endureth for euer 6 Who layde out the earth aboue the waters for his mercy endureth for euer 7 Who hath made great lightes for his mercy endureth for euery 8 The sunne to rule in the day for his mercy endureth for euer 9 The moone the starres to gouerne in the night for his mercy endureth for euer 10 Who smote Egypt with their first borne for his mercy endureth for euer 11 And brought out Israel from among them for his mercy endureth for euer 12 With a mightie hande and a stretched out arme for his mercy endureth for euer 13 Who deuided the red sea in partes for his mercy endureth for euer 14 And made Israel to passe through the mydst of it for his mercy endureth for euer 15 He ouerthrewe Pharao and his hoast in the red sea for his mercy endureth for euer 16 Who led his people through the wyldernesse for his mercy endureth for euer 17 Who smote great kinges for his mercy endureth for euer 18 And he slue mightie kynges for his mercy endureth for euer 19 Sihon king of the Amorites for his mercy endureth for euer 20 And Og the king of Bashan for his mercy endureth for euer 21 And he gaue away their lande for an heritage for his mercy endureth for euer 22 For an heritage vnto Israel his seruaunt for his mercy endureth for euer 23 Who remembred vs when we were brought lowe for his mercy endureth for euer 24 And he deliuered vs from our aduersaries for his mercy endureth for euer 25 Who geueth foode vnto al creatures for his mercy endureth for euer 26 Confesse you it vnto the Lord of heauen for his mercy endureth for euer The argument of the .cxxxvij. psalme The prophete declareth the great griefe and lamentation of the children of Israel for that they beyng led prisoners vnto Babylon were prouoked to sing as they vsed to do at Sion He protesteth that he can not forget Hierusalem He prayeth God to remember the Idumites who malitiously incensed their enemies against them He prophesieth of the destruction of Babylon 1 BY the waters of Babylon we set downe there also we wept when we remembred Sion 2 We hanged vp our harpes on the Salou trees in the mydst of it 3 For there they that led vs away captiue required of vs some matter of a song and for our waylynges myrth saying sing vs one of the songes of Sion 4 We aunswered howe can we sing one of the songes of God in another lande besides our owne 5 If I forget thee O Hierusalem let my right hande forget her cunning 6 Let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth if I do not remember thee yea if I preferre not thee O Hierusalem aboue my most myrth 7 Remember the chyldren of Edom in the day of Hierusalem they sayde downe with it downe with it euen to the grounde 8 O daughter of Babylon who must lye wasted happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs. 9 Blessed shall he be that taketh throweth thy litle children against the stone The argument of the .cxxxviij. psalme ¶ Dauid thanketh God for his goodnes towardes hym in that he dyd heare hym in aduersitie and deliuered hym from his enemies whereby he trusteth in time to come in all distresses to be helped ¶ Of Dauid 1 I Wyll geue thankes vnto thee O God with my whole heart I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee before the gods 2 I wyll make my lowe obeysaunce towarde thy holy temple and I wyll prayse thy holy name in respect of thy louing kindnes and trueth 3 For thou hast magnified thy name and thy worde aboue all thinges 4 In the day of myne aduersitie I called vpon thee and thou heardest me thou enduedst my soule more and more with strength 5 All the kinges of the earth will prayse thee O God for they haue hearde the wordes of thy mouth 6 Yea they wyll sing of the wayes of God for great is the glory of God 7 For though God be on high yet he will haue respect vnto the lowly and he wyll knowe the proude a farre of 8 If I shall walke in the midst of trouble thou wylt make me to lyue thou wylt stretche foorth thyne hande vpon the furiousnes of mine enemies and thy right hande shall saue me 9 God wyll finishe that he hath begun by me O God thy louing kindnes endureth for euer thou wylt not forsake the workes of thyne owne handes The argument of the .cxxxix. psalme ¶ Dauid falsly accused calleth to witnesse of his innocencie God who knoweth hym throughly and vnto whom nothing is vnknowen of that is sayd done or thought out of whose handes he can not escape in any place Finally he pronounceth that he hateth the wicked to the intent that he may declare that he hath nothing to do with them ¶ To the chiefe musition a psalme of Dauid 1 O GOD thou hast searched me to the quicke and thou hast knowen me 2 Thou knowest my downe sitting mine vprising thou vnderstandest my thoughtes long before they be 3 Thou compassest about my path and my iourney into all coastes and thou vsest all my wayes 4 For there is not a word in my tongue but beholde thou O Lorde knowest it altogether 5 Thou hast fashioned me behinde and before and layde thyne hande vpon me 6 The knowledge that thou hast of me is marueylous it is so high that I can not attayne vnto it 7 Whyther can I go from thy spirite or whyther can I flee away from thy face 8 If I ascende vp into heauen thou art there if I lay me downe in hell thou art there also 9 If I take the wynges of the morning and go to dwell in the vttermost part of the sea 10 Euen there also thy hande shall leade me and thy ryght hande shal holde me 11 And yf I say peraduenture the darknesse shall couer me and the night shal be day for me 12 Truely the darknesse shall not darken any thing from thee and the night shal be as lightsome as the day darknesse and lyght to thee are both alike 13 For thou hast my reynes in thy possession thou didst couer me in my mothers wombe 14 I wyll confesse it vnto thee for that thy doynges are to be dreaded I am made after a marueylous sort thy workes be marueylous and that my soule knoweth ryght well 15 The substaunce of my body was not hyd from thee when I was made in secrete and fashioned with distinct members in my mothers wombe 16 Thyne eyes dyd see me when I was most imperfect and in thy booke * were written euery day of them wherin the partes of my body were shaped and no one of them were knowen vnto thee 17 Howe precious be thy cogitations towardes me O God howe greatly be the summe of them increased 18 I go about to count them I fynde that they
theirs shal be for euer blessed 1 GEue praise not vnto vs O God not vnto vs but vnto thy name for thy louing mercy and for thy truethes sake 2 Wherfore shal the Heathen say where is nowe their God 3 Truely our Lorde is in heauen he hath done whatsoeuer pleased him 4 Their idols are siluer and gold euen the workes of mens handes 5 They haue a mouth and speake not they haue eyes and see not 6 They haue eares and heare not they haue noses and smell not 7 They haue handes and handle not they haue feete and walke not and they vtter no sounde out of their throtes 8 They that make them are lyke vnto them euery one that putteth his trust in them 9 But Israel trust thou in God he is their ayde and their shielde 10 Ye house of Aaron trust you in God he is their ayde and their shielde 11 Ye that feare God trust ye in God he is their ayde and their shielde 12 God hath ben myndfull of vs he wyll blesse vs he wyll blesse the house of Israel he wyll blesse the house of Aaron 13 He wyll blesse those that feare God the small with the great 14 God wyll encrease you more and more both you and also your children 15 Ye are the blessed of God which made heauen and earth 16 The heauen the heauen I say is Gods and he hath geuen the earth vnto the children of men 17 The dead prayse not thee O Lorde neither all they that go downe into the place of scilence 18 But we wyll prayse the Lord from this tyme foorth for euermore Prayse ye the Lorde The argument of the .cxvi. psalme ¶ The prophete sayth that he must nedes loue God for that he heard hym and deliuered hym out of wonderfull extreme afflictions of death and hell He acknowledgeth the benefites of God and that he can geue no rewarde for them but bare thankes when he is in the congregation and in worshyppyng hym all the dayes of his lyfe 1 I Haue loued because God hath hearde my voyce and my prayers 2 Because he hath enclined his eare vnto me therfore I wyll call vpon hym as long as I lyue 3 The snares of death compassed me rounde about and the paynes of hell toke holde on me 4 I founde anguishe and heauinesse but I called vpon the name of God saying O God I beseche thee deliuer my soule 5 Gratious is God and ryghteous our Lorde is mercifull 6 God gardeth the simple I was brought to the extremitie and he preserued me 7 Returne O my soule vnto thy rest for God hath rewarded thee 8 For thou O Lorde hast deliuered my soule from death myne eyes from teares and my feete from fallyng 9 I wyll walke before the face of God in the lande of the lyuyng 10 I beleued therfore I wyll speake I was sore afflicted insomuch that I said in my rashnesse euery man is a lyer 11 What rewarde shal I geue vnto God for all the benefites that he hath done vnto me 12 I wyll take the cuppe of saluation and I wyll call vpon the name of God 13 I wyll pay my vowes nowe vnto God in the presence of all his people 14 The death of his saintes is precious in the eyes of God 15 It is euen so O God for I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handemayde thou hast loosed my bondes in sunder 16 I wyll offer vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgeuyng and I wyll call vpon the name of God 17 I wyll pay my vowes vnto God in the sight of all his people in the courtes of Gods house euen in the myddest of thee O Hierusalem Prayse ye the Lorde ⧠The argument of the .cxvij. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth the Gentiles to prayse God for that he hath extended his mercie vpon them in Christe aswell as vpon the Iewes 1 O Prayse God all ye heathen prayse hym all ye nations 2 For his mercifull kyndnesse is euer more and more towarde vs and the trueth of God endureth for euer Prayse ye the Lorde ¶ The argument of the .cxviij. Psalme ¶ Dauid woulde haue God praysed and thanked for that by his meanes only he was deliuered from extreme perilles and made kyng of that people who with their kyng had a litle before persecuted hym reiect hym and droue hym out of the realme He wylleth the priestes to sacrifice in remembraunce therof 1 O Confesse you it vnto God for he is gratious and his mercie endureth for euer 2 Let Israel nowe confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 3 Let the house of Aaron nowe confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 4 Let them nowe that feare God confesse that his mercie endureth for euer 5 I called vpon the Lorde beyng in distresse and the Lorde hath hearde me at large 6 God is with me I wyll not feare what man can do vnto me 7 God is with me amongst them that ayde me therfore I shall see my desire vpon them that hate me 8 It is better to trust in God then to put any confidence in man ◠It is better to trust in God then to put any confidence in princes 10 All nations compassed me rounde about but I trusted in the name of God that I shoulde destroy them 11 They kept me in on euery syde they kept me in I say on euery syde but I trusted in y e name of God that I shoulde destroy them 12 They swarmed about me lyke bees and they be extinguished as the fire made of thornes for I trusted in the name of God that I should destroy thē 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall but God dyd ayde me 14 The Lorde is my strength and my song and he is become my saluation 15 The voyce of a ioyfull noyse of saluation is in the dwellynges of the ryghteous saying the ryght hande of God bryngeth mightie thynges to passe 16 The ryght hande of God is on hygh the right hande of God bryngeth mightie thynges to passe 17 I shall not as yet dye but I shal liue and I wyll declare the workes of the Lorde 18 The Lorde hath greatly chastened me but he hath not geuen me ouer vnto death 19 Open me the gates of ryghteousnesse I wyll enter in by them that I may geue thankes vnto the Lorde 20 This is the gate of God the ryghteous shall enter in by it 21 I wyll thanke thee for that thou hast heard me and art become my saluation 22 The same stone which the buylders refused is become the head stone of the corner 23 This was the doyng of God and it is marueylous in our eyes 24 This is the day whiche God hath made we wyll reioyce and be glad in it 25 O God I pray thee nowe saue vs O God I pray thee nowe geue vs prosperous successe 26 Blessed be he that commeth in the name of God we do blesse
