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles and set up my standard to the people and they shall bring thy sons in their †Heb. bosom arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders 23 And kings shall be thy †Heb. nourishers nursing-fathers and their †Heb. princesses queens thy nursing-mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth and * Ps 72.9 lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the LORD for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me 24 ¶ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or †Heb. the captivity of the just the lawful captive delivered 25 But thus saith the LORD Even the †Heb. captivity captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee and I will save thy children 26 And I will seed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own * Rev. 14.20 16.6 bloud as with ‖ Or â—â—w wine sweet wine and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy saviour and thy redeemer the mighty One of Jacob. CHAP. L. 1 Christ sheweth that the dereliction of the Jews is not to be imputed to him by his ability to save 5 by his obedience in that work 7 and by his confidence in that assistance 10 An exhortation to trust in God and not in our selves THus saith the LORD Where is the bill of your mothers divorcement whom I have put away or which of my creditours is it to whom I have sold you Behold for your iniquities have you sold your selves and for your transgressions is your mother put away 2 Wherefore when I came was there no man when I called was there none to answer * Num. 11.23 Chap. 59.1 Is my hand shortned at all that it cannot redeem or have I no power to deliver behold at my rebuke I * Exod. 14.21 dry up the sea I make the * Jush 3.16 rivers a wilderness their fish stinketh because there is no water and dieth for thirst 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness and I make sackcloth their covering 4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is * Matth. 11.28 weary he wakeneth morning by morning he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned 5 ¶ The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear and I was not * Joh. 14.31 Phil. 2.8 Hebr. 10.5 c. rebellious neither turned away back 6 * Matth. 26.67 27.26 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting 7 ¶ For the Lord GOD will help me therefore shall I not be confounded therefore have I set my face like a flint and I know that I shall not be ashamed 8 * Rom. 8.32.33 He is near that justifieth me who will contend with me let us stand together who is †Heb. the master of my cause mine adversary let him come near to me 9 Behold the Lord GOD will help me who is he that shall condemn me lo they all shall wax old as a garment the moth shall eat them up 10 ¶ Who is among you that feareth the LORD that obeyeth the voice of his servant that walketh in darkness and hath no light let him trust in the name of the LORD and stay upon his God 11 Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled * Joh. 9.39 This shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lie down in sorrow CHAP. LI. 1 An exhortation after the pattern of Abraham to trust in Christ 3 by reason of his comfortable promises 4 of his righteous salvation 7 and mans mortality 9 Christ by his sanctified arm defendeth his from the fear of man 17 He be waileth the afflictions of Jerusalem 21 and promiseth deliverance HEarken to me ye that follow after righteousness ye that seek the LORD look unto the rock whence ye are hewn and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged 2 Look unto Abraham your father and unto Sarah that bare you for I called him alone and blessed him and increased him 3 For the LORD shall comfort Zion he will comfort all her waste places and he will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD joy and gladness shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of melody 4 ¶ Hearken unto me my people and give ear unto me O my pation for a law shall proceed from me and I will make my judgement to rest for a light of the people 5 My righteousness is near my salvation is gone forth and mine arms shall judge the people the isles shall wait upon me and on mine arm shall they trust 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath for * Psal 102.26 Mat. 24.35 the heavens shall vaniâ—h away like smoke and the earth shall wax old like a garment and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner but my salvation shall be for ever and my righteousness shall not be abolished 7 ¶ Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness the people * Ps 37.31 in whose heart
have peace 13 * Levit. 26.16 Deut. 28.38 Micah 6.15 Hag. 1.6 They have sown wheat but shall reap thorns they have put themselves to pain but shall not profit and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD 14 ¶ Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit Behold I will * Deut. 30.2 Chap. 32.37 pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them 15 And it shall come to pass after that I have plucked them out I will return and have compassion on them and will bring them again every man to his heritage and every man to his land 16 And it shall come to pass if they will diligently learn the ways of my people to swear by my name The LORD liveth as they taught my people to swear by my Baal then shall they be built in the midst of my people 17 But if they will not * Isa 60 12. obey I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation saith the LORD CHAP. XIII 1 In the â—â—pe of a lineâ— girdle kidden at Euphrates God prefigureth the destruction of his people 12Vnder the parable of the