38 Ionathan aduertiseth Dauid by three arrowes of his fathers fury 1 ANd Dauid fled from Naioth whiche is in Rama and came and said before Ionathan What haue I done wherin am I faultie what is the sinne that I haue committed before thy father that he seketh my lyfe 2 He sayde vnto him God forbid thou shalt not dye Behold my father wil do nothing either great or smal but that he will shewe it me And howe should my father hyde this thing from me He will not do it 3 And Dauid sware againe and sayde Thy father knoweth that I haue found grace in thyne eyes therfore he thinketh Ionathan shall not knowe it lest he be sory And in very deede euen as the Lorde lyueth and as thy soule liueth there is but a steppe betweene me and death 4 Then sayde Ionathan vnto Dauid Whatsoeuer thy soule desireth that I will do vnto thee 5 And Dauid sayd vnto Ionathan Beholde to morowe is the beginning of the moneth and I should sit with the king at meate But let me go that I may hide my selfe in the fieldes vnto the thirde day at euen 6 If thy father speake of me then say Dauid asked leaue of me that he might go to Bethlehem to his owne citie for there is holden a yerely feast for all the kinred 7 And if he say it is well done then thy seruaunt shal haue peace But and if he be angry then be sure that wickednesse is vtterly concluded of him 8 And then thou shalt shewe mercy vnto thy seruaunt for thou hast ioyned thy seruaunt into a couenant of the Lord with thee Notwithstandyng if there be in me iniquitie slay me thy selfe for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father 9 And Ionathan aunswered God kepe that from thee For if I knewe that wickednesse were concluded of my fathere to come vpon thee woulde not I tel it thee 10 Then sayd Dauid to Ionathan Who shall tell me howe shall I knowe if thy father aunswere thee cruelly 11 And Ionathan sayde vnto Dauid Come and let vs go out into the fielde And they went out both of them into the fielde 12 And Ionathan sayde vnto Dauid O Lorde God of Israel when I haue groped my fathers mynd as this time to morowe or within these three dayes and if it be wel with Dauid and I then sende not vnto thee and shew it thee 13 The Lord do so and muche more vnto Ionathan But if my father haue pleasure to do thee euyll I will shewe thee also and send thee away that thou mayest go in peace and the Lorde be with thee as he hath ben with my father 14 And I require not whiles I liue for I dout not but thou wilt shewe me the mercie of the Lord that I die not 15 But I require that thou cut not of thy mercy from my house for euer no not when the Lord hath destroyed the enemies of Dauid euery one from the face of the earth 16 And so Ionathan made a bonde with the house of Dauid saying Let the lord require it at the handes of Dauids enemies 17 And Ionathan sware againe vnto Dauid because he loued him For he loued him as his owne soule 18 Then sayde Ionathan to Dauid To morowe is the first day of the moone and thou shalt be missed because the place where thou wast wont to sit shall be emptie 19 Therfore thou shalt hyde thy self three dayes then thou shalt go downe quickly and come to the place where thou diddest hyde thy selfe when the busines was in hande and shalt remayne by the stone Esel 20 And I wil shoote three arowes on the syde therof as though I shot them at a marke 21 And I wil sende a lad and byd him go seke the arrowes And if I say vnto the lad See the arrowes are on this side thee bring them then come thou for it is peace and no hurt as the Lorde lyueth 22 But and if I say vnto the lad behold the arows are beyond thee go thy way for the Lorde hath sent thee away 23 And as touching this which thou and I haue spoken behold the Lorde be betweene thee and me for euer 24 And so Dauid hid him selfe in the fielde And when the newe moone was come the king sate him downe to eate meate 25 And the king sate as at other times vpon his seate euen vpon his seate by the wall And Ionathan arose and Abner sate by Sauls syde and Dauids place was emptie 26 Neuerthelesse Saul sayde nothing at all that day For he thought Some thing hath befallen him though he were cleane 27 But on the morowe whiche was the second day of the newe moone Dauids place was emptie againe And Saul sayde vnto Ionathan his sonne Wherfore commeth not that sonne of Isai to meate neither yesterday nor to day 28 And Ionathan aunswered vnto Saul Dauid asked licence of me to go to Bethlehem 29 For he sayd Let me go I pray thee for our kinred doth hold an offering in the citie and my brother hath sent for me and therfore if I haue found fauour in thyne eyes let me go I pray thee and see my brethren This is the cause that he commeth not vnto the kinges table 30 Then was Saul angry with Ionathan and sayd vnto him Thou sonne of the wicked rebellious woman do not I knowe that thou hast chosen the sonne of Isai vnto thyne owne rebuke and vnto the rebuke and shame of thy mother 31 For as long as the sonne of Isai liueth vpon the earth thou shalt not be stablished nor yet thy kingdome Wherfore nowe send and fet him vnto me for he is the childe of death 32 And Ionathan aunswered vnto Saul his father and sayde to him Wherfore should he dye what hath he done 33 And Saul lift vp a speare to hit him wherby Ionathan wist well that it was vtterly determined of his father to slay Dauid 34 And so Ionathan arose from the table in a great anger and did eate no meate the seconde day of the moneth for he was sory for Dauid because his father had done him shame 35 On the next morning Ionathan went out into the fielde at y e time appoynted with Dauid and a litle lad with him 36 And he sayde vnto his boy Runne and seke out myne arrowes whiche I shote And as the boy ran he shot an arrowe beyond him 37 And when the lad was come to the place whyther Ionathan had shot the arrowe Ionathan cryed after the lad sayd Is not the arrowe beyond there 38 And Ionathan cried after the lad againe Make speede haste stand not still And Ionathans lad gathered vp the arrowes and came to his maister 39 But the lad wist nothing of the matter only Ionathan an Dauid wist it 40 And Ionathan gaue his instrumētes vnto the lad that was with him and sayd vnto him Go
Lorde 5 Shewe your selues ioyfull vnto God all ye in the earth make a ioly noyse reioyce you chearfully syng psalmes 6 Syng psalmes vnto God playing vpon an harpe vpon an harpe and with the sounde of a psalterie 7 Shewe your selues ioyfull before the kyng eternall with trumpettes and sounde of shawmes 8 Let the sea make a noyse and that is within it the rounde worlde and they that dwell therin 9 Let the fluddes clappe their handes and let the hylles be ioyfull altogether before the face of God 10 For he commeth to iudge the earth he wyll iudge the worlde accordyng to iustice the people accordyng to equitie The argument of the .xcix. psalme ¶ The prophete setteth foorth the exceedyng fauour of God towardes the Israelites in that he raigned most mightily ouer them defended them dwelled amongst them and most gently hearde them and their fathers callyng vpon hym for helpe in their neede to the great discouragement of their aduersaries Wherfore he wylleth all to prayse God and to worshyp God 1 GOD raigneth the people be in a rage he sitteth betweene the Cherubims the earth quaketh 2 God is great in Sion and high aboue all people 3 They shall prayse thy name great dreadfull for it is holy and a kynges * power that loueth iudgement 4 Thou hast ordeyned all thynges accordyng to equitie thou hast caused iudgement and iustice to be in Iacob 5 Magnifie God our Lorde and kneele downe before his footstoole for it is holy 6 Moyses Aaron among his priestes and Samuel among such as call vpon his name these called vpon God and he hearde them 7 He spake vnto them out of the cloudy pyller for they kept his testimonies and the lawe that he gaue them 8 O God our Lord thou heardest them O Lorde thou didst forbeare them and thou tokest auengement for their owne inuentions 9 Magnifie God our Lorde and kneele downe before his holy hyll for God our Lorde is holy ¶ The argument of the C. psalme ¶ The prophete moueth all the people of God to frequent Gods temple and to come thyther chearfully with all kynde of ioy seruyng praysyng and thankyng hym for that he only is the God that hath made vs and so gratious that we shal be partakers of his benefites and goodnesse for euer ¶ A psalme for to confesse 1 BE ye ioyfull in God all that be in the earth serue God with gladnesse and come before his face with a ioyfull noyse 2 Be ye sure that God is the Lorde it is he that hath made vs and not we our selues we are his people and the sheepe of his pasture 3 Go your way into his gates with thankesgeuyng and into his courtes with prayse be thankfull vnto hym and blesse his name 4 For God is gratious his mercie is euerlastyng and his trueth endureth from generation to generation ⧠The argument of the .cj. psalme ¶ Dauid settyng foorth the duetie of a good ruler declareth that in his gouernment aboue all thynges he wyll acknowledge Gods benefites goodnesse He wyll study to lyue vprightly to do no wrong or euyll nor to beare any malice at all in his heart but he wyll employ hym selfe most zelouslie to confounde the wicked and to promote the godly and vertuous ¶ A psalme of Dauid 1 I Will sing of mercie and iudgement I wyll syng vnto thee O God psalmes 2 I wyll endeuour my selfe to be fully instructed in the way of perfectnesse when thou wylt come vnto me I wil go vp and downe in the middest of my house in the perfectnesse of my heart 3 I wyll neuer set before myne eyes any deuillishe thyng I wyll detest to do the worke of transgressours it shall take no holde of me 4 A frowarde heart shall depart from me I