bottles filled with wine he foretelleth their drunkenness in misery 15 He exhorteth to prevent their future judgements 22 He sheweth their abominations are the cause thereof THus saith the LORD unto me Go and get thee a linen girdle and put it upon thy loyns and put it not in water 2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD and put it on my loyns 3 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time saying 4 Take the girdle that thou hast got which is upon thy loyns and arise go to Euphrates and hide it there in a hole of the rock 5 So I went and hid it by Euphrates as the LORD commanded me 6 And it came to pass after many days that the LORD said unto me Arise go to Euphrates and take the girdle from thence which I commanded thee to hide there 7 Then I went to Euphrates and digged and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it and behold the girdle was marred it was profitable for nothing 8 Then the word of the LORD came unto me saying 9 Thus saith the LORD After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem 10 This evil people which refuse to hear my words which walk in the ‖ Or stubb â—nness imagination of their heart and walk after other gods to serve them and to worship them shall even be as this girdle which is good for nothing 11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loyns of a man so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah saith the LORD that they might be unto me for a people for a name and for a praise for a glory but they would not hear 12 ¶ Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word Thus saith the LORD God of Israel Every bottle shall be filled with wine and they shall say unto thee Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine 13 Then shalt thou say unto them Thus saith the LORD Behold I will fill all the inhabitants of this land even the kings that sit upon Davids throne and the priests and the prophets and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with drunkenness 14 And I will dash them †Heb. a man against his brother one against another even the fathers and the sons together saith the LORD I will not pity nor spare not have mercy †Heb. from destroying them but destroy them 15 ¶ Hear ye and give ear be not proud for the LORD hath spoken 16 Give glory to the LORD your God before he cause * If. 8.22 darkness and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains and while ye look for light he turn it into the shadow of death and make it gross darkness 17 But if ye will not hear it my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride and * La. 1.2 16 and 2.18 mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears because the LORDs flock is carried away captive 18 Say unto the king and to the queen Humble your selves sit down for your ‖ Or head-tires principalities shall come down even the crown of your glory 19 The cities of the south shall be shut up and none shall open them Judah shall be carried away captive all of it it shall be wholly carried away captive 20 Lift up your eyes and behold them that come from the north where is the flock that was given thee thy beautiful flock 21 What wilt thou say when he shall †Heb. visit upon punish thee for thou hast taught them to be captains and as chief over thee shall not sorrows take thee as a woman in travail 22 ¶ And it thou say in thine heart * Ch 5.19 and 16.10 Wherefore come these things upon me for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered and thy heels ‖ Or shall be violently taken away made bare 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots then may ye also do good that are †Heb. caught accustomed to do evil 24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness 25 This is thy lot the portion of thy measures from me saith the LORD because thou hast forgotten me and trusted in falshood 26 Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face that thy shame may appear 27 I have seen thine adulteries and thy neighings the lewdness of thy whoredom and thine abominations on the hills in the fields wo unto thee O Jerusalem wilt thou not be made clean †Heb. after when â—et when shall it once be CHAP. XIV 1 The grievous famine 7 causeth Jeremiah to pray 10 The Lord will not be intreated for the people 13 Lying prophets are no excuse for them 17 Jeremiah is moved to complain for them THe word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning †Heb. the words of the dearths or restraints the dearth 2 Judah mourneth and the gates thereof languish they are black unto the ground and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up 3 And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters they came to the pits and found no water they returned with their vessels empty they were ashamed and confounded and covered their heads 4 Because the ground is chapt for there was no rain in the earth the plowmen were ashamed they covered their heads 5 Yea the hind also calved in the field and forsook it because there was no grass 6 And the wilde asses did stand in the high places they snuffed up the wind