wyll not once knowe any euyll 5 I will destroy him who priuily slaundereth his neighbour I wyll not suffer hym who hath a proude loke and a great stomacke 6 Myne eyes shal be vpō such in the lande as haue a true meanyng that they may sit with me he that leadeth a perfect lyfe shall minister vnto me 7 There shall no deceiptfull person haue any seate in my house he that telleth lyes shall not tary long in my syght 8 I wyll euery mornyng destroy all the vngodly in the lande that I may roote out from the citie of God all workers of wickednesse ¶ The argument of the .cii. Psalme ¶ The prophete desireth God to heare hym vtteryng his godly affect and great griefe for the calamities of the people of God desolation of the citie of Sion He setteth foorth the reproches and outragious behauiours of the enemies and his affliction of mynde for it He wisheth that the people may returne home agayne and that Sion may be reedified that Gods glorie may therin be set foorth And he consideryng the eternitie of God assureth hym selfe that God wyll perfourme his promises in grauntyng that the children of his people shall lyue for euer ¶ A prayer of the afflicted when he was ouerwhelmed and when he did powre out his petition before the face of God 1 HEare my prayer O God and let my crying come in vnto thee 2 Hyde not thy face from me in y e day of my distresse encline thine eare vnto me heare me spedyly in the day that I call 3 For my dayes are consumed away like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as though they were a firebrande 4 My heart is smitten downe and wythered lyke grasse because I did forget to eate my bread 5 Through the noyse of my gronyng my bones wyll scase cleaue to my fleshe 6 I am become lyke a Pellicane of the wildernesse and like an Owle that is in the desert I watch and am as it were a sparrowe that sitteth alone vpon the house toppe 7 Myne enemies reuile me all the day long and they that are in a rage against me make their oth by me 8 For I haue eaten asshes as it were bread and mingled my drynke with weepyng because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast set me vp and cast me downe 9 My dayes fade away lyke a shadowe and I am wythered lyke grasse 10 But thou O God endurest for euer and thy remembraunce throughout all generations 11 Thou wylt aryse vp thou wylt haue compassion vpon Sion for it is tyme that thou haue mercie vpon her for the tyme appoynted is come 12 For thy seruauntes be well affected towarde her stones and it pitieth them to see her in the dust 13 And the heathen wyll feare thy name O God and all the kynges of the earth thy glorious maiestie 14 For God wyll buylde vp Sion to be seene in his glorious maiestie 15 He wyll regarde the prayer of the humble destitute of all helpe and he wyll not dispise their prayer 16 This shal be written for those that come
that is weaned from his mother yea my soule is within me as a weaned chylde 3 O Israel repose thou thy trust in God from this time foorth for euermore The argument of the .cxxxij. psalme ¶ The prophete desireth God to remember hym and his great affection towarde religion and to buylde a temple for his arke He sayeth it was declared vnto hym that Sion shoulde be the house of God Dauids petition when he brought the arke thyther God promiseth how that Dauids seede shal raigne after him for euer if they kepe his lawes and that he wyll blesse the citie of Sion and the inhabitauntes thereof with all kynde of felicitie ¶ A song of high degrees 1 O God be mindfull of Dauid with all his affliction 2 Who swore vnto God who made a vowe vnto the most mightie Lorde of Iacob 3 Saying I wyll not enter into the tabernacle of my house nor get vp into my bed 4 I wyll not suffer myne eyes to slepe nor myne eye liddes to slumber 5 Vntill I finde out a place for the temple of God an habitation for the most mightie Lorde of Iacob 6 Beholde we hearde it to be at Ephratha we founde it in the fieldes of the forest 7 We wyll go into his tabernacle and fall downe on our knees before his footestoole 8 Aryse O God for to come into thy resting place thou and the arke of thy strength 9 Let thy priestes be clothed with righteousnes and let thy saintes make a ioyfull noyse 10 For thy seruaunt Dauids sake turne not away from the face of thyne annoynted 11 God hath sworne for a trueth vnto Dauid and he wyll not go from it I wyll place vpon thy throne some of the fruite of thy body 12 If thy chyldren wyll kepe my couenaunt and my testimonies whiche I wyll teache them their chyldren also shall sit vpon thy throne for euermore 13 For God hath chosen to be in Sion he had a desire that it might be an habitation for hym 14 This is sayeth he my rest for euer heare I wyll dwell for I haue a desire to it 15 I wyll aboundauntly powre my blessinges vpon her victuals and I wyll satisfie her poore with bread 16 I wyll clothe her priestes with saluation and her saintes shall make an exceeding ioyfull noyse 17 I will make there the horne of Dauid to bud vp I wyll ordayne a light for mine annoynted 18 I wyll clothe his enemies with shame but his crowne shall florishe vppon hym selfe ¶ The argument of the .cxxxiii. Psalme ¶ Dauid declareth howe acceptable a thing is brotherly loue and concorde both to God and man ¶ A song of high degrees made of Dauid 1 BEholde howe good and howe pleasaunt a thing it is that brethren dwel together in vnitie 2 It is lyke vnto a pretious oyntment powred vpon the head which runneth downe vpon the beard euen vpon Aarons beard which also runneth downe vpon the skyrtes of his garmentes 3 It is also like vnto the deawe of Hermon whiche falleth downe vpon the hyll of Sion 4 For God hath commaunded his blessing and life euerlasting to be where is suche concorde ¶ The argument of the .cxxxiiii. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth those that do watche all night in the house of God to lift vp their handes and to prayse God The Priestes and Leuites of duetie watched all night by course in the temple as it appeareth Leuit. viii ¶ A song of high degrees 1 BEholde blesse God all ye the seruauntes of God who in the nyght tyme remayne in the house of God 2 Lyft vp your holy handes and blesse God 3 God who made heauen and earth blesse thee out of Sion The argument of the .cxxxv. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth all them to prayse God who come to the temple for that God hath chosen Iacob to be his inheritaunce and also for that he is able to do what he wyll in heauen earth and sea He rehearseth the workes that God did in deliuering them out of Egypt and in bryngyng them into the lande of Chanaan As for the gods of the Heathen they be but golde and siluer 1 PRayse ye the Lorde prayse ye the name of God prayse it ye seruauntes of God 2 Ye that stande in the house of God in the courtes of the house of our Lord 3 Prayse ye the Lorde for God is gratious sing psalmes vnto his name for it is pleasaunt 4 For the Lorde hath chosen Iacob vnto hym selfe and Israel for his owne possession 5 For I knowe that God is great and that our Lorde is aboue all gods 6 God doth whatsoeuer pleaseth hym in heauen and in earth in the sea and in all deepe places 7 He causeth cloudes to ascende from the lowest part of the earth he maketh it to lighten when it rayneth he bringeth wyndes out of his treasure houses 8 He smote the first borne of Egypt aswell of beast as of man 9 He sent tokens and wonders into the mydst of thee O Egypt against Pharao and all his seruauntes 10 He smote many nations and slue mightie kinges 11 Sihon king of the Amorites and Og the king of Bashan and all the kingdomes of Chanaan 12 And he gaue their lande for an inheritaunce euen for an heritaunce to Israel his people 13 Thy name O God endureth for euer there wil be a remembraunce of thee O God from one generation to another 14 For God wyll iudge his people and he will be pacified beyng displeased with his seruauntes 15 As for the idols of the Heathen they are but siluer and golde the worke of mens handes 16 They haue a mouth and speake not they haue eyes but they see not 17 They haue eares and they heare not yea there is no breath in their mouth 18 They that make them are lyke vnto them and euery one that putteth his trust in them 19 Blesse God ye the house of Israel blesse God ye the house of Aaron 20 Blesse God ye the house of Leui ye that feare God blesse God 21 Blessed be God out of Sion who dwelleth at Hierusalem Prayse ye the Lorde The argument of the .cxxxvi. psalme ¶ The prophete exhorteth men to prayse God aswell for all thinges created by hym as for his benefites peculiarly bestowed vpon the chyldren of Israel in deliuering them out of Egypt and in bringing them into the lande of Chanaan He doth insinuate also ▪ that God is not praysed worthyly except we acknowledge that all his benefites proceede of his free and meere goodnes and not of our desertes 1 COnfesse you it vnto the Lord for he is gratious and his mercie endureth for euer 2 Confesse you it vnto the God of Gods for his mercy endureth for euer 3 Confesse you it vnto the Lorde of Lordes for his mercy endureth for euer 4 Who onlye doth great wonders for his mercy endureth for euer 5 Who by his excellent wysdome made the heauens for his mercy
Stoupe downe that we may go ouer thee make thy body euen with the grounde and as the streete to go vpon ¶ The .lij. Chapter 1 An exhortation and comfort to the people of God 1 VP Sion vp take thy strength vnto thee put on thyne honest rayment O Hierusalem thou holy citie for from this tyme foorth there shall no vncircumcised nor vncleane person come in thee 2 Shake thee from the dust arise and stande vp O Hierusalem Plucke out thy necke from the bonde O thou captiue daughter Sion 3 For thus saith the Lorde ye are solde for naught therfore shal ye be redeemed also without any money 4 For thus saith the Lorde God My people went downe afore tyme into Egypt there to be straungers and the kyng of the Assyrians oppressed them without any cause 5 And nowe what profite is it to me saith the Lorde that my people is freely caryed away brought into heauinesse by their rulers and my name euer styll blasphemed saith the Lorde 6 But that my people may knowe my name I my selfe wyll speake in that day Beholde here am I. 7 O howe beautifull are the feete of the embassadour that bryngeth the message from the mountayne and proclaymeth peace that bryngeth the good tidinges and preacheth health and saith vnto Sion Thy God is the kyng 8 Thy watchmen shall lyft vp their voyce with loude voyce they shall reioyce together for they shall see plainly when the Lorde shall conuert Sion 9 Be glad O thou desolate Hierusalem and reioyce together for the Lord hath comforted his people he hath deliuered Hierusalem 10 The Lorde hath made bare his holy arme and shewed it foorth in the syght of all the gentiles and all the endes of the earth hath seene the sauyng health of our God 11 Away away get you out from hence and touche no vncleane thyng Go out from among such and be cleane that beare the vessell of the Lorde 12 For ye shall not escape by runnyng nor by fleeyng away but the Lorde shall go before you and the God of Israel shall gather you together 13 Beholde my seruaunt shal deale prosperously therfore shal he be magnified exalted and greatly honoured 14 Lyke as the multitude shall wonder vpon hym because his face shal be so defourmed and not as mans face his beautie like no man 15 Euen so shall the multitude of the gentiles speake of him and kynges shall shut their mouthes before hym for they haue seene that which was not tolde to them and haue vnderstande that wherof they had not hearde The .liij. Chapter 1 He prophecâ—eth euidently of the passion of our sauiour Iesus Christe 1 BVt who hath geuen credence vnto our preaching or to whom is the arme of the Lorde knowen 2 For he dyd growe before the Lorde like as a braunche and as a roote in a drye grounde he hath neither beautie nor fauour when we loke vpon hym there shal be no fairenesse we shall haue no lust vnto hym 3 He is dispised and abhorred of men he is such a man as hath good experience of sorowes and infirmities We haue reckened hym so vile that we hyd our faces from hym 4 Howbeit he only hath taken on him our infirmitie and borne our paynes Yet we dyd iudge hym as though he were plagued and cast downe of God 5 Wheras he notwithstandyng was wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednesse for the payne of our punishment was layde vpon hym and with his stripes are we healed 6 As for vs we are all gone astray lyke sheepe euery one hath turned his owne way but the Lord hath throwen vpon hym all our sinnes 7 He suffered violence and was euyll intreated and dyd not open his mouth He shal be led as a sheepe to be slayne yet shall he be as styll as a lambe before the shearer and not open his mouth 8 From the prison and iudgement was he taken and his generation who can declare for he was cut of from the grounde of the lyuyng which punishment dyd go vpon hym for the transgression of my people 9 His graue was geuen hym with the condempned and with the riche man at his death wheras he did neuer violence nor vnright neither hath there ben any disceiptfulnesse in his mouth 10 Yet hath it pleased the Lord to smite hym with infirmitie that when he had made his soule an offeryng for sinne he might see long lastyng seede and this deuice of the Lorde shall prosper in his hande 11 Of the trauayle and labour of his soule shall he see the fruite be satisfied My righteous seruaunt shall with his knowledge iustifie the multitude for he shall beare their sinnes 12 Therfore wyll I geue hym among the great ones his part and he shall deuide the spoyle with the mightie because he geueth ouer his soule to death and is reckened among the transgressours which neuerthelesse hath taken away the sinnes of the multitude and made intercession for the misdoers The .liiij. Chapter 1 Of the great dominion of Christe 7 The indignation of God endureth but a short space but his mercie is euerlastyng 1 BE glad nowe thou baren that bearest not reioyce syng and be mery thou that art not with childe for the desolate hath mo childreÌ„ then the maryed wyfe saith the Lorde 2 Make thy tent wyder and spreade out the hanginges of thine habitation spare not lay foorth thy wardes and make fast thy stakes 3 For thou shalt be multiplied on the ryght syde and on the left and thy seede shall haue the gentiles in possession and dwell in the desolate cities 4 Feare not for thou shalt not be confounded be not ashamed for thou shalt not come to confusion Yea thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth and shalt not remember the dishonour of thy widowhead 5 For he that made thee shal be thy Lorde and husbande whose name is the Lord of hoastes and thy redeemer shal be euen the holy one of Israel the Lorde of the whole worlde 6 For the Lorde hath called thee beyng as a desolate sorowfull woman and as a young wyfe that was forsaken saith thy God 7 A litle while haue I forsaken thee but with great mercifulnesse shall I take thee vp vnto me 8 When I was angry I hyd my face from thee for a litle season but through euerlastyng goodnesse haue I pardoned thee saith the Lorde thy redeemer 9 And this is vnto me as the water of Noe for like as I haue sworne that I wyll not bryng the water of Noe any more vpon the worlde so haue I sworne that I wyll neuer be angry with thee nor reproue thee 10 The mountaynes shall remoue and the hylles shall fall downe but my louyng kyndnesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not fall downe from thee saith the Lorde thy
and fasted seuen dayes in lyke maner that I myght fulfyll the three weekes which he tolde me 36 And in the eyght nyght was my heart vexed within me agayne and I began to speake before the hyest 37 For my spirite was greatly set on fire and my soule was in distresse 38 And I sayde O Lorde thou spakest vnto thy creature from the begynnyng euen the first day and saydest Let heauen earth be made And thy worde was a 〈◊〉 worke 39 And 〈…〉 there the spirite and the darkne◠〈◊〉 â—ere yet on euery syde and scilence 〈◊〉 was no mans voyce as yet from thee 40 Then commaundedst thou a fayre lyght to come foorth out of thy treasures that thy worke myght appeare and be seene 41 Vpon the seconde day thou madest the spirite of the firmament and commaundedst it to part asunder and to make a deuision betwixt the waters that the one part myght remayne aboue and the other beneath 42 Vpon the thirde day thou broughtest to passe that the waters were gathered in the seuenth part of the earth Sixe partes hast thou dryed vp kept them to the intent that men myght sowe and occupie husbandry therin 43 Assoone as thy worde went foorth the worke was made 44 For immediatly there was great and innumerable fruite and many diuers pleasures for the taste and floures of vnchaungeable colour and odours of wonderfull smell and this was done the thirde day 45 Vpon the fourth day thou commaundedst that the sunne shoulde geue his shyne and the moone her lyght the starres dydst thou set in order 46 And gauest them a charge to do seruice euen vnto man that was for to be made 47 Vpon the fyft day thou saydest vnto the seuenth part where the waters were gathered that it shoulde bryng foorth diuers beastes foules and fishes and so it came to passe 48 For the dumbe water and without soule brought foorth lyuyng thynges at the commaundement of God that all people myght prayse thy wonderous workes 49 Then dydst thou ordeyne two soules the one thou calledst Enoch and the other Leuiathan 50 And dydst separate the one from the other for the seuenth part namely where the water was gathered together myght not holde them both 51 Vnto Enoch thou gauest one part which was dryed vp the third day that he shoulde dwel in the same part wherin are a thousande hylles 52 But vnto Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth part namely the moyst hast kept hym to deuour what thou wylt and when 53 Vpon the sixt day thou gauest commaundement vnto the earth that before thee it shoulde bryng foorth beastes cattell and all that creepe 54 And besydes this Adam also whom thou madest lorde of all thy creatures of hym come we all and the people also whom thou hast chosen specially vnto thy selfe 55 All this haue I sayd nowe and spoken before thee that I myght shewe howe that the worlde is made for our sakes 56 As for the other people which also come of Adam thou hast sayde that they are nothyng but be lyke vnto spittle hast lykened the aboundaunce of them vnto a droppe that falleth from a vessell 57 And nowe O Lorde beholde the heathen which haue euer ben reputed as nothyng haue begunne to be lordes ouer vs and to deuour vs 58 But we thy people whom thou hast called thy first borne thy only begotten and thy feruent louer are geuen into their handes and power 59 If the worlde nowe be made for our sakes why haue we not the inheritauÌ„ce of the worlde in possession Howe long shall this endure The .vij. Chapter 5 Without tribulation none can come to felicitie 12 God aduertiseth all in tyme. 28 The commyng and death of Christe 32 The resurrection last iudgement 43 After the which all corruption shall ceasse 48 All fell in Adam 19 The true lyfe 59 The mercies and goodnesse of God 1 AND when I had made an ende of speakyng these wordes there was sent vnto me an angell whiche had ben sent vnto me also the nyghtes afore 2 And he sayde vnto me Vp Esdras and heare the wordes that I am come to tell thee 3 And I sayde Speake on Lorde my God Then sayde he vnto me The sea is set in a wyde place that it myght be deepe and great 4 But put case the entraunce is narowe and small lyke a ryuer 5 Who then coulde go into the sea to loke vpon it and to rule it If he went not through the narowe howe myght he come into the broade 6 Item another A citie is builded and set vpon a broade fielde and is full of all good thynges 7 The entraunce therof is narowe and is set in a daungerous place to fall lyke as yf there were a fire at the ryght hande and a deepe water at the left 8 And as it were only one strayte path betwixt them both euen betweene the fire and the water so small that there coulde but one man go there at once 9 If this citie nowe were geuen to a man for an inheritaunce and he neuer went through the perilous way before howe woulde he receaue his inheritaunce 10 And I sayde It is so Lorde Then sayd he Euen so also is Israels portion 11 And why for their sakes haue I made the worlde and when Adam transgressed my statutes then was the thyng so appoynted as nowe is done 12 Then were the entraunces of the worlde made narowe full of sorowe and trauayle they are but fewe and euyll full of perils and labour 13 For the entraunces of the fore worlde were wyde and sure and brought immortall fruite 14 If then they which are lyuyng enter not diligently through these strayte and brittle thynges they can not receaue the thynges so layde vp in secrete 15 Why disquietest thou thy selfe then seyng thou art but a corruptible man And why art thou moued whereas thou art but mortall 16 And why hast thou not receaued into thyne heart the thinges that are to come rather theÌ„ them that are present 17 Then sayd I O Lorde Lord * thou hast ordayned in thy law that the righteous shoulde inherite these thinges but that the vngodly shoulde perishe 18 Neuerthelesse the righteous shall suffer straite thinges hope for wyde for they that haue liued vngodly suffred strayte thinges shall not see the wyde 19 And he sayde vnto me There is no iudge aboue God and none that hath vnderstanding aboue the hyest 20 For there be many that perishe in this life because they despise the law of God that is set before them 21 For God hath geuen strayte commaundement to such as came so oft as they came what they should do to haue life and what they shoulde kepe to auoyde punishment 22 Neuerthelesse they were not obedient vnto him but spake against hym and imagined vayne thinges 23 And deceaued them selues by wicked deedes and denied the power of the most high regarded