been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countreys and against great kingdoms of war and of evil and of pestilence 9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace when the word of the prophet shall come to pass then shall the prophet be known that the LORD hath truly sent him 10 ¶ Then Hananiah the prophet took the * Ch. 27.2 yoke from off the prophet Jeremiahs neck and brake it 11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people saying Thus saith the LORD Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years And the prophet Jeremiah went his way 12 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah saying 13 Go and tell Hananiah saying Thus saith the LORD Thou hast broken the yokes of wood but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron 14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and they shall serve him and I have given him the beasts of the field also 15 ¶ Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet Hear now Hananiah The LORD hath not sent thee but thou makest this people to trust in a lie 16 Therefore thus saith the LORD Behold I will cast thee from off the face of the earth this year thou shalt die because thou hast taught * Deu. 12.5 Ch 2â— 32 †Heb. â—â—vâ—â—t rebellion against the LORD 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh moneth CHAP. XXIX 1 Jeremiah sendeth a letter to the captives in Babylon to be quiet there 8 and not to beleeve the dreams of their prophets 10 and that they shall return with grace after seventy years 15 He foretelleth the destruction of the rest for their disobedience 20 He sheweth the fearful end of Ahab and Zedekiah two lying prophets 24 Shemaiah writeth a letter against Jeremiah 30 Jeremiah reaâ—eth his doom NOw these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives and to the priests and to the prophets and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon 2 Alter that * 2 Kin. 24.12 c. Jeconiah the king and the queen and the ‖ Or chamberlains eunuchs the princes of Judah and Jerusalem and the carpenters and the smiths were departed from Jerusalem 3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon saying 4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel unto all that are carried away captives whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon 5 Build ye houses and dwell in them and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them 6 Take ye wives and beget sons and daughters and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands that they may bear sons and daughters that ye may be increased there and not diminished 7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives and pray unto the LORD for it for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace 8 ¶ For thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel Let not your prophets and your diviners that be in the midst of you * Ch. 14 â—4 and 27.21 and 27.15 deceive you neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed 9 For they prophesie †Heb. in a lie falsly unto you in my name I have not sent them saith the LORD 10 ¶ For thu saith the LORD that after * 2 Chr. 36.21.22 Ezr. 1.1 Ch. 25.12 and 27.22 Dan. 9.2 seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you and perform my good word towards you in causing you to return to this place 11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the LORD thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an †Heb. end and expectation expected end 12 Then shall ye * Dan. 9.3 c. call upon me and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you 13 And ye shall seek me and finde me when ye shall search for me with all your heart 14 And I will be found of you saith the LORD and I will turn away your captivity and I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places whither I have driven you saith the LORD and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive 15 ¶ Because ye have said The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon 16 Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David and of all the people that dwelleth in this city and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity 17 Thus saith the LORD of hous Behold I will send upon them the * Ch. 24.10 sword the famine and the pestilence and will make them like * Ch. 24.8 vile figs that cannot be eaten they are so evil 18 And I will persecute them with the sword with the famine and with the pestilence and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth †Heb. for a curse to be a curse and an astonishment and an hissing and a reproach among all the nations whither I have driven them 19 Because they have not hearkned to my words saith the LORD which * Ch. 25.4 and 32.33 I sent unto them by my servants the prophets rising up early and sending them but ye would not hear saith the LORD 20 ¶ Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD all ye of the captivity whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon 21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel of Ahab the son of Kolaiah and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah which prophesie a lie unto you in my name Behold I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and he shall slay them before your eyes 22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon saying The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab whom the king of Babylon rosted in the fire 23 Because they have committed villany in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbours wives and have spoken lying words in my name which I have not commanded them even I know and am a witness saith the LORD 24 ¶ Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the ‖ Or dreamer Nehelamite saying 25 Thus
they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they knew not neither they you nor your fathers 4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets rising eâ—â—ly and sending them saying Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate 5 But they hearkned not nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness to burn no incense unto other gods 6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem and they are wasted and desolate as at this day 7 Therefore now thus saith the LORD the God of hosts the God of Israel Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls to cut off from you man and woman childe and suckling †Heb. out of the midst of Juâ—â—â— out of Judah to leave you none to remain 8 In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt whither ye be gone to dwell that ye might cut your selves off and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth 9 Have ye forgotten the †Heb. wickednesses or â—â—nishments c. wickedness of your fathers and the wickedneâ—s of the kings of Judah and the wickedness of their wives and your own wickedness and the wickedness of your wives which they have committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem 10 They are not †Heb. contrite humbled even unto this day neither have they feared nor walked in my law nor in my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers 11 ¶ Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel Behold * Auâ—â—s 9.4 I will set my face against you for evil and to cut off all Judah 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine they shall die from the least even unto the greatest by the sword and by the famine and they shall be an execration and an astonishment and a curse and a reproach 13 For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt as I havâ— punished Jerusalem by the sword by the famine and by the pentilence 14 So that none of the remnant of Judah which are gone into the land or Egypt to so journ there shall escape or remain that they should return into the land of Judah to the which they †Heb. â—ift up their soul have a desire to return to dwell there for none shall return but such as shall escape 15 ¶ Then all the men which knew that their wives had burnt incense unto other gods and all the women that stood by a great multitude even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt in Pathies answered Jeremiah saying 16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD we will not hearken unto thee 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth to burn incense unto the ‖ Or. frame of heaâ—en * Chap. 7.18 queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings unto her as we have done we and our fathers our kings and our princes in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem for then had we plenty of †Heb. bread victuals and were well and saw no evil 18 But since we lest off to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offerings unto her we have wanted all things and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine 19 * Chap. â— 18 And when we burnt incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink-offerings unto her did we make her cakes to worship her and pour out drink-offerings unto her without our ‖ Or husbandâ— men 20 ¶ Then Jeremiah said unto all the people to the men and to the women and to all the people which had given him that answer saying 21 The incense that ye burnt in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem ye and your fathers your kings and your princes and the people of the land did not the LORD remember them and came it not into his minde 22 So that the LORD could no longer bear because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which ye have committed therefore is your land a desolation and an astonishment and a curse without an inhabitant as at this day 23 Because you have burnt incense and because ye have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD not walked in his law nor in his statutes nor in his testimomes therefore this evil is hapned unto you as at this day 24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people and to all the women Hear the word of the LORD all Judah that are in the land of Egypt 25 Thus saith the LORD of hosts the God of Israel saying Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouthes and fulfilled with your hand saying We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink-offering unto her ye will surely accomplish your vows and surely perform your vows 26 Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt Behold I have sworn by my great name saith the LORD that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt saying The Lord GOD liveth 27 Behold I will watch over them for evil and not for good and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine until there be an end of them 28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah and all the remnant of Judah that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there shall know whore words shall stand †Heb. from 〈◊〉 or from them mine or theirs 29 ¶ And this shall be a signe unto you saith the LORD that I will punâ—â—â— you in this place that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil 30 Thus saith the LORD Behold I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of them that seek his life as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon his enemy and that sought his life CHAP. XLV 1 Baruch being dismâ—â—ed 4 Jeremiah instructeth and comforteth him THe word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah when he had written these words in a book at