life geuen thee 6 O Lorde if thou suffer not thy seruaunt to intreate thee that thou mayest geue seede vnto our heart and buylde our vnderstanding that there maye come fruite of it wherby eche man may liue that is corrupt then who shall step foorth in the place of man 7 For thou art alone and we all one workemanship of thy handes like as thou hast sayde 8 For when the body is fashioned nowe in the mothers wombe and thou geuest the membres thy creature is preserued in fire and water and nine monethes doth thy worke suffer thy creature whiche is fashioned in her 9 But the thinges that kepeth and that is kept shall both be preserued and when the time commeth the wombe preserued deliuereth vp the thinges that grewe in it 10 For thou hast commaunded the partes of the body euen the breastes to geue milke vnto the fruite of the breastes 11 That the thing whiche is created and fashioned may be nourished for a time till thou disposest and ordrest it with thy mercy 12 And then thou bringest it vp with thy righteousnesse nurturest it in thy lawe and refourmest it with thy vnderstanding 13 Mortifiest it as thy creature and makest it liuing as thy worke 14 Seing then that thou destroyest him whiche with so great labours is created and fashioned thorowe thy commaundement thou couldest lightly ordayne also that the thing whiche is made might be preserued 15 Nowe therfore Lord I wyll speake for concerning all men in generall thou shalt rather prouide but touching thy people for whose sake I am sory 16 And thyne inheritaunce for whose cause I mourne and Israel for whom I am wofull and Iacob for whose sake I am greeued 17 Therfore begin I to pray before thee for my selfe and for them for I see the fauls of vs that dwell in the lande 18 But I haue hearde the swiftnesse of the iudge whiche is to come 19 Therefore heare my voyce and vnderstand my wordes and I shal speake before thee This is the beginning of the wordes of Esdras before he was taken vp 20 O Lord thou that dwellest in euerlastingnesse which beholdest from aboue thinges in the heauen and in the ayre 21 Whos 's throne is inestimable whose glory â—and maiestieâ— may not be comprehended before whom the hoastes of angels stande with tremblyng 22 Whos 's keping is turned in winde and fire whose worde is true whose sayinges are stedfast whose commaundement is strong whose ordinaunce is fearefull 23 Whose looke dryeth vp the deapthes whose wrath maketh the mountaynes to melt away and whose trueth beareth witnesse 24 O heare the prayer of thy seruaunt and marke with thyne eares the petition of thy creature 25 For whyle I liue I wyll speake and so long as I haue vnderstanding I wyll aunswere 26 O looke not vpon the sinnes of thy people rather then on them whiche serue thee in trueth 27 Haue no respect vnto the wicked stustiâ—s of the heathen but to the desire of those that kepe thy testimonies with afflictions 28 Thinke not vpon those that haue walked faynedly before thee but remember them which according to thy wyll haue knowen thy feare 29 Let it not be thy will to destroy them whiche haue had beastly maners but to looke vpon them that haue clearely taught thy lawe 30 Take thou no indignation at them whiche are worse then beastes but loue them that alway put their trust in thy righteousnesse and glory 31 For we and our fathers haue all the same sicknes and disease but because of vs sinners thou shalt be called merciful 32 For if thou hast mercy vpon vs thou shalt be called mercifull to vs that haue no workes of righteousnesse 33 For the righteous whiche haue layde vp many good workes together shall out of their deedes receaue rewarde 34 But what is man that thou shouldest take displeasure at hym Or what is this corruptible and mortall generation that thou shouldest be so rough towarde hâ—m 35 For of a trueth there is no maÌ„ among them that be borne but he hath dealt wickedly among the fayâ—hfull there is none which hath not done amisse 36 For in this O Lorde thy righteousnesse and thy goodnesse shal be praysed and declared if thou be mercifull vnto them whiche are not riche in good workes 37 Then aunswered he me and sayde Some things hast thou spoken aright according vnto thy wordes it shal be 38 For I wyll not veryly consider the workes of them whiche haue sinned before death before iudgement before destruction 39 But I wyll reioyce ouer the worke and thought of the righteous I wyll remember also the pilgrimage the saluation and the rewarde that they shall haue 40 Like as I haue spoken nowe so shall it come to passe 41 For as the husbandman soweth much seede vpon the grounde and planteth many trees and yet alway the thing that is sowne or planted is not all kept safe neither doth it all take roote Euen so is it of them that are sowen in the worlde they shall not all be saued 42 I aunswered then and sayde If I haue founde grace then let me speake 43 Like as the husbandmans seede perisheth if it come not vp and receaue not thy rayne in due season or if there come to much rayne vpon it and corrupt it 44 Euen so perisheth man also which is created with thy handes and is like vnto thyne owne image and to thy selfe for whose sake thou hast made all thinges and lykened hym vnto the husbandmans seede 45 Be not wroth with vs O Lorde but spare thy people and haue mercy vpon thyne owne inheritaunce for thou wylt be mercyfull vnto thy creature 46 Then aunswered he me and sayde Thinges present are for the present and thinges to come for such as be to come 47 For thou lackest yet much seing thou canst loue my creature aboue me but I haue oft tymes drawen nye vnto thee and vnto it but neuer to the vnrighteous 48 In this also thou art marueylous before the highest 49 In that thou hast humbled thy selfe as it becommeth thee and hast not iudged thy selfe worthy to be much glorified among the righteous 50 For many and great miseries remaine for them that in the latter tyme shall dwell in the worlde because they haue walked in great pride 51 But vnderstande thou for thy selfe and seeke out the glory for suche as be like thee 52 For vnto you is paradise opened the tree of life is planted the tyme to come is prepared plenteousnes is made redy the citie is buylded for you and rest is prepared yea perfect goodnes and wysdome 53 The roote of euyll is marked from you the weakenesse and moth is hid from you and into hell fleeth corruption in forgetfulnesse 54 Sorowes are vanished away and in the ende is shewed the treasure of immortalitie 55 And therfore aske thou no more questions concerning the multitude of them that perishe
to come in to my lorde that she may be honoured before him that she may eate and drinke wine and be mery with him 13 Vnto whom Iudith aunswered Who am I that I shoulde say my lorde nay 14 Whatsoeuer is good and best before his eyes I shal do it and looke what is his pleasure that shall I thinke well done as long as I lyue 15 So she stoode vp and deckt her selfe with her apparell and went in stoode before him 16 And Holophernes heart was whole moued for he brent in desire towarde her 17 And Holophernes saide vnto her Drinke nowe and sit downe be mery for thou hast founde fauour before me 18 Then saide Iudith Syr I wyll drinke for my minde is meryer to day then euer it was in all my lyfe 16 And she toke and did eate and dranke before him the thinges that her mayden had prepared for her 20 And Holophernes was mery with her and dranke more wine then euer he did afore in his lyfe ¶ The .xiii. Chapter 7 Iudith prayeth for strength 10 She smyteth of Holophernes head 12 She returneth to Bethulia and reioyceth her people 1 NOw when it was late in the night his seruauntes made haste euery man to his lodging And Vagao shut the chamber doores went his way 2 For they were al ouerladen with wine 3 So was Iudith alone in the chamber 4 As for Holophernes he lay vpon the bed all drunken and of very drunckennesse fell asleepe 5 Then commaunded Iudith her mayden to stande without before the doore and to wayte 6 And Iudith stoode before the bed making her prayer with teares moued her lyppes secretly 7 And saide Strengthen me O Lorde God of Israel and haue respect vnto the workes of myne handes in this houre that thou mayest set vp thy citie of Hierusalem lyke as thou hast promysed And graunt that I may perfourme the thing which in hope that it may be done by thee I haue deuised 8 And when she had spokē this she went to the piller that was at Holophernes beddes head and loosed his sword that hanged vpon it and drewe it out 9 And when she had taken it out of the scabberd she tooke holde of the heery lockes of his head and sayde Strengthen me O Lorde God in this houre 10 And with that she gaue him two strokes vpon the necke smote of his head Then tooke she the canapie away from the pillers and roulled the dead body asyde 11 Immediatly she gat her foorth and deliuered the head of Holophernes vnto her mayden and bad her put it in her wallet 12 And so these two went foorth together after their custome as though they would pray and so passed by the hoast and came about through the valley vnto the porte of the citie 13 And Iudith cryed a farre of vnto the watchmen vpon the walles Open the gates saide she for God is with vs which hath shewed his power in Israel 14 And when they heard her voyce they called the elders of the citie together 15 And they came all to meete her litle great young olde for they thought not that she should haue come so soone 16 So they lighted candels and gathered about her euery one but she went vp into an high place and caused scilence to be proclaymed 17 And when euery man now held his peace Iudith saide O prayse the Lord our God for he hath not despised nor forsaken them that put their trust in him 18 And in me his handmayden he hath perfourmed his mercy which he promised vnto the house of Israel Yea in my hand this same night hath he slaine the enemie of his people 19 And with that she tooke foorth the head of Holophernes out of the wallet and shewed it them saying Behold the head of Holophernes the captayne of the armie of the Assyrians and this is his canapie wherin he lay in his drunkennes where the Lord our God hath slaine him by the hande of a woman 20 But as the Lorde liueth his angell hath kept me going thither remayning there and comming hither againe from thence And the Lorde hath not suffred me his handmayden to be defiled but without any defiling of sinne hath he brought me againe vnto you and that with great victorie so that I am escaped and ye deliuered 21 O geue thankes vnto him euery one for he is gratious and his mercy endureth for euer 22 So they praysed the Lorde altogether and gaue thankes vnto him and to her they saide The Lorde hath blessed thee in his power for through thee he hath brought our enemies to naught 23 And Osias the chiefe ruler of the people of Israel saide vnto her Blessed art thou of the Lorde the high God aboue all women vpon earth 24 Blessed be the Lorde the maker of heauen and earth which hath guided thee aright to wounde and to smyte of the head of the captayne of our enemies 25 For this day he hath made thy name so honorable that thy prayse shall neuer come out of the mouth of men which shal alway remember the power of the Lord seeing thou hast not spared thyne owne selfe but put thee in ieopardie considering the anguishe and trouble of thy people and so hast helped their fall before God our Lorde 26 And all the people said Amen Amen 27 Achior also was called and he came Then said Iudith vnto him The God of Israel vnto whom thou gauest witnesse that he would be auenged of his enemies euen he hath this night through my hande smitten of the head of all the vnfaithfull 28 And that thou mayst see that it so is behold this is the head of Holophernes which in his presumptuous pride despised the God of the people of Israel and threatened thee with destruction saying When the people of Israel is taken I shall cause thee also to be stickt with the sword 29 When Achior saw Holophernes head he fell downe vpon his face to the grounde for very anguishe and feare so that he sowned withall 30 But after that he was come againe to him selfe he fell downe before her and praysed her saying 31 Blessed art thou of thy God in all the tabernacles of Iacob for all the people that heare of thy name shall prayse the God of Israel because of thee The .xiiij. Chapter 1 Iudith causeth to hang vp the head of Holophernes 6 Achior ioyneth him selfe to the people of God 7 The Israelites go out against the Assyrians 1 IVdith saide vnto al the people Brethren heare me Sticke vp this head vpon our walles 2 And when the sunne aryseth take euery man his weapon and fall out violently not as though ye would go beside them but to runne vpon them with violence 3 When the spies see this they shall of necessitie be compelled to flee backward and to rayse vp their captayne to the battaile 4 So when their captaynes come into Holophernes pauilion and finde the dead body
myght any thyng endure yf it were not thy wyll or howe coulde any thyng be preserued except it were called of thee 26 But thou sparest all for they are thine O Lorde thou louer of soules ¶ The .xij. Chapter 2 The mercy of God towarde sinners 14 The workes of God are vnreprouable 19 God geueth leasure to repent 1 FOr thy vncorruptible spirite O Lorde is in all thinges 2 Therfore chastenest thou them measurably that go wrong and warnest them by putting them in remembraunce in what thinges they haue offended that leauing their wickednesse they may beleue on thee O Lorde 3 As for those olde inhabiters of thy holy lande thou mightest not away with them 4 For they committed abhominable workes against thee as witchcraft sorcerie and wicked sacrifices 5 They slue their owne chyldren without mercy they dyd eate vp the bowels of mens fleshe and deuoured the blood in abhominable bankets and had their mad fanaticall priestes 6 And the fathers were the chiefe murderers of the soules destitute of helpe these doers thou wouldest destroy by the handes of our fathers 7 That the lande whiche thou louest aboue all other might be a meete dwelling for the chyldren of God 8 Neuerthelesse thou sparedst them also as men and sendedst the forerunners of thyne hoast euen hornettes to destroy them out by litle and litle 9 Not that thou wast vnable to subdue the vngodly vnto the righteous in battayle or with cruell beastes or with one rough worde to destroy them together 10 But thy mynde was in punishing them by litle litle to geue them place for amendement knowing well that it was an vnrighteous nation and wicked of nature and that their thought might neuer be altered 11 For it was a cursed seede from the beginning yet hast thou not pardoned their sinnes wherein they offended for that thou fearest any man 12 For who will stand against thy iudgement or who wyll blame thee for the nations that perishe whom thou hast made or who wyll come before thy face to be reuenged for the vnrighteous men 13 For there is none other God but thou that carest for all thinges that thou mayest declare howe that thy iudgement is not vnright 14 There dare neither king nor tiraunt in thy sight require accomptes of them whom thou hast destroyed 15 Forsomuche then as thou art righteous thy selfe thou ordrest all thinges righteously thinking it vnseemely for thy power to condempne hym that hath not deserued to be punished 16 For thy power is the beginning of righteousnesse and because thou art Lorde of all thinges it maketh thee to be gracious vnto all 17 For when men thinke thee not to be of a full strength thou declarest thy power and reprouest the boldnesse of the wyse 18 But thou mastring thy power doest iudge with equitie and ordrest vs with great fauour for thou mayest vse power when thou wylt 19 By suche workes nowe hast thou taught thy people that the iust man shoulde be louing and hast made thy chyldren to be of a good hope because thou geuest roome to repentaunce for sinnes 20 For insomuche as thou hast punished and with such deliberation and obtestation the enemies of thy seruauntes whiche were worthy to dye where through thou gauest them tyme and place of amendement that they might turne from their wickednesse 21 With howe great circumspection then punishest thou thyne owne chyldren vnto whose fathers thou hast sworne made couenauntes of good promises 22 So where as thou doest chasten vs thou punishest our enemies a thousande tymes more to the intent that when we punishe we should diligently thinke of thy goodnesse and when we our selues are punished we shoulde hope for mercy 23 Wherefore where as men haue liued dissolutely and vnrighteously thou hast punished them sore with their owne abhominations 24 For they went astray very long in the wayes of errour held the beastes whiche euen their enemies despised for gods deceaued as chyldren of no vnderstanding 25 Therefore hast thou sent them thy iudgement in scorne as to chyldren voyde of reason 26 As for such as wyll not be refourmed by those scornes and rebukes they shall feele the worthy punishment of God 27 For looke in what thinges they disdayned when they suffred for their sakes whom they counted gods seyng them selues punished in the same they perceaued that he was in deede the true God whom before they had denyed to knowe and therefore came extreme dampnation vpon them ¶ The .xiij. Chapter 1 All thinges be vayne except the knowledge of God 10 Idolaters and idols are mocked 1 SVrely vayne are all men by nature which were ignoraunt of God and coulde not out of the good things that are seene knowe hym that of hym selfe is euerlasting neither toke so muche regarde of the workes that are made as therby to knowe who was the craftesman of them 2 But some toke the fire some the winde or swift ayre some the course of the starres some the running water some toke sunne and moone or the lightes of heauen for gods that rule the worlde 3 But though they had such pleasure in their beautie that they thought them to haue ben gods yet should they haue knowen howe muche more fayrer he is that made them For the maker of beautie hath ordayned al these thinges 4 Or if they marueyled at the power and worke of them they shoulde haue perceaued therby how much he which made these thinges is mightier then they 5 For by the greatnesse of the beautie and of the creatures the maker therof compared with them may playnely be knowen 6 Notwithstanding they are the lesse to be blamed that seeke God and woulde finde him yet peraduenture misse 7 For they being occupied in his works do seeke hym diligently and are perswaded by the sight because the things are beautifull that are seene 8 Howebeit yet neither are they to be excused 9 For if their vnderstanding and knowledge be so great that they can discerne the world and the creatures why do they not rather finde out the Lorde therof 10 But miserable are they and among the dead is their hope that call them gods whiche are but the workes of mens handes golde siluer and the thing that is founde out by cunning the similitude of beastes or any vayne stone that hath ben made by hande of olde 11 Or as whē a carpenter cutteth downe a tree meete for the purpose and pareth of al the barke cunningly and so by arte comely maketh a vessell profitable to the vse of life 12 And with that whiche is cut of from his worke doth dresse his meate to fyll his belly 13 And as for the other part that is left whiche is profitable for nothing for it is a crooked peece of wood and full of knobbes he carueth it diligently by leasure and according to the knowledge of his
31 As for thou that imaginest al mischiefe against the Iewes thou shalt not escape the hande of God 32 For we suffer these thinges because of our sinnes 33 And though the liuing Lord be angry with vs a litle while for our chastening and reformation yet shall he be at one againe with his seruauntes 34 But thou O godlesse man and of all other the most wicked pride not thy selfe through vaine hope in being so malitious vpon the seruauntes of God 35 For thou hast not yet escaped the iudgementes of God which is almightie seeth all thinges 36 My brethren that haue suffered a litle paine are nowe vnder the couenaunt of euerlasting lyfe but through the iudgement of God thou shalt be punished righteously for thy pride 37 As for me lyke as my brethren haue done I offer my soule and my bodye for the lawes of our fathers calling vpon God that he wyll soone be mercifull vnto our people yea and with paine and punishment to make thee graunt that he onely is God 38 In me nowe and in my brethren the wrath of almightie God is at an ende which righteously is fallen vpon all our people 39 Then the king being kindled in anger was more cruell vpon him then vpon al the other and toke indignation that he was so lightly regarded 40 So this young man dyed vndefiled and put his trust still in the Lorde 41 Last of all after the sonnes was the mother put to death also 42 Let this now be inough spoken concerning the offeringes and extreme cruelnesse The .viij. Chapter 1 Iudas gathereth together his hoast 9 Nicanor is sent against Iudas 16 Iudas exhorteth his souldiers to constantnes 20 Nicanor is ouercome 27 The Iewes geueth thankes after they haue put their enemies to flight deuiding the spoyles vnto the fatherlesse and vnto the wydowes 35 Nicanor fleeth vnto Antiochus 1 THen Iudas Machabeus and they that were with him went priuilie into the townes called their kinsefolkes friendes together toke vnto them al such as continued yet in the faith and lawe of the Iewes and brought forth sixe thousand men 2 So they called vpon the Lorde that he woulde haue an eye vnto his people which was troden downe of euery man to be gratious vnto the temple that was defiled of the vngodly 3 To haue compassion vpon the destruction of the citie which was shortly lyke to be layde waste to heare the voyce of the blood that cryed vnto him 4 To remember the most vnrighteous deathes of young innocent children the blasphemies also done vnto his name and to punishe them 5 Now when Machabeus had gathered this multitude together he was to mightie for the heathen for the wrath of the Lorde was turned into mercie 6 He fell vpon the townes and cities vnwares brent them toke the most commodious places and slue many of the enemies 7 But specially he made such chases by night insomuch that his manlines was spoken of euery where 8 So when Philip sawe that the man encreased by litle and litle and that the matter prospered with him for the most parte he wrote vnto Ptolomi which was a captaine in Celosyria and Phenices to helpe him in the