of the field had shadow under it and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof and all flesh was fâ—d of it 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed and behold a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven 14 He cried †Cald. with might aloud and faid thus How down the tree and cut off his branches shake off his leaves and scatter his fruit let the beasts get away from under it and the fowls from his branches 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth even with a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field and let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth 16 Let his heart be changed from mans and let a beasts heart be given unto him and let seven times pass over him 17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basest of men 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen now thou O Belteshazzar declare the interpretation thereof forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation but thou art able for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee 19 ¶ Then Daniel whose name was Belteshazzar was astonied for one hour and his thoughts troubled him the king spake and said Belteshazzar let not the dream or the interpretation thereof trouble thee Belteshazzar answered and said My lord the dream be to them that hate thee and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies 20 The tree that thou sawest which grew was strong whose height reached unto the heaven and the â—ight thereof to all the earth 21 Whose leaves were fair and the fruit thereof much and in it was meat for all under which the beasts of the field dwelt and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation 22 It is thou O king that art grown and become strong for thy greatness is grown and reacheth unto heaven and thy dominion to the end of the earth 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven and saying Hew the tree down and destroy it yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth even with a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field and let it be wet with the dew of heaven and let his portion be with the beasts of the field till seven times pass over him 24 This is the interpretation O king and this is the decree of the most High which is come upon my lord the king 25 That they shall * Ch. 5.21 c. drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven and seven times shall pass over thee till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree-roots thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule 27 Wherefore O king let my counsel be acceptable unto thee and break off thy sins by righteousness and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be ‖ Or an beaâ—ing of thineerroâ—â— a lengthning of thy tranquillity 28 ¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar 29 At the end of twelve moneths he walked ‖ Or upon in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon 30 The king spake and said Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honour of my majesty 31 While the word was in the kings mouth there fell a voice from heaven saying O king Nebuchadnezzar to thee it is spoken The kingdom is departed from thee 32 And they shall drive thee from men and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen and seven times shall pass over thee until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar and he was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hairs were grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine eyes unto heaven and mine understanding returned unto me and I blessed the most High and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever whose dominion is * Ch. 7.14 Mic. 4.7 Lu. 1.33 an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him * Job 9.12 If. 45.9 What doest thou 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me and for the glory of my kingdom mine honour and brightness returned unto me and my counsellours and my lords sought unto me and I was established in my kingdom and excellent majesty was added unto me 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven all whose works are truth and his ways judgement and those that walk in pride he is able to abase CHAP. V. 1 Belshazzars impious â—east 5 A â—and-writing unknown to the magicians troubleth the king 10 At the commendation of the queen Daniel is brought 17 He reproving the king of pride and idolatry 25 readeth and interpreteth the writing 30 The monarchy is translated to the Medes BElshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand 2 Belshazzar whiles he tasted the wine commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had †Cald. brought forth taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem that the king and his princes his wives and his concubines might drink therein 3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem and the king and his princes his wives and his concubines drank in them 4 They drunk wine and praised the gods of gold and of silver of brass of iron of wood and of stone 5 ¶ In the same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the kings palace and the king saw the
one accord and said unto her Thou art the exaltation of Jerusalem thou art the great glory of Israel thou art the great rejoycing of our nation 10 Thou hast done all these thingâ— by thine hand thou hast done much good to Israel and God is pleased therewith blessed be thou of the Almighty Lord for evermore and all the people said So be it 11 And the people spoiled the camp the space of thirty days and they gave unto Judith Holofernes his tent and all his plate and beds and vessels and all his stuff and she took it and laid it on her mule and made ready her carts and laid them thereon 12 Then all the women of Israel ran together to see her and blessed her and made a dance among them for her and she took branches in her hand and gave also to the women that were with her 13 And they put a garland of olive upon her and her maid that was with her and she went before all the people in the dance leading all the women and all the men of Israel followed in