kinges busines 9 Then sent he Nicanor the sonne of Patroclus a speciall friend of his in all the haste and gaue him of the common sorte of the heathen no lesse then twentie thousand harnessed men to roote out the whole generation of the Iewes hauing to helpe him one Gorgias a man of warre which in matters concerning battailes had great experience 10 Nicanor ordayned also the tribute which the Romanes shoulde haue had to be euen vnto the king out of the captiue of the Iewes namely two thousand talentes 11 And immediatly he sent to the cities of the sea coaste requiring them for to bye Iewes to be their seruauntes and bondmen promysing to sell them fourscore and ten for one talent but he considered not the wrath of almightie God that was to come vpon him 12 When Iudas knewe of this he tolde the Iewes that were with him of Nicanors comming 13 Now were there some of them fearefull not trusting vnto the righteousnes of God and fled their way and abode not in that place 14 But the other that remained came together and besought the Lorde to deliuer them from that wicked Nicanor which had solde them or euer he came nye them 15 And though he woulde not do it for their sakes yet for the couenaunt that he made with their fathers and because they called vpon his holy and glorious name 16 And so Machabeus called his men together namely about sixe thousand exhorting them not to agree vnto their enemies neither to be afraide for the multitude of their aduersaries comming against them vnrighteously but to fight manly 17 Considering the reproofe that they had done to the holy place without cause how they had despised and oppressed the citie yea and destroyed the lawes of the fathers 18 For they saide he trust in their weapons and boldnesse but our confidence is in the almightie Lorde which in the twinkling of an eye may both destroye them and come against vs and all the worlde 19 He exhorted them also to call to remembraunce the helpe that God shewed vnto their fathers as when there perished an hundred fourscore and fiue thousand of Sennacheribs people 20 And of the battaile that they had in Babylon against the Galathians how all the Macedonians that came to helpe them being foure thousand stoode in feare and howe they being onely but sixe thousand slue an hundred twentie thousand through the helpe that was geuen them from heauen wherby they also had receaued many benefites 21 Through these wordes the men toke good heartes vnto them redie to dye for the lawe and the countrey 22 So he set vpon euery company a captaine one of his owne brethren Simon Ioseph and Ionathas geuing ech one fifteene hundred men 23 He caused Esdras also to reade the holy booke vnto them and to geue them a token of the helpe of God then he him selfe being captaine in the forefront of the battaile buckled with Nicanor 24 And God was their helpe insomuch that they slue aboue nine thousand men and compelled the more part of Nicanors hoast to flee they were so wounded and feeble 25 Thus they toke the money from those that came to bye them and folowed vpon them on euery side 29 But when the time came vpon them they returned for it was the day before the Sabbath and therefore they folowed no more vpon them 27 So they toke their weapons spoyles and kept the Sabbath geuing thankes vnto the Lorde which had deliuered them that day and shewed them the beginning of his mercie 28 After the Sabbath they distributed the spoyles to the sicke to the fatherlesse and to wydowes the residue had they them selues with theirs 29 When this was done and
dyd repent 14 He also reioyceth in God for the efficacie of his doctrine 17 confutyng therby such quarell pykers as vnder pretence of speakyng agaynst his person sought nothyng but the ouerthrowe of his doctrine 1 BVt I determined this in my selfe y t I would not come againe to you in heauynesse 2 For if I make you sorie who is he y t shoulde make me glad but the same which is made sorie by me 3 And I wrote this same vnto you lest when I came I shoulde take heauynesse of them of whom I ought to reioyce This confidence haue I toward you all that my ioy is the ioy of you all 4 For in great affliction and anguishe of heart I wrote vnto you with many teares not that ye shoulde be made sorie but that ye myght perceaue the loue which I haue most specially vnto you 5 But yf any man hath caused sorowe the same hath not made me sorie but partly lest I shoulde greeue you all 6 It is sufficient vnto the same man that he was rebuked of many 7 So that nowe contrarywise ye ought rather to forgeue hym and comforte hym lest that same person shoulde be swallowed vp with ouermuche heauynesse 8 Wherfore I pray you that you would confirme your loue towardes hym 9 For this cause veryly did I write that I myght knowe the profe of you whether ye be obedient in all thynges 10 To whom ye forgeue any thyng I forgeue also For if I forgaue any thing to whom I forgaue it for your sakes forgaue I it in the sight of Christe 11 Lest Satan shoulde circumuent vs For his thoughtes are not vnknowen vnto vs. ☜ 12 Furthermore when I came to Troada to preache Christes Gospell and a doore was opened vnto me of the lorde 13 I had no rest in my spirite because I founde not Titus my brother but toke my leaue of them and went away into Macedonia 14 Nowe thankes be vnto God whiche alwayes geueth vs the victorie in Christe and openeth the sauour of his knowledge by vs in euery place 15 For we are vnto God the sweete sauour of Christe in them that are saued and in them which perisshe 16 To the one part are we the sauour of death vnto death and vnto the other part are we the sauour of lyfe vnto lyfe And who is meete vnto these thynges 17 For we are not as many are whiche chop chaunge with the word of God but as of purenesse of God in the syght of God so speake we in Christe ☜ ¶ The .iij. Chapter 1 He taketh for example the fayth of the Corinthians for a probation of the trueth which he preached 6 and to exalt his apostleship agaynst the braggers of the false apostles 7.13 he maketh comparison betwixt the lawe and the Gospell 1 DO we begyn to prayse our selues agayne Or neede we as some other of epistles of recōmendation vnto you or letters of recommendation from you 2 Ye are our epistle written in our heartes whiche is vnderstande and read of all men 3 Forasmuche as ye declare that ye are the epistle of Christ ministred by vs and written not with ynke but with the spirite of the lyuyng God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart 4 ☞ Such trust haue we through Christe to Godwarde 5 Not that we are sufficiēt of our selues to thynke any thyng as of our selues but our ablenesse is of God 6 Which hath made vs able ministers of the newe testament not of the letter but of the spirite For the letter kylleth but the spirite geueth lyfe 7 Yf the ministration of death through the letters figured in stones was in glorie so that the chyldren of Israel coulde not beholde the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenaunce whiche glorie is done away 8 Howe shall not the ministration of the spirite be much more in glorie 9 For yf the ministration of condempnation be glorie much more doth the ministration of ryghteousnes exceede in glorie ☜ 10 For euen that which was glorified is not glorified in respect of this exceedyng glorie 11 For yf that whiche is destroyed was glorious much more that which remayneth is glorious 12 Seyng then that we haue such truste we vse great boldnesse 13 And not as Moyses which put a vayle ouer his face that the chyldren of Israel shoulde not see for what purpose that serued which is put away 14 * But their myndes were blynded For vntyll this day remayneth the same coueryng vntaken away in the reading of the olde testament which vayle is put away in Christe 15 But euen vnto this day when Moyses is read * the vayle is layde vppon their heart 16 Neuerthelesse * when it shall turne to the Lorde the vayle shal be taken away 17 The Lorde is a spirite And where the spirite of the Lorde is there is libertie 18 But we all behold as in a mirrour the glorie of the Lorde with his face open and are chaunged vnto the same similitude from glorie to glorie euen as of the spirite of the Lorde ¶ The .iiij. Chapter 1 He declareth his diligence and roundnesse in his office 8 and that which his enemies toke for his disaduauntage to wit the crosse and affliction which he endured he turned it to his great aduauntage 11 17 shewyng what profite commeth therby 1 THerfore seyng that we haue such a ministerie as we haue receaued mercie we faynt not 2 But haue cast from vs the clokes of vnhonestie and walke not in craftynesse neither handle we the word of God disceitefully but in openyng of the trueth and report our selues to euery mans conscience in the syght of God 3 ☞ Yf our Gospell be yet hyd it is hyd in them that are lost 4 In whom the god of this worlde hath blinded the myndes of them whiche beleue not lest the lyght of the Gospell of the glorie of Christe which is the image of God should shine vnto them 5 ☞ For we preache not our selues but Christe Iesus the Lord and our selues your seruauntes for Iesus sake 6 For it is God that commaundeth the lyght to shine out of darknesse whiche hath shined in our heartes for to geue the lyght of the knowledge of the glorie of God in the face of Iesus Christe 7 But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie of the power be Gods and not ours 8 We are troubled on euery syde yet are we not without shyft We are in pouertie but not vtterly without somewhat 9 We suffer persecution but are not forsaken therin We are cast downe but we perisshe not 10 We alwayes beare about in the body the dying of the Lorde Iesus that the lyfe of Iesus myght also appeare in our bodie ☜ 11 For we which lyue are alwayes deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the lyfe also of Iesu myght appeare in
to them that worship thee 34 Yet for thy names sake we beseche thee geue vs not vp for euer breake not thy couenaunt 35 And take not away thy mercie from vs for thy beloued Abrahams sake for thy seruaunt Isaacs sake and for thy holy Israels sake 36 To whom thou hast spoken and promised that thou wouldest multiplie their seede as the starres of heauen as the sande that lyeth vpon the sea shore 37 For we O Lord are become lesse then any people and be kept vnder this day in all the worlde because of our sinnes 38 So that nowe we haue neither prince duke prophet burnt offering sacrifice oblation incense nor sanctuarie before thee 39 Neuerthelesse in a contrite heart and an humble spirite let vs be receaued that we may obtayne thy mercie 40 Like as in the burnt offering of rammes and bullockes and like as in thousandes of fat lambes so let our offering be in thy sight this daye that it may please thee for there is no confusion vnto thē that put their trust in thee 41 And now we folowe thee with al our heart we feare thee and seke thy face 42 Put vs not to shame but deale with vs after thy louing kindnesse and according to the multitude of thy mercies 43 Deliuer vs by thy miracles O Lorde and get thy name an honour that all they which do thy seruauntes euyl may be confounded 44 Let them be ashamed thorow thy almightie power and let their strength be broken 45 That they may knowe how that thou only art the Lorde God and honour worthy throughout all the worlde 46 And the kinges seruauntes that put them in ceassed not to make the ouen hot with wild fire drie straw pitche towe and fagottes 47 So that the flambe went out of the ouen vpon a fourtie and nyne cubites 48 Yea it toke away and brent vp those Chaldees that it gat holde vpon beside the ouen 49 But the angell of the Lorde came downe into the ouen to Azaria and his felowes and smote the flambe of the fire out of the ouen 50 And made the middes of the ouen as it had ben a colde winde blowing so the fire neither touched them greeued them nor dyd them hurt 51 Then these three as out of one mouth praysed honoured and blessed God in the fornace saying 52 Blessed be thou O Lorde God of our fathers for thou art prayse and honour worthy yea to be magnified for euermore 53 Blessed be the holy name of thy glorie for it is worthy to be praysed magnified in all worldes 54 Blessed be thou in the holy temple of thy glorie for aboue all thinges thou art to be praysed yea and more then worthy to be magnified for euer 55 Blessed be thou in the throne of thy kingdome for aboue al thou art worthy to be well spoken of and to be more then magnified for euer 56 Blessed be thou that lokest thorow the deepe and sittest vpon the Cherubims for thou art worthy to be praysed and aboue all to be magnified for euer 57 Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen for thou art prayse and honour worthy for euer 58 O all ye workes of the Lorde speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 59 O ye angels of the Lorde speake good of the Lord prayse him and set hym vp for euer 60 O ye heauens speake good of the Lord prayse hym and set him vp for euer 61 O all ye waters that be aboue the firmament speake good of the Lorde prayse hym and set him vp for euer 62 O all ye powers of the Lorde speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 63 O ye sunne and moone speake good of the Lord prayse him and set hym vp for euer 64 O ye starres of heauen speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 65 O ye showres and deaw speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 66 O all ye windes of God speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set hym vp for euer 67 O ye fire and heate speake good of the Lorde prayse hym and set him vp for euer 68 O ye winter and sommer speake good of the Lord prayse hym and set him vp for euer 69 O ye deawes and frostes speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 70 O ye frost and colde speake good of the Lorde prayse hym and set him vp for euer 71 O ye yee and snowe speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set hym vp for euer 72 O ye nightes and dayes speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 73 O ye light and darkenesse speake good of the Lord prayse him and set hym vp for euer 74 O ye lightninges and cloudes speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set hym vp for euer 75 O let the earth speake good of the Lorde yea let it prayse him and set him vp for euer 76 O ye mountaynes and hilles speake good of the Lorde prayse hym and set hym vp for euer 77 O all ye greene thinges vpon the earth speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set hym vp for euer 78 O ye welles speake good of the Lord prayse him and set hym vp for euer 79 O ye seas and fluddes speake good of the Lord prayse hym and set him vp for euer 80 O ye whales and all that moue in the waters speake good of the Lord prayse him and set him vp for euer 81 O all ye foules of the ayre speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 82 O all ye beastes and cattel speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 83 O ye children of men speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set hym vp for euer 84 O let Israel speake good of the Lord prayse him and set him vp for euer 85 O ye priestes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 86 O ye seruauntes of the Lord speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 87 O ye spirites and soules of the righteous speake good of the Lorde prayse him and set him vp for euer 88 O ye holy and humble men of heart speake ye good of the Lord prayse him and set him vp for euer 89 O Anania Azaria and Misael speake ye good of the Lorde prayse ye him set him vp for euer which hath deliuered vs from the hell kept vs from the hande of death ridde vs from the middest of the burning flambe and saued vs euen in the middest of the fyre 90 O geue thankes therefore vnto the Lorde for he is kinde hearted and his mercie endureth for euer 91 O all deuout men speake ye good of the Lorde the God of all goddes O prayse him and geue
him thankes for his mercie endureth worlde without ende ⧠The story of Susanna vvhich is the thirteenth Chapter of Daniel after the Latine 8 The two gouerners are taken with the loue of Susanna 19 They take her alone in the garden 20 They solicite her to wickednes 23 She chooseth rather to obey God though it be to the daunger of her lyfe 34 She is accused 45 Daniel doth deliuer her 62 The gouernours are put to death 1 THere dwelt a man in Babylon called Ioacim 2 That toke a wyfe whose name was Susanna the daughter of Helcia a very faire woman and such one as feared God 3 Her father and her mother also were good people and taught their daughter according to the lawe of Moyses 4 Now Ioacim her husband was a great rich man and had a faire orchard ioyning vnto his house and to him resorted the Iewes commōly because he was a man of reputation among them 5 The same yere were there made two iudges such as the Lorde speaketh of The wickednes of Babylon commeth from the elders that is from the iudges which seeme to rule the people 6 These came oft to Ioacims house and all such as had any thing to do in the lawe came thyther vnto them 7 Now when the people departed away at noone Susanna went into her husbandes orchard to walke 8 The two elders seeing this that she went in dayly and walked they burned for lust to her 9 Yea they were almost out of their wittes and cast downe their eyes that they should not see heauen nor remember that God is a righteous iudge 10 For they were both wounded with the loue of her neither durst one shewe another his griefe 11 And for shame they durst not tell her their inordinate lust that they woulde faine haue had to do with her 12 Yet they layed wayte for her earnestly from day to day that they might at the leaste haue a sight of her 13 And the one said to the other Vp let vs go home for it is dinner time So they went their way one from an other 14 When they returned againe they came together enquiring out the matter betwixt them selues yea the one tolde the other of his wicked lust Then appoynted they a time when they might take Susanna alone 15 It happened also that they spied out a conuenient time when she went foorth to walke as her maner was and no body with her but two maydens and thought to washe her selfe in the garden for it was an hot season 16 And there was not one person there except the two elders that had hid them selues to beholde her 17 So she saide to her maydens Go fet me oyle and sope and shut the orchard doore that I may washe me 18 And they did as she bad them and shut the orchard doore and went out them selues at a backe doore to fetch the thing that she had commaunded but Susanna knew not that the elders laye there hid within 19 Now when the maydens were gone foorth the two elders gat them vp and ranne vpon her saying 20 Now the orchard doores are shut that no man can see vs we haue a lust vnto thee therefore consent vnto vs and lye with vs 21 If thou wylt not we shall bring a testimonial against thee that there was a young felowe with thee that thou hast sent away thy maydens from thee for the same cause 22 Susanna sighed and saide Alas I am in trouble on euery side though I folowe your minde it wyl be my death and if I consent not vnto you I can not escape your handes 23 Wel it is better for me to fall into your hande without the deede doing then to sinne in the sight of the Lorde 24 And with that she cryed out with a loude voyce the elders also cryed out against her 25 Then ranne there one to the orchard doore and smote it open 26 Now whē the seruauntes of the house heard the crye in the orchard they russhed in at the backe doore to see what the matter was 27 So when the elders tolde them the seruauntes were greatly ashamed for why there was neuer such a report made of Susanna 28 On the morowe after came the people to Ioacim her husband and the two elders came also ful of mischeuous imaginations against Susanna to bring her vnto death 29 And spake thus before the people Send for Susanna the daughter of Helchias Ioacims Wyfe And immediatly they sent for her 30 So she came with her father and mother her children and all her kindred 31 Now Susanna was a tender person and marueylous faire of face 32 Therefore the wicked men commaunded to take her clothes from her face for she was couered that at the least they might so be satisfied in her beautie 33 Then her friendes yea and all they that knew her began to weepe 34 These two elders stoode vp in the middest of the people layed their handes vpon the head of Susanna 35 Which wept and loked vp toward heauen for her heart had a sure trust in the Lorde 36 And the elders saide As we were walking in the orchard alone this woman came in with her two maydens whom she sent away from her and sparred the orchard doores 37 With that a young felowe which there was hid came vnto her and lay with her 38 As for vs we stoode in a corner of the orchard and when we sawe this wickednes we ranne to them and we sawe them as they were together 39 But we could not holde him for he was stronger then we Thus he opened the doore and gat him away 40 Now whē we had taken this woman we asked her what young felowe this was but she would not tel vs. This is the matter we be witnesses of the same 41 The common sorte beleeued them as those that were the elders and iudges of the people so they condemned her to death 42 Susanna cryed out with a loude voyce and saide O euerlasting God thou searcher of secretes thou that knowest all thinges before they come to passe 43 Thou wottest that they haue borne false witnesse against me and behold I must dye wheras I neuer did any such thinges as these men haue maliciously inuented against me 44 And the Lorde heard her voyce 45 For when she was led foorth to death the lord raysed vp the spirite of a young childe whose name was Daniel 46 Which cryed with a loude voyce I am cleane from this blood 47 Then all the people turned towarde him saide What meane these wordes that thou hast spoken 48 Daniel stoode in the middest of them and saide are ye such fooles O ye children of Israel that ye can not discerne nor know the trueth Ye haue here condēpned a daughter of Israel vnto death and knowe not the trueth wherefore 49 Go sit in iudgement againe for they haue spoken false witnesse against her 50 Wherefore the people