their armour with garlands and with longs in their mouths CHAP. XVI 6 The song of Judith 19 She dedicateth the stuff of Holofernes 23 She died at Bethullas a widow of great honour 24 All Israel did lament her death THen Judith began to sing this thanksgiving in all Israel and all the people sang after her ‖ Or. this prâ—ising this song of praise 2 And Judith said Begin unto my God with timbrels sing unto my Lord with cymbals tune unto him a ‖ Or. Psalm and praise new psalm exalt him and call upon his name 3 For God breaketh the battels for amongst the camps in the midst of the people he hath delivered me out of the hands of them that persecuted me 4 Assur came out of the mountains from the north he came with ten thousands of his army the * Chap. 2.19 multitude whereof stopped the torrents and their hors-men have covered the hills 5 He bragged that he would burn up my borders and kill my young men with the sword and dash the sucking children against the ground and make mine infants as a prey and my virgins as a spoil 6 But the Almighty Lord hath disappointed them by the hand of a woman 7 For the mighty one did not fall by the young men neither did the sons of the Titans smite him nor high giants set upon him but Judith the daughter of Merari weakned him with the beauty of her countenance 8 For she put off the garment of her widowhood for the exaltation of those that were oppressed in Israel and anointed her face with ointment and bound her hair in a †Gr. mitrâ— tire and took a linen garment to deceive him 9 Her sandals ravished his eyes her beauty took his minde prisoner and the fauchion passed through his neck 10 The Perlians quaked at her boldness and the Medes were ‖ Or confounded daunted at her hardiness 11 Then my afflicted shouted for joy and my weak ones cried aloud but ‖ the Assyrians they were astonished these lifted up their voices but they were overthrown 12 The sons of the damsels have pierced them through and wounded them as fugitives children they perished by the battel of the Lord. 13 I will sing unto the Lord ‖ Or a song of praise a new song O Lord thou art great and glorious wonderful in strength and invincible 14 Let all creatures serve thee for thou spakest and they were made thou didst send forth thy spirit and it created them and there is none that can resist thy voice 15 For the mountains shall be moved from their foundations with the waters the rocks shall melt as wax at thy presence yet thou art merciful to them that fear thee 16 For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savour unto thee and all the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt-offering but he that feareth the Lord is great at all times 17 Wo to the nations that rise up against my kindred the Lord Almighty will take vengeance of them in the day of judgement in putting fire and worms in their flesh and they shall feel them and weep for ever 18 Now assoon as they entred into Jerusalem they worshipped the Lord and assoon as the people were purified they offered their burnt-offerings and their free-offerings and their gifts 19 Judith also dedicated all the stuff of Holofernes which the people had given her and gave the canopy which she had taken out of his bed-chamber for a gift unto the Lord. 20 So the people continued feasting in Jerusalem before the sanctuary for the space of three moneths and Judith remained with them 21 After this time every one returned to his own inheritance and Judith went to Bethulia and remained in her own possession and was in her time honourable in all the countrey 22 And many desired her but none knew her all the days of her life after that Manasses her husband was dead and was gathered to his people 23 But she increased more and more in honour and waxed old in her husbands house being an hundred and five years old and made her maid free so she died in Bethulia and they buried her in the ‖ Or sepulebre cave of her husband Manasses 24 And the house of Israel lamented her * Gen. 50.10 seven days and before she died she did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred to Manasses her husband and to them that were the nearest of her kindred 25 And there was none that made the children of Israel any more afraid in the days of Judith nor a long time after her death ¶ The rest of the chapters of the book of ESTHER which are found neither in the Hebrew nor in the Caldee Part of the tenth Chapter after the Greek 5 Mardotheus remembreth and expoundeth his dream of the river and the two draâ—ons THen Mardocheus said God hath done these things 5 For I remember a dream which I saw concerning these matters and nothing thereof hath failed 6 A little fountain became a river and there was light and the sun and much water this river is Esther whom the king married and made queen 7 And the two dragons are I and Aman. 8 And the nations were those that were assembled to destroy the name of the Jews 9 And my nation is this Israel which cried to God and were saved for the Lord hath saved his people and the Lord hath delivered us from all those evils and God hath wrought signs and great wonders which have not been done among the Gentiles 10 Therefore hath he made two lots one for the people of God and another for all the Gentileâ— 11 And these two lots came at the hour and time and day of Judgement before God amongst all nations 12 So God remembred his people and justified his inheritance 13 Therefore those days shall be unto them in
covered her head with ashes and dung and she humbled her body greatly and all the places of her joy she fided with her torn hair 3 And she prayed unto the Lord God of Israel saying O my Lord thou onely art our King help me desolate woman which have no helper but thee 4 * 1 Sam. 〈◊〉 28.21 Job 13.14 Ps 119.109 For my danger is in mine hand 5 From my youth up I have heard in the tribe of my family that thou O Lord tookest Israel from among all people and our fathers from all their predecessours for a perpetual inheritance and thou hast performed whatsoever thou didst promise them 6 And now we have sinned before thee therefore hast thou given us into the hands of our enemies 7 Because we worshipped their gods O Lord thou artrighteous 8 Nevertheless it satisfieth them not that we are in bitter captivity but they have stricken hands with their idols 9 That they will abolish the thing that thou with thy mouth hast ordained and destroy thine inheritance and stop the mouth of them that praise thee and quench the glory of thy house and of thine altar 10 And open the mouths of the heathen to set forth the praises of the †Gr. vain things idols and to magnifie a fleshly king for ever 11 O Lord give not thy sceptre unto them that †Gr. be not be nothing and let them not laugh at our fall but turn their device upon themselves and make him an example that hath begun this against us 12 Remember O Lord make thy self known in time of our affliction and give me boldness O King of the ‖ Or gods nations and Lord of all power 13 Give me eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion turn his heart to hate him that fighteth against us that there may be an end of him and of all that are like-minded to him 14 But deliver us with thine hand and help me that am desolate and which have no other helper but thee 15 Thou knowest all things O Lord thou knowest that I hate the glory of the unrighteous and abhor the bed of the uncircumcised and of †Gr. every stranger all the heathen 16 Thou knowest my necessity for I abhor the signe of my †Gr. pride high estate which is upon mine head in the days wherein I shew my self and that I abhor it as a menstruous rag and that I wear it not when I am †Gr. quiet or private private by my self 17 And that thine hand-maid hath not eaten at Amans table and that I have not greatly esteemed the kings feast nor drunk the wine of the drink-offerings 18 Neither had thine hand maid any joy since the day †Gr. of my change that I was brought hither to this present but in thee O Lord God of Abraham 19 O thou mighty God above all hear the voice of the forlorn and deliver us out of the hands of the mischievous and deliver me out of my fear CHAP. XV. 6 Esther cometh into the kings presence 7 He looketh angerly and she fainteth 8 The king doth take her up and comfort her ANd upon the third day when she had ended her prayer she laid away her mourning garments and â—â—t on her glorious apparel 2 And being gloriously adorned after she had called upon God who is the beholder and Saviour of all things she took two maids with her 3 And upon the one she leaned as carrying her self ‖ Or delicath daintily 4 And the other followed bearing up her train 5 And she was ‖ Or rose-coloured ruddy through the perfection of her beauty and her countenance was cheerful and ‖ Or as amiable or smiline very amiable but her heart was in anguish for fear 6 Then having passed through all the doors she stood before the king who sat upon his royal throne and was clothed with all his robes of majesty all glittering with gold and precious stones and he was very dreadful 7 Then lifting up his countenance that hone with majesty he looked very fiercely upon her and the queen fell down and was pale and fainted and bowed her self upon the head of the maid that went ‖ Or with her or by her before her 8 Then God changed the spirit of the king into mildness who †Gr. in an agony in a fear leaped from his throne and took her in his arms till she came to her self again and comforted her with loving words and said unto her 9 Esther what is the matter I am thy brother be of good cheer 10 Thou shalt not die though our commandment be ‖ Or as well thieâ— as mine general come near 11 And so he held up his golden sceptre and laid it upon her neck 12 And embraced her and said Speak unto me 13 Then she said unto him I saw thee my lord as an angel of God and my heart was troubled for fear of thy majesty 14 For wonderful art thou lord and thy countenance is full of grace 15 And as she was speaking ‖ Or she fell in a swoon she fell down for faintness 16 Then the king was troubled and all his servants comforted her CHAP. XVI 1 The letter of Artaxerxes 10 wherein be taxeth Aman 17 and revoketh the decree procured by Aman to destroy the Jews 22 and commandeth the day of their deliverance to be kept holy THe great king Artaxerxes unto the princes and governours of an hundred and seven and twenty provinces from India unto Ethiopia Joseph Ant. l. 11. c. 6. and unto all ‖ Or well-affected to our state our faithful subjects greeting 2 Many the more often they are honoured with the great bounty of †Gr. their benefactors their gracious princes the more proud they are waxen 3 And endeavour to hurt not our subjects onely but not being able to bear abundance do take in hand to practise also against those that do them good 4 And take not onely thankfulness away from among men but also lifted up with the glorious words of ‖ Or needy lewd persons ‖ Or that never casted prosperity that were never good they think to escape the justice of God that seeth all things and hateth evil 5 Oftentimes also fair speech ‖ Or of our friends put in trust to manage the affairs of those that are put in trust to manage their friends affairs hath caused many that are in authority to be partakers of innocent bloud and hath enwrapped them in remediless calamities 6 Beguiling with the falshood and deceit of their lewd disposition the innocency and goodness of princes 7 Now ye may see this as we have declared not so much by ancient histories as ye may if ye search what hath been wickedly done of late through the pestilent behaviour of them that are unworthily placed in authority 8 And we must take care for the time to come that our kingdom may be quiet and
not cry neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets 20 A bruised reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust 22 ¶ * Luke 11.14 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil blinde and dumb and he healed him insomuch that the blinde and dumb both spake and saw 23 And all the people were amazed and said Is not this the son of David 24 * Chap. 9. â—â— But when the Pharisees heard it they said This fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against it self shall not stand 26 And if Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself how shall then his kingdom stand 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your children cast them out therefore they shall be your judges 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come unto you 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong mans house and spoil his goods except he first binde the strong man and then he will spoil his house 30 He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad 31 ¶ Wherefore I say unto you * Mark 3.28 Luk. 12.10 1 Joh. 5.16 All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men but the blasphemy against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him but whosoever speaketh against the holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world neither in the world to come 33 Either make the tree good and his fruit good or else make the tree corrupt and his fruit corrupt for the tree is known by his fruit 34 O generation of vipers how can ye being evil speak good things * Luke 6 4â— for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things 36 But I say unto you That every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned 38 ¶ * Chap. 16.1 Luk. 11.29 1 Cor. 1.22 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying Master we would see a signe from thee 39 But he answered and said to them An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a signe and there shall no signe be given to it but the signe of the prophet Jonas 40 * Jonah 1.17 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whales belly so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgement with this generation and shall condemn it * Jonah 3.5 because they repented at the preaching of Jonas and behold a greater then Jonas is here 42 * 1 King 10.1 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgement with this generation and shall condemn it for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon and behold a greater then Solomon is here 43 * Luke 11.24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest but findeth none 44 Then he saith I will return into my house from whence I came out and when he is come he findeth it empty swept and garnished 45 Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked then himself and they enter in and dwell there * Hebt 6. â— and 10.26 2 Pet. 2.20 and the last state of that man is worse then the first Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation 46 ¶ While he yet talked to the people * Mar. 3.31 Luke 8.20 behold his mother and his brethren stood without desiring to speak with him 47 Then one said unto him Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without desiring to speak with thee 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him Who is my mother and who are my brethren 49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples and said Behold my mother and my brethren 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven the same is my brother and sister and mother CHAP. XIII 3 The parable of the sower and the seed 18 the exposition of it 24 The parable of the tares 31 of the mustard-seed 33 of the leaven 44 of the hidden treasure 45 of the pearl 47 of the draw-net cast into the sea 53 and how Christ is contemned of his own countrey-men THe same day went Jesus out of the house * Mar. 4.1 and sat by the sea-side 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him so that he went into a ship and sat and the whole multitude stood on the shore 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables saying * Luk. 8.5 Behold a sower went forth to sowe 4 And when he sowed some seeds fell by the ways side and the fowls came and devoured them up 5 Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of earth 6 And when the sun was up they were scorched and because they had not root they withered away 7 And some fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked them 8 But other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit some an hundred-fold some sixty-fold some thirty-fold 9 Who hath ears to hear let him hear 10 And the disciples came and said unto him Why speakest thou unto them in parables 11 He answered and said unto them Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven but to them it is not given 12 * Chap. 25.29 For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that he hath 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not neither do they understand 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophesie of Esaias which saith * Isa 6.9 Mark 4.12 Luk. 8.10 Joh. 12. â—0 Act. 28.26 Rom. 11.8 By hearing ye shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive 15 For this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time